U.S. patent application number 11/396005 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for backpack frame suited for toting heavy, large, or irregular loads.
Invention is credited to William S. Teeters.
Application Number | 20070228098 11/396005 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38557323 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070228098 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Teeters; William S. |
October 4, 2007 |
Backpack frame suited for toting heavy, large, or irregular
loads
Abstract
A backpack frame has a front frame member in a front plane and a
rear frame member in a rear plane that is spaced rearwardly of the
front frame member. At least one spacer is connected between the
frame members to hold the rear frame member in spaced relationship
behind the front frame member. The rear frame member defines a load
stand-off element at the rear plane to contact the load and to hold
the load away from the body and legs of the user while the user is
walking. One or more shoulder-engaging members such as a pair of
straps is positioned for placement on the shoulders of the user and
a flexible back-engaging panel member is connected in position to
rest against the user's back below the shoulders to place a user's
back at or forward of the front plane. A load-carrying support
member on the backpack frame extends at least as far rearwardly as
the rear plane to carry the load. The load support member can be
one or more hooks having a straight rearwardly extending portion
with an upper surface to carry the load and an upwardly extending
projection spaced rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the load
from sliding rearwardly on the support member.
Inventors: |
Teeters; William S.; (Boyd,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James V. Harmon;Us Bank Plaza
Suite 2000
220 South Sixth Street
Minneapolis
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
38557323 |
Appl. No.: |
11/396005 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/633 ;
224/635 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/633 ;
224/635 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/00 20060101
A45F003/00 |
Claims
1. A backpack frame comprising, at least one front frame member in
a front plane, at least one rear frame member in a rear plane that
is spaced rearwardly of the front frame member, at least one spacer
connected between the frame members to hold the rear frame member
in spaced relationship a predetermined distance behind a front
frame member, a shoulder-engaging member positioned on the backpack
frame for placement on the shoulders of the user, a flexible
back-engaging member connected to the backpack frame and positioned
to rest against the back of the user below the shoulders to
position the user's back at or forward of the front plane, a
load-carrying support member on the backpack frame that extends
rearwardly at least as far as the rear plane to support a load to
be carried thereby, and the rear frame member defines a load
stand-off element at the rear plane to contact the load and hold
the load away from the back and legs of the user while the user is
walking.
2. The backpack frame of claim 1 wherein the support member is a
hook having a rearwardly extending portion with an upper surface to
carry the load and an upwardly extending projection spaced
rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the load from sliding
rearwardly on the support member.
3. The frame of claim 1 wherein the front frame member comprises a
pair of vertically disposed laterally spaced apart frame members
and the back-engaging member is connected to extend
therebetween.
4. The backpack frame of claim 1 wherein the rear frame member in
the rear plane includes at least one generally upright element that
is connected at its upper and lower ends to the spacer.
5. The frame of claim 1 wherein the load-carrying support member
comprises a pair of rearwardly extending laterally spaced apart
generally horizontally disposed hook elements each with a
projection that extends upwardly from a rear end thereof that is
spaced rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the load from
sliding on the backpack frame.
6. A backpack frame comprising, a pair of laterally spaced apart
front frame elements with a back-engaging member suspended
therebetween to contact the back of the user below the shoulders to
position the user's back at or forward of a front plane defined by
the front frame elements, a spacer assembly including an upper
spacer element that extends rearwardly proximate an upper end of
the front frame elements and a lower spacer element that extends
rearwardly from the lower end of the front frame elements for
defining a rear plane, a rear frame member located at the rear
plane as a load stand-off element at the rear plane that is spaced
apart from the front plane to contact the load and to hold the load
away from body and legs of the user while the user is walking.
7. The backpack frame of claim 6 including a support member
comprising a hook having a rearwardly extending portion with an
upper surface to carry the load and an upwardly extending
projection spaced at or rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the
load from sliding rearwardly on the support member.
8. The backpack frame of claim 6 wherein the rear frame member in
the rear plane includes at least one vertical element that is
connected at its upper and lower ends to the spacer assembly.
9. The frame of claim 6 wherein including a load-carrying support
member that comprises a pair of rearwardly extending laterally
spaced apart horizontally disposed tubes each with a projection
that extends upwardly from a rear end thereof and is spaced
rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the load from sliding on
the backpack frame.
10. A backpack frame comprising, a pair of vertically disposed
laterally spaced apart front frame members in a front plane, a
flexible back-engaging panel suspended between the front frame
members and positioned to rest against the back of the user to
position the user's back at or forward of the front plane, a pair
of laterally spaced apart vertically disposed rear frame members
positioned in a rear plane that is spaced rearwardly of the front
frame members with at least one spacer connected between the frame
members to hold the rear frame members in spaced relationship
behind the front frame members, a lifting member connected to the
backpack frame and positioned to rest on the body of the user, and
a load-carrying element on the backpack frame that extends
rearwardly at least as far rearward as the rear plane to support a
load to be carried thereby.
11. The backpack frame of claim 10 wherein the load-carrying
element is a rod or tube that extends rearwardly thereon with an
upper surface to carry the load and an upwardly extending
projection spaced rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the load
from sliding rearwardly thereon.
12. The backpack frame of claim 10 wherein the rear frame members
in the rear plane are rigidly connected at their upper and lower
ends to one such spacer.
13. The frame of claim 10 wherein the load-carrying element
comprises a pair of straight rearwardly extending laterally spaced
apart generally horizontally disposed hook elements each with a tab
that extends upwardly from a rear end thereof and is spaced
rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the load from sliding
rearwardly on the backpack frame.
14. The frame of claim 10 wherein the lifting member includes a
pair of straps each connected at an upper end to the spacer and at
a lower end to one of the front frame members.
15. The frame of claim 1 wherein the rear plane and the rear frame
member are positioned relative to the front frame member at an
acute angle in which the rear frame member is inclined so as to
project rearwardly at a lower end thereof with respect to the front
frame member.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to backpacks and backpack frames and
more particularly to a backpack frame that is especially well
suited for carrying heavy loads, large loads, and irregularly
shaped loads.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The backpack frames that are currently available for
carrying hunting and camping equipment or survival gear are not
well suited for carrying large, heavy, or irregularly shaped loads.
This is a problem particularly in carrying hunting equipment such
as a ladder stand or tree stand for hunting game like deer, elk,
bear, etc. A tree stand, or ladder stand as it is sometimes called,
consists of an extendable steel or aluminum ladder that is folded
up prior to use and has a platform at its upper end which can be
used alone, hung from a tree, or simply leaned against a tree or
other object. When folded, a typical steel or aluminum ladder stand
is about five to six feet in height, may weigh about 65-90 pounds
or more, and sometimes has to be carried through the woods for more
than a mile. In developing the present invention, the applicant
evaluated commercially available backpack frame devices and found
them to be inadequate for carrying a five-foot high folded ladder
stand that weighed upward of 80 pounds. One of the problems is the
discomfort that can be caused by the ladder stand pressing against
the back of the user. Another problem is an opportunity for the
ladder stand to dig into the lower part of the back or buttocks. It
was also found that while walking, the backs of the legs could
contact the lower part of the folded ladder stand. This interferes
with a person's natural stride while walking. A further problem is
the discomfort that can be caused by the upper part of a load
swinging toward the rear so as to pull back on the shoulders. Prior
frames are also poorly suited for toting articles of an irregular
shape, especially those having corners or other projections that in
previous backpacks can press against the user's body. Consequently,
it is virtually impossible to carry a large or heavy object such as
a deer hunter's ladder stand with comfort using a commercially
available backpack frame.
[0003] In view of these and other deficiencies of the prior art, it
is one object of the present invention to provide a backpack frame
that is well suited for carrying large, heavy, or irregularly
shaped loads such as a folding ladder stand or tree stand of the
kind used by hunters.
[0004] Another object of the invention is to provide an improved
backpack frame for large and heavy loads that is suited for a wide
range of applications, e.g., carrying hunting or fishing gear,
construction equipment, tools, camping equipment, or survival gear,
and other heavy loads.
[0005] Still another object of the invention is the provision of a
backpack frame that enables a person to carry a heavy load
comfortably and to find a way of keeping a lower portion of the
load that hangs down below the waist away from contacting the back
of the legs of the user so that the user is able to walk
comfortably with a natural stride.
[0006] Another object of the invention is the provision of a
backpack frame for carrying heavy loads or loads with projecting
parts that keeps the load from touching or pressing against the
back of the user.
[0007] Another object is to provide a backpack frame that is light
in weight yet rugged in construction and reliably supports a heavy
load that may extend above the head of the user as well as below
the waist and behind the legs.
[0008] A still further object of the invention is to provide a
backpack frame that can be used by hunters, campers, contractors,
fishermen, etc., that comfortably supports a large, irregularly
shaped load that is awkward to handle in a manner that will not
interfere with walking.
[0009] These and other more detailed and specific objects of the
present invention will be better understood by reference to the
following Figures and detailed description which illustrate by way
of example but a few of the various forms of the invention within
the scope of the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention provides a backpack frame having a
front frame member in a front plane and a rear frame member in a
rear plane that is located rearwardly of the front frame member. At
least one spacer is connected between the frame members to hold the
rear frame member in spaced relationship behind the front frame
member. A forwardly extending shoulder-engaging member is
positioned for placement on the shoulders of the user. A flexible
back-engaging member such as a panel is connected to the backpack
frame and is positioned to rest against the user's back below the
shoulders to position a user's back at or forward of the front
plane. The rear frame member defines a load stand-off element at
the rear plane to contact the load and to hold it away from the
body and legs of the user while the user is walking. A
load-carrying support member provided on the backpack frame extends
at least as far rearwardly as the rear plane to support a load to
be carried. The support member can be a hook having a rearwardly
extending straight portion with an upper surface to carry the load
and an upwardly extending projection spaced rearwardly of the rear
plane to prevent the load from sliding rearwardly on the support
member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the invention on a larger
scale.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a left side elevational view of the invention
showing a forward part of the load in dashed lines, and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the invention on a
smaller scale as it appears during use with a load in dashed lines
supported thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] To provide a solution to problems that characterize the
prior art, I provide a backpack frame with a front frame member in
a front plane and behind it a rear frame member in a rear plane
that is preferably located several inches behind the front frame
member. I provide at least one spacer between the frame members to
hold the rear frame member away from the front frame member. The
rear frame member can be thought of as a load stand-off element at
the rear plane to contact the load and to hold the load away from
the body and legs of the user while the user is walking. A
shoulder-engaging member is positioned for placement on the
shoulders of the user and a flexible back-engaging member such as a
panel that can be formed from a sheet of open mesh fabric is
connected to the backpack frame and is positioned to rest against
the user's back below the shoulders to position a user's back at or
forward of the front plane. I also provide one or more
load-carrying support members on the backpack frame. Each load
support member should extend at least as far rearwardly as the rear
plane to support a load to be carried behind the rear frame member.
The load support member can be a hook having a straight rearwardly
extending horizontal portion with an upper surface upon which the
load rests and an upwardly extending projection spaced rearwardly
of the rear plane to prevent the load from sliding rearwardly on
the support member.
[0017] Refer now to the Figures which illustrate a backpack frame
10 in accordance with the invention that includes at least one
front frame member. In the embodiment illustrated, a pair of
vertically disposed, laterally spaced apart front frame members 12
and 14 are formed from lightweight steel tubing such as 16 gauge
3/4'' or 1'' tubing having rubber or plastic caps 16 secured to
their upper and lower ends. The front frame members 12 and 14 lie
in a front plane 18 (see FIG. 4). Between the frame members 12 and
14 is stretched a flexible back-engaging member, in this case a
flexible panel 20 formed from open mesh nylon plastic fabric, e.g.,
Leno.TM. mesh which is held in place by laterally stretched lacing
22 at each side that extends around the upright tubular frame
members 12 and 14. During use, the back panel 20 is positioned to
rest against the back of the user below the shoulders to position
the user's back at or forward of the front plane 18. If desired,
the panel 20 can instead be one or more horizontally extending
flexible bands or straps that are connected at each end to the
upright frame members 12 and 14 rather than a single sheet of panel
material 20.
[0018] Spaced rearwardly from the front frame members 12 and 14 and
the front plane 18 is at least one rear frame member. In this case,
I provide a pair of laterally spaced apart, generally upright and
parallel rear frame tubes 24 and 26 which are positioned in a rear
plane 28 that is spaced rearwardly of the front plane 18. At least
one spacer member, in this case a pair of vertically spaced apart,
generally horizontally disposed spacer members comprising steel
tubes 30 and 32 are connected, e.g., by welding between the front
and rear frame members to hold the rear frame members 24 and 26
several inches behind the front frame members 12 and 14 so as to
establish the positions of the front and rear planes 18 and 28.
[0019] In a preferred form of the invention, the rear plane is
typically between about two to twelve inches behind the front plane
18, and most preferably between about three and six inches to the
rear of the front plane 18. In the most preferred form of the
invention, the rear plane 28 is positioned on an incline and at an
acute angle of, say, 5.degree.-20.degree., in this case 10.degree.
from the front plane 18 with its lower end angled rearwardly. In
the embodiment illustrated in the Figures, spacer 30 holds the rear
frame members 24 and 26 about three inches behind the front frame
members 12 and 14 at the top and lower spacer 32 holds the rear
frame members about four or five inches apart from the front frame
members near the bottom of the unit whereby the lower part of the
load is inclined so as to proceed rearwardly away from the user's
legs.
[0020] As shown best in FIG. 3, the spacers 30 and 32 each have a
generally C-shaped configuration. Spacer 30 has two lateral bends
30a and the spacer 32 has two bends 32a. The spacers 30 and 32 are
welded at their ends to the front tubes 12 and 14 and near the
bends 30a and 32a to the rear frame members 24 and 26 for
establishing a predetermined spacing between the plane 18 of the
front frame members and plane 28 of the rear frame members. As is
best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear frame members 24 and 26 define
a load stand-off element at the rear plane 28 which contacts a load
indicated generally by numeral 40 (only the front edge of which is
shown in FIG. 4) to hold the load 40 away from the body and legs of
the user as the user is walking so that the user can maintain a
normal walking stride without the back of the legs striking the
lower portion 42 of the load which may extend a foot or two below
the waist of the user. In a modified form of the invention, if
several, say four to eight, of the spacers 30, 32 are used, their
rear edges will define the rear plane 28 and serve as rear frame
members so as to replace the tubes 24 and 26 which can then be
eliminated.
[0021] The load 40 is carried by at least one load-carrying support
member. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a pair of load-carrying support
brackets 44 and 46 formed from metal tubing are welded or otherwise
firmly secured to the rear frame members 24 and 26. The
load-carrying support brackets 44 and 46 are generally horizontal
and extend at least as far rearwardly as the rear plane 28 and most
preferably extend rearwardly from the rear plane 28 several inches,
in this case about six inches to carry the load 40. The rearwardly
extending horizontal portions of support members 44 and 46 act as
hooks with upper surfaces that carry the load 40 and have upwardly
extending projections such as tabs 48 and 50 that are welded in
place at or behind the rear plane 28 to prevent the load from
sliding rearwardly on the support bracket tubes 44 and 46.
[0022] To hold the backpack frame on the back, at least one
shoulder-engaging member is provided for placement on the shoulders
of the user. The shoulder-engaging member in this case comprises a
pair of forwardly extending straps 52 and 54 which are fastened in
any secure manner, e.g., by bolts 56 and 58 at their upper ends to
the spacer 30 and by means of bolts 60 and 62 at their lower ends
to the front frame members 12 and 14 respectively.
[0023] The best way to use the invention is to place the backpack
frame 10 on the ground, attach the load 40, then kneel, put on the
shoulder straps, and stand up. In FIGS. 4 and 5 the load 40
illustrated is a hunter's tree stand or, as it is sometimes called,
a ladder stand for elevating a hunter to a position for spotting
and shooting game. The tree stand 40 can be carried by placing one
of the rungs of the ladder as shown at 40a on the support brackets
44 and 46 so that the projections 48 and 50 extend upwardly behind
the rung 40a to prevent the load from sliding rearwardly on the
brackets. It will be seen that the lower end 42 of the load rests
against the lower edge of the rear frame members 24 and 26 a
substantial distance behind the front plane 18 as already noted.
This holds the load 40 away from the body and legs of the user
while the user is walking so that the user can maintain a
comfortable walking posture and a regular walking stride without
his legs bumping into the lower portion 42 of the load 40.
[0024] The invention allows a person to carry a large or heavy load
such as the ladder stand shown or other camping equipment, as well
as any of a variety of other articles such as construction
equipment, tools, survival gear, or other large, heavy, or
irregular objects comfortably and with a natural stride. It is
light, rugged in construction, and reliable in operation. It can be
manufactured inexpensively, it is compact, easy to use, and enables
a person to carry loads that were previously very difficult to
manage. The invention also has the advantage of keeping irregularly
shaped loads or loads with corners or surface extensions from
jabbing into the body of the person carrying them.
[0025] Many variations of the present invention within the scope of
the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art
once the principles described herein are understood.
* * * * *