Patent Publication Number: US-9833059-B2

Title: Tie strap for personal items

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of and priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/110,804 entitled Wraptye, filed Feb. 2, 2015 in the name of Howard Earl Westbrook, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to small articles such as personal wireless electronic devices and relates particularly to apparatus for use in aiding the user in carrying, securing and transporting the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With the proliferation of wireless devices such as cell phones and other communication devices as well as numerous devices used in the entertainment industry such as wireless transmitters and body packs, individuals often need to carry multiple devices on their person as they move about and perform. As a result, a need has arisen for a low-cost reliable and convenient apparatus for securing such devices on the user&#39;s person or upon other carried items such as purse straps or guitar straps or the like. 
     Faced with this need, practitioners in the art have endeavored to provide a variety of personal item holders, retainers and holsters all of which have proven to be bulky, costly and inconvenient to use. There arises therefore a long felt and unresolved need in the art for a more efficient and cost-effective convenient apparatus for securing small personal items. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a simple low cost tie strap. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a convenient easy to use tie strap which facilitates securing devices to a user&#39;s belt, instrument strap (such as a guitar strap or the like), purse strap or the like. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided for use in securing a personal item to a belt, or the like, a tie strap comprising: an elongated flexible strap defining first and second opposed ends, a first surface and a second surface; a first fabric attachment pad secured to the first surface proximate the first end; a second fabric attachment pad secured to the first surface proximate the second end; a third fabric attachment pad secured to the second surface proximate the second end; and a fourth attachment pad secured to a personal item, the personal item being securable to the tie strap by passing the second end of the flexible strap on a first side of a belt or the like and pressing the fourth attachment pad against the second attachment pad and thereafter rotating the second end of the elongated strap and the personal item upwardly and thereafter folding the first end of the flexible strap upon the third fabric attachment pad and pressing the first attachment pad against the third attachment pad. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  sets forth a top perspective view of a tie strap for personal items constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  sets forth a bottom perspective view of a tie strap for personal items constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  sets forth a perspective view of an illustrative personal item having a fabric attachment pad secured thereto; 
         FIG. 4  sets forth a perspective assembly view of the present invention tie strap for personal items receiving an illustrative cell phone for attachment; 
         FIG. 5  sets forth a perspective view of the present invention tie strap for personal items supporting the illustrative cell phone item shown in  FIG. 4  upon a user&#39;s belt; and 
         FIGS. 6A through 6C  set forth sequential views illustrating the attachment of the illustrative cell phone shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  upon a user&#39;s belt. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  sets forth a top perspective view of a tie strap for personal items constructed in accordance with the present invention and generally referenced by numeral  10 . Tie strap  10  is formed of an elongated flexible strap  11  preferably formed of a material such as leather or the like which defines a top surface  12  and a bottom surface  13  (surface  13  seen in  FIG. 2 ). In accordance with the present invention, tie strap  11  supports a fabric attachment pad  20  at one end of strap  11  secured to surface  12  thereof. In further accordance with the present invention strap  11  supports a fabric attachment pad  21  secured to surface  12  at the opposite end of strap  11 . Tie strap  10  further includes a third fabric attachment pad  22  secured to surface  13  (seen in  FIG. 2 ) in general alignment with fabric attachment pad  21 . Attachment pads  20 ,  21  and  22  are secured to flexible strap  11  using conventional attachment means such as conventional sewing or stitching or alternatively utilizing a high strength adhesive. The essential function of the selected method used for securing fabric attachment pads  20 ,  21  and  22  to strap  11  is to provide a secure high strength attachment between the fabric attachment pads and strap  11 . 
     Tie strap  10  may be adjusted in both length and width to accommodate different sized personal articles and user&#39;s belt widths. Additionally, the sizes of fabric attachment pads  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  (pad  23  seen in  FIG. 3 ) may also be adjusted as needed. All such size adjustments are accommodated within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , an overall length  40  may typically vary between ten to thirteen inches with approximately eleven and one half inches being preferred. Similarly, width  41  may vary between one half inch to one and a half inches with one inch being preferred. Finally, fabric attachment pads may vary between two and one half inches to five inches with approximately two and one half inches being preferred for pads  21  and  22  and four and one quarter inches for pad  20  being preferred. 
       FIG. 2  sets forth a bottom perspective view of tie strap  10  showing surface  13  supporting fabric attachment pad  22 .  FIG. 2  also shows fabric attachment pads  20  and  21  secured to surface  12  of flexible strap  11 . Once again it will be noted that flexible strap  11  is preferably formed of a flexible material such as leather or the like. Alternatively, flexible strap  11  may be formed of a suitable plastic material to which fabric attachment pads  20 ,  21  and  22  may be secured 
       FIG. 3  sets forth a perspective view of an illustrative personal item  30  to which a fabric attachment pad  23  has been secured. The attachment of fabric attachment pad  23  to personal item  30  is typically provided by a conventional adhesive or the like. In the illustration shown in  FIG. 3 , personal item  30  may, for example, be a conventional cell phone or any one of the popular “smart phones”. Additionally, personal item  30  may comprise virtually any of the wireless control devices utilized by musicians during performances to control equipment. By way of further addition, personal item  30  may comprise virtually any remote control, or the like, which is desired to be secured upon the user&#39;s person and to remain available for use. 
     With concurrent reference to  FIGS. 1,2 and 3 , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that fabric attachment pads  20  through  22  supported upon flexible strap  11  as well as fabric attachment pad  23  secured to personal item  30  preferably comprise combinations of the well-known and popular type of fabric attachment pad generally known in the art as “hook and loop attachment pads”. Such hook and loop fabric attachment pads have become extremely prevalent and well-known in the art. One of the most popular manufacturers of such hook and loop fabric attachment pads markets their products under the trademark “VELCRO”. Other manufacturers also produce similar hook and loop fabric attachment pads. The basic construction of such fabric attachment pads is provided by the combination of a hook type pad and a loop type pad. Hook type pads are characterized by supporting a plurality of upwardly extending hook shaped elements arranged in a closely spaced array. In contrast, loop type pads support a plurality of flexible curly loop elements arranged in a close array. The hook and loop fabric attachment pads provide a temporary attachment when a hook type pad is pressed against a loop type pad. The hook elements of the hook type pad engage the loop elements of the loop type pad. In the embodiment of the present invention set forth in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , fabric pads  20  and  21  are loop type pads while pads  22  and  23  are hook type pads. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the character of pads  20  through  23  may be reversed using hook pads for pads  20  and  21  and loop pads for pads  22  and  23  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  sets forth a perspective assembly view of the application of the present invention tie strap in combination with a personal item, such as a cell phone, which is to be secured to the belt of a user. In the illustration shown in  FIG. 4 , a user&#39;s body  35  supports a typical belt  31  encircling user&#39;s body  35 . Belt  31  is entirely conventional in fabrication and is used in  FIG. 4  for purposes of illustration. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the example shown in  FIG. 4  is provided solely for illustration and should not be considered by way of limitation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the descriptions which follow that the present invention tie strap may be utilized to secure a variety of personal items to different supporting straps and the like without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     More specifically,  FIG. 4  shows a belt  31  encircling a user&#39;s body  35  in a typical fashion. In accordance with the anticipated use of the present invention, tie strap  10  having a flexible strap  11  includes a surface  12  upon which a pair of fabric attachment pads  20  and  21  are secured in the manner described above. Tie strap  10  is prepared for use by positioning tie strap  10  against user&#39;s body  35  such that surface  12  and fabric attachment pads  20  and  21  face outwardly from user&#39;s body  35 . Additionally, tie strap  10  is oriented such that fabric attachment pad  20  is at the upper end of strap  11  while fabric attachment pad  21  is at the lower end thereof. Tie strap  10  is then inserted between user&#39;s body  35  and belt  31 . Tie strap  10  is then moved downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  14 . The downward movement of tie strap  10  is continued until belt  31  is positioned upon surface  12  of tie strap  10  in the manner shown in  FIG. 4  such that fabric attachment pad  21  is located as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown and described above in  FIG. 3 , personal item  30  has a fabric attachment pad  23  secured thereto. Fabric attachment pad  23  is constructed to be cooperative with fabric attachment pad  21  such that personal item  30  may be secured to tie strap  10  by locating personal item  30  against the lower and of tie strap  10  causing fabric attachment pad  23  to cooperatively engage with fabric attachment pad  21 . Once this attachment takes place, the lower end of tie strap  10  and personal item  30  assume the configuration shown and described below in  FIG. 6A . The sequence of steps by which personal item  30  is secured upon belt  31  is set forth in greater detail in  FIGS. 6A through 6C  below. Suffice it to note here that once personal item  30  has been secured to the lower and of tie strap  10  through the cooperative engagement of fabric attachment pads  23  and  21 , personal item  30  is then rotated upwardly to the position shown and described below in  FIG. 6B . Once personal item  30  has been position in this manner, the attachment of personal item  30  is completed by folding the upper end of tie strap  10  bearing fabric attachment pad  20  downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  15  such that fabric attachment pad  20  is positioned overlying fabric attachment pad  22  (seen in  FIG. 2 ). With fabric attachment pad  20  positioned upon fabric attachment pad  21 , the cooperative engagement therebetween secures the upper end of tie strap  10  upon the lower and of tie strap  10  encircling personal item  30  and producing the arrangement shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6C . 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the removal of personal item  30  is carried forward by simply undertaking the above-described steps in the reverse order. That is to say, personal item  30  is easily removed from its attachment to belt  31  by initially pulling fabric attachment pad  20  from its engagement with fabric attachment pad  22  separating the attachment pads. Thereafter, personal item  30  may be separated from attachment pad  21  by simply pulling personal item  30  and fabric attachment pad  23  away from fabric attachment pad  21  separating personal item  30  from tie strap  10  and making personal item  30  available for use. 
       FIG. 5  sets forth a perspective view of tie strap  10  securing personal item  30  upon user&#39;s body  35 . It will be noted that in accordance with an important aspect of the present invention tie strap  10  encircles personal item  30  together with belt  31  to securely support and attach personal item  30  upon belt  31 . The overlapping of the ends of tie strap  10  and the secure attachment of fabric attachment pads  20  through  23  provides a reliable secure attachment for personal item  30 . 
       FIGS. 6A through 6C  set forth sequential steps in the operation of the present invention tie strap in securing a personal item  30  to a belt  31  upon the user&#39;s body  35 . As described above, tie strap  10  includes an elongated flexible strap  11  which defines a top surface  12  and a bottom surface  13  (surface  13  seen in  FIG. 2 ). In accordance with the present invention, strap  11  supports a fabric attachment pad  20  at one end of strap  11  secured to surface  12  thereof. In further accordance with the present invention, strap  11  supports a fabric attachment pad  21  secured to surface  12  at the opposite end of strap  11 . Tie strap  10  further includes a third fabric attachment pad  22  secured to surface  13  (seen in  FIG. 2 ) in general alignment with fabric attachment pad  21 . The present invention further includes a fabric attachment pad  23 , which as is set forth above in  FIG. 3 , is secured to a selected surface of a personal item  30  which in the example shown may be a cell phone or the like. 
       FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C  also show a portion of a user&#39;s body  35  having a belt  31  supported about the user&#39;s waist. Returning to  FIG. 6A , the initial step of the use of the present invention tie strap is shown. Initially, tie strap  10  is positioned with respect to user&#39;s body  35  such that fabric attachment pads  20  and  21  face outwardly. Thereafter, the user inserts the lower half of tie strap  10  between the interior surface of belt  31  and the underlying surface of user&#39;s body  35 . Thereafter, personal item  30  is secured to attachment pad  21  by aligning attachment pad  23  and pressing attachment pad  23  against attachment pad  21 . The hook material of attachment pad  23  engages the loop material of pad  21  and secures personal item  30  in the position shown in  FIG. 6A . 
       FIG. 6B  shows the position of personal item  30  and tie strap  10  following the step of pivoting personal item  30  upwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  35 . At this point, attachment pads  21  and  23  remain secured together thereby supporting personal item  30  against the outer surface of belt  31 . 
       FIG. 6C  shows the completion of personal item attachment to belt  31  using the present invention tie strap. This final step is provided by folding the upper portion of flexible strap  11  downwardly in the direction indicated by arrow  36  and bringing fabric attachment pad  20  into contact with fabric attachment pad  22 . The loop character of pad  20  and the hook character of pad  22  provide the attachment. At this point, tie strap  10  is supporting personal item  30  upon belt  31  in the manner shown in  FIG. 5 . This completes the attachment of personal item  30  to belt  31 . The user may then freely move about confident that personal item  30  will remain secured to belt  31 . In the event the user has need of personal item  30  the sequence of steps shown in  FIGS. 6  A,  6 B and  6 C is reversed. Thus, to access personal item  30  the user simply pulls the outer end of tie strap  10  away such that fabric attachment pads  20  and  22  separate. The combination of tie strap  10  and personal item  30  then opens due to gravity to the configuration shown in  FIG. 6A . The user then simply pulls personal item  30  away from tie strap  10  thereby separating fabric attachment pads  23  and  21  and freeing up personal item  30 . 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that while a cell phone is shown in the above figures, this use is for purposes of illustration and not limitation. Accordingly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention tie strap may be used to secure a personal item to virtually any strap or belt as desired. For example, attachment may be provided to a purse strap or a guitar strap or other musical apparatus straps without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention. Similarly, a variety of personal items commonly used in industries such as the communication and entertainment industries may be secured by the present invention tie strap. Thus, various types of cell phones and smart phones and similar apparatus may be secured using the present invention tie strap. Similarly, various remote controls, body packs, remote transmitters and receivers typical of use in the entertainment industry may also be secured by the present invention ties strap. 
     What has been shown is a versatile and extremely useful tie strap which may be used to conveniently and efficiently secure personal items of various types as required by the user. The tie strap provided is effective, low cost and extremely easy to master. The present invention tie strap may be fabricated utilizing any one of a variety of flexible strap materials together with attachment apparatus such as the well-known hook and loop fabric attachment pads. 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.