Bundling strap

• US 5,548,871 A
• Filed: 12/07/1994
• Issued: 08/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brig E.A. Trethewey
• Original Assignee: Brig E.A. Trethewey
• Inventors: Trethewey, Brig E. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US08/350,687
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 24/16 R, 24/17 AP, 24/306, 24/442, 24/16 PB, 24/30.5, 24/31 V, 24/3.13, 24/197, 24/200, 2/912, 2/920, 128/DIG. 15
• US Class Current: 24/16.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 18/00 Fasteners of the touch-and-close type; Making such fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2213/00 Safety means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2313/02 of hook-and-loop type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 63/1009 Adhesive tapes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 63/16 Joints using buckles, wedges, or like locking members attached to the end of the element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/14 Bale and package ties, hose clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/27 including readily dissociable fastener having numerous, protruding, unitary filaments randomly interlocking with, and simultaneously moving towards, mating structure [e.g., hook-loop type fastener]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2708 Combined with diverse fastener

Abstract

Opposed ends of a bundling strap are inserted through an anchor and folded back upon respective segments of the strap. Pressure sensitive adhering elements having high shear strength and low tensile strength retain the strap ends adjacent the respective segments of the strap.

Claims

1. A bundling strap, said bundling strap comprising in combination:

a) an anchor;

b) a strap for extending about one or more elements, said strap including a first end engageable with said anchor and folded back upon said strap and a second end engageable with said anchor and folded back upon said strap;

c) a first tab separate from said strap and positionable intermediate said first end and said strap to secure said first end with said strap and a second tab separate from said strap and positionable intermediate said second end and said strap to secure said end with said strap; and

d) a first hook and loop fastening apparatus for retaining said first tab adjacent said strap and said first end folded back upon said first tab and a second hook and loop fastening apparatus for retaining said second tab adjacent said strap and said second end folded back upon said second tab.

2. The bundling strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the opposed sides of each of said first and second tabs includes one of the hooks and loops of said first and second hook and loop fastening apparatus, respectively, and each of said first and second ends and said strap includes an other of the hooks and loops of said first and second hook and loop fastening apparatus, respectively.

3. The bundling straps as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said first and second tabs includes a substrate having a section for manual gripping and being devoid of said hook and loop fastening apparatus.

4. The bundling strap as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of the hooks and loops of one of said first and second hook and loop fastening apparatus is disposed along said strap.

5. The bundling strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said anchor includes a first pair of rods for engagement by said first end and a second pair of rods for engagement by said second end.

6. The bundling strap as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first end is folded over one rod of said first pair of rods and passed intermediate the other rod of said first pair of rods and said strap and wherein said second end is folded over one rod of said second pair of rods and passed intermediate the other rod of said second pair of rods and said strap.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said steps of detachably attaching and further detachably attaching comprises the step of adhering with a hook and loop apparatus.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 including the step of detaching at least one of the tabs from one or another of the one end and the other end or from the strap to release the at least one element from within the strap.

7. A bundling strap for securing at least one element, said bundling strap comprising in combination:

a) a strap having first and second ends, each of said first and second ends being foldable back upon said strap;

b) a first tab separate from said strap and positionable intermediate said first end folded back upon said strap and said strap to secure said first end with said strap, a second tab separate from said strap and positionable intermediate said second end folded back upon said strap and said strap to secure said second end with said strap; and

c) first hook and loop apparatus for securing said first end with said first tab and for securing said first tab adjacent said strap and second hook and loop apparatus for securing said second end with said second tab and for securing said second tab adjacent said strap.

8. The bundling straps as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said first and second tabs includes a substrate having a section for manual gripping and being devoid of the respective one of said first and second hook and loop apparatus.

9. A method for securing at least one element, said method comprising the steps of:

a) wrapping a strap about the at least one element;

b) inserting one end of the strap through an anchor and folding the one end back upon the strap;

c) detachably attaching a separate tab intermediate the at least one end and the strap;

d) further inserting another end of the strap through the anchor and folding the other end back upon the strap;

e) drawing the other end to tighten the strap about the at least one element; and

f) further detachably attaching another separate tab intermediate the other end and the strap after completion of said step of drawing.