초록

Novel backpacks, configured to utilize seat and/or chest harnesses are disclosed herein. Preferred backpacks are configured to attach to and be supported by intermediary connectors including hip belts or backpack supports that can operably couple to separate seat harnesses.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A backpack assembly configured to be worn by a user and comprising: (a) a main storage enclosure with one or more shoulder straps that when said straps are worn, the main storage enclosure abuts a user's back and a portion of the main storage enclosure's load is transferred to the user's shoulder

1. A backpack assembly configured to be worn by a user and comprising: (a) a main storage enclosure with one or more shoulder straps that when said straps are worn, the main storage enclosure abuts a user's back and a portion of the main storage enclosure's load is transferred to the user's shoulders,(b) a separate seat harness comprised of an adjustable waist loop in operable connection with pliable material configured to form leg loops such that the separate seat harness has sufficient strength to safely disperse fall-arrest forces to the user's legs and waist when worn by itself, and(c) a hip belt constructed from a bottom panel of pliable material having a top edge, wherein the top edge is hinged to a bottom edge of a top panel of pliable material such that the bottom and top panels are substantially the same size and the bottom and top panels can fold together and unfold away from each other to allow for the removable insertion of the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness between said bottom and top panels,wherein the user can detach and attach the main storage enclosure to the hip belt while the user is securely wearing the separate seat harness with the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness releasably inserted into the hip belt, and the separate seat harness has sufficient strength to safely disperse fall-arrest forces to the user's legs and waist when operably and releasably coupled to the hip belt and in conjunction with the main storage enclosure,wherein the hip belt comprises means for transferring a substantial portion of the main storage enclosure's load to the user's hips independent of the user wearing the separate seat harness and a portion of the main storage enclosure's load to the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness with the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness removably inserted into said hip belt. 2. The backpack assembly of claim 1, wherein said means for transferring the main storage enclosure's load consists of one or more support rods and complementary sheaths, and quick release fasteners which allow for releasable attachment between the main storage enclosure and the hip belt. 3. The backpack assembly of claim 1, wherein said means for transferring the main storage enclosure's load comprises a rigid frame member attached to the main storage enclosure and configured to engage with a pocket located on the hip belt. 4. The backpack assembly of claim 1, wherein said means for transferring the main storage enclosure's load comprises a plurality of rigid frame members attached to the main storage enclosure and configured to engage with a plurality of pockets located on the hip belt. 5. The backpack assembly of claim 1, further comprising a layer of material positioned to abut against a user's back when worn, wherein said layer of material comprises an opening configured to allow a user to insert and remove a safety, load-bearing chest harness behind said layer of material and further comprises a plurality of openings configured to allow said user to access and properly secure the inserted chest harness on their body while wearing said backpack assembly wherein the properly secured chest harness has sufficient strength to suspend the combined weight of the loaded backpack assembly and the user. 6. The backpack assembly of claim 5, wherein said layer of material is a pocket constructed from fabric and configured to receive back padding such that said pocket is sewn substantially around its perimeter to said main storage enclosure, and is configured to allow an inserted safety, load-bearing chest harness to suspend the combined weight of a loaded backpack assembly and a user without damaging the backpack assembly. 7. The backpack assembly of claim 1, wherein the top panel of pliable material consists of padding adjacent to the user's hips and the bottom panel of pliable material is capable of transferring a significant portion of the main storage enclosure's load to the user's hips. 8. A backpack assembly comprising: (a) a main storage enclosure with one or more shoulder straps that when said straps are worn, the main storage enclosure abuts a user's back and a portion of the main storage enclosure's load is transferred to the user's shoulders,(b) a separate seat harness comprised of an adjustable waist loop in operable connection with pliable material configured to form leg loops such that the separate seat harness has sufficient strength to safely disperse fall-arrest forces to the user's legs and waist when worn by itself, and(c) a separate hip belt constructed from a bottom panel of pliable material having a top edge, wherein the top edge is hinged to a bottom edge of a top panel of pliable material such that the bottom and top panels are substantially the same size and can fold together and unfold away from each other to allow for the removable insertion of the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness between said bottom and top panels wherein the user can detach and attach the main storage enclosure to the separate hip belt while the user is securely wearing the separate seat harness with the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness releasably inserted into the separate hip belt, and the separate seat harness has sufficient strength to safely disperse fall-arrest forces to the user's legs and waist when operably and releasably coupled to the separate hip belt and in conjunction with the main storage enclosure, wherein the separate hip belt comprises means for transferring a substantial portion of the main storage enclosure's load to the user's hips independent of the user wearing the separate seat harness and to the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness with the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness removably inserted into said separate hip belt. 9. The backpack assembly of claim 8, wherein at least one of said bottom and top panels includes padding. 10. The backpack assembly of claim 8, wherein said means for transferring the main storage enclosure's load comprises a rigid frame member attached to the main storage enclosure and configured to engage with a pocket located on the separate hip belt. 11. The backpack assembly of claim 8, wherein said top and bottom panels are both continuous, such that there are no significant openings in the panels. 12. The backpack assembly of claim 8 wherein the top panel of the hip belt is continuously hinged to the bottom panel of the hip belt along the length of the hinged edge. 13. The backpack assembly of claim 8, wherein said top and bottom panels include means for releasably attaching to each other when said panels are folded together. 14. The backpack assembly of claim 13, wherein at least one of said panels comprises a buckle configured to releasably attach to the other panel when said top and bottom panels are folded together. 15. The backpack assembly of claim 13, wherein said top panel includes a plurality of flaps wherein at least one flap comprises a releasable fastener configured to couple with a releasable fastener on said bottom panel when the top and bottom panels are folded together. 16. The backpack assembly of claim 15, wherein with the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness removably inserted into the hip belt said flaps are located on the side of the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness opposite the user's body, wherein at least one flap is coupled to the bottom panel. 17. A backpack assembly comprising: (a) a main storage enclosure with one or more shoulder straps that when said straps are worn, the main storage enclosure abuts a user's back and a portion of the main storage enclosure's load is transferred to the user's shoulders,(b) a separate seat harness comprised of an adjustable waist loop in operable connection with pliable material configured to form leg loops such that the separate seat harness has sufficient strength to safely disperse fall-arrest forces to the user's legs and waist when worn by itself, and(c) a hip belt constructed from an inner panel and an outer panel of material having a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein the top edge of the inner panel is coupled to a top edge of an outer panel of material of substantially the same size as the inner panel such that the length of said outer and inner panels substantially traverse around the circumference of the user's hips, wherein said outer panel and inner panel of the hip belt define a space configured to allow for the removable insertion of the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness between said inner and outer panels, wherein the user can releasably detach and attach the main storage enclosure to the hip belt while the user is securely wearing the separate seat harness with the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness removably inserted into the hip belt, and the separate seat harness has sufficient strength to safely disperse fall-arrest forces to the user's legs and waist when the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness is releasably inserted into the hip belt and in conjunction with the main storage enclosure, and the hip belt comprises means for transferring a substantial portion of the main storage enclosure's load to the user's hips independently or with the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness removably inserted into said hip belt. 18. The backpack assembly of claim 17, wherein both panels are continuous, such that there are no significant openings in the panels. 19. The backpack assembly of claim 17, wherein said means for transferring the main storage enclosure's load comprises a rigid frame member attached to the main storage enclosure and configured to engage with a pocket located on the hip belt. 20. The backpack assembly of claim 17, wherein said means for transferring the main storage enclosure's load comprises a plurality of rigid frame members attached to the main storage enclosure and configured to engage with a plurality of pockets located on the hip belt. 21. The backpack assembly of claim 17, wherein the inner panel consists of pliable padding and the outer panel consist of a rigid material and said inner panel and said outer panel can fold and unfold away from each other. 22. The backpack assembly of claim 17, wherein the inner panel and the outer panel are constructed of pliable material and the bottom edge of the inner panel of pliable material is coupled to the bottom edge of the outer panel of pliable material such that the defined space is a channel configured to allow for the removable insertion of the adjustable waist loop of the separate seat harness.