Interlocking strap hooks with flexible elongated member attachment means

Interlocking hook assemblies for straps and cords including a strap member and interlocking hook devices connected to each strap member which can be adjusted to desired length. Each device has apertures fixedly attached to the distal end of the hook body opposite the hook. Each hook device can be connected, preferably in a locking manner, onto the other hook device creating a closed hook assembly thereby disabling the hooks to prevent entanglement of straps. Multiple straps can be connected end-to-end forming an elongated strap of desired length having closed central hooks with open hooks on each end. Interlocking hook assemblies for straps and cords including two similar interlocking hook devices each with a connector groove and dual bar adjustable webbing slider for straps and cords, each said connector groove allows each hook to engage the other within their respective grooves and to releasably lock them together.

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REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates primarily to interlocking hooks. More particularly, the present invention relates to interlocking hooks for elastic and rigid tie-down straps.

2. General Background of the Invention

Tie-down strap hooks are manufactured in a variety of different designs of which there are two basic designs, open hook and closed/gated hook (hooks with gates to form a closure). The open hook designs are difficult to store and transport when not in use because the hooks naturally engage upon other objects and become easily entangled especially when several or more elastic or rigid straps are grouped together. The closed or gated hook style utilized in elastic or rigid straps attempts to solve the entanglement problem by providing a hook with a spring loaded gate that is closed when the hook is not in use. However, the spring loaded gate creates difficulty for the user while hooking and unhooking the elastic or rigid strap hook due to interference of the gate in the hook area. Additionally, the gate opens inward into the hook area limiting the available hook area that would otherwise be available if the gate were not present.

Attempts to solve the problem with elastic or rigid tie-down strap storage are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,003,672; D559,103; 6,886,796 and Publication No. 2007/0284326 and outline methods in which the elastic or rigid strap hook can be covered by a slide-able cover or by means of hooking the elastic or rigid strap to a secondary housing, pallet or frame member to prevent entanglement of the elastic or rigid strap hooks during storage and transportation. Other attempts to solve the problem with elastic or rigid tie-down strap storage and transportation are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. D307,705; D329,371; D330,669; D625,988 and 7,228,600 and outline methods in which elastic or rigid strap hooks are provided with closing gates which are used to disable the hooks when not in use.

An attempt to provide an elastic or rigid strap hook which can be connected end-to-end is described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0067968 wherein the hook is provided with “a receptacle formed in the hook portion for receiving a mating portion of another bungee cord fastener”.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a pair of similar hooks with each hook incorporating a connector groove within the hook body and one or more apertures such as a dual bar adjustable webbing slider attached to the hook body opposite the hook. The connector groove allows for the locking engagement of one hook to the other thereby providing a closed hook assembly which will not entangle upon itself or other objects. The aperture on the hook body opposite the hook allows for the connection of an elastic or rigid strap or cord to the aperture. The aperture or apertures can frictionally retain the straps or cords to the hook body. The cords or straps can also be fixedly attached to the aperture or apertures.

The apparatus of the present invention solves the problems confronted in the art in a simple and straightforward manner. The present invention includes a pair of hooks, preferably metal reinforced overmolded plastic hooks, which are preferably provided with a connector groove in the body of the hook having a catch feature which allows for one metal reinforced plastic hook to engage and lock upon the other thereby providing a closed hook assembly which will not engage upon other objects. The interlocking hooks are designed to engage and lock upon one another when not in use to prevent entanglement of elastic or rigid tie-down straps during transportation and storage. Also, the interlocking hooks of the present invention provide a means for the hooks to engage upon one another forming a closed hook assembly when not in use while allowing the entire hook area to remain open and unobstructed for ease of use when attaching to other objects. Additionally, the interlocking hooks of the present invention allow for multiple elastic or rigid tie-down straps to be attached end-to-end offering the user the option to vary the length of the elastic or rigid straps while the central hooks remain interlocked in a closed hook assembly thereby preventing the central hooks from engaging other objects while the hooks on each end remain open for use. The dual bar adjustable webbing slider allows the length of the straps to be independently adjustable to make cords and straps adjustable to desired length.

The interlocking hooks with elastic and rigid cords and straps are advantageous over other elastic and rigid cord and straps with hooks in the following ways:

The present invention is advantageous over other cargo management devices in that it does not require a secondary device to secure and disable the hooks when not in use. Additionally, the present invention allows the hooks of each elastic or rigid tie-down strap to be interlocked, secured and disabled thereby providing the user the option to transport one or multiple tie-down straps to the location which it will be used with their hooks in a secured and safe condition.

The present invention is advantageous over the bungee cord fastener described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0067968 because it does not have a receptacle located in the hook portion which can interfere with the strength and the function of the hook thereby limiting its use. Additionally, the bungee cord fastener described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0067968 does not provide a means to disable the hooks to prevent engagement of the hooks when being transported or stored when in use or not in use as does the present invention.

Hooks with closing gates are disadvantageous compared to the present invention because the gates interfere with the function of the hooks and make it cumbersome for the user to hook and unhook the elastic or rigid strap due to the requirement to operate the gate while hooking and unhooking the device during operation. The hook engagement capability of the present invention allows for tangle-free transportation and storage of elastic or rigid straps and is advantageous over gated hook styles because the hooks can be interlocked upon one another thereby preventing the hooks from hooking undesirable objects without altering or interfering with the function of the hook when put into use.

Also, the present invention is advantageous over other cargo management devices because the plane of the aperture lies perpendicular to the plane of the hook allowing the strap connected to the aperture to lie flat against the object being retained by the strap.

Incorporated herein by reference are my prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,249,825; 9,797,431; 10,174,784; and 10,738,820. This is not a continuation or continuation-in-part of these or any related patents. Please see those patents for more information about the structure of the hook member of the present invention. The embodiment shown inFIG. 9is an alternative assembly of elastic member and interlocking hook assembly of the one shown and described in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,249,825; 9,797,431; 10,174,784; and 10,738,820

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Interlocking hook device100of the present invention preferably includes hook101with hook body102preferably having a connector groove103and dual bar adjustable webbing slider104. In various preferred embodiments of the present invention, two similar hook devices100can assemble and lock onto one another thereby forming a closed hook assembly, which also disables the hooks101and provides for tangle-free transportation and storage when not in use.

As seen inFIG. 1, interlocking hook device100includes hook101, that has a centroid110, and is connected to a hook body102which is connected to an aperture or apertures of dual bar adjustable webbing slider104.

Each hook101locks into the connector groove103of the other hook device100, preferably frictionally (though they could, for example, be spring or magnetically locked). Each hook101preferably frictionally engages the connector groove103of the other hook device100, preferably with catch feature109.

As seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, in various preferred embodiments of the present invention, interlocking hook device100includes hook101with hook body102which provide the ability for two similar hook devices100to assemble and lock onto one another thereby forming a closed hook assembly as shown inFIG. 7. Interlocking hook devices100can be connected to an elastomeric or rigid elongated flexible member209(seeFIG. 5) which provides the ability for the hook devices100to assemble onto one another thereby forming a closed hook assembly300(seeFIG. 7) thereby disabling the hooks101and providing for tangle free transportation and storage when not in use.

The size of the preferred embodiments varies depending on the application by which it is used and the amount of stress the hook device is placed under. In various preferred embodiments, hook device100is preferably about 1-6 inches in length, more preferably about 3-6 inches in length, and most preferably about 5½ inches in length.

Flexible elongated member/webbing strap209can be made of Cotton, Nylon, Polyester & Polypropylene and preferably, in widths of ⅜″ to 4″. Flexible elongated member209can also be made of continuous natural (latex) or synthetic rubber elastic strands with an outer nylon sheath. Flexible elongated member209materials include for example Polypropylene, heavy duty nylon, OCE fiber, and EPDM rubber strands. Flexible elongated member209can be made of multiple strands or ribbons of natural or synthetic rubber and is prepared and extruded into long ribbons of rubber. These ribbons are approximately 0.09 inch to 0.12 inch (0.24-0.32 cm) thick, 0.25 inch (0.64 cm) wide and up to 100 feet (30 m) long. The number of ribbons, or strands, in a bungee cord determines the diameter of the cord and the overall tensile strength rating. Standard commercial bungee cord is available in diameters from about 0.25-inch to 0.62-inch (0.64-1.6 cm). Mil-spec cord is available from 0.25-inch to 0.87-inch (0.64-2.2 cm) in diameter. Specifications for a 0.62-inch (1.6 cm) diameter mil-spec cord must weigh 14 pounds per 100 feet (or 6 kg per 30 m), support 250-350 pounds (113-159 kg) at 100% elongation, have a minimum breaking strength of 500 pounds (227 kg), and be able to endure a minimum of 50,000 flex cycles.

Interlocking hooks devices100and200with strap209can be assembled by the following preferred method:

Construction of Hook Device100:

In various preferred embodiments of the present invention, hook device100can preferably be constructed of a solid over-molded metal core over-molded with Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyethylene or Nylon. Hook device100has a metal core108preferably made from high carbon spring wire (preferably music wire ASTM A 228 or hard drawn ASTM A 227). Metal core108is formed in the shape of a hook on one end and extends through the hook body102and the dual bar adjustable webbing slider104. An insert molding process is employed by inserting and centralizing the metal core108into a first mold cavity in a first half of an injection molding block. The second half of the injection molding block with a second mold cavity is clamped upon the first half of the injection molding block forming one closed cavity in the shape of hook device100surrounding metal core108within. Polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene or nylon or another thermoplastic polymer is then injected into the two mold cavities thereby completing the inserting molding process and hook device100.

Assembly of Hook Device100onto Webbing Strap209:

Webbing strap209is passed through the bottom of aperture105of dual bar adjustable webbing slider104and then through the top of aperture106of the dual bar adjustable webbing slider104to form the webbing strap209and hook device assembly200. The end of the webbing strap209can also be passed through the bottom of aperture105and then bonded or sewn onto the webbing strap209forming a permanent non-adjustable loop attaching the hook200to the webbing strap.

FIGS. 7 and 8show one hook device100engaged and locked with another hook device100thereby forming closed hook assembly300. Assembly300will not entangle upon itself or other objects.

FIG. 9shows an alternative preferred embodiment of the assembly of the elastic member and interlocking hook assembly as shown in FIGS. 22-32, for example, in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,249,825; 9,797,431; 10,174,784; and 10,738,820 with elastic member811fixedly attached to wire core803with hook spike817. In this alternative preferred embodiment, the J-shaped hook of the hook body has a semicircular portion and a straight portion with a hook spike817at the end of the straight portion. Wire core803is within a molded thermoplastic hook body.

PARTS LIST

The following is a list of exemplary parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention:100Hook device (preferably metal reinforced plastic hook device preferably made of solid over-molded metal core hooks over-molded with Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyethylene or Nylon or another thermoplastic polymer with inner hardened metal core hook preferably made from metal wire or metal formed in the shape of a hook).101Hook102Hook Body103Connector groove104Dual bar adjustable webbing slider105First aperture of dual bar adjustable webbing slider104106Second aperture of dual bar adjustable webbing slider104107A-A cross section plane108Wire core (preferably made of high carbon spring wire (music wire ASTM A 228 or hard drawn ASTM A 227)109Catch feature110Centroid200Hook device (preferably, metal reinforced plastic hook device preferably made of solid over-molded metal core hooks over-molded with Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Polyethylene or Nylon or another thermoplastic polymer with inner hardened metal core hook made from metal wire or metal formed in the shape of a hook) attached to webbing strap209209Flexible elongated member/webbing strap can be made of Cotton, Nylon, Polyester & Polypropylene and preferably, in widths of ⅜″ to 4″. Can also be made of Premium latex rubber core, OCE fiber, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber strands surrounded by woven polyester, nylon or cotton yarn sheath).300Closed hook assembly of hooks100and straps209802Catch feature803Wire core (preferably made of high carbon spring wire (music wire ASTM A 228 or hard drawn ASTM A 227)810Hook body811Elastic member816Shank of hook817Hook spike