초록 ▼

A securement device with a protecting element which engages, at least in part, a surface of the item secured and provides shock absorption, vibration lessening and surface protection to the item secured. The securement device may include a strap adjustably coupled to a bicycle rack so as to secure a

A securement device with a protecting element which engages, at least in part, a surface of the item secured and provides shock absorption, vibration lessening and surface protection to the item secured. The securement device may include a strap adjustably coupled to a bicycle rack so as to secure a wheel of a bicycle to the rack and provide shock absorption, vibration lessening and surface protecting to the wheel and wheel rim.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A strap for retaining a bicycle on a load carrier, the strap comprising: a flexible band element configured to be adjustably positioned over and tightened about a portion of a wheel rim of the bicycle to secure the bicycle to the load carrier; anda shock absorbing protecting element comprising a

1. A strap for retaining a bicycle on a load carrier, the strap comprising: a flexible band element configured to be adjustably positioned over and tightened about a portion of a wheel rim of the bicycle to secure the bicycle to the load carrier; anda shock absorbing protecting element comprising a body having an outer side and an inner side, the protecting element slidingly coupled to the band element and configured to slide along a length of the band element while coupled to the band element,wherein the protecting element is configured so that the inner side of the protecting element is positioned between a portion of the band element and a portion of the wheel rim and configured to contact the wheel rim of the bicycle to absorb at least a portion of any shock associated with the bicycle being retained on the load carrier by the strap, andwherein the protecting element includes at least three extended deflectable finger-like protrusions extending outward from the outer side of the protecting element body. 2. The strap recited in claim 1, wherein the band element is lengthwise adjustably attached to the load carrier. 3. The strap recited in claim 1, wherein the protecting element comprises: a core section; anda shell section substantially encircling the core section and wherein at least a portion of at least one of the core section and the shell section is comprised of a shock absorbing material. 4. The strap recited in claim 3, wherein the shell section includes a first side and a second side, the first side having an outer face and an inner face, and wherein when the bicycle is secured on the load carrier by the strap, a portion of the outer face of the first side faces the wheel rim of the bicycle to absorb at least a portion of any shock associated with the bicycle being retained on the load carrier by the strap. 5. The strap recited in claim 4, wherein the second side of the shell section is substantially parallel to the first side and has at least one gap space therethrough. 6. The strap recited in claim 3, wherein the shell section is configured to form at least one protrusion gap and the core section comprises at least one deflectable protrusion that extends through the at least one protrusion gap, and wherein the at least one deflectable protrusion is configured to contact the wheel rim surface and absorb at least a portion of any shock associated with the bicycle being retained on the load carrier by the strap. 7. The strap recited in claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the shell section of the protecting element is made of a first material and at least a portion of the at least one deflectable protrusion extending from the core section is made of a second, more flexible material. 8. A bicycle surface protection article, comprising: a shock absorbing protection element comprising a body having an outer side and an inner side, the protection element configured to be coupled to a bicycle rack retaining strap and configured to slide along a length of the strap while coupled to the strap, wherein the inner side of the protection element is positioned between the strap and a portion of a wheel of a bicycle to absorb at least a portion of any shock associated with the bicycle rack retaining strap securing the wheel to a bicycle rack, wherein the protection element includes at least four extended deflectable finger-like protrusions extending across a width of the outer side of the protection element body, and wherein the retaining strap is configured to secure the wheel to the bicycle rack. 9. The surface protection article recited m claim 8, wherein the protection element comprises: a core section; anda shell section substantially encircling the core section and wherein at least a portion of at least one of the core section and the shell section is comprised of a shock absorbing material. 10. The surface protection article recited in claim 9, wherein the shell section includes a first side and a second side, the first side having an outer face and an inner face, and wherein when the bicycle is retained in the rack, a portion of the outer face of the first side of the shell section faces a surface of a rim of the wheel and absorbs at least a portion of any shock associated with the bicycle rack retaining strap securing the wheel to a bicycle rack. 11. The surface protection article of claim 10, wherein the shell section is configured to form at least one protrusion gap and the core section comprises at least one deflectable protrusion that extends through the at least one protrusion gap, and wherein the at least one deflectable protrusion is configured to contact with the rim surface and to absorb at least a portion of any shock associated with the bicycle being retained on the rack. 12. The surface protection article of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the shell section of the protecting element is made of a first material and at least a portion of the at least one deflectable protrusion extending from the core section is made of a second, more flexible material. 13. The surface protection article of claim 10, wherein the second side of the shell section is substantially parallel to the first side and has at least one gap space therethrough.