Flexible load restraining strap

Abstract

A flexible strap system for securing a load to an elongate support having a mounting bracket with a mount which pivotally secures to an underside of the support. A flexible, inelastic strap connects to the bracket through a pair of strap attachments, with the strap attachments and the mount having a non-colinear orientation on the mounting bracket. A plurality of teeth on the strap engage a ratchet mechanism for tightening the strap around the load. The bracket is rotatable between a first position with the strap generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support member and a second position with the strap generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support member, allowing the strap system to secure loads which are perpendicular or parallel, respectively, to the support.

1 . A load retention system for securing a load on a support rack of a vehicle comprising:
 a mounting bracket having a mounting attachment defining a connection of the mounting bracket to the support rack and an axis of rotation of the mounting bracket relative to the support rack;   a flexible strap having a first end and a second end and one of the first and second ends being releasably connected to the mounting bracket;   a first connection point and a second connection point for attaching the respective first and second ends of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket;   at least one of the first and second connection points comprising a releasable strap attachment mechanism supported on the mounting bracket;
 a first state in which the respective first and second end of the flexible strap is engaged with the strap attachment mechanism; 
 a second state in which the respective first and second end of the flexible strap is released from engagement with the strap attachment mechanism; and 
   wherein the mounting bracket is rotatable about the axis of rotation relative to the support rack between a first position wherein the strap is perpendicularly aligned with the support rack and a second position wherein the strap is aligned in parallel with the support rack.   
     
     
         2 . The load restraining strap system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second connection points are offset from the axis of rotation of the mounting bracket and in the first position wherein the strap is perpendicularly aligned with the support rack the flexible strap can substantially encompass the support rack in the first state, and in the second position where in the strap is aligned in parallel with the support rack the first and second ends of the flexible strap can be arranged in the first state without encompassing the support rack. 
     
     
         3 . The load restraining strap system of  claim 2  wherein the first and second connection points define a linear axis and the offset is defined by a distance between the axis of rotation of the mounting bracket and the linear axis. 
     
     
         4 . The load restraining strap system of  claim 3  wherein the distance between the axis of rotation of the mounting bracket and the linear axis ensures that in the second position the first and second connection points on the mounting bracket are spaced from a centerline of the support rack so that the support rack does not substantially interfere with operation of the flexible strap. 
     
     
         5 . The load restraining strap system of  claim 1  wherein the flexible strap further comprises a plurality of engagement points for engaging with the releasable strap attachment mechanism supported on the mounting bracket to provide a variable diameter to the flexible strap in the first state. 
     
     
         6 . The load retention system of  claim 5  wherein the releasable strap attachment mechanism supported on the mounting bracket comprises a ratchet adapted to releasably engage with the engagement points on the flexible strap. 
     
     
         7 . The load retention system of  claim 1  wherein the flexible strap has a pre-determined length and is flexible in at least one dimension and not flexible, elastic or elongatable along its pre-determined length. 
     
     
         8 . The load retention system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second connection points for attaching the respective first and second ends of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket comprises a non-releasable attachment of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The load restraining strap system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second connection points for attaching the respective first and second ends of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket comprises a receiver adapted to receive and releasably secure the flexible strap. 
     
     
         10 . The load restraining strap system of  claim 9  wherein the receiver is rotatably attached to the mounting bracket for relative rotation of the receiver relative to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         11 . The load restraining strap system of  claim 10  wherein the receiver includes a ratchet mechanism for engaging the flexible strap. 
     
     
         12 . A method for securing a load on a support rack of a vehicle comprising the steps of:
 securing a mounting bracket to the support rack, the mounting bracket having a mounting attachment defining a connection of the mounting bracket to the support rack and an axis of rotation of the mounting bracket relative to the support rack;   releasably connecting a flexible strap having a first end and a second end to the mounting bracket;   providing a first connection point and a second connection point on the mounting bracket for attaching the respective first and second ends of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket;   making at least one of the first and second connection points a releasable strap attachment mechanism supported on the mounting bracket;   defining a first state in which the respective first and second end of the flexible strap is engaged with the strap attachment mechanism;   defining a second state in which the respective first and second end of the flexible strap is released from engagement with the strap attachment mechanism; and   rotatably attaching the mounting bracket to rotate about the axis of rotation relative to the support rack between a first position wherein the strap is perpendicularly aligned with the support rack and a second position wherein the strap is aligned in parallel with the support rack.   
     
     
         13 . The method for securing a load on the support rack of a vehicle as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising the steps of forming the first and second connection points offset from the axis of rotation of the mounting bracket and in the first position where the strap is perpendicularly aligned with the support rack and the flexible strap can substantially encompass the support rack in the first state, and in the second position where the strap is aligned in parallel with the support rack the first and second ends of the flexible strap can be arranged in the first state without encompassing the support rack. 
     
     
         14 . The method for securing a load on the support rack of a vehicle as set forth in  claim 13  further comprising the step of defining a linear axis between the first and second connection points and further defining the offset by a distance between the axis of rotation of the mounting bracket and the linear axis. 
     
     
         15 . The method for securing a load on the support rack of a vehicle as set forth in  claim 14  further comprising the step of ensuring the distance between the axis of rotation of the mounting bracket and the linear axis provides in the second position spacing the first and second connection points on the mounting bracket from a centerline of the support rack so that the support rack does not substantially interfere with operation of the flexible strap. 
     
     
         16 . The method for securing a load on the support rack of a vehicle as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising the step of forming the flexible strap having a pre-determined length and is flexible in at least one dimension and not flexible, elastic or elongatable along its pre-determined length. 
     
     
         17 . The method for securing a load on the support rack of a vehicle as set forth in  claim 16  further comprising the step of attaching at least one of the first and second ends of the flexible strap to the respective first and second connection points via a non-releasable attachment of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         18 . The method for securing a load on the support rack of a vehicle as set forth in  claim 16  further comprising the step of forming at least one of the first and second connection points as a receiver for releasably receiving the respective first and second ends of the flexible strap to the mounting bracket.