Abstract:
A conduit stress relief strap, which provides improved weight and tension relief along with being an adjustable, flexible, easy to attach and detach strap. This invention is particularly adapted to provide relief to hoses, cables, and other like flexible conduit. The combination of hook and loop fasteners and strap loop devices provides greatly improved flexibility and adjustment while maintaining stress relief at the point of connection between two conduits.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to devices for holding or supporting hoses, cables and other connectable conduit apparatuses. More specifically, this invention relates to flexible straps, which support the weight or reduce the tension on hoses, cables and other like devices. 
     2. Description of Related Art. 
     A variety of clamps, ties and carrying devices adapted to hold cables and the like have been proposed. Traditionally, these devices provide only part of the support solution. For example, they are often designed to work with only certain conduits, or they are often not reusable, or they are mechanically complex, or they provide only inadequate adjustments. Because of the particular tensions and stresses which are placed on connectable hoses, cables and the like as they are being laid from a source through obstacles to a destination, and the likelihood that such conduits will become disconnected, a general purpose support solution which holds connected ends of the conduit together is highly desired. For general background material, the reader is directed to the following U.S. Patent documents, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for the material contained therein. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,048 describes a clamp for holding a pair of elongate objects such as hoses in a spaced, generally parallel relationship. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,359 describes a toggle clamp assembly for a flexible hose that includes a flexible strap having a friction grip buckle for securing the ends of the strap into a loop around a hose and a toggle lever having one end attached to the strap and adapted to pivot from a non-tensioning position to a tensioning position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,049 describes a retainer strap for use in holding together and/or supporting wires, hoses, ropes or the like. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,949 describes a clamp for a hose that comprises a drum, which is confined for rotation within a clip. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,903,922 and 5,005,790 describe a hose holding fixture for supporting all or part of a water or garden hose connected to a faucet. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,346 describes a fastening assembly for elongate articles that comprises an annular member and a nondeformable flexible strap, the strap being adapted for passage through the channel of the annular member so that the articles are received upon and resiliently opposed by, seating members provided along each marginal edge of the annular member. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,050 describes a device for bundling objects such as cords, cables, wire, and hose that comprises an elongated flexible strap having one side hook-loop material and having on the opposing side, for engagement therewith, complementary hook-loop material, having on one end of the strap a clasp for looping the strap therethrough to encircle an object for fastening the device thereto; having a rigid threading member on an opposing end of the strap for convenient threading of the strap through the clasp. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,362 describes a carrier for supporting a coil formed from a length or wire or hose that comprises an arcuately shaped supported member defining a top support surface and a bottom support surface; a plurality of fasteners secured to a top surface at ends of the support member for holding the coil to the bottom surface of the support member, the fastener includes a flexible strap looped under the coil. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,265 describes a sling for positioning a large-diameter hose (such as a fire hose) while the hose is under pressure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,308 describes a carrying strap for toting articles of clothing, including a first end for forming a shoulder strap, and a second end for forming a toting strap for carrying the article 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,730 describes an improved fire hose carrier which provides greater ease in handling and moving hose, particularly when under pressure, and which is readily attachable and detachable to and from a fire hose. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,966 describes an apparatus for carrying folded hose, such as fire hose to locations where it is needed. The apparatus is constructed of lightweight, flexible material, such as webbed nylon and is capable of being worn on the back of a person, as a backpack. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,424 describes an apparatus for elastically gripping and holding an article, that comprises a flexible elongated handle member lying generally along a longitudinal handle axis, the handle defining an interior carrying opening proximate one end, and including a strap coupling area spaced from the carrying opening; a flexible, elastic strap coupled to the handle member at the strap coupling area and extending therefrom. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is desirable to provide a conduit supporting strap that provides weight and connection support to hoses, cables and the like, which is particularly adapted to relieving tension and stress at the linear connection between two flexible conduits. 
     Therefore, it is the general object of this invention to provide a strap that can be attached near the ends of two conduits, which are attached end to end, to provide tension reduction and thereby avoid disconnection of the conduits. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide a strap device that is flexible, so as to avoid inducing additional mechanical stress to the conduits. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a strap device that adjustable to hold a wide range of different conduits, including but not limited to large and small diameter hoses and electrical cables. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a strap device that is adjustable in its positioning relative to the connection between the conduits. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide a strap, which is easily attachable and removable without special tools. 
     A still further object of this invention is to provide a strap that is mechanically simple, low cost and reliable. 
     These and other objects of this invention are achieved by the apparatus described herein and will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a review of the following drawings, detailed description and claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration of the first side view of the preferred strap of this invention fixed around two connected conduits. 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration of the second side view of the preferred strap of this invention fixed around two connected conduits. 
     FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  are views of the first and second sides of the preferred embodiment of the first portion of the preferred embodiment of this invention. 
     FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  are views of the first and second sides of the preferred embodiment of the second portion of the preferred embodiment of this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is a strap device for providing weight and stress relief for a wide range of connectable conduits, including, but not limited to, hoses, cables and electrical conductors. In its preferred embodiment, two portions are each provided with hook and loop material sections, such as “Velcro,” along with one or more strap loops to provide the fastening required for holding the connected conduits together, while providing easy adjustment and the flexibility required for use with flexible conduit. 
     FIG. 1 shows an illustration of the first side view of the preferred strap of this invention  100  fixed around two connected conduits  106 ,  107 . The first conduit  106  is connected to the second conduit  107  by a connector  108 . The first portion  101  of the strap  100  is provided with a conduit holding segment  103 , which in this view is wrapped around the first conduit  106  with an overlap  109  that is partially held in place by a strap loop  304 , and a segment  111  for attaching to the second portion  102 . Typically and preferably, the segment  111  is positioned over the conduit connector  108  when the strap  100  of this invention is in position on the conduits  106 ,  107 . The second portion  102  is provided with a conduit holding segment  104 , which is this view is wrapped around the second conduit  107  with an overlap  110  that is partially held in place by a strap loop  406 , and a segment  112  with a strap loop  105  for attaching to the segment  111  of the first portion  101 . In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the strap loops,  105 ,  304 , and  406  are made of ABS plastic, although alternative materials, such as metal, cloth and the like can substituted without departing from the concept of this invention. The preferred material for the strap is a synthetic nylon material, although alternative flexible materials can be substituted without departing from the concept of this invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows the second side view of the preferred strap  100  of this invention fixed around two connected conduits  106 ,  107 . This view more clearly shows the other side  201 ,  202  of the conduit holding segments  103 ,  104  as they are wrapped around the conduits  106 ,  107 . 
     FIG. 3 a  shows a detailed view of the first side of the first portion  101  of the preferred embodiment of this invention  100 . This view shows the first segment  301  and the second segment  302  joined at an overlap region  303 . Preferably, the first  301  and second  302  segments are held together at the overlap region  303  by stitching  312 . When wrapped around a conduit  106 , the first segment  301  becomes the cable holding segment  103 . The strap loop  304  is fixed to the first segment  301  by wrapping the end  305  of the first segment  301  through the strap loop  304  and stitching it in place on the opposite side of the overlap region  303 . The first segment  301  has a hook surface  308  stitched  310  to this first side of the first portion  101 . Also stitched  311  to the first segment  301  is a loop surface  306 . When wrapped around the conduit  106  the hook surface  308  is fixed to the loop surface  306 , thereby fixing the conduit holding segment  103  in place. A second segment  302  of the first portion  101  is provided with a hook surface  309  stitched  314  to its  302  first side. Also stitched  313  to the second segment  302  of the first portion  101  is a loop surface  307 . The second segment  302  is the attachment segment  111  when it is fixed to the second portion  102  through the strap loop  105 . Again, the second segment&#39;s  302  hook  309  and loop  307  surfaces serve to lock the first portion  101  in place relative to the second portion  102 . 
     FIG. 3 b  shows a detailed view of the second side of the first portion  101  of the preferred embodiment of this invention  100 . The first segment  301  is shown attached to the second segment  302 , with the strap loop  304  shown having the end  305  of the first segment  301  looping through the strap loop  304 . 
     FIG. 4 a  shows the first side of the preferred embodiment of the second portion  102  of the preferred embodiment of the invention  100 . This view shows the first segment  401  and the second segment  402  joined at an overlap region  405 . Preferably, the first  401  and second segment  402  are held together by stitching  409 . When wrapped around the conduit  107 , the second segment  402  becomes the cable holding segment  104 . The strap loop  406  is fixed to the second segment by wrapping the end  407  of the second segment  402  through the strap loop  406  and stitching it in place on the opposite side of the overlap region  405 . The second segment  402  has a hook surface  404  stitched  411  to the first side of the second portion  102 . A loop surface  403  is also stitched  410  to the first side of the second portion  102 . When wrapped around the conduit  107  the hook surface  404  is fixed to the loop surface  403 , thereby fixing the conduit holding segment  104  in place. The first segment  401  of the second portion  102  is provided with the strap loop  105  fixed to its  102  unattached end  412 . 
     FIG. 4 b  shows the second side of the preferred embodiment of the second portion  102  of the preferred embodiment of the invention  100 . The first segment  401  of the second portion  102  is shown attached to the second segment  402 , with the strap loops  105  and  406  shown appropriately attached to the first segment  401  and second segment  402  respectively. 
     The described embodiment is to be considered in all respects as illustrative only and not as restrictive. Although the preferred embodiment described here includes specific segments and materials, this invention is not limited thereto. The number of segments can be increased as necessary to hold the particular conduit. Also, while stitching is the preferred means of fixing the segments together, alternatives such as bonding, stapling, clipping and the like can be substituted without departing from the concept of this invention. In sum, the scope of this invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes, which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims, are to be embraced as being within their scope.