Shoulder-cushion.

Application filed August 9, 1912. Serial No. 714,292.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, James W. Quirk, a citizen of the United States, residing at Claremont, in the county of Sullivan and 5 State of New Hampshire, have invented certain next⁷ and useful Improvements in Shoulder-Cushions, of xvhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoulder cush10 ion supports for straps, or the like, and though susceptible of a variety of uses, is more particularly designed for the use of the mail carrier, nexvsboy, and others who are compelled to carry a bag or other re15 ceptacle suspended by a strap from the shoulder. _;

It has before been suggested in the art to provide a pad adapted to fit over the shoulder and from which was suspended 20 a supporting strap or the like, but prior constructions with which I am familiar, have proven impracticable to a large extent for various reasons, among which may be noted that it was necessary to employ vari25 ous attaching hooks, buckles or the like to secure the strap to the pad and thereby prevent slipping, and it was also customary to employ various securing means between the pad and the garment of the user, 30 all of which was objectionable because of injury to the clothes, and because of the expense incident to the manufacture of the articles which prevented universal adoption by the post-office authorities and others in 35 demand of articles of the character in question.

Among the primary objects of the present invention may be noted the reduction in cost of the construction, the doing away 40 with various securing devices, and the employment of improved means for retaining the strap in place relative to the pad and for maintaining the pad in proper position on the shoulder.

⁴⁵ ’ More particularly the invention embraces a cushion preferably of an integral construction and comprising an elongated strip of yieldable material, having a strap receiving slot extending longitudinally through ⁵⁰ the body of the strip, and friction as well as suction retaining parts to engage the coat or garment at the shoulder of the user.

Other improvements and novel details in the construction and arrangement of ⁵⁵ parts will be clear from the description to follow, which, for a clear understanding of the invention should be considered in connection xvith the accompanying drawings xvhich form a part hereof, and wherein is disclosed, for the purpose of illustration, a eo convenient embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the cushion; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is an end viexv, and Fig. 4 is a transverse section substantially on the 65 line 4—4 of Figs. 1 and 2.

With more particular reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views 1 is a body part of the cushion, 70 the said body part preferably being made up of rubber or other similar yieldable material. The body part 1 is elongated and relatively flat in shape and has projecting inwardly from its inner surface or that sur- 75 face adapted to engage-the garment of the user at the shoulder thereof, a longitudinally extending bead or rib 2, one adjacent each edge of the body portion. Arranged at suitable intervals in the inner surface of 80 the body portion are one or more cut out parts or recesses, there preferably being three in number, one elongated one 3 arranged intermediate the ends of the strip and extending longitudinally thereof, and 85 two round ones 4 one adjacent each end of the strip. These recesses form in effect suction cups, and frictional engaging parts to prevent relative movement or slipping of the pad with regard to the shoulder. Ex- 90 tending longitudinally through the body portion 1 is a slotted way 5, said slot extending from end to end of the body part and being of a size to readily permit of the insertion of a strap or other securing mem- 95 ber usually attached to the mail bag, or newspaper bag, according to the desired use. The sides of the slot preferably terminate at a point inside of the projecting ribs 2. \ 100

The operation may be described as follows: The operator inserts the strap through the slotted way 5 and then applies the cushion to his shoulder. Because of the weight of the bag and contained articles on 105 the strap it will be appreciated that the body portion will give at a point intermediate its sides, thereby compressing the body portion at a point beneath the slotted way 5 and between the ribs 2 thereby per- 110 mitting the inner surface of the cushion at a point intermediate its sides to engage the

1,055,077 surface of the garment at the shoulder thereof. When in such engagement, a slight vacuum will be created in the cups 3 and 4, and the Avails of the recesses 3 and 4 will be 5 held tightly in frictional engagement with the surface and thereby prevent slipping of the cushion on the shoulder. In order to further provide against any slipping in a transverse direction, the ribs at the sides of 10 the inner surface of the pad will frictionally engage the shoulder portion of the garment of the user. It will also be seen that because of the frictional holding characteristic of the body portion, the wall of the slotted way 15 5 will be held in frictional contact with the strip and will thereby prevent any slipping of the strap relative to the cushion. This anti-slipping characteristic, of the slotted way 5 is further increased by reason, of the 20 fact that the body portion is yieldable below the slot 5, thereby drawing the walls of the slot 5 into tight engagement with the strap due to the weight of the parts carried thereby.

While not. absolutely necessary, still further efficiency may result by the provision of an irregular series of shallow corrugations 6 at points between the recesses 3 and 4 and the side ribs 2.

It has been seen that the supporting cushion is of a single piece or integral construction totally devoid of any metallic fastenings or other securing devices, and the cushion presents a smooth appearance 35 which while effectively accomplishing the desired ends tv ill not in any manner injure the clothing of the user.