Fastening strap system

Abstract

A fastening strap system, particularly of the hook-and-loop variety (with hooks on one side of the strap and loops on the other side), for selectively and independently binding and/or releasing a plurality of sets of essentially longitudinal objects, such as wires, from one another. Each system includes at least two attached straps which each independently of the other may be used to loopably bind objects. A preferred aperture between the straps permits cinching of each strap. A continuous strip of such two-sided material may be stored on a reel and is designed so that a user may select a preferred length and configuration for a particular use by making a single cut of the material strip from the reel-strip end.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 ) A fastening strap system for selectively removably binding together a plurality of objects, comprising: 
 a) a plurality of attached fastening strap elements, each said fastening strap element comprising 
 i) at least one first side,  
 ii) at least one second side, and  
 iii) at least one strap end portion;  
   b) wherein at least one first and at least one second respective said fastening strap elements each respectively comprise 
 i) at least one first surface portion of said at least first side of said at least one strap end portion, and  
 ii) at least one second surface portion of at least one said second side;  
   c) wherein said at least one first surface portion of said at least one first respective fastening strap element and said at least one second surface portion of said at least one first respective fastening strap element are structured and arranged to promote binding between said at least one first surface portion of said at least one first respective fastening strap element and said at least one second surface portion of said at least one first respective fastening strap element when said at least one first surface portion of said at least one first respective fastening strap element comes in contact with said at least one second surface portion of said at least one first respective fastening strap element;    d) wherein said at least one first surface portion of said at least one second respective fastening strap element and said at least one second surface portion of said at least one second respective fastening strap element are structured and arranged to promote binding between said at least one first surface portion of said at least one second respective fastening strap element and said at least one second surface portion of said at least one second respective fastening strap element when said at least one first surface portion of said at least one second respective fastening strap element comes in contact with said at least one second surface portion of said at least one second respective fastening strap element;    e) wherein each said respective at least one fastening strap element is structured and arranged to removably loopably bind at least one such object; and    f) wherein said fastening strap system is structured and arranged to permit at least each said respective at least one fastening strap element, when loopably binding such at least one object, to close with said at least one strap end portion of said each respective at least one fastening strap element in an exterior position relative to said respective at least one fastening strap element.    
     
     
         2 ) The fastening strap system according to  claim 1  wherein said fastening strap system is structured and arranged to permit each said respective at least one fastening strap element to removably loopably bind such at least one object as an operation independent from a similar operation of each other said respective at least one fastening strap element.  
     
     
         3 ) The fastening strap system according to  claim 1  wherein said plurality of attached fastening strap elements comprises at least three fastening strap elements.  
     
     
         4 ) The fastening strap system according to  claim 1  wherein said plurality of attached fastening strap elements comprises at least four fastening strap elements.  
     
     
         5 ) The fastening strap system according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one cincher structured and arranged to permit cinching of at least one of said plurality of attached fastening strap elements.  
     
     
         6 ) The fastening strap system according to  claim 5  wherein: 
 a) said at least one cincher comprises at least one aperture; and  
 b) at least one of said plurality of attached fastening strap elements is passable at least once through said aperture.  
 
     
     
         7 ) The fastening strap system according to  claim 6  wherein a circumference of said at least one aperture comprises at least one straight transverse edge.  
     
     
         8 ) The fastening strap system according to  claim 6  wherein said plurality of attached fastening strap elements and said at least one aperture comprise one integral piece of fastener material.  
     
     
         9 ) The fastening strap system according to  claim 6  wherein said aperture comprises at least one buckle mechanically attached to at least two said fastening strap elements.  
     
     
         10 ) The fastening strap system according to  claim 6  wherein at least one of said plurality of attached fastening strap elements is at most  90 % the width of at least one other of said plurality of attached fastening strap elements.  
     
     
         11 ) The fastening strap system according to  claim 6  wherein at least one of said plurality of fastening strap elements is at most half the length of at least one other of said plurality of fastening straps.  
     
     
         12 ) The fastening strap system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of attached fastening strap elements comprises one integral piece of fastener material.  
     
     
         13 ) The fastening strap system of  claim 1  wherein at least one said fastener strap element comprises a label.  
     
     
         14 ) The fastening strap system of  claim 13  wherein said label is comprises a hook-and-loop material upon which indicia can be written.  
     
     
         15 ) The fastening strap system according to  claim 14  wherein said fastener strap is primarily white.  
     
     
         16 ) The fastening strap system according to  claim 14  wherein said fastener strap is primarily off-white.  
     
     
         17 ) A continuous-strap system for allowing a user to create a plurality of custom-sized fastening strap systems for selectively removably binding a plurality of objects, comprising a continuous length of material structured and arranged to permit the user to cut off a user-selected portion of said continuous length of material, wherein said continuous length of material is structured and arranged so that the user may cut off a plurality of adjacent cut-off portions each comprising a such custom-sized fastening strap system comprising: 
 a) a plurality of attached fastening strap elements, each said fastening strap element comprising 
 i) at least one first side,  
 ii) at least one second side, and  
 iii) at least one strap end portion;  
   b) wherein at least one first and at least one second respective said fastening strap elements each respectively comprise 
 i) at least one first surface portion of said at least first side of said at least one strap end portion, and  
 ii) at least one second surface portion of at least one said second side;  
   c) wherein said at least one first surface portion of said at least one first respective fastening strap element and said at least one second surface portion of said at least one first respective fastening strap element are structured and arranged to promote binding between said at least one first surface portion of said at least one first respective fastening strap element and said at least one second surface portion of said at least one first respective fastening strap element when said at least one first surface portion of said at least one first respective fastening strap element comes in contact with said at least one second surface portion of said at least one first respective fastening strap element;    d) wherein said at least one first surface portion of said at least one second respective fastening strap element and said at least one second surface portion of said at least one second respective fastening strap element are structured and arranged to promote binding between said at least one first surface portion of said at least one second respective fastening strap element and said at least one second surface portion of said at least one second respective fastening strap element when said at least one first surface portion of said at least one second respective fastening strap element comes in contact with said at least one second surface portion of said at least one second respective fastening strap element;    e) wherein each said respective at least one fastening strap element is structured and arranged to removably loopably bind at least one such object; and 
 i) wherein said fastening strap system is structured and arranged to permit at least each said respective at least one fastening strap element, when loopably binding such at least one object, to close with said at least one strap end portion of said each respective at least one fastening strap element in an exterior position relative to said respective at least one fastening strap element.  
   
     
     
         18 ) The continuous-strap system according to  claim 17  wherein said continuous length of material comprises a plurality of apertures.  
     
     
         19 ) The continuous-strap system of  claim 18  wherein said continuous length of material alternates between wider and thinner widths at regular intervals.  
     
     
         20 ) The continuous-strap system of  claim 19  wherein each alternating said wider width has a substantially longer length than each alternating said thinner width.  
     
     
         21 ) The continuous-strap system of  claim 20  wherein said continuous length of material comprises an aperture adjacent at least one end portion of each said alternating wider width.