Abstract:
A carry-strap assembly for supporting a bag is reinforced, as by elongate members such as wire cables for security. An elongate recess with a mouth is integrally formed within a textile strap adjacent a longitudinal edge of the strap. Adjacent strips of the strap are fastened to close the elongate recess within which the elongate reinforcing member is received.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a textile carrying strap for a bag, which is reinforced, as by wires, for security. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The use of steel wire cable, or like reinforcements, in the construction of flexible carrying straps for baggage provides an increased level of security against theft, particularly that achieved by slicing the strap. A prior art design employs two elongate wire cables to reinforce carrying straps of this type, the wire cables running longitudinally and received in fabric sleeves, formed by folding and sewing one or more panels, with the sleeves extending along opposing edges of a textile strap. Enveloping the wires within separate elongate envelopes that are connected by seams to the textile strap keeps the wires separated, helping the strap lie flat in use and avoiding one wire overlying another in a manner which may cause discomfort and localised wear on the envelope. It will be understood that although this prior art design also allows the straps to be readily manufactured using conventional sewing techniques, the number of separate parts and manufacturing steps required tends to increase the manufacturing costs in straps of this type. It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages, or more generally to provide an improved reinforced textile carrying strap. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]    According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a carry-strap assembly for supporting a bag, the carry-strap assembly comprising: 
         [0004]    a textile strap having a width substantially greater than its thickness, 
         [0005]    at least one elongate recess integral with the textile strap and disposed adjacent a longitudinal edge, the recess having a mouth, 
         [0006]    fastening means joining adjacent strips of the textile strap to close the mouth, and 
         [0007]    an elongate flexible reinforcing member received within the recess. 
         [0008]    The textile strap is preferably the principal load-carrying member for supporting the weight of the bag, and the flexibility of the textile strap allows it conform to the user&#39;s body. As a strap it generally has a constant cross-section throughout its length, being broad to spread the weight being carried. The textile strap is preferably woven, but it may alternatively may be braided or knitted. Preferably the textile strap is woven from natural and/or synthetic threads. The synthetic threads may include heat fusible synthetic threads. Preferably the at least one recess includes one recess integrally formed in each of the opposing longitudinal edges of the textile strap, each recess having a mouth, fastening means joining adjacent strips of the textile strap to close each mouth and form an elongate recess adjacent each longitudinal edge of the textile strap, and an elongate flexible reinforcing member received within each recess. 
         [0009]    The flexible reinforcing members serve to reinforce the carry-strap assembly against cutting, particularly being cut by a blade and may be wire cables, such as multi-stranded twisted wire cables. Alternatively, other reinforcing members may be used, such as composite multifilament threads made, for instance, of para-aramid fibres or carbon nanotubes. 
         [0010]    Preferably the multi-stranded twisted wire cables are sheathed or coated with plastic, or with a similar material. 
         [0011]    Preferably the fastening means comprises stitches, preferably forming continuous longitudinal seams. Optionally, the fastening means may comprise adhesive or heat bonding resulting from fusing synthetic threads in the textile strap. In this manner the flexible reinforcing members may be able to move within each recess, or else they may be fixed to the textile strap. 
         [0012]    Preferably the carry-strap assembly further comprises a pair of flaps formed on each of the opposing longitudinal edges integrally with a central section of the strap, the fastening means securing strips of the flaps adjacent the longitudinal edges of the flaps of each pair together to thereby form the elongate recess between each pair of flaps. Preferably the flaps have like width. 
         [0013]    Preferably the textile strap is a three-layer woven textile, comprising an intermediate layer disposed between, and interwoven with, two external layers, the flaps comprising edge portions of each of the two external layers that project from the edges of the intermediate layer. 
         [0014]    Preferably each of the layers comprises a respective array of warp threads, and a first weft thread fills a first of the external layers and also extends only about the warp threads of the intermediate layer, and a second weft thread fills a second of the external layers and also extends only about the warp threads of the intermediate layer. 
         [0015]    Alternatively, the textile strap may be formed from a flattened tubular braid, the fastening means securing strips of the textile strap inboard of the recess. 
         [0016]    Couplers may be fixed to the carry-strap assembly and the bag respectively, allowing the carry-strap assembly to be disconnected from the bag. Alternatively, the carry-strap assembly may be permanently fixed to the bag. 
         [0017]    This invention provides a reinforced carry-strap assembly which is effective and reduces the number of parts and manufacturing procedures, and can thus be produced at lower cost than prior art straps of this type. 
         [0018]    In another aspect the invention provides a method of manufacturing the carry-strap assembly described above, wherein the elongate flexible reinforcing member is inserted into the recess before the fastening means joins adjacent strips of the strap to close the mouth. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0019]    Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a length of a textile strap for forming a reinforced carry-strap assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross section through an edge of a reinforced carry-strap assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the weave of the three layers of the reinforced strap of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a reinforced carry-strap assembly according to the invention, and 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a schematic perspective view of a loom for weaving the textile strap of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a preferred embodiment of a carry-strap assembly of the invention, which generally comprises a textile strap  10  and a pair of elongate flexible reinforcing members, such as multi-stranded twisted wire cables  12  disposed in elongate recesses  18  near the edges of the textile strap  10 . 
         [0026]    The illustrated textile strap  10  is of one piece woven construction, having generally constant cross-section throughout its length. It is generally oblong in cross-section, having a width substantially greater than its thickness. The form of the textile strap  10  is generally symmetrical, having rotational symmetry about a central longitudinal axis  50 . A pair of flaps  14  of like dimension are formed on the opposing edges of the textile strap  10 , projecting from a central section  16 , and defining the recesses  18 . Each recess  18  has an elongate mouth  20  extending along the edge of the textile strap  10 . The mouth  20  is shown open in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , and closed in  FIG. 2 . The textile strap  10  may be a three-layer textile, comprising an intermediate layer  23  disposed between, and interwoven with, two external layers  22 ,  24 . The intermediate layer  23  generally extends for the width of the central section  16 , and serves to increase the thickness of the central section  16  compared to the thickness of the flaps  14 . The flaps  14  may be edge portions of each of the two external layers  24  that project from the edges of the intermediate layer  23 . Each of the layers  22 ,  23 ,  24  may comprise a respective array  55 ,  56 ,  57  of warp threads, represented in  FIG. 2  by the three parallel, linear arrays of circles. Two weft threads  51 ,  52  (shown in dashed lines) may complete the weave. Each weft thread  51 ,  52  fills a respective one of the external layers  22 ,  24 . In addition to filling the layer  22  the weft thread  51  also extends only about the warp threads of the intermediate layer  23 , and not about the warp threads of the other external layer  24 . Likewise, in addition to filling the layer  24  the weft thread  52  also extends only about the warp threads of the intermediate layer  23 , and not about the warp threads of the other external layer  22 . In this manner the weft threads  52  also serve to integrate the three layers  22 - 24  to produce a strong but flexible strap, with flaps  14  which are less than half the thickness of the central portion  16 . The wire cables  12  may each have a plastic coating  31  which serves to provide a smooth outer surface to the cables  12  and to bind together the individual wire strands. The wire cables  12  are received and enclosed within the elongate recesses  18  between each pair of flaps  14 . Stitches forming continuous longitudinal seams  28  secure together strips of the flaps  14  adjacent the longitudinal edges of the flaps  14  to thereby close the mouth  20  of each recess  18 . 
         [0027]    To manufacture the carry-strap assembly, the textile strap  10  may first be woven, before the wire cables  12  are inserted in the recesses  18 , and the flaps  14  are sewn together to enclose the wire cables  12 .  FIG. 5  schematically illustrates a loom  40  which may be used to weave the three-layer textile strap  10 , and includes a picking arm  60  with an eyes through which each of the weft threads  51 ,  52  are run, and which shuttles back and forth transversely. In the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 3 , it is advantageous to insert the cables  12  into the recesses  18  before sewing the seams  18 , avoiding the need to insert the cable  12  longitudinally. 
         [0028]    In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the textile strap is a tubular braid that is flattened so as to form an elongate recess  118  along each edge of the textile strap. The seams  128  secure together the strips inboard of the recesses  118 , to close the inwardly opening mouth of these internal recesses  118 . The cables  12  are preferably inserted into the tubular braid before forming the seams  128 . 
         [0029]    Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.