Connector including a body with two windows and a swivel hook

Abstract

A connector including a body with two windows and a swivel hook is provided. The swivel hook is interconnected to the body and is rotatable around a longitudinal axis. The body generally includes a first loop connected to a second loop. The first loop has a first window that is separated from a second window of the second loop by a crossmember. In one embodiment, the crossmember is generally linear. The crossmember may be oriented approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A strap may be connected to the crossmember.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A swivel connector for a strap, comprising:
 a swivel hook having a hook section and a hook body with a latch, the latch being pivotably attached to the hook section via a pin;   an axle extending from the swivel hook and including a flange spaced from the swivel hook;   a body rotatably connected to the swivel hook by the axle, the body comprising:
 a first loop including a first window; 
 a second loop including a second window; and 
 a crossmember separating the first window and the second window, wherein the crossmember forms a first portion of the first loop and a second portion of the second loop, 
   wherein the first window and the second window are operable to receive the strap and maintain an alignment between the strap and a longitudinal axis of the swivel connector.   
     
     
         2 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , wherein the crossmember forms a first portion of the first loop and a second portion of the second loop, wherein the strap at least partially wraps around the crossmember when inserted into the first loop and the second loop. 
     
     
         3 . The swivel connector of  claim 2 , wherein the axle extends through an aperture through an end of the second loop such that the flange is positioned within the second window, wherein the flange has a flange diameter that is greater than an interior diameter of the aperture, wherein the axle is rotatably retained within the aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The swivel connector of  claim 3 , wherein an aperture is positioned in the end of the second loop at a location furthest spaced opposite the crossmember across the second window. 
     
     
         5 . The swivel connector of  claim 3 , wherein the swivel hook is rotatably engaged with the body. 
     
     
         6 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , wherein the crossmember is generally linear and is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the swivel connector. 
     
     
         7 . The swivel connector of  claim 6 , wherein the axle is approximately concentrically aligned with the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first window and the second window are each approximately oval-shaped, wherein the first window includes a first major axis and a first minor axis, wherein the second window includes a second major axis and a second minor, wherein the first minor axis and the second minor axis are approximately parallel. 
     
     
         9 . The swivel connector of  claim 8 , wherein the longitudinal axis, the first minor axis of the first window, and the second minor axis of the second window are approximately concentrically aligned. 
     
     
         10 . The swivel connector of  claim 8 , wherein the first length of the first window and the second length of the second window are approximately equal, wherein the first major axis and the second major axis are approximately parallel. 
     
     
         11 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first window and the second window are each approximately rectangular, wherein the first window includes a first length and a first width, and wherein the second window includes a second length and a second width. 
     
     
         12 . The swivel connector of  claim 11 , wherein the first length of the first window and the second length of the second window are approximately equal. 
     
     
         13 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first window is approximately rectangular, wherein the second window is approximately semi-elliptical. 
     
     
         14 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness or diameter of the first loop is approximately the same as a thickness of diameter of the second loop. 
     
     
         15 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a connection piece substantially centered around the longitudinal axis on an end of the second loop, the connection piece extending above and below a plane defined by the second loop; and   a bore extending through the connection piece, the bore extending along the longitudinal axis approximately perpendicular to the crossmember.   
     
     
         16 . The swivel connector of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a base of the hook body has a recess and a first aperture extending through the base; and   the hook section is fixed to the axle, the hook section having an insert positioned in the recess of the hook body and with a second aperture aligned with the first aperture of the base such that the hook body is pivotable relative to the hook section, the hook section extending away from the axle and having an approximately 180 degree bend, wherein the latch has a first closed position in which an end of the latch is positioned proximate to an end of the hook section, and wherein the latch has a second open position in which the end of the latch is spaced from the end of the hook section.   
     
     
         17 . A strap and connector assembly, comprising:
 a strap; and   at least one swivel connector, comprising:
 a swivel hook having a hook section and a hook body with a latch, the latch being pivotably attached to the hook section; 
 an axle extending from the swivel hook and including a flange spaced from the swivel hook; 
 a body rotatably connected to the swivel hook by the axle, the body comprising:
 a first loop including a first window with a first entrance and a first exit; 
 a second loop including a second window with a second entrance and a second exit; and 
 a crossmember separating the first window and the second window, wherein the crossmember forms a first portion of the first loop and a second portion of the second loop, 
 
 wherein the first window and the second window are operable to receive the strap and maintain an alignment between the strap and a longitudinal axis of the swivel connector. 
   
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the second loop is operable to receive the strap through the second entrance of the second window, wherein the second loop is operable to provide the strap through the second exit of the second window opposite the second entrance, and
 wherein the strap is at least partially wrapped around the crossmember and extends in approximately the same direction before entering the second entrance of the second window and after exiting the second exit of the second window.   
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the strap forms a strap bend around the crossmember, wherein the strap bend defines a first portion of the strap on a first side of the strap bend which extends from the second entrance of the second window and a second portion of the strap on a second side of the strap bend which extends from the second exit of the second window,
 wherein the first loop is operable to receive the first portion of the strap through the first entrance of the first window, wherein the first loop is operable to provide the first portion of the strap through the first exit of the first window opposite the first entrance,   wherein a first surface of the first portion of the strap is proximate to a second surface of the second portion of the strap after the first portion of the strap is provided through the first exit of the first window,   wherein the first portion of the strap and the second portion of the strap extends in the same direction before the first portion of the strap enters the first entrance of the first window and after the first portion of the strap exits the first exit of the first window.   
     
     
         20 . A swivel connector, comprising:
 a body with a first loop and a second loop, the first loop connected to the second loop by a crossmember that is generally linear, the first loop having a first window and the second loop having a second window separated from the first window by the crossmember, wherein an end of the second loop is approximately parallel to the crossmember, wherein the crossmember forms a first portion of the first loop and a second portion of the second loop, and wherein the first loop is substantially coplanar with the second loop; and   a latching device coupled to the second loop,   wherein the first window and the second window are operable to receive a strap and maintain an alignment between the strap and a longitudinal axis defined by the latching device, wherein the strap at least partially wraps around the crossmember when inserted into the first loop and the second loop, wherein both ends of the strap extend in the same direction after the strap at least partially wraps around the crossmember.