Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Flaccid attaching means looped around neck or crossing shoulder
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-11
2001-02-06
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Flaccid attaching means looped around neck or crossing shoulder
C224S258000, C224S264000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182875
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to devices for carrying objects, and more particularly adjustable, lightweight devices for carrying equipment for recreational activities such as skateboarding and in-line skating.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Carriers for large bulky objects such as skis dominate the field of carriers for recreational equipment. However, some of the carriers are also adaptable to carry skateboards and in-line skates.
One carrier for recreational equipment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,302 (issued to Mazzoni). The ski carrying strap by Mazzoni. comprises a strap adapted to be loosely tied at either end to a pair of skis. Spaced strips of mutually engageable fastening material such as Velcro™ prevent the untying of the strap ends.
Another carrier is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,016, issued to O'Rafferty, et al. This carrier is designed to carry a stringed instrument and flexible harness comprises a fixed retaining member and adjustable straps which cross the top and body of the instrument. The harness is connected to an adjustable neck strap for carrying.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,291, issued to Smith, discloses a ski carrier comprising a strap with opposite end portions having overlapping ends formed into eyelets to form ski carrying loops. The strap is divided into two segments by a snapping fastener in the middle. Once the skis have been inserted into the carrier, the skis are carried by grasping the strap with a hand.
Another carrier is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,545, issued to Benson. This carrier is an adjustable length carrying strap which can be adapted to a wide variety of objects to assist the user in carrying the objects. Free-sliding connectors on either or both of the ends of the strap allows the carrier to be tightened around the object to be carried. Once the carrier is attached to the object the strap is placed over the shoulder for carrying.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,842, issued to Taras, discloses a carrier for carrying shoes and large boots, particularly in-line skates. The carrier comprises multiple adjustable straps to wrap around the recreational equipment to be carried and to allow the equipment to be carried by placing a strap around the waist or over the shoulder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,363, issued to Graves discloses a carrier for firearms comprising an elongated adjustable strap, which allows the firearm to be carried around the waist or over the shoulder. A pair of shorter spaced-apart straps extends from the elongated carrying strap. These shorter straps adjust in length and encircle the firearm to secure it to the elongated strap.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,242 issued to Yost teaches a system for carrying skis and ski poles either by hand or over the shoulder. The carrier comprises an elongated strap assembly extended between fore and aft ski loops. An adjustment buckle allows the elongated strap to be shortened for carrying skis by hand or lengthened for carrying the skis over the shoulder.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,213 issue to Simpson discloses a carrier for in-line skates. The carrier comprises a flexible cord which connects to each of a pair of skates with disks located at each end of the cord. A handle assembly is coupled to the cord intermediate to the ends for carrying the skates to which the carrier is attached. The attached handle and disks would make the carrier difficult to stow in a small pocket or container.
Thus, a variety of carriers for recreational equipment are known. Several of the carriers are designed to be adjustable to carry various objects. Most of the carriers are designed to be portable, but they are too bulky to be easily stowed and carried when not in use.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop a carrier that offers at once the features of a carrier that is adjustable to accommodate recreational equipment of varying size and shape and to allow the equipment to be carried while at the same time allowing freedom of movement for the person carrying the equipment. It is desirable for such a carrier to be of such a design as to allow a person to carry and stow the carrier easily while the person is using the recreational equipment sought to be carried. Finally, the carrier should be capable of easy and inexpensive manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the disadvantages inherent in the known devices for the carrying of recreational equipment, the present invention provides a simple and inexpensive carrier for recreational equipment such as skateboards and in-line skates. The carrier is lightweight and flexible enough so that the user can easily stow the carrier in a pocket or pack when the user is skating or walking. At the same time the fact that the design is simple and inexpensive, makes it potentially available to the growing numbers of recreational skaters.
The present invention attains this simplicity and ease of manufacture by using a cord such as a nylon or polypropylene rope to form the elongated cord of the invention. The ends of the cord are joined together using a simple connector. The cord is formed into a large loop somewhat rectangular in shape with rounded comers and having a width greater than height Four clamps such as are used in the medical field to adjust the flow of fluids through flexible tubing are installed at each of the four comers of the cord when formed into the semi-rectangular shape. As the cord is inserted through the clamps, four smaller loops are formed at each the four corners. When a person desires to carry a skateboard or other recreational equipment, he or she forms the smaller loops into the proper sizes to fit the loops over the wheels or trucks or other attach points on the recreational equipment. The loop is pulled tight around the attach point and the clamp locked in place on the cord. The whole apparatus with the skateboard or other recreational equipment is lifted up and the longer segments of the cord between the loops are pulled up and over the shoulders like a backpack. When a person is ready to use the skateboard or other recreational equipment, he or she loosens the four clamps, extends the smaller loops holding the equipment and is ready for recreation. The invention can be folded or wound up and stuffed in a pocket or pack.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3326432 (1967-06-01), Banks et al.
patent: 3960302 (1976-06-01), Mazzoni, Jr.
patent: 4251016 (1981-02-01), O'Rafferty et al.
patent: 4337883 (1982-07-01), Pate
patent: 4790460 (1988-12-01), Harper
patent: 4856689 (1989-08-01), Shore
patent: 5092506 (1992-03-01), Bolduc
patent: 5427291 (1995-06-01), Smith
patent: 5603545 (1997-02-01), Benson et al.
patent: 5642842 (1997-07-01), Taras
patent: 5718363 (1998-02-01), Graves
patent: 5762242 (1998-06-01), Yost
patent: 5853213 (1998-12-01), Simpson
patent: 18254 (1908-08-01), None
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