Webbing end cap assembly

Abstract

An end cap assembly for a strap is provided. The end cap assembly includes an end closure and slider. The end closure has a base, a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the base, and a locking element connected to at least one of the pair of spaced apart arms. The base and pair of spaced apart arms define a holder for receiving the strap. The slider has a body defining a cavity from a first to a second end of the body, the cavity sized to receive the strap. The slider is moveable between an unlocked and a locked position. In the unlocked position, the slider body is slideable along a length of the strap. In the locked position, a first end of the slider is adjacent to the base of the end closure and the locking element of the end closure is engaged with the slider.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An end cap assembly for a strap comprising:
 an end closure having:
 a base, 
 a pair of spaced apart arms extending away from the base, each of the pair of spaced apart arms having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end joined to the base and a second free end, the pair of spaced apart arms and the base defining a holder for receiving a distal end of the strap, wherein the inner surface of each of the pair of spaced apart arms is positioned along a portion of a surface of the strap when the distal end of the strap is positioned in the holder, and 
 a locking element connected to at least one of the pair of spaced apart arms, the locking element being positioned adjacent to the second free end or adjacent to the base, and extending outwardly from the outer surface of the arm; and 
   a slider having a body, a first end and a second end, the body defining a cavity extending from the first end to the second end and being sized so that the strap is insertable through the cavity, the slider moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position, wherein the slider body is slideable along a length of the strap when the strap is inserted through the cavity in the unlocked position, and is slideable over the pair of spaced apart arms such that the first end of the slider body is adjacent to the base of the end closure when the slider is in the locked position, the slider being configured to engage the locking element of the end closure when the first end of the slider body is adjacent to the base.   
     
     
         2 . The end cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of spaced apart arms are substantially parallel one to another. 
     
     
         3 . The end cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element is connected to one arm of the pair of spaced apart arms. 
     
     
         4 . The end cap assembly of  claim 1 , the end closure further comprising one or more gripping elements formed on the inner surface of at least one of the pair of spaced apart arms, the one or more gripping elements configured to grip to the strap when the distal end of the strap is positioned in the holder of the end closure. 
     
     
         5 . The end cap assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more gripping elements are projections or lumps formed on the inner surface of the at least one of the pair of spaced apart arms. 
     
     
         6 . The end cap assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more gripping elements are formed on the inner surface of each of the pair of spaced apart arms. 
     
     
         7 . The end cap assembly of  claim 1 , the end closure further comprising a pair of flanges extending from each side of one or both of the pair of spaced apart arms, the pair of flanges adapted to grip a portion of longitudinal sides of the strap. 
     
     
         8 . The end cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element comprises a ridge or a hook extending away from the outer surface of the at least one of the pair of spaced apart arms. 
     
     
         9 . The end cap assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the slider body comprises at least one notch, wherein the ridge or the hook engages with the at least one notch when the slider slides over an entire length of each of the pair of spaced apart arms. 
     
     
         10 . The end cap assembly of  claim 9 , the end closure further comprising a release button operably connected to the ridge or the hook, wherein depression of the release button unlocks and releases the ridge or the hook from the at least one notch to slide the slider from the locked position to the unlocked position. 
     
     
         11 . The end cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the end closure and the body of the slider are made of a rigid material. 
     
     
         12 . The end cap assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the body of the end closure and the body of the slider are made of a plastic material. 
     
     
         13 . The end cap assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the body of the end closure and the body of the slider are made of a transparent material. 
     
     
         14 . The end cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element is a reversible locking element. 
     
     
         15 . The end cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element is adjacent to the base. 
     
     
         16 . The end cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element is adjacent to the second free end. 
     
     
         17 . The end cap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking element comprises at least one locking element protrusion, and the slider comprises a notch, the notch comprising at least one slider protrusion with a depression adjacent thereto, wherein moving the slider to the locked position causes the at least one slider protrusion to engage and slide past the at least one locking element protrusion, and the at least one locking element protrusion to engage and be held within the depression. 
     
     
         18 . The end cap assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the slider comprises two slider protrusions, one slider protrusion located at each side of the notch with one depression adjacent to each, and the locking element comprises two locking element protrusions, one locking element protrusion located at each side of the locking element.