US20090179057A1

US20090179057A1 - Posture supporting backpack

Info

Publication number: US20090179057A1
Application number: US12/100,721
Authority: US
Inventors: Cathy M. Basye
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-01-12
Filing date: 2008-04-10
Publication date: 2009-07-16

Abstract

A backpack 1 having a semi-rigid container 2 capable of being molded in the shape of a user's back, an angled floor 3, a contacting side 4, an aft side 5, a first lateral side 6, a second lateral side 7, crisscrossing front shoulder straps 9, 10, a lumbar support 13, lateral supports 14, 15 having vertical support notches 16, 17 therein, and a waist belt 18 having a buckle 19. To use, a person first positions the container 2 on his/her back so as the lumbar support 13 is located against the lumbar region of the user's back and positions the lateral supports 14, 15 about his/her waist and pelvis pressing the vertical support notches 16, 17 against the ilium. Then, the user secures the waist belt 18 about his/her waist and pelvis by buckling the buckle 19, thereby holding the lateral supports 14, 15 against the sides of the user. Finally, the user takes a first shoulder strap 9 secured to the container 2, crosses it over his/her chest and secures it to the lateral support 14 and repeats the same process with the second shoulder strap 10 securing it to the opposite lateral support 15 forming an X on the chest of the user.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/011,072 filed Jan. 12, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to backpacks, more particularly, a backpack having a semi-rigid container capable of being molded in the shape of a user's back, an angled floor, crisscrossing front straps, a lumbar support, lateral supports with vertical support notches and a waist belt having a buckle.
Backpacks are commonly used to carry loads for many different purposes. For example, students use backpacks to carry books to and from school while hikers and military personnel and use backpacks to carry gear and supplies.
Currently, backpacks include two shoulder straps wherein the wearer places his/her arms through each strap and wears the carrying compartment on his/her back. Although this permits a wearer to carry a large amount of weight on one's back, oftentimes the wearing of these particular types of backpacks results in spinal, neck, posture, and muscle problems caused by improper support and distribution of weight carried on the back.
Thus, a need exists for a backpack that promotes proper posture and spinal alignment of the wearer and, therefore, reduces the amount of spinal, neck, shoulder, headache, and muscle problems a backpack wearer could incur from the load being carried.
The relevant prior art includes the following references:


Patent No.
(U.S. unless
stated otherwise)	Inventor	Issue/Publication Date

2002/0145018	Godshaw et al.	Oct. 10, 2002
6,592,012	Godshaw et al.	Jul. 15, 2003
5,129,560	Herman	Jul. 14, 1992
2007/0023470	Roberts	Feb. 01, 2007
5,529,230	Smith	Jun. 25, 1996
3,902,640	Geiben	Sep. 02, 1975
2004/0020958	Lin	Feb. 05, 2004
2006/0283907	Green et al.	Dec. 21, 2006
6,179,187	Lemire et al.	Jan. 30, 2001

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects of patentable novelty and utility taught by this invention are to provide a backpack which:
promotes proper posture of the user;
maintains a proper lateral position of the backpack in relation to the spine of the wearer;
limits side to side motion of the backpack while in use;
limits front to back motion of the backpack while in use;
provides counter-support pressure anteriorly to support the posture of the wearer;
evenly distributes counter-support pressure across the user's chest and shoulders to promote proper shoulder position and head alignment;
enables heavier loads to be supported and carried while limiting additional stress on the wearer;
is available in different sizes according to the intended use;
is cosmetically pleasing to the wearer;
is available in a variety of colors;
is lightweight and durable;
is comfortable to wear; and
is easy to manufacture.
The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a backpack having a semi-rigid container capable of being molded and contoured to the shape of a user's back and spine, an angled floor, crisscrossing front straps, a lumbar support, contoured lateral supports with vertical support notches and a waist belt having a buckle. To use, a person first positions the container on his/her back so as the lumbar support is located against the lumbar region of the user's back and positions the lateral supports about his/her waist and pelvis. Then, the user secures the waist belt about his/her waist and pelvis by buckling the buckle, thereby holding the lateral supports and vertical support notches against the ilium of the user. Finally, the user takes a first strap secured to the container, crosses it over his/her chest and secures it to the lateral support and repeats the same process with the second strap.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a backpack of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a backpack of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of a backpack of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the backpack in use;

FIG. 5 is a side view a decorative accessory; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the decorative accessory.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows:


1.	backpack
2.	container
3.	floor
4.	contacting side
5.	aft side
6.	first lateral side
7.	second lateral side
8.	holes/receptacles
9.	first shoulder strap
10.	second shoulder strap
11.	first adjustment strap
12.	second adjustment strap
13.	lumbar support
14.	first lateral support
15.	second lateral support
16.	first vertical support notch
17.	second vertical support
	notch

18.	first waist belt
19.	buckle
20.	decorative accessory
21.	storage pockets
22.	medallion

The backpack 1 of the present invention, shown in FIGS. 1-3, features a container 2 having a floor 3, a contacting side 4, an aft side 5, a first lateral side 6, and a second lateral side 7. Access to the container 2 is provided by any suitable means, such as a zipper, clip, snaps, Velcro®, etc. The floor 3 of the container 2 is oriented at an angle to achieve optimal weight distribution and stability. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the container would be constructed out of a semi-rigid material, such as rubber, plastic, resin, or any other suitable material, and the contacting side 4 would be molded and contoured to the shape of a user's back so as to match the curvature of the spine. The contacting side would be thick enough to protect the wearer from any objects being carried inside the container. The container 2 may have small holes/receptacles 8 used for air circulation as well as for attaching decorative accessories 20 as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6.
Referring to FIG. 1, a first shoulder strap 9 and a second shoulder strap 10, which may be molded into the backpack out of the same semi-rigid material used to mold the container 2 or attached as separate components, are connected to the top corners of the container 2. The shoulder straps 9, 10 should be at least two inches wide to allow for even distribution of weight across the shoulders and chest. Adjustment straps 11, 12 are attached to the shoulder straps 9, 10 and connect the shoulder straps 9, 10 to the lateral supports 14, 15. The adjustment straps 11, 12 may be either fixedly or removably attached to the backpack 1 by any suitable fastening means, such as clips, snaps, etc. The first shoulder strap 9 would crisscross the second shoulder strap 10 forming an X across the user's chest, as seen in FIG. 4, allowing for even distribution of counter-support pressure across the user's chest and shoulders and limiting any side to side motion of the backpack while also pushing the shoulders and chest back bringing the head and neck into proper alignment.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the container 2, shoulder straps 9, 10, the lateral supports 14, 15, and the lumbar support 13 are all molded into one unit out of the same semi rigid material allowing the backpack 1 to be manufactured in different sizes to match the contour of a user's torso according to height, or to be custom molded to a specific user's torso.
As shown in FIG. 1, storage pockets 21 used for storing pens, pencils, cell phones, etc. may be molded into the shoulder straps 9, 10 and/or the lateral supports 14, 15 out of the same semi-rigid material used to mold the shoulder straps 9, 10 and/or the lateral supports 14, 15. The shoulder straps may be customized by adding an attachable medallion 22 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. The medallion 22 may be personalized for certain groups such as schools, sports teams, etc.
A first lateral support 14 and a second lateral support 15 which may be molded into the backpack out of the same semi-rigid material used to mold the container 2 or attached as separate components and located on opposite sides of the lower portion of the contacting side 4. A waist belt 18 is attached to the lateral supports 14, 15 and is securable by any suitable fastening means, such as a buckle 19. When secured together by the buckle 19, the waist belt 18 fits around the waist and pelvis of the user securing the lateral supports 14, 15 against the sides of the user's body further limiting any side to side motion of the backpack 1 while in use. Vertical support notches 16, 17, molded into the lateral supports 14, 15 are secured against the ilium of the user providing vertical support while also limiting front to back motion of the backpack, and enabling a wearer to carry more weight without adversely affecting the wearer. The waist belt 18 is preferably adjustable via a strap adjustment means so as to provide a tailored fit for the user. A lumbar support 13 may be molded into the container 2 out of the same semi-rigid material used to mold the container 2 or attached as a separate component on the lower portion of the contacting side 4 between the lateral supports 14, 15 so as to fit into the lumbar lordosis and provide support to the user's spine.
It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.

Claims

1. A backpack comprising:

a container;

said container having a floor, a contacting side, an aft side, and two lateral sides;

said container having at least one storage compartment therein;

said container wherein the contacting side is molded to the curvature of a user's back and spine;

a pair of shoulder straps provided on the container for enabling the user to carry the backpack on the user's shoulders;

said shoulder straps having a means for adjustment so as to provide a tailored fit for the user;

a first lateral support and a second lateral support;

vertical support notches molded into the interior of said lateral supports which rest on and against the ilium of the user providing vertical support and limiting front to back motion;

a waist belt;

said waist belt fixedly attached to said lateral supports;

said waist belt is securable around the waist and pelvis by any suitable fastening means;

said waist belt having a means for adjustment so as to provide a tailored fit for the user.

2. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said container is constructed out of a semi-rigid material.

3. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said floor is angled to achieve optimal weight distribution and stability;

4. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said container includes small holes for air circulation.

5. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said container includes small holes for attaching decorative accessories.

6. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said shoulder straps are removably attached to said backpack.

7. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said shoulder straps are attached to backpack in such a manner so as to crisscross the user's chest providing evenly disbursed counter-support and limiting side to side motion;

8. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said shoulder straps may be worn on the wearers shoulders and do not crisscross the user's chest;

9. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said shoulder straps are molded into said container and constructed out of a semi-rigid material.

10. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said shoulder straps are at least two inches wide.

11. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said lateral supports are molded into said container and constructed out of a semi-rigid material.

12. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

a lumbar support located on the lower portion of the contacting side between said lateral supports so as to fit into the lumbar lordosis and provide support to the user's spine.

13. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said lumbar support is molded into said container out of a semi-rigid material.

14. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said lumbar support is constructed out of a durable fabric.

15. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said container, shoulder straps, lateral supports and lumbar support are all molded into one unit out of a semi-rigid material.

16. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

said shoulder straps are customized by adding an attachable medallion.

17. The backpack of claim 1 wherein:

storage pockets are molded into the shoulder straps and lateral supports out of a semi-rigid material.