Method and apparatus providing support for a parcel being carried manually

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus and method for transferring weight of a parcel being carried by a user to the hip area of the user. The apparatus includes one or more small platforms, a brace, and two fasteners. The brace typically slides behind the belt of the user, inside the pants or skirt. The fasteners attach to the belt. The carrier will typically support the parcel with two hands and the platform(s) of the apparatus. The whole apparatus can be fabricated as a unitary component from sheet metal or molded plastic, although often the top surface platform will be covered with some slip-retarding material, such as rubber or plastic. The apparatus is easy to insert and remove, lightweight, and nearly invisible when worn. The device is particularly useful for parcel delivery carriers.

1 . An apparatus, adapted to being described by a coordinate system that includes inward, outward, upward, downward, left, and right directions, comprising:
 a) a rigid first platform, including an essentially flat top surface, the first platform extending outward from a brace;   b) the brace, which
 (i) is rigidly connected to the first platform at an inward edge of the first platform, 
 (ii) is essentially perpendicular to the top surface of the first platform and to a midplane along the edge where the brace is connected to the first platform, 
 (iii) is essentially symmetrical about the midplane, and 
 (iv) curves inward to the left and to the right of the midplane; and 
   c) two fasteners, which
 (i) are rigidly attached to the brace proximate to a top edge of the brace, one fastener to the left of the midplane and the other to the right of the midplane, 
 (ii) are adapted to attaching the brace to a belt, a garment, or both, and 
 (iii) extend generally outward from the brace. 
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the brace extends beyond the first platform to the left and right of the midplane. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 d) a rigid second platform, the second platform
 (i) including an essentially flat top surface that is essentially coplanar with the top surface of the first platform, and 
 (ii) extending outward from the brace. 
   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is essentially symmetrical about the midplane. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are hooks that open generally downward. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform, brace, and hooks share a unitary component fabricated from a single material. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the unitary component is fabricated from plastic. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the unitary component is fabricated from sheet metal. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are located essentially symmetrically left and right of the midplane. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the brace is primarily fabricated from metal or molded from plastic. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface has a slip-reducing form. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the slip-reducing form includes rubber. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the slip-reducing form includes plastic. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the slip-reducing form is gridded, ridged, dimpled, or corrugated. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the brace has a thickness that is less than 5 mm. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the brace is adapted to comfortably fit on the front of a user inside a garment that is secured by a belt. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform rests on the belt. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform extends out from its inward edge a distance greater than 0.5 cm and less than 15 cm. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform extends to the left and to the right of the midplane, respectively, between 0.25 cm and 10 cm. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mass of the apparatus is less than 0.5 kg. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the brace has a bottom edge that includes a contour to fit the human form. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein when the brace is worn by a user, the contour causes the brace to avoid the area of the hipbones. 
   
   
       23 . A method, comprising placing a parcel onto a top surface of a platform of an apparatus, the apparatus adapted to being described by a coordinate system that includes inward, outward, upward, downward, left, and right directions, the apparatus including
 a) a rigid first platform, including an essentially flat top surface, the first platform extending outward from a brace;   b) the brace, which
 (i) is rigidly connected to the platform at an inward edge of the first platform, 
 (ii) is essentially perpendicular to the top surface of the first platform and to a midplane along the edge where the brace is connected to the first platform, 
 (iii) is essentially symmetrical about the midplane, and 
 (iv) curves inward to the left and to the right of the midplane; and 
   c) two fasteners, which
 (i) are rigidly attached to the brace proximate to a top edge of the brace, one fastener to the left of the midplane and the other to the right of the midplane, 
 (ii) are adapted to attaching the brace to a belt, a garment, or both, and 
 (iii) extend generally outward from the brace. 
   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising inserting the brace on the front of a user inside a garment that is secured by a belt; and attaching the fasteners to the belt. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising carrying the parcel. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the weight of the parcel on the platform causes torque directed downward and inward. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the brace transfers torque to the body of the user. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the fasteners transfer torque to the belt of the user.