Using a bicycle tire inner tube to make a tie down strap

Abstract

A tie down strap is used for securing cargo or to attach various objects. A tie down strap is made from a bicycle tire inner tube and clips which can be removeably and adjustably attached to either end of the bicycle tire inner tube which is cut along a radial axis.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A clip for engaging a bicycle inner tube to form a strap out of the inner tube, the clip comprising:
 a body having first and second ends and first and second sides, a first portion of the body being adjacent to a first end of the body and a second portion of the body being adjacent to the second end of the body, a least two slots extending through the first portion of the body, the slots being sized such that the end of a bicycle tire inner tube can be threaded through the slots;   the body having hook portion spaced from the first end portion and with the at least two slots positioned between the first end portion and the hook portion, the hook portion defining a void with an opening leading to the void, such that upon threading the bicycle inner tube through the slots, the hook portion can receive the hook portion of another clip or an object to which the hook portion is to be coupled to thereby couple the clip to the hook portion of such another clip or object.   
     
     
         2 . A clip according to  claim 1  wherein the hook portion is J-shaped. 
     
     
         3 . A clip according to  claim 2  wherein the hook portion overlaps the body. 
     
     
         4 . A clip according to  claim 1  wherein there are two slots, one of which extend to the first side of the body and the other of which extends to the second side of the body. 
     
     
         5 . A clip according to  claim 1  wherein the hook portion has at least one bend which positions a portion of the hook portion over the body. 
     
     
         6 . A clip according to  claim 5  wherein the clip includes a lug receiving slot at the bend and a lug projecting from the second end, such that when two of such clips engage one another, the lug of each clip is inserted into the lug receiving slot of the other clip. 
     
     
         7 . A clip according to  claim 5  wherein the at least one bend comprises a first bend at a location spaced from the slots and positioned further from the first end than the slots, the bend doubling the body back on itself such that the second portion of the body overlies a first portion of the body when the clip is in a first orientation, and the second portion of the body comprising a portion having a curved engaging portion between the bend and the second end. 
     
     
         8 . A clip according to  claim 7  wherein the bend is shaped such that the second portion of the body adjacent to the bend converges toward the first portion of the body adjacent to the bend. 
     
     
         9 . A clip according to  claim 7  wherein the curved engaging portion of first and second clips each comprise an S-shaped portion, the S-shaped portion of the first clip engaging the S-shaped portion of a second clip when first and second clips are positioned to engage one another with the second end of the first clip inserted into the bend of the second clip and the second end of the second clip inserted into the bend of the second clip. 
     
     
         10 . A clip according to  claim 9  wherein the bend is shaped such that the second portion of the body adjacent to the bend and the first portion of the body adjacent to the bend converge toward one another at the bend. 
     
     
         11 . A clip according to  claim 7  wherein the curved engaging portion is S-shaped in cross section in a direction from the bend to the second end of the body. 
     
     
         12 . A clip according to  claim 1  wherein the hook portion and body have upper and lower surfaces that are in the same plane. 
     
     
         13 . A clip according to  claim 12  wherein the slots do not extend to the sides of the body. 
     
     
         14 . A clip according to  claim 13  wherein the hook portion is a J-shaped hook. 
     
     
         15 . A clip according to  claim 14  wherein the J-shaped hook comprises a leg portion and a curved portion, the leg portion extending from the second end portion of the body and the curved portion bending back toward the second end portion of the body from the leg portion. 
     
     
         16 . A clip according to  claim 15  wherein the leg portion is positioned with a side edged aligned with one of the first and second sides of the body. 
     
     
         17 . A clip according to  claim 16  wherein the hook and body have upper and lower surfaces that are in the same plane. 
     
     
         18 . A clip for engaging a bicycle inner tube to form a strap out of the inner tube, the clip comprising:
 a body having first and second ends and first and second sides, a first portion of the body being adjacent to a first end of the body and a second portion of the body being adjacent to the second end of the body, a least two slots extending through the first portion of the body, the slots being sized such that the end of a bicycle tire inner tube can be threaded through the slots;   the body having a J-shaped hook spaced from the first end portion and with the at least two slots positioned between the first end portion and the J-shaped hook;   wherein the slots do not extend to the sides of the body;   wherein the J-shaped hook comprises a leg portion and a curved portion, the leg portion extending from the second end portion of the body and the curved portion bending back toward the second end portion of the body from the leg portion;   wherein the leg portion is positioned with a side edged aligned with one of the first and second sides of the body; and   wherein the hook and body have upper and lower surfaces that are in the same plane, such that upon threading the bicycle inner tube through the slots, the hook is operable to receive the hook portion of another clip or an object to which the hook portion is to be coupled to thereby couple the clip to the hook portion of such another clip or object.