Load transfer belt

The present invention relates to a load transfer belt for use with a luggage holder to transmit a load from the luggage holder to the user's buttocks.

When rucksacks, a type of luggage holder, were first introduced, shoulder straps were the only way to hold them over the user. That is, the load of the rucksack acts only on the user's shoulders, moving its center of gravity backwards. To compensate for this, the user needs to lean forward when wearing the rucksack. Walking in an inclined position is awkward and painful, making it easier for the user to get tired and injured or unable to travel the required distance.

To solve the above problem, a rucksack was introduced that distributes the weight of luggage more evenly on the user. One way to do this was to introduce hip fins. These are achieved by a rigid component with a pad that is firmly attached to the frame of the rucksack in a position that hits the user's buttocks during use. The rucksack load is transmitted through the frame to both the user's shoulders and buttocks. Since the buttocks are in a low position, this arrangement stabilizes the user's center of gravity.

Rigid fins provide a partial solution to the problem of load transfer, but stiff fins provide a disadvantage in terms of user comfort. In addition, the size of the pelvis varies from person to person, and given that the pelvis is conical trapezoidal, the angle of the sides of the cone and the outer circumference of the cone differ from person to person, especially between men and women. Therefore, hard fins do not fit many pelvic sizes.

To solve this problem, a flexible buttock belt was introduced. A flexible buttock belt provides improved comfort compared to hard fins, but lack of hardness means that it does not transfer loads efficiently.

An improved buttock belt is disclosed in US6536641, which has two rigid plates, one extending along the length of the belt to both sides of the connection with the rucksack. EP0570192 also discloses a rigid plastic web disposed on the belt on both sides of the connection with the rucksack.

That is, they are needed to find a balance between the efficient transfer of load to the user's buttocks and the comfort provided to the user. These are usually considered to be two conflicting requirements, as increased comfort means increased flexibility of the buttock belt, which often reduces load transfer performance and vice versa. ..

<p> The present invention is load transfer such that it is comfortable for the user and fits a wide range of pelvic sizes, but provides facilitation of transfer of dynamic load from the luggage carrier to both the anterior and posterior parts of the user's buttocks. By providing a belt, it is intended to meet the conflicting requirements of comfort and promotion of load transfer.</p>

<p> Therefore, the first aspect of the present invention is a load transmission belt for being used together with a luggage holder to transmit a load from the luggage holder to the user's buttocks. It has a plurality of load transfer elements arranged along the length of the belt. Each of the load transfer elements is connected to at least one adjacent load transfer element by a rotary joint, the rotary joint defines a rotary axis across the length of the belt, and the load transfer belt is used by the user. Provided is a load transfer belt that allows the body to be surrounded.</p><p> While the load transfer element provides efficient load transfer from the luggage holder to the user's buttock area aligned with the load transfer element during use, the rotary joint requires each load transfer element. Allows a large amount of rotation to fit the size of the user's pelvis. This configuration allows the load transfer belt to have a wide range of belt shapes. The provision of rotary joints provides a degree of freedom of movement that replaces the degree of freedom of movement provided by making the load transfer element practically flexible. This means that the transfer of load from the luggage holder to the user is not sacrificed.</p><p> The buttock belts disclosed in US6536641 and EP0570192 do not have load transfer elements connected by rotary joints. In fact, prior art belts do not have any form of articulated portion as provided by the present invention. Instead, prior art belts provide known ones, such as hinges. That is, the load transfer element itself bends to fit the shape of the user's body. Such load transfer elements of prior art belts must be more flexible than the load transfer elements of the present invention, i.e. they need to have low stiffness. The reduction in stiffness of the load transfer element cannot achieve the same level of load transfer achieved by the present invention. In addition, the comfort of a prior art load transfer belt is compared to the present invention as the prior art belt must sacrifice the flexibility of the load transfer element to achieve both comfort and load transfer. Low.</p><p> The load transfer belt is placed around the user's hips during use, and the length of the load transfer belt is such that it is measured in a direction that surrounds the user's hips. From the fastener at one end of the belt to the fastener at the other end of the belt is measured. When the belt is used with a luggage carrier, the majority of the load on the luggage carrier, and therefore the basic direction of load, is the direction across the length of the load transfer belt. The transverse direction is the direction across the width of the belt. The transverse direction may or may not be perpendicular to the length of the belt. Load transfer is achieved by load transfer elements that are formed to have the required stiffness in the transverse direction. Rigidity is usually achieved using solid components.</p><p> The load transfer element may extend to the portion corresponding to the anterior portion of the user's buttocks during use of the belt. Many luggage holders are designed to be placed on the user's back (rear). The provision of a load transfer element to the portion of the belt corresponding to the anterior part of the buttocks allows load transfer from the back of the person to the anterior part of the buttocks. This reduces the load and the resulting pressure on the lumbar region of the back.</p><p> Preferably, the load transfer elements are connected to form a meandering shape. In one embodiment, the load transfer element may be u-shaped and n-shaped. Preferably, the load transfer elements are u-shaped and n-shaped and are connected so as to have a meandering shape.</p><p> The meandering shape can be formed by adjacent u-shaped and n-shaped load transfer elements. That is, one end of the u-shaped load transmitting element is connected to one end of the n-shaped load transmitting element. The meandering shape can be extended by connecting the u-shaped element and the n-shaped element to form an alternating continuum of the u-shaped element and the n-shaped element.</p><p> Advantageously, the meandering shape of the u- and n-shaped load transfer elements results in the placement of parts of the load transfer elements along the direction across the length of the belt. The placement of the part of the load transfer element in the essential direction of the load from the load retainer improves the transfer of load from the load carrier to the load transfer belt.</p><p> The meandering shape is even more advantageous because it is lightweight. The user may use the luggage holder to hold heavy luggage for an extended period of time. Therefore, possible reductions in the weight of the luggage holder and load transfer belt reduce the amount of fatigue the user experiences when holding the luggage holder.</p><p> The meandering shape is also easy to configure. This simplifies the manufacture of load transfer belts.</p><p> Preferably, the load transfer element is made of plastic or metal.</p><p> The meandering shape of the load transfer element increases the rigidity of the load transfer belt as compared to the conventional load transfer belt. During use, the load on the luggage carrier often deforms the load transfer belt in the direction opposite to the direction in which the load acts. Referring to FIG. 18, in the test, the load transfer belt is fixed in its shortest length in a closed position forming a loop placed around the user's buttocks. The luggage holder is arranged on a flat surface. A distance D of 10 cm was measured from the center of the load transmission belt 15 at right angles to the load transmission belt in the direction opposite to the direction of action of the load. Then, the adjusted spring balance is hooked to the load transfer belt or through the load transfer belt, and while the luggage holder is held immovably, the spring balance is pulled to pull the load transfer belt 10 cm. Deform only the distance. The load transfer belt of the present invention has a deformation load of more than 4 kg (that is, the load required to cause a deformation of 10 cm). The deformed load of the prior art load transmission belt tested was less than 3 kg. A preferred embodiment of the present invention has a deformation load of more than 3 kg.</p><p> Preferably, the belt is connected to the luggage holder using a link member. The link member may be located in the center of the belt. In this case, the load transfer elements are arranged on both sides of the link member. If the load transfer element has a meandering shape, the meandering shape is also arranged on both sides of the link member.</p><p> The meandering shape or other load transfer element may be manufactured or configured such that the spacing between the transverse portions of the load transfer element is evenly spaced along the meandering shape or belt. The even spacing of the cross sections distributes the load evenly around the load transfer belt. Evenly distributing the load around the user's buttocks during use is beneficial to the user in terms of improving comfort and limiting fatigue by preventing heavy loads on the lower back and lower back.</p><p> A portion of the meandering shape that traverses the length of the belt may have a central axis that coincides with the axis of rotation of the rotary joint. Such a configuration advantageously allows the use of simple rotary joints, such as pivot joints.</p><p> The rotary joint may be a pivot joint that can be applied to both meandering and non-meandering shapes. Optionally, the pivot joint is formed by a male / female connector. Alternatively, the pivot joint is formed by two male connectors connected by a sleeve. The configuration of both the male and female connectors of the rotary joint and the two male connectors forms a durable joint. The connector may be formed within the load transfer element itself. This allows for easy replacement of load transfer elements.</p><p> The load transfer belt may have a panel that extends to the length of the load transfer belt. The load transfer belt may be padded to further improve user comfort. The panel may contain a pad that can be a foam material for the belt. The load transfer element may be connected to the panel of the load transfer belt. The panel may be connected to the load transfer element at a portion of the load transfer element oriented along the length direction of the belt. For u-shaped and n-shaped load transfer elements, the connection may be made at the bottom of the u-shaped element and the top of the n-shaped element. The rotary joint may allow the user to easily replace one of the load transfer elements. Alternatively, the load transfer element may be fully contained within the panel.</p><p> To further improve comfort, the load transfer element preferably extends a longer distance in the direction across the length of the belt, rather than towards the ends of the belt, towards the center of the belt. During use, this configuration reduces the anterior portion of the user's body covered by the load transfer belt.</p><p> The luggage carrier may be, for example, a rucksack, a baby carrier for babies, or a belt pack. The luggage holder may also be a backpack device, such as a breathing device.</p><p> In the second aspect, the present invention provides a load transfer element for the load transfer belt of the first aspect.</p><p> In a third aspect, the present invention provides a luggage holder with a load transfer belt in the first aspect.</p><p> The luggage carrier of the third aspect may be, for example, a rucksack, a baby carrier, or a belt pack. The luggage holder may also be a backpack device such as a breathing device.</p><p> In the first option, the luggage holder in the third phase is further With the frame A rotary connector that connects the load transfer belt and the frame, Includes a hinge connector that connects between the load transfer belt and the frame The rotary connector allows the belt to rotate around the rotary axis, the hinge connector allows the belt to rotate around the hinge axis, and the hinge axis is perpendicular to the rotary axis. ..</p><p> As people (users) walk, their buttocks sway from side to side. The provision of the rotary connector advantageously allows the load transfer belt to rotate with vertical movement of the buttocks, while the hinge connector allows the belt to remain in the same position when the user leans forward. The rotary connector offering, unlike the hinge connector, allows the belt to move independently in each of the two degrees of freedom. The independence of movement at each of these degrees of freedom is important because it prevents movement that results in the transmission of unbalanced loads from the luggage holder to the user. Therefore, the luggage holder of the present invention improves the user's operability.</p><p> Conventional luggage holders provide only one degree of freedom through the pivot point or three degrees of freedom through the use of ball socket joints. Pivot joints are disadvantageous compared to the present invention as they do not realize the advantages of hinged connectors when the user is tilted forward.</p><p> The ball socket joint is disadvantageous as compared with the present invention because the belt rotates freely in any direction when a person walks. That is, the belt is rotatable around the human body, which rocks the load of the luggage carrier between the front and back positions with respect to the user's back while the user walks. That is, the load of the luggage holder swings from side to side and rotates around the human body around the axis in the longitudinal (height) direction of the user. This creates an unbalanced sensation when using the luggage holder. In the present invention, most of the rotational movement of the belt while the user walks is around the rotary axis, preventing unwanted movements such as those experienced with ball socket joints. It also provides a unique hinge and rotary connector that prevents rotation around the longitudinal axis relative to the user's height, but when the user bends sharply to one side, eg, climbs a rock (the luggage is a body). It is beneficial because the luggage holder (because it rotates around) prevents the user from feeling pulled down.</p><p> Even more advantageously, it prevents unwanted movement of the luggage held by the luggage holder when a person walks (the luggage rotates around the body), but within the range required when walking (rotary rotation axis). Allowing movement (around) means reducing the energy required to travel a certain distance compared to traditional luggage holders. The provision of the aforementioned connection between the luggage carrier and the load transfer belt in combination with the load transfer belt of the present invention further improves the efficiency of the user's movements and, when compared to prior art luggage carriers, Reduces the energy input required to travel a distance. This combination allows the luggage holder to be used to hold heavier luggage than conventional luggage holders.</p><p> In short, the present invention allows unrestricted movement of the load transfer belt between the luggage holder and the load transfer belt within the range of movement required by the user (without transmitting the movement to the luggage holder). And at the same time provide a connection to prevent unwanted movements. This results in improved balance and increased user energy efficiency.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the rotary connector allows the load transfer belt to rotate about 360 ° or more around the rotary axis in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The load transfer belt can rotate a predetermined angle in one direction, and the rotation can be reversed in the opposite direction. In the same embodiment, the hinge connector allows the load transfer belt to rotate 180 ° or more around the hinge axis of rotation. In this case, the only actual limitation of movement around the rotary axis and / or hinge axis is the physiology of the user's body.</p><p> Preferably, the rotary axis is offset above the hinge axis. Optionally, the rotary connector and the pivot connector are connected. In this case, the rotary axis can be offset over the hinge axis so that the swing of the user's hips while walking is transmitted to the connector at the hinge. This rotates the hinge connector around the rotary axis. Advantageously, this offset arrangement improves the transmission of movement from the user's buttocks to the rotary connector. A further additional or alternative option is to offset the rotary axis from the center of the load transfer belt. Advantageously, the offset of the rotary shaft from the center of the load transfer belt allows the belt to swing and move more than just a rotational movement, which is closer to the natural movement of the buttocks.</p><p> Rotary connectors allow only rotation around virtually a single axis. In a preferred embodiment, the rotary connector comprises a housing and a hub located within the cavity of the housing. The housing is sized so that the hub and housing can rotate relative to each other. The configuration of this rotary connector only allows one degree of freedom of movement, that is, rotation around the rotary axis. Relative rotational movement may be provided by rotation of the hub within the cavity of the housing, with the housing fixed to the luggage holder. Alternatively, the hub may be secured to the luggage holder and the housing may rotate. The hub may be a disk. Advantageously, this rotary connector configuration has a shape with less protrusion from the frame of the luggage holder. For example, the protrusion from the frame of the rotary connector of this configuration is smaller than that of the ball socket joint.</p><p> Preferably, the hinge is located above the hub. Placing the hinges on the hub improves load transfer from the luggage carrier to the load transfer belt. Optionally, the hinges and hubs may be formed as a single connecting element. Such a configuration further improves the ease of manufacture of rotary and hinge connectors. Optionally, the hinge may be located on the hub and the rotary axle may be offset onto the hinge axle. In this case, the hip belt moves with a modified sway that is closer to the natural movement of the buttocks.</p><p> The luggage holder may further include a link member that connects the load transfer belt to the hub.</p><p> In the second option, the luggage holder in the third phase is With the frame Further including a rotary connector between the load transfer belt and the frame. The rotary connector includes a housing and a hub located within the cavity of the housing, the hub and the housing being rotatable relative to each other around a rotary axis, wherein the rotary axis is the load. It may be offset above the center of the transmission belt.</p><p> Advantageously, this rotary connector configuration allows virtually only one degree of freedom of movement, i.e., rotation around the rotary axis. This prevents the load of the luggage carrier from swinging between the front and back positions as the user walks. This advantage is not achieved with conventional simple pivot joints or ball socket joints.</p><p> Advantageously, the offset of the load transfer belt at the center of rotary rotation over the center produces more sway than a simple rotational motion around the rotary axis. The rocking is closer to the natural movement of the buttocks.</p><p> The luggage holder may include a link member that connects the load transfer belt to the rotating disk.</p><p> In the third option, the luggage holder in the third phase is With the frame It has a rotary connector between the load transfer belt and the frame. The rotary connector is A housing and a hub located in the cavity of the housing, It may include a link member that connects the load transfer belt to the hub or the housing.</p><p> Advantageously, this rotary connector configuration allows virtually only one degree of freedom of movement, i.e., rotation around the rotary axis. This prevents the load of the luggage carrier from swinging between the front and back positions as the user walks. This advantage is not achieved with conventional simple pivot joints or ball socket joints.</p><p> Optionally, the link member is offset below the rotary axis. The link member advantageously transmits the load from the luggage holder to the load transfer belt and also transmits the rotational movement of the load transfer belt caused by the movement of the buttocks to the rotary connector. The offset of the link member from the rotary axis corrects the movement of the belt to a corrected swing that is closer to the natural movement of the buttocks.</p><p> The load-holding device of the second and third aspects further includes a hinge connector between the load transfer belt and the frame, which allows the belt to rotate around the hinge rotation axis and the hinge rotation axis. May be perpendicular to the rotary axis of rotation.</p><p> As described for the first aspect, the provision of the rotary connector allows the belt to move independently around the two axes of rotation, unlike the hinge connector. The independence of movement in each of these degrees of freedom is important because it prevents movement that would transmit an unbalanced load to the user. Therefore, the luggage holder of the present invention improves the user's operability and reduces the energy input required of the user to walk a certain distance.</p><p> In certain embodiments, the rotary connector allows the load transfer belt to rotate 360 ° or more in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions around the rotary axis. The load transfer belt can rotate a predetermined angle in one direction and reverse in the opposite direction. In certain embodiments, the hinge connector allows the load transfer belt to rotate 180 ° or more around the hinge axis of rotation. In this case, the only limitation of movement around the rotary axis and / or hinge axis is the physiology of the user's body.</p><p> For embodiments of the first and third aspects having a rotary shaft offset from the center of the load transfer belt of the luggage carrier, the rotary shaft may swing on the buttocks as the user walks in use. It is desirable that it is positioned so as to correspond to the rotation axis of. Preferably, the rotary shaft is offset over the center of the load transfer belt by a distance between 6 cm and 10 cm.</p><p> The following features are additions or possible modifications to the luggage holders of the first, second and third aspects of the invention having hinged connectors.</p><p> The link member may be a rod. The link member may be one rod, or, as an alternative, the link member may be one or more rods. Preferably, the hinge is a hole sized to accommodate one or more rods.</p><p> The hole and hub may be molded as one component. Alternatively, the holes and hubs may be formed as separate components that snap to each other. As a further alternative, the holes and hubs may be formed as separate components that are connected to each other using connecting members. The connecting member can be, for example, a bolt, a self-tapping screw, a captive nut or a rivet. In embodiments where the link member has two or more rods, the two rods may be connected in a hole. Alternatively, the joint may be formed using a male-female connector. As a sloppy alternative or addition, the joint may be formed using a mating tube that connects the two rods. The fitting tube may be made of plastic.</p><p> The following features are additional features of any of the first, second or third aspects of the invention.</p><p> The luggage holder may further include two shoulder straps to support the luggage holder on the user's shoulders.</p><p> Luggage holders may be constructed using metal or plastic frame elements. Alternatively, the luggage carrier frame may consist of a plastic sheet. Optionally, the frame may consist of a plastic sheet reinforced with metal or plastic elements. Preferably, the frame converges on the rotary connection to allow efficient load transfer from the load retainer to the load transfer belt. Advantageously, such a frame configuration efficiently transfers the load to the belt, but is lightweight. Further, in order to reduce the weight of the frame, the frame member may be tubular.</p><p> Optionally, the frame can be curved. The lower part of the frame under the rotary connector may bend away from the load transfer belt. Such curvature increases the freedom of movement of the belt with respect to the frame.</p><p> The luggage holder may further include a fastening strap that connects the load transfer belt to the rear of the luggage holder. The lacing is adjustable so that the user can set the range of movement around the rotary axis to meet their walking and / or comfort requirements or to prevent them from rotating together. There may be.</p>

Embodiments of the present invention will be described as exemplary methods with reference to the accompanying drawings.<figref num="1">It is a schematic rear view of a luggage holder.</figref><figref num="2">It is the schematic of the frame of the luggage holder of FIG.</figref><figref num="3">It is the schematic of the frame of FIG.</figref><figref num="4">It is a schematic diagram of the central connection of the frame elements of the frames of FIGS. 2 and 3.</figref><figref num="5">It is a schematic side view of the frame of FIGS. 2 and 3.</figref><figref num="6">It is a schematic disassembled side view of the rotary connector and the hinge connector of the luggage holder of FIG.</figref><figref num="7">It is a schematic side view of the back component of the rotary connector of FIG.</figref><figref num="8">FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the front component of the rotary connector of FIG.</figref><figref num="9">It is the schematic of the hub of the rotary connector and the hinge connector of FIG.</figref><figref num="10">It is a schematic front view of the rotary connector and the hinge connector of FIG. 6 which shows the arrangement of the link member through the hinge connector.</figref><figref num="11">It is the schematic of the selective process of the arrangement of the link member through the hinge connector of FIG.</figref><figref num="12">It is the schematic of the selective process of the arrangement of the link member through the hinge connector of FIG.</figref><figref num="13">It is the schematic of the selective process of the arrangement of the link member through the hinge connector of FIG.</figref><figref num="14">It is a schematic side view of the rotary connector and the hinge connector of FIG.</figref><figref num="15">6 and 14 Schematic front views of rotary and hinge connectors.</figref><figref num="16">It is the schematic of the load transmission belt of the luggage holder of FIG.</figref><figref num="17">It is a schematic exploded view of the load transmission element of the load transmission belt of FIG.</figref><figref num="18">It is the schematic of the test for the measurement of the load distribution of the load transmission belt performed in the baggage holder of this invention.</figref>

FIG. 1 is a schematic rear view of the luggage holder 10 which is a rucksack in this embodiment. The rucksack of this embodiment can hold a load of 32 kg or more. The rucksack has two back panels 11 and 14 in which a frame 18 (not shown) is disposed. The frame extends to the rucksack hinges to provide solid support for the rucksack. A luggage holding element (not shown in FIG. 1) is fixed to the frame and extends to the front of the rucksack. The two shoulder straps 12, partially illustrated in FIG. 1, extend from the connection with the frame at the top of the rucksack to the lower portion of the back of the rucksack. During use, the shoulder straps support the rucksack on the user's shoulders. The load transfer belt 15 is located in the lower portion of the rucksack and may be placed so that the belt surrounds the user's buttocks during use in order to transfer the load from the rucksack to the user's buttocks. The rotary connector 16 and the hinge connector 34 (the hinge connector is not shown in FIG. 1) connect the load transfer belt to the frame. The rotary connector is located between 6 and 10 cm above the load transfer belt. The back panel 14 extends so as to cover the connection between the frame, the shoulder strap and the frame, and the connection between the rotary connector and the hinge connector frame.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, frame 18 contains six tubular rods 19. The frame structure is such that the curved tubular rod 19a forms the upper part of the frame and the curved tubular rod 19b forms the lower part of the frame. The frames on both sides are constructed using two rods 19c, 19d, 19e and 19f, respectively, so that each side can be gathered in the center of the volume enclosed by the frame. The rods 19e and 19f that form the sides of the frame in the upper region of the frame form the sides of the frame in the lower region of the frame so that the rods on the sides of the frame can be concentrated in the area corresponding to the lumbar region of the back. Longer than the rods 19c and 19d. The upper and lower bars are connected to the side bars using a connector 20. Each connector 20 has a hole sized to tightly accommodate the tubular rod of the frame. The side rods to be concentrated are adjacent using the back component 22 of the housing of the rotary connector 16. The back component has two holes 24 formed to tightly accept the long side bar and the short side bar. Referring to FIG. 4, the rod is held in the hole using the recess 26 of the rod that engages during assembly, corresponding to the protrusion in the hole. Referring to FIG. 5, the tubular component on the side of the frame is curved so that the lower region of the frame below the rotary connector 17 connecting the frame bends away from the load transfer belt.

FIG. 6 is a schematic disassembled side view of the rotary connector and the hinge connector of the rucksack of FIG. The rotary connector is formed by a back component 22 and a front component 30 that are connected together (screwed in this embodiment) to form a housing, in which the housing is a hub that is a disk in this embodiment. It has a cavity in which 32 can be placed. The cavity is sized so that the hub is rotatable within the cavity. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the screw connection is formed by a rim 40 with a screw on the front side of the back component and a recess 42 with a screw on the front component, with the rim from the diameter of the disk (hub). Has a large diameter, and the screwed rim is screwed into the recess to complete the screw connection. In an alternative embodiment, the threaded rim may be on the front component and the threaded recess may be on the back component. An alternative connection method may be used to connect the front and back components of the housing.

The hub 32 extends into the cavity of the housing around the outer circumference of the front component and is supported by a lip 43 having an inner diameter smaller than that of the hub. Advantageously, this lip prevents widespread lateral movement of the hub in use and limits its movement to rotation around a single axis of rotation. However, the use of the hub 32 inside the cavity of the housing, without further limitation, allows the hub to rotate freely both clockwise and counterclockwise 360 °, with no limit on the number of revolutions, in this embodiment. Means.

The back component 22 and front component 30 of the housing, as well as the hub 32, may be made of high strength, low friction or self-lubricating plastic. Preferred plastics include polyamides.

Referring again to FIG. 6, the hinge connector 34 is formed on the hub 32 of the rotary connector. The hinge connector is formed by a link member 36 received in a hole 38 formed by the arch 34. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the hub and hole are formed as a single component by molding plastic. In an alternative configuration, the hole may be formed as a separate arched component that can be connected to the hub, an example of which is shown in FIG. In this example, the hub 32 is formed with a rectangular hole 44 having stepped sides. This separated arched component has stepped legs 47 and 48. The legs of the arched component engage with the stepped portion 46 on the side of the hole to secure the arched component to the hole in the hub. That is, the arched components are snapped onto the hub. However, as an alternative, the arched components may be connected to the hub using bolts, self-tapping screws, captive nuts or rivets. For example, the arched component may be attached to the hub with five bolts, two bolts on one long side of the hole and three bolts on the other long side.

The link member 36 received in the hole 38 can be formed as a single component or two connectable parts. When the link member is formed as two connectable parts, the two parts can be connected in a hole as shown in FIG. The connection can be made using the male / female connector 50 or, as an alternative, using screws. As a further alternative, the connectable parts of the link member can be connected using a tubular connector 52, as shown in FIGS. 11-13. The tubular connector 52 can be made of plastic and sized to fit snugly on the outside of their ends so as to hold the two parts of the link member together. The tubular connector is also sized to rotate freely with the link member in the hole 38. In an alternative connection method, the two parts may be connected by a tubular connector that fits around the two male connectors.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the rotary connector 16 allows the link member 36 to rotate around the rotary axis 33 during use, the rotational motion of which is indicated by arrow B (see FIG. 15). .. The hinge connector 34 allows the link member 36 to rotate around the hinge rotation shaft 35. The movement of the link member around the hinge axis of rotation is indicated by arrow A (see Figure 14). The rotary axis is offset 37 above the hinge axis.

As shown in FIG. 16, the link member 36 connects the rotary connector 16 and the hinge connector 34 to the load transmission belt 15. The load transfer belt has a panel whose outer circumference is illustrated by the dotted line 55 and which defines the shape of the belt boundary. Optionally, the panel may be provided with, for example, a foam pad to improve user comfort.

The belt has a central axis 53 and a length L. The length L is measured from the fastener at one end of the belt (not shown) to the fastener at the other end of the belt. The position of the fastener is preferably adjustable. For example, fasteners are attached to load transfer belts using adjustable straps. Therefore, the length of the belt is variable. A connected load transfer element 54 is connected to the panel. In this example, four load transfer elements are connected to both sides of the link member 36, but in other examples the number of load transfer elements on both sides of the link member can be different, two or three on each side of the link member. Or there can be more than 5 load transfer elements. The load transfer elements are formed separately so that they are connected in a chain but form different load transfer elements. The joint 57 between each load transfer element (only one joint is shown in FIG. 6 for clarity) is rotatable. The one-link load transfer element forms a load transfer belt with joint connections.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, each load transfer element 54 is of "u" type or "n" type and is alternately connected to form a meandering shape. Referring to FIG. 17, the meandering shape is formed by connecting one end of the n-type load transfer element 54a to one end of the u-type load transfer element 54b. In this case, the joint is a pivot joint formed by a male connector 56 that is accepted by the female connector 58. The meandering shape can be extended by connecting additional u- and n-type load transfer elements to a single load transfer element. The pivot joint formed by the male and female connectors of the u-type and n-type load transfer elements is a rotatable joint. In another example, the pivot joint is formed by two male connectors and a sleeve located above both male connectors.

Referring again to FIG. 16, the arrangement of the load transfer element 54 along the length of the load transfer belt 15 is such that the load transfer element has a portion in direction T that traverses the length of the belt. In this case, the transverse direction is perpendicular to the length of the belt. However, the transverse directions intersect in the longitudinal direction, and the transverse directions do not have to be right angles. The meandering shape of this example is that the "n" leg and the "u" arm cross the length of the belt. The load transfer elements are formed so that the cross sections of the load transfer elements are evenly spaced when adjacent load transfer elements are connected. The pivot joint connecting the load transfer elements also defines a axis of rotation across the length of the belt. In fact, the male and female connectors of the load transfer element (or two male connectors as an alternative) mean that the axis of rotation coincides with the cross section of the load transfer element.

Although not shown in this example, the load transfer element 54 is sized so that the load transfer element towards the center of the load transfer belt extends a greater distance in the transverse direction T than the load transfer element at the end of the belt. Can be fixed and placed. This configuration improves user comfort.

Each load transfer element 54 may be made of a metal tube, or may be made of plastic, optionally reinforced plastic.

As described above, the link member 36 connects the load transfer belt to the rotary connector 16 and the hinge connector 34. The link member is connected to the load transfer belt using a joint between the link member and the two load transfer elements 54. In one example, the link member is made up of two components connected to the center of the hinge connector. Each component of the link member extends to one side of the load transfer belt and connects to an n-type load transfer element. The joint is a rotary joint formed by a male connector on a link member that is accepted by an n-type load transfer female connector. Alternatively, the female connector of the link member may accept the male connector of the load transfer element.

With reference to FIG. 13, the safety panel 51 may be attached to the panel of the load transfer belt 15. The safety panel has a shape very similar to the edge of the link member 36. In this case, the safety panel has a trapezoidal side that follows the shape of the link member. The snug size of the safety panel relative to the link member reinforces the link member and prevents the two components of the link member from separating.

The load transfer element 54 can be fixed to the panel of the load transfer belt 15 using a ring connected to the panel, such as a braided ring. The load transfer element 54 is attached through the loop. Preferably, the rings are located at the top of the n-type load transfer element and at the bottom of the u-type load transfer element. In this way, the rotary joint connecting the load transfer elements is easy to use. Therefore, the load transfer element can be easily replaced or repaired. The ring can be sized to further secure the load transfer element so as to prevent the components from separating. In an alternative example, the load transfer element is completely covered by the panel, which prevents the components from separating.

During use, the shoulder straps are placed on the user's shoulders and the load transfer belt is placed around the user's buttocks. The shoulder straps transmit the load from the rucksack 10 to the user's shoulders, and the load transfer belt transfers the load from the rucksack to the user's buttocks.

When users walk with (or without) a rucksack 10, their buttocks sway from side to side. The provision of a rotary connection between the load transfer belt 15 and the frame 18 allows rotation around the rotary axis 33 as the user's buttocks move. A person often has to bend or tilt while carrying a rucksack, and the provision of the hinge connector allows the link member 36 to rotate around the hinge axis 35, allowing the person to lean forward. Allows the belt to stay in place when it is used, improving both user comfort and balance.

In the rotary connector and the hinge connector, the rotation of the belt when the person is walking is substantially around the rotary rotation shaft 33, and the rotation of the belt when the person is tilted forward is substantially the hinge rotation shaft. They are formed differently from each other so as to be around.

The movement of the belt 15 when a person is walking is an improved swing that approximates the movement of the buttocks. This movement is generated by the combination of rotation around the rotary shaft 33, offset 37 of the connection of the link member of the rotary connector (in this case by the hinge connector), and offset from the center 53 of the belt of the rotary connector. ..

The load of the luggage holder 10 (in this case, the rucksack) is, in principle, the height direction of the user corresponding to the transverse direction T of the belt. The arrangement of the load transfer element 54 in the same direction as the principle load direction efficiently transfers the load from the rucksack to the load transfer belt 15. The rotary joint 57 provides flexibility along the length L of the load transfer belt, which allows the belt to surround the user's buttocks without reducing the stiffness of the load transfer element, and load transfer. Prevent any deterioration. The flexibility provided by the rotary joint allows the belt to comfortably fit a wide range of pelvic sizes and allows the belt to move with the user's buttocks.

The meandering shape of the load transfer element 54 is beneficial because it is lightweight and easy to configure. In addition, it allows for even spacing of the load transfer elements within the portion of the load transfer belt 15, resulting in an even distribution of the load around both the posterior and anterior portions of the buttocks of the belt. Further contributes to the improvement of user comfort.

The present invention has been described in connection with the exemplary embodiments described above, but many equal modifications and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art given these disclosures. Therefore, it is considered that the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments of the present invention are for illustration purposes only, not for limitation purposes. Various modifications of the above embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.