U.S. patent application number 10/950756 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-30 for shoulder strap.
Invention is credited to Timothy D. Armstrong.
Application Number | 20060065683 10/950756 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36097876 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060065683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Armstrong; Timothy D. |
March 30, 2006 |
Shoulder strap
Abstract
A shoulder strap for holding or supporting musical instruments
such as guitars, cases, luggage, bags and similar items includes a
longitudinally elongated main body extending between connectors
connected or connectable to the item. The main body in a vertical
condition includes longitudinally spaced rollers rotatably mounted
on transverse shafts which are in turn are mounted by elongated
cords with the shafts being retained in spaced relationship by
spacers on the cords and extending between adjacent pair of shafts.
The cords and spacers are of a flexibility that a roller on one
shaft may be moved to abut against a roller on an adjacent shaft.
The rollers are located to impose the load carried by the strap to
shoulder area of a user, advantageously there being more than one
roller on each shaft that is adjacent to the shoulder area.
Inventors: |
Armstrong; Timothy D.;
(Anoka, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Clayton R. Johnson
3121 Dakota Avenue
Minneapolis
MN
55416
US
|
Family ID: |
36097876 |
Appl. No.: |
10/950756 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/264 ;
224/910 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/02 20130101; G10G
5/005 20130101; A45F 2003/142 20130101; A45F 3/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/264 ;
224/910 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/12 20060101
A45F003/12 |
Claims
1. A shoulder strap for holding items such as musical instruments,
cases, bags, luggage and the like and supporting them from the
shoulder of a user, comprising a longitudinally elongated main body
having a first end and an opposite second end, a first connector
mounted to the first end of the main body for being connected to
the item and a second connector mounted to the second end of the
main body for being connected to the item to be supported, the main
body including a plurality of transverse rows of annular rollers
including at least three rows of rollers for imposing a load on a
shoulder of a user and means extending longitudinally between the
connectors for mounting the rollers for rotation about transverse
axes and permitting limited movement of one row relative to the
other while maintaining the rows in longitudinal spaced
relationship when supporting one of the connectors with the rows of
rollers depending therefrom.
2. The shoulder strap of claim 1 wherein said means includes a
transverse shaft for each row of rollers for mounting the rollers
of the respective row for rotation.
3. The shoulder strap of claim 2 wherein at least some of the rows
of rollers includes more than one roller on the respective
shaft.
4. The shoulder strap of claim 2 wherein said means includes
longitudinally elongated flexible first and second cords having
first ends connected to the first connector and second ends
connected to the second connector and mounting the shafts for
movement relative to one another.
5. The shoulder strap of claim 4 wherein said means includes
longitudinally elongated tubular spacers for maintaining
longitudinally adjacent shafts in longitudinal spaced relationship
and having the cords extending therethrough.
6. The shoulder strap of claim 5 wherein the cords and spacers are
of a flexibility to permit moving a roller in one row into abutting
relationship to a roller in a longitudinally adjacent row.
7. The shoulder strap of claim 5 wherein the spacers are of lengths
at least one and half as great as the maximum radii of two rollers
on two adjacent shafts along the longitudinal length of the main
body.
8. The shoulder strap of claim 5 wherein each shaft has transverse
opposite first and second end portions, the shaft first end
portions having apertures for having the first cord extending
therethrough and the shaft second end portions having apertures for
having the second cord extending therethrough.
9. The shoulder strap of claim 8 wherein the inner diameters of the
rollers are at least 25 percent greater than the diameter of the
shaft on which the rollers are mounted and the combined transverse
dimensions of the rollers is less than the minimum transverse
spacing of the apertures of the shaft on which the rollers are
mounted.
10. The shoulder strap of claim 8 wherein at least one of the
connectors includes an end piece having a musical instrument button
hole and adjustable strip means for connecting the end piece to the
respective end of the main body.
11. A shoulder strap for holding items such as musical instruments,
cases, bags and luggage and supporting them from the shoulder of a
user, comprising a longitudinally elongated main body having a
first end and an opposite second end, a first connector mounted to
the first end of the main body for being connected to the item and
a second connector mounted to the second end of the main body for
being connected to the item to be supported, the main body
including a plurality of transverse shafts, at least one roller
rotatably mounted on each of said shafts, and transversely spaced,
longitudinally elongated strap first and second edge portions for
mounting the shafts and retaining them in longitudinally spaced
relationship when the strap extends vertically to maintain the
roller on one shaft vertically spaced from the roller on the
adjacent shaft, the first and second edge portions having first
ends connected to the first connector and opposite second ends
connected to the second connector.
12. The shoulder strap of claim 11 wherein the shafts include
transversely opposite first and second end portions with each shaft
end portion having an aperture extending diametric therethrough and
the shaft apertures are spaced to permit limited transverse
movement of the at least one roller on the respective shaft and the
strap edge portions include longitudinally elongated flexible cords
extending through the apertures of the respective end portion of
the shafts having rollers thereon.
13. The shoulder strap of claim 12 wherein each of the strap edge
portions includes flexible tubular spacers with the respective edge
portion cord extended therethrough to, with the spacers in a linear
condition, retain the shafts having rollers thereon sufficiently
spaced to maintain the rollers in longitudinal spaced relationship
when the strap extends vertically.
14. The shoulder strap of claim 13 wherein the main body along its
length has an intermediate portion having at least three shafts
that each has several rollers thereon, the spacers are of lengths
that are at least one and half times the radii of the rollers on
the adjacent shafts of the intermediate portion.
15. The shoulder strap of claim 14 wherein each of the connectors
includes an end piece attachable to the item, at least one of the
connectors includes adjustable means for connecting an end piece to
the respective main body end and the cords and spacers are of a
flexibility that a roller on one shaft is movable into abutting
relationship to a roller on an adjacent shaft and the shafts are
movable to have their central axes at skewed angles relative to one
another.
16. The shoulder strap of claim 14 wherein the main body when
extending vertically has first, second and third adjacent rows of
rollers on a first, second and third shaft respective with the
second row of rollers being longitudinal intermediate the first and
second rows and that the cords and spacers are of a flexibility
that the first row can be moved into abutting relationship with the
third row and that the spacers are of a rigidity to maintain a
tubular shape when the main body is on a horizontal supporting
surface.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (1) Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to shoulder straps that may used when
playing musical instruments such as guitars and for carrying many
items, for example, luggage, lap tops, brief cases and similar
cases and various types of bags, including golf bags.
[0003] (2) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Prior art shoulder straps include those made of woven
fabric, nylon, leather and other such flexible materials, some of
which include shoulder pads. In using such prior art straps to aid
in supporting a musical instrument, for example guitars, the weight
thereof is primarily supported by the back and a shoulder which
tends to and/or does reduce blood flow and result in the
development of back problems. This is especially prevalent when
playing heavy guitars over a long period of time. Further, at times
while playing an instrument such as a guitar, one hand in moving
along the fret board tends to or does move the adjacent portion of
the guitar which tends to or does move the strap relative to the
shoulder and such movement is resisted by the frictional engagement
of the strap with the clothing at the area of the shoulder from
which the instrument is supported. This, over time, increases the
discomfort experienced by the performer while playing the
instrument.
[0005] Additionally, when using shoulder straps such as referred to
above for carrying items such as various types of bags, for example
golf bags and overnight bags, various types of cases, for example
brief cases, lap top computers, luggage and other items, as the
user moves and the item can move relative the body of the user, the
relative movement tends to or does move the strap relative the
shoulder with the frictional resistance to such movement being
discomforting to the user.
[0006] In order to provide shoulder straps that are more
comfortable in use in supporting and/or carrying items, this
invention has been made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The shoulder strap includes a pair of longitudinally
elongated cords are retained in transversely spaced relationship by
rigid shafts or axles with the axles being retained in longitudinal
relationship during use of the strap by spacers having the cords
extending therethrough. On each axle there is provided at least one
roller, the diameter of the rollers being less than half the
longitudinal length of the spacers. To the opposite ends of the
cords there is provided connector mechanism that is suitable for
being connected to or is connected to the item to be carried or
supported by the shoulder strap.
[0008] One of the objects of this invention is to provide new and
novel means that is extendable over the shoulder of the user for
supporting and/or carrying an item such as a musical instruments or
other items such as case and bags. In furtherance of the above
object, it is another object of this invention to provide a new and
novel shoulder strap that is readily movable relative to the
shoulder while supporting an item with at least a substantial part
of the weight of the item being imposed on the shoulder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a view showing the strap of this invention
extended over the shoulder of the performer to support a musical
instrument such as a guitar;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 other than its
shows the strap being used for carrying a case;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the shoulder strap of this
invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of the strap of FIG. 3 that is
generally taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows
4-4 of FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 5 is an enlarge plan view of one end portion of the
strap of FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the end portion of the
strap shown in FIG. 3; and
[0015] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view, part in cross section, of a
fragmentary portion of the strap of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Referring in particular to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, the shoulder
strap of this invention includes a longitudinally elongated main
body, generally designated 10, and end connectors, generally
designated 11 and 12, that are respectively connected to the
longitudinally opposite ends of the main body. The main body
includes longitudinally elongated, flexible cords 14 that are
extended through apertures 15 in opposite ends of the transverse
shafts (axles) 16 and the end shafts (axles) 17, 18. The apertures
extend diametrically through the shafts. The ends of the cords are
knotted or suitable clips or other devices (not shown) are mounted
on the cord ends to prevent the cords being pulled through the
shaft apertures. The cords may be made of, for example a fabric
material, for example cotton, or plastic.
[0017] On each of the cords to extend between longitudinal adjacent
shafts 16 and have the cords extended therethrough are resilient
tubular spacers 19 that between each adjacent pair of shafts are of
substantially the same lengths. Resilient tubular spacers 20 are
provided on each of the cords between shaft 18 and the
longitudinally adjacent shaft 16 and shaft 17 and the
longitudinally adjacent shaft 16. Spacers 20 may be of greater
lengths than spacers 19. The spacers and cords form transversely
opposite, longitudinally elongate edge portions E of the strap that
extend longitudinally between the connectors. Advantageously, the
spacers are made of a flexible plastic material
[0018] Advantageously, the apertures 15 may be of diameters at
least half again as large as that of the cords but are smaller than
the outer diameter of the spacers to prevent the spacers extending
into the apertures. The inner diameters of the spacers are
substantially larger than the cords, for example at least 33
percent greater to permit easy longitudinal movement of the cords
relative to the spacer. The spacers are of sufficient flexibility
that they can easily bend, but of a rigidity so as not to collapse
(will maintain their tubular shape) when on a horizontal supporting
surface 44. Further, the spacers are of a rigidity to, when the
strap freely vertically depends from one of its connectors,
maintain longitudinally adjacent shafts vertically spaced by
dimensions that are at least nearly that of the length of the
spacers in a linear condition.
[0019] On each of the shafts, other than the end shafts 17, 18,
there is at least one roller (bead) 21, advantageously at least
three, with the diameter of the circular cylindrical roller
apertures 22 through which the shafts extend advantageously being
of diameters at least 25 percent larger than the diameters of the
shafts that extend therethrough. As a result of the apertures 22
being of larger diameters than that of the shafts, the roller may
tilt relative to the shaft such that the central axes of the
rollers may extend at the same or different skewed angles, relative
to the central axes of the shafts on which the rollers are mounted,
or parallel to and spaced from the central axes of the shafts. In
addition to the rollers being circularly curved about the central
axis of the respective roller aperture central axis, the rollers
are also arcuately or circularly curved about an axis that is
perpendicular to its aperture central axis and passes therethrough
with the arc of curvature or radius of curvature being
substantially greater than the transverse dimension of the roller.
Thus, each of the rollers has axially opposite, generally parallel
annular surfaces 21A of outer diameters substantially less than the
maximum outer diameter of the roller and are perpendicular to the
central axis of the aperture of the respective roller.
[0020] The maximum transverse dimension of all of the rollers on a
shaft, when in abutting relationship to one another, is less than
the minimum spacing of the apertures 15 that are at the transverse
opposite end portions of the shaft. Thus, the rollers have some
freedom of transverse movement on the shaft relative to one another
and to the shaft.
[0021] Advantageously, each of the connectors 11, 12 includes a
generally rectangular ring 27 having one end portion of an end
piece 28 mounted thereto, the end pieces having button holes 32
through which conventional buttons (peg) 29, 33 respectively on a
guitar 30 are extended. An adjustment strip 31 is extended through
the ring and around the respective one of the end shafts 17, 18
with one end of the strip secured to a leg of a conventional
adjustment buckle 32 and the opposite end portion 31A of the strip
adjustably extended through the buckle to be retained in a selected
adjusted position whereby the maximum spacing of an end shaft 17,
18 and the respective ring is retained in selected maximum
longitudinal adjusted positions.
[0022] The spacers are sufficient rigidity that when the strap is
held by one end piece to have the remainder of the strap freely
vertically depend therefrom, the shaft of each row of rollers is
retained in spaced relationship to the vertically adjacent row of
rollers which are therebeneath by a dimension at least nearly the
longitudinal length of the spacers, for example the rollers of row
C are retained vertically spaced from row B and the rollers of row
B are retained vertically spaced from row A. However, the spacers
are of a flexibility that even with the minimum longitudinal
spacing of, for example the rollers in row A from those in row B,
when on a horizontal surface without bending the spacers extending
therebetween, these spacers and the cords are of a flexibility to
permit the leftmost roller of row A as viewed in FIG. 3 to abut
against the rightmost roller of row B when the strap is of
dimensions similar to those set forth in the last paragraph of this
specification. Further, with the central axis of the shaft of row B
being in a horizontal plane, the spacers and the cords are of a
flexibility that the shaft of row C may be bent to extend at a
skewed angle, for example about 20 to 40 degrees relative to the
central axis of shaft of row B, including extending in planes other
than the horizontal plane of the shaft of row B. As a result, parts
of the strap may twist relative to other parts of the strap and the
linear spacing of the adjacent rows of rollers may vary a limited
amount relative to other rows. Also, the spacers and cords may be
of a flexibility that, for example three adjacent rows of rollers
with row B being the intermediate row, the rollers of row A may be
moved to abut against rollers in row C with or without the shafts
of rows A, B, C being parallel relative one another.
[0023] In use with the guitar buttons extended through the
respective button hole of the end pieces and the strap extended
over the shoulder of the user (performer), the rollers that impose
a load on the shoulder and adjacent areas of the body are free to
rotate with substantially less friction resisting the movement of
the strap relative to the shoulder during the playing of a musical
instrument, for example a guitar, than with conventional shoulders
straps that applicant is aware of. Further the rollers on one shaft
are able to tilt at slightly different angles than other rollers on
the same shaft and the shaft for one row of rollers are able to
tilt at different skewed angles relative to shafts of other rows of
rollers. The substantial decrease in resistance to movement of the
strap relative to the shoulder area results in a substantial
decrease in the discomfort of the performer, particular when the
musical instrument is relatively heavy.
[0024] The strap of this invention can advantageously be used for
carrying items other than musical instruments. For example, as
indicated in FIG. 2, conventional snap fasteners 40 may be mounted
to the end pieces, for example by having parts of the fasteners
extend through the button holes and the hooked portions of the
fasteners extended through the bails 41 at opposite ends of the
item 42 which may be a brief case, or a piece of luggage, or any
one of a number of other items. In place of snap fasteners, the end
pieces of the strap may secured to the item to be carried, for
example being adhered or otherwise suitably joined to opposed end
portions of the item. As with the strap being used for supporting
musical instruments, there is substantially less resistance to the
movement of the strap, or tendency to move, relative to shoulder
resulting from the movement of the item relative to the party
carrying item while moving from one place to another than with
known conventional straps.
[0025] Advantageously, the longitudinal length of the strap is
about the same as that of conventional shoulder straps. Further, at
least the central longitudinal part of the main body includes at
least three rows of rollers and advantageously at least eight rows
of rollers whereby there are rows of rollers that impose the load
(weight of item supported) on either side of the top part of the
shoulder and at least three or four inches below the uppermost part
of the shoulder that is subject to having the item load imposed
thereon.
[0026] It is to be understood that the rows of rollers may include
more than three rollers; or fewer rollers, particular adjacent to
the end pieces, together with the shafts being of smaller
transverse dimensions adjacent the end pieces. Although, not
preferred, one or both of the connectors may not include an
adjustment strip and buckle.
[0027] Advantageously, each of the rollers and the spacers are of
the same inner and outer dimension, the shaft apertures are of the
same diameters, the minimum transverse spacing of the apertures of
the shafts is greater than the maximum combined transverse
dimensions of the rollers on the shaft, the spacers 16 are of the
same lengths and the rollers on each shaft are of the same size and
shape. It is to be understood that in the event the rollers in one
row are of smaller maximum outer diameters than the rollers in an
adjacent row, the longitudinal dimension of the spacers between the
one row and the adjacent rows accordingly may be smaller. If
spacers of different lengths are used, the spacers between adjacent
shafts through which the cords extend should be the same. Further,
the longitudinal dimensions of the spacers may be such that with
the strap extending linearly on a horizontal surface with the cords
extending substantially parallel, there may be a small spacing of
the ends of the spacers from the adjacent shafts as indicate in
FIG. 7. In the event the rollers on one shaft are of different
diameters than those on adjacent shafts, than the linear length of
the spacers could be greater than the dimension of the combined
radii of a roller on each of the two adjacent shafts. Also, the
cords and spacers may be of a flexibility that they do not extend
linearly when the strap is on a horizontal surface, but rather
slightly bent arcuately between longitudinally spaced shafts.
[0028] As an example of the invention, but not otherwise as a
limitation thereon, the rollers may of maximum outer diameters of
about 1 inch, of maximum transverse dimensions of about
11/16.sup.th of an inch, the minimum transverse dimension between
the apertures of a shaft may be about 2 and one quarter inches, the
minimum spacing of adjacent shafts 16 when in abutting relationship
to the spacers with the spacers extending linearly and parallel to
one another may be about 1 and three quarter inches while the
minimum spacing of the rollers of adjacent rows of rollers may be
about three quarters of an inch and the minimum transverse spacing
of the apertures of the shafts 16 may be about 2 and one quarter
inches.
* * * * *