Mechanical advantage backpack

• US 6,609,642 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bio Cybernetics International
• Original Assignee: Bio Cybernetics International
• Inventors: Heinz, Thomas J., Bannister, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronln, Stephen K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brevard, Maerena W.
• Application Number:
  US10/014,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20020074373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 224/637, 224/642, 224/644, 224/645, 224/153, 224/604, 224/627, 224/628, 224/630, 224/660, 224/662, 224/259, 224/261, 224/262, 602/19
• US Class Current: 224/637
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/00 Travelling or camp articles travelling rugs A47G9/06; Sacks or packs carried on the body convertible into other articles A45F4/00
• 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: A45F 3/08 Carrying-frames; Frames combined with sacks

Abstract

A pack comprising a pack body, straps, a sleeve attached to the body, and a lumbar sacral support contained in the sleeve and supporting at least a portion of a weight of the pack when secured about a torso of a user and tightened. A frame can be attached to the body having frame members with lower portions and a band around the lower portions. The sleeve can be attached to the band by a pivot pin. The lumbar sacral support can comprise a pair of support body segments, each having an inner end portion and a front end with the front ends detachably connectable to each other; and a mechanical advantage device bridging together the inner end portions to form a belt. The mechanical advantage device include a cable rove around two banks of pulleys which are attached to the front end portions of the support body segments.

Claims

1. A pack comprising a pack body, a sleeve attached to the body, and a lumbar sacral support contained in the sleeve and supporting at least a portion of a weight of the pack when secured about a torso of a user and tightened;

and a weight of the pack when secured about a torso of a user and tightened; and

a

frame attached to the body, the frame including frame members with lower portions and a band around the lower portions, the sleeve being attached to the band.

2. A pack according to claim 1, further comprising a pivot pin pivotally attaching the sleeve to the band.

3. A pack and a pack body, a sleeve attached to the body, and a lumbar sacral support contained in the sleeve and supporting at least a portion of a weight of the pack when secured about a torso of a user and tightened;

and

wherein the lumbar sacral support comprises a support body, the support body including a pair of support body segments, each segment having an inner end portion and a front end with the front ends detachably connectable to each other and;

a bionic connecting mechanical advantage device bridging together respective ones of the inner end portions to form a belt having bridged inner end portions, the mechanical advantage device including a drawstring cable operably connected thereto and extending therefrom for causing the mechanical advantage device to move from an expanded state wherein the respective bridged inner end portions are disposed apart from one another to a contracted state wherein the respective bridged inner end portions are drawn towards each other.

4. A pack according to claim 3, wherein the drawstring cable is releasably connectable to either one of the pair of segments.

5. A pack according to claim 3, wherein the drawstring cable includes an endless loop cable and a handle connected to a segment of the endless loop cable while another segment of the endless loop cable is operably connected to the mechanical advantage device.

6. A pack according to claim 5, wherein the handle has a tab portion fabricated from hook-and-loop material and a ring portion connected to the tab portion and fabricated from a stiff material.

7. A pack according to claim 5, wherein the handle is selectably and releasably connected to either one of the two front end portions of the pair of segments.

8. A pack according to claim 3, wherein each one of the pair of segments includes hook-and-loop material attached exteriorly to at least respective ones of the front end portions.

9. A pack according to claim 3, wherein the mechanical advantage device includes two pulley banks, each pulley bank having a base member and a plurality of pulleys rotatably connected to the base member.

10. A pack according to claim 9, wherein respective ones of the pulley banks are detachably connected to the bridged inner end portions of the segments.

11. A pack according to claim 3, wherein the device comprises a pulley system, said pulley system including:

a pair of pulley banks arranged in juxtaposed relationship, a first bank of which is detachably disposed on one inner end portion of one of the segments and a second bank of pulleys detachably disposed on a second inner end portion of the other of the segments; and

a cable interconnecting the two pulley banks and running through a pulley on each of the pulley banks in alteration, shortening of the cable pulling the pulley banks together and tightening the lumbar sacral support with the aid of a mechanical advantage dependent upon the number of pulleys mounted on each of the pulley banks.

12. A pack according to claim 11, wherein said cable has two free ends secured to a handle element.

13. A pack according to claim 11, wherein each bank of pulleys includes a base member on which pulleys are mounted, said base member being detachably secured on one inner end portion of one of the segments.