U.S. patent application number 10/689574 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-21 for pack support with frictional load transfer.
Invention is credited to Crye, Caleb Clark, Fehlberg, Eric Owen, Thompson, Gregg M..
Application Number | 20050082330 10/689574 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34521436 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050082330 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fehlberg, Eric Owen ; et
al. |
April 21, 2005 |
Pack support with frictional load transfer
Abstract
A wearable load supporting system has a rigid back plate which
is supported over the shoulders of a user, and which may be a part
of a backpack or carrier system, or may be incorporated within a
ballistic vest. The back plate has an upper segment which extends
downwardly over padding, and which terminates in a downwardly and
rearwardly extending lower segment. A waist belt is secured around
the user's waist, and mounts a rearwardly facing rigid waist plate.
When the user is upright, a high friction surface on the lower
segment of the back plate engages a high friction surface on the
waist plate, to thereby transfer vertical loads from the back plate
to the waist plate. However, if the user bends forwardly, the
connection between the high friction surfaces is broken. Although
the loads are no longer transferred to the user's waist, neither is
the user's mobility restricted.
Inventors: |
Fehlberg, Eric Owen;
(Queens, NY) ; Crye, Caleb Clark; (Brooklyn,
NY) ; Thompson, Gregg M.; (Brooklyn, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STIENNON & STIENNON
612 W. MAIN ST., SUITE 201
P.O. BOX 1667
MADISON
WI
53701-1667
US
|
Family ID: |
34521436 |
Appl. No.: |
10/689574 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/631 ;
224/637 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/06 20130101; A45F
3/047 20130101; A45F 3/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/631 ;
224/637 |
International
Class: |
A45F 003/04; A45F
003/08; A45F 003/10 |
Goverment Interests
[0001] The U.S. Government has a paid-up license in this invention
and the right in limited circumstances to require the patent owner
to license others on reasonable terms as provided for by the terms
of contract No. DAAD16-01-C-0061 awarded by the US Army Robert
Morris Acquisition Natick Contracting Division of the United States
Department of Defense.
Claims
We claim:
1. A wearable load supporting system comprising: a rigid back plate
for attachment to a user's back, the back plate having an upper
segment and a lower segment which extends downwardly and rearwardly
from the upper segment; a waist belt which is positioned
frontwardly of the back plate lower segment; a rigid waist plate
fixed to the waist belt; a cushion mounted to the waist belt
frontwardly of the of the waist plate; portions of the rigid back
plate lower which define a frontwardly facing first friction load
transfer surface; and portions of the rigid waist plate which
define a rearwardly facing second friction load transfer surface,
the second friction load transfer surface being releasably engaged
with the first friction load transfer surface, such that sliding
motion between the back plate and the waist plate are restricted by
the friction load transfer surfaces, without restricting the
pulling away of the back plate from the waist plate in a direction
generally perpendicular to the engaged friction load transfer
surfaces.
2. The wearable load supporting system of claim 1 further
comprising a pack releasably connected to the back plate upper
segment.
3. The wearable load supporting system of claim 2 wherein the back
plate is fastened to a shell having shoulder straps extending
frontwardly from the back plate, and further comprising a plurality
of straps which extend between the pack and the shell.
4. The wearable load supporting system of claim 1 wherein the first
friction load transfer surface and the second friction load
transfer surfaces are defined by sections formed of a material
selected from the group consisting of artificial rubber, natural
rubber, urethane, and highly textured mechanical structure
material.
5. The wearable load supporting system of claim 1 wherein an angle
is defined between the back plate upper segment and the back plate
lower segment which is less than 180 degrees and more than 90
degrees.
6. The wearable load supporting system of claim 5 wherein the angle
defined between the back plate upper segment and the back plate
lower segment is about 120 degrees.
7. A load supporting system for wearing by a user having a back and
a waist, the system comprising: a shell having shoulder straps; a
rigid back plate connected to the rear of the shell, the back plate
having an upper segment extending downwardly and positioned
rearwardly of the user's back, and a lower segment which extends
downwardly from the the back plate upper segment to be rearward of
the user's waist; a waist belt for positioning about the user's
waist; a rigid waist plate fixed to the waist belt rearwardly of
the user's waist and in a position to face the lower segment of the
back plate; portions of the back plate lower segment which define a
frontwardly facing first friction load transfer surface; and
portions of the waist plate which define a rearwardly facing second
friction load transfer surface, the second friction load transfer
surface being releasably engaged with the first friction load
transfer surface, such that sliding motion between the back plate
and the waist plate are restricted by the friction load transfer
surfaces, without substantially restricting the pulling away of the
back plate from the waist plate in a direction generally
perpendicular to the engaged friction load transfer surfaces.
8. The wearable load supporting system of claim 7 further
comprising a pack releasably connected to the back plate upper
segment.
9. The wearable load supporting system of claim 8 further
comprising a plurality of straps which extend between the pack and
the shell.
10. The wearable load supporting system of claim 7 wherein the
first friction load transfer surface and the second friction load
transfer surfaces are defined by sections formed of a material
selected from the group consisting of artificial rubber, natural
rubber, urethane, and highly textured mechanical structure
material.
11. The wearable load supporting system of claim 7 wherein an angle
is defined between the back plate upper segment and the back plate
lower segment which is less than 180 degrees and more than 90
degrees.
12. The wearable load supporting system of claim 111 wherein the
angle defined between the back plate upper segment and the back
plate lower segment is about 120 degrees.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to systems for transporting
loads in general, and more particularly to systems for human
back-mounted support of loads.
[0004] Although significant loads are conventionally transported by
automated machinery such as automobiles, airplanes, boats and
trains, there are still important applications where it is
necessary for a single person, unassisted, to transport material
and supplies which must be readily at hand. Explorers, sport
travelers, mountaineers, park rangers, and others who travel away
from established roads must often carry loads over terrain which is
impassable by automated equipment and which may not even be
accessible by pack animals. Soldiers and police officers also must
bring supplies, weapons, and materiel into unpaved regions under
challenging conditions.
[0005] Backpacks and haversacks provide containers which are
supported on one or both shoulders, and allow the user to carry
significant loads of 30-100 pounds or more. External frame
backpacks employ stiff tubular supports for the load, and commonly
have a waist belt which secures the pack at the waist to remove
some of the load from the user's shoulders and place it on the
user's waist or hips. By transferring some of the load to the
user's waist, the weight on the user's back is reduced, and hence
the carrying of greater loads for greater distances is made
possible. However, by strapping the pack to the waist, the wearer
is limited in his flexibility and mobility.
[0006] When conditions call for rapid or limber movements, a
backpack which is fixed to the wearer's waist can be a distressing
impediment; and, in the case of military or police use,
hazardous.
[0007] What is needed is carrier system which aids a user in
extended transport of loads, while permitting unrestricted movement
on demand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The carrier system of this invention transfers loads from a
shoulder mounted assembly to a waist mounted assembly by purely
frictional engagement between two stiff structures. At any time the
user can bend forward to instantly break the frictional connection.
The wearable load supporting system has a rigid back plate which is
supported over the shoulders of a user, and which may be a part of
a backpack or carrier system, or may be incorporated within an
armored vest. The back plate has an upper segment which extends
downwardly over padding, and which terminates in a downwardly and
rearwardly extending lower segment. A waist belt is secured around
the user's waist, and mounts a rearwardly facing rigid waist plate.
When the user is upright, a high friction surface on the lower
segment of the back plate engages a high friction surface on the
waist plate, to thereby transfer vertical loads from the back plate
to the waist plate. However, if the user bends forwardly, the
connection between the high friction surfaces is broken. Although
the loads are no longer transferred to the user's waist, neither is
the user's mobility restricted. The high friction surfaces may be
natural or artificial rubber, or mechanically engaging surfaces
arranged such that sliding motion between the back plate and the
waist plate are restricted by the friction load transfer surfaces,
without restricting the pulling away of the back plate from the
waist plate in a direction generally perpendicular to the engaged
friction load transfer surfaces.
[0009] It is a feature of the present invention to provide a load
carrying system which effectively transfers a portion of the load
to the waist of the user or permits the user to lean forward
without restriction.
[0010] It is another feature of the present invention to provide a
ballistic protection vest which incorporates load transfer
capabilities.
[0011] Further features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially broken away in
section, of the pack support system of this invention, with an
alternate position of the user shown in phantom view.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view, partially broken away,
of the system of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the fastener which connects
the pack to the shell of the system of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevational view showing the
fastener of FIG. 3 while supporting loads.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a schematic side elevational view of the fastener
of FIG. 4 being disengaged.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1-5, wherein like
numbers refer to similar parts, a pack support system 20 is shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2. The pack support system 20 has a shoulder mounted
assembly 26 and a waist mounted assembly 28 which cooperate to
transfer loads from the shoulder mounted assembly to the waist
mounted assembly under certain conditions.
[0018] The system 20 is illustrated as incorporating a ballistic
protection vest, such as the one disclosed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/255,157, filed Sep. 25, 2002, the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. The vest
may incorporate soft armor and hard armor plates. The shoulder
mounted assembly has a rigid back plate 30. The rigid back plate is
preferably used in conjunction with a load transferring shell 48 or
carapace. The shell is formed by two side vest sections 34 which
are connected to the front plate and the back plate. The shell
serves to evenly distribute the supported loads over the user. The
back plate 30 is fastened to the rear of the shell 48 by adjustable
straps. The straps may be adjustably received within loops, or a
slot and tab arrangement may be employed. It should be noted that
the rigid plates will typically be encased in fabric pockets, which
make it possible to readily attach fabric straps and fasteners
thereto. The shell 48 may be formed of flexible, thin aluminum, or
PVC plastic, or High Density Polyethylene or, in ballistic
applications, of the ballistic material known as Spectra. It could
be a 3-D molded sheet, or formed of flat sheet material into which
bends have been formed.
[0019] The side vest sections 34 of the shell 48 have two shoulder
straps 32 connected to two flexible vest side parts 34 which are
connected to a front plate 36, best shown in FIG. 2. In a ballistic
protection vest, the front plate 36 and the back plate 30 will have
ballistic protection characteristics. If only the load carrying
features of the system are required, the rigid front plate need not
be included, but in any event the back plate 30 will be of rigid
material. Thus, although the back plate 30 may be composed of a
hardened lay-up of ballistic materials, it could also be formed of
aluminum, carbon fiber, fiberglass, a thermoplastic material such
as ABS plastic {fraction (1/8)} inch thick or thicker, and it could
be reinforced with glass fibers. Although there may be a small
amount of flex in the plate, it should be generally rigid and not
floppy like a fabric. The back plate 30 may also be a composite
structure, for example plastic reinforced with metal spars, such as
ABS plastic with {fraction (1/8)} inch thick aluminum spars. As
shown in FIG. 2, the back plate has a distinct curvature about
several horizontal axes, as discussed in more detail below. It may
also have a slight curvature about a vertical axis, to conform
somewhat to the back of a user 21, although that is not necessary.
Although shown as generally featureless, the back plate could also
be formed with stiffening ribs or corrugations, to permit increased
stiffness at reduced weight.
[0020] The back plate 30 is connected by the vest side parts of the
shell to the shoulder straps 32, and hangs downwardly in engagement
with the user's back. The shell is made of a material similar to
the shoulder strap material. The back plate is cushioned against
the user's back by one or more back pads 38 on the vest parts 34.
The back pads 38 may be of conventional padding material, such as
closed cell foam, or a combination of open and closed cell foam.
The shoulder straps and the vest parts 34 are not as stiff as the
back plate, but are not as loose as fabric. The vest parts 34 may
be formed of, for example, polyethylene or a flexible plastic
material, similar to a football uniform shoulder pad material,
which is capable of transferring some load, and distributing it
evenly over the wearer's shoulders. Shoulder pads 40 of material
similar to the back pads 38 cushion the shoulder straps 32 where
they engage the user.
[0021] As best shown in FIG. 1, the back plate has an upper segment
42 which extends downwardly and frontwardly, as worn, and is
supported by the back pads 38 against the user's back. The upper
segment 42 may be somewhat concave as it faces frontwardly, such
that it has a top portion 44 which projects frontwardly to extend
along the upper portion of the wearer's back. The back plate 30 has
a lower segment 46 which extends downwardly and rearwardly from the
upper segment. The angle between the upper segment 42 and the lower
segment 46 of the back plate is less than 180 degrees, and more
than 90 degrees, preferably about 120 degrees.
[0022] The lower segment 46 of the back plate extends rigidly from
the upper segment 42, and is faced with a high friction material
which defines a frontwardly facing friction load transfer surface
50 which is positioned to engage against a similar high friction
material on the waist mounted assembly 28. Although the upper
segment 42 may have a slight curve about a generally vertical axis,
the lower segment is preferably without a curve.
[0023] The waist mounted assembly 28, as shown in FIG. 2 has a
flexible fabric belt 52 which may have a conventional quick release
buckle fastener 54 in front, and which loops around the user's
waist. Fixed to the rear of the flexible belt 52 is a rigid waist
plate 56, which may be made of a material similar to the material
from which the back plate is formed. If the back plate lower
segment has a curve about a generally vertical axis, then the rigid
waist plate may have a matching curve. However, both the back plate
lower segment and the waist plate 56 are preferably planar plates.
A waist pad 58 is mounted to the belt 52 frontwardly of the waist
plate 56, and cushions the bearing of the waist plate against the
user 21. The waist plate 56 is faced with a high friction material
which defines a rearwardly facing friction load transfer surface 60
which is positioned to engage against the similar high friction
material on the lower segment 46 of the back plate. As shown in
FIG. 1, the waist plate 56 faces generally rearwardly, and may face
slightly upwardly, while the back plate lower segment faces
frontwardly and slightly downwardly.
[0024] The material which presents the high friction load transfer
surfaces 50, 60, on the lower segment 46 of the back plate 30 and
on the waist plate 56, may be a material with an inherently high
coefficient of friction such as synthetic or natural rubber, or
urethane, or the rubber from which automobile tires are made, or
some viscoelastic material, or it could be the GREPTILE.TM.
material formerly manufactured by 3M of Minneapolis, Minn.
Alternatively, the material may not be inherently high friction,
but may highly textured mechanical structure formed thereon which
causes two sheets of the formed material to resist shear, but to
have substantially no resistance to being peeled apart or pulled
apart. For example, the material may be formed with microscopic
projecting fingers, or small pyramids which mate with one
another.
[0025] A pack 62 is removably attached to the system 20 by straps
or other connectors which fasten it to the shell. Adjustable upper
straps 64, and lower straps 66 connect the pack to the side vest
parts and the front plate, as shown in FIG. 2. Hence, in use, the
pack is secured to the shell 48 and restrained from moving freely
with respect to the user's upper body. The secure engagement of the
pack to the shell prevents its movement with respect to the back
plate. It will be noted that the pack 62 is not fastened directly
to the user's waist, but only through the frictional connection of
the high friction load transfer surfaces 50, 60. The pack may be of
a modular design, so that various packs of different configuration
can be received on the same back plate, permitting the rapid
exchange of loads between various users.
[0026] The conrection between the pack 62 and the shell 48 may be
provided by a variety of conventional fastener such as carabiners,
or sideways buckles, but the connection is preferably provided by
quick release fasteners 68, such as those shown in FIGS. 3-5. Each
fastener 68 has a plastic body 70 which is generally C-shaped
having a first member 72 connected by an end piece 74 to a second
member 76 spaced from the first member. A semi cylindrical slot 78
is defined between the first member 72 and the second member 76
within the end piece 74, the slot is dimensioned to tightly engage
a particular cylindrical bar. The second member 76 defines a ramp
80 which leads into the slot 78. The body 70 may be formed of
nylon, or delrin plastic material, and will therefore elastically
deform to engage the cylindrical bar 82 of a metal ring 84. The
ring 84 may be connected by a fabric loop 86 in a conventional
fashion to the shell 48. The first member 72 has an upper opening
88 which receives a strap upon which a load to be carried is
applied. A forward opening 90 is formed in the body end piece 74
which receives a handhold loop 92. As shown in FIG. 4, in use,
loads are applied by a strap to the first member 72 of the body 70
and are carried thereby to the ring 84 and from there to the fabric
loop 86 and the shell 48. When it is desired to disconnect the
fastener 68, the user engages the handhold loop 92 and pulls away
from the ring 84, causing the body 70 to pivot about the ring bar
82 until the bar may be disengaged from the semicylindrical slot
78. The fasteners 68 may be positioned on the upper portion of the
shoulder straps or the shell front to receive the straps 64, as
well as on the front plate of the shell to receive the sidewardly
and rearwardly extending straps 66.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, when the user 21 stands upright, with
the pack 62 affixed to the back plate 30, the friction load
transfer surfaces 50, 60, on the lower segment 46 of the back plate
30 and on the waist plate 56 engage one another, and, because of
the high frictional engagement between the two surfaces, there is
no shear between the engaged surfaces, and hence vertical loads are
transferred from the back plate to the waist plate and hence the
waist belt 52 and to the user's waist. However, if a particular
orientation becomes uncomfortable, the user need only lean forward
slightly, as indicated in the phantom view of FIG. 1, to completely
separate the back plate 30 from the waist plate 56. The connection
between the back plate and waist plate may then be adjusted when
the user again stands upright. The high frictional engagement
between the surfaces provides substantially no resistance to
pulling or peeling apart the two plates, and hence they are readily
and easily adjusted in their engagement. Moreover, if the user
needs to make a sudden forward bending movement, the connection
between the shoulder mounted assembly and the waist mounted
assembly provides no impediment to this motion. This freedom of
movement can be especially important in military and police
maneuvers where threats may appear unexpectedly and suddenly from
any direction, requiring a rapid response. Depending on how high
the frictional engagement is between the friction load transfer
surfaces, a high level of the back load can be successfully
transferred to the waist.
[0028] It is understood that the invention is not limited to the
particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated
and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as come
within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *