Backpack for harvesting electrical energy during walking and for minimizing shoulder strain
First Claim
1. A suspended load backpack, comprising:
- a frame;
shoulder straps attached to the frame;
a load storage bag for accepting a load to be carried by said backpack; and
at least one elastic element that connects the load storage bag to the frame, the elastic element having a modulus of elasticity that permits the load storage bag and the load to move up and down relative to the frame in accordance with a gait of a wearer of the backpack.
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Abstract
A suspended-load backpack designed to permit the load to move relative to the backpack frame during walking and running so that the large movements between the load and the frame of the backpack reduce the fluctuations of absolute vertical motion of the load. Because the hip (and thus the pack frame) go up a down a good deal during walking, a large relative movement between the frame and the load reduces the absolute excursion of the load. This movement may be, in turn, transferred to a motor through, for example, a rack and pinion gear, to convert the mechanical movement to electrical energy. The movement may also be converted to electrical energy by using an electroactive polymer (EAP) to connect the suspended load to the frame. Such designs allow the load to move in a controlled fashion to prevent the patient from losing his or her balance as the load moves up and down along the backpack frame. Such movement of the suspended-load relative to the frame also reduces the forces on the wearer'"'"'s shoulders while walking or running, thus reducing the likelihood of orthopedic injury.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A suspended load backpack, comprising:
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a frame;
shoulder straps attached to the frame;
a load storage bag for accepting a load to be carried by said backpack; and
at least one elastic element that connects the load storage bag to the frame, the elastic element having a modulus of elasticity that permits the load storage bag and the load to move up and down relative to the frame in accordance with a gait of a wearer of the backpack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28-52. -52. (canceled)
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53. A suspended load backpack for use in the generation of electricity, comprising:
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a frame;
shoulder straps attached to the frame;
a load storage bag for accepting a load to be carried by said backpack;
at least one electroactive polymer (EAP) strap that connects the load storage bag to the frame, each EAP having a modulus of elasticity that permits the load storage bag and the load to move up and down relative to the frame in accordance with a gait of a wearer of the backpack, wherein each EAP converts up and down movement of the load storage bag and the load into electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (54)
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Specification