Patent ID: 6474523
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: A45F

Abstract:
A piece of baggage comprising:a pack portion having a top and opposite sides; a strap having opposite first and second end portions; and first and second connectors, the first connector operatively connecting the first end portion of the strap to the pack portion adjacent one of the opposite sides of the pack portion and the second connector operatively connecting the second end portion of the strap adjacent the other of the sides of the pack portion, the first and second connectors being configured such that the first and second end portions of the strap can be locked extending from the pack portion in at least first and second alternative orientations relative to the pack portion, the first and second end portions of the strap extending generally away from each other from the opposite sides of the pack portion when in the first orientation and extending upwardly from the top of the pack portion when in the second orientation; wherein the first and second connectors each have a pivot axis and the first and second end portions of the strap pivot about the pivot axis of the first and second connectors respectively as the first and second strap end portions are moved between the first and second alternative orientations relative to the pack portion; wherein the pack portion has a backside adjacent the top and between the opposite sides of the pack portion and the first and second connectors are directly attached to the backside of the pack portion; wherein the first and second strap end portions each have a width and thickness with the width being substantially larger than the thickness and each of the first and second connectors comprises two interlocked members that pivot relative to each other about the axis of the connector, one of the interlocked members of each connector being attached directly to the backside of the pack portion and the other of the interlocked members being connected to one of the first and second end portions of the strap in a manner such that the width of such strap end portion is held oriented collateral to the backside of the pack portion when the first and second strap end portions are in the first orientation and when the first and second strap end portions are in the second orientation; and wherein one of the two interlocked members of each of the first and second connectors has a plurality of recesses and the other of the two interlocked members of each of the first and second connectors has a detent, the detent being configured to resiliently move at least partially into one of the plurality of recesses to prevent the two interlocked members from pivoting relative to each other about the axis of the connector unless a sufficient force is applied to deflect the detent from the recess, the detents and plurality of recesses thereby locking the first and second end portions of the strap in the at least first and second alternative orientations relative to the pack portion.