STRAP RETAINER

Abstract: A strap retainer (l0) includes a fexible plate (l0) adapted to be attached by sewing to a substrate (l6), and a retaining mound (ll) integral with the plate (l0) and raised above the upper surface of the plate so as to define therebetween a pair of laterally aligned apertures (l2) for the passage therethrough of the strap (l3). A sewing groove (l4) extends in the upper surface of the plate (l0) along a peripheral edge of the plate for receiving a sewing thread (l5). A support ridge (l9 a ) projects from the bottom surface of the plate (l0) and extends along the peripheral edge of the plate, the ridge being disposed inwardly of and immediately adjacent to the sewing groove (l4). The strap retainer (l0) thus constructed is free from curling up around the periphery thereof and is capable of protecting the sewing thread (l5) against abrasive wear.

Description: This invention relates to a strap retainer for retaining a strap, belt or the like in place on a substrate such as a bag, knapsack, garment, tent or the like. There have been proposed numerous lash devices including strap retainers in which contrivances have been incorporated to reduce wearing of the sewn thread attaching the device to the substrate and to eliminate curling up of the edges of the device. A typical such device is disclosed in U. S. Patent 4,488,333 which provides a thin patch-like plate having a recessed attaching area defined between a raised peripheral border region and a plurality of projections and a uniform recessed underside defined by a continuous narrow peripheral marginal edge. While the thread sewn in the attaching area is protected by the projections against abrasive wear with an extraneous object, the portions of the thread that are exposed in the recessed underside are still liable to abrasive wear. Furthermore, with a thin flexible substrate, the thread sewn thereto through the underside of the plate urges the substrate to move inwardly of the marginal peripheral edge of the plate, resulting in a gap between the substrate and the plate which would in turn lead to curling up of the edge of the plate. With the foregoing problems of the prior art in view, the present invention seeks to provide an improved strap retainer which is free from curling up or otherwise being deformed and which is capable of protecting the sewing thread against abrasive wear. According to the present invention, there is provided a strap retainer for retaining a strap to a substrate, comprising a flexible plate adapted to be attached to the substrate and having a groove defined in an upper surface of said plate and extending along a peripheral edge of said plate for receiving therein a sewing thread, at least one retaining mound integral with said plate and raised above said upper surface of said plate so as to define therebetween a pair of laterally aligned apertures for the passage therethrough of the strap, and a support ridge projecting from a bottom surface of said plate and extending along said peripheral edge of said plate, characterized in that said support ridge is disposed inwardly of and immediately adjacent to said groove. Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example and in which like reference numerals refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Figure l is a plan view of a strap retainer constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of Figure l; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of Figure l; Figure 4 is a bottom view of the strap retainer of Figure l; Figure 5 is a plan view of the strap retainer shown attached to a substrate; Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a peripheral portion of the strap retainer shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a plan view of a modified form of strap retainer embodying the invention; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a bottom view of the strap retainer of Figure 7; Figure l0 is a plan view of the strap retainer of Figure 7 shown attached to a substrate; and Figure ll is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a peripheral portion of the strap retainer of Figure 7. Referring now to the drawings and Figure l in particular, there is shown a strap retainer l0 embodying the invention which is made of a flexible material such as plastic or leather material and which is in the form of a thin square plate. The strap retainer or plate l0 has integral therewith a rectangular strap retaining mound ll centrally disposed and oriented to define a triangular area with each of four corners of the square plate l0. The retaining mound ll is slightly raised above the upper surface of the plate l0 to provide a pair of elongated parallel apertures l2 on opposite longitudinal sides of the mound ll for the passage therethrough of a strap or belt indicated in broken lines at l3 in Figure l. A sewing groove l4 is formed in the upper surface of the plate l0 and extending continuously and closely along the peripheral edges of the plate l0 for receiving a thread l5 which secures the plate l0 to a substrate such as a garment fabric l6 as shown Figure 5, the groove l4 serving to protect the thread l5 from exposure to abrasive wear. The thread l5 being located closely adjacent to the marginal edges of the plate l0 holds the latter flat against the substrate l6 and against curling up. Designated at l7 is a sewing groove which extends continuously around the peripheral edges of the rectangular mound ll and which is adapted to receive a sewn thread l8 securing inner portions of the retainer l0 to the substrate l6. Figure 4 shows the reverse side of the strap retainer l0. The retainer l0 includes a plurality of support ridges l9 extending in parallel with the marginal edge lines of the retainer l0 and slightly protruding above the lower surface of the retainer l0. There is also provided a similar ridge 20 on the bottom surface of the plate l0 in surrounding relation to the peripheral edges of the retaining mound ll. The ridges l9 particularly with their corners l9′ and together with the ridge 20 serve to hold the retainer l0 from slipping or otherwise moving relative to the substrate l6 during sewing attachment of the two parts that can thus be joined together in the proper intended position. The outermost ridge l9 a in particular is located immediately adjacent to but inwardly of the outermost sewing groove l4 as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 6, so that the thread l5 when sewn through the groove l4 anchors the substrate l6 against the ridge l9 a and lies below the bottom face of the substrate to evade abrasive contact, as better shown in Figure 6. The bottom peripheral edge portions l0′ of the retainer l0 are rendered flat and smooth so that these edge portions can be held in intimate engagement with the substrate l6 without developing an objectionable gap therebetween. Refering to Figure 7 - ll inclusive, there is shown a modified form of strap retainer 2l which is rectangular in shape and generally similar to the retainer l0 except that it includes three retaining mounds 22, 23 and 24, the outer mounds 22 and 24 being of a similar size and the center mound 23 being somewhat narrower. The retainer 2l is substantially similar in construction and function to the retainer l0 already described. The support ridges l9 are interconnected by cross bars 25 at suitable intervals to provide multiple joints 26 which serve to hold the retainer 2l in place during sewing of the same to the substrate l6. The outermost ridge l9 a is likewise located immediately adjacent to and inwardly of the sewing groove l4 as better shown in Figure ll for reasons already advanced. The shape of the retainer l0 or 2l may be circular, in which instance the ridges l9, 20 may be provided preferably in concentric relation to such a circular retainer.

Claims: A strap retainer (l0; 2l) for retaining a strap (l3) to a substrate (l6), comprising a flexible piate (l0; 2l) adapted to be attached to the substrate (l6) and having a groove (l4) defined in an upper surface of said plate and extending along a peripheral edge of said plate for receiving therein a sewing thread (l5), at least one retaining mound (ll; 22-24) integral with said plate (l0; 2l) and raised above said upper surface of said plate so as to define therebetween a pair of laterally aligned apertures (l2) for the passage therethrough of the strap (l3), and a support ridge (l9 a ) projecting from a bottom surface of said plate (l0; 2l) and extending along said peripheral edge of said plate, characterized in that said support ridge (l9 a ) is disposed inwardly of and immediately adjacent to said groove (l4). A strap retainer according to claim l, said plate (l0; 2l) further including at least one first ridge (l9) disposed inwardly of and extending parallel with said support ridge (l9 a ). A strap retainer according to claim 2, said plate (l0) further including a second ridge (20) disposed on said bottom surface thereof and extending in surrounding relation to said mound (ll), said first and second ridges (l9, 20) intersecting each other. A strap retainer according to claim 2, said plate (2l) further including a plurality of cross bars (25) extending between said support ridge (l9 a ) and said first ridge (19).

Inventors: MATOBA, HIROSHI
Applicants: YOSHIDA KOGYO K.K.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A41D27
IPC codes: A45C13, A41F9, A41F1, A41D27, A45F3, A44B99