Pack frame and sack therefor

Abstract

Abstract A pack frame having a pair of tubular side bars, a straight tubular shoulder strap attachment bar and a rearwardly bowed, tubular waist bar. A rearwardly extending pack spreader bar which is inserted in a surrounding sleeve of a sack attached to the frame is mounted at the upper ends of the side bars, not only maintains the top of the sack in spread position but also provides a support for heavier articles placed on top of the sack. Such articles may be lashed to a removable U-shaped upper extension bar, the sides of which are telescoped into the upper ends of the side bars. An L-shaped hip tube having an upright post and a forwardly extending arm is mounted adjacent the lower end of each side bar and extends forwardly alongside the hip of the user. A joint for connecting each hip tube and the side bar is adjustable upwardly and downwardly along the side bar, while a series of differently angled holes in the post of the hip tube permits the angle of the hip tube to be varied, through a removable pin which also extends through the joint. In addition, the hip tube post may be placed in the joint to extend either upwardly or downwardly, to accommodate a considerable variation in the shoulder to hip dimension of a user. A hip strap, which includes an outer strap and an inner padding, is tightened about the hips of the user, while a pin carried at each side of the hip strap extends through a grommet at the lower end of the corresponding shoulder strap and through the corresponding hip tube, so that the weight of the pack is concentrated at the sides of the hips of the user, rather than on the shoulders. The upper ends of the shoulder straps are also adjustable laterally along the shoulder strap attaching bar. A removable, generally U-shaped lower extension bar, having an outwardly bowed lower cross member, is telescoped into the lower ends of the side bars, so that light but bulky articles may be lashed thereto. The sack has a forwardly extending flap at each side for attachment to the frame side bars and a sleeve extending around the sides and rear of the top, for encircling the pack spreader bar. A panel in the rear wall of the pack is attached by a pair of laterally spaced zippers which open from the top downwardly, while a pair of pouches inside the sack are attached to the front wall thereof and provided with drawstrings. These pouches will lie flat against the front wall of the sack when empty. A map pocket is mounted on the rear of the panel, while a pair of side pockets are provided with diagonally extending zippers, each having a pair of slides for access to a limited area of a side pocket at any vertical position.

Inventors

• 👤 Mark T Joseph

Bibliographic Details