U.S. patent application number 15/209754 was filed with the patent office on 2018-01-18 for adjustable carry strap.
The applicant listed for this patent is Nathaniel D. Stevens. Invention is credited to Nathaniel D. Stevens.
Application Number | 20180014627 15/209754 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60942231 |
Filed Date | 2018-01-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180014627 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stevens; Nathaniel D. |
January 18, 2018 |
ADJUSTABLE CARRY STRAP
Abstract
An apparatus includes a sleeve formed with a longitudinal
interior void. A transverse aperture extends through a side of the
sleeve into the longitudinal interior void. A cord passes through a
first end and a second end of the sleeve, through the longitudinal
interior void, and outward through a transverse aperture formed in
the sleeve. The portion of the cord passing through the transverse
aperture forms a slack loop held by a cord lock. The apparatus may
be used to suspend an object from a person's neck or shoulder.
Inventors: |
Stevens; Nathaniel D.;
(Chula Vista, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Stevens; Nathaniel D. |
Chula Vista |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
60942231 |
Appl. No.: |
15/209754 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2200/055 20130101;
A45F 3/02 20130101; A45F 2005/006 20130101; A45F 5/00 20130101;
A45F 2003/002 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45F 5/00 20060101
A45F005/00; A45F 3/02 20060101 A45F003/02 |
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising: a hollow sleeve comprising: a first
end; and a second end opposite said first end; a cord passing
through said first end, said second end, and through a longitudinal
interior void space of said hollow sleeve, said cord having a
segment extending outward from a transverse aperture formed in said
sleeve, said segment forming a slack loop; and a cord lock slidably
engaged with said slack loop.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said longitudinal interior
void space in said hollow sleeve extends from said first end to
said second end.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transverse aperture
extends into said longitudinal interior void space through a first
side of said hollow sleeve but does not extend through a second
side of said sleeve.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second transverse
aperture formed in said sleeve.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said cord passes through said
first end, said transverse aperture, said cord lock, said second
transverse aperture, and said second end.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said slack loop is formed
between said transverse aperture and said second transverse
aperture.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an attachment
device coupled to said cord.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cord forms a closed loop
without free ends.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cord is formed with a
first free end and a second free end.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a first attachment
device joined to said first free end and a second attachment device
joined to said second free end.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first free end is formed
with an interior void.
12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pouch suspended
from said cord.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said pouch is suspended from
said cord on a side of said sleeve opposite said cord lock.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said pouch slidably engages
said cord.
15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said pouch is joined to said
cord.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Embodiments are related to apparatus for suspending an
object from a person's neck or shoulder.
BACKGROUND
[0002] An object such as a camera, identification badge,
binoculars, whistle, pair of eyeglasses, or other relatively small
article may be suspended from a lanyard or strap worn around a
person's neck or suspended from a person's shoulder. The strap or
lanyard may be formed with a wide section to distribute the weight
of the suspended object across a larger contact area, or may have a
pad slidably engaged with the lanyard. It may be possible to adjust
the lanyard or cord with buckles or similar devices to raise or
lower the suspended object. However, buckles and other
length-adjusting devices may cause discomfort when pressed against
a person's body. Furthermore, adjusting a buckle may cause the
suspended object to be offset to one side or may move the pad or
wide area on the strap away from a preferred contact area on a
person's body.
SUMMARY
[0003] An example embodiment includes a hollow sleeve having a
first end; a second end opposite said first end; and a cord passing
through the first end, the second end, and through a longitudinal
interior void space of the hollow sleeve. The cord has a segment
extending outward from a transverse aperture formed in the sleeve,
the segment forming a slack loop. A cord lock slidably engages with
the slack loop.
[0004] Embodiments may optionally include any one or more of the
following, in any combination: the void space in the hollow sleeve
extends from the first end to the second end; and the transverse
aperture extends into the longitudinal interior void space through
a first side of the hollow sleeve but does not extend through a
second side of the sleeve. The sleeve may be formed with a second
transverse aperture, and in an embodiment with the second
transverse aperture, the cord passes through the first end, the
transverse aperture, the cord lock, the second transverse aperture,
and the second end, and the slack loop is formed between the
transverse aperture and the second transverse aperture.
[0005] An embodiment may optionally include an attachment device
slidably coupled to said cord. The cord may form a closed loop
without free ends, or may alternatively be formed with a first free
end and a second free end. A first attachment device may be joined
to the first free end and a second attachment device may be joined
to the second free end. Either one or both of the first and second
free ends may be formed with an interior void.
[0006] An embodiment may further include a pouch suspended from the
cord. The pouch may be suspended from the cord on a side of the
sleeve opposite the cord lock. The pouch may slidably engage the
cord or may alternately be joined to the said cord.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 shows a view toward a front side of an example
apparatus embodiment having a cord passing through a hollow sleeve,
with the cord formed into a closed loop.
[0008] FIG. 2 shows an example embodiment having two transverse
apertures formed in the sleeve.
[0009] FIG. 3 shows an example embodiment having a cord with two
free ends.
[0010] FIG. 4 shows an example embodiment having a pouch suspended
from the cord.
[0011] FIG. 5 shows an example hollow sleeve with a transverse
aperture.
[0012] FIG. 6 shows an example hollow sleeve with two transverse
apertures.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view A-A of an example hollow
sleeve.
[0014] FIG. 8 is an alternative cross-sectional view A-A of an
example hollow sleeve.
[0015] FIG. 9 is another alternative cross-sectional view A-A of an
example hollow sleeve.
[0016] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view B-B of an example
cord.
[0017] FIG. 11 shows an alternative cross-sectional view B-B of the
example cord.
[0018] FIG. 12 shows another alternative cross-sectional view B-B
of the example cord.
[0019] FIG. 13 shows a cross-sectional view C-C of the example
pouch from FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION
[0020] Example embodiments in accord with the invention are
described herein. In some embodiments, a flexible cord passes
through opposite ends of a hollow sleeve, through an interior
longitudinal void in the sleeve, and through at least one
transverse aperture formed about halfway along a longest dimension
of the sleeve. The cord further passes through a cord lock,
dividing the cord into a segment forming a slack loop and at least
one segment from which an object may be suspended. When the cord
lock is clamped against the cord, the slack loop is prevented from
slipping through the transverse aperture in the sleeve. Unclamping
the cord lock permits the cord to slide freely through the cord
lock, reducing the size of the slack loop and moving a suspended
object farther from the sleeve. The cord can be made from any
acceptable material including but not limited leather, cloth,
rubber, metal, and twine; and can be elastic or inelastic.
[0021] Embodiments may be worn around a person's neck or shoulder
with the sleeve against the back of the neck, against the collar of
a garment, or against a shoulder. The sleeve remains interposed
between the cord lock and the person's body, preventing the cord
lock from pinching the person's skin or clothing. Embodiments are
well suited for comfortably suspending objects from the cord
passing around part of a person's body without causing discomfort
to the person from the cord or cord lock pressing against the
person's skin.
[0022] Embodiments are adjustable to permit a suspended object to
be raised or lowered relative to the sleeve. A suspended object
will not be displaced toward either the first or second end of the
sleeve by an adjustment of the size of the slack loop with the cord
lock. Only one cord lock needs to be manipulated to change the
height of a suspended object while keeping the object approximately
centered on the sleeve, in contrast to previously known straps
requiring the adjustment of two or more buckle pieces to raise or
lower a suspended object or adjust the centering of the object
relative to a person's body.
[0023] An example of an embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. The
embodiment 100, also referred to herein as an adjustable carry
strap 100, includes a cord 102 passing through a first end 116 and
a second end 118 of a sleeve 104. The cord 102 extends outward from
the sleeve through a transverse aperture 114 formed in the sleeve
104. The segment of the cord extending outward through the
transverse aperture 114 passes through a cord lock 110 adjacent to
the sleeve 104, forming a slack loop 106 on a side of the sleeve
opposite a suspended object. The slack loop extends outward and
away from the sleeve 104. In the example embodiment in FIG. 1, the
cord forms a closed loop 146 without free ends. An attachment
device 108 may optionally be coupled to the cord 102 to suspend an
object from the adjustable carry strap 100. Examples of an
attachment device 108 include, but are not limited to, a piece of
hook-and-loop fastener material, a spring clip, a split ring, a
side-release buckle, a bulldog clip, a snap, a binder clip, a snap
hook, a carabiner, and a hook.
[0024] The example embodiment 100 in FIG. 1 may be operated by
compressing a lock release 112 on the cord lock 110 while pulling
the slack loop 106 away from the sleeve 104. The portion of the
cord 102 below the sleeve, i.e., between the sleeve and the
attachment device 108, may be drawn symmetrically upward through
the cord lock, keeping the attachment device, or another object
suspended from the cord, approximately centered below the
transverse aperture 114. This contrasts with previously known
devices having a strap which may be adjusted by shortening or
lengthening the strap more on one side of an object suspended from
the strap than the other side of the suspended object. Asymmetric
changes in strap length may cause an object suspended from the
strap to be suspended in an unbalanced or uncomfortable carrying
position.
[0025] Releasing the lock release 112 from its compressed position
causes the cord lock 110 to grip the cord 102, preventing the slack
loop 106 from being withdrawn through the transverse aperture 114
and holding the object suspended from the cord at a fixed distance
from the sleeve 104. In the example of FIG. 1, the transverse
aperture 114 is preferably large enough for two strands of the cord
102 to pass through without binding, but small enough to prevent
the cord lock 110 from being pulled into a void space between the
top panel and bottom panel in the sleeve.
[0026] The sleeve 104 may be formed with a first transverse
aperture 114 and a second aperture 115, as shown in the example of
FIG. 2. The cord 102 in the example of FIG. 2 passes through a
first end 116 of the sleeve 104, through the first transverse
aperture 114, through the cord lock 110 and second transverse
aperture 115, and through the second end 118 of the sleeve. The
slack loop 106 is formed in the segment of the cord 102 extending
outward from the first 114 and second 115 transverse apertures.
[0027] The cord 102 in the examples of FIGS. 1-2 is formed into a
closed loop. The cord may alternatively be formed with two free
ends as suggested in the example of FIG. 3. In the example
embodiment 100 in FIG. 3, the cord has a first free end 144 and a
second free end separated from the first free end. An attachment
device 108 may optionally be coupled to each free end 144. An
object to be suspended from the carry strap 100 may be coupled to
the attachment devices 108, or may alternatively be tied to the
free ends. In some embodiments, the cord 102 may be formed as a
hollow tube with an elastic segment at each free end 144. The
elastic segment may be sized to grip the temple tips or earpieces
of a pair of eyeglasses.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows an example of an embodiment 100 having a pouch
122 suspended from the cord 102. The pouch may include an optional
flap 124 coupled to a front panel 126 by a flap fastener 127. The
front and back sides of the pouch may be attached to each other by
means for joining 136. A void space inside the pouch is provided
for holding an object such as an identification badge, smart phone,
money, a passport, eyeglasses, binoculars, or other objects.
Examples of a means for joining 136 include, but are not limited
to, stitching, adhesive, fusing, zippers, snaps, buttons,
complementary pieces of hook and loop fastener material, and
rivets.
[0029] FIGS. 5-6 illustrate examples of a sleeve 104. As suggested
in the example of FIG. 5, a longitudinal interior void 120 extends
from the first end 116 to the second end 118 of the sleeve 104. In
the example of FIG. 5, the sleeve 104 includes one transverse
aperture 114. In the example of FIG. 6, the sleeve 104 includes a
first transverse aperture 114 and a second transverse aperture 115.
The transverse apertures (114, 115) pass through one side of the
sleeve 104 and into the longitudinal interior void 120. As shown in
Section A-A in FIG. 7 and alternative Section A-A in FIGS. 8-9, a
transverse aperture preferably extends through a first side 132 of
the sleeve into the longitudinal interior void 120 but does not
extend through a second side 134 of the sleeve. An example of a
position of the cord 102 inside the interior void 120 and passing
through the transverse aperture 114 is shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8, and
FIG. 9. The sleeve 104 may be formed by weaving, extruding, or
molding a material such as, but not limited to, neoprene, nylon,
polyethylene, or other flexible polymers. The material selected for
the sleeve preferably withstands laundering without damage to the
material.
[0030] In FIG. 7, the example sleeve 104 is formed into a hollow
flat tube. In FIG. 8, the example sleeve is formed into a hollow
round tube. The sleeve 104 may be alternatively be formed from a
piece of flat material folded and secured along a longest dimension
of the sleeve by means for joining 136, as shown in the example of
FIG. 9. The longitudinal void space 120 formed by folding the flat
webbing provides space for the cord 102 to pass through the sleeve
104.
[0031] The cord 102 may optionally be provided with alternative
cross-sectional shapes, as shown in the examples of FIGS. 10-12.
The cord may have a solid cross section without substantial voids
as suggested in FIG. 10, may be provided with a hollow interior as
shown in the example of FIG. 11, or may be provided with a
polygonal perimeter shape as suggested in the example of FIG. 12.
For a cord 102 with a hollow interior, the diameter 130 of a void
in the cord 102 may optionally be sized for a sliding fit of a
temple tip from a pair of eyeglasses.
[0032] Some details of the example pouch 122 from FIG. 3 are shown
in a cross-sectional view C-C in FIG. 13. The example pouch 122 may
include a flap 124 extending from a back panel 142. An interior
void space 138 formed between the flap 124, the back panel 142, and
the front panel 126 provides space for an object to be placed in
the pouch. The front panel 126 may be joined to the back panel 142
by means for joining 136. The front panel 126 may optionally be
formed with a transparent window 131 so that an object placed
inside the pouch 122 is visible through the front panel. The flap
124 may be detachably coupled to the front panel 126 by a flap
fastener 127 attached to the flap and positioned to engage a
complementary part of the flap fastener 128 attached to the front
panel 126.
[0033] The back panel 142 of the pouch 122 may optionally include a
sleeve 140 through which the cord 102 passes. The pouch may slide
freely along the cord. Alternatively, the cord may be joined to the
pouch by means for joining 136, holding the pouch in a fixed
position on the cord.
[0034] Although the examples of embodiments have been described
with reference to suspending an object around a person's neck, it
will be appreciated that all of the embodiments herein are
effective for suspending an object from a person's shoulder or from
an inanimate object.
[0035] Unless expressly stated otherwise herein, ordinary terms
have their corresponding ordinary meanings within the respective
contexts of their presentations, and ordinary terms of art have
their corresponding regular meanings.
* * * * *