Patent Application
20130277405
The present invention relates to the strapping system used to hold a messenger bag to a person. Messenger bags are not unique in their strapping system which is shared with so-called duffle bags and diaper bags among others.
So called D-ring and swivel hook assemblies provide a D-ring attachment which is permanently affixed to a bag. Utilizing a swivel hook in conjunction with said D-ring provides swiveling motion to the attachment system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,661 to Richard Rekuc provides a swivel hook comprised of a hook with a safety catch device to prevent accidental unhooking along with a swiveling pivot facilitating spinning motion about the strapping axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,032 to William G. Crowle provides a buckle device utilizing a single cam means for disengaging a tab from a slot.
International Patent Publication number EP1465507 B1 to Jean-Marc Hede and Paul Petzl provides a fixing buckle for self-locking and adjusted fastening of a belt, comprising a base equipped with a hook for catching a retaining ring.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,064,603 to Louis Romanzi, Jr. provides a buckle with a center button which disengages the buckle when depressed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,471,716 to Yoshinobu Takahashi provides a buckle having the ability to swivel about two axes and featuring a center release mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. D349871 to Ryukichi Murai provides the ornamental design of a buckle having the ability to pivot about one axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,769 to Scott P. Seligman provides the use of a buckle with the ability to pivot about one axis in a scuba diving backpack.
International Patent Publication number EP1196055 B1 to Jr. L. Arthur Gehr, E. Glenn Gehr, A. James Sack provides the design a multi-point buckle assembly.
Prior art encompasses the usages of strapping systems and buckle designs which have the ability to swivel/rotate about multiple axes, join multiple straps through a single buckle, be released through the depression of a center button, and connect through a hook and ring assembly. What is lacking in the prior art is the ability to facilitate unimpeded pivoting at the joints of the strapping system through detachable buckles where the pivoting motion occurs at the intersection of axial forces transferred through the straps. For instance, A D-ring system allows for 90 degrees of rotation, but full rotation is not possible about a D-ring without the addition of an inline swivel. Furthermore, it is not a system which is well controlled. The clasping device rattles around and frequently has inches of play. This uncontrolled motion can lead to the accidental disconnection of the clasp from the D-ring. Furthermore, while articulating buckle designs exist, they only allow for a limited range of pivoting motion, and the pivot motion it is not about an intersection of axial forces. In a strapping system, when a non axial force is applied to a strap the strap bends at the point where the force is applied. Straps are unable to transfer cantilevered forces, therefore, radiating away from any intersection point all forces are axial. When forces are axial no pivoting motion will be induced. In order for a pivoting buckle to be effective non axial forces must be directed into the buckle itself and not into the connecting strapping. A buckle installed inline on a strap does not utilize its ability to rotate thus rendering it useless in providing a strapping system with the ability to pivot without kinking the straps.
So-called messenger bags have become quite popular, not only for individuals who use them to carry goods from place to place as part of an occupation, but also by bicyclists, students, and others who need to carry books and other articles.
Some messenger bags have strap connectors on both sides at the top of the bag enabling a user to switch positions between their right and left shoulders. Better messenger bags eliminate the beneficial ability to switch shoulders in order to possess a third stabilizing strap which connects from one side of the bottom of the bag to the main strap across the chest of the wearer, such that the bag is maintained in a comfortable, somewhat diagonal orientation across the wearer's back.
One of the problems with existing messenger bags is that the straps can be wide and the connectors used to connect the straps to the bag do not facilitate rotation. As such, particularly when the user shifts the straps from one shoulder to another, the straps get kinked or curled resulting in an arrangement that might be uncomfortable, inconvenient or damaging to the strap.
Another problem with existing messenger bags is that when a third stabilizing strap is utilized it becomes time consuming, difficult or impossible to change position of the bag between shoulders.
This invention resides in a messenger bag system that not only enables a more streamlined and satisfying shifting of the bag from one shoulder to the other, but also with connectors and fasteners that facilitate rotation, thereby avoiding the problem of the straps becoming uneven or kinked during use. While the various connectors and fasteners disclosed herein may be used together in a comprehensive messenger bag arrangement, the connectors and fasteners are also patentably distinct in the sense that they may be used individually, either in a messenger bag configuration or in other applications which might benefit from such components.
In
In accordance with the invention, one end of straps 102, 104, 106 are connected to the bag 100 through inventive quick-release swivel couplings 500, 502, 504, 506. The other ends of the straps 102, 104, 106 are not connected to the bag 100 but are instead attached to one another through an inventive multi-rotatable coupling 800. One end of the third, stabilizing strap 106 connects to the multi-rotatable coupling with the other end of 106 being connected near the bottom of the bag 100 on one side or the other by quick-release swivel coupling 504 and 506 pictured in
The attachment of strap 106 to the bag 100 may be achieved through multiple methods. In
The couplers are comprised of two portions. The first portion 402 is attached to the bag 100 at the various attachment points. The methods of attachment may include mechanical fasteners such as rivets or screws. Alternate adhesive means may include glue, thermal bonding, or a sewn connection. Any attachment method may be combined with any combination of the other methods to achieve a suitable attachment. For instance, the coupler part 402 may be thermally bonded to a section of strapping which is then sewn to the bag 100. The component 402 includes an integrally formed curved portion 410. In the preferred embodiment, this curve is substantially circular, though non-circular portions may be used to resist rotation as a function of rotational angle. When component 404 is inserted into component 402, the circular portions 410 and 418 mate to provide the primary mechanical coupling. A living hinge 414 allows the raised portion 412 of component 402 to be moved out of the way 412′ until the two components are fully seated. At which point the living hinge 414 causes the raised portion 412 to spring back into position providing a catch which secures the two pieces together preventing decoupling as shown in
Component 404 features a bar 416 which serves as a mounting platform for straps 102,104, or 106. However, this bar may be eliminated if other attachment means are used such as pinching, riveting, screwing, gluing or thermal bonding.
The multi rotational coupler base unit 820 features an adjustable mounting point 822 to which strap 102 is attached, and an adjustable mounting point 824 to which strap 104 is attached. In the preferred embodiment mounting point 822 is a typical strapping ladder lock style mount while mounting point 824 is a typical strapping cam lock style mount. The multi rotational coupler connector component 810 features an adjustable mounting point 812 to which strap 102 is attached. In the preferred embodiment mounting point 812 is a typical strapping ladder lock style mount. The various aforementioned adjustable mounting points allow for the entire strapping system to be tightened and loosened in a multitude of ways thus allowing the system to be custom fit and adjustable to accommodate the physique of a particular user.
The multi rotational coupler base unit 820 is comprised of two pieces 830, and 840 which allows for the ability of the component to swivel. In
In
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61605402 | Mar 2012 | US |
