Multi-purpose utility strap

A fastening device having a body portion made of an elastomeric material. The fastening device further includes first and second ends configured with retainer rings into which various end attachment can be formed. End attachments are further configured to engage each other, to engage holes formed in the body portion of the fastener, or to engage other objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to fastening and utility strap devices. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to devices of adjustable length used to fasten and secure objects.

2. Related Art

Ropes and cords have long been employed for an incredible variety of uses such as to collect or bind objects; to attach one object to another; to tie objects up; and to hold objects down. The utility of a device that can tie, hold, and fasten in this way is immeasurable. While ropes and cords are still ubiquitously used for such purposes, other devices which are useful for binding, attaching, tying, and fastening objects have also been developed. Such devices offer helpful differences from traditional ropes and cords such as the ability to absorb shock and apply constant tension, and the ability to bind and fasten without the need for tying knots.

Perhaps the best known device of this kind is what is typically referred to as the bungee cord, a cord made of an elasticized material, such as weaved fabric cording material surrounding a rubber core, typically fashioned with hooks at either end. Bungee cords are widely used in travel, camping, home storage, and many other applications. And unlike cords and ropes, bungee cords fasten with hooks that attach to each other, or to parts of the material being bound, rather than requiring knots. Such a configuration provides a quick way to securely fasten objects.

There are, however, certain drawbacks to the traditionally designed bungee cord. For example, bungee cords have a fixed length that must be utilized in the application in order for the bungee to hold securely. If the entire length of the bungee cords device is not used, then the cord will not securely hold or fasten objects. Thus, when using a bungee cord it is necessary to have a bungee cord of a specific length appropriate for the application in which it is being used. Further, the hooked ends of the bungee cord require objects to be fastened by the hooks, an arrangement which will not work for every application.

What is needed are adjustable length elasticized fasteners that provide an easy way to attach and bind objects.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a multi-purpose fastener fabricated with an elastomeric body portion into which numerous holes are formed. The body portion is made of an elastomeric material that allows the fastener to stretch. The ends of the body portion may be fitted with hooks, buckles, D-rings, wall mount brackets, and a variety of other fastening ends, and/or may be sewn directly onto or into an object for permanent attachment. Hooks, or other fastening ends, may be inserted through the holes located in the body portion to adjust the length of the body portion used in fastening an object, to secure two fasteners together, and so forth.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a multi-purpose fastening device having a body portion made of an elastomeric material into which multiple openings are formed. The body portion is capable of stretching to a length approximately double the initial length of the body portion. Moreover, end pieces for securing the device in a desired position are located at either end of the body portion. Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a multi-purpose fastening device capable of stretching, which can be used as a fastener of adjustable length and can be secured in a variety of different ways.

With attention now toFIGS. 1 and 5A, a multi-purpose fastening device100is shown in a relaxed, non-deformed, configuration. Device100includes a body portion102into which multiple holes or openings104are formed. In one embodiment of the invention, holes of openings104have an elliptical shape that incorporates a design which maximizes the strength and elasticity of the body portion102at the hole104; hole104having a vertical axis104W and a horizontal axis104L, and when hole104is in the relaxed configuration, vertical axis104W is longer than horizontal axis104L. Moreover, as shown in one embodiment of the invention as seen inFIG. 1, holes104may include a surrounding rib, which ribs strengthen the hole. Finally, the elliptical shape of the holes104enhances the elasticity of the holes104. As shown inFIG. 5B, when the body portion102of the fastener is stretched, the holes104deform such that the elliptical shape is changed so that the longer axis of the ellipsis changes from the vertical axis104W, or the axis aligned with the width of the body portion102, to the horizontal axis104L, or the axis aligned with the length of the body portion102.

In one embodiment of the invention, body portion102is formed of an elastomeric material, such as, for example, a silicone or other compound. In one embodiment of the invention, fabrication of the fastener from such a material provides innumerable benefits. For example, an elastomeric material provides a gripping texture for objects bound with the fastener, a griping texture that is not compromised when the elastomeric material becomes wet. Moreover, an appropriate elastomeric material, such as, for example, silicone, provides many benefits to the design and utility of the fastener because such a material maintains its integrity in extreme temperatures; has a high chemical resistance; is not easily susceptible to disintegration due to sunlight, including UV rays; and so forth.

In addition to being formed of an elastomeric material, body portion102is configured in a way to optimize the potential of the body portion to stretch and retract as needed for the application in which the fastening device100is used. Body portion102further includes ends106. In one embodiment of the invention, as shown inFIG. 1, hooks108are attached at ends106. It is to be appreciated that hooks108represent only one end piece capable of being attached to or formed at ends106. In other embodiments of the invention, many other configurations of attachments can be formed at ends106to perform a variety of different functions and to serve a variety of different purposes. Examples of different embodiments of end pieces108are shown in further detail below with reference toFIGS. 2A-2E.

Further, in one embodiment of the invention each of ends106includes a retainer ring (seeFIG. 3and accompanying description) over which the elastomeric material is formed. In such a configuration, the hooks108are attached at the ends106to the retainer rings, which are prevented from being pulled out of the body portion102by the configuration of the elastomeric material over the retainer rings. Moreover, retainer rings of this embodiment allow hooks108to rotate in ends106of the body portion102.

Finally, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, hooks108further include tapered ball ends110. In one embodiment of the invention, the shape of tapered ball ends110guides the end into the holes in the body portion102of the fastener easily and further prevents the hook end from pulling out of a hole104.

In operation, device100is used as body portion102is wrapped around or otherwise configured to secure one or more objects. For example, in some applications device100may be used to secure one or more objects to another object, such as, for example, securing camping gear to a motorized vehicle, such as an ATV, or strapping gear to a backpack. To securely hold the objects around which or over which the body portion is placed, hooks108can fasten to the objects being secured, or, alternatively, to another object. For example, hooks108could attach to camping gear being bound together, or, in another application, hooks108could attach to a motorized vehicle onto which camping gear is being secured.

In addition, due to the retainer ring arrangement, discussed in further detail with reference toFIG. 3, the rotating ability of the retainer ring allows the hook or other end piece of the fastener to be rotated so that a fastener that is twisted can be easily straightened out. Thus, the adjustability of the fastener allows a user to fit the fastener directly onto an object, while the rotating ability of the ends of the fastener allows the user to straighten out the fastener.

Moreover, in another embodiment of the invention, hooks108can attach to the body portion102of the fastening device100through one of holes104. In such an arrangement, tapered ball ends110allow the hook to slide into a hole104while at the same time preventing the hook108from slipping out of hole104. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, body portion102can substantially surround objects to be held together, with one of hooks108attaching to an object. Body portion102can then be stretched as body portion102is wrapped around the objects to be secured. In one embodiment of the invention, body portion102can be stretched to a length approximately twice the initial length of the body portion102. When the objects are secured, a second hook108can be fastened to the objects. In another embodiment of the invention, the hooks108can be fastened directly to holes104, thereby adjusting the length of the body portion used to surround objects to be secured.

Stated differently, if camping gear is being secured together in a bundle, fastening device100can be used to hold the gear together in the bundle. Body portion102is wrapped around the gear. In one embodiment of the invention, hooks108can be attached directly to the camping gear to secure the fastening device100around the gear. In another embodiment of the invention, hooks108could attach to a separate object, such as a vehicle. Finally, in an application where an adjusted length of the fastening device100is desired, one or both of hooks108may be inserted through an opening104to secure the camping gear in a bundle, or to secure the gear to a vehicle. The ability of hooks108to rotate about ends106of the fastening device100enables the hooks to easily engage either objects being bundled, an exterior object, or holes104of the body portion102no matter how the fastening device100is configured in attaching and securing objects.

With attention now toFIGS. 2A-2E, various configurations of, and attachments for, end portions, such as end portions106described above, are shown. First, inFIG. 2A, device200is shown having a first end202configured with a hook204, and a second end206configured with a D-ring208. Such a configuration provides an arrangement such that objects may be secured when the fastener is attached to itself, as the hook204engages the D-ring208. This configuration may be useful in applications requiring bundling of an object, or bundling of objects together, or other applications involving bundling of objects to a backpack or similar carrier. Moreover, such a configuration is also useful in applications where the fastening device200will be stretched a substantial length and secured with hook204and D-ring208after having been stretched in such a way. Various other uses and configurations suitable for use of hook end204and D-ring end208are anticipated by embodiments of the present invention. The D-ring208shown here represents an example of the versatility encompassed by the configuration of embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2Bshows a similar arrangement of fastener200, with a first end202having a hook attachment204. Second end206includes a D-ring208and also includes a mounting attachment210. In such an arrangement fastener200may be mounted to a wall or other stationary surface. After the body portion212of the fastener is stretched around, or placed around the object or objects to be secured, hook204may, in one embodiment of the invention, engage D-ring208. In another embodiment of the invention, hook204may be inserted through an opening214of body portion212. Such an arrangement is particularly useful when a shortened length of fastening device200is desired for a specific application. Thus, whether the hook204attaches to the D-ring208or engages one of the openings214, the objects held together by body portion212will be secured to the wall or other surface to which mounting attachment204is attached.

Next,FIG. 2Cshows a fastener200having ends configured with inserting and receiving pieces202and204, respectively, of a fastener. In the embodiment of the invention shown inFIG. 2C, the fastener is depicted as a buckle, but it is to be appreciated that any other fastener configured with interlocking ends is anticipated by embodiments of the present invention. In this embodiment of the invention, fastener200secures objects as it is wrapped around the object and is secured by the buckle elements202and204. In one embodiment of the invention, such an arrangement is particularly useful for securing rolled and bundled items, such as, for example, a sleeping bag, tent, tarp, sleeping pad, and so forth.

With attention now toFIG. 2D, an embodiment showing fastener200including ends202and204having dove tail capture slide collar ends is shown. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2D, fastener200is stretched and configured in a way to substantially fasten one or more objects, in a manner similar to that described above with reference to FIGS.1and2A-2C. Dove tail capture slide collar ends206and208then secure the fastener200in placed as the ends206and208are engaged and secured.

Finally,FIG. 2Eshows an embodiment for securing ends of fastener200. In this embodiment, fastener200includes ends202and204having twist and lock attachments206and208. When fastener200is stretched and otherwise configured to contain or attach one or more items, twist and lock attachments206and208are then engaged to secure the items in place. Thus, fastening device200can be used in a variety of different applications to secure items and/or to bundle items together in a variety of different ways with any number of different configurations for securing the fastening device and the items, as shown in embodiments of the invention outlined above.

Finally, with attention toFIG. 3, a close-up view of a fastening end300is shown.FIG. 3shows retainer ring302, shown in shadow, which is enclosed in the elastomeric material of body portion304. Retainer ring302engages and holds hook306. In operation, retainer ring302holds hook306allowing hook306to rotate within retainer ring302, but preventing hook306from being pulled out of the end of the body portion304of the fastening device. Further, in one embodiment of the invention, retainer ring302is coated with an adhesive that allows the retainer ring to bond with the elastomeric material of body portion302. In this embodiment, however, hook306is not similarly coated and therefore does not bond with the elastomeric material and therefore can still rotate. Moreover, in one embodiment of the invention, hook306does not rotate within retainer ring302but is stationary and fixed within the retainer ring.

With attention now toFIG. 4, a multi-purpose utility strap400is shown. Utility strap400includes a center portion402having a substantially rectangular shape. Center portion402includes two thickened edges404, with a thinner valley portion located between the thickened edges404. Segments406, which, in one embodiments of the invention have a substantially square shape, are configured of a thinner material than thickened edges404. Holes408are located between segments406, with each hole being surrounded by a rib,410. Moreover, holes408are located between segments406in slat portions412. In one embodiment of the invention, slat portions412have a thickness somewhat greater than segments406, but not as great as the thickness of edges404.

In addition to center portion402, strap400further includes end pieces414and416. In one embodiment of the invention, end pieces414and416house retainer rings (not shown). Hooks418and420, attached to end pieces414and416respectively, may be housed within the retainer rings. In one embodiment of the invention the retainer rings allow hooks418and420to rotate within the end pieces of the strap400. As shown inFIG. 4, hooks418and420include bulb-shaped ends422and424, respectively. Ends422and424are configured to be easily inserted through holes408, and to be less easily removed from holes408, due to the bulb shape.

In operation, strap400, being configured of an elastomeric material, such as, for example, silicone, is deformed and stretched in order to fasten to an item or to otherwise secure objects. The center portion402of the strap is stretched, thus deforming holes408. In one embodiment of the invention, holes408have an elliptical shape, each ellipses having a longer axis and a shorter axis. When the center portion402is not stretched, the longer axis of the ellipses of the holes408is the vertical axis, or the axis running perpendicular to the length of the center portion402. However, the holes are configured such that when the center portion402is stretched, the longer axis of the ellipses becomes the horizontal axis, or the axis running parallel to the length of the center portion402of the strap400.

While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example herein. It should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention includes all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the reasonable interpretation and scope of the invention.