Patent Document

FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an adjustable strap assembly utilizing hook and loop type fastening means as the primary adjustment means. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adjustable strap assembly that can be used on a variety of articles which require some measure of adjustment to accommodate different users or different utilizations. The adjustable strap assembly may be used alone as an adjustable strap, or may be modified for use as an animal collar or animal collar and harness assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Straps, belts, collars, harnesses and similar fastening articles which provide some means of adjustability are well known in the art. Such devices utilize one or more adjustment means. The most simple such device may be the waist belt, which uses a buckle frame and tongue that engages one of a series of holes. Another simple device is the three post sliding buckle. Through the years, more complex designs have been developed having from one to several type of adjustment means, including a plurality of loops, buckling devices, ring elements, snap fit arrangements and hook and loop type fastening means. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,613 to Donahue et al., issued Feb. 12, 1985, provides an adjustable support device using Velcroυ fasteners. U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,854 to Henrekin, issued Feb. 11, 1997 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,915,535 to Henrekin-Jordan, issued Jun. 29, 1999, show an adjustable strap fastener using a pair of loops and Velcro™ fastening means. 
     A number of devices have been produced specifically relating to animal collars and animal collar and harness assemblies which include adjustment means to accommodate different sizes of animals. Such collars and harnesses have been used on domestic animals for the purposes of restraining and controlling animals. Prior art collars and harnesses have embodied a variety of designs, ranging from simple neck collars and harnesses to more elaborate configurations having a plurality of loops, buckles and fitted vest like straps. While the more elaborate designs have overcome some of the drawbacks of the simpler designs, they also have presented new drawbacks relating specifically to adjustability and/or ease of use. Most significantly, many of these designs frequently are difficult to adjust. The designs having simplified adjustments typically lack the ability to be adjusted properly to fit animals of different shapes and sizes. Typical animal harnesses are represented by U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,152, issued Apr. 24, 1984 to Berardo; U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,172, issued Apr. 7, 1987 to King; U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,906, issued Dec. 24, 1985 to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,515, issued Apr. 30, 1996 to Brown et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,795, issued Aug. 17, 1999 to Raphael. However, each of these devices has complicated adjustment means which may not be suitable for all users. 
     A number of people have limited physical abilities, due to arthritis and similar debilitating diseases, limited vision, the use of prosthetic hands and the like, and have difficulty in using many of the adjustable fastening articles currently available. Hence, a need still exists in the art to provide an adjustable strap assembly which is simple and quick and easy to use. Such an adjustable strap assembly should be sufficiently versatile that it can utilized on a variety of articles, including for example, cloth bags such as gym bags, tote bags, duffel bags and military bags, back packs, clothing articles such as overalls, suspenders, bras, waist belts, watch bands, head bands, baseball caps, industrial and domestic apron straps, safety helmets, head-light bands for hunters, luggage straps and shoulder straps for purses. In addition, such an adjustable strap assembly should be adaptable by simple modification for use as animal collars, animal leashes, animal collar and harness assemblies, children&#39;s harnesses, safety harnesses, parachute harnesses, horse bridles, horse and saddle belly straps and horse reign straps to name but a few. Further, such an adjustable strap assembly should be capable of utilizing a variety of strapping materials, including for example, leather, flexible plastic, nylon, vinyl, elastic, cloth and rope style strapping materials, which may be provided with reflective, glow-in-the-dark and/or printed design features. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable strap assembly which is simple and easy to use. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable strap assembly which can be used by people having limited physical abilities. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an adjustable strap assembly which is sufficiently versatile that it can utilized on a variety of articles. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable strap assembly which can be manufactured from a variety of strapping materials, including leather, flexible plastic, nylon, vinyl, elastic, cloth and rope style strapping materials, which may be provided with reflective, glow-in-the-dark and/or printed design features. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable strap assembly which can be adapted for use as an animal collar or leash with a simple modification. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable strap assembly which can be adapted for use as a harness with simple modifications. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable strap assembly which is inexpensive to manufacture. 
     Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part of the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following specification or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing an adjustable strap assembly comprising an elongated web having an outersurface of loop-type fastening means, a separate short strap member having an undersurface of hook-type fastening means which is secured to one end of the elongated web, and preferably a key which facilitates release of the hook-type fastening means from the loop type fastening means. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be better understood with reference to the appended drawing sheets, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1A is a top perspective view of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1B is a bottom perspective view of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1C is a bottom perspective view of the short strap member of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention. 
     FIGS  1 D and  1 E are perspective views showing the securing of the short strap member to the elongated webbing of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1F is a side perspective view of the key of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 1G is a perspective view showing the use of the key with the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention adapted for use as a collar. 
     FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention adapted for use as a collar and harness assembly. 
     FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention adapted for use as a collar and harness assembly. 
     FIG. 4A is a side perspective view showing a securing means for the collar and harness assembly of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention used as a strap member for a back pack. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to adjustable strap assembly which can be used on a variety of articles, including for example, animal collars, animal harnesses, backpacks, and the like. More specifically, the adjustable strap assembly  1  shown in FIGS. 1,  1 A and  1 B includes an elongated webbing  10  and a securing strap member  20 , hereinafter sometimes referred to as strap member  20 . The elongated webbing  10  comprises a first end  11 , a first looped end  11   a , a first securing means  12  having a first post member  12   a  attached to the first looped end  11   a  and a second post member  12   b , a ring element  13 , a mid-section  14 , an outersurface  15 , an undersurface  16  and a second end  17 . The outersurface  15  of the elongated webbing  10  is provided with loop-type fastening means V 1 . The securing strap member  20  comprises a first strap end  21 , an outersurface  22 , an undersurface  23  and a second strap end  24 , as shown in FIGS. 1C,  1 D and  1 E. The undersurface  23  of the strap member  20  is provided with hook-type fastening means V 2 . Both the elongate strap  10  and strap member  20  can be composed of any type of flexible webbing material. Suitable such materials include, for example, cloth belted webbing, leather, nylon webbing, flexible plastic materials, vinyl webbing materials, elastic webbing straps and rope style webbing. Such materials also can be provided with particular features, including for example, reflective, glow-in-the-dark and/or printed design features, for example animal prints, and may be of any suitable length, width, thickness and strength. 
     First looped end  11   a  is formed by passing the first end  11  through the ring element  13  in a first direction, looping the first end  11  about the post member  12   a , then passing the first end back through the ring element in a second direction which is opposite that of the first direction, such that the undersurface of first end  11  lies along the undersurface of the mid-section  14 . The first end  11  is releasably attached to the mid-section  14  by means of the securing strap member  20 . More specifically, the strap member  20  is looped about both the first end  11  and the midsection  20  and secured to the outersurface of first end  11 . The strap member  20  can be secured to the first end  11  by first attaching the first strap end  21  to the first end  11  and then attaching the second strap end  24  to the first strap end  21 , or both the first and second strap ends can be secured to the first end  11 . Suitable means for securing the strap member  20  to the first end  11  include, for example, stitching, adhesive or heat bonding. 
     As the strap member  20  is secured to the first end  11  of the elongated webbing  10 , the hook-type fastening means V 2  provided on the undersurface  23  of the securing strap member  20  contacts the loop-type fastening means V 1  provided on the outersurface  15  of the elongated webbing  10 , thereby releasably attaching the elongated webbing  10  with the securing strap member  20  when the hook-type and loop-type fastening means are brought together. Release of the hook-type fastening means from the loop-type fastening means allows the first end  11  of the elongated webbing  10  to be guided over the mid-section of the elongated webbing to a desired position and then re-engaging the hook-type and loop-type fastening means, thereby re-securing the first end at the desired position. In this manner, the distance between the first and second ends  11  and  17  can be adjusted, thereby providing a simple means to adjust the length of the elongated webbing  10 . 
     The adjustable strap assembly of the present invention preferably comprises a key  30  having a leg member  31  which is configured to slide between the hook-type fastening means V 2  and the loop type fastening means V 1 , thereby facilitating the disengagement of the hook-type fastening means from the loop type fastening means, as shown in FIG.  1 F and FIG.  1 G. Once the length of the elongated webbing has been adjusted, the key is removed and the hook-type and loop-type fastening means are brought together to re-secure the elongated webbing to the securing strap member. The key can be composed of a variety of materials, including for example, plastics, metals, fiberglass and wood materials. 
     The adjustable strap assembly of the present invention is versatile in the way it can be used and incorporated into a variety of articles requiring adjustment. For example, a simple modification of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention transforms the adjustable strap assembly into a collar, such as an animal collar, such as is shown in FIG.  2 . Referring to FIG. 2, collar  40  is constructed when the adjustable strap assembly  1  is modified by providing a second looped end  17   a  and a second securing means  18  having a post member  18   a  attached to the second looped end  17   a . The second looped end  17   a  is formed by looping the second end  17  about the post member  18   a  of the second securing means  18  and securing the second end  17  to said undersurface  16  of the elongated webbing  10 . The second securing means  18  attached to the second looped end  17   a  is configured in such a manner that it is detachably securable to said first securing means  12  attached to said first looped end  11   a , thereby joining the first and second looped ends. Preferably, the second end  17  is looped about a D-ring  41  prior to being looped about the post member  18   a  in the construction of second looped end  17   a . Adjustability of the collar  40  is achieved by the release of the hook-type fastening means V 2  from the loop-type fastening means V 1  and sliding or guiding the elongated webbing  10  along the mid-section  14  to the desired adjusted position and then re-engaging the hook- and loop-type fastening means, thereby re-securing the first end at the desired adjusted position. The first and second securing means can be any type of complementary fastening elements, including for example, buckling members. Preferably, the first securing means  12  is a male buckling member and the second securing means  18  is a female buckling member. 
     The adjustable strap assembly of the present invention can be adapted for use as a collar and harness assembly. Referring to FIG. 3, a collar and harness assembly A 1  is shown comprising collar assembly  40 , an upper looped belt member  42 , a lower looped belt member  46 , and a chest collar  50 . Chest collar  50  is a modification of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention. More particularly, chest collar  50  comprises a first end  51 , a first looped end  51   a , a first rectangular ring  52 , and a mid-section  53 , and outersurface  54 , and undersurface  55 , an O-ring  56 , a second end  57 , a second looped end  57   a , a second rectangular ring  58 , and first and second securing sites  59   a  and  59   b . The outersurface  54  of the chest collar  50  is provided with loop-type fastening means V 1 . Chest collar  50  can be composed of any type of flexible webbing material. Suitable such materials include, for example, cloth belted webbing, leather, nylon webbing, flexible plastic materials, vinyl webbing materials, elastic webbing straps and rope style webbing. Such materials also can be provided with particular features, including for example, reflective, glow-in-the-dark and/or printed design features, for example animal prints, and may be of any suitable length, width, thickness and strength. 
     First looped end  51   a  is formed by passing the first end  51  through first rectangular ring  52  in a first direction, looping the first end  51  through the O-ring  56 , then passing the first end back through the rectangular ring  52  in a second direction which is opposite that of the first direction, such that the undersurface of first end  11  lies along the undersurface of the first securing site  59   a . The first end  51  is releasably attached to the first securing site  59   a  by means of a securing strap member  20   a . Similarly, second looped end  57   a  is formed by passing the second end  57  through second rectangular ring  58  in a first direction, looping the second end  57  through the O-ring  56 , then passing the second end back through the rectangular ring  58  in a second direction which is opposite that of the first direction, such that the undersurface of first end  11  lies along the undersurface of the second securing site  59   b . The second end  57  is releasably attached to the second securing site  59   b  by means of a securing strap member  20   b.    
     Securing strap members  20   a  and  20   b  are identical to securing strap member  20  and function in the same manner as securing strap member  20 . In this configuration, adjustability of the chest collar  50  is achieved by the release of the hook-type fastening means V 2  provided on the undersurface of each of the strap members  20   a  and  20   b  from the loop-type fastening means V 1  provided on the outersurface  54  of the chest collar, and sliding or guiding the first end  51  and/or the second end  57  toward or away from mid-section  53  to the desired adjusted positions and then re-engaging the hook-type and loop-type fastening means, thereby re-securing the first end  51  and/or the second end  57  at the desired adjusted positions. 
     The collar assembly  40  and chest collar  50  are joined by upper and lower looped belt members  42  and  46 . Again referring to FIG. 3, upper looped belt member  42  comprises a first looped end  43  which is formed about D-ring  41  and the elongated web  10  of collar assembly  40  near first looped end  18   a  of the collar assembly, and a second looped end  44  which is formed about the mid-section  53  of chest collar  50 . The lower looped member  46  comprises a first looped end  47  which is formed about the elongated web  10  of collar assembly  40  between the second end  12  and second looped end  12   a , and a second looped end  48  which is looped through O-ring  56 . The upper and lower looped belt members can be composed of any type of flexible webbing material. Suitable such materials include, for example, cloth belted webbing, leather, nylon webbing, flexible plastic materials, vinyl webbing materials, elastic webbing straps and rope style webbing. Such materials also can be provided with particular features, including for example, reflective, glow-in-the-dark and/or printed design features, for example animal prints, and may be of any suitable length, width, thickness and strength. 
     Another adaption of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention for use as a collar and harness assembly is shown in FIG.  4 . Referring to FIG. 4, a collar and harness assembly A 2  is shown comprising the collar  40 , an upper looped belt member  42 , a cross looped belt member  60 , a first adjustable strap assembly  7  comprising an elongated web  70  and a securing strap member  20 C and second adjustable strap assembly  8  comprising an elongated web  80  and a securing strap member  20 D. First and second adjustable strap assemblies  7  and  8  are constructed in the same manner as the adjustable strap assembly  1  shown in FIG.  1 . More particularly, adjustable strap assembly  7  comprises an elongated webbing  70  comprises a first end  71 , a first looped end  71   a , a first securing means  72  having first and second post members  72   a  and  72   b  attached to the first looped end  71   a , a ring element  73 , a mid-section  74 , an outersurface  75 , an undersurface  76  and a second end  77 . The outersurface  75  of the elongated webbing  70  is provided with loop-type fastening means V 1 . 
     Similarly, the adjustable strap assembly  8  comprises an elongated webbing  80  comprises a first end  81 , a first looped end  81   a , a first securing means  82  having first and second post members  82   a  and  82   b  attached to the first looped end  81   a , a ring element  83 , a mid-section  84 , an outersurface  85 , an undersurface  86  and a second end  87 . The outersurface  85  of the elongated webbing  80  is provided with loop-type fastening means V 1 . Each of the first looped ends  71   a  and  81   a  are formed in the same manner as first looped end  11   a , each being looped about first post member  72   a  and  82   a  of the respective securing means  72  and  82 . The second end  77  is looped about the elongated web  10  of collar assembly  40  and secured to its underside, such as by stitching, adhesive or heat bonding, to form a second looped end  77   a . The second end  87  is inserted between the undersurfaces  87  of the looped end  77   a  and secured therebetween, such as by stitching, adhesive or heat bonding, thereby connecting the two adjustable strap assemblies  7  and  8  to the collar assembly  40 , as shown in FIG.  4 A. 
     The cross looped belt member  60  comprises a first looped end  62  which is formed about second post member  72   b  of first securing means  72  and a second looped end  64  which is formed about second post member  82   b  of second securing means  82 . Thus, the first and second adjustable strap assemblies  7  and  8  are connected to one another through the cross looped belt member  60  by means of the respective securing means  72  and  82 . The cross looped belt member can be composed of any type of flexible webbing material. Suitable such materials include, for example, cloth belted webbing, leather, nylon webbing, flexible plastic materials, vinyl webbing materials, elastic webbing straps and rope style webbing. 
     The upper looped belt member  42  is connected to the collar assembly in the same manner as described above in reference to the collar and harness assembly A 1 . The upper looped belt member joins the collar assembly  40  to the looped belt member  60  through second looped end  44  which is formed about the looped belt member  60 . 
     Other animal control assemblies and harness assemblies can be constructed with simple modification of the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention. Such types of animal control and harness assemblies include for example, animal leashes, children harnesses, safety harnesses, parachute harnesses, horse bridles, horse and saddle belly straps and horse reign straps. 
     The adjustable strap assembly also can be incorporated into a wide variety of articles requiring some adjustment by the user. Such articles include for example, cloth bags such as gym bags, tote bags, duffel bags and military bags, back packs, clothing articles such as overalls, suspenders, bras, waist belts, watch bands, head bands, baseball caps, industrial and domestic apron straps, safety helmets, head-light bands for hunters, luggage straps and shoulder straps for purses. 
     FIG. 5 shows the adjustable strap assembly of the present invention used as an adjustment means for a conventional back pack  90 . Referring to FIG. 5, a back pack  90  comprises a bag portion  91  having an upper end  92 , a lower end  93 , two securing loops  94  attached to the lower end  93 , and two shoulder strap assemblies  1   a . Each shoulder strap assembly  1   a  is constructed in the same manner as described in reference to the adjustable strap assembly  1  shown in FIG. 1, each comprising an elongated webbing  10  and a securing strap member  20 . More specifically, the elongated webbing  10  comprises a first end  11 , a first looped end  11   a , a first securing means  12  having a first post member  12   a  attached to the first looped end  11   a  and a second post member  12   b , a ring element  13 , a mid section  14 , an outersurface  15 , an undersurface  16  and a second end  17 , the outersurface  15  being provided with loop-type fastening means V 1 . The securing strap member  20  comprises a first strap end  21 , an outersurface  22 , an undersurface  23  and a second strap end  24 , the undersurface  23  being provided with hook-type fastening means V 2 , as shown in FIG.  1 A. Each of the shoulder strap assemblies  1   a  is secured to the back pack  90  in the same manner. The second end  17  of the shoulder strap assembly  1   a  is attached to the upper end  92  of bag portion  91  by suitable means, including for example, stitching, adhesive or heat bonding. Each securing loop  94  comprises a first end  94   a  and a second end  94   b . First end  94   a  of securing loop  94  is looped about post member  12   b  and secured to second end  94   b  and to the lower end  93  of bag portion  91 , by suitable means, including for example, stitching, adhesive or heat bonding, thereby forming a securing loop. In this manner, the first looped end  11   a  of each shoulder strap assembly  1   a  is attached to a corresponding securing loop  94  at the lower end  93  of bag portion  91 . In order for the user to obtain a comfortable fit of the back pack over the shoulders, each adjustable strap assembly  1   a  is adjusted by releasing the hook-type fastening means provided on the securing strap member  20  from the loop-type fastening means provided on the elongated web  10 . 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto, and that many obvious modifications and variations can be made, and that such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: y