Abstract:
The disclosure is related to systems and devices for securing accessories, such as a strap cover. A strap cover may be used with shoulder straps or other carrying straps for backpacks, duffel bags, golf bags, or other containers. A strap cover may be an open sheet with opposite edges that secure to one another around an object, such as a strap, or may be a flattened tubular sleeve that can be passed over an object. A device for securing accessories may have a resilient display panel with a series of accessory attachments or attachment passages. The accessories may comprise any practicable form, with certain accessories having posts with wide flanges extending therefrom that are pushed through the resilient material for capture by the accessory attachment passages.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/376,077, filed Aug. 23, 2010, and entitled “STRAP COVER”, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure is generally related to systems and devices for securing accessories. The systems and devices for securing accessories described herein relate generally to attachment systems for removable installation or attaching of various buttons, emblems, fashion accessories, ornamental articles, or other attachments for display, identification or safety. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The use of supporting straps for the carriage of various articles on or by the person has been known for a considerable period of time. Examples of such articles are backpacks, duffel bags and other related containers, golf bags, life jackets, and similarly configured articles. Backpacks have become increasingly popular with students, as school workload has become greater in many cases and students seem to have more things to carry such as laptop or tablet computers, etc. 
     The majority of student backpacks, as well as duffel bags and similar containers for the carriage of various goods, generally have much the same appearance. Moreover, many such devices are styled after military packs, duffel bags, and the like, and are constructed of materials of drab color or camouflage to simulate their military inspiration. As a result, it can be difficult for a person to select his or her pack or bag from a collection of such packs and bags, without careful scrutiny. Moreover, the often drab color(s) used in the construction of such packs and bags greatly reduces their visibility, particularly in conditions of poor visibility. This can be hazardous to a person carrying such a pack or bag along a roadside in such conditions. 
     As a result, many students and others who have use of a backpack or other container carried by or on the person, may attempt to personalize the device by adding various embellishments to make their pack or bag stand out from others. Such embellishments may be permanently installed, e.g., iron-on or sewn on appliquks and the like, or removably installed, e.g., pins, buttons, clasps, and the like. While most such embellishments are perhaps installed on the back of the pack or the body of the bag, it may be desirable to install them on the shoulder strap(s) or other carrying strap(s) as well. 
     A problem with conventional backpacks, duffel bags, and other containers and devices, is that they do not provide any specialized surface for the installation of such accessories. A pack or other container that has had permanent appliques or the like installed thereon is forever marked by such devices even when the user of the device wishes to change its appearance, e.g., when passing it to a younger sibling, changing schools, etc. Even temporarily installed pins, clasps, etc. can require the material of the pack or bag to be penetrated by a pin or the like, thus possibly damaging the material if a relatively large hole must be made for a large diameter attachment post. This may be particularly critical in an area of high stress, such as a shoulder strap or carrying strap. Moreover, a person who collects a large number of various clasps, pins, and the like will find it a tedious task to remove all of these devices when he or she moves to a different pack or bag, and then has to reattach these devices individually to the new pack or bag. 
     A few shoulder strap covers and pads have been developed in the past, for various purposes. An example of such is found in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2005-336,692, published on Dec. 8, 2005, which shows a wraparound cover for attachment around the strap of a bra, slip, or other undergarment to conceal the strap. The device is secured by hinged, mating pinch-type clip components installed upon the inner surface of the cover. 
     SUMMARY 
     A system for securing accessories may comprise a pliable sheet or sleeve for removable placement around or over an object, such as a shoulder strap or other carrying strap of a backpack, duffel bag, golf bag, luggage bag, or other container or device. One embodiment of a system for securing accessories may comprise a sheet of material having a center panel of resilient material (e.g., soft plastic, neoprene, etc.) having attachment mechanisms for attaching devices and laterally opposed extensions of durable fabric. The fabric extensions can include mating attachments for securing to one another. Another embodiment may comprise a tubular sleeve formed of a resilient material having attachment mechanisms for attaching devices. 
     The central or display panel of a system for securing devices can include mechanisms for removably attaching or securing various decorative, functional, or other attachments thereto, e.g., holes or passages for the insertion of posts of various buttons and the like, hook and loop fabric material for the attachment of devices having mating material thereon, etc. The system may be formed of a reflective or luminescent material if so desired, and/or may provide for the attachment of reflective or luminescent devices thereto. Such reflective or luminescent attachments may serve well when used as a strap cover over the supporting shoulder strap of a musical instrument, such as a guitar. Alternatively or in addition to the above, the strap cover may be used for the carriage of various audible alarm devices as well, e.g., acoustic bells serving to alert wildlife when hiking, water activated alarms for attachment to a life jacket strap or the like, etc. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of an illustrative embodiment of a system for securing accessories particularly suitable as attachments to shoulder straps of a backpack; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram of an illustrative embodiment showing a rear perspective of a system for securing accessories; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram of an illustrative embodiment showing a top view perspective of a system for securing accessories; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of another illustrative embodiment of a system for securing accessories; and 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of another illustrative embodiment of a system for securing accessories. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description of the embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. While the terms “strap cover” and “cover” are used herein, the systems and devices disclosed herein are not limited to be used with straps or as covers; instead, a strap cover or cover may be attached to anything that is practicable for attaching. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a particular embodiment of a system for securing accessories, such as particularly suitable as attachments to shoulder straps of a backpack. The system for securing accessories may be attachable to a strap and can include various embodiments adapted for removable installation to a shoulder strap, carrying strap, etc. of a backpack, duffel bag, golf bag, or other container or article. The system for securing accessories can include one or more mechanisms for attaching and removing, repeatedly if desired, various buttons, emblems, fashion accessories, ornamental articles, or other attachments for display, identification, or safety. 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a system for securing accessories in the form of strap covers  10  installed upon the left and right shoulder straps S of a backpack B, with  FIGS. 2 and 3  show further details of the strap cover  10 . The strap cover  10  can include a display panel  12  that may be positioned forwardly to be displayed when the cover  10  is attached to a strap  5 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The display panel  12  may be formed of a sheet of resilient material, e.g., neoprene, soft plastic, foam resin (such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)), closed cell resin, open cell resin, rubber or rubber-type materials, neoprene or the like. In some embodiments, the display panel  12  may have a thickness of about an eighth of an inch, though it could be more or less. Other materials may be used as desired, so long as they provide the required properties to allow attachment of the various devices. The display panel  12  can include a series of accessory attachment holes or passages  14  formed therethrough to allow the removable installation (i.e. allowing attachment and removal of devices as many times as desired) of various attachments, buttons, or the like to the panel  12 , as described further below. 
     The display panel  12  may have mutually opposed first and second edges, respectively  16   a  and  16   b , with mutually opposed first and second attachment panels  18   a  and  18   b  extending from the respective display panel edges  16   a  and  16   b  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The attachment panels  18   a  and  18   b  are preferably formed from a durable fabric material, e.g., denim, canvas, Nylon duck, etc. Any practicable material may be used as desired, however. Each of the attachment panels  18   a  and  18   b  can have a distal edge, respectively  20   a  and  20   b , with an attachment surface, respectively  22   a  and  22   b , adjacent the corresponding distal edge. The two attachment surfaces  22   a  and  22   b  are opposite one another, i.e., one of the attachment surfaces is on the outer surface of its attachment panel and the opposite attachment surface is on the inner surface of its attachment panel. It is not critical as to which attachment surface is disposed outwardly or inwardly, so long as they are opposite. 
     Each attachment surface  22   a  and  22   b  can include some attachment mechanisms thereon, with the two attachment mechanisms cooperating with one another to allow the two attachment surfaces  22   a  and  22   b  to connect to one another for securing the strap attachment  10  about a strap S. The attachment mechanisms may comprise mating first and second panel attachments  24   a  and  24   b  of mating hook and loop fabric material, e.g., Velcro®, or some other alternative mating attachments, e.g., snaps, etc., as desired. The panel attachments  24   a  and  24   b  may extend continuously for the length of the strap attachment  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , or may alternatively comprise one or more shorter segments, as desired. The two attachment panels  18   a  and  18   b  can be wrapped around the back of the strap S to position the display panel  12  to the front of the strap, and the two panel attachments  24   a  and  24   b  may be secured to one another across the back of the strap S to install the strap cover  10  to the strap S generally as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The attachment panels  18   a  and  18   b  or the display panel  12  may include a logo, trademark, endorsement, or other advertising. For example, the colors of the attachment panels  18   a  and  18   b  and the display panel  12  may be coordinated to those of a sports team and a logo or name of the sports team may be placed thereon, such as for professional, college, or high school sports. In another example, wording or phrases may be added to the attachment panels  18   a  and  18   b  or the display panel  12 . 
       FIG. 3  provides a plain view in section to show the installation of a display accessory  26   a  through one of the display attachment holes or passages  14  of the strap cover  10 . The display accessory  26   a  may comprise a button or button-like device having a display head or component  28   a  disposed to the outer or display surface of the display panel  12 . A relatively large diameter post  30   a  can extend from the rear of the display head  28   a  and terminate in a larger diameter flange  32   a . The diameters of the accessory attachment holes  14  may be about equal to, or slightly smaller than, the diameter of the post  30   a , with the retaining flange  32   a  of the display accessory  26   a  having a significantly larger diameter than the holes or passages  14 . The resilient nature of the material of which the display panel  12  is made, allows the material to distend to allow the retaining flange  32   a  of the button or accessory  26   a  to be pushed through the hole or passage  14 . The resilient material then closes up around the post  30   a  and behind the flange  32   a  to capture the accessory  26   a  within the hole or passage  14 . The accessory  26   a  is easily removed by pushing its retaining flange  32   a  back through the hole or passage  14  from the rear. Alternatively, the soft plastic or neoprene material of which the display panel  12  is formed, allows it to be penetrated by a sharp point to allow the installation of such conventional devices as tie tacks, lapel pins, etc. to the strap cover  10 . 
       FIG. 4  of the drawings illustrates an alternative embodiment, designated as strap cover  110 . The strap cover  110  comprises a circumferentially closed, flattened tube of resilient material, the material corresponding to the resilient material of which the central display panel  12  of the strap cover  10  is formed. However, rather than being formed of multiple components of differing materials, the strap cover  110  is formed as a single, unitary structure of homogeneous material. The display panel  112  of the strap cover  110  is the front panel of the flattened tubular structure, with the display panel  112  having a series of accessory attachment holes or passages  114  formed therethrough, as in the attachment passages  14  of the strap cover  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 3 . A display accessory  26   b  is shown in  FIG. 4 , with the accessory  26   b  securing to the display panel  112  in the same manner as described above for securing the display accessory  26   a  to the display panel  12  of the strap cover  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 3 . As in the case of the strap cover  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the material of which the cover  110  is formed allows the installation of conventional pins and the like having sharp attachment points as well. 
     As the tubular cover  110  is closed about its circumference, the opposite first and second ends  116   a  and  116   b  may be open, with the tubular configuration of the strap cover  110  defining a strap passage  118  therethrough to serve as the strap attachment mechanisms. The tubular strap cover  110  can be installed by first separating or disconnecting the strap, e.g., unbuckling a conventional connecting adjustment buckle, etc., and then passing one of the two strap ends S 1  or S 2  completely through the strap passage  118  to extend from the opposite end. The two strap ends S 1  and S 2  are then reconnected conventionally to complete the strap cover  110  installation. Removal is accomplished by reversing the above procedure. 
       FIG. 5  of the drawings is an exploded front perspective view of a third embodiment of the strap cover, designated as strap cover  210 . The strap cover  210  has the same basic configuration as the strap cover  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 3 , i.e., having a central display panel  212  with at least one (and preferably a plurality of) accessory attachment passage(s)  214 . The display panel  212  has mutually opposed first and second edges  216   a ,  216   b , from which corresponding first and second attachment panels  218   a  and  218   b  extend. The attachment panels  218   a  and  218   b  have respective distal edges  220   a  and  220   b  and corresponding attachment surfaces  222   a  and  222   b  adjacent those edges. The two attachment surfaces  222   a  and  222   b  are opposite one another to allow them to overlap when the strap cover  210  is closed about a strap, as in the case of the strap cover  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
     Rather than using mating hook and loop fabric material as the attachment mechanisms, the cover  210  incorporates mating snap components, respectively  224   a  and  224   b . The two attachment panels  218   a  and  218   b  are wrapped around the back of the strap to position the central display panel  212  to the front of the strap, and the panel attachment snaps  224   a  and  224   b  are secured to one another across the back of the strap to install the strap cover  210  to the strap, generally as shown for the first embodiment strap cover  10  of  FIG. 1 . 
     The strap cover  210  of  FIG. 5  can differ further from the strap cover  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 3  in that the strap cover  210  may include different means of accessory attachment from the strap cover  10 . In addition to its accessory attachment holes or passages  214 , the strap cover  210  can include one or more accessory attachment patches  215  of hook and loop fabric material. Various accessories having compatible attachment means may be removably secured to the patches  215  as desired; examples of such are described further below. Alternatively, the front central display panel  212  may include other accessory attachment means as desired, e.g., snap components as used for the panel attachment snaps  224   a  and  224   b , etc. 
     The illustration of  FIG. 5  includes two accessory attachments adapted for removable installation in corresponding accessory attachment passages  214  of the strap cover  210 . Each of these accessories  26   c  and  26   d  is configured generally like the accessories  26   a  and  26   b  respectively of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , i.e., having a display head, respectively  28   c  and  28   d , a post ( 30   d  shown partially for the accessory  26   d ), and a flange, respectively  32   c  and  32   d . These accessories  26   c  and  26   d  attach removably to the central panel  212  of the strap cover  210  in the same manner as described further above for the accessories  26   a  and  26   b  illustrated respectively in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     While the accessory  26   c  is an ornamental device, it will be seen that functional devices may be installed upon any of the strap cover embodiments described herein, if so desired. The accessory  26   d  is an example of such a functional device, with the display head  28   d  of the device comprising a series of bells. It is desirable at times to produce some form of warning sound or noise, e.g. when hiking in locations where potentially dangerous animals may reside. So-called “bear bells” are sold to hikers for such use, with the bells being attached to the backpack or clothing of the hiker and jingling as the hikers walk, to alert animals to the approach of the hiker and provide the animals with time to leave the area, rather than being taken by surprise as the hiker stumbles upon the animal(s). The bells of the accessory  26   d  provide this function, and may be attached removably to the strap cover  210  of  FIG. 5  or to other strap cover embodiments of the present invention. Other audible accessories may be removably attached to any of the strap cover embodiments as desired, e.g., a water-activated alarm for use with a life jacket or the like. The water-activated alarm may be attached to the strap cover, with the strap cover then being secured to the conventional strap or belt of a life jacket to alert a guardian(s) in the event that the wearer of the life jacket falls into the water (pool, etc.). 
     The two accessories  26   e  and  26   f  are adapted to secure removably to the display panel  212  of the strap cover  210  by mating hook and loop fastener components. The accessories  26   e  and  26   f  each have a backing or display panel attachment patch of hook and loop fabric material, respectively  30   e  and  30   f , adapted to attach removably to any of the hook and loop fabric patches  215  of the strap cover  210  of  FIG. 5 . Any mating attachment mechanism, e.g., male and female snaps, etc., may be used to attach any of the accessories to any of the strap covers, so long as the attachment mechanism are compatible between the strap cover and the corresponding accessory. 
     The use of the strap cover for the attachment of a functional accessory, e.g., the bells of the accessory  26   d , has been described further above. It will be seen that such functional accessories are not limited to audible devices.  FIG. 5  also shows an accessory  26   f  having a luminous display head  28   f . The display head  28   f  may be phosphorescent, chemiluminescent, or may comprise an electrically excited or powered illumination device powered by a small watch battery, hearing aid battery or the like. Such a luminescent accessory  26   f  may be valuable for use when walking in low visibility conditions in or near traffic. Another example of such use might be a performer, who could install such a luminescent device(s) on a strap cover for installation on the support strap of a musical instrument (e.g., guitar, etc.) when performing. While the luminescent accessory  26   f  of  FIG. 5  is shown with a hook and loop fabric attachment backing  30   f , it will be seen that it could be constructed with the post and flange backing of other accessories, e.g., the accessories  26   c  and  26   d  of  FIG. 5 , or with other attachment mechanism as desired. 
     It will be seen that the various features of any of the embodiments described herein may be combined in any practicable manner as desired. For example, the strap cover embodiments  10  and  110  of  FIGS. 1 through 3  may include the hook and loop fabric patches of the strap cover embodiment  210  of  FIG. 5  in addition to or in lieu of their accessory attachment passages, if so desired. Alternatively, the strap cover embodiment  210  of  FIG. 5  could be configured in the form of the circumferentially closed device  110  of  FIG. 3 , if so desired. Accordingly, the strap cover in any of its embodiments provides a convenient means for the attachment and display of any number of different accessories to the strap of a backpack, luggage, golf bag, instrument, or any other device as practicable to attach the strap cover. 
     In a further example, a strap cover embodiment may be made of a single, unitary structure of homogeneous material, such as in the example discussed above for  FIG. 4 ; however, instead of the strap cover being a tube, the strap cover may include two distal edges that can be joined near each other via a fastening device, such as snaps or hook and loop fastener components or notches, such as in the example of  FIGS. 1 through 3  and  FIG. 5 . 
     The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. 
     This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while other proportions may be reduced. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive.