Abstract:
A cargo strap with carrying handle and mechanism for securing the cargo strap around a load. A first end of the cargo strap is preferably removably anchored to the strap securing mechanism by a clevis pin that permits rapid and easy disconnection of the first end of the cargo strap from the strap securing mechanism. The second end of the cargo strap is retained within the strap securing mechanism and prevented from removal therefrom by a stop proximate the second end of the cargo strap. The stop is preferably constructed as a loop formed in the second end of the cargo strap and sewn to the strap with a strap flap portion intermediate the second end of the cargo strap and the strap securing mechanism. The strap securing mechanism preferably has either a ratchet style mechanism with a reel or a modified cam buckle mechanism.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO COMPACT DISC(S) 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates, in general, to straps for carrying packages, and in particular, to adjustable straps with handles for carrying packages. 
     2. Information Disclosure Statement 
     It is often desired to transport cumbersome bundles and packages from one place to another. Cargo straps for lashing bundles together and/or to a vehicle are also well known and are generally of three types. 
     A first type is a so-called “Ratchet Style” cargo strap, and has an ratchet adjustment mechanism. A first strap, typically of canvas or nylon, is permanently attached at one end to one side of the ratchet adjustment mechanism, and a first “S hook” is typically permanently attached to the other end of the first strap. A second strap has a first end that is fed through a slot on a reel of the ratchet mechanism, thereby entrapping the load. The strap is then pulled tight through the ratchet mechanism and then the ratchet mechanism, by repeated pivoting movement of the mechanism&#39;s arm, causes the strap to become wound upon the reel in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art, thereby tightening the strap around the load as a pawl of the ratchet mechanism prevents unwinding of the reel. The pawl of the ratchet mechanism can be manually released to allow the strap to be unwound from the reel. A second “S hook” is typically permanently attached to the other end of the second strap. In one mode of use, the hooks may be attached to a platform, such as a bed of a truck, and the straps are secured over a load and then the mechanism&#39;s arm is operated to adjust the length of the straps between the two hooks, thereby tightening the straps over the load and securing the load to the platform. In a second mode of use, the straps are brought around the load and the hooks are hooked together, and then the arm of the ratchet mechanism is operated to tighten the straps around the load, thereby binding separate parts of the load together. As the pivoting arm of the ratchet adjustment mechanism is raised and lowered, the strap is wound upon the reel and thus incrementally tightens the strap about the load. A representative well-known ratchet strap with S hooks is the Erickson Ratchet Strap with S Hook, Erickson Model No. 31352, sold as catalog item number 5EFE0 by W.W. Grainger, Inc., 100 Grainger Parkway, Lake Forest, Ill. 60045. 
     A second type of prior art cargo strap device is a modification of the first type of cargo strap device and uses the same ratchet mechanism. With this prior art modified ratchet style cargo strap device, only a single strap, typically of canvas or nylon, is provided, having one end that is permanently attached at one end to the ratchet mechanism. The other end of the strap is passed around a load and then through a slot on a reel of the ratchet mechanism, thereby entrapping the load. As before, the strap is then pulled tight through the ratchet mechanism and then the ratchet mechanism, by repeated pivoting movement of the mechanism&#39;s arm, causes the strap to be wound upon the reel in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art, thereby tightening the strap around the load. As before, the pawl can be released to allow the strap to be unwound from the reel. 
     A third type of prior art cargo strap is the so-called “Cam Buckle Style” cargo strap, somewhat similar in structure to the Rachet Style cargo strap, heretofore described, but has a cam buckle mechanism that replaces the ratchet adjustment mechanism. A first strap, typically of canvas or nylon, is permanently attached at one end to one side of the cam buckle mechanism, and a first “S hook” is typically permanently attached to the other end of the first strap. A second strap has a first end that is fed through the cam buckle mechanism, and a second “S hook” is typically permanently attached to the other end of the second strap. In one mode of use, the hooks may be attached to a platform, such as a bed of a truck, and the straps are secured over a load and then the cam buckle mechanism is operated to adjust the length of the straps between the two hooks, thereby tightening the straps over the load and securing the load to the platform. In a second mode of use, the straps are brought around the load and the hooks are hooked together, and then the cam buckle mechanism is operated to tighten the straps around the load, thereby binding separate parts of the load together. As the pivoting cam arm of the cam buckle mechanism is operated, teeth on the cam arm grip and hold the strap that passes through the cam buckle mechanism after the strap is pulled tight. A representative well-known cam buckle mechanism with S hooks is the Ancra International Cam Buckle style Web Strap with S Hooks, Ancra International Model No. 6G4242MIN92P2, sold as catalog item number 3YAX9 by W.W. Grainger, Inc., 100 Grainger Parkway, Lake Forest, Ill. 60045. 
     These prior art cargo straps have several problems. First, as the free end of the strap becomes worn, it is difficult to insert that free end through the cam buckle mechanism or ratchet mechanism. This causes difficulty and increased time when securing cargo strap around a load. Second, once the cargo strap is secured around the load, it is difficult and cumbersome to carry the load, which might be bulky, especially when other items are being carried at the same time. 
     It is therefore desirable to have a cargo strap that can be more quickly secured around a load than prior art cargo straps, and which provides means for easily carrying the secured load. 
     It is not believed that prior art cargo straps and related securing mechanisms, either singly or in combination, disclose or suggest the present invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a cargo strap with carrying handle and a mechanism for securing the cargo strap around a load. To eliminate the problem in the prior art whereby a worn or frayed strap end cannot be easily inserted through the strap securing mechanism, a first end of the cargo strap is preferably removably anchored to the strap securing mechanism by a clevis pin that permits rapid and easy disconnection of the first end of the cargo strap from the strap securing mechanism. The second end of the cargo strap is retained within the strap securing mechanism and prevented from removal therefrom by a stop proximate the second end of the cargo strap. The stop is preferably constructed as a loop formed in the second end of the cargo strap and sewn to the strap with a strap flap portion intermediate the second end of the cargo strap and the strap securing mechanism. The strap securing mechanism preferably has either a ratchet style mechanism with a reel or a cam buckle style mechanism. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a cargo strap that can be more quickly secured around a load than prior art cargo straps, and which provides means for easily carrying the secured load. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the strap of the present invention, the pin with release arm and clevis, and the first preferred embodiment of the handle of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the handle of the present invention showing the strap passing through a tubular portion of the handle, and showing the strap encircling a load, which is diagrammatically shown in dotted outline. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of the handle of the present invention, showing the attachment of the handle to the strap. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the pin of the present invention, with release arm and clevis, passing through a loop at the second end of the strap. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the pin of the present invention, similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing the clevis separated from the pin and the pin being inserted into or being removed from the loop at the second end of the strap. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the strap stop of the present invention, showing the strap flap inhibiting the removal of the first end of the strap from being through the mechanism, which is shown diagrammatically in dotted outline. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention configured with the first preferred embodiment of the handle. 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the strap securing mechanism of the first preferred embodiment of the invention, showing how the strap becomes wound on the reel as the mechanism arm is moved. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a prior art cam arm with cam portion, as also used with the strap securing mechanism of second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a spring that biases the cam arm into its cam-engaged position, enlarged somewhat as compared with  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a prior art cam buckle mechanism. 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the prior art cam buckle mechanism shown in  FIG. 11  showing movement of the buckle&#39;s cam arm, taken substantially along the line  12 - 12  shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the improved cam buckle mechanism of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the improved cam buckle mechanism of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, similar to  FIG. 12  but showing the cam arm in a moved position. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention shown configured with the second preferred embodiment of the handle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-10  and  13 - 15  of the drawings, two preferred embodiments  1 . 20  and  2 . 20  of the apparatus of the present invention are shown, together with two embodiments,  22  and  22 ′, of the handle of the present invention. There are many similarities between the preferred embodiments, and only the differences between each embodiment will be discussed in detail, it being understood that similar structure for the various embodiments serves similar purpose. The reference numerals for the various parts of the embodiments shall be understood to have a prefix identifying the particular embodiment (e.g., “ 1 .” or “ 2 .”, etc.) and a suffix identifying the particular structure (e.g., “ 20 ”, “ 24 ”, etc.). It shall be understood that both embodiments  22  and  22 ′ of the handle of the present invention can be used interchangeably with both embodiments  1 . 20  and  2 . 20  of the apparatus of the present invention because the sole difference between the first embodiment  1 . 20  of the present invention and the second embodiment  2 . 20  of the present invention is the difference between the structure of the strap securing mechanism  1 . 24  and  2 . 24 , respectively, of the two embodiments  1 . 20  and  2 . 20 . 
     Referring especially to  FIGS. 1-3 , both embodiments  1 . 20 ,  2 . 20  of the apparatus of the present invention include a strap  26  having a first end  28  and a second end  30  and a first strap portion  32  intermediate first end  28  and second end  30 . Strap  26  is preferably made of well-known woven canvas or nylon or polyester. Both embodiments  1 . 20 ,  2 . 20  of the apparatus of the present invention further include a strap handle, preferably either first handle embodiment  22  or second handle embodiment  22 ′. 
     First handle embodiment  22 , preferably made of durable rigid plastic, includes a tubular portion  34  attached to a handgrip portion  36  of handle  22 , with strap  26  passing through and being entrappingly encircled by tubular portion  34 . 
     Both embodiments  1 . 20  and  2 . 20  of the apparatus of the present invention also include a pin  38  selectively attaching second end  30  of strap  26  to the strap securing mechanism,  1 . 24  or  2 . 24 , as appropriate, as by pin  38  passing through a loop  39  formed as by riveting or preferably sewing strap  26  back upon itself at second end  30 . Pin  38  has a pin release  40  having a first condition, as shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  13 ,  14 , and  15 , in which pin  38  is secured to the strap securing mechanism and attaches second end  30  of strap  26  to the strap securing mechanism, and also having a second condition, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , in which pin  38  is unsecured from the strap securing mechanism and does not attach second end  30  of strap  26  to the strap securing mechanism. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , pin release  40  preferably includes a release arm  42 , preferably formed of stiff wire, pivotally mounted to pin  38 , as by passing through a transverse hole  44  through the head  46  of pin  38 . Release arm  42  preferably has a clevis  48  for hooking over and retaining, by the stiffness of release arm  42 , the distal end  50  of pin  38 , thereby retaining second end  30  of strap  26  to pin  38 . 
     A suitable prior art item for use as pin  38  with release arm  42  and clevis  48  is the well-known 0.25 inch (6.35 mm) safety pin with double-wire snap sold as catalog item number 3DZN8 by W.W. Grainger, Inc., 100 Grainger Parkway, Lake Forest, Ill. 60045. Another suitable prior art item for use as pin  38  with release arm  42  and clevis  48  is the well-known clevis pin sold as Model No. A-113 by Cixi Xinhe Auto Accessory Co., Ltd., ZHangxin Rd., Xinpu Town, Cixi, Zhejiang Province, China. 
     Second handle embodiment  22 ′, as best seen in  FIG. 3 , has a handgrip loop  36 ′ that is formed by a second strap portion  52  having first and second ends  54 ,  56  that are attached, as by sewing or riveting, to strap  26 . First handle embodiment  22  has the advantage that it rigidly retains its shape when carrying an unwieldy and/or heavy load, but has the disadvantage that it cannot be compactly rolled with strap  26  for convenient storage. Second handle embodiment  22 ′ has the advantage that it can be compactly rolled with strap  26  for convenient storage, but has the disadvantage that it does not rigidly retain its shape when carrying an unwieldy and/or heavy load. 
     Strap  26  preferably includes a stop  58  intermediate first strap portion  32  and first end  28  of strap  26 , such that the stop  58  selectively engages the strap securing mechanism  1 . 24  or  2 . 24  (both generically shown as  24  in  FIG. 6 ), as appropriate, to inhibit the first end of strap  26  from being removed from being through the strap securing mechanism. While stop  58  could equivalently be a screw or rivet through strap  26 , preferably stop  58  is a strap flap  60  attached, as by sewing or riveting, to strap  26  proximate the first end  28  of strap  26  and extending toward the strap securing mechanism for engagement therewith as caused by the increased strap width at stop  58 . 
     With this common structure of the preferred embodiments now being understood, the specific differences between the preferred embodiments of the invention can now be more fully explained. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 8 , first embodiment  1 . 20  of the apparatus of the present invention includes as a part of its strap securing mechanism  1 . 24  a rotating reel  62  upon which strap  26  is wound to tighten the strap about a load. Reel  62  has an enlarged transverse slot  64  through which first strap portion  32  of strap  26  passes. When first strap portion  32  of strap  26  is wound upon reel  62 , the mutual friction of adjacent wound layers of strap  26  prevents first strap portion from moving longitudinally through slot  64 . Mechanism  1 . 24  includes a mechanism arm  66  that moves through angular positions ( 68 ,  68 ′, for example) to engage a ratchet and pawl  70  for winding first strap portion  32  of strap  26  upon the reel  62 . When pawl mechanisms  72  and  74  are manually released, the reel  62  is permitted to unwind in the well-known manner, allowing first strap portion  32  to become unwound and thus untightened from about a load. It is thus understood that strap securing mechanism  1 . 24  has a first mode, when reel  62  is unwound so that first strap portion  32  can freely move through transverse slot  64 , in which first strap portion  32  may move longitudinally through and with respect to mechanism  1 . 24 , thereby allowing strap  26  to be cinched around or unloosened from a load. It is thus further understood that strap securing mechanism  1 . 24  also has a second mode, when first strap portion  32  is wound upon reel  62  and adjacent wound layers of strap  26  frictionally engage one another, in which mechanism  1 . 24  prevents first strap portion  32  from moving longitudinally through and with respect to mechanism  1 . 24 , thereby holding strap  26  tightly about a load. 
     A suitable prior art item for use as strap securing mechanism  1 . 24  of first embodiment  1 . 20  is the ratchet-type mechanism sold as Model No. EB039 TUV/GS by Qungdao Ever Bright Import &amp; Export Co., Ltd., Room 302, Unit 1, Building 2, Luxinchangle Garden, No. 39, Fuzhou South Road, Shinan Dist., Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. Another equivalent suitable prior art item for use as strap securing mechanism  1 . 24  of first embodiment  1 . 20  is the ratchet-type mechanism used in the Erickson Ratchet Strap with S Hook, Erickson Model No. 31352, sold as catalog item number 5EFE0 by W.W. Grainger, Inc., 100 Grainger Parkway, Lake Forest, Ill. 60045. As described hereinabove, the prior art ratchet-type strap securing mechanism is modified for use with the present invention by removing the swaged pin that typically anchors the cargo strap to the body of the strap securing mechanism, thereby enabling the pin  38  with release arm  42  and clevis  48  to selectively and removably attach the cargo strap to the body of the strap securing mechanism. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , second embodiment  2 . 20  of the apparatus of the present invention includes as a part of its strap securing mechanism  2 . 24  a buckle  76 , and buckle  76  has a cam arm  78  mounted for pivoting movement upon mechanism  2 . 24  as by being mounted upon an axle  80  mounted within buckle  76 . A prior art cam arm as shown in  FIG. 9  is acceptable for use as cam arm  78 , and has a cam portion  82  including a friction surface  84 , such as a plurality of teeth  86 , for engaging first strap portion  32  of strap  26  as cam arm  78  pivots about axle  80 . Buckle  76  preferably includes a transverse member  88  substantially defining a horizontal plane  90 , with first strap portion  32  passing over transverse member  88  and engaging friction surface  84  above horizontal plane  90 , and with second end  30  of strap  26  being attached to strap securing mechanism  2 . 24  below horizontal plane  90 , as by pin  38  being mounted to the frame of buckle  76  and passing through loop  39  of strap  26 . A spring, such as the prior art spring shown in  FIG. 10 , is received about axle  80  with one end being retained in recess  92  of cam arm  78 , and rotationally biases cam arm  78  so that friction surface  84  engages first strap portion  32  when cam arm  78  is not depressed toward buckle  76 . It is thus understood that strap securing mechanism  2 . 24  has a first mode, when friction surface  84  does not engage first strap portion  32  against transverse plate  94  of buckle  76  (as shown in  FIG. 14 ), in which first strap portion  32  may move longitudinally through and with respect to mechanism  2 . 24 , thereby allowing strap  26  to be cinched around or unloosened from a load. It is thus further understood that strap securing mechanism  2 . 24  also has a second mode, when friction surface  84  engages first strap portion  32  against transverse plate  94  of buckle  76  (as shown in  FIG. 13 ), in which mechanism  2 . 24  prevents first strap portion  32  from moving longitudinally through and with respect to mechanism  1 . 24 , thereby holding strap  26  tightly about a load. 
     The strap securing mechanism  2 . 24  of second embodiment  2 . 20  is a modified design of the prior art cam buckle type mechanism of  FIGS. 11 and 12  sold as Model No. RRTD012B by Ningbo Reach Industrial Co., Ltd., No. 427, Xujiacao Road, Haishu District, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China, or a modified design of an equivalent cam buckle type mechanism used in the Ancra International Cam Buckle style Web Strap with S Hooks, Ancra International Model No. 6G4242MIN92P2, sold as catalog item number 3YAX9 by W.W. Grainger, Inc., 100 Grainger Parkway, Lake Forest, Ill. 60045. Unlike the strap securing mechanism  2 . 24  of the present invention, prior art cam buckle type mechanisms fixedly and non-removably attach the strap to the rear of the cam buckle mechanism&#39;s body as by a rivet R, rather than removably attaching the strap to the front of the cam buckle mechanism&#39;s body as by pin  38  with pin release  40 , below the plane of the transverse member  88 . 
     To use either embodiment of the present invention, a load is first encircled by strap  26 . For many loads, this can be done simply by putting the strap securing mechanism into the first mode, so that the first strap portion moves freely through the strap securing mechanism, thereby allowing the encircling loop of the strap to encircle the load. For some loads, particularly long loads, it may be more convenient to release pin  38  from loop  39  at second end  30  of strap  26 , such that pin  38  does not attach second end  30  of strap  26  to the strap securing mechanism, then pass second end  30  of strap  26  around the load and then reattach second end  30  of strap  26  to the strap securing mechanism. Next, the strap  26  is tightened about the load in a manner heretofore described for each of the respective strap securing mechanism embodiments  1 . 24 ,  2 . 24 , and the load may then be carried conveniently by the handle  22 ,  22 ′. When the load has been carried to a destination, the strap can be loosened and the apparatus can be removed from the load. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The cargo strap with handle and strap securing mechanism of the present invention is used to secure a load and carry a secured load. As compared to the prior art, the strap can be secured around the load more quickly and easily than the prior art cargo strap devices, and provides a handle for carrying the load. 
     Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment and a preferred use therefor, it is not to be so limited since modifications and changes can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention.