GB2509512A

GB2509512A - Flexible strap

Info

Publication number: GB2509512A
Application number: GB201300121A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Finlan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-01-04
Filing date: 2013-01-04
Publication date: 2014-07-09
Also published as: GB201300121D0

Abstract

A flexible elongate strap having a flexible body 1 and a flexible insert 2, the flexible body having an inner face 3 and an outer face 4, the outer face comprising a recess 5 defined by a base and sidewalls 7 extending along the outer face from a first terminal portion 8 to a second terminal portion 9 of the recess, the flexible insert comprising a central portion defined by edges extending between a first terminal portion and a second terminal portion of the flexible insert, the recess shaped to accept the flexible elongate insert with the first terminal portion of the flexible insert mating into the first terminal portion of the recess, and the second terminal portion of the flexible insert mating into the second terminal portion of the recess, wherein the sidewalls are arranged to retain the edges of the flexible elongate insert mated within the recess. The flexible insert preferably comprises a rectangular central portion extending between the first and second terminal portions. The sidewalls preferably comprise a groove 14 shaped to accept the flexible insert.

Description

Flexible Strap.

Field

The present invention is concerned with flexible straps that are strong and yet capable of being provided with an interchangeable decorative or informative display that appears as an integral portion of the strap. In particular, it is concerned with flexible straps such as those suitable for use in collars, harnesses, or leashes for domestic animals such as for dogs, horses and the like, or for use in watch straps or belts.

Background to the invention

Leash structures, collars, harnesses and the like are available in various designs intended to control domesticated animals. A common arrangement is the use of a collar fastened around the neck of an animal, with the collar attached to a leash.

Typically, flexible straps are used in forming such devices, as well as in other devices such as watch straps or belts, and it is typical for decorative or informative displays to be included on the device, either for provision of instructions, details of intellectual property rights relating to the device, or in particular for display of decoration or branding.

In order to ensure the functionality of the device, it is essential that the flexible straps used in their construction have a high tensile strength in combination with flexibility, and materials capable of providing such high tensile strength combined with flexibility are limited. Many such materials are not easily provided with decorative or informative displays, for instance because they may not be suitable to be easily manipulated in a printing, embossing or inlay process in order to provide a decorative or informative display.

Furthermore, in the case of moulded straps, if it is required to manufacture a plurality of different straps which are identical, save for the decorative or informative display to be used, each different strap may require a separate, individualised mould for the entire strap if the display is to give the appearance of forming an integral part of the strap rather than that of a mere attachment or label.

As an alternative to the use of an individualised mould, it is possible to apply a display of decoration or information by fastening a separate piece of material to the device, such as a label which may be fastened to the device.

Summary of the invention

Although it is possible to provide a display device by attachment of a label, it is highly desirable to provide a means by which a decorative or informative display may be integrated into a flexible strap in such a manner that it appears that the decorative or informative display is an integral part of the flexible strap and moves together with the rest of the flexible strap, when flexed or twisted, and yet the display is easily interchangeable and can be provided as a separate moulding, independently from the moulding for the main body of the flexible strap.

One object of the invention, amongst others, is to provide a flexible elongate strap which comprises a decorative or informative display that is apparently part of the flexible strap, moving together with the rest of the flexible strap, but which is easily interchangeable to allow for a plurality of strap designs having different displays on a common body. In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide such a flexible strap suitable for use in a leash, collar or harness for an animal or for a watch strap or belt.

A first aspect of the invention provides a flexible elongate strap comprising a flexible elongate body and a flexible elongate insert, the flexible elongate body having an inner face and an outer face in use, the outer face comprising a recess defined by a base and sidewalls extending along the outer face from a first terminal portion to a second terminal portion of the recess, the flexible insert comprising a central portion defined by edges extending between a first terminal portion and a second terminal portion of the flexible insert, the recess shaped to accept the flexible elongate insert mated therein with the first terminal portion of the flexible insert mating into the first terminal portion of the recess, and the second terminal portion of the flexible insert mating into the second terminal portion of the recess, wherein the sidewalls are arranged to retain the edges of the flexible elongate insert mated within the recess, whereby the flexible elongate insert is constrained to flex with the flexible elongate body when retained within the recess.

A second aspect of the invention provides an animal collar, leash, harness, watch strap or belt comprising a flexible elongate strap according to the first aspect of the invention.

A third aspect of the invention provides a method for providing an interchangeable decorative or informative display on a flexible elongate strap, the method comprising forming a flexible elongate strap according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the decorative or informative display is formed on the outer face of the flexible insert.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Throughout this specification, the term comprising" or "comprises" means including the component(s) specified but not to the exclusion of the presence of others. The term "consisting essentially of" or "consists essentially of" means including the components specified but excluding other components except for materials present as impurities, unavoidable materials present as a result of processes used to provide the components. Components added for a purpose other than that of achieving the technical effect of the invention may also be present. Whenever appropriate, the use of the term "comprises" or "comprising" may also be taken to include the meaning "consists essentially of" or "consisting essentially of".

Throughout this specification, the terms inner and outer, when referring to a component, or portions of a component, are relative to the inner and outer sides of a flexible elongate strap according to the invention in use. Hence an inner face of a component is a face directed generally towards the inside of the flexible strap in use, such as towards the body of an animal, but not necessarily located on the inside of the strap, and an outer face is a face directed towards the outside of the strap in use, but not necessarily on the outside of the flexible strap. When the flexible strap is used in a collar or harness for animal, the inner side will be the side facing the body of the animal in use and the outer side will be the side that is facing away from the body the animal in use. When the flexible strap is used in a device such as a leash, then the choice of inner and outer sides is arbitrary, and merely serves to clarify relative placement of features.

The first aspect of the invention provides a flexible elongate strap comprising a flexible elongate body and a separate, interchangeable flexible elongate insert. The flexible elongate body has an inner face and an outer face in use, with the outer face comprising a recess defined by a base. Sidewalls extend along the outer face of the flexible elongate body from a first terminal portion to a second terminal portion of the recess. Typically, the sidewalls will be at the opposed edges of the flexible elongate body, on the outer face of the body.

The flexible insert comprises a central portion, defined by edges of the flexible insert, which extends between a first terminal portion of the flexible insert and a second terminal portion of the flexible insert. The recess in the flexible elongate body is shaped to accept the flexible elongate insert mated therein, with the first terminal portion of the flexible insert mating into the first terminal portion of the recess, and the second terminal portion of the flexible insert mating into the second terminal portion of the recess.

S The sidewalls are arranged to retain the edges of the flexible elongate insert mated within the recess. This results in the flexible elongate insert being constrained to flex and twist with the flexible elongate body when retained within the recess, without any apparent fastening means being present to indicate that the flexible elongate insert is not an integral part of the flexible elongate strap.

The flexible insert may suitably comprise a substantially rectangular central portion extending between the first and second terminal portions of the flexible insert.

The sidewalls may each comprise a groove therein, with each groove shaped to accept the respective edge of the flexible insert.

The edges of the flexible insert may be rectangular in cross section and each groove may be formed between the base of the recess and a flange extending along, and forming, the outermost portion the respective sidewall.

The flexible elongate strap according to the first aspect of the invention may further comprise first and second fastener assemblies adapted to releasably clamp the first and second terminal portions of the flexible insert to the flexible elongate body.

The flexible insert may comprise first and second necks at the first and second terminal portions of the flexible insert, with each neck narrower in width than the central portion of the flexible insert, with each fastener assembly arranged to clamp the respective neck mated within the respective terminal portion of the recess. Alternatively, the first and second terminal portions of the flexible insert may be of substantially the same width as the central portion of the flexible insert.

A hole may arranged to pass through each neck and through the flexible body at each respective terminal portion of the recess. A retaining means in each fastener may be arranged to pass through the respective hole whilst clamping the first and second terminal portions of the flexible insert to the flexible elongate body. The retaining means may be a threaded rod and nut arrangement, for instance with the nut in the form of a capped nut with a cap adapted for tightening onto the rod with a tool such as a screwdriver or hexagonal wrench. With this arrangement, the flexible insert may be securely retained, mated within the recess of the flexible elongate body, with the fastener assembly forming part of the clamp used to attach the flexible strap to the rest of the device which it forms a part, and so not evidently visible as holding the insert in place.

The first and second fastener assemblies are suitably adapted for connection of the flexible elongate strap into an animal collar or harness, for instance by enabling the flexible elongate strap to be connected to other flexible straps to form the overall device.

Alternatively, or additionally, the flexible insert may be adhesively bonded, e.g. by gluing or otherwise, to the flexible elongate body. The first and second terminal portions of the flexible insert may be adhesively bonded to the flexible elongate body.

The flexible elongate body may be of a first flexible material and the flexible insert of a second flexible material, wherein the first flexible material is a material adapted to provide tensile strength, and resistance to breakage, and wherein the second flexible material is a material adapted to carry decorative or informative markings on its outer face. For instance, the first flexible material may be a thermoplastic polyester elastomer such as Hytrel®, whilst the second flexible material may be an easily decoratable or printable elastomeric polymer such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) . Alternatively, or additionally, the second flexible material may be carbon fibre or metal.

The flexible strap of the first aspect of the invention may be employed in any device where a flexible strap is required, for instance as part of a watch strap.

However, the flexible strap of the invention is particularly suitable for use in animal collars, harnesses and leashes where a combination of high tensile strength with good flexibility is desired.

The second aspect of the invention provides an animal collar, leash or harness comprising a flexible elongate strap according to first aspect of the invention as set out hereinbefore.

The third aspect of the invention provides a method for providing an interchangeable decorative or informative display on a flexible elongate strap, the method comprising forming a flexible elongate strap according to aspect of the invention, as described herein, wherein the decorative or informative display is formed on the outer face of the flexible insert.

The decorative or informative display may, for instance, be printed on, inlaid in or embossed into the flexible insert.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying schematic and drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a flexible elongate strap according to a first embodiment of the invention, with the flexible insert 2 shown separated from the flexible elongate body 1;

S

Figure 2A shows a side elevation view of the first embodiment of the invention, again with the flexible insert 2 shown separated from the flexible elongate body 1; Figure 2B shows a cross sectional side view along the plane X-X of Figure 2A; Figure 3A shows a side elevation view of the first embodiment of the invention with the flexible insert 2 mated into the flexible body 1; Figure 3B shows a cross sectional side view along the plane Y-Y of Figure 3A; Figure 4 shows a plan view of the first embodiment of the invention with the outer face 4 upwards; Figure 5 shows a rear perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention, looking towards the inner face, with the flexible insert 2 shown separated from the flexible elongate body 1 and with first and second fastener assemblies 16, 17 shown in exploded view.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Turning to Figures 1, 2A and 2B, these Figures show a first embodiment of the invention which is a flexible elongate strap comprising a flexible elongate body 1 and a flexible insert 2.

The flexible elongate strap is suitable for use in collars, harnesses, or leashes for domestic animals such as for dogs, horses and the like, or for use in watch straps or belts. It will be appreciated that the flexible elongate strap could also be used in other applications.

In these three Figures, and in Figure 5, the views are exploded views with the flexible insert 2 shown separately from the flexible elongate body 1 for the sake of clarity. The flexible elongate body 1 has an inner face 3 and an outer face 4 with a recess 5 in the outer face. This recess 5 has a base 6 and side walls 7 which extend along the outer face 4 of the flexible elongate body 1.

The sidewalls 7 extend along the outer face between a first terminal portion 8 and a second terminal portion 9 of the recess 5.

The flexible insert 2 has a central portion 10 defined by edges 11 which extend between first terminal portion 12 of the flexible insert 2 and a second terminal portion 13 of the flexible insert 2.

The flexible insert 2 has first 18 and second 19 necks at the first 12 and second 13 terminal portions of the flexible insert 2. The recess 5 is correspondingly shaped at its respective terminal portions in order to mate with the first 18 and second 19 necks of the flexible insert 2. Alternatively, the first 12 and second 13 terminal portions of the flexible insert 2 may be of substantially the same width as the central portion 10 of the flexible insert 2, with the recess 5 correspondingly shaped at its respective terminal portions in order to mate with the terminal portions 12, 13 of the flexible insert 2.

Each of the sidewalls 7 has a groove 14 within it, with the groove 14 shaped to accept the edges 11 of the flexible insert 2. The grooves 14 are each formed between the base 6 of the recess S and flanges 15 extending along and forming the outermost portion of each respective sidewall 7.

Figures 3A and 4 show the first embodiment of the invention with the flexible insert mated into the recess 5 of the flexible elongate body 1.

Although the flexible insert 2 is firmly held in place in the recess 5 as a result of the edges 11 of the flexible insert 2 being gripped in the grooves 14 of the sidewalls 7 of the flexible body 1, it is also be useful to employ fastener assemblies 16, 17 to releasably clamp the first 12 and second 13 terminal portions of the flexible insert 2 into the first 8 and second 9 terminal portions of recess 5 of the flexible elongate body 2. This is shown in the exploded view of Figure 5, where first fastener assembly 16 is positioned to clamp the first terminal portion 12 of the flexible insert and the corresponding first terminal portion 8 of the flexible elongate body 2 together and the second fastener assembly 17 is positioned to clamp the second terminal portions 13, 9 of the flexible insert 2 and flexible elongate body 1 together respectively.

At each terminal portion, a hole 20 is arranged to pass through each neck 18, 19 and through the corresponding terminal portion 8, 9 of the flexible body 1.

Within each fastener assembly 16, 17 a retaining means formed of a threaded rod 21 arranged to fasten to a capped nut 22 is provided in order to clamp the terminal portions together, with the retaining means 21, 22 formed by the rod 21 and nut 22 when screwed together whilst passing through the holes 20 at each terminal portion 8, 12 and 9, 13.

In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 5, the first fastener assembly 16 is provided with a clip assembly 23 suitable for use in fastening together a dog collar and the second fastener assembly 17 is provided with a D-ring 24 suitable for use as a leash attachment. Hence, it can be seen that the flexible strap shown in Figure 5 can be formed into a dog collar by including a further flexible strap (not shown) to complete the collar by connecting the further flexible strap to the fastener assemblies 16, 17. In this way, a collar is formed with the flexible insert 2 appearing as an integral part of the collar and twisting and flexing with the flexible body 1 as the collar flexes and twists in use.

For some applications of the flexible elongate strap, such as when used as a watch strap, the fastener assemblies 16, 17 may be omitted. In this case the terminal portions of the strap may be arranged to attach to each other, or to another strap, using a releasable attachment means, such as a buckle, Velcro, etc. Such an altachment means is well known in the all and so will nol be described further.

The flexible elongate body may be decorated as desired, such as using studs, lighting etc. The various features as set out above for the first aspect of the invention are also disclosed as applicable in relation to the other aspects of the invention unless evidently inappropriate, and various features may be combined together in any compatible combinations, particularly in the combinations as set out in the dependent claims.

The described and illustrated embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the inventions as defined in the claims are desired to be protected. It should be understood that while the use of words such as "preferable", "preferably", "preferred" or "more preferred" in the description suggest that a feature so described may be desirable, it may nevertheless not be necessary and embodiments lacking such a feature may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. In relation to the claims, it is intended that when words such as "a," "an," "at least one," or "at least one portion" are used to preface a feature there is no intention to limit the claim to only one such feature unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language "at least a portion" and/or "a portion" is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.

Claims

IClaims 1. A flexible elongate strap comprising a flexible elongate body and a flexible elongate insert, the flexible elongate body having an inner face and an outer face in use, the outer face comprising a recess defined by a base and sidewalls extending along the outer face from a first terminal portion to a second terminal portion of the recess, the flexible insert comprising a central portion defined by edges extending between a first terminal portion and a second terminal portion of the flexible insert, the recess shaped to accept the flexible elongate insert mated therein with the first terminal portion of the flexible insert mating into the first terminal portion of the recess, and the second terminal portion of the flexible insert is mating into the second terminal portion of the recess, wherein the sidewalls are arranged to retain the edges of the flexible elongate insert mated within the recess, whereby the flexible elongate insert is constrained to flex with the flexible elongate body when retained within the recess.
2. A flexible elongate strap according to claim 1 wherein the flexible insert comprises a substantially rectangular central portion extending between the first and second terminal portions of the flexible insert.
3. A flexible elongate strap according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sidewalls each comprise a groove therein, each groove shaped to accept the respective edge of the flexible insert.
4. A flexible elongate strap according to any one of claim 1 to 3 wherein the edges of the flexible insert are rectangular in cross section and each groove is formed between the base of the recess and a flange extending along and forming the outermost portion the respective sidewall.
5. A flexible elongate strap according to any preceding claim further comprising first and second fastener assemblies adapted to releasably clamp the first and second terminal portions of the flexible insert to the flexible elongate body.
6. A flexible elongate strap according to any preceding claim wherein the flexible insert comprises first and second necks at the first and second terminal portions of the flexible insert, each neck narrower in width than the central portion of the flexible insert, wherein each fastener assembly is arranged to clamp the respective neck mated within the respective terminal portion of the recess.
7. A flexible elongate strap according to claim 6 wherein a hole is arranged to pass through each neck and through the flexible body at each respective terminal portion of the recess, and wherein a retaining means in each fastener is arranged to pass through the respective hole whilst clamping the clamp the first and second terminal portions of the flexible insert to the flexible elongate body.
8. A flexible elongate strap according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the first and second fastener assemblies are adapted for connection of the flexible elongate strap into an animal collar or harness.
9. A flexible elongate strap according to any preceding claim wherein the flexible elongate body is of a first flexible material and the flexible insert is of a second flexible material, wherein the first flexible material is a material adapted to provide tensile strength, and resistance to breakage, and wherein the second flexible material is a material adapted to carry decorative or informative markings on its outer face.
10. An animal collar, leash, harness or watch strap comprising a flexible elongate strap according to any preceding claim.
11. A method for providing an interchangeable decorative or informative display on a flexible elongate strap, the method comprising forming a flexible elongate strap according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the decorative or informative display is formed on the outer face of the flexible insert.
12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the decorative or informative display is printed on, inlaid in or embossed into the flexible insert.
13. A flexible elongate strap, substantially as described herein, with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.