Length-adjustable elastic strap

Abstract

A length-adjustable flexible and elastic strap is comprised of an elongated strap member having first and second ends with each of the first and second ends having a hook member secured thereto. The strap member has a plurality of spaced-apart hook connector loops extending transversely therefrom with each of the loops having a hook receiving opening formed therein. Each of the openings of the hook connector loops are adapted to have at least one of the hook members selectively secured thereto to effectively shorten the length of the strap member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a strap such as a tarp strap or bungee cord and more particularly to a length-adjustable elastic strap having hooks at the opposite ends thereof with the strap having a plurality of spaced-apart hook connector loops extending transversely therefrom.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many types of straps and elastic straps have been previously provided for connecting or tying down such objects as cargo, tarps, etc. In one form of the prior art, the strap is comprised of an elongated elastic or rubber strap member having a generally rectangular-shaped cross section with the opposite ends of the strap having hooks selectively removably secured thereto. The straps come in various lengths but frequently a person will find that a strap is too long for the intended use which makes it necessary for the person to acquire a shorter strap which will fit the intended use. In another form of the prior art, an elongated bungee cord is provided with hooks provided at the opposite ends thereof. The same problems exist with the bungee cord as with the rubber strap just described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

A length-adjustable elastic strap is disclosed comprising an elongated flexible and resilient single strap member having first and second ends with each of the first and second ends having a hook member selectively removably secured thereto. The strap member has a plurality of spaced-apart hook connector loops extending transversely therefrom with each of the loops having a hook receiving opening formed therein. Each of the hook receiving openings of the hook connector loops are adapted to have at least one of the hook members selectively secured thereto to effectively shorten the length of the strap.

In one embodiment of the invention, the strap member has a rectangular-shaped cross-section such as commonly found in tarp straps. In another embodiment of the invention, the strap member has a generally cylindrical cross-section such as commonly utilized in bungee cords.

The strap member may be length adjustable by simply forming a loop with the hook member at the end thereof being inserted into one of the hook receiving openings of the hook connector loops so that one end of the strap member is looped around one of the objects to be connected together. In another form of the invention, one of the hook members may be removed from the strap and inserted into one of the hook connector loops to effectively shorten the length of the strap member without looping the strap member.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a length-adjustable flexible and elastic strap.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strap of the type described which has a generally rectangular-shaped cross-section.

A further object of the invention is to provide a length-adjustable strap of the type described which has a generally cylindrical-shaped cross-section.

A further object of the invention is to provide a length adjustable elastic or resilient strap which is comprised of an elongated strap member having first and second ends with each of the first and second ends having a hook member selectively removably secured thereto with the strap member having a plurality of spaced-apart hook connector loops extending transversely therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a length-adjustable elastic and flexible strap wherein the length thereof may be effectively shortened in one of two ways.

A further object of the invention is to provide a length-adjustable elastic strap which economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance. These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the strap of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of the straps of FIG. 1 as they come from a mold with the dotted lines therein indicating how the part may be separated into two straps;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the strap assembly of FIG. 2 after the straps have been separated from one another;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention which is in the form of a bungee cord.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims.

In FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated with the same being designated by the reference numeral 10. The strap 10 is comprised of a flexible and resilient rubber material as is commonly found in tarp straps and which has a body portion 12 having ends 14 and 16 which usually have a thicker cross-section than the main portion of the body 12. End portions 14 and 16 are provided with openings 18 and 20 formed therein adapted to receive one end of the hooks or hook members 22 and 24 therein respectively as illustrated in FIG. 1. Strap 10 includes a plurality of spaced-apart and laterally extending loops 26 which extend transversely therefrom and which have an opening 28 formed therein. As seen in FIG. 1, the loops 26 are generally of the truncated triangular-shaped configuration and have triangular shaped openings 28 formed therein.

The length of the strap 10 may be adjusted in one of two ways. In one method, the hook 22 is removed from the opening 18 and inserted into one of the openings 28 as illustrated by broken lines in FIG. 1 which effectively shortens the length of the strap member 10 since the hooks 24 and the hook 22 shown in dotted or dash form effectively shortens the length of the strap 10. Another way of shortening the strap 10 is to simply leave the hook member 22 in the opening 18 and loop the strap member around one of the members to be connected thereto so that the free end of the hook member 22 may be inserted into one of the openings 28 to shorten the length of the strap 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates one manner in which the strap 10 may be formed. The mold which is used to produce strap would be of the double-mold type so that a pair of the straps 10 come out of the mold but are still joined together. The straps 10 may then be separated by cutting the same along the dotted lines as illustrated in FIG. 2 so that they may be separated into the two straps 10, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention wherein the strap 10′ is in the form of a bungee cord having a generally cylindrical cross-section. The bungee cord 10′ has a plurality of loops 26′ extending laterally or transversely therefrom, each of which have openings 28′ formed therein. Strap 10′ includes a body portion 12′, ends 14′ and 16′ and hooks 22′ and 24′

In use, if the hooks 22′ and 24′ are selectively removably secured to the strap member 12′, the length of the strap 10 may be length adjustable by simply removing hook member 22′ from opening 18′ and inserting the hook 22′ through one of the openings of the loops 26′ as illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 4. If the hooks 22′ and 24′ are not removable from the strap member 12′ the only way to shorten the length of the strap 10′ is to loop end 14′ around so that the hook 22′ may be secured to one of the openings 28′.

Thus it can be seen that a novel way has been provided to provide a length-adjustable strap which may be either of the rectangular-shaped cross-section or the round-shaped cross-section. It can therefore be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Claims

1. A length-adjustable elastic strap, comprising:

an elongated flexible, elastic single strap member having first and second ends with each of said first and second ends having a hook member secured thereto;

said strap member having a plurality of spaced-apart hook connector loops extending transversely therefrom;

each of said loops having a hook receiving opening formed therein;

each of said openings of said hook connector loops adapted to have at least one of said hook members selectively secured thereto to effectively shorten the length of said strap member.

2. The strap of claim 1 wherein said hook members are selectively removably secured to said first and second ends of said strap member.

3. The strap of claim 1 wherein said strap member has a generally rectangular-shaped cross-section.

4. The strap of claim 1 wherein said strap member has a generally cylindrical cross-section.

5. The strap of claim 1 wherein said strap member is comprised of a rubber material.

6. The strap of claim 1 wherein said loops are integrally formed with said strap member.