EP0526417A2

EP0526417A2 - Multipurpose matchable shoulder strap for shoulder carriers

Info

Publication number: EP0526417A2
Application number: EP92830373A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giancarlo Caputi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-07-17
Filing date: 1992-07-13
Publication date: 1993-02-03
Also published as: ITNA910031A1; ITNA910031A0; EP0526417A3

Abstract

A shoulder strap consisting of a simple or wadded band (1) having a connector element (22,24) on either end (14,16) wich may rapidly be connected and disconnected to other complementary element for intengagement with belts (64) or cables (3) of different kinds , e.g. Fig. 4 (6, 7,), in order to realize different types of shoulder carriers which permit to held objects hooking them to whichever carrier belts (64) or cables (3) joined to the shoulder strap. Joining whith fixed or removable junctions two shoulder straps to one or more cross-pieces, one has the possibility of realizing different ways of transportation on both shoulders, so as to leave one's hands free.

Description

The invention relates to a shoulder strap which is the essential part of a new kind of shoulder carriers which permit to transport objects by hooking them to belts or cables connected with the shoulder straps.
A multipurpose shoulder strap includes a band having a buckle element on each end which may rapidly be connected and disconnected to other bands having buckles. To obtain different types of strap arrangements for carrying articles on one or two shoulder straps, at least one cross piece is used to connect the two shoulder straps so as to leave one's hands free.
Until now, transporting of goods carried on one's shoulder was realized by use of a knapsack or a constant cross-section belt made of only one piece. The part of the belt contacting the shoulder, or shoulder strap, forces all of the weight of the carried goods on the shoulder itself, while the rest of the strap had the function of holding the goods. By enlarging the cross section of the shoulder belt, the carried weight was more evenly distributed on the shoulder, but this meant using a more cumbersome belt, because of the constant cross section of the belt. Besides commercialy available shoulder belts are meant for a few specific purposes, , and they are generally used for shoulder transportation of bags, of which are a part. For this reason one could carry only objects who fit into the bags. When bags emptied, one has cumbersome empty bags to carry.
This invention as claimed is intended to remedy these drawbaks . It solves these problems by increasing the function of a shoulder strap from one of carrying and by inclusion of a connection 30 element, e.g. part of a buckle, which makes it possible to clasp another strap or a cable, provided with a complementary element for interengagement with the buckle of the shoulder strap and provided with a goods-hooking apparatus . By this means it is possible not only to use different belts or cables for carrying of any kind of bag or other goods to be carried but also a shoulder carrier is formed which allows one to carry a load either by hooking it (directly an indipendently from use of bags) to said goods-hooking apparatus, either without any use of said hooking apparatus: it is possible by the invention, to simply insert a belt in a particular orientation on the thing one wants to carry and connect the belt to the shoulder strap assembly.
Each shoulder strap assembly may be used alone or joined to another strap assembly by one or more fixed or removable cross strap, which allow various ways of duoble shoulder transportation. When goods have been carried to destination there is no empty bag to carry, for one can fold in small space said shoulder carrier. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multipurpose shoulder strap having a connector to each end with the strap tapering from a central constant cross-sectional wicth to the connector.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a multipupose shoulder strap having a connector at each end with the strap tapering from a central constant cross-sectional width to the connector with the connectors being connected to another strap having connectors of complementary elements for carrying goods.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multipupose shoulder strap having a connector at each end with the strap tapering from a central constant cross-sectional width to the connector with two shoulder straps interconnected by at least one cross piece.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a multipurpose shoulder strap having a connector at each end with the strap tapering from a central cross-sectional width to the connector with two shoulder straps interconnected by at least one cross piece with each of the two shoulder straps connected to to another strap having complementary shaped connectors for the carrying of goods
It is still yet anothr object of the present invention to provide a one part of a two part connector joined to a roller.
It is still yet anothr object of the present invention to provide a multipurpose shoulder strap being a continuous loop having opposite folded ends wherein are located said rollers
It is still yet anothr object of the present invention to provide a two part connector for joining different wided straps.
These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In describing preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limitated to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
With reference to the drawings, in general, and to Figure 1, in particular, a shoulder strap embodying the teachings of the subject invention is generally designated as 1. With reference to its orientation in Figure 1, the shoulder strap assembly 1 includes an elongated belt 10 having a central portion 12 of substantially constant cross-sectional area. Each end 14, 16 of belt 10 is tapered inwardly from the central body portion 12 to a terminal end 18, 20 respectively. The reduced cross-sectional width of ends 14, 16 (which may he realised also by simply folding ends of a constant cross-sectional width strap), is used to secure a connector 22, 24 to each end 14, 16 ,respectively. The reduced cross-sectional width of ends 14, 16 is used to secure a connector 22, 24 to each end 14, 16, respectively. The connectors 22, 24 are one part of a two-part buckle assembly and are of a width less than that of central body portion 12
In Figure 2, the strap 1 is shown connected to another strap assembly 2 for carrying a bag 26 by a hook 28 having belt 30 of strap assembly 2 threaded through an opening 32 of the hook 28. Strap assembly 2 includes a connector part 34 at an end 36 of the belt 30 for interengagement with the connector 24 of the belt 10. A portion 38 of the belt 30 is treaded through connector portion 34 for adjusting the length of the belt 30. The two connectors 24 and 34 interengage to secure the belt 10. A similar interconnection of connector parts (non shown), including connector 22, is located on the rear of the individual 40. By the connection of strap assembly 2 to strap assembly 1, a container 26 is easily carried by the combined strap assemblies.
In Figure 3, two strap assemblies 1 are shown located on opposite shoulders of an individual 40. The two strap assemblies 1 are interconnected by a front cross-piece 4 so as to prevent shifting of the strap assemblies off the shoulders of the individual. The cross-piece (4) extends perpendicular to the two strap assemblies and is located between the two ends of the straps.
In Figure 3, a cable 3 is used to secure a suitcase 42 to the left strap assembly 1. The cable 3 includes a loop portion 44 at one end and at the opposite end 46 of the cable 3 is a connector portion 48 which is complementary shaped to connector 24 for interengagement with connector 24. At the rear of the individual 40, connector 48 of cable 3 interengages with connector 22, as shown in figure 1.
In Figure 3, on the right strap assembly 1, a strap assembly 5 includes an elongated belt 52 threaded through a hook member 54 to secure a pair of skis 50 within a loop formed by the belt 52. At opposite ends 56 of the belt 52 is a connector 24 for interengagement with connector 24. A similar arrangement is located at the rear of the individual 40. The connection to the strap assembly 1 facilitates the carrying of ski pair 50 while keeping the inividual's arms free for other uses.
In Figure 4, the rear of individual 40 is shown to illustrate a rear cross-piece 4 for interconnecting two strap assemblies 1. As in Figure 2, two strap assemblies 7 and 6 are shown for carrying a pail 60 or a container 26 by a hook 28. The strap assemblies 6 and 7 include connectors which are complementary shaped with the connectors 22 located at the opposite ends of the strap assemblies 1 as compared to the strap assemblies shown in Figure 3 for securing the straps 6 and 7 in place to carry different goods. The extremity 68 of belt 66 has a VELCRO-type hook fastener portion 62 which permits fastening of the extremity 68 to the VELCRO-type loop fastener portion 64 which is slidably mounted on the belt of the strap assembly simply by touching the surface of the hook fastener portion to the external surface of loop fastener portion. This avoids tiresome dangling of the extremity 68 of the belt 66 from the connector 74. The loop fastener portion 64 can always be positioned adjacent to the hook fastener portion 62 of strap extremity 68, for whatever length adjustment of the belt 66.
In Figure 5, a detailed view of the strap extremity 68 is shown with its hook fastener portion 62 located to an external surface of loop fastener portion 64. Portion 64 surrounds the belt 66.
In Figure 6, an alternate embodiment of shoulder strap assembly 1 is shown as strap 100. The strap 100 is a continuous loop having opposed folded ends 102, 104. Connector elements 24, 22 are connected to rollers 72, 80 located within the strap 100 by joining wire loop 106, 108 respectively. The shoulder strap 100 operates as a sliding continuous loop, avoiding sliding friction on the shoulder when a load connected to the strap 100 shifts its position.
In Figure 7, a lower cross-strap 76 connects strap assemblies 6 and 7 to support the feet of a child 74, whose back is supported by an upper cross-strap 78 passing under the arms of individual 40 and is fixed to the front of shoulder strap assemblies 1 .
In Figure 8, a single shoulder carrier as in Figure 2 is shown where the shoulder strap assembly 1 is used for hanging a jacket 82. A strap 86 having a hook 88 is used to hook the strap assembly to a branch 84.
Having described the invention, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A shoulder strap assembly (1) characterised in that it comprises:
a strap (10) (optionally provided with inward or outward padding) having two ends (14., 16) , and
one part (22, 24) of a two part connector located at each of said two ends of said strap,

2. A shoulder strap assembly according to claim 1, wherein a width of said connector (22, 24) is less than a width of said strap (1),
said strap (1) having a constant width cross-section over a majority of its length and tapering inwardly towards said two ends (14, 16) for securing of said one part of said two part connector at each of said two ends (14, 16).

3. A shoulder strap assembly according to claim 1, wherein said one part (22, 24) of said two part connector is identical for both of said two ends (14, 16).

4. A shoulder strap assembly according to claim 1, further comprising means cooperating with said strap and its associated connectors for carrying goods by connection of said means with said connectors.

5. A shoulder strap assembly according to claim 4, wherein said means includes a belt (2) (optionally provided with a goods-hooking apparatus (28)) having a two part hook and loop fastener, one part (62) being secured to said belt at an end and the other part being slidably mounted on said belt (64).

6. A carrying apparatus characterised in that it comprises:
two shoulder straps (1) each having two ends,
one part (24) of a two part connector located at each of said two ends of said two shoulder straps (1),
at least one cross-piece (4) mounted (by means of fixed or removable junctions) between said two shoulder straps (1) and betwween said two ends of each of said two shoulder straps, said at least one cross-piece (4) extending
perpendicular to said two shoulder straps for stabilizing said two shoulder straps (1) when located over the shoulders of an individual (40).

7. A carrying apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means cooperating with one of said two shoulder straps and its associated connectors for carrying goods by connection of said means with said connectors.

8. A carrying apparatus according to claim 6, wherein there are two cross-pieces for extending across a front and a back of an individual.

9. A carrying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means includes a cable (3).

10. A carrying apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said cable includes two hooks connected to one of said two shoulder straps.

11. A carrying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means includes a belt.

12. A carrying apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means includes a belt having a two part hook and loop fastener, one part (62) being secured to said belt (6) at an end (68) and the other part (64) being slidably mounted on said belt (6).

13. A part of a two part connector characterised in that it comprises:
a connection-shaped end (22) , a roller (80) and a joining loop (108).

14. A shoulder strap according to claim 1, wherein the strap 100 is a continuous loop having opposite folded ends and wherein connector elements (24, 22) are connected to the rollers of a part of a two part connector according to claim 13.

15. A carrying apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a lower cross-strap (76 ) connecting strap assemblies (6) and (7) with one upper cross-strap (78) passing under the arms of individual (40) and fixed on the front of shoulder straps assemblies (1).

16. A two part (218, 220) connector for connecting differently wided straps (6, 200) characterised in that it is composed by one part (218) having its two ends (202, 204) of a different width, the more wide side (202) of which being fixed to more wide strap (200). and the more narrow side (204) of which having to be connected with the front (210) of the second part of said two part connector. That said more narrow side (204) is provided with locking pins (208) located just to prevent vertical movements when said front (210) is placed in the locking space (216). That the rear of said second part of said two part connector has a pin (211) slidably mounted on lateral elements (213) for fixing more narrow strap (6) and permit length adjustment.

17) A shoulder strap according to claim 1 wherein strap (200) has a constant sectional width from end to end, having each end a part (218) of a two part connector according to claim 16.