Locking strap

• US 5,669,253 A
• Filed: 06/21/1996
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott W. Higgins
• Original Assignee: Scott W. Higgins
• Inventors: Higgins, Scott W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Tuyet-Phuong
• Application Number:
  US08/670,265
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 24/166, 24/170, 70/312, 70/14, 70/18, 70/67, 70/69-76, 70/233
• US Class Current: 70/18
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/14 in padlocks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/003 Chain, wire or cable locks alarms therefor E05B45/005; E05B69/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/409 Shackles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5872 For cycles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7305 Manually operable

Abstract

A locking strap includes an elongated strap with a captured end and a free end. A buckle member is fixedly attached to the captured end of the strap. The buckle member is capable of receiving the free end of the strap therethrough to allow looping of the strap around a first object and a second object. Included is a locking mechanism that is secured within a bottom portion of the buckle member. Also, a buckle lid is coupled to the bottom portion of the buckle member and spaced from the locking mechanism. The lid has a first end with a vertical projection for clamping down onto the strap, when the free end is positioned through the buckle. Lastly, a second end of the lid has a pair of flaps for overlapping the bottom portion of the buckle member. The flaps will cause the second end to be locked within the locking mechanism for securing the strap around the first and second object.

Claims

1. A new and improved locking strap for securing recreational items when not in use comprising in combination:

an elongated strap having a captured end and a free end, the strap being a layer of woven metal being covered by a layer of polymeric material being nylon, the strap being sized for wearing as a belt;

a buckle member being fixedly attached to the captured end of the strap, the buckle member being formed of a rigid material, the buckle member having a rear opening and a front opening, the rear opening and the front opening being capable of receiving the free end of the strap therethrough for allowing the looping of the strap around a first object and a second object;

a locking mechanism being secured within a bottom portion of the buckle member, the locking mechanism having at least three tumblers with each secured within the buckle member by a cylindrical pin;

a buckle lid being coupled to the bottom portion of the buckle member and spaced from the locking mechanism, the lid having a first end and a second end, the first end of the lid having a vertical projection extending therefrom, the vertical projection having a flat face capable of clamping down onto the strap when the free end being positioned through the buckle member; and

the second end of the lid having a pair of flaps for overlapping the bottom portion of the buckle member, each flap having a plurality of ridges on an exterior surface thereof for non-slip gripping of the lid when opening and closing the buckle member, the second end of the lid further having grooves for snap fastening with the tumblers, the second end of the lid being locked within the bottom portion by the tumblers for preventing the release of the free end when the strap being secured around the first and second object, each tumbler of the buckle member being disc-like and having a numbering wherein a combination of numbers being used for releasing the second end of the lid having been secured to the bottom portion of the buckle member.