GB2386921A

GB2386921A - Securing straps and tethers

Info

Publication number: GB2386921A
Application number: GB0206772A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Greg Vanhinsbergh
Original assignee: GROGZ Ltd
Current assignee: GROGZ Ltd
Priority date: 2002-03-22
Filing date: 2002-03-22
Publication date: 2003-10-01
Also published as: GB0206772D0

Abstract

A releasable strap (1) comprises a releasable fastener arrangement including a pin member (4) releasably retainable in a fastened position, in which it extends through respective inter-fitting retaining opening loops of connection portions (3) of the strap to releasably hold the connection portions together.

Description

1 238692 1

SECURING STRAPS AND TETHERS

This invention has to do with arrangements for tethering two things together releasable, and has 5 specific reference to securing straps for such tethering arrangements. There are various sporting and leisure activities in which a piece of equipment is used, such as a surf board, kite etc. that is separate from the user but should be 10 prevented from escaping entirely. For this reason it is usual practice for the user to tether himself or herself to the article by means of a cord or leash, usually having a clip at one end secured removably to some corresponding ring or bracket on the article to be 15 secured, and at the other end a strap or loop which fixes around the user's arm or leg, or perhaps in some cases their waist. To give rapid length adjustability (having in mind differing limb sizes, and the inconvenience of buckles) the typical securing strap is a single length of 20 heavy fabric having extended complementary areas of hooks and-loop ("Velcro") fabric at its opposite ends, and the tether cord or strap clipped or sewn to it.

These tethers are simple and secure, but there can be difficulties when tethered equipment suddenly needs to 25 be released e.g. when it is trapped in or pulled towards

some situation of danger for the user. In these circumstances, and particularly when wet, one-handed release of the large hook-and-loop fastener is surprisingly difficult and slow.

5 What we propose is a securing strap for a tether having a releasable fastener arrangement for joining separable connection portions of the strap, the releasable fastener arrangement including a pin member releasably retainable in a fastened position, in which it 10 extends through respective retaining openings of the connection portions to hold the connection portions together, but which can be withdrawn to a released position allowing the connection portions to separate.

The withdrawal direction for the pin member is 15 conveniently transverse to the length of the strap (i.e. transverse to its circumferential direction).

For stability in the fastened position, preferably one connection portion has first and second transversely spaced retaining openings which in the fastened position 20 lie to either side of a retaining opening of the other connection portion. A single length of the pin member can pass through these retaining openings in line. The pin member can then have a single-pin construction for lightness and simplicity (although a forked pin member 25 could be used).

The pin member is preferably stiff, hard and smooth sided to facilitate rapid withdrawal from the retaining openings of the strap's connector portions. Preferably it is a snug fit in these. A straight pin member is 5 simple to make and use, but a curved one is possible.

Desirably the retaining openings of the strap's connection portions are transversely elongate. They may be made from looped textile webs, attached to or formed integrally with the securing strap. This transverse 10 elongation distributes the force transmission and stabilizes the orientation of the pin in use, with the strap under tension in use: the pin transmits this force.

Substantial enclosure of the pin by a transversely extended contact area reduces the tendency for it to bend 15 and increases friction, helping to keep it in place.

It is a fundamental aspect of the pin member's function that it be easily and rapidly withdrawable to release the connection portions and allow them to separate. So, it is strongly preferred that the pin 20 member makes a releasable detent or retaining engagement with an adjacent part of the strap which inhibits its transverse movement relative to the strap, i.e. inhibits or prevents inadvertent withdrawal from the fastened condition. For rapid operation this engagement is 25 desirably releasable one-handed by a simple movement. To

this end the pin member preferably has a head portion which constitutes, comprises or is connected to a retaining element engagable with the strap to retain the pin member transversely, and which by pulling, pushing, 5 squeezing or rotating the head portion is operable to release that retaining element so that the pin member can be withdrawn from the retaining openings. In one embodiment the pin member has a laterallyprojecting connecting tag, e.g. formed integrally with it, which 10 engages a corresponding engagement portion on the adjacent strap, and which may be undone by turning the pin member around its own axis. This engagement may be e.g. in a clip or slot, or by adhering to a portion of hook-and-loop fastener on the tag. Another possibility 15 is to have one or more local bends, crooks or variations in the cross-sectional size and/or shape of the pin member e.g. a waist portion, engaging with a said connecting portion at its opening to inhibit escape of the pin from the slot. This may act in conjunction with 20 tension in the strap when worn. Smooth faces/sides these formations enable escape under larger transverse forces. The skilled person will be able to devise other means of axial retention requiring a simple movement for release, while giving sufficient axial security to keep 25 the pin member in place in use.

The connection portions of the strap are preferably at separate ends thereof, i.e. so that when disconnected the strap loop is opened entirely rather than merely slackened. 5 The releasable fastener arrangement described above will not normally offer length-adjustability for the strap, being designed primarily for circumferential strength and quick, simple release. So, it is usually preferable for the strap to have a further releasable 10 fastener arrangement to join separable connection portions thereof at some other place on its circumference, e.g. a buckle, slider, clip or hook-and loop fastener region as mentioned above, and preferably offering length-adjustability. Or, a non-releasing 15 length adjustment could be used.

Preferably the strap is dimensioned to fasten around a human leg or arm. However it should be understood that it may be useful in other contexts, and the present proposals are not limited in that respect.

20 A line, cord or strap constituting a tether portion may be joined permanently to the securing strap, or the securing strap may have a ring or clip to which such a tether portion can be removably attached. A tether comprising the securing strap and the tether portion, 25 whether permanently or removably secured to it, is an

aspect of the invention. The other end of the tether portion may have another removable clip.

An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying 5 drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a securing strap which is an embodiment of the invention in a fastened position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a securing strap 10 which is an embodiment of the invention in an unfastened position; Figures 3 and 3a show an alternative fastening arrangement for releasably fastening separable connecting portions of the strap; Figure 3a is a cross section 15 X-X.

Figure 2 shows a strap 1 which is composed of two separable rectangular pieces of material joined by an adjustable fastener 2. The adjustable fastener is a hook and loop fastener, wherein one rectangular portion of the 20 strap has a region of either hook or loop material on its inner face, and the other rectangular portion has a region of complementary material on its outer face, i.e., if the inner face of one portion has a region of hook material then the outer face of the other portion will 25 have a layer of loop material, and vice versa. Because

any given part of the hook or loop material on one face can be fastened to any part of the hook or loop material on the other face, the degree of overlap between the two pieces of the strap can be varied, allowing the total 5 length of the strap to be adjusted.

The strap also has at each end one or more loops of folded fabric 3, which are stitched into the main body of the strap. Because the loops are at the ends of the strap, the connecting portions are wholly disengaged in 10 the unfastened position of Figure 2, making it easier for the user to free him or her self from the strap.

Figure l shows the strap l in a fastened position.

A pin 4 extends through the loops 3 and holds the two ends of the strap together. One end of the strap has two 15 loops which in the fastened position lie to either side of a loop provided by the second end. This arrangement of loops gives stability in the fastened position against relative lateral movement of the ends of the strap, and ensures that a single straight pin can pass through the 20 retaining openings.

In the fastened position, the pin 4 makes a retaining engagement with the strap 1.

In one embodiment, shown in Figure l, the pin 4 has a laterally extending head portion 5 which is attached to 25 a tag 6. The tag has on its inner face a region of hook

or loop material. This allows it to be attached to a complementary region of hook and loop material on the outer face of the strap, which may be contiguous with that which forms part of the adjustable fastening 5 arrangement (as shown in Figure 1). This has the advantage that the same piece of hook and loop material can be used for adjustable fastening of the strap and for engaging the tag, thus simplifying manufacture.

In order to release the first releasable fastening 10 arrangement, it is necessary to pull apart the hook and loop fastener on the tag and the strap. This can be achieved by simply pulling at the tag. Alternatively, the head portion 5 of the pin 4 can be grasped and twisted in the direction of the curved arrow in Figure 1, 15 thus disengaging the tag from the strap and allowing the pin to be withdrawn in a transverse direction as shown by the straight arrow in Figure 1. It is preferred that the tag is pulled away from the strap by grabbing and twisting, pulling or squeezing a head portion of the pin, 20 since such a head portion may be easier to for the user to locate quickly than a fabric tag.

In other embodiments, the retaining engagement between the pin 3 and the strap 1 may take a different form, and a different action may be required to release 25 the pin. One such alternative embodiment is shown in

Figures 3 and 3a. Here, the pin 4 is tubular and slotted along its length to provide two elongate flexible members 8, each of which has a laterally extending foot portion 9. In the fastened position, wherein the pin 4 extends 5 through the loops 3, the foot portions 9 spring out laterally beyond the retaining openings 3, thus preventing the pin from being withdrawn in one transverse direction. The pin also comprises a head portion lO which is wider than the retaining apertures and thus 10 prevents the pin being transversely withdrawn in the alternative direction. The elongate members, and optionally the head portion, are made of resiliently deformable material, e.g., plastic. In order to release the pin, the two elongate members 8 are squeezed 15 together, preferably by squeezing the head portion lO.

This moves the foot portions 9 closer together such that they no longer extend laterally beyond the retaining openings 3, and thus no longer prevent withdrawal of the pin. The pin can then be withdrawn in the transverse 20 direction shown by the arrow in Figure 3.

Figures l and 2 also show a leash ll, which is stitched into the body of the strap. This leash is adapted for attachment to a piece of equipment, e.g., a kite or board (such as a surf board, windsurfing board, 25 snow board eta). Figure l shows a clip 12 at the end of

the leash 10 which may be used to attach the leash to a piece of equipment. The leash need not be provided with the strap) instead the strap may comprise an attachment means for attachment to a leash.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion, having a releasable fastener arrangement for joining 5 separable connection portions of the strap, the releasable fastener arrangement including a pin member releasably retainable in a fastened position in which it extends through respective retaining openings of the connection portions to fasten the connection portions 10 together.

2. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to claim l, wherein the pin member is withdrawable from its fastened position in a direction 15 transverse to the length of the strap.

3. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to claim l or claim 2, in which a first said connection portion has first and second transversely 20 spaced retaining openings which in the fastened position lie transversely to either side of and in line with a retaining opening of a second said connection portion.

4. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion 25 according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pin member has a single-pin construction.

5. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 30 pin member has a forked-pin construction.

6. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pin member is stiff, hard and smoothsided.

S

7. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection portions are transversely elongate.

8. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion lO according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection portions are looped textile webs, attached to or formed integrally with the strap.

9. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion 15 according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pin member in a fastened position makes a releasable detent or retaining engagement with an adjacent part of the strap.

20

10. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to claim 9, wherein the pin member has a head portion which constitutes, comprises or is connected to a retaining element, releasably engageable with the strap to retain the pin member transversely.

11. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to claim 10, wherein the retaining element is a laterally-projecting connecting tag and is releasable by turning the pin member around its own axis.

12. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to claim 11, wherein the connecting tag is engageable with the strap via a clip or slot.

13. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to claim 11, wherein the connecting tag is engageable with the strap via a hookand-loop fastener.

14. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to claim 9, wherein the pin member has a bend, crook or variation in cross-sectional size and/or shape, for making an engagement with a connection portion at its l0 opening to retain the pin member transversely.

15. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to claim 14, wherein the pin member has a waist portion.

16. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to claim 9, wherein the pin comprises at opposite ends, a head portion and a resiliently biased member with an abutment portion, to releasably abut the 20 connection portion at its end openings, and retain the pin member transversely.

17. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to any one of the previous claims wherein the 25 connection portions of the strap are at separate ends thereof.

18. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to any one of the previous claims wherein the 30 strap has a further releasable fastener arrangement to join further separable connection portions thereof such that its span is adjustable.

19. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to claim 18, wherein the further releasable fastener arrangement has a buckle, slider, clip or hook and-loop region.

20. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strap is for fastening around a human limb.

JO

21. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strap has a clip or ring for securing the tether portion.

22. A tether, comprising a releasable strap according to IS claim 21 and a tether portion permanently or removably secured thereto.

23. A tether according to claim 22, wherein the tether portion is a line r cord or a strap.

24. A releasable strap for securing a tether portion, or tether comprising such a strap, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.