Cushioning apparel accessory

Abstract

A cushioning apparatus is provided including a gel-like body including a strap retaining channel sized and shaped to engage with a clothing strap of a garment therein and to fit between the clothing strap and a wearer of the garment. The gel-like body may include a bottom portion of a first material and a top portion attached the bottom portion, the bottom portion of a second material different from the first material. A clothing strap cushioning system is also provided including a garment having at least one clothing strap configured to be worn on a portion of a wearer's body and a cushioning member removably attached to a portion of the clothing strap, and including a retaining channel sized and shaped to hold the clothing strap therein and to fit between the clothing strap and a wearer of the garment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cushioning apparatus comprising:
 a gel-like body including a strap retaining channel sized and shaped to engage with a clothing strap of a garment therein and to fit between the clothing strap and a wearer of the garment.   
     
     
         2 . The cushioning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gel-like body includes a bottom portion comprising a first material and a top portion attached the bottom portion, the bottom portion comprising a second material different from the first material. 
     
     
         3 . The cushioning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom portion is a first type of silicone material and the top portion is a second type of silicone material different from the first type of silicone, the second type of silicone being softer than the first type of silicone. 
     
     
         4 . The cushioning apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second type of silicone is softer than the first type of silicone. 
     
     
         5 . The cushioning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strap holding channel is disposed along at least a portion of an upper surface of the gel-like body, and wherein the strap holding channel is configured to retain the clothing strap therein and to separate at least a portion of the clothing strap from the wearer. 
     
     
         6 . The cushioning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more overhanging portions disposed along at least a portion of an upper surface of the gel-like body, wherein the one or more overhanging portions form a channel configured to retain the clothing strap therein and to separate at least a portion of the clothing strap from the wearer. 
     
     
         7 . The cushioning apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of routing holes extending from an upper surface of the gel-like body to a lower surface of the gel-like body, wherein the plurality of routing holes are configured to assist in securing the clothing strap on the gel-like body when the clothing strap is looped through the routing holes. 
     
     
         8 . The cushioning apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of routing holes includes exactly four routing holes. 
     
     
         9 . The cushioning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gel-like body includes raised end sections at opposing sides of an upper surface of the gel-like body and an indent in a middle portion of the upper surface, the indent shaped to receive an enlarged region of the clothing strap. 
     
     
         10 . The cushioning apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the gel-like body is composed of at least one silicone material. 
     
     
         11 . A clothing strap cushioning system comprising:
 a garment having at least one clothing strap configured to be worn on a portion of a wearer's body; and   a cushioning member removably engaged with a portion of the clothing strap, the cushioning member including a retaining channel sized and shaped to hold the clothing strap therein and to fit between the clothing strap and a wearer of the garment.   
     
     
         12 . The clothing strap cushioning system of  claim 11 , wherein the cushioning member includes a bottom portion comprised of a first material and a top portion attached to the bottom portion, the top portion being comprised of a second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         13 . The clothing strap cushioning system of  claim 11 , wherein the retaining channel is disposed along at least a portion of an upper surface of the cushioning member, and wherein the retaining channel is configured to retain the clothing strap therein and to separate at least a portion of the clothing strap from the wearer. 
     
     
         14 . The clothing strap cushioning system of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more overhanging portions disposed along at least a portion of an upper surface of the cushioning member, and wherein the one or more overhanging portions are configured to retain the clothing strap therein. 
     
     
         15 . The clothing strap cushioning system of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of routing holes extending from an upper surface of the cushioning member to a lower surface of the cushioning member, and wherein the plurality of routing holes are configured to assist in securing the clothing strap on the cushioning member when the clothing strap is looped through the routing holes. 
     
     
         16 . The clothing strap cushioning system of  claim 11 , wherein the cushioning member includes raised end sections along opposing sides of an upper surface of the cushioning member. 
     
     
         17 . The clothing strap cushioning system of  claim 11 , wherein the cushioning member is composed of at least one silicone material. 
     
     
         18 . A cushioning apparatus comprising:
 a cushioning member;   a fabric covering over the cushion member; and   a retaining member affixed to a longitudinal side of the fabric covering and releasably attached to an opposite longitudinal side of the fabric,   wherein the retaining member is configured to detach from the opposite longitudinal side of the fabric covering to receive a clothing strap, and to reattach to the opposite longitudinal side of the fabric covering to secure the clothing strap in place .   
     
     
         19 . The cushioning apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a snap button for removably attaching the retaining member to the fabric covering. 
     
     
         20 . The cushioning apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a hook and loop closure member for removably attaching the retaining member to the fabric covering.