Apparel – Guard or protector – Shoulder protector
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-04
2001-10-02
Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Guard or protector
Shoulder protector
C002S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295655
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to shoulder protection items. More specifically, the invention concerns shoulder protection guards worn by wearers of heavy bags having one or more shoulder straps.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Bags having dual straps for wearing over corresponding shoulders are widely used for carrying miscellaneous items. The most common type of a dual shoulder strap bag is referred to as a backpack. Backpacks are used most commonly by students for carrying books and other school supplies. Also, hikers, soldiers, and campers use backpacks to carry miscellaneous gear. Other types of dual shoulder strap bags are used to carry many items from golf clubs to blowing machines. These bags are convenient and comfortable for carrying relatively light loads for a short period of time. However, problems can arise when heavy loads are carried repeatedly or for longer periods of time.
The most typical problem is that the shoulder straps can dig into the shoulders of the wearer causing great discomfort. As is generally known, the area of the upper shoulder is not well protected by any layer of muscle or any significant amount of skin padding.
Also, the straps of heavy load bags upon the shoulders exerts the greatest amount of pressure unevenly upon the outer portion of the shoulders. Consistent prolonged exposure to this type of uneven pressure can lead to reoccurring upper and lower back pain.
Several prior art have been made attempting to ease the above problems. Many padded shoulder straps have been designed. Also, shoulder straps having extra padding along the portion of the strap which makes contact with a wearer's shoulder have been designed. Also, many types of pads have been designed for attachment to the portion of the shoulder strap which makes contact with the wearer's shoulder surface. One such pad is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,318 issued to Weinreb. Weinreb's invention is a single piece of elongated shoulder pad made of a rubbery material having fastening means for attachment to the shoulder strap of a bag. Padded straps and pads such as the one taught by Weinreb are good at preventing straps from digging into the shoulders for bags having relatively medium to slightly heavy loads. However, these padded straps and pads do not protect the shoulders well against extra heavy loads. The force of extra heavy loads compresses and bends paddings which makes these padding ineffective in preventing the uneven exertion of force upon the outer portion of the shoulder. As a result, the padded straps and pads are ineffective in preventing the problem of reoccurring upper and lower back pain caused by prolonged and continual exposure to heavy loads upon the shoulders.
Thus, it is a primary objective of the present invention to provide a shoulder protection guard which prevents the shoulder straps from digging into the surface of the shoulder. It is another objective of the present invention to provide a shoulder protection guard which prevents the shoulder straps from applying uneven pressure upon the outer portions of the corresponding shoulders. It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a shoulder protection guard which is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a protective guard worn to protect the surface of the shoulders from pain and discomfort caused by pressure from shoulder straps and to prevent the occurrence of back pain that can be caused by prolonged and consistent application of heavy pressure unevenly upon the outer portions of the shoulders. The protective guard has a shell upon which is applied all of the pressure from a shoulder strap. The shell is shaped and configured for attaching to the upper and rear surfaces of the shoulders and the lower rear neck surface of the wearer. The shell is made of a durable rigid material. The shoulder guard is first worn by the wearer, and a bag is next worn over the shell with the shoulder straps being placed over the shell. The shell has an inner surface making contact with the surfaces of the wearer and an outer surface making contact with the bag. A pad means is attached to the inner surface at predetermined regions corresponding to the upper and rear surfaces of the shoulders of the wearer. Also, located on the outer surface of the shell is a means to prevent slippage of the shoulder straps when placed on the shell. There are several means to prevent slippage of the shoulder straps on the shell. One means is a channel defined by a pair of ridges formed on the outer surface of the shell at predetermined regions corresponding to the position of the shoulder straps when the bag is worn over the shell (hereinafter referred to as “strap-shell interface region”). The corresponding shoulder straps are maintained within the corresponding channels. In the alternative, the means can be a patch of rubbery material attached at each of the strap-shell interface regions. In another alternative, the means can be a VELCRO strap having a VELCRO hook and loop fastening means inserted through a pair of slits extending through the shell at each of the strap-shell interface regions. Another alternative means to prevent slippage of the shoulder straps can be a snap means located at each of the strap-shell interface regions.
In the preferred embodiment, the shell is a unitary piece of material. In a second embodiment, the shell is comprised of two pieces of material, a left shield and a right shell each of a durable rigid material. Each of the left and right shells are shaped and configured for attaching to the upper and rear surfaces of the corresponding shoulders and the corresponding half of the rear lower neck surface of the wearer. Each of the left and right shells has a neck portion corresponding to the lower rear neck surface of the wearer and a shoulder portion corresponding to the corresponding shoulder surfaces of the wearer. An elongated plate of a durable rigid material slideably connects the neck portions of the left and right shells. The second embodiment further includes a means to slide one or both of the shells along the elongated plate to alter the distance between the left and right shells.
REFERENCES:
patent: 980421 (1911-01-01), Jordan
patent: 2487423 (1949-11-01), Cast
patent: 2763004 (1956-09-01), Sanders
patent: 3153791 (1964-10-01), White
patent: 4168544 (1979-09-01), Kallman
patent: 4642815 (1987-02-01), Allen
patent: 4811876 (1989-03-01), Riggi
patent: 4825476 (1989-05-01), Andrews
patent: 4887318 (1989-12-01), Weinreb
patent: 5226192 (1993-07-01), Jones et al.
patent: 5477558 (1995-12-01), Volker et al.
patent: 5546601 (1996-08-01), Abeyta
patent: 5701611 (1997-12-01), Rector et al.
patent: 6067665 (2000-05-01), DePalma et al.
Hale Gloria M.
Noh, esq. Jerry H.
Patel Tejash
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