US3649921A

US3649921A - One-hand backpack harness

Info

Publication number: US3649921A
Application number: US13266A
Authority: US
Inventors: David F Thomas
Original assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA
Current assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA
Priority date: 1970-02-20
Filing date: 1970-02-20
Publication date: 1972-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 1989-03-14

Abstract

A backpack harness wherein a pressure plate effects the encircling action of shoulder hooks and a waist belt in order to permit the fastening of a backpack to the back of an individual by using only one hand. A controlled deformation belt for use about the waist of the user of the backpack.

Description

United States Patent Thomas ll l 3,649,921

[4 Mar. 14, 1972 [54] ONE-HAND BACKPACK HARNESS [72] Inventor: David F. Thomas, Hampton. Va.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [22] Filed: Feb. 20, I970 [2|] Appl.No.: 13,266

[52] U.S. Cl. ..224/25 A Field oiSearch .224/8 R, ll, 25 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 34,117 1/l862 McEvoy ..224/8 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 431,1]9 7/1935 Great Britain......t......................224/8 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Lawrence .l. Oresky Attorney-Howard J. Osborn, Wallace J. Nelson and G, T. McCoy [57] ABSTRACT A backpack harness wherein a pressure plate effects the encircling action of shoulder hooks and a waist belt in order to per mit the fastening of a backpack to the back of an individual by using only one hand. A controlled deformation belt for use about the waist of the user of flue backpack.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDHAR 14 I972 3, 649 921 sum 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR. DAVID F. THOMAS, JR.

BY I/ 96 acaw ATTORNEYS PATENTEDHAR 14 m2 SHEEI 2 0F 2 FIG. 4

FIG. 5

FIG. 7

FIG.()

ONE-HAND BACKPACK HARNESS The invention described herein was made by an employee of the United States Government and may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates to a backpack harness and, more particularly, to a backpack harness capable of being attached to the individual rapidly with one hand.

Previously known backpack harnesses have utilized a system of adjustable belts and shoulder straps that were flexible and always required at least two hands for the mounting or attaching of the backpack to the person who was going to be using it. The belts and straps were fastened, in the prior art devices, to a mounting board or frame to which the load to be carries was attached. Other backpack concepts have been known in the prior art but these devices as indicated above either utilized flexible straps requiring two hands or were of such a rigid construction that it was impossible for an individual to easily position the pack on his back when it was in a loaded condition.

The disadvantage of these systems in a zero gravity environment, a reduced gravity, or in a more normal earth gravity, is the fact that the belts and the straps are flexible and require considerable arm movement to work into a position for grasping with the hands to buckle the straps and locate the harness. This maneuvering of the harness in attempting to get into the harness requires considerable time and effort even in an earth gravity environment and in a reduced or zero gravity environment would become impossible without the availability of at least one hand to stabilize the body in an upright position. This particularly is true in the case in which the user is encumbered by a pressure suit.

Therefore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a quick, one-handed device for donning and doffing gear carried in a backpack arrangement.

A further object of this invention is to provide a backpack capable of being attached to the carrier with one hand.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a backpack wherein the primary attachment portions cannot be displaced during the period from dofiing to donning.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide a backpack for use in zero or reduced gravity in which the wearer will have one hand free at all times to assist in stabilization during the donning and doffing process.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a controlled deformation belt that automatically encircles a user upon proper application of pressure for securing a backpack harness in position.

It is a still further object of the instant invention to provide a rigid harness element so mounted as to move automatically into position for carrying the load as the backpack is positioned on the back of the intended user.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a backpack having a substantially rigid harness with the mounting elements controlled by spring portions such that, as the potential wearer locates the pack, the springs affix the mounting elements to encircle the body of the carrier necessary for complete support of the backpack harness and load supported thereby.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a backpack harness having a mounting frame on which the load is attached with a pressure plate suspended from shoulder hooks and a waist belt by a spring system with a flexible belt portion capable of complete locking of the harness to the waist of the user.

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a rear elevational view of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view ofthis invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the invention with portions omitted for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the control deformation belt of the instant invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the deformation belt shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on lines 6 6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7 7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the one-hand quick-donning backpack harness 10 is shown in a substantially diagrammatic fashion. One-hand harness I0 has mounting frame 12 for support of the load to be carried by the harness.

Shoulder hooks 14 are curved and extend downwardly in elongated straight portion 16 to permit a hanging-type arrangement of mounting frame 12 by shoulder hooks 14. It is to be understood that padding, not shown, could be utilized on the underside of shoulder hooks 14 to prevent sharp edges or assist in a more comfortable support of harness II) from the shoulders of the user.

Hooks 14 extend downwardly in elongated straight portion 16 and curve outwardly from mounting frame 12 as spring portion 18 and then curves downwardly to extend substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of elongated portion 16 and provide rigid fastener portion 20. Upper guide 22 locates the position of shoulder hooks 14 at the commencement of elongated straight portion 16. Lower guides 24 position elongated straight portion 16 near the lower section thereof adjacent to the spring portion 18.

Rigid fastener portion 20 connects with pressure plate 30 by welding or other conventional fastening means 32.

One embodiment of waistbelt 40 is comprised of a substantially rigid or metallic portion and a flexible portion. The semirigid spring steel portion of waistbelt 40 is comprised of fastening 42 which secures the waistbelt 40 to pressure plate 30. Forward curved portion 44 of waistbelt 40 curves away from pressure plate 30 toward mounting frame 12 and connects with rear curved portion 46 also of spring steel and a reverse curve from portion 44. As will be seen hereinafter, the reverse curve and system located as it is permits pressure on pressure plate 30 to cause plate 30 to move in a direction toward mounting frame 12 because of the spring configuration of

portions

44 and 46. Rear curved portions 46 connect with substantially straight side portions 48 having inwardly curved ends 50. Flexible end 52 connects with one curved portion 50 and receiver lock 54 is affixed to the other curved portion 50. Thus, it is seen that pressure on pressure plate 30 effects a movement of the rear portion waistbelt 40 toward mounting frame 12 to cause straight portion 48 and curved portion 50 to encircle the waist of the user. This construction then permits the user to lock half belts 60 and hooks M on his back by using one hand to connect flexible end 52 to lock 54. Guides 56 function to locate waistbelt 40 in its proper position relative to mounting frame 12 to provide for a positive connection between pressure plate 30, waistbelt 40 and mounting frame I2.

FIGS. 4-7 show an alternative embodiment of waistbelt 40. A substantially flexible belt 72 of a material such as webbing makes up the basic belt portion and has spacers 74 Mixed thereto. Spacers 74 are rigidly attached at 76 in spaced relation along the length of belt 72. Spacers 74 are substantially U-shaped having a pair of legs 78 and outer body crossmember 79 to provide an opening through the center of spacer 74. Extending outwardly substantially parallel to con nector portion 79 and the face of belt 72 are grooves 80 which extend into legs 78. It is to be noted that grooves 80 are such that they are substantially across from one another to receive spring member 88. Spring member 88 is made of a material such as plastics or a spring metal covered with some material for protection. It is to be understood that spring member 88, by varying the various characteristics, can have the resiliency thereof modified as desired for any given design criteria. It is to be noted that spring 88 is rigidly attached to belt 72 by end spacer 90. Belt 72 is rigidly affixed at 92 to some material which for example would be mounting frame 12. Thus, spring member 88 would be attached to pressure plate 30 and the force of pressure on plate 30 would force spring member 88, because of its freedom to slide in spacers 74 and its fixed relationship to belt 72 at end 90, to deflect downwardly as seen in FIG. 4 and inwardly as seen in FIG. 5 to effect the encircling action by waistbelt 40 of the body of the user of the backpack.

The embodiment 40 of the waist belt also utilizes flexible portion 52 with some type of lock 54 as described hereinafter.

The concept of the alternative embodiment of waistbelt 40 is that of utilizing a composite belt composed of a layer of flexible belting along which is laid a thin plastic or metal spring element having its deformation controlled in the direction perpendicular to the user's body. As noted above the resiliency of spring member 88 can be adjusted as could the point of external fixation of the belt 72 and or spring member 88. The basic principal involved here is that of a compound column of two dissimilar materials wherein one material is completely flexible and the other is flexible in a single plane because of its spring characteristics. It is necessary to secure one end of the flexible belt to the spring member with a rigid connection through the end spacer and the other end externally. Spacers 74 must permit linear motion between themselves and the spring member. Spacers 74 should be optimally spaced dependent upon the flexibility of the belt.

OPERATION In a zero gravity situation backpack would be stored so that an astronaut could back up to it. As the astronaut backs into position, his back would make contact with pressure plate 30. Further rearward movement by the astronaut would increase pressure on pressure plate 30 forcing plate 30 toward mounting frame 12 to cause shoulder hooks l4 and half-belts or straight portions 48 to extend and rotate into position about the body of the astronaut. Using one hand the astronaut can then grasp the short length of flexible belt 52, which is attached to one end of the half-belt, pull it across and fasten it as, for example, by a hook and eye arrangement with hook 54 on the end of the other half-belt 60. Once the half-belts 60 are fastened in this manner harness 10 is secured to the astronaut and continues to force pressure plate 30 into mounting frame 12. A reversal of the process permits the astronaut to free himself of the harness rapidly and easily.

The alternative embodiment of waist belt 40, as shown in FIGS. 4-7, operates similar to that of the above-described embodiment. Belt 72 is fixed to mounting frame 12 and spring member 88 is fixed to pressure plate 30. When the astronaut or user backs into pressure plate 30 there is a change in the pressure on spring member 88 which causes a linear motion thereof and, due to the rigid connection of spring member 88 to spacer 90 which is rigidly attached to the end of belt 72, there is deflection of belt 72 for encircling the waist of the user and permitting the locking through lock member 54'. It is to be understood that this same principle is readily applicable to shoulder books 14 where it would merely be necessary to utilize belt 72 as attached at 92 to mount frame 12 and include the attachment of spring member 88 to pressure plate 30. Thus, upon pressure on plate 30 there would be a consequent encircling action on both belt 72 and the modified shoulder book 14.

In the situation in which a camper desires to utilize this type of harness, in the normal earth gravity, and finds it inconvenient to hang backpack 10 in a manner that it could be donned as by the astronaut, it may still be used with no more difficulty than the usual web harness and, in fact, would be much easier to use. In such a case the camper may pick up the harness by the shoulder hooks and hang it on his shoulders. The weight of the harness and load on mounting frame 12 which could be carried and supported by hooks 14 would then force mounting frame 12 and pressure plate 30 together thus extending half-belts 60 about the camper's waist. One hand of the camper could then be utilized to fasten flexible belt 52 to lock portion 54 of half-belt 60. Doffing the harness is again the reversal of the donning process.

It is to be understood that the shoulder hooks and pressure plates could be in one piece; various spring systems as well as variations of the rigid or semirigid elements could be utilized. It is also contemplated that flexible belt portion 52 could be attached to the forward end of book 14 to permit one-hand fastening of the flexible straps to a convenient location on the half-belts or on the uniform or suit ofthe wearer. It is also contemplated that the shoulder hooks and half-belts could be adjustable to permit one harness to be adjusted for fitting a wide range of sizes of wearers.

Thus, it is seen that the instant invention provides a novel method of suspending a backpack harness from an individual designed to carry a load, as well as permitting that harness to be easily and accurately mounted or attached to the user by use of only one hand. This has great advantage to an astronaut by permitting freedom of one hand for maintaining stability of the astronaut. Furthermore, the alternative waist belt embodiment could have application to safety harnesses for automobiles, aircraft and similar vehicles. This application would merely require the appropriate design and implementation of the controlled deformation belt for installation of safety belts or harnesses that would automatically attach themselves about the driver or passengers in an automobile without effort on the part of the driver or passengers except to adjust a proper fit of the elements.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent by the United States is:

l. A one-hand harness for a backpack comprising: mounting frame means; shoulder attachment means connected to said frame means; waist attachment means connected to said frame means; and pressure plate means attached to said shoulder and waist attachment means and serving to cause said waist attachment means to encircle the waist of an individual utilizing the backpack upon the exertion of pressure against said pressure plate means, said shoulder attachment means including a hook portion and a straight portion with said straight portion attached to said frame; said straight portion of said shoulder attachment means curving outwardly at one end to form said hook portion for mounting over the shoulder of the user; and the other end of said shoulder attachment means extending outwardly from said frame and attached to said pressure plate means.

2. The one-hand harness backpack of claim 1 wherein said waist attachment means comprises a semirigid, spring steel belt means having a flexible portion attached to one end thereof and a lock means for securing said flexible portion attached to the other end thereof; said semirigid waistbelt means attached to said mounting frame in horizontally spaced locations at opposite sides of said mounting frame; the central portion of said semirigid waistbelt means being located between the spaced horizontal attachments thereof to said mounting frame and extending outwardly and being rigidly connected to said pressure plate means; said semirigid waistbelt means extending outwardly on each side from the point of attachment to said mounting frame whereby pressure exerted on said pressure plate means causes said semirigid waistbelt means to encircle the waist of the user and permit said flexible end to be connected to said lock means by one hand of the user.

3. A one-hand harness backpack comprising: pressure plate means having an upstanding outwardly projecting elongated shoulder hook portion attached thereto; a semirigid spring steel waistbelt connected to said pressure plate; said waistbelt and said shoulder attachment connected to a mounting frame for support of the backpack; said waistbelt portion having a flexible end attached to one end thereof; and a lock member attached to the other end of said waistbelt portion, whereby an individual user may exert pressure on said pressure plate means to effect the encirclement of the user by the waistbelt portion and the movement of said shoulder attachments to the user and by using one hand may connect said flexible end onto said lock.

4. A one-hand harness for the backpack of claim 3 wherein said waist attachment means comprises a flexible belt member; a plurality of spacer elements attached to one side of said flexible belt member and having means for receiving a resilient member therein; and resilient spring member means mounted in said spacers, whereby the flexible belt member may be deflected upon application of pressure to said resilient spring member.

5. The one-hand harness of claim 4 wherein said flexible belt member has one end attached to said mounting frame; one end of said resilient spring member rigidly attached to said flexible belt member adjacent one end thereof; and the other i l t i i

Claims

1. A one-hand harness for a backpack comprising: mounting frame means; shoulder attachment means connected to said frame means; waist attachment means connected to said frame means; and pressure plate means attached to said shoulder and waist attachment means and serving to cause said waist attachment means to encircle the waist of an individual utilizing the backpack upon the exertion of pressure against said pressure plate means, said shoulder attachment means including a hook portion and a straight portion with said straight portion attached to said frame; said straight portion of said shoulder attachment means curving outwardly at one end to form said hook portion for mounting over the shoulder of the user; and the other end of said shoulder attachment means extending outwardly from said frame and attached to said pressure plate means.

5. The one-hand harness of claim 4 wherein said flexible belt member has one end attached to said mounting frame; one end of said resilient spring member rigidly attached to said flexible belt member adjacent one end thereof; and the other end of said resilient spring member attached to said pressure plate means, whereby pressure on the pressure plate means causes linear movement of said resilient spring member with respect to said flexible belt member to cause deformation thereof for encircling the user.

6. The one-hand harness of claim 4 wherein said spacer elements include grooves for receiving the resilient spring member therein to permit linear movement of said resilient spring member relative to said flexible belt member to thereby cause deformation of said flexible belt member.