AU743604B2 - Holding strap - Google Patents

Description

C P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: LION (AUST.) CONSOLIDATED PTY LTD Actual Inventor(s): PETER FREDERICK HENDRICK REINDERS Address for Service: CALLINAN LAWRIE, 711 High Street, Kew, 3101, Victoria, Australia Invention Title: "HOLDING STRAP" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 3/8/98TD9359.CS, -2r r r r r The present invention relates to a holding strap.

Holding straps are commonplace and are known as octopus straps. They comprise an elastic cord with hooks at either end. The hooks are made of plastic coated wire and are formed by winding a bowl into which a knot at the end of the elastic cord sits and a hook section at the top of the bowl.

Such straps are commonly used to hold down the boot of a car when the luggage inside the boot prevents the boot from being closed or to hold down luggage on car roof racks. The stretching nature of the elastic cord allows the strap to be bent around corners and to apply a sufficient force to ensure the boot remains closed. These straps are cheap, popular and easy to fit Unfortunately the straps can be extremely dangerous. It is easy for one of the hooks to straighten and slip off its attachment point. As the tension is released the hook is free to move uncontrollably at high speed in a whip like action. This rebounding action can injure an eye or other part of the human anatomy. Deaths have also been reported where the hook has struck a person in the throat. A similar problem can occur if the hooks are not fitted properly to their attachment points. If the elastic cord is frayed the cord may fracture under the tension and again cause injury.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a holding strap which will substantially reduce the rebounding action of an accidentally dislodged strap.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holding strap which is cheap to manufacture.

According to the invention there is provided a holding strap including an elastic cord having hook means at each end thereof and a sleeve or tube surrounding a substantial portion of said elastic cord and said sleeve or tube is located between both of said hook means and said sleeve or tube is formed of .a-bendable plastics material, especially PVC.

c$ 14/04/00O.tdop677.spe. 2 -3- In order that the invention may be clearly understood there shall now be described by way of a non-limitative example only a preferred construction of the invention incorporating the principal features of the present invention.

The description is with reference to the accompanying illustrated drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a holding strap in an unstretched condition; Fig. 2 is a similar view to that of Fig. 1 showing the holding strap in the stretched condition; and Fig. 3 is a similar view to that of Fig. 2 showing the holding strap stretched over some luggage.

o: In the drawings there is shown a holding strap 10 having an elastic cord 12 and hooks 14,16 at either end. Hooks 14,16 are formed from wire or plastic coated wire, and include a wound "bee hive" like bowl 18 having a hook part bent from bowl 18. The wire is preferably a nickel based alloy which will reduce the risk of the hook part 20 from straightening under tension. The ::hooks 14,16 can be plastic coated or have plastic protection caps 21 at the ends thereof. The ends of elastic cord 12 can be knotted so that the knot is o 20 held in bowl 18 or have a small end section folded over and crimped. A Ssleeve or tube 22 preferably formed of PVC or other plastics material surrounds the major portion of the exposed elastic cord 12 in the unstretched state. The sleeve or tube 22 is preferably stiff enough not to collapse if either of hooks 14,16 is uncontrollably released under tension.

Fig. 3 shows the invention in use. Holding strap 10 has been attached to point 14/04/00.tdop677.spe3 -4- 24 by hook 14 and has been stretched across luggage 30. Hook 16 is attached to point 26 to allow elastic cord 12 to be under tension and to hold down luggage 30. Sleeve or tube 22 rests on luggage 30 and will not scratch or mark the luggage. As there will be no rubbing on corners 32 by elastic cord 12 there will be less tendency for the cord to fray. If one of hooks 14,16 should accidentally slip off attachment points 24,26 then the hooks will be stopped by the ends of sleeve or tube 22. Sleeve or tube 22 will act as a shock absorber and substantially reduce any uncontrolled movement of the hooks which could cause injury.

Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description a preferred S construction of a device incorporating certain features of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations or modifications and details of design or construction may be made without departing from the essential features of the present invention.

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2/2/99TDOP677.SPE,-4-

Claims (1)

1. A holding strap including an elastic cord having hook means at each end thereof and a sleeve or tube surrounding a substantial portion of said elastic cord and said sleeve or tube is located between both of said hook means and said sleeve or tube is formed of a bendable plastics material, especially PVC. Dated this 10 t h day of April, 2001. LION (AUST.) CONSOLIDATED PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE a* *o 10/04/01,td9359.clms,5