Article to resist a shoulder-strap and load from slipping off

Abstract

The present invention comprises a shaped piece of hard or pliable material which is attached to the outside of a garment at the back of the shoulder by a plurality of suitable means. The present invention is positioned such that when carrying a load, and utilizing a shoulder strap to do so, a person can place the strap on the shoulder between the neck and the apparatus, adjacent to the apparatus, in order to secure the strap and load from slipping off the shoulder. The apparatus can have an aesthetic quality while offering the function of passively fixing a shoulder-strap from sliding laterally away from the wearer's neck.

1 . An article for preventing a shoulder strap from sliding off a shoulder comprising: 
 (a) an upper element adapted to be attached to a surface of a garment,    wherein said upper element comprises a vertical dimension substantially perpendicular to said surface of said garment.    
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1  further comprising a base piece attached to a lower surface of said upper element and adapted to be attached to said surface of said garment.  
   
   
       3 . The article of  claim 1  further comprising a backing adapted to be attached to an opposite surface of said garment.  
   
   
       4 . The article of  claim 2  further comprising a backing adapted to be attached to an opposite surface of said garment.  
   
   
       5 . The article of  claim 2  wherein said base piece further comprises a plate attached to said lower surface of said upper element.  
   
   
       6 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said article is attached to said garment by a sewing means, an adhesive means, a velcro means, a screw fastening means or a riveting means.  
   
   
       7 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said article is part of the construction of said garment.  
   
   
       8 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said upper element further comprises a geared hinge to allow said upper element to be rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said surface of said garment.  
   
   
       9 . The article of  claim 2  further comprising an outer latch having a first end attached to said base piece and a second end removably attached to said upper element in order to secure said shoulder strap to said article.  
   
   
       10 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said upper element further comprises a geared hinge to allow said upper element to be rotatable about an axis parallel to said surface of said garment.  
   
   
       11 . The article of  claim 1  wherein said upper element has a cantilevered edge that catches said shoulder strap.  
   
   
       12 . The article of  claim 2  wherein a portion of said upper element is raised from said base piece to create a gap between said portion of said upper element and said base piece wherein said gap catches said shoulder strap.