Backpack system with fast and efficient means of adjustment

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

0001This application is based upon P20020338A (Croatia), which later became PCT/HR2003/000019. Priority date claimed is 17 Apr. 2002.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

0002This invention was not federally sponsored.

0003Inventors: Bezak, Jurica, Plancic, Ante, Lukas, Neven.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0004This invention is directed toward a backpack system which allows for a speedy and efficient method of adjustment. The invention is particularly applicable to backpacks used by people who need to quickly and efficiently adjust a backpack which is frequently taken off or put on, such as with divers, rock climbers, mountaineers, fire-fighters, military personnel, search and rescue personnel, security guards, and other people who need to put on a backpack and adjust the straps to comfortably and safely carry the load contained therein quickly, easily, and safely. The invention introduces some major improvements which make it applicable for a variety of outdoor, underwater, and rescue-related applications, including carrying of other loads with the possibility of needing quick mounting and dismounting.

0005People have been using packs of various shapes and sizes for thousands of years, but a recurring problem is the lack of a method by which a backpack user can quickly and efficiently adjust the pack to comfortably and safely carry the load contained in the backpack, as well as a method of quickly putting the pack on and quickly removing the pack. For example, a loosely fitted backpack which is designed for easy attachment and removal will move around when the user walks, and a sudden shift in the contents of the backpack could cause the user to fall. At the other extreme, a tightly fitted backpack may move more comfortably with the user as the user moves, but may be difficult to put on and take off quickly. There have been numerous pack frames which employ a number of straps—over shoulders, around waists, even with additional straps crossing the user's body to adjust the distance between two other straps—but in these backpack mounting methods there are a large number of buckles, Velcro adjustment devices, knots, and other means of tightening and loosening various features of the backpack such that it is very difficult to quickly and easily put on and take off the pack, and to adjust the pack in an efficient and safe manner. Thus, there has existed a long-felt need for a backpack with a system which allows for a user to quickly and efficiently take it off or put it on, and still allow for a rapid adjustment so that the backpack fits the user in a comfortably snug manner—not too loose or too tight.

0006The prior art has several attempts at accomplishing this goal. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,244 to Jaeger teaches a backpack having a bow-shaped frame incorporated into its backside and two carrying straps which are attached to a strap which can be adjustably slid longitudinally along the backpack rear side by its free ends. While this invention adequately centers the backpack on the user's back, it does not provide the mechanisms for easy and efficient adjustment presented by the current invention. Another piece of prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,139 to Smith, which is an invention of a backpack with waist belt and shoulder strap systems which have a number of adjusting mechanisms, but focuses more on the number of adjustment mechanisms than the speed of adjustability or the ease with which the backpack can be put on or taken off.

0007Thus there has existed a long-felt need for a comfortable yet easily removed and put on backpack that is also easily and quickly adjustable. The current invention provides just such a solution by having a backpack with a series of straps which are designed such that removal of the pack can be accomplished easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0008It is a principal object of the invention to provide a method by which a backpack can be quickly adjusted to a user's body.

0009It is another object of the invention to create a system by which a backpack can be easily taken off and put back on.

0010It is a further object of the invention that a the adjustment system will allow a user to safely adjust the pack he/she has just put on, such that the user does not have to spend a large amount of time searching to the adjustment means or trying to adjust the pack during the time in which the pack is most vulnerable to shifting to one side of the user and causing the user to fall over.

0011It is an additional object of the invention that the system of attaching the backpack to a user is obvious and simple to understand, such that a user need not spend a substantial amount of time trying to figure out how to adjust the pack to his or her body.

0012It should be understood the while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims we regard as our invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a front view of the invention showing the locations of the various straps, slides, and buckles which make up the invention.

0014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a top view of the invention showing the general appearance of the slides.

0015<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a front view of the invention showing how the various straps, buckles, and slides work to create the quick adjustment function of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

0016<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a front view of the invention showing the locations of the various straps, slides, and buckles which make up the invention. The invention has a frame plate (<b>1</b>) to which two upper straps (<b>2</b>) are attached. The upper straps have two shoulder pads (<b>3</b>) to make carrying the pack more comfortable for the user to wear. The shoulder pads (<b>3</b>) bear a substantial amount of the weight of the pack. There are two delta rings (<b>4</b>) with two safety stoppers (<b>5</b>) which allow for adjustment of an upper strap buckle (<b>6</b>) which regulates the spacing between the upper straps (<b>2</b>) and keeps the upper straps (<b>2</b>) from slipping over the shoulders and arms of a user while the upper strap buckle (<b>6</b>) is clipped together. Coming out of the lower portion of the frame (<b>1</b>) are two lower straps (<b>7</b>) which are cinched around the waist of the user by a lower strap buckle (<b>8</b>). The invention also provides an air bladder (<b>9</b>) to allow the invention to float should it be dropped into water, or should a user wearing the invention fall into water.

0017<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a top view of the invention showing the general appearance of the plates and slides, by which the straps hold the pack upon the user's back. There is a frame plate (<b>10</b>) containing slits (<b>11</b>) for tightening and adjusting the length of the upper straps (not shown in this figure), and holes (<b>12</b>) for fixing a lower transverse plate (<b>17</b>) and an upper transverse plate (<b>13</b>). The upper transverse plate (<b>13</b>) has holes (<b>14</b>) for attaching the air bladder (not shown in this figure), and the upper transverse plate slits (<b>15</b>) which engage a belt for attaching one or more air cylinders (not shown in this iteration), and a hole (<b>16</b>) for attachment to the frame plate (<b>10</b>). The lower transverse plate (<b>17</b>) has holes (<b>14</b>) for fixing the air bladder (not shown in this figure), lower slits (<b>18</b>) at different angles through which the lower straps are passed, belt slits (<b>19</b>) for engaging a belt for attaching one or more air cylinders (not shown in this figure), and holes (<b>16</b>) for attachment to the frame plate (<b>10</b>). It should be noted that all the parts of the frame are bevel-edged in this iteration of the invention; such a design enhances the strength and compresses the surface of the frame elements, as well as reducing the weight of the invention due to the ability to use thinner cross sections.

0018<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a front view of the invention showing how the various straps, buckles, and slides work to create the quick adjustment function of the invention, and illustrates the operation of the system, including the adjustment and fixing of the buoyancy compensator to the user. Before mounting on the back of the user, the upper strap buckle (<b>6</b>) and the lower strap buckle (<b>8</b>) are open and the ends of the upper straps (<b>2</b>) and the lower straps (<b>7</b>) are apart. The shoulder pads (<b>3</b>) are placed on the shoulders of the user, then the ends of the upper straps (<b>2</b>) are passed through the delta rings (<b>4</b>) and adjusted to overlap, whereby their position and orientation is changed from vertical to horizontal and the upper straps (<b>2</b>) are coupled on the chest of the user by means of the upper buckle (<b>6</b>). The next step in adjusting the invention is the simultaneous and uniform tightening of the ends of the lower straps (<b>7</b>) which have passed through the lower slits (<b>18</b>) which are placed at different angles on the lower transverse plate (<b>17</b>). This leads to the tightening of the entire strap system in several directions indicated by arrows (<b>20</b>), all in one move. The ends of the lower straps (<b>7</b>) are then coupled with the lower buckle (<b>8</b>), which completes the whole operation of adjusting and attaching the backpack on to the back of the user. The invention can be removed quickly and easily by the user merely opening the upper buckle (<b>6</b>) and the lower buckle (<b>8</b>) and drawing the lower straps (<b>7</b>) below their connection with the delta rings (<b>4</b>), which loosens both the upper straps (<b>2</b>) and lower straps (<b>7</b>), creating two long and loose straps which are easily removed from the shoulders of a user of the invention.