Abstract:
A securing strap arrangement, typically for securing luggage or other items, has a resiliently extensible length portion, and a substantially non-resiliently extensible length portion including an arrangement for varying effective length of the non-resiliently extensible length portion. In a preferred embodiment, the arrangement includes a tensioner grip that stretches the extensible length portion, and a tension grip locator arranged such that the tensioner grip is releasably engageable with the tension grip locater in one of a plurality of location positions that are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the securing strap arrangement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a securing strap arrangement and a tensioner arrangement therefor. 
   2. State of the Art 
   Elasticated bungee straps are commonly used for securing items such as luggage, surfboards or similar to roof-racks. Such straps typically have hooks or the like at opposed ends for the purpose of attachment and securing. 
   An improved strap arrangement has now been devised. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to a first aspect the invention provides a securing strap arrangement comprising:
     a) a resiliently extensible length portion;   b) a substantially non-resiliently extensible length portion including means for varying the effective length of the non-resiliently extensible length portion.   

   In one embodiment the non-resiliently extensible length portion may comprise a web belt or the like including a buckle, slider or similar arrangement for varying the effective length of the non-resiliently extensible length portion. 
   In a preferred embodiment, the non-resiliently extensible portion preferably comprises:
     i) a tensioner grip to stretch the extensible length portion; and   ii) a tensioner grip locator portion arranged such that tensioner grip is adapted to releasably engage with the tensioner grip locator portion in one of a plurality of location positions, which location positions are spaced in the longitudinal direction of the strap arrangement.   

   It is preferred that the tensioner grip has one or more engagement formations adapted to matingly engage with one or more complimentary engagement formations of the grip locator portion; the engagement formations of the grip locator portion being spaced in the longitudinal direction of the strap arrangement. 
   Preferably the engagement formation (or formations) on the grip locator portion comprise like for like formations spaced in the longitudinal direction of the strap. 
   Preferably the engagement formation (or formations) of one of the grip locator portion or tensioner grip comprises a male formation; the engagement formation on the other comprising a female formation. 
   Desirably the engagement formations on the grip locator portion and the tensioner grip are correspondingly angled (or inclined) such that as the formations engage from a mouth portion of a female formation to a root portion of a male formation, the tension of the extensible length portion relaxes (preferably relaxes slightly only). 
   The tensioner grip preferably comprises a recess formation for engagement with, at any one time, one or more selected upstanding locator formations comprising a series of spaced locator formations of the grip locator portion. Beneficially the tensioner grip comprises a hand grip including one or more finger receiving formations. 
   It is preferred that the securing strap arrangement includes a securing formation proximate one or both ends. This provides that the arrangement may be secured to a roof-rack or the like. Beneficially, the arrangement includes a hook element approximate one or both ends. 
   The extensible length portion preferably comprises an elastically stretchable/relaxable length portion. The extensible length portion beneficially comprising a plurality of elastically stretchable/relaxable lengths arranged in parallel. 
   In a preferred embodiment the arrangement preferably further includes a length of substantially inextensible web. Beneficially, the length of substantially inextensible web is provided intermediate the tensioner grip and the extensible length portion. 
   Additionally or alternatively, the arrangement preferably includes length adjustment means to adjust the overall length of the strap arrangement irrespective of the stretch condition of the extensible length portion. 
   Beneficially the length adjustment means comprises a buckle connected to a portion of substantially inextensible web, the web feeding through the buckle to a selectable degree to adjust the effective length of the web portion. 
   According to a further aspect, the present invention comprises a tensioner arrangement for a securing strap arrangement, the tensioner arrangement comprising:
     a) an extensible length portion;   b) a tensioner grip to stretch the extensible length portion; and   c) a tensioner grip locator portion arranged such that the tensioner grip is adapted to releasably engage with the tensioner grip locator portion in one of a plurality of locator positions, which location positions are spaced in the longitudinal direction of the strap arrangement.   

   According to a still further aspect the invention provides a connector device for connecting, releasably, a strap length portion with a stem portion of an end element (such as a hook), the stem portion being matingly received with the connector device and the stem portion and the connector device having complimentary securing formations arranged, in a first configuration to inhibit release of the stem portion and, in a second configuration permitting release or mating of the stem portions. Actuation means being provided for the connector device permitting relative reorientation of the securing formations between the first and second configurations. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described in a specific exemplary embodiments, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of an exemplary securing strap arrangement according to the invention; 
       FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c  are upper plan view, side view and an underside view of a tensioner grip comprising the strap arrangement of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3   a  is a plan view of a tensioner grip locator length of the strap arrangement of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3   b  is a side view of a tensioner grip locator length of  FIG. 3   a;    
       FIG. 4  shows, in side view, the mating relationship between the tensioner grip and tensioner grip locator length; 
       FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  are, respectively, plan and plan cutaway views of a strap connector device according to the invention and which may comprise the strap arrangement shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the strap connector device of  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b;    
       FIG. 7  is a cutaway sectional view of the strap connector device of  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b  and  6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of a hook connector to be received by the connector arrangement of  FIGS. 5   a  to  FIG. 7 ; and 
       FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11  show alternative hook connectors. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the drawings, and initially  FIG. 1  in particular, there is shown a securing strap arrangement (generally designated  1 ) which may be used for securing items (for example surfboards, packing cases, etc to a roof-rack). The strap arrangement  1  includes at opposed ends hook connectors  2  connected to connector devices  3  which will be described in detail hereafter. 
   The strap arrangement includes substantially inextensible web lengths  4 ,  5 ; web length  4  is connected at one end to connector device  3  and at the other end to a moulded plastics clasp connector  6 . At one end web length  4  is connected to buckle  7 , feeding via an aperture in connector device  3  back through buckle  7  so that buckle  7  is operable to adjust the effective length of web length  4 . 
   Web length  5  is connected at one end to a moulded plastics clasp connector  8  (similar instruction to clasp connector  6 ) and at the other end to a moulded plastics tensioner grip  9 . 
   Three spaced elastically extensible bungy lengths  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  extend between clasp connectors  6  and  8  providing that the overall length of the strap arrangement may be adjusted elastically. The other end of the strap arrangement is provided with a tensioner grip locator length  11 , the purpose and nature of which is described in detail hereafter. 
   Tensioner grip locator length  11 , as shown most clearly in  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  and  4  includes a series of locator elements  12  linked edge to edge by pivot formations  13 . The locator elements  12  are typically of moulded plastics construction. 
   Each locator element  12  includes a base portion  14  and an upstanding arcuate locator projection  15  which is inclined at an acute angle to the locator base  14 . The inclination of locator projection  15  is from a root portion  16  to a tip portion  17  in a direction away from the extensible bungy lengths  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c . As shown most clearly in  FIG. 4  and  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  2   c , the tensioner grip  9  (which is again formed of moulded plastics material typically) includes a finger grip recess  18 , receiving recess  19  (for receiving a respective locator projection  15 ) and a further accommodation recess  20 . A slot  21  is provide for receiving the end of inextensible web length  5 . 
   In use, the receiving recess  19  is shaped and dimensioned to snugly matingly receive the locator projection  15 . In order to induce the appropriate tension in the strap arrangement overall (by stretching the bungy length  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  to their maximum limit for securing) the tensioner grip portion  9  is pulled over the series of spaced locators  15  (in the direction of arrows A in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 4 ). The recess  19  then locates with the most appropriate locator projection  15  for the tension applied to the strap arrangement overall. The bungee lengths  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c  relax back slightly retracting the tensioner grip  9  and ensuring snug and secure mating of the relevant locator projection  15  with the receiving recess  19 . 
   As an alternative to the specific embodiment of the grip locator length  11  and tensioner grip  9  shown in the drawings, cooperating elements comprising respective zones of multiplicity of hook and loop type formations (for example VELCRO—Registered Trade Mark) may be used. Other securing arrangement may also be used. 
   The invention provides that a wide variety of shaped and dimensioned articles can be secured using the strap arrangement (for example to a roof-rack or the like). This is because the overall length of the strap arrangement may be varied greatly (depending upon the length of the locator length  11  between a plurality of effective length configurations), whilst maintaining the elasticity of the arrangement (via bungy lengths  10 ,  10   b ,  10   c ) to provide a resilient securing feature. The effective length is therefore not limited solely by the elasticity of the bungee lengths  10   a ,  10   b ,  10   c.    
   A variety of hook connectors  2  may be provided depending upon the nature of the structure (for example a roof-rack) to which the strap is secured. Examples of such hook connectors  2  are shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5   a  to  FIG. 7 , a further novel feature is the hook connector device (generally designated  3 ) to which the hook connectors  2  are secured, and the means of connection of hook connectors  2 . As shown in the drawings, the stem ends  25  of the hook connector are provided with terminal lateral flange projections  26  and, spaced from flange connectors  26 , a further lateral stem shoulder projection  27 . The hook connector device  3  is provided with an actuator element  29  which is normally biassed to a retracted position by means of resilient springs  30 . The actuator element  29  includes a body portion  31  including a central opening  32  shaped to have a more restricted open portion  32   a  and a less restricted open portion  32   b.    
   The stem end  25  of the hook connector  2  is introduced into the receptor recess  35  of the device  3  such that the tapered portion  36  opposed to flange  26  is forced through the more restricted opening  32   a  in the body portion  31  of actuator  29 . The end  25  is then inhibited from being removed out of the receptor recess  35  because flange  26  abuts against the edge of restricted open portion  32   a.    
   In order to remove the hook connector element  2  from the connector device  3 , the actuator  29  is depressed (in direction of arrow B in  FIG. 7 ), permitting flange  26  to be withdrawn via the less restricted open portion  32   b  in the body portion  31  of actuator  29 . This arrangement provides convenient connection of a variety of hooks to the connector device  3  depending upon the framework or other arrangement to which the strap arrangement is to be secured. 
   There have been described and illustrated herein several embodiments of a securing strap arrangement and corresponding methods of operation. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from its spirit and scope as claimed.