U.S. patent application number 11/285953 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-06 for backpack with segmented construction body protecting features.
Invention is credited to Joris Smeuninx.
Application Number | 20060144885 11/285953 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36588446 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060144885 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smeuninx; Joris |
July 6, 2006 |
Backpack with segmented construction body protecting features
Abstract
Backpacks, even those for outdoors sports, generally comprise an
envelope of relatively flaccid textile material attached to a
structured back-engaging frame, board or pad. Extreme sports such
as skiing, motorbike racing, snow boarding, heli-skiing and such
would benefit from greater protection to the person's back, as well
as to the contents of the backpack. The disclosed backpack 2
includes a segmented and shaped back board 40 which permits limited
flexing in certain directions to help protect the user's back from
overextension. The container or packing portion 24 of the backpack
2 has corresponding rigid segments 16 interconnected by flexible
textile portions 20. The segmented packing portion 24 and the
segmented safety board 40 work together to protect both the
contents of the backpack 2 and the back of the user.
Inventors: |
Smeuninx; Joris;
(Sint-Amands, BE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SAMSONITE CORPORATION
11200 EAST 45TH AVENUE
DENVER
CO
80239
US
|
Family ID: |
36588446 |
Appl. No.: |
11/285953 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60636224 |
Dec 15, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
224/629 ;
224/644 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2003/125 20130101;
A45F 3/047 20130101; A45F 2003/045 20130101; A45F 3/08 20130101;
A45F 2003/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/629 ;
224/644 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/04 20060101
A45F003/04; A45F 3/08 20060101 A45F003/08; A45F 3/10 20060101
A45F003/10 |
Claims
1. A method for toting, storing, maintaining security, and
protecting items within a piece of luggage, backpack, or the like
comprising: providing a durable, protective, rigid and shaped outer
portion, while protecting the back of a user carrying said backpack
by providing a protective back portion against which the user's
back rests, designed to help prevent hyperextension of the user's
back and to provide protection to the user's back from other
external sources including the contents of the backpack.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of protecting the
contents of the backpack includes providing a hard shell on the
outside of the backpack.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of providing a hard shell
comprises providing a hard shell in the shape of a tortoise
shell.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of protecting the user's
back and protecting the contents of the backpack comprises
providing a protective hard outer shell in combination with a back
board onto which the user's back is adjacent which prevents
hyperextension of the user's back.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of providing a back board
further includes providing a back board comprising at least one
segment.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of providing at least
one segment further includes providing at least one additional
segment to which said at least one segment is joined and wherein
said segments are connected in a manner that allows said segments
to bend in a controlled manner, allowing the wearer to experience
forward bending, backward bending and side bending without bending
to a point that is dangerous to the health of the spine and
back.
7. A system for toting, storing, maintaining security, and
protecting items within a piece of luggage, backpack, or the like
while providing protection to a user's back.
8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a back board, that is
worn adjacent to the back of the user, and an outer shell portion
through which access to the backpack is granted.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the shell and the back board are
adjoined.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the shell and the back board are
adjoined permanently.
11. The system of claim 8 wherein the shell and the back board are
connected along at least one peripheral edge.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the shell and the back board are
connected to each other by conventional connecting mechanisms.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein said conventional mechanisms
include an openable access to a packing compartment.
14. The system of claim 12 wherein said conventional mechanisms
include a zipper.
15. The system of claim 7 wherein said backpack is worn by said
user in a snug fashion so that said user fully takes advantage of
the design of said backpack in that said backpack conforms snugly
to the back of the user such that the user is restricted in
movement therefore limiting or helping the user from
hyper-extending said user's back.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the snug fit is achieved by a
system of adjustable portions sized to extend around said user's
body.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein said adjustable portions
comprise straps.
18. The system of claim 17 wherein said adjustable portions
comprise bands.
19. The system of claim 8 wherein said back board further comprises
at least one segment.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein said at least one segment is
joined to at least one other segment.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein said segments are connected by a
flexible member in a manner that permits controlled bending of said
segments including forward bending, backward bending and side
bending whereby said bending is limited to help prevent danger the
user's spine and back.
22. The system of claim 8 wherein said shell portion comprises
segments.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein said rigid segments form a
rounded, protective cover that can be opened to reveal contents of
the backpack.
24. The shell portion of claim 7 further comprising a frame.
25. The frame of claim 24 further comprising rib, spacer and loop
portions.
26. The system of claim 22 wherein said segments are separated by
portions of fabric.
27. The system of claim 8 wherein said back board is lined with
foam for adjacent placement against the user's back.
28. The back board of claim 8 further comprising a backing of foam
between said back board and said foam that lies adjacent to the
user's back.
29. The system of claim 22 wherein said segments are of rigid
construction.
30. The system of claim 24 wherein said frame is constructed of
rigid material.
31. The system of claim 8 wherein said protection to the user's
back further comprises features that are protective of the human
spine.
32. The spine protective features of claim 31 further comprising a
semi-cylindrical longitudinal indentation, located along the length
of said back board and facing the user's back, that accommodates
the spine.
33. The indentation of claim 32 further comprising contours suited
to conform conform to the area of the back corresponding to the
spine.
34. A backpack having a back board of at least two interconnected,
relatively rigid segments, means for mechanically interconnecting
those segments, a packing compartment at least partially defined by
a shell made of at least two relatively rigid shell segments, and
straps for attaching and holding the backpack on the back of a
user, the segments of the back board and the segments of the
relatively rigid shell interconnected to one another to permit
controlled forward bending, back bending and side bending of the
backpack when the backpack is being carried on the back of a
user.
35. The foam of claim 27 further comprising at least one layer of
foam and a layer of mesh textile.
36. The system of claim 35 wherein said foam is perforated.
37. The foam of claim 27 further comprising at least one layer of
foam and a layer of transparent material.
38. The system of claim 37 wherein said foam is perforated.
39. The system of claim 16 wherein said system of adjustable
portions further comprises overlapping elastic bands.
40. The system of claim 8 wherein said back board is surrounded by
a layer of material including an organizational portions on an
inner surface.
41. The system of claim 12 wherein said conventional mechanisms
include straps.
42. The system of claim 12 wherein said conventional mechanisms
include molded portions.
43. The system of claim 12 wherein said conventional mechanisms
include mating frame portions.
44. The system of claim 12 wherein said conventional mechanisms
include tongue and groove mechanisms.
45. The system of claim 12 wherein said conventional mechanisms
include reinforced zippers.
46. The system of claim 45 wherein said zipper is reinforced with
an additional layer of textile, thereby acting as a rigid
hinge.
47. The system of claim 23 wherein at least one of said shell
segments includes a recess.
48. The system of claim 47 wherein said recess houses an external
pocket.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional
patent application 60/636,224 entitled "Backpack with Segmented
Construction Body Protecting Features", filed Dec. 15, 2004.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This invention relates to shoulder carried luggage cases
called backpacks specifically designed for outdoor sports like
skiing, snowboarding, trekking and the like. The preferred
embodiment of this backpack is especially designed for such sports
where hyperextension (bending backward) of the wearer's back is a
real possibility. Motor sports have embraced the use of polymer
body armor to protect vulnerable portions of the participant's body
from injury. However, no one has combined the features of
controlled flexibility body protection, in particular back
protection, with a fully functional backpack.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention comprises a backpack system that includes a
harness to intimately hold the backpack construction against the
back of the wearer. The backpack construction includes a foam
covered support board that has limited flexibility both laterally
as well as in the bilateral plane of symmetry of the wearer. This
support board preferably consists of a series of controllably,
preferably elastically, connected segments. This support board is
covered with at least one layer of material on the wearer side for
comfort and/or ventilation, which may include neoprene, mesh
textile, any other type of textile, foam, or any other kind of
material, and one or more layer of impact absorbing foam or other
material on the other side (facing the content packing portion of
the backpack.) Of course, the back board may be covered completely
by any material, it may be partially covered, or the back board may
remain entirely exposed. Any material could be used in the covering
of the back board. For example, the backboard could be covered with
a lamination consisting of two foam types, as will be discussed
further with regard to the descriptions of FIGS. 2 and 16.
[0004] The main content packing portion of the backpack consists of
two or more, preferably four, molded segments interconnected, or at
least overlapping, at adjacent edges with extensible or ordinary
textile membrane or membranes. The resulting jointed shell and the
limited flexibility support board connect to one another at a
peripheral seam, which preferably includes zipper access to the
main packing compartment. The segmented shells, in combination with
the limited flexibility support board, serve to help dissipate and
redirect impact forces away from the wearer's back if and when the
wearer should fall off a snowboard, fall while skiing,
participating in motor-cross sports, etc. Also, the support board,
in combination with the rest of the backpack construction, helps
prevent hyperextending the user's back and helps reduce or
eliminate the resulting injury to the musculature, the spine, and
the nerves that could have resulted from such hyperextension.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0005] FIG. 1 is a line drawing of a perspective view of the
present embodiment.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a back view of the present embodiment showing the
harness and protective foam barrier worn against the wearer's
back.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a view of the main packing compartment of the
present embodiment, with the main zipper access open and showing an
interior panel for storing items, and its relation to the shell
portion.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a partially exploded, perspective view of the
interior panel of FIG. 5 and its relation to a back board.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a top view of the back board with the
organizational panel that has been unzipped and peeled back.
[0010] FIG. 6 is a close up view of the back board shown in FIG. 5,
illustrating a knuckle and an exposed flexible bridge portion.
[0011] FIG. 7 is a partial view of the back board knuckle
undergoing flexure and portion of a longitudinal concave
portion.
[0012] FIG. 8 is a close-up view of the portion of the back board
shown in FIG. 7 with the knuckle removed.
[0013] FIG. 9 illustrates flexing of the knuckle of the portion of
the back board shown in FIG. 7 in the opposite direction to that
shown in FIG. 7.
[0014] FIG. 10 is perspective view of the back board configuration
in its entirety.
[0015] FIG. 11 is a side view of a portion of the back board
configuration shown in FIG. 10.
[0016] FIG. 12 is a view of the back board shown in FIG. 10 with
three knuckles installed.
[0017] FIG. 13 is an illustration of the back board shown in FIG.
12 with the knuckles shown in dashed lines to reveal the connective
bridge portions.
[0018] FIG. 14 is a side view of a portion of FIG. 12.
[0019] FIG. 15 is a detailed back view of a portion of the back
board and of a knuckle.
[0020] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the foam panel shown in
FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] FIGS. 1 and 2 show respectively a pictorial view of an outer
side 4 and a wearer's side 6 of the preferred embodiment of the
backpack 2. The backpack 2 comprises two components central to the
preferred embodiment: shell 24, protruding from the outer side 4
and providing a rigid and stable structure to protect contents
therein, and a structural, supportive "back board" portion 40,
designed to conform to the shape of the human spine when worn
directly adjacent to a user's back, providing comfort and
protection to the user while maintaining overall stability of the
backpack 2. Back board 40 provides the user with controlled
flexibility, resisting the backward bending of the user's back,
thereby helping prevent hyper-extension of the back.
[0022] A frame 8 is constructed of injection-molded polymer,
forming a structural basis for the outer side 4 of the pack 2.
Frame 8 may be of a one-piece contiguous construction or may
comprise separate pieces. In the preferred embodiment, frame 8
includes rib portions 10 and spacer portions 12. Looped portions 14
are provided for opening of the shell 24 to reveal an inner packing
compartment 36 of the backpack 2. The frame 8 is of semi-rigid
construction and is provided additional structure by shell segments
16 therebetween. Preferably the shell segments 16 are made of a
light, strong polymer material, preferably polyethylene,
polypropylene, or a self-reinforcing polypropylene composite such
as that available from BP Amoco under the trademark "Curv." These
segments 16 are preferably sewn to a peripheral zipper track 22
with a self-hinging portion on the bottom or one side of the
perimeter of the backpack 2. This permits access to the contents of
the backpack 2 when necessary. Segments 16 also provide a measure
of limited flexibility, lending to the user's wearability,
mobility, and necessary flexibility of the backpack 2 while
performing vigorous sporting activities. Of course, the material
used for production of frame 8 and shell segment 16 can vary
depending upon the design and intended use of the backpack 2. For
example, frame 8 could be produced by any manufacturing methods
including any molding method, stamping, forging, cutting method, or
other conventional industrial or manual method. Segment 16 could be
made of any material including flexible material, soft material,
any rigid or semi-rigid material including other types of polymers,
metal, composite, or other material. An advantage of using SRP in
the construction of the shell segments 16 is substantial weight
reduction while maintaining structure to and protection of the
contents of the backpack 2 as well as the wearer.
[0023] The frame 8 and shell segments 16 are affixed to one another
by fasters 18, shown by example as rivets in FIG. 2. Of course,
other methods of attachment could be used for connecting the shell
segments 16 to the frame 8 including glue, staples, snaps, pins,
catches, sewing, etc. The shell 24 could conversely be manufactured
as a solid piece, or as a combination of other types of components
including polymer joints and sheets, or composite portions, for
example. The overall shape of the shell is that of a streamlined
tortoise shell.
[0024] Shell segments 16 of the shell 24 correspond substantially
to the segments 46 of the safety board 40. For example, note that
there are four molded segments 16 shown in FIG. 1, which correspond
in sequence, overall width, longitudinal dimensions, and placement
to the four segments 46 of the safety board 40. The bottom segment
16 comprises a recess. This recessed area of bottom segment 16
houses an external pocket that is separated from the main packing
compartment 36 by a barrier, creating a convenient storage area for
items meant to remain separate from the contents of compartment 36,
such as matches, keys, or items that may become dirty or wet such
as soiled gloves, etc.
[0025] Each of these molded shell segments 16 is attached,
preferably by sewing around its edges near access zipper 22, to a
flexible textile portion 20. Textile portion 20 is preferably made
of a tough woven textile such as a ballistic nylon. Textile
portions 20 provide breathability to the backpack 2 as well as
flexibility, allowing the backpack 2 to bend in any direction,
facilitating comfortable mobility of the wearer, but only to a
certain degree, such that hyperextension of the back becomes less
likely to occur. Textile portions 20 could also be of a knit
material to give even more flexible strength and to help restore
the shape of the segmented shell 16 when a stress or bending
movement by the wearer is terminated. Of course, other materials
could be used in the construction of the portions between rigid
portions 16 and 8. Such materials may include mesh, thin sheets of
foam, fabric having waterproof properties, a slightly more rigid
material, or any other material. Access to the main packing
compartment 36 of the backpack 2 is achieved by the peripheral
zipper 22 track but conversely could be achieved by other methods
that may include the use of Velcro portions, snaps, buttons,
straps, molded mating frame portions, tongue and groove mechanisms,
reinforced, "hefty" zippers that may comprise backing of an extra
layer of textile or other material to act as a rigid hinge, or
other methods. An advantage of zipper track 22 is that shell
portion 24 can be opened on at least one side up to all four sides
while maintaining a secure closure.
[0026] Looking again to FIG. 2, a panel of foam 26 is sewn onto the
wearer's side 6 of the backpack 2 for the wearer's added protection
and comfort. Foam panel 26 may include specifically designed
contours so as to mimic the individual characteristics of a
wearer's back resulting in a snug fit against the wearer's body. Of
course, panel 26 could comprise any material appropriate for
providing comfort to the wearer, including neoprene, etc, but
materials with a knit breathable, textile surface of conventional
types are preferred. A foam layer adjacent to the back board (seen
in FIG. 8 for example), may be selected from known, impact
absorbing lamina to further isolate the back board from the body of
the wearer.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 16, foam panel 26 may comprise a
lamination of two types of foam with a mesh textile on the outside
(facing the wearer's back). One or both of the foam layers may be
perforated to provide ventilation. Perforations through both layers
of foam would reveal the back board 40 from the outside to provide
an aesthetically pleasing and sporty appearance. A transparent film
may then be laminated to the foam layer adjacent to the support
board. Conversely, only one layer of foam may be perforated,
leaving the first layer of foam solid.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, backpack 2 is carried by the
wearer via a harness 28. Harness 28 can comprise a series of
adjustable components including shoulder straps 30, an elastic
waist-belt 32 and an elastic sternum strap 34. Waist belt 32 may
comprise wide elastic bands that overlap each other in a
"criss-cross" fashion, increasing the snugness of the fit to the
wearer. The shoulder straps 30, waist-belt 32 with multiple elastic
webbings for a firm fit, and sternum strap 34 can be individually
and collectively adjusted to according to the user's body size to
ensure a snug fit to the user's body. This has two primary
benefits. First is to assure that the backpack 2 remains centered
on the back of the user and will not thus hinder the balance and
motion of the user in high speed outdoor sports, such as skiing and
snow boarding. Secondly, this intimate cinching assures that the
backpack 2, with its segmented safety board 40 and segmented
shell-like packing portion 24, can reduce impact and overextension
to which the person's back would normally be subject.
[0029] Of course, it should be understood by one of ordinary skill
in the art that other combinations of straps, buckles, elastics,
and/or other materials or mechanisms could be used in construction
of harness 28 in order to achieve snug conformation of the backpack
2 to the wearer's body. Such materials and mechanisms could include
neoprene, nylon straps, bungee cords, hooks, or other methods.
Backpack 2 may also be outfitted with a series of additional
external straps, including buckled straps or bungee cords attached
to loop 14 for example, that would permit the user to attach ropes,
blankets, emergency equipment like shovels and ice picks to the
outside of the backpack 2. These accessory attachments can be done
without unduly hindering the controlled flexing of the shell
segments 16 and the attached portions of the back board 40. This
helps protect the relatively less robust textile portions 20 from
abrasion, even when packed items within the main packing
compartment 36 would tend to push these textile portions 20
outwardly. The textile segments 20 may be sized and tensioned when
being attached to the segmented shell 24 to provide an inwardly
directed biasing force against such packed items. This would
prevent such items from interfering with the opening and closing of
the shell 24 during controlled flexing of the back board 40.
[0030] FIG. 3 shows the relationship between shell 24 and back
board 40. Main packing compartment 36 may include provisions for
secure storage of items such as zippered pockets, compartments with
snaps, Velcro, or other closure devices, open pockets, dedicated
pockets for items such as keys, phones, flashlights, first aid
necessities, etc. As such, a structured interior panel 42 is
provided, which can be constructed of any material typical to liner
construction in the art, including waterproof textile material. As
shown in FIG. 3, the shell 24 is joined to back board 40 by zipper
22, operated by zipper sliders 23. Back board 40 is surrounded by
organizational panel 38. The interior surface of organizational
panel 38 comprises interior panel 42 in which personal items may be
stored. Organizational panel 38 surrounds back board 40 and can be
peripherally zippered on by inner zipper 44, operated by inner
zipper sliders 45. Of course other mechanisms can be provided to
surround and/or protect back board 40 including layers of foam and
other textiles typical of the art. A benefit of providing inner
zipper 44 is that the organizational panel 38 can be unzipped and
interior panel 42 peeled back, exposing back board 40 for
inspection, removal and repair, as well as to help instruct the
user in the proper functioning of the inventive backpack 2. This
open construction also enhances convective ventilation. Of course,
organizational panel 38 may be constructed of any material,
including textile panels, mesh textile, a combination of both
textile and mesh textile wherein mesh textile may be used to reveal
and/or ventilate portions of the back board 40 such as the center
portions of the panels 42 and knuckles 50, neoprene, foam, or any
other material.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively, back board 40 is
shown as being partially exposed by interior panel 42 and shown as
being entirely exposed. FIG. 6 shows a close-up view of back board
40. Back board 40 comprises a contiguous plate or board having at
least one flexible segment 46. In the present embodiment, back
board comprises four back board segments 46. The top segment 46,
that rests against the upper portion of the user's back below the
neck, includes a cut-out 66. This cutout 66 provides an opening for
the wiring associated with headphones, cell phone accessories, or
the like. As shown in FIG. 6, back board 40 is mounted over a layer
of material 64 added to provide additional comfort and protection
to the wearer while maintaining breathability and air flow.
Backboard 40 may be attached to at least the inner layer of
material 64 by many methods, including fastener 58 that protrudes
through aperture 60 as shown by example in FIGS. 6 and 10. Back
board segments 46 are semi-rigid yet adequately flexible in nature
for the purpose of maintaining mobility while the user engages in
rigorous sports. The segments 46 are shown as solid polymer sheets
with formed contours for shape and comfort. Of course, apertures
60, holes, and thickened edges, such as those shown in FIG. 10,
would benefit this embodiment but can vary depending upon the
design and/or intended use of the present embodiment. The apertures
in each of the segments 46 lighten the overall construction but are
not necessary to the present embodiment.
[0032] It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art
that many methods of manufacturing can be used to produce the back
board 40 and other components of the backpack 2, depending upon the
nature of the materials used in its construction. For example, any
plastic molding method can be used including thermoplastic and
thermoset injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding,
thermoforming, structural foam molding, compression molding, resin
transfer molding (RTM), and so on.
[0033] Each of the segments 46 of the support board 40
interconnects with its adjacent neighbor by a flexible hinge or
"bridge portion" 48. Flexible bridge portion 48 is covered by a
flexible rubber knuckle 50. This rubber knuckle 50 comprises
indentations or slots and has a T-shaped cross-section (shown in
FIG. 14) to give flexing ability as outlined above with regard to
FIG. 6. Bending along the plane of the back board 40 is further
illustrated by FIGS. 7 and 9. As shown in FIG. 7, the wearer can
perform forward bending, provided by the flexible nature of the
knuckle 50 and the back board components. Looking to FIG. 9,
hyperextension or backward bending of the back is limited but
allowed by slots 53 and indentations 51 of knuckles 50. These
rubber knuckles 50 are firmly attached to each of the adjacent
segments 46 by an extension 57, shown in FIG. 15, which protrudes
through apertures 54 of the bridge portions 48. Of course, other
methods could be used for attaching the knuckles 50 to back board
40, including tapering slotted extensions that grip the bridge 48.
Conversely, knuckles 50 could be attached to the back board 40 by
separate penetrating fasteners (not shown), by adhesives, or by
being overmolded to adjacent segments 46 which have apertures to
receive the molten knuckle material. Mechanical attachment using
interengaging ribs or slots may be used as well, thus permitting
easy after market replacement of individual damaged knuckles 50 or
back board segments 46. The knuckles comprise thermoplastic
elastomer injection molding compounds of known composition and
physical characteristics.
[0034] The rubber knuckle 50 has a butterfly wing shape which has
indentations molded substantially, but not entirely through its
cross section to enhance its flexing ability. These rubber knuckles
50 are firmly attached to each adjacent flexible back board segment
46 by overlapping bridge portions 48 having slots and a concave
shape as well as an aperture through which the extension 57 of the
flexible knuckle 50 protrudes (see FIG. 15). An advantage of the
present embodiment of the rubber knuckles 50 is that knuckles 50
permit limited flexing of the segments 46 towards one another in
the plane substantially containing the back board 40 [that is at a
right angle to the bilateral symmetrical plane of the back board
40]. The construction of the knuckles 50 permits relatively easy
bending towards the user's back [as for example might stoop over or
roll into a ball] but elastically resists being compressed by
bending in the other direction, that is in the direction which
could lead to hyperextension of the wearer's back. FIGS. 7 and 9
show an example of bending allowed by the design and construction
of knuckle 50 and semi-cylindrical indentation 52 and back board
segments 46. As shown in FIG. 8, a close up view of a flexible
bridge portion 48 is shown with knuckle 50 removed. Shown in FIG. 8
and FIG. 15 are apertures 54 and semi-cylindrical cut-outs 56.
Semi-cylindrical cut-outs 56 allow flexibility of bridge 48. Again,
bridge portion 48 allows limited movement of the back board
segments 46 relative to one another. This creates allowance for
adequate motion of the user's back in three planes, yet limits the
motion such that the back is less likely to be hyper-extended.
[0035] Of course, it should be understood by one of ordinary skill
in the art that the exact placement of holes and structure of back
board 40 and its components can vary, provided that the
structurally semi-rigid/semi-flexible design of the back board 40
remains intact.
[0036] An advantage of the present embodiment is that each of the
segments 46 can bend relative to one another in a path parallel
with the line of symmetry to a controlled amount and can also flex
at right angles to this plane of symmetry by being squeezed towards
one another at their longitudinal edges. In the preferred
embodiment, back board 40 has four polymer segments 46
interconnected by the three elastomeric or rubber knuckles as
described above. Of course, any number of segments 46 can be used,
for example, in the construction of a backpack 2 for use by a
petite person or by a child.
[0037] Note how the terminal corners of the back board segments 46
and the corners of the shell segments 16 are held adjacent to one
another by textile 20, knuckles 50, and the zippered closure 22
which attaches the main portions of the backpack 2 together. In
this way the back board 40 and segments 46 can easily flex
together, giving the user a sense of freedom of movement. However,
the shell segments 16 help limit hyperextension, primarily by
engaging one another when the back board 40 bends towards the shell
segments 16.
[0038] Functionally, one can see that the knuckles 50 act as means
for permitting limited flexing of the segments 46 towards one
another in the plane substantially containing the backboard 40
(that is at a right angle to the bilateral symmetrical plane of the
back board 40). Also, the slots in each of the knuckles 50 permits
relatively easy bending towards the user's back (as for example
when the user might stoop over or roll into a ball) but elastically
resists bending in the other direction, that is in the direction
which could lead to hyperextension of the user's back.
[0039] As seen in FIGS. 7 through 15, back board segments 46 each
comprise a semi-cylindrical indentation 52, running lengthwise
along the entire length of the mid-portion of each segment, and 46
facing the user's back. Indentation 52 is designed to mimic the
structure of and therefore provide allowance for outward protrusion
of the human spine. Indentation 52 helps further isolates the
delicate musculature in and surrounding the spinal column from
impacts to the backpack 2. Note that the indentation 52 includes
contouring that varies from a slightly less degree of indentation
(a shallower indentation) at the end portions of each segment 46 to
a greater degree of indentation (a deeper indentation) at the
center portion of each segment 46. This contouring helps the end
portions of the segments 46 firmly engage the associated knuckles
50. Of course, indentation 52 could consist of other types of
contouring or none at all.
[0040] Although the present invention has been described with a
certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example, and changes in detail
or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
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