Backpack with shoulder movement harness system

Abstract

A backpack has a backpack body having a front panel 2 , side panels 3 , a back panel 4 , a top panel 1 , an opening for inserting equipment into the pack, a base portion, and a hip or waist belt 8 . The base portion has an inner panel 5 and an outer panel 6 . The inner panel 5 and outer panel 6 define a passage therebetween which terminates in side openings. A shoulder harness has two shoulder straps 7 . The shoulder straps are operatively connected to a flexible member 12 that is substantially non-compressible across its width, has a substantially smooth surface, and extends through the passage. The width of the flexible member 12 is smaller than the width of the side openings and extends through the passage via the side openings with portions of the flexible member extending upwardly from the side openings at an angle to the back panel. The angle of the upwardly extending portions is variable relative to the back panel to accommodate wearers having differing back lengths. The flexible member is substantially freely movable in a forward and rearward direction and a side to side direction relative to the base portion, over a range of differing angles of the upwardly extending portions, to enable shoulder movement of a wearer.

1 . A backpack, comprising: 
 a backpack body having a front panel, side panels, a back panel, a top panel, an opening for inserting equipment into the pack, and a base portion comprising an inner panel and an outer panel defining passage therebetween, wherein the passage terminates in side openings;    a hip or waist belt; and    a shoulder harness having two shoulder straps that are operatively connected to a flexible member that has a length and a width, and is substantially non-compressible across its width and has a substantially smooth surface, 
 wherein the width of the flexible member is smaller than a width of the side openings and extends through the passage via the side openings with portions of the flexible member extending upwardly from the side openings at an angle relative to the back panel, the angle of the upwardly extending portions being variable relative to the back panel to accommodate wearers having differing back lengths, and wherein the flexible member is substantially freely movable in a forward and rearward direction and a side to side direction relative to the base portion, over a range of differing angles of the upwardly extending portions, to enable shoulder movement of a wearer.  
   
   
   
       2 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the passage spans at least a substantial part of a width of the base portion, and the flexible member extends into the passage from sides of the base portion.  
   
   
       3 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner panel is concavely curved relative to the outer panel.  
   
   
       4 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member has a substantially rectangular cross section, allowing bending in one plane only.  
   
   
       5 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the flexible member has rounded edges.  
   
   
       6 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member has a substantially circular cross section, allowing bending in two planes.  
   
   
       7 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is substantially non-compressible along its length.  
   
   
       8 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is operatively connected to each shoulder strap by a buckle.  
   
   
       9 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each end of the flexible member is connected to a further member, and each further member is connected to a respective shoulder strap by a buckle.  
   
   
       10 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one or more support straps extend from the shoulder straps in the general regions of the shoulder straps that will extend over a wearer's shoulders in use, wherein the support strap(s) is/are substantially freely slidable relative to the backpack body to accommodate shoulder movement.  
   
   
       11 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the support strap extends from one shoulder strap to the other, via a support loop that is positioned intermediate the shoulder straps and is connected to the backpack body, wherein the support strap can slide through the support loop.  
   
   
       12 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein a respective support strap extends from each of the shoulder straps, and each support strap is substantially freely slidable relative to the backpack body.  
   
   
       13 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the backpack body comprises frame stays, and wherein each support strap is slidably connected to a respective frame stay.  
   
   
       14 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the frame stays are provided in a tapered configuration, tapering toward their lower ends.  
   
   
       15 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the or each support strap comprises a buckle to provide for adjustment of the length of the support strap.  
   
   
       16 . A backpack, comprising: 
 a backpack body having a base portion, a top panel, two side panels, a front panel and a back panel; and    a shoulder harness having two shoulder straps,    wherein one or more support straps extend from the shoulder straps in the general regions of the shoulder straps that will extend over a wearer's shoulders in use, and the support strap(s) is/are substantially freely slidable relative to the backpack body to accommodate shoulder movement.    
   
   
       17 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the support strap extends from one shoulder strap to the other, via a support loop that is positioned intermediate the shoulder straps and is connected to the backpack body, wherein the support strap can slide through the support loop.  
   
   
       18 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein a respective support strap extends from each of the shoulder straps, and each support strap is substantially freely slidable relative to the backpack body.  
   
   
       19 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the backpack body comprises frame stays, and wherein each support strap is slidably connected to a respective frame stay.  
   
   
       20 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the frame stays are provided in a tapered configuration, tapering toward their lower ends.  
   
   
       21 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the or each support strap comprises a buckle to provide for adjustment of the length of the support strap.