Carrying apparatus

Abstract

A carrying apparatus is provided which may be supported on the shoulder of the user or, in the alternative, carried like conventional luggage. The carrying apparatus has forward and rearward load storing compartments coupled together by a tapered support band. When placed on the shoulder of the user, the forward and rearward load storing compartments are positioned anterior and posterior to the user's body, respectively. The support band is defined by a pair of non-parallel opposed edges that are adapted to center the compartments along the axis of the user's body. When carried upon the user's shoulder, the support band allows the load storing compartments to be substantially bisected by the coronal plane of the user's body and allows the user to maintain his or her posture without deviation from the neutral coronal plane or rotation on the horizontal axis. To allow the present invention to be carried in the form of luggage, the forward and rearward load storing compartments are provided with gripping members at opposed ends of the support band.

1 . An improved carrying apparatus comprising: 
 (a) first and second load storing enclosure means for supporting articles;    (b) a support band having first and second ends and a substantially arcuate inner edge and a substantially linear outer edge extending between said first and second ends, said first and second ends being secured to said first and second load supporting enclosure means respectively; and    (c) engageable gripping means for supporting the carrying apparatus, said first and second engageable gripping means secured to said first and second load supporting enclosure means adjacent the first and second ends of said support band, respectively.    
   
   
       2 . A carrying apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein the minimum distance between the inner and outer edges of the support band is substantially equidistant between the first and second ends thereof.  
   
   
       3 . A carrying apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said load supporting enclosure means each comprise an enclosure having an outer and inner wall defining an entry thereto, a flap secured to the inner wall and locking means for coupling the flap to said front wall.  
   
   
       4 . A carrying apparatus as defined in  claim 1  including coupling means for securing the flaps of said load supporting enclosure means to one another.  
   
   
       5 . An improved carrying apparatus comprising: 
 (a) first and second load storing enclosures each having an outer and an inner wall defining an entry thereto, a flap secured to the inner wall and locking means for coupling the flap to said front wall.    (b) a support band having first and second ends and a substantially arcuate inner edge and a substantially linear outer edge extending between said first and second ends, said first and second ends being secured to said first and second load supporting enclosures, the minimum distance between the inner and outer edges of the support band being substantially equidistant between the first and second ends thereof, respectively; and    (c) engageable gripping means for supporting the carrying apparatus, said first and second engageable gripping means secured to said first and second load supporting enclosure means adjacent the first and second ends of said support band, respectively.    
   
   
       6 . A carrying apparatus as defined in  claim 5  including coupling means for securing the flaps of said load supporting enclosures to one another.