Backpack having a shoulder strap mounted lift buckle

A backpack comprising:

• (a) a storage compartment;
• (b) a shoulder strap assembly attached at a first end to the storage compartment at a first location and coupled at a second end to the storage compartment at a second location spaced from the first location;
• (c) a buckle mounted on the shoulder strap assembly;
• (d) a lift strap having a first end anchored to the upper portion of the storage compartment and spanning above the shoulder strap assembly from its location of attachment to the storage compartment to engagement with the buckle, wherein the buckle is operable to selectively adjust the length of the lift strap to vary the proportion of the weight of the backpack supported by the shoulder strap assembly when engaged by the shoulders of a user wearing the backpack;
• (e) wherein a strap engagement member of the buckle is biased to assume a first position, wherein the strap engagement member impedes lift strap movement through the buckle in a first direction;
• and
• (f) is actuatable to a second position, wherein the strap engagement member permits movement of the lift strap through the buckle in the first direction.

A backpack comprising:

• (a) a storage compartment;
• (b) a shoulder strap assembly attached at a first end to an upper portion of the storage compartment at a first location and coupled at a second end to the storage compartment at a second location spaced from the first location;
• (c) a buckle attached to the shoulder strap assembly;
• (d) a lift strap having a first end attached to the upper portion of the storage compartment at an attachment location, wherein the lift strap extends from the attachment location to pass substantially straight through the buckle without undergoing a substantial change in direction;
• and
• (e) wherein the buckle is operable to selectively adjust the length of the lift strap to vary the proportion of the weight of the backpack supported by the shoulder strap assembly when engaged by the shoulders of a user wearing the backpack.