Patent Publication Number: US-2016242535-A1

Title: Object Carrying System

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     I hereby claim benefit under Title 35, United States Code, Section 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/120,106 filed Feb. 24, 2015. The 62/120,106 application is currently pending. The 62/120,106 application is hereby incorporated by reference into this application. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Example embodiments in general relate to an object carrying system for transporting objects more efficiently through redistribution of weight. 
     2. Related Art 
     Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. 
     Carrying sticks such as bindle sticks have been in use for many years. In a common configuration, a long stick from a tree or an elongated piece of wood is used to retain an object on a distal end, with the stick or piece of wood being rested on a user&#39;s shoulder. In modern popular culture, the conventional bindle stick is commonly portrayed as a stick with cloth or a blanket tied around one end for carrying items over one&#39;s shoulder. 
     While the conventional design of a bindle stick has been suitable for transporting objects, it suffers from a number of shortcomings. The stick is typically linear in design, and thus will often dig into one&#39;s shoulder causing pain and discomfort; particularly on longer journeys. Further, the weight of the object is focused on the portion resting on the shoulder, causing undue stress on the individual due to the lack of weight distribution to aid in transport. 
     SUMMARY 
     An example embodiment of the present invention is directed to an object carrying system. The object carrying system includes a handle portion, a fulcrum portion, and a receiver portion. The handle portion is adapted to be grasped by one hand of a user while an object may be retained within the receiver portion. The fulcrum portion, which is positioned between the handle and receiver portions, comprises an upwardly-curved configuration which is adapted to rest on the shoulder of the user when carrying the object. By positioning the object in the receiver portion, positioning the fulcrum portion over the shoulder, and pulling downwardly on the handle portion, the weight of the object may be effectively distributed from the arms of the user to the shoulder, thus greatly reducing discomfort when carrying an object with the present invention. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features of the object carrying system in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the object carrying system that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the object carrying system in detail, it is to be understood that the object carrying system is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The object carrying system is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference characters, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the example embodiments herein. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an object carrying system in accordance with an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a frontal upper perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear upper perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a frontal upper perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with a handle cover installed. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear upper perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with a handle cover installed. 
         FIG. 6  is a first side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with a handle cover installed. 
         FIG. 7  is a second side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention with a handle cover installed. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a side sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A. Overview 
     An example object carrying system generally comprises a handle portion  20 , a fulcrum portion  30 , and a receiver portion  40 . The handle portion  20  is adapted to be grasped by one hand of a user  12  while an object  13  may be retained within the receiver portion  40 . The fulcrum portion  30 , which is positioned between the handle and receiver portions  20 ,  40 , comprises an upwardly-curved configuration which is adapted to rest on the shoulder of the user  12  when carrying the object  13 . By positioning the object  13  in the receiver portion  40 , positioning the fulcrum portion  30  over the shoulder, and pulling downwardly on the handle portion  20 , the weight of the object  13  may be effectively distributed from the arms of the user  12  to the shoulder, thus greatly reducing discomfort when carrying an object  13  with the present invention. 
     It should be appreciated that the present invention may be utilized to aid in carrying a wide range of objects  13 . The present invention may be utilized to carry one or more objects  13 . The present invention is particularly suitable for carrying bags, such as a bag of groceries. However, the functionality of the present invention should in no way be so limited. Any type of object  13  may be carried by the receiver portion  40 , and the overall configuration of the present invention may vary depending on the type of objects  13  being carried. 
     It should also be appreciated that the shape, size, configuration, dimensions, and materials of the present invention may vary in different embodiments. The present invention should not be construed as limited in any of the above-mentioned regards. Any type of material may be utilized so long as the material is durable enough to function without bending, warping, or breaking from the weight of the object  13 . 
     B. Handle Portion 
     As shown throughout the figures, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a handle portion  20  which is adapted to be gripped with one or both hands of a user  12  when the present invention is in use. The handle portion  20  may be integrally formed with the other portions  30 ,  40  of the present invention as shown in the exemplary figures, or may be a discrete, connected portion in other embodiments. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the handle portion  20  generally comprises a first end  22  and a second end  24 . The first end  22  of the handle portion  20  is adapted to be grasped by a user with one or both hands when the present invention is in use. The second end  24  of the handle portion  20  is either connected to or integrally formed with the fulcrum portion  30 . It should be appreciated that the handle portion  20  may comprise various sizes, orientations, and configurations in different embodiments. Thus, the exemplary figures should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention in those regards. 
     In some embodiments, the handle portion  20  may be comprised of an ergonomic configuration to improve comfort during use. The handle portion  20  is pulled downwardly by a user  12  with varying pressure to balance the weight from the object  13  on the receiver portion  40 . The handle portion  20  may also function as a placeholder for other objects  13 , such as bags, to help aid in the balance of weight on the user&#39;s  12  shoulder when the present invention is in use. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-7 , the handle portion  20  may include a cover  26 . The cover  26  may comprise a tubular piece of material which fits over the handle portion  20  to improve comfort for the user  12 . The cover  26  will preferably comprise a soft, malleable material such as plastic or rubber, though other types of materials may be utilized in different embodiments of the present invention. The cover  26  may be removably or fixedly secured to the handle portion  20 . Additionally, the cover  26  may be positioned to substantially cover the full length of the handle portion  20 , or may be positioned to cover only a portion of the handle portion  20 . 
     C. Fulcrum Portion 
     As shown throughout the figures, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a fulcrum portion  30  which is positioned between the handle portion  20  and the receiver portion  40 . The fulcrum portion  30  may be connected to or integrally formed with the handle portion  20  and the receiver portion  40 . 
     The fulcrum portion  30  comprises a curved portion which is adapted to fit over the shoulder of a user  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The fulcrum portion  30  acts as a fulcrum for the present invention to aid in redistributing weight and thus improving comfort of a user  12  when the present invention is in use. The fulcrum portion  30  acts as a fulcrum to support the weight of the object  13  on the receiver portion  40  while the user  12  is pulling down on the handle portion  20 . 
     The fulcrum portion  30  generally comprises a first end  32  and a second end  34 . The first end  32  of the fulcrum portion  30  is either connected to or integrally formed with the handle portion  20 . The second end  34  of the fulcrum portion  30  is either connected to or integrally formed with the receiver portion  40  as shown in the figures. When in use, the present invention will generally pivot about the shoulder of the user  12  at the fulcrum portion  30 . 
     The fulcrum portion  30  curves upwardly from its junction with the handle portion  20  to its midpoint and curves downwardly from its midpoint to its junction with the receiver portion  40 . The shape, size, angle, and configuration of the curve of the fulcrum portion  30  may vary in different embodiments. The angle of the fulcrum portion  30  may vary in different embodiments. 
     Generally, the fulcrum portion  30  will comprise an outer curve  36  and an inner curve  37 , wherein the inner curve  37  rests against the user&#39;s  12  shoulder. The inner curve  37  may include padding which is either integrally or removably connected thereto, which aids in comfort for the user  12  of the present invention. 
     D. Receiver Portion 
     As shown throughout the figures, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a receiver portion  40  which is adapted to removably retain an object  13  to be carried by the present invention. The shape, size, placement, orientation, and configuration of the receiver portion  40  may vary in different embodiments. Thus, the exemplary figures and descriptions herein should not be construed as limiting in those regards. 
     The receiver portion  40  may comprise a hook configuration, wherein the object  13  is removably retained therein. In a preferred embodiment as shown in the figures, the receiver portion  40  comprises a projection  42  which extends toward the handle portion  20  and fulcrum portion  30  of the present invention. The projection  42  may comprise an inner end  43  which faces toward the fulcrum portion  30  and an outer end  44  which faces away from the fulcrum portion  30 . 
     The projection  42  will preferably define a slot  46  into which the object  13  may be removably inserted to carry the object  13 . The shape, size, orientation, and configuration of the slot  46  may vary in different embodiments of the present invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be construed as limited by exemplary figures and descriptions herein in those regards. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the inner end  43  of the projection  42  will generally be angled. In a preferred embodiment, the angle of the inner end  43  of the projection  42  will be substantially the same or equal to the angle of the outer curve  36  of the fulcrum portion  30 . This configuration ensures that the object  13  may easily be inserted and removed from the slot  46  without being caught up on the projection  42 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the inner end  43  of the projection  42  will preferably terminate near the outer curve  36  of the fulcrum portion  30 , leaving only a small gap between the inner end  43  of the projection  42  and the fulcrum portion  30 . This configuration reduces the risk that the object  13  will inadvertently slide out of the slot  46 , though this risk may be further minimized by the manner in which the present invention is oriented on a user&#39;s  12  shoulder. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a longitudinal axis  15  extending along the lower end of the handle portion  20 . In some embodiments, the receiver portion  40  will not be aligned with this longitudinal axis  15 . More specifically as shown in  FIG. 10 , the receiver portion  40  may be at a slightly higher elevation than the longitudinal axis  15  of the handle portion  20 . In other embodiments, the receiver portion  40  may be aligned with the longitudinal axis  15  of the handle portion  20 . 
     E. Operation of Preferred Embodiment 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a practical tool which redistributes the weight of objects  13  such as groceries from the traditional hand of a user  12  (when the user  12  is carrying such objects  13 ) to a more durable part of the human form: the shoulder. Using the concept of a fulcrum and lever aids in eliminating pain in the hands and arms while also providing the added benefit of a free hand which can be used to do other things, such as carry keys. 
     In use, the user  12  first places the object  13  or objects  13  onto the receiver portion  40 , such as by inserted the objects  13  or objects  13  into the slot  46  thereof. The user  12  may then grasp and lift the fulcrum portion  30  onto one of their shoulders with one hand, with the inner curve  37  being rested against the shoulder as shown in  FIG. 1 . When lifting, the user  12  may place their other hand on the handle portion  20  and push downwardly to balance the weight when bringing the present invention onto the shoulder. The user  12  then uses the hand of the above-mentioned shoulder to pull downwardly on the handle portion  20  in order to balance the weight from the objects  13  on the receiver portion. 
     Such a design configuration aids the user  12  in redistributing the weight from the objects  13  being carried using the shoulder which the fulcrum portion  30  rests on, with the present invention functioning largely as a lever able to pivot about the shoulder via the fulcrum portion  30 . These principles allow the present invention to be functional and practical for lifting more weight with less effort. 
     As the user  12  travels with the object  13  in the receiver portion  40 , the user  12  may freely rotate the present invention about the shoulder via its fulcrum portion  30  to aid in comfort. The weight of the objects  13  will be directed to the shoulder, rather than the arms, which will considerably lessen the effort necessary for carrying the objects  13  when compared with traditional, linear carrying devices. 
     Upon reaching a destination, the user  12  will retain the handle portion  20  in a first hand while, with their second hand, the user  12  grasps the fulcrum portion  30  and lifts it off the shoulder. The present invention may then slowly be lowered to the ground, at which point the object  13  may easily be removed from the receiver portion  40 . 
     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the object carrying system, suitable methods and materials are described above. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. The object carrying system may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.