Patent Application
20230037973
Carrying a backpack on a user’s back can entail a number of undesirable aspects. Among these are pain developing in back, poor posture developing from heavy and/or extended use, buildup of heat and sweat on the back, objects packed in the backpack digging into the user's back, and the like. It is desirable to mitigate these and other undesirable aspects of backpacking.
A system to hold a backpack away from a user’s back, comprising a rigid frame contoured to rest on a user’s back, configured to be coupled to a backpack and to hold the backpack spaced apart from the user’s back; a flexible mesh material coupled to the frame that rests on the user’s back and distributes the backpack’s weight over the surface of the back; a protective neoprene cover encasing the frame; and upper and lower attachment components configured to removably attach the backpack to the system.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate disclosed embodiments and/or aspects and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention, the scope of which is determined by the claims.
In the drawings:
It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions provided herein may have been simplified to illustrate aspects that are relevant for a clear understanding of the herein described systems and aspects, while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, other aspects that may be found in typical devices and systems. Those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art may recognize that other elements and/or steps may be desirable and/or necessary to implement the systems and aspects described herein. Because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the present disclosure, a discussion of such elements and steps may not be provided herein. However, the present disclosure is deemed to inherently include all such elements, variations, and modifications to the described aspects that would be known to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
The system disclosed herein performs the following functions to improve comfort while carrying a backpack. It produces ventilation and airflow between the backpack and the user’s back, thereby reducing heat and sweat buildup on the back. It more evenly distributes the weight of a backpack across the majority of the surface of the back. It prevents backpack contents from repeatedly rubbing on or digging into the back. And, it improves the user’s posture and back and shoulder ergonomics, and mitigates back strain.
The system reduces the weight of the backpack pressing against the cervical (neck) and lumbar regions of the back, and the upper trapezius muscles. In addition, the system improves posture and spine curvature. By shifting a backpack slightly away from the back, the backpack’s shoulder straps approach the shoulders more horizontally and gently pull the shoulders back. This pulling back on the shoulders along with the support and weight distribution provided by the frame and mesh, causes the back to straighten and improves posture, improves spinal load bearing ergonomics, and enhances comfort.
Thus, the system allows for both a horizontal and vertical distribution of weight and force. Carrying the backpack alone, the straps of the backpack push down on the shoulders, and its weight is borne primarily by the shoulders. In contrast when carried with the frame, the frame is loosely coupled/attached to the backpack, and that loose coupling allows for the weight of the backpack to be distributed in such a way that the backpack feels lighter. The straps of the system don't sit on the shoulders of the user. Instead, the frame takes the weight of the backpack off of the shoulders, and transfers it to surface of the back throughout the torso and hips of the user.
More particularly, the system transfers the weight of the backpack from the user’s shoulders to the frame and mesh, and provides for both a horizontal and vertical distribution of the weight across the surface of the back throughout the torso and hips. The frame is loosely secured to the backpack and provides for movement of the backpack within the frame when in use. The movement causes the contents of the backpack to settle within the frame, also causing the backpack’s weight to be more evenly distributed via the mesh across a larger area of the back and hips than the backpack alone. This causes the backpack carried in the frame to feel lighter than the backpack carried alone. Furthermore, the system causes the straps of the backpack to transfer at least some of the vertically downward gravitational force that presses upon the user’s shoulders due to the backpack, to a force that presses upon the user’s shoulders in a direction with a larger horizontal component and a smaller vertical component than the force due to the backpack alone. That force is conveyed through the frame and the mesh to the user’s hips and to the height and breadth of the user's back. Thereby, a portion of the vertical downward gravitational force is transferred from the user's shoulders to the user’s hips and back.
The system may further include a hip belt that shifts backpack weight from the back, shoulders, and spine to the hips and legs. Wearing a heavy backpack without such a hip belt or straps is known to cause stress on the back and spine, contributing to spinal compression back strain, and soft tissue formational impairment for young people.
Thus, the disclosed system pertains to backpack equipment and accessories. Described example embodiments and features provide a lightweight accessory that can be attached to a backpack to improve the backpacking experience for backpack wearers of all ages and across many types of usage, such as biking, hiking, student backpacks, and the like; as well as people who carry heavy loads and equipment, such as commercial landscaping services, construction workers, military backpacks, and the like.
The disclosed system is a “Backpack Spacer” that can make wearing a backpack more ergonomic, cooler, and more comfortable. Attaching to a backpack, and using an external frame and mesh, it provides significant separation of a backpack from the user’s back in order to increase airflow, minimize heat and sweat build up on the back, provide added comfort, and improve posture. The system also works to improve posture and back ergonomics. The curvature and size of the frame, and the configuration of the points where the backpack attaches to the frame, cause the weight of the backpack on the shoulders to be redirected from a generally downward direction caused by gravity, to a generally horizontal direction. This reduces the downward force on the spine and makes the backpack feel lighter.
The system has a spring steel frame and, stretched over it, a hexagonal (large hole), breathable, stretchable mesh fabric that lifts the backpack off the back. It is connected to the backpack through upper and lower attachment devices, consisting of straps and buckles. Two adjustable verticals straps connect the upper and lower sides of the system and support the backpack from moving towards the back of the wearer. They can also be adjusted through quick release (QR) buckles to change the arc and shape of the device.
The system also incorporates an add-on hip belt that transfers weight to the hips and legs, reducing the weight borne by the upper body including shoulders, back, and spine. Also made with the same breathable mesh fabric, when not in use it can be conveniently stored in the space formed between the user’s back and the backpack. This allows the hip straps to not dangle, which is inconvenient and clumsy looking.
Frame 110 supports a soft protective material 120 that covers the frame 110 and contacts the user’s back, lifting the backpack off their back. In embodiments, the protective material 120 may be or comprise neoprene foam or the like, and may enclose the frame 110.
The protective material 120 may also provide a basis for a mesh 130 to be attached to. In embodiments, the mesh may be a material with large hexagonal holes, sewn or otherwise coupled across the frame 110 to cradle the back of the user. The mesh 130 contacts and cradles the user’s back, distributing the weight of the backpack more evenly over the majority of the surface of the back. The mesh 130 also acts to dampen and soften the movement of the backpack on the back.
To attach the system to a backpack, an attachment system is used comprising lower and upper attachment components, each component comprising left and right assemblies. The lower assemblies each comprise an adjustable length loop 140 that passes through a respective lower quadrant eyelet 145. A strap 150 is coupled to the loop 140, and a side-release buckle 155 is coupled to the strap 150. In embodiments, a dominator buckle (not shown) may be coupled to the strap 150 to take up slack. In use, the side-release buckle 155 clamps onto and attaches to a lower webbing of the backpack.
The upper assemblies each comprise an adjustable length loop 160 passing through a respective upper quadrant eyelet 165. An upper strap 170 having two ends, is coupled at a first end to a part of a quick release (QR) buckle 175, and coupled at a second end to a complementary part of the QR buckle 175. The upper strap 170 engages the adjustable length loop 160 and an upper portion of a respective backpack shoulder strap.
A pair of vertical adjustable straps 180 with two ends, connect to the top of the frame 110 at a top end and to the bottom of the frame 110 at a bottom end, to provide support to the backpack and prevent it from shifting towards the user’s back in use. A buckle (not shown in
In embodiments, the system may be made in various sizes (e.g. Small, Medium, Large) to accommodate different size body shapes (i.e., different torso length and width) and different size backpacks.
Although the invention has been described and illustrated in exemplary forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is noted that the description and illustrations have been made by way of example only. Numerous changes in the details of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and steps may be made. Accordingly, such changes are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure, the protected scope of which is defined by the claims.
This application claims the benefit of provisional application 63230708 entitled filed Aug. 7, 2021, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63230708 | Aug 2021 | US |
