This specification relates generally to straps for securing cargo/items to a desired location, and more particularly, to a strap that supports a plurality of user-selected configurations via quick-release connectors to accommodate a range of different types of cargo/items, and an attachment member at an end of the strap that preferably includes a substantially C-shaped hook profile to secure such cargo/items to a desired location that includes, for example, strap anchor points implemented within Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLE) systems and Pouch Attachment Ladder System (PALS) webbing.
Existing straps for securing cargo and other items on to a desired location range from relatively simple bungee cords that can provide constant tension to complex webbings for specialized purposes such as for stowing military gear. Straps are often highly specialized for a particular application such as those configured to couple to standardized strap/cargo systems. Other straps include looped ends to support a range of cargo and attachment/anchor points, while still other strap types include proprietary or otherwise specialized connectors for quick-release coupling.
There exists a need for a strap that can support a wide range of cargo securing scenarios including those traditionally served by the simplicity and constant tension of a bungee cord and scenarios that require the additional strength and convenience of a quick-release strap that can couple to specialized strap systems such as webbed cargo strap systems.
The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the teaching of the present specification and are not intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way.
In general, a strap system is disclosed for securing cargo/items to a desired location such as the frame of a vehicle and/or to other gear. The strap system may include at least a first strap segment, for example, a plurality of strap segments (or strap members), that couple together sequentially, e.g., end-to-end, via quick-release connectors such as side-release buckles. In this example, a first strap segment (or center strap segment) includes first and second ends that are configured to be removably coupled to second and third strap segments, respectively, via quick-release connectors. The first, second, and third strap segments may be collectively referred to as a multi-segment strap, or a multi-segment strap configuration, wherein at least two of the strap segments are coupled together. As discussed further below, the second and third strap segments may be decoupled from the first strap segment and be used as separate, independent straps for securing the same or different cargo/items depending on a desired configuration.
The first, second and third strap segments may be formed of a flexible material, such as Nylon, and couple together to collectively provide the multi-segment strap. In this configuration, the multi-segment strap can accommodate cargo with relatively large overall dimensions, and/or strap anchor points that are disposed apart from each other at a distance that would otherwise be impractical for a single strap segment to be utilized. When used, the multi-segment strap can be disposed over the top of cargo, for example, and anchored to a target/desired location at each end.
The second and third strap segments may provide the multi-segment strap with attachment members at each end. Each attachment member may be formed of a rigid material such as metal and includes a substantially C-shaped hook profile based on a stem and first and second hook portions that extend therefrom. The attachment members may also be referred to as substantially C-shaped hook attachment members, or simply substantially C-shaped hooks. Note, a strap consistent with the present disclosure may not necessarily utilize a plurality of straps segments and may instead be a single strap, e.g., without removable segments/sections. In this example, one or more ends of the single strap can include an attachment member consistent with the present disclosure.
The term strap as used herein refers to a strap for securing cargo/items that includes one or more strap segments, and that defines two opposing ends (or more) for coupling to respective strap anchor points. At least one end of the two opposing ends provides a substantially C-shaped hook attachment member consistent with aspects of the present disclosure to couple directly to strap anchor points, or indirectly by way of a removable anchor member, e.g., a closed-loop shock cord.
Strap anchor points, as generally referred to herein, include any location that a strap consistent with the present disclosure can removably couple to. Such strap anchor points can be provided by, for example, the frame of a vehicle, PALS webbing provided by gear such as a backpack or cooler, or virtually any other location a user desires to securely couple items/gear to.
In one example, the anchor member may be a closed-loop (also referred to as a loop-end) shock cord that provides the mounting slot in the form of a fabric sleeve. An attachment member, and more particularly the first and second hook portions of the attachment member that provide a substantially C-shaped hook profile, may then be at least partially received within the fabric sleeve of the anchor member to couple the anchor member to the strap. The anchor member may then be attached to a desired location, e.g., looped about a vehicle frame such as shown in
A strap consistent with the present disclosure therefore allows for each end of the same to couple directly to a target location via the anchor members, see e.g.,
The second and third strap segments may also be separable from the first strap segment and/or each other and are configured to operate as stand-alone straps. In this example, each of the second and third strap segments can include a first end with the aforementioned attachment member and a second end that includes a quick-release anchor, such as shown and described in greater detail below in connection with
The term “coupled” as used herein refers to any connection, coupling, link or the like between elements. Such “coupled” elements are not necessarily directly connected to one another and may be separated by intermediate components or devices. The term “directly coupled” refers to a connection between elements without an intermediate component or device.
The term substantially, as generally referred to herein, refers to a degree of precision within acceptable tolerance that accounts for and reflects minor real-world variation due to material composition, material defects, and/or limitations/peculiarities in manufacturing processes. Such variation may therefore be said to achieve largely, but not necessarily wholly, the target characteristic. To provide one non-limiting numerical example to quantify “substantially,” minor variation may cause a deviation of up to and including ±10% from a target quality/characteristic unless otherwise provided by the present disclosure.
Turning to
As shown in
The body 102 may be comprised of strap segments 102-1 to 102-3 that removably couple to each other, and when two or more of the same are coupled together, the resulting strap may be referred to as having a multi-segment configuration or simply as a multi-segment strap. The strap segments 102-1 to 102-3 may comprise a flexible material such as leather, rubber, or synthetic rubber, and more preferably a flexible fabric material such as nylon webbing, polypropylene webbing, rubber, synthetic rubber (e.g., but not limited to, hypalon), and/or the like. Accordingly, the strap segments 102-1 to 102-3 may also be referred to herein as fabric strap segments or simply fabric segments.
The first strap segment 102-1 can be configured with a maximum overall length L1. The maximum overall length L1 can measure between 1 millimeter (mm) and 200 mm, and preferably at least 25 mm. The first strap segment 102-1 may have a fixed overall length such that the first strap segment 102-1 has a length L1 that cannot be extended/shortened by a user. Alternatively, the first strap segment 102-1 may also be configured to be adjustable to vary the overall length up to the maximum overall length L1 based on a strap adjuster (not shown).
As shown, the first strap segment 102-1 may include first and second coupling members 106-1, 106-2 disposed at opposite ends to allow for the first strap segment 102-1 to removably couple to the second and third strap segments 102-2, 102-3. The first and second coupling members 106-1, 106-2 are may be implemented as quick-release connectors. The quick-release connectors may be in the form of side-release buckles that allow a user to supply a user-supplied force, e.g., a pinching force on opposite sides of the first and second coupling members 106-1, 106-2, to cause the first strap segment 102-1 to removably decouple from the second and/or third strap segments 102-2, 102-3.
As shown, the first strap segment 102-1 may include the first and second coupling members 106-1, 106-2 implemented as side-release buckles with the female portion of the same being provided by the first strap segment 102-1 and the corresponding male portions being provided by the second and third strap segments 102-2, 102-3. The first and second side release buckles may include at least one of polypropylene, nylon, and/or acetal (e.g., but not limited to, Delrin or the like).
The second and third strap segments 102-2, 102-3 may include a first end that removably couples to the first strap segment 102-1, e.g., via first and second coupling members 106-1, 106-2, respectively. The second and third strap segments 102-2, 102-3 can include a fixed overall length L2, or can preferably be adjustable to a maximum length equal of L2. In either case, the second and third strap segments 102-2, 102-3 can both include the same maximum overall length, e.g., L2, or have a different overall maximum length. The maximum overall length L2 can measure, for example, 100 to 3000 mm. The first, second and third strap segments 102-1, 102-2, and 102-3 can include a substantially equal width W, or different widths depending on a desired configuration. The width W can measure between 12 to 400 mm, for example.
Each of the second and third strap segments 102-2, 102-3 can further include first and second strap adjusters 108-1, 108-2, respectively. The first and second strap adjusters 108-1, 108-2 can be configured to allow for respective strap segments to be lengthened/shortened. The first and second strap adjusters 108-1, 108-2 may also be referred to as strap loops.
As further shown, a second end of each of the second and third strap segments 102-2, 102-3 may include an attachment member. For example, as shown in
Each of the first and second attachment members 110-1, 110-2 are may be formed from a metal or other suitably rigid material. For example, the first and second attachment members 110-1, 110-2 may be formed from aluminum, steel, brass, plastic, nylon, and/or acetal. The first and second attachment members 110-1, 110-2 may be configured to be fixed to the second and third strap segments 102-2, 102-3, respectively, (e.g., not removable by a user) and may also be referred to as fixed attachment members herein.
As further shown, the stem 220 can be configured to be at least partially surrounded by material of the second or third strap segments 102-2, 102-3 for coupling purposes, such as shown in
The first and second arm portions 222-1, 222-2 extend from opposite ends of the stem 220 at a first angle (θ1) relative to the longitudinal axis 250 such that at least a portion of the first and second arm portions 222-1, 222-2 extend substantially in parallel with each other. To this end, the first angle (θ1) measures 90 degrees ±5 degrees, for example. The first angle (θ1) of the first arm portion 222-1 may be the same as or different than the first angle (θ1) of the second arm portion 222-2. The first and second arm portions 222-1, 222-2 extend to an overall length L1 and then transition to first and second hook portions 228-1, 228-2 based on at least one bend. The overall length L1 measures preferably between 10 and 75 mm.
The bend may cause each of the first and second hook portions 228-1, 228-2 to extend at a second angle (θ2) relative to one or more axes 252 that extend through the first and second hook portions 228-1, 228-2, with the first and second angles (θ1, θ2) being preferably the same. The axis 252 may be a common axis, for example, that extends substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis 250. The stem 220 and first and second arm portions 221-1, 222-2 therefore define a substantially C-shaped hook profile.
Each of the first and second hook sections 228-1, 228-2 may extend toward each other along the axis 252 and include a predefined offset distance therebetween that defines an opening 230, which may also be referred to as a mouth. The opening 230 may be defined by a first angled surface 232-1 provided by the first hook section 228-1 and a second angled surface 232-2 provided by the second hook section 228-2. The first and second angled surfaces 232-1, 232-2 can extend at third and fourth angles (θ3, θ4) relative to the common axis 252 such that the opening 230 tapers from a first predefined width W1 to a second predefined width W2, with the first predefined width W1 being greater than the second predefined width W2.
The third and fourth angles (θ3, θ4) may measure between 45 and 135 degrees, and more preferably at least 90 degrees. The third and fourth angles (θ3, θ4) may be substantially the same or different. In addition, the first predefined width W1 measures may be between 3 and 25 mm, and the second predefined width W2 may measures less than the first predefined width W1, for example, at least 2 mm.
Accordingly, imaginary lines drawn tangent to the first and second angled surfaces 232-1, 232-2 respectively intersect. For example, imaginary lines drawn tangent to the first and second angled surfaces 232-1, 232-2 intersect at or just before the stem portion 220, as shown in
As further shown in
The anchor coupling region of the first and second anchor members 104-1, 104-2 may comprise, for example, flexible and elastic material such as webbing and bungee cord, shock cord. For example, the anchor coupling region of the first and second anchor members 104-1, 104-2 may provide a mounting slot. The mounting slot may be implemented as a sleeve formed from the flexible material. The sleeve may also be configured to receive first and second hook portions, e.g., first and second hook portions 228-1, 228-2 of
Accordingly, the anchor coupling region of the first and second anchor members 104-1, 104-2 can be deformed by a user to insert the same between the opening 230 (See
Note, in some examples the anchor members may be simply webbing provided by, for instance, PALS webbing. In such examples, the webbing provides at least one mounting slot (or sleeve) to couple to an associated attachment member, for example, at least one mounting slot configured to receive the first and second hook portions of an attachment member. Accordingly, attachment members as variously disclosed herein can couple directly to a strap anchor point, e.g., such as webbing without an intervening member, or indirectly by way of an intermediate anchor member such as a closed-loop shock cord.
Like numerals are intended to refer to like elements between figures. Accordingly, elements such as the first and second attachment members 310-1, 310-2 may be configured substantially the same as attachment member 110-N as discussed above, the description of which will not be repeated for brevity.
In this example, the second strap segment 302-2 can include a first end coupled to a first removable attachment member 330-1 and a second end coupled to a first anchor member 304-1 by way of a first attachment member 310-1 (which may also be referred to as a fixed attachment member herein). In addition,
Continuing on, the first and second coupling members 306-1, 306-2 may removably couple to the first and second removable attachment members 330-1, 330-2, respectively. For example, the first and second coupling members 306-1, 306-2 can be implemented as side release buckles, and the first and second removable attachment members 330-1, 330-2 can be implemented to provide the mating buckle portion to allow for quick release coupling to respective ones of the first and second coupling members 306-1, 306-2.
As shown, the removable attachment member 330-N extends along a longitudinal axis 450. Hook portions 222-1, 222-2 of the removable attachment member 330-N then extend substantially transverse relative to the longitudinal axis 450 and define an opening/mouth therebetween. Each of the hook portions 222-1, 222-2 can include first and second angled surfaces that extend at fifth and sixth angles (θ5, θ6), respectively, relative to the longitudinal axis 450. Preferably, the first and second angled surfaces extend substantially parallel with each other. The fifth and sixth angles (θ5, θ6) can measure, for example, between 45 and 315 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis 450. The removable attachment member 330-N may be configured to couple to, for example, PALS webbing, and/or other strap attachment points such as those the first and second attachment members 310-1, 310-2 can couple to.
Some aspects and features of a strap configured consistent with the present disclosure may be best understood by way of example.
According to example 1, there is provided a strap. The strap may include: at least one strap segment; a first attachment member coupled adjacent a first end of the at least one strap segment, the first attachment member having a substantially C-shaped hook profile based on a stem and first and second arms that extend therefrom; and wherein the first attachment member is configured to removably couple to a first anchor member based on the first and second arms of the first attachment member defining first and second hook portions, respectively, the first and second hook portions configured to be received within a mounting slot of the first anchor member for coupling purposes.
Example 2 may include a second attachment member disposed adjacent a second end of the at least one strap segment, the second attachment member having a substantially C-shaped hook profile based on a stem and first and second arms that extend therefrom.
Example 3 may include any of the examples of 1 through 2, wherein the at least one strap segment may comprise a plurality of removably coupled strap segments, and wherein the plurality of removably coupled strap segments may include a first strap segment configured to removably couple to second and third strap segments, each of the second and third strap segments having a first end to couple to the first strap segment and a second end to couple to a respective one of the first and second attachment members.
Example 4 may include any of the examples of 1 through 3, wherein the first strap segment may have an overall length L1 that is less than an overall length L2 of the second and/or third strap segments.
Example 5 may include any of the examples of 1 through 4, wherein the second and/or third strap segments may include an associated strap adjuster to allow a user to select an overall length of the second and/or third strap segments for tensioning purposes.
Example 6 may include any of the examples of 1 through 5, wherein the first strap segment may be configured to removably couple to the second and third strap segments via first and second side release buckles, respectively.
Example 7 may include any of the examples of 1 through 6, wherein the first and second side release buckles may comprise at least one of polypropylene, nylon, and/or acetal.
Example 8 may include any of the examples of 1 through 7, wherein the at least one strap segment may comprise at least one of nylon webbing, polypropylene webbing, and/or rubber, synthetic rubber.
Example 9 may include any of the examples of 1 through 8, further comprising the first anchor member coupled to the at least one strap segment via the first attachment member, the first anchor member comprising a loop.
Example 10 may include any of the examples of 1 through 9, wherein the loop may be a closed loop of shock cord.
Example 11 may include any of the examples of 1 through 10, wherein the at least one strap segment may include a quick release buckle disposed at an end, and wherein the strap further may comprise a removable attachment member that includes a substantially C-shaped hook profile that couples to the at least one strap segment via the quick release buckle.
Example 12 may include any of the examples of 1 through 11, wherein the first attachment member may comprise a metal or metal alloy.
Example 13 may include any of the examples of 1 through 12, wherein the first attachment member may be configured to directly couple to a webbing.
Example 14 may a mounting system for securely mounting one or more items to a strap anchor point. The system may include: a strap, the strap comprising: at least one strap segment formed of a flexible material; a first attachment member disposed adjacent a first end of the at least one strap segment, the first attachment member formed of a rigid material and having a substantially C-shaped hook profile based on a stem and first and second hook arms that extend therefrom; a second attachment member disposed adjacent a second end of the at least one strap segment, the second attachment member formed of a rigid material and having a substantially C-shaped hook profile based on a stem and first and second hook arms that extend therefrom; and wherein the first attachment member and the second attachment member are configured to removably couple to first and second anchor members, respectively, based on the first and second attachment members being at least partially received within a mounting slot defined by respective ones of the first and second anchor members.
Example 15 may include any of the example 14, wherein the at least one strap segment may comprise a plurality of strap segments, and wherein the plurality of strap segments may include a first strap segment configured to removably couple to second and third strap segments, each of the second and third straps segments having a first end to couple to the first strap segment and a second end to couple to a respective one of the first and second attachment members.
Example 16 may include any of the examples of 14 through 15, wherein the first strap segment may have an overall length that is less than the overall length of the second and/or third strap segments.
Example 17 may include any of the examples of 14 through 16, wherein the second and third strap segments may each include a strap adjuster to allow a user-supplied force to select an overall length of the second and third strap segments for tensioning purposes.
Example 18 may include any of the examples of 14 through 17, wherein the first strap segment may be configured to removably couple to the second and third strap segments via first and second side release buckles, respectively.
Example 19 may include any of the examples of 14 through 18, wherein the first and second side release buckles may comprise at least one of polypropylene, nylon, and/or acetal.
Example 20 may include any of the examples of 14 through 19, wherein the at least one strap segment may comprise at least one of nylon webbing, polypropylene webbing, and/or rubber, synthetic rubber.
Example 21 may include any of the examples of 14 through 20, further comprising the first and second anchor members, each of the first and second anchor members may comprise a loop.
Example 22 may include any of the examples of 14 through 21, wherein the loop of the first and second anchor members may be implemented as a shock cord.
Example 23 may include any of the examples of 14 through 22, wherein the stem and first and second arms forming the first attachment member may be substantially co-planar.
Example 24 may include any of the examples of 14 through 23, wherein the first attachment member may comprise a metal or metal alloy.
Example 25 may include any of the examples of 14 through 24, wherein the first attachment member may be configured to directly couple to MOLLE and PALS webbing.
While the principles of the disclosure have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present disclosure in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that an apparatus may embody any one or more of the features contained herein and that the features may be used in any particular combination or sub-combination. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure, which is not to be limited except by the claims.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/201,921, filed May 19, 2021, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63201921 | May 2021 | US |