Shackle guard with tether

1. An apparatus comprising:

a guard defining—

an inner seat comprising an open channel shaped to receive a shackle and extend partially around the shackle; and

an outer seat positioned opposite the open channel and shaped to support a strap passing through the shackle; and

a tether fastened to the guard and defining a fastener for securing to a closure pin passing through the shackle;

wherein the fastener comprises a hole formed in the tether and a barb formed on the tether offset from the hole.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the open channel has an arcuate axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein, along the arcuate axis, a wall of the open channel is arcuate in a plane to which the arcuate axis is normal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein outer edges of the wall include one or more indentations.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the tether secures to an outer edge of the wall.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the tether is co-molded with the guard.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the outer seat has an arcuate shape that is concentric with the arcuate axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

the shackle seated within the open channel; and

the closure pin inserted through the shackle and having the fastener securing the tether to the closure pin.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a guard defining—

an inner seat comprising an open channel shaped to receive a shackle and extend partially around the shackle; and

an outer seat positioned opposite the open channel and shaped to support a strap passing through the shackle; and

a tether fastened to the guard and defining a fastener for securing to a closure pin passing through the shackle;

wherein the fastener comprises:

a hole formed in the tether and offset from a distal end of the tether; and

a barb at the distal end of the tether for insertion within the hole.

10. A method comprising:

providing a guard defining—

an inner seat comprising an open channel shaped to receive a shackle and extend partially around the shackle;

an outer seat positioned opposite the open channel and shaped to support a strap passing through the shackle;

providing a tether fastened to the guard and defining a fastener for securing to a closure pin passing through the shackle; and

seating the shackle in the open channel;

wherein the fastener comprises a hole formed in the tether and a barb formed on the tether offset from the hole, the method further comprising fastening the tether to itself using the fastener by inserting the barb into the hole.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

passing the tether through a hole in the closure pin;

fastening the tether to itself using the fastener.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

the hole is formed in the tether and offset from a distal end of the tether; and

the barb is secured at the distal end of the tether for insertion within the hole.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the open channel has an arcuate axis.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein, along the arcuate axis, a wall of the open channel is arcuate in a plane to which the arcuate axis is normal.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein outer edges of the wall include one or more indentations.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the tether secures to an outer edge of the wall.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the tether is co-molded with the guard.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the outer seat has an arcuate shape that is concentric with the arcuate axis.