AU2005100536A4

AU2005100536A4 - A back pack

Info

Publication number: AU2005100536A4
Application number: AU2005100536A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John TSEKOURAS
Original assignee: EXPLORE PLANET EARTH Pty Ltd
Current assignee: EXPLORE PLANET EARTH Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-06-29
Filing date: 2005-06-29
Publication date: 2005-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-29

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 EXPLORE PLANET EARTH PTY LTD COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

INNOVATION

PATENT

Invention Title: A backpack The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us:- Field of the Invention This invention relates to a back pack. In this specification, the term "back pack" is to be understood in a broad sense to include any load carrying article of the type borne on the back of a person and includes, but is not limited to, conventional back packs, camping or hiking packs, school satchels, computer bags, postman's bags, or the like.

Background to the Invention A back pack is a convenient means of conveying loads as it keeps the user's hands free. There is a large variety of shapes and sizes of back packs available on the market.

Equally though, there is as large, if not larger, a variety of human physiques.

Thus a back pack which comfortably fits one person may be extremely uncomfortable for another person. A need therefore exists for a back pack which can be comfortably worn by the majority of users.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a back pack which includes a receptacle; and a harness carried on the receptacle for mounting the receptacle on a back of a person, the harness comprising a pair of shoulder straps, arranged, in use, over shoulders of the person, a free end of each strap carrying an engaging element and the harness further having a plurality of securing elements associated with each strap for varying the position relative to the harness at which the free end of the strap is secured to the harness, the free end of the strap being secured to the harness by the engaging element of the strap engaging one of its associated securing elements.

The harness may include a hip belt to be worn about hips of the person, the securing elements being arranged in groups on opposed parts of the hip belt. More particularly, the hip belt may comprise two parts securable together via a buckle arrangement, each part carrying a component of the buckle arrangement. The harness may include two securing elements carried on each part, one securing element being arranged closer to the component of the buckle arrangement of its associated part than the other securing element. In use, the closer securing element is intended for use by male users and the other securing element is intended for use by female users.

Preferably, the harness is adjustably mounted on the receptacle.

m:\speci\1 20000\1 22-123\1 23311 inv-cmpchb.doc According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a harness for a back pack, the harness including a mounting formation for mounting to a receptacle of the back pack; a pair of shoulder straps extending from the mounting formation to be arranged, in use, over shoulders of the person, a free end of each strap carrying an engaging element; and a hip belt to be worn about hips of the person, the hip belt carrying a plurality of securing elements associated with each strap for varying the position relative to the hip belt at which the free end of the strap is secured to the hip belt, the free end of the strap being secured to the hip belt by the engaging element of the strap engaging one of its associated securing elements.

Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which: Fig. 1 shows a three dimensional view of a back pack in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 2 shows a rear view of the back pack.

Description of Exemplary Embodiment In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates a back pack in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The back pack 10 includes a receptacle or pack 12. A harness 14 is arranged on the pack 12 for mounting the pack 12 on a back of a person. More particularly, the harness 14 is arranged on a rear panel 16 of the pack 12. By "rear panel" is meant that panel of the pack 12 which, in use, bears against the back of the person.

The harness 14 comprises a pair of shoulder straps 18 extending from webbing The webbing 20 is adjustably received in a pocket 22 on the rear panel 16. A height of the harness 14 relative to the rear panel 16 can be adjusted via an adjusting mechanism 24.

The harness 14 further includes a hip belt 26. The hip belt 26 comprises two parts 28. One of the parts 28 carries a first component 30 of a buckle 32 while the other part 28 carries a second component 34 of the buckle 32 for fastening the hip belt 26 about hips of the person.

A free end of each strap 18 carries an engaging element in the form of a cliptype fastener 36. Each part 28 of the hip belt 26 carries a plurality, more particularly, m:\speci\1 20000\1 22-123\1 23311 inv-cmpchb.doc two, laterally spaced securing elements 38 and 40. The securing element 38 is arranged inwardly of the securing element 40 and at an operatively higher elevation relative to the securing element The fasteners 36 of the belt 18 are fastened to the securing elements 40 when the back pack 10 is to be used by a female user. In this configuration, the straps 18 pass along the sides of the woman's torso and not over her breasts. It will be appreciated that pressure applied by the straps passing over the woman's breasts over prolonged periods can cause discomfort.

Conversely, when the back pack 10 is to be worn by a male user, the fasteners 36 at the free ends of the straps 18 are engaged with the securing elements 38. In this configuration, the straps 18 splay outwardly broadening a notch 42 defined between the straps 18. This reduces pressure on the rear of a man's neck reducing discomfort.

The straps 18 are of a padded material. Similarly, the rear panel 16 of the pack 12 is of a padded material.

The fasteners 36 are carried on adjusters 44 further to accommodate different physiques of people. For this purpose also, retractor buckle webbing 46 is carried on the shoulder straps 18.

In use, the back pack 10 is placed on a person's back and the hip belt 26 is initially adjusted to obtain a snug fit about the hips of the person. The back pack 10 is then removed and the height of the harness 14 relative to the rear panel 16 of the pack 12 is adjusted based on the positioning of the hip belt 26. The height of the harness 14 is adjusted up or down by the adjusting mechanism 24.

The back pack 10 is then again placed on the back of the person and the hip belt 26 is secured about the hips of the person. The shoulder strap webbing 44 is adjusted to obtain the desired fit of the shoulder straps 18. It will be appreciated that, prior to this, the fasteners 36 are fastened to the securing elements 38 or 40 depending on whether the user is male or female, respectively.

Finally, once the shoulder straps 18 and the hip belt 26 are in place, the retractor buckle webbing 46 is adjusted by pulling downwardly on the webbing 46. In this way, a suitable fit for the physique of the person can be obtained.

The back pack 10 includes a number of zippered pouches closed off by zips 48.

For safety purposes, reflective strips 50 are provided on the outer surface of the pack 12 of the back pack 10. A drinks holder 52 is arranged along a side panel of the pack 12.

Finally, elastomeric feet 54 are provided to protect a surface on which the back pack is placed.

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I

It is an advantage of the invention that a back pack 10 is provided which can be adjusted to accommodate different physiques of people in particular, male and female users.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

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Claims

1. A back pack which includes a receptacle; and a harness carried on the receptacle for mounting the receptacle on a back of a person, the harness comprising a pair of shoulder straps, arranged, in use, over shoulders of the person, a free end of each strap carrying an engaging element and the harness further having a plurality of securing elements associated with each strap for varying the position relative to the harness at which the free end of the strap is secured to the harness, the free end of the strap being secured to the harness by the engaging element of the strap engaging one of its associated securing elements.

2. The back pack of claim 1 in which the harness includes a hip belt to be worn about hips of the person, the securing elements being arranged in groups on opposed parts of the hip belt.

3. The back pack of claim 2 in which the hip belt comprises two parts securable together via a buckle arrangement, each part carrying a component of the buckle arrangement and in which the harness includes at least two securing elements carried on each part, one securing element being arranged closer to the component of the buckle arrangement of its associated part than the other securing element.

4. The back pack of any one of the preceding claims in which the harness is adjustably mounted on the receptacle. A harness for a backpack, the harness including a mounting formation for mounting to a receptacle of the back pack; a pair of shoulder straps extending from the mounting formation to be arranged, in use, over shoulders of the person, a free end of each strap carrying an engaging element; and m:\speci\1 20000\1 22-123\1 23311 inv-cmpchb.doc I a hip belt to be worn about hips of the person, the hip belt carrying a plurality of securing elements associated with each strap for varying the position relative to the hip belt at which the free end of the strap is secured to the hip belt, the free end of the strap being secured to the hip belt by the engaging element of the strap engaging one of its associated securing elements. Dated this twenty-ninth day of June 2005 Explore Planet Earth Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F B RICE CO m:\speci\l 20000\1 22-123\1 23311 inv-cmpchb.doc