Bungee Cord and Ratchet/Cambuckle Tie down with a Freely Rotatable Hook from 0° to 360

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fastening apparatus with a hook that is freely rotatable from 0° to 360°, the apparatus comprises a cord body, a connecting assembly, and a hook, wherein the body is connected with the connecting assembly, and the hook is movably connected with the connecting assembly such that the hook may be freely rotated from 0° to 360°. The fastening apparatus may include a hook on each end of the cord body. In other embodiments, the fastening apparatus is provided as a tie-down where the cord body is a webbing and the apparatus incorporates an adjustable securing mechanism such as a ratchet or cam buckle. The rotatable hook feature increases the utility of the fastening apparatus because the apparatus is able to adapt or conform to varying requirements. Additionally, the operation of the fastening apparatus is easy and convenient. The fastening apparatus may be made more aesthetic by adding some decoration on the connecting assembly. The fastening apparatus may be made more durable by forming the connecting assembly utilizing an injection molding technique.

1 . A fastening apparatus comprising a cord body, one or more connecting assemblies and one or more rotatable hooks; each connecting assembly having an outer end and an inner end with the inner end fixedly connected to an end of the cord body; and each hook having a terminal end movably connected to the outer end of one of the connecting assemblies, such that the hook is freely rotatable from 0° to 360°. 
   
   
       2 . The fastening apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each connecting assembly comprises a top assembly member, a bottom assembly member and a metallic connecting member, wherein the metallic connecting member is connected between the top assembly member and the bottom assembly member, and the terminal end of one of the hooks is constrained in a U-shaped groove of the metallic connecting member. 
   
   
       3 . The fastening apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the cord body comprises a flat rubber core; a nylon belt sewn onto two surfaces of an end of the cord body to encase the end and form a loop; and a steel pin laterally inserted into the loop and installed into a hooked channel of the metallic connecting member. 
   
   
       4 . The fastening apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cord body comprises a cylindrical rubber cord, and each connecting assembly comprises a top structural member and a bottom structural member, wherein a terminal end of a hook is encased between the top structural member and the bottom structural member, and the cylindrical rubber cord is secured inside the connecting assembly with a steel pin traversed laterally through the cylindrical rubber cord. 
   
   
       5 . The fastening apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the flat rubber core is polypropylene wrapped and the cord body further comprises a plastic sleeve member covering the nylon belt. 
   
   
       6 . The fastening apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each connecting assembly is encased by a plastic shell formed by injection molding. 
   
   
       7 . The fastening apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each connecting assembly is encased by a plastic shell formed by injection molding. 
   
   
       8 . The fastening apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein each connecting assembly is encased by a plastic shell formed by injection molding. 
   
   
       9 . The fastening apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein each connecting assembly is encased by a plastic shell formed by injection molding. 
   
   
       10 . The fastening apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each hook is formed of steel and covered with a plastic by injection molding. 
   
   
       11 . The fastening apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein each hook is formed of steel and covered with a plastic by injection molding. 
   
   
       12 . The fastening apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein each hook is formed of steel and covered with a plastic by injection molding. 
   
   
       13 . The fastening apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein each hook is formed of steel and covered with a plastic by injection molding. 
   
   
       14 . The fastening apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein each hook is formed of steel and covered with a plastic by injection molding. 
   
   
       15 . A tie-down apparatus comprising a webbing having a first end and a second end, one or more connecting assemblies, one or more hooks, and an adjustable securing mechanism, such that at least one of the connecting assemblies is fixedly connected with an end of the webbing and at least one of the hooks is movably connected with the at least one connecting assembly such that the hook may be freely rotated from 0° to 360°. 
   
   
       16 . The tie-down apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the rotation of each hook encompasses every degree of rotation from a stationary position 
   
   
       17 . The tie-down apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein each connecting assembly comprises of a top connecting assembly member, a bottom connecting assembly member and a main connecting assembly member, wherein the main connecting assembly member is positioned between the top assembly member and the bottom assembly member, wherein a terminal ball end of the hook rests in a U-shaped groove of the main connecting assembly member. 
   
   
       18 . The tie-down apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the main connecting assembly member comprises an aperture through which an end of the webbing is looped around and sewn to itself forming a loop at the end of the webbing which is connected to the aperture of the main connecting assembly body. 
   
   
       19 . The tie-down apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the securing mechanism is a ratchet. 
   
   
       20 . The tie-down apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the securing mechanism is a cam buckle. 
   
   
       21 . The tie-down apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein each hook is formed from a metal and covered with plastic by injection molding. 
   
   
       22 . The tie-down apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the connecting assemblies is encased by a plastic member formed by injection molding.