Nova Patents
USRE48093E

Backpack frame

Claim Score by NHIP

Read claim 23, the broadest

Abstract

A backpack and frame are disclosed. The backpack frame is designed to be at least partially internal and is of unitary construction, most advantageously of a resin-impregnated material, such as resin-impregnated carbon fiber sheets with selective reinforcement by interstitial layers. The frame has a mid-back portion that includes openings for independently positionable shoulder straps and a lower back portion that provides for a rotatable connection to a belt assembly. A pair of curved stay portions is contiguous with the mid-back portion of the frame and curves outwardly as the stay portions extend downwardly. The frame is preferably curved to match the curvature of the human back. The backpack frame is lightweight and by use of composite materials can provide strength as well as selective flexibility to suspend the load of the backpack and decouple it from the movements of the wearer.

USRE48093E, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 9

Term

4.8 yearsleft in the term

Expires 15 July 2031.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Granted
  4. Today
  5. Expires

26 claims: 5 independent, 21 dependent

  1. 1
    A backpack frame, comprising:a unitary, contiguous, contoured frame body, including a mid-back portion having first and second elongate openings, the first and second elongate openings being constructed and arranged to receive shoulder strap assemblies such that each of the shoulder strap assemblies is independently positionable within one of the first and second openings;a lower portion contiguous with the mid-back portion, the lower portion including a U-shaped tongue structure constructed and adapted to receive a belt assembly;and a pair of elongate stay portions that are contiguous with the mid-back portion, the pair if of elongate stay portions being generally parallel to one another where the pair of elongate stay portions are connected to the mid-back portion, the pair of elongate stay portions extending away from the mid-back portion by curving laterally outward relative to the mid-back portion.
  2. 9
    A backpack and frame combination, comprising:a backpack including one or more panels enclosing a storage volume, the backpack having frame-receiving structure, a pair of shoulder strap assemblies, and a belt assembly;and a unitary, contiguous backpack frame including a mid-back portion having first and second elongate openings, the first and second elongate openings being constructed and arranged to receive shoulder strap assemblies such that each of the shoulder strap assemblies is independently positionable within one of the first and second openings, a lower portion contiguous with the mid-back portion, the lower portion including a U-shaped tongue structure constructed and adapted to receive the belt assembly, and a pair of elongate stay portions that are contiguous with the mid-back portion, the pair of elongate stay portions being generally parallel to one another where the pair of elongate stay portions are connected to the mid-back portion, the pair of elongate stay portions extending away from the mid-back portion by curving laterally outward relative to the mid-back portion;wherein the backpack frame is arranged in the backpack such that it is received in the frame-receiving structure.
  3. 17
    A pack frame, comprising:a unitary, contiguous frame body including: a mid-back portion comprising a plurality of openings, the plurality of openings being configured to connect to shoulder straps, the mid-back portion having a mid-back maximum width;a lower portion extending downward from the mid-back portion, the lower portion having a central opening, the lower portion hinging relative to the mid-back portion at the central opening, the lower portion having a maximum lateral width, the maximum lateral width being less than the mid-back maximum width of the mid-back portion, the lower portion including a u-shaped structure;a pair of elongate stay portions, each elongate stay portion including a top end extending upward from the mid-back portion and positioned laterally outward from the mid-back portion;a belt coupled to the u-shaped structure, the belt having straps, the straps overlapping vertical side edges of the u-shaped structure.
  4. 20
    A pack frame, comprising:a unitary, contiguous frame body including: a mid-back portion comprising a plurality of openings configured to connect to shoulder straps, the mid-back portion having first and second generally vertical sides and a first width extending from the first generally vertical side to the second generally vertical side;a lower portion extending downward from the mid-back portion and attachable to a belt at a belt-wearing level on a wearer, the lower portion forming a u-shaped tongue, the u-shaped tongue having first and second generally vertical sides separated by a second width, the second width being less than the first width;and a pair of elongate stay portions, each elongate stay portion including a top end extending upward from the mid-back portion and positioned laterally outward from the mid-back portion.
  5. 23
    Broadest claimClaim Score 63, broad(NHIP)A backpack frame, comprising:a unitary, contiguous frame body comprising: a mid-back portion having a plurality of elongate openings, the elongate openings being arranged to receive a shoulder strap assembly, the shoulder strap assembly being independently positionable at a plurality of positions along the plurality of elongate openings, a lower portion extending downward from the mid-back portion, the lower portion defining a u-shaped structure configured to be coupled to a belt;and a pair of elongate stay portions, each elongate stay portion including a top end extending upward from the mid-back portion and positioned laterally outward from the mid-back portion.