SG185142A1 - Backpack with adjustable shoulder straps - Google Patents

Abstract

OF THE DISCLOSURE A backpack comprise a back and a frame attached to the back, a shoulderstrap assembly adjustably attached to the frame comprising left and right shoulderstraps connected to a shoulder strap support plate assembly, wherein the supportplate assembly has a front face and a back face, and left and right lateral supportsconnected to the back and releasably connectable to the shoulder strap assembly.Each lateral support has a back side, the back side of each lateral support isreleasably fastened to the front face of the support plate assembly, and the backface of the support plate assembly cooperates with the back to form a hook and loopfastener, releasably securing the support plate assembly to the back.Fig. 4

Description

1 BACKPACK WITH ADJUSTABLE SHOULDER STRAPS 2 3 FIELD OF THE INVENTION 4

[0001] This invention relates to backpacks, and more particularly to backpacks with 6 adjustable shoulder straps. 7 8 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 9

[0002] Backpacks typically comprise one or more bags attached to a frame, a 11 shoulder strap assembly, comprising at least a pair of shoulder straps, and often a 12 belt and/or other lumbar support which can be attached to a person's waist and may 13 be connectable to the shoulder strap assembly. Many available backpacks have 14 shoulder straps with length which can be changed in an effort to partially accommodate users of different sizes. However, with most known backpacks the 16 shoulder straps are fixedly attached to the rest of the backpack, so there are limits in 17 the amount of accommodation available. 18 19 [0003] There are a few known designs where the shoulder strap is adjustably mounted to the rest of the backpack. One is the Vari-Quick™ System for backpacks 21 from DeuterUSA. Those backpacks have a harness strap connected to a shoulder 22 strap and also looped through openings in a ladder fixed along a frame of the 23 backpack. The harness strap is threaded through a different opening to adjust the 24 position of the shoulder strap with respect to the frame. Hook and loop fasteners connects the harness strap to itself. Disconnection of the hook and loop fastener

1 allows for adjustment of the harness strap with respect to the ladder. Such an 2 assembly is relatively difficult to adjust, since it requires unfastening the harness 3 strap, unlooping the harness strap out of the ladder, re-looping the harness strap into 4 the ladder, and then refastening the harness strap. It would therefore be desirable to provide a backpack with an adjustable shoulder strap which is easy to adjust, is of 6 low cost design and which is relatively easy to manufacture. 7 8 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 9

[0004] In accordance with a first aspect, a backpack comprises a back and a frame 11 attached to the back, a shoulder strap assembly adjustably attached to the frame 12 comprising left and right shoulder straps connected to a shoulder strap support plate 13 assembly, wherein the support plate assembly has a front face and a back face, and 14 left and right lateral supports connected to the back and releasably connectable to the shoulder strap assembly. Each lateral support has a back side, the back side of 16 each lateral support is releasably fastened to the front face of the support plate 17 assembly, and the back face of the support plate assembly cooperates with the back 18 to form a hook and loop fastener, releasably securing the support plate assembly to 19 the back. 21 [0005] From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detailed description of 22 various embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present 23 invention provides a significant advance in the technology of backpacks. Particularly 24 significant in this regard is the potential the invention affords for providing a high quality, aesthetically attractive backpack with easy to operate shoulder strap

1 adjustment. Additional features and advantages of various embodiments will be 2 better understood in view of the detailed description provided below. 3 4 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 6 [0006] Fig. 1 is a back side view of a backpack in accordance with one embodiment. 7 8 [0007] Fig. 2 is a side view of the backpack of Fig. 1 9

[0008] Fig. 3 is a front side view of the backpack of Fig. 1. 11 12 [0009] Figs. 4 and 5 show a shoulder strap assembly at a full up and a full down 13 position, respectively. 14

[0010] Figs. 6 and 7 show adjustment of the shoulder strap assembly. 16 17 [0011] Fig. 8 shows an isolated view of a back of the backpack showing locations for 18 hook and loop fasteners. 19

[0012] Fig. 9 is a cross section view taken along line 9-2 in Fig. 4. 21 22 [0013] Fig. 10 is a cross section view taken along line 10-10 in Fig. 4 showing a hook 23 and loop connection between the back of the backpack and the shoulder strap 24 assembly, and also showing a hook and loop connection between one of the lateral supports and the shoulder strap assembly.

2 [0014] It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to 3 scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various features illustrative 4 of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the backpack as disclosed here, including, for example, the specific dimensions of the shoulder 6 straps will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use 7 environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or 8 distorted relative to others to help provide clear understanding. In particular, thin 9 features may be thickened, for example, for clarity of illustration. All references to direction and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation illustrated 11 inthe drawings. 12 13 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS 14

[0015] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, to those who have 16 knowledge or experience in this area of technology, that many uses and design 17 variations are possible for the backpack disclosed here. The following detailed 18 discussion of various alternate features and embodiments will illustrate the general 19 principles of the invention with reference to a backpack suitable for use carrying outdoor gear, books, school supplies, etc. Other embodiments suitable for other 21 applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art given the benefit of this 22 disclosure. 23 24 [0016] Turning now to the drawings, Figs. 1-3 show a back side view, a side view and a front side view, respectively, of one embodiment of a backpack 10. The

1 backpack has a front side 14 and a back side 12. A back 80 can have a series of

2 pouches and pockets on either side, or both.

A structural frame member 70 is

3 provided, which can comprise a lightweight metal or an at least semi-rigid

4 engineering plastic.

Other elements of the backpack are anchored on the structural frame 70, including the back 80.

6

7 [0017] A shoulder strap assembly 20 comprises a pair of shoulder straps 30 and a

8 support plate assembly 40. As shown in Fig. 1, the shoulder straps or belts 30 can

9 have adjustable length and can comprise a robust cloth or fabric, optionally with foam components positioned along some or all of the cloth.

Further, the shoulder 11 straps have first ends 32, 33, respectively, which are operatively connected to the 12 back at a lower end 25. The shoulder straps have a second end 31 where they meet 13 at and are affixed to the support plate assembly 40. In the embodiment shown in the 14 drawings, the ends 32, 33 are connected to the back near a lower back area, near the lower end of the backpack.

Left and right lateral supports 50, 60, are provided 16 connected to the back.

Inthe embodiment shown in the Figs., the lateral supports 17 50,60 are padded members and able to pivot with respect to the back away from the 18 central frame 70. Advantageously, the lateral supports are releasably connectable 19 with respect to the back.

21 [0018] In accordance with a highly advantageous feature the support plate assembly 22 40 is releasably adjustable with respect to the frame 70. Figs. 4 and 5 show a full up 23 position and a full down position, respectively.

In Fig. 5, the full down position is 24 limited by expansion of the width of the frame 70 closer to the lower end of the backpack.

The wide part of the frame closer to the lower end of the backpack also

1 acts as a stabilizer and helps to balance load on the bag horizontally. This 2 construction advantageously allows for easy comfort adjustment to suit a wide range 3 of users. 4

[0019] Fig. 6 shows the lateral supports 50, 60 pulled away and the support plate 6 assembly partially compressed, exposing back sides 54, 56, respectively, of the 7 lateral supports. As noted above, the lateral supports are releasably connectable 8 with respect to the back. Fig. 6 shows surfaces 81 and 52 on the right, and 83 and 9 62 on the left which cooperate to form a hook and loop fastener, often referred to as a Velcro™ fastener. Such hook and loop fasteners releasably secure the lateral 11 supports to the back. In the embodiment of Fig. 6, hook and loop fasteners 52, 62 12 extend along most of the back sides 54, 56 of the lateral supports 50, 60. Similarly, 13 complimentary hook and loop fasteners 81, 83 are positioned on a front surface 82 14 of the back 80. Optionally, part of the support plate assembly 40 may extend across hook and loop fasteners 81, 83. During a normal use position (such as shown in 16 Figs. 4 or 5) the support plate assembly is at least partially sandwiched or positioned 17 between the support pads 50, 60 and the back 80. Therefore during normal use, on 18 the front face 64 of the support plate assembly hook and loop fasteners 42, 44 are 19 provided which releasably connect to corresponding hook and loop fasteners 52, 62, respectively. 21 22 [0020] Fig. 7 partially shows additional hook and loop fasteners releasably 23 connecting the support plate assembly 40 (and therefore the shoulder strap 24 assembly 20) to the back 80. One set of hook and loop fasteners 81 is positioned on the front surface of the back, and the other, corresponding hook and loop fastener 45

1 is positioned on a back face 65 of the support plate assembly.

Similar hook and loop 2 fasteners are positioned on the other side of the frame.

When a user wants to adjust 3 the position of the shoulder belts 30 with respect to the back, first the lateral supports 4 are pulled away from the back so that the hook and loop fasteners disengage.

Next, he squeezes the support plate assembly 40 to disengage the support plate assembly 6 fasteners from the fasteners on the back.

At this point, the support plate assembly 7 may be slid up or down with respect to the frame 70, as desired. 8 9 [0021] Fig. 8 shows the back 80 with the lateral supports 50, 60, and shoulder strap assembly removed for clarity of illustration.

During normal use of the backpack, 11 hook and loop fasteners 81 and 83 releasably connect to corresponding hook and 12 loop fasteners on the lateral supports and on the support plate assembly.

Fig. 9is a 13 cross section view taken through line 8-9 in Fig. 4, where the second ends 31 of the 14 shoulder belts 30 meet.

The shoulder belts are connected to support plate assembly 40 on its front face 64. For example, the belts 30 and fabric 41 of the support plate 16 assembly 43 may be stitched together so movement of the support plate assembly 17 results in movement of the shoulder straps.

Advantageously, the frame 70 extends 18 through an opening in the fabric 41, adjustably captivating the support plate 19 assembly to the frame.

The support plate 43 is positioned between the frame 70 and the back 80 and can comprise a resiliently deformable, semi-rigid plastic. 21 22 [0022] Fig. 10 is a cross section view taken through line 10-10 in Fig. 4. There, the 23 lateral support 60 is visible, and hook and loop fasteners 62 releasably connect to 24 corresponding hook and loop fasteners 44 on the front face of the support plate assembly 40. Similarly, hook and loop fasteners 47 on the back face of the support

1 plate assembly releasably connect to corresponding hook and loop fasteners 83 on

2 the front surface of the back 80. Use of such hook and loop fasteners positioned

3 between the back the support plate assembly, and also between support plate

4 assembly and each lateral support advantageously allows for easy adjustment and reset of the shoulder strap with respect to the back.

6

7 [0023] From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain

8 embodiments, it will be apparent that various modifications, additions and other

9 alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention.

The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to 11 provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical 12 application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to use the invention in 13 . various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular 14 use contemplated.

All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance 16 with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

Claims (8)

1 CLAIMS 2 Whats claimed is: 3

4 1. A backpack comprising, in combination: a back and a frame attached to the back; 6 a shoulder strap assembly adjustably attached to the frame comprising left 7 and right shoulder straps connected to a shoulder strap support plate assembly, 8 wherein the support plate assembly has a front face and a back face; and 9 left and right lateral supports connected to the back and releasably connectable to the shoulder strap assembly, wherein each lateral support has a back 11 side; 12 wherein the back side of each lateral support is releasably fastened to the 13 front face of the support plate assembly, and the back face of the support plate 14 assembly and the back have form hook and loop fasteners which engage one another, releasably securing the support plate assembly to the back. 16 17 2. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the back side of each lateral support 18 cooperates with the front face of the support plate assembly have hook and loop 19 fasteners which engage one another, releasably securing each lateral support to the support plate assembly. 21 22 3. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the frame extends along the middle of the 23 back and the support plate assembly is releasably slidable along the frame from a 24 full up position to a full down position.

1 4. The backpack of claim 1 wherein each shoulder strap has a first end that is 2 fixedly attached to the back and a second end opposite the first end attached to the 3 shoulder support plate assembly. 4

5b. The backpack of claim 1 wherein each lateral support is attached to the back 6 and movable with respect to the back. 7

8

6. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the support plate assembly defines an 9 opening, and the frame is received in the opening.

7. The backpack of claim 6 wherein the support plate assembly comprises a 12 support plate and fabric surrounding at least a portion of the support plate, and the 13 support plate is positioned between the frame and the back. 14

8. The backpack of claim 1 wherein during a normal use position the support 16 plate assembly is positioned between the lateral supports and the back. 17