Patent Publication Number: US-6698631-B1

Title: Janitorial supply carrier

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to clothing articles adapted for carrying loads or burdens. More particularly, this invention relates to such articles adapted for carrying bottles and cans containing janitorial cleaning fluids, and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Janitorial professionals utilize numerous articles and accoutrements in the conduct of their trade. Included among such articles and accoutrements are bottled or canned cleaning supplies and sprays, including floor cleaners, counter-top cleaners, glass and mirror cleaners, furniture polishes, furniture oils, carpet cleaners, and carpet spot removers. Bottle and cans containing such fluids are known to be carried in mobile janitorial supply carts. However, such carts undesirably restrict the mobility of a janitor, and such carts typically are not economically obtained. 
     Variously configured belts, satchels, or harnesses for carrying such janitorial supplies are known; however, such articles typically are not economically constructed, and they typically undesirably promote unwieldy and awkward loading of the janitor. 
     The instant inventive janitorial supply carrier solves or ameliorates the above noted deficiencies by providing an assembly including back and hip panels, shoulder straps, and bottle or can receptacles which is economically constructed, which is easily configurable to suit the individual needs of various janitors, and which advantageously distributes loads for ease of carrying. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first structural component of the instant inventive janitorial supply carrier comprises a preferably substantially square back panel fitted to overlie and rest against the lower lumbar region of a janitor&#39;s back. Preferably, the back panel is fabricated to include a single layer of chemical resistant heavy duty polyester fabric. Left and right hip panels, preferably similarly fabricated from single layers of heavy duty polyester fabric, extend leftwardly and rightwardly from left and right edges of the back panel. A preferred means for interconnecting the left and right hip panels and the back panel comprises left and right lacing and eyelet combinations interconnecting rearward ends of the left and right waist panels respectively with left and right ends of the back panel. The preferred lacing and eyelet attaching means advantageously allows a wearer of the janitorial supply carrier to adjust the spacings between the back panel and the left and right hip panels, and to adjust the angular orientations of the left and right hip panels with respect to the back panel. By facilitating such two modes of adjustability, the preferred lacing and eyelet attaching means facilitates use of the carrier by janitors have varying body sizes and shapes. Suitably, strap and take up buckle plate combinations, strap and take up buckle rings combinations, strap and quick disconnect take up buckle combinations, strap and snap combinations, strap, button, and buttonhole combinations, or strap, velcro hook, and velcro pad combinations may be utilized as attaching means in place of the preferred lacing and eyelet combinations. 
     Preferably, strap and quick disconnect take up buckle combinations extend forwardly from the forward edges of the left and right hip panels, such combinations allowing interconnection of such panels across a wearer&#39;s abdomen area. Alternately, the above described types of attaching means which are suitable for interconnecting the back panel with the left and right hip panels may be suitably substituted for such preferred strap and quick disconnect take up buckle combinations. 
     Left and right shoulder straps are necessarily provided, rearward ends of the left and right shoulder straps preferably being fixedly and adjustably attached to the upper end of the back panel, and forward ends of the left and right shoulder straps being respectively fixedly and adjustably attached to upper ends of the left and right hip panels. A preferred means for fixedly and adjustably attaching the left and right shoulder straps comprises strap and take up buckle plate combinations. Means of the types described above for interconnecting the back panel and the left and right hip panels may be suitably substituted for such preferred strap and take up buckle plate combinations. 
     Means described above for interconnecting shoulder straps and panels cumulatively comprise a first attaching means element of the inventive carrier. 
     A reinforcement strap necessarily extends over the outer surface of the left or right hip panel, and preferably a pair of straps provides coverage of both hip panels. Such straps preferably extend from rear to front, and such straps are necessarily positioned at the lower ends of such panels. A second attaching means, preferably sewn stitchings, are utilized to interconnect the reinforcing straps and the left and right hip panels. Suitably, other fasteners such as rivets, staples, heat fusion bonds, and adhesive bonds may be utilized as requisite second attaching means. Necessarily, the second attaching means are positioned and configured so that such means, in combination with the outer surfaces of the left and right hip panel and the inner surfaces of the reinforcing straps, form a plurality of vertically extending hook or ring receiving channels. 
     A plurality of upwardly opening bottle or can receiving receptacles are necessarily provided, along with third attaching means adapted for engaging the vertically extending channels formed by the reinforcing straps. Preferably, the bottle or can receiving receptacles are fabricated similarly with the hip panels, each receptacle having a channel forming reinforcing strap attached thereto. Where such receptacle configuration is adopted, elongated “S” hooks, preferably comprising spring steel or high strength plastic, are preferably utilized for opposingly engaging the vertically extending channels formed by the panels&#39; and receptacles&#39; reinforcing straps. Elongated locking rings may be suitably utilized in place of the preferred elongated “S” hooks. Necessarily, the receptacles&#39; reinforcing straps are positioned at their upper ends so that bottles or cans which they nestingly receive will extend downwardly below the lower edges of the left and right hip panels. 
     Preferably, the lower ends of the bottle or can receptacles comprise annularly inwardly gathered and downwardly extending hems which are drawn and held by a preferred cable tie drawing means. Suitably, other hem drawing means extending through such hems such as drawstrings or cords may be utilized. The preferred annularly inwardly gathered hems advantageously provide a means for fabrication of the floors of the receptacles which is simpler and more economical than stitching floor panels to wall panels. The preferred annularly inwardly gathered and downwardly extending hem also advantageously performs a mechanical function, preventing hard edges of bottles or cans contained within the receptacles from percussively striking and cutting the side walls of the receptacles. Upon contact of the receptacles with a surface, the downwardly extending gathered hems protectively contact the surface, preventing edges of bottles or cans from pinching and cutting the fabric. 
     In use of the inventive janitorial supply carrier, janitors of varying body sizes and shapes may selectively adjust the positions of the left and right hip panels, the back panel, and the left and right shoulder straps with respect to each other so that, upon donning the carrier, the weight of bottles or cans suspended from the lower ends of the left and right hip panels is evenly distributed between the janitor&#39;s shoulders and hips. Such even distribution of weight reduces fatigue from carrying of weight. The janitor may also adjustably position various bottle or can receptacles for ease and convenience of access. 
     Other surfaces of the straps and panels of the inventive janitorial supply carrier may be conveniently and advantageously utilized for supporting various attachment loops, pouches, or pockets for supporting and carrying other accoutrements or supplies common to the janitorial trade. For example, a scrub brush receiving loop may be fixedly attached to the left or right hip panel at a point above the lower reinforcing strap. Where the inventive janitorial supply carrier includes such other supply carrying means, the inventive carrier additionally provides for advantageous weight distribution of and convenient access to such other supplies. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a janitorial supply carrier comprising hip panels having reinforcing straps which dually function as bottle or can receptacle attaching means. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a carrier which further comprises bottle or can receptacles having floors formed of annularly inwardly drawn and downwardly extending hems. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a carrier which is adapted for adjustable positioning of straps and panels for accommodation of varying body shapes and sizes. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a carrier which is economically fabricated. 
    
    
     Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appended drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the instant inventive janitorial supply carrier. 
     FIG. 2 redepicts the carrier of FIG. 1, showing bottle or can receptacles removed. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of one of the bottle or can receptacles. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view as indicated in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, and in particular, simultaneously to FIGS. 1 and 2, the instant inventive janitorial supply carrier is referred to generally by Reference Arrow  1 . Back panel  4  and left and right hip panels  2  and  6  are preferably fabricated from a single layer of heavy duty polyester fabric. Polyester is preferably utilized because polyester is characteristically resistant to degradation due to chemical exposure. Lacings  12  and  14  are preferred utilized to adjustably interconnect rearward ends of hip panels  2  and  6  with left and right ends of back panel  4 . Such lacings  12  and  14  advantageously allow a wearer of the supply carrier  1  to adjust the distance between panels  2 ,  4 , and  6 , and adjust the angular orientation of such panels with respect to each other, allowing the carrier  1  to accommodate various body sizes and shapes. 
     Referring further to FIGS. 1 and 2, proximal ends of abdomen crossing straps  16 ,  18 ,  24 , and  26  are preferably fixedly attached by stitching to hip panels  2  and  6 . Preferably, distal ends of straps  16 ,  18 ,  24 , and  26  extend through quick disconnect take up buckles  20 ,  22 ,  28 , and  30 . Configuration of each buckle  20 ,  22 ,  28 , and  30  to include a take up function advantageously allows accurate centering of back panel  4  over a wearer&#39;s back, and allows for centering of buckles over a wearer&#39;s abdomen. Suitably, though less desirably, one sided take up buckle combinations (not depicted) may be alternately utilized. 
     Referring further to FIGS. 1 and 2, left and right shoulder straps  10  and  8  span between and interconnect back panel  4  with hip panels  2  and  6 . Preferably, strap and take up buckle combinations  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46  extend from the forward and rearward ends of shoulder straps  8  and  10 . Proximal ends of shoulder strap attaching straps  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  are preferably fixedly attached by stitchings to hip panels  2  and  6  and to back panel  4 , the distal ends of such straps adjustably extending through take up buckles  40 ,  42 ,  44 , and  46 . 
     Referring further to FIGS. 1 and 2, reinforcing straps  48 ,  52 , and  56  are fixedly attached to lower ends of hip panel  2 , back panel  4 , and hip panel  6  by preferred vertically extending stitchings  50 ,  54 , and  58 . The straps  48 ,  52 , and  56  attached by such stitchings  50 ,  54 , and  58  advantageously perform dual functions of reinforcing panels  2 ,  4 , and  6 , and forming vertically extending hook or ring engaging channels. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, at least a first, and preferably a plurality, of bottle or can receptacles  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72  are preferably fixedly, adjustably, and removably attached to, referring further to FIG. 2, the vertically extending channels formed by reinforcing straps  48  and  56 , such receptacles being positioned so that bottles or cans contained therein extend downwardly below the lower ends of panels  2  and  6 . 
     Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 3 and 4, bottle or can receptacle  72  preferably comprises polyester fabric sewn in a tubular configuration by seam  84 , such tube having upper and lower hems  82  and  78 . A hem drawing means, preferably cable tie  80 , is extended through hem  78 , the cable tie  80  drawing hem  78  annularly inward and downward, forming the floor of receptacle  72 . Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 2 and 3, reinforcing strap  74  attached by vertically extending stitches  76  is configured, and functions substantially identically with, referring to FIG. 2, reinforcing straps  48 ,  52 , and  56 . Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 2-4, a preferred spring steel or plastic elongated “S” hook  86  extends into a channel formed by reinforcing strap  56 , and into a channel formed by reinforcing strap  74 . Preferably, the distal ends of the elongated “S” hook  86  have in turned stops  88  and  90  for securing the “S” hook in place. For enhancement of stability, it is desirable that dual, side by side, “S” hooks  86  be utilized for attachment of each of the bottle or can receptacles  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72 . 
     Referring simultaneously to all figures, in use of the inventive janitorial supply carrier  1 , a wearer adjusts the depicted straps, buckles, and lacings to assure that the weight of bottles or cans carried within receptacles  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72 , is evenly distributed over the wearer&#39;s shoulders and hips. By manipulating the lateral positioning of the engagements of elongated “S” hooks  86  within the channels of reinforcing straps  48 ,  52 , and  56 , lateral positioning of receptacles  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72  may be adjusted to enhance accessibility to carried bottles or cans. Upon wearing the carrier  1 , and upon loading receptacles  60 ,  62 ,  64 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72  with bottles or cans, the wearer-will commonly cause lower surfaces of such receptacles to strike floor, wall, or furniture surfaces. The gathered hem configurations of the lower ends of such receptacles function to protect the fabric of such receptacles from being cut. 
     While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications in the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with the appended claims.