Patent ID: 7036189

Claim:
A fastening apparatus, comprising: a first fastener having a collective seating element and a first hook element; at least two flexible tension strands, each having opposed first and second ends, each of the at least two flexible tension strands having the first end affixed to the collective seating element, so that the at least two flexible tension strands are attached, in a bundle, to the collective seating element; and each of the second ends of the at least two flexible tension strands having a single, separate, second fastener affixed thereto, so that there is one second fastener provided for each of the at least two flexible tension strands, each separate, second fastener having a longitudinal center axis, a second seating element and a second hook element, the second seating element having a core at which the second fastener is affixed to the second end of the respective one of the at least two flexible tension strands, and having a cup-shaped sleeve that encloses the core and is free to rotate about the longitudinal center axis with respect to the core and the affixed second end of the respective one of the at least two flexible tension strands, the second hook element having a latching part connecting the second hook element to the sleeve; each of the second hook elements being configured for free rotation about its respective longitudinal center axis, relative to the affixed second end of the respective one of the at least two flexible tension strands.