US20120286007A1

US20120286007A1 - Unitary shoulder pad and strap system

Info

Publication number: US20120286007A1
Application number: US13/506,221
Authority: US
Inventors: David O. Butler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-05-09
Filing date: 2012-04-05
Publication date: 2012-11-15

Abstract

The unitary shoulder pad and strap system generally provides a new and improved unitary shoulder pad and strap system. A unitary shoulder pad and strap system is positionable on a shoulder being situated for supporting a strapped item on a user's shoulder. The present invention consists of an elongated rubbery pad composed of a rubbery material and includes an elongated rectangular bore, further includes a strap that situated within the rectangular bore, and further includes a top segment, and still further includes a base, the base being wedge shaped. The shoulder strap contained within the elongated bore and can be fastened to such objects as camera cases, attaché cases, and computer cases.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to shoulder pad and shoulder straps and more specifically it relates to a unitary shoulder pad and strap system for supporting a shoulder strap on a user's shoulder. It is often necessary to carry strapped items such as camera cases, computer cases, rifles and attaché cases. The shoulder of the typical person slopes downward from the base of the neck to the arm. This downward slope often causes shoulder straps to slide down and off the shoulder. People often have a tendency to account for this by raising the elevation of the shoulder and arm often leading to muscle fatigue and soreness in the shoulder area. The present invention relates to a unitary shoulder pad and strap system and more particularly pertains to supporting a shoulder strap on a user and to facilitate the retaining of the shoulder strap on a shoulder of the user regardless of the downwardly sloping angle of the shoulder, the retaining being done in a safe, reliable, convenient and economical manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to a shoulder pad and shoulder strap which provides a new and improved shoulder pad and strap system. A unitary shoulder pad is positionable on a shoulder situated for supporting a strap on a users shoulder. The present invention consists of an elongated rubbery pad composed of a rubbery material and includes an elongated rectangular bore, further includes a strap that situated within the rectangular bore, and further includes a top segment, and still further includes a base, the base being wedge shaped. The shoulder strap contained within the elongated bore and can be fastened to such objects as camera cases, attaché cases, and computer cases.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the features of the invention 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 invention that will be described hereinafter.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention 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 invention 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.
An object is to provide a unitary shoulder pad and strap system for supporting a shoulder strap on a user's shoulder. It is often necessary to carry strapped items such as camera cases, computer cases, rifles and attaché cases. The shoulder of the typical person slopes downward from the base of the neck to the arm. This downward slope often causes shoulder straps to slide down and off the shoulder. People often have a tendency to account for this by raising the elevation of the shoulder and arm often leading to muscle fatigue and soreness in the shoulder area. The present invention relates to a shoulder pad and more particularly pertains to supporting a shoulder strap on a user and to facilitate the retaining of the shoulder strap on a shoulder of the user regardless of the downwardly sloping angle of the shoulder, the retaining being done in a safe, reliable, convenient and economical manner
Another object is to provide an invention that provides a new and improved unitary shoulder pad and strap system which has all of advantages of the prior art shoulder pads of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages.
Another object is to provide an invention that provides a new and improved unitary shoulder pad and strap system that is of durable and reliable construction.
Another object is to provide a unitary shoulder pad and strap system that provides a new and improved unitary shoulder pad and strap system that reduces shoulder muscle strain of the shoulder.
Another object is to provide an invention that provides a new and improved unitary shoulder pad and strap system that is susceptible of lower cost to manufacturer with regards to both material and labor, and which is accordingly susceptible to low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a shoulder strap economically available to the buying public.
Another object is to provide an invention that provides a new and improved unitary shoulder pad and strap system that is positionable on a user's shoulder situated for enclosing and supporting a strap on a user's shoulder. The present invention is comprised of a flexible rubbery elongated rubbery pad being composed of a rubbery material and includes an elongated rectangular bore, and further includes a top segment, and further includes a base, the base being wedge shaped. A shoulder strap is positioned through the elongated bore and can be fastened to such objects as camera cases, attaché cases, and computer cases.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention. To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the unitary shoulder pad and strap system with shoulder pad and strap system 10 and being worn on the user's shoulder.

FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of the unitary shoulder pad and strap system 10 in FIG. 1 in its resting position with the strap 50 removed.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the invention's first alternative embodiment of the present invention with the strap 50 removed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bottom of the first alternate embodiment of the present invention with the strap 50 removed.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the second alternate embodiment of the present invention. present invention with the strap 50 removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1 it will there be seen that an illustrative embodiment of the new and improved unitary shoulder pad and strap system is denoted as a whole by the reference numeral 10. The unitary shoulder pad and strap system 10 is displayed over the user's shoulder and having smaller outside surface 24 situated towards the user's neck area.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 the unitary shoulder pad and strap system 10 comprises an elongated rubbery pad 12, an elongated bore 14, top segment 16, a smaller outside surface 24, an opposing larger outside surface 26, base 18 having a wedge shape, base 18 further having an upper surface 20 and lower surface 22, the upper surface 20 and lower surface 22 being significantly closer together towards he smaller outside surface 24 and significantly farther apart towards the larger outside surface 26, the upper surface 20 being in situated for contact with the shoulder strap and lower surface 22 being situated for contact with the users shoulder, the upper surface 20 being at a decline from outside surface 26 towards inside outside surface 24, and the lower surface 22 being at an incline from larger outside surface 26 towards smaller outside surface 24, allowing for a wedge shape and situating the shoulder strap 50 in a more parallel position with the ground reducing the shoulder strap 50 from having a sloping position as shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 4 further shows the unitary shoulder pad and strap system 10 having shoulder strap 50 situated inside the elongated bore 14 of the elongated rubbery pad 12.
The elongated rubbery pad 12 is composed of a rubbery material. The rubbery material selected from but not limited to, a group of moldable polymers and foam rubbers. Extrusion molding has been found to be well suited for this form of construction of this group of moldable polymers and foam rubbers.
In FIG. 5 as viewed from the rear, unitary shoulder pad and strap system 10 having the ability to flex as is depicted by the broken lines and illustrating the unitary shoulder pad and strap system's 10 conformability when placed on a user's shoulder while under the downward force of the shoulder strap 50 attached to an object being carried.
FIGS. 6 and 7 shows the first alternate embodiment 100 of the invention wherein bottom the base having shoulder contacting longitudinal raised rib projections 102 being integral with the base's lower surface.
FIGS. 8 and 9 shows the second alternate embodiment 200 of the invention wherein bottom the base having shoulder contacting longitudinal raised rib projections 202 being integral with the base's lower surface. Further is shown the smaller outside surface 224 and opposing larger outside surface 226 having circular edges.
What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all terms are meant in their broadest, reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated.

Claims

1. A unitary shoulder pad and strap system comprising in combination:

An elongated rubbery pad, an elongated bore and a strap situated within the bore, a smaller outside surface, an opposing larger outside surface, a top segment, a base having a wedge shape and having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being situated for contact with the shoulder strap and lower surface situated for contact with the user's shoulder, the elongated rubbery pad being composed of a rubbery material selected from but not limited to, a group of moldable polymers and foam rubbers consisting of poly latex, neoprene, and ethylene propylene diene Monomer.

2. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein the rubbery material is ethylene propylene diene Monomer.

3. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein the elongated bore being rectangular in shape.

5. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein the base having shoulder contacting longitudinal raised rib projections being integral with the base's lower surface.

6. A unitary shoulder pad and strap system comprising in combination:

An elongated rubbery pad , an elongated rectangular bore and a strap situated within the rectangular bore, a smaller outside surface, an opposing larger outside surface, a top segment, a base having a wedge shape and having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface and a lower surface being significantly closer together towards the smaller outside surface and significantly farther apart towards the larger outside surface, the upper surface being in situated for contact with the shoulder strap and lower surface situated for contact with the users shoulder, the upper surface being at a decline from larger outside surface towards smaller outside surface, and the lower surface being at an incline from larger outside surface towards smaller outside surface, allowing for a wedge shape situating the shoulder strap being more parallel position with the ground reducing the shoulder strap from having a sloping position. The elongated rubbery pad is composed of a rubbery material, the rubbery material selected from but not limited to, a group of moldable polymers and foam rubbers including latex, neoprene, ethylene propylene diene Monomer. The base having shoulder contacting longitudinal raised rib projections being integral with the base's lower surface.