Stand-off mounting system for assist straps

Claim 2

An assist strap for attaching onto a surface comprising: a strength-imparting member extending the length of said assist strap, said strap having an end; an anti-rotation member engaging said end of said assist strap and cooperative with said surface for resisting substantial rotation of said end relative to said surface, said anti-rotation member including a pair of flanges for overlying said end of said assist strap and being configured to allow insertion of said end into a cooperative anti-rotation relationship therewith with said flanges overlying said end of said assist strap; a first fastener securing said end and said anti-rotation member to said surface; a cover cooperating with said anti-rotation member for concealing the entirety of said anti-rotation member, said end, and said first fastener.

Claim 3

An assist strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first fastener is secured to said surface via a second fastener which is attached to said surface in an anti-rotational fashion.

Claim 4

An assist strap as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first fastener is a threaded screw and said second fastener is a nut.

Claim 5

An assist strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lateral extremities of said anti-rotation member are completely within the lateral confines of said cover.

Claim 6

An assist strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said anti-rotation member is constructed of resilient material.

Claim 7

An assist strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said anti-rotation member is constructed of a strong plastic.

Claim 8

An assist strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein the exterior surfaces of said anti-rotation member are unfinished.

Claim 9

An assist strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said overlying flanges secure said end to said anti-rotation member.

Claim 10

An assist strap as set forth in claim 1 wherein said anti-rotation member includes a snap-in projection for securing said end to said anti-rotation member.

Claim 11

An assist strap for attaching onto a vehicle surface comprising: a strength-imparting member extending the length of said assist strap, said strap having an end; an anti-rotation member engaging said end of said assist strap and cooperative with said surface for resisting substantial rotation of said end relative to said surface; said anti-rotation member including flanges which overlie said end and a snap-in projection for securing said end to said anti-rotation member; said flanges of said anti-rotation member which overlie said end and said projection of said anti-rotation member cooperating with said end such that insertion of said end into said anti-rotation member causes said projection to be snapped into an opening in said end, said flanges holding said end in such operative position; a first fastener securing said end and said anti-rotation member to said surface; a cover cooperating with said anti-rotation member for concealing the entirety of said anti-rotation member, said end, and said first fastener.

Claim 12

An assist strap for attaching onto a vehicle surface comprising: a strength-imparting member extending the length of said assist strap, said strap having an end; an anti-rotation member engaging said end of said assist strap and cooperative with said surface for resisting substantial rotation of said end relative to said surface; said anti-rotation member including flanges which overlie said end and a snap-in projection for securing said end to said anti-rotation member; said flanges of said anti-rotation member which overlie said end and said projection of said anti-rotation member cooperating with said end such that insertion of said end into said anti-rotation member causes said projection to be snapped into an opening in said end, said flanges holding said end in such operative position; a first fastener securing said end and said anti-rotation member to said surface; a cover cooperating with said anti-rotation member for concealing the entirety of said anti-rotation member, said end, and said first fastener.

Claim 13

An assist strap as set forth in claim 10 wherein said projection and said flanges of said anti-rotation member perform thier operative function with respect to said end via their construction of a resilient material.

Claim 14

An assist strap for attaching onto a surface comprising: a strength imparting member extending the length of said assist strap, said strap having an end; an anti-rotation member constructed of resilient material with unfinished surfaces, said anti-rotation member engaging said end of said assist strap and cooperative with said surface for resisting substantial rotation of said end relative to said surface, said anti-rotation member including a pair of flanges for overlying said end of said assist strap and being configured to allow insertion of said end into a cooperative anti-rotation relationship therewith with said flanges overlying said end of said assist strap; a fastening system wherein a first fastener extends through a first hole in said anti-rotation member and through a second hole in said end and threads into a second fastener which is attached to said vehicle surface in an anti-rotational fashion; a cover defining an enclosure within which all the lateral extremities of said anti-rotation member, said end, and said first fastener are completely received and concealed in their entirety when said cover is removably engaged with said anti-rotation member.

Claim 15

An assist strap for attaching onto a surface comprising: a strength imparting member extending the length of said assist strap, said strap having an end; an anti-rotation member constructed of resilient material with unfinished surfaces, said anti-rotation member engaging said end of said assist strap and cooperative with said surface for resisting substantial rotation of said end relative to said surface, said anti-rotation member including a pair of flanges for overlying said end of said assist strap and being configured to allow insertion of said end into a cooperative anti-rotation relationship therewith with said flanges overlying said end of said assist strap; a fastening system wherein a first fastener extends through a first hole in said anti-rotation member and through a second hole in said end and threads into a second fastener which is attached to said vehicle surface in an anti-rotational fashion; a cover defining an enclosure within which all the lateral extremities of said anti-rotation member, said end, and said first fastener are completely received and concealed in their entirety when said cover is removably engaged with said anti-rotation member.

Claim 16

An assist strap as set forth in claim 12 wherein said anti-rotation member is constructed of a strong plastic.

Claim 17

An assist strap as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first fastener is a threaded screw and said second fastener is a nut.

Claim 18

An assist strap for attaching onto a vehicle surface comprising: a strength imparting member extending the length of said assist strap, said strap having an end; an anti-rotation member constructed of resilient material with unfinished surfaces, said anti-rotation member engaging said end of said assist strap and cooperative with said surface for resisting substantial rotation of said end relative to said surface; said anti-rotation member including overlying flanges and a snap-in projection such that said flanges overlie said end and said projection cooperates with said end so that insertion of said end into said anti-rotation member causes said projection to be snapped into said second hole in said strap end, said flanges holding said end in such operative position; a fastening system wherein a first fastener extends through a first hole in said anti-rotation member and through a second hole in said end and threads into a second fastener which is attached to said vehicle surface in an anti-rotational fashion; a cover defining an enclosure within which all the lateral extremities of said anti-rotation member, said end, and said first fastener are completely received and concealed in their entirety when said cover is removably engaged with said anti-rotation member.

Claim 19

An assist strap for attaching onto a vehicle surface comprising: a strength imparting member extending the length of said assist strap, said strap having an end; an anti-rotation member constructed of resilient material with unfinished surfaces, said anti-rotation member engaging said end of said assist strap and cooperative with said surface for resisting substantial rotation of said end relative to said surface; said anti-rotation member including overlying flanges and a snap-in projection such that said flanges overlie said end and said projection cooperates with said end so that insertion of said end into said anti-rotation member causes said projection to be snapped into said second hole in said strap end, said flanges holding said end in such operative position; a fastening system wherein a first fastener extends through a first hole in said anti-rotation member and through a second hole in said end and threads into a second fastener which is attached to said vehicle surface in an anti-rotational fashion; a cover defining an enclosure within which all the lateral extremities of said anti-rotation member, said end, and said first fastener are completely received and concealed in their entirety when said cover is removably engaged with said anti-rotation member.