Separable cinch fastener - Patent Review 4149540

Claims

I claim:

1. A separable fastening device adapted to encompass at least one member in gripped relation which comprises a cinch strap including a main flexible strap portion having on one surface of a first strap section, a plurality of resilient engaging elements upstanding therefrom and on an opposite surface of a second strap section adjacent to the first strap section, a plurality of mating engaging elements upstanding therefrom such that the engaging elements of each surface of said strap sections face in opposite directions, a retaining strap connected to the main strap portion at a first end portion thereof and adapted to be gripped by hand, the second end of said main strap portion being free, relatively rigid means to connect the retaining strap to the main strap portion said connecting means including an opening configured to receive the free end portion of the main strap portion, a barrier member connected to the first end portion of said main strap portion and dimensioned to extend across at least a portion of said opening, the adjacent opposed mating engaging elements of said strap sections being positioned relative to each other such that when the main strap portion is positioned about the member with the free end portion extending through the opening of said retaining means and the engaging elements of the opposed surfaces placed in face-to-face relation, at least retaining said retaining means in a substantially fixed position while applying cinching forces to the free end portion of said main strap portion, will cause the cinch strap to grip the member while substantially simultaneously pressing the surfaces of mating engaging elements of the opposed surfaces together will provide progressively increasing face-to-face engagement of the strap portions to retain the grip thereby applied by said main strap portion, and said barrier member provides a separative layer between the opening of said retaining means and the gripped member.

2. The separable fastening device according to claim 1 wherein said main flexible strap portion comprises at least one of a woven and knitted base material and said engaging elements comprise resilient hook and loop-type engaging elements.

3. The separable fastening device according to claim 2 wherein said base material comprises at least one of a woven and knitted nylon material.

4. The separable fastening device according to claim 3 wherein said resilient engaging elements are in the form of resilient hook-type hooking elements upstanding from one surface portion of the main strap and the mating engaging elements are in the form of resilient loop-type hooking elements upstanding from the opposite surface portion of said main strap.

5. The separable fastening device according to claim 4 wherein said main strap portion further comprises a first section of separable fastener material which has hook-type hooking elements upstanding from one surface and a second section of separable fastener material secured to an end portion of said first section and having upstanding loop-type hooking elements which mate with the hook-type hooking elements of the first section, said strap sections being connected in reversed relation such that the hook-type elements of the first strap section and the loop-type elements of the second strap section face in opposite directions.

6. The separable fastening device according to claim 5 wherein said connecting means comprises a ring-like member connected to an end portion of said main strap portion and defining an opening configured to receive the opposite end portion of said main strap portion when said main strap portion is positioned in gripped relation with the member.

7. The separable fastening device according to claim 6 wherein said retaining strap is in the form of at least one of hook and loop-type fastening tape having one end connected to said ring-like member and having its free end portion folded upon itself and secured thereto to provide means to grip the retaining strap while applying cinching forces at least to the main strap portion.

8. The separable fastening device according to claim 7 wherein portions of said strap sections are positioned in overlapping relation.

9. The separable fastening device according to claim 8 wherein said strap sections are connected together by an ultrasonic welded portion.

10. The separable fastening device according to claim 5 wherein said connecting means comprises a generally endless member connected to an end portion of said main strap portion and defining an opening for reception of the free end portion of the main strap portion and said barrier member comprises a strap portion shorter than said main strap portion connected to said generally endless member, said short strap portion being of sufficient length to extend across at least a major portion of said opening of said generally endless member to provide a barrier between the generally endless member and the member to be gripped when the cinch strap is positioned in gripped encompassing relation therewith.

11. The separable fastening device according to claim 10 wherein the free end portion of the main strap portion further comprises means to grip said main strap portion and the generally endless member is in the form of a ring-like member.

12. The separable fastening device according to claim 11 wherein said means to grip said main strap portion to apply cinching forces comprises the free end portion of the main strap portion being folded upon itself and secured to itself.

13. The separable fastening device according to claim 12 wherein said retaining strap has a substantially arcuate configuration at its free end portion to facilitate gripping.

14. The separable fastening device according to claim 13 wherein said retaining strap is in the form of at least one of a hook and loop-type fastening tape having one end connected to said ringlike member and having its free end portion folded upon itself and secured thereto to provide means to grip the retaining strap while applying cinching forces at least to the main strap portion.

15. The separable fastening device according to claim 14 wherein said strap sections of said main strap portion are positioned in overlapping relation and connected by ultrasonically welded strap portions.

16. The separable fastening device according to claim 15 wherein at least said main strap portion includes yarns of an elastic material and the warp yarns extend generally along the length of the main strap portion to provide elastic properties to said strap portion in a longitudinal direction such that encompassing the member with said cinch strap and applying and maintaining cinching forces thereto, causes at least the main strap portion to become elongated from its rest condition and provides elastic restraining gripping forces about said member.

17. The separable fastening device according to claim 16 adapted for use as a tourniquet to tightly grip a human limb in encircling relation to stop or control the flow of blood therethrough and said relatively short strap portion has a free end portion having an arcuate cross-sectional configuration and is positioned and configured to extend across the opening of said ring-linke member to provide a barrier between the skin of the limb and the opening defined by the ring-like member, such that when cinching forces are applied at least to the free end portion of said main strap portion, the arcuate end portion of the relatively short strap portion slidably engages skin portions of the limb beneath the ring-like member and clusters excessive portions thereof adjacent the arcuate free end portion to thereby avoid pinching of the skin caused by excess skin portions which would otherwise be forced through the ring opening as gripping forces are applied to the limb.

18. The separable fastening device according to claim 2 wherein at least said main strap portion includes yarns of an elastic material and the warp yarns extend generally along the length of the main strap portion to provide elastic properties to said strap portion in a longitudinal direction such that encompassing the member with said cinch strap and applying and maintaining cinching forces thereto, causes at least the main strap portion to become elongated from its rest condition and provides elastic restraining gripping forces about said member.

19. An adjustable cinch strap assembly adapted to be tightly gripped about at least one member which comprises a main flexible strap portion having a first hook and loop-type fastener tape section, a surface portion of said first tape section having a plurality of flexible resilient engaging elements upstanding therefrom, a second hook and looptype fastener tape section secured in adjacent relation to the first tape section and having a surface portion of a plurality of mating flexible resilient engaging elements upstanding therefrom such that said mating engaging elements of the second tape section face in a direction opposite to the direction of the engaging elements of the first tape section, a retaining strap connected to said main strap portion at one end portion thereof and configured and dimensioned to be tightly gripped by hand, relatively rigid means to connect the retaining strap to the main strap portion, said connecting means defining an opening configured to receive the free end portion of the main strap portion, a barrier member connected to said main strap portion adjacent said connecting means and dimensioned to extend across at least a portion of said opening of said connecting means, said opposed engaging elements being so arranged that positioning said main strap portion about the member with the free end portion extending through the opening defined by said connecting means, and placing the engaging elements of the opposed strap portions in face-to-face relation and at least securely gripping said retaining strap, the application of cinching forces at least to the free end portion of said main strap portion produces encompassing gripping forces which tighten the main strap portion about at least a portion of the member and simultaneously pressing together the mating opposed surfaces of flexible resilient engaging elements causes simultaneously increasing face-to-face engagement thereof to retain the gripping forces about said member thereby applied due to the resistance to separation by said surfaces by forces parallel to the interfacial plane of engagement, and said barrier member provides a separative layer between the opening of said relatively rigid retaining means and the gripped member.

20. An adjustable cinch strap assembly adapted to be tightly gripped about at least one member which comprises a main flexible strap portion including a first tape section having a plurality of flexible resilient hooking elements of the hook and loop-type unstanding from at least one surface portion, a second tape section secured in adjacent relation to the first tape section and having a plurality of mating flexible resilient hooking elements of the hook and loop-type upstanding from an opposed surface portion such that said mating hooking elements of said second tape section face in a direction opposite to the direction of the flexible engaging elements of the first tape section, a relatively rigid retaining ring connected to said main strap portion at one end portion thereof, a retaining strap connected to said retaining ring and dimensioned and configured to be gripped by hand, means to connect the retaining ring to the main strap portion, said retaining ring defining an opening configured to receive the free end portion of the main strap portion, a barrier member connected to said main strap portion adjacent said retaining ring and dimensioned to extend across said opening of said relatively rigid retaining ring, said opposed engaging elements being so arranged that positioning said main strap portion about the member with the free end portion extending through the opening defined by said retaining means and placing the hooking elements of the opposed surfaces in face-to-face relation, the simultaneous application of generally opposed cinching forces to said retaining strap and to the free end portion of said main strap portion produces encompassing gripping forces which tighten at least the main strap portion about the member and simultaneously pressing the mating opposed surfaces of flexible resilient hooking elements together simultaneously provides progressively increasing face-to-face engagement of said surfaces to retain the encompassing gripping forces about said member and retains the main strap portion in tension due to the resistance to separation by said surface portions of mating hooking elements for forces parallel to the interfacial plane of engagement, and said barrier member provides a separative layer between the opening of said relatively rigid retaining ring and the gripped member.

21. A separable fastening device which comprises an adjustble cinch strap assembly adapted to substantially uniformly encircle a portion of a human body to constrict or control the blood flow, which comprises a main flexible strap portion having on a first surface portion a plurality of first flexible resilient hooking elements upstanding therefrom and on an opposite surface portion adjacent the first surface portion, a plurality of second complementary hooking elements such that said hooking elements of the first and second surface portions face in opposite directions, said second complementary hooking elements capable of mating with the first hooking elements when the mating opposed strap surface portions are placed in face-to-face engaged relation, a retaining strap connected to the main strap portion at one end portion and dimensioned and configured to be gripped by hand, the other end of said main strap portion being free, a relatively rigid substantially endless connecting ring securing the retaining strap to the main strap portion at one end, said connecting ring defining an opening configured to receive the opposite free end portion of the main strap portion when said main strap portion is wrapped in encircling relation with the human body portion, a barrier member connected to the main strap portion adjacent to said connecting ring and dimensioned to extend across said opening of said connecting ring, said mating hooking elements being so arranged that extending the main strap portion about the member in encircling relation therewith with the free end portion extending through the opening of the connecting ring and placing said engaging hooking elements of the opposed surface portions in face-to-face relation, the application of cinching forces to the main strap portion while gripping the retaining strap and applying forces thereto generally away from the human body portion and generally opposed to the cinching forces applied to the main strap portion, while substantially simultaneously pressing the hooking elements of the mating surfaces together to tighten the grip of the strap about the human body portion causes the main strap portion to tightly grip the human body portion while the hooking elements of the mating opposed surfaces of the strap portions become simultaneously progressively increasingly engaged in face-to-face relation to retain the gripping forces applied to the main strap portion, and said barrier member provides a separative layer between said opening of said connecting ring to prevent pinching of the layers of skin of said human body portion into said opening.

22. An adjustable separable fastening device in the form of a cinch strap assembly adapted to encircle a human limb and the like to constrict or control the blood flow therethrough which comprises a main flexible strap portion having on one section a first surface portion having a plurality of flexible resilient hook-type hooking elements upstanding therefrom and on a section connected to the first section a second surface portion opposite the first surface portion, said second surface portion having a plurality of complementary flexible resilient loop-type hooking elements such that said hooking elements of the first and second strap portion face in opposite directions, said complementary loop-type hooking elements mate with the hook-type hooking elements of the first section when the strap portions are placed in face-to-face engagement, a retaining strap connected to the main strap portion at one end portion and dimensioned and configured for gripping, the other end of said main strap portion being free, a relatively rigid generally endless ring member connecting the retaining strap to the main strap portion and defining an opening configured to receive the opposite free end portion of said main strap portion when said strap is wrapped in encircled relation to the human limb, said generally endless ring member having relatively smooth side portions to prevent snagging of said hooking elements thereagainst when the free end portion of said main strap portion is inserted into said opening, a short strap extension of said main strap portion at the ring member connection configured and positioned to extend across the ring opening to provide a protective barrier between skin portions of the limb and said ring member, said opposing hook and loop-type hooking elements being so positioned and arranged that encircling the main strap portion about the human limb with the free end portion extending through the opening of said generally endless ring member and placing the opposed hooking elements of the first and second strap portions in face-to-face relation, the application of generally opposed cinching forces to the retaining strap and to the free end portion of the main strap tighten the grip of the strap about the limb while the free end portion of said main strap extension engages and smooths excessive skin portions while accumulating such skin portions adjacent the free end portion as the grip is tightened, and simultaneously pressing the mating surfaces in fce-to-face engagement will securely adhere said mating surface portions of the main strap portion together to resist forces parallel to the interfacial plane of engagement and thereby retain the grip applied by said generally opposed cinching forces.

23. The adjustable separable fastening device according to claim 22 wherein said main flexible strap portion is comprised of two sections of hook and loop separable fastening tapes, the first section having a plurality of flexible resilient hooks upstanding therefrom, the second section having a plurality of flexible mating resilient loops upstanding therefrom, the sections further being connected at respective end portions in reversed relation to each other by an ultrasonic welded portion in a manner that the loops face in a direction opposite the direction of the hooks.

24. The adjustable separable fastening device according to claim 23 wherein said generally endless ring is a cylindrically configured metal bar configured as a substantially rectangular ring member with the end portions of said bar facing each other in close proximity therewith.

25. An adjustable separable fastening device in the form of a cinch strap assembly adapted to encircle a human limb in tightly gripped relation to control the flow of blood therethroubh which comprises a main strap constructed of nylon filamentary yarn having a first tape section of at least one of nylon hook and loop fastener tape, a second tape section having hooking elements in the form of at least one of mating nylon hooks and loops upstanding from one surface connected to the first tape section, the hooking elements of the first tape section facing in a direction opposite to the direction of the hooking elements of the second tape section, the second tape section connected in ultrasonic welded overlapping relation to the first tape section, a retaining strap connected to the main strap at one end and dimensioned and configured, to be gripped by hand the other end of the main strap being free, a relatively rigid endless ring member connecting the retaining strap to one end portion of the main strap and defining an opening configured to receive the opposite free end portion of said main strap when said main strap is wrapped in encircled relation with a limb of a human being, said generally endless ring member having relatively smooth side portions to prevent snagging of said hooking elements thereagainst when the free end of said main strap is inserted into said opening, a relatively short third tape section secured to said first tape section at the ring connection, said short third tape section having a free end portion folded upon itself and secured thereto to form an arcuate free end portion, said short third tape section being at least of a length sufficient to extend across the ring opening to provide a protective barrier between surface portions of the skin of the limb and the ring member when the cinch strap is tightened about the limb, said opposed hook and loop hooking elements being so positioned and arranged that when the main strap is encircled about the limb with the free end portion extending through the endless ring member and the opposed hook and loop hooking elements are placed in face-to-face relation, the application of cinching forces to the free end portion of the main strap while forces are applied to said retaining strap in a direction at least generally away from the limb and opposed to the cinching forces applied to the main strap portion, will place said main strap in tension while the short third tape section provides a protective barrier between the skin and the ring member and the arcuate free end portion smooths the skin and clusters excessive skin portions forwardly of said short tape section, while simultaneously pressing the hook and loop mating surfaces in face-to-face engagement will securely adhere said mating tpe sections together to resist forces parallel to the interfacial plane of engagement and thereby retains the grip applied by said generally opposed cinching forces.

26. The adjustable separable fastening device according to claim 25 wherein said retaining strap is comprised of at least one of hook and loop fastener tape.

27. The adjustable separable fastening device according to claim 26 wherein said main strap has on an outer surface portion, at least one of hook and loop hooking elements which mate with the hook and loop-type hooking elements of the retaining strap, said hooking elements being positioned such that when said main strap is cinched about a human limb, the retaining strap is securable to said surface of hooking elements.

28. An adjustable separable fastening device in the form of a cinch strap assembly adapted to encircle a human limb in tightly gripped relation to control the flow of blood therethrough which comprises a main strap constructed of filamentary yarn having a first section having at least one of hook and loop-type fastener member, a second section having at least one of mating hook and loop-type fastener member connected to the first section, the hooking elements of the first section facing in a direction opposite to the direction of the hooking elements of the second section, the second section being connected to the first section, a relatively retaining ring connected to the main strap at one end and dimensioned, to be gripped by hand, the other end of the main strap being free, said retaining ring defining an opening configured to receive the opposite free end portion of said main strap when said main strap is wrapped in encircled relation with a portion of a human body such as a limb, a relatively short section of plastic material secured to said main strap adjacent said retaining ring connection and being of a length at least sufficient to extend across at least a portion of the ring opening to provide a protective barrier between surface portions of the human body and the retaining ring when the main strap is tightened about the human body portion, said opposed hooking elements being so positioned and arranged that when the main strap is encircled about the limb with the free end portion extended through the retaining ring, the application of cinching forces to the free end portion of the main strap while applying forces to said retaining ring in a direction at least generally opposite the direction of the cinching forces will place the main strap in tension while said relatively short section of plastic material provides a protective barrier between the skin and the fastening device, and simultaneously pressing the hook and loop-type mating surfaces in face-to-face engagement will securely adhere said mating fastener members together to resist forces parallel to the interfacial plane of engagement and thereby retain the grip applied by said generally opposed cinching forces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a separable fastener which is in the form of a cinch strap.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Separable fasteners such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,717,437 and 3,009,235 which are marketed under the registered trademark VELCRO brand hook and loop fasteners by Velcro Corporation, 681 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. have gained wide acceptance because of the properties of the mating hooks and loops which permit their attachment by merely placing a surface defined by the hooks into face-to-face relationship with a surface defined by the loops so that a large number of hooks engage a large number of loops which resist separation parallel to the interfacial plane of engagement but are readily separable by peeling forces applied substantially normal to this interfacial plane. These fastening devices are generally formed of a sheet of synthetic woven or knitted fabric having raised threads of synthetic material, such as nylon, which are napped or unnapped to provide a pile surface defined by a plurality of loops, and which may be thermally treated to become semi-rigid. Certain of the loops may then be cut along one side near their outer extremity to form hooks.

These fasteners have been utilized in numerous applications in many fields of use, particularly because of their unique touch and close fastener capability as well as their fastening strength. The patents which have issued are legion in which the unique fastening capability of these hook loop-type engaging elements have been applied to particular uses to create new and unobvious fastener arrangements.

One field of use in which these fasteners have been utilized in the past pertains to straps of several types. Although the prior art dealing with straps and the like includes numerous other fastener devices to secure the straps in their intended environment, the applications of these separable hook and loop-type fasteners have in many respects, eliminated the need for the traditional strap fastening devices such as buckles and the like. To the extent that the early fastening devices did not generally facilitate variable and precise fastening, the application of these separable fasteners to the strap art has proven to provide substantial advantages.

U.S. Pat. No. 721,162 to Denain relates to a hemostatic bandage of a relatively complex and expensive construction and which utilizes a relatively complex buckle for fastening the device in position. U.S. Pat. No. 2,514,796 to Rishcoff relates to a support belt which incorporates a relatively complex device for securing it in position. U.S. Pat. No. 2,815,752 to Forman relates to a circular adhesive bandage. U.S. Pat. No. 3,535,718 to Murcott relates to a restraint device for mounting upon wrist and ankles and utilizes coupling members to secure the device in position. U.S. Pat. No. 3,603,316 to Lehman relates to an abdominal belt having an elastic portion and elastic draw strips.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,473,041 to Henderson relates to a Tourniquet having an interior integral surface bar for conveying localized pressure. U.S. Pat. No. 3,000,384 to Piers, Jr. relates to a Fastener Tie to retain a bank or lock of hair in a desired design or arrangement. In one embodiment, portions of the tape are longitudinally elastic. U.S. Pat. No. 3,086,529 to Munz et al. relates to Constrictors comprising a length of elastomer adapted to be stretched about a human limb with VELCRO brand fastener tapes adapted to secure the constrictor in position. U.S. Pat. No. 3,190,444 to Kelson relates to Rotating Tourniquets which are placed about three of a patient's limbs and rotated periodically from limb to limb. U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,001 to Sanderson relates to a Medical Compress which utilizes VELCRO.RTM. brand fasteners in combination with a cushion to constrict the flow of blood in a limb of a wearer. U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,107 to Moore relates to an Adjustable Strap Assembly which utilizes VELCRO.RTM. brand fasteners in combination with a pad having hooking elements on both sides to eliminate the requirement for an excessively long length of looped strap portion. Other prior art patents include:

U.s. pat. No. 2,519,712 to Stegeman

U.s. pat. No. 3,279,459 to Schenker

U.s. pat. No. 3,430,299 to Copen

U.s. pat. No. 3,372,438 to Rinecker

U.s. pat. No. 3,376,865 to Gamper

U.s. pat. No. 3,390,680 to Marcum

U.s. pat. No. 3,416,516 to Cohen et al.

U.s. pat. No. 3,467,077 to Cohen

U.s. pat. No. 3,570,495 to Wright

U.s. pat. No. 3,633,567 to Sarnoff

U.s. pat. No. 3,669,096 to Hurwitz

U.s. pat. No. 3,880,161 to Fossell

In the prior art applications of VELCRO.RTM. brand fasteners to straps and the like, the structure has always been adapted such that the hook and loop-type fasteners are secured by a touch and close action. None of these patents disclose a cinch fastener which is so constructed and arranged to facilitate fastening the hook and loop-type fastener materials with multidirectional opposed cinching forces with a single movement in which the gripping tension forces as well as the retention of said forces is accomplished without loss of grip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a separable fastening device adapted to encompass at least one member in gripped relation which comprises a first flexible strap portion having on a first surface portion a plurality of engaging elements upstanding therefrom and a second strap portion having on a surface portion opposite said first surface portion a plurality of mating engaging elements upstanding therefrom. The invention further comprises means to connect the first and second strap portions and retaining means connected to the free end portion of said first strap portion, the retaining means defining an opening configured to receive the free end portion of the second strap portion. The opposed positions of the mating engaging elements are such that when the device is positioned about the member with the free end portion of the second strap portion extending through the retaining means, at least retaining the retaining means in a substantially fixed position and applying cinching forces to the free end portion of the second strap portion will cause the device to grip at least a portion of the member, and substantially simultaneously pressing the surfaces of mating engaging elements in face-to-face relation provides face-to-face engagement of the strap portions to retain the grip thereby applied.

The preferred embodiment of the invention in one of its broadest forms relates to a separable fastening device adapted to encompass at least one member in gripped relation which comprises a cinch strap including a main flexible strap portion having on one surface portion a plurality of resilient engaging elements upstanding therefrom and on an opposite surface of a strap portion adjacent thereto, a plurality of mating engaging elements upstanding therefrom, retaining means being connected to the main strap portion at one end portion thereof and the other being free. The retaining means defines an opening configured to receive the free end portion of the main strap portion while the adjacent opposed positions of the mating engaging elements are such that when the main strap portion is positioned about the member with the free end portion extending through the retaining means, at least retaining the retaining means in a substantially fixed position and applying cinching face to the free end portion of the main strap portion will cause the strap to grip at least a portion of the member and substantially simultaneously pressing the surfaces of the mating engaging elements in face-to-face relation provides face-to-face engagement of the strap portions to retain the grip thereby applied.

Although one preferred embodiment of the fastening device of the invention utilizes a ring-like member to transmit retaining forces to a strap portion, another embodiment includes a retaining strap connected to a main strap portion to provide transmission of cinching forces thereto. This particular embodiment is also in the form of a separable fastening device comprising a cinch strap assembly adapted to encompass at least one member in gripped relation and to provide simultaneous cinching and fastening forces which substantially maximize the grip while uniquely retaining the forces applied to the strap. This fastener device comprises a cinch strap assembly which includes a main flexible strap portion having on one surface portion a plurality of resilient engaging elements upstanding therefrom, and on an opposite surface of a strap portion adjacent thereto, a plurality of resilient mating engaging elements upstanding therefrom. The invention further comprises a retaining strap which, in a preferred embodiment, is of sufficient length to provide convenient gripping thereof, and which is preferably configured at an end portion to facilitate gripping thereof. The retaining strap is connected to the main strap portion at one end portion and the other end portion of the main strap portion is free. The strap further comprises means to connect the retaining strap to the main strap portion . The connecting means in this embodiment defines an opening configured to receive the opposite -- or free end -- portion of the main strap when it is wrapped in encompassing relation with the member to be gripped. The mating engaging elements on each mating surface portion of the main strap portion are so arranged that when the strap is positioned about the member to be gripped, with the free end portion extended through the opening of the connecting means, at least retaining the retaining strap in a substantially fixed position, while applying cinching forces to the free end portion of the main strap causes the strap to grip at least a portion of the member while substantially simultaneously pressing the surfaces of resilient mating engaging elements in face-to-face a relation provides face-to-face engagement of these strap portions. This mating engagement is relatively resistant to forces parallel to, or within the plane of engagement, but the surfaces are readily separable by peeling forces normal to the interfacial plane of engagement. This fastening capability retains the strap portions in face-to-face relation to retain the grip thereby applied to the member.

Although the cinch fastener strap may be of a unitary construction, preferably it is constructed of VELCRO.RTM. brand separable fastener tape materials suitably secured to each other to provide the desired arrangement. These separable fasteners to which I refer have a base member, woven or knitted of a synthetic heat deformable material such as nylon, and have resilient engaging elements uptanding from the respective base member. In the preferred embodiment the engaging elements are constructed in the form of hook-like elements which mate with looplike hooking elements on the opposed engaging surface portions. However, it should be understood that any flexible engaging elements, including mushroom-like elements, resilient projections, etc., which are readily securable in face-to-face relation, and which particularly resist forces parallel to the interfacial plane of engagement, are comtemplated within the scope of the present invention, provided the fastener st