Improved flexible fastening strap

• US 5,492,133 A
• Filed: 10/04/1993
• Issued: 02/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aircast, Inc. (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aircast, Inc. (Enovis Corp.)
• Inventors: McVicker, Henry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C.
• Application Number:
  US08/131,030
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 602/5, 602/16, 602/20, 602/21, 602/23-29, 602/65, 602/75, 128/DIG. 15, 128/876-878, 128/882, 482/79, 482/105, 24/442, 24/306, 24/16 PB, 24/17 AP, 606/201, 606/203, 606/204
• US Class Current: 128/876
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0111 for the feet or ankles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/15 Hook and loop type fastener
• 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]

Abstract

An improved ankle support system including first and second support side walls and attaching straps which have an elongated hook portion pivotally attached to the side wall support and which has an elongated loop portion integrally formed with the hook portion and having a width wider than the loop portion such that when the strap is wrapped around the leg, the loop portion entirely covers the hook portion.

Claims

1. A flexible strap containing both hook and loop releasable fastening elements and that is capable of attaching to itself and for securement to and for holding in place an underlying object, the flexible strap comprising:

a first side opposed to a second side;

an elongated, hook-containing, strap portion of unitary molded plastic, a plurality of hooks on said hook-containing, strap portion contained on said first side of said strap, and said hook-containing strap portion having first and second ends;

an integral reinforced flat section forming part of said first end of said hook-containing strap portion;

an opening in said integral reinforced flat section for receiving means which pivotally attaches said flexible strap to the underlying object;

an elongated, loop-containing, strap portion having opposed first and second ends, a plurality of loops on said loop-containing, strap portion contained on said second side of said strap;

said second end of said hook-containing strap portion being fixedly secured to one end of said loop-containing strap portion and said plurality of hooks on said hook-containing strap portion not overlying said plurality of loops on said loop-containing, strap portion when formed;

such that, when said flexible strap is placed about an object, the loop-containing portion will overlap and be releasably affixed to said hook-containing portion.

2. The flexible strap set forth in claim 1, wherein said hook-containing strap portion is narrower in width than said loop-containing strap portion thereby permitting said hook portion to be completely covered by the overlapping loop portion without leaving any exposed hooks.

3. The strap set forth in claim 2, wherein said hook-containing strap portion is about 4.8 inches long, and 11/2" inches wide, and said loop-containing portion is about 2" wide.