GB2362089A

GB2362089A - Measuring system and measuring device for rucksacks

Info

Publication number: GB2362089A
Application number: GB0010908A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Leonard; Kenneth Foley
Original assignee: Lowe Alpine Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Lowe Alpine Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2000-05-08
Filing date: 2000-05-08
Publication date: 2001-11-14
Also published as: WO2001084978A1; AU5660801A; GB0010908D0

Abstract

A system for selecting or adjusting a rucksack harness to correspond to the torso length of an intended wearer of the rucksack, which comprises a measuring device 50, Fig. 3 for measuring the torso length, a height-adjustable harness on the rucksack, and a plurality of vertically disposed positions on a rear wall of the rucksack into a selected one of which a harness yoke 15, Fig. 8, is insertable for height-adjustable engagement of the harness. Each position has an indicia or coding, preferably a coloured stripe, which corresponds to an indicia or coding on the measuring device so as to identify an appropriate height setting for the harness to correspond to the torso length measured by the measuring device. As described the device for measuring the torso length of the intended wearer of a rucksack comprises an elongate ruler 50, Fig. 3 having a series of spaced graduations, preferably coloured stripes, 53 on a surface thereof. A slide 60 is moveable relative to the ruler, and has a shoulder piece 63 which fits on the shoulder of the wearer. The elongate ruler is curved inwardly and terminates in a foot 54 having a hip point 55, which during measuring is located at the crest of the wearer's hip.

Description

2362089 MEASURING SYSTEM AND MEASURING DEVICE FOR RUCKSACKS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a measuring system and a measuring device to facilitate the sizing of a rucksack harness to suit the size of the user's back. The term C, "rucksack" as used throughout the description and claims is intended to include backpacks

C) and other bags carried on the shoulder by means of a shoulder harness.

C., Background Art

Many rucksacks use an adjustable back system. These systems allow the user to finetune the rucksack back length to their own size, allowing a correct fit for load-carrying comfort. 15 The present applicants market a rucksack having an adjustable back system under the c Trade Mark APS (Advanced Paralux System). The APS@ rucksack is the subject of EP 0 1 699 039 (N---T WO 94/26143), and has a vertically adjustable harness comprising a pair of shoulder carrier straps jointed together at one end at a harness yoke, and yoke engagement C 4n c means comprising a plurality of open-ended sleeves to receive the harness yoke in height- CP ad C 0 C justable enuagernent. The slats are overlapping and define a plurality of overlapping openended sleeves, into a selected one of which sleeves the harness yoke may be inserted.

However, the process in arriving at the correct back length can be one of trial and C error. The APS (P adjustment is simple, but even a experienced user can be initially unsure which adjustment point is correct for them. Also, without expert help, a consumer can select the wrong size with resulting discomfort and dissatisfaction with the product. A further C tP problem is that sales assistants in stores selling rucksacks, may not have sufficient time, or expertise, to size the rucksack harness correctly to fit the torso of the user.,0 2 Object of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a rucksack harness sizing system, and associated torso measuring device which will allow consumers to easily determine their C correct back lenuth, and enable the rucksack harness to be correctly height-adjusted to fit the back length.

Summary of the Invention

1 In one aspect, the invention provides a system for selecting a rucksack having a size which corresponds to the torso lencyth (d) of an intended wearer of the rucksack comprising a measuring device for measuring the torso length (d) of the intended wearer of the rucksack C C1 0 having a plurality of indicia or codincys thereon, and at least one indicia or coding on the C1 C1 c rucksack which corresponds to an indicia or coding on the measuring device so as to identify 0 an appropriate rucksack size to correspond to the torso length (d) measured by the measuring device.

In another aspect, the invention provides a system for adjusting a rucksack harness to correspond to the torso length of an intended wearer of the rucksack, comprising a measuring device for measuring the torso lenath of the intended wearer of the rucksack, a height- c, t adjustable harness on the rucksack comprising a pair of shoulder carrier straps joined together at one end thereof at a harness yoke, a plurality of vertically disposed positions on a C> rear wall ofthe rucksack into a selected one of which the harness yoke is insertable for hel,,ht-icl'ustifile enpoement, and wherein each position has an indicia or coding associated C 1 c C1 t:> therewith which corresponds to an indicia or coding on the measuring device so as to identify an appropriate height setting for the harness to correspond to the torso length measured by the measuring device.

CY The invention also provides a measuring device for measuring the torso length of the c intended wearer of a rucksack comprising an elongate ruler having a series of spaced C1 craduations on a surface thereof, a slide moveable relative to the ruler, and a shoulder piece C on the slide adapted to fit on the shoulder of the wearer.

3 Suitably, the elonorate ruler is curved inwardly and terminates in a foot having a hip point. Preferably, the hip point is an opening through which the wearer's thumb or finger may be inserted to locate the hip point at the crest of the wearer's hip. 5 The indicia used on the measuring device which corresponds with that on the rucksack is preferably a colour coding, most preferably a series of stripes of different colours. Suitably the colours used are purple, red, orange, yellow and green to denote, respectively, a torso length (tl) corresponding to a rucksack size of extra large, large, medium 10 and small.

Preferably, the harness height adjustment means comprises a series of vertically Zn arranged sleeves or pockets into a selected one of which the harness oke may be inserted, C y each sleeve or pocket having an identifying coloured stripe. 15 The system may also include a chart which relates the coloured coding system to a measurement in centimetres or inches, which is used by retailers to correctly size the rucksack to suit the wearer.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, one embodiment of a t, C> rucksack harness sizing system and associated torso measuring device according to the C C CY invention. In the drawin,-,s:

C1 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a human skeleton showing the torso and hip bone; Figure 2 shows side elevations of the human torso showing the relationship between torso length and rucksack size; Figure ') is a front elevation of one embodiment of a torso measuring device in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the device of Figure 4; Figure 5 illustrates the device of Figure 3 in use; 4 Fioure 7 is an elevation of the rear of a rucksack of Fi-ure 6 showine, the arrangement for C C1 tP hel(yht adiustment; cl Figure 8 shows a detail of Figure 7; and C1 0 Figure 9 shows one embodiment of a colour coding system used on the torso measuring C cl device of Figure 3.

c Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Figure 1 is a side view of a human skeleton showing the torso and hip. To ensure that a rucksack 1 (see Fig. 6) is carried correctly and comfortably on the back of the user it is CP important that the shoulder straps 10 are in the correct position on the wearer's shoulders, with the straps 10 curving over the shoulders. The location the hip belt 8 relative to the shoulder straps 10 is most important, so as to ensure proper load distribution from the shoulders to the hips of the person carrying the rucksack. It has been found that a load can C1 be carried most comfortably and efficiently in a rucksack if up to two- thirds of the load is transferred onto the hips by the hip belt 8. The load is preferably carried on the hip 40 bone (see Fig. 1), and in particular on the crest 41 of the hip bone, known as the illiae crest. In C order to correctly locate the shoulder harness 10 of the rucksack relative to the hip belt it is important to measure the torso length of the wearer. The torso length to be measured corresponds to the distance tI, shown in Figure 1, between the 7th vertebra 43 of the spinal column, and the hip crest 41.

The measurement of the torso length tl not only permits the correct vertical 0 adjustment of the shoulder harness, but also the selection of the rucksack having an internal frame of an appropriate vertical lenoth. Thus, referring to Figure 2, this illustrates three rucksacks la, lb, and lc of different frame lengths. Thus, rucksack la has a frame size of 56 em (22 inches) which is suitable for a person having a torso length (tl) of 41 em (16 inches); rucksack lb has frame size of 61 em (24 inches) corresponding to a torso length of 46 em (18 inches); while rucksack le has a frame size of 66 em (26 inches) corresponding to a torso lent,,,th of 51 em (20 inches). These three rucksacks typically represent rucksacks of small, medium and large size. A system for accurately measuring the torso length (tl) and relating it firstly to the selection of a rucksack having a correct frame length, and secondly 0 Z=. 0 permitting accurate ajustment of the shoulder ham ess of the selected rucksack is thus very c important, particularly bearing in mind that the torso length of a person may not be readily apparent at a glance. For example, a short person may have a long torso length, and a tall C) person may have a short torso length.

A device for measuring torso length, in accordance with one embodiment of the 0 invention, is illustrated in Figures 3 to 5.

CY The measuring device comprises an elongate ruler 50, which has a top portion 51, 0 C B) which is graduated. The graduations preferably comprise a series of coloured stripes 53 which extend transversely of the ruler in spaced parallel relationship. The ruler 50 has a lower portion 52 which is curved inwardly, and terminates at a foot 54 which contains a hip point in the form of a circular aperture 55.

A slide 60 is moveable along the top portion 53 of the ruler 50. The slide 60 has a C central slot 61 throucyh which the ruler 51 extends in a ti(yht slidina fit. The slide 60 has an C1 c tn opening 62, at least on the front face of the slide, through which the stripes 53 on the ruler 0 become visible as the slide is moved along the ruler. Indicators, e.g. in the form of arrows 65 are provided to each side of the opening 62, in line with the transverse axis of the opening.

An inwardly extending part of the slide 60 has a shoulder piece 63 which is suitably C1 curved to fit over the shoulder of a person as shown in Figure 5. The inner surface of the shoulder piece 63 is lined with a sheet 64 of a soft resilient foamed plastics.

The top end of the ruler 50 has a hole 56, which may be used for hangine, the device on a wall or the like for storage purposes.

t The use of the measuring device of the invention in measuring the torso length tl of a illustrated in Figure 4. The hip point aperture 55 is positioned over the hip crest 41 person is i 1C - (see Fig, 1) of the person. This location can best he found by the person inserting a thumb through the aperture 55, and moving the rule until the thumb rests on the top of the hip crest C1 C) 6 41. Holding the rule 50 in place, the slide 60 is then moved, in a slidi C, 1 1 1 1 ing movement, relative tn to the ruler, until it fits over the shoulder of the person.

The measuring device is then removed from the person and the relevant graduation, in CP this embodiment the relevant coloured stripe 53 is read through the opening 62 against the indicator 65. The coloured stripe 53 corresponds with a similarly coloured stripe on the relevant fixing point for the rucksack harness as described in more detail below.

One embodiment of a rucksack having a height ad ustable harness for use in the C n j system of the invention is the APS @ system described in EP 0 699 039 B, the contents of which are incorporated herein by way of reference. The APS @ rucksack is now described with reference to Figures 6 to 8.

c Figure 6 shows a typical rucksack 1. The rucksack 1 has a front wall 2, side walls 3 C> and a rear wall 4. The rucksack is carried on the wearer's shoulders by means of a pair of shoulder straps 10 which are attached at their upper ends to the rucksack 1 by means of a harness engagement means 5. The harness encyacyement means 5 is sewn to the rear wall 4 of C) c C.1 c the rucksack 1. The harness engagement means 5 provides for a vertical adjustment of the point of attachment of the shoulder straps 10 to the body of the rucksack. The shoulder straps 10 are provided, in well known manner, with top stabiliser straps 6 which are adjustably connected to buckle 7 fixed to the top of the rear wall 4 of the rucksack. The lower ends of the shoulder straps 10 are attached to the waistband 8 by adjustable straps 11.

A hinged cover flap 9 is provided to cover the lower part of the harness encia(yement means.

c CI c The upper ends of the harness shoulder straps 10 are connected, by sewing, to a 4 harness yoke 15 to define a Y-shape. The yoke 15 is essentially flat and has a tapering C profile so that it is wedge-shaped. The narrow end of the yoke is connected to a tie strap 12.

CY The harness yoke engagement means is shown in more detail in Figures 7 and 8. The 0 C engagement means comprises a plurality of transverse slats 25 which are attached to the rear JI 0 wall 4 of the rucksack in overlappino arrangement lengthwise of the rear wall 4. The slats 25 C C are comprised of lengths of flexible webbing material laid partly over each other in c, C> 7 overlapping arrangement and are sewn to the rear wall 4 by lines of vertical stitching 14)see Z C Fioure 8). To strengthen the construction, vertical reinforcing webs of material 16 are Ct, C stitched over the lateral ends of the slat 25 by means of lines of stitching 17.

Z:1 The slats 25 define open-ended sleeves (see Ficrure 8 in particular) for receiving the 0 harness yoke 15. Each slat 25 has an exposed leading edge 26 under which the tie strap 12 of the yoke 15 is inserted to place the yoke 15 in position. The first leading edge 28 is closed to prevent the yoke being inserted in this substantially unreinforced slat. The remaining slats 25 j 1 C1 are reinforced by the overlapping construction of the slats 25, as described above.

C In use, the tie strap 12 is inserted under the leading edge 26 of a selected one of the slats 25, asshown in Figure 8. The tie strap 12 is threaded through the open-ended sleeve 27, C r and behind the lower slats, until it protrudes from the trailing edge of the lowest slat 25. The c:, tie strap 12 is pulled until the yoke 15 is securely drawn under the appropriate slat 25 until it is firmly housed within selected sleeve 25.

In accordance with the measuring system of this invention, each of the sleeves 25 has 4:1 a colour coding; in the form of a coloured stripe 70 on the top edge of each sleeve 25, as C shown in Figure 8. The colour coded stripes 70 correspond with coloured coded stripes 53 C:P on the ruler 50 of the torso measuring device. Thus, when the torso length tl of the wearer of C C the rucksack is measured by the measuring device, as described above, the sleeve (or pocket) 25 into which the yoke 15 of the harness is inserted is that which has a coloured stripe 70 corresponding to the relevant coloured stripe 53 appearing in the opening 62 of the slide 60.

c tn 0 The plurality of sleeves 25 may be overlapping as described above, and as shown in EP 0 699 039. Alternatively, the sleeves 25 or pockets may be of a ladder style construction such as the known PARALUX (trade mark) harness height- adj usting system, or ma c y comprise a series of vertically spaced pockets. Whatever, the construction of the sleeves 25 or pockets, each of the sleeves has, preferably on the top edge, thereof an indicia or coding C1 C which correspond to an indicia or coding on the ruler 50 such that the correct sleeve 25 or pocket may be selected to correspond with the torso length tl of the person intending to wear the rucksack.

8 Figure 9 shows schematically one arrangement of coloured stripes 53 on the ruler 50, of which there are ten in number. The stripes are spaced apart about 2.5 cm (1 inch), and there are ten stripes 53 in total. The stripes are organised in pairs of different colours, e.g. g downwardly there are tow blue stripes, two red, two orange, two yellow, example readin., C5 and two white. Each stripe 53 corresponds to a particular torso length (tl), ranging from 61 cm down to 41 cm. When a torso length measurement is carried out, as described above, one or two of these coloured stripes will appear in the opening 62 of the slide 60. The stripe nearest to the indicator arrows 65 is chosen as the appropriate d. This indicates firstly the size of rucksack which should be chosen, as described above with reference to Figure 2, either small, medium or large.

The appropriate coloured stripe 53 will also indicate the appropriate height adjustment for the rucksack harness, i.e. the sleeve 22 or pocket into which the harness yoke 15 should be inserted to achieve a correct fit for the wearer. That is, the sleeve or pocket having a colour coding corresponding to the colour of the stripe 53 on the ruler 50 is chosen.

C.1 c A chart corresponding to Figure 9 may be provided to retailers to correctly size the Zn rucksack to suit the wearer.

It will be appreciated that a coloured stripe is only one example of indicia which may be used. For example, a series of corresponding numbers, coloured dots, or the like could be C1 utilised instead.

Claims

9 Claims

Asystern for selecting a rucksack having a size which corresponds to the torso length Z c (d) of an intended wearer of the rucksack comprises:

a measuring device (50) for measuring the torso length (d) of the intended wearer of the 4:1 rucksack havino a plurality of indicia or codings thereon, and c C at least one indicia or coding on the rucksack which corresponds to an indicia or coding on C> the measuring device so as to identify an appropriate rucksack size to correspond to the torso length (d) measured by the measuring device.
2. A system for adjusting a rucksack harness to correspond to the torso lenerth (tl) of an 2 zn intended wearer of the rucksack comprises: a measuring device (50) for measuring the torso length (tl) of the intended wearer of the rucksack, a height-adjustable harness on the rucksack comprising a pair of shoulder carrier straps (10) joined together at one end thereof at a harness yoke (15), a plurality of vertically disposed positions on a rear wall (4) of the rucksack into a selected one of which the harness yoke (15) is insertable for height-adjustable engagement, and c tn wherein each position has an indicia or coding associated therewith which corresponds to an 0 indicia or coding on the measuring device so as to identify an appropriate height setting for CI -Y the harness to correspond to the torso length (d) measured by the measuring device.
3. A system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the vertically disposed positions comprise a plurality of sleeves (27) or pockets disposed vertically on the rear wall (4) of the rucksack.
4. A measuring device for measuring the torso length (d) of the intended wearer of a 4:1 rucksack comprising an elongate ruler (50) having a series of spaced graduations (53) on a C1 C C1 tz, surface thereof, a slide (60) moveable relative to the ruler (60), and a shoulder piece (63) on the slide adapted to fit on the shoulder of the wearer.
5. A measurim,, device as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the elongate ruler (50) is curved inwardly and terminates in a foot (54) having a hip point (55).

c
6. A measuring device as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the hip point is an opening (55) through which the wearer's thumb or finger may be inserted to locate the hip point at the C t:> crest ofthe wearer's hip.
7. A system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, or a measuring device as claimed in Claims 4 to 6, wherein the indicia is a coloured coding.
8. A system or device as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the indicia is a coloured stripe.
9. A rucksack having a height-adjustable harness on the rucksack comprising a pair of shoulder carrier straps (10) joined together at one end thereof at a harness yoke (15), C> a plurality of vertically disposed positions on a rear wall (4) of the rucksack into a selected one of which the harness yoke (15) is insertable for height- adj usta ble engagement, and wherein each position has an indicia or coding associated therewith which corresponds to an Z:1 indicia or codino on an associated measurina device so as to identify an appropriate height C c setting, for the harness to correspond to the torso length (d) measured by the measuring 1 0 device.
10. A rucksack as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the plurality of vertically disposed positions comprises a plurality of sleeves (27) or pockets disposed vertically on the rear will (4) of the rucksack.
11. A system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 or a rucksack as claimed in Claim 9, in which each sleeve or pocket has a coloured stripe thereon which corresponds with a coloured stripe on an associated torso measuring device.

CI
12. A system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the measuring device (50) is a measuring, device as claimed in any of the claims 3 to 5.

1 is a colour coding and 13 '). A system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the coding 0 the colours used are purple, red, orange, yellow and green to denote, respectively, a torso length (d) corresponding to a rucksack size of extra large, large, medium and small.

C 0