Pack strap

Abstract

A pack strap is used to secure an article to pack clothing using strap webbing of the pack clothing. In one implementation, the pack strap includes a channel that receives the strap webbing and opposite connectable ends. In one implementation, the pack strap includes a series of apertures and a series of heads facilitating ratcheting down of a size of a loop for securing the article.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an elongate elastomeric strap comprising:   a series of spaced apertures;   a first head sized to snap through a selected one of the apertures with a first adjacent smaller neck portion received within the selected one of the apertures to form a first article retaining loop; and   a channel between the series of spaced apertures and the first head, the channel being sized to receive a webbing strap of pack clothing.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second head, the second head sized to snap through the selected one of the apertures with a second adjacent neck portion received within the selected one of the apertures to ratchet the strap to form a second article retaining loop smaller than the first article retaining loop. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a pull tab on each end of the strap. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the series of spaced apertures comprise a series of spaced slots. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strap has a flat back face opposite the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is integrally formed as a single unitary body. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the strap is formed from rubber. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a backpack having a webbing strap received within the channel, wherein the first neck portion is received within a selected one of the apertures to form the first article retaining loop. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 an elongate elastomeric strap comprising:   a series of spaced apertures;   a first head sized to snap through a selected one of the apertures with a first adjacent smaller neck portion received within the selected one of the apertures to form a first article retaining loop; and   a second head sized to snap through the selected one of the apertures with a second adjacent smaller neck portion received within the selected one of the apertures to form a second article retaining loop smaller than the first article retaining loop.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a pull tab on each end of the strap. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the series of spaced apertures comprise a series of spaced slots. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the strap has a flat back face opposite the channel. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the strap is integrally formed as a single unitary body. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the strap is formed from rubber. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a backpack having a webbing strap received within the channel, wherein the first neck portion is received within a selected one of the apertures to form the first article retaining loop. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 inserting a pack strap through a webbing strap of a pack clothing;   retaining the webbing strap of the pack clothing within a channel of the pack strap;   positioning an article against the pack strap;   connecting end portions on opposite sides of the channel to form a loop about the article to retain the article against the pack clothing.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the step of connecting the end portions comprises passing an enlarged head of the strap through one of a series of apertures in the strap to capture a neck portion adjacent the enlarged head within said one of the series of apertures. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising passing a second enlarged head of the strap through said one of the series of apertures in the strap to capture a second neck portion adjacent in second enlarged head within said one of the series of apertures to form a smaller loop about the article to retain article against the pack clothing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 inserting a second pack strap through a second webbing strap of the pack clothing; 
 retaining the second webbing strap of the pack clothing within a second channel of the second pack strap; 
 positioning the article against the second pack strap; 
 connecting end portions of the second pack strap on opposite sides of the second channel to form a second loop about the article to retain the article against the pack clothing. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the strap is integrally formed as a single unitary body.