GB2237062A - Securing strap - Google Patents

A securing strap eg a vehicle towing strap, comprises a length of woven nylon webbing which, in the region of at least one end, is provided with two areas 12, 14 of adhering fabric fastener bonded thereto on one face of said webbing, one area nearer the end of the webbing than the other in order to provide between them a short webbing length for passing around a member 18 to which the webbing is to be secured, so that the end region of the webbing extends back on the webbing to enable the two fabric areas to be pressed into engagement, and a flat metal ring 16 which can be slid over the double layer of fabric where it is folded back, the ring being dimensioned relative to the webbing to be a tight fit around the double layer region so that the two fabric areas are held tightly pressed engagement within the ring. As shown, the fabric areas 12, 14 are releasable touch and close fasteners of the hooked pile type. <IMAGE>

Title Securing Strap Field of the invention This invention relates to a securing strap and mop especially to a securing strap capable of transmitting heavy loads, as is required1 for example, in the case of the connection between towing and towed vesticleQ Background to the invention There are requirements in many fields for a rope, cDiC or strap which can be readily connected between a load and a source of mechanical power which. fShrough the connection afforded by the rope, cable or strap, is required to exert a substantial pulling force on the load. Give that a rope, cable or strap of sufficient inherent strength is available, the problem which often arises is that of securing the ends of the rope, cable or strap to the load and the source, respectively, sufficiently firmly to ensure that, in use, the connection does not give way at one of the securing points.

It is an object of the invention to provide a solution to this problem.

The invention According to the invention, there is provided a securing strap which comprises a length of woven webbing which, in the region of at least one end, is provided with two areas of adhesive fabric bonded thereto on one face of said webbing, one area nearer the end of the webbing than the other in order to provide between them a short webbing length for passing around a member to which. the webbing is to be secured, so that the end region of the webbing extends back on the webbing to enable the two adhesive fabric areas to be pressed into engagement, and a flat metal ring which can be slid over the double layer of fabric where it is folded back, the ring being dimensioned relative to the webbing to be a tight fit around the double layer region so that the two adhesive fabric areas are held in tightly pressed engagement within the rung.

A preferred example of adhesive fabric to be bonded to the webbing is a hooked pile fabric such as that known by the Trade Mark Velcro.

The invention is based on the principle that, although the two pressed together adhesive fabric areas are readily separable by pulling apart in the direction at right angles to the plane of the webbing, as is necessary when the webbing is to be undone, said two pressed together areas are very strongly resistant to relative movement and separation due to forces acting in the plane of the webbing, whereby a connection can be made with the member to which the webbing is to be secured which is substantially as strong as the inherent strength of the webbing.

A suitable woven fabric webbing is nylon webbing analogous to that used for vehicle seat belts.

Both ends of the fabric webbing may be provided with similar securing arrangements, of the above-defined form.

This may be convenient in the case of a vehicle towing strap, the strap being made of a predetermined appropriate overall length and the securing arrangements at the ends enabling the strap to be connected to the rear and front towing brackets conventionally provided on vehicles.

However, even if such a towing bracket is not available, it will almost invariably be possible to effect a strong connection between the webbing and a suitable fixture on the vehicle, by use of the above-described securing arrangement.

For general purpose applications, where a shorter length of strap may be required than the predetermined length provided, the securing arrangement at one end may be modified by providing the second adhesive fabric area on a webbing sleeve which is slidable along the length of the strap. Alternatively, a series of adhesive fabric areas may be provided along the length of webbing for selective use.

Description of embodiment A securing strap in accordance with the invention is exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows one end portion of the strap; Figure 2 shows the end portion of the strap connected to a vehicle towing hook; Figure 3 shows a modification; and Figures 4 and 4A show a further modification.

In the drawings, only one end of the strap is illustrated; the other end is provided with a similar securing arrangement for effecting a connection with a vehicle towing hook.

The strap comprises a length of nylon woven fabric webbing 10, the overall length being appropriate for the strap to serve as a towing strap extending between two vehicles.

Each end region of the webbing strap has bonded thereto; across the full width of one face, two spaced apart areas 12, 14 of hooked pile fabric such as that known by the Trade Mark Velcro. A flat metal ring 16 is also provided, for sliding along the strap.

In use, as shown in Figure 2, the end region of the webbing strap is folded around a vehicle towing bracket 16 to extend back on itself, bringing the two hooked pile fabric areas 12, 14 into alignment, so that they can be pressed tightly together. The metal ring 16 is then slid along the strap over the double thickness folded back region, being dimensioned thereby to hold the two hooked pile fabric areas in tight engagement within the ring.

Figure 3 shows a modification wherein the free end of the strap is provided with an anti-fray clip 20, and the portion 22 of strap between the hooked pile fabric areas 12, 14 is reinforced, conveniently by an added layer of the nylon webbing.

Instead of being fixed in position on the strap, the area 14 of hooked pile fabric could be provided in the form of a flat tube of loop pile fabric, slidable along the webbing strap to enclose fastening around different diameters of towing bracket or equivalent fixture.

Figures 4 and 4A show a further modificaton, employing a fastening ring 24 of round rod. From Figure 4A, it will be seen that, in use, the ring 24 is preferably pushed as close as possible to the loop of strap passing around the towing bracket.

Various modifications of the above-described and illustrated arrangement are possible within the scope of the invention hereinbefore defined. Moreover, application of the securing strap is not restricted to that of serving as a vehicle towing strap.

Claims