The field of this disclosure relates generally to a belt used to facilitate carrying a load on the back of a user (e.g., a hiker), and, more particularly, some aspects of this disclosure relate to a load-bearing belt used to transfer the weight of a backpack or the like to a hiker's hips.
As is more readily seen in
The conventional waistbelt 18 is typically unisex (i.e., intended for use by either a male or female user), although relative dimensions, etc., of the waistbelt may be adjusted depending on a targeted user of the waistbelt. For example, a width of the waistbelt 18 (i.e., a dimension of the waistbelt from a top edge 34 of the waistbelt to a bottom edge 36 of the waistbelt) may be narrower when the waistbelt is adapted to be worn by a female than when the waistbelt is adapted to be worn by a male. Nonetheless, even if the waistbelt 18 is adapted for a female user (by, e.g., reducing the width), it may be generally uncomfortable when ultimately worn. Specifically, general differences in male and female anatomy may result in the waistbelt 18 being ill-suited for a female regardless of whether or not the waistbelt is adapted for a female user (e.g., made smaller in a length or width direction than a similarly-designed waistbelt provided for a male user).
This may be more readily understood with reference to
These general differences in male and female anatomy result in a conventional waistbelt 18 being ill-suited for a female user. For example, and returning to
Even further, the conventional waistbelt 18 may not properly stabilize a female user's pelvis as it would a male's, thus adversely affecting her stride while walking or hiking This may be more readily understood with reference to
However, when worn by a typical female user, the side portions 22, 24 of the waistbelt 18 generally sit on top of the female's ilium 26, and, in some configurations, may tend to “ride up” to the female's natural waist when worn. In such a configuration, and unlike the weight transfer benefits provided to the male user as discussed, the waistbelt 18 causes a destabilizing effect, with the weight of the backpack 10 and its corresponding load transferred side to side as the user moves. This is generally depicted by weight transfer arrows 50. More specifically, and as will be appreciated by those having skill in the art, a typical female's pelvis moves in a figure-eight motion when the female is walking normally without wearing, e.g., the backpack 10 and/or the waistbelt 18. However, when wearing the backpack 10 with the waistbelt 18, the weight of the backpack and any load contained therein is transferred side to side on the top of the female's ilium 26, prohibiting her pelvis from moving in the appropriate figure-eight motion. Rather, the female's pelvis is destabilized with the weight of the backpack 10 and its load transferred side to side as depicted by weight transfer arrows 50. This destabilizing effect causes a female to expend more energy just to, e.g., walk and stand up straight. Thus, female users of the conventional waistbelt 18 may become easily fatigued and experience an overall “trudging” feeling while carrying a load.
In view of the above drawbacks of the conventional waistbelt 18, there remains a need for an improved load-bearing belt which eliminates one or more of the above problems experienced by female users. More particularly, there remains a need for a load-bearing belt which does not constrict a user's ribs and/or waist area when worn. Further, there remains a need for a load-bearing belt which does not ride up on a female user, thus reducing the need for adjustments to the belt during a hike or the like. Even further, there remains a need for an improved load-bearing belt which stabilizes a female's pelvis during use thus reducing fatigue and/or a trudging feeling traditionally experienced by a female user during hikes.
In one aspect, a load-bearing belt generally comprises a back portion and two side portions. The two side portions generally extend downward from the back portion.
In another aspect, a load-bearing belt configured to transfer the weight of a backpack to a user's hips is provided. The load-bearing belt generally comprises a back portion configured to be disposed near a lower back of a user, and two side portions. Each side portion extends from the back portion and is configured to be releasably secured around a corresponding hip of the user when the load-bearing belt is worn. Each side portion extends generally downward from the back portion such that, when each side portion is releasably secured around the corresponding hip, the side portion is disposed below the user's iliac crest and above the user's hip joint.
In yet another aspect, a backpack generally comprises a bag configured to house a load, a support structure for the bag, a shoulder harness configured to releasably secure the backpack around a user's shoulders, and a load-bearing belt. The load-bearing belt is configured to releasably secure the backpack around the user's hips such that, when secured, at least a portion of the load is supported by the user's hips. The load-bearing belt generally comprises a back portion secured to at least one of the bag and the support structure and configured to be disposed near a lower back of the user, and two side portions. Each side portion extends generally downward from the back portion such that, when the backpack is releasably secured around the user's hips, each side portion is disposed below an iliac crest and above a hip joint.
Turning now to
When provided on the hiking backpack 10 or the like, the load-bearing belt 118 does not cause many of the problems for female users as are caused by the conventional waistbelt 18 discussed above. For example, the side portions 122, 124 of load-bearing belt 118 extend generally outwardly and downwardly (rather than generally horizontally and upwardly) from the back portion 120 of the load-bearing belt. Thus, when worn (with the back portion 120 disposed near a user's lower back) the side portions 120, 122 extend generally downwardly from the back portion and wrap around the sides of the user (e.g., around a user's hip structure) at a location lower than a location of side portions 20, 22 of the conventional waistbelt 18.
This may be more readily understood with reference to
However, the side portions 122, 124 of the load-bearing belt 118 according to some aspects of the disclosure extend generally downward from the center of the load-bearing belt. More particularly, a centerline 58 of the side portion 122 may form at an angle with the vertical axis 56 of greater than ninety degrees. In some embodiments, the centerline 58 of the side portion 122 may form an angle with the vertical axis 56 that is greater than a lower limit angle 60, and less than an upper limit angle 62. Preferably, in some embodiments, the lower limit angle 60 may be ninety degrees, and the upper limit angle may be 135 degrees. Therefore, the centerline 58 of the side portion 122 may form an angle with the vertical axis 56 that is generally greater than ninety degrees but less than 135 degrees in order to achieve one or more benefits to be discussed more fully. It should be understood that, although
In such embodiments, and particularly when worn by a female user, the load-bearing belt 118 does not provide the same drawbacks as with the conventional waistbelt 18 discussed above. For example, the load-bearing belt 118 is secured lower on the user's hip structure than waistbelt 18 such that it does not constrict a user's abdomen region and/or ribcage (e.g., the user's lowest rib 28). Rather, the load-bearing belt 118 extends around the user's hip structure 32 below the user's iliac crest 27 (i.e., a widest point of the ilium 26) and above the hip joint 30, and, more particularly, the load-bearing belt extends around the user's hip structure such that a top edge 134 of the load-bearing belt is disposed below the iliac crest and a bottom edge 136 of the load-bearing belt is disposed above the user's hip joint. In such a configuration, the load-bearing belt 118 does not constrict or otherwise contact the user's abdomen region and/or ribcage (i.e., does not put pressure on the user's lowest rib 28). Accordingly, such a configuration may eliminate some of the drawbacks of the conventional waistbelt 18 discussed above.
Further, and again because the side portions 122, 124 of the load-bearing belt 118 extend around the side of a user generally at a location below the user's iliac crest 27 but above the hip joint 30, the load-bearing belt does not destabilize the user when walking, hiking, etc., as does the conventional waistbelt 18 discussed above. Rather, the user's pelvis is permitted to move, e.g., in its natural figure-eight motion. This may be more readily understood with reference to
However, when the female wears a backpack 10 or the like provided with an embodiment of the load-bearing belt 118 as described, because the side portions 122, 124 extend generally downward (rather than generally horizontally or upwardly) from the back portion 120, each side portion wraps around her hip structure 32 at a location below the iliac crest 27 but above the hip joint 30 as depicted in
Those skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that the load-bearing belt 118 is not confined to the specific application as described above (i.e., use with a hiking backpack 10). Rather, the load-bearing belt 118 may be used with a wide variety of applications where it is desirable to transfer a load to a user's hips without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, according to some aspects, the load-bearing belt 118 may be provided on a child carrier (i.e., a device similar to the backpack 10 but adapted to carry a child on the user's back). In such embodiments, the weight of a child and any other load provided on the child carrier may be beneficially transferred to the user's hip structure 32 via the load-bearing belt 118 in a similar manner as discussed. Similarly, in other embodiments, the load-bearing belt 118 may be provided on a hydration pack (i.e., a bag configured to be worn on a user's back and store drinking water), a water belt (i.e., a belt configured to hold one or more water bottles), a lumbar or fanny pack (i.e., a bag configured to be worn near a user's lower back), or any other application where it is desirable to transfer a load from a user's shoulders, back, etc., to the user's hip structure. In each application, the location of the side portions 122, 124 of the load-bearing belt 118 may provide similar benefits (particularly for a female user) as described above.
Further, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the relative dimensions of the load-bearing belt 118 may vary depending on the ultimate application of the load-bearing belt without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, a load-bearing belt 118 adapted for use with, e.g., a backpack 10 or child carrier, may be generally wider (in a direction extending from a top edge 134 of the load-bearing belt to a bottom edge 136 of the belt) than a load-bearing belt adapted for use with, e.g., a water belt or lumbar pack. Any other suitable modifications may be made to the relative dimensions of the load-bearing belt 118 without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Moreover, the use of “top”, “bottom”, “above”, “below” and variations of these terms is made for convenience, and does not require any particular orientation of the components.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
This nonprovisional application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/859,990, filed on Jul. 30, 2013, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61859990 | Jul 2013 | US |