Strap retaining device
A strap retaining device with a flat bottom sheet member, a pair of opposing spacer members, a flat top sheet member, and a decorative member fixedly attached to the flat top member. A preferred embodiment includes the spacer members incorporate additional secondary spacers that help hold the main strap portion and folded strap portion more securely.
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIXNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to the field of strap retaining devices and more specifically to a strap retaining device for swimming goggles.
Flexible straps for retaining or carrying items are well known. One such strap application is used in the wearing of a pair of swimming goggles.
Traditionally, a goggle strap is made of flexible material that is attached to the goggle by a retaining bar built onto each side of the goggle and a standard buckle to help hold the strap in place and to allow for length adjustment of the strap.
Unfortunately, there is a deficiency in the prior technology in that the end of the strap that exits the buckle can tend to dangle and become unsightly. Furthermore, there are occasions where a group of people, such as a swim team, are in close proximity to each other and can accidentally mistake one pair of goggles for another since they have a common appearance. A number of patents disclose ways of holding a goggle strap flat against itself including Pat. Nos. 5,566,427 and 5,915,540 and 6,550,110. However none of these patents discloses a strap retaining member that includes a decorative element to help the wearer find his or her goggles amidst a group of similar looking goggles.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe primary object of the invention is to provide a strap retaining device for swimming goggles that is decorative so that the user can easily identify his or her goggles from others.
Another object of the invention is to provide a strap retaining device that keeps the strap from dangling.
Another object of the invention is to provide a strap retaining device that provides a soft and flexible side that contacts the user's body.
A further object of the invention is to provide a strap retaining device that allows the user to snap the retaining device over the strap rather than having to slide it on.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed strap retaining device comprising: a flat bottom sheet member, a pair of opposing spacer members, a flat top sheet member, and a raised decorative member fixedly attached to said flat top member.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. For example, although the description below refers to a retaining strap for a swim goggle, it can easily be adapted for use on other eyewear products such as ski goggles, eye protection work goggles or eye glasses.
Referring now to
Referring to
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A strap retaining device comprising:
- a flat bottom sheet member;
- a pair of opposing spacer members;
- a flat top sheet member; and
- a raised decorative member fixedly attached to said flat top member.
2. A strap retaining device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spacer members include additional secondary spacers that help hold the main strap portion away from the folded over strap portion to increase the holding power for both said strap portions.
3. A strap retaining device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flat bottom sheet member, said spacer members and said top sheet member are molded as a single entity from flexible high durometer plastic.
4. An alternate embodiment of said strap retaining device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said top sheet member is molded of rigid plastic and said bottom sheet member is molded from flexible plastic and where said rigid top member includes a plurality of downwardly facing retaining pins that engage with mating apertures in said flexible bottom sheet.
5. A embodiment of strap retaining device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said top sheet member is approximately square in shape and where said decorative member includes a letter from the alphabet thereby enabling the user to use one or more letters to indicate the user's initials.
6. A strap retaining device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said decorative member is co-molded onto said top flat sheet member.
7. A strap retaining device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said decorative member is printed onto said top flat sheet member.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 4, 2007
Publication Date: Dec 4, 2008
Inventor: Teri Christian (Vacaville, CA)
Application Number: 11/809,931
International Classification: A44B 11/25 (20060101);