WO2023102616A1

WO2023102616A1 - A backpack aid

Info

Publication number: WO2023102616A1
Application number: PCT/AU2022/051484
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emil Saad Andrawos
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-12-10
Filing date: 2022-12-09
Publication date: 2023-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 2024-06-10
Also published as: AU2022407714A1

Abstract

A backpack to alleviate issues of heavy backpack loads; the backpack aid includes a waist strap, a shoulder strap attached to the backpack, an external attachment attached to the waist strap and an internal attachment attached to the inner bottom portion of the backpack wherein the external and internal attachments provide a rigid support to the backpack bottom to evenly distribute the backpack load across the entire back and allows the centre of gravity of the backpack to be shifted toward the user's waist.

Description

A Backpack Aid

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a backpack aid which may be attached to a backpack to redistribute the centre of gravity of the backpack to the waist of the user, thereby reducing backpack overload injuries.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] A backpack, also referred to as a knapsack, schoolbag, rucksack, rucksac, pack, sackpack, booksack, bookbag or backsack, are commonly employed devices used to carry some number of items in an efficient and practical manner. In its simplest form, a backpack consists of a sack for holding items, wherein the sack is secured with two straps to be worn over the shoulders.

[0003] Children are often required to use a backpack throughout their schooling lives, with millions of children required to travel from school and between classrooms with a heavy load of textbooks, stationery, laptops and other miscellaneous items in their schoolbags.

[0004] As the load from a child’s backpack is often quite heavy, and due to children being required to use a backpack almost daily, children are at particular risk from overly stressing their backs, potentially resulting in injuries to their back, neck, and shoulders. Thousands of injuries associated with heavy backpacks are reported yearly in the US, with figures demonstrating an approximate 1/6^th of students sporting back and/or shoulder injuries arising from heavy backpacks.

[0005] Examples of heavy backpacks are not limited to schoolbags, but may further comprise, but not limited to military rucksacks, food delivery packs, sporting bags, street sprayers, and others.

[0006] Risks associated with backpack use include musculoskeletal injuries in the user, often leading to back, neck and/or shoulder pain. Having a heavy load on a user’s back for an extended period of time may result in temporary or permanent physiological changes in a person’s back, including distortion of the middle and lower backs; muscle strain and injury to spine joints and the rib cage; rounded shoulders; and improper posture leading to development of back problems later in life if not corrected.

[0007] It is a present issue of existing backpacks wherein most of the heavy load is applied to the neck, shoulder, and upper backs of the user, leading to concentrated strain in that area. Further, for heavy loads, the bottom of the backpack may deform leading to improper distribution of loads across the bottom of the backpack, leading to concentrated strain on a single side of the body. A more evenly distributed load across the back of the user would alleviate many injuries associated with heavy backpack use.

[0008] Further issues with heavily loaded backpacks include an unfavourable sloping of the bottom of the backpack. When the bottom of the backpack, viewed from the side, slopes such that the back of the backpack, closer to the user’s waist is higher than the front of the backpack, further from the user’s waist, the weight of the backpack leads to increased moment, on the user’s neck and shoulder, leading to increased strain and higher risk of backpack-related injury. The term ‘moment’ is known to those skilled in the art as the product of force multiplied by the moment arm, or distance to the centre of rotation.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate the problems of the prior art by providing a backpack aid which is inexpensive and may be easily applied to backpacks such that when the backpack with backpack aid is worn, the centre of gravity of the backpack is shifted toward the user’s waist, thereby evenly distributing the backpack load across the entire back.

[0010] The discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In a first aspect the invention comprises a backpack aid comprising an external attachment, an internal attachment, waist strap with buckle, and a shoulder strap with buckle to be attached to a backpack; wherein the external attachment and internal attachment extend along a portion of the bottom of the backpack keeping it flat; and wherein the external attachment comprises a hook to hold the waist strap.

[0012] In another aspect of the invention, when the backpack aid is attached to the backpack, a bottom of the backpack slopes such that the angle between the back of the backpack and the bottom of the backpack is less than 90 degrees.

[0013] In another aspect of the invention, the internal attachment extends along the entire bottom of the backpack.

[0014] In another aspect of the invention, the external attachment is attached to the backpack via adhesive tape.

[0015] In another aspect of the invention, the waist strap and shoulder strap are attached via pins.

[0016] In another aspect of the invention, the external and internal attachments are made of plastic.

[0017] In another aspect of the invention the external attachment is surrounded by a rubber foam padding.

[0018] In another aspect of the invention the internal attachment is foldable.

[0019] In another aspect of the invention provides an economic solution for overcoming common wellness issues associated with backpacks.

[0020] It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows.

[0022] Figure 1 is an illustration of the top of an external component of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 is an illustration of the bottom of an external component of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 is an illustration of the back of a backpack with the present invention applied.

[0025] Figure 4 is a perspective view of a backpack with the present invention applied.

[0026] Figure 5 is an under-side view of a backpack with the present invention applied.

[0027] Figure 6 is an inside-view of a backpack with the present invention applied.

[0028] Figure 7 is a side-view image of a user using the backpack with the present invention applied.

[0029] Figure 8 is a side-view image of the backpack with the present invention applied.

LIST OF COMPONENTS

[0030] The drawings include items labelled as follows:

10 External attachment

12 Bottom plate of external attachment

14 Fastening pins of bottom plate

16 Strap holder 18 Strap holding hook

20 Strap pins

22 Waist straps

24 Waist strap buckle

26 Shoulder straps

28 Shoulder strap buckles

30 Shoulder strap fastening pins

32 Internal attachment

34 Adhesive tape

40 Backpack a Angle between back of backpack and bottom of backpack

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Referring now to the figures in detail, the backpack aid includes an external attachment 10, waist straps 22 with buckle 24, shoulder straps 26 with buckle 28, and an internal attachment 32, to be attached to a backpack 40.

[0032] The external attachment 10 consists of a bottom plate 12, fastening pins 14, strap holder 16 with strap holding hook 18 and strap pins 20, and optional adhesive tape 34.

[0033] The bottom plate 12 is applied to the bottom of a backpack 40 through the use of fastening pins 14 and optionally adhesive tape 34. When applied in conjunction with internal attachment 34, the bottom of the backpack remains flat, equally distribution heavy loads along the bottom of the backpack.

[0034] The external and internal attachment are easily applied to a backpack requiring no additional tools for installation. The attachments are capable of being installed and uninstalled from the backpack in less than five minutes, presenting a convenient and transportable solution for the user.

[0035] The external attachment may be made material including, but not limited to steel, aluminium, plastic, or other rigid materials.

[0036] By allowing the bottom of the backpack to remain flat, improperly balanced loads of the items in the backpack which lead to a flexion force of the spine are reduced. A more evenly distributed load across the back of the user alleviates many injuries associated with heavy backpack use.

[0037] The attachment of the bottom plate 12 to the backpack is such that a beneficial slope is created on the bottom of the backpack. The slope on the bottom of the backpack is such that the back of the backpack, which is towards the user’s waist, is positioned lower than the front of the backpack, further from the user’s waist. The slope allows the load to remain above a user’s waist, thereby reduces the moment on a user’s shoulder and distributing the centre of gravity of the load closer to the user’s waist.

[0038] Further, this beneficial slope distributes the load closer to the user’s back and waist, by positioning the load closer to the user’s back than in an ordinary backpack. This has an effect of alleviating the load and rotational moment from the user’s neck and shoulders and distributing it to the back and waist.

[0039] Referring now to Figure 7, the beneficial slope induced by the backpack attachment is clearly seen, wherein the back of the backpack is positioned lower than the front of the backpack, such that angle a < 90°, wherein a is the angle between the flat back of the backpack and the bottom of the backpack.

[0040] Although in Figure 6 the bottom plate and/or internal attachment only takes up a portion of the bottom of the backpack, in other embodiments, the bottom plate and/or internal attachment may be of different shapes and sizes such that they take up the entire bottom of the backpack.

[0041] The external attachment 10 also comprises a strap holder 16, which further comprises a strap holding hook 18 and strap pins 20. As demonstrated in Figure 3, a waist strap 22 is fastened to the strap holder 16 via mean means of hook 18 and strap pins 20. Further, a buckle 24 is located at the ends of the strap 22.

[0042] Additionally, the backpack aid consists of a shoulder strap 26 and buckle 28, attached to the backpack via fastening pins 30.

[0043] Through using a waist strap and shoulder strap, the weight of the backpack is redistributed lower, toward the user’s waist, resulting in a more evenly distributed load across the user’s back. This having an effect of alleviating stress on the user’s neck, shoulder, and upper back.

[0044] In an ordinary backpack with extremely heavy loads, the bag may be filled to expand such that the load pulls away from the user’s back. The use of the shoulder strap 26 and buckle 28 allows the load to make constant contact with the user’s back, which prevents the load from excessively pulling onto a user’s shoulder.

[0045] In an embodiment of the external attachment 10, the external attachment 10 comprises a layer of padding which makes contact with the user. The padding adds a layer of comfort to the user such that the backpack aid may be used for long periods of time.

[0046] The padding may be constructed out of foam, mesh, or other soft materials, but it is not limited to being constructed out of the above materials.

[0047] A another embodiment of the invention, the internal attachment 32 is such that the internal attachment 32 is made of a plurality of spaced plates connected to each other with a flexible material. This allows the internal attachment to be folded for easy storage and transportation.

[0048] The flexible material connecting internal plates may be made of tape, plastic, foam, or other flexible materials, but are not limited to the above materials.

[0049] The backpack aid may be configured to be attached to any common backpack in the market, new or used, presenting the user with a widely applicable attachment that may be attached and detached from any backpack.

[0050] In backpacks wherein the sack extends below the user’s waist, the backpack aid may be attached such that the weight is redistributed towards the user’s waist. As an example, the external attachment 10 may be attached not to the bottom of the backpack, but in the centre of the backpack, although it is not limited to this attaching arrangement.

[0051] In another embodiment of the invention, in backpacks which extend below the user’s waist, the external attachment 10 may be placed on the bottom of the backpack wherein the external attachment 10 is connected to the waist strap 22 such that the load on the user is shifted towards the user’s waist and lower back.

The external attachment in this manner may be attached to the waist strap by any plurality of methods, including but not limited to providing additional straps, hooks, fabric which connect the external attachment to the waist strap 22.

[0052] Due to the inexpensive nature of the components comprising the backpack aid, and the ease of attachment methods to the backpack, the invention presents an inexpensive and easily applicable attachment to a backpack capable of shifting the centre of gravity of the backpack towards a user’s waist, thereby evenly distributing the load across the user’s back such that backpack injuries from heavy load carrying are minimised.

[0053] The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

[0054] Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope and spirit of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field.

[0055] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word “comprising” and its derivatives including “comprises” and “comprise” include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Claims

1. A backpack aid comprising an external attachment, an internal attachment, waist strap with buck, and a shoulder strap with buckle to be attached to a backpack; wherein the external attachment and internal attachment extend along a portion of the bottom of the backpack keeping it flat; and wherein the external attachment comprises a hook to hold the waist strap.

2. The backpack aid of claim 1 , wherein when the backpack aid is attached to the backpack, a bottom of the backpack slopes such that the angle between the back of the backpack and the bottom of the backpack is less than 90 degrees.

3. The backpack aid of claim 1, wherein the internal attachment extends along the entire bottom of the backpack.

4. The backpack aid of claim 1, wherein the external and internal attachment are detachable and foldable for easy storage.

5. The backpack aid of claim 1, wherein the external attachment is attached to the backpack via adhesive tape.

6. The backpack aid of claim 1 , wherein the waist strap and shoulder strap are attached via pins.

7. The backpack aid of claim 1, wherein the external and internal attachments are made of plastic.

8. The backpack aid of claim 1, wherein the external attachment is surrounded by a rubber foam padding.