EP1848300A1

EP1848300A1 - Carrying system

Info

Publication number: EP1848300A1
Application number: EP06701778A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sverre Moller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-27
Filing date: 2006-01-27
Publication date: 2007-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 2026-01-27
Also published as: ATE536114T1; WO2006080854A1; NO20050479D0; EP1848300B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a carrying system (1) with a carrying belt (2) and a first and second carrying harness (4a, 4b) comprising a shoulder part (5a, 5b), a back 5 part (6a, 6b) and a front part (7a, 7b). The carrying harnesses (4a, 4b) and there attachment positions are arranged to improve the carrying comfort and to avoid rolling of the load during walking. Furthermore, the carrying harnesses are adapted for the use for persons with a pacemaker.

Description

Carrying system

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a carrying system for coupling with a load which is to be carried on the back .

Technical background

Carrying systems for for example backpacks has experienced several stages of development through the history. From a sack made in natural materials , through packs with a back frame in steel to the so-called anatomical backpacks without a frame . A common feature for the backpacks is that the two carrying straps which passes over the shoulders of the user are connected in each end to the back frame or directly to the back part in four independent fastening points .

The first backpacks with a back frame were provided with crossing straps locked inside the framing of the back frame and being arranged to attend for the carrying straps to adjust to the shoulders . Furthermore, the backpack was provided with a transverse strap over the back of the neck which connected the two shoulder straps for adjustment to each individual shoulder size .

When humans walk, the hips and shoulders each rotate in opposite directions . This means that when the foot is placed on the ground, the iliac crest is rising over the foot taking up pressure and sinking over the foot being lifted from the ground. This creates an unbalanced state in the body which is compensated for by rotating the shoulders in the opposite direction. These movements leads to a sinking of the shoulder over the side of the body where the hip is rising and the shoulder being lifted on the side where the hip is sinking . As a result, we can see that the feet and arms are oscillating in opposite directions while 00037

walking, in other words, we are walking the diagonal . The body is stretching on one side and compressing on the opposite side . Diagonal stretching and compressing forces are working in the body between the hip and shoulders .

When you are carrying a small load, it will oscillate with your shoulders . If the load is larger, the movement of the hips will affect the load and tilt the weight of the load over to the shoulder being lifted on the opposite side . In both incidents the load will be out of step with the movement of the body and create imbalance . The imbalance increases with weight and size of the load. The imbalance caused by a great load will tie the body up to a greater degree than a small load since a larger weight is tilted towards the shoulder being lifted. It will weigh down and tie up the shoulder. This creates an "offbeat" in the movement of the body and accordingly an imbalance between load and user .

The disadvantage with the above mentioned known carrying systems is that the load being carried will roll with the movement of the body as a consequence of the strap system being fixed to back frame, framing or backpack in the lower area . This rolling will depend upon weight and packing . This is particularly striking during classic diagonal skiing or walking with sticks . You will then experience that the backpack weighs down the shoulder over the arm being moved forward because the opposite side of the hip lifts the pack and tilts is towards the shoulder being lifted. The load is quite simply offbeat with the movements of the body independently of the adjustments being made on the straps of the backpack.

Over the years there have been developed a technology concerning numerous adjustment possibilities, paddings and supporting straps with the purpose of protecting the back and shoulders whether the backpack has had backpack frame, under frame or other integrated stiffening, but none of these solutions prevents rolling of a load, since all the known solutions seeks to fasten the backpack to the body of the user in order to make the backpack follow the movement of users body and in this way achieve an even burden on the shoulders and hips .

Furthermore, there have been developed carrying systems where the harness system is independent of the load. The harness systems comprises a combined belt and system where the shoulder straps run parallel to the back and meets itself on the same side . The load is attached to the harness by means of hooks and straps . Here also, it is search for a solution where the load is fixed to the harness system in such a way that the load to the largest possible extent will react to the movements of the user and not necessarily follow the body of the user.

Each and all of the backpacks and back frames commercially available have loose or integrated strap systems with or without a supporting belt, which in principle loads the back parallel to the spine . I . e . the upper and lower fastening points of the harness are either arranged on the same side of the spine or strains with a corresponding parallel effect following the crossing straps being either mutually fixed (see next paragraph) or fixed to a stiffening in the lower area of the load itself . A fixation of the straps in the lower area to a fixed cross, a U- construction, horizontal strut or framing in the back part of the load will force the load towards a tilting movement and prevent diagonal movements of force such as pression and tension originating from the movement of hips and shoulders during walking. A consequence is that the movement of the hips will work to tilt the load over to the opposite shoulder when the body moves during walking and the load will shift , or roll .

It is an obj ect of the present invention to present a harness system and a use of such harness for carrying a load, where the above mentioned problems with a rolling load is minimized or eliminated.

Examples of separate harnesses with a related backpack is shown in US 6 , 431, 424 Bl and divisional application US 2003/000986 Al . The publications indicate different possibilities of adjustment and solutions for this, and a system for attachment of a load to the harness . The invention according to the publications does not solve the problem of rolling loads during walking, which is the essential purpose of the present invention.

All of the known systems with straps or harnesses which crosses over the back have a fixation in the cross or they are fixed in lower fasteners to a strut in the packaging itself . The fixation leads to a stiffening of the packaging and hampers free diagonal walking and relief due to such walking. In principle, these function in the same way as straps arranged parallel to the spine .

Furthermore, there are presently no backpacks which can be carried without the shoulder straps resting over the shoulder as a whole, also over the front area. This is a problem for persons having a pacemaker or defibrillator (restarter of the heart) , as these are placed high on the left, alternatively on the right side of the chest of the outside of the ribs and under the pectoral muscle , the pacemaker/defibrillator is operated into a "pocket" with an opening cut parallel to and right under the collar bone . Each of the pacemaker and defibrillator are small , the combined apparatus may approach a snuffbox in size .

The problem with carrying a backpack for users of a pacemaker or defibrillator, is that the shoulder harness and a possible chest strap lies over the apparatus and forces it out of position . During long-lasting loading it can dissect itself out to the armpit . The surgical wound can also be sore and hurt . 37

The positions vary from patient to patient or from surgery to surgery. It is therefore necessary to be able to make individual adjustments .

Short summary of the invention

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a harness system for carrying of any load where rolling of the load during walking is eliminated, alternatively neutralised. This is done by an independent diagonal relief through pression and traction from hip to shoulder when the body moves as a consequence of the harness being able to move diagonally and freely without being fixated to a load, but through a connection enabling free movement .

It is therefore an object of the invention to prevent the undesired movement of the load by providing a carrying system giving a diagonal distribution of forces through pression and traction distributing the weight of the load uniformly on the hip and shoulders when the body of the user is moving and in this way stabilising the load to follow the movement of the body.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a harness system where the shoulder straps can be lifted from the front part of the shoulder area by the collar bone to enable use of the carrying system for persons with a pacemaker or defibrillator .

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a harness system where any load can be connected to the system in such a way that free movement for the user of the harness system is maintained.

The objects are obtained according to the invention by a carrying system according to the attached independent patent claims . Further embodiments of the harness are stated by the dependent claims .

Short description of the drawings

The invention will now be further described in the following by means of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, where :

Figure 1 shows a front view of the carrying system.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the carrying system.

Figure 3 shows a rear view of the carrying system.

o Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the carrying system adapted for users of a pacemaker.

Figure 5 shows the bows in the embodiment shown in figure

4.

Figure 6 shows a front view of the carrying system in s figure 4.

Figure 7 shows a side view of the carrying system in figure 6.

Figure 8 shows a rear view of the carrying system in the figures 6-7.

o Figure 9-11 shows sections through the body of a user with indications of the attachment areas for carrying harnesses .

Figure 12-14 shows a harness system according to the invention with a load connected to it .

Figure 15 shows a top view of a harness system and load. Figure 16 shows a sectional view of the upper coupling between the harness system and load.

Figure 17 shows a sectional view of the lower coupling between the harness system and load.

Same reference numbers refers to same or equal parts in all the figures .

Detailed description of the invention

The carrying system 1 according to the invention comprises a carrying belt 2 , a first 4a and second 4b carrying harness with a shoulder part 5a, 5b, a back part 6a, 6b and a front part 7a, 7b . The carrying system 1 further is provided with an angle adjusting strap 8 for the carrying harnesses 4a, 4b . Upper 9a, 9b and lower 10a, 10b attachment positions for coupling to a load which is to be carried, is provided on the carrying system 1. The upper attachment positions 9a, 9b are arranged on the upper part of the preferably fortified back parts 6a, 6b . The upper attachment positions are preferably arranged in the area of the shoulder blades of the user. The lower attachment positions 10a, 10b are preferably arranged on the carrying belt 2 or the lower part of the preferably fortified back parts 6a, 6b . The carrying system is provided with different means for adjustment of the length 3 , 11, 12 for the different harnesses or straps, for example a width adjusting unit 12 for the carrying harnesses .

The carrying system is flexibly coupled to a load in the upper attachment positions 9a, 9b and the lower attachment positions 10a, 10b preferably by means of straps respectively attached to the carrying system and to the load, and where the straps furthermore are arranged with generally known attachment means for coupling of the load and the carrying system. The coupling devices thereby avoid firm fixation and give space for diagonal movement and free walking . The reinforcement of the back parts 6a, 6b are free diagonal struts being coupled diagonally to the load and being a part of the harness system. These reinforcements are moving independently of the shape and character of the load.

The carrying system can be integrated in the load, for example being a backpack in an alternative embodiment . The system is not limited to the use with backpacks, but cam be used for all kinds of loads either integrated in such loads or as a separate carrying system 1 where the load is attached by means of a coupling giving free movement .

The back parts 6a, 6b of the carrying harnesses 4a, 4b are arranged to cross each other over the back of the user . The back parts 6a, 6b are not interconnected in the crossing and is therefore able to move independently of each other. This independent diagonal force transfer in the back region follows the body' s rotation of the hip and shoulders and provides stability to any load . The end of the front part 7a of the first carrying harness and the end of the back part 6b of the second carrying harness are attached to a first common attachment position 10a for the abdominal belt/carrying belt 2. Likewise is the front part 7b of the second carrying harness and the end of the back part 6b of the first carrying harness attached in a second common attachment position 10b for the abdominal belt/carrying belt 2. Advantageously, these attachment position 10a, 10b can be arranged in the same region as the lower attachment positions for the load that is to be carried.

The ends of the back parts 6a, 6b of the harnesses must not necessarily be arranged in the exact same positions 10a, 10b, but should be located in a common attachment area, so that they are influenced and displaced in approximately the same degree by the hip movements of the user . The attachment positions should advantageously be arranged in the region of the iliac crest . This region is hatched in figures 9-11. The iliac crest is the highest and outermost part of the hip and protrudes towards the skin, the iliac crest is the part which is lifted and declined the most during walking and affects on the effect of the carrying system. The attachment area of the load can be formed as a mainly stiff attachment plate or an other stiffened connection.

In an alternative embodiment, the harnesses 4a, 4b can be integrated in a load or packaging, for example forming a backpack. The ends of the harnesses can be attached to common attachment positions as mentioned above , while the attachment positions can be arranged on the packaging itself . In such embodiment the carrying belt 2 can therefore be left out or form a separate carrying belt attached to the lower part of the packaging . Accordingly, the system is not limited to backpacks , but can also be used for any type of load, either as an integrated part of such load or as a separate carrying system to which the load is connected.

The back part 6a, 6b of the harnesses can be reinforced by means of ribs 13a, 13b or by using a rigid material in the back parts 6a, 6b . The rigidness can be varied by changing the ribs 13a, 13b to accommodate to the size and weight of the load. Furthermore, the back parts 6a, 6b are independent of each other and moves diagonally and independently regardless of the load or packaging . When using ribs 13a, 13b, these can be bent or twisted to adapt to the back shape of the user .

Furthermore, the length and design of the ribs 13a, 13b can be adapted to bring one of the harnesses shoulder part out from the shoulder by the collar bone . This is attend to by extending the. rib 13a, 13b on one side and arrange in with the necessary space between the shoulder and the upper part of the back part 6a is maintained. 37

10

For persons with a pacemaker or defibrillator, this is a necessity in order to relieve the area where the pacemaker or defibrillator normally is placed. These are normally placed surgically beneath the collar bone between the rib cage and the skin. Such adaptation will not in a significant way interfere with the carrying ability because the load can be distributed over the shoulders and behind the chest bone by means of an adapted chest strap system or by weight distribution to the belt 2. Such harness system is designed to locate as much weight as possible onto the trapezius laying over and behind the collar bone and upper part of the back. Normally, the pacemaker is arranged on the left side, but exceptionally on the right side . The system is arranged to easily alternate side .

Figure 8 shows two different embodiments of the rib . The rib is either telescopic 13a or made in a predefined length 13b . The telescopic solution can be used in certain commercially available backpacks . This can be done by coupling to an already existing rib or strut already arranged in the backpack. In this way, the necessary space between the pacemaker or defibrillator is obtained. However, an adjustment of existing equipment as described will not attend to the diagonal relief being obtained by the carrying system according to the invention .

Coupling of a load to the carrying system can be done by any attachment means, such as a buckle/band or buckle/strap device, "hooks and loops" (Velcro) , snap fasteners , carabine hook or the like . The load as such can be of any design. Preferably there is provided a separate backpack with or without a back frame, which can be connected to the carrying system, but the system is also applicable to carry other loads as for example containers or other receptacles . The harnesses to not need individually adapted loads such as packages or containers , or attachments means such as back frames or framings or other attachment means for these, even if this too is conceivable . NO2006/000037

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The figures 12 , 13 and 14 shows how a load can be flexibly connected to the harness system according to the invention . A number of flexible coupling devices such as bands or straps are attached to the load or pack 17. It is advantageous to arrange the upper coupling devices 15a, 15b adjacent to the middle of the upper region of the pack 17 , for example so that the attachment positions for the coupling devices 15a, 15b on the packaging lies adjacent to the shoulder blades of the user . The lower coupling devices 16a, 16b are advantageously attached to the lower region of the pack, for example in the lower "corners" of the pack in such a way that the attachment positions of the lower coupling devices 16a, 16b is arranged adjacent to the upper edge of the iliac crest 14 of the user (shown in fig. 9- 11 ) .

Furthermore , the upper coupling devices 15a, 15b are attached to the upper coupling positions 9a, 9b of the harness system, so that the upper region of the pack to a certain degree is able to move freely and independently of the movement pattern of the upper coupling positions 9a, 9b, due to the flexibility of the coupling devices connecting the packaging and harness system. If the user of the harness system moves her torso and thereby the attachment positions 9a, 9b, the pack will remain relatively stable and at rest while obtaining an efficient transfer of power .

The lower coupling devices 16a, 16b are being attached to the lower coupling positions 10a, 10b of the harness system as described above, so that the lower region of the pack to some extent is able to move freely and independently of the lower coupling positions 10a, 10b . Thereby, the hip movements of the user of the harness system will not be transmitted to the pack and the formerly known rolling is thereby efficiently counteracted or eliminated. Figure 15 shows the carrying system according to the invention with an embodiment of the coupling devices, in a top view, while figure 16 shows a sectional view of the upper coupling devices 15. The upper coupling devices 15a, 15b comprises to first bands or straps being fixed to the pack 17, for example by sewing, gluing or equivalent attachment methods . Two corresponding second bands or straps are connected to the upper coupling positions 9a, 9b of the harness and are provided with a buckle or similar for connection to the first strap . By attaching the first strap in the buckle of the second strap, the upper coupling positions 9a, 9b are connected with the upper region of the back 17.

Figure 17 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the lower coupling devices 16. In the lower region of the pack, two connection means are attached to the pack, alternatively to a strap being attached to the pack. In the lower coupling positions 10a, 10b of the harness system, two attachment means are coupled to the pack, alternatively to a strap being attached to the pack . In the lower coupling positions 10a, 10b of the harness system, straps being connected to the attachment means are provided, so that the lower coupling positions 10a, 10b are connected with the lower region of the pack.

It is obvious to a person skilled in the art, that other coupling means than buckles can be used such as shackles, elastic bands or springs, Furthermore, it is obvious for a person skilled in the art that the coupling means can be arranged in ant of the straps or bands attached to the pack or coupling positions , as long as the coupling function is maintained.

Employment of the carrying system during walks either on skis or on foot , the hip will be lifted over the foot taking the weight of the body. Accordingly, the hip will decline over the foot being bent while being advanced for the next pace . The body is stabilized by swinging the arms diagonally with the legs, so called diagonal walk. The arm being swung forwards lifts the shoulder, while the arm being swung backwards lower the shoulder . The harness according to the invention follows these movements by letting the back parts 6a, 6b shown in figure 1 and 3 propagate the movements of the hips diagonally and relieve the pressure on the opposite shoulder which naturally is lifted by the forward arm movement . This relief has an effect since the lower load couplings 10a, 10b and the rear and front harness attachments on the load are located in a region over the hip on the carrying belt and that these are flexibly connected to each other and that the upper load attachment 9a, 9b is located over the end of the reinforcement of the carrying harness in the back part 6a, 6b and that this too is flexibly connected with the load . The individual anatomical adjustment , the shoulder width, the body height and waist measurement are adjusted by separate units 3 , 11 , 12.

As mentioned above, the hip movement is transferred diagonally through the back parts 6a, 6b also when there is no reinforcement of these, but then only through tensile forces in the back parts . Thereby, the ribs 13 can contribute positively to the relief as even compressive forces can be transferred.

The parts 5 , 6 , 7 of the carrying harnesses can be separate parts being combined by D-rings or other similar attachment means or can be made as one part . When using separate parts, for example the shoulder parts can be adjusted to different use . It can for example be desirable with additional padding or wider shoulder parts . It is also desirable to be able to provide a flatter padding for use when hunting for an improved rest for the weapon. Furthermore, there can be different material needs for different use .

Claims

1. Carrying system (1) with a first (4a) and second (4b) carrying harness comprising a shoulder part (5a, 5b) , a back part (6a, 6b) and a front part (7a, 7b) , as the upper (9a, 9b) and lower (10a, 10b) attachment positions for connection with a load to be carried are provided on the carrying system (1) , where one end of the front part (7a) of the first carrying harness and one end of the back part (6b) of the second carrying harness are connected to a first common attachment zone and one end of the front part (7b) of the second carrying harness and one end of the back part (6a) of the first carrying harness are connected to a second common attachment zone, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the back parts

(6a, 6b) of the carrying harnesses are crossing each other and are independently moving in relation to each other and that the carrying system is flexibly connected to the load in all the attachment positions .

2. Carrying system according to claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the upper mountings (9a, 9b) of the load are diagonally arranged in relation to the lower mountings (1Oa₇ IOb) of the load and that the upper mountings (9a, 9b) are arranged over the crossing zone of the back parts at the level of the shoulder blades and below the shoulders of the carrier .

3. Carrying system according to claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the back parts (6a, 6b) of the carrying harnesses are diagonally and independently reinforced.

4. Carrying system (1) according to one of the claims 1-2 , c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the common attachments zones (10a, 10b) are located in such a way that the end positions of the carrying harnesses are mainly mutually affected by the hip movements of the user.

5. Carrying system (1) according to one of the claims 1-3 , c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the common attachments zones are located over the iliac crest (14) of the user .

6. Carrying system (1) according to one of the claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the common attachment zones (10a, 10b) are arranged on am abdominal belt/carrying belt (2) as the load is an independent part being arranged on the system.

7. Carrying system (1) according to one of the claims 1-4 , c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the common attachment zones are located on the load, as the carrying system is an integrated part of the load.

8. Carrying system (1) according to one of the claims 1-5 , c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the lower attachment positions for the load are arranged in the same places as the common attachments zones of the carrying harnesses (10a, 10b) .

9. Carrying system according to claim 7 , c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the back parts (6a, 6b) of the carrying harnesses are reinforced by ribs (13a, 13b) or by the use of a rigid material in the back parts .

10. Carrying system according to claim 8, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the ribs (13a, 13b) are replaceable . T/NO2006/000037

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11. Carrying system (1) according to one of the claims 8-9, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the ribs (13a, 13b) are bendable and twistable for adjustment to the back shape of each user.

5 12. Carrying system (1) according to one of the claims 8-10, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the length and design of the ribs (13a, 13b) are adapted to lift the shoulder part of one of the carrying harnesses out from the shoulder ip adjacent to the collar bone and chest muscle of the user.

13. Carrying system according to claim 11, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the ribs are telescopical for adjustment of the length.

14. Carrying system according to any of the preceding i5 claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the parts (5, 6, 7) of the carrying harnesses are separate parts being coupled by coupling means or are made as one unit .

15. Carrying system according to claim 13 ,

20 c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the parts (5, 6 , 7) of the carrying harnesses are replaceable.