Abstract:
A personal luggage item interchangeable strap having multiple releasable ends including a squeezable clip inserted into a clip receiver and a padded interior center strap section and a customizable exterior center strap section. The customizable exterior center strap section includes straps of different colors, fabrics of different textures, image display areas and replicas of sporting good items of interest.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of and claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/358,941 filed Jul. 6, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to backpack straps that are interchangeable with other backpack straps. The straps have double sided clips or snaps permitting attachment and detachment of the straps to a backpack or other luggage item. The interchangeability of the straps is advantageous because present backpack straps that are not interchangeable become worn or may need to be replaced. For prior art backpack straps that are not interchangeable, the entire backpack must be replaced when the straps are damaged, worn or become unsightly. 
         [0003]    An additional advantage of the interchangeable strap is that straps of different colors may be swapped out according to the use or user of the backpack. For example, the user may insert team colors of backpack straps of backpack straps having names or logos or advertisements depending on the setting. Advertisements, event venues and the like may be the presented via the interchangeable straps. 
         [0004]    The straps may be made of vinyl, leather or other suitable material. The strap portion may be made of nylon webbing of any suitable material. The straps may also include a padded area that may be shaped in a manner to identify the strap or backpack with a particular source. The padded area maybe made of a variety of cushioning materials. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and photographs. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of an interchangeable backpack strap according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  depicts an embodiment of a backpack equipped to receive an interchangeable strap according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  depicts an interchangeable backpack strap including a logo area according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  depicts multiple interchangeable backpack straps including various items representations according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    Before undertaking the detailed description below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in connection to the disclosed exemplary embodiments: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like. 
         [0011]    Although the subject matter of this application has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments as well as other embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is, therefore, intended that the appended claims encompass any such modifications or embodiments. This general processes and systems described herein may be modified heavily depending on a number of factors, with rearrangement and/or addition/deletion of steps anticipated by the scope of the present disclosure. Integration of this and other preferred exemplary embodiment methods in conjunction with a variety of preferred exemplary embodiment systems described herein is anticipated by the overall scope of the presently disclosed apparatus and system. 
         [0012]    Several embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise noted, like elements will be identified by identical numbers throughout all figures. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. 
         [0013]    Backpacks have become a form of luggage that has gone beyond school children and hikers. Today, many in the professional world have replaced the briefcase with the backpack. The backpack comes with the advantages of including compartments that permit the user to carry beverages and personal electronic devices such as a laptop computer. Backpacks vary in price range and some high end backpacks can cost over $100. While the main body of the backpack often remains in good condition after months and months of use, the straps on the backpack often wear quickly. The straps typically bear the strain of the weight of the articles carried within the backpack, causing the points of attachments of the straps to the bag, which are fixed, to fail. Also, the user&#39;s repetitive wearing of the backpack by placing the straps on and off of the shoulders causes the main body area of the strap to wear and fray. These wear and tear aspects of backpacks having fixed and unreplaceable straps cause the backpack as a whole to appear unattractive and eventually fail. 
         [0014]    The interchangeable backpack strap described herein includes the advantage of allowing a user to replace worn or soon to fail straps with new straps. The user may replace the strap with a strap of similar color or shape. In the alternative, the user may change the strap with a strap that fits the setting in which the user will use the backpack. This may include straps of various colors, fabrics, patterns, textures, thickness of padding or any such variation. The changeable strap may include advertising or a corporate logo appropriate for an event the user is attending. The strap may include the logo of a college or professional sports team and the user may change the strap accordingly when attending a game of one such team. The strap may also be formed of a particular unique shape signifying a user interest, such a shape of a baseball bat, a golf club or any shape reflecting an interest of a user. Even straps having abstract shapes may be selected according to the user&#39;s interests. Similarly, graphics concerning movies, destinations, theme parks or other popular people, places or brands could be depicted on each interchangeable straps described herein. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of the interchangeable backpack strap according to the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , a backpack strap  100  is shown having two ends including opposite ends of a squeeze clip. Clip receiving end  106  is attached to a first end of strap body  102  and clip insertion end  108  is attached to a second end of strap body  102 . Clip insertion end  108  is attached to strap body  102  by a strap attached to integrated buckle  104  within clip insertion end  108 . Clip insertion end  108  includes wings  109 . 
         [0016]    A view of a backpack for which the interchangeable backpack strap  100  may be used is shown in  FIG. 2 . Backpack  200  includes a back side  201 . Back side  201  is largely a flat surface as this is the side of the backpack that is placed against the backpack user&#39;s back when worn. Backpack  200  includes a pair of clip insertion ends  202  and a pair of clip receiving ends  204 . In one embodiment, these clip insertion ends  202  and clip receiving ends  204  are of similar construction to the clip parts shown in  FIG. 1  in order to accommodate the counterpart clip part of the interchangeable strap. 
         [0017]    In use, clip insertion end  108  of backpack strap  100  is inserted into clip receiving end  204  of backpack  200  to secure strap  100  to backpack  200 . Similarly, clip insertion end  202  that is vertically aligned with clip receiving end  204  previously occupied by clip insertion end  108  previously inserted, is inserted into clip receiving end  106  of strap  100 . This secures a first strap  100  into place on back of backpack  200 . This process is repeated for securing a second strap  100  to the second clip receiving end  204  and clip insertion end  202  pair of backpack  200 . 
         [0018]    As shown, clip insertion end  108  includes wings  109 . Clip insertion ends  202  on backpack  200  similarly include wings  209 . When clip insertion end  108  on strap  100  is inserted into clip receiving end  210  of backpack  200 , each wing  109  enters a corresponding opening  210  within clip receiving end  204 . Similarly, when clip insertion end  202  of backpack  200  is inserted into clip receiving end  106  of strap  100 , each wing  209  enters a corresponding opening  110  within clip receiving end  106 . When clip insertion end  108  of strap  100  is inserted into clip receiving end  204  of backpack  200 , wings  109  are locked into openings  210 , securing clip insertion end  108  into clip receiving end  204 . The clip insertion end  108  may be released from clip receiving end  204  by simultaneously squeezing wings  109  inwardly, which allows clip insertion end  108  from easily sliding out of clip receiving end  204 . Wings  109  may be squeezed inwardly to release strap  100  from backpack  200 . 
         [0019]    In  FIG. 3 , an example of an area on which advertisements or logos may be placed on strap  100  is shown. In  FIG. 3 , a desired logo or advertisement, photo, words or symbols of interest may be placed within display area  420  on strap area  102 . Strap area  102  usually includes some padding to improve user comfort. Any such logo, word, phrase, slogan, advertisement or the like may be incorporated into logo area  420 . In  FIG. 4 , straps including various shapes or replicas of items such as a baseball bat  520 , a golf putter  530 , an abstract shape  540 , and a surfboard  550  are shown to signify the source of the straps or various interests of the user. 
         [0020]    In another embodiment, the interchangeable straps can include the same connector on each end for connection to the opposite corresponding connector piece on the backpack or luggage items. By example, the strap  102  depicted in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  can include squeezable clip insertion end  108  having wings  109  on both ends of strap  102 . In such an embodiment, the backpack on which two such modified straps  102  would be installed would include two pairs of receiving ends  204  instead of one pair of receiving ends  204  and one pair of clip insertion ends  202 . Similarly, the strap  102  depicted in  FIG. 1  can include clip receivers  110  on both ends of strap  102 . In this embodiment, the backpack on which two such modified straps  102  would be installed would include two pair of clip insertion ends  202  instead of one pair of receiving ends  204  and only one pair of clip insertion ends  202 . 
         [0021]    Additional modifications or enhancements of the present invention may also be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the particular combination of components described herein are intended to represent only certain embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to serve as limitations of alternative clips within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0022]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0023]    The presently disclosed system anticipates a wide variety of variations in the basic theme of construction. The examples presented previously do not represent the entire scope of possible usages. They are meant to cite a few of the almost limitless possibilities. One skilled in the art will recognize that other embodiments are possible based on combinations of elements taught within the above description. 
         [0024]    Although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the present system is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the system and apparatus as set forth and defined herein.