Patent Application
20070245526
The foregoing Summary, as well as the following Detailed Description, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The following material and accompanying figures disclose a strap that may be secured to various articles and utilized to assist in carrying the articles. The strap is disclosed in combination with a computer bag, but concepts associated with the strap may also be utilized in combination with a wide range of other bag styles, including backpacks, briefcases, camera bags, duffel bags, golf bags, handbags, messenger bags, and purses, for example. In addition to bags, concepts associated with the strap may be utilized in combination with a variety of other articles, including photographic equipment (i.e., cameras), binoculars, and various types of athletic equipment. Various harness configurations may also incorporate concepts associated with the strap, including seatbelts, hang gliding harnesses, parachuting harnesses, and horse tack, for example. An individual skilled in the relevant art will appreciate, therefore, that the concepts disclosed herein apply to strap configurations that are suitable for use with a variety of articles and for a wide variety of purposes.
With reference to
Strap 12 includes an extension element 20 and a support element 30. Extension element 20 is secured to container portion 11 in two locations and extends through support element 30. In use, support element 30 rests upon the shoulder of the individual and extension element 20 extends downward from opposite sides of the shoulder to form a tensile member that bears or otherwise supports the weight of container portion 11 and the contents of container portion 11. Support element 30 forms the primary point of contact between strap 12 and the individual, and distributes the weight of container portion 11 and the contents of container portion 11 over a surface of the individual. As discussed in greater detail below, support element 30 imparts cushioning properties to strap 12, thereby enhancing the comfort associated with carrying bag 10.
Extension element 20 extends through support element 30 and is movable with respect to support element 30. More particularly, extension element 20 and support element 30 are friction fit such that support element 30 is movable along the length of extension element 20. In further configurations, extension element 20 and support element 30 may be joined (e.g., with an adhesive, stitching, rivets) such that the positions of extension element 20 and support element 30 are fixed relative to each other. Either container portion 11 or end areas of extension element 20 includes generally conventional connectors 21 that securely join strap 12 to container portion 11. In some configurations, connectors 21 may be adjustable so that the functional length of extension element 20 may be modified by the individual. As depicted in
Support element 30 is depicted individually in
Sipes 36a-36j are generally elongate indentations in lower surface 34 that define various flexion lines in support element 30. Depending upon the manufacturing method for support element 30, sipes 36a-36j may be depressions, incisions, cuts, or other structures that form an elongate indentations in lower surface 34. In general, sipes 36a-36j reduce the overall thickness of support element 30 along specific lines, and the reduced thickness enhances the flexibility of support element 30 along those lines. Accordingly, sipes 36a and 36b enhance the flexibility of support element 30 between edges 37, and sipes 36c-36j enhance the flexibility of support element 30 between end areas 31.
As discussed above, sipes 36a and 36b extend in a direction that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of extension element 20, and sipes 36c-36j extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of extension element 20. In some configurations of support element 30, various sipes may also extend diagonally or in directions that depart from being substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of extension element 20. That is, the directions of flex in support element 30 that are imparted through the formation of sipes may vary significantly.
The depth of sipes 36a-36j (i.e., the degree to which sipes 36a-36j extend between surfaces 34 and 33) has an effect upon the flexibility of support element 30. In general, a greater depth for sipes 36a-36j imparts greater flexibility, whereas a lesser depth for sipes 36a-36j imparts lesser flexibility. Although the depth of the sipes 36a-36j may vary significantly, a portion of sipes 36a-36j are depicted as extending through at least one-half of a distance between the lower surface 34 and upper surface 35. That is, some of sipes 36a-36j may extend through more than one-half of the thickness of support element 30.
Support element 30 may be formed from a variety of materials, including polymer foam materials. More specifically, suitable foam materials include, for example, polyurethane and ethylvinylacetate. Although an entirety of support element 30 may be formed from a polymer foam material, various reinforcing elements may be incorporated into support element 30. For example, the portions of channel 23 adjacent end areas 31 may have polymer reinforcing members that prevent extension element 20 from inducing stretching or wear in end areas 31. Securing members may also be incorporated into support element 30 to permanently or semi-permanently secure the position of support element 30 with respect to extension element 20. Attachment members may also be incorporated into support element 30 to, for example, provide an area for attaching a case for a cell phone or digital music player. In some configurations, a fluid-filled bladder may be incorporated into support element 30 to enhance the cushioning properties of strap 12.
A single polymer foam material may be utilized for each area of support element 30. As an alternative, support element 30 may be formed from a plurality of polymer foam materials with different properties. For example, a polymer foam material with greater density may be utilized to reinforce the portions of channel 32 that are adjacent end areas 31. Portions of support element 30 that are adjacent to lower surface 34 may be formed from a polymer foam material with greater compressibility than portions of support element 30 that are adjacent to upper surface 33, thereby locating a softer foam in areas that contact the individual. Furthermore, portions of lower surface 34 corresponding with a central area 38 (i.e., an area between sipes 36f and 36g) may be formed from a foam material with greater compressibility to locate a relatively soft material in areas of the suprascapular nerve. As an example, a majority of support element 30 may be formed from a polyester or polyurethane foam with a hardness of approximately 45 on the Asker C scale, and central area 38 may be formed from a polyester or polyurethane foam with a hardness of approximately 25 on the Asker C scale. Accordingly, multiple polymer foam materials may be injected into a mold in the formation of support element 30.
Although upper surface 33 and lower surface 34 may be substantially parallel to each other, the cross-sections of
Strap 12 is schematically-depicted as extending over and resting upon the shoulder of an individual 13 in
With regard to the shoulder, the suprascapular nerve extends from the neck to an end of the shoulder, and the suprascapular nerve is generally located along an upper area of the shoulder. As depicted in
As noted above, support element 30 has a wedge-shaped cross-section. With reference to
The invention is disclosed above and in the accompanying drawings with reference to a variety of embodiments. The purpose served by the disclosure, however, is to provide an example of the various features and concepts related to aspects of the invention, not to limit the scope of aspects of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.
