Patent Publication Number: US-6038745-A

Title: Adjustable strap

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/092,787, filed Jul. 14, 1998, is claimed. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to adjustable straps. 
     2. Prior Art 
     A backpack, luggage, carrying case, or other shoulder-carried item is usually provided with an adjustable carrying strap. The strap is comprised of an elongated band with a fixed end fixedly attached to an anchoring ring on one end of the item, and an adjustable end threaded through another anchoring ring on the other end of the item. The adjustable end of the band is fixedly attached to a buckle which is slidable along the section of the band between the anchoring rings. I.e., the adjustable end of the band is movable relative to the fixed end for adjusting the length of the band between the anchoring rings. Such a strap cannot be detached from the item for strapping around other things. Even if it is detached, it can only be strapped around one thing. It cannot be hooked or somehow connected to a supporting structure. Also, the stitching that holds the adjustable end to the buckle may fail under stress. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, objects of the present adjustable strap are: 
     to hold one or more items; 
     to connect the items to a supporting structure, such as a belt, backpack, purse, luggage, etc.; 
     to be stable when connected to the supporting structure; and 
     to be durable. 
     Further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An adjustable strap is comprised of an elastic band generally folded in half with one section slightly longer than the other. The end of longer section is folded back over the shorter section and stitched to the end of the shorter section and an adjacent portion of the longer section. An elongated small loop and an elongated large loop are formed on opposite sides of the stitching. A D-ring is connected to the small loop, and a clip hook is hinged to the D-ring for clipping to a supporting structure. The lateral sections of the large loop are both threaded through at least two slots in a buckle, which is slidable along the large loop to divide it into two variable-size storage loops for strapping and holding items. The buckle is slidable for changing the sizes of the storage loops for tightening around the items. A triangular ring is connected to the storage loop farther away from the clip hook. The strap may be wrapped around a supporting structure by clipping the triangular ring to the clip hook. In a second embodiment, additional buckles are movably arranged along the large loop to define additional storage loops, and a second D ring and clip hook are connected to the storage loop farthest from the first clip hook. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the present adjustable strap. 
     FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the strap holding an item and clipped to a supporting structure. 
     FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the strap holding an item and wrapped around a supporting structure. 
     FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of the strap. 
     FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the strap of FIG. 4 holding a plurality of items and clipped to a supporting structure. 
     
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DRAWINGS REFERENCE NUMERALS                                               
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10.              Elastic Band                                             
11.              Stitching                                                
12.              Small Loop                                               
13.              Large Loop                                               
14.              D-Ring                                                   
15.              Clip Hook                                                
16.              Slots                                                    
17.              Buckle                                                   
18.              Storage Loop                                             
19.              Storage Loop                                             
20.              Triangular Ring                                          
21.              Item Being Carried                                       
22.              Supporting Structure                                     
23.              Supporting Structure                                     
30.              Elastic Band                                             
31.              Stitching                                                
32.              Small Loop                                               
33.              Large Loop                                               
34.              D-Ring                                                   
35.              Clip Hook                                                
36.              D-Ring                                                   
37.              Clip Hook                                                
38.              Slots                                                    
39.              Buckle                                                   
40.              Buckle                                                   
41.              Buckle                                                   
42.              Storgae Loop                                             
43.              Storage Loop                                             
44.              Storage Loop                                             
45.              Storage Loop                                             
46.              Triangular Ring                                          
47.              Item Being Carried                                       
48.              Item Being Carried                                       
49.              Supporting Structure                                     
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     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A first embodiment of an adjustable strap is shown in a side perspective view in FIG. 1. It is comprised of an elastic band 10 folded generally in half. The end of a slightly longer section is folded back over an end of a shorter section, and fixed to the end of the shorter section and an adjacent portion of the longer section with stitching 11, which is preferably a type of stitching known as bartack. An elongated small loop 12 and an elongated large loop 13 are defined on opposite sides of stitching 11. A D-ring 14 is connected to small loop 12, and a proximal end of a clip hook 15 is hinged to D-ring 14. 
     Large loop 13 is comprised of a pair of lateral sections which are both threaded completely through two slots 16 on a slidable buckle 17. Large loop 13 is divided by buckle 17 into first and second variable-size storage loops 18 and 19, the sizes of which may be varied by sliding buckle 17. A triangular ring 20 is connected to storage loop 19, i.e., the loop farthest from clip hook 15. Buckle 17 is prevented from sliding off the end of large loop 13 by triangular ring 20. 
     The strap is suitable for holding a variety of items, such as rolled-up clothing, water bottles, soda cans, etc. In FIG. 2, an item 21 is carried in storage loop 19. Buckle 17 is slid toward clip hook 15 until storage loop 19 is large enough to slip around item 21. Buckle 17 is slid back toward item 21 to tighten storage loop 19 around it. Although item 21 is large enough to require buckle 17 to be slid all the way toward clip hook 15, buckle 17 may be slid toward the middle of large loop 13 for carrying two smaller items. Strain on stitching 11 is relieved by buckle 17 for increased durability. Clip hook 15 is clipped around a suitable supporting structure 22, which may be a bar, D-ring, belt, belt loop, purse, luggage, backpack, etc. 
     The strap may be wrapped around a supporting structure 23 for greater stability. Triangular ring 20 is connected to clip hook 15 to prevent item 21 from swinging around. It may also be necessary to wrap the strap around a supporting structure when the supporting structure is not thin enough for clip hook 15 to clip onto. Triangular ring 20 is shaped to ensure that it is centered about clip hook 15 and distribute stress evenly on band 10. 
     A second embodiment of the adjustable strap is shown in a side perspective view in FIG. 4. It is comprised of an elastic band 30, which is preferably elastic, folded generally in half. The end of a slightly longer section is folded back over an end of a shorter section, and fixed to the end of the shorter section and an adjacent portion of the longer section with stitching 31. An elongated small loop 32 and an elongated large loop 33 are defined on opposite sides of stitching 31. A D-ring 34 is connected to small loop 32, and a proximal end of a clip hook 35 is hinged to D-ring 34. A D-ring 36 is connected to the distal portion of large loop 33, and a proximal end of a clip hook 37 is hinged to D-ring 36. 
     Large loop 33 is comprised of a pair of lateral sections which are both threaded completely through at least two slots 38 in each of a plurality of slidable buckles 39-41. Large loop 33 is divided by buckles 39-41 into first-fourth variable-size storage loops 42-45, the sizes of which may be varied by sliding buckles 39-41. A triangular ring 46 is connected to storage loop 45, i.e., the loop farthest from clip hook 35. Buckle 41 is prevented from sliding off the end of large loop 33 by triangular ring 46 and D-ring 36. 
     In FIG. 5, two items 47 and 48 are carried in storage loops 44 and 45. Buckles 39 and 40 are slid toward clip hook 35 until storage loops 44 and 45 are large enough to slip around items 47 and 48. Buckles 40 and 39 are slid back toward items 47 and 48 to tighten storage loops 44 and 45 around them. Although items 47 and 48 are large enough to require buckles 40 and 41 to be slid all the way toward clip hook 35, buckles 39-41 may be adjusted for carrying up to four smaller items, or one larger item. Strain on stitching 31 is relieved by buckle 39. Clip hook 35 is clipped around a supporting structure 49, which may be a bar, D-ring, belt loop, purse, luggage, backpack, etc. Clip hook 37 may also be connected to the supporting structure. For stability or attachment to a large supporting structure, the strap may be wrapped around the supporting structure, and triangular ring 46 or clip hook 37 may be connected to clip hook 35 in a way similar to that shown in FIG. 3. 
     SUMMARY AND SCOPE 
     Accordingly, the present adjustable strap holds one or more items. It connects the items to a supporting structure, such as a belt loop, backpack, purse, luggage, etc. It is stable when connected to the supporting structure. It is also durable. 
     Although the above description is specific, it should not be considered as a limitation on the scope of the invention, but only as an example of the preferred embodiment. Many variations are possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, the bands may be of any suitable dimensions. A different number of buckles may be provided. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, not by the examples given.