Shoulder strap for an infant car seat carrier

Abstract

The invention is directed to a shoulder strap for an infant car seat carrier. The strap provides a large shoulder pad near the upper end, to cushion the weight as it rests on the user's shoulder. The upper and lower ends of the strap terminate in large oval snap hooks. Each snap hook provides a screw nut on each side. One of the screw nuts can only be completely removed with a tool, and therefore operates as a hinge, such that the user may easily attach and remove the strap with one hand. A buckle near the center of the strap allows the user to adjust the length of the strap. In a second embodiment, the upper and lower ends of the strap terminate in inverted V-shaped straps, each of which provides two spring snap hooks which may be secured to the car seat frame on the side surface of the car seat carrier.

Claims

1. A shoulder strap for an infant car seat carrier, comprised of a strap which provides a large shoulder pad near the upper end, to cushion the weight as the strap rests on the user's shoulder.

2. The shoulder strap of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower ends of the strap terminate in large oval snap hooks, each of which providing a screw nut on each side.

3. The shoulder strap of claim 1, wherein one of the screw nuts on each snap hook can only be completely removed with a tool, and therefore operates as a hinge, such that the user may easily attach and remove the strap with one hand.

4. The shoulder strap of claim 1, wherein a buckle is provided near the center of the strap which allows the user to adjust the length of the strap.

5. The shoulder strap of claim 1, wherein ideally, the user wears the strap over one shoulder, and the snap hooks are inserted into circular apertures which are drilled into each end of the handle, near the insertion points.

6. The shoulder strap of claim 1, wherein alternatively, the snap hooks may be affixed at other points on the perimeter of the car seat carrier.

7. The shoulder strap of claim 1, wherein the user adjusts the length of the strap by sliding the buckle to the desired position, then bends over and positions the strap such that the strap lays diagonally across the user's back, with the shoulder pad resting on one of the user's shoulders.

8. The shoulder strap of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower ends of the strap terminate in spring snap hooks, which may be secured to a car seat frame which is provided.

9. The shoulder strap of claim 7, wherein the user may then affix the snap hooks to the car seat carrier, and stand up with the car seat carrier resting against the front of the user's torso.

10. The shoulder strap of claim 7, wherein the strap and the shoulder pad are preferably manufactured from a flexible, durable material with substantial tensile strength, such as nylon webbing.

11. The shoulder strap of claim 7, wherein the snap hooks, the screw nuts, and the buckle are preferably manufactured from rigid, durable materials with substantial structural strength, such as stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and brass.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate two embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a diagonal front view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the strap 10, the snap hooks 11, the screw nuts 12, the shoulder pad 13, and the buckle 14.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a front view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the strap 10, the snap hooks 11, and the shoulder pad 13.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment secured to a car seat carrier, displaying the strap 10, the snap hook 11, the car seat carrier 15, and the handle 16.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment secured to a car seat carrier with the snap hooks inserted through apertures in the handle, displaying the strap 10, the snap hook 11, the car seat carrier 15, the handle 16, and the apertures 17.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the second exemplary embodiment, displaying the strap 10, the car seat frame 10A, the V-shaped straps 10B, the spring snap hooks 10C, and the elastic bands 10D.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a front view of the second exemplary embodiment, displaying the strap 10, the car seat frame 10A, the V-shaped strap 10B, and the spring snap hooks 10C.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the second exemplary embodiment secured to a car seat carrier, displaying the strap 10, the spring snap hooks 10C, the car seat carrier 15, and the car seat frame 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a shoulder strap 10 for an infant car seat carrier 15.

[0024] The first exemplary embodiment is comprised of a strap 10 which provides a large shoulder pad 13 near the upper end, to cushion the weight as the strap 10 rests on the user's shoulder. The upper and lower ends of the strap 10 terminate in large oval snap hooks 11. Each snap hook 11 provides a screw nut 12 on each side. One of the screw nuts 12 can only be completely removed with a tool, and therefore operates as a hinge, such that the user may easily attach and remove the strap 10 with one hand. A buckle 13 near the center of the strap 10 allows the user to adjust the length of the strap 10.

[0025] Ideally, the user wears the strap 10 over one shoulder, and the snap hooks 11 are inserted into circular apertures 17 which are drilled into each end of the handle 16, near the insertion points. Alternatively, the snap hooks 11 may be affixed at other points on the perimeter of the car seat carrier 15.

[0026] The second exemplary embodiment is similar in structure and function to the first exemplary embodiment, with the following modifications. Each snap hook 11 is replaced in the design by a car seat frame 10A, through which an inverted V-shaped strap 10B has been threaded. The two lower ends of the V-shaped strap 10B each terminate in spring snap hooks 10C, which may be secured to the car seat frame 18 provided on the side surfaces of the car seat carrier 15. The two lower ends of the V-shaped strap 10B may be separated by an elastic band 10D.

[0027] To use the first or the second exemplary embodiment, the user adjusts the length of the strap 10 by sliding the buckle 14 to the desired position, then bends over and positions the strap 10 such that the strap 10 lays diagonally across the user's back, with the shoulder pad 13 resting on one of the user's shoulders. The user then affixes the oval snap hooks 11 or the spring snap hooks 10C to the car seat carrier 15, and stands up with the car seat carrier 15 resting against the front of the user's torso.

[0028] The strap 10, the V-shaped straps 10B, and the shoulder pad 13 are preferably manufactured from a flexible, durable material with substantial tensile strength, such as nylon webbing. The car seat frame 10A, the spring snap hooks 10C, the snap hooks 11, the screw nuts 12, and the buckle 14 are preferably manufactured from rigid, durable materials with substantial structural strength, such as stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and brass. The elastic band 10D is preferably manufactured from a flexible, durable material with an elastic quality, such as elasticized cotton. Components and methods listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and methods could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

[0029] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.