Background of the Invention Many athletic activities require the use of bulky equipment which must be carried from place to place.

Often, when a person puts on the equipment, personal belongings must be removed and conveniently stored.

For example, in-line skating is an extremely popular activity. Generally, the skates are carried to a location where the skating is to take place. Before the skates can be worn, the person's shoes must, of course, be removed. Since facilities to store the person's shoes and other personal belongings are seldom available or convenient, the skater usually carries his shoes and other personal belongings with him as he skates.

Because skating requires a full range of motion, it is desirable to minimize restrictions to the skater's

mobility, including the bulkiness of any carrying or storage device. The same problems are encountered with other activities, such as skiing, roller skating, ice skating, or any other activity which involves the carrying of bulky equipment.

Therefore, there is a need for a convenient carrying and storage device which can be used to transport bulky equipment, and which can be used to conveniently store and carry personal belongings while the person engages in an athletic activity.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for transporting bulky equipment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for conveniently storing and carrying personal belongings.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device which is sufficiently small in size and bulk to reduce restrictions in the user's mobility.

In accordance with the present invention, all of these objects, as well as other not herein specifically identified, are achieved generally by the present multifunctional carrying device in which a single device can be used to carry bulky equipment and then easily converted into a backpack to store and carry personal belongings.

More specifically, the present invention includes

a strap with two ends which can be secured into loops.

A bag, having an upper and lower portion, is attached to the middle section of the strap near its bottom portion. The bag is provided with a receiving element near its upper portion, which receiving element is capable of receiving the two ends of the strap, allowing the strap to serve as shoulder straps for the bag. Further, a securing element is provided so that the bag can be compressed and secured along the middle section of the strap when the bag is not needed.

Brief Description of the Figures Further objects of the invention, taken together with additional features contributing thereto and advantages occurring therefrom, will be apparent from the following description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is planar view of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in which the present invention has been converted to a backpack; Figure 3 is sectional view of the middle section of the strap and bag as the bag is being rolled-up and compressed; Figure 4 is a perspective section view of the middle section of the strap wherein the bag has been compressed and is ready for securing;

Figure 5 is a planar view of an embodiment of the present invention in which the bag is compressed and secured; Figure 6 is a planar view of another embodiment of the present invention in which the bag is compressed and secured; Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the present invention being used to carry in-line skates; Figure 8 shows an embodiment of the present invention being used to carry ropes; Figure 9 shows an embodiment of the present invention being used to carry snow skis; and Figure 10 shows an embodiment of the present invention being carried by the user.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the present multi- functional carrying device, generally designated as 10.

The carrying device includes a strap 12 and a bag 14.

The strap 12 has two ends 16,18, and a middle section 20. Each of the two ends 16,18 is provided with a set of engaging Velcro fasteners 22 and 24, and 26 and 28.

Accordingly, the ends 16,18 of the strap 12 can be folded over to secure loops at the ends 16,18 of the strap 12. Although Velcro, fasteners are shown, other types of fastening devices and methods can be used to form the loops, including but not limited to, buckles or snaps, without departing from the scope of the

present invention.

The bag 14 has an upper portion 30 and a lower portion 32. The lower portion 30 of the bag 14 is attached to the middle section 20 of the strap 12. The upper portion 30 is open for receiving items into the bag 14. A drawstring 34 may be provided at the upper portion 30 of the bag 14 to secure the contents of the bag 14. The upper portion 30 of the bag 14 is further provided with a structure to receive the ends 16,18 of the strap 12. In Figure 1, the structure is shown as a pair of buckles 36,38 secured to the upper portion 30 of the bag 14 by straps 40 and 42.

As shown in Figure 2, the ends 16,18 of the strap 12 can be inserted through the buckles 36,38 and then secured thereto by engaging the Velcro fasteners 22 and 24, and 26 and 28. In this manner, the strap 12 serves as a pair of shoulder straps, and the device 10 can be used as a backpack. The length of the shoulder straps may be adjusted to best fit the user by varying the amount of the strap 12 which is folded over after the ends 16,18 of the strap 12 are inserted through the buckles 36,38.

Referring back to Figure 1, a first and second set of engaging zipper teeth 44 and 46 may be provided to secure the bag 14 along the middle section 20 of the strap 12 when the bag 14 is not needed. The first set of zipper teeth 44 is attached along the middle section 20 of the strap 12, with the teeth oriented in the downward direction. The second set of teeth 46 is attached near the, lower portion 32 of the bag 14. The second set of teeth 46 is generally parallel to and

spaced apart from the first set of teeth 44. The teeth of the second set of teeth 46 are oriented in the upward direction. Accordingly, the bag 14 may be rolled-up as shown in Figure 3, until the second set of teeth 46 is wrapped around the middle section 20 of the strap 12, as shown in Figure 4. The first and second set of teeth 44,46 are thereby ready for engagement.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the present carrying device 10 with the bag 14 fully compressed and secured along the middle section 20 of the strap 12. It is, of course, not necessary that zippers be used to secure the compressed bag 14 along the middle section 20 of the strap 12. Other methods and configurations may also serve equally well. Figure 6, for instance, depicts tying straps 48,50 which may be secured to the middle section 20 of the strap 12, shown as points 52 and 54, to tie the rolled-up bag 14 in place.

When the carrying device 10 is in the configuration shown in Figure 5 or 6, it may be used to carry bulky items. For instance, Figure 7 shows the present carrying device 10 being used to carry in-line skates 56,58. The ends 16,18 of the strap 12 are inserted through the in-line skates 56,58 and secured into a loop. The strap 12 may then be slung over a shoulder to conveniently carry the items. Similarly, the present carrying device can be use to carry other items, such as ropes 60,62 as shown in Figure 8, or skis 64 as shown in Figure 9. When the carrying device 10 is used to carry large or heavy items, the rolled-up bag 14, which falls on the shoulders of the user, provides a compressible support to enhance comfort.

Additionally, when the carrying device 10 is not needed

at all, the ends 16,18 of the strap may be looped together and secured as shown in Figure 10 to conveniently carry the device 10 without inhibiting mobility.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.