U.S. patent application number 10/255738 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-01 for cushioning shoulder strap.
Invention is credited to Kelly, Charles.
Application Number | 20040060951 10/255738 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32029162 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040060951 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kelly, Charles |
April 1, 2004 |
Cushioning shoulder strap
Abstract
A cushioning shoulder strap having at least one bladder located
thereon that is inflatable or pre-filled with at least one gas,
liquid, or gel and structures for coupling the strap to an item to
be supported or carried. Preferably, the bladder and strap of the
invention are integrally formed as a single piece of material, such
as vinyl or rubber. Optionally, the cushioned shoulder strap of the
invention may feature a valve on the bladder or a cover attached to
the shoulder strap into which a bladder may be removably
placed.
Inventors: |
Kelly, Charles; (Tucson,
AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
QUARLES & BRADY STREICH LANG, LLP
ONE SOUTH CHURCH AVENUE
SUITE 1700
TUCSON
AZ
85701-1621
US
|
Family ID: |
32029162 |
Appl. No.: |
10/255738 |
Filed: |
September 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/264 ;
224/643 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/14 20130101; A45F
2003/142 20130101; A45F 3/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/264 ;
224/643 |
International
Class: |
A45F 003/12; A41F
015/02; A45F 003/04 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A cushioning shoulder strap, comprising: a flexible bladder
having a first end and a second end; and means for coupling said
first end and said second end of said bladder to an object.
2. The strap of claim 1, wherein said flexible bladder and means
for coupling are integrally formed from a single piece of
material.
3. The strap of claim 1, wherein said flexible bladder further
includes a valve.
4. The strap of claim 1, wherein said flexible bladder is
inflatable with air.
5. The strap of claim 1, wherein said flexible bladder is
inflatable with a liquid.
6. The strap of claim 1, wherein said flexible bladder is
inflatable with a gel.
7. A cushioning guitar strap, comprising: a strap of flexible
material having a first end and a second end; a flexible bladder
connected to the strap and located between said first end and said
second end of said strap; and means for coupling said first end and
said second end of said strap to a guitar.
8. The guitar strap of claim 7, wherein said flexible bladder is
integrally formed in said strap.
9. The guitar strap of claim 7, wherein said flexible bladder
further includes a valve.
10. The guitar strap of claim 7, wherein said flexible bladder is
inflatable with air.
11. The guitar strap of claim 7, wherein said flexible bladder is
inflatable with a liquid.
12. The guitar strap of claim 7, wherein said flexible bladder is
inflatable with a gel.
13. The guitar strap of claim 7, wherein said flexible bladder is
detachable from said strap.
14. The guitar strap of claim 7, further including a bladder cover
attached to said strap, wherein said flexible bladder is removably
placed within said bladder cover.
15. The guitar strap of claim 7, further including a means for
adjusting a length of the strap.
16. A cushioned shoulder strap, comprising: a strap of flexible
material having a first end and a second end; an inflated bladder
connected to the strap and located between said first end and said
second end of said strap; and means for coupling said first end and
said second end of said strap to an item.
17. The shoulder strap of claim 16, wherein said inflated bladder
is integrally formed in said strap.
18. The shoulder strap of claim 16, wherein said inflated bladder
further includes a valve.
19. The shoulder strap of claim 16, wherein said inflated bladder
contains air.
20. The shoulder strap of claim 16, wherein said inflated bladder
contains a liquid.
21. The shoulder strap of claim 16, wherein said inflated bladder
contains a gel.
22. The shoulder strap of claim 16, wherein said inflated bladder
is detachable from said strap.
23. The shoulder strap of claim 16, further including a bladder
cover attached to said strap, wherein said inflated bladder is
removably placed within said bladder cover.
24. The shoulder strap of claim 16, further including a means for
adjusting a length of the strap.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates in general to the field of carrying or
support accessories for instruments or items such as luggage and
more particularly to a cushioning shoulder strap having one or more
bladders filled with air, a liquid, or a gel.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Slip-on shoulder pads made of leather or resilient materials
(e.g., neoprene) are commonly used to better secure and mitigate
the weight of an article supported by a shoulder strap, such as a
guitar, golf bag, or luggage. For example, a basic shoulder strap
pad is described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,631,694 issued to Rick. Rick
discloses a shoulder pad that is constructed in order to protect
against accidental displacement of the pad by providing a resilient
material sandwiched between a backing and an upper layer of
leather. As described, the primary function of the resilient
padding material is to frictionally engage the strap so that the
pad does not slip from the shoulder during use. Thus, the resilient
material does not provide a cushioning effect so much as it assists
in protecting the wearer's shoulder against chaffing from the strap
caused by accidental displacement of the pad.
[0005] Another example of a typical shoulder pad is found in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,388,743 issued to Silagy. Silagy's pad, which was
designed to be used in conjunction with a guitar strap, is similar
to that described by Rick in that a layer of neoprene or rubber is
threaded onto a strap and provides a minimal cushioning effect.
[0006] While traditional padded shoulder straps serve a purpose
specific to their design, experience shows that shoulder straps
with a slip on pad of the type described above often do not provide
much protection or comfort for a wearer. In fact, after handling
relatively heavy items or after supporting items on one's shoulder
for long durations, a bruise or abrasion frequently is left on the
upper back or shoulder area where the strap pad has been seated.
Moreover, no currently existing padded shoulder strap is know to
provide adjustable firmness for a wearer who suffers from back or
shoulder pain. Furthermore, the inventor is not aware of any padded
shoulder strap that is integrally formed as a single piece rather
than as a separate strap and pad.
[0007] Thus, there is still a need in the art for a shoulder strap
that allows those with back and shoulder problems to comfortably
carry the weight of the supported article. Moreover, there
continues to be a need for a shoulder strap having a cushioning
area that more effectively mitigates the weight of a shouldered
article and that can be easily adjusted in firmness according to
the needs of the wearer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVETION
[0008] The invention relates in general to a shoulder strap having
at least one bladder located thereon that is inflatable or
pre-filled with at least one gas, liquid, or gel. More
specifically, the invention provides in one embodiment a flexible
strap that includes a flexible bladder and coupling members
disposed near the strap ends to aid in attaching the strap to an
item to be carried. Preferably the bladder and strap of the
invention are integrally formed as a single piece of material, such
as vinyl or rubber. Optionally, the cushioning shoulder strap of
the invention may feature a valve on the bladder and/or a cover
attached to the shoulder strap into which a bladder may be
removably placed.
[0009] Thus, it is a primary objective of the invention to provide
a cushioning shoulder strap featuring a bladder containing at least
one gas, liquid, or gel.
[0010] Further, an object of the invention is to provide a
cushioning shoulder strap having a bladder that can be adjusted to
different positions to suit the individual needs of a wearer.
[0011] Still further, an object of the invention is to provide a
cushioning shoulder strap featuring a bladder that is adjustable in
firmness to meet the cushioning needs of a wearer.
[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a cushioned
shoulder strap the is inexpensive to manufacture.
[0013] Still another object of the invention is to provide a
cushioning shoulder strap that is integrally formed of a single
piece of material.
[0014] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a
cushioning shoulder strap that is particularly well suited to
support the weight of a guitar for prolonged periods of play.
[0015] In accordance with these and other objects there is provided
new and improved cushioning shoulder strap featuring an inflatable
or pre-filled bladder and means for coupling said bladder to an
item.
[0016] Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will
become clear from its description in the specification that
follows. Therefore, to the accomplishment of the objectives
described above, this invention includes the features hereinafter
fully described in the detailed description of the preferred
embodiments, and particularly pointed out in the claims. However,
such description discloses only some of the various ways in which
the invention may be practiced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1A is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0018] FIG. 1B is a front longitudinal view of the embodiment shown
in FIG. 1A.
[0019] FIG. 1C is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
1A.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the
invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view of a third embodiment of the
invention.
[0022] FIG. 4A is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of the
invention.
[0023] FIG. 4B is a front longitudinal view of the embodiment shown
in FIG. 4A
[0024] FIG. 4C is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
4A
[0025] FIGS. 5A and 5B show an embodiment of the invention
featuring an adjustable strap.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a fifth embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TILE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] The invention relates to a cushioning shoulder strap having
a pre-filled or inflatable bladder located on, or integrally formed
into, the strap, and coupling members disposed near each end of the
strap for coupling the strap to an object. Preferably, the
invention is integrally formed from a single piece of material,
such as rubber or vinyl, with a bladder formed between two
air-tight seams. Coupling members, such as a clip, a clamp, or a
hole, are secured at two ends of the bladder and used to attach an
object such as a golf bag or guitar.
[0028] The novel combination of an inflatable or a filled bladder
disposed upon a shoulder strap has many advantages over
conventional straps using resilient padding material. First, the
pressure of an inflatable bladder can be controlled to suit the
needs of the wearer without having to change pads. For example, if
a wearer is suffering from back or shoulder pain, the bladder can
be fully inflated to provide a relatively firm cushion to offset
the weight of a supported item. Conversely, if a wearer prefers to
have the supported item closer to her body or to have the item
"bounce" less while the wearer is moving, then the bladder can be
deflated until the desired effect is achieved. Second, filled
bladders are much more effective than pads in mitigating the weight
of a supported item. Third, the bladders of this invention are
flexible, allowing the cushioning effect of the bladder to conform
exactly to the shape and size of the wearer's shoulder. Fourth,
embodiments of this invention that feature bladders that are
integrally formed into a strap are relatively simple and
inexpensive to produce compared to separate strap-and-pad
designs.
[0029] Turning to FIGS. 1A-1C, a preferred embodiment of the
invention featuring a strap with an integrally formed bladder is
shown. The cushioned shoulder strap 10 includes a flexible bladder
12 defined by two air-tight and fluid-tight seams 14 and 16. The
bladder 12 may be pre-filled or, as shown in FIG. 1A, inflatable
through a valve 18. Preferably, the bladder 12 contains a gas,
which most preferably is the combination of gases comprising air.
Moreover, the bladder 12 may contain a liquid, such as water, or a
gel, i.e., a semi-solid material composed of a continuous or
dispersed liquid phase in a continuous solid matrix.
[0030] On the non-bladder side of seams 14 and 16, flexible straps
20 and 22 are shown. The straps 20 and 22 terminate in a first end
24 and a second end 26. The first and second ends preferably have
at least one coupling member, such as holes 28, to facilitate
attachment of shoulder strap 10 to an item, such as a golf bag or
luggage. As would be know by those skilled in the art, the coupling
members could include slots, clips, snaps, and a wide variety of
other structures designed to fasten or attach a strap to an item.
FIG. 1C more clearly shows the top side 30 and bottom side 32 of
straps 22 and 20, respectively.
[0031] FIGS. 2 and 3 show embodiments of the invention that feature
removable bladders. In FIG. 2, the cushioned shoulder strap 40
includes a flexible strap 42 having a first end 44 and a second end
46. Disposed upon the top side 48 of flexible strap 42 is a bladder
cover 50. Thus, bladder 52 having a valve 53 can be removably
placed within bladder cover 50 as shown by arrow 54. Preferably,
the bladder cover 50 is closable using a zipper 56. However, other
closure means know to those skilled in the art, such as
hook-and-loop fasteners, may also be used. The bladder cover 50 may
be permanently attached (e.g., sewn) upon the flexible strap 42 or
removably adhered, such as with VELCRO strips or snap
fasteners.
[0032] Turning to FIG. 3, flexible strap 60 has a first end 62 and
a second end 64 into which coupling members (holes 66) are formed.
Optionally, clip 68 may be placed into either (or both) hole 66 to
form a coupling member that facilitates attachment of an item to
the shoulder strap 60. Upon the top side 70 of flexible strap 60,
loop fasteners 72 are positioned to receive hook fasteners 74 on
the exterior of bladder 76 as shown by arrows 78. Of course, the
fasteners 72 on the flexible strap 60 may be positioned to
facilitate adjustment of the bladder 76 to any desired position
along the top side 70 of strap 60.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a sectioned bladder 80 may be
integrally formed within a flexible strap 82 (or attached to the
strap-not shown). In the pictured embodiment, each bladder section
84 is connect to at least one adjacent bladder section through
channel 86. Thus, valve 88 may be used to inflate or deflate all
bladder sections 84 simultaneously, with first end 90 and second
end 92 being connectable to an item to be shouldered as previously
described. Of course, in lieu of channels 86, each bladder may be
sealed (and valved) to be separate, allowing different pressures to
exist in different bladders on the same strap in accordance with a
wearer's preference.
[0034] The length of the shoulder strap also may be adjusted.
Turning to FIGS. 5A and 5B, cushioning shoulder strap 94 has a
first strap 95 onto which a buckle 96 has been threaded. In FIG.
5A, a portion 98 of strap 95 has been looped through buckle 96,
resulting in shortened strap section 100. In FIG. 5B, a user has
removed the portion of strap 95 from the buckle 96, resulting in
lengthened strap section 102.
[0035] As described above, the flexible bladders of the invention
ideally are filled with or contain air. However, practically any
non-toxic and otherwise safe compressible gas, liquid, or gel may
be used to provide a cushioning effect. Furthermore, the level of
compressibility for the air-filled bladder embodiment can be
adjusted according to the amount of air used, making the firmness
of bladder customizable to the needs of the wearer. Moreover,
bladders containing liquids or gels that can be heated or cooled
may be used with the invention to help reduce shoulder inflammation
or increase circulation, respectively.
[0036] The invention, having been described above, may be better
understood by reference to an example. The following example is
intended for illustration purposes only, and should not be
construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any way.
[0037] The invention may be manufactured using existing tooling and
technology employed in the waterbed industry. First, two flexible
polyvinyl sheets (or a doubled-over single sheet) may be cut into
any desirable shape for a strap. Next, an electrically heated iron
is used to seal the polyvinyl in accordance with the desired shape
and location of the flexible bladder. The temperature of the iron
can be precisely controlled such that the vinyl pieces are fused
together, creating an air-tight seam so that the bladder may be
inflated, either at the factory or through an added valve.
[0038] Thus, the simple cushioning strap 108 pictured in FIG. 6 may
be created out of a single piece of polyvinyl. In this embodiment,
the strap 108 includes only a flexible bladder 110 having a valve
111, with two coupling members 112 disposed at the first end 114
and the second end 116 of the bladder 110.
[0039] Various changes in the details and components that have been
described may be made by those skilled in the art within the
principles and scope of the invention herein described in the
specification and defined in the appended claims. Therefore, while
the present invention has been shown and described herein in what
is believed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it
is recognized that departures can be made therefrom within the
scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details
disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims
so as to embrace any and all equivalent processes and products.
* * * * *