Tie strap for personal items

A tie strap includes an elongated flexible strap defining first and second opposed ends, a first surface and a second surface; a first fabric attachment pad secured to the first surface proximate the first end; a second fabric attachment pad secured to the first surface proximate the second end; a third fabric attachment pad secured to the second surface proximate the second end; and a fourth attachment pad secured to a personal item, the personal item being securable to the tie strap by passing the second end of the flexible strap on a first side of a belt or the like and pressing the fourth attachment pad against the second attachment pad and thereafter rotating the second end of the elongated strap and the personal item upwardly and thereafter folding the first end of the flexible strap upon the third fabric attachment pad and pressing the first attachment pad against the third attachment pad.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to small articles such as personal wireless electronic devices and relates particularly to apparatus for use in aiding the user in carrying, securing and transporting the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the proliferation of wireless devices such as cell phones and other communication devices as well as numerous devices used in the entertainment industry such as wireless transmitters and body packs, individuals often need to carry multiple devices on their person as they move about and perform. As a result, a need has arisen for a low-cost reliable and convenient apparatus for securing such devices on the user's person or upon other carried items such as purse straps or guitar straps or the like.

Faced with this need, practitioners in the art have endeavored to provide a variety of personal item holders, retainers and holsters all of which have proven to be bulky, costly and inconvenient to use. There arises therefore a long felt and unresolved need in the art for a more efficient and cost-effective convenient apparatus for securing small personal items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a simple low cost tie strap. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a convenient easy to use tie strap which facilitates securing devices to a user's belt, instrument strap (such as a guitar strap or the like), purse strap or the like.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided for use in securing a personal item to a belt, or the like, a tie strap comprising: an elongated flexible strap defining first and second opposed ends, a first surface and a second surface; a first fabric attachment pad secured to the first surface proximate the first end; a second fabric attachment pad secured to the first surface proximate the second end; a third fabric attachment pad secured to the second surface proximate the second end; and a fourth attachment pad secured to a personal item, the personal item being securable to the tie strap by passing the second end of the flexible strap on a first side of a belt or the like and pressing the fourth attachment pad against the second attachment pad and thereafter rotating the second end of the elongated strap and the personal item upwardly and thereafter folding the first end of the flexible strap upon the third fabric attachment pad and pressing the first attachment pad against the third attachment pad.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1sets forth a top perspective view of a tie strap for personal items constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral10. Tie strap10is formed of an elongated flexible strap11preferably formed of a material such as leather or the like which defines a top surface12and a bottom surface13(surface13seen inFIG. 2). In accordance with the present invention, tie strap11supports a fabric attachment pad20at one end of strap11secured to surface12thereof. In further accordance with the present invention strap11supports a fabric attachment pad21secured to surface12at the opposite end of strap11. Tie strap10further includes a third fabric attachment pad22secured to surface13(seen inFIG. 2) in general alignment with fabric attachment pad21. Attachment pads20,21and22are secured to flexible strap11using conventional attachment means such as conventional sewing or stitching or alternatively utilizing a high strength adhesive. The essential function of the selected method used for securing fabric attachment pads20,21and22to strap11is to provide a secure high strength attachment between the fabric attachment pads and strap11.

Tie strap10may be adjusted in both length and width to accommodate different sized personal articles and user's belt widths. Additionally, the sizes of fabric attachment pads20,21,22and23(pad23seen inFIG. 3) may also be adjusted as needed. All such size adjustments are accommodated within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the example shown inFIG. 1, an overall length40may typically vary between ten to thirteen inches with approximately eleven and one half inches being preferred. Similarly, width41may vary between one half inch to one and a half inches with one inch being preferred. Finally, fabric attachment pads may vary between two and one half inches to five inches with approximately two and one half inches being preferred for pads21and22and four and one quarter inches for pad20being preferred.

FIG. 2sets forth a bottom perspective view of tie strap10showing surface13supporting fabric attachment pad22.FIG. 2also shows fabric attachment pads20and21secured to surface12of flexible strap11. Once again it will be noted that flexible strap11is preferably formed of a flexible material such as leather or the like. Alternatively, flexible strap11may be formed of a suitable plastic material to which fabric attachment pads20,21and22may be secured

FIG. 3sets forth a perspective view of an illustrative personal item30to which a fabric attachment pad23has been secured. The attachment of fabric attachment pad23to personal item30is typically provided by a conventional adhesive or the like. In the illustration shown inFIG. 3, personal item30may, for example, be a conventional cell phone or any one of the popular “smart phones”. Additionally, personal item30may comprise virtually any of the wireless control devices utilized by musicians during performances to control equipment. By way of further addition, personal item30may comprise virtually any remote control, or the like, which is desired to be secured upon the user's person and to remain available for use.

With concurrent reference toFIGS. 1,2 and 3, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that fabric attachment pads20through22supported upon flexible strap11as well as fabric attachment pad23secured to personal item30preferably comprise combinations of the well-known and popular type of fabric attachment pad generally known in the art as “hook and loop attachment pads”. Such hook and loop fabric attachment pads have become extremely prevalent and well-known in the art. One of the most popular manufacturers of such hook and loop fabric attachment pads markets their products under the trademark “VELCRO”. Other manufacturers also produce similar hook and loop fabric attachment pads. The basic construction of such fabric attachment pads is provided by the combination of a hook type pad and a loop type pad. Hook type pads are characterized by supporting a plurality of upwardly extending hook shaped elements arranged in a closely spaced array. In contrast, loop type pads support a plurality of flexible curly loop elements arranged in a close array. The hook and loop fabric attachment pads provide a temporary attachment when a hook type pad is pressed against a loop type pad. The hook elements of the hook type pad engage the loop elements of the loop type pad. In the embodiment of the present invention set forth inFIGS. 1, 2 and 3, fabric pads20and21are loop type pads while pads22and23are hook type pads. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the character of pads20through23may be reversed using hook pads for pads20and21and loop pads for pads22and23without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 4sets forth a perspective assembly view of the application of the present invention tie strap in combination with a personal item, such as a cell phone, which is to be secured to the belt of a user. In the illustration shown inFIG. 4, a user's body35supports a typical belt31encircling user's body35. Belt31is entirely conventional in fabrication and is used inFIG. 4for purposes of illustration. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the example shown inFIG. 4is provided solely for illustration and should not be considered by way of limitation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the descriptions which follow that the present invention tie strap may be utilized to secure a variety of personal items to different supporting straps and the like without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

More specifically,FIG. 4shows a belt31encircling a user's body35in a typical fashion. In accordance with the anticipated use of the present invention, tie strap10having a flexible strap11includes a surface12upon which a pair of fabric attachment pads20and21are secured in the manner described above. Tie strap10is prepared for use by positioning tie strap10against user's body35such that surface12and fabric attachment pads20and21face outwardly from user's body35. Additionally, tie strap10is oriented such that fabric attachment pad20is at the upper end of strap11while fabric attachment pad21is at the lower end thereof. Tie strap10is then inserted between user's body35and belt31. Tie strap10is then moved downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow14. The downward movement of tie strap10is continued until belt31is positioned upon surface12of tie strap10in the manner shown inFIG. 4such that fabric attachment pad21is located as shown inFIG. 4.

As shown and described above inFIG. 3, personal item30has a fabric attachment pad23secured thereto. Fabric attachment pad23is constructed to be cooperative with fabric attachment pad21such that personal item30may be secured to tie strap10by locating personal item30against the lower and of tie strap10causing fabric attachment pad23to cooperatively engage with fabric attachment pad21. Once this attachment takes place, the lower end of tie strap10and personal item30assume the configuration shown and described below inFIG. 6A. The sequence of steps by which personal item30is secured upon belt31is set forth in greater detail inFIGS. 6A through 6Cbelow. Suffice it to note here that once personal item30has been secured to the lower and of tie strap10through the cooperative engagement of fabric attachment pads23and21, personal item30is then rotated upwardly to the position shown and described below inFIG. 6B. Once personal item30has been position in this manner, the attachment of personal item30is completed by folding the upper end of tie strap10bearing fabric attachment pad20downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow15such that fabric attachment pad20is positioned overlying fabric attachment pad22(seen inFIG. 2). With fabric attachment pad20positioned upon fabric attachment pad21, the cooperative engagement therebetween secures the upper end of tie strap10upon the lower and of tie strap10encircling personal item30and producing the arrangement shown inFIG. 5andFIG. 6C.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the removal of personal item30is carried forward by simply undertaking the above-described steps in the reverse order. That is to say, personal item30is easily removed from its attachment to belt31by initially pulling fabric attachment pad20from its engagement with fabric attachment pad22separating the attachment pads. Thereafter, personal item30may be separated from attachment pad21by simply pulling personal item30and fabric attachment pad23away from fabric attachment pad21separating personal item30from tie strap10and making personal item30available for use.

FIG. 5sets forth a perspective view of tie strap10securing personal item30upon user's body35. It will be noted that in accordance with an important aspect of the present invention tie strap10encircles personal item30together with belt31to securely support and attach personal item30upon belt31. The overlapping of the ends of tie strap10and the secure attachment of fabric attachment pads20through23provides a reliable secure attachment for personal item30.

FIGS. 6A through 6Cset forth sequential steps in the operation of the present invention tie strap in securing a personal item30to a belt31upon the user's body35. As described above, tie strap10includes an elongated flexible strap11which defines a top surface12and a bottom surface13(surface13seen inFIG. 2). In accordance with the present invention, strap11supports a fabric attachment pad20at one end of strap11secured to surface12thereof. In further accordance with the present invention, strap11supports a fabric attachment pad21secured to surface12at the opposite end of strap11. Tie strap10further includes a third fabric attachment pad22secured to surface13(seen inFIG. 2) in general alignment with fabric attachment pad21. The present invention further includes a fabric attachment pad23, which as is set forth above inFIG. 3, is secured to a selected surface of a personal item30which in the example shown may be a cell phone or the like.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6Calso show a portion of a user's body35having a belt31supported about the user's waist. Returning toFIG. 6A, the initial step of the use of the present invention tie strap is shown. Initially, tie strap10is positioned with respect to user's body35such that fabric attachment pads20and21face outwardly. Thereafter, the user inserts the lower half of tie strap10between the interior surface of belt31and the underlying surface of user's body35. Thereafter, personal item30is secured to attachment pad21by aligning attachment pad23and pressing attachment pad23against attachment pad21. The hook material of attachment pad23engages the loop material of pad21and secures personal item30in the position shown inFIG. 6A.

FIG. 6Bshows the position of personal item30and tie strap10following the step of pivoting personal item30upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow35. At this point, attachment pads21and23remain secured together thereby supporting personal item30against the outer surface of belt31.

FIG. 6Cshows the completion of personal item attachment to belt31using the present invention tie strap. This final step is provided by folding the upper portion of flexible strap11downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow36and bringing fabric attachment pad20into contact with fabric attachment pad22. The loop character of pad20and the hook character of pad22provide the attachment. At this point, tie strap10is supporting personal item30upon belt31in the manner shown inFIG. 5. This completes the attachment of personal item30to belt31. The user may then freely move about confident that personal item30will remain secured to belt31. In the event the user has need of personal item30the sequence of steps shown inFIGS. 6A,6B and6C is reversed. Thus, to access personal item30the user simply pulls the outer end of tie strap10away such that fabric attachment pads20and22separate. The combination of tie strap10and personal item30then opens due to gravity to the configuration shown inFIG. 6A. The user then simply pulls personal item30away from tie strap10thereby separating fabric attachment pads23and21and freeing up personal item30.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that while a cell phone is shown in the above figures, this use is for purposes of illustration and not limitation. Accordingly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention tie strap may be used to secure a personal item to virtually any strap or belt as desired. For example, attachment may be provided to a purse strap or a guitar strap or other musical apparatus straps without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Similarly, a variety of personal items commonly used in industries such as the communication and entertainment industries may be secured by the present invention tie strap. Thus, various types of cell phones and smart phones and similar apparatus may be secured using the present invention tie strap. Similarly, various remote controls, body packs, remote transmitters and receivers typical of use in the entertainment industry may also be secured by the present invention ties strap.

What has been shown is a versatile and extremely useful tie strap which may be used to conveniently and efficiently secure personal items of various types as required by the user. The tie strap provided is effective, low cost and extremely easy to master. The present invention tie strap may be fabricated utilizing any one of a variety of flexible strap materials together with attachment apparatus such as the well-known hook and loop fabric attachment pads.