FLEXIBLE LOAD RESTRAINING STRAP

Abstract

A flexible strap system for securing a load to an elongate support having a mounting bracket with a mount which pivotally secures to an underside of the support. A flexible, inelastic strap connects to the bracket through a pair of strap attachments, with the strap attachments and the mount having a non-colinear orientation on the mounting bracket. A plurality of teeth on the strap engage a ratchet mechanism for tightening the strap around the load. The bracket is rotatable between a first position with the strap generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support member and a second position with the strap generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support member, allowing the strap system to secure loads which are perpendicular or parallel, respectively, to the support.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to load restraining straps, and more particularly, to a flexible load restraining strap which can be pivotably affixed to a support member such as an equipment rack in the bed of a pickup truck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Equipment racks for transporting and/or storing equipment generally include an elongate support member upon which the equipment is placed. For example, pickup trucks and other commercial vehicles often have one or more generally horizontal equipment racks for carrying tools, ladders, lumber and the like. To prevent the supported loads from shifting during transport, it is common to use restraining devices such as bungee cords, rubber straps or rope to secure the loads to the equipment rack. Such restraining devices, however, are awkward to use, are subject to breaking when over-elongated and can cause injury to a user if they snap back during load securing and un-securing operations. Moreover, when not in use, these restraining devices are easily misplaced if not secured to the equipment rack and unsightly if so secured.

Accordingly, there is a need for providing a non-elastic, flexible restraining strap for mounting on an equipment rack such as those supported generally in the bed of a pickup truck.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a flexible load restraining strap system for securing equipment to a rack. The invention includes a mounting bracket which is mounted to an underside of an equipment rack with a pivoting mount and a flexible, inelastic strap which connects at its ends to the mounting bracket. The strap connects to the mounting bracket through strap attachments on the mounting bracket, with the strap attachments and the mount being offset (non-colinear) with respect to each other. The offset orientation of the pivoting mount and the strap attachments allows the mounting bracket to pivot between two positions, a first position with the strap attachments on opposite sides of the rack and a second position with the strap attachments on the same side of the rack.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible load restraining strap formed of an inelastic material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a flexible load restraining strap which can be readily mounted to the underside of an equipment rack.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible load restraining strap with a mounting bracket having a pivotable mount and a pair of strap attachments which are non-colinear.

It is another object of the invention to provide a load retention system for securing a load on an equipment rack of a vehicle which is pivotable between a first position with each of the strap attachments on opposite sides of the rack and a second position with each of the strap attachments on the same side of the rack.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible load restraining strap formed of a plastic material, having teeth and a ratchet mechanism that can be easily tightened to secure a load to an equipment rack and be loosened to release the load.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a flexible load restraining strap which can be used to secure loads which are either parallel or perpendicular to the equipment rack.

These objects are accomplished generally by a flexible load restraining strap system having a mounting bracket, a pivotable mount on the mounting bracket, a pair of strap attachments on the mounting bracket, the pair of strap attachments and the pivotable mount having a non-colinear orientation on the mounting bracket, a flexible, inelastic strap affixed at opposite distal ends to the pair of strap attachments, and a ratchet mechanism adapted to engage with and tighten the strap.

When used to secure a load to an elongate support member such as an equipment rack, the mounting bracket is pivotally secured to the underside of the support member with the mount, with the opposite distal ends of the strap connected to the strap attachments. The load is placed on the support member with the strap encircling the load, and the strap is tightened around the load with the ratchet mechanism.

The present invention is directed to a load retention system for securing a load on a support rack of a vehicle comprising a mounting bracket having a mounting attachment defining a connection of the mounting bracket to the support rack and an axis of rotation of the mounting bracket relative to the support rack, a flexible strap having a first end and a second end and one of the first and second ends being releasably connected to the mounting bracket, a first connection point and a second connection point for attaching the respective first and second ends of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket, at least one of the first and second connection points comprising a releasable strap attachment mechanism supported on the mounting bracket, a first state in which the respective first and second end of the flexible strap is engaged with the strap attachment mechanism, a second state in which the respective first and second end of the flexible strap is released from engagement with the strap attachment mechanism, and wherein the mounting bracket is rotatable about the axis of rotation relative to the support rack between a first position wherein the strap is perpendicularly aligned with the support rack and a second position wherein the strap is aligned in parallel with the support rack.

The present invention is also directed to a method for securing a load on a support rack of a vehicle comprising the steps of securing a mounting bracket to the support rack, the mounting bracket having a mounting attachment defining a connection of the mounting bracket to the support rack and an axis of rotation of the mounting bracket relative to the support rack, releasably connecting a flexible strap having a first end and a second end to the mounting bracket, providing a first connection point and a second connection point on the mounting bracket for attaching the respective first and second ends of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket, making at least one of the first and second connection points a releasable strap attachment mechanism supported on the mounting bracket, defining a first state in which the respective first and second end of the flexible strap is engaged with the strap attachment mechanism, defining a second state in which the respective first and second end of the flexible strap is released from engagement with the strap attachment mechanism, and rotatably attaching the mounting bracket to rotate about the axis of rotation relative to the support rack between a first position wherein the strap is perpendicularly aligned with the support rack and a second position wherein the strap is aligned in parallel with the support rack.

These and other features, advantages and improvements according to this invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Several embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the flexible load restraining strap system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the flexible load restraining strap system of the present invention mounted to a support member.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the flexible load restraining strap system of the present invention mounted perpendicularly to an equipment rack.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of two of the flexible load restraining strap systems of the present invention mounted perpendicularly to an equipment rack and securing a load of lumber in parallel to the equipment rack.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the flexible load restraining strap system of the present invention mounted perpendicularly to an equipment rack and securing the rung of a ladder perpendicularly to the equipment rack.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the flexible load restraining strap system of the present invention mounted in parallel to a support member and encircling and securing a load supported perpendicularly on the support member.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the flexible load restraining strap system of the present invention mounted to a support member and having a mounting pivot offset relative to the strap attachments.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the offset flexible load restraining strap system of the present invention securing a load supported perpendicularly relative to an equipment rack.

FIGS. 9A-9B are bottom views of another offset mounting hardware embodiment of the flexible load restraining strap system of the present invention.

FIG. 10A-10H are bottom views of other alternative embodiments of the offset mounting bracket for the flexible load restraining strap system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The flexible load restraining system of the present invention includes a mount for pivotably affixing a mounting bracket to an elongate support member of a rack, and a pair of strap attachments to which the distal ends of a flexible strap can be attached. The mounting bracket is pivotable essentially in 360 rotation relative to the support member, but is generally moveable between two orientations, one in which each of the strap attachments extend up and around from opposite sides of the support member, and as discussed in detail below, one in which each of the strap attachments are positioned on the same side of the support member.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the flexible load restraining strap system 10 of the present invention. Shown is the flexible load restraining strap system 10 having a mounting bracket 12, a pivotable mount 14 on the mounting bracket 12, and a strap 16 having opposite distal ends 18 affixed to a pair of strap attachments 20 on the mounting bracket 12. The strap attachments 20 are pivotally affixed to the mounting bracket 12. The mounting bracket 12 affixes to a support member S as shown in FIG. 2 with the pivotable mount 14, including an aperture 13 through the mounting bracket 12 and a bolt 15 sized to extend through the aperture 13 and into for example a threaded receiver (not shown) on an underside of the support member.

The strap 16 can be formed from any flexible and generally inelastic material, for example, natural and synthetic woven fibers or plastic. FIG. 2 illustrates a plastic strap having a plurality of teeth 22 integral with at least one side of the strap 16. The teeth 22 can be formed on one or both sides of the strap 16, and can be at one end, both ends, or throughout the length of the strap 16 in order to provide gripping means for securing the strap 16 to the mounting bracket 12.

The opposing ends 18 of the strap 16 are secured to the mounting bracket 12 through a pair of strap attachments 20. The strap attachments 20 are releasable attachments, such as buckles, ratchet mechanisms, clamps and the like, that can be fixed attachments wherein the strap 16 is permanently affixed to the mounting bracket 12. FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention with strap attachments 20 which include a ratchet mechanism 24 that in a closed position accepts the teeth 22 of the strap in one direction and allows any length of the strap to be pulled through the ratchet mechanism 24 in order to secure a load. In the closed position the ratchet mechanism 24 engages one or more teeth of the strap and prevents the strap 16 from being pulled out in the opposite direction thus securing the load. The ratchet mechanism 24 releases engagement with the teeth 22 of the strap 16 in an open position, and the strap 16 can be easily pulled out of the ratchet mechanism 24 releasing the load. Alternatively, one or both ends of the strap 16 can be permanently affixed to the mounting bracket 14 for instance by a rivet, and the strap 16 can comprise two or more strap segments releasably secured by an intermediate connector such as a ratchet mechanism or buckle along the length of the strap 16.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the strap 16 shown in FIG. 1 mounted to the elongate support member S, such as a generally horizontal equipment rack 26 attached to the back of a pickup truck. In this orientation of the strap 16 a load may be attached in parallel to the support member S as shown in FIG. 4 showing a pair of straps 16 in use securing a load of lumber 28 to a single support member S. Also this orientation of the strap 16 provides for the attachment to the rungs 32 of a ladder 30 as shown in FIG. 5. A single strap 16 around each rung 32 of the ladder 30 that crosses a support member S can quickly and safely secure the ladder 30 to the rack of a truck or other vehicle. In each of FIGS. 3-5, the strap 16 is shown with the mounting bracket pivoted to a position with each of the strap attachments 20 extending toward opposite sides of the support member S. This configuration is preferred for securing loads or an element of the load which are generally parallel to the support member S, such as the lumber 28 shown in outline in FIG. 4 and the ladder rung 32 in FIG. 5.

Alternatively as shown in FIG. 6, the load 28 may be secured perpendicular to the support member S. The strap 16 of FIG. 6 also shows an alternative embodiment for the strap 16 wherein a portion of the strap 16 near the strap attachments 20 include teeth 22 on at least one side of the strap 16. The portion of the strap 16 surrounding the load 28 and more remote from the strap attachments 20 may or may not have teeth 22. In this orientation wherein the flexible load restraining strap system 10 has been pivoted to align the strap 16 with the support member S, the strap attachments 20 are on the same side of the support member S.

As shown in FIG. 7, in another embodiment of the present invention the flexible load restraining strap system 10 of the present invention is mounted to the support member S. The pivotable mount 14 of the mounting bracket 12 may be aligned to the center of the support member S and the bolt 15 is inserted through the pivotable mount 14 to attach the mounting bracket 12 to the support member S. The mounting bracket 12 in this embodiment is shown as a triangle having a portion of the mounting bracket 12 that is offset O from the pivotable mount 14. The offset O provides for a mounting surface for the strap attachments 20 and allow the strap 16 to extend vertically along and above the support member S to secure a load 28 as shown in FIG. 8. In this way the pivotable mount 14 and strap attachments 20 are non-colinear in their orientation on the mounting bracket 12, so that the mounting bracket 12 can be pivoted relative to the support member S to a position with both strap attachments 20 on one side of the support member S. The load of lumber 28 supported generally perpendicularly to the support member S as shown in FIG. 8 is inserted through the strap 16 without a bend or twist in the strap 16 from the strap attachments 20.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the alternative orientation of the strap system to that shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the mounting bracket 12 is pivoted to a position wherein each of the strap attachments 20 extends around opposite sides of the support member S. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the mounting bracket 12 has been pivoted 90 degrees relative to the position in FIG. 3, and the strap attachments 20 have also pivoted because of the offset O so that each of the strap attachments 20 extend on the same side of the support member S.

The offset O, or non-colinear alignment of the strap attachments 20 and pivotable mount 14 are shown in another embodiment in FIGS. 9A and 9B, showing a bottom view of the flexible load restraining strap system with each of the strap attachments 20 on the opposite sides of the support member S as shown in FIG. 9A and on the same side in FIG. 9B. The mounting bracket 12 as noted above will generally be affixed to an underside of an elongate support member S, such as a generally horizontal equipment rack 26 in the back of a pickup truck. The mounting bracket 12 affixes to the support member S with a pivotable mount 14, shown as an aperture 13 through the mounting bracket 12 and a bolt 15 sized to extend through the aperture 13 and into a slot or mating member 34 that may extend along the underside of the support member S. The bolt 15 may be captively retained in the slot but permitted to slide therein so that the entire apparatus may be axially realigned along the support member S. The strap attachments 20 connect to the ends 18 of the strap 16 and can be fixed or removable connections. Each distal end of the strap 16 can be permanently affixed to the mounting bracket 12, and the strap 16 can comprise two or more strap segments releasably secured by an intermediate connector such as a ratchet mechanism as discussed above for securing and tightening the strap 16.

FIG. 9A shows a first position wherein the strap 16 will be generally perpendicular to the support member and will encircle the support member S and any load. This orientation is preferred for securing loads including an element parallel to the support member S, for example, the rungs of a ladder 32 rather than the sides of a ladder 30. In the second position, illustrated in FIG. 9B, the strap 16 will be generally parallel to the support member S and can readily secure loads which are generally perpendicular to the support member S, for example, a load of lumber placed perpendicularly across the support member S.

FIGS. 10A-H illustrate various embodiments of the invention relative to the shape of the mounting bracket 12 and the orientation of the pivotable mount 14 and the strap attachments 20 on the mounting bracket 12. The mounting bracket 12 will be formed of a rigid, durable material, for example, metal. FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C illustrate generally rectangular mounting brackets 12. FIG. 10D illustrates a generally trapezoidal shape. FIGS. 10E, 10F and 10G show circular mounting brackets and FIG. 10H illustrates a rounded triangular profile. The aperture 13 for the pivotable mount 14 can be centrally located on the mounting bracket 12, shown in FIGS. 10C and 10G, or can be offset, shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10D, 10E, 10F and 10H. The particular choice of positioning is not critical, as long as the pivotable mount 14 and the two strap attachments 20 are offset as discussed above.

To secure a load to a support member S the mounting bracket 12 is pivotally and/or slidably secured in the slot 34 to the underside of the support member S with the pivotable mount 14 and at least one of the opposite distal ends 18 of the strap 16 fastened to the mounting bracket 12 with the strap attachments 20, a load 28 is placed on the support member S with the strap 16 encircling the load 28, and the strap S is tightened around the load with the ratchet mechanism 24. As desired by the user and discussed above, the strap 16 can be pivoted between a position with the strap 16 generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the support member S and a position with the strap 16 is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the support member S.

Since certain changes may be made in the above-described invention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention.

PARTS LIST

• 10 Flexible Load Restraining Strap System
• 12 mounting bracket
• 13 aperture
• 14 pivotable mount on 12
• 15 bolt
• 16 flexible strap
• 18 distal ends of 16
• 20 strap attachments on 12
• 22 teeth on 16
• 24 ratchet mechanism
• S support member
• 26 equipment rack
• 28 load
• 30 ladder
• 32 rung of 30
• 34 slot in S
• O offset

Claims

1. A load retention system for securing a load on a support rack of a vehicle comprising:

a mounting bracket having a mounting attachment defining a connection of the mounting bracket to the support rack and an axis of rotation of the mounting bracket relative to the support rack;

a flexible strap having a first end and a second end and one of the first and second ends being releasably connected to the mounting bracket;

a first connection point and a second connection point for attaching the respective first and second ends of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket;

at least one of the first and second connection points comprising a releasable strap attachment mechanism supported on the mounting bracket; a first state in which the respective first and second end of the flexible strap is engaged with the strap attachment mechanism; a second state in which the respective first and second end of the flexible strap is released from engagement with the strap attachment mechanism; and

wherein the mounting bracket is rotatable about the axis of rotation relative to the support rack between a first position wherein the strap is perpendicularly aligned with the support rack and a second position wherein the strap is aligned in parallel with the support rack.

2. The load restraining strap system of claim 1 wherein the first and second connection points are offset from the axis of rotation of the mounting bracket and in the first position wherein the strap is perpendicularly aligned with the support rack the flexible strap can substantially encompass the support rack in the first state, and in the second position where in the strap is aligned in parallel with the support rack the first and second ends of the flexible strap can be arranged in the first state without encompassing the support rack.

3. The load restraining strap system of claim 2 wherein the first and second connection points define a linear axis and the offset is defined by a distance between the axis of rotation of the mounting bracket and the linear axis.

4. The load restraining strap system of claim 3 wherein the distance between the axis of rotation of the mounting bracket and the linear axis ensures that in the second position the first and second connection points on the mounting bracket are spaced from a centerline of the support rack so that the support rack does not substantially interfere with operation of the flexible strap.

5. The load restraining strap system of claim 1 wherein the flexible strap further comprises a plurality of engagement points for engaging with the releasable strap attachment mechanism supported on the mounting bracket to provide a variable diameter to the flexible strap in the first state.

6. The load retention system of claim 5 wherein the releasable strap attachment mechanism supported on the mounting bracket comprises a ratchet adapted to releasably engage with the engagement points on the flexible strap.

7. The load retention system of claim 1 wherein the flexible strap has a pre-determined length and is flexible in at least one dimension and not flexible, elastic or elongatable along its pre-determined length.

8. The load retention system of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second connection points for attaching the respective first and second ends of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket comprises a non-releasable attachment of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket.

9. The load restraining strap system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second connection points for attaching the respective first and second ends of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket comprises a receiver adapted to receive and releasably secure the flexible strap.

10. The load restraining strap system of claim 9 wherein the receiver is rotatably attached to the mounting bracket for relative rotation of the receiver relative to the mounting bracket.

11. The load restraining strap system of claim 10 wherein the receiver includes a ratchet mechanism for engaging the flexible strap.

12. A method for securing a load on a support rack of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

securing a mounting bracket to the support rack, the mounting bracket having a mounting attachment defining a connection of the mounting bracket to the support rack and an axis of rotation of the mounting bracket relative to the support rack;

releasably connecting a flexible strap having a first end and a second end to the mounting bracket;

providing a first connection point and a second connection point on the mounting bracket for attaching the respective first and second ends of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket;

making at least one of the first and second connection points a releasable strap attachment mechanism supported on the mounting bracket;

defining a first state in which the respective first and second end of the flexible strap is engaged with the strap attachment mechanism;

defining a second state in which the respective first and second end of the flexible strap is released from engagement with the strap attachment mechanism; and

rotatably attaching the mounting bracket to rotate about the axis of rotation relative to the support rack between a first position wherein the strap is perpendicularly aligned with the support rack and a second position wherein the strap is aligned in parallel with the support rack.

13. The method for securing a load on the support rack of a vehicle as set forth in claim 12 further comprising the steps of forming the first and second connection points offset from the axis of rotation of the mounting bracket and in the first position where the strap is perpendicularly aligned with the support rack and the flexible strap can substantially encompass the support rack in the first state, and in the second position where the strap is aligned in parallel with the support rack the first and second ends of the flexible strap can be arranged in the first state without encompassing the support rack.

14. The method for securing a load on the support rack of a vehicle as set forth in claim 13 further comprising the step of defining a linear axis between the first and second connection points and further defining the offset by a distance between the axis of rotation of the mounting bracket and the linear axis.

15. The method for securing a load on the support rack of a vehicle as set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of ensuring the distance between the axis of rotation of the mounting bracket and the linear axis provides in the second position spacing the first and second connection points on the mounting bracket from a centerline of the support rack so that the support rack does not substantially interfere with operation of the flexible strap.

16. The method for securing a load on the support rack of a vehicle as set forth in claim 12 further comprising the step of forming the flexible strap having a pre-determined length and is flexible in at least one dimension and not flexible, elastic or elongatable along its pre-determined length.

17. The method for securing a load on the support rack of a vehicle as set forth in claim 16 further comprising the step of attaching at least one of the first and second ends of the flexible strap to the respective first and second connection points via a non-releasable attachment of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket.

18. The method for securing a load on the support rack of a vehicle as set forth in claim 16 further comprising the step of forming at least one of the first and second connection points as a receiver for releasably receiving the respective first and second ends of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket.