Pack frame with swiveling hip-riders

Claim 1

An improved pack frame assembly for movable suspension of a pack frame carried on the back of a walking person, said assembly comprising: a pack frame including substantially vertical right and left side bars disposed behind the right and left sides of the carrying person, each of said side bars having a lower end projecting downwardly and bent rearwardly of said person, and cross bars connecting said side bars; an upper suspension comprising a pair of shoulder straps for suspending said pack frame from the shoulders of said person; a lower suspension comprising: a waist belt for encircling the waist of said person; a pair of hip-rider means, one for each of said side bars, each hip-rider including: a substantially vertical sleeve rotatably received on said downwardly projecting lower end; stop means between said sleeve and said side bar for restricting the rotation of said sleeve to a predetermined arc; an arm structure integral with said sleeve and projecting angularly relative to said lower ends and horizontally forwardly to the region of the side of said waist belt; and pivotal attachment means between the forward end of said arm structure and said belt to permit rotational movement of said arm about a substantially horizontal axis projecting sidewardly of said person; whereby said pack frame is suspended from said person with freedom to undergo restricted movement with respect to said person during walking.