Shoulder strap for cushion support of a case or the like
A shock-absorbing device or two such devices are provided between a load such as a case or bag and a shoulder strap and can include a spring to prevent or limit the shock transmission to the shoulder strap.
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This application claims the benefit of provisional application 60/544,917 filed 12 Feb. 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to shoulder straps, and, more particularly, to a shoulder strap providing a cushioned support for a luggage article such as a case or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFrequently it is desirable to provide some resilience in a shoulder strap when the latter is used to support, for example, a heavy case or other luggage article. While shoulder straps may be used to support a variety of articles, all of which can be considered within the definition of a “case” as that term is used herein, it is intended to particularly include within that definition anything which may be relatively heavy and which, when carried, may require some cushioning in the support between the strap and the carried article. These include brief cases, business cases, computer cases, attache cases, garment bags, backpacks, school bags, sports bags, diaper bags, mail bags, shoulder harnesses generally, tool belts, instrument cases, rifles, shotguns, tool cases, power lawn equipment and camera cases.
In all such articles it is not uncommon to provide a D-ring, i.e. a loop providing an attachment and the article and a strap. That loop may be used to affix the strap to the case, may be part of a detachable connection, e.g. may have a hook or other structure engageable with a ring, or can be permanently affixed to the D-ring by a loop or like attachment member.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONIt is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved shoulder strap system whereby shocks and loads can be cushioned between a case, bag or like load and a shoulder strap.
Another object of this invention is to minimize discomfort in the carrying of heavy cases or bags.
It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved attachment between a shoulder strap and a bag or case.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThese objects are attained, in accordance with the invention by providing between the shoulder strap and the load, usually a case or bag, a device containing at least one spring interposed between the attachment member securing the device to the load and the engagement member securing the device to a shoulder strap, the spring being prestressed or stressed only when the load is supported by the shoulder strap and resiliently resistant the weight, impact or shock provided by that load.
According to a feature of the invention, at least one of those members is a D-ring or loop through which a strap can pass and that D-ring is affixed or resiliently connected to a housing containing a spring.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the housing is provided on the shoulder strap or the case or load and a hook is displaceable relative to the housing against a spring force. In another embodiment of the invention, a D-ring is displaceable relative to the housing and one or more springs bias that D-ring toward the housing.
The housing itself may be formed as or provided with a D-ring and the spring force may be provided by one or more springs, preferably stretched in compression. As a general matter any kind of spring can be provided, matched to the load which is to be taken up by the device and to the housing. In addition to compression springs, tension springs, torsion springs and even bodies of elastomeric material can be used. The spring device can be on the case or load and connected to the strap or along the strap and on one side of the shoulder loop or both sides thereof.
More particularly, the invention includes a device for cushioning force transmission to a shoulder strap which comprises:
-
- a first member connectable to a load;
- a second member connectable to a shoulder strap;
- a housing between the members; and
- at least one resilient body in the housing and deformable upon application of force thereto for cushioning force transmitted through the device to the shoulder strap.
In a particular embodiment, the first member has a D-shaped loop adapted to be affixed to a bag, the housing having a rectangular configuration and being attached to the loop, the device further comprising a slider received in the housing, the second member being engageable with the slider, the resilient body including at least one compression coil spring braced between the slider and the housing.
The invention also comprises a carrying unit which comprises:
-
- a case;
- a shoulder strap affixed at ends thereof to the case; and
- at least one but preferably two devices for cushioning force transmission to the shoulder strap and interposed between the shoulder strap and the case at one end of the shoulder strap, the or each device comprising a first member connected to the case, a second member connected to the shoulder strap, a housing between the members, and at least one resilient body in the housing and deformable upon application of force thereto for cushioning force transmitted through the device to the shoulder strap.
The invention has been found to be highly effective in limiting the shock to the shoulder should the case or load suddenly drop out of the control of the user. This is the situation in the event of a fall or other sudden loss of control of the load carried by the user. The cushioning devices can be provided at the ends of the shoulder strap or between the ends of the shoulder strap and the point at which the shoulder strap is supported on the shoulder of the user. In fact, the device need not be affixed to the case or load directly but can be located anywhere along the length of the shoulder strap which, if desired, can be cut to receive the shoulder strip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGThe above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
In
The device 14 includes a snap hook 15 engageable with a ring 16 on the case. The device 13 has a D loop 17 which is attached to the case 10 by a strap 18 passing through that D loop and stitched onto the case. In the event of a shock from, for example, a sudden drop of the case 10, the energy of that shock will be partly dissipated by compression of the springs within the devices 13 and 14 and those devices will prevent the shock forces from being transmitted fully to the strap 11 and thus prevents stress where the strap 11 passes over the shoulder at 12.
As can be seen from
As can also be seen from
In
Another spring 56 biases a blocker 57 toward the slot 55 and engages a boss 58 in the larger end of the keyhole slot to prevent withdrawal of the head 54 from the slider 44 until and unless the boss 58 is pressed downwardly to allow the head 54 to clear that boss and be removed from the larger portion of the keyhole slot. The blocker 57 also has a pair of lugs 59 (
By filling this larger opening, the boss 58 prevents movement of the keyhole slot into a position in which the head 54 can a be removed.
It will thus be apparent that when a sudden load is applied at the loop 43, the springs 48 and 49 will cushion transmission of that load to the shoulder straps and will in part dissipate energy of that load. The two devices 13 and 14 thus cushion surges of forces created by the spring carrying the case because of not walking in a smooth pattern, running or walking briskly, stepping off curbing, walking up and down stairs and wherever there is a surge of force. The housings can be sealed, where desired, to prevent incursion of water or contaminants.
In the embodiment of
In operation, when a pull is exerted on the loop 74, the member 75 is drawn out of the housing 76, 77 and the spring 82 is compressed between the projection 85 and the spring seat 81. The housing may be affixed to a case and the resilient action is similar to that of the embodiments previously described.
The device shown in
Claims
1. A device for cushioning force transmission to a shoulder strap, comprising:
- a first member connectable to a load;
- a second member connectable to a shoulder strap;
- a housing between said members; and
- at least one resilient body in said housing and deformable upon application of force thereto for cushioning force transmitted through said device to said shoulder strap.
2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein one of said members is connected to said housing and the other of said members is displaceable relative to said housing, said resilient body being interposed between said housing and said other of said members.
3. The device defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said members is in the form of a D-ring.
4. The device defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said members is in the form of a hook.
5. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient body is in the form of a spring.
6. The device defined in claim 5 wherein said spring is a compression spring.
7. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is generally cylindrical.
8. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said housing has a rectangular configuration.
9. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said first member has a D-shaped loop adapted to be affixed to a bag, said housing having a rectangular configuration and being attached to said loop, said device further comprising a slider received in said housing, said second member being engageable with said slider, said resilient body including at least one compression coil spring braced between said slider and said housing.
10. The device defined in claim 9 wherein said slider has a keyhole-shaped slot adapted to receive a head of a pin on said second member.
11. The device defined in claim 10, further comprising a blocker biased into said slot and preventing withdrawal of said head therefrom.
12. The device defined in claim 11 wherein respective springs are provided along opposite sides of said slider and are braced between feet of said slider and said housing.
13. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said first member is a ring adapted to be attached to a bag, said housing being affixed to said ring, said second member having a shank extending into said housing, said resilient body comprising a compression spring on said shank and braced against said housing.
14. The device defined in claim 13 wherein said second member is a snap hook.
15. A carrying unit comprising:
- a case;
- a shoulder strap affixed at ends thereof to said case; and
- a device for cushioning force transmission to said shoulder strap and interposed between said shoulder strap and said case at one end of said shoulder strap, said device comprising a first member connected to said case, a second member connected to said shoulder strap, a housing between said members, and at least one resilient body in said housing and deformable upon application of force thereto for cushioning force transmitted through said device to said shoulder strap.
16. The carrying unit defined in claim 15 wherein said first member has a D-shaped loop to said case, said housing having a rectangular configuration and being attached to said loop, said device further comprising a slider received in said housing, said second member being engageable with said slider, said resilient body including at least one compression coil spring braced between said slider and said housing.
17. The device defined in claim 16 wherein said slider has a keyhole-shaped slot adapted to receive a head of a pin on said second member, said device further comprising a blocker biased into said slot and preventing withdrawal of said head therefrom.
18. The device defined in claim 17 wherein respective springs are provided along opposite sides of said slider and are braced between feet of said slider and said housing.
19. The device defined in claim 15 wherein said first member is a ring attached to said case, said housing being affixed to said ring, said second member having a shank extending into said housing, said resilient body comprising a compression spring on said shank and braced against said housing.
20. The device defined in claim 19 wherein said second member is a snap hook.
21. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is provided with a stop forming said first member and is connected with said load, said resilient body is a spring in said housing engaging said stop, and said second member is a loop provided with a shank slidable in said housing and engaging an end of said spring opposite the end of the spring engageable by the stop.
22. The device defined in claim 21 wherein one of said members is a U-shaped member provided with a pair of shanks and said resilient body is a respective spring on each of said shanks, the other of said members being formed with a pair of tubular elements constituting a housing and receiving said shanks and said springs for enabling compression of said spring with progressive separation of said members.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 10, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 15, 2005
Applicant:
Inventor: Steven Rekuc (Atlanta, GA)
Application Number: 11/058,919