Wrap for bundling objects

• US 7,673,919 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2007
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Handle It LLC
• Original Assignee: Handle It LLC
• Inventors: Daniel, Dianne C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer; Dean J
• Application Number:
  US11/942,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20080067823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 294/141, 294146-148, 294/150, 294/165, 294/166, 24/16.R, 24/16.PB, 24/17.AP, 24/305.P, 24/305.T, 24/27, 243/00, 428/364, 428/372, 428/373, 428/375, 428/379, 428/398, 702/33
• US Class Current: 294/147
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 11/025 for skis or ski-sticks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/14 Bale and package ties, hose clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1402 Packet holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/149 Wire
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2935 Discontinuous or tubular or cellular core

Abstract

An apparatus may include an elongate piece of first material having flexible qualities with a flexible strip of second, more rigid, and bendable material enclosed within the first material. The apparatus may be twist-tied around equipment for relatively easy transport or may also be used to secure items in place.

Claims

1. A method of releasably securing recreational equipment to adjacent equipment, comprising:

engaging a bendable elongate device with recreational equipment in a non-slip, soft, and non-scratch manner, the bendable elongate device comprising a bendable strip of wire enclosed by an elongate piece of soft foam material selected from the group consisting of foam rubber and sponge rubber, wherein the elongate piece of soft foam material abuts the strip of wire, the bendable elongate device having a degree of rigidity so as to retain its form when bent or straightened, and the bendable elongate device having a diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 2.5 inches and having a length of at least about 10 inches;

bendably wrapping the bendable elongate device around at least a portion of the recreational equipment in a non-slip engagement;

bendably wrapping the bendable elongate device around at least a portion of equipment that is adjacent to the recreational equipment in a non-slip engagement; and

twisting-tying free ends of the bendable elongate device so as to secure the recreational equipment to the adjacent equipment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the recreational equipment comprises a first ski equipment and wherein the adjacent equipment comprises a second ski equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bendable elongate device is handled while wearing gloves.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the bendable elongate device further comprises a first end cap arrange on one of the free ends and a second end cap arranged on another one of the free ends.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the elongate piece of soft foam material has a tubular shape having a length of at least 10 inches to about 50 inches, and wherein the bendable strip of wire comprises a solid metal wire having a thickness of about 14 gauge.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising bendably wrapping a second bendable elongate device around at least a second portion of the recreational equipment in a non-slip engagement, and bendably wrapping the second bendable elongate device around at least a second portion of the equipment that is adjacent to the recreational equipment in a non-slip engagement.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second bendable elongate device comprises a bendable strip of wire enclosed by an elongate piece of soft foam material selected from the group consisting of foam rubber and sponge rubber, the second bendable elongate device having a degree of rigidity so as to retain its form when bent or straightened, and the second bendable elongate device having a diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 2.5 inches and having a length of at least about 10 inches.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising twisting-tying free ends of the second bendable elongate device so as to secure the recreational equipment to the adjacent equipment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the elongate piece of soft foam material is co-extruded onto the strip of wire.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the elongate piece of soft foam material engages the strip of wire without an intermediate layer therebetween.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the elongate piece of soft foam material has a length of about 50 inches.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the strip of wire comprises a bendable metal wire.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the bendable metal wire has a thickness of about 14 gauge.

14. A method of releasably securing recreational equipment to adjacent equipment, comprising:

bendably wrapping a bendable elongate device around at least a portion of recreational equipment, the bendable elongate device comprising a bendable strip of wire enclosed by an elongate piece of soft foam material operable to provide a non-slip, soft, and non-scratch engagement with the recreational equipment, wherein the elongate piece of soft foam material abuts the strip of wire, the bendable elongate device having a degree of rigidity so as to retain its form when bent or straightened, and the bendable elongate device having a diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 2.5 inches and having a length of at least about 10 inches;

bendably wrapping the bendable elongate device around at least a portion of equipment that is adjacent to the recreational equipment; and

twisting-tying free ends of the bendable elongate device so as to releasably secure the recreational equipment to the adjacent equipment.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the elongate piece of soft foam material is co-extruded onto the strip of wire.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the elongate piece of soft foam material engages the strip of wire without an intermediate layer therebetween.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the bendable elongate device further comprises a first end cap arrange on one of the free ends and a second end cap arranged on another one of the free ends.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the elongate piece of soft foam material has a tubular shape having a length of at least 10 inches to about 50 inches, and wherein the bendable strip of wire comprises a solid metal wire having a thickness of about 14 gauge.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the elongate piece of soft foam material is selected from the group consisting of foam rubber and sponge rubber.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising bendably wrapping a second bendable elongate device around at least a second portion of the recreational equipment, and bendably wrapping the second bendable elongate device around at least a second portion of the equipment that is adjacent to the recreational equipment, wherein the second bendable elongate device comprises a bendable strip of bendable wire enclosed by an elongate piece of soft foam material operable to provide a non-slip, soft, and non-scratch engagement with the recreational equipment, the second bendable elongate device having a degree of rigidity so as to retain its form when bent or straightened, and the second bendable elongate device having a diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 2.5 inches and having a length of at least about 10 inches.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the elongate piece of soft foam material has a length of about 50 inches.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the strip of wire comprises a bendable metal wire.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the bendable metal wire has a thickness of about 14 gauge.

24. A method of releasably securing recreational equipment to adjacent equipment, comprising:

bendably wrapping first and second elongate twist-tie devices respectively around first and second portions of recreational equipment that are spaced apart from one another, each of the first and second elongate twist-tie devices comprising a bendable strip of wire having a thickness of about 14 gauge enclosed by an elongate piece of soft foam material that provides a non-scratch engagement with the recreational equipment, wherein the elongate piece of soft foam material abuts the strip of wire, each of the first and second elongate twist-tie devices having a degree of rigidity so as to retain its form when bent or straightened, and each of the first and second elongate twist-tie devices having a diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 2.5 inches and having a length of at least 10 inches to about 50 inches;

bendably wrapping the first elongate twist-tie device around at least a portion of equipment that is adjacent to the first portion of the recreational equipment;

twisting-tying free ends of the first elongate twist-tie device so as to releasably secure the first portion of the recreational equipment to the adjacent equipment;

bendably wrapping the second elongate twist-tie device around at least a portion of the adjacent equipment;

twisting-tying free ends of the second elongate twist-tie device so as to releasably secure the second portion of the recreational equipment to the adjacent equipment.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein each of the first and second elongate twist-tie devices has a tubular shape having a length of at least 10 inches to about 50 inches, and wherein the bendable strip of wire comprises a solid metal wire having the thickness of about 14 gauge.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the elongate piece of soft foam material is selected from the group consisting of foam rubber and sponge rubber.