STRAP AND STRAP ACCESSORY HAVING CUSHIONING GRANULES
A strap for securement to a load carrier extends from the carrier and is adapted for contact with a wearer. The strap comprises cushioning material to enhance comfort of the wearer, the cushioning material including granules. A strap accessory having granules is also disclosed.
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The present invention relates generally to straps and strap accessories for load carriers worn on a person, including packs, bags, luggage and the like, and more particularly to cushioning granular material for such straps and strap accessories.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPrior art straps for load carriers have included a variety of cushioning materials to try to soften the load on the wearer. As the wearer walks, his or her movement tends to cause the load in the pack to oscillate and thereby cause small impacts or shocks against the body. Prior art cushioning has attempted to alleviate these shocks, for example by molded cushioning material. This material is expensive because it must be molded to a certain shape, and it may or may not conform to the anatomy of all wearers. Accordingly, an improved strap or strap accessory that can be inexpensively made and that provides sufficient cushioning is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect, the invention is directed to the combination of a load carrier and a strap extending from the carrier for securing the carrier on a wearer. The strap comprises cushioning material to enhance comfort of the wearer, and the cushioning material includes granules.
In another aspect, the strap is adapted for securement to a load carrier. The strap is shaped for contact with the wearer, and comprises cushioning material including granules.
In still another aspect, the invention is directed to a strap accessory for attachment to a strap of a load carrier, the accessory comprising a fastener for fastening the accessory to the strap, and cushioning material including granules.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSReferring to the embodiment shown in
Referring to the cross-section of
The granules 33 may be a variety of types within the scope of the invention. In one embodiment, the granules are resilient, for example beads made of thermoplastic rubber, polystyrene beads, microstyrene beads or buckwheat hulls, and any combination of such granules. The granules may be “pebble” shaped, spherical or semispherical in shape. In some embodiments the beads are “self-equalizing” and adjusting as well as energy absorbing or energy deflecting. The foam may also be a variety of types, including open or closed cell foam, or in one embodiment, EVA “pressure relieving” foam. The outer or top layer may be a variety of materials including nylon sackcloth, “velocity weave”, ballistic weave, 4-way stretch and non-woven, fleece, TPU plastic.
As shown in
Shoulder straps of various embodiments may be used on a variety of packs, bags, luggage or the like.
As shown in
Embodiments of the present invention provide good shock/impact absorbance. As the wearer walks, there are small movements between the strap and the wearer which impart small shocks through the strap to the wearer. Embodiments of the invention absorb these small shocks or impacts. In many cases, the pack load oscillates with the natural movement of the human body in motion. During oscillation, the beads will be “unloaded” and return to their natural, unloaded shape (as desribed above). As the beads begin receiving load again, they resist deformation and thereby distribute the load amongst the many beads. The beads automatically adjust or conform to the unique anatomical curves of each wearer. For example, the beads or granules better conform to the shoulder, the hip and the “bony parts” therein. The granules may be resilient such that the more force imparted, the more the granules deform. Embodiments of the invention are also cost efficient because they may be made of unprocessed granules. Prior art straps have included molded cushioning material, which is more expensive because they must be molded to a certain shape. The granular material tends to automatically conform to the wearer without an expensive molding process. The granules may generally be held in place more cost effectively by sewn in features (e.g., by the chevron shaped stitching shown in
Embodiments of the invention may be used on all types of luggage, baggage, briefcases, waistpacks, “fanny packs” and the like. The strap may be fixed or detachable. The strap may be, for example, formed as a waistbelt on a backpack. The strap may be sold as a replacement or as original equipment with the carrier.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. A combination of a load carrier and a strap extending from the carrier for securing the carrier on a wearer, the strap comprising cushioning material to enhance comfort of the wearer, and the cushioning material including granules.
2. The combination of claim 1 further comprising a second shoulder strap, each strap extending from both upper and lower portions of the load carrier.
3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the load carrier and shoulder straps define a backpack and the shoulder straps form a shoulder harness adapted to extend over shoulders of the wearer.
4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the strap is only one strap.
5. The combination of claim 1 further comprising a foam material disposed over the granules so that the granules are disposed closer to the wearer than the foam material.
6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the granules are disposed only in portions of the shoulder strap.
7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the granules are resilient.
8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the granules are thermoplastic rubber, styrene beads or buckwheat husks.
9. The combination of claim 1 wherein the strap includes outer fabric containing the granules, the granules being secured in place in the strap by sewn elements, sonic welding or thermal bonding.
10. A strap for securement to a load carrier, the strap adapted to extend from the carrier and shaped for contact with a wearer, the strap comprising cushioning material to enhance comfort of the wearer, the cushioning material including granules.
11. The strap of claim 10 further comprising a foam material disposed over the granules so that the granules are disposed closer to the wearer than the foam material.
12. The strap of claim 10 wherein the granules are resilient.
13. The strap of claim 12 wherein the granules are thermoplastic rubber, styrene beads or buckwheat husks.
14. The strap of claim 13 wherein the granules are secured in place in the strap by sewn elements, sonic welding or thermal bonding.
15. The strap of claim 10 in combination with a load carrier, the strap and load carrier together forming one of a waistpack, a backpack, a purse, a briefcase and a tote bag.
16. A strap accessory for attachment to a strap of a load carrier, the accessory comprising a fastener for fastening the accessory to the strap, and cushioning material including granules.
17. The strap accessory of claim 16 including a transparent outer layer so that the granules are visible.
18. The strap accessory of claim 16 in combination with a strap.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 14, 2006
Publication Date: Mar 20, 2008
Applicant: AMERICAN RECREATION PRODUCTS, INC. (St. Louis, MO)
Inventor: Christopher J. Meesey (Dardenne Prairie, MO)
Application Number: 11/531,952
International Classification: A45F 3/12 (20060101); A45F 3/04 (20060101); A41F 15/02 (20060101);