Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a carrying strap for devices such as cameras, bags and the like which focuses the weight supported by the carrying strap over the underlying major muscles of the neck or shoulder. The carrying strap is provided with support structures releasably attached to the carrying strap to lie over the underlying muscles of the neck or shoulder, the support structures extending below the carrying strap to transfer the weight of the device to the underlying muscles of the neck or shoulder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to an apparatus for use with carrying straps, or carrying straps incorporating the apparatus, which are placed over the back of the neck or the shoulder to carry devices such as cameras, bags and the like. In particular, the present invention is directed to an apparatus which focuses the weight supported by the carrying strap in a point fashion over a major muscle group of the back of the neck or the shoulder. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many devices such as cameras, bags and the like are provided with carrying straps which allow the device to be supported by placing the carrying strap over the shoulder or around the back of the neck. The carrying straps are generally a fabric or leather strap attached at either end to the device. In order to distribute the weight of the device, the carrying strap is generally a wide strap to allow for a larger surface area for distributing weight or if the strap is a narrow strap it may be provided with a wider padded support pad which is generally slidably attached the strap. While such straps distribute the weight of the device over a broader area of the neck or shoulder, it has been found with extended period of use the strap can still result in fatigue and pain of the neck or shoulder from supporting the weight of the device for such extended period of use. 
         [0003]    There thus still remains a need for a carrying strap for devices such as cameras, bags and the like which will reduce the fatigue and pain of the neck or shoulder arising from supporting the weight of the device for an extended period of time. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is directed to a carrying strap for devices such as cameras, bags and the like which focuses the weight supported by the carrying strap over the underlying major muscles of the neck or shoulder. 
         [0005]    In an aspect of the invention the carrying strap is provided with support structures releasably attached to the carrying strap to lie over the underlying muscles of the neck or shoulder, the support structures extending below the carrying strap to transfer the weight of the device to the underlying muscles of the neck or shoulder. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the invention the support structure is a cylindrical structure releasably attached to the carrying strap in the proper position. 
         [0007]    Another aspect of the invention relates to a support system for use with a carrying strap comprising at least two support structures each having an opening for receiving a carrying strap and an engagement mechanism for securing the support structure to a desired location on the carrying strap. In this embodiment, the support structures are spaced from each other along a length of the carrying strap. 
         [0008]    In a further aspect of the invention, the support structures are shaped to distribute forces over a small area. 
         [0009]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, each support structure is cylindrical in shape. 
         [0010]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, each support structure is made of a molded material. 
         [0011]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, each support structure further includes a slot around a partial perimeter of the support structure. The slot is in communication with the opening such that a carrying strap could be passed through the slot and into the opening. 
         [0012]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, the engagement mechanism is a screw. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment of the invention, the support structures are positioned on the carrying strap such that when the strap is in use, the support structures are positioned to correspond to the location of major muscles of the neck. 
         [0014]    In a further aspect of the invention, the support structures are positioned on said carrying strap such that when the strap is in use, the support structures are positioned to correspond to the location of the trapezius muscles. 
         [0015]    In another embodiment of the invention, the support structures are positioned on said carrying strap such that when the strap is in use, the support structures are positioned over major muscles of the shoulder. 
         [0016]    Another aspect of the invention pertains to a carrying apparatus comprising an elongate strap and at least two support structures. Each support structure is coupled to the strap in a spaced apart manner along the length of the strap. 
         [0017]    In a further aspect of the invention, the support structures are shaped to distribute forces over a small area. 
         [0018]    In a further aspect of the invention, each support structure is cylindrical in shape. 
         [0019]    In a further aspect of the invention, each support structure is made of a molded material. 
         [0020]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, each support structure has an opening for receiving the elongate strap and an engagement mechanism for securing the support structure to a desired location on said carrying strap. 
         [0021]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, each support structure further includes a slot around a partial perimeter of the support structure. The slot is in communication with the opening such that a carrying strap could be passed through the slot and into the opening. 
         [0022]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, the engagement mechanism is a screw. 
         [0023]    In another aspect of the invention, the support structures are positioned on the carrying strap such that when the strap is in use, the support structures are positioned to correspond to the location of major muscles of the neck. 
         [0024]    In a further aspect of the invention, the support structures are positioned on the carrying strap such that when the strap is in use, the support structures are positioned to correspond to the location of the trapezius muscles. 
         [0025]    In another aspect of the invention, the support structures are positioned on the carrying strap such that when the strap is in use, the support structures are positioned over major muscles of the shoulder. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the attached drawings in which: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the use of the carrying strap of the present invention to support a device around the neck; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the carrying strap of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cylindrical support structure of the carrying strap of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the disassembled support structure of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates the releasable attachment of the cylindrical support structure to the carrying strap. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    A preferred embodiment of the carrying strap of the present invention is illustrated in the attached drawings generally indicated by the  10 . Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , carrying strap  10  has a strap  12  having two ends  14  for attaching to the device to be carried by looping the strap over the shoulder or around the neck  16 . In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, strap  12  is a leather strap, however the strap may be any material known in the art for use in carrying straps. 
         [0033]    The carrying strap  10  is also provided with support structures  18  which are placed so that they will rest on the major muscles of the neck, in particular the trapezius muscle. The position of the support structures may also generally correspond to acupressure points. In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the support structures  18  are cylindrical in shape having generally flat bottom  20  and top  22  surfaces. However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that other shapes such as ovals or squares or rectangles with curved or angled corners would also be suitable. The Support structures are sized and shaped to focus the weight of the object being carried over a small area which distributes the load in a point-like fashion. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the slot  24  in the support structure spaced from the bottom surface  25 . This spacing is such that when in use, the portion strap  12  between the two support structures is elevated from a user&#39;s neck. This preferred embodiment keeps the strap from contacting the bones of the cervical spine to reduce pressure on the vertebra as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0035]    The support structures  18  are preferably constructed of a molded material such as a plastic or rubber. Preferably the support structure is molded from a polymeric plastic such as polypropylene or polyethylene or a rubber material such as ABS or silicone. The support structure may also be manufactured by a 3D printing process. In an alternative embodiment, the support structure is made of layered leather. 
         [0036]    The support structure  18  is also provided with a slot  24  through which the strap passes to allow the support structure  18  to be engaged with the strap  12  in the desired position. The slot  24  is provided with a means to grip the strap  12  and hold the support structure  18  in the desired position in the engagement position of the support structure  18 . When the support structure  18  is in the unengaged or movable position the means to grip the strap  12  is relaxed so the support structure  18  may slide upon the strap  12  until it reaches the desired position. 
         [0037]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the preferred embodiment of the support structure  18  is provided with a gap  26  on one side of the slot  24  such that the strap  12  may be inserted into the gap  26  until it lies within the slot  24 . Once the strap  12  is in the proper position in the slot  24 , a fastening means such as screw  28  is inserted through an opening  30  in the top of the support structure  18  above the gap  26  to engage a screw hole  32  provided in the bottom of the support structure  18  below the gap  26 . When the screw  28  is tightened down, the gap  26  is closed and the top surface of the slot  24  engages and holds the strap  12  once the support structure  18  is located in the desired position. 
         [0038]    While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above and illustrated in the drawings, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations of the embodiment may be made without departing from the scope of invention. For example while the preferred embodiment of the support structure illustrated in the drawings has a flat top and bottom surface, other shapes of the surface such as a convex surface may be provided. 
         [0039]    Another variation relates to the means to grip the strap and hold the support structure in the desired position in the engagement position of the support structure. While the preferred embodiment utilizes the screw to tighten down the top surface of the slot to engage the strap, an alternative would be to merely provide the slot through the support structure with no gap and provide a means to clamp down on the top of the strap when the support structure is in the engagement position. Such a means could include a screw that when tightened down engages the surface of the strap to hold the support structure in position. Alternatively, the top surface of the slot may be provided with a biasing means which may be biased to engage the top of the strap when in the engagement position and be released when it is desired to move the support structure. One example of a biasing means would be a flexible bar in the top of the slot and a screw which could be tightened down to move the flexible bar into engagement with the top surface of the strap. The slot may also be provided with a coating of a material to increase the friction of the strap when contained in the slot in the engaged position. One example of such a material would be beeswax, although those of skill in the art will be aware of other materials which would also be suitable. 
         [0040]    The scope of the invention should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.