AU2007221854A1 - Holding strap - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INVENTION TITLE: HOLDING STRAP The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 05/10/07jb16080 cover page. I -2- The present invention relates to a holding strap and relates particularly, Salthough not exclusively, to a luggage strap.

C In Australian Patent No. 743604 there was disclosed a holding strap which O reduces the rebounding action of an accidentally dislodged strap to prevent eye injuries. Eye injuries were a common problem with the prior art straps, commonly V) known as octopus straps. The new type of holding strap has been commercially 00 successful. However these types of straps can only effectively secure loads of r around 10 kg. Unfortunately the holding straps can be overstretched when an operator secures a load. The elastic cord of the holding strap also tend to loosen off ri 10 if the load moves and can rub on the load which can weaken the elastic cord.

It is an object of the invention to provide a holding strap which will not be overstretched when in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holding strap that is simple to fit and will substantially reduce the rebounding action of an accidentally dislodged strap.

With these objects in view the present invention provides a holding strap including a main strap, at least one elastic member secured to said main strap at one end thereof, or secured between parts of said main strap, and at least one bridging member secured at either end of said at least one elastic member, said at least one bridging member being of a length longer than said at least one elastic member to allow, in use, said holding strap to be stretched, but not stretched beyond the extended length of said at least one bridging member.

Preferably said main strap and said at least one bridging member are formed from a flat material. It is especially preferred that said main strap and said at least one bridging member are formed from a webbing material. In a preferred embodiment said at least one elastic member is located at one end of said holding strap and the other end of said at least one elastic member has a loop secured thereto for co-operation with a holding device. Preferably said holding device is a hook, buckle, locking member or similar device.

In a preferred embodiment a pair of elastic members are provided at each end of said main strap.

OS/I0/07jb 16080 cap,2 -3- N The structure and functional features of preferred embodiments of the Spresent invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description

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when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:-.

SFig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a holding strap made in accordance with the invention; t Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one end of the holding strap shown in Fig. 1 00 in the unstretched position; (Ni Fig. 3 is a similar view similar to that of Fig. 2 showing the holding strap in the stretched position; (N 10 Fig. 4a shows the holding strap of Fig. 1 fastened to hold a load; Fig. 4b is a similar view to that of Fig. 4a showing the holding strap restraining the load when movement of the load occurs; Fig. 5 is a side view of one end of the holding strap shown in Fig. 4a; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a holding strap made in accordance with the invention; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one end of the holding strap shown in Fig. 6 in the unstretched position; Fig. 8a is a cross-sectional view of the holding strap shown in Fig. 6 in the unstretched position; Fig. 8b is a cross-sectional view of the holding strap shown in Fig. 6 in the stretched position; Fig. 9 shows a pair of holding straps of the type shown in Fig. 6 fastened to hold a load; Fig. 10a shows the holding strap of Fig. 6 fastened to hold a different shape of load; and Fig. 1 Ob shows the holding strap of Fig. 6 fastened in a different way to hold the load in Fig. In Figs. 1 to 3 there is shown a holding strap 10 having a main strap 12 which is typically formed of a webbing material. Main strap 12 is flat and is substantially inelastic. The material of the strap 12 could be leather, plastic, canvas, woven material or any other suitable material. The length and width of strap 12 can be varied to suit the size or weight of the load to be restrained. An elastic member 14 05/10/07jb16080 cap3 -4- N is secured to main strap 12 by sewing as shown, bonding or any other suitable O method. In this embodiment the end 16 of the elastic member 14 overlaps the end of 0 strap 12 to provide a stronger joint between the two items. A bridging member 18, in O the form of a small strap, is affixed at end 16 of the elastic member 14 and its other end 20. The means of securement is by sewing, as indicated by lines 22, but any t other suitable method could be used. The bridging member 18 is slack and forms a 00 loose loop 19 when elastic member 14 is not stretched. In this embodiment the end N 24 of bridging member 18 is folded over and secured to the other side of elastic member 14 to form a loop 26. Loop 26 can be slipped over a rail (not shown) for S 10 holding that end of the holding strap 10 or can contain a hook 28, as shown, or other retaining means. Although this embodiment illustrates a similar elastic member to elastic member 14 at the other end of main strap 12, the invention is not restricted to a pair of elastic members 14, 30. The invention will function with one elastic member 14 as clearly evident from Fig. 6. As the construction and operation of elastic member 30 is identical to elastic member 14 identical reference numerals will be shown to avoid duplication of description.

The operation of the holding strap 10 will now be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 5. In Figs. 4a and 4b a trailer 32 is shown with rails 34 for attachment of hooks 28 thereto. A load 36, in the form of cartons 38, 40, 42, 44, is to be restrained by holding strap 10 stretched over load 36. As can be seen from the views in Figs. 3 and 5, the elastic member 14 stretches from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This stretching action will reduce the slack of loop 19. Once the bridging member 18 is fully extended (as indicated by arrow 46 in Fig. 3) then no further stretching can occur as the main strap 12 and bridging member 18 are substantially inelastic. Thus the holding strap 10 cannot be overstretched beyond its limits. From Fig. 5 it is clear that bridging member 18 protects elastic member 14 as the elastic member 14 does not rub on carton 44. The flatness of the holding strap 10 allows more surface contact with the load as opposed to the point contact of a round elastic cord of the typical prior art octopus strap. Arrow M in Fig. 4b indicates that load 36 can shift, for example, cartons 38, 42, 44 in Fig. 4b have moved, but the load 36 is still secure.

The movement will change the peripheral shape of holding strap 10 around the load and cause the tension T to vary because of the nature of the elastic members 14, 05/110/07jb16080 cap,4 Holding strap 10 is able to secure loads of 90 kg as a safe working load but will have o a breaking point of around 270 kg. As the length of the elastic members 14, 30 is a lot smaller than the length of the holding strap there is very little rebound or Smovement of the hook 28 if the hook should be accidentally dislodged, unlike the uncontrollable high speed whip from an octopus strap. Holding strap 10 also stops In load 36 from working loose.

00 In the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 to 10b a second type of holding strap N, 50 is shown. In order to avoid duplication of description the same reference numerals have been used for similar integers of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to I 10 5. This embodiment has only one elastic member 14 and has a free end 52 which has no hook or other attachment member secured thereto. Hook 28 has been replaced by a locking member 54 allowing the effective length of the holding strap 50 to be varied.

Locking member 54 has a locking flap 56 which pivots about pin 58. One end of locking member 54 has teeth or grooves 60 which can clampingly engage main strap 12 against a lock bar 62 having teeth or grooves 64 similar to those of teeth or grooves 60, as shown in Fig. 8b. This type of holding strap 50 would replace the typical tie down type of strap.

The various uses of holding strap 50 are shown in Figs. 9 to 10b. Fig. 9 illustrates how two holding straps 50 can hold a motorcycle 66 in a vertical position on a trailer 68. Loops 70, 72 allow the holding straps 50 to be guided therethrough and looped over the handlebars 74. The free ends 52 of main straps 12 can be pulled through locking member 54 and locked into position when locking flap 56 is pressed against main strap 12 and teeth 64. The resiliency of elastic members 14 will allow movement M of motorcycle 66 to occur without the motorcycle falling over as indicated by the broken lines 76.

Fig. 10a is similar to Fig. 4a but shows holding strap 50 being used to restrain a load 36 on a transport pallet 80. The length of main strap 12 is fairly substantial and is looped under pallet Fig. 10b is similar to Fig. 10 Oa except pallet 80 has loops 70, 72 for threading main strap 12 therethrough. This threading technique will provide a better stabilizing effect than the embodiment shown in Fig. 10a as main strap 12 is looped back on itself.

05/10/07jb16080 -6- From the above embodiments it is clear that the holding strap of the O.invention is extremely versatile. It provides additional load bearing capacity far in

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excess of the prior art octopus strap and will provide a similar safety factor to the O holding strap shown in Australian Patent No. 743604. It is evident to the man skilled in the art that changes may be made to the construction of the holding strap. The t invention is not limited to the particular hook 28 or locking member 54 as these can 00 be replaced or substituted by means deemed suitable for the purpose, for example, IC eyelets, buckles, etc. The length of the elastic members 14 and main strap 12 can be selected to suit the particular requirement. Elastic member 14 can be positioned I 10 anywhere along the main strap, for example, mid length, and multiple elastic members could be used.

The invention will be understood to embrace many further modifications as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art and which will be deemed to reside within the broad scope and ambit of the invention, there having been set forth herein only the broad nature of the invention and certain specific embodiments by way of example.

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Claims (6)

1. A holding strap including a main strap, at least one elastic member Ssecured to said main strap at one end thereof, or secured between parts of said main strap, and at least one bridging member secured at either end of said at least one t elastic member, said at least one bridging member being of a length longer than said 00 at least one elastic member to allow, in use, said holding strap to be stretched, but not N, stretched beyond the extended length of said at least one bridging member.

2. The holding strap of claim 1, wherein said main strap and said at C 10 least one bridging member is formed from a flat material.

3. The holding strap of claim 1 or 2, wherein said main strap and said at least one bridging member are formed from a webbing material.

4. The holding strap of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one elastic member is located at one end of said holding strap and the other end of said at least one elastic member has a loop secured thereto for co-operation with a holding device.

The holding strap of claim 4, wherein said holding device is a hook, buckle, locking member or similar device.

6. The holding strap of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a pair of elastic members are provided at each end of said main strap. 05/110/07jb 16080 cap,7