Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Convertible or combined
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-07
2003-05-27
Garbe, Stephen P. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Convertible or combined
C224S258000, C224S260000, C224S640000, C224S647000, C224S649000, C224S655000, C224S656000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06568575
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to wearable storage assistance. More specifically, the present invention pertains to pocket harnesses which can be used to carry numerous items on one's person. The present invention is particularly, though not exclusively, useful as a means by which a user may comfortably and easily carry a variety of items on his or her person while engaging in physical activity.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As a result of today's desire to be physically fit, many people are pursuing outdoor activities which involve strenuous physical activity. Many of these outdoor hobbies, such as cycling or hiking, require a person to carry a multitude of necessary items. It is the common practice to wear a back-pack to store the necessary items. Wearing a back-pack, however, limits the accessibility of the items which are being carried within it. Most times a person must cease the activity in which he or she is engaged, remove the back-pack to open it and retrieve the item. For example, to retrieve an item from a back-pack the average cyclist must usually stop the bike and dismount in order to take off the back-pack so that he or she can access its storage compartments. Consequently, the pocketed harness was invented. Such a device, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,558, which issued to Montalbano for an invention entitled “Harness-Type Securing System For Personal Equipment,” consists of an X-back harness, two shoulder straps, a waist strap, and a plurality of pouches which can be attached to the waist strap. The problem with this invention, however, is that the waist strap is worn at the same level as the user's belt causing the pouches to hang down past the user's waist. These pouches then tend to brush against the user's upper leg area and are at best an annoyance. Moreover, if such a harness was worn while engaged in the activities described above, it is likely that the pouches would interfere with the user's movement. Additionally, accessing the storage pouches while engaging in such an activity would be extremely difficult.
Another such device, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,560, which issued to Herman for an invention entitled “Utility Bag System”, consists of two storage bags connected by a neck strap and a waist strap. The device is worn in such a way that the storage bags are suspended adjacent the user's chest. Again, this invention is problematic and unlikely to be worn while engaging in any sort of physical activity because the storage bags are bulky and likely to hinder movement of the user's arms. Moreover, the pockets would be difficult to access.
Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a harness with storage pouches which can be worn by the user while engaged in physical activity that requires a person to carry numerous items. It is another object of the present invention to provide a harness with storage pouches that is comfortable and does not interfere with the user's motion while engaged in such activities. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a harness with storage pouches in which the storage pouches may be interchanged with alternative storage pouches depending upon what the user is carrying on his or her person. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a harness with storage pockets that are readily adapted to any sort of activity in which it is necessary to have items close at hand. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a harness with storage pockets that are placed in such a manner to make them readily accessible while engaged in the above mentioned physical activity. It is another object of the present invention to provide a harness that is easily adjustable to fit nearly any body size. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a harness with storage compartments that are easy to use, relatively easy to manufacture and is comparatively cost effective.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a harness with detachable and interchangeable pouches is provided which includes a harness assembly worn by the user. The harness assembly consists of two or more torso straps extending downwardly and outwardly from a central coupler, two shoulder straps, and two or more belly straps for securing the harness.
The harness with the detachable and interchangeable pouches also include two detachable pouches which are incorporated into the strapping system. Each detachable pouch has an upper male retainer clip and a lower male retainer clip. The upper male retainer clips mate with the female retainer clips which are securely fastened to the shoulder straps. The lower male retainer clips mate with female retainer clips which are securely fastened to the lower back straps. Attached to each detachable pouch is a belly strap with two opposing ends for securing the harness in place around the wearer's upper body. Each belly strap has a semi-permanent fastener at one end and a male or female retainer clip at the other end. Each belly strap is affixed to a detachable pouch with a fastener which is inserted through a hole in the belly strap and through a hole located in the detachable pouch. These belly straps then extend from the detachable pouches and meet in the middle of the wearer's torso allowing the male and female retainer clips to mate with each other and secure the harness in place about the wearer.
Each detachable pouch has one or more pockets which are generally formed with a front face, a rear face, a bottom and two side walls. The top of the pockets can be closed with a variety of means, but regardless of the means chosen the detachable pouch is designed in such a way that when it is fastened to the harness system the pockets hang at an angle causing the top of the pockets to slant downward toward the middle of the wearer's torso. This slanted configuration of the pocket openings greatly improves accessibility of what ever is contained within the detachable pouches. Additionally the pocket angles may be adjusted to suit the wearers by lengthening or shortening equidistantly both shoulder straps and torso straps simultaneously.
Additionally, the basic design for the detachable pouches stems from either a right-side generic template or a left-side generic template. Any detachable pouch based on the right-side generic is interchangeable with any other detachable pouch designed from that template. Similarly, any detachable pouch designed from the left-side generic template is interchangeable with any other detachable pouch based on that template. Depending on the activity the wearer is engaged in, he or she can configure the harness with detachable and interchangeable pouches to best suit the needs of the activity.
The harness with detachable and interchangeable pouches is configured in such a manner it can be easily adjusted to nearly any body size. Further, when worn, the detachable pouches are located to the front of the wearer's torso between the chest and the waist and will not hinder the movement of the user's arm and legs.
The harness with detachable and interchangeable pouches of the present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages of the previous pocketed harnesses. More specifically, the present invention provides a harness which is comfortable and easily adaptable to numerous applications. The present invention can be worn when engaged in nearly any outdoor physical activity which requires numerous items to be readily located at hand, such as outdoor hobbies and jobs. The incorporation of detachable and interchangeable pouches of the present invention allows the present invention to be worn in a multitude of configurations. Additionally, when the present invention is worn it maintains the storage pouches at a level on the users body which does not interfere with the user's upper body motion. Finally, the present invention provides storage pouches which are easily accessible and do not require the weare
Garbe Stephen P.
Logan II Charles C.
LandOfFree
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