CA1088478A - Backpack and frame apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKPACK AND FRAME APPARATUS

Abstract of the Disclosure A backpack and frame apparatus comprising a pair of tubular side bars and lateral cross members for supporting the backpack and upper terminus of the shoulder harness. A support-ing belt adapted to be coupled about the user's waist and hips includes downwardly projecting panels disposed on diametrically opposed sides of the belt and adapted to lie substanitally below the waist of the user. A supporting frame is coupled to the lower extensions of the belt and extends about the rear of the user, the support frame being reciprocally coupled to a pack frame cross member to provide independent movement between the pack frame and the support frame.

Description

3ackground of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention i5 The present invention generally relates to a pack frame and ~a-k ~Ihich is adapted to be utili:~ed by campers, hunters, fish-ermen, climbers and the like and, more particularly, to those back-packs which utilize the hips of the user to support the load.

2. Prior Art ....
There are numerous pieces of prior art which disclose backpacks, pack frames and related apparatus. One of the most pertinent pieces of prior art discloses a pack frame and sack ;i therefor which has a primary object to provide a pack frame by which a mjaor portion of the load is carried by the hips of the 2~ user. ~In this device, the hip strap is padded and is tightened ., .

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, , . - , , ~ . . , . . , ., - . -~31347i3 about the hips of the user in a position which is intended -to en-gage the hip bones. The load carriedlby the sack is transferred to the hip strap at each side rather than primarily to the back or shoulders of the user. In this device, an L-shaped hip tube having an upright post and a fo~ward extending arm is mounted adjacent the lower end of side bars and extends forward]y along the hip of the user. A joint for connecting each hip tube and the side bars is adjustable upwardly and downwardly along the side bar while a series of differently angled holes in the post of the hip tube permits the angle of the hip tube to be varied through the use of a removeable pin. The hip strap includes an outer strap and in~er padding and is tightened abou~ the hips of the user while a pin carried in each side of the hip strap extends through a grommet at t:he lower end of the cor~e~pondin~J shoulder strap and through the corresponding h:ip tube 50 that th~ weight oE the pac]c :i5 COllCentXclted at the ~ides of the hips of the user rather than on the shoulder. The inade-quacies of this device are obvious. Since the hip -tubes are attached rigid~y to the rame of the pack on-one end, and to a single point on the belt at the other, that weight of the pack which is not being carried by the shoulders ls brought to bear on a small area over each hip.
Since the hips rise and fall in walking, fric-tion occurs between the belt and the hip.

Another backpack and frame d:islosed by the prior art utilizes a hip belt which is disposed about the waist of the wearer.
¦ ~ 25 The pack frame has two substantially vertical side bars and remain-i~ ing sections of tubing and tees which form the side and transverse ; connectors of the Erame. At least ~ome of the joints of the tubing .- ~
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sections and tees are detachable so that the frame may be disas-sembled. The hip belt is disposed about the waist of the wearer and holds the bottom of the frame in a vertical position. The pro-blem which arises by use of this device is apparent in its design.
An attempt is made to support the load about the waist of the user, but-there is no provision for support and independen~e between the load and the user.
Another pack frame and assembly which is disclosed by the prior art is adapted to be carried upon a person's back through the use of shoulder straps and having hip-engagin~ means thereon to bear on a porti.on of a person's h:ips so as to carry the ma~ority o~ the load thereacJainst. The h.ip-enyacJlng means .includes ~ back~
plate assembly having a pair of anchor plates connected to respec-tive ones of the support tube members which constitute the primary vertlcal support of the pack. The belt assembly is adap-ted to be placed abou-t the waist of the user above the hip line, the full wei~ht of the pack frame being centered at the waist o~ the user . on opposite sides thereof as well as the user's shoulders. As with the devices described hereinabove, the inabii.it~ to provide indep~
endence of movement between the user and the load renders the . prior design inadequate.
. ~he present invention substantially resolves the problem~
which are inherent in the devices disclosed by the prior art. ~A
contoured belt is adapted to be disposed about the waist of the .
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user, the belt including downwardly ex-tending lo~d suppor-t panels which are adapted to be coupled to the load at a point which is substantially below the waist. A rigid support member or yoke is coupled to the lower portions of the suppo~ting extensions and ex-ten~sabout the rear of the user. The pack frame is pivotallycoupled to the yoke in a manner which will permit the user to have normal rotational hip action without being unduly retarded by the load being carried. In this manner, the support of the load at a point substantially below the waist of the user provides for better distribution of the load to the hips and the non-rigid coupling between the yoke and the frame provides for independence of movement between the user and the load.
Summary of the Invention The present invc-~ntion comprises a backpack and frame assembly which substant:ially improves the ability to carry a load thereon. A pair of side frame members are pivotally coupled to a yoke which is adapted to be disposed about the rear of the user.
The yoke is a substantially semi-circular support frame which is adapted to move independently o~ the pack frame. By pivotally coupling the support frarne and yoke to the pack frame, the hips and leg~ oE the ~ser will be free to move in a normal manner in-dependent oE the load which is being carried by the pac~ frame.
A supporting belt is disposed about the waist of the user, the belt having downwardly ex-tending panels or gussets along the hips of the user. The do~nwardly extending supporting panels each include appropriate couplings which are disposed substantlally , , _ a,--.
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`" 1~88~'7~3 below the waistline of the user. The couplings lie on opposite sides of the user and are in substantially the same plane. The support frame and yoke is joined to the coupling of the support belt. By ~oining the support frame-yoke to the supporting belt by means of gussets which allow for attachment at a point which is substantially below the waistline of the user, the full load which is being supported by the pack frame will be distributed along the hips of the user in a manner which cannot be obtained where gussets are not used and the load is attached directly to the belt. The pack frame is pivotally coupled to the support frame-yoke in a manner which will permit the support frame-yoke to rock or otherwise have independence of movement with respect to the pack frame. When the user moves in a normal manner, his hips will tend to rock and thereby trans~er equal motion to the support rame-yoke. The pack ~rame is held in place b~ shoulder straps and there~ore c~n be maintained in a stable position irrespective of the rockiny move-ment which is transferred to -the yoke by the ambulatory motion of the user.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved backpack and frame apparatus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a backpack and frame apparatus which isolates the user's movement ; ~rom the supported load.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a backpack and frame apparatus which fully distributes the supported load'about the hips of the user.

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It is still yet another objec-t of the present invention to provide a backpack and -~rame apparatus which is simple and in-expensive to fabricate.
The novel features which are believed to be character~
- 5 istic of the invention, both as to i-ts organization and method of opera-tion, together with Eurther objectives and advan-tages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which a presen-tly preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of ex-ample. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the draw-ing is for the purpose of illustration and description only, and is not intended as a definition of the limits oE the invention.
~rieE Descrlpt:ion oE the Drawing __~___ _ FIGURE 1 illustrat~s a form of the present invention backpack frame apparatus on a user.
FIGURE 2 illustrates a perspective view oE a preferred form of a backpack and frame apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
FIGURE 3 illustrates an exploded, assembly view of the supporting hip belt, yoke and pack rame shown in FIGtJRE 2.
FIGURE ~ illustrates an alternative form Eor th~ coupl-ing between the pack frame and supportincJ be:lt utiliznc~ a cable and pulley assembly.
FIGURE 5 illustrates an alternative form for the coupl-ing between the pack frame and supporting belt utilizing hydrauliccylinders.

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` ~81~78 FIGURE 6 illustrates an alternative form o~ the coupling between the pack frame and the support belt utilizing a lever and cable assembly.
FIGURE 7 illustrates an alternative form for coupling the pack frame to the support belt utilizing beveled gear gimbaling.
Description of the Presently Preferred Embodiment Referring now to FIGU~E 1, an understanding oE the basic relationship between the present invention backpack and frame app-aratus and the user can be best seen. User 10 has disposed on his back the present invention backpack and frame assembly :Ll. Back-pack and ~rame assembly 11 comprises a pair o~ pack frame side members 12 which are laterally coupled in a manner which will be described hereinbelow. Shoulder straps 13 are fixedly joined to backpack and frame assembly 11 to provide upp~r support ~or the load which is carried in backpack 14. User 10 has disposed about his w~ist a supporting belt 15. Belt 15 has disposed along each side thereof downwardly extending support sections or gussets whi~h extend substantially below the waistline of user 10. Sup-port frame 17 extends about the rear o~ user 10 and is coupled to the lower extensions of support gussets 16 by conventional coupling means such as the nut and bolt illustrated by re~erence numeral 18.
~s will be described hereinbelow, support frame 17 is pivotally coupied to backpack and frame assemb:Ly 11 in a manner which will permit user 10 to freely move without being unduly retarded by the load held in backpack 14. Since typical movement of user 10 ~Ji;Ll require undulating and reciprocal pivoting of the hips, supporting ' , ' ' .: ' ';

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belt 15 and frame 17 will simultaneously adopt the identical move-ment. By pivotally coupling support frame 17 to backpack and frame assembly 11, each of the pivotally coupled members 17 and 11 will move independent of one another while providing vertical support for the load held by backpack 14. To prov:ide further distribution of the load across the back OL user 10, webbing 19 and 20 is stre-tched between back frame side members 12 in a position which will conform to the supporting surfaces of the back of user 10. In addition, webbing 19 and 20 will provide air space between the bac~ of user 10 and backpack 14 for comfort as well as to protect user 10 from any sharp edge or object which may be stored in back-pack 1~.
An wnderstandiny oE the constructic)n oE a pre~erred form o the present inv~ntion can be best seen by xef~.rence to FIGURr~ 2 and E'IGURE 3. Backpack and frame assembly l:L comprises a palr of frame side members 12 which are disposed in parallel spaced rela-tion to each other. Lateral cross members 30 and 31 are coupled ¦ intermediate frame side members 12 in a manner which will main-tain rigidity of frame 11 and maintain the appropriate spacing be-tween side members 12. Although any conventional coupling may be utilized, lateral cros~s members 30, 31 and 32 are typically welded to frame side members 12 i~ appropriate materials are used. Where it is desired to produce a foxm of the present invention which is lightweight, side members 12 and lateral cross members 30/ 31, 32 and 33 are preferably formed of lightweight tubing such as alum-inum. Where the elements of frame assembly 11 are fabricated of , i , 7~

materials which cannot be welded, appropriate mechanical couplings can be substituted therefor.
Shoulder strap support tube 33 is coupled ~o intermediate ' lateral cross members 30 and 31. Support tube 33 includes aligned, vertical adjustment apertures 34 in spaced relation to one another.
; Shoulder straps 13 include a padded section 35 which is adapted to be disposed across the shoulders of user 10, padded sections 35 : being coupled to the lower portions of frame side members 12 through the use of adjustable straps 36. Straps 36 are joined to side mem~
bers 12 by grommets and clevis pins or any other conventional mech-anica; coupling means 37 at a position which is substantially at the waist of the user 10. The termini of padded sections 35 oppo-site to straps 36 are coupled to a clevis which is attached to the shoulder strap support tube by means of a clevi5 pin that ,', 15 p~ssQs through one of the adjustment apertures 34 to conform to the size requirement of user 10. As was described in connection with FIGURE'l, webbing 19 and 20 is laterally disposed between pack frame side members 12 to cushion the load against the back of ' ~ user 10 and provide an air space between user 10 and backpack 14.
Additional comfort may be created by increasing the curvature o lateral cross member 31 to account for the typical curvature which would occur at the mid-section of the back oE user 10. As will be described hereinbelow, lateral cross member 32 does not come in . ~ contact with the user 10 and therefore is substantially straight , 25 as,can be best~seen in FIGURE 3.
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e ~8~9L78 Primary support for the present invention backpack and frame assembly 11 is derived from support belt 15 which can be best seen in FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 3. Support belt 15 is typically fabricated of a pair of complementary sections 40 and 41 which are disposed on either side of user 10 along the user's hips. Support belt 15 is preferably fabricated from an interlaced, mesh structure although a padded oam construction can be utilzied. Use of a mesh structure will combine the necessary stren~th with means for cooling the areas of the user which are covered by belt 15. As can be best seen in FIGURE 2, sections 40 and 41 are joined at the rearward juncture thereof by straps 42a and 42b. Although straps 42a and 42b provide for increased flexibility of belt sections ~0 and ~1, it is obvious that a unitary skructure could be utili~ed to implement supporting belt 15. ~ conven-tional stxap ~3 is securely aEfixed to supporting sect:ion 40, a mating buckle 44 being affixed to supporting section 41 to provide for a mating assembly such as that shown in FIGURE 3. Belt assembly 43 and 44 are adapted I to be secured about the waist of the user 10 in a secure manner to provide the base for supporting the loads held by the present inven-~0 tion backpack frame assembly 11.
Supporting sections 40 and 41 each include downwardly tending panels 16a and 16b which compri~e gussets which extend along the user's hips. The apex of each gusset 16a and 16b has a complementary aperture thereto and incorporates grommets 45a and 45b therein to provide the means for coupling the backpack frame assembly 11 thereto. As can be best seen in FIGURE 3, the tapered profile of gussets 16a and 16b provide means for distributing any load thereon about substantially the ull periphery of supporting belt 15. The significance of load distribution will be explalned j 30 in deta:il hereinbelow.

L7~3 A preferred form of the present invention utilizes a supporting frame 17 to couple frame assembly 11 to supporting belt 15. Support frame 17 has a substantially planar rear section 50 which depends at either end thereto into tapered flanges 51a and 51b. The termini of flanges 51a and 51b are substantially parallel to each other and each have a respective set of adjusbment apertuxes 52 which are adapted to be aligned with grommets ~5a and ~Sb. The size of user 10 will determine the appropriate adjustment and appro-priate coupling means are used to secure support frame 17 to gussets i 10 16a and 16b at gro~nmets 45a and ~5b respect:ivcl~. Typical coupl-incJ maans are shown .in F:tGURE 3 wherein a suitable bolt S3 is in-i serted throuyh grommet ~5b and the mating adjustment aperture ~2,

3 a securing washer 54 being disposed over the shank of bolt 53 and a cotter pin 56 disposed through orifice 55. It is clear that although the use of bolt 53 with a mating cotter pin 56 is a suit-able means for coupling supporting belt 15 and supporting frame 17, other suitable mechanical coupling clevices can be used.
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As set forth hereinabover an objective of the present invention is to provide independence of movement between support frame 17 and the portion of backpack frame assembly 11 which sup-ports the main load. A form of the present invention is shown in .

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FIGURE 3. A substantially flat, rigid plate 60 is secured between lateral cross members 32 and 38 substantially intermediate pac~
frame side members 12. An orifice 61 is disposed through plate 60 and is adapted to be aligned with a mating orifice 62 disposed through rear panel 50 of supporting frame 17. A suitable coupling 63 is disposed through oriice 61 and orifice 62 which secures . . supporting frame 17 to plate 60 while permitting support frame 17 to reciprocally move about the a~is of coupling 63. In this manner, I any load held by backpac~ and frame assembly 11 will be vertically ¦ 10 supported at gussets 16a and 16b through coupling 63 while simul-.¦ taneously permit-ting support frame 17 to adopt the rocking motion which would necessarily result when user 10 moves in a conventional ambulàtory manner. Since substantial loads can be placed upon plate 60, means must be prov:ided to i.nsure that the relat:i.ve movemen~ of 15 plate 60 and rear panel 50 against one another will be unhind~red, e.g., .. through the use of bearings or other appropriate non-frictional ¦ . surfaces. The form of the present inventlon shown in FIGURE 3 illustrates the use of a pair of Teflon pads 64a and 64b mounted upon the surface of plate 60. Since the relative movement of plate 60 and rear panel 50 will constitute a reciprocating movement about the axis o:E coupling 63, the portions of plate 60 and rear panel 50 which are in contact will have Te1On pads 64a and 6~b inter-mediate thereto thereby substantially eliminating the Erictional contact which would ordinarily be presented. Although the use of - 25 Teflon pads is a preferable form for implementing the present invention, it is clear that the function of pads 64a and 64b ;
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can be implemented through the use of a suitable structure ~or re-ducing friction such as bearings, rollers or other conventional devices which will facilitate the movement of the planar sur~ace against the frame bearing surface.
A primary object of the present invention is to give the user 10 independence of movement ~rom the pack assembly. In the form of the present invention described in connection with EIGURES
1 - 3, inclusive, supporting frame 17 was pivotally couplea to plate 50 to meet this objec-tive. FIGURES 4 - 7, inclusive, illus-trate alternative means for implementing this objective o~ the pre-sent invention. Re~erring now to FIGURE 4, an alterna-tive form o~
the present invention is illustra-ted. Pack lrame slde members 70a and 70b are deflec-t~ or extended eorward .in the vic:inity of the waist o~ user 10. The terminus of each of the s:id~ membcrs 70a and 7Ob are deflected clownwardly in a manner which would place them substantially vertical and adjacent grommets 45a and 45b in gussets 16a and 16b respectively. Pulleys 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 and 76 are mounted along side members 70a and 70b and a substantially U-shaped cross member 77 in the manner sho~n in FIGURE 4. U-shaped lateral cross member 77 ~its about the user and provides means ~or guiding cable 78 thereabout. Cable 78 is disposed through cable guides 79 and 80 and i5 terminated at either end by coupling devices which can be secured to gussets 16a and 16b at grommets 45a and 45b.
Coupling devices 81 and 82 are secured to grom~lets 45a and 45b res-pectively. When couplings 81 and 82 are secured to grommets 45a and 45b, the loads moanted to side members 70a and 70b will put '' ' .

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8~'713 cable 78 in tens;on, the load being imposed on supporting belt 15 a-t gussets 16a and 16b. ~ny rocking or reciprocal movement which is caused by the ambulatory motion oE user 10 will be transmitted to cable 78 in a manner which will cause it to move over pullies 71 - 76, inclusive, in a consistent manner. Side frames 70a and 7Ob can move independently of supporting hip bel-t 15, the relative movement therebetween being compensated for by the movement of cable 78 over the pulley assembly.
Re~erring now to FIGURE 5, another alternative structure for providing the independent support for backpack and frame assem-bly 11 can be best seen. In place of the pu]ley and cable assembly shown in FIGURE 4, suitable hydraulic cylinders 9O are mounted upon pack frame sid~ members 70a and 7~b. Although only a single sample is shown in FIGU~E 5, it is clear thak the complementary structurc is mounted upon frame side members 70a. ~Iydraulic cylinder gO is a conventional device which utilizes piston 91 to impose force on the hydraulic cylinder and creates a compressive force on the hydraulic fluid which flows through tubing which will couple the cylinders 9O to one another. Typically, the hydraulic tubing ~2 can be disposed through lateral cross member 77. Coupling 93 is secured to gusset 16b and a complementary coupling secured to gusset 16a. Reciproca:L movement of the hips of the user will cause reciprocal hydraulic pressure to be imposed upon the hy-draulic 1uid thereby establishing independence of movement between the user and the pack frame.

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1~88478 Referring now to FIGURE 6, another alternative embodi-ment to that shown in FIGURE 4 can be best seen. A lever arm 100 is pivoted about an appropriate poin-t on the lower terminus o~ si~e frame 70b, one end of lever 100 havin~ cable 101 secured thereto, the second end of lever arm 100 bein~ coupled to grommet 45b of ~usset 16b by clevis 102. Cable 101 can be directed about pulleys in the manner shown with respect to pullies 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 and 76 (FIGURE 4) or directed across a lateral cross member inter-mediate side frames 70a and 70b in a suitable manner. ~he load held by frame 70a and 70b will be supported at gusset 60b, the independence of movement between supporting belt 15 and the pack frame being accomplished through the reciprocal movement of lever 100 about pivot 103. Although only a single element was shown in FIGURE ~, it is clear that a complementary lever system is a~ixed to side members 70a and secured to gusset 16a in the manner shown in FIGURE 6.
Another alternatiue form of the means 'o isolate the backpack frame 11 from the user is shown in FIGURE 7. ~ pair o pac~ frame side members 110 are vertically disposed in the manner shown in FIGURES 1 - 3, inclusive. I,ateral cross members 111 and 112 maintain side members 110 in parallel spaced relation to one another and provide the lateral strength to support the loads which will be incurred. Although it is not shown, side members 109 and 110 utilize shoulder straps in the same manner as illustrated in ¦ 25 FIGURE 1. A vertical~ brace 113 is disposed upwardly from lateral ! ~ cross member 112 intexmediate side members 109 and llO. Axle 114 ' ~

' -15-, . `' ,, . ' ' 31~8~478 is suitably journeled between brackets 115 and 116, a~le 117 being suitabley journeled between brackets 118 and 119 respectively.
Brackets 115 and 119 are secured to side members 109 and 110 res-pectively. Brackets 116 and 117 depend from vertical brace 113.
The inner terminus of axles 114 and 117 are secured to a pair of beveled gears 120 and 121 respectively. Be ~led gears 120 and 121 are engaged with a circular beveled gear 122 which is rotatably affixed to vertical brace 113 and adapted to rotate about its axis 123. The second end of axles 114 and 117 are secured to lever arms 124 and 125 respectively. Apertures 126 and 127 are disposed at the ; ends of lever arms 124 and 125 respectively and are adapted to engage grommets 45a and 45b in gussets 16a and 16b respectively.
The couplings intermediate lever arms :l2~ and 125 and gussets 16a alld :L6b are pivotal permitting lever arms 124 and 12S to apply rotational torque to axles 114 ancl lL7 in response to any vertical deElection of gussets 16a and 16b.
In operation, ambulatory movement of user 10 will neces-sarily transmit a rocking motion to gussets 16a and 16b of support-ing belt lS. In the form of the invention shown in FIGURE 7, the upward and downward deflection of yussets 16a and 16b -~ill be trans-mitted to levers 124 and 125. The upward and downward deflection of gussets 16a and 16b will be transmitted to levers 124 and 125.
The transmission o~ the reciprocating movement to axles 114 and 117 will cause,alternate rotation of axles 114 and 117, the complem-, - 25 entary motion being transmitted through the use of mating beveled gear 122. By this configuration, the movement of user 10 is isalated .. . .

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It can therefore be seen that the present invention pro-vides a substantial improvement over the backpack assemblies which are disclosed by the prior art. By provicling means to suspend the loads of the backpack from points substantially below the waist of the user, and by distributing that load in an efficient manner about the waist and the hips of the user, any discomfort which would normally occur is substantially eliminated. In addi-tion, by providing lndependence of movement between the backpack frame and the user, the load does not act in any manner to retard the ~ree movement of the user while simultaenously permitting the load to be supported in a comfortable manner.

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Claims (9)

1. A backpack and frame apparatus comprising:
(a) a frame comprising a pair of side bar members and upper and lower lateral cross members connecting said side bar members;
(b) an upper support tube coupled intermediate a pair of upper cross members, said upper support tube with verti-cally oriented adjustment apertures in spaced relation to each other and aligned parallel to said side members;
(c) a pair of shoulder straps, the upper ends thereof being coupled to vertically aligned adjustment apertures;
(d) a hip belt including an engagement member adapted to encircle the waist of a user, said hip belt including a pair of gussets extending downwardly from diametrically opposed sides of said hip belt, the lower projection of said gussets being substantially below said engagement member and adapted to be adjacent the hips of the user and be diametrically opposed to one another;
(e) means for attaching the lower ends of said shoulder straps to respective ones of said side bar members substantially adjacent said lower lateral cross members;
(f) a supporting frame comprising a substantially planar rear member and side members extending from either edge thereof, said side members being deflected from said planar rear member parallel to respective ones of said gusetts, the termini of said said members being in parallel spaced relation to each other and including a plurality of aligned adjustment apertures, a respective pair of adjustment apertures in each of the side members of supporting frame being coupled to the lower projection of the adjacent gussets of said hip belt dia-metrically opposed to one another;
(g) lower bearing surfaces secured between lateral lower cross members intermediate said pairs of said bar members;
and (Claim 1, continued) (h) means for pivotally coupling the planar rear member of said supporting frame to said lower bearing surfaces about an axis substantially perpendicualr to said planar rear member whereby said hip belt and supporting frame are free to reciprocally move about said axis independent of said frame.

2. A backpack and frame apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the side members extending from said planar rear member are deflected in an arc and adapted to be substantially parallel to respective ones of said gussets.

3. A backpack and frame apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein means for pivotally coupling comprises an aperture centrally disposed in said planar rear member and said lower bearing surface, and coupling means disposed through said apertures along the axis lying perpendicular to said planar rear member whereby said planar rear member will rotate with respect to said lower bearing surface about the axis perpendicular to said planar rear member.

4. A backpack and frame apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said gussets are tapered downwardly from said hip belt whereby a load coupled to the lower projection of said gussets is distributed uniformly about said hip belt.

5. A backpack and frame apparatus comprising:
(a) a frame including a pair of side bar members and upper and lower lateral cross members connecting said side bar members;
(b) an upper support tube coupled intermediate a pair of upper cross members intermediate said side bar members;

(Claim 5, continued) (c) a pair of shoulder straps, the upper ends thereof attached to said support tube;
(d) hip belt means for encircling the waist of a user, said hip belt means including downwardly extending panels adapted to lie along the hips of the user, each of said panels including grommets for attachment thereto, said grommets being diametrically opposed to one another;
(e) means for attaching the lower ends of said shoulder straps to respective ones of said side bar members substantially adjacent the waist of the user;
(f) a supporting frame comprising a substantially planar rear member and side member extending on either side thereof, said side members being deflected forwardly and inwardly from said planar rear member substantially paralle to the side panels of said hip belt means, the termini of said side members being in parallel spaced relation to each other coupled to respective ones of said grommets;
(g) a lower bearing surface secured to lateral lower cross members intermediate said pair of side bars; and (h) means for pivotally coupling the planar rear members of said supporting frame to said lower bearing surface about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to said planar rear member whereby said hip belt means and supporting frame are free to reciprocally move about said axis independent of said frame.

6. A backpack and frame apparatus as defined in claim 5 further including friction reducing means for reducing the friction between said planar rear member and said lower bearing surface, said friction reducing means being disposed intermediate said planar rear member and said lower bearing surface.

7. A backpack and frame apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said friction reducing means comprises Teflon pads affixed to said lower bearing surface and adapted to contact the planar rear member of said supporting frame.

8. A backpack and frame apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said hip belt means comprises a belt to encircle the waist of a user and a pair of gussets depending downwardly from said belt on diametrically opposed sides thereof, said grommets being symetrically coupled to said gussets of the lower portions thereof.

9. A backpack and frame apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said gussets are uniformly tapered downwardly from said belt, a load coupled to said grommets being uniformly distributed about said belt.