SHOULDER STRAP AND NECK STRAP COMPRISED OF AN OBLONG SHAPED PAD AND A STRAP

Abstract

A shoulder strap that has a strap member and a pad member and the pad member has a front side and a back side. The oblong shoulder pad shape allows for contour at the shoulder and neck putting the load to the left and right of the shoulder and reducing the pressure on the vertebra and cervical thoracic spinal nerves of the wearer's neck. The front side of the pad member has Non-Slip Traction Nibs (NSTNs) molded in a pattern so the traction nibs are facing outward from the surface at the outer shoulder. The back side of the pad member has a smooth or non-skid abrasive surface with inward X perspiration grooves (2-IPG) at a section by the side of the neck.

Description

This is a new non-provisional Application in the United States based on provisional patent application 61/475,072, which is incorporated herein by reference for all that it discloses.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to the field of shoulder and neck straps for use in carrying an item, for example, a camera or camera bag, on the shoulder or around the neck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shoulder and neck straps are used to carry a variety of different items, including bags, cameras, and binoculars.

One of the prevalent problems in the field of shoulder and neck straps is creating enough traction to prevent the strap from slipping off the shoulder without sacrificing comfort while carrying the load. Strap users often find themselves leaning, twisting and/or bending their torso and spine toward the opposite side from the load in order to prevent the strap from slipping off the shoulder. Additionally, plain webbing straps or flimsy pad members may collapse or bunch up, creating a distribution of the load over a smaller area, impinging on the shoulder muscles and nerves. This can cause a variety of problems and be uncomfortable for the strap user. A previous invention of the present inventor has shown that slipping can be prevented by providing a strap with small rubbery protrusions, known as traction nibs, in a pattern on the strap member. U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,178.

The prior invention disclosed a hollow pad member that received a buffer member that was, in turn, attached to the strap member. This required a multi-step manufacturing process, which increases the cost and complexity of the strap and pad connection. Also, a straight-sided pad may be inclined to dig or impinge into the neck and shoulder of the strap user, causing discomfort, because the pad does not conform to the shape of the shoulder or neck. Additionally, oily perspiration could pool around the strap surface causing slippage during shoulder carry and additional discomfort during neck carry.

The present invention addresses these needs, providing improved efficiency of manufacturing and improved user comfort while maintaining superior non-slip performance and attributes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to a shoulder and neck strap that utilizes an oblong pad with Non-Slip Traction Nibs (NSTNs) in a pattern on the front side and perspiration collection grooves on the back side. The oblong pad with concave curved portions in the center allows for a contour at the shoulder peak. The contour at the shoulder peak transfers a portion of the load toward the chest, incorporating the clavicle and anterior deltoid muscles, and a portion of the load toward the back, incorporating the upper scapula and posterior deltoid muscles. This reduces the load located predominately on the peak of the shoulder, over the trapezius and accessory nerve, during shoulder carry. This also reduces pressure on the vertebra prominens and cervical thoracic spinal nerves of the medial cutaneous branches of the posterior rami during neck carry. The improved weight distribution from sensitive areas of the shoulder and neck to stronger, less sensitive areas of the shoulder and neck significantly improves comfort.

The pad member can be preferably hot compression molded directly to the strap member, without the need for an interior buffer member. This simplifies the manufacturing process and results in a thinner, tapered pad member. Additionally, the strap member, preferably a type of webbing, is coated with a paint that reacts with the rubber of the pad member to form a stronger bond between the pad member and strap member. The pad member can also be molded to a variety of widths of webbing. Alternatively, the pad member can be manufactured with one slot through the middle, or slots through each end that the strap member can be inserted through. The strap can be attached to the load by any desired means.

The NSTNP polymer pad member is molded so the front surface of the pad member provides strong fraction on the shoulder. The NSTNP configuration increases traction, preventing the strap from slipping off the shoulder. The opposite side of the polymer pad member has a smoother, yet inherently non-skid surface with inferior non-slip attributes than the traction nibs. These inferior non-slip attributes are due to the proprietary polymer compound formulation of the pad and the inward X perspiration collection grooves at sections by the side of the neck or the shoulder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of the strong, non-slip front side of the shoulder and neck strap, where the pad member is hot compression molded to the strap member to form a single unit.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the smoother, non-slip back side of the shoulder and neck strap, where the pad member is hot molded to the strap member to form a single unit.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a slot along the length of the pad member through which the strap member can be placed, as seen from back side.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a slot along the length of the pad member through which the strap member can be placed, as seen from either end.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of two slots in the pad member through which the strap can be placed, as seen from the back side.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of the pad member with the strap member inserted into the two slots in the pad member, as seen from the back side.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the shoulder and neck strap, as seen from a lateral side view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1-4, where like parts are referred to using like character references.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrates a dual function shoulder and neck strap (1) having a strap member (2) and a pad member (3) that is hot compression molded to the strap member (2). The pad member (3) has a front side (4) and a back side (5). A NSTNP (6) is formed on the front side (4) of the pad member (3), and perspiration collecting grooves (7) are formed in the back side (5) of the pad member (3).

The front side (4) of the pad member (3) may also have a first concave curved portion (8). The first concave portion (8) is configured to allow pad member (11) to rest on a larger area of the trapezius muscle of the wearer when the strap is in use, rather than on the accessory nerve at the peak of the shoulder. The wider sections of the pad member (11) in conjunction with the NSTNP (6) creates a friction and gripping effect that redistributes the weight of the load so that it is borne on the anterior and posterior area of the trapezius shoulder muscle, including on the posterior deltoid, clavicle, supraspinatus, subscapularis and coracoid process bone. The lateral and lengthwise gripping effect at the wider sections of the pad member (11) prevents the pad member (3) from digging into the peak of the wearer's shoulder at the trapezius point. Thus, distributing the weight of the load across all shoulder structures causes there to be less trauma to the top of the trapezius.

The center of the back side (5) of the pad member (3) may have a second concave portion (9) for the cervical vertebrae. The second concave curved portion is configured to reduce the pressure on the cervical vertebrae of the wearer when the strap is in use, preventing the pad member (3) from digging into the vertebra and cervical thoracic spinal nerves of the wearer's neck. The first concave portion (8) and the second concave portion (9) form a narrow portion (10) disposed between two wider portions (11) of the pad member (3). The two wider portions (11) are the areas that distribute a measure of the load weight. Ideally, the trapezius concave portion (8) and the cervical vertebrae concave portion (9) are symmetrical so that the strap can be worn on either of the wearer's shoulders.

The NSTNP (6) is formed by traction nibs (12) on the surface of the front side (4) of the pad member (3). The perspiration collection grooves (7) preferably have an X shape, and the back side (5) of the pad member (3) may have a smoother, inherently non-skid surface (13) due to the polymer compound from which it is made.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an alternate embodiment of the invention, wherein the pad member (3) has a slot (14) through which the strap member (2) is placed. FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an alternate embodiment of the invention, wherein the pad member (3) has two slots (15) through which the strap member (2) is placed.

FIG. 4 illustrates the traction nibs (10) protruding from the pad member (3).

While the present invention has been described with reference to certain illustrative embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, that additions, deletions, substitutions and improvements can be made while remaining within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A shoulder strap, comprising:

(a) a strap member; and

(b) a pad member, wherein the pad member is oblong-shaped, and wherein the pad member is hot compression molded to the strap member to form a single unit and has (i) a front side; (ii) a back side; (iii) a Non-Slip Traction Nibs Pattern formed on the front side of the pad member; and (iv) at least one perspiration collecting groove formed in the back side of the pad member.

2. A shoulder strap, comprising:

(a) a strap member; and

(b) a pad member, wherein the pad member is oblong-shaped, and wherein the pad member has (i) a front side; (ii) a back side; (iii) a Non-Slip Traction Nibs Pattern formed on the front side of the pad member; (iv) at least one perspiration collecting groove formed in the back side of the pad member; and (v) at least one slot through which the strap member is placed.

3. A shoulder strap according to claim 1, wherein the pad member further comprises

(v) a first concave portion;

(vi) a second concave portion, wherein the first concave portion and the second concave portion form a narrow portion of the strap member in between two wider portions of the strap member.

4. A shoulder strap according to claim 2, wherein the pad member further comprises

(v) a first concave portion;

(vi) a second concave portion, wherein the first concave portion and the second concave portion form a narrow portion of the strap member in between two wider portions of the strap member.

5. A shoulder strap according to claim 3, wherein the first concave portion and the second concave portion are symmetrical.

6. A shoulder strap according to claim 4, wherein the first concave portion and the second concave portion are symmetrical.

7. A shoulder strap according to claim 1, wherein the Non-Slip Traction Nibs Pattern comprises a plurality of traction nibs.

8. A shoulder strap according to claim 2, wherein the Non-Slip Traction Nibs Pattern comprises a plurality of traction nibs.

9. A shoulder strap according to claim 5, wherein the Non-Slip Traction Nibs Pattern comprises a plurality of traction nibs.

10. A shoulder strap according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of traction nibs are round.

11. A shoulder strap according to claim 2, the plurality of traction nibs are round.

12. A shoulder strap according to claim 1, wherein the perspiration collection grooves form at least one X shape.

13. A shoulder strap according to claim 2, wherein the perspiration collection grooves form at least one X shape.

14. A shoulder strap according to claim 11, wherein the perspiration collection grooves form at least one X shape.

15. A shoulder strap according to claim 1, wherein the back side comprises a smoother, non-skid surface.

16. A shoulder strap according to claim 2, wherein the back side comprises a smoother non-skid surface.

17. A shoulder strap according to claim 1, wherein the strap member is coated with a paint that reacts with the rubber of the pad member, strengthening the bond between pad member and strap member.

18. A shoulder strap, consisting of:

(a) a strap member;

(b) a pad member, wherein the pad member is oblong-shaped, and wherein the pad member is hot molded to the strap member to form a single unit and has (i) a front side; (ii) a back side, wherein the back side consists of a smooth or a non-skid abrasive surface; (iii) a non-slip traction pattern formed on the front side of the pad member, wherein the non-slip fraction pattern consists of a plurality of round traction nibs; and (iv) at least one perspiration groove formed in the back side of the pad member, wherein the perspiration grooves form at least one X shape; (v) a first concave portion on the front side of the pad member; and (vi) a second vertebrae concave curve portion on the back side of the pad member, wherein the first concave portion and the second concave portion form a narrow portion of the strap member in between two wider portions of the strap member, wherein the first concave portion and the second vertebrae concave portion are symmetrical, and wherein the strap member is coated with a paint that reacts with the rubber of the pad member, strengthening the bond between pad member and strap member.

19. A shoulder strap, consisting of:

(a) a strap member; and

(b) a pad member, wherein the pad member is oblong-shaped, and wherein the pad member has (i) a front side; (ii) a back side, wherein the back side consists of a smooth or a non-skid abrasive surface; (iii) a non-slip traction pattern formed on the front side of the pad member, wherein the non-slip fraction pattern consists of a plurality of round traction nibs; (iv) at least one perspiration groove formed in the back side of the pad member, wherein the perspiration grooves form at least one X shape; and (v) at least one slot through which the strap member may be placed; (v) a first concave portion on the front side of the pad member; and (vi) a second vertebrae concave curve portion on the back side of the pad member, wherein the first concave portion and the second concave portion form a narrow portion of the strap member in between two wider portions of the strap member, wherein the first concave portion and the second vertebrae concave portion are symmetrical.