GB2306877A

GB2306877A - Shock absorbing suspension strap

Info

Publication number: GB2306877A
Application number: GB9623528A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Watson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-11-09
Filing date: 1996-11-11
Publication date: 1997-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 2016-11-11
Also published as: CA2162525A1; GB2306877A8; GB2306877B; GB9623528D0

Abstract

A shock absorber suspension strap includes an elastic component that cushions sudden loadings on the strap or movements of the load as would occur carrying a heavy bag with a shoulder strap. The shock absorber also includes a non-elastic stretch limiting component to prevent over-stretching of the elastic component. The shock absorber strap can be used with e.g. mail bags and golf bags. Elastic webbing (16), comprising uni-axially stretchable woven textile fabric is secured to a padded sleeve (18) via stitching (20), and to non-elastic webbing (14) via stitching (17). The webbing has an elastic component together with a non-elastic matrix component to limit the stretch of the elastic component.

Description

PERSONAL SHOCK bUSPEN~SIQN STRAP FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present Invention relates to suspension straps and more particularly to personal use shock absorbing straps for suspending various loads, for example mail bags or golf bags.

BACKGROUND Load carrying straps are used for many purposes. Specific examples of the numerous uses that they have are mail bags. golf bags, backpacks and firearm slings. These straps are usually slung over the shoulder to support the weight to be canied. In walking with a bag supported on the shoulder, the inertia of the bag causes it to move relative to the carrier's body. This produces a periodic jerking of the strap on the shoulder. This intermittent loading is a source of short term physical discomfort. In the long term, continued carriage of such a load may lead to more severe physiological effects, for example arthritis.

The present Invention proposes a shock absorbing carrying strap to ameliorate the effects of intermittent loading.

SUM MARY According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a shock absorbing strap for carrying a load, said strap comprising: at least one non-stretchable suap length of flexible, non-elastic material; at least one stretchable strap length secured to each nonstretchable strap length to form a continuous strap length, the stretchable strap length including: an elastic component allowing the stretchable strap length to elongate from a relaxed length when tensloncd, and a non-elastic component limiting the elongation of the stretchable strap length to a sully stretched length greater than the relaxed length; and fastening means al each end of the strap for securing the strap to the toad.

The stretchable length of the strap will yield with movements of the load in order to mitigate sudden or high dynamic loadings on the strap that would otherwise occur. The non-elastic component of the stretchable length limits x elastic movement to magnitudes acceptable for comfon.

The strength of the non-elastic component is sufficient to withstand all anticipated loadings on the strap.

The stretchable strap length may be at one end of the strap or it may be between the ends of the strap. The strap may include a padded sleeve, with the stretchable strap length extending through the sleeve. The strap may be used on a load carrying bag, for example a mail bag or a golf bag.

The elastic and non-elastic components of the stretchable strap length are preferably integral components of a length of stretch webbing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TME DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention Figure 1 is an isometric view of a shock absorbing carrying strap: Figure 2 IllustraTes a mail bag with a shock absorbing strap: Figure 3 illustrates a golf bag with a shock absorbing strap; and Figure 4 illustrates a rifle equipped with a shock absorbing carrying strap.

DETAILED DCPTlCN Referring to the accompanying drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, there is illustrated e carrying strap 10 with a hook 12 at each end for connecting the strap to a load to be carried. Each hook 12 is connected to a respective one of two lengths of non-elastic webbing 14. The two lengths of non-elastic webbing are in turn connected to opposite ends of a length of elastic webbing 16 by stitching 17.

The elastic webbing 16 is a uniaxially suetchable woven textile fabric. It has an integrated elastic material component that contracts the webbing to a relaxed length while the non-elastic woven matrix component of the webbing limits the amount of stretch to maintain the integrity of the webbing.

This composite strap with non-stretchable lengths 14 and stretchable length 16 extends through a padded sleeve 18. The center of the length of elastic webbing 16 is secured to the center of the sleeve 18 by a row of stitching 20. This provides a shock absorbing capacity on both sides of the line of stitching, symmetrically with respect to the sleeve 18.

To connect the webbing 14 to the hook 12, the webbing is looped through a base ring 22 of the hook and threaded through a buckle 24 on the standing part of the webbing, This provides an adjustable hook position on the webbing, so tht the total length of the strap may be adjusted.

Figure 2 of the drawings illustrates a mail bag 26 fitted with the strap 10 for carrying the bag on the shoulder.

Figure 3 illustrates a golf bap 28. This includes the bag 30 and a carrying strap 32. The strap includes a band 34 of stretch webbing as described above extending through a padded sleeve 36. The band has one end permanently fastened to the structure of the golf bag, while the opposite end is threaded through the base ring of a hook 38 and is fastened into an adjustable length loop by a buckle 40.

A further embodiment of the invention is disclosed in Figure 4, whcre a strap 42 is attached To a firearm 44 as a sling. The strap has a nonrsuetchable length 46 looped through the swivel 48 and fastened with a buckle 50. The end of the non stretchable length 46 is stitched to a stretchable length 52. The end of this length is looped through the base ring of a snap hook 54 clipped to the eye 56 on the stock.

In each embodiment the strap of the present invention includes an elastically stretchable component that cushions the sudden loadings that may be applied to a load carrying strap, thus ameliorating discomfort and the long term effects of carrying heavy loads, as in a work place environment. At the same time, the stretch of the stretchable component Is limited to prevent excessive stretching and possible damage under excessively high static and dynamic loads.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been describcd in the foregoing, it is to be understood that many other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention and are intended to be included wlthin the scope of this application. In one alternative en embodiment like that of Figure 1 uses a two-loop buckle in place of the stitching 17 for connecting the elastic and non-elastic straps. The straps may be wrapped through the loops and stitched In place. With buckle loops of different sizes. the two straps may be of different widths.

Another application of the suspension strap is to backpacks and the like, where the shoulder harness of the strap may consist of or incorporate shock absorbing straps according to the present invention. The invention is therefore to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended calms,

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A shock absorbing strap for carrying a load, said strap comprising: at least one non-stretchable strap length of flexible, non-elastic material; at least one stretchable strap length secured to each nonstretchable strap length to form a continuous strap length, the stretchable strap length including: an elastic component allowing the stretchable strap length to elongate from a relaxed length when tensioned, and a non-elastic component limiting the elongation of me stretchable strap length to a fully stretched length greater than the relaxed length; and fastening means at each end of the strap for securing the strap to the load.
2. A strap according to Claim 1 wherein the stretchable strap length is at one end of the strap.
3. A strap according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the strap comprises a padded sleeve and the stretchable strap length extends through the sleeve.
4. A strap according to Claim 3 wherein the stretchable strap length is secured to the padded sleeve.
5. A strap according to Claim 4 wherein the stretchable strap length is secured to the padded sleeve between thc ends of the stretchable strap length.
6. A load-carrying bag having a shoulder strap secured thereto.

said shoulder strap comprising a shock absorbing strap according to any preceeding Claim.
7.. A bag according to Claim 6 wherein the bag is a mail bag.
8. A bag according to Claim 6 wherein the bag is a golf bag.
9. Apparatus according to any preceeding Claim wherein the stretchable strap length comprises a Icngth of uniaxially stretchable stretch webbing.
10. A golf bag having a shoulder strap according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 secured thereto, said shoulder strap having one end permanently secured to the bag and another end adjustably secured to the bag.