TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a lightweight article carrier. In particular it relates to a strapped carrier that allows easy loading and carrying of articles such as books while keeping the articles in plain view. It further relates to a lightweight strapped book carrier that does not allow for the concealment from view of any carried article.

BACKGROUND ART Briefcases, cloth bags and backpacks have long been used by people to carry articles. Such cases, bags and backpacks have been used by students and other people to carry books and similarly shaped articles (e. g. notebooks, writing pads, laptop computers). It is well known that most students prefer to carry books for more than one class so that they do not have to make trips to their lockers between every class.

Most briefcases, cloth bags and backpacks are configured to conceal and carry articles within at least one compartment or enclosure. Unfortunately, because of safety concerns, many facilities, including but not limited to schools,

no longer allow people to carry brief cases, cloth bags or backpacks, because prohibited items, such as weapons and unauthorized drugs, can be concealed within. Because of the potential dangers associated with carrying and effectively concealing contraband items, many school districts now forbid students and others from carrying briefcases, cloth bags or backpacks on school property. In some cases school districts permit"see-through"backpacks, or book bags, constructed of mesh or other see-through materials so the items carried inside are visible. Unfortunately, even with see through bags, contraband items can be easily hidden within. As can be appreciated there is a need, therefore, for some way to carry a number of books or similarly shaped articles but prevent the concealment of contraband.

Furthermore, because most briefcases, cloth bags, and backpacks are configured to hold and carry a large number of various articles. Typically, a user tends to fill his or her case, bag or pack with items which are seldom needed or used. Such unnecessary packing leads to over-stuffing and additional weight to be carried by a person. As can be appreciated there is a need, therefore, for a carrier that eliminates or at least significantly reduces the potential for carrying seldom used items and thereby allowing a person to carry only that what is needed or required.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The purpose of the invention is to provide an apparatus for carrying multiple articles, like books and at the same time keeping the articles in plain view. In its simples form, the article carrier comprises a backing pad with at

least one carrying handle or strap or a combination thereof attached to the backing pad; at least one horizontal loop at the upper portion of the backing pad; and at least one vertical strap extending from the bottom of the backing pad to the at least one horizontal loop. As used herein, the horizontal and vertical references apply when the backing pad is in a vertical position.

Regardless of the orientation of the backing pad, the at least one horizontal loop and at least one vertical strap substantially prevent movement of articles loaded in the carrier.

In one embodiment, one horizontal strap extends from one side of the upper portion of the backing pad, and a second horizontal strap extends from the other side of the upper portion of the backing pad, such that the two horizontal straps will correspond or overlap to form a horizontal loop at the upper portion of the backing pad. Two vertical straps extend from the left and right portions of the bottom of the backing pad to the horizontal loop forming the retaining system. At least one handle or carriage strap attached to the backing pad is configured to allow a user to carry the above described carrier in his or her hands or over at least one shoulder. In an alternative embodiment, additional horizontal straps attached in a similar manner to the backing pad form additional horizontal loops to further restrain the carried articles. In yet another embodiment, two carriage straps are attached to the backing pad to allow a user to sling the carrier over both shoulders with the backing pad against the user's back. In another embodiment, at least one waist belt attached to the backing pad used in conjunction with carriage straps allows a user to further secure the carrier to the user's waist or torso.

The horizontal straps, vertical straps, handles, carriage straps and waist belts can be made from any variety of material known in the art. Typical materials include canvas, nylon, resilient materials, such as elastic banding or bungee chord, other suitably strong and durable materials and or a combination thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the straps, handles, and belts described above are padded.

The straps, handles and waist belts can be permanently or releasably secured to the backing pad and or each other by a variety of means well known in the art. Permanent fixation of the above described straps, handles and belts can be achieved by sewing, heat bonding, riveting, glueing or a combination thereof. The most preferred method of permanent fixation is sewing. Releasable fixation of the above described straps, handles and belts can be achieved by buttons, buckles, snaps, twist grommets, lacing, eye hooks and loops, brummel hooks, zippers, magnets, hook and loop type material (like Velcro) or a combination thereof. The most preferable method of releasable fixation is hook and loop type material and buckles. This is because both are the most easily adjustable and readjustable fasteners available to vary the length of any give strap, handle, and or belt. In yet another embodiment, the straps, handles and or belts can be made from or incorporate a resilient material.

In the most preferred embodiment, the horizontal loop is formed by two horizontal straps that extend from opposite sides of the upper portion of the backing pad and attach to each other with hook and loop material. In a preferred embodiment, the horizontal loop is made from a single piece of strap material that is attached to the backing pad, so that the end regions of the strap

material extend out from both sides of the backing pad. In this embodiment the strap material is sewn to the backing pad. Two vertical straps extend from the bottom of the backing pad and attach to the horizontal straps by a conventional loop buckle to form a retaining system. The backing pad can be made from flexible material similar to the material described above for the straps, handles and belts. In an alternative embodiment, flexible plastics, composite materials like fiberglass, and/or lightweight metals, such as aluminum or a combination thereof are used to make a rigid or semi-rigid backing pad and give support. In an alternative embodiment, the rigid or semi-rigid backing pad is sheathed in material similar to that used for the straps, handles and/or belts. In an alternative embodiment, the rigid or semi-rigid backing pad is padded.

Furthermore, if the backing pad is rigid, or semi-rigid, flexible material can extend beyond the rigid portion to provide enhanced securing of the articles.

In another embodiment, the backing pad may contain at least one open or salable pocket to accommodate smaller articles than the articles intended to be carried in the retaining system. In yet another embodiment, the open or salable pocket may be transparent or made of mesh to allow the contents of the pocket to be in plain view. In an alternative embodiment at least one article loop configured to accept pens, pencils and other cylindrical articles is fixed to the article carrier. In an alternative embodiment at least one pendant snap configured to accept key rings and other similar rings is fixed to the article carrier. As can be appreciated, the above mentioned pockets, article loops and pendant snaps can be fixed to any of the straps and/or the backing pad described above.

To load and carry the intended articles, such as books, the user places the backing pad on a horizontal surface and positions the books onto the backing pad. Then the user wraps and secures the horizontal straps around the books, and brings the vertical straps around what will be the bottom of the books when the backing pad is raised to the vertical position, and secures the vertical straps to the horizontal loop formed by the horizontal straps.

Alternatively, the vertical and horizontal straps can be propositioned and secured to each other before inserting the articles to be carried.

While the invention is described as a carrier for articles such as books and similarly shaped objects, it is clearly possible to carry any number of hard or soft objects or any shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1A is a frontal view of an article carrier.

Fig. 1 B is a rear view of an article carrier.

Fig. 2A is a frontal view of an article carrier showing securement of horizontal straps.

Fig. 2B is a frontal view of an article carrier showing securement of a vertical strap.

Fig. 3A is a frontal view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3B is a frontal view of an alternative embodiment of the invention showing securement of a plurality of straps.

Fig. 3C is a detailed view of a releasable fixation of a horizontal and vertical strap depicted in Fig. 3B.

Fig. 4A depicts an embodiment of the invention loaded with articles and carried by hand.

Fig. 4B depicts an embodiment of the invention loaded with articles and worn by a user like a conventional backpack.

Fig. 5A depicts an embodiment of the invention loaded with articles and slung over a user's shoulder.

Fig. 5B depicts an embodiment of the invention loaded with articles and slung over a user's shoulder and further secured to the user's waist by a waist belt.

Fig. 6A is a frontal view of an article carrier with a top strap.

Fig. 6B depicts an article carrier with a top strap loaded with articles.

Fig. 6C is a detailed view of a slideable top strap connector.

MODE (S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale where some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specified structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Figures 1 A through 6B depict a lightweight strapped article carrier 10 to be carried by adjustable carriage straps 100, hand strap 115, shoulder sling

105, waist belt 110 or a combination thereof. As shown in Figures 1 A and 1 B the article carrier 10 has a backing pad 20 to which carriage straps 100 are attached. The carriage straps 100 are well known in the art, and places the back side 22 of the backing pad 20 to contact a user's torso. The backing pad 20 may be either flexible, semi-rigid or rigid, and made from a variety of well known durable materials such as canvas or nylon. A first horizontal strap 31 and second horizontal strap 32 extend from near the top region 23 of the backing pad 20. Note that the orientations of top and bottom, and vertical and horizontal, are referenced to the article carrier when worn by a standing person.

The horizontal straps 31 and 32 can extend from anywhere on the top half of the backing pad 20 to ensure stability of the articles to be carried. The horizontal straps 31 and 32 can be made from a single piece of strap material and attached across the backing pad 20 (See Figure 1 A). Each horizontal strap 31 and 32 has a free end that wraps around the articles, and releasably connect to each other by a primary releasable connector 50 and further adjusted to form a primary adjustable horizontal loop 33 (See Figure 2A). In another embodiment, the length of the horizontal straps 31 and 32 are adjustable by utilizing a sliding buckle arrangement found on typical adjustable luggage straps and/or fabricating the straps with elastic material (not shown). The free ends may be connected by conventional means such as hooks, buttons, snaps, buckles, or hook and loop material. Hook and loop material is the most preferred primary releasable connector 50 because it allows quick and easy attachment and adjustment of the primary adjustable horizontal loop 33 to accommodate a number of books and the size of load.

In another embodiment, as depicted in Figures 3A and 3B, second and third adjustable horizontal loops 36 and 39 are attached to the backing pad 20 at positions below the primary adjustable horizontal loop 33 to further stabilize and secure the article (s) to be carried. Like the primary adjustable horizontal loop 33, the second and third horizontal loops 36 and 39 can be formed by corresponding horizontal straps 34,35,37 and 38 releasably connected to each other by a corresponding supplemental releasable connector 52 and 54. The second and third horizontal loops 36 and 39 are adjustable and fixed to the first and second sides 25 and 26 of the backing pad 20. As can be appreciated, the article carrier 10 may have more adjustable horizontal loops fixed to the backing pad 20.

As shown in Figures 1A and 1B, a first vertical bottom strap 41 and second vertical bottom strap 42 extend from the bottom region 24 of the backing pad 20 and releasably attach to at least the primary adjustable horizontal loop 33 by releasable connectors 60 and 62. The first and second vertical bottom straps 41 and 42 are adjustable to accommodate and support the article (s) to be carried. As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, a third vertical bottom strap 43, similar to the first and second vertical bottom straps 41 and 42, extends from the bottom region 24 of the backing pad 20 to provide additional support when releasably attached to at least the primary adjustable horizontal loop 33 by a releasable connector 64.

As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the article carrier 10 holds articles in the following way. The article carrier 10 is lain upon a table or other flat surface, with the backing pad 20 flat with the front side 21 facing upwards. The

article (s) to be carried are placed on the backing pad 20, and the first horizontal strap 31 extends from the first side 25 of the backing pad 20 and wraps around the articles. The second horizontal strap 32 is wrapped around the articles from the second side 26 of the backing pad 20, adjusted and connected to the first horizontal strap 31. The first vertical bottom strap 41 and second vertical bottom strap 42 are then brought around the articles, adjusted and removably attached to one of the horizontal straps 31 or 32. The two vertical bottom straps 41 and 42 may be releasably attached by corresponding releasable connectors 60 and 62. As can be appreciated the releasable connectors 60 and 62 can be any conventional releasable connector, including buttons, buckles, snaps, twist grommets, lacing, eye hooks and loops, brummel hooks, zippers, magnets, hook and loop material or a combination thereof.

Figures 3A and 3B show an embodiment of the article carrier 10 which includes a backing pad 20 from which extends two horizontal straps 31 and 32, two supplemental horizontal loops 36 and 39, and three vertical bottom straps 41,42 and 43. Fixtures 68 located at the intersections of the vertical bottom straps 41,42 and 43 with the supplemental horizontal loops 36 and 39 reduce independent movement of the straps and increase the ability of the article carrier 10 to securely hold the article (s). Generally, the fixtures 68 can be passages formed in a strap through which other straps pass (See Figure 3C) or can be other releasable connectors as described herein. As depicted in Figures 3B and 3C, the fixtures 68 are loops of material fixed and positioned on the supplemental horizontal loops 36 and 39 through which pass vertical bottom straps 41,42 and 43.

Figures 4A and 4B show the article carrier 10 holding books. As can been seen in Figures 4A and 4B, the first horizontal strap 31 and second horizontal strap 32 are wrapped around the books and releasably connected by the primary releasable connector 50. The first vertical bottom strap 41 and second vertical bottom strap 42 are wrapped from under the books, and releasably connected to the releasable connectors 60 and 62. The books are securely attached within the article carrier 10, and ready to be carried by a user.

Figure 4A depicts the user holding the article carrier 10 by a hand strap 115.

Figure 4B illustrates how the article carrier 10 would be positioned on the back region of a user by carriage straps 100 attached to the top and bottom regions 23 and 24 of the backing pad 20.

Figures 5A and 5B show books being securely held by the article carrier 10 slung across the user's body by a shoulder sling 105 connected at diagonally opposite corner regions of said backing pad 20. As can be appreciated, the shoulder sling 105 can be adjusted to position the article carrier 10 on the user's back, side or front. Figure 5B shows the use of a waist belt 110 attached to the first and second sides 25 and 26 of the backing pad 20 in conjunction with the shoulder sling 105 to enhance the positioning of the article carrier 10 to the user's body. Although not shown, the waist belt 110 alone can be used to carry the article carrier 10.

Figures 6A and 6B show the article carrier 10 with a top strap 44 and top releasable connector 69 to further secure the article (s) during carriage. The top strap 44 extends from the upper region 23 of the backing pad 20 over the top of the article (s) and releasably connects to the primary adjustable horizontal

loop 33. The top releasable connector 69 includes first and second reconnectable pieces 65 and 66. The first reconnectable piece 65 is fixed to the top strap 44. In one embodiment, the first reconnectable piece 65 is slidably fixed to the top strap 44 (not shown). In another embodiment, the first reconnectable piece 65 is fixed at one end of the top strap 44 (See Figure 6C).

The second reconnectable piece 66 can be slidably fixed to the primary adjustable horizontal loop 33 by a sliding strap 67 (See Figure 6C). In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the top strap 44 furcates near the first releasable connector piece 65 into at least two vertical topping straps 45 and 46 which are fixed to the top region 23 of the backing pad 20. As can be appreciated, the releasable connector 69 could be any or a combination of the conventional connectors described herein.

As further depicted in Figures 1A and 1B, the article carrier 10 can be configured to hold and display in plain view accessories or other articles too small to be carried in the retaining system formed by the plurality of straps and loops described herein. A open or salable transparent pocket 70 fixed to the article carrier 10 allows the user to carry accessories or other articles in plain view. A pendant snap 72 is fixed to the article carrier 10 to hold keys or other similar small items adapted to be suspended by a pendant snap 72 or hook. An article loop 74 can be fixed to the article carrier 10 to hold pens, pencils and other cylindrical articles. The article carrier 10, loaded or unloaded, can be suspended by a hanging loop 76 fixed to the top region 23 of the backing pad 20.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the

optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operations, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings, and described in the specification, are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents are considered to fall within the scope of the invention.