Abstract:
A connector mechanism for releasably securing a length of material and a fastening mechanism together is provided. The connector device comprises a compressible first device connected to the fastening mechanism with at least a portion of the material receivable within the first device. A second device is positionable over at least a portion of the first device. A securing mechanism associated with the first device and the second device releasably secures the first device to the second device wherein the second device compresses the first device about the portion of the material receivable therein thereby securing the first device to the material.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a continuation of pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/232,386, filed on Sep. 14, 2000, entitled “Connector Device for Releasably Securing a Strap Member and a Fastening Mechanism Together”. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates generally to connector device for securing a strap member and a fastening mechanism together and, more particularly, it relates to a connector device which releasably secures a fastening mechanism to a strap member without modification and/or alteration of the fastening mechanism or the strap member.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Fastening mechanisms are well known for releasably closing various articles including, but not limited to, backpacks, brief bags, camping equipment, etc. Typically, the fastening mechanism is attached to the various articles via a nylon strap or the like which itself is attached to the various article. It is known that to connect the fastening mechanism to the strap, the strap is inserted through a slot in the fastening mechanism and overlapped upon itself. Sewing connections are then provided between overlapped strap ends to secure the fastening mechanism to the strap.  
           [0006]    Unfortunately, over time, the connection between the strap and the fastening mechanism begins to wear or the sewing connection is compromised such that eventually, the strap must be replaced. Furthermore, the fastening mechanism is sometimes damaged such that the fastening mechanism is released from the connection with the strap. In order to return the article to a satisfactory operating condition, the user must remove the strap from the article and either replace with a useful, non-damaged strap or secure a non-damaged fastening mechanism. Since removal of the strap from the article is a time consuming, sometimes costly endeavor, the user will oftentimes just continue to use the article with the damaged strap rather than correct and replace the problem. As will be understood, with a non-secure article, items being carried or transported within the article can be lost or damaged.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, there exists a need for a connector device for releasably securing a strap member and a fastening mechanism together. Additionally, a need exists for a connector device for releasably securing a strap member and a fastening mechanism together which allows a user to replace a fastening mechanism without removing the strap. Furthermore, there exists a need for a connector device for releasably securing a strap member and a fastening mechanism together which can accommodate a wide variety of strap members having a wide variety of strap widths.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0008]    The present invention is a connector mechanism for releasably securing a length of material and a fastening mechanism together. The connector device comprises a compressible first device connected to the fastening mechanism with at least a portion of the material receivable within the first device. A second device is positionable over at least a portion of the first device. A securing mechanism associated with the first device and the second device releasably secures the first device to the second device wherein the second device compresses the first device about the portion of the material receivable therein thereby securing the first device to the material.  
           [0009]    The present invention additionally includes a device for connecting a strap to a fastening mechanism. The device comprises gripping means connected to the fastening mechanism for gripping the strap and compression means for compressing the gripping means about the strap.  
           [0010]    The present invention further includes a method for connecting material to a fastening mechanism. The method comprises extending a first compression member from the fastening mechanism, extending a second compression member from the fastening mechanism, inserting at least a portion of the material between the first compression member and the second compression member, providing a compression member, positioning the compression member over the first compression member and the second compression member, and compressing the material between the first compression member and the second compression member. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a connector device for releasably securing a strap and a fastening mechanism together, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with a first fastening mechanism releasably secured to a second fastening mechanism;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the connector device for releasably securing a strap and a fastening mechanism together as illustrated in FIG. 1, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the first fastening mechanism released from the second fastening mechanism;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the connector device for releasably securing a strap and a fastening mechanism together, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating still another embodiment of the connector device for releasably securing a strap and a fastening mechanism together, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with a male entity and a female locking sleeve;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating a female locking sleeve of the connector device for releasably securing a strap and a fastening mechanism together, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with a male entity and a female locking sleeve;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a top view illustrating the female locking sleeve of the connector device for releasably securing a strap and a fastening mechanism together as illustrated in FIG. 5, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the female locking sleeve of the connector device for releasably securing a strap and a fastening mechanism together as illustrated in FIG. 5, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is front view illustrating a male entity of the connector device for releasably securing a strap and a fastening mechanism together, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a top view illustrating the male entity of the connector device for releasably securing a strap and a fastening mechanism together as illustrated in FIG. 8, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating the male entity of the connector device for releasably securing a strap and a fastening mechanism together as illustrated in FIG. 8, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the connector II device for releasably securing a strap and a fastening mechanism together, constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating yet another embodiment of the connector device for releasably securing a strap and a fastening mechanism together, constructed in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the embodiment of the connector device for releasably securing a strap and a fastening mechanism together of FIG. 12, constructed in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a connector device, indicated generally at  10 , for releasably securing a strap member  12  (see FIG. 3) and a fastening mechanism  14  together. While the present invention will be described herein as releasably securing a strap member  12 , a person skilled in the art will understand the connector device  10  of the present invention can be used with other types of material including, but not limited to, webbing, cords, ropes, etc. Furthermore, the fastening mechanism  14  can be any type of fastening mechanism  14  including the fastening mechanism  14  as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,024, owned by the inventor of the present application, and herein hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0025]    As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connector device  10  of the present invention includes a male compression entity  16  attached to the fastening mechanism  14  and a female compression sleeve  18  positionable over the male compression entity  16 . Preferably, the male compression entity  16  is constructed from the same material as the fastening mechanism  14  being formed with the fastening mechanism  14  during molding of the fastening mechanism  14 . It is within the scope of the present invention, however, to form the male compression entity  16  from a different material than the fastening mechanism  14  and/or after the molding of the fastening mechanism  14 .  
         [0026]    As illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, and  10 , the male compression entity  16  of the connector device  10  includes a pair of compression members  20  each having opposed gripping teeth  22  with the strap member  12  being receivable between the compression members  20  and releasably frictionally gripped by the gripping teeth  22 . The gripping teeth  22  can be formed with sharp points, as illustrated in FIG. 10, or the gripping teeth  22  can be formed in a serpentine configuration (not shown) thereby effectively gripping the strap member  12  and releasably securing the strap member  12  to the fastening mechanism  14 . Furthermore, the gripping teeth  22  can be designed to allow easy insertion of the strap  12  between the compression members  20  and inhibit accidental or unintentional dislodgement of the strap  12  from between the compression members  20 .  
         [0027]    The compression members  20  can be a variety of configurations. For instance, as illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 3 , the compression members  20  can have a substantially rectangular configuration. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the compression members  20  can have a substantially rounded configuration.  
         [0028]    As illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, and  7 , the female compression sleeve  18  includes a pair of aligned strap-receiving slots  24 , namely a first strap-receiving slot  24   a  and a second strap-receiving slot  24   b , for receiving the strap member  12  therethrough. The first strap-receiving slot  24   a  can have a width less than, greater than, or equal to the width of the second strap-receiving slot  24   b . In the preferred embodiment, during manufacture of the connector device  10 , the width of the first strap-receiving slot  24   a  will vary depending on the width of the strap  14 , i.e., three-quarter (¾″) inch strap, one (1″) inch strip, etc. In fact, the strap-receiving slots  24  can have a variety of sizes to accommodate a wide variety of strap sizes, cord sizes, etc. The second strap-receiving slot  24   b  will typically remain the same width as the male compression entity  16  to accommodate receiving the male compression entity  16 , as will be described in further detail below.  
         [0029]    Like the compression members  20  of the male compression entity  16 , the female compression sleeve  18  can have a variety of configurations. For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the female compression sleeve  18  can have a substantially rectangular configuration. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the female compression sleeve  18  can have a substantially rounded configuration. Preferably, the configuration of the female compression sleeve  18  substantially conforms to the configuration of the compression members  20  of the male compression entity  16 .  
         [0030]    To grip the strap member  12 , the strap member  12  is inserted through the aligned strap-receiving slots  24  of the female compression sleeve  18  and guided between the compression members  20  of the male compression entity  16 . The female compression sleeve  18  is then maneuvered over the male compression entity  16  causing the compression members  20  to move together releasably securing the strap member  12  in the gripping teeth  22 . As illustrated in FIG. 7, the female compression sleeve  18  can be tapered from the second strap-receiving slot  24   b  to the first strap-receiving slot  24   a  to further cause compression of the compression members  20  of the male compression entity  16  allowing the strap  14  to be firmly secured between the compression members  20 .  
         [0031]    To releasably secure the female compression sleeve  18  to the male compression entity  16  thereby securing the strap member  12  to the fastening mechanism  14 , the male compression entity  16  of the connector device  10  further includes locking mechanism  26  for releasably securing the female compression sleeve  18  over the male compression entity  16 . In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the locking mechanism  26  includes a depression  28  formed in the male compression entity  16  for receiving a protrusion  30  formed on the inside surface of the female compression sleeve  18 . In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the male compression entity  16  includes a tab  32  on the end of each compression member  20  to hold the female compression sleeve  18  in place once positioned over the male compression entity  16 .  
         [0032]    The connector device  10  of the present invention effectively centers the strap member  12  within the male compression entity  16  and the female compression sleeve  18 . Inserts (not shown) can be added inside the female compression sleeve  18  to further guide the strap member  12  therein and center the strap member  12  within the connector device  10  and can be used for centering strap members  12  having a width less than the width of the aligned slots  24 . Centering the strap member  12  allows the connector device  10  to firmly secure the strap member  12  and inhibit accidental or unintended removal of the strap member  12  from the fastening mechanism  14 .  
         [0033]    The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.