초록 ▼

A backpack strap system for carrying a load comprises: an elongated sheet of flexible material; vertical load straps each attached at the top and bottom edges of the sheet; and horizontal load straps each attached at the first and second side edges of the sheet. Sheet and load straps are adapted for

A backpack strap system for carrying a load comprises: an elongated sheet of flexible material; vertical load straps each attached at the top and bottom edges of the sheet; and horizontal load straps each attached at the first and second side edges of the sheet. Sheet and load straps are adapted for wrapping around and securing loads of various sizes and/or shapes. The top edge of the sheet is adapted for carrying the load, usually on foot, by shoulder straps, carrying straps, and/or a hanging strap secured thereto. The load is laid on the sheet, and the sheet and load straps are wrapped around the load to secure it, enabling the load to be lifted/carried. Examples of oversized loads include animal carcasses, firewood, or an injured person. The sheet may be adapted to fold up and function as an ordinary backpack, and/or to carry auxiliary packs or storage containers.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for carrying a load, comprising:an elongated sheet of flexible material, the sheet being elongated in a vertical direction and having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, a front surface, and a back surface; a first vertical load strap, the first vertical

1. An apparatus for carrying a load, comprising:an elongated sheet of flexible material, the sheet being elongated in a vertical direction and having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, a second side edge, a front surface, and a back surface; a first vertical load strap, the first vertical load strap being attached at an upper end thereof to the sheet near the top edge of the sheet and at a lower end thereof to the sheet near the lower edge of the sheet; a second vertical load strap, the second vertical load strap being attached at an upper end thereof to the sheet near the top edge of the sheet and at a lower end thereof to the sheet near the lower edge of the sheet; a first horizontal load strap, the first horizontal load strap being attached at a first end thereof to the sheet near the first side edge of the sheet and attached at a second end thereof to the sheet near a second side edge of the sheet; and a second horizontal load strap, the second horizontal load strap being attached at a first end thereof to the sheet near the first side edge of the sheet and attached at a second end thereof to the sheet near a second side edge of the sheet, each of the first and second vertical load straps and the first and second horizontal load straps being divided at a point between the respective first and second ends thereof into respective load strap segments and adapted for repeated separation and reconnection of the load strap segments, the sheet being adapted for laying substantially flat for receiving the load and for being wrapped at least partially around the load with the top and bottom edges of the sheets being drawn toward each other and with the back surface of the sheet in contact with the load, the first and second vertical load straps and the first and second horizontal load straps being adapted for being wrapped at least partially around the load with the sheet wrapped at least partially around the load and with the respective load strap segments connected, the sheet being adapted near the top edge thereof for enabling the load to be carried with the sheet, the first and second vertical load straps, and the first and second horizontal load straps being at least partially wrapped around the load, with the respective load strap segments connected, and with the back surface of the sheet in contact with the load. 2. A method for using the apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising the steps oflaying the sheet substantially flat with the front surface of the sheet in contact with a substantially horizontal surface and with the respective load strap segments separated; placing a load on the back surface of the sheet; wrapping the sheet at least partially around the load by drawing the top and bottom edges of the sheet toward one another around the load; wrapping the first and second vertical load straps and the first and second horizontal load straps at least partially around the load and connecting the respective load strap segments; and lifting the load by the top edge of the sheet and carrying the load. 3. The method of claim 2, the load being a quarter of a game animal.4. The apparatus of claim 1, the sheet, the first and second vertical load straps and the first and second horizontal load straps being adapted for carrying a person as the load, provided that:the lower edge of the sheet passes through the person's legs with the back surface of the sheet in contact with the person's torso; the first and second vertical load straps pass over the person's shoulders with the respective vertical load strap segments connected; and the first and second horizontal load straps are wrapped at least partially around the person's torso with the respective horizontal load strap segments connected. 5. A method for carrying a person using the apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:positioning the sheet with the top edge thereof at the person's shoulders and the back surface thereof in contact with the person's torso; passing the bottom edge of the sheet through the person's legs and then drawing the bottom edge of the sheet upward toward the top edge of the sheet; passing the first and second vertical load straps over the person's shoulders and connecting the respective vertical load strap segments; wrapping the first and second horizontal load straps at least partially around the person's torso and connecting the respective horizontal load strap segments; and lifting the person by the top edge of the sheet and carrying the person. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a first shoulder strap, the first shoulder strap being attached at an upper end thereof to the sheet near the top edge of the sheet and attached at a lower end thereof to the sheet near the first side edge of the sheet; and a second shoulder strap, the second shoulder strap being attached at an upper end thereof to the sheet near the top edge of the sheet and attached at a lower end thereof to the sheet near the second side edge of the sheet, the shoulder straps being adapted for enabling a user to carry the load with the shoulder straps over the user's shoulders and with the front surface of the sheet in contact with the user's back. 7. A method for using the apparatus of claim 6, the method comprising the steps of:laying the sheet substantially flat with the front surface of the sheet in contact with a substantially horizontal surface and with the respective load strap segments separated; placing the load on the back surface of the sheet; wrapping the sheet at least partially around the load by drawing the top and bottom edges of the sheet toward one another around the load; wrapping the first and second vertical load straps and the first and second horizontal load straps at least partially around the load and connecting the respective load strap segments; and carrying the load with the shoulder straps over the shoulder's of a user and the front surface of the sheet in contact with the user's back. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a first carrying strap, the first carrying strap being attached at both ends thereof to the sheet near the top edge of the sheet; and a second carrying strap, the second carrying strap being attached at both ends thereof to the sheet near the top edge of the sheet, each of the first and second carrying straps being divided at a point between the respective first and second ends thereof into respective carrying strap segments and adapted for repeated separation and reconnection of the carrying strap segments, the carrying straps being adapted for enabling a user to carry the load with the carrying straps wrapped around upper portions of the shoulder straps of a backpack, with the respective carrying strap segments connected, and with the front surface of the sheet in contact with the backpack, the backpack being carried on the user's shoulders in contact with the user's back. 9. A method for using the apparatus of claim 8, the method comprising the steps of:laying the sheet substantially flat with the front surface of the sheet in contact with a substantially horizontal surface and with the respective load strap segments separated; placing the load on the back surface of the sheet; wrapping the sheet at least partially around the load by drawing the top and bottom edges of the sheet toward one another around the load; wrapping the first and second vertical load straps and the first and second horizontal load straps at least partially around the load and connecting the respective load strap segments; positioning the sheet and the load wrapped therein with the front surface of the sheet facing a back surface of a backpack; wrapping the first and second carrying straps around upper portions of corresponding first and second shoulder straps of the backpack and connecting the respective carrying straps segments; and carrying the backpack with the shoulder straps over the shoulder's of a user and a front surface of the backpack in contact with the user's back, thereby also carrying the load. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:a third carrying strap, the third carrying strap being attached at both ends thereof to the sheet near the first edge of the sheet; and a fourth carrying strap, the fourth carrying strap being attached at both ends thereof to the sheet near the second edge of the sheet, each of the third and fourth carrying straps being divided at a point between the respective first and second ends thereof into respective carrying strap segments and adapted for repeated separation and reconnection of the carrying strap segments, the third and fourth carrying straps being adapted for enabling a user to carry the load with the third and fourth carrying straps wrapped around lower portions of the shoulder straps of the backpack, with the respective carrying strap segments connected, and with the front surface of the sheet in contact with the backpack, the backpack being carried on the user's shoulders in contact with the user's back. 11. A method for using the apparatus of claim 10, the method comprising the steps of:laying the sheet substantially flat with the front surface of the sheet in contact with a substantially horizontal surface and with the respective load strap segments separated; placing the load on the back surface of the sheet; wrapping the sheet at least partially around the load by drawing the top and bottom edges of the sheet toward one another around the load; wrapping the first and second vertical load straps and the first and second horizontal load straps at least partially around the load and connecting the respective load strap segments; positioning the sheet and the load wrapped therein with the front surface of the sheet facing a back surface of a backpack; wrapping the first and second carrying straps around the upper portions of the corresponding first and second shoulder straps of the backpack and connecting the respective carrying straps segments; wrapping the third and fourth carrying straps around the lower portions of the corresponding first and second shoulder straps of the backpack and connecting the respective carrying straps segments; and carrying the backpack with the shoulder straps over the shoulder's of a user and a front surface of the backpack in contact with the user's back, thereby also carrying the load. 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hanging strap, the hanging strap being attached at both ends thereof to the sheet near the top edge of the sheet, the hanging strap being adapted for enabling the load to be hung by the hanging strap.13. A method for using the apparatus of claim 12, the method comprising the steps of:laying the sheet substantially flat with the front surface of the sheet in contact with a substantially horizontal surface and with the respective load strap segments separated; placing the load on the back surface of the sheet; wrapping the sheet at least partially around the load by drawing the top and bottom edges of the sheet toward one another around the load; wrapping the first and second vertical load straps and the first and second horizontal load straps at least partially around the load and connecting the respective load strap segments; and lifting the load by the hanging strap and carrying the load. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of hanging the load from a saddle on a horse using the hanging strap.15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of hanging the load from a ground vehicle using the hanging strap.16. The method of claim 13, the load being lifted and carried by hook provided on a winch cable.17. The method of claim 13, the load being lifted and carried by hook provided on a winch cable, the winch cable being suspended from a helicopter.18. The apparatus of claim 1,the sheet being provided with at least one closure at the top edge thereof and at least one corresponding closure at the bottom edge thereof, the sheet being provided with at least one closure along a top portion of the first side edge thereof and at least one corresponding closure along a bottom portion of the first side edge thereof, the sheet being provided with at least one closure along a top portion of the second side edge thereof and at least one corresponding closure along a bottom portion of the second side edge thereof, drawing the top and bottom edges of the sheet together and engaging at least a fraction of the top edge, first side edge, and second side edge closures with the corresponding bottom edge, first side edge, and second side edge closures thereby forming a substantially enclosed storage volume, at least a portion of the back surface of the sheet forming at least a portion of an interior surface of the storage volume. 19. A method for using the apparatus of claim 18, comprising the steps of:engaging at least a fraction of the top edge, first side edge, and second side edge closures with the corresponding bottom edge, first side edge, and second side edge closures with a load within the enclosed storage volume; lifting the load by the top edge of the sheet and carrying the load. 20. A method for using the apparatus of claim 18, comprising the steps of:disengaging the top edge, first side edge, and second side edge closures from the corresponding bottom edge, first side edge, and second side edge closures; laying the sheet substantially flat with the front surface of the sheet in contact with a substantially horizontal surface and with the respective load strap segments separated; placing the load on the back surface of the sheet; wrapping the sheet at least partially around the load by drawing the top and bottom edges of the sheet toward one another around the load; wrapping the first and second vertical load straps and the first and second horizontal load straps at least partially around the load and connecting the respective load strap segments; and lifting the load by the top edge of the sheet and carrying the load. 21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising at least one auxiliary storage container positioned within the interior storage volume and adapted for being repeatedly secured therein and removed therefrom.22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:at least one sheet attachment device attached to the sheet near each of the top, first side, and second side edges thereof; and an auxiliary pack including pack attachment devices, the pack attachment devices being secured to the pack, corresponding to the sheet attachment devices, and being adapted for attachment to the sheet attachment devices, the auxiliary pack being adapted for being carried in lieu of the load while being secured to the sheet by attachment of the sheet attachment devices to the corresponding pack attachment devices. 23. A method for using the apparatus of claim 22, comprising the steps of:laying the sheet substantially flat with the front surface of the sheet in contact with a substantially horizontal surface; placing the auxiliary pack on the back surface of the sheet; attaching the sheet attachment devices to the corresponding pack attachment devices; and lifting the load by the top edge of the sheet and carrying the load. 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:wrapping the sheet at least partially around the auxiliary pack by drawing the top and bottom edges of the sheet toward one another around the auxiliary pack; and wrapping at least one of the first and second vertical load straps and the first and second horizontal load straps at least partially around the load and connecting the respective load strap segments, thereby further securing the auxiliary pack.