Abstract:
A flexible strap restraint assembly including a hollow tubular strap, a connector pin device for connecting the end of the strap to a suction cup base assembly. The connector pin includes an extent of reduced cross sectional area between the suction cup and the strap end providing a living hinge to allow the strap to be directed in a plurality of different directions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to multi-use flexible straps and base connector elements and more particularly to such flexible strap devices for restraining shiftable articles on a rack or shelf. The invention has special application to such base or anchor devices as suction cups widely used for connecting straps and the like to smooth impermeable surfaces such as window glass, table tops, cabinet walls and many others. Typical uses include smooth walls in cabinets, refrigerators, showers and other smooth wall areas. These uses occur in environments such as home, RV, camper, auto, boat and many others without limitation. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Many designs and methods have been created in the prior art for connecting flexible holding straps to suction cups or other bases for various purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,816 to Harold L. Hall et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,711 to J. L. Moore are illustrative of the method of simply passing a flexible strap through an aperture in a suction cup boss. This type of connector is simplistic and usually does not permit rearrangement or disassembly without either untying the ends of the flexible strap or destroying these elements. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,129 to Adams and U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,641 to Wilson illustrate the type of connector which requires either the use of adhesives or the integral molding of the flexible strap or tether to the boss of the suction cup. Other prior art devices utilize flexible straps, chains or the like which are connected to the boss of a suction cup or other base by mechanical means such as hooks, springs or other metal elements. The following listed patents are exemplary of this type of prior art. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
             
                 
               U.S. Pat. No. 
               Patentee 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               5,481,764 
               Nelson 
             
             
                 
               5,391,104 
               George 
             
             
                 
               5,253,393 
               Levin 
             
             
                 
               3,321,166 
               Gordon 
             
             
                 
               3,059,952 
               Wittman et al. 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   The following listed patents are of general interest for their disclosure of various uses of suction cup bases in the prior art. 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               5,405,112 
               Trethewey 
             
             
                 
               4,469,358 
               Abbott 
             
             
                 
               5,328,434 
               Carroll 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The flexible strap and connector structure of the present invention comprises in the preferred embodiment, a connector base in the form of a suction cup, a connector pin engageable in a bore in the boss of the suction cup and a flexible tubular strap engagable on the connector pin. The opposite ends of the flexible strap may each be provided with a base and connector pin combination for spanning between two spaced surfaces. The suction cup base includes an upstanding boss on its outer surface having a bore for reception of the connector pin. The connector pin includes an enlarged head for engaging the surface on one side of the boss and a central shaft which extends through the bore in the boss and protrudes on the opposite side. The protruding portion of the connector pin shaft has an extended connector terminal end and an extent of reduced cross sectional area located between the connector terminal end and the surface of the base when assembled. The connector pin may be molded from semi-rigid plastic material and the reduced cross sectional area performs as a living hinge on the protruding portion of the connector pin shaft. The flexible strap may comprise and elastic tubular element with the hollow center being sized and configured to engage and grip the protruding connector terminal end of the connector pin. With this structure the flexible strap may be extended and tensioned between two surfaces suitable for holding the suction cup bases. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the flexible strap installed in a wall corner; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the flexible strap installed in a cabinet shelf; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the strap, connector and base assembly; and 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the flexible strap assembly is illustrated mounted in the corner of a tiled bathroom wall  10  directly above the bath tub  11 . In this use the strap  12  will be tensioned at an angle with respect to the suction cup bases to restrain articles resting on the bath tub ledge. The assembly includes the flexible strap  12 , connector pins  13  and suction cup bases  14 . It will be understood that the opposite ends of the flexible strap may be of identical construction, hence only one base and connector pin assembly will be described in detail. The suction cups  14  may be of any conventional well known design constructed from flexible material such as rubber or soft plastic capable of holding a seal. The suction cup utilizes a collapsible cavity which forms a vacuum pressure retention when pressured against an impermeable surface such as glass, tile or painted gloss surface. The suction cup is often released by lateral tilting or otherwise forcing the edge of the cup to be raised so as to break or vent the vacuum.  FIG. 2  illustrates another installation wherein the flexible strap is mounted between the opposing surfaces of two parallel walls  16  for restraining articles on a shelf  17 , such as found in a refrigerator or other cabinet structure. In this use the flexible strap is tensioned parallel to the central axis of the suction cup. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a typical suction cup  14  suitable for the present invention is illustrated. As aforementioned, the suction cup may be of conventional design having a flexible cup body  16  forming a cavity  17  which forms a vacuum retention when pressured against an impermeable surface. The cup body is molded integrally with a centrally located boss  18  which extends from the surface of the cup body opposite the cavity  17 . Through bore  19  is formed in the boss  18  and extends transversely to the central axis x—x of the boss and cup body. The suction cup structure and bore  19  are usually formed by known molding processes from rubber or flexible plastic materials well known in the art. 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the connector pin  13  is formed with a shaft  21  a head or cap  22 , a terminal end connector portion  23  and a reduced diameter section  24 . The connector pin shaft  21  and terminal connector  23  may be cylindrical in shape with an outside diameter which permits the pin to be passed through the bore  19  in the boss  18  with a somewhat snug fit. The head portion  22  of the connector pin will engage one side of the boss  18  when the two elements are assembled as illustrated in  FIG. 4  so as to limit the movement of the pin in one direction. The pin  13  may be formed by any well known molding process so as to comprise an integral structure. The pin may be fabricated from any number of well known plastic materials with the sections  21  and  23  being semi-rigid or slightly flexible. The portion  24 , because of its reduced diameter and the nature of the plastic material, is extremely flexible or bendable for reasons to be described. When the pin  13  is assembled in the bore  19  of the suction cup boss, the reduced diameter hinge portion  24  will be located outside of the bore  19  a sufficient extent so as to allow the terminal connector end  23  to be selectively displaced in any direction relative to the shaft portion  21 . 
   The connector strap  12  in the present embodiment comprise a hollow tubular elastic strap usually constructed from rubber or other flexible and elastic material. The strap  12  may be formed from elastic tubing referred to as surgical tubing which is well known in the art and commercially available. If desired, the tubing  26  may be provided with any suitable covering or coating  27  for the sake of appearance and durability. The internal diameter of the elastic tubing  26  is chosen so as to snugly fit and tightly engage the connector end  23  as shown in FIG.  4 . Because of the elastic nature of the flexible tubing, when stretched or tensioned in the longitudinal direction, the diameter of the elastic tubing tends to decrease and thereby further enhance the gripping action between itself and the terminal connector end  23 . With this arrangement, tensioning of the flexible strap  12  in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the connector pin results in a gripping action on the connector terminal end  23  with the pin being restrained against the boss  18  by the head  22  of the pin. 
   From the foregoing description it will be recognized that present flexible strap and suction cup base along with the novel connector pin assembly provides significant improvements in such devices over known prior art attempts. The connector pin and tubular elastic strap engagement provides an extremely tenacious connection which is enhanced progressively with increased tension in the strap. The flexible reduced cross section extent of the pin or living hinge allows the flexible strap and terminal connector of the pin to be pulled in a multitude of directions without sharply bending the elastic strap and at the same time relieving lateral stress forces on the suction cup base which otherwise tend to break the vacuum and release the base. With the present construction, the entire assembly may be formed from non metallic plastic materials, thus avoiding common problems associated with metallic surfaces. It will also be apparent that the assembly may be easily disassembled into its component parts for replacement, other uses or reuse. 
   Although the present preferred embodiment has been described in terms of certain specific structures, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations and modifications are possible. For instance, the connector pin shaft does not necessarily need to be circular in cross section and the flexible strap  12  can be changed in configuration to mate with the terminal portion of the connector pin. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the hallow flexible strap  12  may be constructed from any flexible material with, as for instance, terminal end portions which will engage the terminal connector of the pin  13  in the manner described. Likewise, still further means of connecting the flexible strap  12  to the terminal end connector of the pin  13  may be devised. The suction cup base  14  may vary widely in its configuration and, in some instances, may be permanently attached to a surface by means other than vacuum pressure.