US20040089685A1

US20040089685A1 - Shoulder strap securing device

Info

Publication number: US20040089685A1
Application number: US10/289,976
Authority: US
Inventors: Edmund Chan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-11-07
Filing date: 2002-11-07
Publication date: 2004-05-13

Abstract

Shoulder Strap Securing Device with a plurality of strips. The strips are comprised of a hook type fastening material on one side and a high sticktion material on the opposite side and are connected to each other by a layer of material such as netting so that approximately one quarter of one inch of the netting is exposed between each four inch length of each strip. The strips and netting assembly can be placed on a persons clothing at the shoulder area, the hook fastener side used on rough or fuzzy material and the high sticktion side to be used on smooth slippery material. Additional hook and loop tabs are attached to the securing assembly and placed one over the other thereby retaining a standard bag strap or case strap and reducing the chance of the strap to slide off of the user's shoulder.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

Description of Attached Appendix

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of carrying case accessories and more specifically to a shoulder strap securing device. Bags and cases of various sizes and shapes have been in existence for hundreds of years. Many bags and cases have carry handles and, or straps to help the user carry them. Some bags and cases have shoulder straps attached to them to transfer the weight of the contents of the bag or case to the users shoulder thereby making it easier to carry the bag or case over long distances.

Shoulder straps attached to bags or cases can be made of cloth or leather or the like. There is however, a deficiency in the current design of most shoulder straps in that they have a tendency to slip off ones shoulder during the process of walking or other activity. This can be particularly frustrating when in a hurry or when carrying other items in ones hands where the sudden need to rescue a bag or case from potentially falling to the ground.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a shoulder strap securing device that helps a strap of a bag or carry case stay on a person's shoulder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strap securing device that provides an anti-slipping effect when in contact a variety of cloth, leather or other materials that occur on ones clothing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strap securing device that can be easily removed or replaced onto most standard shoulder straps.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed Shoulder Strap Securing Device comprising: a plurality of strips, each said strip approximately one inch wide and four inches long, each said strip comprised of a hook type fastening material on one side and a high sticktion material on the opposite side, said strips connected to each other by a single layer of flexible material such as netting that is sandwiched between said hook material side and said high sticktion material side so that approximately one quarter of one inch of said netting is exposed between each four inch length of each said strips, said strips and netting assembly to be placed on a persons clothing at the shoulder area, said hook fastener side used on rough or fuzzy material and said high sticktion side to be used on smooth slippery material, and said forward most strip and said rear most strip having fixedly attached tabs that each have hook type fastening material on one side and loop type fastening material on the opposite side so that when said tabs are placed one over the other, said tabs are held together, thereby retaining a standard bag strap or case strap and causing said strap to not slide off of the user's shoulder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. [0012]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the front face of the invention. [0013]
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the back face of the invention. [0014]
FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention [0015]
FIG. 4 is a side view of a persons shoulder with the invention in place. [0016]
FIG. 5 is is a perspective view of a person using the present invention. [0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. [0018]
Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a plan view of the front of the strap retaining device of the [0019] present invention 100. In this embodiment four strips 22, 14, 12, 10 have hook type fastening material on them. A flexible material such as netting 16, 18, 20, connect each of the strips 22, 14, 12, 10 along their long sides. Additional tabs 2, 4, 6, 8, are attached to first strip 22 and last strip 10 Tabs 2, 4 have hook type fastener material on their face. Tabs 8, 6 have loop type fastening material on their face. In the preferred embodiment the strips 22, 14, 12, 10 are approximately four inches long and one inch wide. The tabs 2, 4, 6, 8 are approximately one inch wide and three inches long. FIG. 2 shows the reverse side of the invention 100. On this side the strips have a high sticktion material on their face 24, 26, 28, 30. This material can be flexible polyurethane or rubber or other non slip material preferably having a lightly patterned surface. The tabs 2, 4, 6, 8 have the opposite fastening means as on the front side. For example, tab 4 has hook type fastening material on its face and loop type material on its reverse side. FIG. 3 shows a side view of the present invention 100. In this embodiment the netting material is sandwiched between the strips so that approximately one quarter of one inch of netting 16, 20, 18 is exposed between each strip. FIG. 4 shows the invention 100 in use on a person's shoulder 60. Tabs 8, 2, 6, 4, hold the invention 100 onto a standard shoulder strap 50 of a bag or case. Because the invention is segmented, it can easily follow the curvature of the user's shoulder 60. Although the present embodiment shows four segments, other numbers of segments may be used within the scope of the present invention. If the material of the user's jacket or shirt is made of a fibrous material that sticks to hook type fastening material, then the user places the hook strips 22, 14, 12, 10 down in contact with the material on the jacket or shirt. If the material of the user's jacket or shirt is made of smooth or slick material that does not stick to hook type fastening material, then the user places the invention 100 on the reverse face so that high sticktion strips 24, 26, 28, 30 are in contact with the material on the user's shoulder area. Therefore, whatever the consistency of the jacket or shirt material, there is a good chance that the shoulder strap 50, when the present invention is in place, will not slid off of the user's shoulder as shown in FIG. 5.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. [0020]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Shoulder Strap Securing Device comprising:

a plurality of strips;

each said strip approximately one inch wide and four inches long;

each said strip comprised of a hook type fastening material on one side and a high sticktion material on the opposite side;

said strips connected to each other by a single layer of flexible material such as netting that is sandwiched between said hook material side and said high sticktion material side so that approximately one quarter of one inch of said netting is exposed between each four inch length of each said strips;

said strips and netting assembly to be placed on a persons clothing at the shoulder area;

said hook fastener side used on rough or fuzzy material and said high sticktion side to be used on smooth slippery material; and

said forward most strip and said rear most strip having fixedly attached tabs that each have hook type fastening material on one side and loop type fastening material on the opposite side so that when said taps are placed one over the other, said tabs are held together thereby retaining a standard bag strap or case strap and causing said strap to not slide off of the user's shoulder.