STRAP WITH INTEGRATED SENSORS TO MEASURE TENSION

• US 20120260740A1
• Filed: 04/18/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dustin Colin Huguenot
• Original Assignee: Dustin Colin Huguenot
• Inventors: Huguenot, Dustin Colin
• Application Number:
  US13/450,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20120260740A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/826
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0861 Measuring or identifying the tension in the securing element
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/101 using sensors inserted into the flexible member

Abstract

A strap has one or more built-in sensors. The strap may be used, for example, in trucking, for securing loads inside a trailer or on the bed of a trailer. The sensors may wirelessly transmit tension data to a portable electronic device, such as a smart phone. This allows a user to monitor the tension on one or more straps without having to physically examine them.

Claims

1. A strap comprising:

one or more sensors integrated into the strap and adapted to measure tension applied to the strap;

one or more batteries integrated into the strap and electrically connected to the one or more sensors; and

one or more transmitters adapted to receive tension data from the one or more sensors and send the tension data to an electronic data receiving device.

2. The strap of claim 1, further comprising multiple sensors integrated at multiple locations along the strap.

3. The strap of claim 1, further comprising a strap hook disposed at one end of the strap.

4. The strap of claim 1, wherein the electronic data receiving device is a smart phone.

5. The strap of claim 4, wherein the smart phone includes software, written in computer code and stored on a computer readable medium, wherein the software include a code segment to receive the tension data and create an alert if the tension data indicates that tension in the strap is below a predetermined minimum.

6. The strap of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more transmitters are disposed on the strap adjacent to the strap hook.

7. A method for monitoring tension in a strap, comprising:

disposing at least one sensor integrally in the strap, the sensor adapted to receive power from at least one battery and measure tension of the strap;

electrically connecting the at least one sensor to at least one transmitter, the transmitter receiving tension data from the at least one sensor; and

receiving the tension data on an electronic receiving device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising creating an alert if the tension data is below a predetermined minimum.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic receiving device is a smart phone.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein a single transmitter receives tension data from the at least one sensor and sends the tension data to the electronic receiving device.