GB2415122A

GB2415122A - An accessory carrier

Info

Publication number: GB2415122A
Application number: GB0413802A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Morace Gary Park
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-06-19
Filing date: 2004-06-19
Publication date: 2005-12-21
Also published as: GB0413802D0; WO2005122826A1; US20080041899A1; GB0624933D0; GB2430136A; EP1768510A1

Abstract

A carrier for personal accessories comprises a support 10, attachment means 22, 23 for attaching the support to a user's body, and a fixing mechanism mounted on the support that engages with a co-operating fixing mechanism on an accessory. Preferably the support has a pair of adjustable straps 22, 23 to attach the support to the user's body, that pass through longitudinal slots 20 in the support enabling the position of the straps to be adjusted relative to the support member 10. The carrier 8 may carry various accessories such as a personal stereo 32, a water bottle 34, a bag 30, mobile phone 38 or lockable box (Fig 8), where each of the accessories has a fixing mechanism connected to it that detachably fastens the accessory to the carrier 8. Preferably the fastening mechanism comprises a projection on the accessory or carrier and a recess on the other. The support may have cushioned pads 22a, 22b, 22c made from foam or neoprene and worn on the arm, leg, waist or head of the user. Alternatively the support of the carrier may be attached to a single strap where one end of the strap is detachably fastened to the support (Fig 5) where the fastening mechanism includes a snap-fit connection preventing the accessory from being removed without the cooperation of the user.

Description

PERSONAL ACCESSORY CARRIER

This invention relates to personal accessory carriers.

Personal possessions are carried in many ways. For example they can be carried in bags such as handbags, rucksacks, holdalls, shoulder bags, wallets and "bumbags". Many items of clothing contain pockets in which possessions can be carried, whilst the most simple method of carrying is "in hand".

However, items carried in bags are generally not instantly accessible, and when items are carried in pockets they tend to cause the pockets to bulge, which can be uncomfortable. Carrying items "in hand" allows instant accessibility, but occupies the hand. This is a recognised problem, giving rise to the increase in "hands-free" items, such as mobile phone kits.

Security is also an issue that needs to be addressed. Pick pockets and bag snatchers can make known methods of carrying items unsafe. Also men have a particular aversion to carrying handbags and generally appreciate something more masculine.

There are certain time when carrying items can cause particular problems. For example whilst training or engaging in sport, or whilst doing certain jobs, where the hands need to be kept free, clothing worn may not have pockets, and a bag would be an undesirable encumbrance.

This invention aims to overcome these problems, and therefore provides a carrier for a personal accessory, the carrier comprising a support, attachment means for attaching the support to a user's body, and releasable fixing means mounted on the support and arranged to engage releasably with a cooperating fixing means on the accessory.

Accordingly the present invention providers a carrier for a personal accessory, the carrier comprising a platform, attachment means for attaching the platform to a user's body, and a fixing mechanism supported on the platform and arranged for engagement with a co-operating fixing mechanism on the accessory.

Preferred embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a carrier according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure shows the carrier of Figure attached to different parts of a user's arm; Figure 3 shows a system including the carrier of Figure and a number of accessories; Figure 4 shows the carrier of Figure attached to further parts of a user's body; Figure 5 shows a carrier according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 shows part of a strap of the carried of Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a fixing mechanism for attachment to an accessory and for cooperation with the carrier of Figure 5; Figure 8 shows a box for use with the carrier of Figure 5; Referring to Figures and a carrier 8 according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises a support member to and pair of straps to, 4 for attaching the support member lo to the user's body. The support member to is flat and substantially rectangular in shape, and indudes a central fixing section 16, and an attachment section 8 at each end. The fixing section has a fixing mechanism 8 on it that is arranged to have one of a number of accessories releaseably fixed to it. For example the fixing mechanism may comprise one half of a snap-fit connection, the other half of which is attached to each accessory that is to be used with the carrier 8.

Each attachment section 8 has a pair of parallel longitudinal slots so through it.

Each of the straps Ad, 4 passes through one of the pairs of slots no so that the support member to can be attached to the user's body by the straps Ad, t4. The slots to are longer than the straps 2, 4 are wider, thereby enabling the position of the straps to be adjusted relative to the support member to, thereby to adjust the distance between the straps lo, 14.

Cushioning pads ova, mob, ooc formed of foam or neoprene are attached to the rear of the support member to, one at each end and one in the centre, so as to hold the support member to clear of the user's body when in use. This improves comfort by providing a soft contact point between the support member lo and the user's body, and by leaving a gap between the support member lo and the user's body through which the straps lo, t4 can pass so that they are not pressed against the user's body, as can best be seen in Figure a.

Referring still to Figure a, the carrier 8 can be attached to the user's upper arm 4, or forearm o6.

Referring to Figure 3, the carrier 8 can be used with a number of different accessories including a bag 30, a personal stereo 3, a water bottle 34, a torch 36 and a mobile phone or walkie/talkie 38. Each of these accessories has a fixing mechanism 40 connected to it, which is arranged to cooperate with fixing mechanism 9 on the carrier 8 to releasably attach the accessory to the carrier 8.

Referring to Figure 4, the carrier 8 can be attached to other parts of the user's body apart from the upper arm and forearm. For example it can be attached to the user's thigh 4o or calf 44 as shown. As further option, if the straps e, 4 are made long enough, it can be attached to the waist, torso or head.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, in a second embodiment of the invention, a carrier comprises a support member So, with an attachment mechanism 54 mounted on it and a single strap 56 attached at each of its ends to one end of the support member 5. A slot 58 at one end of the support member allows one end of the strap 56 to be attached to it in an adjustable manner so that the length of the strap can be adjusted. The other end of the platform 5 has a socket formed within it that is arranged to receive a tongue 60 projecting form one end of the strap 56. The tongue 60 has an aperture 61 through it that is in the shape of a U having its two ends towards the free end 6z of the tongue 60. The portion 63 of the tongue 60 between the sides of the U-shaped slot has a release button 64 formed at its free end 66, which is furthest from the free end 6 of the tongue 60, and a retaining rib 66 extending across it between its base 68 and the release button 64. This portion 6 of the tongue therefore forms half of a release catch, as the release button 64 can be pushed to lower the rib 66 thereby releasing it from a co-operating groove within the socket in the platform 5. The release catch therefore enables the strap 56 to be fastened around a part of the user's body, and released quickly, once its length has been adjusted as required.

As can be seen in Figure 5, the attachment mechanism 54 comprises two side walls 70, 7o extending across the platform So joined at one end by an end wall 74.

Retaining flanges 76, 78 extend inwards from the tops of the side walls 70, 7o, leaving a gap 80 between them that is narrower than the spacing between the side walls 70, 7. The gap 80 widens towards one end that is opposite to the wall end 74. A cavity 8 is therefore formed between the side walls 70, 7o and behind the retaining flanges 76, 78, which is open at one end.

Referring to Figure 7, an attachment mechanism 8z that is mounted on an accessory comprises a flat base 84 having a retaining projection 86 and two side flanges 88, go formed on it. The retaining projection 86 has a narrow base go and wider flat rectangular top 94. Each of the side flanges 88, go also has a narrow base 96 running parallel to the base Do of the projection 86, and top portion 98 extending inwards towards the top 94 of the main projection 86 such that a narrow gap too remains between them.

In order to attach the accessory to the carrier 50, the projection 86 is aligned with the open end of the cavity 8 and slid into it so that the top 94 of the retaining projection slides into the cavity 8. The top 94 of the retaining projection 86 is therefore held against the carrier 52 by the flanges 76, 78 so that the accessory is firmly attached to the carrier 50. A small dome 10o on the top of the projection 86 cooperates with a depression cod in the carrier 50 to form a snap-fit locating mechanism that retains the accessory in position on the carrier when the projection 86 is fully inserted into the cavity 8.

Referring to Figure 8, one accessory that can be used with the carrier 50 comprises a box Pro, have a base o and a lid 4. The fixing mechanism So is fixed to the underside of the base ale, and the lid 4 is hinged to the base Ace.

The box can be made waterproof, and the lid 4 can be securable, for example by a lock to provide security so that valuable items can be carried in the box.

It will be appreciated that the fixing mechanism of the second embodiment make the accessory difficult to remove without the cooperation of the user. This is because the fixing mechanism on the accessory needs to be slid out of that on the carrier in a direction that is parallel to the plane of the carrier, i.e. substantially parallel to the surface of the body part to which the accessory is attached.

For example if the carrier is mounted on the user's arm, the accessory needs to be moved in a direction along the arm to remove it. If the carrier is arranged so that the open end of the cavity 8 faces up the user's arm, then the direction in which the accessory needs to be moved to release it is up the user's arm, toward the elbow is if it attached to the forearm and towards the shoulder if it is attached to the upper arm. The make s is particularly difficult for a thief to snatch the accessory.

Claims

1. A carrier for a personal accessory, the carrier comprising a platform, attachment means for attaching the platform to a user's body, and a fixing mechanism supported on the platform and arranged for engagement with a co-operating fixing mechanism on the accessory.

2. A carrier according to claim l wherein the attachment means comprises a strap.

3. A carrier according to claim 2 wherein the strap is adjustable in length so as to fit different parts of the user's body.

4. A carrier according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein one end of the strap is connected to the platform by means of a releasable fastening.

5. A carrier according to claim 4 wherein the releasable fastening includes a release member that can be pushed to release the fastening.

6. A carrier according to any of claims 2 to 5 wherein the attachment means comprises two straps.

7. A carrier according to any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the position of attachment of the strap, or one of the straps, is adjustable relative to the platform.

8. A carrier according to any foregoing claim wherein the platform has cushioning on its rear surface arranged to rest against the user when the carrier is in use.

9. A carrier according to any foregoing claim that is waterproof.

10. A carrier and accessory combination comprising a carrier according to any foregoing claim and an accessory having the cooperating fixing mechanism on it, wherein the fixing mechanisms are arranged such that a projection on one of them can slide into a recess on the other to fix the accessory to the carrier.

11. A combination according to claim 10 wherein the two fixing mechanisms are arranged to slide in a direction relative to each other that is substantially parallel to the plane of the platform.

12. A combination according to claim 11 wherein the fixing mechanisms are arranged such that said direction is substantially perpendicular to the length of the strap.

13. A combination according to any of claims 10 to 12 further comprising locating means arranged to locate the two fixing mechanism in position when they are fully engaged with each other.

14. A carrier for an accessory substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

14. An accessory and carrier kit comprising a combination according to any of claims 10 to 13 and at least one further accessory having a cooperating fixing mechanism on it so that either of the accessories can be mounted on the carrier.