WO2013113056A1

WO2013113056A1 - An improved tie down strap assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2013113056A1
Application number: PCT/AU2013/000052
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruce Richard CLARKE
Original assignee: Clarke Bruce Richard
Priority date: 2012-02-01
Filing date: 2013-01-23
Publication date: 2013-08-08
Also published as: AU2013214683A1

Abstract

A strap (30) comprising a hook (32) at a first end (42) thereof and a ring (34) movably retained along a predetermined length section (40) of the strap (30), the strap (40) comprising a restraining means in the form of an elongated member (36) having first and second spaced portions (37, 38) thereof attached to first and second spaced portions (42, 43) of the strap (30) to define a gap (40) therebetween, wherein the ring (34) is movably retained along the gap (40) to restrain movement of the ring (34) along the predetermined length section.

Description

AN IMPROVED TIE DOWN STRAP ASSEMBLY

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved tie down strap assembly.

The invention has been developed primarily for use in tying down cargo and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

Background of the Invention

The present invention seeks to provide an improved tie down strap assembly, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a strap having a first attachment means at a first section thereof and a second attachment means movably retained along a predetermined length section of the strap.

Preferably, the first attachment means can engage the second attachment means.

Preferably, the strap includes a restraining means to restrain movement of the second attachment means along the predetermined length section.

Preferably, the restraining means comprises an elongated member having first and second spaced portions thereof attached to first and second spaced portions of the strap to define a gap therebetween, wherein the second attachment means is movably retained along the gap- Preferably, the strap is webbing.

Preferably, the restraining means is webbing, a string and/or a cable. Preferably, the first attachment means is a hook. Preferably, the second attachment means is a ring.

Preferably, the ring comprises a central opening though which the strap is inserted. Preferably, the ring is a D-ring.

Preferably, the first attachment means is at a first end of the strap.

Preferably, a second end of the strap is a free end.

Alternatively, a second end of the strap comprises a ratchet mechanism.

Preferably, the attachment of one or both of the first and second spaced portions of the restraining means to the strap is movable along the strap.

Preferably, the predetermined length section of the strap is between 3 cm to 30 cm.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a strap comprising a hook at a first end thereof and a ring movably retained along a predetermined length section of the strap, the strap comprising a restraining means in the form of an elongated member having first and second spaced portions thereof attached to first and second spaced portions of the strap to define a gap therebetween, wherein the ring is movably retained along the gap to restrain movement of the ring along the predetermined length section.

Preferably, a second end of the strap is a free end.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a strap assembly comprising: a first strap comprising a hook at a first end thereof and a ring movably retained along a predetermined length section of the first strap, the first strap comprising a restraining means in the form of an elongated member having first and second spaced portions thereof attached to first and second spaced portions of the first strap to define a gap therebetween, wherein the ring is movably retained along the gap to restrain movement of the ring along the predetermined length section, a second end of the first strap being a free end; and a second strap comprising a hook at a first end thereof, a ratchet mechanism at a second end thereof for engaging the first strap, and a ring movably retained along the second strap.

Preferably, the second strap comprises a restraining means to restrain movement of the ring along a predetermined length section thereof.

Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed. Brief Description of the Drawings

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a tie down strap assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Description of Embodiments

It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features. Figure 1 shows a tie down strap assembly 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The tie down strap assembly 10 is a two-piece strap having a ratchet portion 20 and a strap portion 30.

The ratchet portion 20 includes a short webbing strap 21 having a hook 22 at a first end 26 and a ratchet mechanism 23 at a second end 27. The ratchet portion 20 also includes a D-ring 24 which has a central opening 25. The short strap 21 is inserted though the central opening 25 which retains the D-ring 24 along the short strap 21 and movable therealong.

The strap portion 30 includes a long webbing strap 31 having a hook 32 at a first end 42. A second end 36 of the long strap 31 is a free end and the long strap 31 is typically rolled as shown when not in use. The strap portion 30 also includes a D-ring 34 which has a central opening 35. The long strap 31 is inserted though the central opening 35 which retains the D-ring 34 along the long strap 31 and movable therealong.

The strap portion 30 also includes a restraining web 36. The restraining web 36 has a first end portion 37 attached to the first end 42 of the long strap 31, and a second end 38 attached to a predetermined portion 43 of the long strap 31, with the predetermined portion 43 spaced from the first end 42. Mid-portions 39 of the restraining web 36 are not attached to the long strap 31 thus defining a gap 40 therebetween which is closed at both ends. A section of the D-ring 34 is disposed within this gap 40, which thus allows the D- ring 34 to move along only a predetermined length section of the long strap 31, being along the gap 40. In use, the first end 26 of the ratchet portion 20 is looped around a first tie-down structure such as a first bar (not shown) and the hook 22 is hooked to the D-ring 24. This retains the ratchet portion 20 to the first bar. Similarly, the first end 42 of the strap portion 30 is looped around a second tie-down structure such as a second bar (not shown) located on an opposite side to the first bar. The hook 32 is hooked to the D-ring 34 (as shown in Fig. 1) which retains the strap portion 30 to the second bar. With a load located generally between the first and second bars, the long strap 31 is disposed over the load and the free end 36 of the long strap 31 is fed to the ratchet mechanism 23 as is known.

Compared to the prior art, the restraining web 36 allows the D-ring 34 to be movable along a predetermined length section which allows the strap portion 30 to be attached to different diameter tie-down structures. The strap portion 30 can be attached to large diameter or small diameter bars. Further, bigger hooks 32 can be used for the strap portion 30 if desired. As the movable D-ring 34 provides this adjustability, but is retained in a predetermined length section, the D-ring 34 cannot be lost along the length of the long strap 31. The user will always know the location of the D-ring 34 along the long strap 31. The present invention thus provides an improvement over existing tie-down straps.

In other embodiments, the attachment of one or both of the first end 37 and the second end 38 of the restraining web 36 to the long strap 31 can be made movable, such that the length of the gap 40 can be adjusted as well as the position of the gap 40 along the long strap 31. For example, one or both of the first end 37 and the second end 38 of the restraining web 36 can be attached to the long strap 31 by adjustable means such as suitable clips, hook and loop means (VELCRO), spaced buttons, etc. Also, the restraining web 36 can be replaced by a string or cable if desired. It is also apparent that the restraining web 36 can also be provided to the short strap 21 of the ratchet portion 20 if desired. The gap can be made to any length as desired, but is preferably between 3 and 30 cm. In another possible modification, the restraining web 36 can be inserted though the central opening 35 of the D-ring 34 rather than the long strap 31, which retains the D-ring 34 along the restraining web 36 and still movable along the long strap 31. Interpretation

Embodiments:

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology

In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "forward", "rearward", "radially", "peripherally", "upwardly", "downwardly", and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

Comprising and Including

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of Invention

Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Industrial Applicability

It is apparent from the above, that the arrangements described are applicable at least to the trucking and camping industries.

Claims

Claims The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A strap having a first attachment means at a first section thereof and a second attachment means movably retained along a predetermined length section of the strap.

2. The strap of claim 1 wherein the first attachment means can engage the second attachment means.

3. The strap of claim 1 wherein the strap includes a restraining means to restrain movement of the second attachment means along the predetermined length section.

4. The strap of claim 3 wherein the restraining means comprises an elongated member having first and second spaced portions thereof attached to first and second spaced portions of the strap to define a gap therebetween, wherein the second attachment means is movably retained along the gap.

5. The strap of claim 1 wherein the strap is webbing.

6. The strap of claim 4 wherein the restraining means is webbing, a string and/or a cable.

7. The strap of claim 1 wherein the first attachment means is a hook.

8. The strap of claim 1 wherein the second attachment means is a ring.

9. The strap of claim 8 wherein the ring comprises a central opening though which the strap is inserted.

10. The strap of claim 8 wherein the ring is a D-ring.

11. The strap of claim 1 wherein the first attachment means is at a first end of the strap.

12. The strap of claim 11 wherein a second end of the strap is a free end.

13. The strap of claim 11 wherein a second end of the strap comprises a ratchet mechanism.

14. The strap of claim 4 wherein the attachment of one or both of the first and second spaced portions of the restraining means to the strap is movable along the strap.

15. The strap of claim 1 wherein the predetermined length section of the strap is between 3 cm to 30 cm.

16. A strap comprising a hook at a first end thereof and a ring movably retained along a predetermined length section of the strap, the strap comprising a restraining means in the form of an elongated member having first and second spaced portions thereof attached to first and second spaced portions of the strap to define a gap therebetween, wherein the ring is movably retained along the gap to restrain movement of the ring along the predetermined length section.

17. The strap of claim 16 wherein the attachment of one or both of the first and second spaced portions of the restraining means to the strap is movable along the strap.

18. The strap of claim 16 wherein a second end of the strap is a free end.

19. A strap assembly comprising: a first strap comprising a hook at a first end thereof and a ring movably retained along a predetermined length section of the first strap, the first strap comprising a restraining means in the form of an elongated member having first and second spaced portions thereof attached to first and second spaced portions of the first strap to define a gap therebetween, wherein the ring is movably retained along the gap to restrain movement of the ring along the predetermined length section, a second end of the first strap being a free end; and a second strap comprising a hook at a first end thereof, a ratchet mechanism at a second end thereof for engaging the first strap, and a ring movably retained along the second strap.

20. The strap assembly of claim 20 wherein the second strap comprises a restraining means to restrain movement of the ring along a predetermined length section thereof.