GB2181640A

GB2181640A - Rucksack

Info

Publication number: GB2181640A
Application number: GB08525776A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeffrey Louis Klein
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-10-18
Filing date: 1985-10-18
Publication date: 1987-04-29
Also published as: GB8525776D0

Abstract

In a rucksack having a frame 16 and material stretched over the frame, the frame is extendible and material 34 is provided for stretching over the frame extension so that the extended rucksack may serve as a bed or stretcher. The frame may comprise telescopic longitudinal members 16,30, interconnected by U-shaped members 32, and may have handles. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rucksack The present invention relates to a rucksack.

There are known rucksacks which have a rigid light frame, typically made of aluminium, overwhich canvas is stretched. Such sacks have a large capacity and are comfortable to carry. Furthermore, because of the rigid frame, it its further possible to suspend on the exterior of the sack bulky items such as a sleeping bag.

The present invention is concerned with an im provementto thisform of rucksack which imparts to it greater utility and versatility.

According to the present invention, there is provided a rucksack comprising a frame and material stretched overtheframe, wherein the frame is extendible and material is provided for stretching over the frame extension, whereby the extended rucksack may serve as a bed or stretcher.

The frame preferably comprises U-shaped trans- verse members joinedto one another by longitudinal members connected to the free ends ofthe limbs of the transverse members, the material forming the surface ofthe bed being stretched between the longitudinal members.

In the preferred embodiment, the said longitudinal members are in the form oftelescopicallycollapsible tubes, the extension tubes being connected in pairs by means of similariy U-shaped transverse members.

In an alternative embodiment, extension tubes may be connected to the longitudinal members of the rucksack frame and separately provided resilient support bows may be secured to the extension tubes to maintain material stretched between the extension tubes in tension.

The material to coverthe extension oftheframe may conveniently be formed as a loose flap in the rucksackto be pulled out over the extended frame.

Any suitable means may be used to tie the material overthe extension frame, for example string, springs or metal hooks. It is not essential thatthe ties be resilient as the U-shaped support members ofthe frame will impartthe required resilience to the bed.

The combined rucksack and camp bed ofthe invention clearly assists campers by reducing the weight of equipmentthat they must carry.

The rucksack ofthe invention however also has an important application in mountain rescue since the bed can also serve as a stretcher if provided with suitable handles. Thus the rucksack, which can be used to carryfirstaid and mountain rescue equip- ment, can also serve as a stretcherfor any person in distress. In this application, the rucksack offers the advantagethat all the necessary equipment can be carried while still leaving the hands free.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a rucksack in a closed condition, for carrying, Figure 2 shows the rucksack of Figure 1 with the top flap opened to reveal its contents, Figure 3 shows the rucksack partly extended, and Figure 4 shows the rucksackfully extended to act as a bed or stretcher.

The drawings show a rucksackwhich when closed, as viewed in Figure 1 does not differ markedly from a conventional frame rucksack. The rucksack 10 has an aluminium frame 12 formed oftwo generally U shapedtransverse members 14(seeFigures3 & )and longitudinal members 16which connectthefree ends ofthetransverse members 14. Further longitudinal members 18 are provided at the base of the transverse members 14to add rigidity to the frame 12 and to act as an anchoring point for shoulder straps 20 and a waist strap or belt 22.

A canvas 24, or other suitable material, is stretched overtheframe 12toform a sack having a flap 26 which is opened in Figure 2 to reveal the contents of the sack.

The sack is provided with external pockets 28 and its interior may if desired be divided by a partition into separate compartments. One such partition may be waterproof to separate dry and wet items from one another.

As seen more clearly from Figures 3 and 4, the longitudinal members 16 at the free ends of the limbs ofthetransverseframe members 14areintheform of telescopically collapsible tubes having extensions 30.

The extension tubes 30 are connected to one another in pairs by means of respective further transverse members32similartotheframemembers 14.

A looseflap 34 ofthe canvas is stretched over the extended frame to form a bed or stretcher as shown in Figure 4. To hold the loose flap in position on the frame extension, straps 36 are sewn onto the flap but any other suitable method of attachment may be employed.

In Figure 2, the contents of the sack are shown as being a sleeping bag 40. If the sack is already full of other equipment, the bag 40 may be slung beneath the frame and the extra flap 34 may be used to encircle the sleeping bag to hold it in place and to make the sack morecomfortableto carry.

If the bed when assembled isto be used as a stretcher, then handles may be provided on the frame and these may either form a permanentfixture or they may be releasably secured in position. If desired, the carrying handles may be constituted by further telescoped extensions ofthe longitudinal members 16.

It will be noted that the rucksack of the preferred embodiment can be converted into a bed with extreme ease, it being only necessary to pull outthe extension tubes and to secure the flap 34 in position.

The operation can thus be carried out even with cold hands or when wearing gloves. Furthermore, the space required fortheconversion from a sackto a bed is minimal. Both these features are of importance in view ofthe adverse conditions underwhich such equipment is sometimes used.

1. A rucksack comprising a frame and material stretched overtheframe, wherein the frame is

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Rucksack The present invention relates to a rucksack. There are known rucksacks which have a rigid light frame, typically made of aluminium, overwhich canvas is stretched. Such sacks have a large capacity and are comfortable to carry. Furthermore, because of the rigid frame, it its further possible to suspend on the exterior of the sack bulky items such as a sleeping bag. The present invention is concerned with an im provementto thisform of rucksack which imparts to it greater utility and versatility. According to the present invention, there is provided a rucksack comprising a frame and material stretched overtheframe, wherein the frame is extendible and material is provided for stretching over the frame extension, whereby the extended rucksack may serve as a bed or stretcher. The frame preferably comprises U-shaped trans- verse members joinedto one another by longitudinal members connected to the free ends ofthe limbs of the transverse members, the material forming the surface ofthe bed being stretched between the longitudinal members. In the preferred embodiment, the said longitudinal members are in the form oftelescopicallycollapsible tubes, the extension tubes being connected in pairs by means of similariy U-shaped transverse members. In an alternative embodiment, extension tubes may be connected to the longitudinal members of the rucksack frame and separately provided resilient support bows may be secured to the extension tubes to maintain material stretched between the extension tubes in tension. The material to coverthe extension oftheframe may conveniently be formed as a loose flap in the rucksackto be pulled out over the extended frame. Any suitable means may be used to tie the material overthe extension frame, for example string, springs or metal hooks. It is not essential thatthe ties be resilient as the U-shaped support members ofthe frame will impartthe required resilience to the bed. The combined rucksack and camp bed ofthe invention clearly assists campers by reducing the weight of equipmentthat they must carry. The rucksack ofthe invention however also has an important application in mountain rescue since the bed can also serve as a stretcher if provided with suitable handles. Thus the rucksack, which can be used to carryfirstaid and mountain rescue equip- ment, can also serve as a stretcherfor any person in distress. In this application, the rucksack offers the advantagethat all the necessary equipment can be carried while still leaving the hands free. The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a rucksack in a closed condition, for carrying, Figure 2 shows the rucksack of Figure 1 with the top flap opened to reveal its contents, Figure 3 shows the rucksack partly extended, and Figure 4 shows the rucksackfully extended to act as a bed or stretcher. The drawings show a rucksackwhich when closed, as viewed in Figure 1 does not differ markedly from a conventional frame rucksack. The rucksack 10 has an aluminium frame 12 formed oftwo generally U shapedtransverse members 14(seeFigures3 & )and longitudinal members 16which connectthefree ends ofthetransverse members 14. Further longitudinal members 18 are provided at the base of the transverse members 14to add rigidity to the frame 12 and to act as an anchoring point for shoulder straps 20 and a waist strap or belt 22. A canvas 24, or other suitable material, is stretched overtheframe 12toform a sack having a flap 26 which is opened in Figure 2 to reveal the contents of the sack. The sack is provided with external pockets 28 and its interior may if desired be divided by a partition into separate compartments. One such partition may be waterproof to separate dry and wet items from one another. As seen more clearly from Figures 3 and 4, the longitudinal members 16 at the free ends of the limbs ofthetransverseframe members 14areintheform of telescopically collapsible tubes having extensions 30. The extension tubes 30 are connected to one another in pairs by means of respective further transverse members32similartotheframemembers 14. A looseflap 34 ofthe canvas is stretched over the extended frame to form a bed or stretcher as shown in Figure 4. To hold the loose flap in position on the frame extension, straps 36 are sewn onto the flap but any other suitable method of attachment may be employed. In Figure 2, the contents of the sack are shown as being a sleeping bag 40. If the sack is already full of other equipment, the bag 40 may be slung beneath the frame and the extra flap 34 may be used to encircle the sleeping bag to hold it in place and to make the sack morecomfortableto carry. If the bed when assembled isto be used as a stretcher, then handles may be provided on the frame and these may either form a permanentfixture or they may be releasably secured in position. If desired, the carrying handles may be constituted by further telescoped extensions ofthe longitudinal members 16. It will be noted that the rucksack of the preferred embodiment can be converted into a bed with extreme ease, it being only necessary to pull outthe extension tubes and to secure the flap 34 in position. The operation can thus be carried out even with cold hands or when wearing gloves. Furthermore, the space required fortheconversion from a sackto a bed is minimal. Both these features are of importance in view ofthe adverse conditions underwhich such equipment is sometimes used. CLAIMS

1. A rucksack comprising a frame and material stretched overtheframe, wherein the frame is extendible and material is provided for stretching over theframe extension, wherebythe extended rucksack mayserveasa bed orstretcher.

2. A rucksack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame comprises U-shaped transverse members joined to one another by longitudinal members connected to the free ends of the limbs of the transverse members, the material forming the surface ofthe bed being stretched between the longitudinal members.

3. A rucksack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the longitudinal members are in the form oftelescopically collapsible tubes, the extension tubes being connected in pairs by means of similarly U-shaped transverse members.

4. A rucksack as claimed in claim 2, wherein extension tubes are provided for connection to the longitudinal members ofthe rucksack fra me and separately provided resilient support bows are provided to secure to the extension tubes, to maintain material stretched between the extension tubes in tension.

5. A rucksack as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the material to cover the extension of the frame is formed ass loose flap in the rucksack.

6. A rucksack as claimed in any preceding claim, whereintheframe is provided with carrying handles.

7. A rucksack constructed substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.