WO1994028756A2

WO1994028756A2 - Protection band

Info

Publication number: WO1994028756A2
Application number: PCT/KR1994/000065
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sook Ja Byeon
Original assignee: Sook Ja Byeon
Priority date: 1993-06-08
Filing date: 1994-06-08
Publication date: 1994-12-22
Also published as: KR950004470Y1; KR950000245U; WO1994028756A3

Abstract

A protection band has a sufficient buffering effect by introducing air into a buffering material. The protection band comprises a cover (105) enclosing a space, a buffering material (102) filling the cover (105) for absorbing a stress, and an air introducer (120) for introducing the air into the space of the cover (105). The cover (105) comprises an air-impermeable material and the buffering material comprises a porous material capable of absorbing air. The air can be easily introduced into the space of the cover of the protection band. Also, the air can be vented through the outlet hole (128) having a valve. Therefore, the air pressure in the cover may be easily adjusted according to the stress applied thereto. Therefore, the tiredness of a human body may easily be reduced.

Description

PROTECTION BAND

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a protection band, and more particularly, to a protection band which can be provided in a shoulder strap or a holder of a bag or a sack which contacts with a body to buffer a stress or load applied to the body.

Background Art

There has been proposed a protection band for protecting the hand or shoulder which is in contact with a grip or a shoulder strap. However, this conventional protection band is generally a plate to which a rubber layer or sponge having a wider width than that of the grip or shoulder strap is simply attached, and thus the protection band has shortcomings in that because a load is not uniformly diversified and accordingly is concentrated locally on the shoulder or hand, users are subjected to feeling a sense of oppression or pain whereby they are easily fatigued with such oppression or pain and are apt to sustain a scratch on the contacting part of the shoulder or hand in summer time. In addition, the conventional protection band has a problem that since a load carried by a bag or sack is transferred directly to the grip or shoulder strap thereof, the protection band is easy to be damaged.

In a Korean Utility Model Publication No. 88-1190, there is disclosed a shoulder support for a shoulder strap in which a flat tube body equipped with an air charge-space therein is secured on the bottom of a plate body formed with an opening through which the shoulder strap is passed, the tube body being provided with an air injection/sealing piece to absorb upward and downward vibrations by means of the resilience of a leaf spring and to diversify the pressure acting on the shoulder by means of the air charge-space of the tube body, thereby to reduce the sense of oppression.

The shoulder support, however, has disadvantages in that because it must be stored in the state that the air charge-space is filled with an air by injection, the volume in non-use is large thereby to have difficulty in storage, and when used for a long time, the leaf spring cannot absorb vibration fully due to the deterioration of its resilient force.

Further, a Korean Utility Model Application No. 90-14314 filed by the present applicant discloses a shoulder protection band wherein a material is inserted in the central part of a protection band at the one part of which band the protection band is filled at the central part thereof with a buffering material and is so partitioned by means of a bonding portion as to produce a space therein, the protection band being formed at the one part thereof with an air-injector, thereby to inject air into the space by the air-injector only when used and accordingly to diversify pressure so as to reduce the sense of oppression.

However, such protection band has drawbacks in that since air is introduced forcibly into the space by means of the air-injector, the protection band is extended beyond the limit of recovery and thus has pleats when air is extracted out of the space, thereby to lower the buffer effect of the band and to damage easily the band.

Also, an air-introducer adopted in the conventional protection band has disadvantages in that, as shown in Fig. 5, an opening and shutting valve 80 is just fitted in an air-inflow path 70 of the air-injector 60 so that the opening and shutting valve 80 is often broken away from the air-inflow path b when the protection band is manufactured or used. Disclosure of Invention

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a protection band having a sufficient buffering effect by introducing air into a buffering material.

To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a protection band comprising : a cover enclosing a space, the cover being comprised of an air-impermeable material; a buffering material filled in the cover for absorbing a stress, the buffering material being comprised of a porous material capable of absorbing air; and an air introducer for introducing the air into the space of the cover.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the protection band further comprises a fixing band secured to the cover for fixing the protection band to an object, the fixing band including an air pathway connected to the space of the cover for introducing an air into the cover, the air introducer is connected to the air pathway of the fixing band.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the air introducer comprises an air valve capable of passing the air through the air pathway into the space; fixer having two openings for securing the air valve to the air introducer, the air valve being fixed into one opening and the other being connected to the air pathway; and a body covering the securing means and having a space therein and two openings, one opening being connected to the air valve, the flexible body being capable of providing the air valve with an air pressure so that the air passes through the air valve and the air pathway into the space of cover. In the present invention, the protection band is secured to a portion of a shoulder strap of a rucksack.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, the protection band is secured to a back portion of a rucksack and the air introducer is secured to a side of the rucksack. In such a case, the protection band further comprises a hose connecting the air introducer with the fixing band.

The air introducer may be attached on an outer surface of the fixing band. However, the protection band may be attached to a holder of a bag so that the air introducer is placed on the side of the holder.

Further, the protection band may be manufactured as a portion of a shoulder strap of a rucksack or as a portion of a holder of a bag.

According to the present invention, the air can be easily introduced into the space of the cover of the protection band. When too much air has been introduced in the cover, the air can be vented through the outlet hole having an air valve. Therefore, the air pressure in the cover may be easily adjusted according to the stress applied thereto. Therefore, the tiredness of a human body may easily reduced.

Brief Description of Drawings

The above objects and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which :

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for illustrating a protection band according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view cut along a line of A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view cut along a line B-B of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view cut along a line C-C of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a conventional air introducer;

FIG. 6 illustrates a status wherein a protection band according to the present is provided on the shoulder strap of a rucksack;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for illustrating a protection band according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a protection band attached on the upper surface of a holder of a bag;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view for illustrating a portion of a shoulder strap of a rucksack as a protection band according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a protection band according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a rucksack having a protection band according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for illustrating a protection band according to a first embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2 is a sectional view cut along a line of A-A of FIG. 1 In FIGs. 1 and 2, reference numeral 102 denotes a buffering material, reference numeral 103 denotes a porosity, reference numeral 104 denotes a first member enclosing an upper portion of buffering material 102, reference numeral 106 denotes a second member enclosing a lower portion of buffering material 102, reference numeral 108 denotes a base member, reference numeral 110 denotes a fixing band, reference numeral 112 denotes an air pathway, reference numeral 120 denotes an air introducer, reference numeral 124 denotes an air valve fixer, reference numeral 126 denotes an air valve, reference numeral 128 denotes an air outlet hole and reference numeral 130 denotes a button.

As can be seen in FIGs. 1 and 2, protection band 100 of the present invention include a cover 105 enclosing a space. Cover 105 is comprised of first member 104 having a hole 104a and second member 106. Cover 105 is comprised of a material of an air- impermeable material. As a material for the cover, any material which has an air- impermeability and an appropriate strength for enduring a stress during the usage, can be used in the present invention. For example, a synthetic rubber, a plastic resin, etc., may be mentioned. A composite material comprised of a fabric and an air impermeable coating formed thereon, may be preferably used.

In cover 105, buffering material 102 is filled for absorbing a stress. Thus, first member 104 and second member 106 enclose the upper and lower surface of buffering material 102, respectively. Buffering material 102 is comprised of a porous material capable of absorbing an air. A plurality of porosities 103 are formed in buffering material 102. As a buffering material used in the present invention, a sponge, polyurethane foam, etc. may be mentioned.

The protection band according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a fixing band 110. Fixing band 110 is provided for fixing protection band 110 to an object. Fixing band 110 is secured to protection band 110 by using base member 108. Fixing band 110 is comprised of a first member 110a and a second member 110b.

First member 110a is tied with second member 110b using a magic tape or a button 130. According to the object to which protection band 100 is applied, the length of the fixing band is preferably adjusted. One of the second and first members of fixing band in the present invention includes air pathway 112. In the present embodiment, second member 110b of fixing band 110 includes air pathway 112 therein. Air pathway is connected to the space of cover 105 via hole 104a of second member 106 of cover 105. Fixing band 110 may be made of any material which can endure a stress applied thereto. However, second member 110b of fixing band 110 is comprised of an air-impermeable material. The same material as in cover 105 may preferably be used for second member 110b.

The protection band of the present invention includes an air introducer 120. Air introducer 120 will be explained with reference to FIG. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a sectional view cut along a line B-B of FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 is a sectional view cut along a line of C-C of FIG. 3. Air introducer 120 of the present invention comprises an air valve 126, an air valve fixer 124 and a body 120a. The air valve 126 enables the air to pass through air pathway 112 into the space of cover 105. More particularly, when the pressure in body 120a is higher than that in the space of cover 105, air is introduced into the space. When the pressure in the space of cover 105, is applied to air valve 124, air valve 124 prevents air from being vented therethrough. Air valve 126 may be comprised of a plastic material.

In order to secure air valve 124, air valve fixer 124 having two openings is provided. Air valve fixer may be comprised of a rigid material such as a metal, a plastic material, etc. One of the openings is connected to the space of cover 105 through air pathway 112 and the other is connected to the space of body 120a. Air valve 126 is fixed by being inserted into the opening of the flexible body side so that an air inlet portion of air valve 126 is connected with the space of body 120a.

Body 120a has a rigid portion which covers valve fixer 124 and a flexible portion of a button shape having a space therein and two openings. One opening provided on the rigid portion side is connected to inlet side of air valve 126 and the other is formed in the upper portion of body 120a. Body 120a is capable of providing air valve 126 with an air pressure so that air passes through air valve 126. Air passes through air pathway 112 into the space of cover 105. When the flexible portion is pressed by using a finger while closing the opening of the flexible portion, the air pressure is applied to air valve 126 so that the air in the space of flexible body 120 is introduced into the space of cover 105 through air pathway 112. In FIGs. 3 and 4, an arrow 55 denotes the air flow direction due to the pressure applied on the flexible portion of body 120a.

When the finger is removed from the flexible portion, due to the elasticity of the flexible portion, the flexible portion recovers its original shape and air is filled in the space of the flexible portion again through the opening formed in the upper portion of the flexible portion.

When too much air is filled in the space of cover 105, an outlet valve (not shown) provided in outlet hole 128 is opened so that an excess amount of the air is let out from the space of cover 105. Therefore, an appropriate pressure in the space of the cover can be achieved.

According to the embodiment of the present invention as described above, the air pressure in the protection band can be easily controlled depending on the pressure applied thereto. Therefore, a good buffering effect can be achieved so that a tiredness of human being can be reduced.

Further, using the air valve fixer prevents the air valve from being removed from the air introducer. This increases the durability of the protection band. FIG. 6 illustrates a status wherein a protection band according to the present is provided on the shoulder strap of a rucksack. In the same figure, reference numeral 13 denotes a rucksack and reference numeral

14 denotes a shoulder strap of rucksack 13.

As shown in the figure, the protection band of the present invention is attached to shoulder strap 14 using fixing band 110 so that the protection band contacts with a shoulder of a human being. The protection band distributes the stress (which is applied to the shoulder) due to the weight of rucksack 13. Therefore, this reduces the tiredness.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view for illustrating a protection band according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The protection band shown in FIG. 7 has a stripe shape having a narrow width which is convenient for attaching on a holder of a bag. The protection band as shown in FIG. 7 does not include a fixing band (which is shown in FIGs. 1 and 2. The air introducer 120 is directly formed on first member 104 of cover 105 of the protection band (which encloses a buffering material therein) and is connected with the hole of the first member. The protection band as shown in FIG. 7 may be attached on the holder of the bag using an adhesive agent or a two-sided adhesive tape. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a protection band attached on the upper surface of a holder of a bag. In FIGs. 7 and 8, the same reference numerals as in FIGs. 1 and 2 denote the same member of FIGs. 1 and 2 and reference numeral 15 denotes a bag and reference numeral 16 denotes a holder of bag 15. By attaching a protection band 100 as shown in FIG. 7 on the upper portion of a holder of a bag which contacts with a hand, it distributes the stress applied to the hand due to the weight of the bag. Therefore, the tiredness of the hand is reduced.

Hereinbefore, a protection band according to the present invention which can be attached on a shoulder strap or on a bag holder has been described. The protection band may be easily detached from the shoulder strap or the bag holder by separating first and second member of the fixing band or by removing the adhesive agent or the adhesive tape.

However, the protection band of the present invention may be a portion of a holder of a bag or a portion of a shoulder strap of rucksack. FIG. 9 is a schematic view for illustrating a portion of a shoulder strap of a rucksack as protection band according to a third embodiment of the present invention. A protection band as shown in FIG. 1 is the same as shown in FIG.l except a fixing band 100'. The fixing band of the present embodiment is manufactured so that shoulder strap 14 may be inserted between cover 105 and fixing band 110'. The fixing band can not be separated as in that in FIG. 1. However, the protection band according to this embodiment may be moved along the longitudinal direction of shoulder strap 14 according to the location of the shoulder. Separating the protection band is hard to be removed from the solder strap unless fixing band 100' is destroyed. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the protection band may manufactured as a portion of a shoulder strap of a rucksack. That is, a protection band may be manufactured by inserting a buffering in a portion of a shoulder strap.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a protection band according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The protection band according to this embodiment is incorporated in a holder. That is, protection band 100 is manufactured as a portion of a holder 16 of a bag 15. Air introducer may be formed so as to be located on an upper portion of the holder as in that in FIG. 8. However, in this embodiment, air introducer 120 is located on a side surface of holder 16.

In the embodiments as described above, a protection band having an air introducer 120 formed on the fixing band, is shown. However, an air introducer 120 may be formed separately from the fixing band. At this time, a hose for connecting the air introducer with the air pathway of the fixing band is used. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a rucksack having a protection band according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In a protection band as shown in the same figure, an air introducer is provided on a side surface of a rucksack 13 and a protection band 100 is attached on a back portion of a rucksack. A hose 62 is provided between air introducer 120 and protection band 100 so that air may be introduced from air introduced 120 into a space of cover 105 therethrough. Providing a protection band on a back portion which contacts with a back of a human being, distributes the stress applied to the back and increases stickiness of the rucksack onto the back.

When a bag or a rucksack is provided with a protection band on a portion which contacts with a human body such as a hand, shoulder, a back, etc., the protection band distributes the stress applied thereto. Therefore, it reducess tiredness of human being. In the protection band of the present invention, the air can be easily introduced into the space of the cover of the protection band. When too much air has been introduced in the cover, the air can be vented through the outlet hole having an air valve. Therefore, the air pressure in the cover may be easily adjusted according to the stress applied thereto. Therefore, the tiredness of a human body may be reduced. Also, since the air valve is fixed by an air valve fixer, there is little possibility that the air valve is removed from the air introducer. This increases the durability of the protection band.

It should be understood although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, many modifications and variations could be effected therein by one with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the protection band may be applied to a safety belt of an automobile, a saddle of a bicycle, a case of camera, etc.

Claims

What is claimed is :

1. A protection band comprising :

a cover enclosing a space, said cover being comprised of an air- impermeable material;

a buffering material filled in said cover for absorbing a stress, said buffering material being comprised of a porous material capable of absorbing air ; and

an air introducer for introducing the air into the space of said cover.

2. The protection band as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protection band further comprises a fixing band secured to said cover for fixing said protection band to an object, said fixing band including an air pathway connected to the space of said cover for introducing air into said cover, said air introducer is connected to said air pathway of said fixing band.

3. The protection band as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air introducer comprises an air valve capable of passing the air through said air pathway into said space;

a fixer having two openings for securing said air valve to said air introducer, said air valve being fixed into one opening and the other being connected to said air pathway; and

a body covering said securing means and having a space therein and two openings, one opening being connected to said air valve, said flexible body being capable of providing said air valve with an air pressure so that air passes through said air valve and said air pathway into said space of cover.

4. The protection band as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protection band is secured to a portion of a shoulder strap of a rucksack.

5. The protection band as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protection band is secured to a back portion of a rucksack and said air introducer is secured to a side of said rucksack and said protection band further comprises a hose connecting said air introducer with said fixing band.

6. The protection band as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air introducer is attached on an outer surface of said fixing band.

7. The protection band as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protection band is attached to a holder of a bag so that said air introducer is placed on the side of said holder.

8. The protection band as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protection band is portion of a shoulder strap of a rucksack.

9. The protection band as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protection band is a portion of a holder of a bag.