US3679108A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Carrier devices for shoulder-strap support on the back
Assignee: National Research Development Corp UK
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Filing: 1970-07-17
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Granted: 1972-07-25
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Expires: 1990-07-17
Abstract
Abstract Load-carrying devices adapted to be supported on the back by means of shoulder straps are provided with a resilient or inflatable cushion to yield to the load on the back. The cushion is specially designed to provide the correct support of the load on the back, being formed with a bottom portion extending widthwise of the cushion to provide a main band of support around the small of the wearer''s back and being narrower in width in an upper portion thereof to provide an upper zone of support which leaves the shoulder blades of the wearer substantially free. The cushion is preferably designed to form a pneumatic frame in place of the rigid frame used in framed-rucksacks, its shape being chosen according to whether the rucksack is of the truncated triangular form or of the rectangular form. A development of the invention is the application of the resilient or inflatable cushion to what may be basically termed a ruckbox, preferably comprising a box-like carrier attached to a shallow frame fitted with the resilient or inflatable cushion and carrying the shoulder straps.
Inventors
- 👤 John Anthony Ingram
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:03
CPC Classifications
A; A45; A45F; A45F3/00; A45F3/04; A45F3/12; A45F2003/122; A45F2003/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A load-carrying device comprising a container for the load, strap means for securing the container to the back of a wearer and an inflatable cushion formed with intercommunicating sections, the cushion having a bottom portion extending widthwise of the cushion to provide a main band of support around the small of the wearer''s back and being narrower in width in an upper portion thereof to provide an upper zone of support which leaves the shoulder blades of the wearer substantially free.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A load-carrying device comprising a container for the load, strap means for securing the container to the back of a wearer and an inflatable cushion formed with intercommunicating sections, the cushion having a bottom portion extending widthwise of the cushion to provide a main band of support around the small of the wearer''s back and being narrower in width in an upper portion thereof to provide an upper zone of support which leaves the shoulder blades of the wearer substantially free.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A load-carrying device according to claim 1 in which the medial portion of the cushion between said bottom and upper portions is divided into side-by-side upwardly extending sections forming ventilating channels in the face of the cushion to be presented to the back of the wearer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A load-carrying device according to claim 2 in which the said medial portion tapers upwardly from the bottom portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A load-carrying device according tO claim 2 in which the upper portion of the cushion extends horizontally beyond each side of the medial portion to lie in the shoulder region wholly or mainly above the shoulder blades.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A load-carrying device according to claim 1 in which the intercommunicating sections of the cushion include a bottom section to extend around the small of the wearer''s back and sections thereabove, said bottom section being inflatable to a greater thickness than the said sections thereabove.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 5 in which the upper portion is inflatable to a thickness intermediate that of the bottom section and the said sections thereabove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A load-carrying device according to claim 6 in which the cushion comprises a valve in the upper portion thereof whereby the said sections and the upper portion can be inflated to the required thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A load-carrying device according to claim 7 in which the sections above said bottom section are separated by upwardly extending seams and a substantially horizontal seam separates them from the bottom section, all the seams terminating short of the edge of the cushion to enable air blown into the cushion through the valve to reach all of the sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A load-carrying device according to claim 1 in which the bottom portion is inflatable to a curved tube formed to fit the small of the back.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A load-carrying device comprising a frameless rucksack, strap means for securing the rucksack to the back of a wearer and an inflatable cushion divided into intercommunicating sections to distribute the cushion pressure around the small of the wearer''s back and in the region of the back thereabove and to impart shape to the rucksack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A load-carrying device comprising a frameless rucksack, strap means for securing the rucksack to the back of a wearer and an inflatable cushion divided into intercommunicating sections to distribute the cushion pressure around the small of the wearer''s back and in the region of the back thereabove and to impart shape to the rucksack.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device according to claim 1 in which the container is a box-like carrier and comprising means retaining said cushion and carrying said strap means for securing said carrier to the wearer''s back, said cushion comprising intercommunicating pressure distributing sections for distributing the cushion pressure around the small of the wearer''s back and in the regions of the back thereabove.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 11 in which said means comprise a shallow frame carrying the strap means, and the box-like carrier and said frame having cooperating fastening means whereby the carrier can be detachably secured to the frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device according to claim 12 in which said frame comprises a moulded plastic housing providing a recess for one part of the cushion, the other part of the cushion protruding, and said frame having metal bracing bars, the strap anchorages being carried by these bars.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device according to claim 13 in which the carrier is of plastic material braced by metal bars and the connections between the carrier and the frame are between the brace bars of the frame and the brace bars of the carrier.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 14 comprising hook means by which the carrier is hooked to the frame, pin means locating the carrier with respect to the frame and screw and lock nut means securing the carrier firmly to the frame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-25 | 1976-01-24 | 1976-07-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-01-24 | 1980-07-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-25 | 1984-01-24 | 1984-07-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |