POCKET DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO A STRAP OF A CARRYING ARTICLE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon French Patent Application No. FR 2410206, filed Sep. 24, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority of which is claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 119.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a pocket device for attachment to a shoulder strap or a belt of a carrying article, such as a backpack. The invention also relates to a strap device comprising such a pocket device. The invention further relates to a carrying article comprising such a strap device or pocket device.

2. Background Information

Various pocket solutions that can be removably or permanently attached to belts, particularly backpack belts, are known. These pockets make it possible to house various objects, such as a mobile phone, for example, during physical activity such as hiking. Storing rigid elements in such pockets appears to be uncomfortable for the user, as the rigid element tends to stiffen the belt. Thus, the belt, when fastened, does not properly conform to the contours of the user's body and exerts contact pressure locally on the user's body causing discomfort. Pockets positioned on carrying shoulder straps suffer from the same drawbacks.

SUMMARY

The invention provides a pocket device that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks and improves on known prior art devices. In particular, the invention makes it possible to produce a pocket device that is comfortable for the user when used to house a rigid element such as a mobile phone. A carrying article according to the invention comprises:

• • a strap extending along a longitudinal direction,
  • a pocket attached to the strap, the pocket extending longitudinally, along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the strap when the pocket is attached to the strap, the pocket having:
    • a length demarcated by a first transverse edge and a second transverse edge,
    • a width demarcated by a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, and
    • a thickness demarcated by an inner panel facing a user and an outer panel opposite the inner panel, and
  • at least one attachment connecting the pocket to the strap.

The pocket is attached to the strap by a first attachment, in an attachment zone extending from the first transverse edge of the pocket, over a length between 25% and 75% of the length of the pocket.

The pocket is not attached to the strap or is attached to the strap by a second adjustable attachment, in a free zone extending from the second transverse edge of the pocket, over a length of at least 25% of the length of the pocket.

In non-limiting embodiments of the invention, the carrying article incorporates one or more of the following characteristics: a first attachment that is a fixed attachment, which makes the pocket more stable during movement; a first attachment designed to prevent separation of the pocket from the strap to make the pocket strong and secure and prevent detachment loss during use; and a first attachment comprising one or more seams to affix the pocket directly to the strap, which provides a strong and easy-to-make connection.

The first attachment comprises:

• • a first component near the first longitudinal edge of the pocket, and
  • a second component near the second transverse edge of the pocket, the first and second components of the first attachment being spaced apart by a distance greater than 60% of the width of the pocket, with no other attachment component being arranged between these two components of the first attachment. This arrangement provides a comfortable strap for the user as it allows for air circulation.

The second adjustable attachment comprises at least one component attached to the pocket near the second transverse edge, whose length for connection between the pocket and the strap can be modified.

The second adjustable attachment may comprise one or more elastic components.

Each elastic component of the second adjustable attachment comprises one or more strips whose width is less than twenty millimeters.

The inner panel and/or outer panel of the pocket is made of woven material and/or knitted material. The material may comprise a plurality of portions of woven material and/or knitted material assembled by sewing and/or heat-sealing and/or gluing.

The inner panel and/or outer panel of the pocket may be made of stretchable material.

The inner panel and/or outer panel of the pocket may be made of a rigid material, or partially of a rigid material.

In one non-limiting embodiment, the carrying article is a backpack comprising a back pocket, and the strap is an abdominal belt connected to the back pocket. In this embodiment, the first transverse edge of the pocket is the front edge of the pocket, located closest to the abdomen.

In another non-limiting embodiment, the carrying article is a backpack comprising a back pocket, and the strap is a carrying shoulder strap connected to the back pocket. In this embodiment, the first transverse edge of the pocket is the upper edge of the pocket, located closest to the shoulders.

The strap comprises an opening, a portion of which is positioned opposite the inner panel of the pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the detailed description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings illustrating, by way of non-limiting embodiments, how the invention can be carried out, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a carrying article according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial front view of an abdominal strap of an embodiment of a carrying article according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial rear view of the abdominal strap of the embodiment of the carrying article shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic and partial side view of the pocket device shown in FIG. 2 when the pocket does not contain a rigid object.

FIG. 5 is a schematic and partial side view similar to the view shown in FIG. 4, when the pocket device contains a rigid object.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along a plane A-A of FIG. 2 or FIG. 4 of the strap.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a component of the adjustable attachment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of a carrying article 300 is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 in the form of a backpack.

However, the carrying article may be of any other type. Notably, it may be a harness, a shoulder belt, or a simple carrying belt.

In the case in which the carrying article is a backpack, it comprises:

• • a main pocket 5,
  • two carrying shoulder straps 4b, connected to the main pocket 5 and/or
  • an abdominal belt 4c, connected to the main pocket 5.

The following description applies to a pocket 1 coupled to the shoulder strap 4b and/or to the abdominal belt 4c. While FIGS. 2-6 illustrate exemplary embodiments in which the features of pocket 1 in relation to the abdominal strap 4c, as well as the manner in which pocket 1 and abdominal strap 4c are couple together are shown, it is understood that the features of pocket 1 coupled to the shoulder strap 4b, as well as the manner in which pocket 1 and shoulder strap 4c are coupled together, while not shown in detail in the drawings, are achieved in a similar manner. As shown in FIG. 1, the abdominal belt 4c comprises two components:

• • a carrying portion 41c, attached to the main pocket 5 and intended to cover a portion of the right or left hip of the user, and
  • a fastening strap 42c, attached to the carrying portion 41s and extending forward to cover a portion of the abdomen.

The fastening straps 42c of the abdominal belt components are connected at their free ends via a buckle to adjust the fastening of the abdominal belt.

According to the invention, the carrying article 300 comprises at least one strap extending along a longitudinal direction.

The strap of carrying article 300 can correspond to:

• • a carrying shoulder strap 4b, and/or
  • an abdominal belt 4c.

The longitudinal direction of the strap corresponds to the mean longitudinal axis of the strap. When the backpack is carried, the longitudinal axis of the shoulder strap 4b is substantially vertical and follows a curved path to conform to the contours of the user's body. When the backpack is carried, the longitudinal axis for the abdominal belt 4c is substantially horizontal and follows a curved path to conform to the contours of the user's body.

According to the invention, the carrying article 300 comprises a pocket 1 attached to the strap. Pocket 1 extends along a longitudinal direction D1 corresponding to the mean longitudinal axis of the pocket 1. When pocket 1 is attached to the strap, the longitudinal direction D1 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction D4 of the strap, e.g., at an angle between 0° and 25°, when the pocket 1 is attached to the strap. When the backpack is worn, the pocket 1 is intended to be located in a curved zone of the strap.

The pocket 1 is connected to the strap by a single attachment or a plurality of attachments. The attachment(s) connect a portion of the pocket to a portion of the strap. The attachments can be fixed or adjustable. Fixed attachments prevent relative movement between the pocket and the strap, whereas adjustable attachments allow for changes in length of connecting elements. The pocket 1 may be attached to the strap solely by a first attachment 2. Alternatively, the pocket 1 may be attached to the strap by a first fixed attachment 2 and a second adjustable attachment 3. The pocket 1 could also be attached to the strap solely by a second adjustable attachment 3.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the carrying article can be, e.g., a backpack 300 comprising a pocket 1 on the abdominal belt 4c and a pocket 1 on a shoulder strap 4b. In this example, a pocket 1 is attached to a carrying portion of the shoulder strap 4b in a location on the front of shoulder strap 4b and a pocket 1 is attached to the carrying portion 41c of the abdominal belt 4c in a location towards the front portion of carrying portion 41c so that the pocket is more accessible. However, the backpack 300 could comprise only one of the two pockets. The backpack could also comprise other pockets on a strap, in particular another pocket on another shoulder strap or a second pocket on the abdominal belt.

The construction of the pocket 1 will now be described in more detail.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, the pocket 1 has:

• • a length L1 demarcated by a first transverse edge 11 of the pocket 1 and a second transverse edge 12 of the pocket 1, the length L1 being measured along the direction D1, and
  • a width W1 demarcated by a first longitudinal edge 13 of the pocket 1 and a second longitudinal edge 14 of the pocket 1, the width W1 being measured along the direction perpendicular to the direction D1, and
  • a thickness E1 demarcated by
    • (i) an inner panel 15 facing a user of the carrying article that is intended to press against the strap, and
    • (ii) an outer panel 16 opposite the inner panel 15.

According to the invention, the pocket is attached to the strap in an attachment zone ZF extending from the first transverse edge 11 of the pocket, over a length L23 between 25% and 75% of the length L1 of the pocket.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, the pocket is attached to the strap by a first, fixed attachment 2. This ensures a strong and secure connection of the pocket to the strap and reduces the flapping movement of the pocket relative to the strap.

In this example, the first attachment 2 comprises two components:

• • a first component 23, and
  • a second component 24.

The first component 23 of the first attachment 2 is located near the first longitudinal edge 13 of the pocket 1, for example, at a location less than fifteen millimeters therefrom.

The second component 24 of the first attachment 2 is located near the second transverse edge 14 of the pocket 1, for example, at a location less than fifteen millimeters therefrom.

This arrangement allows for better integration of the pocket with the strap and avoids creating an enclosure for debris. An edge-to-edge or slightly offset connection provides continuity between the pocket and the strap. This limits the risk of the pocket being snagged by an external element or the hand of the user.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the first 23 and second 24 components of the first attachment 2 are spaced apart by a distance W2, with no other attachment component located between these two components 23, 24 of the first attachment. The distance W2 is greater than 60% of the width W1 of the pocket. Thus, the first component 23 of the first attachment 2 and the second component 24 of the first attachment 2 provide a first housing 6 between the pocket 1 and the strap.

When the pocket is located on the abdominal belt 4c, a first housing can be used to house or fold over an excess length of the fastening strap 42c. In addition, the first housing creates a space between the pocket and the strap allowing air circulation to insulate and dry the inner panel 15 of the pocket. The carrying portion 41c of the abdominal belt may comprise an opening 7, a portion of which is positioned opposite the inner panel 15 of the pocket, as shown in FIG. 3. This opening 7 makes it possible to reduce the portions of the pocket in contact with the user's body and better adapt the pocket to the contours of the user's body in order to provide greater comfort and reduce the contact zones, which constitute a source of perspiration. By being coupled to the first housing 6, the opening 7 also allows air circulation locally to ventilate the hips of the user. Furthermore, the spacing W2 between the components 23, 24 of the first attachment 2 makes it possible to soften the central portion of the carrying portion 41c by avoiding hard spots resulting from the components 23, 24 of the first attachment 2. This allows for better adaptation to the user's body, and therefore greater comfort, while ensuring stable support for the pocket.

For example, in a non-limiting embodiment, the first component 23 of the first attachment 2 comprises a seam and/or an adhesive and/or a heat-seal permanently attached to the pocket 1 to the strap.

In this embodiment the second component 24 of the first attachment 2 comprises a seam and/or an adhesive and/or a heat-seal permanently attaching pocket 1 to the strap.

According to another non-limiting embodiment, the first attachment 2 is designed to prevent removal of the pocket from the strap. In other words, the pocket can be separated from the strap only via deterioration of the first attachment 2. Being irremovable reduces the risk of the pocket being separated and lost during use, as it remains permanently attached to the strap.

According to another non-limiting embodiment, in which the pocket is irremovable, the first attachment 2 is made by one or several seams intended to affix the pocket 1 to the strap. Seams constitute a simple and economical means for creating a fixed, irremovable attachment. These seams ensure a direct connection between a portion of the pocket and a portion of the strap, without the use of an intermediate component between the two elements.

Furthermore, outside the attachment zone ZF, the pocket 1 is not attached to the strap or is attached to the strap by a second adjustable attachment 3, in the area of a free zone ZL extending from the second transverse edge 12 of the pocket, over a length LL (complementary to the length L23 relative to the total length L1 of the pocket) of at least 25% of the length L1 of the pocket.

The absence of attachment or the use of a second adjustable attachment 3 in this free zone ZL of the pocket enables relative movement between the pocket 1 and the strap in this zone ZL. This degree of freedom is important for providing the comfort desired with this construction. Indeed, the insertion of a rigid object into the pocket, such as a mobile phone, stiffens the pocket. Due to this degree of freedom on one side of the pocket, the inner panel 15 of the pocket 1 is capable of moving away from the strap on this side, without causing the strap to deform. Thus, the strap can remain in contact with the body of the user and conform to its contours, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Comfort is then improved.

As discussed above, the pocket 1 may comprise a second adjustable attachment 3 in its free zone ZL, for example, in the area of the second transverse edge 12.

In this example, the second adjustable attachment 3 comprises two components:

• • a first component 31 connecting the second transverse edge 12 of the pocket 1 to the strap, near the first longitudinal edge 13, and
  • a second component 32 connecting the second transverse edge 12 of the pocket 1 to the strap, near the second longitudinal edge 14.

These components 31, 32 of the second adjustable attachment may be elastic or comprised of elastic strips attached at a first of their ends to the pocket 1, and at the second of their ends to the strap. Alternatively, the components 31, 32 of the second adjustable attachment may comprise linkages that are rigid, but whose lengths are adjustable so that the linkages can be adjusted by the user in a long configuration as shown in FIG. 4 and a short configuration as shown in FIG. 3. An example of such a component 31 of the second adjustable attachment may comprise a linkage 311 cooperating with a buckle 312, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

As mentioned above, the components of the second adjustable attachment 3 improve comfort for the user when a rigid object is housed in the pocket 1. Indeed, in the configuration shown in FIG. 5, the components of the second adjustable attachment can deform elastically or be adjusted so that the strap can bend and remain pressed flat against the user without causing an overpressure zone on the user.

Alternatively, the second adjustable attachment 3 could comprise only one component or more than two components, near the second transverse edge 12 of the pocket. Similarly, the component or the two or more components may be elastic. They may comprise one or more rigid linkages whose length(s) is/are adjustable.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, the components 31, 32 of the second adjustable attachment 3 each comprise one or more strips or linkages whose width is less than twenty millimeters. This allows for more freedom of movement or at least less rigidity of the pocket in its free zone ZL. This also makes it possible to provide larger openings for ventilation zones behind the pocket.

The advantage of having a second adjustable attachment 3, compared to not having one in the free zone ZL of the pocket 1, is that the second adjustable attachment 3 presses the pocket 1 flat against the strap in the area of the free zone ZL, when there are no rigid objects in the pocket, as seen in FIG. 4. Without this second adjustable attachment 3, the pocket portion 1 of the free zone ZL would be floating and would not be properly retained. This could be obtrusive and cause discomfort to the user.

When the strap is an abdominal belt 4c, the first transverse edge 11 of the pocket is preferably the front edge of the pocket, located closest to the abdomen. This allows for greater access to the pocket and prevents the pocket from snagging when a rigid object is housed in the pocket.

When the strap is a shoulder strap 4b, the first transverse edge 11 of the pocket is preferably the upper edge of the pocket, located closest to the shoulders. This allows for greater access to the pocket and prevents the pocket from snagging when a rigid object is housed in the pocket.

Preferably, the pocket 1 is formed by a parallelepipedic or substantially parallelepipedic envelope comprising the inner panel 15 and the outer panel 16. However, the pocket may optionally have any configuration necessary to contain an object.

The pocket 1 may be provided with an opening 18, which is closed by a zipper 19.

Preferably, the pocket 1 is made of woven and/or knitted material, in particular by assembly of a plurality of panels of woven and/or knitted material. This assembly can be achieved by sewing and/or heat-sealing and/or gluing. According to one non-limiting embodiment, the pocket is made of a stretchable material so that it can deform to hold a larger volume of objects. Such material is, for example, a material comprising elastane.

Alternatively, the pocket 1 can be formed of a rigid material or be partially formed of a rigid material. This provides greater strength and allows use of a waterproof material to protect the objects stored in the pocket from external elements such as water, dust, etc.

The width W1 of the pocket can be equal to the width of the strap. In this case, the strap and the pocket can be attached edge to edge. This allows for better integration and aesthetics. Alternatively, the width of the strap can be less or greater than the width of the pocket.

The invention is not limited to the few embodiments described above by way of examples but aims to protect any equivalent configuration. It is thus possible to combine these embodiments.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments previously described but extends to all embodiments covered by the appended claims.