FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to passenger assist straps and more particularly to a passenger assist strap with a strap having a tuck loop and pin and corresponding clamp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Passenger assist straps comprised of thermoplastic, webbing, fabric, leather, or a combination of these materials, are installed within many public transit vehicles, for example, buses, subways/metros and passenger trains. The passenger assist straps are traditionally installed on the horizontal overhead stanchions that run parallel to the aisle ways. Passengers can grasp the passenger assist straps to steady themselves while standing within the public transit vehicle.

The strap of a passenger assist strap may be folded in such a way as to create a top loop which can encircle a horizontal overhead handrail, and a larger bottom loop which passengers can grasp. The passenger assist strap can be held together with a machine screw or a clamp located at a portion of the assist strap between the top and bottom loops. There are three layers of strap material where the ends of the strap are secured together to form the top and bottom loops; the first end of the strap forms an outside layer on either side of the top loop, and the second end of the strap is the middle layer in between the outer layers.

The three layers of the strap of the passenger assist strap may be held together by attachment means consisting of a machine screw passing through the three layers of strap material, and in addition may include two washers, a T-nut, and an acorn nut. As the machine screw is tightened into the T-nut, the three layers of strap material are squeezed together.

One disadvantage of relying on a machine screw is that it can become loose, either through vibrations or tampering, and fall off a stanchion. U.S. Pat. No. 10,414,315 provides an interlocking strap clamp to reduce the disadvantages of a machine screw type attachment means.

While an interlocking clamp decreases the likelihood of a strap falling off a stanchion from vibrations or tampering, such clamps (and machine screws) still require straps made of a material through which a hole may be punched in order to secure the clamp (or machine screw). On the other hand, it is desirable to have a strap made of very strong material to avoid breakage or deformation, but such material is difficult to punch a hole through.

What is needed is a secure passenger assist strap, and a clamp that is capable of securing onto the strap without punching a hole through the strap.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a passenger assist strap comprising a tuck loop, a pin having a first end portion and a second end portion, and a strap having a first end and a second end, wherein the tuck loop is attached to the strap at the first end and the pin is attached to the strap at the second end such that the end portions of the pin extend beyond a width of the strap.

The strap of the passenger assist strap may be folded to bring the second end of the strap adjacent a middle portion between the first end and the second end of the strap to form a bottom loop. Thereafter the bottom loop may be threaded through the tuck loop until the tuck loop abuts against the end portions of the pin.

The strap of the passenger assist strap may be folded to bring the second end of the strap adjacent a middle portion between the first end and the second end of the strap to form a bottom loop and the strap sewn to the middle portion of the strap to maintain the second end of the strap adjacent to the upper middle portion of the strap and then the bottom loop may be threaded through the tuck loop until the tuck loop abuts against the end portions of the pin.

The strap of the passenger assist strap may be comprised of a length of strap folded over to create a double thickness of strap, and the tuck loop is attached to the strap by the length of strap folding over the tuck loop, and the pin is attached to the strap by the length of the strap folding over the pin, and the double thickness of strap is secured together. The strap is thereafter folded to bring the second end of the strap adjacent a middle portion between the first end and the second end of the strap and sewn together to form a bottom loop. The bottom loop is thereafter threaded through the tuck loop until the tuck loop abuts against the end portions of the pin.

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a clamp for a passenger assist strap comprising an interlocking male clamp and a female clamp with attachment means to attach the male clamp to the female clamp, wherein the female clamp has female clamp sides each with a V-shaped groove comprising an upper groove and a lower groove.

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a passenger assist strap and clamp comprising a passenger assist strap and a clamp, wherein the passenger assist strap comprises a tuck loop, a pin having a first end portion and a second end portion, and a strap having a first end and a second end, the tuck loop is attached to the strap at the first end and the pin is attached to the strap at the second end such that the end portions of the pin extend beyond a width of the strap, the strap is folded to bring the second end of the strap adjacent a middle portion between the first end and the second end of the strap to form a bottom loop, and the bottom loop is threaded through the tuck loop until the tuck loop abuts against the end portions of the pin, and wherein the clamp comprises an interlocking male clamp and a female clamp, and wherein the male clamp attaches to the female clamp by attachment means to securely attach the clamp to the passenger assist strap such that the female clamp covers the strap where the tuck loop abuts against the end portions of the pin.

The female clamp may additionally have female clamp sides each with a V-shaped groove comprising an upper pin groove along which the end portions of the pin slide into and a lower tuck loop groove along which the tuck loop slides into.

The attachment means of the passenger assist strap and clamp may comprise holes in male clamp, ports in the female clamp sides and screws which pass through the holes and screw into the ports and which screws do not pass through the strap.

The male clamp of the passenger assist strap and clamp may additionally comprise male clamp sides which cover the female clamp sides.

The strap of the passenger assist strap and clamp may be comprised of more than one layer of strap.

The passenger assist strap of the passenger assist strap and clamp may be comprised of a length of strap folded over to create a double thickness of strap, and the tuck loop is attached to the strap by the length of strap folding over the tuck loop, and the pin is attached to the strap by the length of the strap folding over the pin, and the double thickness of strap is secured together.

