NZ210728A

NZ210728A - Strap attachment structure for backpack

Info

Publication number: NZ210728A
Application number: NZ210728A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: G E Lowe
Original assignee: G E Lowe
Priority date: 1984-01-13
Filing date: 1984-12-21
Publication date: 1987-02-20
Also published as: DE3500612A1; JPH0622817A; ES283913Y; IE850072L; AU576813B2; AU3755085A; GB8500056D0; IT8519076A0; SE8500129D0; JPH0566121B2; JPH06121704A; KR850005256A; JPS60160902A; SE8500129L; CA1247568A; DE8500493U1; JPH0649009B2; JPH0824602B2; IE56246B1; GB2152575B

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> a10728 Priority Date(s): /.p.,;. Complete Specification Filed: /.$;/: Class: Publication Date: P.O. Journal, No: PATENTS FORM NO. 5 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION "STRUCTURE FOR ATTACHING ADJUSTABLE BACKPACK STRAPS" I, WE- GREG EDWARD LOWE a citizen of U.S.A. of 4172 Piedra Court, Boulder, Colorado 8 0301 U.S.A. hereby declare the invention, for which I/we-pray that a patent may be granted to me/we-, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- ''-1-''' steswiaistess twewifcaiiji' »3iw»6aw*feBt<feBtas»WJ*a<awt»iij»4^wa<wwa>WB«e>waBgaa3^Sg>t- ^ / r>' 10 o 15 20 210728 ■'% Background of the Invention This invention relates generally to the attachment and adjustment of straps to backpacks or rucksacks, and more particularly pertains to an assembly-including a base member adapted to be secured to the backpack and including preferably a pair of parallel track members, a moveable member adapted to ride along the track members and carry the backpack straps, and a locking structure to secure the moveable member at selected positions along the track members. Description of the Related Art It is generally well recognized in the backpack or rucksack industry that the physical characteristics of an individual wearing a particular sack will require different adjustments of the attachment points of the various body straps and other attachment portions bearing upon the wearer. Generally the attachment portions include shoulder straps, a lower back pad, and often a waist belt. Heretofore the strap portions have been made adjustable by providing a plurality of redundant attachment points or a single attachment point with a plurality of guides to position the effective attachment of the shoulder strap to the backpack. Such redundant attachment points are expensive, cumbersome, and expensive, and usually require a good deal of effort to change the particular adjustment. Such o 1 A • totySKUp. J 210728 prior approaches have generally involved substantial labor to provide individual positioning of and sewing of the multiple attachment points. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, which provides a heretofore unavailable convenience and economy in an adjustable attachment comprising a :—:—— '' . v—■————: ——— base plate adapted to be secured to the pack back member and having defined thereon a plurality of parallel tracks, a movable member including openings adapted to receive the shoulder straps of a backpack and track; engaging means contacting the parallel tracks and slidably securing the movable member to the tracks; and said tracks including a pair of undercut rail members with the undercut .portion of each rail member being on the side opposite the movable member, said track engaging means are configured to fit into the undercut portions to secure the movable member : to the tracks in a sliding manner, locking means carried on the attachment structure and interacting between the movable member and base plate to releasably secure the movable member against sliding movement at predetermined positions on the base plate, said locking means including a pair of opposed movable dogs biased outward, and said tracks including a plurality of opposed, spaced openings adapted to receive the movable dogs to secure the movable member to the tracks. 210 Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved structure for securing straps and similar items bearing against a wearer to a backpack . Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved structure for providing for adjustment of straps attached to a backpack. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved structure for attaching an adjustable strap securing means to a backpack proper. These and other objects ana features of the present invention will become apparent with consideration of the following description. Brief Description of the Drawings FIGURE 1. is a perspective view of a typical backpack > arrangement including a shoulder; strap attachment means in accord with the instant invention; FIGURE 2 is a front view of the shoulder strap adjust— ment means of FIGURE 1 which is in part cut away; FIGURE 3 is a top view of the structure set forth in FIGURE 2; 210728 Detailed Description of the Invention Turning now'to the drawings, wherein like elements are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various figures, backpack 10 including adjustable backpack attachment assembly 12 is shown in FIGURE 1. Adjustable shoulder; strap attachment assembly 12 includes a base member 14 typically attached by stitches 16 to backpack 10. A pair of parallel undercut rail members 18 are defined on base member 14 and include a plurality of opposed openings 20 defined therein as will be discussed in more detail below. Moveable; member 24 is configured to engage and slide within rail members 18 as is illustrated in more detail in FIGURES 2 and 3. A pair of openings 26 are defined through moveable member 24 and adapted to receive backpack shoulder straps 28. Locking assembly 30, which is attached to moveable member 24 by enclosures 32 defined thereon, includes a U-shaped dis-tendable member 34 carrying a pair of outward facing dogs 35 on either side thereof. Dogs 35 are arranged to engage a pair of opposed openings 20. Accordingly, moveable member -mx- - 1 J? 210728 10 15 20 24 may be conveniently slid along rails 18 by depressing U-shaped member 32 to disengage dogs 35, and thereafter secured in place by releasing the pressure on U-shaped member 34 to allow dogs 35 to engage the adjacent opposed openings 20. In actual practice, openings 20 may be closely spaced to provide for finer adjustment. However, for purposes of illustration, FIGURE 1 is believed to convey the principle to those skilled in the art. Thus, as will be particularly apparent in FIGURE 3, moveable member 24 is configured to engage and fit under the undercut portions of opposed rail members 18 thereby move-ably attaching moveable member 24 to base member 14. Unless otherwise secured, moveable member 24 will readily slide along rail members 18. However, as is shown in FIGURE 2, openings 20 defined in rails 18 are configured to receive dogs 35 and thus prevent movement of moveable member 24. By compressing U-shaped member 34, dogs 35 may be retracted from openings 20 thereby permitting positioning of moveable member 24 to the desired location, whereupon dogs 35 can again engage an opposed pair of openings 20. As discussed above, openings 20 may be defined closely adjacent one another to provide for fine adjustment of moveable member 24 relative to base member 14. Also, though FIGURES 1 through 3, and the other figures of this description, particularly 210728 pertained to adjustable attachment assembly 12 configured to receive shoulder straps 18, it will be readily recognized to those skilled in the art that a similar assembly could readily be configured to carry a backpack attachment, or a backpad, etc. Further, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that a polymeric base member 14, molded of, for instance, urethane plastic, will have sufficient flexibility to facilitate attachment by sewing and provide adequate conformity to the somewhat pliable backpack 10 while still having sufficient rigidity to permit moveable member 24 to slide therealorig. It will be recognized that the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3, contain a base member adapted to be secured to a backpack, a moveable member adapted to engage rails defined on the base member to slide therealong, and locking means to releasably secure the moveable member to the base member. It is anticipated that various other configurations of these elements will be readily apparent and perhaps equally operable. Though numerous materials may be employed depending upon a particular nature of the backpack, i.e. internal frame, external frame, etc., in general a somewhat pliable polyurethane material, i.e. a 90 durometer material is contemplated for the base member and the moveable member. On the other hand, the locking member is usually of a more rigid pJ^sfcxcf ^ ' q. such as a polycarbonate or Delrin polymeric. mai^ial, or may also be made of metal. ^26NOV 1986 : 6 210728 The materials mentioned are merely currently preferred though not critical choices and it is expected that many other choices will serve adequately. In summary, the adjustable backpack strap attachment assembly disclosed and discussed herein has the advantage of simplicity, lightness and additional strength. As will be apparent, all of the forces transferred from the assembly to a backpack will be spread over the entire attachment of the base member. In many prior art arrangements, a selected attachment point bears all of the load and other alternative attachment points are essentially load free. Further, rapid and convenient adjustment over a substantial range is provided the user of the assembly. A particular backpack may be produced by merely attaching the base member, which is amenable to machine sewing or other mechanized attachment means in a straight forward, economical manner. In this fashion, economy and manufacturing case are achieved, as well as enhanced performance provided to the user. While only the presently preferred embodiment and components of the instant invention have been specified and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined by the following ryPg^fel-r^-. /Sr % : 7 ; ^2 6NOVI986 </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> \ \ • \ ' \ ■ \~" I ■* , « - - . - /: ■. ■4/;i.- L cd—Tl'fl I >11 ijlTM ^1 o O' 10 15 20 25 210728 WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. An adjustable attachment structure comprising: a base plate adapted to be secured to the pack member and having defined thereon a plurality of parallel tracks, a movable member including openings adapted to receive the shoulder straps of a backpack and track engaging means contacting the parallel tracks and slidably securing the movable member to the tracks; and said tracks including a pair of undercut rail members with the undercut portion of each rail member being on the side opposite the movable member, said track engaging means are configured to fit into the undercut portions to secure the movable member to the tracks in a sliding manner, locking means carried on the attachment structure and interacting between the movable member and base plate to releasably secure the movable member against sliding movement at predetermined positions on the ' base plate, said locking means including a pair of opposed movable dogs biased outward, and said tracks including a plurality of opposed, spaced openings adapted to receive the movable dogs to secure the movable member to the tracks.
2. An adjustable mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein particularly with reference to any one of the embodiments shpfn in la- Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of; the accompanying doings. ^ 2 6 NOV 1986' I M V bb/h 8 : Attorneys -V BALDWIN, SON & CAREY _____ </div>