Abstract:
A towing strap has two ends, which may be permanently or releasably attached to an item to be towed. Each strap end which is releasably attached, includes a fastening mechanism, which permits a person to attach towing strap to the item to be towed. The permanent straps are molded, glued, or otherwise secured to the item to be towed.

Description:
This invention relates to a towing strap, and more particularly, to a towing strap adapted for removably securing or permanently securing to an object, which requires towing. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Many items can be too heavy to be easily moved. When that occurs, it is very desirable to have those items be made more easily movable. To that end, many items have wheels mounted thereto. Even so, the presence of wheels does not necessarily solve the problem. 
   It then becomes necessary to provide a power source or propelling device to move the heavy item even with the wheels thereon. This requirement, in turn, leads to the desirability of being able to easily attach a towing strap to that heavy item, or to provide that heavy item with a towing strap as an integral part thereof. 
   Once the structure of a towing strap is determined, and that strap is placed in conjunction with any item, it then becomes necessary to secure that strap to a power source or towing device capable of towing that item. Thus, the towing strap must not only be attachable to a towable device, but it must also be attachable to a towing device. 
   As the ease of the attachment improves, the utility of the towing strap also improves. Ease of the attachment clearly supports ease of use. Thus, the towing strap must be easily attached to both a towable device and to a towing device. Such advantages are difficult to attain. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision of a towing strap, which is easily attached to both a towable device and to a towing device. 
   A further objective of this invention is the provision of a towing strap, which is easily released from a towable device. 
   Yet a further objective of this invention is the provision of a towing strap, which is easily released from a towing device. 
   A still further objective of this invention is the provision of a towing strap, which is easily installed. 
   Another objective of this invention is the provision of a towing strap, which is easily stored. 
   Yet another objective of this invention is the provision of a towing strap, which is easily folded. 
   Still, another objective of this invention is the provision of a towing strap, which has sufficient towing strength. 
   Also, an objective of this invention is the provision of a towing strap, which is easily attached to a towable device. 
   A further objective of this invention is the provision of a towing strap, which is easily attached to a towing device. 
   These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, of claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a towing strap having a flexible u-shape, wherein the base of the u-shape is secured to a towing device, while the arms of the u-shape are secured to a towable device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a towing strap  100  of this invention positioned between a vehicle  102  and a trash receptacle  104  for towing the trash receptacle. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of the towing strap  100  of this invention. 
       FIG. 3  depicts a close-up perspective view of the towing strap  100  of this invention being secured to a trash receptacle  104 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of the towing strap  100  of this invention while secured to a trash receptacle  104 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts a perspective view of the towing strap  100  of this invention while secured to a trash receptacle  104  and being secured to vehicle  102 . 
       FIG. 6  depicts an exploded, perspective view of the towing strap  100 . 
       FIG. 7  depicts a perspective view of the towing strap  100  of this invention permanently secured to a trash receptacle  104 . 
       FIG. 8  depicts a block diagram of the towing strap  100  of this invention as it may be used. 
   

   Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears in more than one figure of the drawings, the same number is applied thereto. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In accordance with this invention, a U-shaped towing strap is provided. The base of the U-shaped towing strap is releasably secured to a towing device. The arms of the U-shaped towing strap are securable to a towable device. The arms may be permanently or releasably secured to the towable device. 
   Preferably, the U-shaped towing strap is made from a thin, strong, flat flexible material. With the base of the U-shaped widespread being flexible, it may be easily secured to an appropriate towing vehicle. With the arms of U-shaped joint strap having the same qualities due to being the same material, each arm may be easily secured to any towable device, preferably a towable device with wheels. 
   Typical towable devices include trash cans, human waste receptacles such as those used at a campground, or any heavy device with wheels which needs to be moved. The U-shaped towing strap, for permanent attachment purposes, may be glued, welded, molded or shaped as a part of the towable device. 
   If the U-shaped towing strap is removably attached to the towable device, a fastening device is placed at the end of each arm. Each arm may then be secured to a towable device, by looping through a handle and fastening the arm on itself with the handle in or through the loop. The towable device may also have a corresponding fastening device with the towing strap if desired, especially if there are handles for a loop. 
   Fastening devices are preferably temporary, but can be permanent. Snaps, a hook and loop assembly, a knot assembly, a button and button hole assembly or other fasteners may be used. 
   A standard hook and loop assembly is available as a registered trademark VELCRO, owned by Velcro Industries B.V. LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY NETHERLANDS Castorweg 22–24 Curacao NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a towing strap  100  is secured between a vehicle  102  and a trash receptacle  104 . In other words, towing strap  100  is secured by trunk lid  150  of vehicle  102  and at the opposite end to trash receptacle  104 . Vehicle  102  may then use towing strap  100  for moving trash receptacle  104  along driveway  106 . 
   Adding  FIG. 2  to the consideration, towing strap  100  has a flexible U-shaped member  120 . U-shaped member  120  has a base  122  with a first arm  124  and a second arm  126  extending therefrom. Adjacent to the end of both first arm  124  and second arm  126  is a fastening device such as snap assembly  130 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  to the consideration, the depicted fastening device is the snap assembly  130 . Snap assembly  130  has a male snap  132  and a female snap  134  positioned on both of first arm  124  and second arm  126 . As male snap  132  and female snap  134  are brought together, a loop  136  is formed with handle  110  of trash receptacle  104  contained therein. 
   Use of towing strap  100  is explained by  FIG. 5 , after the illustrated procedures of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are accomplished. U-shaped member  120  has base  122  secured to vehicle  102  by raising trunk lid  150  of  FIG. 1 , inserting base  122  therein, and closing trunk lid  150  of  FIG. 1 . 
   The structure of towing strap  100  is explained by  FIG. 6 . In this exploded view, formation of U-shaped member  120  is accomplished by folding flat material  160  of towing strap  100  and forming the ninety degree fold  162  from the flat material  160 . If desired, a first cross strap  170  and a second cross strap  172  may be glued, sewn, fused, welded or otherwise secured to towing strap  100 . 
   Secured to both first arm  124  and second arm  126  is snap assembly  130 . Each snap assembly  130  includes a male snap member  132  and a female snap member  134 . Insertion of male snap member  132  into female snap member  134  can form loop  136  with handle  110  therein. 
   First cross strap  170  is connected to first arm  124  and second arm  126 . Second cross strap  172  may also be so connected. Both first cross strap  170  and second cross strap  172  provide reinforcement for towing strap  100 . First cross strap  170  and second cross strap  172  may be used together or separately. 
   With  FIG. 7 , it becomes clear that towing strap  100  may be permanently secured to a trash receptacle  104 . First arm  124  and second arm  126  are glued, sewn, fused, welded or otherwise secured to trash receptacle  104 . These procedures provide for towing strap  100  to be permanently secured to trash receptacle  104  or other towable device  202 . The towable device  202  preferably is a device mounted on wheels  206 , although the towable device  202  can also be dragged or skidded. 
     FIG. 8  provides a block diagram of towing strap  100  in order to provide for a variety of structures and replacements for snap assembly  130 . The fastening device  200  on first arm  124  and second arm  126  may include the snap assembly  130 , a hook and loop assembly, or any other device capable of forming the desired loop such as loop  136  ( FIG. 3 ). 
   Fastening device  200  may also be provided by being glued, sewn, fused, welded or otherwise secured to towable device  202  of  FIG. 7 , which may include trash receptacle  104  or other items. First arm  124  and second arm  126  with at least of first cross strap  170  and second cross strap  172  secured thereto each have a fastening end. First arm  124  has a first fastening end  208 . Second arm  126  has a second fastening end  210 . First fastening end  208  and second fastening end  210  are separately glued, sewn, fused, welded or otherwise secured to towable device  202  of  FIG. 7 . 
   After towing strap  100  is thus attached to towable device  202 , U-shaped base  122  may be releasably attached to a towing device  204 . Towing device  204  may be vehicle  102  of  FIG. 1  or any other suitable device to which U-shaped base  122  may be releasably attached. Vehicle  102  may be any suitable automobile, pickup truck or the like. Base  122  may be secured in a trunk lid  150  ( FIG. 1 ) or over a trailer hitch on a vehicle. The trunk lid  150  provides a more secure system. 
   For example, towing device  204  may be a simple machine or a complicated machine. Typical machines include an automobile, a truck, a bicycle or a similar device. Critical for the towing device  204  is that it provides a mechanical advantage to the use of the towing strap  100 . 
   This application—taken as a whole with the abstract, specification, claims, and drawings being combined—provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention as disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure. 
   Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this method and device can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.