Flexible frame load carrying system

A system for supporting a load on a user's back and hips comprising:

• a back support including a flexible frame and shoulder straps, the frame being unitary flexible structure made of a plastic material, the frame being coupled to the load and extending over a back region and around hip regions to lower lateral attachment points, the shoulder straps being coupled to the frame for supporting the load on the user's shoulders;
• and
• a hip support adapted to be securely supported on the user's hips, the hip support having an inner surface adapted to be positioned against the user's body and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the hip support further including:
• first and second ends;
• at least one connector releasably connecting the first and second ends, the at least one connector having an uppermost edge extending in a second plane and a lowermost edge extending in a third plane;
• and
• first and second lateral attachment supports adjacent first and second portions of the outer surface, respectively, each of the lateral attachment supports of the hip support located above the second plane and cooperating with a lateral attachment point of the frame to pivotably support the frame on the hip support about first and second axes substantially perpendicular to the first and second portions of the outer surface, respectively, the attachment supports being spaced from one another by a first distance and the attachment points being spaced from one another by a second distance greater than the first distance, whereby attachment of the frame on the hip support retains the frame in a deformed configuration and creates a venting space adjacent and between the hip support and the frame.

A frame for a load support system, the load support system including a load carrying structure, shoulder straps for supporting the load carrying structure on the user's shoulder, and a hip support for supporting the load carrying structure on the user's hips, the frame comprising:

• a flexible panel of deformable plastic material having left and right lateral struts extending at an angle from an upper region of the frame to left and right lower corners, respectively, along the user's hip bone;
• left and right attachment points located at the left and right lower corners, respectively, for cooperating with corresponding attachment structures of the hip support to transmit load from the frame to the hip support wherein the left and right lateral struts terminate at the left and right attachment point;
• and
• a lower panel joining the left and right lateral struts between the left and right lower corners, wherein the left and right attachment points are located at intersections of the lower panel and the left and right lateral struts, respectively, whereby load on the frame is transmitted through the struts to the hip support via the struts.

A hip belt assembly for a load carrying system including a load support configured to be worn behind a user's back and shoulder supports coupled to the load support for partially suspending the load support from the user's shoulders, the hip belt assembly comprising:

• a load support belt having an inner surface adapted to be positioned against the user's body and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, wherein the belt is configured to surround a user's hips when worn and to be coupled to the load support, the load support belt including:
• first and second ends;
• at least one connector connecting the first and second ends, the at least one connector having an uppermost edge extending in a first plane and a lowermost edge extending in a second plane;
• and
• first and second lateral attachment supports located above the second plane adjacent first and second portions of the outer surface, respectively, the first and second lateral attachment supports of the hip support cooperating with first and second lateral attachment points of the frame to pivotably support the frame on the hip support about first and second axes extending substantially perpendicular to the first and second portions of the outer surface, respectively, whereby the hip support provides flexible support for the load through the attachment points of the frame and the lateral attachment supports;
• and
• a first component of a hook and loop fastening system provided on an inner surface thereof;
• and
• a hip pad configured to be worn between the load support belt and the user's hips, the pad having a second component of the hook and loop fastening system provided on an outer surface thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second components extend substantially along an entire length of one of the belt and the hip pad such that the first and second components of the hook and loop fastening system cooperate to maintain the hip pad in a desired position substantially anywhere along the length of the load support belt when worn by a user.

A system for supporting a load on a user's back and hips comprising:

• a frame including:
• a flexible panel of the deformable plastic material having left and right lateral struts extending at an oblique angle from a upper region of the frame to left and right lower corners, respectively;
• left and right attachment points located at the left and right lower corners, respectively;
• and
• a lower panel joining the left and right lateral struts between the left and right lower corners, wherein the left and right attachment points are located at intersections of the lower panel and the left and right lateral struts, respectively;
• a hip support adapted to be securely supported on the user's hips, the hip support having an inner surface adapted to be positioned against the user's body and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the hip support further including:
• first and second ends;
• at least one connector connecting the first and second ends, the at least one connector having an upper most edge extending in a first plane and a lower most edge extending in a second plane;
• and
• first and second lateral attachment supports adjacent first and second portions of the outer surface, respectively, wherein the first and second lateral attachment supports of the hip support are located above the second plane and wherein the first and second attachment supports cooperate with the left and right attachment points to pivotally support the frame on the hip support about first and second axes substantially perpendicular to the first and second portions of the outer surface, respectively.