U.S. patent application number 10/408523 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-20 for wearable pack.
Invention is credited to Langmuir, Karl.
Application Number | 20030213827 10/408523 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29423537 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030213827 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Langmuir, Karl |
November 20, 2003 |
Wearable pack
Abstract
A pack for wearing around the waist, that may include a shoulder
strap or a leg strap. The wearable pack includes a waist belt and a
tool pouch that has at least one carrying component. The tool pouch
detachably joins to the waist belt with first and second suspending
connectors that include a fastener component mounted on the belt
and a member connected to the pouch and the fastener component. The
members diverge upwardly from one another from the pouch to their
respective fastener components. The present invention provides a
system for attaching the tool pouch to the waist belt with maximum
stability. The present invention includes a tool pouch that is
further attachable to either a shoulder strap or a leg strap. This
provides a triangular attachment that helps to stabilize the pouch
and distribute the weight of the pouch.
Inventors: |
Langmuir, Karl; (Providence,
RI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOLF GREENFIELD & SACKS, PC
FEDERAL RESERVE PLAZA
600 ATLANTIC AVENUE
BOSTON
MA
02210-2211
US
|
Family ID: |
29423537 |
Appl. No.: |
10/408523 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60370840 |
Apr 8, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
224/625 ;
224/661 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 33/046 20130101;
F42B 39/02 20130101; A45F 3/02 20130101; F41C 33/0209 20130101;
A45F 2003/008 20130101; A45F 2003/007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/625 ;
224/661 |
International
Class: |
A45F 003/02; A45C
001/04; A45F 003/00; F41C 033/02; F42B 039/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wearable pack, comprising; a waist belt; a tool pouch having
at least one carrying component; and first and second suspending
connectors detachably joining the pouch to the belt, said
connectors each including a fastener component mounted on the belt
and a member connected to the pouch and the fastener component, the
members diverging upwardly from one another from the pouch to their
respective fastener components.
2. The wearable pack as described in claim 1, wherein the members
carry second fastener components detachably connected to the first
recited fastener components for facilitating mounting and removing
of the pouch on the belt.
3. The wearable pack as described in claim 1, wherein the members
are straps permanently attached to the sides of the upper portion
of the pouch.
4. The wearable pack as described in claim 2, wherein the members
are straps permanently attached to the sides of the upper portion
of the pouch.
5. The wearable pack as described in claim 2, wherein the fastener
components are post and keyhole connectors.
6. The wearable pack as described in claim 2, wherein the fastener
components are snap-type fasteners.
7. The wearable pack as described in claim 1, further comprising a
leg strap, and a connector for detachably joining the pouch to the
leg strap.
8. The wearable pack as described in claim 7, wherein the connector
for detachably joining the pouch to the leg strap is a loop on the
pouch configured to allow the leg strap to slide relative to the
pouch.
9. A wearable pack, comprising: a waist belt; a tool pouch having
at least one carrying component; a shoulder strap; first and second
suspending connectors detachably joining the pouch to the shoulder
strap, said connectors each including a fastener component mounted
on the shoulder strap and a member connected to the pouch and the
fastener component, the members diverging upwardly from one another
from the pouch to their respective fastener components; and a
connector for detachably joining the pouch to the waist belt.
10. The wearable pack as described in claim 9, wherein the
connector for detachably joining the pouch to the waist belt is a
loop on the pouch configured to allow the waist belt to slide
relative to the pouch.
11. The wearable pack as described in claim 9, wherein the members
carry second fastener components detachably connected to the first
recited fastener components for facilitating mounting and removing
of the pouch on the shoulder strap.
12. The wearable pack as described in claim 9, wherein the members
are straps permanently attached to the sides of the upper portion
of the pouch.
13. The wearable pack as described in claim 11, wherein the members
are straps permanently attached to the sides of the upper portion
of the pouch.
14. The wearable pack as described in claim 11, wherein the
fastener components are post and keyhole connectors.
15. The wearable pack as described in claim 1 1, wherein the
fastener components are snap-type fasteners.
16. A tool pouch for use with a waist belt, and either a shoulder
strap, or a leg strap, comprising: at least one carrying component;
first and second members connected to the tool pouch for detachably
joining said tool pouch to fastener components mounted on either a
waist belt or a shoulder strap, the first and second members
diverging upwardly from one another from the pouch to their
respective fastener components.
17. The tool pouch of claim 16 in combination with a waist
belt.
18. The tool pouch of claim 17 in combination with a shoulder
strap.
19. The tool pouch of claim 17 in combination with a leg strap.
20. The tool pouch as described in claim 16, wherein the first and
second members carry second fastener components detachably
connected to the first recited fastener components for facilitating
mounting and removing of the pouch on either a waist belt or a
shoulder strap.
21. The tool pouch as described in claim 16, further comprising a
connector for detachably joining the pouch to either a leg strap or
waist belt.
22. The tool pouch as described in claim 21, wherein the connector
for detachably joining the pouch to either a leg strap or waist
belt is a loop on the pouch configured to allow either the leg
strap or the waist belt to slide relative to the pouch.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/370,840
entitled "Pack" filed on Apr. 8, 2002, which is herein incorporated
by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to packs used for carrying items such
as tools, and in particular, packs for attaching to waist belts,
shoulder straps, or leg straps. In general, wearable packs may be
used for construction, law enforcement, hiking, or other
recreational activities. The present invention enables the wearer
to hold multiple tools in a pouch secured to a waist belt. The
prior art fails to provide a system for attaching a pouch to a
waist belt with maximum stability. With prolonged use, the prior
art wearable packs may not provide enough support and stability to
the wearer which may lead to pain and discomfort. Conventional
packs may cause muscle strain if the weight of the pack is isolated
on a small portion of the wearer's body. Prior art waist packs do
not seek to distribute the weight of the pack across the waist
belt. Further, the prior art fails to provide the versatility of a
wearable pack that is attachable to both a waist strap and a
shoulder strap.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0003] In one embodiment of the invention, a wearable pack is
provided including a waist belt, a tool pouch having at least one
carrying component, and first and second suspending connectors
detachably joining the pouch to the belt. The connectors each
include a fastener component mounted on the belt and a member
connected to the pouch and the fastener component. The members
diverge upwardly from one another from the pouch to their
respective fastener components. The upward divergence of the
members increases the stability of the pack when worn.
[0004] In another embodiment, the tool pouch further includes
another connector for detachably joining a leg strap to the lower
portion of the pouch.
[0005] In another embodiment, the present invention includes a
wearable pack including a waist belt, a tool pouch, a shoulder
strap, first and second suspending connectors detachably joining
the pouch to the shoulder strap, and a connector for detachably
joining the pouch to the waist belt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0006] The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to
scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical
component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by
a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be
labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
wearable pack;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front view of a tool pouch in FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a small pack attachable
to the waist belt;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention illustrated on a wearer;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a large pack attachable
to the waist belt;
[0012] FIGS. 6-9 show the front view of several different
embodiments of the tool pouch; and
[0013] FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of a tool pouch for use
with removable carrying components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] This invention is not limited in its application to the
details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth
in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or
of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and
terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and
should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including,"
"comprising," or "having," "containing", "involving", and
variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed
thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.
[0015] The invention is a wearable pack that provides greater
stability to the wearer. The drawings show one embodiment where the
wearable pack 10 includes a pouch 20 attached to a waist belt 40.
The wearable pack 10 may or may not include a leg strap, and the
embodiment of FIG. 1 shows such a strap 60.
[0016] The pouch 20 is detachably joined to the belt 40 with first
and second suspending connectors 30, 31. Each connector includes a
fastener component 42, 44 mounted on the waist belt 40, and a
member 54, 55 connected to the pouch and the fastener component.
The members 54, 55 are arranged to diverge upwardly from one
another from the pouch to their respective fastener components 42,
44. The members 54,55 are attached to the sides of the upper
portion of the pouch 20. In the embodiment illustrated in the
Figures, the members attach to the outer edges or corners of the
pouch 20.
[0017] The upward divergence of the members 54, 55 away from one
another and away from the pouch 20 increases the stability of the
pack when worn on the wearer. This attachment distributes the
weight of the pouch 20 across a greater length of the waist belt 40
and may help to eliminate undesired movement of the pouch 20 when
secured to the waist belt 40.
[0018] The tool pouch 20 has at least one carrying component. The
triangular shaped pouch shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates one
embodiment with three pockets 21, 22, 23 that carry tools of
varying sizes. The term "tool" is used to encompass any instrument
and/or accessory the wearer may use in performing his/her work. The
present invention may be used in a variety of industries such as
construction or law enforcement, and may be used for numerous
recreational purposes as well. A "tool" may include but is not
limiting to a hammer, drill, level, weapon, compass, binoculars,
book, or pencil.
[0019] The suspending connectors 30, 31 may include members 54, 55
that carry second fastener components 34, 35 detachably connected
to the first fastener components 42, 44 mounted on the waist belt
40 for facilitating mounting and removing of the pouch 20 on the
belt 40. The members 54, 55 connecting the pouch 40 and the
fastener component 42, 44 may be made in a variety of shapes from a
variety of materials. In FIG. 2 the members are straps permanently
attached to the upper portion of the pouch 20, however the members
may be removable as well. While the figures illustrate the members
54, 55 as straps, the present invention includes members 54, 55
that are buckles, clips, rings, etc. Furthermore, the fastening
components 42, 44 mounted on the belt 40 may be post and keyhole
connectors, or any other type of fastener.
[0020] The waist belt 40 holds the pouch secure to the wearer's
body. The waist belt may be adjustable to fit the wearer, and it
may optionally include padding, particularly on its inner surface
for added comfort. Additionally, the waist belt may be constructed
from a webbing material to provide added flexibility, and it may
connect with a side release buckle. The waist belt may further
include additional support, such as a lumbar support to help
facilitate proper protection when lifting and carrying heavy
objects.
[0021] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the pouch 20 is
joined to the waist belt 40 at the upper portion of the pouch,
while the lower portion of the pouch is joined to a leg strap 60.
The leg strap 60 provides additional support which is particularly
beneficial when the contents of the pouch is heavy or bulky, or
when the wearer's work involves substantial body movement. The leg
strap 60 prevents the pouch 20 from swinging away from the wearer.
Further, the leg strap 60 preferably is removably connected to the
pouch. Similar to the waist belt, the leg strap may also be
adjustable to vary to the size of the wearer, and it may include
padding and/or webbing material, and/or a side release buckle. In
one embodiment, the pouch includes a connector 26 for detachably
joining the pouch to the leg strap. FIG. 1 shows the connector 26
as a loop or fabric sleeve on the pouch configured to allow the leg
strap to extend through it and slide relative to the pouch.
However, the connector 26 may also be removable clips, or any other
fastener such as described above.
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present
invention. The pouch 20 is secured to the waist belt 40 at the
connector 26, and the first and second suspending connecters 30, 31
(connector 31 shown in FIG. 1) detachably join the pouch to a
shoulder strap 50. The shoulder strap includes fastener components
30, 31 which are mounted at each end of the shoulder strap.
Further, the pouch 20 contains members 54, 55 (member 54 shown in
FIG. 1) connecting the pouch to the fastener components 30, 31 that
diverge upwardly from one another from the pouch to their
respective fastener component. FIG. 4 illustrates one side of the
connection with member 55 and fastening component 31. Member 54 and
fastening component 30 are shown in FIG. 1.
[0023] The shoulder strap 50 adds additional support and stability
to the wearable pack, helping to distribute the weight of the pouch
across the wearer's body. The shoulder strap 50 may be adjustable
and it may include padding and/or webbing material. Additionally,
the above described embodiment positions the pouch 20 above the
waist belt 40 on the wearer. Conventional waist belts with a pouch
are limited in that the pouch is typically level with or below the
waist belt. The shoulder strap 50 allows the pouch to be secured at
a position above the waist belt 50, which may provide the wearer
with easier accessibility to the contents of the pouch 20.
[0024] FIGS. 3-5 illustrate additional packs 80, 86 that may be
used with the wearable pack 10 of the present invention. Packs 80,
86 may be attached to the belt through fastening components 82
located on the pack and/or on the waist belt. The connector 82 may
include clips on the pack, or a loop or fabric sleeve arrangement
to removably secured the additional carrying components to the
waist belt 40. In one embodiment, the pack has a transparent top 70
(FIG. 5) to enable the wearer to see through to the contents of the
pack, and the packs may close with a removable closure system 81,
including any conventional method known in the art, such as zippers
and pull strings.
[0025] The pouch 20 may be configured in a variety of ways as shown
in FIGS. 6-9. Pouch 101 in FIG. 6 shows two separate carrying
components in a side by side arrangement. Pouch 102 in FIG. 7
illustrates one larger carrying component centered on the pouch.
Likewise, pouch 103 of FIG. 8 shows one large carrying component,
and the overall width of pouch 103 is wider than in the pouches of
FIGS. 6-7. The angled sides 112, 113 of pouch 102 may be desirable
when the pouch is worn on the front of the wearer, so as not to
hinder movement of the wearer, and the shape of pouch 103 with its
outwardly curved sides 105, 106 may be advantageous when the pouch
is worn on the side of the wearer. Pouch 104 in FIG. 9 has an
angled carrying component 114, that may be used as a drill holster
and carries a loop or ring 115 fixed to the outside, that may hold
an elongated tool such as a hammer. Pouch 104 further includes two
smaller compartments 116, 117 adjacent to the angled component 114.
These smaller compartments may be ideal for smaller tools such as
nails, screws, and pencils. Depending on the type of tool, the
location and size of the carrying components may vary. The tool
pouch may also have one or more removable carrying components. The
pouch 120 illustrated in FIG. 10 is for use with removable carrying
components 122, 123, 124. The removable carrying components permit
the wearer to choose the shape and size based on the tool to be
carried. The carrying components may be attachable with clips,
Velcro, or hooks, etc.
[0026] The wearable pack of the present invention also permits more
than one pouch 20 to be worn on the wearer at once. Multiple
pouches are attachable to multiple fastener components located on
the waist belt 40. The pouch may be positioned with respect to the
waist belt so that the pouch is suspended across the front of the
wearer, on either side of the wearer, or alternatively, on the
wearer's back. Further, a pouch may be detachably joined to another
pouch.
[0027] Whether the tool pouch of the present invention is used with
a waist belt and a shoulder strap, with a waist belt and a leg
strap, or with a waist belt alone, the triangular attachment
provides additional stability that conventional tool pouches lack.
Furthermore, the versatility of the present invention provides the
wearer with the ability to easily convert the wearable pack between
the shoulder strap configuration and the leg strap configuration.
However, both configurations include upwardly diverging members
that connect the pouch to fastener components.
[0028] Having thus described several aspects of at least one
embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated various
alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to
those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and
improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are
intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of
example only.
* * * * *