Patent Publication Number: US-2003230613-A1

Title: Strap pack carrier

Description:
REFERENCES CITED  
       U.S. Patent Documents  
       [0001] Seals, et al. Apr. 3, 2001 U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,769  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The invention relates to personal article carrier devices. The carrier of the invention provides, e.g., a strap loop adapted to be worn as a sash with pouches in front for easy access and visibility by the user.  
       [0004] 2. Description of Related Art  
       [0005] A wide range of carriers of personal articles exist which include a pouch with a strap. Common examples include hand bags, clutches, carry on bags, back packs, fanny packs, and side packs. Yet, none of the available carriers offers hands free convenient access to articles in a carrier that conforms neatly to the front of the wearer&#39;s body.  
       [0006] Hand bags are essentially a pouch with a strap. The user carries the hand bag with the strap in one hand. This is inconvenient for the user as the hand can tire and the hand holding the bag is not available for other functions. The bag is set down to open it and gain access. Once the owner sets the hand bag down, it might be left behind and lost.  
       [0007] Purses are large hand bags with a longer strap that can be placed over the shoulder. This frees up the hands to do other things and to search for articles in the purse. The purse is a weight on a loop of string and naturally stabilizes in a pendulum fashion, low at the side of the user, even if the strap is run over the head and diagonally across the chest. The purse can not be worn under clothing such as jackets. A purse can be lifted up front, and held by one hand, while it is searched and articles removed. Purses can be ripped from the shoulder of the owner and stolen by a “purse snatcher”.  
       [0008] Back packs are designed with two shoulder straps to carry heavy loads high on the back. This carrier configuration suffers from poor access to articles. The back pack user must remove both straps and set the bag on a surface in order to search the contents.  
       [0009] Belt packs and “fanny packs” are worn low around the waist. The belt packs are an improvement over other personal carriers because they place the load on the hip skeletal structure so there is little fatigue and they can be worn up front for hands free viewing and removal of articles. Still, are less than elegant and too bulky to wear under a jacket.  
       [0010] All of these carrier inventions require straps systems, or depend on the weight of the pouch and articles, or a clumsy arrangement of straps, to hold the pouch in a stable orientation. Purses, for example, naturally dangle on the strap with the pouch section hanging at the lowest point. Single strap packs hang low in the back of the user. Such carriers tend to swing uncontrollably if the user experiences dynamic movements, such as occur during running. Many single strap carriers employ an accessory waist strap or belt to prevent such swinging.  
       [0011] For example, side packs are available that include a large pouch that hangs from a strap, or on a belt clip, low at the side of user. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,769, “Side Pack” to Seals, a pouch dangles from a shoulder down to the waist area on the same side. A brace arrangement can be provided from the other shoulder to stabilize the pouch. Alternately the pouch can be mounted to the wearer&#39;s belt with a clip. The side pack pouch is complex and bulky. The pouch is low and to the side where the user must twist the body and reach unnaturally to remove a personal article.  
       [0012] A need remains for a personal article carrier device that provides comfortable hands-free carrying of personal affects up front in the chest area. It is desirable to have a sleek carrier that does not require accessory straps to prevent swinging while the user is walking. The present invention solves these problems, as will be made evident in the disclosure that follows.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013] The strap pack personal articles carrier of the invention is, e.g., a slim strap forming a loop of material that fits the contours of a wearer, from one shoulder to the opposite hip, to provide a comfortable stable platform for pouches. The pouches can be, e.g., located along the front of the strap so that personal articles are readily accessible and visible to the wearer. The stable configuration of the strap on the wearer&#39;s body can support the weight of the articles without the pouches swinging or slipping down.  
       [0014] The strap pack carrier of the invention includes a strap forming a loop with a front section and a back section. The front section can have one or more pouches. The carrier can be worn by a person as a sash with the front section of the loop oriented forward so that pouches are visible and accessible with a natural motion of the arms and hands. One or more of the pouches can be, e.g., mounted at locations high on the front section of the loop on at the chest or abdomen of the person wearing the strap pack.  
       [0015] The strap pack carrier of the invention has an angle of intersection between the lower front section and back section that can be from about 20 degrees to about 50 degrees. This lower intersection angle is measured with the front section and back section laid out flat on a surface. The angle can be measured from the continuation of the tangential lines from the edges of the sections even if the actual lower intersection has a rounded profile. In one embodiment, the strap pack carrier of the invention can have a lower angle of intersection between about 30 degrees and about 40 degrees as measured with the sections laid out flat. The strap pack carrier of the invention can favorably have a lower angle of intersection of about 35 degrees as measured with the sections laid out flat.  
       [0016] The strap pack invention can have a loop length adjustment mechanism in the loop to enable the wearer to change the size of the strap pack. This can allow the strap pack to comfortably and functionally fit wearers of various sizes.  
       [0017] The strap pack carrier can be fabricated, e.g., from material about 5 inches wide, measured across a strap section, to provide pouches for wide personal articles, such as palm computers or wallets. The strap packs can be made, e.g., about 3 inches wide, or less, to snuggly carry narrower articles. Pouches can be adapted to carry a variety of personal articles such as, wallets, credit cards, business cards, cell phones, pocket computers, pens, belt clips, pagers, portable radios, CD players, eyeglasses, and the like. The pouches can have closure flaps and/or be removable from the strap. The pouches of the invention can also be located, e.g., on the back section of the strap.  
       [0018] The strap pack carrier can have the strap and/or pouches fabricated from, e.g., nylon, leather, Mylar®, canvas, plastic, Velcro®, neoprene, wool, and the like.  
       [0019] The strap pack can be stabilized against swinging, slippage and rotation by the way the contours of the strap fit the contours of the wearer&#39;s body. Frictional material, such as rubber, can be affixed to the inner upper intersection or the inner lower intersection of the loop to help prevent shifting, rotation or slippage of the strap pack on the wearer. An attachment means can be fixed to the loop to attach the strap to a garment worn under the strap pack to help prevent the strap from slipping. A rigid or semi-rigid curved cladding can be formed into the inner upper intersection to fix over the shoulder or the inner lower intersection of the loop to fit over the hip of the wearer to help hold the strap in place. Padding material can be affixed to an inner upper intersection or an inner lower intersection of the strap to increase the comfort of the wearer.  
       [0020] A wire mounting means can be included to route wires between the pouches and the wearer&#39;s head. This provides a neat appearance and prevents entanglement of the wires while the wearer moves about.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0021] The invention will now be more particularly described in connection with its preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
     [0022]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary strap pack laid out flat.  
     [0023]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary strap pack with rounded contours at the lower intersection.  
     [0024]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of how a strap pack can be worn as a sash. 
    
    
     [0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0026] The strap pack personal article carrier of the invention can be, e.g., a narrow strap-like loop to be worn as a sash with front-facing pockets. The strap pack carrier loop has, e.g., a lower intersection, that if laid out flat, forms an angle less than 50 degrees. The topography of the strap pack carrier is, e.g., such that it conforms to the shoulders and torso of the wearer in a stable orientation that supports the weight of personal articles in the pockets.  
     [0027] For example (see, FIG. 1), strap pack  1  is made up of strap  2  which forms a loop. The loop includes front section  3  and back section  4  that come together at upper intersection  5  and lower intersection  6 . Pouches  7  can be located on front section  3 . Angle  8 , of the lower intersection between front section  3  and back section  4 , provides, e.g., a strap configuration that conforms stably to the body of a person when worn as a sash.  
     [0028] The Strap  
     [0029] The main structural member of the invention is the strap. The strap is, e.g., a loop on material that can be worn by a person diagonally from a shoulder, across the chest and back, and over to the opposite waist or hip. The strap is generally, e.g., a low aspect ratio, roughly conical, ribbon with edges having different lengths. The strap of the invention, e.g., has topographic aspects that conform to the body surfaces of the wearer in a manner that provides comfort and stability of positional orientation.  
     [0030] The strap includes a front section and a back section that intersect at the top (shoulder area, as worn) and the bottom (hip/waist area, as worn). The positional stability of the strap, as worn, is provided by, e.g., the way the contour defined by the angles of intersection of the front and back sections match the contour of the wearer&#39;s shoulder, and waist or hip. The intersections, e.g., will not slip easily past the matching contours of the shoulder and/or hip/waist. The stability of the strap worn by a person is such that, e.g., pockets and personal articles can be mounted on the front section of the strap and the weight of the articles will not cause the strap to shift out of functional position, wherein the pouches are presented in the front of the user&#39;s body.  
     [0031] The intersections of the strap loop of the invention can be formed of continuous material, or by combining individual sections into a unit. The strap sections can be formed from, e.g., ribbons, straps, strips, or long rectangles of fabric, having two ends. The strap sections can be, e.g., attached together at the ends, by sewing, gluing, riveting, melting, etc., to form intersections. Those skilled in the art can also appreciate various ways the strap and intersections of the invention can be formed from continuous materials without having to, e.g., sew together segments to form the strap.  
     [0032] The basic contours of the strap of the invention can be provided, e.g., by controlling the angles at the intersections of the front and back strap sections. The lower intersection of the front and back sections can have an angle of about 20 degrees to about 50 degrees. Larger angles fit the body contours better, as worn, e.g., by large, stocky, or obese persons. Smaller angles fit the body contours better, as worn, e.g., by small, thin, or petite persons. The lower intersection of the strap of the invention can, e.g., favorably conform to the contours of most wearers with an intersection angle of from about 30 degrees to about 40 degrees, as measured with the strap sections laid out flat. A strap of the invention with a lower intersection angle of about 35 degrees, as measured with the strap sections laid out flat, can be functionally be worn by most persons.  
     [0033] The upper intersection of the front and back sections can have an angle of about 180 degrees to about 120 degrees, as measured with the strap laid out flat on a surface. This angle adapts the strap well to the shoulder of the wearer.  
     [0034] It can be appreciated by those in the art, from the disclosure herein, that the intersections can, e.g., be of a chevron style (as shown in FIG. 1), or have a rounded appearance (as shown in FIG. 2), while retaining the function of conforming to the body of the wearer and stabilizing the strap pack. Measurement of angle  8 , as described above can be based, e.g., on the intersection of lines defined by continuation of the tangents to the edges of the sections above the actual intersection.  
     [0035] The circumference to the strap can, e.g., be any distance suitable to provide comfortable and stable fit to persons of any particular size. For example the strap circumference can be any sash size known in the art. A loop length adjustment mechanism can, e.g., be incorporated to enable changing the circumference of the loop. Adjustment of loop length can be useful, for instance, so the strap can be worn by persons of different size, so the strap can be worn over bulky or thin clothing, so a strap can be adjusted as a person grows, etc. The loop length adjustment mechanism can be, e.g., any appropriate type known in the art, such as a Velcro® system, buckle, snap, cinch, tie string, and the like. The loop length adjustment can be located anywhere along the circumference of the loop, e.g., on the back section where it will not interfere with pouches, frictional materials, etc.  
     [0036] The strap of the invention can be, e.g., fabricated from durable, flexible materials such as fabrics and/or polymers. The main body of the strap is, e.g., a structural member that provides a stable platform for the location of pouches. The strap of the invention can be, e.g., fabricated from nylon, leather, Mylar®, canvas, plastic, neoprene, wool, and/or the like.  
     [0037] The strap of the invention can, e.g., provide a wire mounting means to route one or more wire between, e.g., electronic devices in pouches and the head of the wearer. For example, a wire running from a radio to an audio head-set, worn by the wearer of the strap pack, can be mounted along the strap to prevent snagging as the wearer moves about. The wire can be mounted, e.g., through a series of loops, through a conduit, inside a slit or flap in the strap material, and the like. The mounting means can be designed with, e.g., snaps, clips, tippers, Velcro®, laces, and the like to allow fast and convenient mounting and removal of wires.  
     [0038] Positional stability of the strap can be enhanced, e.g., by affixing a frictional material on the inside aspect of the upper and/or lower intersection of the strap sections. The frictional material can be any known in the art, such as rubber, soft textured plastic, or silicone compositions. Frictional contact of the upper intersection with the shoulder of the wearer and/or frictional contact of the lower intersection with the waist/hip of the wearer can thereby increase the positional stability of the strap.  
     [0039] Positional stability of the strap can be enhanced, e.g., by affixing rigid or semi-rigid curved cladding to match and retain the body contours, described above, on the inside aspect of the upper and, or lower intersection of the strap sections. Contours maintained by rigid or semi-rigid materials at the intersections increase the stability of the strap against slipping.  
     [0040] Positional stability of the strap can be enhanced, e.g., by affixing an attachment means to the strap to attach the strap to a garment, such as a shirt, worn by the person under the strap. The attachment means can include, e.g., a button system, a Velcro® system, a metal pin, a zipper, a snap system, a spring loaded clip, and the like. Such attachment means can be employed at one or more position about the strap, such as at the upper intersection of the front and back sections.  
     [0041] The comfort of the wearer of a strap pack can be, e.g., enhanced by providing a padding material at the upper intersection where it rests on the shoulder. Padding material can be affixed inside the inner aspect of the upper intersection. Padding materials can include, e.g., foam rubber, cotton padding, bubbled plastic, air bladders, silicone gels, and the like.  
     [0042] The Pouches  
     [0043] The strap pack personal article carrier of the invention has, e.g., one or more pouches located along the strap. The pouches can, e.g., be of whatever dimensions are well adapted to receive and hold a particular personal article. The pouches can be located, e.g., wherever it is convenient to carry and access a particular personal article. The pouches can, e.g., be integrated into or mounted onto the strap according to factors such as manufacturing efficiency and user preferences.  
     [0044] Pouches of the invention can be of sizes, e.g., adapted to receive a variety of personal articles. For example, the pouches can be of dimensions suitable to receive articles, such as a wallet, credit cards, business cards, cell phones, a pocket computer, pens, belt clips, pagers, eyeglasses, and the like. As the strap pack is generally a slim device, the pouches are, e.g., about five inches wide, three inches wide, or less. The pouches of the invention can, e.g., have a short to a quite long aspect ratio as compared to the pouch width. A single poach can, e.g., extend across the entire length of the front loop section to hold long objects. A single pouch can be shallow, e.g., to receive belt clip mounts, matches, business cards, coins, and the like.  
     [0045] Pouches of the invention can be located anywhere along the internal or external surface of the strap. In one aspect of the invention, one or more pouches are located on the front section of the strap. Pouches located at the mid to upper front section can, e.g., be convenient for the wearer to reach with her hands, and easy for the wearer to see. The unique stabilizing contours of the strap of the invention allow, e.g., significant weight loads in front pouches without slippage of the strap. Pouches can be located, e.g., on the inside surface of the strap, e.g., to provide secrecy and reduced exposure to the elements. Pouches can be located, e.g., on the back section to carry personal articles not requiring the most convenient access to the wearer. Pouches on the back section can, e.g., add to the stability of the strap by acting as a counter weight to pouches and articles on the front section.  
     [0046] Pouches can be, e.g., integrated into the strap or pockets can protrude from the strap. A pouch can be, e.g., a simple slit providing access to a space between layers of fabric material integral to a strap section. In one embodiment, a pouch can be, e.g., a box-shaped pocket mounted onto the external surface to a strap section. In another embodiment, a pouch can be, e.g., a removable sack attachable to the strap with Velcro® or clips known in the art. In another embodiment, a slit through the front layer of material in a strap can form a pouch to receive a cell phone belt clip so that the user can mount the phone near her face to speak on the phone “hands free.” 
     [0047] Pouches of the invention can be, e.g., designed to efficiently accommodate common personal articles. For example, a pouch can be designed with dimensions to receive popular cell phones or pocket computers with a snug fit that accommodates protrusions, such as antennas. A cell phone or pocket computer pouch can be removable and have windows for viewing LC or LED displays.  
     [0048] Wearing the Strap Pack  
     [0049] The strap pack of the invention is worn, e.g., as a sash. For example, the strap pack can be placed over the head and one arm of the wearer so that the upper intersection comes to rest on a shoulder of the wearer and the lower intersection comes to rest on the opposite waist or hip of the wearer (see, FIG. 3). The sash orientation, e.g., running diagonally across the chest and back of the wearer, from the shoulder to the hip, provides a comfortable and stable way to carry personal articles.  
     [0050] The strap pack can be designed to be worn, e.g., either from the left shoulder to the right hip, or from the right shoulder to the left hip. In either case, pouches can be located on the front section for easy access by the wearer. Should a wearer, e.g., choose to wear a strap pack designed to rest on the left shoulder on her right shoulder, the pouches would end up on her back. This may be, e.g., desirable to the wearer, and generally would not significantly reduce the stability of the strap pack; although accessibility to the pouches by the wearer would be reduced.  
     [0051] A strap pack can be designed, e.g., to be bilaterally symmetrical, as viewed along an axis from the upper to lower intersection. In such a case, the strap can, e.g., be stably worn with the upper intersection on the left or the right shoulder; the front and back sections trading places on the wearer depending on which shoulder the upper intersection rests on. A strap pack, designed to be worn on either shoulder can, e.g., have pouches, and/or pouch mounts, on both front and back sections so that convenient pouches can be provided in the front of the wearer no matter which shoulder the wearer chooses to place the upper intersection.  
     [0052] It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and scope of the appended claims. All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes.