RIGID BI-DIRECTIONAL SHOULDER STRAP GUIDE

Abstract

A shoulder strap guide, having quick connect provisions. A rigid C-shaped guide is alternately oriented onto a vest to either prevent upward translation of a shoulder strap into a wearer's neck or downward translation of a shoulder strap off of the user's shoulder. The guide is equipped with quick disconnect provisions, so that it can be quickly disengaged and reconnected to change functions from preventing upward translation to preventing download translation. The bi-directional nature of the guide is particularly helpful for items that have straps that may be worn over the shoulder on the same side of the body or worn on the opposing shoulder over the head. The C-shaped guide is rigid and retains the strap and does not give way or allow release of the strap upon application of force.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a shoulder strap guide apparatus and, more particularly, to a rigid retaining guide that may be alternately oriented to prevent translation of the shoulder strap up or down on the shoulder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The comfort and convenience of using an over the shoulder strap to carry a vast number of items has made the inclusion of a shoulder strap with such items ubiquitous. Shoulder carrying straps and their provisions for length adjustment and connection to a variety of items are themselves the object of thousands of innovative patents, and a very well developed technology. Luggage, duffel bags, cameras, camera cases, book bags, golf clubs in golf bags, musical instruments, including guitars, and guitar cases, long guns and rifles, archery equipment, sports equipment bags, camping gear, and thousands of other items are made more easily and comfortably transportable by adding a shoulder strap to allow a user to carry the weight of the object over their shoulder, instead of using just their arms and hands to carry the item.

In addition to the vast array of shoulder straps on items available to improve transportability of the items, the way that the items are carried and the method of using shoulder straps also varies. For example, golf bags and camera bags are both commonly carried on the same side of the body as the shoulder from which they are suspended, but they are also alternatively carried on the opposite side of the body, and suspended from the other shoulder, such that the shoulder strap crosses the torso diagonally. Also, while book bags and backpacks are commonly provided with two shoulder straps, it is very common to see the bag carried only on the right side, or only on the left side, or with both straps, over both shoulders.

There are several disadvantageous flaws with the uses of shoulder straps, however. For example, one flaw is that the strap will tend to be pulled down by the weight of the item being carried, such that the strap will translate down and off the shoulder, if it is placed over just one shoulder on the same side as the item being carried. Also, if the strap is over the opposite shoulder and across the torso diagonally, there is the tendency for the strap to translate up the shoulder toward the wearer's neck, creating uncomfortable, impingement and abrasion on the neck.

To prevent the translation of a shoulder strap down the shoulder, prior art solutions have focused on keeping the strap in position on the shoulder. One example is the mounting of a retaining ring on the shoulder with a C-shaped opening oriented towards the wearer's neck as provided in U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,039. The '039 device includes a pivoting hook 4 on a base, held by a button sewn into a garment.

To prevent translation of the strap toward the wearer's neck, which occurs when the strap is diagonal across the torso, devices, such as the retaining device disclosed in United States patent number, 10,527,388 are provided. In the '388 patent a spring loaded clamp with an opening oriented away from the wearer's neck is provided to prevent translation of a strap towards the wearer's neck. The '388 patented device provides a spring loaded clamp that is released upon application of an upward force such that the spring loaded clamp is designed to cease to retain the strap within the clamp.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,147 and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,083,885, devices are disclosed that are designed to prevent translation of a shoulder strap in either direction, up the shoulder, or down the shoulder. The '147 patent provides an O shaped (completely surrounding) retainer that snaps over the shoulder strap to contain it completely there in, while the '885 Patent uses upstanding fingers 30 to prevent translation in either direction.

It is desirable to provide a guide for a shoulder strap that is rigid with a cavity that the strap moves freely in, but one which the strap will not slide out of or be released from even if force is applied in an upward direction. Specifically, it is desirable to provide a guide with a top retaining portion that does not give away or release under the load of an upward force. It is specifically desirable to provide a rigid C-shaped guide that prevents the top lateral part of the “C” from pivoting, or moving relative to the rest of the components of the “C” in any way, even if the strap moves upwardly against it. Also, it is desirable that the opening in the. “C” is large enough to allow the strap to slide freely therein, including any buckles or connectors affixed to the strap.

Thus, it is desirable to provide a guide for a shoulder strap that is secured to an upper body garment, with the necessity that the guide is rigid and retains the strap therein even if the strap moves rapidly upward against it, with the guide being sized such that it does not impede or restrict the sliding of the shoulder strap through it.

It is also desirable to provide a single shoulder strap guide that may be alternately oriented, in a first orientation, to prevent downward translation of the strap off the shoulder, and, in a second orientation, to prevent upward translation toward the neck, both while not impeding the movement of the strap through the guide. It is necessary that the guide does not impede the sliding movement of the strap through the guide, while also preventing lateral translation. The need for the strap to slide freely within the guide is most acute for items that are worn over the shoulder while in use, and for which it will be desirable to quickly move, or reposition the item for use. It will be desirable to quickly change the position, for example, of a camera or rifle to quickly move the camera or rifle from a lower held position to a higher, elevated position in front of the users face to be in a position to aim and shoot, such that the guide remains rigid and unyielding to prevent translation while simultaneously allowing quick, unimpeded movement of the strap through the guide as the camera or rifle is repositioned.

Objects of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shoulder strap retention device that prevents downward translation of the strap off the shoulder.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoulder strap retention device that prevents upward translation of the strap towards the neck when the strap is worn diagonally across the torso.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a shoulder strap retention device that does not impede sliding movement of the strap within the guide.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a shoulder strap retaining device that is rigid and retains the strap therein during rapid repositioning of the item connected to the strap.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a shoulder strap guide that may be quickly disconnected and reconnected to change its function from preventing downward translation to preventing upward translation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A shoulder strap guide retains a shoulder carrying strap, and has means for secure affixation on, or near a shoulder portion of an upper body garment. The guide may be alternately oriented to, in a first orientation, prevent upward translation of a shoulder strap position, and therein into abrasive impingement on a wearer's neck, or, in a second orientation, to prevent downward translation of the shoulder strap to prevent the item from sliding off the shoulder.

In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guide provides a rigid C-shaped member, a mounting base and secure affixation means between the C-shaped member and the mounting base. The C-shaped member also includes removable affixation means that are alternately used to orient bi-directionally the C-shaped member. The base onto which the C-shaped member is mounted includes mechanical stop means in both directions to prevent over travel of the C-shaped member on the base urged by the weight and direction of the item being carried. The C-shaped member also includes cooperative alignment provisions that engage related provisions on the base, allowing for quick detachment, removal and placement in the alternate orientation.

In the most preferred embodiment, a stop means comprises a mechanical stop restricting the movement of the guide through the base and a cooperating locking tab, and notch between the guide and the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional schematic depiction of the use of the guide of the present invention, oriented to prevent the upward translation of the shoulder strap up the shoulder toward the neck.

FIG. 2 is a functional schematic depiction of the use of the guide of the present invention oriented to prevent translation of the strap down the shoulder, off the shoulder.

FIG. 3 is a functional schematic depiction of the use of the guide of the present invention oriented to prevent translation of the strap toward the neck, but also illustrating the used of the guide to restrain the strap as a simple mechanical retention stop to also prevent downward translation.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the C-shaped guide of the present invention, including the C-shaped member and mounting base.

FIG. 5 is an exploded schematic representation of the C-shaped guide of the present invention, illustrating the affixation provisions between the C-shaped member and the base.

FIG. 6 is a detailed illustration of the cooperating locking tab and slot that prevent over travel of the C-shaped member on the base.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C are three views of the C-shaped member, secured to a base with a locking belt to secure the base to an upper body garment.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are perspective representations of the base illustrating, the inclusion of a threaded overlapping locking belt used to secure the base to an upper body garment.

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D are section views illustrating the use of a locking belt threaded through a lattice structure in the base.

FIG. 10A and 10B are profile illustrations of rapid repositioning of an item carried on a strap as it existed prior to the present invention.

FIG. 11A and 11B are profile illustrations of rapid repositioning of an item carried on as strap reflecting the significant benefits of the retaining guide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has great utility in the situation in which an item is carried over a wearer's shoulder 2 using a shoulder strap 4. The present invention provides a shoulder strap guide 10 that includes a rigid “C” shaped member 12 having a cavity 13 therein for receiving the strap 4. The guide 10 comprises an upper laterally extending plate 14 and a lower lateral extending plate 16, and a substantially vertical bridge 18 connecting the upper plate 14 to the lower plate 16. The C-shaped member 12 is rigid because the three components making up the “C” shape, the upper plate 12, the lower plate 16 and the bridge 18, are rigidly adjacent to form the C-shape. In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the entire C-shaped member 12 is formed as a unitary body from an adequately stiff material to eliminate any significant flexing or pivoting of the top plate 14 relative to the bottom plate 16. It is specifically contemplated that other embodiments for a rigid C-shaped member may exist wherein there is no flexing or pivoting or relative movement between the upper lateral plate and the lower lateral plate such that their use does not avoid the principles of the present invention. As will be discussed in more detail here in, the guide 10 is positioned on or near a wearer's shoulder 2 and secured to an upper body garment 6 to provide a means for preventing the translation of the shoulder strap 2. In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base 22 is secured to an upper shoulder portion of a vest 6 using a belt 60 (FIG. 9D). It is contemplated that other methods to secure the base 22 of the present invention to upper body garments are known and contemplated such as, without limitation, zippers, Velcro, buttons, adhesives, etc, and that the use of any such alternative means for securing the base 22 to an upper body garment do not depart from the principles of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the guide 10 is positioned in a first orientation with its C-shaped member 12 and its cavity 13 facing outwardly away from the wearer's neck 20 (FIG. 1). In a significant aspect of the present invention, the guide 10 may be used in a second orientation wherein the strap cavity 13 opens facing the wearer's neck (see FIG. 2). In this second orientation, the guide 10 prevents downward translation of the strap 4 (see arrow D in FIG. 2). In both orientations the vertical bridge 18 of C-shaped member 12 provides a barrier preventing the strap 4 from moving in a problematic direction, such as the indicated “upward” direction U toward the wearer's neck (FIG. 1) or the “downward” direction D indicated at FIG. 2. It is a significant aspect of the present invention that the connection between the upper lateral plate 14 and the vertical bridge 18 is rigid and prevents the strap 4 from escaping the guide 10 in an upward direction, even if the strap 4 is forcefully pulled or just moves upwardly and transmits an upward force onto the upper plate 14. In the specific instance that the item suspended from the strap 4 is rapidly repositioned from a lower position to an upper position, such that the strap 4 is yanked upwardly toward the upper lateral plate 14, it is a critical feature that the upper lateral plate 14 of the guide 10 is unyielding such that the strap 4 is retained in the guide 10. As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, in the instance in which a rifle 80 is rapidly repositioned and raised from a lower position to a higher position as indicated by directional arrow F, the guide 10 retains the strap 4 in it, even as an upward force is applied to the guide 10 by the strap 4.

The change from the first orientation (preventing upward translation U of the strap 4) of C-shaped member 12 to the second orientation (preventing downward translation D of strap 4) is accomplished by providing cooperative affixation means 24 between C-shaped member 12 and base 22. In the most preferred embodiment, the cooperative affixation means 24 comprise guide rails 26 formed near the bottom of the C-shaped number 12, which engage slots 28 formed in the base 22 (FIG. 5). It is specifically contemplated that other cooperative features may be provided between the C-shaped member 12 and base 22 without departing from the principles of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention these cooperative features allow quick removal and re-orientation of the C-shaped member 12 on the base 22. In allowing the C-shaped member 12 to slide on and off the base 22 without requiring removal or changes to the mounting of the base 22 on the upper body garment.

In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, a locking means 30 is provided between the C-shaped member 12 and the base 22 that holds the C-shaped member 12 securely in the first orientation to prevent translation of the strap 4 toward the neck. In the most preferred embodiment, the locking means 30 is provided by a locking tab 32 that engages a preformed slot 34 provided in the base 22 (FIG. 5). When the rails 26 of the C-shaped member 12 slide fully into the slots 28 of the base 22, the locking tab 32 snaps into the slot 34. Disengagement of the C-shaped member 12 from the base 22 is performed by manually pulling the locking tab 32 upwardly to gain clearance of the locking tab 32 out of slot 34, allowing the C-shaped member 12 to slide off and be removed from the base 22. While the foregoing provides the preferred embodiment of the locking means of the present invention, other devices and methods to releasably affix the C-shaped member 12 to the base 22 are contemplated such that their use does not depart from the principles of the present invention.

To change the orientation of the guide 10 from the first orientation (preventing upward translation toward the neck) to the second orientation to prevent downward translation of the strap 4 off the shoulder to (as shown in FIG. 2), as discussed above, the C-shaped member 12 is disengaged from the base 22 by unlocking the tab 32 from the slot 34 and sliding the C-shape member 12 off the base in the direction shown in FIG. 5. The C shaped member 12 is then turned around relative to the base 22, so that the rails 26 of the C-shaped member 12 engage the slots 28 of the base 22 at the opposed end 40 of the base 22 (see FIG. 5). The C-shaped member 12 slides onto the base 22 until the tapered underside 42 of lower lateral member 16 (see FIGS. 9A, 9B) engages the end face 44 of the base 22. The coordinated features of the tapered underside 42 and the end face 44 of base 20 provide the mechanical stop means to keep the C-shaped member 12 from sliding completely off the base 22. In this second orientation, wherein the cavity 13 of the C-shape member 12 opens toward the wearer's neck 2 (FIG. 2), the strap 4 positioned in the guide 10 hangs down, essentially vertically, such that the force exerted on the guide 10 is downwardly directed off the shoulder in the direction that the coordinated features of the tapered underside 42 and end face 44 provide mechanical stop to prevent the C-shaped member 12 from sliding down the shoulder. In this orientation, the guide 10 is oriented to retain the strap 4 and to prevent downward translation of the strap 4 down the shoulder. The mechanical stop means provided by the tapered underside 42 and the end face 44 of the base 22 keep the guide 10 securely in place when subjected to such downward force.

When in use and oriented in the first orientation, the guide 10 prevents upward translation of the strap 4 in direction U toward the wearer's neck 20 (FIG. 1) the C-shaped member 12 allows sliding movement of the strap 4 therein but, because it is rigid and of unibody construction, the C-shape member 12 prevents the strap 4 from coming out of the guide 10 even upon application of upward force on the top, lateral plate, 14 when such force is exerted by the strap 4.

It is the designed objective of the C-shaped member 12 to retain the strap 4 therein, even when the strap 4 moves quickly upwardly, such as would be the situation when the item connected to the strap 4 is raised quickly. By design, the top lateral plate 14 of the C-shape member 12 is constructed to prevent the strap 4 from coming out of the guide 10, when the item being carried is quickly raised, and particularly and specifically, when the item hanging from the strap 4 and being raised is a rifle 80 that is quickly raised from a position of being carried at waist or chest level (see FIG. 11A) to a firing position at eye level (see FIG. 11B). Without the use of the guide 10 of the present invention, the strap 4 engages the wearer's neck 20 such that the rapid repositioning of an item such as rifle 80 will result in a point of abrasion on the wearer's neck.

In both orientations of the present invention, the base 22 is anchored to an upper body garment 6. In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base 22 comprises lattice bars, 50, 52, 54, 56 and a channel 58, through which a securing cord or belt 60 is threaded. In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in FIG. 9D, a first end 62 of the belt 60 is positioned between lattice members 52 and 54. The belt 60 is wrapped around lattice bar 52, threaded between lattice bars 54 and 56 and traverses the top side of lattice bar 56, is looped back under the base 22 and the upper body garment vest 6 to which the base 22 is being secured, is threaded back into slot 66. The continuous belt 60 is threaded up through sleeve 58 and under the belt locking door 70, over lattice 50 such that it overlaps the area of the belt 60 on top of lattice bar 52. Closure of the locking door 70 secures the belt 60 in place and thereby secures the base 22 in place on the upper body garment 6.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto,

Claims

1. A rigid C-shaped guide engaging a shoulder carrying strap, said guide having means for being securely affixed to an upper portion of an upper body garment.

2. The C-shaped guide of claim 1 wherein said C-shaped guide is oriented to prevent upward translation of such shoulder carrying strap toward a wearer's neck.

3. The C-shaped guide of claim 1 wherein said C-shaped guide is oriented to prevent downward translation of said shoulder carrying strap off the user shoulder.

4. The C-shaped guide of claim 1 further comprising: a rigid, C-shaped guide member;a mounting base; andsecure affixation means between said C-shaped guide member and said mounting base.

5. The C-shaped guide of claim 4 wherein said secure affixation means are alternately used to orient said bi directional C-shaped guide component.

6. The C-shaped guide of claim 5 wherein said C-shaped guide alternately prevents upward translation of said shoulder strap toward the user neck or downward translation of said shoulder strap off the shoulder.

7. The C-shaped guide as set forth in claim 4 wherein said mounting base comprises mechanical stop means in both directions.

8. The C-shaped guide as set forth in claim 7 further comprising cooperative sliding alignment provisions between said C-shaped guide and said mounting base.

9. The C-shaped guide as set forth in claim 8 wherein said mechanical stop devices comprise over travel stops preventing said C-shaped guide component from disengaging from said mounting base upon application of force.

10. The C-shaped guide as set forth in claim 8 wherein said mechanical stop devices comprise at least one cooperative locking tab and notch.