Compound curvature waist strap

Abstract

A waist strap with layers of variable material to provide cushioning in layers on the side of the waist strap contacting the wearer and structural strength in layers opposite the side contacting the wearer; the waist strap having a first strap portion and a second strap portion, and each strap portion having a lengthwise curvature to curve about a waist of a wearer and a crosswise curvature along the height of the waist strap to create a compound curvature contour around a wearer, and each strap portion having an upper padded region, a central padded region and a lower padded region with the central padded region generally recessed relative to the upper and lower padded regions to further define a crosswise curvature of the waist strap by the recessed central padded region and resulting upper and lower padded region protrusions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Waist straps are wearable devices to assist in carrying loads and attempt to reduce strain and tension on the body of a wearer. Comfort is commonly found in cushioning, padding, or other pliable material interfaces. Materials and configurations to provide the strength required to support heavier loads sacrifice comfort to a wearer; similarly, waist straps and wearable devices seeking to improve comfort sacrifice the ability to carry heavier loads due to the materials and configurations employed for comfort purposes. Materials and novel configurations of waist straps that do not sacrifice one tenet in favor of the other are demanded by customers.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0002]A contoured waist strap (also called a waist belt or hip belt within the art, but hereafter referred to as “waist strap” or “waist straps” as the context requires) capable of comfortably supporting heavy loads carried by a wearer are described. Embodiments of the present invention...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]Other devices in the art use softer and more pliable materials to deliver even pressure and improve comfort, but this in turn limits the load that may be carried as the waist strap will collapse and cease to function and provide support under heavier loads. Still other devices in the art stitch reliefs into the waist strap to cinch the material comprising a waist strap and create a contour, or cut material out of the waist strap to create a recessed contour. Such devices reduce the overall strength of the waist strap by increasing the stress within the material through the reduction of the area that will be bearing a load. While stitching creates a contour, cinching the material further reduces any padding available at the stitch point and thus limits comfort due to reduced padding at the point intended for skeletal contact at the contour.

[0012]Embodiments of the invention have a series of regions oriented along the length of a strap portion. In one embodiment, an upper padded region and lower padded region extend towards the body of a wearer such that they protrude relative to a central padded region. A crosswise curvature is formed by these protrusions relative to the central padded region to cup the contours of a wearer; in one embodiment the contour forms around the iliac crest of the wearer. Embodiments of the invention can create further curvature through thicknesses of the upper and lower protrusions that are greater than the thickness of the central padded region. Curvature by thickness is created in other embodiments through variable density or pliability of material use, such that the central padded region has a lower density or higher pliability than the upper and lower protrusions and when worn by a wearer the central padded region compresses further than the upper and lower protrusions creating a crosswise curvature when worn.

Problems solved by technology

This misalignment creates uneven pressure on various points of the body and increases discomfort, which in turn limits the weight load willing to be carried, or the duration of use, by the wearer.

Discomfort from flat waist straps manifests as abrasion points, chaffed skin, muscle pain, and back strain.

Other devices in the art use softer and more pliable materials to deliver even pressure and improve comfort, but this in turn limits the load that may be carried as the waist strap will collapse and cease to function and provide support under heavier loads.

Such devices reduce the overall strength of the waist strap by increasing the stress within the material through the reduction of the area that will be bearing a load.

While stitching creates a contour, cinching the material further reduces any padding available at the stitch point and thus limits comfort due to reduced padding at the point intended for skeletal contact at the contour.

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