Abstract:
A portable strap carrier and method for managing a conventional tie down, such as a strap or belt, between uses. The carrier includes an elongated frame which defines two spaced apart slits for holding in place a short section of the tie down. Alternately, the short section is held in position by a pair of clips attached to the frame. In use, the short section is first secured to the frame; and then the remainder of the tie down is wrapped lengthwise about the frame. Two slots, disposed at opposing ends of the frame, guide placement of contiguous layers of the tie down as it is being wrapped. Once wrapped, the tie down can be bundled securely with the use of a tying strip attached to the frame.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to tie downs, and more particularly to a portable device for facilitating the management and use of tie downs, including straps, belts, ropes, and the like.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Tie downs, such as elongated straps and belts, are frequently used to restrain cargo in carts, trucks, cars, and other vehicles. In general, these tie downs can be tricky and frustrating to manage because they are often left in a discarded state between uses and thus can become dirty, tangled, lost and/or damaged.  
           [0003]    Several U.S. patents describe methods and devices for managing tie downs. U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,440 discloses a tie-down strap container comprising a well and a slit. A spindle sits in the well and the tie-down strap, which is normally wound on the spindle, passes through the slit when in use. U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,846 discloses a retractable restraint assembly and an E-shaped track having a plurality of slots. The restraint assembly connects to or disconnects from the track with the aid of a latch. The assembly includes a housing having a gear and a spool about which a belt is normally maintained in a wound state. U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,136 discloses a cargo restraining assembly, which is normally bolted on the sides of a truck bed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,312 discloses a pair of elongated slot holders for attaching a U-shaped spring. The U-shaped spring in turn connects to a strap used for restraining cargo loads. U.S. Pat. No. 3,429,537 discloses a strap connector and a slotted track. A pin and a spring member comprising the strap connector allow it to engage a slot in the track.  
           [0004]    Each of these prior art devices is rather elaborate and cumbersome to use. What is needed is a simple apparatus for facilitating the management and use of tie downs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The object of the present invention is to provide a portable device for managing a tie down between uses and preventing its becoming tangled, soiled or damaged from neglect.  
           [0006]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a conveniently sized, portable strap carrier for attaching and carrying a tie down. The carrier includes an elongated frame and means, including two spaced apart, transverse slits formed in the frame, for holding in place a short section of the tie down. In addition, the frame defines a pair of open-ended slots, one slot being disposed on each of the distal ends of the frame. Prior to use, the tie down is slideably inserted into the transverse slits, securing the short section. The slots guide placement of contiguous layers of the tie down as it is being wrapped lengthwise about the frame. A tying means, such as a strip of Velcro® attached to the frame, is provided for bundling the tie down, once it has been wrapped about the frame.  
           [0007]    Alternately, the means for holding in place a short section of the tie down comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced apart fasteners, such as clips, mounted on the elongated frame.  
           [0008]    So that a plurality of tie downs can be easily managed and used, there is further provided an embodiment of the present invention in which a plurality of strap carriers can be interlocked. According to this embodiment, the elongated frame includes first and second edges disposed generally longitudinally and at least two spaced apart nubs which protrude outwardly from the first edge. Further, the frame defines open-ended nub slots which extend inwardly from the second edge. The nubs and nub slots are so configured that the nubs on one strap carrier can be interlocked with the nub slots in another, when the respective carriers are positioned so that the first edge of one is contiguous with the second edge of the other.  
           [0009]    In general, once the short section of the tie down has been held in place, the portable strap carrier can be left in position, permanently attached to the tie down. So that when the tie down is being used to restrain cargo, the portable strap carrier can be placed flush against the load, the frame is preferably thin in profile.  
           [0010]    Furthermore, to allow a plurality of carriers to neatly link with one another, there is provided yet another embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the frame defines a pair of notches which extend inwardly from the midsections of the first and second outer edges, respectively. The notches receive portions of the tying means as they traverse the outer edges when the tying means is used to bundle the strap wrapped lengthwise around the frame. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a strap carrier according to the present invention, a short section of a conventional strap being held in place by the frame of the carrier, the strap, as well as a rachet and S-shaped hooks connected thereto, being shown in dashed lines and forming no part of the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the strap carrier according to FIG. 1, when the strap has been wrapped longitudinally about the frame and secured thereto by a tie;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the strap carrier according to FIG. 1, showing a pair of the strap carriers in an interlocked state, each carrier having a modified frame about which a conventional strap has been wrapped longitudinally and bundled by tying means; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 4, 5 and  6  are plan views of further alternate embodiments of the strap carrier according to FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    In the drawings, a portable strap carrier according to the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral  10 . Removably attached to the carrier  10  is a conventional strap  7 , which terminates in S-shaped hooks  8 ,  9  and is coupled with a ratchet device  6  for tightly tying-down a load (FIG. 1).  
         [0016]    The portable strap carrier  10  includes a frame  11 , which is generally rectangular in shape and thin in profile, and a strap or tie down engaging means (hereinafter “strap engaging means”) for initially holding in place a short section of the strap  7 . As illustrated in FIG. 1, the frame  11  defines two transverse slits  12 ,  20 , which comprise the strap engaging means. Alternately, the strap engaging means includes clips, belts, flaps, or the like attached to the frame  11  (FIGS. 5 and 6). As those skilled in the art will understand, the strap engaging means can be any mechanism which can hold in place at least a short section of the conventional strap  7  before the strap is wound on or wrapped about the frame  11 .  
         [0017]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, a first transverse slit  12  includes an elongated, narrow opening  14  and an even narrower passageway  13  for slideably receiving the strap  7 . The passageway  13  communicates with both the opening  14  and an outer edge of the frame  11 . Prior to using the carrier  10 , one must slide or engage a first portion of the strap  7  through the passageway  13  and into the opening  14 , thereby securing the portion. Likewise, a second transverse slit  20  with an elongated, narrow opening  22  and an even narrower passageway  21  is provided for securing a second portion of the strap  7 . In the preferred embodiment, the first and second transverse slits  12 ,  20  extend inwardly from first and second outer edges, respectively, of the frame  11 . These outer edges are disposed generally parallel to each other, and each slit  12 ,  20  spans about three-fourths (¾) of the distance between the first and second outer edges.  
         [0018]    The portable strap carrier  10  further includes two open-ended slots or cutouts (hereinafter “slots”)  15 ,  16 , formed at distal ends of the frame  11 . Each of the slots  15 ,  16  is preferably slightly wider than the strap  7 . As the strap  7  is being wrapped around the frame  11 , the slots  15 ,  16  guide placement of the strap, restraining it between opposing sides of each respective slot. Accordingly, the strap  7  can be easily wrapped lengthwise around the carrier  10 .  
         [0019]    Moreover, the portable strap carrier  10  includes a tying means for tying around or bundling the strap  7  after the strap has been wrapped about the frame  11  (FIG. 2). When in use, the tying means is disposed generally perpendicularly to the wrapped strap  7 . Preferably, the tying means comprises a strip  19  of Velcro® attached to the frame  11  by a mechanical fastener such as a screw and nut (FIG. 4). However, the tying means can include a strip of plastic, a cloth ribbon, or the like attached to the frame  11  using any known means such as gluing, sewing, stapling, and mechanical fasteners.  
         [0020]    The portable strap carrier  10  also includes means for interlocking or linking contiguous pairs of carriers so as to facilitate management of a plurality of tie downs. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the frame  11  defines spaced apart nub slots  23 ,  24 , which extend inwardly from the first edge, and spaced apart nubs  18 ,  28 , which protrude outwardly and are attached to the second edge. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, each of the nub slots  23 ,  24  includes a nub-hole  25 ,  26  for tightly receiving one of the nubs  18 ,  28 , respectively, attached to the frame  11  of another carrier  10 . What is important is that the nub-holes  25 ,  26  and the nubs  18 ,  28  maintain the spatial relationship that allows a plurality of portable strap carriers  10  to be locked together. As those skilled in the art will understand, the interlocking means can be any pair of slots and nubs, knobs, balls, or screwed-in devices for interlocking, attaching, fitting, or putting together a plurality of portable strap carriers according to the present invention.  
         [0021]    Prior to its being used to tie down a load, the strap  7  must first be unwrapped from the frame  11 . Then, as a general rule, the underside of the frame  11  is placed flush against the load being tied down. So that strap  7  can be tightened around the load, while the strap is still engaged by the frame  11 , the frame is preferably fabricated from a flexible plastic material such as polyethylene or the like. However, the frame  11  can also be made out of a thin sheet of aluminum, wood, or the like. The frame  11  measures, by way of example, from about four inches to twelve inches in length and, when made out of plastic, about 0.033 inches to 0.25 inches in thickness.  
         [0022]    In an alternate embodiment, a strap carrier  30  has an elongated frame  31  which defines a pair of notches  39 ,  49  for receiving a tying means  19  (FIG. 3). In addition, the frame  31  defines end slots  35 ,  36  and transverse slits  32 ,  40 . Each transverse slit  32 ,  40  has an elongated, narrow opening  34 ,  42  which communicates with an outer edge of the frame through an even narrower passageway  33 ,  41 , respectively.  
         [0023]    Used to bundle a conventional strap  7  once it has been wrapped about the frame  31 , the tying means  19  can be positioned so that those portions thereof which traverse the outer edges of the frame during use rest generally in the notches  39 ,  49 . The notches  39 ,  49  enable a user to neatly link together two or more strap carriers  30  along their first and second outer edges, respectively (FIG. 3).  
         [0024]    As illustrated in FIG. 3, the frame  31  defines spaced apart nub slots  43 ,  44 , which extend inwardly from the first edge, and spaced apart necks  37 ,  47  tipped by nubs  38 ,  48 , which protrude outwardly from the second edge. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, each of the nub slots  43 ,  44  includes a nub-hole  45 ,  46  for tightly receiving one of the nubs  38 ,  48 , respectively, attached to the frame  31  of another carrier  30 .  
         [0025]    A portable strap carrier  50 , a further alternative embodiment, has a modified frame which is generally similar to the frame  31  except with respect to its interlocking means. Frame  51  includes a first outer edge from which nub slots  63 ,  64  extend inwardly and a second outer edge from which nubs  58 ,  68  protrude outwardly (FIG. 4). The frame  51  also defines notches  59 ,  69  for receiving a tying means  19  used to bundle a strap (not shown), so that two or more strap carriers  50  can be easily linked together.  
         [0026]    An alternative embodiment which may be preferred by consumers who normally use only a single strap  7  is shown in FIG. 5. Illustrated there is a portable strap carrier  70  with an elongated, generally flat frame  71  which lacks interlocking means. In addition, transverse slits for holding in place portions of the strap  7  have been replaced by clips  72 ,  80  attached to the frame  71  (FIG. 5). Prior to wrapping the strap lengthwise around the frame  71 , one first secures a short section of the strap to the frame using the clips  72 ,  80 . Slots  75 ,  76  on the ends of the frame  71  prevent the strap  7 , once it has been wrapped lengthwise, from sliding off the frame.  
         [0027]    The clips  72 ,  80  are preferably fabricated from metal or plastic and attached to the frame  71  using mechanical fasteners. The clips  72 ,  80  can also be an integral part of the frame  71  itself, formed by cutting or slicing it to form the desired shapes.  
         [0028]    In a still further alternative embodiment, a strap carrier  90  includes a frame  91  and a single, elongated clip  92  between which portions of a conventional strap  7  can be slid. The clip  92  is preferably an integral part of the frame  91  and is sliced therefrom. Fabricated without cutting all of the way through the frame  91 , the clip  92  is substantially thinner in transverse cross-section than the frame except for that portion of the frame disposed contiguous with the clip. Alternately, the clip  92  can be a slice of the frame  91  whose three sides are formed by cutting through the thickness of the mid-section of the frame.  
         [0029]    Frame  91  includes a first outer edge from which nub slots  98 ,  108  extend inwardly and a second outer edge from which nubs  93 ,  94  protrude outwardly, so that two or more carriers  90  can be interlocked (FIG. 6). Slots  95 ,  96  on the ends of the frame  91  prevent the strap  7 , once it has been wound thereabout, from sliding off of the frame.  
         [0030]    Numerous modifications to and alternative embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. Details of the embodiment may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and the exclusive use of all modifications which come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved.