BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[001] Our Invention is within the field of spring biasing retraction systems utilizing a shoulder pad having a soft pliant material that is attached to or added on to an existing embodiment. We claim priority from Provisional Patent Application #63/475,161 filed on October 20, 2022. This is a conversion of that Provisional Patent Application.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[002] There are times when transporting items that there is a need for a third hand to carry the items. Since a third hand is often not an option, having the ability to transport at least one of the items by use of a shoulder strap can be advantageous. The item being transported does not need a hand to hold it, or to be balanced, but instead, it can be transported on the shoulder, or as in the case of a cross body strap, the item is transported hands, free utilizing the shoulders and neck of the user. An example of a practical application of this is if a person who has a large handbag needs to transport two large shopping bags, in addition to their large handbag. The fact is that most handbags come with a shoulder strap, so at least this item may be transported without the use of hands. That enables the user to transport all three large items at the same time. Our invention allows for the hands-free transport of a larger item that would otherwise need a hand to carry, or balance the item when transported, thus freeing up their hands for other uses. [003] Sometimes we have to transport items that are not easy to grip, and they are top heavy if we try to carry them or balance them, there is a possibility they could fall and be damaged. An example is when a laptop computer is transported, there is no grip provided for that transport. The laptop can be pinched between fingers and carried with the fingers holding on to the laptop at the upper point of the laptop as the laptop is held vertically. It would be quite easy for the laptop top to slip out of the user’s fingers and crash, potentially causing extensive damage to the laptop computer. Our invention created a grip for the transport of like items where the grip allows a secure hold on the laptop, when the user declines to use the hands-free option.

[004] The user in the above situation may decide that the laptop computer would be easier to transport if the laptop were to be securely attached to their shoulder or shoulder and neck. In that situation, they could extend the shoulder pad from the retraction system and place the shoulder pad on to their shoulder or shoulder and neck, thus freeing up their hands for other uses.

[005] Transporting a large bulky item like a laptop computer can be tiring, and the user may just feel they do not wish to carry the laptop computer in their hands and feel more comfortable by transporting the laptop on their shoulder or shoulder and neck. Our invention offers this option to the user.

[006] It is a common practice to place a laptop into a carry bag, or backpack for transporting. There are situations in which this makes sense, but there are situations when this becomes an unnecessary inconvenience. Some practical situations where using a bag or a backpack is cumbersome, slow due to the packing of the laptop into the bag carefully, and bulky creating a storage necessity for the cumbersome bag or backpack upon arrival at the destination. Examples of those situations include the following:

1 . Going from an office to a conference room during the workday, or to another place within that same office setup.

2. Going from the dorm in college to a class where there is no real storage facility for the bag or backpack.

3. Taking public transportation, like a bus, train, or plane, where you can sit and start the laptop without having to find room for the bulky bag or backpack. In addition, it is difficult to remove the backpack from such transport devices in tight quarters.

4. Going from one room in the house to another.

These are just some examples of when such a device could be beneficial.

[007] Another feature of our invention is the fact the strap does not hang down and interfere with life when the strap is not in use. While there are bags having such a feature, this has never been available on an item that does not have a place for such a feature to be built within it. Laptop computers do not shoulder straps and shoulder pads attached to them, and adding our invention to the device allows for the hands-free transport and offers to have the strap not hanging when not in use, simply by adding our invention to the laptop.

[008] The invention, when added to a laptop, or other typing device, will create a typing angle for the user. That typing angle corresponds to the typing angle that is on most desktop keyboards, with that angle being 5-14 degrees. The typing angle is preferential for typing so the wrists of the user are not cast in a downward position for a prolonged period.

[009] The retraction system can be added on to any device, or any item in need of transport. The system can be applied using industrial grade double sided adhesives. The use of a foam double sided adhesive is preferential in adhering the retractor system on to a device, as the foam is used to take up differences in the surface and allow a smooth attachment despite the surface not being perfect for such adhesion without the foam. The use of such an adhesion process allows the application of the retraction system onto any near flat surface of an item in need of transport where a hands-free option is possibly needed at times. In addition, the retraction system offers a grip and go feature where the device can be securely gripped and transported without the use of the hands-free option. That gripping is located on the top section of the laptop computer by the hinge, and therefore it is the only grip for a laptop computer that is balanced for the laptop to be carried without it becoming top heavy or pinched between fingers.

[010] The retraction system can also be available as an accessory for other applications, like a tablet, a music case, a stenographer’s unit, repair devices or carrying units, tool cases, or any other item that is usually transported, at least for some distance, by hand. There may be a unit having apertures for screws to affix the unit on to the unit after the unit was made. Then the consumer may decide if they want to improve the unit they have by adding a grip and go feature with possible hands-free transport when wanted. No other retraction system offers this possibility.

[011} Another feature of our device is that the retraction system when affixed to a laptop, or other typing device, offers multiple uses for the system. When used for a laptop, or a device for typing, the retractor system creates a typing angle that people prefer. It also gives the user the option of rapid, secure transport of the unit in a handheld manner that we call grip and go. The retraction system also offers the user hands free transport when desired, and the feature of the shoulder pad rewinding to a flat state when the pad is not in use. When the retraction system is used on a laptop, it lifts the laptop off the surface, and that lift improves the ventilation for the laptop itself. You will see in the prior art study that no other retraction system offers multiple useful functions for the device.

[012] Our retraction system has a flange on the side opposite the side affixed to the laptop. That flange provides a secure grip feature for the fingers of the user to secure the unit firmly by placing their thumb on one side of the unit, and any combination of the four fingers on the opposite side of the unit into the flange for a secure grip point.

[013] Never before has a retraction system been used as a gripping device for secure transport. Never before has a retraction system had gripping features for non-retraction transpoitThe combination is new art, an improvement in the art, and certainly not obvious.

[014] Never before has a means of developing a typing angle been developed using a retraction system. In addition, that also created improved ventilation and heat dissipation for a laptop computer to which it is fixed. This is new art, an improvement in the art, and not obvious.

[015] We have not seen a retraction system that is attachable onto a flat or , near flat surface by the end user. The user may buy the item and later decide to add a retraction system to allow hands free transport when the user feels it is advantageous. The ability to add a retraction system on to a finished unit, whereas that attachment is on to the body of the device to be transported, and the retractor system and the body of the device become one after the attachment. That is a significant improvement as by being one unit after the attachment, the body of the transportable item gains many transport and use advantages as outlined. This is new art, it is an improvement in the art, and it is not obvious.

[016] We found our invention to be new art after having a comprehensive search of the prior art. Herein is the results of that search

[017] Patent US 2769475A - Douglas Fischer filed for this patent in 1954, on two retractors, attached to an exterior strap, using a wheel to retract a strap or cord where the retractors are located at opposite ends of a case and each retractor is pulling on a pliable material that enters the embodiment that houses a spring biasing mechanism to retract on to the pliable material pulling the pliable material (shoulder pad) flat against the embodiment. We offer an improvement in this art.

[018] Patent US3198300A - George Tuttle received this patent in 1965. It was for two spools located at opposite ends of a case lid, where each spool had a housing and a spring system to retract or extend a strap or cord used to carry the weight of the case on their shoulder. We recognize Tuttle’s art, and we offer an improvement in that art.

[019] Patent EP0385955A - In 1990 Giovanni Gazzola received this patent for a strap for a handbag, where the strap is partially exposed to make a carry handle, and a release will then allow a stored portion of the carry handle stowed under the top of the bag to extend further out of the bag, changing the carry handle to a shoulder strap. Gazzola is the first to offer a multi-purpose retraction system. Our art is also a multi - functional retraction system. Like the others before him, Gazzola requires the embodiment to which the retraction system is attached to be made specific to accommodate this embodiment.

[020] Patent US5897039 - In 1999 Kevin Swanke received a patent for a shoulder strap attached to a case on opposite ends of the case, having a retraction spring system attached to each end of the shoulder pad, and those two retraction systems are secured to an embodiment. Swanky's invention does allow a retraction system to be added to an embodiment, but his invention does not become part of the embodiment, it does not offer multiple uses of the embodiment, and it requires an attachment means within the original embodiment to facilitate the attachment of the retraction device.

[021] Patent US5294029A - In 2004 this patent was issued to Nobuyoshi Shimura, with a priority date of 1999. The patent is for a retraction device to be added to the side walls of a case and for a strap to extend from the retractor to be clipped onto the opposite side of the case. The strap is pulled out of the retractor from one end of the case, extended over the case and attached to the opposite side of the case. The retractor would then extend to accommodate the shoulder of the user, when it is extended. This is not consumer friendly, as it requires the user to extract the strap, and lock it at a desired size, attach it on to the opposite side of the case, and then move the shoulder pad to a central position for use on the shoulder. Most likely, the strap is not at the desired length, and the brake needs to be released again to lengthen or shorten the strap to the actual desired size, and then the shoulder pad also needs to be centralized again. Our system is far simpler. Pull out the strap, put it on the shoulder or shoulder and neck and go.

[022] Patent US7059504B2 - In 2003 Gregory Suggs applied for and later received this patent for an extendable shoulder strap for golf bags. The major improvement in the art is Suggs having the retraction system being locked so as to not retract, or not extend the strap as the user desires. Suggs strap only comes out of one side of the embodiment, and the embodiment is built into the golf bag itself.

[023] Patent IIS8123092 - Richard Krulik, with a priority date of March 6, 2002, was awarded a patent for a retractable shoulder strap, for a carry case, where the mechanism is built into the case, where there are two sides where the retraction system strap extends and where the extensions are at opposite ends of the device creating a sling for the user to place over their shoulder to carry such a bag, and when the tension is removed from the strap, the retraction system or systems retracts the strap from each end, eliminating the strap from hanging down off the case. Krulik requires two housings, and at least two springs per housing. The system is built into the embodiment, it is not attachable, and it offers only the use of being a sling when the user desires. We offer many more unique features.

[024] Patent US9104377B2 - Rekuc discloses the use of a microfiber line within a retraction system located within a carry case, or clamshell. He also discloses the use of a magnet within the shoulder pad the retraction system retracts upon. We do not use a microfiber, nor is our embodiment located within the body of another embodiment, and there is no clam shell.

[025] Patent US9730507B2 - Eric Wendler received a patent for an adjustable shoulder strap that utilizes a guide wire to attach the shoulder pad to the retraction system, and a strip of perforated pliable material on either or both sides, where the holes in the material surround the wire, and the perforated pliable material slides up the wire as the retractor system is expanded, in an accordion fashion. . The purpose seems to be to enlarge the appearance of the wire and to offer a potential advertising area on the side wall of the pliable material being extended. We do not utilize any of this technology.

[026] In the search of prior art we find that never has a retraction system having two outlets from the unit been attached to an existing unit. The attachment has never been done using an adhesive to attach the retraction system onto an existing embodiment. There has never been a retraction system that provided a grip for quick transport to create a secure gripping of the retraction system embodiment and the item being transported. The use of a flange on the retraction embodiment to improve the grip on the unit has not been done before.

[027] No retraction system ever improved typing angles, nor provided ventilation for laptops when applied to them. The use of an L bracket on the body of the retraction system to counter the cantilever action on such a body when the sling portion of the body is in use has been done before.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[028] A retraction system as we refer to it in the claims below, is a system whereby a flexible material like a cord, string, wire, chain, strap, webbing, or any other flexible material that can be withdrawn from the retractor body. The withdrawal is done by a spring action pulley as per our pictures, or by another means in other embodiments, like an electric motor, but not limited to such. The flexible material does exit the mechanism at a point, and there is at least one other point of exit where another flexible material is exiting, and where the two flexible materials connect at a point. The retraction system can withdraw the excess material from the interior on both sides of the retractor system mechanism, and the remaining external material lies against the mechanism. When the two sides withdraw the flexible material stored within, it forms a continuous connection where a person may wear the flexible material on their shoulder, or across their body like a handbag strap, or a cross body bag, yet the ends of the connected material are connected to the retraction system embodiment.

[029] The flexible material that connects from one end of the retractor to the other, in one version may be one and the same flexible material. We may use this material for a sling on the user’s shoulder or shoulder and neck, or we can have a shoulder pad that has the same flexible material running through the pad. [030] The flexible material that connects from! one end to the other may have a different body of material between the two sections of flexible material, that material may be like a shoulder pad, where one the body of flexible material from one side of the retractor system is connected to the shoulder pad and the opposite flexible material from the opposite side of the retractor is connected to the opposite side of the shoulder pad and where this connection of the flexible materials makes the materials act as one unit.

[031] When the flexible material extends out of the retractor the material forms a sling for wearing on the shoulder, or across the body, but that flexible material may be retracted into the mechanism and the sling is reduced in size or eliminated completely until withdrawal is made again. The shoulder pad and some portion of the flexible material is pulled against the exterior of the retraction system with the remaining flexible material being pulled within the interior of the retraction mechanism. [032] The mechanism for such could be spring biased, where springs are used in a pulley system having a slide with cord running through or around the slide to pull the flexible material back into the mechanism. A motor and a spindle, or a coil spring, or any other method of pulling that flexible material into the mechanism that is associated with retraction of flexible material, is utilized in other variations of the retraction system.

[033] Conversely, we have a version where the flexible material from the mechanism creates that sling-like device by a motor that spools the flexible material in or spools the flexible material out of the mechanism by the rotation of the spool. In an alternative variation of the spool functioning retractor, the spools may be spring biased, and not need a motor to retract the flexible material.

[034] The retraction system protrusion when attached to a laptop laptop, lifts the laptop off the surface to which it is resting and in doing so increases ventilation under the device. Many laptops cool the laptop with a fan and vent holes on the bottom of the computer, and our rising increases the vents' access to air.

[035] The retraction system protrusion attached to a laptop, may be used to secure the laptop by hand, creating a gripping point for the laptop, and for the retraction system. The thumb of the user can wedge the laptop front side and the backside of the laptop, having the protruding retraction system attached to it has up to four fingers under the protruding retraction system, creating a vice like grip of the laptop. In some versions, there is a flange on the backside of the retractor that enhances the grip of the four fingers on the retractor system as the thumb clamps the laptop securely in the grip of the, user. [036] That same gripping may be achieved by sloping the side that is used to grip, so up to four fingers are drawn into the device toward the body of the device to which it protrudes, and the thumb of the hand pinches the laptop into a vice-like grip.

[037] The protruding retractor system that is protruding from the device to which it is attached, where such a pultruding element may be used for alternate purposes other than creating a shoulder sling, like creating a typing angle for the device if the device has typing function within.

[038] The protruding retractor system that is protruding from the device to which it is attached, where such a pultruding element may be used for alternate purposes other than creating a shoulder sling attached to a laptop backside, like lifting the laptop off the surface where the laptop rests. This lifting increase airflow under the laptop for cooling purposes, and it allows laptops with underside cooling vents to increase access to air.

[039] In our first version of the protruding retraction system, the retraction system is attached to the laptop on the backside of the laptop near the hinge of the laptop, and the cord and shoulder strap extend past the hinge when the shoulder strap is under pressure. When the pressure is released, the cord and the shoulder strap retract back over the hinge.

[040] The attached mechanism is in our first version attached by adhesives, other versions of the retractor system may be attached by screws, rivets, clamps, or any other known means to secure a secondary device to an embodiment.

[041] In the preferred embodimept we utilize adhesives, and while many adhesives can be used, we use a foam-based adhesive, so that uneven surfaces of the embodiment to which it is to be attached will still allow a secure bond by the adhesive foam offsetting the variances in the surface [042] When the retraction system is utilized on the back side of laptops, for which our initial version is made to be applied upon, that retraction system lifts the laptop off the surface of the surface and increases access to ventilation for laptops having their ventilation ports on the bottom side of the laptop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [43] Fig. #1 - Shows a top side view of a retraction system mechanism housing having a strap on one side, a flange for quick grip transport on the other side.

]44] Fig.#2 - This is the bottom side of the same housing where we can easily see the adhesive tape protective cover being peeled off the adhesive for attachment to a secondary device, like a laptop computer.

[45] Fig. #3 - Here we have an angled look at the retraction system housing top side, along with a view of the flange on the opposite horizontal side from the shoulder pad and cord exits.

[46] Fig. #4 - Is a view of the internal mechanism on one side of the retraction system, where there is another duplication of the mechanism on the other side. The spring is attached to a slide that acts like a pulley, the cord wrapping around two wheels, the attachment of the cord to the interior of the retractor system internal body, and the exit aperture for the cord to enter and exit the retraction system body.

[47] Fig. #5 - A closeup of that same internal mechanism on one side of the retraction system, this time the cord is now under tension wanting to retract back into the retraction system housing when the force on the cord is less than the spring pressure being applied.

[48] Fig. #6 - Here we can see the retraction system affixed to a laptop, the cord and shoulder pad extended from the mechanism, as shown in drawing 5, and the shoulder pad, the cords bn both sides forming a triangle that can be placed onto the users shoulder, or across the body and on the shoulder and neck of the user.

[49] Fig. #7 - We have a profile view of the retraction system mechanism affixed to a laptop that is resting on a flat surface. We can see how the retraction system mechanism lifts the one side of the resting laptop, and how that forms a V shaped lift under the laptop for ventilation. It also creates a typing angle of 5-15 degrees, just like most desktop keyboards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[50] Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. The present invention is a retraction system to be attached onto an existing device, and in these drawings, that device is a laptop computer. We refer to ah existing device, as a finished unit sold without the retraction system, and whereby the retraction system is attached by the consumer after the purchase of the device, and where such device is usable without the retraction system being attached. The attachment is an optional improvement.

[51] In fig,1 we have a top perspective of such a retraction system. There is a body[100] a top [101], a visible flange [108], a shoulder strap [103] and screws [105]. The body of the retraction system [100] we will see has a spring pulley system for elongating a cord [112] attached to the cord [112] at two ends of the retraction system [100].

[52] In fig. 2 we see the bottom side of the retraction system body [100], with the underside of the same unit [102] visible. There is an adhesive having a protective coverthat is being removed from the adhesive [106], and we can see the strap [103], from the opposite side of the retraction system as we see in fig.1 . When the adhesive [106] has the protective film removed, the retraction system [100] is ready for attachment to a secondary device the user has selected. In this case, it is applied to a laptop computer. The body of the retraction system is turned over like on fig.1 , and the adhesive is applied to the surface of the laptop computer. The adhesive is a very strong bond, quick dry foam tape from 3M series of industrial double sided tapes called the VHB (Very High Bond) series. The visible screws are only for assembly of the retraction system and not for attachment of the retraction system onto an existing device.

[53] Fig 3 is a side angle of the top side of the retraction system, with that side angle of the view in fig 1 . The horizontal side without the shoulder strap of the retractor system body [104] is clear, and on that side the flange [108] is visible. When the retraction system body [100] is attached to an existing body, one can see how four fingers can fit into such a flange [108] for gripping purposes, and how that grip would be enhanced by the existence of such a flange [108],

[54] In fig 4 we see the interior of the retraction system mechanism without the cover[101]. There is a spring [110] attached to the retraction system body [100], The opposite end of the spring [100] is attached to the slide [111 ] by connecting to a post [114] at the end of the slide [111]. The slide [111] is a pulley like system having a larger wheel [115] and a smaller wheel for the cord [112] to rotate around. The cord[112] starts by being secured on to the body at the fixed post [117] going around the small wheel [116], back up around a post [118] attached to the retraction system body, back to the slide [111] and around the large wheel [115], up to the top of the body and out the aperture [119]. This is when the unit is at rest. When a force greater than the strength of the springs {110] is applied, the springs expand, and the slide moves up the body of the retraction system with cord [112] being pulled out the aperture [119]. In this embodiment, the weight of the laptop computer [200] on the shoulder pad [103] is applied, that the slide [111] is pulled upward and thus reducing the amount of cord [112] there is within the system. This action is happening on both sides if the retractor body [100] and cord [112] is extending out of both apertures [119].

[55] In fig 5 we can see the status of the mechanism when the force is applied on to the shoulder pad [103], that then pulls the cord [112] that rotates around both the small wheel [116] and the large wheel 115] causing the slide [111] ro move upward toward the aperture in the body. We gain a better perspective of the mechanism in this close up of the various parts. The spring [110] attached to the slide post [114], both the large 115] and the small wheel [116], the cord [112] rotating around the fixed post [118], and the cord [112] now minimized in the interior of the retraction system interior body [100].

[56] The result of the transition from fig 4 to fig 5, if seen in fig 6, where the retraction system body [100] is attached by the adhesive [106] to a laptop computer body [200] is for the cord [112] attached to the shoulder pad [103] and they are extended as far as possible. We also see that the combination of the cord [112] on both sides of the retraction system body [100], the shoulder pad [103] and the body of the retraction system [100] form a sling in the center of those parts, and that sling is suitable for placing the shoulder pad [103] on to the shoulder, or in a cross body application around the neck and on to the opposite shoulder. In addition to the extension of the cords [112], we also see how the flange

[108] as seen better in fig 3, could accommodate four fingers of the user, and the thumb be stretched oyer the hinge section of the laptop computer [201] and across to the other side of the laptop away from the retraction system where the thumb presses the laptop to the retraction system, creating a firm grip of the laptop computer [200] when the user does not want to have hands free transport as provided in fig 6, cord [112] and shoulder pad [103]. In fig 6, we also can understand that the side of the laptop computer [200] is the hinge side [201 ], away from the side of the laptop computer body that opens [202].

[57] In fig 7 we see a laptop computer [200] in the open position. The laptop computer [200] is resting on a flat surface[300], and the retraction system body [100] is lifting one end of the laptop computer [200] creating an open space [400] under the laptop computer [200]. The open space [400] aids the laptop computer by allowing air to reach the underside of the laptop [200]. That air helps to cool the laptop, and in many cases, it allows laptop computers [200] that have vents on the bottom of the laptop computer [200], to access the air needed for cooling. In addition that open space [400] places the laptop computer [200] on an angle so that the keyboard section [204] of the laptop computer has an angle of between 5 and 15 degrees depending on the positioning of the retraction system body [100] and the distance from the end of the opening end of the laptop computer [202] as seen in fig 6. This drawing helps us understand that the placement ofthe retraction system [100] is near the hinge side of the laptop computer [201 in fig 6, and we can see the location of the hinge at [205]. The drawing also clarifies the direction the shoulder pad [103] should be placed on the laptop computer [200] so as to allow the typing angle to be correct, to allow for a quick secure grip of the flange [108] and the laptop hinge section [201] in fig 6/ It also is the correct location of the shoulder pad [103], in order to allow for the laptop computer [200] to be carried hands free, as seen in fig 6. The laptop computer [200] will not accidentally open as it would if the retraction system were to be located on the [202] side, as depicted in fig 6.