Strap management system, packs and hydration systems incorporating the same

Abstract

A strap management system and wearable packs containing the same. The pack includes a strap fastener configured to limit dangling of a strap relative to the rest of the pack by securing the terminal end region of the strap, such as to the strap itself or to another portion of the pack. In some embodiments, the strap fastener is connected to the terminal end, region of the strap and is configured to loop around another portion of the strap. In some embodiments, the strap is wound about the terminal end region of the strap and the strap fastener is used to secure the wound strap, such as in a spiral. In some embodiments, the strap management system is used on the body-securing straps of a pack. In some embodiments, the strap-management system is used on auxiliary straps of a pack. In some embodiments, the pack includes a hydration system.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A wearable pack, comprising: 
 a pack body having a compartment that is accessible via at least one opening; and    an adjustable harness assembly operatively connected to the pack body and configured to support the pack body on a user's body, wherein the adjustable harness assembly comprises: 
 a looping strap connected to the pack body;  
 a sizing strap connected to the pack body and extending a length to a terminal end;  
 a sizing fastener connected to the looping strap and adapted to adjustably secure the sizing strap in one of a plurality of selectable positions along the length of the sizing strap and thereby form a closed loop with the looping strap, the sizing strap, and the pack body; wherein the sizing strap is secured by the sizing fastener at a position other than at the terminal end, the sizing strap includes a sized length extending between the pack body and the sizing fastener and an excess length extending from the sizing fastener to the terminal end; and  
 a strap management system adapted to retain the excess length, wherein the strap management system includes a strap fastener with first and second members extending from the excess length of the sizing strap and including connectors complementarily configured for releasable attachment to one another, and wherein the first and second members are configured to collectively loop around at least a portion of the sizing strap.  
   
     
     
         2 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the excess length is adapted to be folded upon itself to form a strap bundle and the first and second members of the strap fastener are configured to collectively loop around at least a portion of the strap bundle to retain the strap bundle in a folded configuration.  
     
     
         3 . The pack of  claim 2 , wherein the strap bundle is wound around the terminal end of the excess length.  
     
     
         4 . The pack of  claim 2 , wherein the strap fastener is adapted to retain the strap bundle proximate the sizing fastener.  
     
     
         5 . The pack of  claim 2 , wherein the strap bundle restricts relative lengthening of the sized length of the sizing strap.  
     
     
         6 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second members of the strap fastener are configured to collectively loop around a portion of the sized length of the sizing strap to retain at least a portion of the excess length proximate the sized length.  
     
     
         7 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the looping strap, sizing strap, sizing fastener, and strap fastener form at least a portion of a shoulder strap assembly of the harness assembly, wherein the shoulder strap assembly is adapted to support the pack body on a user's back.  
     
     
         8 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the looping strap, sizing strap, sizing fastener, and strap fastener form at least a portion of a hip belt of the harness assembly, wherein the hip belt is adapted to extend around a user's waist to support the pack body proximate the user's waist.  
     
     
         9 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the pack further comprises a hydration system including a fluid reservoir dimensioned for transport in the compartment of the pack body, an elongate fluid transport tube extending from the fluid reservoir, and a fluid dispensing valve mounted on a distal end of the fluid transport tube and adapted to be placed in a user's mouth so that the user may draw drink fluid from the reservoir when the reservoir is stowed in the compartment.  
     
     
         10 . A hydration pack, comprising: 
 a fluid reservoir configured to hold a volume of drink fluid;    a fluid transport tube extending from and in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir;    a fluid dispensing valve operatively connected to the fluid transport tube and configured to selectively allow fluid to be dispensed from the fluid reservoir through the fluid transport tube;    a pack body having a compartment configured to hold the fluid reservoir; and    an adjustable harness assembly operatively connected to the pack body, wherein the adjustable harness assembly comprises: 
 left and right sizing straps respectively connected to the pack body, wherein each sizing strap includes a length with a terminal end, wherein each sizing strap is adapted to be releasably engaged along its length by a sizing fastener to form at least a portion of a loop that is adapted to be received around a portion of a user's body to support the pack thereupon; and  
 left and right strap fasteners respectively connected to the terminal ends of the left and right sizing straps, each strap fastener configured to secure the terminal end of its connected sizing strap relative to the rest of the pack.  
   
     
     
         11 . The hydration pack of  claim 10 , wherein each strap fastener is configured to secure a portion of its sizing strap in a spiral wound about the terminal end of its sizing strap.  
     
     
         12 . The hydration pack of  claim 10 , wherein each strap fastener is configured to secure the terminal end of its sizing strap to another portion of its sizing strap.  
     
     
         13 . The hydration pack of  claim 12 , wherein each strap fastener is configured to secure the terminal end of its sizing strap to a portion of the sizing strap between the terminal end and the sizing fastener.  
     
     
         14 . The hydration pack of  claim 12 , wherein each strap fastener is configured to secure the terminal end of its sizing strap to a portion of the sizing strap between the sizing fastener and the pack body.  
     
     
         15 . The hydration pack of  claim 10 , wherein each strap fastener includes a member orientated perpendicular to its sizing strap, and wherein the member is configured to form a releasable loop dimensioned to wrap around a portion of sizing strap.  
     
     
         16 . The hydration pack of  claim 15 , wherein the member perpendicularly extends from one side of the sizing strap to form an L configuration.  
     
     
         17 . The hydration pack of  claim 15 , wherein the releasable loop is dimensioned to wrap around a portion of the sizing strap that is wound into a spiral about the terminal end of the sizing strap.  
     
     
         18 . The hydration pack of  claim 15 , wherein the member includes at least one connector complementarily configured to releasably retain the member in a closed loop.  
     
     
         19 . The hydration pack of  claim 15 , wherein the harness assembly includes a connector and the member includes at least one complementary connector that is adapted to releasably connect to the connector on the harness assembly.  
     
     
         20 . The hydration pack of  claim 10 , wherein the strap fastener includes a pair of members extending from the sizing strap, and wherein the members include connectors that are complementary configured to form a releasable loop around a portion of the sizing strap.  
     
     
         21 . The hydration pack of  claim 20 , wherein each member perpendicularly extends from opposing sides of the sizing strap to form a T configuration.  
     
     
         22 . A wearable pack, comprising: 
 a pack body having a compartment that is accessible via at least one opening; and    an adjustable strap assembly operatively connected to the pack body, wherein the adjustable strap assembly comprises: 
 a sizing strap connected to the pack body and having a length extending to a terminal end region with a terminal end;  
 a sizing fastener adapted to releasably engage the sizing strap in a selected one of a plurality of user-selectable positions along the length of the sizing strap to define a sized length of the sizing strap, which extends from the sizing fastener to the pack body, and an excess length, which extends from the sizing fastener distal the sized length and includes the terminal end; and  
 a strap fastener located at the terminal end region of the sizing strap, wherein the strap fastener is configured to limit dangling of the terminal end region of the sizing strap relative to the rest of the pack by securing the terminal end region of the sizing strap proximate at least one of the strap fastener and a portion of the sizing strap extending between the sizing strap and the pack body.  
   
     
     
         23 . The pack of  claim 22 , wherein the excess length is adapted to be folded upon itself to form a strap bundle and the strap fastener is configured to collectively loop around at least a portion of the strap bundle to retain the strap bundle in a folded configuration.  
     
     
         24 . The pack of  claim 23 , wherein the strap fastener includes at least one member that is orientated generally perpendicular to the sizing strap and configured to form a releasable loop dimensioned to wrap around the strap bundle.  
     
     
         25 . The pack of  claim 24 , wherein the strap bundle is wound around the terminal end of the sizing strap.  
     
     
         26 . The pack of  claim 22 , wherein the strap fastener includes first and second members extending perpendicular to the sizing strap, wherein the first and second members are complementarily configured for releasable attachment to one another.  
     
     
         27 . The pack of  claim 26 , wherein the first member includes a plurality of hooks and the second member includes a plurality of loops configured to releasably fasten to the hooks.  
     
     
         28 . The pack of  claim 22 , wherein the sizing strap forms at least a portion of a body-securing strap assembly that is adapted to secure the pack on a user's body.  
     
     
         29 . The pack of  claim 22 , wherein the sizing strap forms at least a portion of an object-securing strap assembly that is adapted to extend around an object to be transported to releasably secure the object to the pack.  
     
     
         30 . The pack of  claim 22 , wherein the pack further comprises a hydration system including a fluid reservoir dimensioned for transport in the compartment of the pack body, a fluid transport tube extending from the fluid reservoir, and a fluid dispensing valve mounted on a distal end of the fluid transport tube.