Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
  • A45F3/00—Travelling or camp articles; Sacks or packs carried on the body
  • A45F3/04—Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
  • A45C13/02—Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
  • A45C5/06—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage with outside compartments
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
  • A45F3/00—Travelling or camp articles; Sacks or packs carried on the body
  • A45F3/12—Shoulder-pads
  • A45F2003/127—Dorsal or hip pads for the lumbar back or for the waist

Definitions

• This invention relates to backpacks, and, more particularly, to a backpack which includes means for automatically distributing some of the load of the backpack on the hips of the user.
• Backpacks are well known devices for carrying loads .
• the load of a backpack is carried high on the back, to put the center of gravity of the load over the hips. Placing the load on the hips reduces the strain on the user' s back, by reducing the torque applied to the back, since the hips may carry a load more easily than the rest of the body.
• Traditional backpacks, with only one set of straps to hold the backpack to the user's shoulders, are prone to having the bottom of the backpack move out of the correct position on the user's hips, because the load is carried so high on the back that it tends to wobble.
• many known backpacks utilize a second set of straps at the user's waist to hold the backpack in position so that the bottom of the backpack rests on the user's hips. This is useful, however, only when the user actually uses these additional straps. Many users do not, especially if they take the backpack on and off repeatedly during the day. Furthermore, unless the user takes the time and care to pack the backpack to ensure that the contents of the backpack are distributed properly in the interior of the backpack, the natural bouncing of the backpack while the user is walking causes the backpack to move out of its proper position, where no set of waist straps are secured, and thereby adds needless strain to the user's back.
• Any system for distributing weight in a backpack is only useful if it is used.
• a user who feels that the time taken to implement a system outweighs the short term benefit provided by the system may tend to skip it, no matter how useful or helpful, even though the long-term benefit may be significant.
• the normal differences in body size and shape among different users tend to make it difficult to accommodate the needs of individual users without the use of separately adjustable sizing elements, which may be used incorrectly, or ignored, as being too cumbersome to be worthwhile.
• a backpack in accordance with the invention has at least one angled interior panel, to urge items placed inside the backpack into a location close to, and supported by, the user's hips without the need for adjusting the backpack's contents .
• the panel is angled to urge items placed thereon towards the front and bottom of the interior of the backpack, closer to the small of the back of the user when the backpack is worn properly.
• the "V" shape tends to balance the load on either side of the spine of the user, on each hip.
• the interior weight distribution assisted by the use of the angled panel causes the pad to rest on the user's hips without fastening additional securing straps .
• Figure 1 is a perspective of the inventive backpack, shown partly in phantom;
• Figure 2 is a rear perspective of the inventive backpack of Fig . 1 ;
• Figure 3 is a cross-section of the inventive backpack shown in Figs. 1 and 2, taken along the line III-III therein, with the straps omitted for ease of illustration.
• FIG. 1 shows a backpack 10 in accordance with the invention, showing the panel 12 worn closest to the back of the user when the backpack is worn.
• Backpack 10 includes a generally rectangular panel 12, preferably having some means of supporting its shape, such as, for example, an internal frame or a support sheet (not separately identified) of a semi-rigid material such as a flexible plastic sheet.
• Panel 12 may be generally flat, or may be shaped to conform to the contours of the back of a user, as a matter of design choice. For ease of illustration, it is depicted as generally flat in the drawings.
• Panel 12 generally defines the shape and size of backpack 10, but also includes a rigid flange 14 which projects above a top 16 of backpack 10.
• Flange 14 includes a handle 18, which is formed as an opening therein, to permit the holding of backpack 10 when not on the user's back. Alternatively, a handle may take the form of a strap attached to an upper surface or edge of the backpack.
• a pad 20 which is shaped like an inverted "V", is positioned on the exterior of backpack 10, and is affixed to panel 12 on the side which is intended to be placed on the user's back.
• Pad 20 is the point of contact of backpack 10 on the back of the user, and so is preferably formed of any desired cushioning material, such as resilient foam, to provide a comfortable fit .
• Pad 20 includes downwardly extending arms 22 which flare downwardly from a position on the left-right center line of panel 12 towards the. bottom of backpack 10, forming the inverted "V" of pad 20 seen in Figure 1. This configuration ensures that pad 20 rests on the hips of the user when the backpack is worn, because no other point of contact between the user' s body and backpack 10 exists at the bottom of backpack 10. Pad 20 will contact the user's hips at a position which depends upon the width of the user's hips at their uppermost side. A user whose hips are narrow will have the pad rest lower on his or her back than will a user (presumably larger) whose hips are wider apart.
• pad 20 will contact the user's hips at two points, one on each of arms 22 corresponding to the distance between the user's hips at the point of contact. Since the contact is at these two points, spaced apart equally on opposite sides of the user's spine, backpack 20 is centered on the user's spine, tending to assist backpack 10 in remaining in its desired position on the user's back.
• the inverted "V" shape of pad 20 tends to distribute the weight of the contents of backpack 10 on either side of the spine of the user, by resting solely on each hip of the user, at the bottom of backpack 10.
• a pair of shoulder straps 24 each have a padded portion 26 affixed to flange 14, and a thin securing portion 28 affixed to a lower end of panel 12.
• Each padded portion 26 is attached to its respective securing portion 28 by conventional adjustable attachment means, such as, for example, by a buckle 30, which provides for relative adjustment of the overall length of strap 24 to accommodate the height of the user.
• Adjustment of the overall length of straps 24 permits the user to adjust the position of backpack 10 on his or her back, and thereby maintain "V" shaped pad 20 at the bottom of backpack 10 in contact with the hips as described above.
• the user may prevent slippage of straps
• a cross-strap 32 which includes a second adjustable fastener 34 to hold straps 24 in place.
• Fastener 34 may be adjusted to accommodate the width of the user's torso in conventional fashion.
• a panel 36 (illustrated in phantom in Figure 1) is positioned to urge items placed within backpack 10 towards the user's hips. Panel 36 is angled from the top back of backpack 10 towards the front bottom of backpack 10, thereby urging items placed on panel 36 to move closer to the user's hips, without the user having to affirmatively shift the contents of backpack 10 each time items are placed into or removed from backpack 10.
• Panel 36 may be rigid, such as, for example having a semi-hard plastic support therein, or flexible, such as, for example, by being formed purely of a sturdy fabric. In the preferred embodiment, shown best in Figure 3, two panels may be used, as will be described, for compartmentalizing the items placed within backpack 10. This is a matter of design choice. In any event, the positioning of panel 36 within backpack 10 forms a chamfered compartment 38 (best seen in Figure 3) for holding items within backpack 10.
• chamfered compartment 38 may be the only compartment in the backpack, in which case panel 36 would comprise the exterior of the backpack.
• the fact that items to be carried are placed on angled panel 36 causes a portion of the downward force exerted on panel 36 by gravity to translate to a horizontal force vector in the direction of the user's back. This serves to reduce the apparent load of the backpack by displacing a portion of the total load to the user's hips rather than having the entire load carried on the user's shoulders .
• a first zippered opening 40 attaches top 16 of backpack 10 to the remainder thereof.
• Zippered opening 40 may include one or more conventional zipper pulls 42 for opening and closing compartment 38.
• Top 16 may optionally include a second zippered opening 44, which includes at least one zipper pull 46 for accessing an optional top compartment 48, in which, for example, a personal stereo device could be placed.
• an optional flapped opening 50 could be included in top 16, for permitting a headphone cord to be threaded therethrough.
• a third zippered opening 52 having zipper pulls 54, may be provided for accessing a lower compartment 56 (see Figure 3) in the lower part of backpack 10.
• a slashed pocket 58 may be placed in a rear of backpack 10, as well as a small rear pocket 60, accessible by a fourth zippered opening 62, having at least one zipper -pull 64.
• chamfered compartment 38 is defined as the area between panel 36 and panel 12. It is smaller at the bottom than at the top, so that any items placed into the top through zippered opening 40 will be urged into a position at the bottom and front of compartment 38, i.e. closer to the hips of the user, which will be supporting pad 20. In this fashion, the weight of the backpack will be urged into the position providing the most comfort and support.
• the angling of compartment 38 therefore obviates the need for using a separate securing means for holding backpack 10 in place, and increases the usability thereof without the need for shuffling the contents of backpack 10 or securing the lower end of backpack 10 with a separate strap-and-buckle arrangement.
• Figure 3 also illustrates optional elements for providing further utility of backpack 10, such as a first flexible divider 64 attached to panel 36 by a web 66 , to permit the division of compartment 38 into two separate storage areas, if desired.
• Additional divider 68 attached to the bottom of panel 36 by a second web 70, may divide lower compartment 56 into separate areas.
• Optional storage elements 72 such as pen pockets, computer disk pockets or other small elements may be mounted to the underside of additional divider 68.

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• Portable Outdoor Equipment (AREA)

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Publications (2)

Family

ID=23002437

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

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Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (12)

• 2002
  • 2002-01-23 EP EP02703188A patent/EP1353581A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2002-01-23 CA CA002435504A patent/CA2435504A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-01-23 US US10/466,974 patent/US20040050893A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-01-23 JP JP2002558847A patent/JP2004523278A/ja active Pending
  • 2002-01-23 WO PCT/US2002/001734 patent/WO2002058506A1/en active Application Filing
• 2003
  • 2003-08-22 ZA ZA200306572A patent/ZA200306572B/en unknown

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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