Adjustable Shoulder Strap Cushioning System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Backpack shoulder straps often cause discomfort due to uneven load distribution and can impede circulation, leading to less efficient walking or hiking postures and hand swelling, as they fail to provide adequate cushioning and adjustability.

Innovation Solution

A removable and adjustable cushioning system for shoulder straps, featuring a contoured base pad with cushioning material and flexible retention clips, allowing for customizable positioning and securement of the strap to distribute load more evenly and reduce pressure points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a person pulls the shoulder straps away from the chest to relieve shoulder discomfort, then shoulder pressure is reduced, but walking or hiking efficiency and stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshoulder discomfortVSAvoidwalking or hiking efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating a removable cushioning pad with contoured shape and cushioning material into the shoulder strap system. This pad is positioned in advance to distribute load pressure across the shoulder before discomfort occurs, preventing the need to pull straps away from the chest and maintain proper hiking posture and efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Ease of operation

If the shoulder strap is moved to an adjusted position on the shoulder, then comfort is improved temporarily, but the strap shifts back to the original uncomfortable position during walking or hiking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshoulder comfortVSAvoidstrap position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics through a removable cushioning pad coupled with adjustable fasteners that allow the shoulder strap position to be dynamically adjusted and securely fixed. The fastening system includes multiple fastener receivers and adjustable straps that prevent the pad from shifting during movement, maintaining both comfort and position stability throughout walking or hiking activities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a backpack shoulder strap is used without adequate cushioning, then the structure remains simple, but circulation is impeded and hand swelling occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrap structure simplicityVSAvoidcirculation impairment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the shoulder strap system into separate components: the base strap and a removable cushioning pad with fastening mechanisms. This modular approach adds cushioning functionality to prevent circulation impairment while keeping the base strap structure simple and the added components easily attachable or detachable based on need

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8708207B2Adjustable cushioning system for shoulder strap

Publication Date: 2014.04.29 WILDERNESS COMFORT PTL

AI summary

Embodiments are disclosed that relate to a removable and adjustable cushioning system for a shoulder strap. In one example, a base pad comprising cushioning material is contoured to conform to a person's shoulder. A plurality of fastener receivers are coupled to the base pad, and a fastener is removably coupled to at least one of the fastener receivers. The fastener is configured to engage the shoulder strap to removably secure the base pad to the shoulder strap.