Garment for use with backpacks

Abstract

The garment ( 14 ) is provided with a pack, such as a day pack or expedition pack. Cushioning pads ( 26 ) are located at the pack pressure points, such as about the shoulder and/or hips, which provide more uniform load distribution of the pack weights.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A garment for reducing the dynamic load of a pack on a wearer wearing the pack, comprising: 
 a front comprising a pair of shoulder straps, the straps having upper and lower ends;    a back, the upper end of the rear portion attached to the upper ends of the shoulder straps;    a hip strap attached to the lower ends of the shoulder straps and the back;    cushioning pads generally disposed along a portion of the shoulder straps; and    at least one cushioning pad generally disposed along the hip strap;    wherein the cushioning pads are disposed at pressure points to thereby reduce dynamic loading on the wearer.    
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a chest strap having two ends, each end of the chest strap connected to a shoulder strap.    
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an inflation valve connected to a cushioning pad.    
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , the shoulder cushioning pad further comprising a pad sock.  
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder cushioning pads are permanently affixed to the shoulder straps.  
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the shoulder cushioning pads are removable.  
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 6 , wherein the shoulder cushioning pads are affixed to the shoulder straps with VELCRO® or attachment straps.  
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a hand pump.  
     
     
         9 . A garment for reducing the dynamic load of a pack on a wearer wearing the pack, comprising: 
 a front having upper and lower ends;    a back having upper and lower ends, the upper end of the back attached to the upper end of the front;    a hip strap attached to the lower ends of the front and the back;    cushioning pads generally disposed at the upper end of the front or back portion; and    at least one cushioning pad generally disposed along the hip strap;    wherein the cushioning pads are disposed at pressure points to thereby reduce dynamic loading on the wearer.    
     
     
         10 . An cushioning pad sock assembly comprising: 
 a cushioning pad having an inflation valve;    a pad sock having an aperture, the inflation valve accessible through the aperture; and    attachment ties or VELCRO® for attaching the assembly to a pack strap.