초록 ▼

An adjustable positioning mechanism, such as for positioning ends of straps or handles of bag or packs, such as for backpacks, but also, more generally, for removably connecting an item to an article to be carried to provide a range of attachment locations for the item relative to the article, to ac

An adjustable positioning mechanism, such as for positioning ends of straps or handles of bag or packs, such as for backpacks, but also, more generally, for removably connecting an item to an article to be carried to provide a range of attachment locations for the item relative to the article, to achieve an optimum ergonomic position of the item at one of the attachment locations. One element of the adjustment mechanism can be either adhesively bonded to the article or made in one piece with a frame of the article, the item to be attached bearing a second element of the mechanism. Embodied as part of a bag or pack, the invention can include a carrying system directly or indirectly connected to the pack portion and include at least one carrying element, and an adjustment mechanism to provide a range of attachment locations on the pack portion for a carrying member of the carrying system, such as one or more shoulder straps, such adjustment mechanism including at least one element that is bonded to the backpack. In a particular embodiment, the backpack includes a frame connected to the back side of the pack portion, the frame including at least a rigid or semi-rigid sheet frame which is affixed to the back side of the pack portion by adhesive bonding. The element(s) of the adjustment mechanism are bonded to the backpack against the area at which the frame is mounted.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An article to be carried comprising: a wall having a height and a width, the wall having an internal side and an external side;a rigidifying frame connected to the internal side of the wall of the article by an adhesive bond to create a layered subassembly, the wall extending widthwise beyond the

1. An article to be carried comprising: a wall having a height and a width, the wall having an internal side and an external side;a rigidifying frame connected to the internal side of the wall of the article by an adhesive bond to create a layered subassembly, the wall extending widthwise beyond the layered subassembly at at least a portion of the height of the wall;the rigidifying frame includes a sheet of elastic foam and a rigid or semi-rigid sheet;an adjustable positioning mechanism for removably connecting a carrying strap to the layered subassembly on the external side of the wall, the mechanism providing a range of attachment locations for the carrying strap in relation to the layered subassembly, to achieve an optimum ergonomic position of the carrying strap at one of the attachment locations, said adjustable positioning mechanism comprising: a first element affixed by an adhesive bond to the layered subassembly of the article to be carried;the first element comprising an array of first connector sites, such array comprising a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns providing adjustability along said layered subassembly in both a first direction and a second direction, the second direction being transverse to the first direction;the adhesive bond affixing the first element to the layered subassembly being at least at a location, in relation to the layered subassembly, an equal distance from a reference point as a location of the adhesive bond between the rigidifying frame and the wall, such that a laminate structure is created that includes the first element, the rigidifying frame, the wall, and the adhesive bonds;a second element structured and arranged to be connected to the carrying strap to be connected to the article, the second element including at least two second connector sites for selective releasable fixed engagement with respective ones of at least two of said array of first connector sites of the first element, so that the first and second elements are connected together by way of a plurality of first connector sites and a plurality of second connector sites;the array of first connector sites comprising an array of key-hole shaped receptacles and said second connector sites comprise a plurality of projections, each of said projections being structured and arranged to be receivable within a respective one of the receptacles of said array;the array of key-hole shaped receptacles comprising a plurality of distinct openings, each opening of the plurality of openings having a closed periphery. 2. An article to be carried according to claim 1, wherein: adjustability along a first direction and along a second direction transverse to the first direction comprises adjustability in horizontal and vertical directions. 3. An article to be carried according to claim 1, wherein: the array of receptacles comprises straight rows of receptacles. 4. An article to be carried according to claim 1, wherein: said array of first connector sites of said first element of the adjustable positioning mechanism comprises an array of receptacles and said second connector sites of said second element of the adjustable positioning mechanism comprise projections, each of said receptacles being structured and arranged to become releasably fixedly engaged with a respective one of said projections by lateral movement of said respective one of said projections in only a single lateral direction along a facing surface of the first element; orsaid array of first connector sites of said first element of the adjustable positioning mechanism comprises an array of projections and said second connector sites of said second element of the adjustable positioning mechanism comprise receptacles releasably fixedly engageable with said projections, each of said receptacles being structured and arranged to become releasably fixedly engaged with a respective one of said projections by lateral movement of said respective one of said projections in only a single lateral direction along a facing surface of the second element. 5. An article to be carried according to claim 1, wherein: the second connector sites are structured and arranged to be moved from disengagement with the first element of the adjustable positioning mechanism to engagement with the first element and into a removably fixed position with the first connector sites by only a sliding in a single direction. 6. An article to be carried according to claim 1, wherein: the second element comprises a one-piece base or frame for the at least two second connector sites. 7. An article to be carried according to claim 1, wherein: the array of receptacles comprises a first set of straight rows of receptacles and a second set of straight rows of receptacles;the first and second sets of receptacles are laterally offset and the rows of receptacles of the first set extend downwardly and laterally away at an angle from the rows of receptacles of the second set. 8. An article to be carried according to claim 7, wherein: the angle is within a range of 15° to 45°. 9. An article to be carried according to claim 1, wherein: said first element comprises, in one plastic piece, a frame and said first connector sites. 10. An article to be carried according to claim 9, wherein: said second element comprises, in one plastic piece, a frame and said second connector sites. 11. An article to be carried according to claim 1, wherein: the array of first connector sites comprises: a first plurality of rows of first connector sites extending in a first direction;a second plurality of rows of first connector sites extending in a second direction;the first direction and the second direction intersecting at an acute angle. 12. An article to be carried according to claim 11, wherein: in a carried position of the article, the acute angle forms an inverted V-shape. 13. An article to be carried according to claim 1, wherein: the adhesive bond affixing the first element to the layered subassembly and the adhesive bond between the rigidifying frame and the wall both comprise a thermo-activated glue or glue-containing compound. 14. An article to be carried according to claim 13, wherein: said second element comprises, in one plastic piece, a frame and said second connector sites. 15. A bag or pack comprising: a pack portion including a back side made of flexible material;a rigidifying frame within the pack portion, the rigidifying frame connected to the back side of the pack portion by an adhesive bond, the rigidifying frame comprising: a sheet of elastic foam;a rigid or semi-rigid sheet;a carrying system directly or indirectly connected to the pack portion and comprising at least one carrying member having at least two spaced-apart portions connected to respective spaced-apart portions of the pack portion;an adjustment mechanism for providing a range of adjustable attachment locations on the pack portion for the carrying member at at least one of said two spaced-apart portions of the pack portion;the adjustment mechanism comprising: a first element affixed by an adhesive bond at one of said two spaced-apart portions of the pack portion by being glued or welded to the pack portion, the first element comprising a plurality of first connector sites;a second element affixed to the carrying member, the second element of the adjustment mechanism comprising at least two second connector sites for selective releasable fixed engagement with a pair of the plurality of first connector sites of the first element of the adjustment mechanism;the adhesive bond affixing the first element at least at a location, in relation to the pack portion, an equal distance from a reference point as a location of the adhesive bond between the rigidifying frame and the pack portion. 16. A bag or pack according to claim 15, wherein: the rigidifying frame comprises a rigid or semi-rigid frame affixed to the back side of the pack portion by adhesive bonding. 17. A bag or pack according to claim 15, wherein: the carrying member comprises a shoulder strap and at least one of the spaced-apart portions of the pack portion is in a shoulder region. 18. A bag or pack according to claim 15, wherein: the plurality of connector sites of the first element comprises an array of first connector sites;the first element of the adjustment mechanism comprises a plastic plate, the plastic plate including the array of first connector sites, such array including a plurality of differently vertically positioned laterally extending rows of first connector sites, providing horizontal and vertical adjustability. 19. A bag or pack according to claim 15, wherein: the second connector sites are structured and arranged to be moved from disengagement with the first element of the adjustable positioning mechanism to engagement with the first element and into a removably fixed position with the first connector sites by only a sliding in a single direction. 20. A bag or pack according to claim 15, wherein: the second element comprises a one-piece base or frame for the at least two second connector sites. 21. A bag or pack according to claim 15, wherein: the rigidifying frame is adhesively bonded to an inner surface of the back side of the pack portion of the bag or pack. 22. A bag or pack according to claim 15, wherein: the plurality of first connector sites of the first element are structured to provide adjustability in both a first direction and a second direction, the second direction intersecting with the first direction. 23. A bag or pack according to claim 15, wherein: the plurality of first connector sites comprise an array of first connector sites;the array of first connector sites comprises a plurality of rows of first connector sites and a plurality of columns of first connector sites. 24. A bag or pack according to claim 15, wherein: the back side of the pack portion has a height and a width;the rigidifying frame, adhesive bond, and back side of the pack portion create a layered subassembly;the back side of the pack portion extends widthwise beyond the layered subassembly at at least a portion of the height of the back side of the pack portion. 25. A bag or pack according to claim 15, wherein: the plurality of first connector sites of the first element comprises an array of first connector sites;the array of first connector sites comprises: a first plurality of rows of first connector sites extending in a first direction, both laterally and upwardly, in a carried position of the bag or pack;a second plurality of rows of first connector sites extending in a second direction, both laterally and upwardly, in the carried position of the bag or pack;the first direction and the second direction intersecting at an acute angle. 26. A bag or pack according to claim 25, wherein: the acute angle forms an inverted V-shape in the carried position of the bag or pack. 27. A bag or pack according to claim 15, wherein: the adhesive bond affixing the first element in relation to the pack portion and the adhesive bond between the rigidifying frame and the pack portion both comprise a thermo-activated glue or glue-containing compound. 28. A bag or pack according to claim 27, wherein: the second element comprises a one-piece base or frame for the at least two second connector sites. 29. A bag or pack according to claim 15, wherein: the bag or pack is a backpack;the carrying system of the backpack includes a pair of shoulder straps, each shoulder strap including a respective second element of an adjustment mechanism for providing independent adjustment in relation to the other shoulder strap. 30. A bag or pack according to claim 29, further comprising: a hip-belt and a pivoting connection mechanism for pivotally connecting the hip-belt to the back side of the pack portion of the backpack;the pivoting connection mechanism including at least a first element adhesively bonded to the back side of the pack portion of the backpack. 31. A bag or pack according to claim 30, wherein: the first element of the adjustment mechanism and the first element of the pivoting connection mechanism being adhesively bonded to the back side of the pack portion of the backpack against the rigidifying frame. 32. A bag or pack comprising: a pack portion including a back side made of flexible material;a rigidifying frame within the pack portion, the rigidifying frame connected to the back side of the pack portion by an adhesive bond, the rigidifying frame comprising: a sheet of elastic foam;a rigid or semi-rigid sheet;a carrying system directly or indirectly connected to the pack portion and comprising at least one carrying member having at least two spaced-apart portions connected to respective spaced-apart portions of the pack portion;an adjustment mechanism for providing a range of adjustable attachment locations on the pack portion for the carrying member at at least one of said two spaced-apart portions of the pack portion;the adjustment mechanism comprising: a first element affixed by adhesive bond at one of said two spaced-apart portions of the pack portion by being glued or welded to the pack;a second element affixed to the carrying member;the first element of the adjustment mechanism including a plurality of first connector sites and the second element includes a plurality of second connector sites;the first connector sites being releasably fixedly engageable with the second connector sites for providing the aforementioned range of attachment locations for the carrying member by enabling a selectively releasable fixed connection of the second element of the adjustment mechanism to the first element of the adjustment mechanism in any of a plurality of different attachment locations of the carrying member in relation to the pack portion of the pack. 33. A bag or pack according to claim 32, wherein: at least one of the pluralities of first and second connector sites includes a plurality of connector sites that enable a selective removably fixed connection of the second element of the adjustment mechanism along a range of different horizontally and/or vertically spaced-apart attachment locations. 34. A bag or pack according to claim 32, wherein: the plurality of first connector sites comprises a plurality of receptacles and the plurality of second connector sites comprises a plurality of projections, each said projection being structured and arranged to be receivable within a respective one of the receptacles;the plurality of receptacles comprises a plurality of distinct openings, each opening of the plurality of openings having a closed periphery. 35. A bag or pack according to claim 32, wherein: said plurality of first connector sites of the first element of the adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality receptacles and the plurality of second connector sites of the second element of the adjustment mechanism comprises projections, each of said receptacles being structured and arranged to become releasably fixedly engaged with a respective one of the projections by lateral movement of said respective one of the projections in only a single lateral direction along a facing surface of the first element; orsaid plurality of first connector sites of the first element of the adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of projections and the plurality of second connector sites of the second element of the adjustment mechanism comprises receptacles, each of said receptacles being structured and arranged to become releasably fixedly engaged with a respective one of the projections by lateral movement of said respective one of the projections in only a single lateral direction along a facing surface of the second element. 36. A bag or pack according to claim 32, wherein: the adhesive bond affixing the first element at a location, in relation to the pack portion, corresponds to a location of adhesive between the rigidifying frame and the pack portion. 37. A bag or pack according to claim 32, wherein: the second connector sites are structured and arranged to be moved from disengagement with the first element of the adjustable positioning mechanism to engagement with the first element and into a removably fixed position with the first connector sites by only a sliding in a single direction. 38. A bag or pack according to claim 32, wherein: the second element comprises a one-piece base or frame for the at least two second connector sites. 39. A bag or pack according to claim 32, wherein: the rigidifying frame is adhesively bonded to an inner surface of the back side of the pack portion of the bag or pack. 40. A bag or pack according to claim 32, wherein: the plurality of first connector sites of the first element are structured to provide adjustability in both a first direction and a second direction, the second direction intersecting with the first direction. 41. A bag or pack according to claim 32, wherein: the plurality of first connector sites comprise an array of first connector sites;the array of first connector sites comprises a plurality of rows of first connector sites and a plurality of columns of first connector sites. 42. A bag or pack according to claim 32, wherein: the back side of the pack portion has a height and a width;the rigidifying frame, adhesive bond, and back side of the pack portion create a layered subassembly;the back side of the pack portion extends widthwise beyond the layered subassembly at at least a portion of the height of the back side of the pack portion. 43. A bag or pack according to claim 32, wherein: the plurality of first connector sites of the first element comprises an array of first connector sites;the array of first connector sites comprises: a first plurality of rows of first connector sites extending in a first direction, both laterally and upwardly, in a carried position of the bag or pack;a second plurality of rows of first connector sites extending in a second direction, both laterally and upwardly, in the carried position of the bag or pack;the first direction and the second direction intersecting at an acute angle. 44. A bag or pack according to claim 43, wherein: the acute angle forms an inverted V-shape in the carried position of the bag or pack. 45. A bag or pack according to claim 32, wherein: the adhesive bond between the first element of the adjustment mechanism and the pack portion is at a location an equal distance from a reference point as a location of the adhesive bond between the rigidifying frame and the back side of the pack portion, so as to create a laminate structure that includes the first element, the rigidifying frame, the back side of the pack portion, and the adhesive bonds. 46. A bag or pack according to claim 45, wherein: the adhesive bond between the first element of the adjusting mechanism and the pack portion and the adhesive bond between the rigidifying frame and the back side of the pack portion both comprise a thermo-activated glue or glue-containing compound. 47. A bag or pack according to claim 46, wherein: said second element comprises, in one plastic piece, a frame and said second connector sites. 48. A bag or pack according to claim 32, wherein: said plurality of first connector sites of said first element of the adjustment mechanism comprises receptacles and said plurality of second connector sites of said second element of the adjustment mechanism comprises projections which are releasably fixedly engageable with said receptacles; orsaid plurality of first connector sites of said first element of the adjustment mechanism comprises projections and said plurality of second connector sites of said second element of the adjustment mechanism comprises receptacles which are releasably fixedly engageable with said projections. 49. A bag or pack according to claim 48, wherein: said plurality of first connector sites is greater in number than said plurality of second connector sites, whereby the carrying member can be moved from a first of the at least two spaced-apart connection locations to a second of the at least two spaced-apart connection locations by disengaging projections of said second element from receptacles of said first element at said first of the at least two spaced-apart connection locations and by engaging projections of said second element with receptacles of said first element at said second of the at least two spaced-apart connection locations. 50. A bag or pack according to claim 48, wherein: said first element comprises, in one plastic piece, a frame and said first connector sites. 51. A bag or pack according to claim 48, wherein: said second element comprises, in one plastic piece, a frame and said second connector sites. 52. A bag or pack according to claim 48, wherein: said receptacles are keyhole-shaped receptacles and said projections are button-headed projections. 53. A bag or pack according to claim 52, wherein: the button-headed projections include respective stems;the narrowed portions of respective receptacles of the array of receptacles are shaped to provide respective protuberances to provide firm engagement with the projections to facilitation retention of the projections in the receptacles. 54. A bag or pack according to claim 52, wherein: a receptacle of said keyhole-shaped receptacles comprising an enlarged portion and a narrowed portion extending from said enlarged portion;a button of said button-headed projections having a size and shape to be freely received and removed from said enlarged portion of said receptacle and to be retained beneath said narrowed portion of said receptacle. 55. A bag or pack according to claim 54, wherein: the bag or pack is a backpack; andthe carrying member comprises at least one shoulder strap;the narrowed portion of the receptacle extends upwardly in a direction toward a top of the backpack from said enlarged portion of the receptacle.