CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/468,559, which was filed on May 7, 2003. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to supporting mechanisms for items to be carried by an individual, and more specifically to an adjustable strap assembly that can be releasably connected to the item in order to enable the item to be moved and be more comfortably positioned on the wearer.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    In order to enable an individual to carry a number of items without utilizing the hands or arms of the individual, a number of different types of supports have been developed that are worn on the body of the individual. A large number of these supports are designed as or including a belt that is secured about the waist of the individual. For example, in order to enable a worker to carry a number of tools and other items, tool belts have been developed which are worn about the waist of the individual and provide attachment points for a number of different tools as well as pouches for retaining a number of different items, such as nails and screws. These belts also have some type of adjustment mechanism, such as a buckle, that enables the length of the belt to be varied to accommodate the particular individual and hold the belt in the desired spot on the individual.  
           [0004]    However, due to the overall weight of the items secured to or positioned on the tool belt, often times the belt does not remain in the position where the individual initially secured it to the individual&#39;s body. The shifting of the tool belt on the individual usually results in the belt being positioned in an uncomfortable location on the individual, and/or at a location which prevents the individual from moving in a relatively unhindered manner. This impairs the efficiency of the individual by forcing the individual to constantly readjust the position of the belt on the individual.  
           [0005]    Therefore, it is desirable to develop an assembly or mechanism which can releasably and securely retain an item, such as a belt, worn by an individual in a desired location on the individual. Further, the assembly should be able to adjust the position of the belt on the individual such that if and when the belt shifts to an undesirable position, the individual can then utilize the assembly to quickly and easily move the belt to a more desirable position.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a support strap assembly for an item worn around the waist of an individual that is used to support a number of objects, where the assembly is releasably securable to the item.  
           [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a support strap assembly that is capable of quickly and easily adjusting the position of the item to which the assembly is secured on an individual wearing both the assembly and the item.  
           [0008]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a support strap assembly that has a relatively simple construction formed of a number of straps interconnected with one another and releasably engageable with the item.  
           [0009]    The present invention is a support strap assembly comprised of a number of straps interconnected to one another and releasably connectable to an item worn by an individual around the waist of the individual and used to support or hold various objects on the individual, such as a belt, in order to adjustably support the item on the individual. The assembly includes a pair of central straps, formed in a manner similar to a pair of suspenders, that each include releasable attaching means at opposite ends. The attaching means are engageable with the item in order to secure the central straps to the item and allow for any adjustments in the length of the central straps to consequently result in movement of the item on the individual.  
           [0010]    The support strap assembly also includes a pair of auxiliary straps each secured to one of the central straps at one end. The auxiliary straps are formed similarly to the central straps and each include a releasable attaching means disposed at the end of the auxiliary strap opposite the central strap that is engageable with the item. Generally opposite the attaching means, each auxiliary strap includes a buckle or other adjustment mechanism that enables the length of the auxiliary strap to be adjusted by adjusting the length of the portion of the auxiliary strap which extends from the buckle. By adjusting the length of the auxiliary straps, the position of the item on the individual can be moved by raising or lowering the item with respect to the individual in a manner other than simply adjusting the length of the central straps.  
           [0011]    Further, the assembly includes a pair of sternum straps that are engaged at one end with each of the central straps and are releasably engageable opposite the central straps with one another. The sternum straps are engageable with one another to prevent the central straps, and the assembly in general, from shifting or sliding outwardly with regard to the body of the individual, depending upon the positioning of the assembly and the item on the individual.  
           [0012]    Various other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention.  
         [0014]    In the drawings:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is an isometric front view of the support strap assembly of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the support strap assembly of FIG. 1; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a rear plan view of the support strap assembly of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, a strap assembly constructed according to the present invention is disclosed generally at  10  in FIG. 1 as worn by an individual  8 . The assembly  10  is formed with a pair of central straps  12  connected to one another to form a suspender arrangement  14 . The straps  12  can be formed of any suitable lightweight and durable material, such as interwoven strands of natural and/or synthetic fibers. The straps  12  can also be formed to incorporate a padding or cushioning material (not shown) within or on one side of the straps  12  to provide additional comfort to the individual  8  wearing the assembly  10 . Each central strap  12  includes a front portion  16  and a rear portion  18 , with the rear portions  18  joined to one another by a suitable connecting member  20 . Alternatively, to provide the same function the central straps  12  can be modified to incorporate the rear portions  18  into a single strap (not shown), or both the front portions  16  and rear portions  18  can be combined into a unitary strap (not shown) including an opening (not shown) through which the individual  8  places their head (not shown) to use the assembly  10 .  
         [0019]    The connecting member  20  enables the central straps  12  to be secured to one another in a manner which forms the suspender arrangement  14 . The connecting member  20  can be attached to each strap  12  in any suitable manner, such as by an adhesive, stitching, or mechanical fasteners, such as rivets, and is formed of a flexible, yet durable material, such as leather. Also, the connecting member  20  can include a pad (not shown) disposed on the connecting member  20  and facing the front portion  16  of each strap  12  that contacts the back of the individual  8  to increase the comfort of the assembly  10  on the individual  8 . Alternatively, the connecting member  20  can be omitted and the rear portions  18  of each strap  12  can be connected directly to one another.  
         [0020]    Each central strap  12  also includes a pair of securing means  22  disposed at opposite ends of the strap  12  on both the front portion  16  and the rear portion  18 . The connecting means  22  can be any releasable securing means, with an alligator clip  24  being preferred, but any other suitable type of securing means, such as a button, snap, or Velcro connection, among others, are usable as well.  
         [0021]    Looking now at FIGS. 1-3, to enable the length of each of the central straps  12  to be adjustable, each of the front portions  16  is formed with a loop  25  connected to a buckle  26 . The loop  25  has one end secured to the buckle  26  and a second end that is threaded through the buckle  26  to form the remainder of the front portion  16  of the strap  12 . The second end of the loop  25  can be moved through the buckle  26  to enable the length of the loop  25  and front portion  16  to be lengthened or shortened as necessary to adjust the overall length of the assembly  10 .  
         [0022]    The strap assembly  10  also includes a pair of auxiliary straps  28  formed of a material similar to that used for the central straps  12  that are affixed to each of the front portions  16  of each of the central straps  12  in the vicinity of the buckles  26 . Each auxiliary strap  28  includes a connecting portion  30  that is affixed to an interior surface  32  of the front portion  16 , and an adjustable portion  34  attached to the connecting portion  30 . The connecting portions  30  can be secured to the front portions  16  by any suitable means, such as stitching, an adhesive, a mechanical fastener, such as a rivet, among others or any combinations thereof. The adjustable portion  34  includes a free end  36  that is inserted into and engaged with a buckle  38  attached to the connecting portion  30  opposite the central strap  12 , and an attaching means  40  attached to the adjustable portion  34  opposite the free end  36 . The attaching means  40  is engageable with the item worn by the individual, such as a belt  42  of any of a number of different types, and can be formed similarly to the attaching means  22 , in order to releasably affix the auxiliary strap  28  to the belt  42 . Also, the connection of the free end  36  of the adjustable portion  34  to the buckle  38  of the connecting portion  30  is preferably made by threading the free end  36  through the buckle  38  to enable the length of the adjustable portion  34  to be lengthened or shortened as necessary. Further, each auxiliary strap  28  can be secured to the adjacent central straps  12  by an adjustable means similar to that used for the sternum strap  44 , as will be described.  
         [0023]    The assembly  10  also includes a sternum strap  44  including a first section  46  and second section  48  each formed of a material similar to that used to form the central straps  12  that are releasably connected to one another and connected to one of the central straps  12 . The first section  46  includes a first end  50  including a first securing structure or member  52 . A strip  54  formed of a material similar to that used for the central straps  12  is inserted through the first securing member  52  and secured at its opposite ends using any suitable means, such as by stitching, to an exterior surface  56  of the front portion  16 , such as by stitching, in order to slidably affix the first securing structure member  52  in a manner with respect to the strip  54  and the front portion  16 . Opposite the securing structure  52 , the first section  46  also includes a buckle  58  at a second end  59 .  
         [0024]    The second section  48  is formed similarly to the first section  46 , including a first end  60  having a second securing member  62  attached thereto. The second securing member  62  is slidably affixed with regard to the front portion  16  of the central strap  12  by a strip  64  inserted through the second securing structure  62  and attached to the exterior surface  56  of the opposite central strap  12  in the manner described previously. Further, the second section  48  includes a buckle-engaging structure  66  that is releasably engageable with the buckle  58  secured to the first section  46 . The buckle-engaging structure  66  includes a pair of slots (not shown) through which a second end  67  of the second section  48  can be threaded in order to enable the second section  48  and sternum strap  44  to be adjusted in length as necessary. Alternatively, the first section  46  and the second section  48  can omit both the securing members  52  and  62  and the strips  54  and  64 , and can each be attached directly to the interior surface  32  or exterior surface  56  of each front portion  16 . Further, instead of using the securing members  52  and  62  to attach the strap sections  46  and  48  to the central straps  12 , the strap sections  46  and  48  can have their respective first ends  50  and  60  formed as loops (not shown) positioned around the front portion  16  of each central strap  12  under the strips  54  and  64 , respectively.  
         [0025]    In use, initially the individual  8  utilizing the assembly  10  secures the belt  42  around the individual&#39;s waist. The individual  8  then positions the assembly  10  over the individual&#39;s shoulders and attaches each of the securing means  22  and attaching means  40  to the belt  42  at the desired locations in order to secure the assembly  10  to the belt  42 . The central straps  12  and auxiliary straps  28  are then each adjusted in length using loops  25 , adjustable portions  34  and buckles  26  and  38  in order to enable the assembly  10  to properly support and position the belt  42  on the individual  8 . After the belt  42  is properly positioned, the sternum strap  44  is engaged across the chest of the individual  8  to further maintain this alignment.  
         [0026]    When the individual  8  places a number of items into or on the belt  42 , the weight of the items, and/or movement of the individual  8  will normally cause the position of the belt  42  to shift with respect to the waist of the individual  8 . However, due to the engagement of the assembly  10  secured to the belt  42 , the initial position of the belt  42  on the individual is maintained in spite of the weight on the belt  42  and the individual&#39;s movement. Under certain conditions, however, the magnitude of the weight of the items on the belt  42  and/or very vigorous movement of the individual  8  may shift the position of the belt  42  by loosening the straps  12  and  28  as a result as the weight and/or movement, even though the assembly  10  is connected to the belt  42 . In order to reposition the belt  42  where desired on the individual  8 , depending upon the amount of shift of the belt  42 , the individual  8  can readjust the length of the central straps  12  and/or the auxiliary straps  28  by shortening the straps  12 ,  28  to raise the belt  42 , or lengthening the straps  12 ,  28  to lower the belt  42  into a more comfortable position on the individual in the manner described above.  
         [0027]    Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.
A support strap assembly for releasable attachment to a belt or other item for supporting objects worn around the waist area of an individual. The assembly includes a pair of central straps forming a suspender arrangement and a pair of auxiliary straps extending outwardly and connected to the suspender arrangement. When the assembly is secured to the belt, depending upon the amount of weight supported by the belt on the individual, the central straps and auxiliary straps can be adjusted in length to adjust the position of the belt with respect to the individual such that the belt is positioned at a more comfortable location on the individual. The assembly can also include a sternum strap connectable across the front of the suspender arrangement to stabilize the position of the assembly on the individual.