Patent Publication Number: US-2011068021-A1

Title: Tow strap bag

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a tow strap that coverts into bag and more specifically to a tow strap with a zipper attached to its circumference and the tow strap zips up to form a bag. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Tow straps are used in many applications, for example to pull a vehicle out of a ditch or to get the vehicle to start, to lift a weight up onto a platform or lower a weight down to a lower level. 
     In many cases the tow strap is used by a vehicle owner only in limited circumstances and most of the time it just collects dust or gets tangled up with other items stored by the owner. As a result sometimes when the cable is needed the owner cannot recollect where it was placed. 
     In some cases the vehicle owner equips the vehicle with numerous items that are designated to be used in emergency, for example a tow strap, a hazard warning triangle, jumper cables, a flashlight, a jack and various other tools. The vehicle owner may use a container to keep the items together and prevent them from mixing with other items, so that they will be readily available in case of need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of an embodiment of the invention, relates to a tow strap with an open zipper attached around the circumference of the tow strap, for example sewn on. The zipper is positioned to enable the tow strap to be zipped up to form a bag. Optionally, the tow strap is zipped up to form a bag essentially in the form of a helix. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an extra flap extends from the end of the tow strap to serve as the bottom of the bag. The shape of the extra flap determines the shape of the bottom of the bag. Optionally, the extra flap is formed by folding over the end of the tow strap to form a U shaped end. Alternatively, an additional piece of material is attached to the end of the tow strap. The zipper is attached also around the extra flap. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the zipper initially attaches between the bottom and the end of the tow strap, wherein the tow strap creates the helix shaped walls of the bag. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a fastening element such as a hook, a claw or loop is placed on one end or both ends of the tow strap to help use the tow strap to tow. Optionally, the fastening element may be attached directly to the tow strap or indirectly by an additional piece of material coupled to the tow strap. In some embodiments of the invention, the same fastening element is placed on both ends. Alternatively, a different type of fastening element is placed on each end, for example to handle a different connection or load. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the other end of the tow strap includes an extension flap of the zipper to enable the top of the bag to be sealed. Optionally, reflective stripes are attached to selected positions on the tow strap, such that when the bag is zipped up the reflective stripes form a triangle or other geometrical shapes. Optionally, the geometric shape may include only the circumference of the geometric shape or it may form an essentially solid geometric shape. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, one or more straps may be coupled to the tow strap to serve as carrying straps for the bag. In some embodiments of the invention, the carrying straps can be removed or adjusted. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the zipper head may include a functional apparatus, for example a flashlight, a corkscrew or a compass. 
     There is thus provided according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a tow strap bag, including: 
     a tow strap that is adapted to be used to tow objects; 
     an open zipper coupled to the circumference of the tow strap; and 
     wherein the tow strap is adapted to form a bag when zipping up the zipper coupled to the tow strap. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the tow strap bag further comprises a flap extending from an end of the tow strap to serve as the bottom of the bag, and wherein the open zipper surrounds the flap extending from the tow strap. Optionally, the flap is formed by folding over an end of the tow strap and fixating it so that the folded over piece forms a U shaped end with the tow strap. Alternatively, the flap is formed by attaching an extra piece of material to the end of the tow strap. Optionally, the extra piece of material is from a different material than the tow strap. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the zipper begins from between the flap and the end of the tow strap. Optionally, the tow strap is provided with loops to accommodate fastening elements near the ends of the tow strap. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the tow strap bag includes a fastening element coupled to at least one end of the tow strap. Optionally, the strap bag, further comprises a fastening element coupled to both ends of the tow strap. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the tow strap bag further comprises a flap attached to one side of the tow strap to accommodate the fastening element without interfering with the zipper coupled to the circumference of the tow strap. Optionally, the zipper extends beyond the end of the tow strap forming the top of the bag, to form an extension that is used to seal the bag. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the tow strap bag further comprises reflective stripes attached to selected positions on the tow strap, so that a reflective triangle is formed when zipping up the tow strap to form a bag. Optionally, the reflective triangle is an essentially solid triangle. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the tow strap bag further comprises one or more straps coupled to at least two sequential positions on the tow strap to provide a carrying strap when the tow strap is zipped up into a bag. Optionally, the carrying straps are removable or adjustable. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the tow strap is color coded such that the tow strength is indicated by the color. 
     There is further provided according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method of converting a tow strap into a bag, including: 
     forming a bottom for the bag near one end of the tow strap; 
     attaching an open zipper around the circumference of the tow strap and the bottom. 
     Optionally, the bottom is formed by folding over an end of the tow strap and fixating it to extend in an angle relative to the rest of the tow strap. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the bottom is formed by attaching an additional piece of material to one end of the tow strap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be understood and better appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. Identical structures, elements or parts, which appear in more than one figure, are generally labeled with the same or similar number in all the figures in which they appear, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an unzipped tow strap bag, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of the ends of a tow strap bag, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a partially zipped tow strap bag, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of a zipped up tow strap bag, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic illustration of a top view of a zipped up tow strap bag, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic illustration of a bottom view of a zipped up tow strap bag, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a tow strap bag that forms a hazard warning triangle, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of a tow strap bag with carrying straps, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an unzipped tow strap bag  100 , and  FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of the ends of tow strap bag  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Optionally, tow strap bag  100  is made up from a tow strap  110  with an open zipper  120  surrounding the entire circumference of tow strap  110 , so that a bag can be formed by zipping up zipper  120 . In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an extra flap  130  is attached to tow strap  110  on one end to serve as a bottom  150  for tow strap bag  100 . Optionally, extra flap  130  is formed by folding over the end of tow strap  110  and sewing it to form a U shaped end. Alternatively, an additional piece of material may be used to form extra flap  130 . Optionally, the extra material may be the same as used for tow strap  100  or a different type of material may be used, for example tow strap  110  may be made up from canvas, nylon, plastic, woven metal or any other material that can provide enough strength to serve as a tow strap. Optionally, extra flap  130  may be the same material or it may be harder or softer than the rest of the bag to form bottom  150  with a desired rigidity, since bottom  150  does not serve as part of tow strap  110 . Optionally, zipper  120  begins at the bottom of the U shaped end between tow strap  110  and extra flap  130 . Optionally, a pull tab  126  is located there to pull a slider  123  that connects between the part of the zipper attached to the extra flap and the part of the zipper that is attached to tow strap  110 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, zipper  120  ends at the top with an extra zipper extension  140  to form a sealed top  160 . Alternatively or additionally, top  160  may or may not include extra zipper extension  140  thus forming a sealable or non-sealable top. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a fastening element  170  (e.g. a hook, a claw, a loop) is attached to both ends of tow strap  110 . In some embodiments of the invention, a different type or different shaped fastening element  170  is attached to each end of tow strap  110 , or one end may not include fastening element  170 . Optionally, fastening element  170  is attached directly to tow strap  110 , for example to a loop  190  provided for accommodating a fastening element near the end of tow strap  110 . Alternatively, fastening element  170  may be attached to an extra strap  180  that is coupled to tow strap  110 , for example by sewing them together. Optionally, extra strap  180  is reinforced or specially designed to support fastening element  170 . Optionally, the use of extra strap  180  prevents fastening element  170  from interfering with zipper  120  to form tow strap bag  100  from tow strap  110 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic illustration of a partially zipped tow strap bag  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the user grasps pull tab  126  of zipper  120  and pulls slider  123  to cause zipper  120  to connect between two extensions of tow strap  110 . As the zipper advances, tow strap  110  wraps around extra flap  130  and forms tow strap bag  100  with extra flap  130  serving as the bottom of tow strap bag  100 . In some embodiments of the invention, extra flap  130  is shaped as a rectangle thus forming a rectangular shaped bag. Alternatively, extra flap  130  may be shaped as an ellipse or circle giving the bag an ellipse or circular shape. Optionally, at the top extra zipper extension  140  is positioned to seal tow strap bag  100 , when tow strap  110  reaches its end. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic illustration of a zipped up tow strap bag  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Optionally, tow strap bag  100  may be used as a general purpose bag to hold items for the user. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, tow strap  110  may be provided in various sizes. Optionally, the size is determined based on the size of the tow strap  110  required, and taking into consideration the desired size for the resulting bag. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, tow strap  110  is color coded to let the user know at a glance what strength the tow strap may be used for, for example a yellow tow strap  110  may indicate that tow strap  110  may be used to tow anything up to a mass of 500 Kg, and a red tow strap  110  may indicate that tow strap  110  may be used for a mass greater than 500 Kg, for example between 500-1000 Kg. Optionally, also zipper  120  may be color coded, for example to indicate the volume of the bag. In some embodiments of the invention, pull tab  126  includes a functional apparatus, for example a flashlight, a corkscrew or a compass. 
       FIG. 5A  is a schematic illustration of a top view of a zipped up tow strap bag  100 , and  FIG. 5B  is a schematic illustration of a bottom view of a zipped up tow strap bag  100 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
     Optionally, tow strap bag  100  may be used to enclose a kit of emergency items so that it serves a dual purpose: 
     a. As the container to hold the items; and 
     b. As a tow strap  110  that is part of the emergency items. 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of a tow strap bag  110  that forms a hazard warning triangle  600 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the kit may include tow strap  110 , hazard warning triangle  600 , jumper cables, a flashlight, a jack and various other tools. Optionally, when tow strap bag  110  is unzipped it can serve as tow strap  110 . When it is zipped up it can serve as hazard warning triangle  600  and/or as tow strap bag  100 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, hazard warning triangle  600  is made up by placing reflective strips  610  on tow strap  110  so that when tow strap  110  is zipped up to form tow strap bag  100  a reflective triangle is formed. Optionally, the reflective strips may be adhesively attached to tow strap bag  100  or sewed on. Alternatively, the reflective strips are printed onto tow strap  110 . The reflective triangle can be placed on the road or inside a vehicle to serve as a hazard warning triangle  600 . 
     In some embodiments of the invention, hazard warning triangle  600  forms an essentially solid triangle as shown in  FIG. 6 . Alternatively, hazard warning triangle  600  may form an outline of a triangle. In some embodiments of the invention, other reflective shapes may be formed to provide other functions. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of a tow strap bag  100  with carrying straps  710 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, carrying straps  710  are attached to predetermined positions on tow strap  110 , so that tow strap bag  100  will have carrying straps  710  when it is zipped up to form a bag. In some embodiments of the invention, carrying straps  710  may be short and serve as handles for holding the bag. Alternatively, they may be long so that the bag can be worn over a persons shoulder. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, carrying straps  710  are attached with a non permanent attachment (e.g. a buckle  720 ) so that the carrying straps may be removed when not needed, for example when using tow strap  110  to pull something instead of using it to form a bag. Additionally, the size of the carrying straps  710  may be adjusted 
     It should be appreciated that the above described methods and apparatus may be varied in many ways, including omitting or adding steps, changing the order of steps and the type of devices used. It should be appreciated that different features may be combined in different ways. In particular, not all the features shown above in a particular embodiment are necessary in every embodiment of the invention. Further combinations of the above features are also considered to be within the scope of some embodiments of the invention. 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims, which follow.