Shoulder Strap With Reinforcing Strip
Embodiments of padded shoulder straps with reinforcing strip are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
This application relates generally to golf equipment, and more particularly, to shoulder straps with reinforcing strip.
BACKGROUNDMany heavy items that are carried over distances by walking individuals include shoulder straps. For items in the higher weight range, such as golf bags, suitcases or computer briefcases, padded shoulder straps are common. Comfort and strength of a padded shoulder strap may be improved through appropriate reinforcement.
An embodiment of the shoulder strap of the present invention in use is shown in
One embodiment of the padding strip (11) is shown in
An embodiment implementing the padding strip (11) of
The interior ends (27) of the bearing straps (20) are connected to each other by a reinforcing strip (30). In the embodiment shown in
In one example, the reinforcing strip (30) may sit loosely on top of the padding strip (11) and resting in the indentation (13) if the padding strip (11) includes such an indentation. When a load, such as a golf bag, is applied to the bearing straps (20), the padding strip (11) flexes and bends over the shoulder of the individual (40). For example, the weight of the bag causes the padding strip (11) to stretch between the two contact points (26) and the reinforcing strip (30) becomes taut, to reinforce the padding strip (11) in tension and spread the load weight more evenly across the shoulder of the individual (40).
The padding strip (11) may be closed cell foam, open cell foam, memory foam, or a laminated foam/fabric combination. The padding strip (11) may include other materials to pad a shoulder of the individual (40) against the weight of a golf bag. As illustrated in
The reinforcing strip (30) may be made of any flexible material with suitable tensile strength, including fabric, leather, nylon webbing, wire frame, plastic, fiberglass, metal wire, metal cord, thread or netting. Variations in the width of the reinforcing strip (30) are also possible. In some embodiments, the reinforcing strip (30) may be configured with an opening (31) in the center, as in
As shown in the embodiments in
Although certain illustrative embodiments and methods have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of such embodiments and methods may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention should be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the rules and principles of applicable law.
Claims
1. A shoulder strap comprising:
- a padding strip;
- two or more bearing straps connected to attachment points at or near each end of the padding strip; and
- a reinforcing strip connected to the attachment points, the reinforcement strip sitting loosely on top of the padding strip so that tension is applied to the padding strip and the reinforcing strip when a load is applied to the bearing straps.
2. The shoulder strap of claim 1 wherein the padding strip is selected from the group consisting of closed cell foam, open cell foam, memory foam or a laminated foam and fabric combination.
3. The shoulder strap of claim 1 wherein the padding strip is a molded foam having an indentation integrated in a top side, and the reinforcing strip rests loosely in the indentation.
4. The shoulder strap of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of indentations on an underside of the padding strip in a pattern that aids flexibility of the padding strip when the padding strip is bent under a load applied to the bearing straps.
5. The shoulder strap of claim 2, further comprising a securing strip attached to the padding strip approximately perpendicular to each bearing strap at a location near the attachment points for the bearing straps.
6. The shoulder strap of claim 5 wherein the securing strips are nylon webbing.
7. The shoulder strap of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing strip is selected from the group consisting of nylon webbing, leather, synthetic leather, wire framed fabric or plastic.
8. The shoulder strap of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing strip is affixed to the attachment point and is connected to the bearing strap with a lateral lock.
9. The shoulder strap of claim 8, further including a securing strip attached to the padding strip approximately perpendicular to each bearing strap and located between each lateral lock and each nearby end of the padding strip.
10. A shoulder strap for a golf bag comprising:
- a padding strip;
- two or more bearing straps connected to attachment points at or near each end of the padding strip; and
- a reinforcing strip connected to the attachment points, the reinforcement strip sitting loosely on top of the padding strip so that tension is applied to the padding strip and the reinforcing strip when a load is applied to the bearing straps.
11. The shoulder strap of claim 10 wherein the padding strip is selected from the group consisting of closed cell foam, open cell foam, memory foam or a laminated foam and fabric combination.
12. The shoulder strap of claim 10 wherein the padding strip is a molded foam having an indentation integrated in a top side, and the reinforcing strip rests loosely in the indentation.
13. The shoulder strap of claim 10, further comprising a securing strip attached to the padding strip approximately perpendicular to each bearing strap at a location near the attachment points for the bearing straps.
14. The shoulder strap of claim 10 wherein the reinforcing strip is affixed to the attachment point and is connected to the bearing strap with a lateral lock.
15. The shoulder strap of claim 14, further including a securing strip attached to the padding strip approximately perpendicular to each bearing strap and located between each lateral lock and each nearby end of the padding strip.
16. A golf bag comprising:
- a tubular structure to carry one or more golf clubs; and
- a shoulder strap comprising: a padding strip; two or more bearing straps connected to attachment points at or near each end of the padding strip; and a reinforcing strip connected to the attachment points, the reinforcement strip sitting loosely on top of the padding strip so that tension is applied to the padding strip and the reinforcing strip when a load is applied to the bearing straps.
17. The golf bag of claim 16 wherein the padding strip is selected from the group consisting of closed cell foam, open cell foam, memory foam or a laminated foam and fabric combination.
18. The golf bag of claim 16 wherein the padding strip is a molded foam having an indentation integrated in a top side, and the reinforcing strip rests loosely in the indentation.
19. The shoulder strap of claim 16, further comprising a securing strip attached to the padding strip approximately perpendicular to each bearing strap at a location near the attachment points for the bearing straps.
20. The shoulder strap of claim 16 wherein the reinforcing strip is affixed to the attachment point and is connected to the bearing strap with a lateral lock.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 22, 2008
Publication Date: Mar 25, 2010
Inventor: Frank A. Quartarone (Phoenix, AR)
Application Number: 12/235,384
International Classification: A63B 55/00 (20060101); A41F 15/02 (20060101);