US3856191A

US3856191A - Pack frame

Info

Publication number: US3856191A
Application number: US00248532A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Pohl
Original assignee: Kellwood Co LLC
Current assignee: Kellwood Co LLC; American Recreation Products Inc
Priority date: 1972-04-28
Filing date: 1972-04-28
Publication date: 1974-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-24
Also published as: CA976931A; JPS5224297B2; JPS4948041A

Abstract

A pack frame having side frame members and crossbars extending between the side frame, worn on the back by means of a pair of shoulder straps with the lower ends of the side frame members pin-connected to a hip belt for transferring part of the load carried by the frame to the wearer''s hips. In another aspect, the side frame members have wheels at their lower ends and connecting members at their upper ends for attachment to the hip belt for rolling the frame over the ground, the user pulling it forward as he walks via the attachment of the frame to the hip belt. The connecting members are movable between a retracted position extending toward one another from the opposite sides of the frame for utilization of the frame as a back pack frame, and a position extending forward for utilization of the frame as a rolling cart.

Description

52 US. Cl. 224/25 A, 224/8 A, 224/9 51 Int, .Cl. A45f 3/10 [58] Field of Search 224/25 A, s A, 9, 8R

[56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,282,483 11/1966 Babcock .l 224/25 A 3,355,075 12/1967 Dean 224/251 3,516,586 6/1970 Farnbach 224/251A 3,648,907 3/1972 Romney 224/25 A App]. No.:,248,532

Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Assistant Examine'r-Jerold M. Forsberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Koeuig, Senniger, Powers and Leavitt Pohl [4.51- Dec. 24, 1974 [541 PACK FRAME 57 ABSTRACT [75 1 Inventor: Harold Pohl Washington A pack frame having side framemembers. and cross- [73]v A i Kellwood Company, St. Louis, Mo, bars extending between the side frame, worn on the [22] Filed: p 1972 back by means of a pa r of shoulder straps with the lower ends of the side frame members pin-connected to a hip belt for transferring part of the load carried by the frame to the wearers hips. In another aspect, the side frame members have wheels at their lowerends and connecting members at their upper ends for attachment to-the hip belt for rolling the frame over the ground, the user pulling it forward as he walks via the attachment of the frame to the hip belt The-connecting members are movable between a retracted posi-' tion extending toward one another from the opposite sides of the frame for utilization of the frame as a back I pack frame, and a position extending forward for utilization of the frame as a rolling cart.

' 4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] EH12 4 I974 sum 2 or 3 FIGS FIG-4.

PATENTED UEC24 I974 sum 3 9 3 PACK FRAME BACKGROUND on THE INVENTION,-

This invention relates to pack frames, and more particularly to pack frameswith a hip belt for supporting part of the load on the users hips. It also involves a wheeled frame adapted to be attached to the hip belt and rolled over the ground.

Reference may be made tosuch US. patents as 3,367,547,- 3,5l6,586 and 3,58l,96 l showing conventional pack frames having their lower ends connected to a hip belt.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of a pack frame such asabove de-' scribed having improved more comfortable means for connection thereof to a belt worn around. the hips of the user; the provision of such pack frame with such means enabling easy adjustment for fitting different users; the provision of such a pack frame with wheels and means for attaching it to the belt forbeing pulled forward by the user-as he walks forward; and the provision hips and a strap secured to the outer surface of the pad means adapted to encircle the wearer. The strap has means on its'ends for fastening the hip belt in place around the hips, and means at each side for connecting the lower portion of a respective side member to the hip belt for transferring a portion of the weight of the load carried by the pack frame to the wearers hips. This connection means comprises at least one hole in the strap at each side of the hip belt adjacent the lower end of a respective side member, a hole in the lower portion of each side member, and a removable fasten ing member extending through the hole in the strap and through the hole in the adjacent side member for connecting the lower portion of the side member to the hip belt with the pad means interposed for comfort between the fastening member and the wearers body. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a side elevation of a wheeled pack frame of this invention as it is worn on the back; FIG. 2 isa side elevation of the FIG. 1 pack frame as it is connected by connecting members to a hip belt worn around the hips with the pack frame rolling along the ground behind thewearer on its wheels;

belt for rolling along behind the wearer;

the pack frameto the hip belt worn on the back;

'FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on line 5-5 of FIG. 1 showing the connection of the lower portion of FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical section on line 6- -6 of FIG. 2 showing the connection of the connecting memline 7-7 of FIG. 4,

- s ponding partsthrougnout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED v EMBODIMENT I Referring to the drawings, a'p'ack frame of this'invention, indicated in its entirety at l, is shown-to comprise a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apart side '

frame members

3a and 3b, and a plurality of cross members each designated 5. A pair of shoulder straps isprovided for suspending the framefrom the shoulders on the users back. Each of these straps is designated? and has 'itsupper end detachably connected to the top cross member 5 as indicated at 9 and its lower end detachably connected to the lower end portion of a

respective side member

3a or 3b, as indicated at 11. The cross members 5 are constituted-by curved bars extending between the side members (also constituted by bars). Support rods 13 extend vertically of the pack frame between cross members 5 for supporting the load carried in a suitable pack 15 (shown in phantom in FIG. 1) secured to the pack frame. A resilientweb 16 (e.g., an open mesh fabric web) extends transversely of side members 311, 3b intermediate their ends and is adapted to bear against the wearers shoulder blades to support the pack frame against his back. A hip belt generally indicated at 17 is worn around the wearers hips for purposes that will appear. t

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 the pack frame 1 has a pair of

wheels

19a, 19b, each rotatably carried on a

stub axle

20a, 20b secured to the lower end of a respec{

tive side member

3a, 3b. The frame also has a pair of connecting members 21a, 21b carried by the upper ends of the

side members

3a and 3b, respectively, adapted to be pivotally connected to the'hip belt assembly to hold the pack frame in position for rolling along the ground on the wheels behind the wearer as the wearer walks forward (see FIG. 2). Alternatively, the pack frame-may be worn on the back (as shown in FlG.-l) supported by shoulder straps 7 and also by connection of the lower portions of

side members

3a, 3b to I the hip belt thereby to transfer a portion of the weight of the load carried by the pack frame to the wearers hips and thusrelieve strain on theshoulders.

Wheels

19a, 19b are located on the outside of the lower portions of the

side members

3a, 3b spaced apart a distance greater than normal hip width. The connecting members 21a, 21b are movable from their extended connecting positions (FIG. 2) in which they extend forward from the side members for connection to the hip belt to a retracted position (see FIGS. 1 and 3) in which 1 I when the pack frame is 3 each Connecting member extends inwardly crosswise of the frame toward an opposite side member clear of the wearer. Thus, the pack frame of this invention may be trailed behind the user on the

wheels

19a, 19b with the wheels supporting the load' carried by the pack frame, or may be worn on the back as a conventional pack frame without interference from the wheels or the connecting members. 1

As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the hip belt 17 comprises a pad generally indicated at 23 engageable on the wearers hips and astrap 25 secured to the outer surface of the pad adapted to encircle the wearer. Pad 23 includes an elongated piece of flexible, resilient foam material .27, such as polyurethane foam, of sufficient length partially to encircle the wearer from one hip across the small of the back to the other hip. A protector member 29 of relatively thin, stiff material, such as a suitable plastic, is bonded as by a suitable adhesive to the outer surface of the foam, as indicated at 31, at each side of the hip belt assembly, and a fabric cover 33 of nylon fabric or the like encloses the foam 27 and the two protector members 29. Strap '25 has buckle members on its ends as indicated at 35 for fastening the hip belt on the wearer. The strap is stitched to the outer surface of the cover 33- along lines 36a and 36b at the longitudinal margins of the strap, but with the strap free in part, as indicated at 37, from the cover along its lower margin at the sides of the hip belt via gaps in the stitching 36b.

The forward ends of connecting members 21a, 21b are pivotally connected to the hip belt when the pack frame is trailed behind the wearer, and the lower ends of the

side members

3a, 3b are pivotally connected to the sides of the hip belt when the pack'frame is worn on the back. by means generally indicated at 38. More particularly, this means includes a series of hole s 39 in strap at each side of the hip belt, two such holesbeing shown at each side of the hip belt enabling adjustment of the connections to suit the user, Each of these holes is reinforced by a grommet 41. As shown best in FIG. '5, a hole 43 is provided in the lower end portion of each

side member

3a, 3b, and as shown in FIG. 7 a plurality of holes 45 is provided in the forward portion portion of each connecting member 21a, 21b. A removable pin 47 having a head 49 is insertable through one of the holes 39 in strap 25 at each side of the hip belt from the side of the strap toward pad 23 and through the hole 43 in the lower end or the adjacent I side member, or through a hole in the front end portion of an adjacent connecting member 210 or 21b thereby pivotally to connect the side members or the connecting members (as the case may be) to the hip belt. With the connecting members attached to and pivoted on pins 47, the pack frame may swing relative to the wearer about the axis of the pins for accommodation toground'contour. Each pin 47 has a diametric hole at its outer end for receiving a wire keeper ring 53 to keep the pin in its

hole

43 or 45, this ring being a conventional split ring. The holes 39 are provided in the strap 25 where it is free in part of thecover 33 at 37 along its bottom margin. This enables the strap to be separated from cover 3 to permit pin '47 to be inserted through hole 39. With the pin inserted through the hole as shown in FIGS, 5

and 6, the head 49 of the pin bears against the outside of the cover 33 for pad 23 of the belt and against the protector member 29 bonded to the foam material 27 within the cover to prevent the head of the pin from pushing against and gouging the pad and the wearer,' thus avoiding discomfort to the wearer.

ber is bent slightly to the rear, as indicated at 57, for

mounting

wheels

19a, 19b with their axes slightly to the rear of the plane of the pack frame. Connecting members 21a, 21b mayalso be of metal tubing of circular cross-section and each is bent as indicated at 59 to have an arm portion 61 extending at an angle of about 1 10 from the upper end of a leg portion 63. The lower end of the leg 63 of each connecting member (which is of circular cross-section) is ro tatably received within the bore 55 of the respective side member 3a,'3b at the upper end of the latter. Thus, each connecting member is'swingable .at the upper end of its respective side member between its extended connecting position in which it extends forwardly of its respective side member for being pivotally connected by pin 47 to hip belt 17 and its retracted position. v

A diametric hole 65 is provided at the upper end of each side member 3a, 312 for receiving a pin 67 similar to pin 47. The lower end of leg 63 of each of the connecting members 21a, 21b has two diametric holes 69 and 71 therethrough at to one another and located so that withpin 67 extending through hole 65 in the side member and through hole 69 in the connecting member, the latter is pinned in its forwardly extending belt-connecting position, and with the pin extending through holes 69 and 71 the connecting member is pinned in its retracted position.

Thus, with the pack frame '1 pivotally connected to the hip belt 17 as shown in FIG. 2, the frame may be trailed along behind the wearer on wheels 19a, 1911 if the terrain is suitable, or the frame may be worn on the back without interference from the wheels or the connecting members 21a, 21b when the terrain does not permit the pack frame to be trailed on the wheels. The construction of the hip belt 17 protects the wearer from. being 'gouged by pins 47 when the pack frame is either trailed behind the wearer on its wheels or worn on the back. I

. FIGS. 9 and 10 show a modification of the frame 1 without wheels for being carried on the back only. The frame, here designated la to distinguish it from the frame 1, is substantially identical to the frame 1 above described, except that it does not have any wheels, and the side frame members, here designated 30 and 3d are formed as the sides of an inverted U-shaped length of tubing generally designated 81, the top bar of the latter being designated 83. Three Crossbars-5, corresponding to bars 5 of the frame 1, span the

side frame members

30 and 3d. The latter are somewhat shorter than

side frame members

3a and 3b, otherwise the frame 1a is v prising pad means engageable on the wearerships, a

strap secured to the outside of the pad means adapted to encircle the wearer, means at the ends of the strap for fastening the hip belt in place on the wearer, and

means for connecting a respective side member adjacent its lower end to the hip belt at each side of the belt as it is worn for transferring a portion of the weight of the load-carried by the frame to the wearer's hips, said connecting means comprising at least one hole in the strap at each side of the'hip belt, a hole in each side member adjacent itslower end, and a headed pin at each side of the hip belt extending through the respective hole in the strap and the hole in the respective side member for connecting each side member adjacent its lower end to the hip belt, said strap being free in part of the pad means to permit the pin to be inserted through the hole in the strap from the side thereof toward the pad means and through the hole in the adjacent side member, with the head of the pin bearing against the outside of the pad means, saidpad means including a relatively thin, stiff protector member between the head of each pin and the pad means, a body of resilient,- flexible foam material of such length as to extend around the wearers back from one side to the other, and a cover enclosing the foam material, said protector member being bonded to the outside of the foam and being enclosed within the cover, and said strap being stitched to the outside of the cover, so that the pad means including said protector member, when worn by the wearer, is interposed as a cushion between said headed fastener member and the wearer and said protector member prevents gouging of the wearer by said headed fastener member.

2. A pack frame as-set forth in claim 1 wherein said strap has a seri'es of holes therein at each side of the hip 'beltproviding different horizontal positions along the belt for the pins. I

3. A pack frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein the strap is free of the cover along the regionsof the series of holes via gaps in the stitching of the strap to the cover for insertion of the pins.

4. A pack frame comprising a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apart side frame members and cross members extending between the side members, a pair of shoulder straps for the pack frame and' a hip belt comprising pad means'engageablc on the wearers hips, a strap secured to the outside of the pad means adapted to encircle the wearer, means at the ends of the strap for fastening the hip belt in place on the wearer, and means for connecting a respective side member adjacent its lower end to the hip belt at each side of the belt as it is worn for transferring a portion of the weight of the load carried by the frame to the wearers hips, said connecting means comprising at least one hole in the strap at each side of the hip belt, a hole in each side member adjacent its lower end, and a headed pin at each side of the hip belt extending through the respective hole in the strap and the hole in the respective side member for connecting each side member adjacent its lower end to the hip belt, said pad means including a body of resilient, flexible foam material of such length as to extend around the wearers back from one side of the wearer to the other and a cover enclosing the foam material, said strap being stitched to the outside of the cover, said holesin the strap overlying the outside of said cover at the sides of the hip belt, and said strap being free of the cover at each side of the hip belt adjacent'said holes therein via gaps in the stitching of the strap to the outside of the cover to permit said headed pin to be inserted through the hole in the strap from the side thereof toward the pad means and through the hole in the adjacent side member.

v l =l

Claims

1. A pack frame comprising a pair of generally parallel, spacedapart side frame members and cross members extending between the side members, a pair of shoulder straps for the pack frame and a hip belt comprising pad means engageable on the wearer''s hips, a strap secured to the outside of the pad means adapted to encircle the wearer, means at the ends of the strap for fastening the hip belt in place on the wearer, and means for connecting a respective side member adjacent its lower end to the hip belt at each side of the belt as it is worn for transferring a portion of the weight of the load carried by the frame to the wearer''s hips, said connecting means comprising at least one hole in the strap at each side of the hip belt, a hole in each side member adjacent its lower end, and a headed pin at each side of the hip belt extending through the respective hole in the strap and the hole in the respective side member for Connecting each side member adjacent its lower end to the hip belt, said strap being free in part of the pad means to permit the pin to be inserted through the hole in the strap from the side thereof toward the pad means and through the hole in the adjacent side member, with the head of the pin bearing against the outside of the pad means, said pad means including a relatively thin, stiff protector member between the head of each pin and the pad means, a body of resilient, flexible foam material of such length as to extend around the wearer''s back from one side to the other, and a cover enclosing the foam material, said protector member being bonded to the outside of the foam and being enclosed within the cover, and said strap being stitched to the outside of the cover, so that the pad means including said protector member, when worn by the wearer, is interposed as a cushion between said headed fastener member and the wearer and said protector member prevents gouging of the wearer by said headed fastener member.

2. A pack frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein said strap has a series of holes therein at each side of the hip belt providing different horizontal positions along the belt for the pins.

3. A pack frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein the strap is free of the cover along the regions of the series of holes via gaps in the stitching of the strap to the cover for insertion of the pins.

4. A pack frame comprising a pair of generally parallel, spaced-apart side frame members and cross members extending between the side members, a pair of shoulder straps for the pack frame and a hip belt comprising pad means engageable on the wearer''s hips, a strap secured to the outside of the pad means adapted to encircle the wearer, means at the ends of the strap for fastening the hip belt in place on the wearer, and means for connecting a respective side member adjacent its lower end to the hip belt at each side of the belt as it is worn for transferring a portion of the weight of the load carried by the frame to the wearer''s hips, said connecting means comprising at least one hole in the strap at each side of the hip belt, a hole in each side member adjacent its lower end, and a headed pin at each side of the hip belt extending through the respective hole in the strap and the hole in the respective side member for connecting each side member adjacent its lower end to the hip belt, said pad means including a body of resilient, flexible foam material of such length as to extend around the wearer''s back from one side of the wearer to the other and a cover enclosing the foam material, said strap being stitched to the outside of the cover, said holes in the strap overlying the outside of said cover at the sides of the hip belt, and said strap being free of the cover at each side of the hip belt adjacent said holes therein via gaps in the stitching of the strap to the outside of the cover to permit said headed pin to be inserted through the hole in the strap from the side thereof toward the pad means and through the hole in the adjacent side member.