초록 ▼

This invention presents strap apparatus that is attached to a carrying bag such as a briefcase, computer bag, or golf club bag. In the first embodiment, the strap apparatus is constructed from a single strap that is configured as a closed loop. The closed loop is constrained to the sides of the bag

This invention presents strap apparatus that is attached to a carrying bag such as a briefcase, computer bag, or golf club bag. In the first embodiment, the strap apparatus is constructed from a single strap that is configured as a closed loop. The closed loop is constrained to the sides of the bag near the top by two constraining means; the closed loop being divided into two strap segments of approximately equal lengths. Depending on how the straps are shouldered, the bag may be worn in a single-strap configuration, a backpack configuration, or a dual-strap configuration. Transitioning from one configuration to the other is easily done by the wearer without having to remove the apparatus from the bag. Furthermore when in the single-strap configuration, the straps stay together and appear to the casual observer as a single-strap as found on an ordinary bag. The appearance of the bag when in the single-strap configuration will not reveal its multimode capability.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A multimode shoulder strap apparatus for a carrying bag, comprising: (a) a carrying bag comprising a right side, a left side, a front, a back, a bottom, and a top, (a) a first strap segment and a second strap segment, the two strap segments having approximately equal lengths; (b) said f

I claim: 1. A multimode shoulder strap apparatus for a carrying bag, comprising: (a) a carrying bag comprising a right side, a left side, a front, a back, a bottom, and a top, (a) a first strap segment and a second strap segment, the two strap segments having approximately equal lengths; (b) said first strap segment and said second strap segment are comprised of a single strap, said strap having an approximate shape of a continuous closed loop; (c) said strap is made out of a flat strap material; (d) first constraining means for constraining one end of said first strap segment to said carrying bag disposed approximately at said right side and a second constraining means for constraining the other end of said first strap segment to said carrying bag disposed approximately at said left side; said first constraining means also constraining one end of said second strap segment to said carrying bag disposed approximately at said right side and said second constraining means also constraining the other end of said second strap segment to said carrying bag disposed approximately at said left side; (e) said carrying bag having a single-strap configuration activated by a wearer by enacting the following sequentially: grabbing the two strap segments with one hand so said carrying bag hangs in a predominately upright position wherein said bottom of said carrying bag is parallel to the floor so that the two strap segments above said carrying bag appear similar to a single strap; putting the two strap segments over one shoulder so said carrying bag is worn as a single-strap shoulder carrying bag; and (f) said carrying bag having a backpack configuration activated by enacting the following sequentially: grabbing the two strap segments with the right hand so said carrying bag hangs in a predominately upright position; grabbing said first strap segment with left hand with palms down; grabbing said second strap segment with right hand with palms down; lifting said carrying bag by the two strap segments so said carrying bag hangs in a predominately upright position with said bottom of said carrying bag approximately parallel to the floor; putting the strap segments one on each shoulder so said carrying bag is on the users back and said carrying bag is worn as a backpack. 2. A multimode shoulder strap apparatus of claim 1 wherein (a) said first constraining means is comprised of a right slide member, a right swivel snap hook, and a right attachment member for constraining said strap approximately at said right side, and said left side constraining means is comprised of a left slide member, a left swivel snap hook, and a left attachment member for constraining said strap approximately at said left side; (b) said right attachment member is attached to said right side near said top, said right attachment member having a right attachment ring so said strap passes through said right attachment ring slidably, and said left attachment component is attached to said left side near said top, said left attachment member having a left attachment ring so said strap passes through said left attachment ring slidably; (c) said right swivel snap hook having a right loop at one end and a right snap hook at the other end, said right loop passing through said strap slidably on said right side, said right snap hook releasably attached to said right attachment ring, and said left swivel snap hook having a left loop at one end and a left snap hook at the other end, said left loop passing through said strap slidably on said left side, said left snap hook releasably attached to said left attachment ring; (d) said right slide member is comprised of a right slide component and a right bracket component, said right slide component constraining said first strap segment and said second strap segment to stay contiguous on said right side, and said right bracket component constraining said right slide member to stay attached to said right swivel snap hook; (e) and said left slide member is comprised of a left slide component and an a left bracket component on said left side, said left slide component constraining said first strap segment and said second strap segment to stay contiguous on said left side, and said left bracket component constraining said left slide member to stay attached to said left swivel snap hook, whereby when said carrying bag is in the single-strap configuration the two strap segments appear to a casual observer as a single strap. 3. A multimode shoulder strap apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carrying bag having a dual-strap configuration activated by the wearer by enacting the following in a sequential manner: (a) wearer puts on said carrying bag in said single-strap configuration; (b) wearer moves said first strap segment from the shoulder it is hanging on to the opposite shoulder so said carrying bag hangs with said first strap segment over one shoulder and said second strap segment over said other shoulder. 4. A multimode shoulder strap apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first strap segment and said second strap segment are slidably and releasably constrained by a rotator member, (a) said rotator member is comprised of a bottom member, a top member and a swivel component, (b) said bottom member slidably constraining said second strap segment, and said top member slidably constraining said first strap segment, and (c) said swivel component constraining said bottom member and said top member to be contiguous while allowing bottom member to rotate relative to said top member whereby said rotator member constrains said first strap segment and said second strap segment to stay contiguous so the two strap segments appear as a single strap when said carrying bag is in the single-strap configuration, and whereby said rotator member moves slidingly and rotatingly along the two strap segments when wearer puts the carrying bag in the backpack configuration so backpack so said rotator member is positioned where the two straps cross in the back. 5. A multimode shoulder strap apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first strap segment has a strap adjustment means for adjusting the strap segment lengths; whereby adjusting the lengths of the strap segments by the wearer is done when the carrying bag is in the single-strap configuration by enacting the following sequentially: (a) changing length of said strap segments by adjusting said strap adjustment means to make said first strap segment to a different length, (b) grabbing the two strap segments with one hand so said carrying bag hangs in a substantially upright position with said bottom of said carrying bag parallel to the floor so the two strap segments above said carrying bag act like a single strap, (c) shaking said carrying bag until the straps segments adjusts so said first strap segment and said second strap segment having approximately the same lengths and said carrying bag hangs neatly appearing as a carrying bag with a single strap.