Flexible Cushion Wrap

Abstract

A flexible cushion wrap configured to at least partially surround an elongate member. The flexible cushion wrap can include a flexible panel having a first tapered end, a second end spaced from the first tapered end along a longitudinal direction, an upper surface, and an opposed lower surface. The flexible cushion wrap can include at least one upper connector carried by the upper surface between the first tapered end and the second end of the flexible panel, and at least one lower connector carried by the lower surface and adjacent to the first tapered end. When the flexible cushion wrap is positioned around the elongate member, the flexible panel is configured such that the at least one lower connector can attach to the at least one upper connector.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A flexible cushion wrap configured to at least partially surround a handle of a load transport device, the flexible wrap comprising:
 a flexible panel having a first tapered end, a second end spaced from the first tapered end along a longitudinal direction, an upper surface, and an opposed lower surface;   at least one upper connector carried by the upper surface between the first tapered end and the second end of the flexible panel; and   at least one lower connector carried by the lower surface and adjacent to the first tapered end;   wherein when flexible cushion wrap is positioned around the handle the flexible panel is configured such that the at least one lower connector can attach to the at least one upper connector.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible wrap of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible panel has a first side, and a second side spaced from the first side along a lateral direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and at least a portion of the first and second sides extend along respective first and second directions that are angularly offset with respect to the longitudinal direction toward the first tapered end so as to define a tapered panel portion. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible wrap of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one lower connector is a first lower connector that is carried by the tapered panel portion, and the flexible panel includes and a second lower connector, the second lower connector being spaced from the first lower connector and the second end of the panel along the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible wrap of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one upper connector is a first upper connector, and the flexible panel includes and a second upper connector, the second upper connector being spaced from the first upper connector and adjacent to the second end of the flexible panel. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible wrap of  claim 4 , wherein when the flexible wrap is positioned on the handle, the first upper connector is removably secured to the first lower connector and the second upper connector is removably secured to the second lower connector. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible wrap of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible panel is formed of one or more layers of a cushioning substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible wrap of  claim 6 , wherein the cushioning substrate is a textile fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible wrap of  claim 7 , wherein the textile fabric is formed at least partially of neoprene fibers. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible wrap of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lower connector and the at least one upper connector each include either a hook fastener panel or a loop fastener panel. 
     
     
         10 . A flexible wrap configured to at least partially surround an elongate member, the flexible wrap comprising:
 a flexible panel having a first tapered end, a second end spaced from the first tapered end along the longitudinal direction, an upper surface, and an opposed lower surface;   a first upper connector carried by the upper surface of the flexible panel;   a second upper connector carried by the upper surface of the flexible panel, the second upper connector being spaced from the first upper connector and adjacent to the second end of the flexible panel;   a first lower connector carried by the lower surface of the flexible panel;   a second lower connector spaced from the first lower connector and the second end of the panel along the longitudinal direction,   wherein when flexible wrap is positioned around the elongate member, the flexible panel is configured such that the at least one of the first and second lower connectors can attach to at least one of the first and second upper connectors.   
     
     
         11 . The flexible wrap of  claim 10 , wherein when the flexible wrap is positioned around the elongate member, the first upper connector is removably attached to the first lower connector and the second upper connector is removably attached to the second lower connector. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible wrap of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible panel has a first side, and a second side spaced from the first side along a lateral direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and at least a portion of the first and second sides extend along respective first and second directions that are angularly offset with respect to the longitudinal direction toward the first tapered end. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible wrap of  claim 12 , wherein the at least a portion of the first and second sides converge toward a longitudinal central axis that is aligned with the longitudinal direction, and extends through the first tapered end, the longitudinal central axis being equidistant from the first and second sides. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible wrap of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible wrap is configured the first lower connector can be removably attached to the first upper connector when the first tapered end is oriented along a direction that is offset with respect to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible wrap of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one of the first and second lower connectors include either a hook fastener panel or a loop fastener panel. 
     
     
         16 . The flexible wrap of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the first and upper lower connectors include either a hook fastener panel or a loop fastener panel. 
     
     
         17 . A method for manufacturing a flexible wrap, the method comprising the steps of
 forming a flexible panel to have a first tapered end and second end that is spaced from the first tapered end along a longitudinal direction, the flexible panel having a upper surface and an opposed lower surface;   attaching a first connector to an upper surface at a location space apart from the first tapered end and the second end of the flexible panel;   attaching a second connector to a lower surface of the flexible panel and adjacent to the first end such that the second fastener is carried by the tapered portion;   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of attaching a third connector to the upper surface of the flexible panel adjacent the second end of the panel; and attaching a fourth connector to the lower surface of the flexible panel at a location that is spaced from the second connector and the second end of the flexible panel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of shaping the flexible panel such that the first tapered end define a tapered portion, and the second connector is carried by the tapered portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the step of shaping the flexible panel comprises the step of cutting one or more layers of a textile fabric so as to form a flexible panel with the tapered portion. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the steps of attaching the first and second connector comprise at least one of the following steps:
 stitching the connector to the flexible panel;   bonding the connector to the flexible panel; and   sealing the connector to the flexible panel.