Holders for straps having hooks and methods of making and using
View Patent ↗A holder for straps includes a base including a body portion and a tail portion, and a waist where the body portion and the tail portion join. The base defines first and second horizontally opposed recesses and a wrap area disposed therebetween. The holder includes engaging structures disposed on opposing sides of the wrap area. The engaging structures can engage with S-hooks, D rings, snap hooks, carabiners and the like. After securing the hook thereof, each strap is wrapped around the base through first and second recesses. Straps can be secured by disposing a loop such as a loop of bungee cord or a tie about the waist and tightening the cord or tie.
1 . A holder comprising:
a base comprising a body portion, a tail portion, a lower end of the base, and top and bottom major surfaces defining a thickness therebetween,
the body portion defining opposing upper and lower ends, and opposing first and second edges,
the tail portion attached to the lower end of the body portion to form an attachment and extended to the lower end of the base,
the attachment which is a locally minimum width in the base further defining a waist,
the base defining a first recess in the upper end of the body portion and a second recess in the lower end of the base and with an acute trapezoidal shape, wherein the top surface includes a first wrap area between the first recess and the second recess and the bottom surface includes a second wrap area between the first recess and the second recess;
a first array of engaging structures attached to the top surface of the body portion between the first edge and the first wrap area and extending away from the top surface; and
a second array of engaging structures attached to the body portion between the second edge and the first wrap area and extending away from the top surface.
2 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom surfaces are substantially coplanar, the upper and lower ends are substantially parallel to each other, and the first and second edges are substantially parallel to each other.
3 . The holder of claim 1 , the holder further comprising a loop encircling the waist, wherein the loop is selected from a bungee loop, a zip tie, an elastic band, and a loop of cord.
4 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second recesses defines an isosceles trapezoidal shape.
5 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein each of the first array and the second array consists of three engaging structures.
6 . The holder of claim 1 where the engaging structures are unified with the body portion.
7 . The holder of claim 1 wherein the engaging structures are from a group consisting of a post with a cap, a closed circle, a straight hook and an angled hook.
8 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the first array is substantially parallel to the first edge of the body portion, and the second array is substantially parallel to the second edge of the body portion.
9 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the first recess includes a first wrap edge, the second recess includes a second wrap edge, wherein the first and second wrap edges are substantially linear, and wherein the first wrap edge, the second wrap edge, the upper end of the body, and the lower end of the body are substantially parallel to each other.
10 . The kit of claim 9 , the kit further comprising a hook terminated strap.
11 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the base is planar or substantially planar, and each of the first array of engaging structures and the second array of engaging structures extends substantially perpendicularly from the top surface.
12 . A kit comprising a first component and a separate second component, wherein the first component comprises the holder of claim 1 , and the second component comprises a bungee loop.
13 . A method of holding a hook-terminated strap on a holder, the method comprising:
(i) providing (1) a holder comprising a base comprising a body portion, a tail portion, a lower end of the base, and top and bottom major surfaces defining a thickness therebetween,
the body portion defining opposing upper and lower ends, and opposing first and second edges,
the tail portion attached to the lower end of the body portion to form an attachment and extended to the lower end of the base,
the attachment which is a locally minimum width in the base further defining a waist,
the base defining a first recess in the upper end of the body portion and a second recess in the lower end of the base and with an acute trapezoidal shape, wherein the top surface includes a first wrap area between the first recess and the second recess and the bottom surface includes a second wrap area between the first recess and the second recess;
a first array of engaging structures attached to the top surface of the body portion between the first edge and the first wrap area and extending away from the top surface; and
a second array of engaging structures attached to the body portion between the second edge and the first wrap area and extending away from the top surface; and (2) at least one hook-terminated strap;
(ii) engaging the hook with an engaging structure;
(iii) positioning the strap so that it passes, in order, from the attaching element over the waist to the second recess;
(iv) positioning the strap so that it further passes, in order, through the second recess, over the waist, through the first recess, and over the waist; and
(v) repeating step (iv) any number of times from 0 to 30 times.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the holder further comprises a loop encircling the waist, wherein the loop is selected from a bungee loop, a zip tie, an elastic band, and a loop of cord, and the method further comprises the step of
(vi) positioning and tensioning a loop around the waist and at least some windings of the strap.