WO2000020263A1

WO2000020263A1 - Strap covers

Info

Publication number: WO2000020263A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/003289
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Kimsey
Original assignee: Paul Kimsey
Priority date: 1998-10-06
Filing date: 1999-10-04
Publication date: 2000-04-13
Also published as: AU6112399A; GB9907177D0; WO2000020263A8

Abstract

A strap cover of the kind comprising a pad (1) with wings (3 and 4) which are folded behind a front portion (6) to secure the pad around a strap, incorporates a sound generator (10). The sound generator is sandwiched between two non-porous sheets of pvc which are sealed to the front portion (6) by high frequency welding. The sound generator is actuated through one of the sheets by a pressure operated switch.

Description

STRAP COVERS

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to covers for straps, e.g. shoulder straps for bags, seat belts etc.

BACKGROUND

Bags sold with shoulder straps often include a pad which is threaded onto the strap. By moving the pad along the strap it is possible to position the pad to spread the load and thereby relieve the pressure on the users shoulder, which is particularly useful when carrying heavy loads or when the bag is carried for long periods. Such pads generally have little inherent value and they are not normally sold as a product in their own right.

In recent years a limited market has arisen in the automotive industry for seat belt covers. Again, these fulfill the function of relieving pressure on the wearer to make the seat belt more comfortable and, in severe cases, prevent the seat belt from causing injury to the wearer. However, the market is again limited to individuals who have a particular difficulty with standard seat belts, such as pregnant women. The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of strap cover which substantially increases the potential market for such products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes a strap cover comprising a flexible pad which is formed to embrace a strap and which is provided with means for releasably securing the opposed edges of the pad to enclose the strap, in which the pad is provided with an electronic sound generator.

The addition of a sound generator adds novelty value so that the cover is no longer purely functional. Thus, by way of example, if the sound generator emits a message or musical sound associated with a particular football team the covers will immediately become attractive to fans of the team, thereby substantially increasing the potential market.

The sound generator is preferably enclosed between the pad and a sheet of flexible material which covers an area of the pad. Preferably a printed design is applied to the sheet. Thus, at little extra cost it is possible to further enhance the product by applying a printed design, pattern or logo. The sheet is preferably of thermoplastics material. The most suitable material is pvc, which permits high quality printed designs to be applied, is soft and relatively flexible and is inexpensive.

It is also preferred to interpose a backing sheet of non-porous plastics material between the sound generator and the pad with the sheets being secured to the pad by a continuous seal surrounding the sound generator. The sound generator is thus enclosed within a sealed water-proof pouch so that the cover can be washed without damaging the generator. Although the sheets may be secured by means of an adhesive the use of high frequency welding is preferred.

The sound generator may be actuated by a pressure-operated or proximity switch which is operated through the flexible sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general view of a strap cover in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 2 is a general exploded view showing various components of the strap cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to Fig. 1 , the strap cover includes a substantially rectangular pad 1 which, by way of example, may comprise a layer of fibrous padding or foamed plastic sandwiched between two fabric layers of a plastics such as polyamide or polypropylene and edged with a fabric tape 2 which is sown through the layers to secure them together. Two opposed marginal edge portions 3 and 4 of the pad form wings which are folded over the rear of an intermediate front portion 6 to enable the pad to embrace a strap such as a shoulder strap of a sports bag or an automobile seat belt. The two portions 3 and 4 overlap and are provided with strips of hook and loop material, one of which is visible at 7, by means of which the edge portions can be releasably secured together about the strap. The cover can thus be placed in any convenient position along the length of the strap.

In accordance with the invention, an electronic sound generator 10 is mounted on the front portion 6 as shown in Fig. 2. The generator 10 includes a printed circuit board 11 on the top of which is mounted a sound generator chip 12, a spring-loaded press button 13 and one or more power cells 14 of the kind used in watches. A piezo sounder 15 is mounted on the opposite rear surface of the board 11. Whenever the button 13 is depressed the chip generates a signal which drives the sounder 15 to emit a pre-programmed sound such as (by way of example) laughter, music, a voice message, a football chant etc.

Although the sound can be programmed into the chip during manufacture a preferred form of chip incorporates a programmable memory which allows any desired sound to be programmed into the chip. This makes it possible to produce covers with a particular sound in very small quantities and very economically.

The sound generator 10 is covered by a piece of non-porous pvc sheet 20 which carries a decorative design. The sheet is relatively thin, e.g. about 0.3mm, and its upper surface is printed using a conventional printing technique. If the cover is desired to be washable a second sheet of pvc 21 may be placed beneath the generator 10. This second sheet may be thinner than the top sheet, e.g. about 0J 5mm. The sheets are bonded to the cover using a brass hf welding die. Generally, the design is printed on the top sheet with a small margin and the die is placed in careful registration with the design which is, in turn, centred over the sound generator 10. The die incorporates a cutting edge which, on contact with the superimposed sheets 20 and 21 , forms the peripheral profile of the sheets to any required shape. In addition to cutting the sheets to shape, the die also bonds the sheets to the cover 1 using high frequency energy which softens an area of the sheets and fuses them with the cover in a band 22 (Fig. 1 ) which completely surrounds the sound generator, thereby completely encapsulating the generator within a flexible pvc pouch. Since the area of the pvc sheet which overlies the sound generator does not become very hot during the welding process the generator does not suffer any damage.

It will be appreciated that the design printed on the sheet 20 could be of any desired size and profile. Since the pvc sheet 20 is relatively thin and flexible it is possible to easily depress the switch 13 through the sheet to activate the sound generator. The switch could also be a proximity switch or a sound- activated switch for example, since both forms of switch are operable through the thin pvc sheet.

Covers incorporating a sound generator as set forth above are inexpensive to manufacture yet the sound generators greatly enhance the value and potential market for covers, as explained above. Furthermore, the pvc sheet allows designs to be reproduced which are of far higher quality than has hitherto been possible by printing directly onto fabric covers. It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A strap cover comprising a flexible pad (1 ) which is formed to embrace a strap and which is provided with means (7) for releasably securing the opposed edges of the pad to enclose the strap, characterised in that the pad is provided with an electronic sound generator (10).

2. A strap cover according to Claim 1 , in which the sound generator is enclosed between the pad and a flexible sheet (20).

3. A strap cover according to Claim 2, in which said flexible sheet (20) covers part of the surface area of the pad (1).

4. A strap cover according to Claim 2, in which said flexible sheet comprises a non-porous thermoplastics material.

5. A strap cover according to Claim 4, in which said thermoplastics material is polyvinyl chloride.

6. A strap cover according to Claim 2, in which said flexible sheet (20) is secured to the pad (1) by a continuous seal surrounding the sound generator (10).

7. A strap cover according to Claim 2, in which said flexible sheet (20) is secured to the pad (1) by means of high frequency welding.

8. A strap cover according to Claim 2, in which a printed design is applied to the sheet (20).

9. A strap cover according to Claim 2, in which a backing sheet (21) is interposed between the sound generator (10) and the pad (1).

10. A strap cover according to Claim 2, in which the sound generator (10) is actuated by a switch (13) which is operated through the flexible sheet (20).

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 8 February 2000 (08.02.00)- original claims 1-10 replaced by new cl aims 1 -5 (2 pages ) ]

1. A strap cover which includes a pair of superimposed front and rear layers of flexible material and an electronic sound generator (10), the superimposed layers (1) being formed to embrace a strap and provided with means (7) for releasably securing the opposed edges of the two layers to enclose the strap, characterised in that a third padding layer is interposed between the two superimposed layers, and the sound generator (10) is enclosed between the front layer and a flexible cover sheet (20) which covers part of said front layer and is bonded to said layer by a continuous seal which extends around the periphery of the cover sheet (20) surrounding the sound generator (10), and the cover sheet is formed of non-porous thermoplastics material which carries a printed design.

2. A strap cover according to Claim 1 , in which said non-porous thermoplastics material is polyvinyl chloride.

3. A strap cover according to Claim 1 , in which said cover sheet

(20) is secured to said front layer (1 ) by means of high frequency welding.

4. A strap cover according to Claim 1 , in which a backing sheet

(21) is interposed between the sound generator (10) and said front layer.

5. A strap cover according to Claim 1 , in which the sound generator (10) is actuated by a switch (13) which is operated through the cover sheet (20).