EP2545803B1 - Rucksack with straps - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a backpack.

When a user equipped with a backpack moves quickly or short, it is preferable that the load carried is pressed against his back. Indeed, if the load is not, it can flop in the back causing discomfort or imbalance of the user. This inconvenience is accentuated with the speed of movement of the athlete.

To stabilize the load, one solution is to compress the envelope of the back pocket against the load and to press the back of the bag against the user (see US 2006/0289589 ). To achieve compression of the envelope, the backpack has straps surrounding the back pocket at different levels. The reconciliation of the back of the bag against the user is performed by a belt connected to the interface portion corresponding to the back of the bag and intended to be in contact with the back of the wearer. This device brings stability. The reduction of the volume of the bag makes it possible to reduce the effect of sloshing the load. However, it does not prevent certain oscillations of the bag at the anchoring of the belt, around a vertical axis passing through the back.

To overcome this drawback, some bags are equipped with straps connecting the belt to the outer portion of the back pocket, located vis-à-vis the interface portion. Thus, by tightening these straps, we bring the outer portion of the interface portion of the belt, which allows to stall the load against the back of the user. This solution improves the stability of the load compared to the previous solution. However, the use of rigid straps and narrow width concentrates the clamping force on specific areas of anchoring which can weaken this connection and may damage the bag, especially at the seam of this connection. In addition, the clamping is located on a small part of the outer part. In other words, a large area of the outer portion is not well compressed and particularly in the areas remote from the anchoring points of each strap. Moreover, by tightening these straps, it may be in contact with a body part, for example at the sidewalls. Because of their rigidity and the small width of the straps, they can thus exert, locally, a pressure on the body which is not pleasant.

Another variant of backpack uses a single belt connected to the outer part of the back pocket. This construction allows a good plating of the load but a bad maintenance of the interface part. It can ballot and rub against the back of the athlete and therefore bring discomfort.

The invention aims to solve one or more of the above disadvantages.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved backpack bringing a wearing comfort.

Another goal is notably to propose a better maintenance of the load during a fast movement of the sportsman. The invention also allows a more uniform plating of the load carried.

A complementary objective is to provide a better resistance of the assembly of the backpack.

The invention proposes a backpack comprising a back pocket formed of an interface part intended to be in contact with the back of a user, an external part, facing each other, and two lateral parts, each lateral part. connecting the interface part to the external part. The backpack also includes two extensions disposed on either side of the back pocket, each extension being connected to the back pocket in a line of attachment and being intended to cover at least a portion of a sidewall of the backpack. user. In addition, the backpack comprises a means of bringing the outer portion towards the interface portion comprising two tie rods disposed on either side of the outer portion, each tie rod being connected, at a first end, to a lateral edge of the outer part, according to a first anchor line, and, at a second end, to an extension, according to a second anchor line. The first anchor line is separate from the hook line of the associated extension.

The invention is characterized in that the first anchor line of a tie rod extends over at least a quarter of the height of the outer portion.

This construction allows carrying the load adapted to different user morphologies. The load is pressed against the athlete providing stability sought during movements. The pressure exerted by the extensions and the tie rods on the body is distributed which brings a wearing comfort.

• la figure 1 est un vue latérale d'un utilisateur portant un sac à dos selon un premier mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 2 est une vue ¾ arrière du sac à dos de la figure 1.
• la figure 3 est une vue latérale d'un utilisateur portant un sac à dos selon un deuxième mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 4 est une vue ¾ avant du sac à dos de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique en coupe transversale du sac à dos selon l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating, according to non-limiting embodiments, how the invention may be implemented, and in which :

• the figure 1 is a side view of a user wearing a backpack according to a first embodiment;
• the figure 2 is a rear view of the backpack of the figure 1 .
• the figure 3 is a side view of a user wearing a backpack according to a second embodiment;
• the figure 4 is a front view of the backpack of the figure 3 ;
• the figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the backpack according to the invention.

In these figures, the identical elements bear the same reference numbers. In the rest of the text, the notions of superior, inferior, high and low, horizontal and vertical will be used with reference to the standing position of the user.

The invention is illustrated through examples of backpack having a small carrying volume. The capacity of these backpacks is generally less than 20 liters. They are often used by athletes running in the mountains where the need for stability is very important. The invention is thus particularly suitable for the practice of trail running or "trail running".

Of course, the invention can also be applied to larger backpacks.

Backpack means backpacks of the current type or type integrated in a garment, for example, of bolero type, as shown in the second embodiment described.

The Figures 1 to 2 illustrate a first embodiment. The backpack 1 comprises a back pocket 10 formed of an interface portion 11 intended to be in contact with the back of a user 2, an outer portion 12, facing each other, and two lateral portions 13, 14 each side portion connecting the interface portion 11 to the outer portion 12. The carrying system of the backpack 1 comprises two shoulder straps 33 and 34 and an abdominal belt 20, formed by two extensions 23 and 24. Each extensions 23 and 24 is connected to the interface portion 11 according to a hooking line 231, 241. The two extensions 23, 24 respectively cover the flanks 223 and 224 of the sportsman 2. They are connected to each other at the level of the belly by means of a closure means 25, such as a loop. The belt 20 contributes to the stability of the load because it allows to press the bottom of the interface portion 11 against the back of the user. This immobilization greatly reduces the relative movement between the bottom of the back pocket and the back. Immobilization of the upper part of the back pocket is provided by the shoulder straps 33,34.

To increase the maintenance of the load, the backpack 1 also includes tie rods 43, 44 connecting the outer portion 12 to the extensions 23, 24. Each tie 43, 44 is connected, at a first end 43a, 44a, to the part 11, according to a first anchor line 431, 441, and at a second end 43b, 44b, to an extension 23, 24, according to a second anchor line 432, 442. In the examples shown, the first lines anchoring 431, 441 are merged with the lateral edges 123, 124 of the outer portion 12. Alternatively, these first anchor lines may be placed on the outer portion 12, or even join the center of the outer portion. Preferably, the first anchor lines are positioned at the bottom of the outer portion. The two tie rods 43, 44 form a means of approach 40 from the outer portion 12 to the interface portion 11. Indeed, as seen in FIG. figure 5 when the belt 20 is tightened, a force T is exerted on each tie 43, 44 by virtue of the second anchoring lines 432, 442. The force T is substantially horizontal, towards the front. This force is then transmitted to the outer part 11 via the first anchor lines 431, 441. As a result, the effort T tends to bring the outer portion 12 to the interface portion 11 by means of the tie rods 43, 44.

Thus, it is the longitudinal tension of the tie rods 43, 44 which ensures the stabilization of the load placed in the back pocket. This tension can be obtained by the elasticity of the fabric constituting the tie rods. This tension can also be adjusted by an adjusting means modifying the length of a portion of the tie rods.

To improve the stability and therefore the effectiveness of the means of approach 40, the first anchor lines 431, 441 of the tie rods 43, 44 have an anchor length L43, L44 greater than a quarter of the total height H12 of the part external 12. With a length anchoring force L43, L44 relatively large, the plating force is distributed which reduces the stresses exerted on the connection between a tie rod 43, 44 and the outer portion 12. It improves, therefore, the resistance of the hooking means tie rods since it is less stressed. In addition, it exerts a relatively uniform pressure on the load, thus limiting a risk of damaging it. The pressure is exerted on a larger volume, so the maintenance of the load is improved if it is not homogeneous. The use of straps as ties does not allow these advantages because the straps are generally narrow. The anchor line is small which concentrates the constraints relating to the plating and does not stabilize the load uniformly.

Preferably, the tie rods 43, 44 are made with a flexible and elastic fabric. The flexibility and elasticity of the tie allows to adapt to the morphology of the body. This brings extra comfort to carry.

In order for the tie rods to perform sufficient plating, it is preferable that the second anchor lines 432, 442 of the tie rods 43, 44 on the extensions 23, 24 are as far forward as possible, for example at the level of the sportsman's sidewalls. Thus, the tie rods can be overlapped with a part of the body of the user (part of the back and sides). Consequently, the tie rods exert locally a pressure represented by the zone P at the figure 5 . The use of a flexible and elastic fabric reduces this pressure compared to the use of rigid tie rods, such as straps.

In this example, the fabric is essentially elastic in at least one direction corresponding to the plating force, that is, substantially in a horizontal direction. The choice of the fabric must be a compromise between the comfort and the effectiveness of the maintenance. The elasticity of the fabric should be relatively large to allow the exercise of sufficient plating force while allowing the deformation of the walls of the back pocket. If the fabric has a weak elastic modulus, the back pocket will be looser and the load will not be well plated. There will be a risk of sloshing the load. On the other hand, if the fabric is too rigid, that is to say not very extensible, the wearing will be uncomfortable and it will be difficult to deform the walls of the back pocket when adding the load. If the elastic modulus of the fabric is too high, it may also not be very comfortable to wear.

The intended elasticity results in a good elastic return of the fabric when it is stretched. This "nervousness" generates the desired plating effort. To obtain this property of elasticity, the most appropriate means lies in the composition of the material constituting the fabric. The use of elastane, for example, brings elasticity to the fabric. By mixing it with another specific compound, it is possible to obtain a suitable fabric as needed: elasticity, suppleness, comfort to the touch ... The elasticity of the fabric can also be improved depending on the preparation of the fibers constituting the fabric or the fabric. fabric making (weaving, knitting ...).

By way of example, tie rods forming a good compromise are tie rods having the following characteristics: A tensile force is between 5 and 15 N to obtain a 15% deformation when the fabric is biased in the "plating" direction, that is, substantially in a horizontal direction. Preferably, the tensile force is between 8 and 10 N.

For reasons of similar wearing comfort, the extensions 23, 24 also comprise at least one portion 232, 242 of flexible and elastic fabric. The contact between the extensions 23, 24 and the body of the user is direct. It is therefore very advantageous to have extensions that best fit the morphology of the body. In the example shown, the portions 232, 242 of flexible and elastic fabric extend from the back pocket 10 to the second anchor line 432, 442.

For example, the tie rods 43, 44 and the portions 232, 242 are ventilated fabric panels. The fabric is honeycombed to allow good ventilation of the back.

Tie rods 43, 44 are composed of, for example, a mixture of polyamide (nylon) and elastane.

The portions 232, 242 are composed, for example, of a mixture of polyester and elastane.

Of course, other material compositions can be envisaged to achieve these tie rods and elastic portions.

The more the backpack is designed for a large capacity, the higher the load can be heavy and the better compromise comfort / maintenance of the load will be difficult to obtain. Consequently, for backpacks with greater capacity, the panels making up the tie rods and / or the extensions will be more rigid, therefore less elastic. Therefore, the invention is particularly suitable for small volume backpacks, less than 20 liters for example. Indeed, in this case, the load to be plated is less heavy which allows the use of standard flexible elastic fabric to achieve the tie rods and extensions. For backpacks with a volume greater than 20 liters, the tie rods and extensions will be made of stiffer fabric to be able to support the load without deteriorating. This rigidity reduces the wearing comfort.

The fabric panels constituting the tie rods 43, 44 and extensions 23, 24 shown in the embodiments described are delimited by an upper edge 433, 443, 233, 243 and a lower edge 434, 444, 234, 244. These borders can, for example, be made by elastane yarn surrounded by a wool and polyester-based protection.

These borders contribute to the longitudinal adjustment of the tie rods in a substantially horizontal direction. This adjustment helps maintain the load. For this, these borders may incorporate an elastic band or include means for adjusting their length. In the latter case, the border is not necessarily elastic. The length adjustment is performed manually by the user. This makes it possible to control the tension of the border and therefore the tension of plating of the parts of the back pocket towards the back of the user.

In these examples shown, each tie 43, 44 is sewn at the first 431, 441 and second 432, 442 anchor lines. The first anchor line 431, 441 is substantially vertical and merges with a portion of the seam securing the outer portion 12 with a side panel 13, 14. The other end 43b, 44b of a tie 43, 44 is directly sewn on an extension 23, 24. The extension 23, 24 is also sewn along a line of attachment 231, 241 at the dorsal pocket 10, either at the interface portion 11, or at a lateral portion 13, 14.

Of course, other fastening means than the seam can be envisaged to secure these elements. Similarly, the position of these fixing means can be adjustable and in particular in the direction of "plating". On the other hand, the anchor lines 431, 441, 432, 442 and / or hook 231, 241 are not necessarily rectilinear or vertical.

The Figures 3 and 4 represent a second embodiment of a bolero type backpack as described in the application EP-A-2,258,234 . The design being very similar to the first embodiment, only the differences will be indicated, the other building elements applying mutatis mutandis.

The first specificity comes from the replacement of the abdominal belt with a chest strap 25. The backpack includes only shoulder straps. The tie rods 43, 44 are then directly attached to the lower parts of the shoulder straps. These lower parts of the straps correspond to the extensions of the backpack, they will therefore bear the same numbering as the extensions of the first embodiment. These lower parts 23 and 24 are interconnected at the front thanks to a closure means 25 such as a chest strap.

The second distinction is the existence of adjustment means 435, 445 of the length of the upper edge 433, 443 of the tie rods 43, 44. Each of these borders thus integrates a cord 436, 446 associated with a blocker 437, 447 fixed on an extension 23, 24. The cord and the blocker form the means for adjusting the length of the border. Thus, by moving the blocker along the cord one adjusts the length of the cord between the back pocket and the extension. This results in adjusting the tension of the tie rod allowing the plating of the load. The cord is not necessarily elastic. The cord can be replaced by a band.

The third difference of this embodiment lies in the fact that the tie rods 43, 44 and the extensions 23, 24 have a common lower edge 234, 244 which makes it possible to form a pocket 438, 448. This pocket 438, 448 is delimited. by a portion 232, 242 of the extensions 23, 24, by a tie 43, 44 and a portion of a lateral portion 13, 14. The bottom of the pocket is obtained by the common lower edge 234, 244.

Of course, one could also have no common bottom border and therefore not have pockets.

Cleverly, the upper edge 433, 443 of a tie 43, 44 and the upper edge 233, 243 of a portion 232, 242 of a corresponding extension 23, 24 are dimensioned (length, elastic characteristics) so as to approach one another when the backpack is worn. This allows to close the pocket 438, 448 so that its content remains inside the pocket. For example, the upper edge 433, 443 of a tie 43, 44 is elastic. The point of attachment of the border on the corresponding extension is positioned towards the front of the body. Thus, when the loaded backpack is worn, the upper edge of a drawstring becomes taut and a portion of the edging approaches the body, thus limiting the space between the border and the body. The pocket is closed by the border. At rest, the elastic border tends to spread the associated extension of the body.

The figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view at the bottom of a backpack according to the first or second embodiment described. It illustrates the principle of plating the load against the back of the sportsman 2. The maintenance of the load is obtained by the combination of two tension systems.

The first system comprises the two extensions 23 and 24, the bottom of the interface portion 11 and the closure means 25. This system forms a first envelope surrounding the body of the user, at the waist, which has the effect to stall the interface part 11 against the back of the athlete. The bottom of this part is stabilized. The use of flexible fabric with elastic portions makes it possible to adapt as closely as possible to different user morphologies and provides wearing comfort. The closure means and the elastic portions generate a peripheral force C tending to tighten the first envelope around the body of the sportsman. It is this effort that ensures the plating of the interface part. Note that in this diagram, the extensions are not connected directly to the interface part but to a side part.

The second system comprises the two tie rods 43, 44, the outer portion 12, the extensions 23 and 24 and the closing means 25. This system is intended to bring the outer portion 12 towards the interface portion 11, thereby causing the compression of the external part 12 on the load contained in the back pocket 10. The load is then compressed between the outer portion 12 and the interface portion 11. Its mobility inside the bag is reduced which provides the desired stability. This system forms a second envelope surrounding the body of the user as well as the bottom of the back pocket. The closure means and tie rods generate a peripheral force T tending to tighten the second envelope around the body of the sportsman and the back pocket. It is this effort which ensures the plating of the external part.

Advantageously, the tie rods are attached to the outer part so that once the extensions connected together, the tie rods exert a slight effort of plating the outer part to the back of the user, when the back pocket contains no charge. Thus, the more the back pocket is loaded, the more the plating force generated by the tie rods increases.

To facilitate this approximation of the outer portion to the interface portion, the lateral portions may be elastic or comprise elastic elements connecting the edges of the outer portion with the edges of the interface portion.

For this system to work well, the tie rods must be attached to the extensions towards the front of the body, preferentially at the level of the flanks. Thus, on a zone P, the tie rod and the extension are in contact and cover a part of the body. The use of flexible and / or elastic fabric for the pulling makes it possible to adapt as closely as possible to different user morphologies in this zone P and thus provides wearing comfort.

The invention is not limited to these two embodiments and can be applied to other variants such as a bolero-type backpack without means for adjusting the length of curbs. Similarly, there may be other means of adjustment for adjusting the length of other borders, those extensions for example. Alternatively, the backpack may include means for adjusting the position of the second anchor line of a tie relative to the associated extension, particularly in the direction of "plating".

Claims (10)

1. Rucksack (1) comprising:

   - a back pocket (10) formed by an interface part (11) intended to be in contact with the back of a user (2), an outer part (12), vis-A-vis, and two lateral parts (13, 14), each lateral part connecting the interface part (11) to the outer part (12),

   - two extensions (23, 24) arranged on either side of the back pocket (10), each extension being connected to the back pocket along an attachment line (231, 241) and being intended to cover at least a part of a side (223, 224) of the user (2),

   - a means (40) for moving the outer part (12) closer towards the interface part (11) comprising two straps (43, 44) arranged on either side of the outer part (12), each strap being connected, at a first end (43a, 44a), to the outer part (12), along a first anchoring line (431, 441), and, at a second end (43b, 44b), to an extension (23, 24), along a second anchoring line (432, 442), the first anchoring line (431, 441) being separate from the attachment line (231, 241) of the associated extension (23, 24),

   characterized in that the first anchoring line (431, 441) of a strap (43, 44) extends over at least a quarter of the height (H12) of the outer part (12).
2. Rucksack (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the straps (43, 44) are made of flexible and elastic fabric.
3. Rucksack (1) according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the straps (43, 44) comprise an elastic upper edge (433, 443) and/or an elastic lower edge (434, 444).
4. Rucksack (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one means (435, 445) for adjusting the length of one of the edges (433, 434, 443, 444) of a strap (43, 44).
5. Rucksack (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a part (232, 242) of an extension (23, 24) extending from the back pocket (10) to the second anchoring line (432, 442) is elastic.
6. Rucksack (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower edge (243, 244) of a strap (43, 44) forms a part of a lower edge of the corresponding extension (23, 24), the strap (43, 44) and the extension (23, 24) then forming a storage pocket (438, 448).
7. Rucksack (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment line (231, 241) of an extension (23, 24) is placed on a lateral part (13, 14) of the back pocket (10).
8. Rucksack (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second anchoring line (432, 442) is situated at the sides (223, 224) of the user.
9. Rucksack (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an extension (23, 24) forms a carrying shoulder strap or an abdominal belt.
10. Rucksack (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the back pocket (10) is composed of flexible materials.

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