Abstract:
The present invention is an apparatus and method for transferring weight of a parcel being carried by a user to the hip area of the user. The apparatus includes one or more small platforms, a brace, and two fasteners. The brace typically slides behind the belt of the user, inside the pants or skirt. The fasteners attach to the belt. The carrier will typically support the parcel with two hands and the platform(s) of the apparatus. The whole apparatus can be fabricated as a unitary component from sheet metal or molded plastic, although often the top surface platform will be covered with some slip-retarding material, such as rubber or plastic. The apparatus is easy to insert and remove, lightweight, and nearly invisible when worn. The device is particularly useful for parcel delivery carriers.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for supporting a parcel being carried by a user. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus that transfers torque and weight from the load to the carrier&#39;s body near the hips. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    People often carry in their arms relatively heavy, relatively compact loads over short distances. For example, an office worker might carry a box of copier paper from one room to another. A person might need to carry a box full of books to arrange on a new set of shelves in the home. A worker for a courier, package delivery service, or postal service may need to carry a package from a truck to the door of a recipient many times each day. 
         [0003]    In carrying, for example, a box of books, the carrier will typically simply lift the parcel in two hands, and press it against his body to keep it from twisting and falling. He may use the top of his belt buckle to assist in supporting the weight. 
         [0004]    A belt buckle is, however, of limited value for such use. All the weight is concentrated in a very small portion of the belt, usually causing the belt to twist and deform. Also, the thickness of the buckle provides a rather narrow platform upon which to rest the object being carried. 
         [0005]    It is well known that a typical adult human&#39;s hips have great capacity to bear loads. Consequently, technologies have been adapted in a variety of contexts taking advantage of this fact. For example, backpacks for outdoor camping have incorporated hip belts to transfer much of the weight of camping gear they contain away from the arms and shoulders. Flag bearers in parades wear belts incorporating a cup to support the flagstaff from the bottom. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The inventor recognized that an opportunity existed to improve upon available means for manually carrying a compact but possibly quite heavy load. The invention is an apparatus and method that incorporates the concept of transferring weight and torque to the hip area of the user. The terms “user” and “carrier” will be used interchangeably throughout this document. 
         [0007]    The apparatus includes three features rigidly connected to each other—a platform, a brace, and a pair of fasteners. The brace slides inside a lower garment of the carrier. For convenience and to avoid pointless repetition, we will refer to this lower garment as “pants” throughout this description, although the lower garment might, within the scope of the invention, be any lower garment, such as trousers, short pants, or a skirt. The brace will be between the pants and the body of the carrier. Other items of clothing may intervene between the pants and the body, such as a tucked-in shirt or an undergarment. When the apparatus is installed on the carrier, and the carrier is standing upright, the top of the platform lies essentially in a plane that is parallel to the ground. The fasteners attach to a belt of the user, or to the top edge of the user&#39;s pants, or to both. In some embodiments, there may be two or more platforms attached to the brace. 
         [0008]    Some the features of the apparatus may be symmetric about a midplane. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the whole apparatus is symmetric about the midplane. When the apparatus is in place on a carrier, the midplane coincides with the plane of symmetry of a typical human body. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the brace is generally parallel to the surface of the body of the user. The brace is essentially perpendicular to the top surface of the platform where the brace connects to the platform. The brace curves inward as distance from the midplane increases, so as to fit a human form. The brace may also curve inward in the downward direction away from the platform, also to fit a human form. The brace may include a bottom edge that is contoured, in particular to avoid the area of the hips of the carrier. 
         [0010]    The fasteners are adapted to attaching the brace to the carrier&#39;s belt, pants, or both. The fasteners extend generally outwards (away from the carrier&#39;s body) from the brace. In some embodiments, the fasteners are downward opening hooks that slide over the carrier&#39;s belt and pants when the apparatus is worn by the carrier. 
         [0011]    To carry a heavy package, the carrier will place the inner portion of the object being carried onto the top of the platform. We will use the term “parcel” as a synonym for the object being carried. The term parcel is explicitly not intended to carry any connotations about the size, weight, shape, or contents of the object being carried, which might be anything. The carrier will typically hold the outer portion of the parcel with his hands, where “inner” and “outer” are relative to the carrier&#39;s body. The weight of the object on the platform will create torque on the platform that tends to cause the platform to rotate downward and inward toward the body of the carrier. Because the platform is rigidly attached to the brace, a portion of the torque is transferred through the brace to the torso of the user in the area of the hips. 
         [0012]    Torque is also transferred from the platform through the brace to the fasteners, then through the fasteners to whatever the fasteners are attached to, typically the belt and the pants of the carrier. As mentioned previously, in some embodiments of the invention, the fasteners are downward-facing hooks. When the carrier installs the apparatus, the hooks slide down over the belt. In these embodiments, the apparatus is very easy to put on and take off, since it simply slips into place. It is equally easy to remove. 
         [0013]    By counteracting the torque applied by the package to the platform, the apparatus transfers a portion of the weight of the package to the area of the hips of the carrier. The inventor has found empirically that the belt platform of the invention makes it relatively easy to carry packages having mass of up to 25 kg. 
         [0014]    In embodiments with two platforms, the platforms will ordinarily be separated by some space horizontally. Having two platforms is advantageous if the carrier sometimes needs to have one hand free while carrying a parcel, for example to knock on doors. The two platforms and one hand combine to provide three points supporting the package in a horizontal plane. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the top of a platform is designed to reduce slipping of the parcel. It may be covered with a non-slip material fabricated from rubber or plastic. The surface may be textured to increase friction and reduce slipping. For example, the surface of the platform might be gridded, ridged, stippled, or corrugated. Texturing may be in addition to the slip-resistant material, or an alternative to it. 
         [0016]    The brace will typically be thin and formed from a relatively lightweight material, such as plastic or sheet metal. The entire apparatus is designed to be very lightweight. The thinness of the brace also allows it to be worn comfortably. As mentioned previously, in some embodiments, the brace has a lower edge that is contoured to comfortably avoid the hips themselves. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the brace and a platform share a unitary component. By a unitary component, we mean an atomic object, made from a single material, and not an object made by joining, connecting, or compositing other objects. Such a unitary component might be fabricated by cutting and bending sheet metal, or by molding plastic, metal, or other material. In other embodiments, the brace, platform, and fasteners all include a unitary component. In some embodiments, the entire apparatus consists of a unitary component. In addition to the structural toughness afforded by such construction, the apparatus will also be relatively inexpensive to manufacture. 
         [0018]    The apparatus is lightweight, compact, and easy to install and remove. In some embodiments, it is hardly noticeable visually to observers when installed, with only a small platform protruding out from above the carrier&#39;s belt buckle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the invention apparatus. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a top view illustrating an embodiment of the invention apparatus. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the use of an embodiment of the invention apparatus by a carrier to carry a parcel. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the invention apparatus as it is being installed by a carrier. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the invention apparatus after it has been installed by a carrier. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section through an embodiment of the invention apparatus at the plane of symmetry. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the invention apparatus when worn by a carrier, showing fasteners in the form of hooks. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section through fastener hooks in an embodiment of the invention apparatus. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the invention method. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    The following description and drawings referenced therein give illustrative embodiments of the invention. They are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Practitioners in the art will recognize that many other embodiments of the inventive concepts are possible. All such embodiments should be considered within the scope of the invention. 
         [0029]    The first digit of each reference number corresponds to the figure number in which that reference number is first displayed. For example, parcel  310  is first shown in  FIG. 3 . A reference number may appear in the text prior to the discussion of the figure of its first display. 
       Apparatus 
       [0030]    The purpose of the invention is to assist a user  300  in carrying a parcel by transferring some of the weight of the parcel to the hip area of the user  300 .  FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the invention apparatus  100 . The apparatus  100  will be described with a coordinate system that corresponds to its orientation when normally worn by a human user  300 , as shown in the figure. There are three coordinate axes  190 , which are mutually perpendicular or essentially so. The first axis  191  has an inward direction, toward the carrier  300 , and an outward direction, away from the carrier  300 . The second axis  192  has an upward and a downward direction; downward is toward the ground. The third axis  193  has a left and a right direction; left and right are defined from the perspective of a carrier  300  who is using the apparatus  100 , which shall also be referred to as “wearing”, the apparatus  100 . 
         [0031]    The apparatus  100  includes at least one platform  104 , a brace  110 , and two fasteners  120 . The platform  104  is rigid, and contains an essentially flat top surface  105 . The platform  104  extends outward from the brace  110 . In embodiments with a single platform, the platform  104  is essentially symmetric about a midplane  200 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the apparatus  100  is worn normally, the midplane  200  will approximately coincide with the midplane  200  of symmetry of the body  510  of the user  300 . The top surface  105  of the platform  104  in some embodiments has a slip-resistant form  180 . The slip-resistant form  180  may be achieved by texturing the surface, for example with a grid, dimples, corrugation, or ridges. Alternatively or in addition to texturing, the slip-resistant form  180  may be achieved by the use of a slip-resistant material  181 , such as one that includes plastic or rubber. 
         [0032]    The platform  104  typically extends outward a distance greater than 0.5 cm and less than 15 cm; preferably the platform extends outward between 2 and 6 cm. The platform  104  typically extends to the left and to the right of the midplane  200 , respectively, between 0.25 cm and 10 cm; preferably the platform extends to the left and right of the midplane  200  between 1.5 and 3 cm. 
         [0033]    Some embodiments of the invention include two or more platforms  104  (not shown). In the case of two platforms, they will be located essentially symmetrically to each other relative to the midplane. Having two platforms  104  is advantageous if the carrier  300  sometimes needs to have one hand  320  free while carrying a parcel  310 , for example to knock on doors. The two platforms  104  and one hand  320  combine to provide three points supporting the parcel  310  in a horizontal plane. Henceforth this description will discuss the case of a single platform, although the extension to two or more platforms follows straightforwardly. The scope of the invention includes such multi-platform embodiments. 
         [0034]    The brace  110  is rigidly connected to the platform  104  along an inner edge  107  of the platform  104 . The brace  110  is essentially perpendicular to the top surface  105  of the platform  104  along the inner edge  107  of the platform  104 ; the brace  110  is also essentially perpendicular to the midplane  200  along the inner edge  107  of the platform  104 . Like the platform  104 , the brace  110  is preferably essentially symmetrical about the midplane  200 . The brace extends beyond the platform to the left and right of the midplane  200 . 
         [0035]    The brace  110  is designed to slide (see  FIG. 4 ) inside pants  430  (or, as mentioned previously, trousers, shorts, skirt, or other similar lower garment), between the pants  430  and the body  510  of the carrier  300 . There may be other intervening layers between the brace  110  and the body  510 , such as underwear and a tucked-in shirt. (See  FIG. 5-8 . The brace  110  is curved to match the shape of the hip area  440  of the user  300 . The brace  110  curves inward with increasing distance from the midplane  200 . ( FIG. 2 ) In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the brace  110  is curved but nearly everywhere vertical, but in some embodiments the brace  110  curves inward when with increasing distance downward from the level of the platform  104 , or, equivalently, from a top edge  115  of the brace  110 . Again, the geometry of the brace  110  is chosen to comfortably match the shape of the user  300 . In some embodiments, the brace  110  is contoured along its bottom edge  116  to fit the human form. In some embodiments, such a contour  170  causes the brace  110  to avoid the hipbone of the carrier  300 . 
         [0036]    Rigidly attached to the brace  110  proximate to, or on, its top edge  115  are two fasteners  120 . The fasteners  120  extend generally outward from the brace, and are adapted to attaching the brace  110  to the belt  400 , pants  430 , or both. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the fasteners  120  are hooks  150  that open downward. However, the fasteners  120  might be clips, clamps, clasps, loops, or other kind of fastener  120 . The advantage of hooks  150  is that the apparatus  100  can be configured so that the hooks  150  easily slide into place over a belt  400  and the top of a pair of pants  430  when the apparatus  100  is installed by the carrier  300 . 
         [0037]    Some or all features of the apparatus  100  can be made as a single unitary component; that is, a component which is not assembled from sub-components, but rather is created from a single piece of material. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , all features except the slip-resistant material  181  of the top surface  105  of the platform  104  are made by cutting and bending a single piece of sheet metal. Molded plastic or metal can also be used. The compact form of the apparatus  100  makes it very lightweight. In some embodiments, the mass is less than 500 grams (g); preferably, the mass is less than 150 g. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the apparatus  100 . The midplane  200 , which forms a plane of symmetry of some embodiments of the apparatus  100 , appears as a line in this top view of the apparatus  100 . For the comfort of the user  300 , the brace thickness  210  is quite small, typically less than 5 mm in thickness, and preferably less than 2 mm. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the use of an embodiment of the invention apparatus  100  by a carrier  300  to carry a parcel  310 . The figure shows that a heavy parcel  310  will ordinarily be supported from three points, namely, the two hands  320  of the carrier  300  and the top surface  105  of the platform  104 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the invention apparatus  100  as it is being installed by a carrier  300 . The apparatus  100  is inserted between the body  510  and the belt  400  (if any) and pants  430  (or trousers, shorts, skirt, etc.). The figure also shows a belt buckle  410  and belt loops  420 , the belt loops  420  being components of the pants  430  of the carrier  300 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the invention apparatus  100  after it has been installed on a carrier  300 . In this embodiment, the brace  110  is hidden when the apparatus  100  is installed, so the brace  110  is shown with a dashed line in the figure. When the apparatus  100  is worn, the platform  104  typically rests on the belt  400 , belt buckle  410 , and pants  430  of the carrier  300 . 
         [0042]    A midplane section  500 , at the location labeled “A-A” in  FIG. 5 , corresponds approximately to the plane of symmetry of the human body  510 . The cross-section is depicted in  FIG. 6 , which shows for this embodiment of the invention that the top surface  105  of the platform  104  is essentially perpendicular to the brace  110  along the inner edge  107  of the platform  104 , which at this location coincides with the top edge  115  of the brace  110 . The platform  104  rests on the belt  400 , belt buckle  410 , and pants  430  of the carrier  300 . The brace  110  is between the pants  430  and the body  510  of the carrier  300 , although usually with one or more layers of clothing between the brace  110  and the body  510 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 7  is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the invention apparatus  100  when worn by a carrier  300 , showing fasteners  120  in the form of hooks  150  The fasteners  120  attach to the belt  400  or to a garment  435  of the carrier  300 . This figure also shows the contour  170  of the brace  110 , which provides a cutout around the hipbone of the carrier  300 . Here, the left side is shown. A section  700  through a hook  150 , which is the kind of fastener utilized in this particular embodiment, at the location labeled “B-B” is shown in  FIG. 8 . The hook  150  is shown in its installed position, resting on the belt  400  and pants  430  of the user  300 . The fasteners  120  help to keep the brace  110  in position and the top surface  105  of the platform  104  level. They also help by transferring torque to the belt  400 , which in turn spreads the torque over a portion of the length of the belt  400  itself. 
       Method 
       [0044]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the invention. It should be noted that some of these steps might be omitted in some embodiments within the scope of the invention. After the method starts  900 , the apparatus  100  of the invention is inserted  910  behind the belt  400  and pants  430  of the user  300 . The fasteners  120  are attached  920  to the belt  400  or, in some embodiments, to the pants  430  or other lower garment  435  of the user  300 . A parcel  310  is placed  930  onto the platform  104 , and typically also held by the user  300  with one or two hands  320  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0045]    The parcel  310  on the platform  104  creates torque that is directed downward and inward. This is counterbalanced  940  by transferring the torque to the body  510  of the carrier  300  through the brace  110  and to the belt  400  of the carrier  300  through the brace  110  and fasteners  120 . The overall effect is to transfer a portion of the weight of the parcel  310  to the hip area  440  of the carrier  300 . The carrier  300  carries the parcel  310 , resting on the platform  104 . 
       CONCLUSION 
       [0046]    The embodiments that have been described herein are illustrative of the invention, but do not in any way limit the scope of the invention, which is represented by the following claims.