Abstract:
A shoulder strap construction includes a dog bone shaped center pad slidably mounted on an elongate strap. The pad is constructed with a convex curvature that fits over the shoulder of a user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    In a principal aspect the present invention relates to the fabric shoulder strap used to carry bags or luggage. 
         [0002]    The use of a shoulder strap to carry a bag, valise, briefcase, or the like is a common feature for many luggage items. Often a shoulder strap is configured in a manner which renders it uncomfortable and causes it to dig into the body of the user thereby resulting in chafing or other irritation. To enhance comfort associated with a shoulder strap, the strap may include a pad mounted on the strap. Cushion material may be included in the pad, or the pad may incorporate a gel such as offered by Shoreline Cases and Accessories. 
         [0003]    Another feature desired in a shoulder strap is the capability of comfortable placement over either shoulder without major adjustment of the strap and without reversal of the luggage or bag attached to this strap. Thus there has developed a need to provide a shoulder strap which has improved comfort and utility. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Briefly, the present invention comprises a shoulder strap which includes a shaped reversible pad that may be comfortably fitted over a shoulder. The shoulder strap includes a slidable center pad section which has a “dog bone” shape. The ends of the strap may be attached to the opposite sides of a bag, luggage item, or the like. The slidable pad is fabricated to maintain a convex curved shape that will fit comfortably over the shoulder of a user. Thus, the combination of the “dog bone” shape and convex configuration of the slidable pad provides a highly useful, yet adjustable shoulder strap. 
         [0005]    Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improved shoulder strap construction. 
         [0006]    It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved should strap construction with a slidable pad having a generally “dog bone” shape and which is also curved to fit over either shoulder of a user. 
         [0007]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a shoulder strap which is padded, is sized to be comfortable and which avoids chafing or digging into the back or shoulder of the user. 
         [0008]    These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be set forth in a detailed description as follows. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]    In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation of an embodiment of the shoulder strap of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the shoulder strap of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the strap of  FIG. 1  depicting the underside of the slidable pad associated with the strap; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the strap of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the top side of the slidable pad thereof; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a bottom side view of the slidable pad of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the pad of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the pad of  FIG. 6  taken along the lines  7 - 7 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of the pad of  FIG. 6  taken along the lines  8 - 8 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of the fabric pattern associated with the extreme bottom side of the pad of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a pattern view of the top layer of the underside portion of the pad of  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is an exploded isometric view of the pad construction utilized for the shoulder strap of the invention in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    Referring to the Figures, and in particular  FIGS. 1-4 , the shoulder strap embodiment depicted includes a belt or web  20  which comprises an elongate flexible strap of fabric material. A buckle element  22  is affixed at one end of the web or belt  20 . A buckle member  24  is affixed to the opposite end of the belt or strap  20 . 
         [0022]    The web, belt or strap  20  is combined with a slidable pad construction  26 . That is, as depicted for example, in  FIG. 4 , the belt or strap  20  fits through a passage or pocket  28  defined in the pad  26 . The belt  20  is thus slidable through the pocket  28  so that the position of the pad construction  26  may be adjusted along the length of the belt  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the belt  20  is adjustable in length and thus includes an adjustable buckle element  30  which permits adjustment of the belt  20  that is looped through the buckle element  22 . 
         [0023]    Importantly, the general configuration of the pad  26  can be described as having a “dog bone” configuration wherein the pad  26  includes a first wide end  32  and an opposite wide end  34  joined by a narrowed mid section  36 . Thus, the lateral or side to side dimension of the mid section  36  is lesser than that of the opposite end sections  32  and  34 . As shown in the drawings, the transition between the sections is an arcuate or curved transition and the plan configuration is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis between ends  32 ,  34 . That is, the one end section  32  forms a generally semi-circular pattern and then smoothly flows into the mid section  36 . A longitudinal, middle axis  60  defines a line of general symmetry. This is illustrated for example, in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0024]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pad  26  is formed so that it will be convexly curved as depicted, for example, in  FIG. 1 . That is, the pad  26  is constructed in a manner which maintains the pad in a curved or arcuate configuration, again as depicted in  FIG. 1 . This curvature is provided to enhance the comfort of the use of the shoulder pad  26  in combination with the belt  20 . 
         [0025]    The construction of the pad  26  enables the configuration described, namely the curved configuration depicted in  FIG. 1 . That is, in an embodiment of the invention, the pad  26  is comprised of a first under side panel  40  which is typically a flexible fabric material. Juxtaposed next thereto is a padding material layer  42  which is retained in position by means of an interior layer or panel  44  of flexible fabric material. Adjacent the interior layer  44  of fabric is an outer layer  46  of fabric spaced from the layer  44  or positioned in a manner which will enable fitting of the strap  20  into the passage or region  48  between the layers  44  and  46 . The layers  40 ,  44  and  46  and padding  42  are bound together by a circumferential binding  50  which is sewn entirely about the periphery of the under layer  40 , the padding layer  42  and the intermediate layer  44 , as depicted for example in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0026]    In order to achieve the desired curvature of the shoulder pad  26 , the shape of the layers  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  is typically adjusted as described hereinafter. Thus, the bottom layer  40  will typically have a longitudinal dimension along longitudinal axis  60  which is lesser than the longitudinal axis dimension along the axis  62  of the layer  44 . The lateral, or side to side dimension, along the transverse axis  64  of the layer  40  is typically substantially equal to the lateral or side to side dimension along the axis  66  of the intermediate layer  44 . Padding  42 , which is fitted between the layers, may however be adjusted and need not be the size of the foot print or layer  40 . Typically, the padding  42  is enclosed between the bottom layer  40  and intermediate layer  44  and thus, has a smaller or lesser profile than these layers. 
         [0027]    In any event, the top layer  46  will typically overlie substantially the intermediate layer  44 . However, it will be noted that the top layer is missing opposite end sections  32  and  34 . Thus, the lateral or side to side dimension of the top layer  46  is substantially equal to that of the lateral or side to side dimension of the bottom layer  40  and intermediate layer  44 . However, the longitudinal dimension of the top layer  46  is foreshortened relative to both of the other layers  40  and  44 . By so adjusting the dimensional characteristics of the layers and binding the layers in the manner depicted in the Figures, the intermediate layer  44  will be stitched or sewn to the bottom layer  40  along a seam equivalent from the outer edge of each layer  40 ,  44  and thereby cause a convex curve to form. This, for example, is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . There, the bottom layer  40  and intermediate layer  44  are joined together by the binding. The top layer  46  is also joined together by the binding. Since the bottom layer  40  is foreshortened in the longitudinal dimension relative to the intermediate layer  44 , and since the top layer  46  does not impact on the length dimension of the shoulder pad, a curvature of the assembly is effected, again as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    The relative relationship of the dimensional characteristics of the various layers forming the shoulder pad  26  therefore accommodates the creation of a curved shoulder pad, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , which is curved to fit over the shoulder, but is not curved in a lateral sense due to the dimensional characteristics described. Of course, other arrangements of the relationship between the fabric layers, such as including additional layers of fabric, adjusting the thickness of the layers, and the like, may be relied upon to provide for a curvature between the opposite ends of the pad  26  while at the same time avoiding a curvature with respect to the lateral sides of the pad construction  26 . As a consequence, the belt or strap  20  may be fitted through the pad construction or pad  26 , and will assume the curved shape depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0029]    The amount of curvature may be adjusted by adjusting the relative sizes of the various layers. The amount of padding and how it is stitched into the pad may also be adjusted. As depicted in the Figures, additional stitching may be provided from side to side or laterally to retain the padding. Such additional stitching for example, being exemplified by the stitch lines  70  and  72 . Thus, the invention is subject to variations and alterations within the spirit and scope thereof. The invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.