Backpack frame suited for toting heavy, large, or irregular loads

Abstract

A backpack frame has a front frame member in a front plane and a rear frame member in a rear plane that is spaced rearwardly of the front frame member. At least one spacer is connected between the frame members to hold the rear frame member in spaced relationship behind the front frame member. The rear frame member defines a load stand-off element at the rear plane to contact the load and to hold the load away from the body and legs of the user while the user is walking. One or more shoulder-engaging members such as a pair of straps is positioned for placement on the shoulders of the user and a flexible back-engaging panel member is connected in position to rest against the user's back below the shoulders to place a user's back at or forward of the front plane. A load-carrying support member on the backpack frame extends at least as far rearwardly as the rear plane to carry the load. The load support member can be one or more hooks having a straight rearwardly extending portion with an upper surface to carry the load and an upwardly extending projection spaced rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the load from sliding rearwardly on the support member.

1 . A backpack frame comprising, 
 at least one front frame member in a front plane,    at least one rear frame member in a rear plane that is spaced rearwardly of the front frame member,    at least one spacer connected between the frame members to hold the rear frame member in spaced relationship a predetermined distance behind a front frame member,    a shoulder-engaging member positioned on the backpack frame for placement on the shoulders of the user,    a flexible back-engaging member connected to the backpack frame and positioned to rest against the back of the user below the shoulders to position the user's back at or forward of the front plane,    a load-carrying support member on the backpack frame that extends rearwardly at least as far as the rear plane to support a load to be carried thereby, and    the rear frame member defines a load stand-off element at the rear plane to contact the load and hold the load away from the back and legs of the user while the user is walking.    
   
   
       2 . The backpack frame of  claim 1  wherein the support member is a hook having a rearwardly extending portion with an upper surface to carry the load and an upwardly extending projection spaced rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the load from sliding rearwardly on the support member.  
   
   
       3 . The frame of  claim 1  wherein the front frame member comprises a pair of vertically disposed laterally spaced apart frame members and the back-engaging member is connected to extend therebetween.  
   
   
       4 . The backpack frame of  claim 1  wherein the rear frame member in the rear plane includes at least one generally upright element that is connected at its upper and lower ends to the spacer.  
   
   
       5 . The frame of  claim 1  wherein the load-carrying support member comprises a pair of rearwardly extending laterally spaced apart generally horizontally disposed hook elements each with a projection that extends upwardly from a rear end thereof that is spaced rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the load from sliding on the backpack frame.  
   
   
       6 . A backpack frame comprising, 
 a pair of laterally spaced apart front frame elements with a back-engaging member suspended therebetween to contact the back of the user below the shoulders to position the user's back at or forward of a front plane defined by the front frame elements,    a spacer assembly including an upper spacer element that extends rearwardly proximate an upper end of the front frame elements and a lower spacer element that extends rearwardly from the lower end of the front frame elements for defining a rear plane,    a rear frame member located at the rear plane as a load stand-off element at the rear plane that is spaced apart from the front plane to contact the load and to hold the load away from body and legs of the user while the user is walking.    
   
   
       7 . The backpack frame of  claim 6  including a support member comprising a hook having a rearwardly extending portion with an upper surface to carry the load and an upwardly extending projection spaced at or rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the load from sliding rearwardly on the support member.  
   
   
       8 . The backpack frame of  claim 6  wherein the rear frame member in the rear plane includes at least one vertical element that is connected at its upper and lower ends to the spacer assembly.  
   
   
       9 . The frame of  claim 6  wherein including a load-carrying support member that comprises a pair of rearwardly extending laterally spaced apart horizontally disposed tubes each with a projection that extends upwardly from a rear end thereof and is spaced rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the load from sliding on the backpack frame.  
   
   
       10 . A backpack frame comprising, 
 a pair of vertically disposed laterally spaced apart front frame members in a front plane,    a flexible back-engaging panel suspended between the front frame members and positioned to rest against the back of the user to position the user's back at or forward of the front plane,    a pair of laterally spaced apart vertically disposed rear frame members positioned in a rear plane that is spaced rearwardly of the front frame members with at least one spacer connected between the frame members to hold the rear frame members in spaced relationship behind the front frame members,    a lifting member connected to the backpack frame and positioned to rest on the body of the user, and    a load-carrying element on the backpack frame that extends rearwardly at least as far rearward as the rear plane to support a load to be carried thereby.    
   
   
       11 . The backpack frame of  claim 10  wherein the load-carrying element is a rod or tube that extends rearwardly thereon with an upper surface to carry the load and an upwardly extending projection spaced rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the load from sliding rearwardly thereon.  
   
   
       12 . The backpack frame of  claim 10  wherein the rear frame members in the rear plane are rigidly connected at their upper and lower ends to one such spacer.  
   
   
       13 . The frame of  claim 10  wherein the load-carrying element comprises a pair of straight rearwardly extending laterally spaced apart generally horizontally disposed hook elements each with a tab that extends upwardly from a rear end thereof and is spaced rearwardly of the rear plane to prevent the load from sliding rearwardly on the backpack frame.  
   
   
       14 . The frame of  claim 10  wherein the lifting member includes a pair of straps each connected at an upper end to the spacer and at a lower end to one of the front frame members.  
   
   
       15 . The frame of  claim 1  wherein the rear plane and the rear frame member are positioned relative to the front frame member at an acute angle in which the rear frame member is inclined so as to project rearwardly at a lower end thereof with respect to the front frame member.