Carrier system for a backpack energy source, energy source and backpack energy source assembly

• US 10,230,077 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2012
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Inventors: Rief, Joachim, Monch, Corinna, Locher, Ottmar, Zeller, Tobias, Hallendorf, Johan, Landberg, Gustav
• Primary Examiner(s): McNurlen, Scott
• Application Number:
  US14/385,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20150041512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,549 Days
• Field of Search: 224627-659, 224249, 224255-256, 224259-263, 224265, 224268-269, 224271-272, 224902, 429 97, 429123, 4034091, 403 80, 403324
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2003/146 Pack-carrying harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/04 Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/256 Carrying devices, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Carrier system for a backpack energy source, energy source and backpack energy source assembly The invention in particular is directed to a carrier system for a backpack energy source (2). The carrier system comprises a carrier plate (4) with a coupling interface (25) implemented to be exchangeably coupled to a counter coupling interface (31) of an energy source (2).

Claims

1. A carrier system for a backpack energy source comprising a carrier plate to be carried on a back of a person, the carrier plate comprising a coupling interface implemented or designed to be exchangeably or removably coupled to a counter coupling interface of the energy source,

wherein the coupling interface of the carrier plate and the counter coupling interface of the energy source comprise at least three pairs of latching elements or counter latching elements and at least one positioning and guiding element,

wherein the at least three pairs of latching elements or counter latching elements comprise at least three latching elements or counter latching elements of the carrier plate that are configured to latch at least three respective counter latching elements or latching elements of the energy source for coupling the energy source with the carrier plate, wherein the at least three pairs of latching elements or counter latching elements interact so as to hold the energy source against a gravity force as well as against the carrier plate,

wherein the at least one positioning and guiding element is configured to position or align and guide the energy source during a coupling movement,

wherein the at least one positioning and guiding element comprises at least one positioning and guiding recess and at least one positioning and guiding projection, the at least one positioning and guiding recess and the at least one positioning and guiding projection having one or more wedged surfaces, and

wherein the carrier system further comprises a cooperating pair of lifting elements at the coupling and counter coupling interface, the cooperating pair of lifting elements comprising an inclined or wedged surface upon which at least one of the lifting elements glides in a decoupling direction away from the carrier plate during decoupling.

2. The carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling interface and the counter coupling interface are adapted to couple or decouple the energy source to or from the carrier plate, respectively, in an at least partially translational or linear movement which is parallel to the carrier plate or the coupling interface.

3. A carrier system according to claim 2, wherein the translational or linear movement, during decoupling of the energy source from the carrier plate, is followed by or combined with a lifting movement of the energy source away from the carrier plate which is supported or effected by the pair of cooperating lifting elements,

wherein the inclined or wedged surface of one of the pair of cooperating lifting elements is inclined towards the decoupling direction such that in addition to the translational or linear movement during the decoupling away from the carrier plate, the energy source moves in a direction orthogonal to the carrier plate during the decoupling.

4. The carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the carrier plate comprises a center platform or base plate corresponding in its dimensions to dimensions of the coupling interface, wherein the center platform or base plate has fastening elements in the form of elevations or depressions, adapted to removably fasten the energy source to the carrier plate.

5. The carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the carrier plate comprises at least one extension, extending in an axial direction of the carrier plate and adapted to attach strap connectors to the carrier plate.

6. The carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one positioning and guiding element is of elongated shape having a main axial extension in parallel to an axial direction of the carrier plate.

7. The carrier system according to claim 1, comprising at least one push-locking element adapted to mutually lock the carrier plate and energy source in a coupled state and to intersect or block a decoupling relative movement of the carrier plate and energy source, wherein the at least one push-locking element is movable in a direction transversal to the coupling or decoupling movement or parallel to the carrier plate.

8. The carrier system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one push-locking element comprises lateral locking bars accessible from lateral sides of the carrier plate, wherein the lateral locking bars are movably attached to the carrier plate and are adapted to lock the energy source and carrier plate in a laterally pushed-in position, and to release the energy source and carrier plate in a laterally pushed-out position.

9. The carrier system according to claim 1, comprising a strap connector unit adapted to be fitted with straps for strapping the carrier system to the back of the person, wherein the strap connector unit comprises at least one rest element adapted to rest against the back of the person, wherein the rest element is attached to the carrier plate such that the rest element is moveable in parallel to the carrier plate and pivotable about an axis running essentially parallel to a carrier plate transversal axis, and wherein the at least one rest element is movable between at least two different axial positions of the carrier plate,

wherein the at least one rest element is one of a shoulder rest element and a waist rest element, adapted for resting against a shoulder area and a waist area of the person, respectively, attached to a side of the carrier plate averted from the coupling interface.

10. The carrier system according to claim 9, wherein the shoulder rest element is in the form of a plate having two butterfly-like wings, wherein the wings respectively comprise strap holes adapted to thread through a shoulder strap,

or wherein the waist rest element is in the form of a belt having two laterally extending limbs adapted for resting against the waist area of the person, wherein the limbs respectively comprise strap loops adapted to thread through a waist strap,

or wherein the carrier plate comprises at least one rotation limiter adapted to limit a freedom of rotation of the at least one rest element, wherein the at least one rotation limiter comprises stop elements with stop faces implemented at counterpart bearing elements or comprises a pin and guide-hole type swing lock.

11. The carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the carrier plate comprises an open-celled structure comprising stiffening bars, stringers, fins, or ribs, wherein the open-celled structure is of linear, curved, mutually crossing, or honeycomb arrangement, and wherein the open-celled structure is provided at least on a side averted from the coupling interface.

12. The carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the at least three pairs of latching elements or counter latching elements are provided at the coupling and counter coupling interfaces, the at least three pairs of latching elements or counter latching elements comprising one central latching element in a lower region and two lateral latching elements in an upper region of the carrier plate when the carrier plate is carried in an upright position at the back.

13. A carrier system for a backpack energy source comprising a carrier plate to be carried on a back of a person, the carrier plate comprising a coupling interface implemented or designed to be exchangeably or removably coupled to a counter coupling interface of the energy source,

wherein the coupling interface of the carrier plate and the counter coupling interface of the energy source comprise at least three pairs of latching elements or counter latching elements and at least one positioning and guiding element,

wherein the at least three pairs of latching elements or counter latching elements comprise at least three latching elements or counter latching elements of the carrier plate that are configured to latch at least three respective counter latching elements or latching elements of the energy source for coupling the energy source with the carrier plate, wherein the at least three pairs of latching elements or counter latching elements interact so as to hold the energy source against a gravity force as well as against the carrier plate,

wherein the at least one positioning and guiding element is configured to position or align and guide the energy source during a coupling movement,

wherein the at least one positioning and guiding element comprises at least one positioning and guiding recess and at least one positioning and guiding projection, the at least one positioning and guiding recess and the at least one positioning and guiding projection having one or more wedged surfaces,

wherein the coupling interface and the counter coupling interface are adapted to couple or decouple the energy source to or from the carrier plate, respectively, in an at least partially translational or linear movement which is parallel to the carrier plate or the coupling interface,

wherein the translational or linear movement, during decoupling of the energy source from the carrier plate, is followed by or combined with a lifting movement of the energy source away from the carrier plate which is supported or effected by at least one pair of cooperating lifting elements at the coupling interface and the counter coupling interface, and

wherein at least one of a pair of cooperating lifting elements has an inclined or wedged surface inclined towards a decoupling direction on which the other lifting element glides thereby lifting the energy source in the lifting movement in addition to the translational or linear movement during the decoupling away from the carrier plate in a direction orthogonal to the carrier plate.

14. A carrier system for a backpack energy source comprising a carrier plate to be carried on a back of a person, the carrier plate comprising a coupling interface implemented or designed to be exchangeably or removably coupled to a counter coupling interface of the energy source,

wherein the coupling interface of the carrier plate and the counter coupling interface of the energy source comprise at least three pairs of latching elements or counter latching elements and at least one positioning and guiding element,

wherein the at least three pairs of latching elements or counter latching elements comprise at least three latching elements or counter latching elements of the carrier plate that are configured to latch at least three respective counter latching elements or latching elements of the energy source for coupling the energy source with the carrier plate, wherein the at least three pairs of latching elements or counter latching elements interact so as to hold the energy source against a gravity force as well as against the carrier plate,

wherein the at least one positioning and guiding element is configured to position or align and guide the energy source during a coupling movement,

wherein the at least one positioning and guiding element comprises at least one positioning and guiding recess and at least one positioning and guiding projection, the at least one positioning and guiding recess and the at least one positioning and guiding projection having one or more wedged surfaces,

wherein the at least three pairs of latching elements or counter latching elements are provided at the coupling and counter coupling interfaces, the at least three pairs of latching elements or counter latching elements comprising one central latching element and two lateral latching elements;

and

wherein the carrier system further comprises a cooperating pair of lifting elements at the coupling and counter coupling interface, the cooperating pair of lifting elements comprising an inclined or wedged surface upon which at least one of the lifting elements glides in a decoupling direction away from the carrier plate during decoupling.