Abstract:
An adjustable strap assembly comprises a cincture and a band. The cincture and the band preferably include attachment components on end and are adjustably connected such that the overall length of the strap assembly can vary in length from as little as approximately just the length of the cincture to as long as approximately the length of the cincture and band together. In addition the embodiments may include a securing mechanism to maintain the adjustable strap assembly at the desired length even under stress. In one embodiment the band is made from elastic material to ensure that when the adjustable strap assembly is used to cinch a bundle, the adjustable strap assembly will remain tight.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The example embodiments of the present invention generally pertain to straps, and more particularly to adjustable straps. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Straps, such as a cinching strap, are frequently used to secure bundled and coiled objects together. While cinching straps presently exist to secure bundled or coiled objects, these straps are frequently “one size fits all.” With the one size fits all strap, the strap is always just a little too big. As a result there will always be excess strap ends to deal with. In some straps the loose end gets rolled around a wheel as the strap is ratcheted tight, which takes time to roll when cinching the strap and takes time to unroll when releasing. Other systems simply leave it to the user to figure out what to do with the excess straps. What is needed is an adjustable strap assembly that allows the user to quickly and easily set the length of the strap to fit the desired bundle to be cinched while eliminating the excess strap ends. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable strap assembly comprises a cincture and a band. The cincture and the band preferably include attachment components on end and are adjustably connected such that the overall length of the strap assembly can vary in length from as little as approximately just the length of the cincture to as long as approximately the length of the cincture and band together. In addition the embodiments may include a securing mechanism to maintain the adjustable strap assembly at the desired length even under stress. In one embodiment the band is made from elastic material to ensure that when the adjustable strap assembly is used to cinch a bundle, the adjustable strap assembly will remain tight. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0004]    Having thus described the example embodiments of the present invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of an adjustable strap assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front view of a cincture of the adjustable strap assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the cincture of the adjustable strap assembly illustrated in  FIG. 2  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front view of a band of the adjustable strap assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1  in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the band of the adjustable strap assembly illustrated in  FIG. 4  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  illustrates a front view of exemplary components of an adjustable strap assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  shows an exemplary adjustable strap assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary cam buckle; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of a cinched adjustable strap assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  illustrates a side view of a cinched adjustable strap assembly that allows cinching of two objects in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  illustrates side view of a backpack secured to a rack by an adjustable strap assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  illustrates a back view of an adjustable strap assembly hooked with racks; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  illustrates dimensions of an adjustable strap assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The various embodiments are described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. These example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to readers of this specification having knowledge in the technical field. In this regard, references may be made herein to directions and orientations including left, right, inward, outward, upward, downward, behind and/or in front of; it should be understood, however, that any direction and orientation references are simply examples and that any particular direction or orientation may depend on the particular object, and/or the orientation of the particular object, with which the direction or orientation reference is made. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic view of an adjustable strap assembly  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of aspects of the invention (“exemplary” as used herein referring to “serving as an example, instance or illustration”). The adjustable strap assembly  100  depicted in  FIG. 1 , includes a cincture  1102  and a band  1202 . Depending on the application, either or both the cincture  1102  or the band  1202  may be fabricated using a sturdy elastic material, such as preferably a polyester webbing material, to allow sizes, such as the length, of the cincture  1102  or the band  1202  to expand and keep whatever is being secured is firmly retained. Of course only part or all of the cincture  1102  or the band  1202  may be made from a sturdy elastic material.  FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate a front view and a side view of the cincture  1102  of the adjustable strap assembly  100 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a front view and a side view of the band  1202  of the adjustable strap assembly  100 . The cincture  1102  may have a cincture adjusting end  1104  and a cincture fastening end  1106  (shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ). The band  1202  may have a band adjusting end  1204  and a band fastening end  1206  (shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5 ). 
         [0020]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the adjustable strap assembly  100  may comprise an adjustment mechanism  101 . In one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism  101  may be configured to adjust the overall length of the adjustable strap assembly  100 . The adjustment mechanism depicted in  FIG. 1  holds the cincture and/or band in place in accordance with the desired overall length of the adjustable strap assembly  100 . In  FIG. 1 , the adjustment mechanism  101  comprises a first sleeve  1108  configured to be attached to the cincture adjusting end  1104  and a second sleeve  1208  configured to be attached to the band adjusting end  1204 . The first sleeve  1108  and the second sleeve  1208  may be attached to the cincture  1102  and the band  1202  by one of sewing, glue, adhesive or Velcro or other convenient method of securing. 
         [0021]    The adjustable strap assembly  100  may also comprise a fastening mechanism configured to fasten the cincture fastening end  1106  and the band fastening end  1206 . The fastening mechanism may comprise a first fastening element configured to be attached to the cincture fastening end  1106  and a second fastening element configured to be attached to the band fastening end  1206 . One of the first and second fastening elements is held by the other in a secure manner. For example, the fastening mechanism may be a snap buckle, as shown in  FIG. 1 , including a male fastening element  1110  attached to the cincture fastening end  1106  and a female fastening element  1210  attached to the band fastening end  1206 . The male fastening element  1110  may be held by the female fastening element  1210  in a secure manner. The fastening mechanism may comprise two clasps attached to the cincture and band fastening ends respectively. By holding one clasp in the other, the cincture and band fastening ends are snapped together and fastened. The fastening mechanism may also be in other forms according to various applications, such as a buckle, snap hook, S hook, popper, press stud, hook, Velcro cinch strap, fastener, carabiner, and/or other fastening mechanisms that can be configured to fasten two free ends to each other or a rack dolly or other carrier. 
         [0022]    The adjusting mechanism  101  may comprise a securing mechanism  103  to secure the cincture  1102  relative to the band  1202  once the desired length of the adjustable strap assembly  100  has been set. In one embodiment, the securing mechanism  103  may comprise one or more securing elements (e.g.,  1112  shown in  FIGS. 2 , and  1212  shown in  FIG. 4 ) attached to the cincture  1102  and the band  1202 . Preferably a portion of the securing elements is attached to the cincture  1102  and another portion of the securing element is attached to the band  1202 . In one example, the securing elements may comprise a male (e.g.,  1112  shown in  FIG. 2 ) and a female part ( 1212  shown in  FIG. 4 ). The male part may include a projecting portion (e.g.,  1112   a  shown in  FIG. 3 ) and may be part of a snap, a press stud, a popper, an interlocking disc, a snap hook, an S hook, a button or Velcro hooks. The female part may be configured to receive the projecting portion and may be an interlocking disc, a hook hole, a button hole or Velcro loops. In another example, the securing elements may comprise two male parts. For example, the two male parts may each be a hook. In this regard, a hook on the cincture  1102  is coupled to a hook on the band  1202 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the securing mechanism  103  comprises a plurality of securing elements. The securing elements include a male part in the form of a stud  1112  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) and a female part, such as a reinforced through hole  1212  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) in the band  1202  into which the stud  1112  can be inserted. Depending on the application there may not be the same number of securing elements attached to the cincture  1102  as are attached to the band  1202 . For example, there may be two or more reinforced through holes  1212  and only one stud  1112 . The parts of the securing elements may be attached to or formed on the cincture  1102  and the band  1202  by glue, adhesive, staple, hammering, plying, sewing, drilling, reaming, milling, and/or any other suitable method or combination of methods. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, the adjusting mechanism may comprise a cam buckle, side release buckle, ladderloc adjustment buckle, snap hook, tri-glide, D-ring assembly, and/or any other suitable mechanisms that allows adjustment of the overall length of the adjustable strap assembly and can secure the cincture  1102  relative to the band  1202  to maintain the overall length of the adjustable strap assembly even when stressed and securing a bundle. 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  illustrates a front view of the cincture  1102  of an adjustable strap assembly  600  including a cam buckle  602  attached to the cincture  1102 . D-rings  1109  and  1209  are attached to the adjusting ends of the cincture  1102  and band  1202 , respectively to eliminate any loose hanging ends when the adjustable strap assembly  600  is adjusted to the desired length. The adjustable strap assembly  600  comprises a fastening mechanism that comprises a cincture hook  1110  and a band hook  1210 . The cincture hook  1110  and the band hook  1210  are configured to be attached to their associated end (e.g., the cincture fastening end  1106  and the band fastening end  1206 ).  FIG. 7  depicts the cincture  1102  assembled with the band  1202  employing the cam buckle  602  as part of the adjusting mechanism to form the adjustable strap assembly. 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary cam buckle. With references to  FIGS. 6-8 , the cam buckle  800  may include a base member  802  and a lever member  804 . The lever member  804  may include teeth, tab, thumb button, and/or any other types of projections that contact the cincture  1102  or band  1202  that holds the relative positions of the cincture  1102  and the band  1202  once the user has adjusted the adjustable strap assembly to a desired length. The cam buckle may be a toothless cam buckle and may include one or more bars to secure the band  1202 . The base member may include two or more base elements and one opening between the two adjacent base elements. For example, the base member  802  may include a first base element  802   a  and a second base element  802   b.  An opening  806  shaped for insertion of the band  1202  may be formed between the first and second base elements ( 802   a,    802   b ). The band  1202  may be inserted through the opening  806  and may be wrapped around one of the first base element and the second base element depending on the way of attaching the cam buckle onto the cincture  1102 . At least a portion of one of the cincture  1102  and the band  1202  may be made from a sturdy elastic material to ensure constant tension when the adjustable strap assembly is securing a bundle. 
         [0026]    The exemplary adjustable strap assembly  100  may be used in different manners. One of the methods to use the strap assembly  100  is illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  9  and  10 , after the cincture  1102  is assembled with the band  1202 , namely, the cincture  1102  extends through the second sleeve  1208  and the band  1202  extends through the first sleeve  1108 , the length of the adjustable strap assembly  100  can be adjusted by pulling at least one of the cincture fastening end  1106  and the band fastening end  1206 . In this embodiment, the length of the adjustable strap assembly  100  is adjusted by pulling one of the first fastening element  1110  and the second fastening element  1210 , or pulling both of the first and second fastening elements ( 1110 ,  1210 ) in opposite directions. 
         [0027]    When the cincture fastening end  1106  and the band fastening end  1206  is fastened by a fastening mechanism (e.g., the first fastening element  1110  and the second fastening element  1210  shown in  FIG. 1 ), a first loop (e.g., a first loop  902  shown in  FIG. 9 ) may be formed to allow an insertion of a first object  906 . The first object can be a coil or an extension cord. To secure the cincture  1102  relative to the band  1202 , one or more first securing elements may engage with one or more second securing elements. For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the first securing element  904  may engage with one of the second securing elements (not shown). In another embodiment, the adjustable strap assembly  100  may also be used to store an extension cord and free ends, i.e., the plugs, of the cord in separate spaces. As shown in  FIG. 10 , plugs of the extension cord may be placed in first loop  1004  and second loop  1006  separately. 
         [0028]    In another embodiment, the fastening ends (e.g., the cincture fastening end  1106  and the band fastening end  1206  shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the adjustable strap assembly  100  may not be fastened to each other. For example, the adjustable strap assembly  100  may be used to secure, a backpack  1102  (shown in  FIG. 11 ) or a suitcase, a brief case, and/or a parcel, to a luggage rack  1104  to prevent it from falling down. In this regard, the adjustable strap assembly  100  may wrap around the backpack  1102 . Each of the fastening elements ( 1110 ,  1210 ) is then hooked with one of the two handles (e.g.,  102   a,    102   b  as shown in  FIG. 12 ) to secure the backpack. 
         [0029]    The cincture  1102  and the band  1202  may be used in different manners with variance in assembling the cincture and band, securing mechanism, adjustment mechanism and fastening mechanism. For example, in an instance in which a cam buckle is used as the securing mechanism, the length of the strap assembly  100  may be adjusted by pulling one of the cincture and band fastening ends. 
         [0030]      FIG. 11  illustrates dimensions of an adjustable strap assembly in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The length of the cincture  1102  may range from being substantially the same length as that of the band  1202  to many times as long as the band or vice versa. For example, the length of the cincture  1102  (L 1 ) may be the same as that of the band  1202  (L 2 ). In one example, L 1  and L 2  may be about 13.75 inches. As discussed above, the cincture  1102  may have one or more first securing elements (e.g.,  1112   a,    1112   b,    1112   c ). The one or more first securing elements  1112  may be aligned with each other. The band  1202  may have one or more second securing elements (e.g.,  1212   a,    1212   b,    1212   c ). The number and spacing of first and second securing elements will depend on the application and whether the length of the adjustable strap assembly is a gross or fine adjustment. Similar to the first securing elements, the one or more second securing elements may be aligned with each other. Also the spacing of the securing elements attached to cincture  1102  may have different spacing than the securing elements attached to the band  1202  and may not be equally spaced. In one embodiment, one of the second securing elements may be engaged with one of the first securing elements to secure the cincture  1102  relative to the band  1202 . The placement and the number of the first securing elements on the cincture  1102  may be similar to those of the second securing elements on the band  1202 . For example, the shortest distance (e.g., L 3 ) between the first securing element (e.g., the first securing element  1112   a ) and the cincture adjusting end  1104  may have the same length as the shortest distance (e.g., L 4 ) between the second securing element (e.g., the second securing element  1212   a ) and the band adjusting end  1204 . In one example, the length of L 3  and L 4  may be about 1.25 inches. Distance between adjacent first securing elements may be the same. For example, distance (e.g., L 5 ) between the first securing elements  1112   a  and  1112   b  may have the same length as distance (e.g., L 6 ) between the first securing elements  1112   b  and  1112   c.  In one example, L 5  and L 6  may be about 1 inch. Similarly, distance between adjacent second securing elements such as distance L 7  between the second securing element  1212   a  and  1212   b,  and distance L 8  between the second securing element  1212   b  and  1212   c  may have the same length. In one example, L 7  and L 8  may be about 1 inch. The shortest distance between the second securing element  1212   c  and the band fastening end  1206  may have length of L 10 . In one example, the length may be about 2.5 inch. 
         [0031]    It should be understood that the placement of the first and second securing elements, distance between adjacent first and adjacent second securing elements, distance between the second securing elements and the band fastening end  1206  may not be limited to the examples described above. The first and second securing elements may be placed in different patterns. Length of distance between adjacent securing elements may vary according to various applications and usages. 
         [0032]    Many modifications and other example embodiments set forth herein will come to mind to the reader knowledgeable in the technical field to which these example embodiments pertain to having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not to be limited to the specific ones disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions other than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims.