Releasable support strap assembly

Abstract

A support strap assembly for releasable attachment to a belt or other item for supporting objects worn around the waist area of an individual. The assembly includes a pair of central straps forming a suspender arrangement and a pair of auxiliary straps extending outwardly and connected to the suspender arrangement. When the assembly is secured to the belt, depending upon the amount of weight supported by the belt on the individual, the central straps and auxiliary straps can be adjusted in length to adjust the position of the belt with respect to the individual such that the belt is positioned at a more comfortable location on the individual. The assembly can also include a sternum strap connectable across the front of the suspender arrangement to stabilize the position of the assembly on the individual.

We hereby claim:  
     
         1 . A support strap assembly for use in maintaining the position of an item around the waist of an individual, the assembly comprising: 
 a) at least one adjustable length central strap including releasable securing means at each end adapted to engage the item; and    b) a pair of adjustable length auxiliary straps fixed to the at least one central strap at one end and having releasable attaching means at the opposite end adapted to engage the item.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one central strap includes a front portion including a buckle being adjustable in length and a rear portion connected to the front portion.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one central strap includes a pair of front portions, each front portion having a buckle and being adjustable in length, and a rear portion connected to each of the front portions.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of central straps, each strap having a front portion with a buckle and being adjustable in length, and a rear portion connected to the front portion, and a connector joining the rear portions of each strap to one another.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the pairs of auxiliary straps includes a first portion secured to the at least one central strap, a second portion carrying the attachment means opposite the first portion, and a buckle secured to the first portion and adjustably engaged with the second portion.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 4  further comprising a sternum strap secured between the pair of central straps and spaced from the pair of auxiliary straps.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the sternum strap includes a first portion slidably secured to one of the pair of central straps and a second portion slidably secured to the other of the pair of central straps and releasably engaged with the first portion.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the first portion and second portion each include a securing member that is slidably secured a strip secured to each of the pair of central straps.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the first portion and second portion each include a looped end that is slidably secured a strip secured to each of the pair of central straps.  
     
     
         10 . A method for adjusting the position of an object-holding item on an individual, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a support strap assembly including a pair of central straps secured to one another and having releasable attaching means at each end, and a pair of auxiliary straps secured to the pair of central straps at one end and having releasable securing means opposite the pair of central straps;    b) connecting the pair of central straps and the pair of auxiliary straps to the item on the individual; and    c) adjusting the length of the pair of auxiliary straps to position the item on the individual.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of adjusting the length of the pair of central straps prior to the step of adjusting the length of the pair of auxiliary straps.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of readjusting the length of one or both of the pair of central straps and the pair of auxiliary straps to reposition the item on the individual.  
     
     
         13 . A support strap assembly for use in maintaining the position of an item around the waist of an individual, the assembly comprising: 
 a) a pair of central straps, each strap having a front portion with a buckle and being adjustable in length, a rear portion connected to the front portion, a connector joining the rear portions of each central strap to one another, and a pair of releasable securing means disposed at each end of each of the pair of central straps, the releasable securing means adapted to engage the item; and    b) a pair of adjustable length auxiliary straps fixed to each of the pair of central straps at one end and having a releasable attaching means at the opposite end adapted to engage the item.