Anti-Theft Carrying Straps

Abstract

In various embodiments, a carrying bag is disclosed which includes a one or more security panel assemblies comprising a first flexible material layer and a polymeric fiber matrix, such as a polymer fiber-based cut-resistant fabric, matrix or mesh. Various carrying straps are disclosed which include a first flexible fabric or webbing; and a second flexible fabric or webbing comprising a polymeric fiber matrix. Additional polymeric fibers, filaments, cables, threads or yarns may be included in the security panel assemblies and straps, such as cut-resistant monofilament and multifilament fibers comprised of a polyethylene such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE), or High Performance Polyethylene (HPPE), for example.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carrying strap comprising:
 a first flexible fabric or webbing; and   a second flexible fabric or webbing coupled to the first flexible fabric or webbing, the second flexible fabric or webbing comprising a polymeric fiber matrix, the polymeric fiber matrix comprising at least one polymeric fiber arranged as a plurality of polymeric fiber intersections or crossings, each fiber intersection or crossing comprising at least two sections of the at least one polymeric fiber abutting each other, the at least to one polymeric fiber comprising at least one polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn.   
     
     
         2 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn is cut-resistant such that the carrying strap has a cut-resistance level to withstand an applied cutting force up to 500 grams applied over 20 mm laterally across the carrying strap. 
     
     
         3 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the carrying strap has a cut-resistance level to withstand an applied cutting force up to 3,000 grams applied over 20 mm laterally across the carrying strap. 
     
     
         4 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing further comprises:
 a first flexible material layer having a first side and a plurality of edges, the polymeric fiber matrix arranged on the first side of the first flexible material layer; and   a second flexible material layer arranged adjacent to the polymeric fiber matrix and coupled to the first side of the first flexible material layer with a plurality of stitches, or with an adhesive, or with both a plurality of stitches and an adhesive, to form a security panel assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymeric fiber is a multifilament fiber, cable, thread or yarn. 
     
     
         6 . The carrying strap of  claim 5 , wherein the multifilament fiber, cable, thread or yarn comprises at least one polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn and either or both at least one carbon fiber or at least one metallic wire, fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn. 
     
     
         7 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: aramid; liquid crystal polymer; polyethylene; ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”) having a molecular mass between 3.5 and 7.5 million Daltons; high-modulus polyethylene (“HMPE”); High Performance Polyethylene (“HPPE”); glass; nylon; polyester; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix is comprised of a plurality of knitted or woven fibers, filaments, cables, threads, or yarns to form the second flexible fabric or webbing. 
     
     
         9 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix comprises a mesh or netting having a plurality of bonded or coupled polymeric fiber intersections or crossings. 
     
     
         10 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix comprises a plurality of polymeric fibers, filaments, cables, threads or yarns arranged in a crossing or quilting pattern on a first side of a first flexible material layer and extending on a second side of the first flexible material layer or an intervening flexible material layer. 
     
     
         11 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymeric fiber is a monofilament fiber, cable, or thread. 
     
     
         12 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing is coupled to the first flexible fabric or webbing with a plurality of stitches, or with an adhesive, or with both a plurality of stitches and an adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing is tubular and further comprises a lumen, and wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing is arranged within the lumen. 
     
     
         14 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing has first and second lateral folds, and wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing is arranged within the first and second lateral folds. 
     
     
         15 . The carrying strap of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a third flexible fabric or webbing coupled over the first and second lateral folds of the first flexible fabric or webbing to enclose the second flexible fabric or webbing between the first flexible fabric or webbing and the third flexible fabric or webbing.   
     
     
         16 . The carrying strap of  claim 14 , wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing further has first and second central folds over the second flexible fabric or webbing. 
     
     
         17 . The carrying strap of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a third flexible fabric or webbing arranged in between the second flexible fabric or webbing and the first and second central folds of the first flexible fabric or webbing to enclose the second flexible fabric or webbing between the first flexible fabric or webbing and the third flexible fabric or webbing.   
     
     
         18 . The carrying strap of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a plurality of cut-resistant monofilament polymer fibers arranged within the first and second lateral folds.   
     
     
         19 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing has a first lateral fold on a first lateral side, wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing is arranged within the first lateral fold; and wherein the carrying strap further comprises:
 a third flexible binding coupled over the first flexible fabric or webbing on a second lateral side to enclose the second flexible fabric or webbing between the first flexible fabric or webbing and the third flexible binding.   
     
     
         20 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing has a first lateral fold on a first lateral side to form two layers of the first flexible fabric or webbing, wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing is arranged within the first lateral fold and wherein a plurality of stitches couple the two layers of the folded first flexible fabric or webbing on the second lateral side. 
     
     
         21 . The carrying strap of  claim 20 , wherein each of the two layers of the folded first flexible fabric or webbing have a lateral fold on the second lateral side, wherein a plurality of stitches couple the lateral folds of the two layers of the folded first flexible fabric or webbing on the second lateral side. 
     
     
         22 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing has a form factor of a plurality of flexible bindings, a first flexible binding of the plurality of flexible bindings coupled over the first flexible fabric or webbing on a first lateral side and a second flexible binding of the plurality of flexible bindings coupled over the first flexible fabric or webbing on a second lateral side. 
     
     
         23 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing has a first side and a second side and first and second lateral edges, the first flexible fabric or webbing is arranged on the first side of the second flexible fabric or webbing; and wherein the carrying strap further comprises:
 a third flexible fabric or webbing arranged on the second side of the second flexible fabric or webbing and coupled to the first flexible fabric or webbing laterally to the first and second lateral edges of the second flexible fabric or webbing.   
     
     
         24 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing has a first side and a second side and first and second lateral edges, the first flexible fabric or webbing is arranged on the first side of the second flexible fabric or webbing; and wherein the carrying strap further comprises:
 a third flexible fabric or webbing arranged on the second side of the second flexible fabric or webbing;   a first flexible binding of a plurality of flexible bindings coupled over the first and third flexible fabrics or webbings on a first lateral side; and   a second flexible binding of the plurality of flexible bindings coupled over the first and third flexible fabrics or webbings on a second lateral side.   
     
     
         25 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing has a first lateral fold on a first lateral side; and wherein the carrying strap further comprises:
 a third flexible fabric or webbing offset laterally from the first flexible fabric or webbing, the third flexible fabric or webbing having a second lateral fold on a second lateral side;   wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing is arranged within the first lateral fold and the second lateral fold.   
     
     
         26 . The carrying strap of  claim 25 , wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing has a first lateral region and a second lateral region, the third flexible fabric or webbing has a first lateral region and a second lateral region, wherein the first lateral regions of the first and third flexible fabrics or webbings are coupled to a first side of the second flexible fabric or webbing and the second lateral regions of the first and third flexible fabrics or webbings are coupled to a second side of the second flexible fabric or webbing to enclose the second flexible fabric or webbing between the first flexible fabric or webbing and the third flexible fabric or webbing. 
     
     
         27 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing has first and second lateral folds, and wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing is arranged within the first and second lateral folds. 
     
     
         28 . The carrying strap of  claim 27 , wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing further has first and second central folds over the first flexible fabric or webbing. 
     
     
         29 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing has first and second lateral folds, wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing has first and second lateral folds and is arranged within the first and second lateral folds of the first flexible fabric or webbing; and wherein the carrying strap further comprises:
 a plurality of cut-resistant monofilament polymer fibers arranged within the first and second lateral folds of the second flexible fabric or webbing.   
     
     
         30 . The carrying strap of  claim 29 , wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing further has first and second central folds over the second flexible fabric or webbing. 
     
     
         31 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing has first and second lateral folds, wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing has first and second lateral folds and is arranged within the first and second lateral folds of the first flexible fabric or webbing; and wherein the carrying strap further comprises:
 a third flexible fabric or webbing coupled to the folded first flexible fabric or webbing on a first side; and   at least one cut-resistant monofilament polymer fiber arranged centrally between the first side of the folded first flexible fabric or webbing and the third flexible fabric or webbing.   
     
     
         32 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing has first, second and third lateral folds to form a first bottom layer, a second top layer, a third intermediate layer and a fourth intermediate layer, wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing is arranged within the first and second lateral folds of the first flexible fabric or webbing; and wherein the carrying strap further comprises:
 at least one cut-resistant monofilament polymer fiber arranged centrally between the third and fourth intermediate layers of the first flexible fabric or webbing.   
     
     
         33 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing has first, second and third lateral folds to form a first bottom layer, a second top layer, a third intermediate layer and a fourth intermediate layer, wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing is arranged within the third lateral fold of the first flexible fabric or webbing; and wherein the carrying strap further comprises:
 at least one cut-resistant monofilament polymer fiber arranged centrally between the third and fourth intermediate layers of the first flexible fabric or webbing.   
     
     
         34 . The carrying strap of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing has first, second and third lateral folds to form a first bottom layer, a second top layer, a third intermediate layer and a fourth intermediate layer, wherein the second flexible fabric or webbing is arranged within the first, second and third lateral folds of the first flexible fabric or webbing; and wherein the carrying strap further comprises:
 at least one cut-resistant monofilament polymer fiber arranged centrally between the third and fourth intermediate layers of the first flexible fabric or webbing.   
     
     
         35 . A carrying strap comprising:
 a first flexible fabric or webbing; and   a cut-resistant polymeric fiber matrix extending longitudinally along or within the first flexible fabric or webbing, the polymeric fiber matrix comprising at least one polymeric fiber arranged as a plurality of polymeric fiber intersections, each fiber intersection comprising at least two sections of the at least one polymeric fiber abutting each other, the at least one polymeric fiber comprising at least one polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn;   wherein the first flexible fabric or webbing and cut-resistant polymeric fiber matrix collectively have a cut-resistance level to withstand an applied cutting force up to 3,000 grams applied over 20 mm laterally across the carrying strap.   
     
     
         36 . The carrying strap of  claim 35 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix is woven or braided into the first flexible fabric or webbing. 
     
     
         37 . The carrying strap of  claim 36 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix comprises a plurality of warp cut-resistant polymeric fibers, filaments, cables, threads or yarns. 
     
     
         38 . A carrying strap comprising:
 a first flexible fabric or webbing; and   a security panel assembly coupled to the first flexible fabric or webbing, the security panel assembly comprising:   a first flexible material layer having a first side and a plurality of edges; and   a polymeric fiber matrix arranged on the first side of the first flexible material layer, the polymeric fiber matrix comprising at least one polymeric fiber arranged as a plurality of polymeric fiber intersections or crossings, each fiber intersection or crossing comprising at least two sections of the at least one polymeric fiber abutting each other, the at least one polymeric fiber comprising at least one polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yam;   a second flexible material layer arranged adjacent to the polymeric fiber matrix and coupled to the first side of the first flexible material layer with a plurality of stitches, or with an adhesive, or with both a plurality of stitches and an adhesive.