Carrying aid device

Abstract

A device for carrying luggage and bags has a rigid or semi-rigid anchor element worn over a shoulder of a person, and strapped to the body of the person to maintain the anchor in the desired position. The anchor is formed in a configuration which receives and removably retains a carrying strap of the luggage or bag to prevent the luggage or bag from slipping from the person's shoulder. In further embodiments, attachment elements are provided on the strap worn by the person carrying the bag or luggage for removably connecting the strap to the carrying strap of the bag or luggage for preventing the carrying strap from slipping from the person's shoulder.

1 . A device for carrying an article having a carrying strap adapted to be held by a carrier, said device comprising: 
 a base adapted to be seated on a shoulder of a carrier, at least a portion of said base being configured to receive and retain therein at least a portion of a carrying strap, and    a securing element cooperating with said base for retaining said base in a fixed position relative to the body of the carrier.    
   
   
       2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said base is formed from a rigid material.  
   
   
       3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said base is formed from a semi-rigid material.  
   
   
       4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said portion of said base configured to receive and retain said carrying strap defines a groove.  
   
   
       5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said portion of said base configured to receive and retain said carrying strap defines a channel.  
   
   
       6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said portion of said base configured to receive and retain said carrying strap defines an opened top to permit removal of said carrying strap from said base through said opened top.  
   
   
       7 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , further including a closure element cooperating with said base for selectively closing said opened top of said base.  
   
   
       8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said securing element is a strap adapted to extend around the body of the carrier.  
   
   
       9 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said base includes means for receiving said strap for retaining said base in said fixed position relative to the body of the carrier.  
   
   
       10 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said base is removably mounted to said strap.  
   
   
       11 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said strap is fixedly mounted to said base.  
   
   
       12 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , further including means for adjusting the length of said strap extending around the body of the carrier.  
   
   
       13 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said strap is adapted to extend around the chest and back of the carrier, said device further including a second strap engaging said base, said second strap adapted to extend around the shoulder and the armpit of the carrier.  
   
   
       14 . The device as claimed in  claim 13 , further including means for adjusting the length of said second strap extending around the shoulder and armpit of the carrier.  
   
   
       15 . A device for carrying an article having a carrying strap adapted to be held by a carrier, said device comprising: 
 a retaining element cooperating with said carrying strap of said article for retaining said carrying strap of said article at a fixed position relative to the body of the carrier.    
   
   
       16 . The device as claimed in  claim 15 , further including at least one coupling element carried by said retaining element for removably coupling said retaining element to the carrying strap of said article.  
   
   
       17 . The device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein at least two said coupling elements are carried by said retaining element, one of said coupling elements adapted to removably engage a portion of said carrying strap extending along the front of the carrier, the other of said coupling elements adapted to removably engage a portion of said carrying strap extending along the back of the carrier.  
   
   
       18 . The device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said at least one coupling element is a clamp.  
   
   
       19 . The device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said retaining element is a strap, and said at least one coupling element is attached to a free end of said strap.  
   
   
       20 . The device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said retaining element is a strap configured in a closed loop, and said at least one coupling element is carried by said closed loop.  
   
   
       21 . The device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said retaining element is a strap adapted to extend around at least a portion of the body of the carrier, said strap including at least one engagement element for engaging a corresponding engagement element on the carrying strap of said article.  
   
   
       22 . The device as claimed in  claim 21 , further including means for removably locking said engagement element of said strap to said corresponding engagement element of said carrying strap of said article.  
   
   
       23 . A method for carrying an article having a carrying strap, said method comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a base having a portion thereof configured to receive and retain the carrying strap therein on the shoulder of a carrier, and    fixing the position of the base relative to the shoulder of the carrier.    
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the step of fixing the position of the base relative to the shoulder of the carrier includes the step of coupling said base to a strap extending around the body of the carrier for retaining the base in a fixed position on the shoulder of the carrier.  
   
   
       25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , further including the step of selectively adjusting the length of said strap extending around the body of the carrier.  
   
   
       26 . A method for carrying an article having a carrying strap, said method comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a strap carrying a coupling element around at least a portion of the body of a carrier, and    removably coupling said strap to the carrying strap of said article by said coupling element.    
   
   
       27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , further including the step of: 
 mounting said coupling element to one free end of said strap.    
   
   
       28 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , further including the step of: 
 fixedly mounting a coupling element to each of two free ends of the strap, respectively, and    removably coupling one of the coupling elements to a first position on the carrying strap exending along the front of the carrier when the carrying strap is supported on a shoulder of the carrier, and removably coupling the other coupling eement to a second position on the carrying strap extending along the back of the carrier when the carrying strap is supported on a shoulder of the carrier.    
   
   
       29 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , further including the step of: 
 fixedly mounting said at least one coupling element to said strap.    
   
   
       30 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , further including the step of movably mounting said at least one coupling element to said strap.  
   
   
       31 . A device for carrying an article having a retaining element for mounting said article to a mounting element for retaining said article mounted to said mounting element, said device comprising: 
 a securing element cooperating with said retaining element of said article for maintaining said article at a fixed position relative to said mounting element.    
   
   
       32 . A method for carrying an article having a retaining element for mounting said article to an object, said method comprising the steps of: 
 mounting said retaining element of said article to said object, and    coupling a securing element to said retaining element for retaining said article at a fixed position relative to said object.