US3259285A

US3259285A - Combined shoulder strap and handgrip

Info

Publication number: US3259285A
Application number: US467567A
Authority: US
Inventors: George W Bush
Original assignee: Philadelphia Handle Co
Current assignee: Philadelphia Handle Co; PHILADELPHIA HANDLE CO Inc
Priority date: 1965-06-28
Filing date: 1965-06-28
Publication date: 1966-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 1983-07-05

Description

July 5, 1966 G. w. BUSH 3,259,285

COMBINED SHOULDER STRAP AND HANDGRIP Filed June 28J 1965 34 a f; KW

#WH/raf, GEORGE W. BUSH MMMW United States Patent O 3,259,285 COMBINED SHOULDER STRAP AND HANDGRH George W. Bush, Haddoniield, NJ., assignor to Philadelphia Handle Company, Inc., Camden, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,567 6 Claims. (Cl. 224-46) This invent-ion relates to a combined shoulder strap and handgrip for use in carrying photographic equipment, portable radios, test equipment, handbags and similar articles.

Heretofore there has not been a satisfactory means to convert a shoulder strap to a handgrip. The usual method involves the removal of a strap section and a rebuckling of the straps which remain attached to the carrying case. This does not shorten the handle suiciently to render it a true handgrip and furthermore is uncomfortable since the buckle engages the palm.

The primary object of the invention is to overcome these disadvantages by providing a construction which makes it possible quickly to convert from a shoulder strap length to a regular handle height above the carrying case and with a smooth, comfortable and attractive handgrip.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined shoulder strap and handgrip wherein the handgrip is slidably mounted on the shoulder strap `and includes a plurality of spaced grooves which open through the side thereof and are adapted to receive portions of the strap to thereby shorten the same and position the handgrip at regular handle height above the carrying case.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cornbined shoulder strap and handgrip of the character described in which the grooves are contoured to allow easy placement of the shoulder strap portions therein but act to releasably retain said portions lin the grooves.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. l, is a perspective view of the handle illustrating the handgrip position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the shoulder strap position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the handle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the handgrip portion as shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of FIG. 5.

Specific reference is now made to the drawings wherein similar reference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

Indicated generally `at 10 is a suitable carrying case, portable photographic equipment, radio, test equipment and the like to the sides 12 of which is pivotally attached by any conventional means, such as a rivet, headed screw or the like 14, a shoulder strap 16 which is preferably but not necessarily flat, of rectangular cross-section, and made of suitable materials, such as liexible plastics, leather or cloth.

A handgrip 18 is provided which is preferably but not necessarily rectangular in cross-section, is made of an extruded hard plastic, is smooth, and is of a length approximating that of the carrying case so that in the handgrip position of FIG. 1, better comfort and appearance results.

The handgrip is molded or otherwise made to contain upper and lower

continuous walls

20 and 22, a continuous connecting wall 24 on one side thereof, a discontinuous wall on the other side consisting of a continuous lower "ice portion 26 and a plurality of vertically spaced through slots 23 and 30 thereabove which are Coextensive with the handgrip, and a plurality of vertically spaced bars which are coextensive with the handgrip, one of which 32 extends between the sidewall 24 and the other sidewall portion 26, and the other of which 34 extends between the sidewall 24 and the portion 36 of the other sidewall which is located between the

slots

28 and 30.

The

sidewalls

24 and 26, the lower wall 22 and the bar 32 define between them a channel 38 'which is coextensive with the handgrip and is closed at its top, bottom and sides but open at its ends and through which a portion 40 of the Ishoulder `strap slidably extends. The sidewall 24 and

opposite sidewall portions

26 and 36 and the bars 32 and 34 dene between them a groove 42 which is coextensive with the handgrip, is closed at its top and bottom and on one side, but is open at its other side through slot 28 and is open at its ends. Similarly, the upper portion of the sidewall 24, the upper portion of the opposite sidewall 44, the upper wall 20 and the upper bar 34 dene between them an upper groove 46 which is coextensive with the handgrip, is closed at its top and bottom and on one side, but is open at its other side, through slot 30, and is open at its ends. It will be noted that the channel 38 and the

grooves

42 and 46 have substantially rounded longitudinal sides whereas the strap 16 is substantially rectangular in cross-section.

In use, when the carrying member is used as a shoulder strap, as in FIG. 2, the handgrip 20 is slid on the strap 16 to :a position which can be comfortably gripped by the hand on the same side as the shoulder over which the strap is slung. When one wishes to convert the member to a regula-r handle, he takes the longest portion of the strap and places it into the lower groove 42 by pushing it through the slot 28. This forms a portion 48 which extends lengthwise through the lower groove 42 which has a loop 50 that is disposed outside one of its ends. The remainder of the strap is then placed into the upper groove 46 by pushing it through the slot 30. This forms a portion 52 which extends lengthwise through the upper groove 46 which has a loop 54 that is disposed outside the other end of the handgrip. In so doing, the strap is eifectively shortened so that two

portions

56 and 58 remain attached to the carrying case, see FIG. l, and the handgrip 18 extends substantially parallel to the upper wall 60 of the case at a comfortable hand carrying distance therefrom. It will be understood that by varying the length of the handgrip and providing a plurality of grooves, the distance of the handgrip from the case can be varied as desired. It should also be noted that the thickness of the Istrap is less than the height of

grooves

42 and 46 but exceeds that of the

slots

28 and 30 so that when the strap is pushed through the slots the latter are opened wider by exing action of the handgrip at the slots, and when the strap is disposed in the grooves it is effectively retained therein since it requires a positive force again to withdraw it through the slots.

While a preferred embodiment of the 4invention has here been shown and described, a skilled artisan may make minor variations without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. It will be understood that the term carrying case used in the claims is intended to generically cover portable photographic equipment, radios, test equipment, handbags and the like.

I claim:

1. A combined shoulder strap and handgrip comprising an elongated strap adapted for connection at its ends to a carrying case, a handgrip including `an elongated member having a channel extending therethrough and slidably receiving one portion of said strap, and a plurality of Vertically spaced grooves above said channel extending through said member and opening through one side thereof, said grooves being adapted to removably receive lengths of the remaining portion of said strap to thereby shorten the overall length of said strap and position said member substantially midway between the ends of said strap.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the height of said openings of said grooves through said one side of said member is less than the thickness of said strap so that said openings are flexed upon insertion into or removal of said strap from said grooves.

3. A combined shoulder strap and handgrip comprising an elongated strap adapted for connection at its ends to a carrying case, a handgrip including an elongated member having upper and l-ower walls, opposite sidewalls, vertically spaced bars therebetween and slots opening through one sidewall between said bars and between said upper wall and an adjacent bar, said lower wall, adjacent bar and sidewalls deiining between them an open-ended channel coextensive with said member and slidably receiving a portion of ysaid strap, and the remaining structure providing vertically spaced grooves ooextensive with said member which are open at their ends and at said one sidewall through said slots, said grooves being adapted to removably receive lengths of the remaining portion of said strap through said slots and the open ends of said groove to thereby shorten the overall length of said strap and position said member substantially midway between the ends of said strap.

4. A combined shoulder strap and handgrip compri-sing an elongated strap adapted for connection at its ends to a carrying case, a handgrip including an elongated member having upper and lower walls7 opposite sidewalls7 vertically spaced bars therebetween and slots opening through one sidewall between said bars and between said upper wall and an adjacent bar, `said slots being narrower than the thickness of said strap, said lower wall, adjacent bar and sidewalls defining between them an open-ended channel coeXtensive with said member and slidably receiving a portion of said strap, and the remaining structure providing vertically spaced grooves coextensive with said member which are open at their ends and at said one sidewall through said slots, said grooves being adapted to slidably and removably receive lengths of the remaining portion of said strap through said slots and the open ends of said grooves to thereby shorten the overall length of said strap and position said member substantially midway between the ends of said strap.

5. A combined shoulder strap and handgrip comprising an elongated strap adapted for connection at its ends to a carrying case, a handgrip including an elongated member having at least one sidewall and a channel therein coextensive therewith vand opening through the ends thereof, said channel receiving a portion `of said strap, a groove in said member coextensive therewith and spaced from said channel, a slot through said sidewall coextensve with said member and opening into said groove, said groove being adapted to removably receive a length of the remaining portion of said strap to thereby shorten the overall length of said strap and position said member substantially midway between the ends of said strap.

6. A combined shoulder strap and handgrip comprising an elongated strap adapted for connection at its ends to a carrying case, a handgrip including an elongated member having at least one sidewall and a channel therein coextensive therewith and opening through the ends thereof, said channel receiving a portion of said strap, a groove in said member coeXtensive therewith and spaced from said channel, a slot through said sidewall coextensive with said member and opening into said groove, said slot being narrower than the thickness of said strap, said groove being adapted to slidably and removably receive a length of the remaining portion of said strap to thereby shorten the overall length of said strap and position said member substantially midway between the ends of said strap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,832 5/1900 Furnivall. 2,041,691 5/1936 Becklin. 2,617,569 1l/l952 Sommer.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

F. WERNER, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A COMBINED SHOULDER STRAP AND HANDGRIP COMPRISING AN ELONGATED STRAP ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION AT ITS ENDS TO A CARRYING CASE, A HANDGRIP INCLUDING AN ELONGATED MEMBER HAVING A CHANNEL EXTENDING THERETHROUGH AND SLIDABLY RECEIVING ONE PORTION OF SAID STRAP, AND A PLURALITY OF VERCALLY SPACED GROOVES ABOVE SAID CHANNEL EXTENDING THROUGH SAID MEMBER AND OPENING THROUGH ONE SIDE THEREOF, SAID GROOVES BEING ADAPTED TO REMOVABLY RECEIVE LENGTH OF THE REMAINING PORTION OF SAID STRAP TO THEREBY SHORTEN THE OVERALL LENGTH OF SAID STRAP AND POSITION SAID MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE ENS OF SAID STRAP.