APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BUNDLING AND BINDING ITEMS

Abstract

Disclosed is a securement block, comprising a generally rectangular-sided cuboid structure having a front face 10, a rear face 11, a left sidewall 12, a right sidewall 13, a top surface 14, and a bottom surface 15, and beveling treatment on some surfaces. To facilitate using the securement block 1, the device is fabricated with four correlated through-openings, being a tunnel entry 20, a tunnel exit 21, a channel entry 23(a), and a locking orifice 22. The channel 19 is tapered rearwardly, and culminates in a vertical locking slot 27 proximate the locking orifice 22. The four through-openings of the device work in conjunction with the use of an encirclement means, e.g., a cord, which, when routed sequentially into and out of the through-openings, and tied into at least one strategically-placed knot, provides for a taut, firm, fastening about items to be bundled or secured.

Claims

1. A cuboid-shaped device having rectangular surfaces comprising a front face, a rear face, a left sidewall, a right sidewall, a top surface, a left bevel, an upper bevel, a right bevel, and a bottom surface, further comprising (a) a tunnel having a circular cross-section, extending from the left front face to a tunnel exit on the rear right face; and (b) a rearwardly-tapering, open channel having a U-shaped channel floor, a left wall, and a right wall, wherein (i) the upper half of both walls of the channel merge, to form a vertical locking slot proximate the left rear face, (ii) the lower segment of both channel walls intersect the channel floor, and (iii) the channel floor extends longitudinally through the device, forming the lower arc of a circular locking orifice on the right rear face.

2. The cuboid device of claim 1, wherein the left bevel is constructed in a vertical orientation from the left sidewall to the left rear face, the upper bevel is constructed in a horizontal orientation from the rear of the top surface to the upper portion of the rear face, and the right bevel is constructed in a vertical orientation from the right sidewall to the right rear face.

3. The cuboid-shaped device of claim 1, wherein the material of manufacture is recyclable acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

4. The cuboid device of claim 1 wherein the relative dimensions of the device comprise a front face width of 32.0 mm, vertical height of 16.0 mm, front face to rear face length of 38 mm, a rear face width of 32.0 mm, a distance of 15.0 mm between the longitudinal axis of the tunnel and the longitudinal axis of the locking orifice, the diameter of the tunnel being 7.0 mm, the width of the channel entry being 7.0 mm, the diameter of the locking orifice being 7.0 mm, the length of the V-shaped channel being 30.0 mm, and the angular dispersion of the channel from the locking slot to the channel entry being thirty-six (36.0) degrees.

5. A device for assisting in the securement of a single item or a plurality of items for the purpose of bundling the items for lifting, transporting, or immobilizing them, comprising: A cuboid-shaped structure having rectangular surfaces comprising a front face, a rear face, a left sidewall, a right sidewall, a top surface, a left bevel, an upper bevel, a right bevel, and a bottom surface, further comprising (a) a circular, cross-sectioned tunnel extending from the left front face to a tunnel exit on the rear right face; and (b) a rearwardly-tapering, open channel having a U-shaped floor, a left wall, and a right wall, wherein (i) the upper half of both walls of the channel merge, to form a locking slot proximate the left rear face, (ii) the lower segment of both channel walls intersect the channel floor, and (iii) the channel floor extends longitudinally through the device to form the lower arc of a circular locking orifice at the right rear face.

6. The cuboid device of claim 5, wherein, wherein the left bevel is constructed in a vertical orientation from the left sidewall to the left rear face, the upper bevel is constructed in a horizontal orientation from the rear of the top surface to the upper portion of the rear face, and the right bevel is constructed in a vertical orientation from the right sidewall to the right rear face.

7. The cuboid structure of claim 5, wherein the structure is manufactured from recyclable acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

8. The cuboid device of claim 5, wherein its operational function of bundling is achieved by orienting and placement of the bottom surface such that the bottom surface abuts the upper segment of any gathering of items to be bundled.

9. The cuboid device of claim 5 wherein the relative dimensions of the device comprise a front face width of 32.0 mm, vertical height of 16.0 mm, front face to rear face length of 38 mm, a rear face width of 32.0 mm, a distance of 15.0 mm between the longitudinal axis of the tunnel and the longitudinal axis of the locking orifice, the diameter of the tunnel being 7.0 mm, the width of the channel entry being 7.0 mm, the diameter of the locking orifice being 7.0 mm, the length of the V-shaped channel being 30.0 mm, and the angular dispersion of the channel from the locking slot to the channel entry being thirty-six (36.0) degrees.

10. A method for gathering, bundling, and securing a fixed item or grouping of items for the purpose of lifting, transporting, and/or immobilizing the items as one unit, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a cuboid-shaped structure having rectangular surfaces comprising a front face, a rear face, a left sidewall, a right sidewall, a top surface, a left bevel, an upper bevel, a right bevel, and a bottom surface; (b) constructing, in the cuboid-shaped structure, a circular, cross-sectioned tunnel extending from the left front face to a tunnel exit on the rear right face; (c) constructing, in the cuboid-shaped structure, a rearwardly-tapering, open channel having a U-shaped channel floor, a left wall and a right wall, wherein (i) the upper half of both walls of the channel merge to form a vertical locking slot proximate the left rear face, (ii) the lower segment of both channel walls intersect the channel floor, and (iii) the channel floor extends longitudinally through the structure, forming the lower arc of a circular locking orifice on the right rear face; (d) providing an encirclement means, comprising an article of string, cord, rope, wire, cable, or similarly-structured article, the article having a first end with a first tip, a second end with a second tip, and a length sufficient to enclose the vertically-oriented circumference of the subject items with a remaining length of the article at each the first end and the second end; and (e) placing the first end of the article into the tunnel entry of the cuboid-shaped structure, withdrawing it therefrom, subsequently placing the first end into the channel orifice, drawing sufficient length of the first end of the article upwards so as to engage the locking slot in a firm manner while simultaneously gathering the second cord end and tying both ends into at least one knot so as to bind the article tautly about the circumference of the bundled items.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the relative dimensions of the cuboid-shaped structure comprise a front face width of 32.0 mm, vertical height of 16.0 mm, front face to rear face length of 38 mm, a rear face width of 32.0 mm, a distance of 15.0 mm between the longitudinal axis of the tunnel and the longitudinal axis of the locking orifice, the diameter of the tunnel being 7.0 mm, the width of the channel entry being 7.0 mm, the diameter of the locking orifice being 7.0 mm, the length of the V-shaped channel being 30.0 mm, and the angular dispersion of the channel from the locking slot to the channel entry being thirty-six (36.0) degrees.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the cuboid-shaped structure is manufactured from recyclable acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF DRAWINGS AS EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

[0021] FIG. 1 presents a perspective view of the securement block 1, displaying principal components, being a top surface 14, a right sidewall 13, a tapered channel 23, a locking slot 27, a locking orifice 22, and a tunnel exit 21.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a planar, downward-looking view of the securement block 1 showing the top surface 14, the locking slot 27 and the open, tapered, or V-shaped channel 23.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a direct view of the rear face 11 of the securement block 1, further showing the tunnel exit 21 and the locking orifice 22.

[0024] FIG. 4 presents a direct view of the front face 10 of the securement block 1 of FIG. 2, illustrating a left front face 10(a), a right front face 10(b), and also the tunnel entry 20, the channel entry 23, and the crevice formed by the locking slot 27.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a side elevation of FIG. 2, in which is shown the right sidewall 13 of the securement block 1, with dashed lines showing the locking slot 27 and also the rounded floor 26 of the channel 23

[0026] FIG. 6 depicts a securement block 1 having been placed flush against the top layer of a typical bundling item 7, while simultaneously the first segment 2(a) of a cord 2 has been inserted into the tunnel entry 20 of the tunnel 19.

[0027] FIG. 6A displays a short segment of the second cord segment 4 and its second cord tip 2(b).

[0028] FIG. 7 is a rendering of the near-completion of the bundling procedure using the securement block 1, the final step being a user pulling the second cord segment 4 upwards so as to pull it taut against the narrow confines of the locking slot 27.

[0029] FIG. 8 illustrates the configuration in which the final bundling is nearly completed, a user having only to pull the first cord tip 2(a) into the large loop 9 and afterwards, tie a second firm knot.

[0030]

TABLE-US-00001 Table of Nomenclature & Part Numbers of Invention 1. Securement block 2. Cord 2(a) First cord tip 2(b) Second cord tip 3. First cord segment 4. Second cord segment 5. First knot 5(a) Second knot 6. T/B/D 7. Bundling material 8. Small loop 9. Large loop 10. Front face 10(a) Left front face 10(b) Right front face 11. Rear face 11(a) Right rear face 11(b) Left rear face 12 Left sidewall 13. Right sidewall 14. Top surface 15. Bottom surface 16. Upper bevel 17. Left bevel 18. Right bevel 19. Tunnel 20. Tunnel entry 21. Tunnel exit 22. Locking orifice 23. Channel 23(a) Channel entry 24. Left rim 25. Right rim 26. Rounded floor 27. Locking slot 28. Channel left wall 29. Channel right wall 30. Right corner 31. Left corner 32. Top edge 33. Bottom edge 34. Left ridge 34(a) Left footing 35. Right ridge 35(a) Right footing 36. Angular dispersion

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The objects, features, and advantages of the inventive concept presented in this application are more readily understood when referring to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, totaling nine figures, show the basic components and functions of embodiments and/or methods of use. In the several figures, like reference numbers are used in each figure to correspond to the same component as may be depicted in other figures.

[0032] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing a particular embodiment or embodiments and is not intended to be limiting of the inventive concept. As used herein, the teen and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms a, an, and the are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0033] It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0034] The inventive concept disclosed is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the accompanying descriptions and drawings. This inventive concept is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried in ways other than those presented in this document.

[0035] A key supporting component of this inventive concept is usage of what is referred to as a cord 2. The term, cord 2, is not used herein by way of limitation, but entirely for exemplary purposes, and further encompasses string, cord, rope, twine, wire, band, strand, cable, and other similarly-constructed items. The term bundling material 7 encompasses a wide range of materials, including, but not limited to tree branches/twigs, lumber pieces, cardboard slats, bulky trash items, and others. Further, the securement block 1 is amenable for using as a securement mechanism for articles strapped to dollies, aircraft tiedowns, a docking line for boats, and other varied household or commercial applications.

[0036] The discussion of the present inventive concept will be initiated with FIG. 1, which illustrates a perspective close-up view of a cuboid-shaped device referred to as the securement block 1. The planar top surface 14 of the securement block 1 features a tapered, open, V-shaped channel 23 shown extending rearward approximately two-thirds of the length of the securement block 1. The left rim 24, left wall 28, and right rim 25 of the channel 23 are in view in FIG. 1. The channel left wall 28 and the channel right wall 29 (not in view) each extend vertically downward, intersecting a rounded floor 26 of the channel 23.

[0037] The longitudinal tapering of the channel 23 intrinsically ends with the upper segment of both walls 28, 29. of the channel 23 forming an acute intersection, or wedge, referred to as a locking slot 27. The locking slot 27 is in essence, a vertically-oriented, narrow crevice, oriented mutually orthogonal to the top surface 14 and bottom surface 15 of the securement block 1. The bottom surface 15, not in view, is a flat planar surface.

[0038] At the junctions of the lower half of the left and right channel walls 28, 29 with the rounded floor 26 (more clearly shown in FIG. 4), it is to be noted that the rounded floor 26 of the channel 23 continues directly below, and past the locking slot 27 to form the lower arc of a locking orifice 22. The locking orifice 22 is shown to constitute a circular opening on the rear face 11, the lower arc of the channel orifice 22 corresponding to the rounded floor 26 of the channel 23. This construction feature is further illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and also, FIG. 5.

[0039] Other structural features shown in FIG. 1 are the right sidewall 13, which transitions to the left bevel 18, the right bevel 18 intersecting with both the rear face 11 and an upper bevel 16. The upper bevel 16 transitions from the top surface 14, and further, the upper bevel 16 extends the width of the top surface 14 to intersect with a left bevel 17 (not in view, but illustrated in FIG. 2). The relative positions of the left bevel 17 and right bevel 18 are shown in FIG. 2. The bevels 16, 17, 18 assist in preventing any fraying or gouging of cords 2 placed in direct contact with the securement block 1, in functional use.

[0040] Also shown in FIG. 1 is a tunnel exit 21 which functions as an exit orifice for a first cord segment 3 of a cord 2 which a user has previously inserted through a tunnel entry 20 on the front face 10 of the securement block 1. The tunnel entry 20 and tunnel exit 21 are of the same diameter and form the concentric front and rear of a tunnel 19 which runs longitudinally from the left front face 10(a), through to the tunnel exit 21, at the rear face 11 of the securement block 1. It is to be noted that a tunnel entry 20 and the tunnel exit 21, together form part of a U-shaped rounded floor of the channel 23

[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the securement block 1, primarily showing the top surface 14, the left rim 24, right rim 25, channel 23, and the channel floor 26. Also shown in FIG. 2 are the upper bevel 16, the edge of the left bevel 17, the edge of the right bevel 18, and the locking slot 27. Dashed lines indicate the internal position of the tunnel 19 as it transitions through the right side of the securement block 1, and the orientation of the locking orifice 22. Further shown in FIG. 2 is the preferred angular dispersion 36 of the channel walls, 27, 28, which, in the preferred embodiment, is thirteen degrees.

[0042] In viewing FIG. 3, there is illustrated a direct view of the right rear face 11(a) and the left rear face 11(b) of the securement block 1, further showing the tunnel exit 21, and the locking orifice 22, and the upper bevel 16. In the initial step of functional operation of the securement block 1, a user places a first cord tip 2(a) into the tunnel 19, and then pushes the first cord segment 3 through the tunnel exit 21, then re-inserts the first cord tip 2(a) into the locking orifice 22.

[0043] Also indicated in FIG. 3 is the position of the right footing 35(a), which intersects with the bottom surface 15 (not in view) of the securement block 1. Further, the left footing 34(a) is shown at its point of intersection with the bottom surface 15 (out of view). In actual use, the planar bottom surface 15 is always placed in abutment to the bundling materials 7 which are to be bound and stabilized by the securement block 1.

[0044] FIG. 4 presents a direct view of the left front face 10(a) and right front face 10(b) of the securement block 1 of FIG. 2. Principal features shown in FIG. 4 are the tunnel entry 20 on the left front face 10(a), which leads into the tunnel 19, and the rounded floor 26 of the channel 23, which begins at the right front face 10(b), extends rearward, and connects with the locking orifice 22 at the right rear face 11(b) of the securement block 1. Also shown are the left wall 28 and right wall 29 of the channel 23. Both walls 28, 29 extend rearward in a tapering manner and culminate in a vertically-oriented intersection at the locking slot 27 (more easily seen in FIG. 2.

[0045] FIG. 5 illustrates a direct view of the right side of the securement block 1 of FIG. 2. Shown in FIG. 5 are the right sidewall 13, the right ridge 35 of the top surface 14 (not in view), the right edge of the upper bevel 16, and the right edge of the rear face 11, and the right footing 35(a) which intersects the bottom surface 15 (not in view). As stated previously, beginning at the channel entry 23(b), the channel floor 26 is shown, by horizontal dashed lines, to extend from the right front face 10(b) to the locking orifice 22 on the left rear face 11(b) of the securement block 1.

[0046] In FIG. 5, it is to be noted that the channel 23 terminates (a) in the upper half of its structure, at the locking slot 27 and (b) in the lower half of its structure, at the circular lower half of the locking orifice 22. The locking orifice 22 is the through-hole in the right rear face 11(b) of the device. The vertical dashed lines in FIG. 5 also indicate the relative position of the locking slot 27.

[0047] FIG. 6 depicts, for illustrative purposes only, and not by way of limitation, the typical initial steps in using the securement block 1. FIG. 6 shows that the bottom surface 15 (not in view) of a securement device 1 has been placed, by a user, flush against the top layer of typical bundling material 7. Also shown is the first cord tip 2(a) and a first cord segment 3 extending outward from the tunnel exit 21 (out of view). The first cord tip 2(a) has been initially inserted by a user into the tunnel entry 20 and pushed through the tunnel exit 21, just below the upper bevel 16 of the securement block 1. Also visible in FIG. 6 is the rounded floor 26 of the channel 23, beginning at the channel entry 23(a).

[0048] The configuration in FIG. 6 results after a user has preliminarily routed the opposite end of the cord 2, termed the second cord segment 4 underneath the bottommost portion of the bundling material 7. The user has further allowed for a sufficient length of the second cord segment 4 to enable him/her to upwardly route the second cord segment 4 from its encirclement of the bundling material 7. This muting action temporarily positions the second cord tip 2(b) near the securement block 1, as shown in FIG. 6A.

[0049] Referring again to FIG. 6, the user must next withdraw an additional length of the first cord segment 3 and then insert the first cord tip 2(a) into the locking orifice 22 (out of view) at the rear of the channel 23 in preparation for engaging the first cord segment 3 with the locking slot 27.

[0050] The binding procedure is continued to the next sequential steps, as shown in FIG. 7, which displays the near-completion of the bundling process initiated in FIG. 6. At this stage, the user has created a first knot 5, which may be a double hitch, or similar knot, with the previously shown second cord segment 4 and second cord tip 2(b). The creation of the first knot 5 has caused a small loop 8 to be formed.

[0051] FIG. 7 additionally shows that the user also has (a) pulled sufficient length of the first cord segment 3 through the small loop 8, and (b) inserted the first cord tip 2(a) into and through the locking orifice 22. A short length of the first cord segment 3 is shown pulled through an effective into and through the channel entry 23, 23(a). These actions have caused the preferred formation of a large loop 9, which can be further used in the bundling procedure.

[0052] FIG. 8 illustrates the next sequential configuration in which the final bundling is nearly completed. The remaining task is for the user to forcibly pull upward on the cord first tip 2(a) into the locking slot 27 so that the circumference of the cord 2 is immobilized by the pinching effect of the locking slot 27. The user, if desired, may also readjust the final step by (a) pulling taut the first cord segment 3, which forces the diameter of the large loop 9 to be minimized. Additionally, in the course of minimizing the large loop 9, a user may firmly tie a second knot 5(a) proximate the locking orifice 22.

[0053] In practical use, any encirclement means, e.g., a cord 2 used in conjunction with the securement block 1 must be of sufficient length to entirely encompass the perimeter of the bundling material 7 and allow sufficient cord 2 length to complete formation of at least one knot 5.

[0054] In the preferred embodiment, the relative dimensions of a commonly-used version of the securement block 1, in millimeters, are as shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, where the figures depict the device placed on a horizontal plane, on its bottom surface 15. Dimensions shown are frontal width of 32.0 mm, vertical height of 16.0 mm, and front-to-rear length of 38 mm. There is a distance of 15.0 mm between the longitudinal axis of the tunnel 19 and the longitudinal axis of the locking orifice 22, both these openings having a diameter of 7.0 mm. The length of the V-shaped channel 23 is 30.0 mm, and the longitudinal tapering angle of the channel 23 is thirty-six (36.0) degrees.

[0055] While preferred embodiments of the present inventive device have been shown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, and totality of this inventive concept. Such variations, changes, and substitutions may involve other features which are already known per se and which may be used instead of, in combination with, or in addition to features already disclosed herein. Accordingly, it is intended that this inventive concept be inclusive of such variations, changes, and substitutions, as described by the scope of the claims presented herein.