Patent Document:

a first embodiment of the strap assembly of the present invention is illustrated in fig1 . a strap assembly 10 is provided having a single elongated elastic cord including resilient cord sections 18 and 20 ; and first , second and third annular brass rings 12 , 14 , and 16 , respectively . the elastic cord sections , when in their unstretched state , are substantially equal in length . each of the elastic cords used in the invention preferably comprises a rubber elastic cord center or core 22 which is encased in a nylon weave material 24 , as best illustrated in fig4 . the first cord section 18 and second cord section 20 are attached to the outer periphery of the first and second eyelets 12 and 16 , respectively ; and the second cord section 20 is attached at a first end to third brass eyelet 14 , and the first cord section 18 is attached at a first end to eyelet 12 and at a second end to third brass eyelet 14 . each cord section is attached to the eyelets as shown in fig5 . fig2 illustrates a second strap assembly 21 which is similar to assembly 10 illustrated in fig1 but which additionally includes a third cord section 23 and a fourth eyelet 19 . cord section 23 is substantially identical to first and second cord sections 18 and 20 and is attached at a first end to second eyelet 16 and at a second end to fourth eyelet 19 . although the cord section is preferably the same length as the first and second cord sections , it could be made shorter if desired . fig3 illustrates a third embodiment 25 of the strap assembly . this embodiment includes a first cord 32 which is attached at a first end to first eyelet 29 and at a second end to second eyelet 31 . this first cord 32 is similar in construction to the cord of fig1 . a second cord 28 is provided having a third eyelet 38 which is positioned along a substantially central portion of cord 32 . rather than being attached at its periphery , as are the eyelets in the embodiments of fig1 and 2 and eyelets 29 and 31 in this third embodiment of the strap assembly , eyelet 38 is positioned ( loosely ) substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of cord 32 and is flexibly positioned thereover , as best illustrated in fig3 . the second elastic cord 28 is attached at its first end to an outer periphery of eyelet 38 and at a second end to an outer periphery of a fourth eyelet 37 . the second cord 28 is preferably shorter than cord 32 , but can be made of any desired length in accordance with the articles which are to be attached to the dishwasher rack when the eyelets of the strap are positioned over the generally upwardly directed fingers of the dishwasher rack . still referring to fig3 a third cord or strap 27 is provided which can be of substantially the same length as cord 32 , and which includes a fifth eyelet 33 attached to one end of the third cord and a sixth eyelet 34 attached to a second end of cord 27 . the third eyelet 38 is generally slidably or guidably positioned about the periphery of cord 35 , in the same manner that is positioned about cord 32 . cords 32 and 27 can thus be found in a position substantially parallel to each other . fig4 illustrates , in cross section , the contour and materials which preferably form each of the elastic cord sections 18 , 20 and 23 , and individual cords 27 , 28 , and 32 . more specifically , each of the cords and sections comprises an elastic material , e . g ., a rubber core 22 , about which a nylon material 24 is woven , as one or more braids , in order to encase the nylon cords . as in the other embodiments , the elastic nylon cord can be formed , e . g ., from a number 840 denia nylon woven around six pure rubber strands forming the core . such a cord is capable of between 90 and 100 % stretch from a relaxed condition . although this specific material is detailed herein , the present invention should not be construed as being limited to a cord construction using such materials . elasticity is necessary for the cords , however , in order to enable them to stretch sufficiently so as to accommodate a variety of differently sized articles or a number of articles on the dishwasher rack . each of the brass eyelets 12 , 14 , 16 , 19 , 29 , 31 , 33 , and 34 is preferably formed of annular brass material having a minimum inside diameter of approximately 3 millimeters and a maximum outside diameter of approximately 8 millimeters . alternately , each of the brass eyelets can be rubber coated if it is desired to provide some resiliency and greater resistance against wear . a central rubber grommet can be positioned within the interior of each eyelet , and attached conventionally , e . g ., by adhesive , in order to increase wear of the eyelets and provide a better grip on the rack fingers when the eyelets are secured on the rack . fig6 illustrates the proper use of one of the embodiments of the present invention , e . g . a typical dishwasher ( or other ) racks . the rack includes a plurality of upwardly extending fingers 52 . in a typical configuration , one of more glass or china plates 55 ( or drinking glasses ) are positioned against ( or over ) the fingers , respectively . one or more strap assemblies 10 , 21 , or 25 are positioned so that their eyelets are placed over several fingers and forced downwardly until their inner diameters relatively securely engage the outer diameters of the fingers , with the fingers being substantially frustoconical . because of the flexibility and resiliency of each of the straps , the rings can be positioned on virtually any desired fingers or upwardly standing rack structure and used to position around otherwise breakable article ( s ) to securely position the article ( s ) on the rack . during operation of the dishwasher , which entails a great deal of shaking , the frangible items will be relatively securely held in place and will thus minimize breaking and chipping . each of the strap assemblies is made by stretching the nylon elastic cord , or cord section , as the case may be , around the periphery of the eyelet hub 15 , as shown in fig5 to permit the elastic cord to reduce its diameter to as low a value as possible . thereafter , the edges 91 of eyelet flanges 92 and 93 are folded or crimped into a substantially perpendicular position , with respect to the flanges , by applying pressure to the open ends of the eyelet , thereby encasing the stretched elastic cord between the flanges and eyelet hub 15 . in this fashion , the finished product can be stretched to its fullest extent without separation of the eyelets or separation between the eyelets and the cord . although one particular embodiment of attaching the cords to the eyelets is illustrated , other methods could be used , e . g ., adhesive , tape , or conventional fastening means . using the crimped flanges to attach the cords to the eyelets , however , permits a single cord ( of about two centimeters in length ) to be used in each of the embodiments of fig1 and 2 . as noted above , the eyelets serve to fasten the elastic strap assembly in a variety of selected positions by being pushed down around the generally upright fingers of a dishwasher rack or other rack . the elastic nylon cord is stretched around the item or items to be washed , securing one or more items ( with each of the cord assemblies ) in place prior to washing . the embodiments of fig1 and 2 are preferably used for small items or one or two item securements , whereas the third embodiment , as illustrated in fig3 is more specifically adapted for use with three or more frangible items positioned in the rack , which articles may be of various sizes and shapes . the specific embodiments discussed herein can be varied within the scope of the present invention , and obvious modifications and embodiments are contemplated as being within such scope .

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