Back to results
US 7,287,677 B2Granted
Backpack suspension system
AssigneeThe North Face Apparel Corp.
InventorLawrence Carter Reid
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suspension system for a backpack includes a rocker arm pivotally connected to the backpack. A first hip stay has a first end connected to a first end of the rocker arm and a second end opposite the first end. A second hip stay has a first end connected to a second end of the rocker arm and a second end opposite the first end. A waist belt is attached to the second end of the first hip stay and to the second end of the second hip stay. The first and second hip stays distribute the load of the backpack between a wearer's left and right hips. A backpack incorporating the suspension system is also disclosed.
Claims37
A suspension system for a backpack, comprising:
- a rocker arm pivotally connected to the backpack, the rocker arm having a first end and a second end;
- a first hip stay having a first end connected to the first end of the rocker arm and a second end opposite the first end;
- a second hip stay having a first end connected to the second end of the rocker arm and a second end opposite the first end;
- and
- a waist belt attached to the second end of the first hip stay and to the second end of the second hip stay;
- wherein the first and second hip stays are each independently connected to the rocker arm;
- wherein the rocker arm pivots about a fixed pivot point;
- wherein the waist belt is slidably movable with respect to the hip stays;
- and
- wherein the first end of the first hip stay is flexibly connected to the first end of the rocker arm, and the first end of the second hip stay is flexibly connected to the second end of the rocker arm.
7 more elements
A suspension system for a backpack, comprising:
- a rocker arm pivotally connected to the backpack, the rocker arm having a first end and a second end;
- a first hip stay having a first end connected to the first end of the rocker arm and a second end opposite the first end;
- a second hip stay having a first end connected to the second end of the rocker arm and a second end opposite the first end;
- and
- a waist belt attached to the second end of the first hip stay and to the second end of the second hip stay;
- wherein the first and second hip stays are each independently connected to the rocker arm;
- wherein the rocker arm pivots about a fixed pivot point;
- wherein the waist belt is slidably movable with respect to the hip stays;
- and
- wherein the first end of the first hip stay is substantially rigidly connected to the first end of the rocker arm by coupling with a first bore therein, and the first end of the second hip stay is substantially rigidly connected to the second end of the rocker arm by coupling with a second bore therein, with the first and second bores being spaced from the fixed pivot point.
7 more elements
A suspension system for a backpack, comprising:
- a rocker arm pivotally connected to the backpack, the rocker arm having a first end and a second end;
- a first hip stay having a first end connected to the first end of the rocker arm and a second end opposite the first end;
- a second hip stay having a first end connected to the second end of the rocker arm and a second end opposite the first end;
- a waist belt attached to the second end of the first hip stay and to the second end of the second hip stay;
- a mounting plate;
- and
- a tail stay extending from the mounting plate to the waist belt intermediate the first hip stay and the second hip stay, wherein the tail stay is disposed to stabilize movement between a pack bag and the waist belt;
- wherein the rocker arm is pivotally connected to the mounting plate;
- wherein the rocker arm pivots about a fixed pivot point;
- and
- wherein the waist belt is slidably movable with respect to the hip stays.
8 more elements
A suspension system for a backpack, comprising:
- a mounting plate;
- a first hip stay having a first end connected to the mounting plate and a second end opposite the first end;
- a second hip stay having a first end connected to the mounting plate and a second end opposite the first end;
- and
- a waist belt slidably attached to the second end of the first hip stay at a first point, and slidably attached to the second end of the second hip stay at a second point;
- wherein the first and second hip stays are contoured such that the first and second points are substantially adjacent sides of a wearer's hips;
- wherein the first and second hip stays are movable with respect to a central fixed point on the mounting plate;
- and
- wherein the hips stays are permitted to move with respect to the waist belt.
6 more elements
A backpack comprising:
- a pack bag for carrying a load;
- a mounting plate associated with a portion of the pack bag;
- a rocker arm pivotally connected to the mounting plate at a fixed pivot point, the rocker arm having a first end and a second end;
- a first hip stay connected to the first end of the rocker arm;
- a second hip stay connected to the second end of the rocker arm;
- and
- a waist belt attached to the first hip stay at a first point and to the second hip stay at a second point;
- wherein the first and second hip stays are each independently connected to the rocker arm;
- wherein a first end of the first hip stay is flexibly connected to the first end of the rocker arm, and a first end of the second hip stay is flexibly connected to the second end of the rocker arm;
- wherein the load is transferred to the waist belt through at least the first and second hip stays;
- and
- wherein the waist belt is slidably movable with respect to the hip stays.
9 more elements
A backpack comprising:
- a pack bag for carrying a load;
- a shoulder harness associated with an upper portion of the pack bag;
- a first hip stay having a first end connected to the pack bag and a second end opposite the first end;
- a second hip stay having a first end connected to the pack bag and a second end opposite the first end;
- and
- a waist belt movably associated with the second end of the first hip stay and the second end of the second hip stay and spaced a vertical distance from the shoulder harness, wherein the waist belt is movable with respect to the first and second hip stays such that the vertical distance between the shoulder harness and the waist belt varies to compensate for effective shortening or lengthening of a wearer's spine during bending movements;
- wherein the first and second hip stays are independently coupled to a fixed pivot point and movable with respect thereto;
- wherein the waist belt is moveably associated with the second end of the first hip stay and the second end of the second hip stay;
- and
- wherein the waist belt defines a first pocket for receiving the second end of the first hip stay and a second pocket for receiving the second end of the second hip stay.
7 more elements
A backpack comprising:
- a pack bag for carrying a load;
- a shoulder harness;
- a waist belt;
- a suspension system coupled to the waist belt, the suspension system comprising a pivot point for governing movement of the waist belt with respect to the pack bag and a hip stay member flexibly coupled to the pivot point and slidably associated with the waist belt, with the hip stay member movable in part along a fixed rotational path governed by the pivot point and further separately movable about a resilient portion disposed proximate an end of the hip stay member that is closest to the pivot point.
1 more element
A backpack comprising:
- a pack bag for carrying a load;
- a shoulder harness;
- a mounting plate;
- a waist belt;
- and
- a suspension system coupled to the mounting plate and comprising a pivot point for movement of the waist belt with respect to the mounting plate and a movable hip stay member slidably associated with the mounting plate and waist belt;
- wherein the suspension system in part defines a fixed rotational path spaced from the pivot point and along which an end of the hip stay member may move;
- and
- wherein the hip stay member comprises a flexible portion for also permitting movement of the hip stay member along a second path.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.