Backpacking frame

Claim 1

A backpacking frame having a major frame portion to support a mating pack above and behind the head of a wearer without interfering with backward movement of the wearer's head, said major frame portion including a pair of interconnected, spaced, elongate members adapted to be supported parallel to a wearer's back extending from his shoulders to a point below his waist to conform generally with the shape of his spine, the major frame portion further including a wrap-around waist belt attached to said elongate members and adapted to be disposed about the waist of the wearer; said backpacking frame having a minor frame portion comprising a pair of upwardly extending, spaced, contour leg portions attachable at their lowermost ends to the top of said major frame portion, said leg portions being connected to each other at their uppermost ends via a transverse portion disposed over the top of a wearer's head, said contour leg portions each comprising a first, generally parallel segment extending upwardly and rearwardly from said major frame portion so as to be spaced behind and in generally conforming relationship to the back of both the neck and head of a wearer of the backpacking frame, said contour leg portions each further comprising a second upwardly extending segment interconnecting said first segment with one end of said transverse portion, each of said second segments extending forwardly and inwardly towards said transverse portion so as to be spaced from and in generally conforming relationship to the contour along the top of the head of a wearer of the backpacking frame; said minor frame portion being connected with and extending upwardly from said major frame portion such that a pack to be supported can be attached at an upper end to said minor frame portion above the wearer's head and be attached at a lower end to the major frame portion; and a pair of shoulder straps supported from opposite sides of said major frame portion and adapted to be engaged by a wearer over his shoulders and down his chest, said straps each supporting a pouch on one side of the wearer's chest to allow the wearer to shift a portion of the packframe load to the front of his body.