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US 9,801,453 B2Granted
Exoskeletal backpack system and articulating connector therefor
OwnerLance Hoaginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exoskeletal backpack system includes a pelvic superstructure, a trunk superstructure, and an articulating connector. The pelvic superstructure is configured to be carried by a user, such as, for example, a person. The trunk superstructure also includes a user engagement element that is configured as a pair of flexible composite shoulder extensions.
Claims19
A riser system, comprising:
- a base portion, the base portion being configured to be carried by a user;
- a supported portion, the supported portion including a user engagement element;
- and
- an articulating connector, the articulating connector mounting the supported portion to the base portion for articulated movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion, the base portion being connected to the articulating connector at a base connection location and the supported portion being connected to the articulating connector at a riser connection location, the base connection location and the riser connection location being spaced from one another in a lateral direction, the user engagement element being at a spacing from the articulating connector in a riser direction perpendicular to the lateral direction, and the articulating connector having a riser plane passing therethrough that is perpendicular to the lateral direction and passes through the articulating connector between the base connection location and the riser connection location such that the base connection location is on one lateral side of the riser plane and the riser connection location is on an opposite lateral side of the riser plane, the articulating connector mounting the supported portion to the base portion for articulated movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion in a manner that permits movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about a tilt axis perpendicular to the lateral direction and the riser direction and parallel to the riser plane, movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about a yaw axis perpendicular to the riser plane and the tilt axis, and movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about a slew axis parallel to the riser plane and perpendicular to the tilt axis and the yaw axis, and the user engagement element extends laterally relative to the riser plane to the same one lateral side of the riser plane on which the base connection location is located, the articulating connector compressing, extending, or both compressing and extending to permit movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about the slew axis and to permit movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about the tilt axis and the articulating connector permitting simultaneous movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about the slew axis and about the tilt axis.
1 more element
A backpack system comprising:
- a pack portion defining a volume in which items can be retained;
- and
- a frame assembly including a base portion, the base portion being configured to be carried by a user,
- a supported portion, the supported portion including a user engagement element, and an articulating connector, the articulating connector mounting the supported portion to the base portion for articulated movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion, the base portion being connected to the articulating connector at a base connection location and the supported portion being connected to the articulating connector at a riser connection location, and the base connection location and the riser connection location being spaced from one another in a lateral direction, the user engagement element is at a spacing from the articulating connector in a riser direction perpendicular to the lateral direction and the articulating connector having a riser plane extending therethrough that is perpendicular to the lateral direction and passes through the articulating connector between the base connection location and the riser connection location such that the base connection location is on one lateral side of the riser plane and the riser connection location is on an opposite lateral side of the riser plane, the articulating connector mounting the supported portion to the base portion for articulated movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion in a manner permitting movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about a tilt axis perpendicular to the lateral direction and the riser direction and parallel to the riser plane, movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about a yaw axis perpendicular to the riser plane, and movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about a slew axis extending along the riser direction parallel to the riser plane and perpendicular to the lateral direction, and the user engagement element extending laterally of the riser plane on the one lateral side of the riser plane to which the base connection location is located, the articulating connector compressing, extending, or both compressing and extending to permit movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about the slew axis and to permit movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about the tilt axis and the articulating connector permitting simultaneous movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about the slew axis and about the tilt axis.
1 more element
A riser system, comprising:
- a base portion, the base portion being configured to be carried by a user;
- a supported portion;
- and
- an articulating connector, the articulating connector mounting the supported portion to the base portion for articulated movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion, the base portion being connected to the articulating connector at a base connection location and the supported portion being connected to the articulating connector at a riser connection location, the base connection location and the riser connection location being spaced from one another in a lateral direction, and the articulating connector having a riser plane passing therethrough that is perpendicular to the lateral direction and passes through the articulating connector between the base connection location and the riser connection location such that the base connection location is on one lateral side of the riser plane and the riser connection location is on an opposite lateral side of the riser plane, the articulating connector mounting the supported portion to the base portion for articulated movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion in a manner that permits movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about a tilt axis perpendicular to the lateral direction and the riser direction and parallel to the riser plane, movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about a yaw axis perpendicular to the riser plane and the tilt axis, and movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about a slew axis parallel to the riser plane and perpendicular to the tilt axis and the yaw axis, and the articulating connector includes a restoring element, the restoring element being in an equilibrium standby condition when the supported portion is an initial position relative to the base portion, movement of the supported portion about the tilt axis relative to the base portion results in movement of the supported position out of its initial position relative to the base portion and subjects the restoring element to a loading that shifts the restoring element out of its equilibrium standby condition, and the restoring element operates with a bias to return to its equilibrium condition as a result of which the restoring element urges the supported portion to return to its initial condition relative to the base portion, the articulating connector compressing, extending, or both compressing and extending to permit movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about the slew axis and to permit movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about the tilt axis and the articulating connector permitting simultaneous movement of the supported portion relative to the base portion about the slew axis and about the tilt axis.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.