WO2004100706A1

WO2004100706A1 - Balanced backpack

Info

Publication number: WO2004100706A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/050141
Authority: WO
Inventors: Angelo Manoni
Original assignee: Angelo Manoni
Priority date: 2003-05-14
Filing date: 2004-02-24
Publication date: 2004-11-25
Also published as: ITRM20030237A0; ITRM20030237A1

Abstract

A balanced backpack (1), of the type comprising bag containers supported on the shoulders of a user by shoulder straps, allowing an appropriate weight distribution, with a front-rear balance as well as a side balance, and comprising: a rear bag container (2) associable to a bust by means of a pair of shoulder straps (8), said rear bag container (2) being located symmetrically with respect to said shoulder straps (8); a fastening point (15) associated to said shoulder straps (8) and located frontally to the bust in a symmetrical position; a front bag container (10) fastenable to said fastening point (15), so as to charge the associated load thereon, wherein the weight loadable in each bag container (2, 10) with regard to the volume of the bag containers (2, 10) has a rear/front ratio ranging from 2.0 to 0.8.

Description

BALANCED BACKPACK

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a balanced backpack, of the type comprising bag containers supported on the shoulders of a user by suitable straps, in particular shoulder straps.

As it is known, backpacks are a practical solution for carrying items, because they allow to discharge the weight of the latter on a sturdy load bearing structure, i.e. the user's back, concomitantly freeing the hands and allowing a remarkable freedom of motion, attained by firmly securing the backpack-associated container to the back, using straps and the like.

The backpack, evolved in climbing or military contexts, has found ample scope in uses generally associated to free time, varying its shapes and dimensions and ensuring itself an important niche in the schoolbag field.

In fact, by replacing the traditional satchels and shoulder bags, the backpack allows students to carry a remarkable amount of books and notebooks that, as it is well-known, are solid and heavy items.

This trend, associated to the increase over the years in the quantity of books carried daily by students, even of a tender age, has been the cause of concern owing to the implications that such a carrying practice may entail on the bone structures of the users, in particular when said users are physically growing subjects, i.e. children and teenagers.

In fact, although initially backpack use had been seen from the orthopaedic viewpoint as an improvement with respect to satchels and bags, later on it was realized that the excessive weightiness of the backpacks could influence the user's posture and bone structure.

This concern is due to the fact that in the traditional backpacks the weight is discharged onto the back, i.e. onto the top portion of the spine. The weight of the backpack forces the user to react by assuming a position such as to oppose thereto. This position is a posture tilted and bent forward, which in the long run can deform the spine and, in the most serious cases or due to extant predispositions, cause problems at the disc level, like protrusions, herniations and the like.

An exemplification of these consequences is apparent from figure 7B of the annexed drawings, illustrating the position assumed by a body carrying a backpack of average heaviness with respect to a situation without loads, illustrated in figure 7A. This unbalancing inherent to the use of a backpack is enhanced, if possible, by the fairly widespread custom of carrying the backpack by slinging it on a single shoulder, thereby causing also a lateral unbalance. Another incentive to the unbalance is represented by a further designing trend that is planned out to adjust to small-sized backs and proposes the extending of the backpack in a direction perpendicular to the back, taking further away the barycenter of the load from the line represented by the spine. In order to overcome this serious drawback backpacks of various shapes have been proposed, more enveloping, with the weight displaced toward the top portion of the back, as described e.g. in U.S. 6,179,186 Bl (Blanking) or with a single shoulder strap diagonal to the bust, without however really tackling the problem.

In the hiking field this problem has been tackled owing to the high loads involved and only partially solved, as described in U.S. 5,497,922 (Tate), by providing two additional pockets, each fastenable to a respective shoulder strap.

Evidently, such a configuration fails in balancing, and could conversely enhance an asymmetry.

The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a backpack allowing to overcome the drawbacks mentioned with reference to the known art.

Such a problem is solved by a backpack as specified above, comprising:

* a rear bag container associable to a bust by means of a pair of shoulder straps, said rear bag container being located symmetrically with respect to said shoulder straps;

* a fastening point associated to said shoulder straps and located frontally to the bust in a symmetrical position;

* a front bag container fastenable to said fastening point, so as to charge the associated load thereon, wherein the weight loadable in each bag container with regard to the volume of the bag containers has a rear/front ratio ranging from 2.0 to 0.8.

The main advantage of the balanced backpack according to the present invention lies in allowing an appropriate weight distribution, with a front-rear balance as well as a side balance. The use of such a backpack, besides from being particularly easy, forces the user to assume a correct posture as in figure 7C, with effects that can be propaedeutic to the healthy growth of a bone structure, and even, in some cases, propaedeutical. In addition, said use makes the user's carriage more elegant and slender.

Moreover, loads being equal, the balanced load backpack used by a user, paces being equal, induces a lower heart rate and accordingly a lower oxygen consumption, ensuing from a smaller mechanical work and effort.

Furthermore, the two bag containers could form a single bag or a single backpack when suitably joined by zippers, strings, Nelcro©, etc.

The present invention will hereinafter be described according to some preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of a non-limiting example and with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein: * figures 1 A and IB are perspective views of a rear bag container associated to a backpack according to a first embodiment of the invention;

* figures 2A and 2B are perspective views of a front bag container associated to a backpack according to a first embodiment of the invention;

* figures 3 A and 3B are perspective views illustrating the use of the backpack of the preceding figures 1 A to 2B;

* figures 4A and 4B are perspective views of a rear bag container associated to a backpack according to a second embodiment of the invention;

* figures 5A and 5B are perspective views of a front bag container associated to a backpack in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; * figures 6 A and 6B are perspective views illustrating the use of the backpack of the preceding figures 4 A to 5B;

* figures 7A, 7B and 7C illustrate the distribution of the barycenters of the various body parts of a user, implemented without backpack, with a traditional backpack and with a backpack according to the invention, respectively; * figure 8 shows the pattern of the cardiac profiles of a user in the three cases illustrated in the preceding figures 7A, 7B and 7C; and

* figures 9A and 9B are perspective views of a rear bag container associated to a backpack according to a third embodiment of the invention;

* figures 10A e 10B are perspective views of a front bag container associated to a backpack according to a third embodiment of the invention;

* figures 11A and 1 IB are perspective views illustrating the use of the backpack of the preceding figures 9 A to 10B;

With reference to figures 1A to 3B, a first embodiment of a balanced backpack according to the invention is generally indicated by 1. It comprises a sack-shaped rear bag container 2 of a basically hiking type. It has a top closure flap 3, side pockets 4, a rear pocket 5 and a top handle 6. However, it is understood that such a rear bag container 2 could be made according to any typology, with pockets, openings, strings, hooks, nooses, etc. to meet hiking demands. The rear bag container 2 is associable to a bust by means of a pair of shoulder straps, both indicated by 8, said rear bag container being located symmetrically with respect to said shoulder straps 8. In particular, said shoulder straps 8 branch out from the top portion of the bag container 2 and end each with a respective first fastening member 9, e.g. of the rapid fastening type.

It is proposed that the shoulder straps 8 could be padded and in turn comprise further pockets. Also the fastening member may be of any type whatsoever. The backpack 1 comprises a front bag container 10, it also sack-shaped and of a basically hiking type. It has a top closure flap 11 and side pockets 12. In this case as well, it is proposed that such a front bag container 10 could be made according to any typology, with pockets, openings, strings, hooks, nooses etc. to meet hiking demands. Said front container 10 has, in its top portion, a strap 13 ending with second fastening members 14, apt to cooperate with said first fastening members 9.

Said fastening members, when cooperating in fastening, implement a fastening point 15 associated to said shoulder straps 8 and located frontally to the bust in a symmetrical position. Moreover, when the front bag container 10 is fastened to said fastening point 15, the load associated to the container 10 is charged thereon. Thus, the weight associated to both the containers 2, 10 is located symmetrically with respect to the shoulders, the spine and the bust in general.

To said bag containers 2, 10 a filling volume is associated that may be variable insofar as the containers are made of flexible materials like fabrics or with extensible and retractable walls, e.g. elastic or folding. In all cases, each container has an average filling volume, usually expressed in liters, to which there is related an average carriable weight, due to the average specific weight of the material usually carried (clothing items, books, climbing gear, etc.).

In the backpack 1, the weight loadable in each bag container 2, 10 with regard to the volume of the bag containers has a rear/front ratio ranging from 2.0 to 0.8. Therefore, the rearward-associated weight could be up to twice the frontward- associated one, or, at the other limit value, about the same.

In a preferred embodiment, said ratio ranges from 1.5 to 1.0. In order to correctly wear on the abovedescribed backpack, it suffices to sling one of the shoulder straps 8 over a shoulder to hang the rear container 2 in advance, having partially effected the fastening at the point 15, slinging the other shoulder strap 8 over the other shoulder and implementing the fastening point 15.

Alternatively, it is possible to implement the fastening at the point 15, sling a shoulder strap 8 over the head and insert the latter between the shoulder straps 8, resting them on the respective shoulders. This step could be carried out prior to or after the filling, in particular of the front bag.

In order to more firmly secure the backpack 1, it comprises, at the bottom portion of each bag container 2, 10, straps 16 or equivalent means, provided with suitable fasteners 17, to join the containers 2, 10 bottomwise therebetween and at the user's sides.

In order to take off the backpack 1 it will be possible, upon having released said straps 16, to inversely repeat the above described wearing steps or otherwise to hold together the shoulder straps 8 with the one hand and to release them from the front bag 10, held with the other hand.

Evidently, such a backpack 1 may be adjusted to male or female anatomy, e.g. by providing the length of the shoulder straps 8 to be adjustable. In all cases, the fastening point 15 hangs at the center of the bust and the front bag container 10 may be worn at any height, hence even below the breast.

It may be noted how the sole rear container 2 could be worn as a backpack by means of shoulder straps implemented with the joining of the respective shoulder straps 8 and of the corresponding straps 16, with the joining of the respective fastening means 9, 17.

With reference to figures 4A and 6B hereinafter a second embodiment of the backpack according to the invention will be described, adopting the same reference numbers for alike or equivalent parts.

It comprises a satchel-shaped rear bag container 2, of the type basically indicated for the carrying of schoolbooks and notebooks. It has a top closure flap 3, a rear pocket 5 and a top handle 6. However, it is proposed that such a rear bag container 2 could be made according to any typology, with pockets, openings, containers for portable phones, radios, sound reproducers, etc., to meet free time or school time demands. Moreover, it is understood that the two typologies described hereto may also be blended or adjusted to other different purposes, e.g. for specific professional uses like those of builders, or for military uses.

The rear bag container 2 is associable to a bust by means of a pair of shoulder straps, both indicated by 8, said rear bag container being located symmetrically with respect to said shoulder straps 8. In particular, said shoulder straps 8 branch out from the top portion of the bag container 2 and are joined each to the top portion of the container 2, which therefore may be worn alone.

In this case as well, such shoulder straps 8 could be of adjustable length and releasable at said bottom portion by means of suitable subsidiary fasteners 18, e.g. of a rapid snap type.

It is proposed that the shoulder straps 8 could be padded and in turn comprise further pockets. Frontally, said shoulder straps are joined by a subsidiary strap member 19, which, according to variant embodiments, could be releasable or completely removable, or even adjustably positionable on the extension of the shoulder straps 8. Said subsidiary strap member centrally has a first fastening member 9, e.g. of the rapid fastening type, that here is unconstrained from the ends of the shoulder straps 8.

The backpack 1 comprises a front bag container 10, it also satchel-shaped. The latter has a top closure flap 11 and an independent handle 20. In this case as well, it is proposed that such a front bag container 10 could be made according to any typology.

The front container 10 has, in its top portion, a strap 13 ending with a second fastening member 14, apt to cooperate with said first fastening member 9.

Said fastening members, when cooperating in fastening, implement a fastening point 15 associated, via the subsidiary strap 19, to said shoulder straps 8 and located frontally to the bust in a symmetrical position. Moreover, when the front bag container 10 is fastened to said fastening point 15, the load associated to the container 10 is charged thereon. Thus, the weight associated to both the containers 2, 10 is located symmetrically with respect to the shoulders, the spine and the bust in general. To said bag containers 2, 10 a filling volume is associated that may be variable insofar as the containers are made of flexible or semi flexible materials or with extensible and retractable walls, e.g. elastic or folding.

In all cases, each container has an average filling volume, usually expressed in liters, to which an average carriable weight, due to the average specific weight of the material usually carried, in particular of paper material whose weight is strictly related to volume.

In a preferred version, said ratio ranges from 1.5 to 1.0. In order to correctly wear on the abovedescribed backpack, it suffices to wear on the rear container 2 as a normal backpack. Subsequently, it is possible to frontally join the front container 10. In order to more firmly secure the backpack 1, it comprises, at the bottom portion of each bag container 2, 10, straps 16 or equivalent means, provided with suitable fasteners 17, to join the containers 2, 10 bottomwise therebetween and at the user's sides.

In order to take off the backpack 1 it will be possible, upon having released said straps 16, to inversely repeat the above described wearing step.

In this case as well, by adjusting the position of the subsidiary strap 19, optionally adjustable also in length, and the length of the strap 13, suitably adjustable, it will be possible to adjust the backpack 1 to any anatomy.

In addition, both the disclosed embodiments, which can also have features swapped therebetween, may straddle a chair, with the shoulder straps 8 resting on a seat and with the containers, in an easily accessible position, at the sides. In general, preferably the bag containers will have a reduced thickness, advantageously of about 10 cm, so that their overlapping will equal to a normal backpack. The proposed configuration allows anyhow to sit down and to rest the back onto a chair back without being inconvenienced by the balanced backpack. This feature will be useful, for instance, on public transport where the normal backpacks cause inconvenience to bystanders and do not allow to sit prior to having taken off the backpack.

A variant of this latter embodiment is illustrated in figures 9 A to 1 IB. In this latter embodiment the backpack comprises joining means between the bag containers 2 and 10. In particular, in this embodiment they are made of a zipper having first joining members 20 on a front face of the rear bag member 2 and second joining members 21 on a rear face of the front bag container 10, which therefore may be joined to the front container 2, thereby forming a single bag having plural compartments. In this case the backpack may be worn-on like a normal rear backpack (figure

11 A) or like a distributed load backpack (figure 1 IB).

Of course, such a variant can also be applied to the first embodiment. With reference to figure 8, it is illustrated the pattern of the cardiac profiles of a user in the three cases illustrated in the preceding figures 7 A, 7B and 7C. The heart rate is indicated on the ordinates, and the time is indicated on the abscissas. A teenager user has carried out a walk exercise on a treadmill, at first without load (bottom curve) then with a load of 8 kg, loaded rearward with a traditional backpack (top curve), then again with a distributed load of 4 kg at the front and 4 kg at the rear (middle curve). The experience demonstrated that, carried loads being equal, the effort in the third case is smaller than that of the second one and more similar to the situation without loads. To the abovedescribed balanced backpack a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy further and contingent needs, may effect several further modifications and variants, all comprised within the protective scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A balanced backpack (1), of the type comprising bag containers supported on the shoulders of a user by suitable straps, in particular shoulder straps, comprising:

* a rear bag container (2) associable to a bust by means of a pair of shoulder straps (8), said rear bag container (2) being located symmetrically with respect to said shoulder straps (8);

* a fastening point (15) associated to said shoulder straps (8) and located frontally to the bust in a symmetrical position;

* a front bag container (10) fastenable to said fastening point (15), so as to charge the associated load thereon, wherein the weight loadable in each bag container (2, 10) with regard to the volume of the bag containers (2, 10) has a rear/front ratio ranging from 2.0 to 0.8.

2. The backpack (1) according to claim 1, wherein said ratio ranges from 1.5 to 1.0.

3. The backpack (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said shoulder straps 8 branch out from the top portion of the rear bag container (2) and end each with a respective first fastening member (9) and wherein said front bag container (10) has, in its top portion, a strap (13) ending with second fastening means (14), apt to cooperate with said first fastening means (9), implementing, when cooperating in fastening, said fastening point (15).

4. The backpack (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said shoulder straps (8) branch out from the top portion of the bag container (2) and are joined each to the top portion of the container 2, which therefore may be worn alone.

5. The backpack (1) according to claim 4, wherein frontally said shoulder straps (8) are joined by a first fastening member (9) and wherein said front bag container

(10) has, in its top portion, a strap (13) ending with a second fastening member (14), apt to cooperate with said first fastening member (9), implementing, when cooperating in fastening, said hooking point (15).

6. The backpack (1) according to claim 5, comprising a subsidiary strap member (19) frontally joining said shoulder straps (8) centrally having said first fastening member (9).

7. The backpack (1) according to claim 6, wherein said subsidiary strap member (19) is releasable or completely removable, or even adjustably positionable on the extension of the shoulder straps (8).

8. The backpack (1) according to claim 6, wherein said subsidiary strap member

(19) is adjustable in length.

9. The backpack (1) according to any one of the claims 4 to 8, wherein the shoulder straps (8) are releasable at said bottom portion of the rear bag container (2) by subsidiary fasteners (18).

10. The backpack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the shoulder straps (8) is adjustable.

11. The backpack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the strap (13) is adjustable.

12. The backpack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in order to more firmly secure the backpack (1), it comprises, at the bottom portion of each bag container (2, 10), straps (16) or equivalent means, provided with suitable fasteners (17), to join the containers (2, 10) bottomwise therebetween and at the user's sides.

13. The backpack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising joining means between the bag containers (2, 10).

14. The backpack (1) according to claim 13, wherein said joining means are made of a zipper having first joining members (20) on a face of the rear bag member (2) and second joining members (21) on a rear face of the front bag container (10), which therefore may be joined to the front container (2) forming a single bag having plural compartments.