Patent Publication Number: US-2019191857-A1

Title: Convertible supply carrier

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present specification relates generally to convertible supply carriers and more specifically relates to a convertible supply carrier that may be configured by a user as a shoulder bag or as a waist pack. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Nurses work in a fast-paced environment. They constantly move between patient rooms to care for one patient to another in a short span of time. The level of care varies significantly amongst patients from routine or maintenance care to critical or urgent care. Therefore, nurses must have access to a wide variety of supplies, such as pens, paper, flashlights, scissors, tape, IV wipes, flushes and stethoscopes, at all times. 
     Currently, nurses carry supplies in the pockets of their scrub tops and scrub pants or place them on tabletops. However, the pockets of nursing uniforms do not have sufficient space to carry all of the supplies that nurses are required to use throughout the duration of their shift and placing them on tabletops often leads nurses to inadvertently leave the supplies at that location. Therefore, nurses carry insufficient supplies and must do numerous trips between patient rooms and utility stations throughout the duration of their shifts to search for supplies required to care for patients with varying necessities. This is exhausting, time-consuming, inefficient, inconvenient, impractical and interruptive for nurses, and contributes to additional stress and physical fatigue of nurses who already experience a stressful work day. As a result, patient care and personal well-being are impacted. 
     Accordingly, there remains a need for improvements in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a convertible supply carrier that may be converted between a shoulder bag and a waist pack for nurses. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the present invention provides a convertible supply carrier configurable by a user as a shoulder bag or as a waist pack, the convertible supply carrier comprising: a front side, a back side, a top side, a bottom side, a right side, a left side, and at least one enclosure; an adjustable strap; a belt securing mechanism attached to the back side, wherein the belt securing mechanism removably secures the adjustable strap to the back side to configure the supply carrier as a waist pack; and a shoulder strap securing mechanism attached to both the right side and the left side, wherein the shoulder strap securing mechanism removably secures the adjustable strap to the right side and the left side to configure the supply carrier as a shoulder bag; wherein the adjustable strap is secured to the convertible supply carrier by one of the belt securing mechanism or the shoulder strap securing mechanism. 
     According to a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method for converting a convertible supply carrier from a shoulder bag to a waist pack, the method comprising: detaching a first fastener on a first end of an adjustable strap from a first connector on a convertible supply carrier; detaching a second connector on a second end of the adjustable strap from a second fastener on the convertible supply carrier; securing the adjustable strap through a first loop and a second loop on a back of the convertible supply carrier; and attaching the first fastener on the first end of the adjustable strap to the second connector on the second end of the adjustable strap. 
     According to a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method for converting a convertible supply carrier from a waist pack to a shoulder bag, the method comprising: detaching a first fastener on a first end of an adjustable strap from a second connector on a second end of the adjustable strap; removing the adjustable strap from a first loop and a second loop on a back of a convertible supply carrier; attaching the first fastener on the first end of the adjustable strap to a first connector on a right side of the convertible supply carrier; and attaching the second connector on the second end of the adjustable strap to a second fastener on a left side of the convertible supply carrier. 
     Other aspects and features according to the present application will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, embodiments of the invention, and how they may be carried into effect, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective front view of a convertible supply carrier according to an embodiment shown configured to be used as a shoulder bag; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective back view of a convertible supply carrier according to an embodiment shown configured to be used as a shoulder bag; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective front view of a convertible supply carrier according to an embodiment shown configured to be used as a waist pack; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective back view of a convertible supply carrier according to an embodiment configured to be used as a waist pack; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view showing an upper interior portion of an opened front pocket of a convertible supply carrier containing an elastic band supply holder according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of an upper portion of an opened main enclosure of a convertible supply carrier according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals indicated like or corresponding elements in the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     According to an embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , convertible supply carrier  100  may comprise a front side  105 , a back side  110 , a top side  115 , a bottom side  120 , a right side  125  and a left side  130  defining an enclosure for storage such as top pocket  146 , which may be closed by a zipper  147 . The top pocket  146  may comprise an inner pocket  148 . Alternatively, zipper  147  may be replaced by other types of fasteners such as buttons, snaps, magnetics or excluded entirely, making an open pocket instead of an enclosure. The front side  105  may comprise an open lower pocket  135 . Alternatively, the lower pocket  135  may be closed by fasteners such as zippers, buttons, snaps, or magnetics. The front side  105  may also comprise an upper pocket  140  with zipper closure  141 . Alternatively, zipper  141  may be replaced by other types of fasteners such as buttons, snaps, magnetics or excluded entirely, making an open pocket instead of an enclosure. The top pocket  146 , the inner pocket  148 , the lower pocket  135  and the upper pocket  140  may be used to hold a number of different supplies. An elastic band supply holder  160  may be sewn inside the upper pocket  140  at spaced apart locations  161 . The elastic band supply holder  160  may be used to elastically retain a number of different supplies. The convertible supply carrier  100  may further comprise a right side pocket  196  and left side pocket  197 , which may be used to hold additional supplies. Additionally, the convertible supply carrier  100  may comprise a hanging loop such as twist lock wire rope  190 . The twist lock wire rope  190  may be used to hold supplies suitable to be held by a loop such as tape. 
     According to an embodiment, the convertible supply carrier  100  may be converted or configured into a shoulder bag  100 A as shown in  FIGS. 1-2  by attaching a first fastener  171  on a first end of an adjustable strap  150  to a first connector  170  on the right side  125  of the convertible supply carrier  100  and by attaching a second connector  176  on a second end of the adjustable strap  150  to a second fastener  175  on the left side  130  of the convertible supply carrier  100 . The shoulder bag  100 B may then be suspended from a user&#39;s shoulder. 
     According to an embodiment, the convertible supply carrier  100  may be converted or configured into a waist pack  100 B as shown in  FIGS. 3-4  by attaching the first fastener  171  on the first end of the adjustable strap  150  to the second connector  176  on the second end of the adjustable strap  150 . A first loop  180  and a second loop  185  on the back  110  of the convertible supply carrier  100  may be opened and closed with a first releasable snap closure  181  and a second releasable snap closure  186 , respectively, securing the adjustable strap  150 . The waist pack  100 B may then be secured around a user&#39;s waist. The user may move the waist pack  100 B along the adjustable strap  150  around the user&#39;s waist for accessibility to supplies. 
     The first connector  170 , the first fastener  171 , the second fastener  175  and the second connector  176  may be composed of hard plastic, metal, or any suitable material of sufficient strength to withstand the maximum weight of the convertible supply carrier  100  and its contents. As shown, the first fastener  171  and the second fastener  175  are female buckle members of side release buckles and the first connector  170  and the second connector  176  are male buckle members of side release buckles. Side release buckles may be used for fast and easy conversion from the shoulder bag  100 A to the waist pack  100 B and vice versa. In addition, as a safety precaution, side release buckles may be used for fast and easy removal of the convertible supply carrier  100  from the user. 
     According to other embodiments, the first connector  170 , the second fastener  175 , the first fastener  171  and the second connector  176  may be replaced with any suitable fasteners, such as snaps, clasps, hooks, snap hooks, D-rings, etc. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the first and second fasteners and/or first and second connectors may be of different types. The adjustable strap  150  may comprise a tri-glide buckle  195  such that the length of the adjustable strap  150  may be adjusted according to a user&#39;s size and preference. 
     The convertible supply carrier  100  may be composed of flexible material such as nylon, cotton, canvas, or any other suitable material known to a skilled person. The convertible supply carrier  100  may be cleaned by hand or in a washing device such as a washing machine. 
     Embodiments of the present invention as described may be suitable for use by pharmacists, doctors, artists, caretakers, general contractors, cyclists, runners, or anyone else who may need to carry and readily access supplies. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.