Strap Apparatus and Method for Carrying A Firefighter's Personal Protective Equipment

Abstract

A strap apparatus for carrying a firefighter's personal protective equipment comprised of: a strap with a first end and a second end; a buckle for temporarily securing the first and second ends of the strap; at least one integrated loop integrated into the strap; at least one retaining ring, each permanently integrated into the strap and adapted to receive the personal protective equipment; at least one release ring non-permanently secured to the strap and adapted to receive the personal protective equipment; and a handle that a user to carry the strap apparatus. The strap apparatus can further include a shoulder harness and include an additional strength or water-resistant layer.

1 . An apparatus comprised of:
 a strap, said strap having a first end and a second end;   a buckle, said buckle temporarily securing said first end of said strap to said second end of said strap;   at least one integrated loop integrated into said strap;   at least one retaining ring, each of said at least one retaining ring permanently integrated into said strap and adapted to receive said protective equipment;   at least one release ring, each of said at least one release ring non-permanently secured to said strap and adapted to receive said protective equipment; and   a handle, said handle allowing a user to carry said apparatus;   wherein said apparatus is adapted to temporarily support and carry a firefighter's personal protective equipment.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said firefighter's personal protective equipment is selected from a group consisting of a helmet, a face piece, a coat, boots, pants, gloves, a hood, a flashlight, one or more cutting tools, and one or more carabiners. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said strap, each of said at least one integrated loop, and said handle are made of a material selected from a group consisting of nylon, nylon webbing, plastic, fabric, metal, metal chain, lycra, polyester, polypropylene, cotton, poly-cotton blend, seat belt material, dive belt material, wool, cable wire, hemp, leather, rubber, elastomeric material, inner tube material, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said strap, each of said at least one integrated loop, and said handle are made of a waterproof or water-resistant material. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least one integrated loop is secured to said strap by a process selected from a group consisting of sewing, gluing, molding, soldering, riveting, melting, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least one retaining ring and each of said at least one release ring are made of a material selected from a group consisting of metal, plastic, leather, string, cable, cord, webbing, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is further includes a shoulder harness, said shoulder harness secured to said apparatus. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said strap, said at least one integrated loop, and said handle further include an additional layer, said additional layer providing at least one feature selected from a group consisting of additional strength, water-resistance, and water proofing. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for carrying a firefighter's personal protective equipment comprised of:
 a strap, said strap having a first end and a second end;   a buckle, said buckle temporarily securing said first end of said strap to said second end of said strap;   at least one integrated loop integrated into said strap;   at least one retaining ring, each of said at least one retaining ring permanently integrated into said strap and adapted to receive said personal protective equipment;   at least one release ring, each of said at least one release ring non-permanently secured to said strap and adapted to receive said protective equipment;   a handle, said handle allowing a user to carry said apparatus; and   a shoulder harness, said shoulder harness secured to said apparatus,   wherein said apparatus is adapted to temporarily support and carry said personal protective equipment.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said firefighter's personal protective equipment is selected from a group consisting of a helmet, a face piece, a coat, boots, pants, gloves, a hood, a flashlight, one or more cutting tools, and one or more carabiners. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said strap, each of said at least one integrated loop, and said handle are made of a material selected from a group consisting of nylon, nylon webbing, plastic, fabric, metal, metal chain, lycra, polyester, polypropylene, cotton, poly-cotton blend, seat belt material, dive belt material, wool, cable wire, hemp, leather, rubber, elastomeric material, inner tube material, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said strap, each of said at least one integrated loop, said handle, and said shoulder harness are made of a waterproof or water-resistant material. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each of said at least one integrated loop is secured to said strap by a process selected from a group consisting of sewing, gluing, molding, soldering, riveting, melting, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each of said at least one retaining ring and each of said at least one release ring are made of a material selected from a group consisting of metal, plastic, leather, string, cable, cord, webbing, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said strap, said at least one integrated loop, and said handle further include an additional layer, said additional layer providing at least one feature selected from a group consisting of additional strength, water-resistance, and water proofing 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for carrying a firefighter's personal protective equipment comprised of:
 a strap, said strap having a first end and a second end;   a buckle, said buckle temporarily securing said first end of said strap to said second end of said strap;   at least one integrated loop integrated into said strap;   at least one retaining ring, each of said at least one retaining ring permanently integrated into said strap and adapted to receive said personal protective equipment, said personal protective equipment selected from a group consisting of a helmet, a face piece, a coat, boots, pants, gloves, a hood, a flashlight, one or more cutting tools, one or more carabiners, and combinations thereof.   at least one release ring, each of said at least one release ring non-permanently secured to said strap and adapted to receive said personal protective equipment   a handle, said handle allowing a user to carry said apparatus; and   a shoulder harness, said shoulder harness adapted to be secured to said apparatus;   wherein at least one of said at least one integrated loop, said handle, and said shoulder harness are made of a waterproof or water-resistant material.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said strap, each of said at least one integrated loop, and said handle are made of a material selected from a group consisting of nylon, nylon webbing, plastic, fabric, metal, metal chain, lycra, polyester, polypropylene, cotton, poly-cotton blend, seat belt material, dive belt material, wool, cable wire, hemp, leather, rubber, elastomeric material, inner tube material, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said strap, each of said at least one integrated loop, said handle, and said shoulder harness are made of a waterproof or water-resistant material. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein each of said at least one integrated loop is secured to said strap by a process selected from a group consisting of sewing, gluing, molding, soldering, riveting, melting, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein each of said at least one retaining ring and each of said at least one release ring are made of a material selected from a group consisting of metal, plastic, leather, string, cable, cord, webbing, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said strap, said at least one integrated loop, and said handle further include an additional layer, said additional layer providing at least one feature selected from a group consisting of additional strength, water-resistance, and water proofing.