Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6662984
-
Patent Number
6,662,984
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Date Filed
Wednesday, December 12, 200122 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, December 16, 200320 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
- Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP
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CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 224 265
- 224 266
- 224 576
- 224 580
- 224 647
- 224 908
- 224 909
- 224 153
- 224 578
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A carrying device comprising a rigid elongate yoke, extending between two distal ends, a clamping member adapted for engagement with the yoke member to clampingly fix the device on a supportive member of a backpack. At least both ends of the yoke member laterally project from the supportive member and each of the ends is formed with at least one strap-engaging element for connecting thereto a strap to support equipment. When the backpack is carried over the shoulders of a wearer, the equipment/gear hangs down in front of the body of the wearer.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is in the field of carrying devices, in particular for carrying equipment hanging down in front of the body of the wearer (suspended over the chest), e.g. photographic and video equipment, binoculars, range-finders, etc. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a device which reduces the load and burden from the individual's neck while carrying such equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is often a requirement to carry equipment in a readily accessible and operable position. Such equipment is, for example, photographic and video equipment, binoculars, compass, navigating equipment, etc.
Traditionally, such equipment is carried by neck straps such that the equipment is indeed readily accessible and easily brought into eyesight at demand.
This however, is at times extremely uncomfortable, in particular when the equipment is heavy and carried for long duration of time. Even more so, the problem becomes worse when several such articles of equipment are to be carried, where at times a person may have mounted around his neck several straps which are both cumbersome and uncomfortable. In some emergency situations this arrangement may be even hazardous.
Various solutions have been proposed for dealing with these problems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,643,803 is directed to a supporting strap for cameras or binoculars and in fact comprises a pair of back straps secured to a torso strap extending under the armpits of the user and a hold-down strap for connecting to a belt of the user, where the binoculars are secured to the back straps by means of elastic cords.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,602,409 is directed to a camera harness including a neck band having spaced D-rings embedded in each end, and three pairs of straps having swivel spring closed hooks at both ends depending from the D-rings at each pair, adapted for supporting a camera at different levels over the wearer's chest.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,974 discloses a camera harness provided with a collar strap arranged around the back of the neck of the wearer and an elastic strap passing under the armpits with suitable arranging devices, such as D-rings, mounted on the collar strap for supporting camera equipment from suitable support straps connected to the D-rings.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,211 discloses an article supporting strap for supporting one or more cameras hanging down in front of the body of the wearer, where said strap extends downward behind the shoulders of the wearer and is connected with a stretchable or elastic part of the strap to a trouser band or belt.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,576 is concerned with a video equipment bag fitted with carrying handles, a shoulder harness that can be used with a camera harness attachable to the shoulder harness and a removable back strap so that the bag can be carried by hand, mounted as a backpack or carried as a shoulder bag depending upon the use then desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,942 discloses a carrying pack for photographic and similar equipment having a padded vest covering the chest of the user and secured to the user by detachable belt and straps extending to a lumbar member. The photographic equipment is secured to the shoulder area of the pack by floating adjustable straps. The pack is optionally provided with a weather cover to cover the equipment when not in use.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,761 is concerned with a multi-pocketed photographer's vest which amongst others, comprises one or more pairs of straps extending from the should area of the vest for supporting photographic equipment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,545 refers to a universal strap having an adjustable length which may be easily manipulated to tighten around an object to be carried and then may be easily loosened up when the object is then laid down.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,657,917 is directed to a slipover carrying device for use by a wearer to carry possessions on the wearer's back and comprising a movable pouch supported adjacent a back panel of the device which pouch is attached in a position such that it is graspable by the wearer for moving it between a back and front position, respectively.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel carrying device for use in conjunction with a backpack fitted at least with a pair of back straps (at times referred to as shoulder straps) and wherein the user is not compelled to wear an additional harness or similar device. Rather, the device is engaged with the backpack and the equipment to be suspend down in front of the body of the wearer's chest is linked by suitable straps to said device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a carrying device for supporting articles over a person's chest while wearing a backpack, such that the load of the articles is in fact transferred to the back straps of the backpack, thus borne by the user's shoulders. The device in accordance with the present invention is modular for attachment at several locations of a typical backpack and may easily be removed from one backpack to another or stored. An important feature of the invention is that it does not interfere with the normal function and operation of the backpack.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an elongate yoke member made of rigid material extending between two ends thereof, and a clamping member adapted for engagement with the yoke member so as to clampingly fix the device on a supportive member of a backpack; and where at least both ends of the yoke member laterally project from said supportive member; each of said ends is formed with at least one strap-engaging element for connecting thereto a strap to support equipment. When the backpack is then carried over the shoulders of a wearer, the equipment/gear hangs down in front of the body of the wearer.
The term “supportive member” or “supportive portion” denotes any of three possible locations of a backpack, namely a pair of back straps of the backpack, a carrying handle fitted at the top of the backpack adapted for carrying the backpack by hand and a flap-type cover of a backpack, typically a top such cover.
Preferably the yoke member spans longer than the neck width of an adult individual. In accordance with one embodiment, one of the yoke member and the clamping member is formed with an indented portion extending at least the span of the flap of a backpack, where in accordance with one particular embodiment, the indented portion is in the range of between about 15 cm to 30 cm.
In accordance with one embodiment, the yoke member is engaged with the clamping member by at least a pair of fastening members fitted adjacent the ends of the clamping member. Optionally, the yoke member is engaged with the clamping member by a centrally positioned bolt, whereby the device is configured to be attached to a carrying handle of the backpack. Typically but not necessarily, the fastening members are bolts. In accordance with other embodiments, the fastening members are clamps.
The invention is also concerned with a carrying system comprising a backpack formed with at least one supportive portion and at least one carrying device as defined by the present invention, with at least a pair of straps associated with each of the at least one carrying device and attached to the strap-engaging elements for suspending over the shoulders of the individual and articulating thereto the gear.
According to a feature of the invention, the straps are fitted at their end with quick-release type fasteners engageable with the equipment or corresponding straps attached thereto. By one embodiment of the invention, one strap is fitted with a male-component and the other strap is fitted with a female-component of the quick-release fastener, thereby being engageable with one another.
In order to prevent the gear suspended from the straps to dangle freely, the straps supporting the gear are engageable with the back straps of the backpack. This may be for example by providing a Velcro™ fastener or a hook, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, some embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is an isometric, exploded view of a carrying device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
illustrates a device in accordance with the present invention mounted on a flap-type cover of a backpack and supporting a camera for hanging over an individual's chest;
FIG. 3
illustrates the hanging device of
FIG. 1
attached to back straps of a backpack;
FIG. 4
illustrates the carrying device of
FIG. 1
attached to a carrying handle of a backpack;
FIG. 5
illustrates a backpack fitted with a first carrying device fitted on a flap-type cover of a backpack and a second carrying device attached to back straps of the backpack;
FIG. 6
is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of the carrying device in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 7
is still another embodiment of a carrying device in accordance with the present invention, wherein:
FIG. 7A
is an exploded, isometric view of the device; and
FIG. 7B
is a section through the device along line VII—VII in
FIG. 7A
, in an assembled position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
Turning first to the embodiment of
FIG. 1
, there is illustrated a first embodiment of a carrying device according to the present invention generally designated
10
, comprising a yoke member
12
and a corresponding clamping member
14
, both made of rigid material, e.g., polycarbonate, light metal, etc.
Yoke member
12
and clamping member
14
are each formed with three through going bores, of which two bores
16
are formed adjacent ends thereof, there is one central bore
20
, and two bores
21
disposed intermediate. Additional bores/holes may be provided, to correspond with different widths of carrying handles.
The arrangement is such that the yoke member
12
and the clamping member
14
may be clampingly fixed to one another by screws/bolts
26
and nuts
28
.
It is further noted that yoke member
12
and clamping member
14
are formed with indented portions
32
, giving rise to projecting portions
33
at the ends of the yoke member.
Yoke member
12
is formed adjacent each of its ends with strap receiving slits
30
. Each of the slits
30
is suitable for receiving a strap
34
fitted with a length adjusting buckle
36
and, the free end of the straps is fitted with a quick release fastener male-component
38
(left-hand side) and a quick release fastener female-component
40
(right-hand side), respectively.
Turning now also to
FIG. 2
, device
10
is illustrated in an assembled position in conjunction with a backpack designated
50
of the type comprising a compartment closable by a flap-type top cover
52
, a pair of back straps
56
and a carrying handle
58
.
Carrying device
10
is clampingly attached to the cover
52
adjacent its hinging portion to the backpack
50
, and is secured by the screws/bolts
26
extending through the bores
16
(
FIG. 1
)
It is noticeable that the cover portion
52
of the backpack
50
is received within the indented portion
32
of the carrying device
10
such that the projecting portions
33
laterally project from the cover
52
.
Straps
34
are engaged with the carrying device
10
, with a camera
62
being supported thereby.
The arrangement is such that a load, camera
62
in the present case, carried by the individual is in fact supported by back straps
56
without any burden on the individual's neck, making it possible to carry heavier gear for extended periods of time.
In the present example, camera
62
is fitted with two short straps
64
and
66
, the former fitted at its free end with a male-component
68
of a quick-release fastener couple adapted for engagement with female-component
40
of strap
34
whilst strap
66
is fitted with a female-component
72
of a quick-release fastener couple adapted for engagement with male-component
38
of strap
34
of device
10
. This arrangement enables also connecting male-component
68
and female-component
72
whereby the camera
62
may be used with the straps
64
and
66
when it is not desired to use the carrying device
10
.
It is appreciated that in the embodiment of
FIG. 2
, the screw/bolt
26
of the central bore
20
are removed unless a hole ifs formed in the cover
52
of backpack
50
.
In the embodiment of
FIG. 3
the carrying device
10
is attached to the back straps
56
of backpack
50
. In accordance with this arrangement, the two bores
16
and the central bore
20
are occupied by fasteners (screws/bolts
26
and corresponding nuts
28
). In accordance with this embodiment the carrying device
10
does not interfere in any way with the flap top cover
52
and even if a heavy load suspends from the device by means of straps
34
, the cover
52
may be easily opened.
A similar application is illustrated in
FIG. 4
wherein carrying device
10
is articulated to backpack
50
over the carrying handle
58
wherein all bores
16
and
20
are occupied by fasteners (screws/bolts
26
and nuts
28
). This arrangement has the same advantages of the previous embodiment. In order to prevent the device
10
from sliding with respect to the carrying handle
58
, the additional intermediate center holes
21
may be used.
The embodiment of
FIG. 5
illustrates an application combining the embodiments of
FIGS. 2 and 3
wherein a first carrying device
76
is clampingly articulated to cover
52
of the backpack, and a second carrying device
78
is articulated to back straps
56
. Carrying devices
76
and
78
are similar with those illustrated in the previous embodiments though they may be of different lengths, e.g. carrying device
78
may be slightly shorter than carrying device
76
, typically, the distance between strap engaging slits
30
is not less than about 15 cm so as not to interfere with the individual's neck.
It is noted in
FIG. 5
that a first camera
82
is suspended from carrying device
76
and a second camera
84
is suspended from the second carrying device
78
. It is however understood that a variety of gear may be suspended from the carrying device, e.g. binoculars, range finder, telescope. etc.
The embodiment of
FIG. 6
illustrates a variation of a carrying device in accordance with the present invention generally designated
90
comprising a yoke member
92
and a clamping member
94
. Yoke member
92
is similar to yoke member
12
of
FIG. 1
with the exception that the end portions
98
are formed with two strap-engaging slits
100
and
102
for articulating thereto two pairs of straps
106
and
108
, respectively.
A further difference in the embodiment of
FIG. 6
resides in that the clamping device
94
is merely a flat strip of material for clamping engagement with the yoke member
92
, without the end portions or strap-engaging slits
100
,
102
as in yoke member
92
.
The carrying device
90
of
FIG. 6
is used in a similar manner as illustrated and explained in connection with a previous embodiment.
FIGS. 7A and 7B
illustrates still another embodiment of the carrying device in accordance with the present invention, generally designed
116
comprising a yoke
118
and a clamping member
120
, both made of rigid strip material of suitable length for engagement with a backpack as illustrated in the previous embodiments.
Yoke member
118
is formed with saw-like twist portions
126
. Each end of yoke member
118
is formed with strap-engaging bulges
130
engageable with corresponding apertures
134
formed in corresponding straps
136
.
Yoke member
120
is formed with two recesses or grooves
140
each slidably accommodating a breach member
142
engagable with twist portion
126
of the yoke member
118
, as illustrated in the assembled position of
FIG. 7B
, clampinngly secured over back straps
152
of a backpack (not illustrated). However, this embodiment is in particular useful for attaching the carrying device to a flap-cover and straps.
In order to prevent the gear suspended from the straps to dangle freely, the straps supporting the gear are engageable with the back straps of the backpack. This may be for example by providing a Velcro™ fastener or a hook, etc.
Whilst some embodiments have been described and illustrated with reference to some drawings, the artisan will appreciate that many variations are possible which do not depart from the general scope of the invention, mutatis, mutandis.
Claims
- 1. A carrying device for supporting gear in front of an individual's torso, the device comprising an elongate yoke member made of rigid material extending between two ends thereof, and a clamping member adapted for engagement with the yoke member so as to clampingly fix the device on a supportive member of a backpack; and where at least both ends of the yoke member laterally project from said supportive member; and each of said ends is formed with at least one strap-engaging element for connecting thereto a strap to support the gear.
- 2. A carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the supportive member is one of a top flap-like cover, a carrying handle and a pair of carrying back straps of the backpack.
- 3. A carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the yoke member spans longer than the neck width of an adult individual.
- 4. A carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the clamping member and the yoke member are identical.
- 5. A carrying device according to claim 1, wherein at least the yoke member is formed at each of its ends with at least two strap-engaging slits.
- 6. A carrying device according to claim 1, wherein one of the yoke member and the clamping member is formed with an indented portion extending at least the span of a flap of a backpack.
- 7. A carrying device according to claim 6, wherein the length of the indented portion is in the range of between about 15 cm to 30 cm.
- 8. A carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the yoke member is engaged with the clamping member by at least a pair of fastening members fitted adjacent the ends of the clamping member.
- 9. A carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the yoke member is engaged with the clamping member by a centrally positioned bolt, whereby the device is configured to be attached to a carrying handle of the backpack.
- 10. A carrying device according to claim 8, wherein the fastening members are bolts.
- 11. A carrying device according to claim 8, wherein the fastening members are clamps.
- 12. A carrying device according to claim 11, wherein the clamps are slidably engageable over the clamping member and the yoke member.
- 13. A carrying device according to claim 1, wherein at least one strap-engaging element is a slit adapted for receiving the strap.
- 14. A carrying device according to claim 1, wherein at an assembled position there is a clearance between corresponding surfaces of the yoke member and the clamping member.
- 15. A carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the gear is photographic and video equipment.
- 16. A carrying device according to claim 1, wherein the straps are fitted at free ends thereof with a quick release fastener.
- 17. A carrying system comprising a backpack formed with at least one supportive portion, at least one carrying device according to one of claims 1-14 or 16, and at least two straps associated with each of the at least one carrying device, attached to the strap-engaging element for suspending over the shoulders of the individual and articulating thereto the gear.
- 18. A carrying system according to claim 17, wherein the gear is photographic and video equipment.
- 19. A carrying system for supporting gear over an individual's chest, the system comprising a backpack fitted with a pair of back straps; a carrying device comprising a yoke member and a clamping member adapted for engagement with the yoke member so as to clampingly fix the device at a top portion of the back straps; and at least one strap-engaging element at each end of the yoke member for connecting thereto a strap to support the gear.
- 20. A carrying system according to claim 19, wherein the backpack further comprises at least one of a top flap-like cover and a carrying handle of the backpack and where the carrying device may be clamped also over either one of them.
- 21. A carrying system according to claim 19, wherein the yoke member spans longer than the neck width of an adult individual.
- 22. A carrying system for system for supporting gear over an individual's chest, the system comprising a backpack fitted with a pair of back straps, and a carrying device adapted for clamping engagement with a supportive portion of the backpack; said carrying device being fitted with at least a pair of straps dangling over the individuals shoulders, for articulating thereto the gear.
- 23. A carrying system according to claim 22, wherein the supportive portion of the backpack is one or more of the pair of back straps and a top flap-type cover and a carrying handle.
- 24. A carrying device for use in conjunction with a backpack, the device comprising an elongate yoke member made of rigid material and a clamping member adapted for engagement with the yoke member so as to clampingly fix the device to a supportive member of the backpack; a strap articulated at two respective ends of the yoke member for attaching thereto gear suspended over an individual's chest while carrying the backpack.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
146030 |
Oct 2001 |
IL |
|
US Referenced Citations (17)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
4000493 |
Jul 1991 |
DE |
20004918 |
Jan 2000 |
JP |