Resilient Strap Member

Abstract

A restraint assembly includes at least one strap and a resilient member having two ends. One of the ends is coupled to the strap such that the resilient member is in line with the strap and provides a resilient link within the restraint assembly. A limiter has at least two ends, each of the ends of the limiter being coupled to the restraint assembly. The limiter is longer than the resilient member when the resilient member is in an un-stretched position, such that the limiter prevents the resilient member from exceeding a maximum predetermined length when the restraint assembly is stretched into a taut condition.

1 . A restraint assembly comprising:
 at least one strap;   a resilient member having two ends, one of which is coupled to the strap such that the resilient member is in line with the strap and provides a resilient link within the restraint assembly; and   a limiter having at least two ends, each of the ends of the limiter being coupled to the restraint assembly, the limiter being longer than the resilient member when the resilient member is in an un-stretched position, such that the limiter prevents the resilient member from exceeding a maximum predetermined length when the restraint assembly is stretched into a taut condition.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fastener device coupled to the restraint assembly, the fastener device being operable to securely engage the restraint assembly and retain the restraint assembly in a taut condition.   
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener device comprises a ratcheting device, the ratcheting device allowing incremental tightening of the restraint assembly to provide leveraged tightening of the restraint assembly between two connection points. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener device comprises a cam lock. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one coupling ring coupling the resilient member in-line with the strap.   
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one coupling ring further comprises:
 at least two connection points, one connection point coupling the ring to the strap and one connection point coupling the ring to the resilient member.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the limiter is positioned in parallel with the resilient member. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the limiter is separate from the resilient member and is positioned aside the resilient member. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient member can elastically stretch at least about twice as far as the strap. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of end fittings coupled on opposing ends of the restraint assembly, the end fittings operable to engage one or more structures to enable loads to be secured relative to the structure. 
     
     
         11 . A restraint assembly comprising:
 a first and second strap;   a resilient member having two ends, one of which is coupled to the first strap and an other of which is coupled to the second strap such that the resilient member is in-line with the first strap and the second strap;   a limiter having at least two ends, one of which is coupled to the first strap and an other of which is coupled to the second strap;   a first and second end fitting, the first end fitting coupled to the first strap on an end opposite the resilient member, the second end fitting coupled to the second strap on an end opposite the resilient member; and   a fastener device coupled to the restraint assembly, the fastener device being operable to securely engage at least one of the straps and hold the at least one of the straps in a taut condition; wherein   the limiter is longer than the resilient member when the resilient member is in an un-stretched position, such that the limiter prevents the resilient member from exceeding a maximum predetermined length when the restraint assembly is stretched into a taut condition.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fastener device comprises a ratcheting device, the ratcheting device allowing incremental tightening of the strap to provide leveraged tightening of the restraint assembly between two connection points. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one coupling ring coupling the resilient member in-line with the restraint assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one coupling ring further comprises:
 at least two connection points, one connection point coupling the ring to the strap and one connection point coupling the ring to the resilient member.   
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the limiter is positioned in parallel with the resilient member. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the limiter is separate from the resilient member and is positioned aside the resilient member. 
     
     
         17 . A method of providing a secure connection between two connection points comprising:
 connecting a restraint assembly between two connection points, the restraint assembly including:
 at least one strap; 
 a resilient member oriented in-line with the strap; and 
 a limiter configured to limit the resilient member to a maximum predetermined length; 
   tensioning the restraint assembly in order to cause the resilient member to stretch to a length beyond its initial un-stretched length but not to an extent greater than that allowed by the limiter.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein tensioning the restraint assembly includes utilizing a ratcheting mechanism provided in-line with the strap assembly to provide the tensioning force to the restraint assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the limiter is positioned in parallel with the resilient member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the limiter is separate from the resilient member and is positioned aside the resilient member.