SHOULDER BAG SUPPORT DEVICE

Abstract

A shoulder bag support device is disclosed. The support device includes a support strap having first and second ends. The first end can be secured to a belt worn about a user's waist. The second end is removably secured to an outboard portion of the shoulder bag. The support strap passed from the user's belt, under the shoulder bag, to the outboard portion of the shoulder bag. When in use, the support strap supports a portion of said shoulder bag's weight, which reduces the amount of the bag's weight carried by the user's shoulder.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to shoulder carried bags, such as a shoulder carried computer laptop bag. Shoulder carry bags of this type are characterized by a bag, to which a shoulder strap is attached. The bag is typically carried at the user's hip with the shoulder strap passing over the user's opposite shoulder. Specifically, the present invention relates to a support device for use in conjunction with a shoulder bag.

When shoulder bags are loaded with a laptop computer, books, files, and other paper and equipment typically carried by today's professionals or students, the bag often become quite heavy. The heavy weight of these bags tends to strain the back and shoulder of the user. With extended or repeated use, the heavy weight of these bags can lead to injury.

It has long been known that the human body is more adapted to carry weight at or on the hips rather than the shoulders. For example, backpacks for camping use almost all include a hip belt. The hip belt is intended to put most of the weight of the backpack and it's contents onto the user's hips. The shoulder straps are used to steady the load.

Similarly, hip support mechanisms for shoulder bags had been developed. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,606, issued to Miller, discloses a harness for a shoulder supported bag (the Miller harness). The Miller harness has a pelvic belt, a diagonal shoulder strap, shoulder pad means, and an underarm strap. The harness partially redistributes the load of the bag by providing the pelvic belt to take most of the weight of the bag, which in turn reduces the weight supported by the shoulder strap. However, the Miller harness uses a belt loop on the bag, with the pelvic belt passing through the belt loop to transfer the weight. This type of attachment requires the user to remove, at least partially, the pelvic belt in order to separate himself from the bag. Thus the Miller harness is not suitable for situations where the bag needs to be removed quickly. Furthermore, the Miller harness is limited to bags having the belt loop.

There remains a need for a shoulder bag support device that can be quickly removed and can be used with a wide variety of shoulder bags. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a shoulder bag support device that can be quickly removed and can be used with a wide variety of shoulder bags.

SUMMARY

In view of the deficiencies described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shoulder bag support device that can be quickly removed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shoulder bag support device that can be used with a wide variety of shoulder bags.

The present invention is a shoulder bag support device. The support device includes a support strap having first and second ends. The first end can be secured to a belt worn about a user's waist. The second end is removably secured to an outboard portion of the shoulder bag. The support strap passes from the user's belt, under the shoulder bag, to the outboard portion of the shoulder bag. When in use, the support strap supports a portion of said shoulder bag's weight, which reduces the amount of the bag's weight carried by the user's shoulder.

The support strap can be adjustable length. The first end can be fixedly attached to the belt or removably attached to the belt. The first end can have a loop, with the belt passing through the loop. The loop can be selectively closable, such as through the use of a selectively closable fastening device. A quick release buckle can be used to releasably connect the first end and the second end of the support strap.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like reference numerals represent like features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a shoulder bag support device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a support strap as part of a shoulder bag support device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a support strap having an adjustable length as part of a shoulder bag support device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a selectively closable loop as part of a first end of a support strap as part of a shoulder bag support device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a quick release buckle releasable securing a second end of a support strap as part of a shoulder bag support device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

The present invention is a shoulder bag support device 100. FIG. 1 shows a shoulder bag support device according to the present invention. The support device 100 includes a support strap 110 having a first end 120 and a second end 130. The support strap 110 can be constructed from a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, seat belt type webbing. FIG. 2 shows a support strap as part of a shoulder bag support device according to the present invention. The first end 120 can be secured to a belt 140 worn about a user's waist. The second end 130 is removably secured to an outboard portion of the shoulder bag 150. The support strap 110 passes from the user's belt 140, under the shoulder bag 150, to the outboard portion of the shoulder bag 150. In various preferred embodiments, the outboard portion of the shoulder bag 150 is a carry handle 190. For example, the second end 120 can have a loop 166, with the carry handle 190 passing through the loop 165. The loop 165 can be selectively closable, such as through the use of a selectively closable fastening device 175. When in use, the support strap 110 supports a portion of the shoulder bag's 150 weight, which reduces the amount of the bag's 150 weight carried by the user's shoulder.

In various preferred embodiments the support strap 110 has an adjustable length. FIG. 3 shows a support strap having an adjustable length as part of a shoulder bag support device according to the present invention. A support strap 110 with an adjustable length allows the support device 100 to be used with a variety of shoulder bags 150. Additionally, an adjustable length permits the user to vary the portion of the bag's 150 weight supported by the support device 100.

The first end 120 of the shoulder strap 110 can have a variety of configurations. In various embodiments, the first end 100 can be fixedly attached to the belt 140. In other various embodiments, the first end 120 is removably attached to the belt 140. For example, the first end 120 can have a loop 160, with the belt 140 passing through the loop 160. To further ease use and operation of the device 100, the loop 160 can be selectively closable, such as through the use of a selectively closable fastening device 170. FIG. 4 shows a selectively closable loop as part of a first end of a support strap as part of a shoulder bag support device according to the present invention. The selectively closable fastening device 170 can include a hook and loop fastener or other selectively closable fastening devices 170 known in the art.

FIG. 5 shows a quick release buckle releasable securing the second end of the support strap as part of a shoulder bag support device according to the present invention. As shown, a buckle 180 releaseably connects the first end 120 and the second end 130 of the support strap. In operation, the user can simply unclasp the buckle 180 to free the bag 150 for normal use or removing the bag 150. The quick release buckle 180 is particularly well suited for situations where the user needs to quickly release the bag 150. These situations can include, but are not limited to, quickly releasing the bag 150 for placing the bag 150 in an overhead storage compartment during aircraft boarding.

While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A shoulder bag support device comprising:

a support strap having first and second ends,

said first end secured to a belt worn about a user's waist,

said second end removably secured to an outboard portion of said shoulder bag,

said strap passing from said belt, under said shoulder bag, to said outboard portion of said shoulder bag,

wherein said strap supports a portion of said shoulder bag's weight.

2. The shoulder bag support device according to claim 1, wherein said strap has an adjustable length.

3. The shoulder bag support device according to claim 1, wherein said first end is fixedly attached to said belt.

4. The shoulder bag support device according to claim 1, wherein said first end comprises a loop, said belt passing through said loop.

5. The shoulder bag support device according to claim 4, wherein said loop comprises a selectively closable fastening device.

6. The shoulder bag support device according to claim 5, wherein said fastening device comprises a hook and loop fastener.

7. The shoulder bag support device according to claim 1, wherein a quick release buckle releasable secures said first end to said second end.

8. The shoulder bag support device according to claim 1, wherein said outboard portion of said shoulder bag comprises a carry handle of said shoulder bag.