EP0567173A1

EP0567173A1 - Rucksack with a carrying frame

Info

Publication number: EP0567173A1
Application number: EP93200864A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antonius Jozef Vink
Original assignee: NOMAD Co
Current assignee: NOMAD Co
Priority date: 1992-04-22
Filing date: 1993-03-25
Publication date: 1993-10-27
Also published as: NL9200734A

Abstract

Rucksack (1) with a carrying frame to be fitted on the back of a wearer (10). In order to impede the movement of the wearer by the presence of the rucksack to a lesser extent, the carrying frame is split into an upper frame section (4) and a lower frame section (5) which are connected to one another by a single hinge (6) which acts three-dimensionally and can be put under pressure. It has been found that the optimum position of the hinge point is in the vicinity of the lumbar region of the wearer. In order to prevent the holder fitted on the carrying frame from imparting to the rucksack a certain rigidity which still impedes the freedom of movement of the wearer, according to the invention holders (2,3) which are separate from one another are fixed to the upper frame section (4) and the lower frame section (5).

Description

The present invention relates to a rucksack with a carrying frame, to be fitted on the back of the wearer and comprising an upper frame section and a lower frame section, which frame sections are connected to one another by a single hinge which can be put under pressure.
A rucksack of this type is disclosed in US patent 4 214 685.
It has already long been recognised that the movement of the shoulders of a rucksack wearer relative to the hips must be impeded as little as possible by wearing said rucksack. After all, impeding said movement will give rise to earlier fatigue etc. To this end all sorts of hinge constructions with which the conventional one-piece frame can be constructed in several pieces have been proposed in the prior art.
In this context, in US patent 4 214 685 a hinge construction between the two frame sections is proposed which makes it possible for the wearer to bend forwards and backwards. This hinge also allows sideways movement by the wearer.
However, a construction of this type has a number of disadvantages. Firstly, it is not possible to execute a torsional movement, i.e. the user is hampered in turning his shoulders in a horizontal plane relative to the hips. It has been found that this type of torsional movement takes place even when walking normally and this applies more particularly in the case of complex movements, such as climbing. In this context it is extremely important that the rucksack in question presents as little hindrance as possible. Research by the Applicant has also shown that the three abovementioned movements, i.e. forward bending movement, sideways movement and torsional movement, are realised at different points in the spinal column and that, therefore, if a single hinge is used, which is desirable on the grounds of simple design, an optimum position for the location of said hinge will have to be sought. In this context it is important that the hinge is capable of transmitting pressure forces because at least 60 % of the weight of the rucksack is transferred to the hip region.
The object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages described above.
This object is achieved in the case of a device described above, in that the lower limit of the upper frame section and the upper limit of the lower frame section, between which the hinge is located, are chosen such that said limits are in the vicinity of the lumbar region of the wearer, in that the hinge is a hinge acting in three dimensions provided with means for driving said hinge into an initial position and in that separate holders are fixed to the upper frame section and the lower frame section.
It has been found that by positioning the hinge point in the lumbar region of the back of the wearer bending in particular can be carried out without hindrance.
By designing the hinge in such a way that said hinge operates in three dimensions, it is now possible to allow the two separate frame sections to follow torsional movement of the trunk. By designing the holders in two parts it is ensured that the holders no longer stiffen the hinge. In order to prevent the weight, which is present in particular in the upper holder, giving rise to tipping over, the hinge is of elastic design, so that a restoring force to the original position is exerted. By this means, movement by the user is further facilitated because the force required to return the spinal column to the rest position will be lower.
It is pointed out that British patent 764 880 discloses a carrying frame comprising two parts, the connection between the parts being realised by means of two springs some distance apart. In this case it is necessary to pre-stress the construction before attaching a rucksack. In addition, the spacing between the upper frame section and the lower frame section will change, depending on the load in the rucksack. This spacing is also dependent on the current position of the carrying frame. After all, in the horizontal position the springs are not subject to the effect of gravity and in the vertical position said springs will be somewhat compressed by gravity.
A hinge which has the desired characteristics and is particularly simple to produce and very efficient comprises a rubber elastic connection. Rubber suspensions of this type are generally known, in particular in the technology for insulating vibrating components.
In US patent 4 214 685, described above, the shoulder straps are attached on the one hand to the upper frame and on the other hand to the lower frame. It has been found that for optimum effect the shoulder straps must be attached to the upper frame section only. In this way, the hinge movement is affected as little as possible.
Although the upper frame section and the lower frame section are able to have all of the shapes disclosed in the prior art, the effect of hinging, that is to say following the movement of the back, is found to be realised in an optimum manner if the upper frame section and/or the lower frame section are of U-shaped design.
Although the frame can be a so-called external frame, it is preferred according to the invention to incorporate said frame in the rucksack as a so-called internal frame.
It can be desirable to make the separation between the two holders invisible. In this case the provision of a cover between the separate holders is proposed.
For a standard frame the optimum length ratio between the upper frame section and the lower frame section is found to be about 3:2. If, in particular, the upper frame section is designed to be longer so that it extends to the vicinity of the wearer's head, this ratio will, of course, have to be adjusted.
The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the illustrative embodiments shown in the drawing. In said drawing:

Fig. 1 shows, diagrammatically, a side view of a wearer provided with a first embodiment of the rucksack according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows a rear view of a second embodiment of the rucksack according to the invention; and
Fig. 3 shows the carrying frame shown in Figs 1 and 2.

In Fig. 1 the rucksack according to the invention is indicated in its entirety by 1. Said rucksack comprises an upper holder 2 and a lower holder 3, which are separate from one another. Both upper holder 2 and lower holder 3 each incorporate one frame section, said frame sections being upper frame section 4 (see Fig. 3) and lower frame section 5, respectively. It can been seen from Fig. 3 that said frame sections are connected at 11 and 12 respectively by a rubber hinge 6. In the embodiment shown, said hinge consists of a rubber section which is provided at the end with vulcanised-on metal plates in which fixing means are incorporated for producing the connection to the upper frame section and the lower frame section. It can be seen from Fig. 3 that the upper frame section and the lower frame section are of U-shaped design, whilst the length of the upper frame section is 3/5 of the total length of the carrying frame, whereas the length of the lower frame section is 2/5 of the total length. It can be seen from Figs 1 and 2 that the shoulder strap 7 is connected to the upper holder 2 at both the top end 9 and the bottom end 8. Lower holder 3 is connected directly to hip strap 14.
Fig. 2 shows an embodiment which corresponds to that according to Fig. 1, except that a bellows-shaped cover 13 is fitted between the upper holder 2 and the lower holder 3.
By means of the carrying frame construction described above it is possible for the upper frame section 4 and the lower frame section 5 to execute movement in three dimensions with respect to one another. Consequently, carrying is less tiring for the wearer and the wearer is less impeded in his movements, which is of importance especially for climbing and the like. Despite the presence of hinge 6 it is possible to absorb an appreciable pressure load to hip strap 14, so that the spinal column of the wearer is spared as much as possible. By positioning in the vicinity of the lumbar region, an optimum position is found for torsional, bending and left/right movement.
Although the invention is described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, it must be understood that numerous modifications can be made thereto without going beyond the scope of the present application. Thus, it is possible to replace the rubber hinge acting in three dimensions which is shown in the application by any other hinge which acts in three dimensions and has restoring properties.

Claims

Rucksack with a carrying frame, to be fitted on the back of the wearer (10) and comprising an upper frame section (4) and a lower frame section (5), which frame sections are connected to one another by a single hinge (6) which can be put under pressure, characterised in that the lower limit (11) of the upper frame section and the upper limit (12) of the lower frame section, between which the hinge is located, are chosen such that said limits are in the vicinity of the lumbar region of the wearer, in that the hinge (6) is a hinge acting in three dimensions provided with means for driving said hinge into an initial position and in that separate holders (2, 3) are fixed to the upper frame section and the lower frame section.
Rucksack according to Claim 1, wherein the hinge comprises an elastic rubber connection.
Rucksack according to one of the preceding claims, wherein shoulder straps (7), the two ends (8) of which engage on the upper frame section, are attached to the carrying frame.
Rucksack according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper frame section is of U-shaped design.
Rucksack according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower frame section is of U-shaped design.
Rucksack according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame is a component incorporated in the rucksack.
Rucksack according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a cover (13) is present between the holders, which are separate from one another.
Rucksack according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper frame section makes up about 3/5 and the lower frame section about 2/5 of the total length of the frame.