Patent Publication Number: US-6655564-B1

Title: Back strap

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to articles, such as backpacks, which enable the carrying of books and other objects. More particularly, the present invention relates to a back strap for carrying such objects in an unconcealed manner. 
     The crime rate in many areas of the country has risen dramatically over the past few decades. Many of these crimes are drug related, but they also consist of random acts of violence. Sadly, school age children are committing a large number of these crimes. Some of these children belong to gangs which encourage their violent acts. Others have problems at home which cause them to have violent outbursts. 
     For this reason, many schools have had to develop tighter security in order to keep the students safe from such children. Some schools have hired security officers to patrol the halls. Other schools have had to resort to installing metal detectors at each of its entrances to prevent students from carrying weapons, and even bombs, into the building. One precaution that many schools have enacted is the prohibition of backpacks on school grounds. These backpacks can serve as the perfect means to transport weaponry, as well as drugs, into the school. Students are then forced to carry their materials into the school by hand, which can prove a rather awkward task, especially when the child is given ample amounts of homework. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a device which provides students with a convenient way to transport their school books and materials without the use of a backpack. Such a device should also readily reveal what the student is carrying, preventing any breaches in security. The present invention fulfills these needs, and provides other related advantages. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention resides in a back strap for carrying objects, such as books, in order to provide students a convenient way to transport their school books and other materials, while readily revealing the contents carried by back strap for security purposes. 
     The back strap generally comprises a base having a pair of spaced apart upper apertures adjacent to a top edge thereof, and a pair of spaced apart lower apertures adjacent to a bottom edge thereof. A first shoulder strap, having a first end defining a handle, extends through a first upper aperture and through a first lower aperture. A second end is attached to the strap intermediate the first and second end, to form a loop over the base. Similarly, a second shoulder strap having a first end defining a handle is extended through a second upper aperture and through a second lower aperture. The second end is attached to the strap intermediate the first and second ends to form a loop over the base, similar to the first shoulder strap. An adjustment mechanism is associated with each of the first and second shoulder straps for adjusting the length of each shoulder strap loop over the base. Typically, the first and second shoulder straps include clasps intermediate the first and second ends, usually in the form of mating ends of a buckle, one of which includes the adjustment mechanism. 
     A side strap extends from one side of the base to the opposite side of the base so as to be generally transverse to the first and second shoulder straps. The base is generally planar and quadrilateral in configuration so as to easily support the books and other objects. Typically, the base includes side apertures through which first and second side straps are attached and clasped together, such as by mating ends of a buckle, to form a loop over the base. An adjustment mechanism is associated with the side strap, typically on one end of the buckle, for adjusting the length of the side strap loop over the base. 
     In use, objects are placed on the base and securely strapped thereto by tightening the first and second shoulder straps, and side strap over the objects. The base and objects are then carried over one&#39;s shoulder, and the back strap grasped at the shoulder strap handles, comprised of a loop formed by attaching the first ends to the strap. 
    
    
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a back strap embodying the present invention; and 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the back strap of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in the attached drawings for purposes of illustration, the present invention resides in a back strap, generally referred to by the reference number  10 . The back strap includes a base  12 , which is typically generally planar, and often quadrilateral in configuration so as to support books and other such similar objects as may be used in the school setting. The base  12  is sized such so as to support such books, yet be readily carried over the shoulder and back of a school age child. The base  12  includes a first upper aperture  14  and a second upper aperture  16  positioned adjacent to a top edge thereof. First and second lower apertures  18  and  20  are formed through the base  12  adjacent to a lower edge thereof, and generally in alignment with the first and second upper apertures  14  and  16 . 
     A first shoulder strap  22  has a handle  24  formed at a first end thereof by creating a loop by attaching a first end  26  of the shoulder strap  22  to the strap, as illustrated. The shoulder strap is preferably comprised of a durable lanyard, canvas, or elastic material. Typically, the material is approximately 3½feet in length and several inches wide. The shoulder strap  22  is looped through the aligned first upper  14  and first lower  18  apertures and a second end  28  thereof is attached to the strap intermediate the first and second ends, and typically adjacent to the top edge of the base  12 , in order to create a loop over a back side of the base  12 . 
     An adjustment mechanism is incorporated into the shoulder strap  22  within the looped area over the base  12  in order to allow the tightening and loosening of the strap  22 . In a particularly preferred embodiment, a clasp, such as the illustrated buckle  30  which includes mating ends is attached to free ends of the shoulder strap loop  22 . One end of the buckle includes an adjustment mechanism  32  for loosening and tightening the shoulder strap loop  22 , by adjusting the length of the strap  22  comprising the loop. 
     A second shoulder strap  34  similarly has a handle  36  formed at a first end thereof, as described above, and extends through the second upper base aperture  16  and lower base aperture  20  and has a second end thereof  38  attached to the strap  34 , typically adjacent to the upper edge of the base  12 , in order to create a second loop similar to that described above. The second shoulder strap  34  also includes a clasp or buckle  40  having an adjustment mechanism  42 . 
     The first and second shoulder straps  22  and  34  are generally parallel to one another so that a handle  24  and  36  can be disposed over either shoulder of the child, with the first and second shoulder loops  22  and  34  being tightened around objects placed on the base  12  and slung over the child&#39;s back. 
     In order to further secure books and objects onto the base  12 , first and second side straps  44  and  46  are attached to side apertures  48  of the base  12  and extend towards one another where mating ends of a buckle  50  can be attached to one another. Similar to that described above, the buckle  50  includes an adjustment mechanism  52  for adjusting the length of the side straps  44  and  46 . Although two side straps  44  and  46  having a buckle  50  is shown, it should be understood by the reader that a single side strap having an adjustment mechanism can also be utilized, although it is not as convenient as the preferred embodiment illustrated. 
     In use, the buckles  30 ,  40 , and  59  are opened to expose the back side of the base  12 . Books and other such objects are placed onto the base, the buckles  30 ,  40  and  50  are attached to one another, and the lengths of the straps  22 ,  34  and  44 - 46  are adjusted to secure the objects thereon. The base  12  may include loops of elastic, apertures, etc. for carrying calculators, pens, etc. which may be difficult to strap onto the base  12 . Preferably, the components of the invention are comprised of non-metallic material, such as plastic, so that the back strap  10  is relatively light and inexpensive, and so as not to activate metal detecting security equipment. The base  12 , which holds the books in an upright position similar to a back pack, is swung over the child&#39;s shoulder onto the back, and one or more of the handles  24  or  36  are grasped near the chest area to carry the back strap  10 . Once at school, the child may easily remove the books and objects from the back strap  10  and store such objects in his or her locker until further use is required. 
     Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.