U.S. patent application number 13/068586 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-17 for carrier system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hexonia GmbH. Invention is credited to Gerd Hexels.
Application Number | 20110278339 13/068586 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44583743 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110278339 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hexels; Gerd |
November 17, 2011 |
Carrier system
Abstract
The invention relates to a carrier system having at least one
back part and means for fastening to a human torso. The carrier
system also has a hip belt which can be connected to the back part
via at least one lateral support. It is provided that the back part
comprises at least one substantially vertically running carrier
strip, the carrier strip having coupling members for the coupling
of a housing, in the interior of which are arranged electronic
components, or of a frame for carrying loads. The housing has, on
its end facing away from the back part, coupling members for the
coupling of the frame for carrying loads. The housing and the frame
are at least approximately matched in terms of height and width to
the back part, and the housing and the frame are designed such that
the housing and the frame can be coupled in each case directly to
the coupling members. Furthermore, the frame can alternatively also
be coupled to the coupling members of the housing. The lateral
support can be connected to the carrier strip.
Inventors: |
Hexels; Gerd; (Nettetal,
DE) |
Assignee: |
Hexonia GmbH
|
Family ID: |
44583743 |
Appl. No.: |
13/068586 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/676 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 1/02 20130101; A45F
3/14 20130101; A45F 3/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/676 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/00 20060101
A45F003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 17, 2010 |
DE |
10 2010 029 041.6 |
Claims
1. Carrier system having at least one back part and means for
fastening to a human torso, and having a hip belt which can be
connected to the back part via at least one lateral support,
wherein a) the back part comprises at least one carrier strip, the
carrier strip having coupling members for the coupling of a
housing, in the interior of which are arranged electronic
components, or of a frame for carrying loads; b) the housing has,
on its end facing away from the back part, coupling members for the
coupling of the frame for carrying loads; c) the housing and the
frame are at least approximately matched in terms of height and
width to the back part, and the housing and the frame are designed
such that the housing and the frame can be coupled in each case
directly to the coupling members of the carrier strip and,
furthermore, the frame can alternatively also be coupled to the
coupling members of the housing; and d) the lateral support can be
connected to the carrier strip.
2. Carrier system according to claim 1, wherein said coupling
members are designed as pockets or receiving openings and the
housing or the frame has projections, teeth or the like which
engage in an at least approximately positively locking manner into
the pockets or receiving openings.
3. Carrier system according to claim 2, wherein the projections or
teeth are bevelled or chamfered.
4. Carrier system according to claim 1, wherein at least one side
wall of the housing is composed of a first side part and a second
side part.
5. Carrier system according to claim 4, wherein the side wall has
passage openings for plugs and the like, which passage openings are
formed in each case by the assembly of the two side parts.
6. Carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the housing or the
frame can be locked to the back part or the frame can be locked to
the housing by means of one or more locking elements, wherein a
closure member of the locking element can be released by means of a
remote release device.
7. Carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the frame for
carrying loads has receiving slots, wherein a packing vessel,
preferably a rucksack, is provided with loops which can be inserted
into the receiving slot, wherein an elongate fixing element can be
passed through those ends of the loops which have been inserted
into the receiving slots, whereby the loops, after the elongate
fixing element has been passed through, can no longer be removed
from the receiving slots, wherein the elongate fixing element has
an operating part for pulling the fixing element out of the
loops.
8. Carrier system according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of
the means for fastening to a human torso has fastening loops and
the back part has receptacles provided with slots, it being
possible for the fastening loops to be inserted into the
receptacles, and an elongate fixing element being provided which
can be passed through those ends of the fastening loops which have
been inserted into the receptacles, and the slot, the fastening
loops and the elongate fixing element being designed such that the
fastening loops, after the elongate fixing element has been passed
through, can no longer pass out through the slot, the elongate
fixing element having an operating element for pulling the fixing
element out of the fastening loops.
9. Carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the means for
fastening to a human torso have at least one fastening belt and two
shoulder straps which run over a human shoulder.
10. Carrier system according to claim 9, wherein the fastening
belt, at least at one end facing towards the carrier strip, is
releasably connected to the carrier strip by means of at least one
fastening loop and the elongate fixing element.
11. Carrier system according to claim 10, wherein the fastening
belt, at least at an end facing towards the carrier strip, has a
side part which can be releasably connected to the fastening belt
and which has the at least one fastening loop for connecting to the
carrier strip.
12. Carrier system according to claim 11, wherein the fastening
belt and the side part have in each case at least one row of loops
and the row of loops of the fastening belt can be connected to the
row of loops of the side part by means of a strip-shaped connecting
element.
13. Carrier system according to claim 9, wherein the back part
comprises a back plate which extends substantially plane-parallel
to a partial area of a human back, wherein receptacles are provided
on the top end of the back plate in order to releasably fasten a
shoulder strap, which is provided with at least one fastening loop,
to the back plate by means of an elongate fixing element.
14. Carrier system according to claim 13, wherein the shoulder
strap has, at an end facing towards the back plate, a strap part
which can be releasably connected to the shoulder strap and which
has the at least one fastening loop for connecting to the back
plate.
15. Carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the lateral
support can be attached to the carrier strip with continuously
variable or grid-based vertical adjustability.
16. Carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the lateral
support is pivotably arranged on the back part and on the hip belt
via in each case two axles.
17. Carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the back part is
connected, via the means for fastening to a human torso, to a front
part.
18. Carrier system according to claim 1, wherein the front part
and/or the back part is of ballistic or projectile-inhibiting
design.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a carrier system having at least
one back part and means for fastening to a human torso, according
to the preamble of claim 1.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] From the general prior art, carrier systems are known which
have a front part and a back part and which are generally of
ballistic design and referred to as ballistic protective vests or
armoured or projectile-stopping protective vests. Ballistic
protective vests for wearing on the body are usually used by
military and police forces to protect persons against attacks
involving stabbing weapons or projectiles.
[0005] To ensure ballistic protection, the protective vests for
wearing on the body generally have a projectile-inhibiting
composite composed of a plurality of layers. Here, a distinction is
made substantially between so-called soft ballistic and hard
ballistic protective packages.
[0006] The known ballistic protective vests generally have a front
part and a rear part which are intended to offer protection against
stabbing weapons and/or against firearms.
[0007] A generic carrier system is known from EP 2 052 632 A1.
Here, the carrier system is composed substantially of three
components, specifically firstly a ballistic protective vest having
a front part and a rear part and means for fastening to a human
torso. Secondly, the carrier system has a hip belt which can be
arranged around the hips of a person, and thirdly, the carrier
system has two lateral supports which connect the hip belt to the
rear shield-shaped region of the ballistic protective vest, that is
to say the back part thereof. Electronic components, for example a
radio unit, may be integrated in the back part of the ballistic
protective vest.
[0008] The hip belt known from the generic document with the
lateral supports facilitates the wearing of a protective vest
without excessively restricting the freedom of movement of the
wearer. Furthermore, the lateral support may if required be
designed so as to convert a relative movement, which a person
generates between the hip and torso while walking, into an
electrical current. For this purpose, reference is made also to EP
1 994 841 B1, which claims such a design.
[0009] The protective vest known from EP 2 052 632 A1 in
combination with the hip belt has proven to be particularly
suitable for military and police uses and applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is based on the object of improving
the carrier systems known from the prior art, in particular the
carrier systems of ballistic design, such that they can be used
flexibly and in a manner adapted to the respective application.
[0011] Said object is achieved according to the invention by means
of Claim 1.
[0012] The carrier system according to the invention has a back
part and means for fastening to a human torso. The carrier system
also has a hip belt which can be connected to the back part via at
least one lateral support.
[0013] It is provided according to the invention that the back part
comprises at least one--preferably substantially vertically
running--carrier strip, the carrier strip having coupling members
for the coupling of a housing, in the interior of which are
arranged electronic components, or of a frame for carrying loads.
It is also provided that the housing has, on its end facing away
from the back part, coupling members for the coupling of the frame
for carrying loads, and that the housing and the frame are at least
approximately matched in terms of height and width to the back
part, and the housing and the frame are designed such that the
housing and the frame can be coupled in each case directly to the
coupling members of the carrier strip, and furthermore, the frame
can alternatively also be coupled to the coupling members of the
housing. It is also provided according to the invention that the
lateral support can be connected to the carrier strip.
[0014] The carrier strip may be an independent component which can
be connected to the back part or to a back plate of the back part,
or may be a component which is formed in one piece with the back
part or a back plate.
[0015] An advantageous modular design is obtained in that both a
housing (or a so-called "electronic back") and also alternatively a
frame for carrying loads can be coupled to the back part via the
coupling members.
[0016] It is particularly advantageous for the housing, in the
interior space of which electronic components and/or electronic
units can be arranged, to be connected in a positively locking
manner directly to the back part. This results in a particularly
stable and in particular also twist-resistant connection.
[0017] The coupling members which the housing has on its end facing
away from the back part permit advantageous modular and flexible
use of the carrier system. The necessary components can therefore
be used as required. A positively locking direct connection of the
frame to the rear side of the housing is preferably provided. It is
advantageous here if the housing has coupling members which
correspond to the coupling members on the rear side of the back
part. In this way, it is possible for the frame to be coupled
either to the rear side of the housing or to the rear side of the
back part.
[0018] A particularly advantageous modular and flexible
construction of the carrier system according to the invention is
obtained in that the housing and the frame are at least
approximately matched in terms of height and width to the back
part. Furthermore, a flexible modular construction is obtained in
that the housing and the frame are designed such that the housing
and the frame can be coupled in each case directly to the coupling
members of the at least one carrier strip and, furthermore, the
frame can alternatively also be coupled to the coupling members of
the housing. A particularly advantageous carrier system of modular
construction is thereby created whose basis is the carrier strip or
the carrier strips of the back part and the hip belt with the
lateral support which connects the hip belt to the carrier
strip.
[0019] It is advantageous for the coupling members to be formed as
pockets or receiving openings and for the housing or the frame to
have projections, teeth or the like which engage in an at least
approximately positively locking manner into the pockets or
receiving openings. It is advantageous here for the coupling
elements to run in the region of the side edges on the rear side of
the back part or in the region of the side edges of the rear side
of the housing. Here, the pockets or the receptacles preferably
extend in a preferably vertically running line on the vertically
running side edges of the rear side of the back part or of the rear
side of the housing.
[0020] It is advantageous for the projections or teeth which are
provided for engaging into the pockets or receiving openings to be
bevelled or chamfered or to have some other mechanical insertion
aid or insertion aid realized by the shape of the projections or
teeth. This is particularly advantageous for permitting a fast and
uncomplicated connection of the individual modules in practice.
[0021] The lateral support is preferably fastened to a side part or
laterally to the hip belt. Here, the side part may be reinforced,
for example by means of a steel or ceramic plate or an aramide
insert. Here "lateral" is to be understood to mean that the lateral
support takes place to the left and/or right of the body of a
person when the carrier system is being worn by a person in the
intended way.
[0022] The lateral support may basically be fastened to any point
of the back part including the further modules attached to the back
part, which in this case are to be regarded as part of the back
part. The inventor has however found that an arrangement of the
lateral support directly on the carrier strip of the back part is
particularly suitable. Here, the carrier strip may also be formed
in one piece with the back part. Firstly, the arrangement on the
carrier strip results in a particularly stable connection and good
support on the hip belt, as a result of which the loads to be
carried can be absorbed particularly effectively. Secondly, it is
possible in this way for rear partial sections of the carrier
system, for example a rucksack which can be attached to the back
part and/or a so-called electronic back, that is to say a housing
provided with electronic components, to be discarded without the
need to also release the hip belt. Only when the complete carrier
system is to be removed is the hip belt also released.
[0023] Furthermore, the arrangement on the carrier strip permits an
advantageous modular design without it being necessary to dismount
the lateral support.
[0024] It is advantageous for at least a part of the means for
fastening to a human torso to have fastening loops and for the back
part to have receptacles provided with slots, it being possible for
the fastening loops to be inserted into the receptacles, and an
elongate fixing element being provided which can be passed through
those ends of the fastening loops which have been inserted into the
receptacles, and the slot, the fastening loops and the elongate
fixing element being designed such that the fastening loops, after
the elongate fixing element has been passed through, can no longer
pass out through the slots, the elongate fixing element having an
operating part for pulling the fixing element out of the fastening
loops.
[0025] The inventor has recognized that the means for fastening to
a human torso can be connected to and released from the back part
of the carrier system in a particularly advantageous manner if, for
this purpose, a fastening system is selected which is composed
substantially of fastening loops, a receptacle with slots and an
elongate fixing element. Here, the elongate fixing element may be a
wire, in particular a pintle wire or a cable or similar elongate
element. In this respect, within the context of the invention,
where a "pintle wire" is mentioned, this should be understood to
also mean any type of wires and/or cables or similar elongate
elements, which should also be regarded as being disclosed.
[0026] The expression "fastening loops" is to be understood
generally to mean that a substantially closed material arrangement
is provided into which the elongate fixing element can be inserted.
Here, the material arrangement may also have discontinuities or
openings, as long as it is ensured that the elongate fixing element
cannot escape radially. The material arrangement may for this
purpose form, as viewed in the axial direction, a tube or tunnel
section for receiving the elongate fixing element.
[0027] An advantage of the fastening elements is that the means for
fastening to a human torso can be separated from the back part
particularly easily. This is advantageous in particular for
military applications. The person using the carrier system can
quickly and easily abandon or discard said carrier system if
required or in an emergency. By simply pulling out or removing the
elongate fixing element (in particular the pintle wire) from the
fastening loops, the locking action which prevents the fastening
loops from passing out of the receptacles through the slot is
eliminated. That is to say, when the elongate fixing element has
been removed, the fastening loops can be removed through the slot
of the receptacles. The connection between the means for fastening
to a human torso and the back part is thereby released, such that
the back part falls away from the means for fastening to a human
torso.
[0028] The elongate fixing element can be pulled out of the
fastening loops in a particularly simple manner if the elongate
fixing element is provided with an operating part or comprises an
operating part. The operating part may for example be a protruding
or projecting end piece of the elongate fixing element. It may also
be provided here that the end of the elongate fixing element has a
shape which the wearer of the carrier system can particularly
easily grip or grasp in order to pull the elongate fixing element
out of the fastening loops. It may for example be provided that the
end of the elongate fixing element is formed as a loop. The
operating element may however also be designed as any type of
handle, for example as a ring, a grip, a lever or the like.
[0029] Within the context of the invention, it may be provided that
one or more elongate fixing elements which are passed in each case
through correspondingly assigned fastening loops in order to fix or
fasten these in the receptacles. It may however also be provided
that only one fixing element is provided by means of which
fastening loops of at least two different means for fastening to a
human torso are fixed in the respectively associated receptacles
and released again therefrom. The at least two means may for
example be a left shoulder strap, a right shoulder strap, a left
side flank or a right side flank of a fastening belt. If a
plurality of elongate fixing elements are provided, an operating
element may be provided for each elongate fixing element. It is
however advantageous for only one control part to be formed which,
if a plurality of elongate fixing elements are provided, makes it
possible for said elongate fixing elements to be pulled jointly out
of the fastening loops. This may be achieved for example by virtue
of the elongate fixing element, embodied for example as a pintle
wire, being branched. Here, the elongate fixing element may have
one end which is connected to the operating part, and a plurality
of ends which are produced by a branching configuration (for
example by means of clamps or the like) and which are passed in
each case through fastening loops. In this way, those ends of the
fixing element which are passed through the fastening loops can be
pulled out, preferably as simultaneously as possible, by the
actuation of an operating part, such that all of the means for
fastening to a human torso which are attached to the back part in
this way are released simultaneously.
[0030] It is advantageous here for the means for fastening to a
human torso to have at least one fastening belt, which runs
preferably above a human hip, and two shoulder straps which run
over a human shoulder.
[0031] It has been found to be particularly suitable if, by means
of an operating element, the elongate fixing element which connects
both the shoulder strap and also one end of the fastening belt to
the back part can be released. For this purpose, the elongate
fixing element may if appropriate have a branching
configuration.
[0032] It is also advantageous if the fastening belt, at least one
end facing towards the carrier strip, is releasably connected to
the carrier strip by means of the fastening loops and the elongate
fixing element.
[0033] It is advantageous if the back part comprises a back plate
which extends substantially plane-parallel to a partial area of a
human back, wherein receptacles are provided on the top end of the
back plate in order to releasably fasten a shoulder strap, which is
provided with at least one fastening loop, to the back plate by
means of an elongate fixing element.
[0034] The inventor has recognized that it is particularly
advantageous if the means for fastening to a human torso are formed
by preferably two shoulder straps and one fastening belt which runs
preferably above a human hip, preferably in the abdomen area. A
particularly good connection of the back part to the back of the
torso can be obtained in this way, and therefore said back part is
comfortable to wear. It is also advantageous if one, preferably
both shoulder strap(s) and/or the fastening belt are fixed in
respectively associated receptacles of the back part or of the
carrier strip by means of the combination of the fastening loops
and the elongate fixing element. Here, it is basically conceivable
for the two shoulder straps and also the fastening belt to be able
to be connected to and released from the receptacles in each case
by means of elongate fixing elements, preferably pintle wires,
formed independently of one another. It is however advantageous for
one pintle wire (or the like) to attach both the fastening belt and
also the one or two shoulder straps to the back part or the carrier
strip. Here, the pintle wire may also branch, and/or further wire
pieces (or the like) may be fastened to the pintle wire by means of
clamps. Furthermore, within the context of the solution according
to the invention, it may be provided that the fastening belt, at
both ends facing towards the back part, is fastened in receptacles
of the back part or of the carrier strip by means of a combination
of fastening loops and the pintle wire. For a fast release or
discarding of the carrier system, however, it is adequate for the
fastening belt to be released at one end from the back part. Here,
the connection of the other fastening belt facing towards the back
part may take place in any desired way.
[0035] Furthermore, it may be provided that both shoulder straps
are designed such that they can be released from the back part by
the removal of the pintle wire. It may however also be adequate
here for only one shoulder strap to have such a connection.
[0036] It may be advantageous for the fastening loop and the
elongate fixing element, after the fastening lip has been inserted
into the receptacle, to form there a so-called beading. In general,
a beading is to be understood to mean a thickened portion at the
edge of a textile, which thickened portion is inserted into a
corresponding beading rail and is held therein on account of the
thickened portion. According to the invention, such a beading may
be formed by virtue of the fastening loop or the fastening loops,
after having been inserted into the receptacle, being thickened by
the elongate fixing element, preferably a pintle wire, so as to
form a beading.
[0037] The back part may preferably have for this purpose
receptacles which are formed in the manner of a beading rail or a
beading strip. The receptacles may preferably be formed as a tube
element, for example with an at least approximately circular cross
section, and have a slot extending in the longitudinal direction of
the tube element. Here, the fastening loops may either be pushed
into the tubular receptacle at an open face side or directly
through the slot. After the insertion of the fastening loops, the
fastening loops are then fixed in the receptacle by the insertion
of the elongate fixing element. The elongate fixing element is for
this purpose preferably inserted at a face-side end of the
receptacle. An elongate fixing element may preferably be passed
both through the fastening loops which connect the shoulder straps
and also through the fastening loop or the fastening loops which
connect(s) one end of the fastening belt to the back part. Here, it
may be advantageous for the elongate fixing element to branch. This
may be realized, in particular in an embodiment as a pintle wire,
by means of clamps.
[0038] It is advantageous if the fastening belt has, at least at
one end facing towards the carrier strip or the back part, a side
part which can be releasably connected to the fastening belt and
which has the fastening loop or the fastening loops for connecting
to the carrier strip.
[0039] Said solution has the advantage that the side part with the
fastening loops attached thereto can remain connected to the back
part via the elongate fixing element, preferably in the manner of a
beading, even if the actual fastening belt is released from the
back part. An advantage of this embodiment is that fastening belts
of different length can be attached to the side part. Different
anatomies of the persons who are to wear the carrier system can
therefore be taken into consideration. It is particularly
advantageous here if the side part can be connected to the
fastening belt at different fastening points (in relation to the
length thereof). It is therefore possible for the fastening belt to
be buckled more tightly or loosely and to thereby obtain optimum
wearing comfort, if appropriate adapted to the items of clothing
being worn under it.
[0040] For this purpose, it may be advantageous for the fastening
belt and the side part to have in each case at least one row of
loops, and for it to be possible for the row of loops of the
fastening belt to be connected to the row of loops of the side part
by means of a strip-shaped connecting element. It is advantageous
here for the loops of the row of loops of the fastening belt to be
arranged in each case with a spacing to one another in the vertical
direction. It is also advantageous for the loops of the row of
loops of the side part to likewise be arranged with a spacing to
one another as viewed in the vertical direction. Here, the rows of
loops of the fastening belt and of the side part are preferably
formed with respect to one another such that the loops of one row
of loops can be arranged in the spacings between the loops of the
other row of loops, such that the strip-shaped connecting element,
when inserted into the loops, preferably extends in each case
alternately through a loop of the fastening belt and a loop of the
side part.
[0041] The strip-shaped connecting element may preferably be formed
as a plastic strip which can be bent at its end and which can be
closed and/or fastened to the side part or to the fastening belt
for example by means of a hook-and-loop fastener.
[0042] The row of loops of the fastening belt may be designed as a
MOLLE system.
[0043] It is advantageous for the fastening belt to be formed by
two side flank parts which, in the front area of a torso of the
wearer, preferably in the region of the abdomen, can be connected
directly or indirectly to one another and/or to a front part of the
carrier system. It is particularly expedient if the front part of
the carrier system has a hook-and-loop fastener and the fastening
belt can be attached by means of the hook-and-loop fastener in the
region of the front part of the carrier. The fastening belt can
therefore be composed of two side flanks which are attached in each
case at one end to the back part and at the other end to the front
part of the carrier system, preferably by means of the
hook-and-loop fastener. Here, it may also be provided that the two
side flanks are connected to one another preferably by means of a
hook-and-loop fastener.
[0044] It is advantageous for the shoulder strap to have, at an end
facing towards the back plate, a strap part which can be releasably
connected to the shoulder strap and which has the at least one
fastening loop for connecting to the back plate. Said embodiment
has the advantage that the belt part which is connected by means of
the fastening loop and the elongate fixing element to the
receptacle in the back plate (or more generally on the back part)
can remain there even if the shoulder strap is to be released. This
may be advantageous for the insertion of a shoulder strap adapted
to the wearer of the carrier system.
[0045] It is advantageous for the hip belt to have a quick-action
fastener for opening and closing. A particularly suitable
quick-action fastener for this purpose is used for example in
safety belts in aircraft. The quick-action fastener of the hip
belt, which is arranged preferably in the front region of a human
torso, preferably centrally, has the advantage that the hip belt
can be released quickly if required. That is to say, to discard the
entire carrier system, it may particularly advantageously suffice
to release the hip belt and pull the elongate fixing element
(preferably the pintle wire). The entire carrier system, including
the back and front parts, thereby falls from the torso of the
wearer.
[0046] It is also advantageous if the lateral support can be
attached to the carrier strip with continuously variable or
grid-based vertical adjustability. As a result of the fact that the
lateral support can be fastened to the back part or the carrier
strip in a continuously variable or grid-based manner, the carrier
system can be quickly and easily adjusted for persons of different
size.
[0047] The connection of the lateral support to the carrier strip
may take place for example by means of screwing, clamping or a
snap-action connection or by means of other positively locking or
non-positively locking connecting elements.
[0048] It is advantageous if the lateral support can be connected
to the carrier strip by means of a tongue and groove connection.
Such a connection has proven to be particularly suitable, in
particular for permitting continuously variable adjustment in the
vertical direction.
[0049] It is also advantageous for the lateral support to comprise
a damping element.
[0050] The damping element may for example be designed as a spring
element or may comprise a spring element or an elastic element. The
inventor has recognized that the design of the lateral support with
a damping element is particularly well suited to cushioning the
loads to be carried.
[0051] It is advantageous for the lateral support to comprise a
rod-tube combination such that the relative movement generated by a
person between the hip and torso while walking leads to a relative
movement of the rod in the tube, the rod-tube combination being
designed such that a movement of the rod in the tube generates an
electrical current. In this regard, reference is made to the
solution known from EP 1 994 841 B1. For the carrier system
according to the invention, it is however self-evidently not
necessary for the lateral support to have a rod-tube combination
which is used for generating current. The rod-tube combination may
also act merely as a damper, if appropriate with the additional use
of a spring element. An embodiment for current generation is
however preferably expedient if the carrier system has a housing
provided with electronic components, the so-called "electronic
back". The energy generated may however also be used for other
electrical units and components, for example an aeration
device.
[0052] It is advantageous for the lateral support to be pivotably
arranged on the carrier strip and on the hip belt via in each case
two axles. It has proven to be particularly expedient for the
connection of the lateral support to the back part to be realized
by means of two hinges, wherein the rotary axles are preferably at
right angles to one another. Furthermore, it has proven to be
particularly expedient for the connection of the lateral support to
the hip belt to be realized by virtue of the pivoting movement
taking place about one axle by means of a hinge. The pivoting about
the other axle, which is preferably at right angles thereto, may
preferably be realized by virtue of the lateral support having a
plate with a bore, and it being possible for said bore to be pushed
or plugged onto a bolt-like axle, such that the plate with the bore
extends substantially radially with respect to the bolt axis, and
the plate can therefore rotate about the bolt axis.
[0053] An embodiment of the lateral support with in each case two
rotary axles at the end thereof has proven to be particularly
robust, and ensures advantageous freedom of movement for the person
wearing the carrier system.
[0054] It is advantageous for at least one side wall of the housing
which is intended to accommodate the electronic units and/or
components to be composed of a first, preferably strip-shaped, and
a second, preferably likewise strip-shaped, side part, the side
wall having passage openings for plugs and the like, and the
passage openings being formed at least partially by the assembly of
the two side parts.
[0055] By virtue of the fact that the passage openings are formed
by the connection or assembly of the first side part with the
second side part, it is possible to enlarge the passage openings,
in order to pass through a particularly large plug or to exchange
electronic components, by releasing the two side parts from one
another. After the leadthrough of the plug or the exchange of the
components, the two side parts can be screwed to one another
again.
[0056] In one embodiment of the invention, it may also be provided
that the frame has lashing lugs, hooks, apertures or the like in
order in particular to enable loads to be arranged on the frame in
a simple manner. The loads may be for example one or more rucksacks
and/or packing vessels.
[0057] It may be advantageous for the frame to have a baggage
support. Here, the baggage support may preferably extend
substantially horizontally. Loads can advantageously be seated on
the baggage support.
[0058] It may be provided according to the invention that the
housing and/or the frame is formed from plastic, for example from
polyamide, and is if appropriate provided with corresponding
reinforcement inserts.
[0059] It is particularly advantageous for the frame for carrying
loads to have receiving slots, wherein a packing vessel, preferably
a rucksack, is provided with loops which can be inserted into the
receiving slots, wherein an elongate fixing element, preferably a
pintle wire, can be passed through those ends of the loops which
have been inserted into the receiving slots, whereby the loops,
after the elongate fixing element has been passed through, can no
longer be removed from the receiving slots. This permits a
particularly advantageous connection of a packing vessel, in
particular a rucksack. It may be provided here that the packing
vessel or the rucksack is fastened by means of the loops and the
elongate fixing elements in receiving slots on all four sides of
the frame. It may however also be provided that the rucksack is
fastened only to two vertically running side edges of the frame at
the receiving slots provided there.
[0060] It may be provided according to the invention that, if
required, the elongate fixing element, preferably the pintle wire,
is pulled out again from those ends of the loops which have been
inserted into the receiving slots, such that the loops can fall out
of the receiving slots, as a result of which the packing vessel or
the rucksack is released from the frame. The packing vessel or the
rucksack can thereby be quickly and easily discarded if required by
correspondingly pulling on the pintle wire. For this purpose, the
pintle wire may be provided with an operating element or a handle
(similarly to the embodiment already described).
[0061] It is advantageous if the housing or the frame can be locked
to the back part or the frame can be locked to the housing by means
of one or more locking elements or locks, wherein a closure member
of the locking element can be released by means of a remote release
device. The locking elements may be of self-closing design, such
that after the docking of the housing or frame on the back part or
the docking of the frame on the housing, locking takes place
automatically. The locking elements may be for example so-called
snap-action locks. The remote release device, preferably a cable
pull, can actuate the closure member for example under tension or
compression, so as to open the locking element. In this way, it is
possible if required for the housing or the frame to be separated
quickly from the frame or from the back part, or for the frame to
be separated quickly from the housing, depending on how these are
arranged. The person wearing the carrier system can therefore, in
an emergency, discard the housing or the housing or the frame from
the back part, or can discard the frame from the housing. This
constitutes an alternative to, or is supplementary to, the
possibility of entirely or partially discarding the carrier system
by pulling out the elongate fixing element.
[0062] As a result of the release of the elongate fixing elements
which connect the shoulder strap(s) and one or both ends of the
fastening belt, the entire carrier system is discarded, and this
possibly also results in the ballistic protection being lost. In
contrast to this, by releasing the locking element, it is possible
to discard only the rucksack and/or if appropriate also the
electronic back (if appropriate including rucksack), whereby the
ballistic protection is maintained.
[0063] It is advantageous if, for the connection of the housing or
of the frame to the back part or of the frame to the housing, in
each case only one locking element is provided per vertically
running side edge. Here, the locking element is preferably attached
to the side or side edge of the housing or of the frame and/or of
the back part centrally, or in the top third, in the vertical
direction.
[0064] It is advantageous if a ballistic fixture, preferably a
ballistic plate, is arranged on an outer side, which faces towards
a human back, of the back plate. The ballistic plate is preferably
a hard ballistic plate composed of a known material, for example an
SK4 plate.
[0065] Also alternatively suitable is a soft ballistic design of
the front part and/or of the back part. The use of so-called
composite material is also particularly suitable.
[0066] It is advantageous if the back plate is provided or clad
with a textile, wherein the textile may preferably be printed with
a camouflage pattern. The textile may for example be adhesively
bonded and/or sewn to the back plate. The textile which clads the
back plate or the back part may be designed so as to have a slot or
a pocket for a hard ballistic or soft ballistic insert, in
particular the ballistic plate. Here, the ballistic plate may be
permanently integrated, or merely inserted when required and
removed again. The ballistic plate may also be adhesively bonded to
the outer side, which faces towards the human back, of the back
plate. The hard ballistic plate may be of rigid,
projectile-inhibiting design. The plate may be formed from ceramic,
preferably from a high-performance ceramic, polymers, polyethylene,
metal or a combination of the above materials. Boron carbide is
also particularly suitable for this purpose.
[0067] The hard ballistic plates, in particular in an embodiment as
an SK4 plate, may have a thickness of for example 1 to 3 cm,
preferably of 1.5 cm.
[0068] In one embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that
those parts of the carrier system which are adjacent to a human
body are provided at least in regions with aeration ducts, through
which air can be pumped or sucked preferably by means of a fan.
Such ducts are known from EP 2 016 843 A1. To generate the air flow
(mechanically or electrically), the rod-tube combination can be
used.
[0069] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, within the context of
the invention, the features top, bottom, side, rear or front are to
be understood in relation to an alignment or arrangement which
assumes that the carrier system according to the invention is being
worn correctly by a person, as illustrated in the exemplary
embodiments.
[0070] Advantageous embodiments and refinements of the invention
will emerge from the further dependent claims. Exemplary
embodiments of the invention will be described in principle below
on the basis of the drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0071] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of the carrier
system according to the invention from the rear in an exploded
illustration, said carrier system having a front part, a back part,
a hip belt, a fastening belt, a housing for accommodating
electronic components, a frame for carrying loads, and a
rucksack;
[0072] FIG. 2 shows a detail illustration of the frame and of the
rucksack according to FIG. 1;
[0073] FIG. 3 shows a perspective illustration, from the front, of
the carrier system according to the invention;
[0074] FIG. 4 shows an illustration according to FIG. 3, with a
flap of the front part open;
[0075] FIG. 5 shows a detail illustration of a frame for carrying
loads, with a baggage support;
[0076] FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a connection of
a rucksack to a frame for carrying loads;
[0077] FIG. 7 shows an exploded illustration of the back part of
the carrier system, showing a ballistic plate, a back plate, a
carrier strip, two strip-like side parts of a housing--not showing
a base plate and a rear cover of the housing--and a frame for
carrying loads;
[0078] FIG. 8 shows an illustration according to FIG. 7 in the
assembled state, with only the side parts and the carrier strip on
one side edge of the back plate being shown;
[0079] FIG. 9 shows a view from the rear of the components
illustrated in FIG. 8 in an alignment in which they are carried
when worn, with correct use, on a human torso;
[0080] FIG. 10 shows an illustration according to FIG. 9 from the
front;
[0081] FIG. 11 shows an exploded illustration of the back part,
showing a back plate, two carrier strips, a base plate for a
housing for accommodating electronic components, and two first side
parts of the housing, which hold the base plate;
[0082] FIG. 12 shows an illustration according to FIG. 11 in the
assembled state;
[0083] FIG. 13 shows an illustration according to FIG. 11 without
the carrier strips and the side parts, but with a diagrammatic
illustration of the rear cover of the housing;
[0084] FIG. 14 shows a view of the rear side of a back plate, to
which two shoulder straps (not illustrated) are fastened by means
of in each case two fastening loops attached to the shoulder straps
and by means of in each case one pintle wire, wherein the outer
side of the back plate is provided with a textile;
[0085] FIG. 15 shows an enlarged illustration of the rear side of a
back plate, showing a strap part of a shoulder strap, wherein the
strap part is fastened to the back plate by means of fastening
loops and a pintle wire;
[0086] FIG. 16 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the individual
parts for connecting a means for fastening to a human torso, in the
present case a fastening belt, to a receptacle of the back part or
of the carrier strip, diagrammatically showing the fastening loops
on the fastening belt; an elongate fixing element in the form of a
pintle wire; and a side part with fastening loops as an adapter
piece for the fastening belt, which can be connected by means of a
strip-shaped connecting element to the fastening belt;
[0087] FIG. 17 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the carrier
strip to which the fastening belt is connected in the manner of a
beading connection, diagrammatically showing the lateral support
(only partially illustrated) connected to the carrier strip;
[0088] FIG. 18 shows a side view of the carrier system according to
the invention, showing a hip belt and a lateral support which
connects the hip belt to the back plate or the carrier strip, and
having a rucksack; and
[0089] FIG. 19 shows a side view of the carrier system according to
the invention as per FIG. 18, without a rucksack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0090] FIGS. 1 to 4 show a diagrammatic illustration of the carrier
system with a front part 1 and a rear part 2. Here, the front part
1 and the rear part 2 are of ballistic, that is to say
projectile-resistant or projectile-inhibiting, design. The carrier
system according to the invention also has means 3, 4 for fastening
the carrier system to a human torso. In the exemplary embodiment,
the means are two shoulder straps 3 which run over the shoulders of
a human torso and connect the front part 1 to the rear part 2. The
means for fastening to a human torso are also a fastening belt 4
which runs above a human hip.
[0091] The fastening belt 4 is realized by two side flanks
connected in each case at one end to the back part 2. Here, the
side flanks are passed around the side of a human torso to the
front side thereof, and are connected there in a positively locking
or non-positively locking manner such that the fastening belt 4
helps to stabilize the carrier system. It is provided in the
exemplary embodiment that the ends of the side flanks of the
fastening belt 4 are fastened, in the region of a human torso,
either to one another or to the front part 1. It is provided in the
exemplary embodiment that the ends are fastened to a hook-and-loop
fastener 101 of the front part 1. Here, it may also be provided
that the ends of the side flanks of the fastening belt 4 overlap.
It is however advantageous if the ends do not overlap, such that a
uniform surface is formed.
[0092] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a particularly advantageous option
for connecting together the two ends, which face away from the back
part 2, of the side flanks. For this purpose, the front part 1 has
a flap 100 under which the hook-and-loop fastener 101 is concealed.
To connect the side flanks, the flap 100 can be pivoted open or
raised such that the ends of the side flanks can be attached to the
hook-and-loop fastener 101. After the attachment of the ends of the
side flanks, the flap 100 is closed again.
[0093] The fastening belt 4 or the side flanks thereof may be of
ballistic design, or provided with ballistic inserts, in particular
in the regions in which they bear directly against a human
torso.
[0094] The carrier system according to the invention also has a hip
belt 5. Two lateral supports 6 are provided on or attached to the
hip belt 5. Here, the lateral supports 6 are arranged on the side
parts of the hip belt 5. Here, "side part" or "lateral" is to be
understood to mean that the lateral supports 6 are situated to the
left and right of the body of a person when the carrier system
according to the invention is worn correctly.
[0095] The lateral supports 6 are fastened with one end to the hip
belt 5 and with the other end to the back part 2.
[0096] It is advantageous for the fastening belt 4 to have a
quick-action fastener 500 for opening and closing. In this way, the
hip belt 5 can be quickly opened and discarded if required (see
FIG. 1).
[0097] The hip belt 5 may be of ballistic design or provided with
ballistic inserts. In the exemplary embodiment, no ballistic design
or insert is provided.
[0098] As also emerges from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the carrier system
according to the invention has a housing 7 for accommodating
electronic components and/or electronic units, which housing can be
connected to the back part 2, in the exemplary embodiment in a
positively locking manner. Furthermore, the carrier system
according to the invention may comprise a frame 8 for carrying
loads. Here, the frame 8 may have a baggage support 9 (not
illustrated in any more detail in FIG. 5). The loads carried by the
frame 8 may be for example packing bags, preferably a rucksack 10
illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.
[0099] The rucksack 10 may be designed so as to have, preferably in
the lower third, a slot or a pocket into which the baggage support
9 can be inserted in order to stabilize the rucksack 10. This can
be seen particularly clearly from FIG. 1 and a juxtaposition of
FIG. 2 or 5 (which shows the baggage support 9) with FIG. 18, in
which the baggage support 9 is no longer visible because it has
been inserted into a corresponding slot of the rucksack 10. The
slot of the rucksack 10, in conjunction with the baggage support 9,
constitutes an independent solution according to the invention. The
disclosure thereof is not restricted to the combination of features
illustrated in the exemplary embodiment. The slot of the rucksack
10 in conjunction with the baggage support 9 may be combined in any
desired way with individual features or combinations of features of
the exemplary embodiment.
[0100] FIG. 6 shows a particularly suitable facility for attaching,
in particular releasably fastening, the rucksack 10 to the frame 8.
For this purpose, the frame 8 for carrying loads has receiving
slots 11. The rucksack 10 has loops 12 which can be inserted into
the receiving slots 11. After the insertion of the loops 12 into
the receiving slots 11, an elongate fixing element 13 is passed
through those ends of the loops 12 which have been inserted into
the receiving slots 11 (see detail image at the right of FIG. 6).
After the elongate fixing element 13 has been passed through, the
loops 12 can no longer be removed from the receiving slots 11. Only
when the elongate fixing element 13 is pulled out of the loops 12
do the loops 12 fall out of the receiving slots 11 again, in
particular on account of the weight of the rucksack 10, such that
the rucksack 10 is automatically discarded.
[0101] The means, referred to generally as an elongate fixing
element 13, for fixing the loops 12 in the receiving slots 11 may
be designed preferably as a cable, a wire or some other elongate
fabric, composed in particular of plastic or metal, preferably
steel. Below, the elongate fixing element is referred to as a
pintle wire 13, but the invention is self-evidently not restricted
to this. The features described within the context of the invention
can also be realized in conjunction with other embodiments of the
elongate fixing element, and should also be regarded as being
disclosed in this respect.
[0102] The connection of the rucksack 10 as illustrated in
principle in FIG. 6 may take place by means of individual receiving
slots 11 distributed along the circumference of the frame 8 or may
also take place in an areally distributed manner, for example in a
manner distributed over the frame 8 in a loop configuration. It is
preferable for the rucksack 10 to be fixed to all four side edges
of the frame 8 by means of at least two receiving slots 11.
[0103] The connection of the rucksack 10 to the frame 8 by means of
the loops 12, the receiving slots 11 and the pintle wire 13
constitutes, by itself, an independent inventive solution. The
disclosure thereof is not restricted to the combination of features
illustrated in the exemplary embodiment. The connection of the
rucksack 10 to the frame 8 by means of the loops 12, the receiving
slots 11 and the pintle wire 13 may be combined in any desired way
with individual features or combinations of features of the
exemplary embodiment.
[0104] The rucksack 10 may have a known MOLLE system or loop system
for connecting further packing bags, skis or the like.
[0105] FIG. 7 shows an exploded illustration of the back part 2
which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a back plate 15 and
two carrier strips 16 (only one carrier strip is illustrated in
FIG. 7). FIGS. 7 to 13 show an embodiment in which it is provided
that the back part 2 is assembled from a back plate 15 and two
carrier strips 16 which are formed separately therefrom and which
can be attached to vertically running side edges of the back plate
15. The back plate 15 may however likewise already be formed
integrally or in one piece with a corresponding carrier strip 16.
The back plate 15 is clad or provided, in a way not illustrated in
any more detail, with a textile, the textile preferably having a
pocket or a slot. A ballistic plate 17 can be arranged in or
inserted into the pocket or the slot. Here, the ballistic plate 17
is arranged on an outer side, which faces towards a human back, of
the back plate 15. The ballistic plate 17 may also be adhesively
bonded to the back plate 15. It is provided in the exemplary
embodiment that the carrier strip 16 is pushed or plugged on only
after the back plate 15 has been clad with the textile. The carrier
strips 16 can be plugged in a positively locking manner onto the
textile-clad side edges of the back plate 15 and preferably further
secured there by means of a screw connection and/or adhesive
bond.
[0106] It is provided in the exemplary embodiment that the carrier
strip 16 has both a rail 18 for the connection of a lateral support
6 and also a receptacle 19 for the insertion of a fastening loop
20, described in more detail below on the basis of FIGS. 16 and 17.
Furthermore, the carrier strip 16 has coupling elements 21 which
serve for the coupling of the housing 7 or the frame 8.
[0107] FIGS. 11 to 13 show a base plate 22 of the housing 7 for
accommodating the electronic components, parts or units. Here, it
may be provided that the electronic components and units are
fastened to the base plate 22. The base plate 22 preferably at
least approximately corresponds, in terms of its dimensions and
shape, to the back plate 15.
[0108] FIG. 13 shows a diagrammatic illustration of the rear cover
23 of the housing 7. Here, it is preferably provided that the cover
23 can be opened, or is preferably connected to a side edge by
means of a hinge such that it can be pivoted open, so as to allow
access to electronic components and parts contained in the housing
7. The cover 23 may also be arranged on the side wall of the
housing 7 by means of a beading strip. This is not illustrated in
any more detail in the exemplary embodiment. The side wall of the
housing 7 which connects the cover 23 to the base plate 22 is
illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10 and in part in FIG. 11 and FIG.
12. The two vertically running side walls of the housing 7 are
formed in each case in two parts by a first side part 24 and a
second side part 25. In the exemplary embodiment, the side parts
24, 25 are of strip-shaped design. The side parts 24 and 25 may be
connected to one another or plugged together for example by means
of connecting members which engage into one another in a positively
locking manner, and subsequently further secured by means of a
screw connection. In the exemplary embodiment, the first side part
24 has projections or springs 26a which correspond to grooves 26b
of the second side part 25. Bores 27 are provided for screwing the
springs 26a into the grooves 26b. The first side part 24 has a
groove 28 which extends along the first side part 24 and into which
the base plate 22 can be plugged. Other positively locking,
non-positively locking or cohesive connections are also possible
for this purpose. The second side part 25 has a support 29 on which
the cover 23 (see FIG. 13) can be supported or to which said cover
can be fastened. Here, too, any other desired design solutions are
possible for connecting the cover 23 to the second side part
25.
[0109] The cover 23 may constitute the rear wall of the carrier
system if no frame 8 is used or if no water store--described
below--is used. The cover 23 is designed preferably as a step guard
or designed such that, if appropriate in conjunction with the
second side part 25, a person can stand or step on the cover 23
without the carrier system being damaged.
[0110] The advantage of the side wall of the housing 7 being formed
by the two side parts 24, 25 is that each of the two side parts 24,
25 forms in each case one part of a passage opening 30. That is to
say, the passage openings 30 present in the side walls of the
housing 7 are formed in each case entirely by virtue of the first
side part 24 being connected to the second side part 25. This makes
it possible, if it is necessary for large plugs to be passed
through, for the side parts 24, 25 to be able to be released from
one another, as a result of which the large plug can be passed
through, and the side parts 24, 25 can subsequently be connected to
one another again by means of a screw connection. Units can also be
inserted into the interior space of the housing 7 in this way.
[0111] To connect the side wall of the housing 7, in the exemplary
embodiment of the first side part 24, to the carrier strip 16, the
carrier strip 16 has the abovementioned coupling elements 21. Here,
a multiplicity of coupling elements 21 are provided which extend
along the longitudinal axis of the carrier strip 16. The coupling
elements 21, which in the exemplary embodiment are designed as
pockets or as fastening openings, are engaged into preferably in an
at least approximately positively locking manner by protections or
teeth 31 of the first side part 24, which are of correspondingly
complementary design. To insert the teeth 31 into the pockets 21 of
the carrier strip 16, the teeth 31 may be bevelled or chamfered at
least on a front edge.
[0112] In the exemplary embodiment, to fix the teeth 31 in the
pockets 21, a locking element 32 is provided. Here, the locking
element 32 comprises a closure member 33 (not illustrated in any
more detail) which closes automatically when the teeth 31 are
inserted into the pockets 21. It is provided here that the closure
member 32 locks the teeth into the pockets with a movement at right
angles to the insertion direction of the teeth 31 into the pockets
21. The pockets 21 and the teeth 31 have closure receptacles 34
into which the closure member 33 (not illustrated in any more
detail) can latch. The locking element 32 may preferably be
fastened laterally to the carrier strip 16, for example by means of
a screw connection. It is advantageous for the carrier strip 16 to
have only one locking element 32. It is also advantageous (not
illustrated) if the closure member 33 can, when required, be
influenced by remote unlocking means such that the closure member
33 opens, as a result of which the first side part 24 falls from
the carrier strip 16.
[0113] It is advantageous if in each case one carrier strip 16 is
provided on both sides of the back plate 15 and the two carrier
strips 16 are connected in each case to a side part 24 by being
plugged in.
[0114] In a way which is not illustrated in any more detail, it is
also possible for the frame 8 to be fastened directly to the
carrier strips 16. For this purpose, the frame 8 may have
corresponding teeth 31 (not illustrated) which engage analogously
into the pockets 21 and are held there preferably by the locking
element 32. The teeth 31 may be formed directly on the frame 8 or
on the two side parts in a vertically running manner, or on one or
more strips which can be connected to the frame.
[0115] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 13, it
is provided that the frame 8 is fastened to the second side part
25. For this purpose, the second side part 25 has pockets 21 which
may correspond to the pockets 21 of the carrier strip 16. Here, the
connection of the frame 8 to the second side part 25 takes place
analogously to the connection of the first side part 24 to the
carrier strips 16 and may likewise be secured by means of a locking
element 32 (preferably provided with a remote unlocking means).
[0116] Further details regarding the carrier strip 16, the first
side part 24, the second side part 25 and the frame 8 and also the
back plate 15 will emerge from FIGS. 7 to 10. The components are
formed preferably from plastic. A metal embodiment is however also
possible here.
[0117] As can be seen from a juxtaposition of FIGS. 10 to 13 with
FIGS. 18 and 19 and in particular the diagrammatic illustration in
FIGS. 16 and 17, the carrier strip 16 (which may also be formed in
one piece with the back plate 15) has a receptacle 19 for the
connection of a fastening loop 20. Here, in the exemplary
embodiment, the receptacle 19 is designed similarly to a beading
rail or beading strip. The receptacle 19 constitutes substantially
a tube with a longitudinal slot 35. The receptacle 19 has
substantially a circular to oval cross section. The fastening loop
20 (see FIGS. 16 and 17) can be inserted into the receptacle 19
through the slot 35 or preferably at the face-side ends of the
receptacles 19. In the exemplary embodiment, the fastening loop 20
which is inserted into the receptacle 19 is attached to the
fastening belt 4 or to a side part 400 that can be connected to the
fastening belt 4. By means of the fastening loop 20, the fastening
belt 4 is fastened to the back part 2 or, in the exemplary
embodiment, to the carrier strip 16 in that, after the fastening
loop 20 has been inserted into the receptacle 19, an elongate
fixing element 36, which is preferably a pintle wire, is threaded
into the receptacle or through that end of the fastening loop which
has been inserted into the receptacle. Here, the slot 35, the
fastening loop 20 and the pintle wire 36 are designed such that the
fastening loop 20, after the pintle wire 36 is passed through, can
no longer pass out through the slot 35. The fastening belt 4 is
thereby connected to the back part 2 or to the carrier strip 16 in
a secure and stable manner.
[0118] A removal of the fastening loop 20 from the receptacle 19
takes place by virtue of the pintle wire 36 being pulled out of the
fastening loop 20 or the receptacle 19 again. As a result, the
fastening belt 4 falls from the carrier strip 16 and therefore from
the back part 2. For connecting the fastening loop 20 to the
carrier strip 16 or the back part 2, other designs of the
receptacle 19 are also possible, for example designs such as that
provided according to FIG. 6 with regard to the connection of the
rucksack 10 to the frame 8.
[0119] It is provided in the exemplary embodiment that the
fastening belt 4 or the side part 400 has one large fastening loop
20. It is however also possible here for two or more
correspondingly relatively small fastening loops 20 to be provided
instead of one large fastening loop (with regard to the vertical
extent).
[0120] The means 36, referred to as an elongate fixing element 36,
for fixing the fastening loop 20 in the receptacle 19 may be
designed preferably as a cable, a wire or some other elongate
fabric, in particular composed of plastic or metal, preferably
steel. Below, the elongate fixing element is referred to as a
pintle wire 36, but the invention is self-evidently not restricted
to this. The features described within the context of the invention
can also be realized in conjunction with other embodiments of the
elongate fixing element, and should also be regarded as being
disclosed in this respect.
[0121] It is provided in the exemplary embodiment that both side
flanks of the fastening belt 4 are attached in each case to a
carrier strip 16 by means of corresponding fastening loops 20 in
the described way. It is however basically sufficient for one side
flank of the fastening belt 4 to be correspondingly attached. Even
the release of one end of a side flank of the fastening belt 4 from
the associated carrier strip 16 or the back part 2 causes the back
part 2 with the fastening belt 4 to be released from the torso.
[0122] As can be seen in particular from an illustration of FIGS.
16 to 19, the fastening belt 4 or the side flank thereof has, at
least at an end facing towards the carrier strip 16, a side part
400 which can be releasably connected to the fastening belt 4 and
which comprises the fastening loops 20 for connecting to the
carrier strip 16. This can be seen particularly clearly from FIG.
16. The fastening belt 4 and the side part 400 have, for connecting
to one another, in each case one row of loops 4a and 400a
respectively. The loops of the row of loops 4a and the loops of the
row of loops 400a are arranged here such that the loops of one row
of loops can be inserted into the spacings between the loops of the
other row of loops, such that a common row of loops 4a, 400a can be
formed which, in the exemplary embodiment, extends substantially in
the vertical direction. In the exemplary embodiment, a strip-shaped
connecting element 37, preferably a plastic strip which is
preferably clad with textile, is pushed through said common row of
loops 4a, 400a (see in particular FIG. 16). Here, the plastic strip
37 is designed so as to be longer than the row of loops 4a, 400a,
such that the protruding ends of the plastic strip 37 can be bent.
The bent ends of the plastic strip 37 may preferably be closed off
by a hook-and-loop connection. This yields a stable connection
between the fastening belt 4 and the side part 400 of the fastening
belt 4. The advantage of said design is that the side part 400 can
be connected to fastening belts 4 of different length, without it
being necessary for the fastening loop 20 to be released from the
receptacle 19. It is particularly advantageous here for the
fastening belt 4 to have a plurality of rows of loops 4a which run
parallel to one another (see in particular FIG. 16), such that the
row of loops 400a of the side part 400 can be connected to a
suitably positioned row of loops 4a (see the three arrows
proceeding from the plastic strip 37). In this way, the length of
the fastening belt 4 or the length of the side flanks of the
fastening belt 4 can be shortened or lengthened.
[0123] It is advantageous for the fastening belt 4 to have in each
case one side part 400 on both of its ends or on both side
flanks.
[0124] The side part 400 therefore serves as an adaptor by means of
which the fastening belt 4 can be attached to the carrier strip 16.
It is self-evidently also possible for the fastening belt 4 to be
arranged by means of its fastening loop 20 directly on the carrier
strip 16. For this purpose, FIG. 16 illustrates in principle a
fastening loop 20 on the fastening belt 4. It is however
preferable, and provided in the exemplary embodiment, that the
fastening belt 4 is connected to the side part 400 by means of the
row of loops 4a, 400a. The connection between the fastening belt 4
and the carrier strip 16 then takes place by virtue of the side
part 400 being inserted with its fastening loop 20 into the
receptacle 19 of the carrier strip 16. In this case, the fastening
loop 20 of the fastening belt 4 does not perform any function, and
could therefore also be omitted. That end of the fastening belt 4
which protrudes beyond the side part 400 may be placed or inserted
loosely between the back part 2 and the back of the torso of the
person wearing the carrier system.
[0125] As can also be seen from FIGS. 7 to 15, the back plate 15
has, in an upper end region, receptacles 190 which serve for
releasably connecting the fastening loops 20, which are attached to
the shoulder strap 3, to the back plate 15 by means of an elongate
fixing element 36, preferably again a pintle wire 36. Here, the
receptacles 190 are designed substantially analogously to the
receiving slots 11 already described with regard to the embodiment
of the frame 8 illustrated in FIG. 6. For this purpose, the
fastening loops 20 are passed through the receptacles 190 and
subsequently, by means of the pintle wire 36, are prevented from
exiting the receptacles 190 again counter to the insertion
direction. It is advantageous here for the pintle wire 36 which
holds the fastening loops 20 of the shoulder strap 3 in the
receptacles 190 to be identical to the pintle wire 36 which is
threaded at least into a receptacle 19 of a carrier strip 16. In
this way, it is possible for both the connection of the carrier
strips 16 to the fastening belt 4 and also the connection between
the back part 2 or the back plate 15 and the shoulder strap 3 to be
released by pulling one pintle wire 36.
[0126] It is provided in the exemplary embodiment that both
shoulder straps 3 are connected to the receptacles 190 by means of
the fastening loops 20. It may however basically be adequate for
only one shoulder strap 3 to be connected in this way. This is
preferably the shoulder strap 3 arranged on the same side of a
human torso as that on which the fastening belt 4 is releasably
connected to the carrier strip 16 by means of corresponding
fastening loops 20.
[0127] FIGS. 14 and 15 show a view of the inner side (rear side),
which faces away from the torso, of the back plate 15. Here,
proceeding from the outer side (front side) of the back plate 15,
in each case two fastening loops 20 per shoulder strap 3 are passed
through the receiving slots 190 and secured by means of the pintle
wire 36. It is also possible here for more than two fastening loops
20 or even only one fastening loop 20 to be provided per shoulder
strap 3.
[0128] As can be seen from FIG. 14, it may be provided that the
pintle wire 36 branches at its end facing towards the fastening
loops 20. Here, it may be provided that the branching configuration
is produced by means of a clamp 40 or similar auxiliary means, such
that the pintle wire 36 has two (or more) ends which fix in each
case the fastening loops 20 of one shoulder strap 3. It is
basically also possible for the pintle wire 36 to not be branched,
that is to say to have only one end, at its end facing towards the
fastening loops 20. In this way, when the pintle wire 36 is pulled
out, firstly one shoulder strap 3 and then the second shoulder
strap 3 is released. As a result of a branching configuration of
the pintle wire 36 at its end facing towards the fastening loops
20, each shoulder strap 3 may be assigned a separate end piece. In
this way, it can be achieved that both shoulder straps 3 are
released preferably approximately simultaneously by pulling out the
pintle wire 36.
[0129] It is advantageous for the pintle wire 36 to be actuated, or
pulled out of the fastening loops 20, by means of an operating part
39. Here, the operating part 39 may preferably be arranged such
that a person wearing the carrier system can easily reach the
operating part 39. The operating part 39 is for this purpose
preferably arranged on the top side or front side of a human torso
when the carrier system is worn correctly.
[0130] As a result of the optional branching of the ends of the
pintle wire 36, it can be achieved here that both shoulder straps 3
are released by the actuation of the operating part 39. Here, the
pintle wire 36 which can be pulled out by means of the operating
part 39 may also be passed through one or both receptacles 19 of
the carrier strips 16, such that the pintle wire 36 can also be
pulled out of the one or more receptacles 19 of the carrier strips
16 by means of an actuation of the operating element 39. The pintle
wire 36 may for this purpose have a suitable number of
branches.
[0131] It may alternatively also be provided that the pintle wire
36 which has been inserted into one receptacle 19 or into both
receptacles 19 is released by means of a separate operating part
19; in this case, the pintle wire 36 is also formed independently
of the pintle wire which releases the shoulder straps. If
appropriate, it is also possible for a separate pintle wire to be
provided for each shoulder strap or carrier strip.
[0132] In the exemplary embodiment, the shoulder strap 3 is not
connected directly to the back plate 15. As can be seen in
particular from FIGS. 1 and 15, the shoulder strap 3 comprises, at
its end facing towards the back plate 15, a strap part 300 which
can be releasably connected to the shoulder strap 3 and which has
the at least one fastening loop 20 for connecting to the back plate
15 or for inserting into the receptacle 190. The connection between
the belt part 300 and the shoulder strap 3 may take place here in
the usual way, for example by means of a metal clasp or the like
(see FIG. 15).
[0133] FIG. 14 shows an advantageous facility for protecting the
combination of the fastening loops 20 and the pintle wires 36. For
this purpose, the textile which clads the back plate 15 has a flap
or a tab which can be fixed preferably by means of a hook-and-loop
connection such that the combination of the fastening loops 20 and
the pintle wires 36 is arranged under the flap or tab.
[0134] As can be seen from a juxtaposition of FIGS. 1 to 4, 7 to 12
and 17 to 19, the carrier strip 16 has a rail 18 for the connection
of the lateral supports 6. It is provided here that in each case
one lateral support 6 is fastened to a carrier strip 16 or the rail
18 thereof. The lateral support 6 is connected to the back plate 15
or to the back part 2 in this way.
[0135] The lateral support 6 may be attached to the carrier strip
16 or to the rail 18 thereof with continuously variable or
grid-based vertical adjustability. If a grid is provided, the
receiving bores of the grid may be arranged offset at short
intervals. It is for example possible for screws of the lateral
support 6 to be screwed into the receiving bores. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 13, it is provided, in a way not
illustrated in any more detail, that the lateral support 6 is fixed
in a non-positively or positively locking manner to any desired
point of the rail 18 by means of a clamping or snap-action
connection.
[0136] It is also provided in the exemplary embodiment that the
lateral support 6 is connected to the associated carrier strip 16
by means of a tongue and groove connection.
[0137] The lateral support 6 substantially has a tube 60 and a rod
61 which engages into the tube 60. In a way not illustrated in any
more detail, there is also integrated here a damping system which
may be realized for example by means of a spring. The inventor has
recognized that a lateral support 6 composed substantially only of
a tube 60 and a rod 61 is particularly suitable for providing the
wearer of the carrier system with an advantageous degree of freedom
of movement. The embodiment of lateral supports which engage on
more than two points has proven not to be expedient with regard to
the freedom of movement of the wearer. The inventor has recognized
that it is advantageous for the lateral support to engage only on
two points, specifically on the hip belt 5 and on the back part
2.
[0138] It may be provided in the exemplary embodiment that the
lateral support 6 with the illustrated rod/tube combination 60, 61
is designed such that the relative movement generated by a person
between the hip and torso while walking leads to a relative
movement of the rod 61 in the tube 60, the rod/tube combination 60,
61 being designed such that a movement of the rod 61 in the tube 60
generates an electrical current. In this regard, reference is made
to EP 1 994 841 B1. The arrangement of the rod 61 and of the pipe
60 may self-evidently also be reversed.
[0139] It is provided in the exemplary embodiment that the lateral
support 6 is pivotably arranged on the back part 2, more precisely
on the carrier strip 16 or the rail 18 thereof, by means of two
axles 38. The axles 38 by means of which the lateral support 6 is
arranged on the carrier strip 16 are designed as hinges in the
exemplary embodiment. It is also provided that the lateral support
6 is pivotably arranged on the hip belt 5 likewise by means of two
axles 38. These may likewise be two hinges which are preferably at
right angles to one another. As an alternative thereto, for the
connection to the hip belt 5, it may also be provided that the
associated end of the lateral support 6 has a plate with a bore
which is pushed onto a bolt, about which the plate with the bore is
then rotatable. After the plate is pushed onto the bolt, the plate
can be secured by means of a locking pin which can be plugged
transversely through the bolt.
[0140] It is advantageous for the hip belt 5 to have, in the region
of the coccyx, a receptacle 42, a recess, a pocket, a slot or the
like which is preferably matched in terms of its shape to a step
counter or to a so-called inertial navigation system (INS). Here,
the receptacle 42 may preferably be correspondingly cushioned. It
is advantageous for the step counter to be fitted, preferably in a
positively locking manner, into the receptacle 42 or the like.
[0141] The inventor has recognized that the arrangement of a step
counter in a hip belt 5 in the area of the coccyx (when the hip
belt 5 is being worn correctly by the wearer) is particularly
suitable because vibrations and shocks are particularly low in said
area and therefore the step counter or the INS operates in a
particularly precise manner, as a result of which the position and
speed of the person wearing the hip belt 5 can be determined
particularly precisely. The step counter may, in one embodiment, be
inserted in a positively locking manner into the hip belt 5.
[0142] As can be seen from FIG. 19, it is provided in the exemplary
embodiment that the receptacle 42 has a flap 43 which can be
pivoted open or opened such that a step counter (not illustrated in
any more detail) or a corresponding navigation system (INS) can be
integrated in the hip belt 5 or inserted into the receptacle 42.
Here, the insertion takes place by virtue of the step counter or
the navigation system being inserted into the receptacle 42 from
the rear and subsequently being closed again by means of the flap
43.
[0143] As an alternative thereto, a slot may be advantageous into
which the step counter is inserted from above. Here, the opening of
the slot may be closed off by means of a flap or a cover.
[0144] FIG. 19 shows a particularly advantageous variant of the
solution according to the invention, in which it is provided that
the carrier system has a water store 41. The water store 41 may
basically be arranged at any desired location between the frame 8
and the back plate 15, and if appropriate also between the frame 8
and a rucksack 10. It is however advantageous for the water store
41 to be arranged between a cover 23 illustrated in FIG. 13 and a
frame 8 illustrated in FIG. 7. Here, the water store 41 may have a
length and a width substantially corresponding to the length and
width of the cover 23 and/or of the frame 8. An arrangement of the
water store 41 between the frame 8 and the cover 23 is shown in
principle in FIG. 19. The water store 41 may have a drinking hose
44 which is guided from the water store 41 preferably over a human
shoulder such that the drinking hose can be reached by the mouth of
the person wearing the carrier system.
[0145] The water store 41 constitutes an independent inventive
solution, the disclosure of which is not restricted to the
combination of features illustrated in the exemplary embodiment.
The water store 41 may be combined in any desired manner with
individual features or combinations of features of the exemplary
embodiment.
[0146] The carrier system described in terms of the exemplary
embodiments and illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 19 is not restricted to
the illustrated combination of features. The illustrated features
may be used both individually and also in any desired combination
with one another. This applies in particular to the features
mentioned below.
[0147] The hip belt 5 may, in particular with the receptacle 42 for
the step counter, be used independently of the other features of
the carrier system according to the invention. Furthermore, the hip
belt 5 may be combined with any desired individual features of the
carrier system according to the invention described in the
exemplary embodiment.
[0148] The fastening belt 4 may also be used independently of the
other features of the carrier system according to the invention; in
particular, the side part 400 in its function as an adapter part,
and in particular the connection of the side part 400 to the
fastening belt 4, constitutes an independent inventive solution.
The fastening belt 4 is particularly suitable in combination with a
back part 2 and a front part 1, but is not restricted to said
combination.
[0149] The lateral support 6 may also be used for connecting a back
part 2 to a hip belt 5 independently of the fastening belt 4 or the
connection thereof to the back part 2 and also independently of the
connection of the front part 1 to the back part 2 by means of the
shoulder strap 3.
[0150] The advantageous design of the back part 2, as illustrated
for example in FIGS. 7 to 13, constitutes an independent inventive
solution regardless of the way in which the lateral support 6 is
attached or in which a fastening belt 4 (if required at all) or the
shoulder straps 3 (if required at all) are attached thereto. The
modular design of the back part 2 with the back plate 15 is
independently inventive, in particular with regard to the
possibility of the modular arrangement of a housing 7 and/or a
frame 8 for carrying loads and/or a water store 41. Furthermore,
the facility for connecting the rucksack 10 to the frame 8 is an
inventive solution which is independent of all the other features
but which may if required be combined in any desired manner with
the features or combinations of features of the exemplary
embodiment.
[0151] The solution according to the invention of the means for
fastening a front or back part to a human torso, in particular the
described combination of the fastening loops 20 and the elongate
fixing element 36, can also be used independently of the other
features, described in detail, of the carrier system as illustrated
in the exemplary embodiment. The means 3, 4 having the fastening
loops 20 and the elongate fixing element 36 may be combined in any
desired manner with features or combinations of features of the
exemplary embodiment.
[0152] The solution according to the invention is particularly
suitable in an embodiment as a protective vest, wherein in this
case the front part 1 constitutes the front part of the protective
vest and the back part 2 constitutes the rear part of the
protective vest.
* * * * *