Patent Publication Number: US-6983870-B2

Title: Suspended article hold down system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   Not Applicable 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSERED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPEMENT 
   Not Applicable 
   REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to apparatus for holding strap support articles in place against the chest of a user while the articles are being carried and not in use. 
   There are many situation where users want to have an article such as binoculars, a camera or eyeglass ready and available for immediate use but do not want to have to carry the article in hand, or in a carrying case dangling on the end of a neck strap. With the article carried in hand the hand is no longer available for other activities. If the carrying case is used the article contain therein can usually only be retrived for use by unlocking the case and withdrawing the article. Often, this procedure is so slow that by the time the article is pulled from the case it is too late for the user to use the article in the manner desired. Futhermore, a neck suspended article case swings and flops against the chest of a person carrying the article as well as from side to side. Even if a carrying case is not used and the article itself is suspended from a neck strap the article swing&#39;s and flops and is often annoying and uncomfortable to the user as various activities are performed. Running, climbing over or through fences, riding on or in various vehicles and even riding in a boat in rough water are typical of activities that will cause neck strap suspended articles, whether or not in a carrying case, to repeatedly hit and bounce off the chest of a user. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a system for carrying chest positioned articles such that the articles will be restrained against undesired swinging against the body of the user and from side to side. Another object is to provide a system for carrying supported articles that will permit fast and easy single movement release of the article from a hold down position to a use position. 
   Still other objects are to provide apparatus for supporting articles such as binoculars, cameras and eyeglasses that are commonly suspended by a neck strap against the chest area of a user and that are commonly used by raising them to appropriate eye level to permit viewing and aiming. Yet other objects are to provide apparatus that is easy to use, long lasting, 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial right/front view of the chest supported article holder of the invention on a user and with the neck supported article (binoculars) secured against undesired movement; 
       FIG. 2 , a pictorial front view; 
       FIG. 3 , a pictorial rear view; and 
       FIG. 4 , a view like that of  FIG. 1 , but showing the article (binoculars) raised to eye level. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings: 
   In the illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention the suspended article hold down system is shown generally at  10 , worn by a user  12 . 
   System  10  includes a pair of shoulder straps  14  and  16 , each having a resilient (elastic) length  18  and an adjustable non-resilient (non-elastic) length  20 . A reinforcement pad  22  is provided at each of the connections between the lengths  18  and the lengths  20 . 
   One end  24  of each shoulder strap  14  and  16  is connected to a flat spreader  26  and, in use, each strap extends from the spreader upwardly from the back of a user and over a shoulder of the user. A snap connector  28  is connected to turned back ends of each non-resilient length  20  of each shoulder strap  14  and  16 . The snap connectors  28  of the respective straps  14  and  16  are attached to opposite sides of an article, here shown as binoculars  30 , that is commonly suspended by a strap (not shown) from the neck of the user. 
   A pair of adjustable length resilient (elastic) underarm straps  36  and  38  each have one end  40  attached to spreader  26 . Each underarm strap  36  and  38  extends from the spreader  26  beneath an arm of the user  12  and around the front of the user. A quick release coupling receptacle  42  is connected to turned back ends  44  and  46  respectively of the underarm straps  36  and  38 . 
   A resilient (elastic) hold down strap  50  has coupling inserts  52  and  54  secured at opposite ends thereof. 
   In using the suspended article hold down system  10  of the invention a user  12  will position spreader  26  flat against his back and the shoulder straps  14  and  16  to extend over his shoulders. The shoulder straps are them connected to an article (binoculars  30 ) or another article such as a camera, not shown, eyeglasses, not shown, or other such article that is used by a user raising the article for viewing, sighting or aiming. The lengths of the shoulder straps and underarm straps are adjusted to provide a comfortable fit on the user. The hold down strap is connected to the underarm straps and the hold down strap is arranged to overlie the article, thereby holding the article against undesired swinging. The hold down strap may be of a resilient (elastic) material when a tighter holding action is desired. 
   The article can be raised for use by merely first sliding the article hold down strap off the article while raising the article to the use position. When the article is again out of use it is merely dropped, to the extent allowed by the attached shoulder straps. The hold down strap is then merely pulled into place extending across the article. 
   Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein disclosed, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example and that other variations are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, which subject matter we regard as our invention. suitable for use with a wide variety of articles and that is inexpensive to manufacture so that it is readily available to a wide range of users. 
   Principal features of the invention include a strap assembly including a pair of shoulder straps each having one end connected to a side of an article to be suspended; a spreader to which the other ends of the shoulder straps are secured; a pair of underarm straps, each having one end fixed to the spreader and another end attached to a resilient hold-down strap. The shoulder straps and underarm straps are each made of interconnected stretchable and non-stretchable fabric materials and are made to be adjusted lengthwise, as necessary to accommodate the body size and shape of a user. 
   Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from the following detailed description and drawings.