Abstract:
A book sling of a generally U-shaped sling cradle is provided with first and second side walls, and a bottom disposed between the side walls upon which one or more books received in the cradle of the book sling rest. Advantageously, the book sling has open sides and an open top enabling quick visual determination of which particular book should be taken out during use, thereby making it quicker and easier to use than a backpack that completely encloses everything such that it cannot be viewed without first opening the backpack.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/803,503, filed May 30, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/849,407, filed Oct. 4, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herewith. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a shoulder-carried book holder and, more particularly, to a book sling for securely carrying objects.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The popularity of backpacks has increased in recent years. They are widely used for day hiking, bicycling, and climbing as well as for carrying books and supplies by students.  
         [0004]     As the national emphasis continues to be placed on improving the design of a book container or carrying bags, there is a need for a container which can be opened and closed more efficiently and which can hold the objects more firmly.  
         [0005]     Moreover, there is a need for a book container that can provide immediate visual feedback of inner contents without the need to open up the container itself.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The current invention provides for a book sling of a generally U-shaped sling cradle formed of first and second side walls, and a bottom disposed between the side walls upon which one or more books received in the cradle of the book sling rest. Advantageously, the book sling has open sides and an open top enabling quick visual determination of which particular book should be taken out during use, thereby making it quicker and easier to use than a backpack that completely encloses everything such that it cannot be viewed without first opening the backpack.  
         [0007]     These and other advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application, wherein like numerals referred to like parts and in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a book sling constructed in accordance with the present invention carrying a plurality of books depicting the book sling in a shoulder carried or operational position;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the book sling according to  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the book sling according to  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4 a  perspective view of the book sling taken from above and to one side of the book sling;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a removable, sling-strap carried reclosable pouch;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a rear plan view of the pouch depicted attached to a strap (in phantom) of the book sling;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a book sling constructed in accordance with the present invention carrying a plurality of books depicting the book sling in a shoulder-carried or operational position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is front perspective view of a book sling of  FIG. 7  constructed in accordance with the present invention in an expanded position;  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of a book sling of  FIG. 7  constructed in accordance with the present invention in an expanded position;  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the auto cinch handle of a book sling of  FIG. 7  constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a view of the back of the book sling of  FIG. 7  constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is a cut-away view of the auto cinching mechanism of a book sling of  FIG. 7  constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 13  is a side cut-away view of the auto cinching mechanism of a book sling of  FIG. 7  constructed in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 14  is yet another preferred embodiment of a book bag constructed in accordance with the present invention with a person wearing the book bag as a backpack over his shoulder in an operational position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate a book sling  20  constructed in accordance with the invention that is of open side construction advantageously permitting quick, easy and convenient loading and unloading of at least one of a plurality of books  22  capable of being removably carried by the sling  20 . The book sling  20  quickly and easily adjusts to conform to the number, shape and orientation of the books  22  loaded into it, facilitating easy and stable lifting onto the back or shoulder of a person wearing the book sling  20 . Such an adjustably conformable construction advantageously provides excellent comfort when worn while making it quick and easy to put on, take off, load and unload during use and operation of a book sling configured in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0024]     The book sling  20  includes a body  24  made preferably of a flexible webbing  26  configured to provide a front wall  28  that lies against the backside of a person  30  (in phantom in  FIG. 1 ) wearing the sling  20  and a rear wall  32  spaced from the front wall  28  by a bottom  34  arranged to form a generally U-shaped cradle  36  in which the books  22  are placed to transport them. The flexible webbing  26  is preferably composed of a flexible material, such as a flexible fabric, a flexible woven material, a flexible non-woven material, or another suitable flexible material. Examples of suitable commercially available materials include nylon, vinyl, GORE-TEX, and leather.  
         [0025]     In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of pieces are joined, such as by stitching, bonding, riveting or the like to form the webbing  26 . In another preferred embodiment, the webbing  26  is made of a single piece of flexible material such that the front wall  28 , the rear wall  32  and the bottom  34  are also made from the same single piece of material.  
         [0026]     The sides between the front wall  28  and the rear wall  32  are generally open. Preferably, adjustable side restraints  38  and  40  extend along each side of the cradle  36  and between the sling walls  28  and  32  keeping books  22  in the cradle  36  while also enabling wall spacing adjustment, which advantageously permits the book-carrying capacity of the sling  20  to be correspondingly varied as needed. More preferably, a top restraint  42  overlies at least a portion of the cradle  36  and extends between the sling walls  28  and  32 . Preferably, the top restraint  42  is adjustable and reclosable, permitting convenient and efficient loading or unloading of the books  22 .  
         [0027]     The top restraint  42  attaches preferably to the front sling wall  28  adjacent where one end of a flexible and adjustable shoulder strap  44  is attached. As is depicted in the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the strap  44  goes over and around the backside of the shoulder and part of the back of a person  30  (shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 ) wearing the sling  20 . The strap  44  carries a position-adjustable, comfort-enhancing shoulder pad  46  and a reclosable pouch  48  preferably configured as an electronic device storage that is also capable of being moved along the strap  44 . The pouch  48  preferably is also configured so it can be removed and reattached to the strap  44  in a quick and easy manner enabling the person  30  to take the pouch  48  with them independent of where they leave the sling  20 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates the rear sling wall  32  of the preferred embodiment in more detail. The rear wall  32  is preferably of elongate construction having a bottom edge  50 , a pair of sides  52  and  54  and a top edge  56  defining a rear wall panel  58 . The rear wall panel  58  is made of a flexible material, such as a fabric, a cloth, a woven material, a non-woven material or the like. Examples of suitable flexible wall materials include nylon, vinyl, GORE-TEX, or leather.  
         [0029]     In the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , the wall panel  58  may be of any configuration, but preferably is of a generally trapezoidal construction, preferably having its base angle at each bottom corner  60  and  62  of the panel  58  being substantially the same such that they are within about 5° of one another. In the preferred embodiment of the wall panel  58  depicted in  FIG. 2 , the bottom left corner angle is defined as an angle formed by an intersection between an imaginary line running substantially coincident with and generally parallel to the left side  52  and the bottom  50  and the bottom right corner angle is defined as an angle formed by an intersection between a line substantially coincident with the right side  54  and the bottom  50 .  
         [0030]     In combination with the side restraints  38  and  40 , the aforementioned wall panel shape of the preferred embodiment advantageously helps encourage books  22  received in the sling  20  to self-center themselves, including while the sling  20  is being carried by a person  30  who is walking. This advantageously helps increase load stability by preventing load shifting during use and operation. For example, while being carried by a walking person, the resultant up and down motion imparted on the sling  20  in combination with the force of gravity acting on the books  22  in the sling  20  can cause book movement helping self-center each book  22  relative to the center of the sling bottom  34 .  
         [0031]     The top edge  56  can deviate from being generally straight, as one would ordinarily expect it to be where the wall panel  58  is of trapezoidal construction, such that it is generally triangular, curved, and/or includes an apex at its very highest point as a result of convergence between the panel sides  52  and  54 , such as is depicted in  FIG. 2 . As is shown in  FIG. 2 , panel sides  52  and  54  preferably converge by being angled toward one another. In the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the apex produced from this panel side edge convergence is obstructed by part of the top restraint  42 .  
         [0032]     Preferably, the rear wall  32  includes at least one or a pair of book retaining side flaps  64  and  66 , which extend outwardly from corresponding panel side edges  52  and  54  to help keep books  22  from falling out of the sling  20 , particularly when a person  30  is carrying the sling  20  on their shoulder. One or more side flaps  64  and  66  may be formed to extend from the front wall  28 .  
         [0033]     In a preferred arrangement, each one of the side flaps  64  and  66  cooperates with a corresponding side restraint  38  and  40  to help prevent the books  22  in the sling  20  from falling out of a respective open side  68  and  70  of the sling  20 . In doing so, each side flap  64  and  66  constrains side-to-side movement of the books  22  received in the sling cradle  36 . The side flaps  64  and  66  preferably cooperate with the side restraints  38  and  40  such that the restraints  38  and  40  overlie parts of the respective flaps  64  and  66  along a lengthwise extending section of the flap, preferably along its maximum lengthwise extent.  
         [0034]     In the preferred side flap embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , each side flap  64  and  66  is generally triangular with part of the flap underlying its corresponding restraint  38  or  40  such that at least part of the flap adjacent its apex  72  ( FIG. 1 ) underlies at least a portion of the restraint. In the preferred flap embodiment shown in  FIG. 15  each flap  64  and  66  is connected to the front wall  28 . Where connected to the front wall  28 , each flap  64  and  66  preferably is connected by a fixed length of belt or strap  74 . As is also shown in  FIG. 1 , the flap connector strap  74  preferably connects to the front wall  28  adjacent where corresponding side restraint  38  connects to the front wall  28 . Where the front wall connection of these two sling components is adjacent each other, the strap  74  preferably underlies part of corresponding side restraint  38 .  
         [0035]     The rear wall  32  preferably also includes a top cover flap  76  that extends upwardly towards a top part of the front wall  28 , such as in the manner shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The cover flap  76  also is generally triangular with one end of the top restraint  42  preferably being attached to it at or adjacent its apex  56 . A gusset  79  may be fixed to the cover flap  76  and to part of the top restraint  42  to securely anchor the restraint  42  to the rear wall  32 .  
         [0036]     In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the top restraint  42  is fixed to the cover flap  76  adjacent apex  56  but spaced a distance from its outer or top edge leaving a lip  78  that can overlap with the top part of the front wall  28 , if desired. For example, where the top restraint  42  is length adjustable, the cover flap lip  78  can overlap with part of the top part of the front wall  28  when the length of the top restraint  42  is sufficiently shortened. This can help optimize the ability of the book sling  20  to be expanded or contracted as needed to vary its storage capacity to accommodate the particular volume of books  22  being carried at the time.  
         [0037]     The rear wall  32  can include an overlay  80  made a panel of flexible material that preferably is the same as or like the material of the rear wall  32 . The overlay panel  80  preferably has a shape substantially complementary to that of at least a portion of the rear wall  32 . For example, as is best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the overlay panel  80  preferably has a quadrilateral shape that can also be of generally trapezoidal construction.  
         [0038]     No matter what its shape, the overlay panel  80  preferably may have a bottom edge  82  that is adjacent and which can be substantially coincident with the bottom edge  50  of the rear wall  32 . The bottom edge  82  preferably is longer than the overlay panel top edge  84 , which can be curved as shown in  FIG. 2 . For example, the bottom edge  82  of the overlay panel  80  preferably is fixed to the rear wall  32  via an elongate stitched seam  86  that extends along the bottom  34  of the rear wall  32 . Where the rear wall  32  has tapering or converging sides  52  and  54 , the overlay panel  80  can also have same or similar converging side edges  88  and  90 . For example, as is shown in  FIG. 2 , each overlay panel side edge  88  and  90  preferably is generally parallel to a corresponding rear wall side  52  and  54 .  
         [0039]     The overlay panel  80  can be configured as an open top pocket capable of receiving objects, preferably flat in shape, inserted into the pocket along the top edge. In one preferred embodiment, stitching  92  extends along both panel side edges  88  and  90 , fixing the panel  80  along its side edges  88  and  90  to the rear wall  32 . A seam  94  preferably extends along the curved top edge  84  of the panel  80  in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Where it is desired to attach the panel  80  to the rear wall  32  along the top edge  84 , the stitching  92  along the side edges can also be extended along the panel top edge  84 .  
         [0040]     The rear wall  32  can also carry a reclosable compartment  96 , such as is depicted in  FIG. 2  on either or both sides of the rear wall  32 . The compartment  96  may preferably include an elongate reclosable fastener arrangement  98  that defines a mouth or opening through which articles (not shown) can be inserted into the compartment  96 . The fastener arrangement  98  preferably is a zipper  100  that extends along part of the periphery of an outer compartment wall panel  102 . In the preferred embodiment, the zipper  100  extends along a top edge and at least a portion of both side edges of the outer wall panel  102 . If desired, the zipper  100  can be further configured to attach the outer panel  102  to the overlay panel  80  and/or the rear wall  32 .  
         [0041]     In the preferred compartment embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , a mesh article retaining pocket  104  can be provided inside the compartment. The compartment  96  can also include one or more pen or pencil holding loops  106 , which can be attached to the inner surface of the outer panel  102 .  
         [0042]     An article tie down arrangement  108  can be carried by the compartment  96 , preferably mounted to or otherwise defined in part by outer wall panel  102 . The tie down arrangement  108  may preferably include an elastic hold down cord  110 , e.g., bungee cord, arranged in a criss-cross manner, as is shown in  FIG. 2 , by threading the cord  110  appropriately through four guide loop tabs  112  spaced about the periphery of the outer panel  102 . While all of the tabs  112  can be anchored to the outer panel  102 , the tabs  112  are each preferably attached to a respective one of a plurality of corner gussets  114  and  116  located at or along each bottom compartment corner. The ends of the cord  110  are preferably held captive in a thumb operated slide cinch adjuster  118  that enables cord tension adjustment. This can advantageously enable the cord  110  to be loosened or tightened as needed to hold an article (not shown) manually placed between the cord  110  and the outer surface of the outer compartment wall panel  102 .  
         [0043]     The corner gussets  114  and  116  preferably also help reinforce the corresponding bottom corner  60  and  62  of the rear wall  32 , such as is depicted in  FIG. 2 . Each gusset  114  and  116  preferably helps stress risers from concentrating at corresponding rear wall bottom corners  60  and  62  when the book sling  20  is carrying a heavy load. Each gusset  114  and  116  may help prevent this from happening by spreading out forces from the load along the portions of the real wall bottom and side edge extending adjacent where the gusset is attached. This can advantageously help enable a book sling  20  constructed in accordance with the invention to lack any kind of rigid or substantially rigid framework or support structure and permit its walls  28 ,  32  and  34  and flaps  64 ,  66  and  76  to be made of a flexible material, such as the flexible materials disclosed above.  
         [0044]      FIG. 3  illustrates the front sling wall  28  of the preferred embodiment in more detail. The front wall  28  also is preferably of elongate construction having a bottom edge  120 , a pair of sides  122  and  124  and a top edge  126  defining a front wall panel  128  of generally quadrilateral construction. In the preferred wall panel embodiment show in  FIG. 3 , the front wall panel  128  preferably is substantially rectangular. The wall panel  128  preferably is also made of a flexible material, such as a fabric, a cloth, a woven material, a non-woven material or the like.  
         [0045]     The front wall  28  preferably includes an outer surface  130  that faces toward and typically bears against the back of a person  30  carrying the book sling  20 . The front wall  28  preferably includes a generally top cover flap  132  that preferably also is generally triangular like the rear wall cover flap  76 .  
         [0046]     Likewise, the other end of the top restraint  42  is attached to the cover flap  132 , preferably adjacent its apex  134 . A reinforcement gusset  136  preferably is provided to more securely anchor the top restraint  42  to the front wall  28  helping reinforce where it attaches.  
         [0047]     The front wall  28  can also include an outer overlay panel  138  that is elongate and which preferably is fixed substantially about its periphery to the front wall panel  128 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a seam  140  extends about its entire periphery with stitching preferably used in attaching the overlay panel  138  to the wall panel  128 . The overlay panel  138  preferably sandwiches comfort-increasing padding (net shown) between it and wall panel  128 .  
         [0048]     To enable the book sling  20  to be hung up, such as on a wall mounted hook or peg (not shown), the front wall  28  can be equipped with a hanger loop  142  that is anchored by a gusset  144  to the front wall  28 . In the preferred embodiment shown, the gusset  144  is generally centrally located, disposed so it overlaps a top portion of the overlay panel  138  and seam  140 , and can have a portion folded underneath the overlay panel  138 . The hanger loop  142  is preferably attached to the gusset  144  at or adjacent each loop end.  
         [0049]     Located adjacent and preferably above the hanger loop gusset  144  is a transversely extending reclosable opening  146  of an article holding pocket or compartment disposed on either or both sides of the front wall  28 . It may preferably include a reclosable fastening arrangement  148  that preferably is a zipper  150  or the like that can be opened to enable compartment access and that can be closed to prevent compartment access.  
         [0050]     In one preferred embodiment, the integral wall formed compartment holds a rain shield (not shown) made of a water-resistant or water impervious material such as plastic, e.g., plastic film, or the like, which is packed in the compartment during book sling manufacturing.  
         [0051]     Such a rain shield can be configured to serve as a hood that can be pulled at least partially out of the compartment in the wall  28  when the zipper  150  is open, manually rearranged, such as by unfolding it and/or spreading it out, and placed relative to the exposed parts along the top and sides of the book sling  20  so as to keep the rain away from any books  22  being carried by the book sling  20 . In one preferred rain hood configuration (not shown), the hood is made of a plastic film or thin sheet material that can be unfolded and arranged so it overlies, not just the book sling  20 , but the person  30  wearing the book sling  20  as well.  
         [0052]     Located adjacent and above the front wall bottom  120  preferably are a pair of generally triangular shoulder strap mounting ears  152  and  154  enabling the shoulder strap  44  to be attached so the book sling  20  can be worn over either shoulder. Each shoulder strap mounting ear  152  and  154  preferably includes a D-ring  156  carried by a loop  158  that is fixed to the respective ear.  
         [0053]     The shoulder strap  44  preferably has a manually operated snap  160  that releasably engages the D-rings  156  of one of the mounting ears  152  or  154 , depending on user preference, e.g. comfort, left-handed, etc. The shoulder strap  44  preferably includes a strap adjuster  162  for enabling shoulder strap length to be changed by the user  30 . One preferred type of adjuster  162  suitable for use is a tape adjuster, or the like, that is configured to function or operate the same as or similar to that of a slide adjuster.  
         [0054]     As is shown in  FIG. 1 , the shoulder strap  44  preferably is threaded through the adjuster  162  such that a handle strap segment  164  extends outwardly from the adjuster  162  toward a user  30  wearing the book sling  20  permitting it to be grasped and manipulated, e.g., pulled, to adjust strap length while the sling  20  is being worn. Capping the free end of the handle strap segment  164  preferably is selvage, welting or the like forming a grasp tab  166  that can be felt by touch, grasped and pulled while the book sling  20  is being worn. Because of its unique size, shape, texture, etc., it can advantageously enable a person  30  to more easily blindly find the strap segment  164  by feel when reaching back while wearing the book sling  20 . Such a grasp tab  166  may also help prevent the handle strap segment  164  from being inadvertently pulled completely free of the cinching strap adjuster  162 . While the strap  44  can be constructed without such a grasp tab  166 , it preferably is equipped with such a grasp tab  166  fixed to it at or adjacent its free end having a configuration like that shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0055]     As best shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  4 , each side restraint  38  and  40  preferably includes a cinching arrangement  168  that cooperates with an adjuster strap  170  and an anchor strap  172  to enable it to be tightened as needed to help three dimensionally conform it and its corresponding adjacent retainer flap  64  and  66  around books  22  in the sling  20 . When each restraint  38  and  40  preferably is suitably tightened around the books  22  in the sling  20 , the sling  20  and books  22  behave substantially as a single object, which advantageously prevents load shifting during transport thereby reducing user fatigue while also preventing books from inadvertently falling out during book sling loading, lifting, and transport.  
         [0056]     Part of each side restraint  38  and  40 , including the cinching arrangement  168 , preferably is spaced from the adjacent side retainer flap  64  and  66  sufficiently so as to permit relative movement therebetween during tightening or loosening of each restraint  38  and  40 . As a result of permitting such relative movement to occur, the book sling  20  advantageously can be capable of varying its book-carrying capacity greatly. For example, when fewer books  22  are in the book sling  20 , relative movement between each restraint  38  and  40  and its corresponding retainer flap  64  and  66  permit the adjacent flap to fold, bend or otherwise deform to accommodate the smaller load volume when each restraint  38  and  40  is tightened.  
         [0057]     As a result of being wider than the adjacent restraint supporting it, each retainer flap  64  and  66  can help to more evenly spread forces from the corresponding adjacent restraints  38  and  40  to the books  22  in the sling  20  over a greater surface area of the books  22  preventing the books  22  from being damaged by the restraints  38  and  40 , no matter how hard each restraint  38  and  40  is tightened.  
         [0058]     The anchor strap  172  of each side restraint  38  and  40  is preferably fixed at one end to the cinching arrangement  168  and at its other end to a generally triangular flexible mounting tab  174  that extends outwardly from one of the sling walls, preferably rear wall  32 . The adjuster strap  170  is fixed at one end to the other one of the sling walls, preferably wall  28 , and adjustably threaded through a strap adjuster  176  of the cinching arrangement  168 .  
         [0059]     As is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the fixed end of the adjuster strap  170  preferably directly overlies the flap connector strap  74  of the adjacent retainer flap  64  or  66 . In a preferred embodiment, the adjuster strap  170  is attached directly to the flap connector strap  74  adjacent sling wall  28 , such as in the manner depicted in  FIG. 4 . It preferably also is attached directly to sling wall  28 . A portion of the adjuster strap  170  threaded through the cinching adjuster  176  preferably extends beyond the adjuster  176  defining a handle strap segment  178  that preferably also includes a grasp tab  180  at its free end. Such a construction advantageously can provide quick, easy and convenient cinching adjustment of each side restraint  38  and  40 , even while the book sling  20  is being worn. The adjuster strap  170  also is preferably fixed to a sling wall, in this case  28 , that enables it to be threaded through adjuster  176  in a manner ensuring the strap handle segment  178  that extends outwardly from the adjuster  176  extends generally toward the back of a user  30  wearing the book sling  20  so the user can reach back and grasp the handle segment  178  while wearing the sling  20  to perform a cinching adjustment to either side restraint  38  and  40 .  
         [0060]     The top restraint  42  also can include a cinching arrangement  182  that not only facilitates length and for tension adjustment but which also is of releasably latching construction for enabling the restraint  42  to be opened permitting unobstructed access to books  22  in the book sling  20 . For example, when the restraint  42  is open, books  22  can be loaded into the sling  20  and/or books  22  can be removed from the sling  20 .  
         [0061]     The releasable latching cinch arrangement  182  preferably includes a strap adjuster  184  that is integrated with a buckle and socket type releasable latch assembly  186  that preferably is of side release cinch buckle construction or the like. An adjuster strap  188  ( FIG. 1 ) is preferably fixed at or adjacent one end to one of the sling walls, preferably wall  28 , and threaded through the strap adjuster  184  such that a handle strap segment  190  can extend outwardly from the adjuster  184  towards a person  30  wearing the book sling  20 . The free end of the handle strap segment  190  preferably has a grasp tab  192  attached to it.  
         [0062]     By this component arrangement causing the handle segment  190  to extend generally toward the back of a person  30  wearing the sling  20 , it advantageously enables the handle segment  190  to be easily grasped and manipulated by the user  30  to cinch or un-cinch the top restraint  42 . For example, handle segment  190  can easily be reached by a person  30  wearing the sling  20  to pull it to cinch the top restraint  42  tighter so the sling walls  28  and  32  more securely clamp against or otherwise engage books  22  in the sling  20 .  
         [0063]     The latch assembly  186  preferably includes a buckle  194  that is releasably interlocks with a buckle socket  196  when the tongue or tongues  202  ( FIG. 2 ) of the buckle  194  are inserted into the socket  196 . The buckle  194  preferably includes an integrally formed slide adjuster  198  disposed on its side opposite its socket engaging tongue or tongues  202  through which part of the adjuster strap  188  extends. An anchor strap  200  is preferably fixed at or adjacent one end to the other one of the sling walls, preferably wall  32 , and is attached to the buckle socket  196  at or adjacent its other end. In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the part of the anchor strap  200  that attaches to sling wall  32  preferably includes a plurality of upraised loops  204  formed via attachment to the wall  32  with each loop  204  preferably configured to retain an article, such as a pen, pencil or the like (not shown).  
         [0064]     With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the reclosable pouch  48  can be carried by the shoulder strap  44 , such as is in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . The pouch  48  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  has an outer wall  206  defining an elongate and oblong, e.g. egg-shaped pouch construction having a generally U-shaped reclosable opening  208  that can be opened to insert a cell phone, a PDA, a data storage device, or a music player, preferably an MP3 player or the like into the pouch  48 . Likewise, the reclosable opening  208  can be opened to remove any such article being held inside the pouch  48 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the reclosable opening  208  employs a reclosable fastening arrangement  210 , such as preferably a zipper  212  or the like, to enable the pouch  48  to be selectively opened or closed.  
         [0065]     The pouch  48  preferably can be adjustably positioned along the shoulder strap  44  such that it can be oriented to enable pouch access by a user  30  while carrying the book sling  20 . To enable the pouch  48  to be completely removed from the strap  44 , it may include a pair of outwardly extending mounting wings  214  and  216  that wrap around the strap  44  and engage one another to releasably mount the pouch  48  to the strap  44 .  
         [0066]     A releasably engaging fastening arrangement  218  that preferably is a hook and loop fastening arrangement  220 , such as VELCRO, is used to releasably engage the wings  214  and  216  and keep them engaged with one another when wrapped around the strap  44 . As is shown in  FIG. 6 , one of the wings  214  preferably has a hook containing fastener strip  222  attached to it and the other one of the wings  216  preferably has a loop containing fastener strip  224  attach to it. When the wings  214  and  216  are wrapped around the shoulder strap  44  enough so the fastener strips  222  and  224  come into contact, they releasably engage one another preventing disengagement without significant intentional manual effort being applied to pull the wings  214  and  216  apart. Preferably, this mounting arrangement advantageously not only allow the pouch  48  to be positioned just about anywhere along the shoulder strap  44 , it also permits the pouch  48  to be removed and used independently from the book sling  20  as it can be transported independently of the sling  20 .  
         [0067]     Another preferred embodiment is shown by  FIGS. 7 through 13 . According to  FIG. 7 , a book sling  300  preferably includes a rear wall  314  and a front wall  316  spaced apart from the rear wall by a bottom  318  and two mesh side walls  319  on either side of the book sling  300 .  
         [0068]     The book sling  300  may be formed in accordance with any of the aspects described above. The book sling  300  may preferably be provided with a sling strap  317  rigidly attached to the top of front wall and a bottom corner of front wall to enable user to carry the bag over a shoulder to transport books.  
         [0069]     Also seen in the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 7  is the auto cinching handle  315  which, as will be further described hereinafter, preferably is attached to adjustable side restraints  313 .  
         [0070]     As will be further described hereinafter, when a user pulls on auto cinching handle  315 , adjustable side restraints  313  are retracted, thereby moving rear wall  314  closer to front wall  316  and securely holding the contents within the book sling.  
         [0071]      FIG. 8  is shown as a front, perspective view of the preferred embodiment of book sling according to the present invention, clearly showing side restraints  313  which can be securely affixed to rear wall  314  and pass through grommets  320  on front wall  316  into the interior of front wall where they are connected to auto cinching handle, as will be further described hereinafter. Also show in  FIG. 8  preferably is an adjustable strap with a buckle  322  attached to the too of rear wall  314  and the inside top of front wall  316  for securely closing the top of book sling once objects are loaded into the interior space of book sling  300 .  
         [0072]     Strap  322  can have a releasable buckle  324  for releasably attaching strap  322  from the front wall to the rear wall to facilitate loading and unloading of the book sling. Furthermore strap  322  preferably is adjustable such that it can be lengthened or shortened to conform to the size load that preferably is contained within the book sling.  
         [0073]      FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of the preferred embodiment of book sling whereby restraints  313  are visible, extending from rear wall  314  to front wall  316  through grommets  320 . The adjustable side restraints are preferably securely affixed to front wall  316  at points of varying heights  330  along rear wall  314 . In this way, the adjustable side restraints can pull equally from front wall to back wall at varying heights in order to provide a secure and uniform tightening effect for any size or shape load carried within the book sling.  
         [0074]      FIG. 10  is a front view of the auto cinch handle of a book sling showing a view of the top of front wall  316  with the auto cinch handle  315  preferably extending beyond the top of front wall  316  and entering into the interior of front wall  316  through grommets  340 . In addition, there preferably is provided and depicted in  FIG. 4 a  locking mechanism  342  for releasably securing auto cinch handle in a tightened position once a user fully tightens adjustable restraints  313  by pulling on handle  315 . The cord  344  of auto cinching handle  315  preferably passes through the locking mechanism  342  before entering the interior of front wall  316 . When the handle preferably is pulled into a tightened position, the locking mechanism prevents the cord from reversing its direction and thereby loosening adjustable restraints  313 . Locking mechanism  342  preferably is released by pressing button  346  in a downward direction as depicted, thereby releasing the locking mechanism and allowing cord  344  to pass through the locking mechanism, thereby allowing adjustable restraints  313  to be loosened up and expanding book sling  300 .  
         [0075]      FIG. 11  preferably shows a front view of front wall  316  showing cushioned material placed on the outside of front wall thereby providing a soft surface for a user that would carry the book sling across a shoulder and leaning against the user&#39;s back. Also visible is shoulder strap  317  preferably attached to the top of front wall  316  and also to D-ring  350  at the left front, as depicted, bottom of front wall  316 . It should be noted that an additional D-ring  350  appears on the right bottom corner of front wall  316 . Similar to the above embodiment, a user can switch strap  317  from the right to the left-hand side, thereby facilitating carrying it on a right or left shoulder, in accordance with the user&#39;s preferences.  
         [0076]     As further depicted, there preferably is both a zippered pocket as well as a pouch on the front of front wall  316  although the configuration depicted preferably is only representative of one particular embodiment and front pocket and/or pouches maybe included on the front wall in any number of configurations.  
         [0077]      FIG. 12  preferably is showing an interior cut-away view of the preferred embodiment of the auto cinching mechanism for the book sling in accordance with the present invention. There preferably is shown cord  344  extending from handle  315  which, as previously described, passes through grommets  340  on the front of front wall  316  and into the interior portion of front wall  316 , as shown. Cord  344  may extend downward along the back of front wall  316  and preferably is attached by way of a loop  360  through which adjustable restraints  313  pass. The loop permits the free movement of adjustable restraints  313  through the loop such that when auto cinching handle preferably is pulled and thereby shortened, the adjustable restraints can pass through the loop freely. In addition, as previously described, adjustable restraints  313  can pass through grommets  320  in front wall  316  which are visible on the interior cut-away portion of front wall  316 . Adjustable restraints  313  can pass through the grommets and extending through a D-ring which preferably is affixed to the bottom of the interior portion of front wall  316 , then, continuously extend through the D-ring and loop  360  and preferably further extend back out through the opposite side of front wall  316 , through grommets  320 . In this way, it can be seen that the adjustable restraints  313  can be each, one continuous cord which preferably is securely affixed to one side of rear wall  314  extending through grommets  320 , and through D-ring  362 , and loop  360 , and extending back out of the opposite side of front wall  316  through grommets  320  and are securely affixed to the opposite side of front wall. In this way, it can be seen that by pulling on auto cinching handle  315  and shortening cord  344 , adjustable restraints  313  can also be thereby pulled upwards by loop  360 , and thus decrease the distance between front wall  314  and front wall  316  to decrease the space within U-shaped sling  310  to securely carry the load therein. Both adjustable restrains  313  and cord  344  can be formed from non-elastic cords, such as nylon of varying diameter. The cords shown can be approximately 4 mm in diameter. However, as stated, they may be of varying diameter and/or composition as needed in accordance with the anticipated use and load bearing capabilities.  
         [0078]      FIG. 13  preferably is shown as a side cut-away view of the book sling in accordance with the present invention depicting adjustable restraints  313  extending from front wall wherein they are securely affixed at various points along front wall as previously described, extending through grommets  320  of back wall, and then further continuously through D-ring  362  and loop  360 , then returning through D-ring  362  and out to the opposite side of front wall  316 .  
         [0079]     The book slings described above may be provided with more than one shoulder strap, e.g., to provide a back pack configuration. With reference to  FIG. 14 , a book sling or backpack  400  with a person wearing it over his shoulders in an operational position is shown. Two shoulder straps  417  and  418  are preferably connected adjacent to the top part as well as the bottom part of the front wall  416  facing the user.  
         [0080]     In addition, the book sling  20  and/or  300  of the present invention can be adapted to incorporate various features from commonly owned, commonly invented, U.S. application. Ser. No. 11/700,453, filed Jan. 31, 2007, titled Cinching Shoulder or Back Carried Bag and Method, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. For example, the book sling  20  and/or  300  of the present invention can be adapted to incorporate other features disclosed in the &#39;453 application and/or which are identified in the &#39;453 application drawings. It may be desired to modify the side restraints  38  and  40  of the book sling  20  and/or  300  of the present invention to incorporate corresponding features of the shoulder back carried bag disclosed in the &#39;453 application. For example, it may be desired to remove or otherwise further restricting the length adjustability of the side restraints  38  and  40  where the automatic cinching arrangement disclosed in the &#39;453 application is employed in the book sling  20  and/or  300  of the present invention.  
         [0081]     Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the one or more inventions disclosed herein. Therefore, it is to be understood that, although the foregoing description and drawings describe and illustrate in detail one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention, to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, the present disclosure will suggest many modifications and constructions as well as widely differing embodiments and applications without thereby departing from the spirit and scope of each such invention including any and all such inventions claimed herein. Accordingly, the particularly disclosed scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.