GB2303056A

GB2303056A - Backpack

Info

Publication number: GB2303056A
Application number: GB9514370A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Jonathon Goodchild; Keith William Hotchkiss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-07-13
Filing date: 1995-07-13
Publication date: 1997-02-12
Also published as: GB9514370D0

Abstract

A backpack comprises a pack 23, two main supporting straps 28,28' for passing over the shoulder of a wearer and two tensioning straps 20,20', the ends 29,29',36,36' of each supporting strap being connected to upper and lower sections of the pack, one end 35,35' of each tensioning strap being connected to a supporting strap and the other end 38,38' being connected to the pack at a position spaced from the upper connection of a supporting strap such that tightening of the tensioning straps causes the upper section of the pack to be pulled towards a wearer's back. Preferably the tensioning straps are connected to the pack above the upper connection of the supporting straps to the pack. The lengths of either/both the supporting and the tensioning straps may be adjusted. The pack may comprise a transverse reinforced section 22 to which the straps are attached and a vertical reinforced section. The supporting straps may have two sections 31,31',32,32' joined by buckles 30,30'.

Description

Backpack The present invention relates to a backpack, and in particular to a backpack with supporting straps that may be adjusted to relieve the pressure of the backpack against the lower back.

Backpacks generally have two supporting straps connected at their ends to a lower and an upper section of the backpack. When the pack is being carried, each of these straps passes from the upper section of the pack over a shoulder of the carrier, and then between the carrier's arm and body to the lower connection point. After the backpack has been donned, these straps are tightened in order to stop the backpack from sliding down the back, and also to keep the backpack tight against the back. If the backpack is not tight against the back, then it will tend to pull the wearer backwards, and will be uncomfortable to carry.

Because the weight of the backpack is supported from an upper section of the backpack, the lower section will tend to press against the wearer's lower back. The lower back is less able to withstand this sort of pressure than the upper back and so this pressure can cause discomfort, particularly if the backpack is packed with heavy hard items.

According to the invention, there is provided a backpack comprising a pack, two main supporting straps for passing, in use, over the shoulders of a person carrying the pack, and two tensioning straps, with each main strap being connected at one end to an upper section of the pack and at the other end to a lower section of the pack, and each tensioning strap being connected at one end to the main strap and at the other end to the pack at a position spaced from the upper connection of the main strap to the pack, so that when the tensioning straps are tensioned, the upper section of the pack is pulled towards the wearer's back.

It is preferred if the tensioning straps are connected to the pack at a level above level where the main straps are connected to the pack.

Additionally, or as an alternative, the tensioning straps may be connected to the pack at a position spaced, in use, further from the wearer's back than the upper connection of the main straps to the pack. For example, the main straps may be connected to a top edge of the surface of the pack nearest the wearer's back, and the tensioning straps may be connected to a side or a top surface of the pack disposed further away from the wearer's back.

It is preferable if the length of the tensioning straps may be adjusted to vary the pressure of the pack against the wearer's lower back. The adjustment may conveniently be provided by adjusting the joining point between two segments of strap which may, for example, pass through a buckle or clasp, or be held together by a Velcro fastener. However, the tension in the tensioning straps may be adjusted by other means, for example, by moving the connection point of the tensioning straps either on the main strap or the pack, in which case the tensioning strap may have a fixed length.

In general, the length of the main straps may also be adjusted to pull the pack against the wearer's back. The main and tensioning straps may therefore be adjusted to achieve a firm fit of a backpack against the wearer's back, but without excessive pressure being placed against the wearer's lower back.

It is preferable if the tensioning strap is connected to the main strap at a point which is close to the point where the main strap will, in use, pass over the peak of the carrier's shoulder. However, the tensioning strap may be connected to the main strap at a point which is forward of the point where the main strap passes over the peak of the shoulder.

It may often be desirable if the pack comprises a generally horizontal or transverse reinforced section to which straps may be connected. The reinforced section may be designed to bear the main part of the stresses imposed by the straps on the pack in order to increase the durability of the structure. Since most of the weight will be borne by the main straps at the points where they join the upper section of the pack, the main straps may advantageously be connected to the pack at a lower point of the reinforced section, with the tensioning straps connected to the pack at an upper point of the reinforced section. The horizontal reinforced section will preferably span the width of the pack in order to spread the loads imposed by the straps over the full width of the pack.

The backpack may additionally or alternatively comprise a generally vertical reinforced section which runs at least between the lower and the upper sect ions of the pack. This vertical reinforced section may preferably run between the tensioning strap and the lower section of the pack. The tensioning strap may then more efficiently be able to pull the upper section of the pack towards the wearer's back, while at the same time exerting a levering action on the lower section of the pack to pivot the backpack about the vicinity of the wearer's shoulder blades to pull the pack away from the wearer's lower back.

For optimum efficiency, it is preferred if the tensioning strap is adapted to span the gap between the pack and the peak of the wearer's shoulders in a horizontal plane. The force exerted by the tensioning strap will then be imposed on the pack at approximately right angles to the surface of the pack facing the wearer's back.

The invention will now be described in more detail, and by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a backpack according to the prior art as worn by a person; Figure 2 is a side view of a backpack according to the invention as worn by a person; and Figure 3 is a front view of the backpack and straps of the backpack of Figure 2.

Referring first to Figure 1, a person 1 is wearing a backpack 2 made from a fabric such as nylon, which has a pack 3 formed from two compartments, a front main compartment 4 next to the wearer's back, and a rear minor compartment 5. Each of these compartments may be opened by a zipper 6,7.

The pack 3 is worn by means of two main supporting straps that pass over the wearer's shoulders, one on each side of the person, although only one of the main straps 8 may be seen in the drawing. The straps 8 are connected to the pack at upper points 9, and at lower points 10. Since the weight of the back is transferred to the straps 8 connected at the upper points 9, these upper points 9 act as supporting points.

The main straps will normally have a length adjustment means, and will need to be tightened just enough so that the pack does not slip around on the person's back, but not so much that the straps constrict the wearer.

Depending on how the pack is filled, the pack will have a centre of mass 11 somewhere within the bounds of the pack, as indicated by the symbol X in the figure. This centre of mass will, generally, be disposed at some distance from the wearer's back, and also at some point between the upper point 9 and lower point 10, and may also be near a centre line of the pack defined by a vertical plane passing though mid points of the pack.

Because the support for the weight of the pack is at the upper points 9, which are very near the person's back and which will also not normally be directly above the centre of mass 11, the centre of mass will tend to press the lower section of the pack inwards towards the person's back. This effect is illustrated by the arrow indicated by the numeral 12. For the same reason, the upper section of the pack will tend to be pulled outwards from the persons back, as illustrated by the arrow with the numeral 13.

The pressure on the lower back may become uncomfortable, particularly if a heavy solid component is packed in the main compartment 4 next to the person's back. However, the alternative of placing the heavy component in the minor compartment 5 may not be practical, because this would move the centre of mass 11 farther away from the person's back and so increase the pivoting effect and pressure on the lower back. This can be uncomfortable but, more importantly, can also be dangerous if it unbalances the wearer.

Figure 2 shows a similar backpack to that described above, but with the addition of several features, including two tensioning straps, only one of which 20 may be seen. The tensioning straps 20 are attached at one end to the outer surface of the main compartment 24 at a point 38 which is above the upper point 29 at which the main strap 28 is attached, and at the other end to the main strap 28 itself.

Initially, the wearer may don the pack 23 with the tensioning straps 20 slack. After tightening the main straps 28, the pack 23 will be held to the person's back in the same manner as seen in Figure 1. The tensioning straps 20 will generally have some means for adjusting the lengths, and by shortening the lengths these straps may then be tightened.

Once the tensioning straps 20 are tensioned, the upper section of the pack 23 will be pulled towards the wearer, pivoting about the most prominent poInts of the wearer's back, which will be in the vicinity of the shoulder blades 27. This effect is illustrated by the arrow indicated by the numeral 25. Since the pack 23 and its contents will have some rigidity, the lower section of the pack 23 will tend to be pivoted outwards from the wearer's lower back, as illustrated by the arrow indicated by the numeral 26.

Although the pack 23 will still remain in contact with the lower back, the tensioning straps will have the effect of reducing the pressure on the lower back exerted by the pack.

Referring now to Figure 3, the two main straps 28,28' are attached at one end to upper points 29,29' and at the other end to lower points 36,36' of the pack 23. At the upper end the straps are sewn underneath a reinforcing patch 22 which extends horizontally across the pack.

Similarly, the tensioning straps 20 are attached to the pack 23 by sewing the straps between the pack and the reinforcing patch 22.

The main straps 28,28' each have two sections 31,31',32,32' joined together in pairs by buckles 30,30'.

The pairs of straps, 31,32,31',32' can be separated by disconnecting the buckle, which one may do, for example, when taking the pack off the person's back.

The buckle 30,31 can also be used to vary the length of the straps 28,28', for example in order to tighten the main straps and make the pack sit securely on one's back.

Each of the tensioning straps 20,20' is connected to one of the main straps 28,28' at a point on the main strap 35,35' which will be close to the shoulder of the wearer.

The other ends of the tensioning straps 20,20' are each connected to the pack 23 at points 38,38' along the top edge of the reinforcing patch 22. The tensioning straps each have a small clasp 37,37' near these attachment points 38,38' for adjusting the length, and hence the tension, of these straps. Each clasp exerts a one-way grip on a loop which passes through the clasp, so a free end 39,39' from the tensioning straps 20,20' may be pulled to tighten these straps after the pack 23 has been donned by the wearer. The wearer may therefore adjust the tension of the tensioning straps for optimum comfort depending on the load within the pack.

The straps on a pack as described above may be adjusted to achieve a greater level of comfort, particularly if the load within the pack is heavy or lumpy and tending otherwise to dig into the wearer's lower back. The pack may also incorporate as an alternative or an addition to the horizontal reinforcing patch, at least one vertical reinforcing patch. This patch may run between the upper and lower main strap connection points, and may preferably extend as far as the tensioning strap connection point.

This may improve the levering effect to reduce the pressure on the lower back as described above, by adding stiffness from the top to the bottom of the back. This may be particularly advantageous if the contents of the pack are such that they do not contribute to the overall stiffness of the pack, or if the contents are particularly heavy.

The connection points at the ends of the tensioning straps may, of course, also be varied from those for the specific embodiment of the invention describe above, as long as the effect of the straps is to pull the upper section of the pack forwards to the wearer's back.

Claims

1. A backpack comprising a pack, two main supporting straps for passing, in use, over the shoulders of a person carrying the pack, and two tensioning straps, with each main strap being connected at one end to an upper section of the pack and at the other end to a lower section of the pack, and each tensioning strap being connected at one end to the main strap and at the other end to the pack at a position spaced from the upper connection of the main strap to the pack, so that when the tensioning straps are tensioned, the upper section of the pack is pulled towards the wearer's back.

2. A backpack according to Claim 1, in which the tensioning straps are connected to the pack at a level above level where the main straps are connected to the pack.

3. A backpack according to Claim 1, in which the tensioning straps are connected to the pack at a position spaced, in use, further from the wearer's back than the upper connection of the main straps to the pack.

4. A backpack according to any preceding claim, in which the length of the tensioning straps may be adjusted to vary the pressure of the pack against the wearer's lower back.

5. A backpack according to any preceding claim, in which the length of the main straps may be adjusted to pull the pack against the wearer's back.

6. A backpack according to any preceding claim, in which the tensioning strap is connected to the main strap at a point which is close to the point where the main strap passes over the peak of the wearer's shoulder.

7. A backpack according to any preceding claim, in which the tensioning strap is connected to the main strap at a point which is forward of the point where the main strap passes over the peak of the wearer's shoulder.

8. A backpack according to any preceding claim, in which the pack comprises a generally transverse reinforced section, and the main strap is connected to the pack at a lower point of the reinforced section, and the tensioning strap is connected to the pack at an upper point of the reinforced section.

9. A backpack according to Claim 8, in which the transverse reinforced section spans the width of the pack.

10. A backpack according to any preceding claim, in which the pack comprises a generally vertical reinforced section which runs at least between the lower and the upper sections of the pack.

11. A backpack according to Claim 10, in which the vertical reinforced section runs between the tensioning strap and the lower section of the pack.

12. A backpack according to any preceding claim, in which the tensioning strap is adapted to span the gap between the pack and the peak of the wearer's shoulders in a horizontal plane.

13. A backpack substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.