Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Article carrier secured to vehicle by flaccid securing means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-31
2001-11-20
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Article carrier secured to vehicle by flaccid securing means
C224S330000, C224S568000, C224S901400, C024S0680CD, C024S182000, C024S306000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318612
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to fastening devices. More particularly, this invention relates to a fastening device for attaching an item to a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When individuals travel from one location to another by automobile or other vehicle, there is often a need for additional cargo space that cannot be found inside the vehicle. A standard solution to this problem has been a car-top carrier that fits on top of the vehicle and is capable of storing items of various sizes. While these carriers are effective at holding cargo, it is important that the carriers are secured tightly to the top of the vehicle. If the carrier is not secured tightly, the carrier could become loose and either damage the top portion of the vehicle or fall off the vehicle entirely. Such carriers must therefore be tied down to the vehicle in some manner. Some carriers are made of cloth or other pliable material, are collapsible when not in use, and are tied to the vehicle using buckles and straps. Certain carriers use bolts, brackets and the like; these carriers tend to be hand-shelled and, through use of various attachment hardware, are customized to fit to a particular vehicle model. A standard practice for tying down such carriers is to use a length of belting that is stitched to the car-top carrier and run through a railing on the top of the vehicle. The user then buckles the strap to itself and cinches it tight. Although this system is reasonably effective, the free strap end encounters high winds resulting from the vehicle's motion, for example, while traveling over a highway. This causes the free end to flap about, which may cause the buckle to loosen with potentially catastrophic results. The flapping of the free strap end in the wind causes an audible noise which can be heard inside the vehicle. The flapping tendency can also result in chipping or scuffing of the vehicle's exterior surface and eventual fraying and unraveling of the strap.
Additionally, there are other items that are commonly placed on the top of a vehicle that must be securely fastened. These can include sporting goods such as bicycles, kayaks, or snow skis, and can also include larger items such as indoor or outdoor furniture. In each of these cases, it is very important that the items remain securely fastened to the vehicle and that there is no strap material that is left to flap about in the wind. Otherwise the strap could become worn over time, the vehicle's drivers and passengers may be irritated by the noise created by the flapping and the strap could become damaged, along with the top of the vehicle and the items being transported.
Therefore there is a need for a fastening strap that will securely hold items of various sizes to a portion of a moving vehicle and which will be secured against the vehicle and will prevent excess strap material from flapping about while the vehicle is in motion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides for a thin strap that is terminated with a cross-piece. In one embodiment of the invention, the cross-piece is fixedly attached to the strap. In an alternative embodiment, the cross-piece is removably connected to the strap, in which case the two pieces may be connected to each other by Velcro™ hook and loop elements or some other means. The ends of the cross-piece include correspondingly mating Velcro™ hook and loop elements. The first end of the strap is either fixedly or removably attached to the item to be secured to the vehicle. The second end of the strap is wrapped around a portion of the vehicle, such as a railing, and back over itself in the form of a bight. Any excess strap material is rolled up upon itself, forming a cylindrical roll. During the rolling of the strap, the cross-pieces remain exposed on both sides of the roll. The cross-pieces are then wrapped around a portion of the roll and a portion of the strap, and are fastened together via the Velcro™ elements. This arrangement allows a minimum number of portions of the strap to be exposed to the elements, reducing the risk of any strap portions becoming loosened when the vehicle is in motion and eliminating any unnecessary flapping of excess portions of the device.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the strap is attached to an item, such as a car-top carrier, at some point between the first end and the second end of the strap. The strap includes corresponding male and female complimentary fasteners such as a plastic buckle, with either the male or female component located on the first end and the complementary component located between the second end of the strap and the location where the strap is connected to the carrier. After the second of the strap is wrapped around a vehicle portion, the male and female components are connected to each other. The second end of the strap is then rolled upon itself and the cross-pieces are folded over the resulting cylindrical roll.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, two straps are used to secure the item. Both straps are either removably or fixedly connected to the item to be secured. Complimentary fasteners are included on both straps for connecting each strap to each other. The first strap is wrapped around the vehicle portion as in the preferred embodiment. The male and female portions are then connected to each other, and the remaining exposed strap is rolled upon itself before the cross-piece is folded over the resulting roll.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention together with the organization and manner of operation thereof will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like elements have like characters throughout the drawings described below.
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Cronin Stephen K.
Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe
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