A FASTENER ASSEMBLY

ENSEMBLE DE FIXATION

English Abstract

A strap (10) employing at opposite ends thereof respective fastener assemblies
(11), each flexible fastener assembly comprising a
rigid or a semi-flexible hook member (12) and a locking means in the form of a
flexible strap section (13), each hook member (12) has an
outer surface covered with a hook fastener material (14) while the inner
surface of each of the straps (13) includes a complimentary loop
fastener material (15) adapted to engage and hold onto the hook material (14)
to form a closed loop.

French Abstract

L'invention porte sur une sangle (10) comportant à ses extrémités opposées des dispositifs de fixation (11) respectifs dont chacun comporte un crochet rigide ou semi-flexible (12) et un moyen de verrouillage sous forme d'une section de sangle flexible (13). La surface extérieure de chacun des crochets (12) est recouverte d'un matériau de fixation à crochets (14), tandis que la surface intérieure de chacune des sangles (13) comporte un matériau (15) de fixation à boucles complémentaire conçu pour agripper et maintenir le matériau de fixation à crochets (14) de manière à former une boucle fermée.

Claims

5


CLAIMS

1. A fastener assembly comprising a self supporting hook member and flexible
locking means comprising a flexible strap, the hook member and flexible strap
being both coupled to one end of an elongate strap, the locking means being
engageable with an outer surface of the hook member to form a closed self
supporting loop in order to, in use, inhibit accidental release of the hook.
2. A fastener assembly according to claim 1 wherein the hook member is a self
supporting flexible hook member.
3. A fastener assembly according to claim 1 wherein the hook member is a
rigid hook member.
4. A fastener assembly according to claim 1 where the hook member is a self
supporting flexible hook member having an outer surface extending from a flat
base
through a flat shank section to a hook section at its end, a hook and loop
type
fastener being secured to the outer surface of the hook member and extending
from
the base and along the shank, the locking means comprising a flexible tab
carrying
complementary hook and loop fastener means and being adapted to engage the
hook and loop fastener means along said shank to form the loop.
5. A fastener assembly according to claim 1 wherein the hook member is a
rigid hook member having an outer surface extending from a flat base through a
flat
shank section to a hook section at its end, a hook and loop type fastener
being
secured to the outer surface of the hook member and extending from the base
and
along the shank, the locking means comprising a flexible tab carrying
complementary hook and loop fastener means and being adapted to engage the
hook and loop fastener means along said shank to form the loop.
6. A fastener assembly according to claim 1 wherein the hook member and the
locking means form bifurcated ends of said strap, the hook member providing
one
of said bifurcated ends and the locking means the other and both having
generally
planar bases and opposed flat inner and outer surfaces, the locking means
comprising a tab marginally longer than the hook member, the hook member and
the tab being fastened together at their bases in a substantially common plane
so
that their bases overlay one another and the tab opposing the hook so that a
contact


6


portion of the inner surface of the tab overlays a confronting contact portion
of the
outer surface of the hook member essentially along a common line, the
respective
contact portions having complementary fastener means covering the entire
surface
thereof and enabling the extent of contact between said contact portions of
said tab
and said hook member in said loop to change in order to vary the size of said
self
supporting loop.
7. A fastener assembly according to claim 1 wherein said hook members and
said locking means include respective free ends and bases, the bases being
secured
together and also secured to the strap, there being provided means at the
juncture
between the strap and the hook member, said means being connected to the bases
and the strap and bridging the bases and the strap so as to strengthen the
join
between the bases and the strap.
8. A flexible fastener assembly according to claim 7 wherein the means
bridging the bases and the strap comprising a plate-like member.

Description

CA 02230208 2004-11-30
A FASTENER ASSEMBLY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
THIS INVENTION relatestoaflexiblefastenerassemblyand in particular but
not limited to a double ended flexible strap having flexible hook fastener
assemblies at each end.
BACKGROUND ART
Present hold-down straps employ plastic coated wire hooks secured at
opposite ends of an elastic strap. In use the hooks are prone to be dislodged
while
the strap is under tension and are therefore dangerous as the hooks can be
propelled toward an unsuspecting user. It is an object of the present
invention to
provide a flexible fastener assembly that can be used in similar situations to
the
present hold-down straps but with greater safety.
OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION
In one broad form the present invention resides in a fastener assembly
comprising a self supporting hook member and flexible locking means comprising
a flexible strap, the hook member and flexible strap being both coupled to one
end
of an elongate strap, the locking means being engageabte with an outer surface
of
the hook member to form a closed self supporting loop in order to, in use,
inhibit
accidental release of the hook.
In one preferred form the present invention resides in a flexible fastener
assembly having a semi-flexible hook member and a locking means engageable
with the hook member to form a closed flexible loop. The semi-flexible member
has a shape defined to facilitate use of the flexible fastener assembly so
that the
assembly is safe to use but can still use the hooking action to make use
simple. The
shape typically enables single handed operation of the assembly. In another
form
the hook member is rigid being adapted to co-operate with the locking means.
The hook member and the locking means preferably form bifurcated ends
of a strap, the hook member providing one end and the locking means the other.
In one preferred form the locking means is a tab or strap portion having a
hook
attachment means so that the locking means can be selectively fastened to the
hook member to enable the size of the loop so formed to be varied. The hook
member preferably includes locking means attachment means on an outer


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surface of the hook member so that the locking means operatively engages the
outer surface of the hook member when the two are engaged to form the loop.
Typically the hook includes a base, a shank and a hook section, and the
locking r
means comprising hook and loop fasteners covering a major portion of the outer
surface of the hook member. Typically the fasteners extend from the base at
least
the entire length of the shank of the hook member.
In one particularly preferred form the flexible fastener assembly employs
hook and loop type fasteners of the velcro type forming complementary
fasteners
of the hook and loop type being carried on an outer surface of the hook member
and on an inner surface of the locking means. Thus the outer surface of the
hook
member engages the inner surface of the locking means to form the loop.
In some cases the flexible hook will be made integral with and of the same
material as the strap on other occasions the hook will be made separately and
secured to the strap. In the latter case it is preferable to employ some form
of
reinforcement between the hook material and the strap adjacent the juncture of
the flexible hook and strap. Typically this can involve supporting stitching
or a
rigid or semi-rigid support member applied to the juncture and through which
fasteners pass.
The hook members can be of any shape but are preferably made from flat,
thin relatively wide material.
In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be
put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings and wherein:-
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a strap employing fastener
assemblies according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 2a to 2c illustrate examples of how flexible hook fastener
assemblies according to the present invention can be used.
Figures 2d to 2f illustrate examples of how rigid hook fastener assemblies
according to the present invention can be used.
Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated a
strap
10 employing at opposite ends thereof respective fastener assemblies 11, each


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flexible fastener assembly comprising a rigid or a semi-flexible hook member
12
and a locking means in the form of a flexible strap section 13, each hook
member 12 has an outer surface covered with a hook fastener material 14 while
the inner surface of each of the straps 13 includes a complimentary loop
fastener
material 15 adapted to engage and hold onto the hook material 14 to form a
closed loop. In the case of a rigid hook the hook 12 can be made from metal
while in the case of a semi-flexible hook a flexible natural rubber or a
plasticised
PVC is suitable.
It will be appreciated that where the hook members 12 are semi-flexible
the hook member can be used like a hook in the usual way and that upon the
hook member 12 being hooked over in object and then the strap 13 engaged with
the hook member the two form a loop around the object and the hook member
12 and the strap 13 can be pulled and the hook 12 will simply flex in response
to the applied tension.
It will be appreciated that the use of a semi-flexible hook member 12 is
safer than using the metal hooks known in the prior art while use of the metal
hook and accompanying strap section 13 also improves safety.
It will also be appreciated that the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 is
not
merely a hook and loop fastener but includes a semi-flexible hook element 12
enabling and facilitating the use of a hooking action in order to engage the
flexible hook fastener assembly in place. This hooking action and then
subsequently engaging the strap 13 can be a single handed action in both
cases.
Examples of how the fastener assemblies of Figure 1 when equipped with
a flexible hook may be used are illustrated in Figures 2a to 2c. As can be
seen in
Figure 2a two straps 10 have their respective hooks 12 hooked together and the
straps 13 are engaged as shown thus resulting in a complete loop or two
separate
straps can be joined together.
Likewise in Figure 2b the hook 12 is initially positioned around a bar 16
and the strap 13 engaged with the hook to form the loop as described
previously
and the strap 10 is thus secured in place with the semi-flexible hook adopting
the
shape of the bar 16.


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The strap 10 can be made from elastic material or can include adjustable
buckles or any other suitable arrangement commonly utilised in straps to their
normal advantage.
Figure 2c illustrates how the fastener assembly 1 1 might be utilised to be
wrapped around the strap 10. It will be appreciated of course that the strap
10
can be looped back upon itself with the hook member 12 looping around any
portion of the strap 10, say for example at 18 in Figure 1 thus forming an
even
larger loop to wrap around relatively large objects.
Other modifications include a thin plastic support plate illustrated in Figure
1 at 19 which bridges across the juncture between the flexible hook and the
strap
to provide added strength and to limit any tearing through of staples 20 that
may
occur due to prolonged use and thereby increases the life of the assembly
particularly where an elastic strap is being used.
Figures 2d to 2f are similar to figures 2a to 2c except rigid hooks are used.
There will of course be many other uses and applications of the fastener
assembly illustrated in the drawings apparent to those skilled in the art and
therefore whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of
the
present invention many variations and modifications will be apparent to those
skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Representative Drawing