Load Carrying System

Abstract

An apparatus for carrying a load on a wearer's body includes a shoulder harness assembly and a waist belt assembly, which are attached to a frame for supporting a load. Each assembly has a flexible panel and a pad consisting of three layers: an outer and inner layer made of closed cell foam and a middle layer made of polyethylene. A plurality of elongate grooves is disposed within the outside surfaces of each pad. Each pad is formed into a preferred curved shape, causing the grooves to widen, and the each panel is coupled with its respective pad, causing each pad to substantially maintain its shape. In one embodiment, each panel is coupled to its respective pad by attaching hook and loop material to the inside surface of each panel and to the outside surface of each pad, disposed between the grooves. In another embodiment, the middle layer is omitted.

1 . A load carrying system for carrying a load on a wearer's body, comprising: 
 a frame configured to support the load;    a shoulder harness assembly, comprising:    a flexible harness panel having an inside and outside surface, said outside surface attached to the frame;    a harness pad having an outer layer and an inner layer, which are flexible, resilient, compressible, and stretchable and a middle layer, which is flexible and resilient, said outer layer having an outside surface;    a plurality of elongate grooves disposed within the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer;    forming the harness pad and the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer into a curved shape; and    coupling the inside surface of the harness panel to outside surface of the curved harness pad's outer layer, whereby the coupling of the two surfaces substantially retains the curved shape of the harness pad;    a waist belt assembly, comprising:    a flexible belt panel having an inside and outside surface, said outside surface attached to the frame;    a belt pad having an outer layer and an inner layer, which are flexible, resilient, compressible and stretchable, and a middle layer, which is flexible and resilient, said outer layer having an outside surface;    a plurality of elongate grooves disposed within the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer;    forming the belt pad and the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer into a curved shape; and    coupling the inside surface of the belt panel to outside surface of the curved belt pad's outer layer, whereby the coupling of the two surfaces substantially retains the curved shape of the belt pad.    
   
   
       2 . The load carrying system of  claim 1  in which inside surface of the harness panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer.  
   
   
       3 . The load carrying system of  claim 2  in which the inside surface of the harness panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer by providing a hook and loop system in which a first coupling material is attached to the inside surface of the harness panel and a second coupling material is attached to the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer and disposed between the grooves.  
   
   
       4 . The load carrying system of  claim 1  in which inside surface of the belt panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer.  
   
   
       5 . The load carrying system of  claim 4  in which the inside surface of the belt panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer by providing a hook and loop system in which a first coupling material is attached to the inside surface of the belt panel and a second coupling material is attached to the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer and disposed between the grooves.  
   
   
       6 . The load carrying system of  claim 1  in which the harness panel and belt panel are made of high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       7 . The load carrying system of  claim 1  in which the harness pad's outer layer and inner layer are made of closed cell foam, and harness pad's middle layer is made of high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       8 . The load carrying system of  claim 7  in which the in which the harness pad's outer layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 19 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.49 kg/cm 2  and 1.40 kg/cm 2 ; the harness pad's inner layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 22.2 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.21 kg/cm 2  and 0.49 kg/cm 2 ; and the harness pad's middle layer has a thickness of approximately 1.6 mm.  
   
   
       9 . The load carrying system of  claim 1  in which the belt pad's outer layer and inner layer are made of closed cell foam, and belt pad's middle layer is made of high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       10 . The load carrying system of  claim 9  in which the in which the belt pad's outer layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 22.2 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.42 kg/cm 2  and 1.40 kg/cm 2 ; the belt pad's inner layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 38.1 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.21 kg/cm 2  and 0.49 kg/cm 2 ; and the belt pad's middle layer has a thickness of approximately 1.6 mm.  
   
   
       11 . The load carrying system of  claim 1  in which the elongate grooves have a cross-section which is v-shaped.  
   
   
       12 . The load carrying system of  claim 1  in which the frame has an elongate, semi-rigid stabilizing member attached to a top end of the frame, said stabilizing member having a pair of left and right stabilizing member arms attached to the outside surface of the harness panel.  
   
   
       13 . The load carrying system of  claim 12  in which the left and right stabilizing member arms are slideably connected to left and right friction sockets, respectively, with the friction sockets attached to the outside surface of the harness panel.  
   
   
       14 . The load carrying system of  claim 12  in which the stabilizing member is made of acetal copolymer solid core pipe.  
   
   
       15 . The load carrying system of  claim 1  in which the outside surface of the harness panel is slideably attached to the frame, whereby the shoulder harness assembly can be raised or lowered in relation to the frame.  
   
   
       16 . The load carrying system of  claim 1  in which the outside surface of the harness panel is releasably attached to the frame, whereby the harness panel can be removed from the frame.  
   
   
       17 . The load carrying system of  claim 1  in which the outside surface of the belt panel is pivotally attached to a bottom portion of the frame, whereby the frame can be tilted forward or rearward in relation to the waist belt assembly.  
   
   
       18 . The load carrying system of  claim 17  in which the waist belt assembly further comprises an adjustable strap connected to opposite sides of the belt panel and adjacent to the outside surface of the panel, whereby shortening the strap limits the amount of the frame's potential rearward tilt and lengthening the strap increases the amount of the frames potential rearward tilt.  
   
   
       19 . A shoulder harness assembly for a load carrying system, including a frame configured to support a load on a wearer's body, the shoulder harness assembly comprising: 
 a flexible harness panel having an inside and outside surface, said outside surface adapted to be attached to the frame;    a harness pad having an outer layer and an inner layer, which are flexible, resilient, compressible, and stretchable and a middle layer, which is flexible and resilient, said outer layer having an outside surface;    a plurality of elongate grooves disposed within the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer;    forming the harness pad and the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer into a curved shape; and    coupling the inside surface of the harness panel to outside surface of the curved harness pad's outer layer, whereby the coupling of the two surfaces substantially retains the curved shape of the harness pad.    
   
   
       20 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 19  in which inside surface of the harness panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer.  
   
   
       21 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 20  in which the inside surface of the harness panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer by providing a hook and loop system in which a first coupling material is attached to the inside surface of the harness panel and a second coupling material is attached to the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer and disposed between the grooves.  
   
   
       22 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 19  in which the harness panel is made of high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       23 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 19  in which the harness pad's outer layer and inner layer are made of closed cell foam, and harness pad's middle layer is made of high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       24 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 23  in which the in which the harness pad's outer layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 19 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.49 kg/cm 2  and 1.40 kg/cm 2 ; the harness pad's inner layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 22.2 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.21 kg/cm 2  and 0.49 kg/cm 2 ; and the harness pad's middle layer has a thickness of approximately 1.6 mm.  
   
   
       25 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 19  in which the elongate grooves have a cross-section which is v-shaped.  
   
   
       26 . A waist belt assembly for a load carrying system, including a frame configured to support a load on a wearer's body, the waist belt assembly comprising: 
 a flexible belt panel having an inside and outside surface, said outside surface adapted to be attached to the frame;    a belt pad having an outer layer and an inner layer, which are flexible, resilient, compressible and stretchable, and a middle layer, which is flexible and resilient, said outer layer having an outside surface;    a plurality of elongate grooves disposed within the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer;    forming the belt pad and the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer into a curved shape; and    coupling the inside surface of the belt panel to outside surface of the curved belt pad's outer layer, whereby the coupling of the two surfaces substantially retains the curved shape of the belt pad.    
   
   
       27 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 26  in which inside surface of the belt panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer.  
   
   
       28 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 27  in which the inside surface of the belt panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer by providing a hook and loop system in which a first coupling material is attached to the inside surface of the belt panel and a second coupling material is attached to the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer and disposed between the grooves.  
   
   
       29 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 26  in which the belt panel is made of high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       30 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 26  in which the belt pad's outer layer and inner layer are made of closed cell foam, and belt pad's middle layer is made of high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       31 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 30  in which the in which the belt pad's outer layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 22.2 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.42 kg/cm 2  and 1.40 kg/cm 2 ; the belt pad's inner layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 38.1 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.21 kg/cm 2  and 0.49 kg/cm 2 ; and the belt pad's middle layer has a thickness of approximately 1.6 mm.  
   
   
       32 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 26  in which the elongate grooves have a cross-section which is v-shaped.  
   
   
       33 . A load carrying system for carrying a load on a wearer's body, comprising: 
 a frame configured to support the load; and    a shoulder harness assembly, comprising:    a flexible harness panel having an inside and outside surface, said outside surface attached to the frame;    a harness pad having an outer layer and an inner layer, which are flexible, resilient, compressible and stretchable, said outer layer having an outside surface;    a plurality of elongate grooves disposed within the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer;    forming the harness pad and the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer into a curved shape; and    coupling the inside surface of the harness panel to outside surface of the curved harness pad, whereby the coupling of the two surfaces substantially retains the curved shape of the harness pad;    a waist belt assembly, comprising:    a flexible belt panel having an inside and outside surface, said outside surface attached to the frame;    a belt pad having an outer layer and an inner layer, which are flexible, resilient, compressible and stretchable, said outer layer having an outside surface;    a plurality of elongate grooves disposed within the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer;    forming the belt pad and the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer into a curved shape; and    coupling the inside surface of the belt panel to outside surface of the curved belt pad's outer layer, whereby the coupling of the two surfaces substantially retains the curved shape of the belt pad.    
   
   
       34 . The load carrying system of  claim 33  in which inside surface of the harness panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer.  
   
   
       35 . The load carrying system of  claim 34  in which the inside surface of the harness panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer by providing a hook and loop system in which a first coupling material is attached to the inside surface of the harness panel and a second coupling material is attached to the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer and disposed between the grooves.  
   
   
       36 . The load carrying system of  claim 33  in which inside surface of the belt panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer.  
   
   
       37 . The load carrying system of  claim 36  in which the inside surface of the belt panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer by providing a hook and loop system in which a first coupling material is attached to the inside surface of the belt panel and a second coupling material is attached to the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer and disposed between the grooves.  
   
   
       38 . The load carrying system of  claim 33  in which the harness panel and belt panel are made of high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       39 . The load carrying system of  claim 33  in which the harness pad's outer layer and inner layer are made of closed cell foam.  
   
   
       40 . The load carrying system of  claim 39  in which the in which the harness pad's outer layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 12.7 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.49 kg/cm 2  and 6.02 kg/cm 2 ; the harness pad's inner layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 19 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.28 kg/cm 2  and 0.56 kg/cm 2 .  
   
   
       41 . The load carrying system of  claim 33  in which the belt pad's outer layer and inner layer are made of closed cell foam.  
   
   
       42 . The load carrying system of  claim 41  in which the in which the belt pad's outer layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 19 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.49 kg/cm 2  and 6.02 kg/cm 2 ; the belt pad's inner layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 25.4 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.28 kg/cm 2  and 0.56 kg/cm 2 .  
   
   
       43 . The load carrying system of  claim 33  in which the elongate grooves have a cross-section which is v-shaped.  
   
   
       44 . A shoulder harness assembly for a load carrying system, including a frame configured to support a load on a wearer's body, the shoulder harness assembly comprising: 
 a flexible harness panel having an inside and outside surface, said outside surface adapted to be attached to the frame;    a harness pad having an outer layer and an inner layer, which are flexible, resilient, compressible and stretchable, said outer layer having an outside surface;    a plurality of elongate grooves disposed within the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer;    forming the harness pad and the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer into a curved shape;    coupling the inside surface of the harness panel to outside surface of the curved harness pad's outer layer, whereby the coupling of the two surfaces substantially retains the curved shape of the harness pad.    
   
   
       45 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 44  in which inside surface of the harness panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer.  
   
   
       46 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 45  in which the inside surface of the harness panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer by providing a hook and loop system in which a first coupling material is attached to the inside surface of the harness panel and a second coupling material is attached to the outside surface of the harness pad's outer layer and disposed between the grooves  
   
   
       47 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 44  in which the harness panel is made of high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       48 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 44  in which the harness pad's outer layer and inner layer are made of closed cell foam.  
   
   
       49 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 48  in which the in which the harness pad's outer layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 12.7 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.49 kg/cm 2  and 6.02 kg/cm 2 ; the harness pad's inner layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 19 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.28 kg/cm 2  and 0.56 kg/cm 2 .  
   
   
       50 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 44  in which the elongate grooves have a cross-section which is v-shaped.  
   
   
       51 . A waist belt assembly for a load carrying system, including a frame configured to support a load on a wearer's body, the waist belt assembly comprising: 
 a flexible belt panel having an inside and outside surface, said outside surface adapted to be attached to the frame;    a belt pad having an outer layer and an inner layer, which are flexible, resilient, compressible and stretchable, said outer layer having an outside surface;    a plurality of elongate grooves disposed within the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer;    forming the belt pad and the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer into a curved shape; and    coupling the inside surface of the belt panel to outside surface of the curved belt pad's outer layer, whereby the coupling of the two surfaces substantially retains the curved shape of the belt pad.    
   
   
       52 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 51  in which inside surface of the belt panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer.  
   
   
       53 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 52  in which the inside surface of the belt panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer by providing a hook and loop system in which a first coupling material is attached to the inside surface of the belt panel and a second coupling material is attached to the outside surface of the belt pad's outer layer and disposed between the grooves.  
   
   
       54 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 51  in which the belt panel is made of high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       55 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 51  in which the belt pad's outer layer and inner layer are made of closed cell foam.  
   
   
       56 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 55  in which the belt pad's outer layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 19 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.49 kg/cm 2  and 6.02 kg/cm 2 ; the belt pad's inner layer has a thickness of between approximately 3.2 mm and 25.4 mm and a compressive strength of between approximately 0.28 kg/cm 2  and 0.56 kg/cm 2 .  
   
   
       57 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 51  in which the elongate grooves have a cross-section which is v-shaped.  
   
   
       58 . A load carrying system for carrying a load on a wearer's body, comprising: 
 a frame configured to support the load;    a shoulder harness assembly comprising:    a flexible harness panel having an inside and outside surface, said outside surface attached to the frame;    a flexible, resilient, compressible and stretchable harness pad having an inside and outside surface;    a plurality of elongate grooves disposed within the outside surface of the harness pad;    forming the harness pad and its outside surface into a curved shape; and    coupling the inside surface of the harness panel to outside surface of the curved harness pad, whereby the coupling of the two surfaces substantially retains the curved shape of the harness pad;    a waist belt assembly, comprising:    a flexible belt panel having an inside and outside surface, said outside surface attached to the frame;    a flexible, resilient, compressible and stretchable belt pad having an inside and outside surface;    a plurality of elongate grooves disposed within the outside surface of the belt pad;    forming the belt pad and its outside surface into a curved shape; and    coupling the inside surface of the belt panel to outside surface of the curved belt pad, whereby the coupling of the two surfaces substantially retains the curved shape of the belt pad.    
   
   
       59 . The load carrying system of  claim 58  in which inside surface of the harness panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the harness pad.  
   
   
       60 . The load carrying system of  claim 59  in which the inside surface of the harness panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the harness pad by providing a hook and loop system in which a first coupling material is attached to the inside surface of the harness panel and a second coupling material is attached to the outside surface of the harness pad and disposed between the grooves.  
   
   
       61 . The load carrying system of  claim 58  in which inside surface of the belt panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the belt pad.  
   
   
       62 . The load carrying system of  claim 61  in which the inside surface of the belt panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the belt pad by providing a hook and loop system in which a first coupling material is attached to the inside surface of the belt panel and a second coupling material is attached to the outside surface of the belt pad and disposed between the grooves.  
   
   
       63 . The load carrying system of  claim 58  in which the harness panel and belt panel are made of high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       64 . The load carrying system of  claim 58  in which the harness pad and belt pad are made of closed cell foam.  
   
   
       65 . The load carrying system of  claim 58  in which the elongate grooves have a cross-section which is v-shaped.  
   
   
       66 . A shoulder harness assembly for a load carrying system, including a frame configured to support a load on a wearer's body, the shoulder harness assembly comprising: 
 a flexible harness panel having an inside and outside surface, said outside surface adapted to be attached to the frame;    a flexible, resilient, compressible and stretchable harness pad having an inside and outside surface;    a plurality of elongate grooves disposed within the outside surface of the harness pad;    forming the harness pad and its outside surface into a curved shape; and    coupling the inside surface of the harness panel to outside surface of the curved harness pad, whereby the coupling of the two surfaces substantially retains the curved shape of the harness pad.    
   
   
       67 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 66  in which inside surface of the harness panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the harness pad.  
   
   
       68 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 67  in which the inside surface of the harness panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the harness pad by providing a hook and loop system in which a first coupling material is attached to the inside surface of the harness panel and a second coupling material is attached to the outside surface of the harness pad and disposed between the grooves.  
   
   
       69 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 66  in which the harness panel is made of high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       70 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 66  in which the harness pad is made of closed cell foam.  
   
   
       71 . The shoulder harness assembly of  claim 66  in which the elongate grooves have a cross-section which is v-shaped.  
   
   
       72 . A waist belt assembly for a load carrying system, including a frame configured to support a load on a wearer's body, the waist belt assembly comprising: 
 a flexible belt panel having an inside and outside surface, said outside surface adapted to be attached to the frame;    a flexible, resilient, compressible and stretchable belt pad having an inside and outside surface;    a plurality of elongate grooves disposed within the outside surface of the belt pad;    forming the belt pad and its outside surface into a curved shape; and    coupling the inside surface of the belt panel to outside surface of the curved belt pad, whereby the coupling of the two surfaces substantially retains the curved shape of the belt pad.    
   
   
       73 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 72  in which inside surface of the belt panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the belt pad.  
   
   
       74 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 73  in which the inside surface of the belt panel is releasably coupled to the outside surface of the belt pad by providing a hook and loop system in which a first coupling material is attached to the inside surface of the belt panel and a second coupling material is attached to the outside surface of the belt pad and disposed between the grooves.  
   
   
       75 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 72  in which the belt panel is made of high density polyethylene.  
   
   
       76 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 72  in which the belt pad is made of closed cell foam.  
   
   
       77 . The waist belt assembly of  claim 72  in which the elongate grooves have a cross-section which is v-shaped.