Strap with Breakaway Link

Abstract

A link for use in a breakaway portion of a strap includes a body portion and first and second opposing engagement portions. Each engagement portion has at least one hook.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A link for use in a breakaway portion of a strap, comprising:
 a body portion; and   first and second opposing engagement portions, each engagement portion having at least one hook.   
     
     
         2 . The link of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hook is disposed at an angle θ about a longitudinal axis of the link. 
     
     
         3 . The link of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one hook of the first and second engagement portions are disposed at the same angle θ about the longitudinal axis of the link. 
     
     
         4 . The link of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one hook of the first and second engagement portions are disposed at a different angle θ from one another about the longitudinal axis of the link. 
     
     
         5 . The link of  claim 2 , wherein the angle θ is between about 2 degrees to about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The link of  claim 1 , wherein the first engagement portion includes at least two hooks thereon. 
     
     
         7 . The link of  claim 6 , wherein the second engagement portion includes at least two hooks thereon. 
     
     
         8 . The link of  claim 7 , where the link is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the link. 
     
     
         9 . The link of  claim 7 , wherein a distance between the two hooks of the first engagement portion defines a width W E , which is >a largest width W B  of the body portion. 
     
     
         10 . The link of  claim 7 , wherein a distance between the two hooks of the first engagement portion defines a width W E , which is <a largest width W B  of the body portion. 
     
     
         11 . The link of  claim 7 , wherein a distance between the two hooks of the first engagement portion defines a width W E , a length of the body portion of the link about a longitudinal axis is defined by a length L B , and wherein the ratio of L B  to W E  is between about 2.5:1 and about 75:1. 
     
     
         12 . A link for use in a breakaway portion of a strap, comprising:
 a body portion; and   at least one engagement portion adapted to engage with a connector,   wherein the at least one engagement portion includes a cutout portion therein to impart resiliency to the at least one engagement portion.   
     
     
         13 . The link of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one engagement portion includes at least one hook. 
     
     
         14 . The link of  claim 13 , wherein a second engagement portion is provided on the body portion opposite the first engagement portion that is adapted for engagement with a second connector. 
     
     
         15 . The link of  claim 14 , wherein the second engagement portion includes at least one hook. 
     
     
         16 . The link of  claim 15 , wherein the second engagement portion includes a cutout portion therein to impart resiliency to the second engagement portion. 
     
     
         17 . A breakaway strap assembly, comprising:
 at least one connector; and   a link having at least one engagement portion releasably retained within the connector,   wherein the link is released from the connector upon a maximum tensile force of 4 lbs.   
     
     
         18 . The breakaway strap assembly of  claim 17 , wherein first and second connectors are attached to a strap, each of the first and second connectors include first and second apertures on an end thereof, wherein the link includes first and second opposing engagement portions, each of the engagement portions including at least one hook, and wherein the first engagement portion and at least one hook are releasably received by the first and second apertures of the first connector and the second engagement portion and at least one hook are releasably received by the first and second apertures of the second connector. 
     
     
         19 . The breakaway strap assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first engagement portion includes two opposing hooks and the second engagement portion includes two opposing hooks. 
     
     
         20 . The breakaway strap assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second apertures have a width W A  that is ≦a width W E  between opposing hooks of the first and second engagement portions.