Patent Publication Number: US-2019191854-A1

Title: Article carrying sling systems

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional 62/610,910 filed Dec. 27, 2017 and pending U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/013,894 filed Jun. 20, 2018, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of articles of clothing and more specifically relates to slings. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many people lead active lifestyles that prevent carrying essential items. Clothing provides pockets that are too small to allow for a user to carry all their personal items. Further, personal items may easily fall out of a pocket, especially for the user leading an active lifestyle. Carriers such as purses and backpacks can be bulky and uncomfortable to take on a run, walk, jog, etc. Wearable straps having pockets that are already known in the art do not properly secure and may be unintentionally misplaced from active movement. This may be inconvenient for the user having to stop and fix the placement of the strap on their body. 
     Recent trends in clothing have provided fewer places to carry necessary personal items. Suits and slacks being more closely fitted have less tolerance for the carrying of personal articles in pockets. Trends away from men&#39;s suits to more casual attire have created problems in providing adequate places to carry usual and ordinary personal supplies. Shirts are constructed with no pockets at all. Trousers are closely fitted, so that pockets become useless. The problem has been recognized by the development and marketing of men&#39;s shoulder bags or other carriers which are intended primarily for the use with ordinary personal materials which an individual usually carries. 
     Further, as trending technology caters more to speed and immediate convenience, people are typically much more on the move and go. As a result, men and women are moving faster through every day life. As technology expands, so does the various types of hardware needed to utilize tomorrow&#39;s technology. For example, it is not uncommon for a 25-year old male to carry with him a smartphone, headphones, a charger for the smartphone, a wallet or money clip, and keys to gain access to various doors. As a consequence of today&#39;s fast paced life, this 25-year old male is carrying with him a multitude of personal items. These items may be carried in the pockets of his pants or perhaps in a backpack or other carrier. This leads to discomfort when moving around while carrying too many objects. A suitable solution is needed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,917 to Donal R. Zellmer relates to a personal materials carrier. The described personal materials carrier includes a personal materials carrier is constructed of a curved band of material having a frontal diagonal chest-overlying portion, a shoulder-overlying portion connected to the chest-overlying portion at an angle to cause the chest-overlying portion and shoulder-overlying portion to lie flat, a back portion connected to the shoulder portion at an angle and a waist portion connected to the back portion. The bottom of the chest-overlying portion and a front of the side portion are joined together substantially perpendicularly in completion of the band. Pockets on the chest-overlying portion open inward and upward, and pockets near an upper extremity of the chest portion open upward. Pockets on the side portion open upward, and a pocket at the forward edge of the side portion opens rearward within the band. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known personal item carrier art, the present disclosure provides a novel sling useful for carrying various personal items (also known as C2-SLING PRO). 
     The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a sling including a comfortable and adjustable strap having a plurality of pockets easily accessible for a user, particularly when the user is active. The sling may comprise a main strap having a front-side, a back-side, and a plurality of pockets which may be integrated across the front-side. The main strap may be wearable over a shoulder and across a chest of the user. Further, an armpit strap may be placed under an arm of the user and may be useful to secure the main strap about the user. The plurality of pockets (or compartments) may be strategically sized and dimensioned to accommodate a variety of personal items (i.e., cell phone dimensions). Further, the plurality of pockets may include zipper and hook-and-loop fasteners for easy opening and closing. The main strap may be adjustable for a comfortable fit. 
     An article carrying sling useful for carrying multiple items when a user is in motion is disclosed herein. The article carrying is attachable to a user for carrying multiple items and includes a sling assembly with multiple straps for carrying multiple items by the user, the user having a shoulder and a torso. The user may be defined by having a front, a back, a left side, and a right side. The sling may generally comprise: a main strap which may have a first-end, a second-end, a front side, a back side, and a first length measured between the first-end and the second-end. The main strap may be sized and dimensioned to be worn over the shoulder on one of the left side and the right side, and about the front, the other of the left side and the right side, and the back of the torso of the user. The main strap is configured to carry multiple items. The main strap may include a strap couple configured to couple the first-end to the second-end. 
     Also included may be a support strap of the sling which may have a third-end, a fourth-end, a second length measured between the third-end and the fourth-end; the support strap sized and dimensioned to extend from the front side of the main strap, about the one of the left side and the right side of the torso, and to the back side of the main strap. The support strap may include a front couple and a back couple, the front couple affixed to the support straps proximate the third-end and configured to couple with the front side of the main strap, the back couple affixed to the support strap proximate the fourth-end and configured to couple the back side of the main strap. A secondary support strap may further be included in the article carrying sling. 
     The sling may further include a carrier assembly may have a fifth-end, a sixth-end, and a third length measured between the fifth-end and the sixth-end. The carrier assembly may include a carrier body configured to attach to the main strap and having a plurality of storage compartments affixed to the carrier body, each of the plurality of storage compartments configured to stow at least one of the multiple items. 
     A method of using the sling for carrying multiple items is also disclosed herein. The method of using the sling for carrying multiple items may comprise the steps of: providing the sling for carrying items; positioning the sling for carrying items over the shoulder and about the torso of the user; adjusting a main strap and a support strap of the sling; placing at least one item inside at least one compartment of the sling; and wearing the sling and having ready-access to the various items retained within the compartments of the sling. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, an article carrying sling systems, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1A  is a front view of a user wearing the sling for carrying multiple items during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  is a back view of the user wearing the sling for carrying multiple items during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the sling for carrying multiple items of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the sling for carrying multiple items of  FIGS. 1A-2 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the sling for carrying multiple items of  FIGS. 1A-3 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for the sling for carrying multiple items, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to personal item carriers and more particularly to a sling for comfortably and conveniently carrying a plurality of personal items. 
     Generally, the sling may comprise a shoulder harness sling strap useful for any on the go active person. This secure yet fashionable sling will allow small personal items to be stored securely to the person. The sling may be designed to safely store items such as a cell phone, keys, money, wallet, chargers, headphones, and the like. It may be worn during normal daily activities ranging from errands, the work place or to the gym during a vigorous workout session catering to the athletic male or female. The adjustable shoulder strap is configured to allow for a customizable universal fit suitable for users of varying sizes. 
     The article carrying sling comprises a shoulder-strap forming a loop having a front-belt, a back-belt, and a first accessory-belt connecting the front-belt and the back-belt. A second accessory-belt may be included for forming a harness-strap configured to be placed below an armpit of the user. An upper-shoulder pad may be coupled to the front-belt near a shoulder of the wearer-user. 
     Further, a lower-shoulder pad may be coupled to the second accessory-belt. The article carrying sling may include a plurality of pockets across the front-belt. Fasteners may secure personal articles within the plurality of pockets. One or more of the plurality of pockets may be sized and configured to receive a specific article. The present disclosure may be advantageous in providing the article carrying sling that enables personal articles to be comfortably carried when the wearer-user may be active. 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1A-4 , various views of a sling  100  for carrying multiple items.  FIGS. 1A and 1B  shows front and rear views of a user  40  wearing the sling  100  during an ‘in-use’ condition 50 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated, the sling  100  for carrying multiple items may include a main strap  110 , a support strap  120 , a carrier assembly  130 , and a shoulder pad  140 . The user  40  includes at least one shoulder  20  and a torso  30  and the user  40  is defined by a front, a back, a left side, and a right side. Specifically, the sling  100  may comprise a main strap  110  having a first-end  112 , a second-end  114 , a front side (facing outwardly away from a body of the user  40 ), a back side (facing inwardly toward the body of the user  40 ), and a first length measured between the first-end  112  and the second-end  114 . The main strap  110  is sized and dimensioned to be worn over the shoulder  20  on one of the left side and the right side, and about the front, the other of the left side and the right side, and the back of the torso  30  of the user  40 , and further configured to carry multiple items. 
     In continuing to refer to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the main strap  110  is shown including a strap couple  116  configured to couple the first-end  112  to the second-end  114 . The support strap  120  may have a third-end  122 , a fourth-end  124 , and a second length measured between the third-end  122  and the fourth-end  124 , the support strap  120  sized and dimensioned to extend from the front side of the main strap  110 , about the one of the left side and the right side of the torso  30 , and to the back side of the main strap  110 . 
     The support strap  120  may include a front couple and a back couple, the front couple affixed to the support strap  120  proximate the third-end  122  and configured to couple with the front side of the main strap  110 , the back couple affixed to the support strap  120  proximate the fourth-end  124  and configured to couple the back side of the main strap  110 . 
     A carrier assembly  130  may have a fifth-end  132 , a sixth-end  134 , and a third length measured between the fifth-end  132  and the sixth-end  134 . The carrier assembly  130  may include a carrier body  136  configured to attach to the main strap  110  and a plurality of storage compartments  138  affixed to the carrier body  136 , each of the plurality of storage compartments  138  configured to stow at least one of the multiple items. 
     Also shown is a tertiary strap  210 . As shown tertiary strap  210  provides support, stability, and retention of sling  100  during active use. Tertiary strap  210  may include additional support to carrier body  136  such that sling  100  is more affixable to the body of user  40  such that sling  100  may not bounce, shift, and/or rotate during normal use. 
     Further, sling  100  may include multiple attachment points for each of support strap  120 , and tertiary strap  210 . As such, during use, unused attachment points (for each of support strap  120  and tertiary strap  210 ) may be inserted into carrier assembly  130 , such that unused attachment points may be concealed and retained during use. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the sling for carrying multiple items  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the sling for carrying multiple items  100  may include a main strap  110 , a support strap  120 , a carrier assembly  130 , a shoulder pad  140 , and an under-arm body  150 . Also shown in  FIG. 2  is tertiary strap  210  as previously discussed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the carrier body  136  includes a first strap aperture proximate the fifth-end  132  and a second slot aperture proximate the sixth-end  134 , the first strap aperture sized and dimensioned to permit the first-end  112  of the main strap  110  to pass through and couple with the carrier body  136 , and the second strap aperture sized and dimensioned to permit the second-end  114  of the main strap  110  to pass through and couple with the carrier body  136 . As may be appreciated, the first strap aperture and the second strap aperture are sized and dimensioned to allow the carrier body  136  to slide along the first length of the main strap  110 . 
     In continuing to refer to  FIG. 2 , the main strap  110  defines a shoulder rest point, a front couple attach point and a back couple attach point, the front couple attach point and the back couple attach point being approximately equidistant from shoulder rest point, as measured along the first length, further may comprise a shoulder pad  140  configured to attach to the main strap  110  and intersperse a padding between the main strap  110  and the shoulder  20  when the main strap  110  may be worn over the shoulder  20  of the user  10 , the shoulder pad  140  may have a seventh-end  142 , an eighth-end  144 , and a fourth length measured between the seventh-end  142  and the eighth-end  144 . The shoulder pad  140  may include a third strap aperture proximate the seventh-end  142  and a fourth slot aperture proximate the eighth-end  144 . 
     The third strap aperture and the fourth strap aperture each sized and dimensioned to permit the first-end  112  of the main strap  110  to pass through and couple with the shoulder pad  140 . Further, an underside of the shoulder pad  140  may include a non-slip surface affixed to the shoulder pad  140  and configured to inhibit slippage on the shoulder  20  of the user  10  when the main strap  110  is worn over the shoulder  20  of the user  10 . 
     In referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the support strap  120  is shown including an adjustable segment positioned between the third-end  122  and the fourth-end  124 . The adjustable segment may be configured to adjust the second length of the support strap  120 . In one embodiment, the adjustable segment may comprise a stretchable material. In other embodiments, the adjustable segment may comprise deformable material. 
     In continuing to refer to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the plurality of storage compartments  138  may be internally padded. At least one of the plurality of storage compartments  138  may include a closure configured to repeatedly open and close the at least one of the plurality of storage compartments  138 . In one embodiment, the closure may include a zipper. In other embodiments, the closure may include a hook and loop fastener, snap buttons, magnetic buttons, and the like. 
     Preferably, the plurality of compartments  138  may include a first-compartment configured to stow a first-item, the first-item displacing a volume between 60 and 70 cubic centimeters (such as a mobile phone or the like). 
     Further, the plurality of compartments  138  may include a second-compartment configured to a second-item, the second-item displacing a volume between 5 and 20 cubic centimeters (such as a charging device). As may be appreciated, the second-compartment containing a charging device may be located proximate the first-compartment containing a mobile phone allowing the mobile phone to be charged by the charging device. 
     Even further, the plurality of compartments  138  may include a third-compartment configured to stow a third-item  43 , the third-item  43  displacing a volume between 30 and 50 cubic centimeters. The third-compartment may be structured and dimensioned to stow a variety of items, such as headphones, earphones, and other objects. Also, tertiary strap  210  may also include capabilities to stow similar items as compartment  138 . 
     Even further, the plurality of compartments  138  may include a fourth-compartment configured to stow a fourth-item  44 , the fourth-item  44  displacing a volume between 25 and 40 cubic centimeters. The fourth-compartment may be structured and dimensioned to stow a variety of items, such as a wallet, a money clip, credit cards, identification, and the like. In one embodiment, the fourth-compartment may comprise a window having a transparent holder. The transparent holder may be useful for inserting identification such that the identification is readily visible. 
     Even further, the plurality of compartments  138  may include a fifth-compartment configured to stow a fifth-item, the fifth-item displacing a volume between 20 and 45 cubic centimeters. The fifth-compartment may be structured and dimensioned to stow a variety of items, such as a set of keys, access cards, gum or mints, candy bars, and the like. In one embodiment, the carrier housing may be made of a combination of cloth, quilting and fleece. 
     According to one embodiment, the sling  100  for carrying multiple items may be arranged as a kit. The kit may include the sling  100  and a set of instructions. The instructions may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the sling  100  for carrying multiple items (such that the sling  100  for carrying multiple items can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner). 
       FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of the sling for carrying multiple items  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the sling for carrying multiple items  100  may include a main strap  110 , a support strap  120 , a carrier assembly  130 , a shoulder pad  140 , and an under-arm body  150 . 
     As shown, the sling  100  may comprise a main strap  110  having a first-end  112 , a second-end  114 , a front side (facing outwardly away from a body of the user  40 ), a back side (facing inwardly toward the body of the user  40 ), and a first length measured between the first-end  112  and the second-end  114 . The main strap  110  is sized and dimensioned to be worn over the shoulder  20  on one of the left side and the right side, and about the front, the other of the left side and the right side, and the back of the torso  30  of the user  40 , and further configured to carry multiple items. The main strap  110  may comprise a strap couple  116  configured to couple the first-end  112  to the second-end  114 . 
     The support strap  120  may have a third-end  122 , a fourth-end  124 , and a second length measured between the third-end  122  and the fourth-end  124 , the support strap  120  sized and dimensioned to extend from the front side of the main strap  110 , about the one of the left side and the right side of the torso  30 , and to the back side of the main strap  110 . The support strap  120  may further include a front couple and a back couple, the front couple affixed to the support strap  120  proximate the third-end  122  and configured to couple with the front side of the main strap  110 , the back couple affixed to the support strap  120  proximate the fourth-end  124  and configured to couple the back side of the main strap  110 . A carrier assembly  130  may have a fifth-end  132 , a sixth-end  134 , and a third length measured between the fifth-end  132  and the sixth-end  134 . The carrier assembly  130  may include a carrier body  136  configured to attach to the main strap  110  and a plurality of storage compartments  138  affixed to the carrier body  136 , each of the plurality of storage compartments  138  configured to stow at least one of the multiple items. 
     The carrier body  136  may include a first strap aperture proximate the fifth-end  132  and a second slot aperture proximate the sixth-end  134 , the first strap aperture sized and dimensioned to permit the first-end  112  of the main strap  110  to pass through and couple with the carrier body  136 , and the second strap aperture sized and dimensioned to permit the second-end  114  of the main strap  110  to pass through and couple with the carrier body  136 . As may be appreciated, the first strap aperture and the second strap aperture are sized and dimensioned to allow the carrier body  136  to slide along the first length of the main strap  110 . 
     The main strap  110  defines a shoulder rest point, a front couple attach point and a back couple attach point, the front couple attach point and the back couple attach point being approximately equidistant from shoulder rest point, as measured along the first length, further may comprise a shoulder pad  140  configured to attach to the main strap  110  and intersperse a padding between the main strap  110  and the shoulder  20  when the main strap  110  may be worn over the shoulder  20  of the user  10 , the shoulder pad  140  may have a seventh-end  142 , an eighth-end  144 , and a fourth length measured between the seventh-end  142  and the eighth-end  144 . The shoulder pad  140  may include a third strap aperture proximate the seventh-end  142  and a fourth slot aperture proximate the eighth-end  144 . The third strap aperture and the fourth strap aperture each sized and dimensioned to permit the first-end  112  of the main strap  110  to pass through and couple with the shoulder pad  140 . Further, an underside of the shoulder pad  140  may include a non-slip surface affixed to the shoulder pad  140  and configured to inhibit slippage on the shoulder  20  of the user  10  when the main strap  110  is worn over the shoulder  20  of the user  10 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow diagram  550  illustrating a method  500  for using a sling  100  for carrying items by a user  40 , the user  40  having a shoulder  20  and a torso  30 , the user defined by a front, a back, a left side, and a right side, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the method  500  for using the sling  100  for carrying items may include the steps of: step one  501 , providing the sling  100  for carrying items; step two  502 , positioning the sling  100  for carrying items over the shoulder  20  and about the torso  30  of the user  40 ; step three  503 , adjusting a main strap  110  and a support strap  120  of the sling  100 ; step four  504 , placing at least one item inside at least one compartment  138  of the carrier assembly  130  of the sling  100 ; and step five  505 , wearing the sling  100  and enjoying ready-access to the at least one item by the user  40 . 
     It should be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for the sling  100  for carrying multiple items (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.