Portable strap carrier

Abstract

A portable strap carrier and method for managing a conventional tie down, such as a strap or belt, between uses. The carrier includes an elongated frame which defines two spaced apart slits for holding in place a short section of the tie down. Alternately, the short section is held in position by a pair of clips attached to the frame. In use, the short section is first secured to the frame; and then the remainder of the tie down is wrapped lengthwise about the frame. Two slots, disposed at opposing ends of the frame, guide placement of contiguous layers of the tie down as it is being wrapped. Once wrapped, the tie down can be bundled securely with the use of a tying strip attached to the frame.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portable strap carrier for carrying a conventional strap, comprising: 
 a generally flat, elongated frame having first and second outer edges, the frame defining first and second transverse slits for slideably receiving portions of the strap, the first and second transverse slits extending inwardly from the first and second outer edges, respectively, and being spaced apart longitudinally; the frame further defining first and second open-ended slots, each slot being disposed on one of the distal ends of the frame; and    means attached to the frame for tying around the strap when the strap is wrapped around the frame lengthwise.    
     
     
         2 . The strap carrier according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 means connected to the frame for interlocking the strap carrier with a second strap carrier.    
     
     
         3 . The strap carrier according to  claim 1 , which further comprises: 
 a pair of spaced apart nubs which are attached to the second outer edge, the frame defining a pair of spaced apart nub slots which extend inwardly from the first outer edge, the nub slots and nubs being so configured that the nubs on the strap carrier are interlockable with the nub slots on a second strap carrier.    
     
     
         4 . The strap carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the tying means comprises a strip of Velcro® material.  
     
     
         5 . The strap carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the tying means comprises a strip of material; and wherein the frame further defines a pair of notches for receiving portions of said strip, the notches extending inwardly from mid-sections of the first and second outer edges, respectively.  
     
     
         6 . A carrier for carrying a conventional tie down, comprising: 
 a thin, elongated frame which is generally rectangular in shape and has first and second outer edges, the frame defining first and second slots, each slot being disposed on one of the distal ends of the frame, the slots facilitating wrapping the tie down around the frame lengthwise;    at least one clip attached to the frame for receiving a portion of the tie down between the clip and the frame; and    means attached to the frame for tying around the tie down when the tie down is wrapped around the frame.    
     
     
         7 . The carrier according to  claim 6 , further comprising means connected to the frame for interlocking the carrier with a second carrier.  
     
     
         8 . The carrier according to  claim 6 , which further comprises: 
 a pair of spaced apart nubs attached to the second outer edge, the frame defining a pair of spaced apart nub slots which extend inwardly from the first outer edge, the nub slots and nubs being so configured that the nubs on a first carrier are interlockable with the nub slots on a second carrier.    
     
     
         9 . The carrier according to  claim 6 , wherein the clip is formed integrally with the frame.  
     
     
         10 . The carrier according to  claim 6 , wherein the frame further defines a pair of notches for receiving portions of the tying means, the notches extending inwardly from midsections of the first and second outer edges, respectively.  
     
     
         11 . A portable carrier for carrying a tie down, comprising: 
 an elongated frame which is generally rectangular in shape, the frame defining first and second slots, each slot being disposed on one of the distal ends of the frame;    a tie down engaging means attached to the frame for holding in place a portion of the tie down; and    a tying means attached to the frame for bundling the tie down when said tie down is wrapped lengthwise around the frame.    
     
     
         13 . The portable carrier according to claim  12 , wherein the tie down engaging means comprises the frame having two transverse slits formed therein.  
     
     
         14 . The portable carrier according to claim  12 , wherein the tie down engaging means comprises at least one clip attached to the frame.  
     
     
         15 . The portable carrier according to claim  12 , further comprising means connected to the frame for interlocking the carrier with a second carrier.  
     
     
         16 . The portable carrier according to claim  12 , wherein the frame further defines first and second outer edges and a pair of notches for receiving portions of the tying means, the notches extending inwardly from mid-sections of the first and second outer edges, respectively.  
     
     
         17 . The portable carrier according to claim  12 , wherein the frame further defines first and second outer edges, at least one nub attached to the second outer edge, the frame defining at least one nub slot which extends inwardly from the first outer edge, the nub slot and nub being so configured that the nub on a first carrier is interlockable with the nub slot on a second carrier.  
     
     
         18 . A method for carrying a conventional tie down, comprising: 
 engaging a portion of the tie down within at least one slit defined by a frame of a tie down carrier, thereby holding in place a short section of the tie down;    wrapping the tie down around the frame lengthwise, wherein portions of the tie down rest within two slots defined by the frame and disposed at distal ends thereof, respectively; and    tying the tie down with a strip of material once the tie down has been wrapped lengthwise around the frame, said strip being disposed generally perpendicularly to the wrapped tie down during use.    
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the tie down carrier interlocks with a second tie down carrier, thereby allowing management of a plurality of tie downs.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the carrier further comprises at least one nub attached to the frame and extending outwardly from a first outer edge thereof; said frame further defining at least one nub slot extending inwardly from a second edge of the frame; said nub and nub slot being configured so as to enable interlocking of the carrier with a second tie down carrier.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the frame further defines two notches, each notch extending inwardly from first and second edges of the frame, said edges being generally parallel to each other, the two notches receiving the strip when it is being used to bundle the tie down.