Abstract:
A strap hook has a hook portion and a strap portion. The hook portion has an attachment portion adapted to attach to an object. The hook portion has a stem portion extending from the attachment portion. The stem portion has a center axis defining swivel axis. The strap portion has opposite ends with a length extending between the ends. The strap portion has a hole with the hook portion stem portion extending through the hole. The stem portion has a retainer that releasably secures the hook portion to the strap portion and permits pivoting motion of the hook portion relative to the strap portion about the swivel axis. The retainer is selectively adjustable to set the amount of projection of the stem through the strap portion.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 29/445,978, filed Feb. 19, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     This disclosure relates to a strap hook that has a hook portion and a strap portion. The hook portion is releasably attached to the strap portion. The hook portion is able to rotate or swivel relative to the strap portion about a swivel axis. The strap portion may have a releasable connector allowing the strap portion to be wrapped around or otherwise attached to an anchoring object. The hook portion has an attachment portion enabling the hook portion to be attached to a hooked object. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a strap hook with a strap portion, a hook portion, and mating portions of a releasable connector connected together. 
         FIG. 2  shows a partial top view of the strap portion of the strap hook of  FIG. 1 , the bottom view being identical. 
         FIG. 3  shows a partial side view of the strap portion of  FIG. 2 , the opposite side view being identical. 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the strap taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  shows the mating portions of the releasable connector of the strap hook of  FIG. 1  apart. 
         FIGS. 6-9  show alternate embodiments of the hook portion of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows the strap hook  20  comprising a strap portion  22  and a hook portion  24 . The hook portion  24  comprises a stem portion  26  and an attachment portion  28  extending from the stem portion. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the attachment portion  28  may be a single projection from the stem portion  26  giving the hook portion  24  a generally L-shaped appearance.  FIGS. 7-9  show alternate embodiments of the hook portion  24  comprising multiple attachment portions  28 ′, 28 ″ extending from the stem portion  26 . It should be appreciated that the attachment portions may extend from the stem portion in other configurations rather than perpendicular configurations. For instance, the attachment portion(s) may extend from the stem portion in a generally curved manner to provide the hook with a generally J-shaped appearance. The attachment portion may also have a spring loaded clip or a pin (not shown) extending from a distal end of the attachment portion to secure the opening of the attachment portion once an object is hooked with the attachment portion. 
     The stem portion  26  has an extension  30  that may be directed through a hole  32  in the strap portion  22  for securing the hook portion  24  to the strap portion. The extension  30  of the hook portion  24  may be secured to the strap portion  22  with a retainer  34 . In the drawings, the extension  30  is shown as a threaded member. Preferably, the threading of the extension  30  is uniform threading that will allow the use of a conventional nut as the retainer  34  which may be threaded onto the extension  30  of the stem portion  26  to releasably secure the strap hook to the strap. For instance, the threading on the extension may be #10×24 UNRC, ¼″×20 UNRC, or 5/16″×18 UNRC, or ⅜″×16 UNRC threading. Other sizes may also be used depending upon the loading and the intended application of the strap hook, and/or a diameter of the extension of the stem portion of the hook portion. A second nut  36  may also be provided to set a length L of the extension  30  that may extend through the hole  32 . Washers  38  may be provided with the first and second nuts  34 , 36  on opposite sides of the strap adjacent the hole  32  to provide further reinforcement around the strap portion hole to prevent fretting wear on the nylon strap. The retainer  34  is set relative to the extension and strap portion so that hook portion is able to rotate or swivel relative to the strap portion in the hole  32  about a swivel axis S-S. For instance, in the drawings, first and second nuts  34 , 36  are relatively loosely fitted against the strap to allow the hook portion to swivel about axis S-S. Additionally, the position of the first and second nuts  34 , 36  may be adjusted by threading the nuts to a desired position on the extension to thereby set the length L and the relative position of the hook portion relative to the strap portion. While the drawing show the retainer as a nut, the retainer may comprise other releasable fasteners, such as cotter pins, snap rings, washers, rivets, grommets, pawls, press-fit washers, or deformable couplings which may be crimped into form around the extension of the stem portion. Alternatively, the stem portion may be provided with a boss (not shown) at a proximal end of the extension to provide a support for the underside of the strap portion in lieu of the second nut. 
     The strap portion  22  comprises a length with the hole  32  formed in the length preferably centered on a width of the strap portion ( FIG. 4 ). Reinforcing thicknesses of the strap portion (not shown) may be provided around the hole  32 . For instance, extra material may be stitched to the strap portion around the hole. The hole may also have reinforced stitching or a grommet. Preferably, the strap is a nylon strap. In one embodiment, the strap portion may be one inch wide nylon strap with a 300 pound tensile strength with the hook portion having a stem portion threaded ¼″×20 UNRC. The strap portion may have a plurality of holes  32  arranged along its length centered on its width. Accordingly, one or more hook portions may be directed through any one of the holes of the strap portion along its length to provide versatile use of the strap hook. 
     The strap hook  20  may have a releasable connector  40  with mating portions  42 ,  44 . The releasable connector  40  may be a snap buckle. In one embodiment, the snap buckle may be a parachute buckle.  FIG. 5  provides additional detail of the snap buckle style releasable connector  40 . The snap buckle male portion  42  and female portion  44  may snap release together. Each male and female portion  42 , 44  may have a rib  46 , and a free end  48  of the strap portion  22  may be looped around the rib. By pulling on the free end  48  of the strap portion around the rib  46 , the position of the snap buckle along the strap portion may be adjusted as necessary. The rib  46  may have knurling to limit slippage of the strap portion around the releasable connector  40 . The drawings show a releasable connector  40  with the hook portion  24  positioned therebetween. This allows the strap hook  20  to be wrapped around an anchoring object with the releasable connector  40  connected, and tightened in place by pulling on the free ends  48  of the strap portion  22 . While the drawings show a snap buckle, other types of releasable connectors may be provided on the strap portion. For instance, free ends of the strap portion may be connected together with hook and loop material or releasable snaps. The free ends of the strap portion may be tied together. One of the free ends of the strap portion may have a loop, and the other free end of the strap portion may be directed through the loop and attached back on itself to secure the strap hook around an object. 
     The strap hook shown herein has proven especially useful for hunting applications. In a hunting application, a releasable connector snap buckle may be provided on the strap portion with the hook portion positioned therebetween. The strap portion may be wrapped around a tree branch or tree trunk. The male and female portions of the releasable connector may be releasably connected together and the free ends of the straps may be pulled to tightly draw the strap portion around the tree trunk or tree branch. The hook portion with the open attachment portion of the hook portion provides a convenient location to mount a rifle or other hunting equipment. In a like manner, the strap hook may be used in camping applications for storing camping equipment in a tree. The strap hook may also be used to store equipment in a garage, barn, or shed by wrapping the strap hook around a truss beam or the like. 
     Alternatively, the strap hook may be used as a hold down for equipment. For instance, the attachment portion of the hook portion of the strap hook may be connected to a hooked object, and one free end of the strap portion may be connected to an anchor (with or without the releasable connector). Alternatively, the strap portion may have a male or female portion of the releasable connector on a free end of the strap portion that may be releasably connected to the mating portion of a releasable connector of a second strap hook, thereby allowing the strap portions of two strap hooks to be connected in series. The attachment portion of the hook portion of the second strap hook may be hooked to an anchor such as a cleat or other style of mount, and the attachment portion of the hook portion of the first strap hook may be connected to a hooked object. 
     The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and their practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments and modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.