Inventors:
James P. Reddy - Lynn MA
Christopher S. Eaton - Hampton NH
International Classification:
A45F 402, A45F 304
Abstract:
A carrier for sports balls and similar articles that is mutually convertible between a back pack and a shoulder bag without the addition or subtraction of any element. The carrier includes a primary bag comprised of a flexible shell of material with an exterior surface that encloses an open inner volume of sufficient size for retaining a sports ball. Upper central, lower central, first lateral, and second lateral coupling elements are affixed to the exterior surface of the primary bag. An elongated and flexible strap with a first end with a selectively disengagable first attaching mechanism, a second end with a selectively disengagable second attaching mechanism, and a body portion couples to the primary bag at two or more of the coupling elements depending on the form that the carrier is to be used. The convertible carrier may be employed as a shoulder bag with the first end of the strap coupled to the primary bag at the upper central coupling element and the second end of the flexible strap coupled to primary bag at the lower central coupling element, and the convertible carrier alternatively may be employed as a backpack without the addition or subtraction of any element with the first end of the flexible strap coupled to the primary bag at the first lateral coupling element, the second end of the flexible strap coupled to the primary bag at the second lateral coupling element, and the body portion of the flexible strap coupled to the primary bag at the upper central coupling element substantially to bisect the flexible strap into a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap.