Pad for shoulder strap

Abstract

A webbed shoulder pad is for use with a shoulder carrying strap. The pad has opposing ends which, in use, attach to a shoulder strap, and a plurality of tendon bands having opposing ends, and at least two nodes. Each tendon band extends between a pair of nodes, and each tendon band is spaced apart and disconnected from other said tendon bands between said nodes. The tendon bands thereby form a web arrangement which extends between the opposing ends of said pad.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A webbed shoulder pad for use with a shoulder carrying strap, the pad having a lower engagement surface which, in use, engages against the shoulder of a user, an upper surface which, in use, faces away from the shoulder of the user, opposing ends which, in use, attach to a shoulder strap, a plurality of tendon bands having opposing ends, and at least two nodes, each tendon band extending between a pair of nodes, each tendon band being spaced apart and disconnected from other said tendon bands between said nodes at least at the lower surface of the pad, whereby said tendon bands form a web arrangement which extends between the opposing ends of said pad. 
     
     
         15 . The webbed shoulder pad according to claim  1 , wherein the opposing ends of the pad include fastening means for releasably attaching the pad to a strap. 
     
     
         16 . The webbed shoulder pad according to claim  2 , wherein the fastening means are engageable with ends of a strap such that the pad extends between ends of the strap. 
     
     
         17 . The webbed shoulder pad according to claim  2 , wherein the fastening means are configured to enable the pad to be secured to a middle section of an unbroken strap. 
     
     
         18 . The webbed shoulder pad according to claim  4 , wherein the fastening means comprises loops provided on each end of the pad through which a strap is fed, the loops being configured such that the strap extends cross the upper side of the pad which, in use, will face away from the wearer's shoulder. 
     
     
         19 . The webbed shoulder pad according to claim  1 , wherein the pad includes padding material such as foam or the like to further improve comfort to the wearer. 
     
     
         20 . The webbed shoulder pad according to claim  1 , wherein said engagement surface is coated with a gripping material and/or is finished in a manner to improve grip. 
     
     
         21 . The webbed shoulder pad according to claim  1 , wherein the pad includes just two nodes—one at each end of the pad, each tendon band extending the full length of pad and connecting to each tendon. 
     
     
         22 . The webbed shoulder pad according to claim  1 , wherein the pad includes a plurality of nodes distributed between the ends, at least some of said tendon bands extending along only part of the length of the pad. 
     
     
         23 . The webbed shoulder pad according to claim  9 , wherein at least two bands, located on opposing sides of the band, extend the full length of the pad between the opposed ends. 
     
     
         24 . The webbed shoulder pad according to claim  1 , wherein the tendon bands are of uniform width and/or shape, and wherein the width of the bands differ between different bands within the web and/or vary along the length of the band itself, either in a regular or irregular pattern. 
     
     
         25 . The webbed shoulder pad according to claim  1 , wherein each tendon band is disconnected from said other tendon bands between said nodes across the whole thickness of the pad. 
     
     
         26 . The webbed shoulder pad according to claim  1 , wherein the upper surface of the pad is continuous across its whole area such that the tendon bands are joined together at the upper surface but disconnected at the engagement surface between the nodes.