Rucking system

Abstract

An embodiment of the present disclosure of a rucking system that includes a stackable plate assembly having a first plate and a second plate.

1 . A rucking system, comprising:
 a rucking article having a base, a top spaced from the base, lateral sides that extend from the base toward the top, a front panel coupled to the base, a back panel coupled to the base, the top, and the lateral sides, the back panel having an exterior side, an interior side opposite the exterior side, and a first pocket on the interior side, wherein the first pocket has an internal pocket volume;   a first plate having a first length, a first width that is perpendicular to the first length, a first thickness that is perpendicular to the first length and the first width, and a first weight; and   a second plate having a second length, a second width that is perpendicular to the second length, a second thickness that is perpendicular to the second length and the second width, and a second weight that is the same as the first weight or greater than the first weight,   wherein the first length and the second length are substantially the same and the first width and the second width are substantially the same, such that, when the first plate and the second plate are stacked adjacent to each other to form a plate assembly, the plate assembly slidingly fits in substantially an entirety of the internal pocket volume of the first pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The nicking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plate has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the second plate has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side, wherein when the first plate and the second plate are stacked adjacent to each other to form the plate assembly, the first ends of the first and second plates are coplanar, the second ends of the first and second plates are coplanar, the first sides of the first and second plates are coplanar, and the second sides of the first and second plates are coplanar. 
     
     
         3 . The nicking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plate has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first length extends from the first end to the second end of the first plate, the first width extends from the first side to the second side of the first plate, wherein the first length is about 11.5 inches and the first width is about 9 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The nicking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first weight of the first plate is 10 lbs., and the second weight of the second plate is 20 lbs. 
     
     
         5 . The nicking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plate has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the first plate has a first through hole that extends along the first thickness, and a second through hole that extends along the first thickness, wherein the first and second through holes are positioned a distance that is closer to the first end and the second end, respectively, than a distance to a centerline of the first plate, wherein the centerline is equidistant between the first end and the second end, and is parallel to the first width. 
     
     
         6 . The nicking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first plate has a first through hole that extends along the first thickness, and a second through hole that extends along the first thickness, wherein the second plate has a first through hole that extends along the second thickness, and a second through hole that extends along the second thickness, wherein dimensions of the first and second through holes of the first plate are different from dimensions of the first and second through holes of the second plate. 
     
     
         7 . The nicking system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pocket assembly having at least the first pocket comprising a first pocket panel attached to the interior side of the back panel, wherein the first pocket panel is spaced apart from the base and lies proximate the top, such that the first pocket panel is biased toward the top of the back panel. 
     
     
         8 . The nicking system according to  claim 7 , wherein the rucking article further comprises:
 a plurality of pad members on the exterior side that extend across a width of the back panel; and   a lumbar support member located between the plurality of pad members and the base, wherein the lumbar support member has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of any one of the plurality of pad members,   wherein the first pocket does not overlie any portion of the lumbar support member.   
     
     
         9 . The nicking system according to  claim 8 , wherein the back panel has a height that extends from the base to the top, and a width that is perpendicular to the height, wherein a bottom end of the first pocket panel is spaced from a bottom edge of the back panel a distance that is between 20% and 30% of a total height of the back panel. 
     
     
         10 . The nicking system according to  claim 9 , wherein the pocket assembly includes a second pocket comprising a second pocket panel that overlies the first pocket panel. 
     
     
         11 . The nicking system according to  claim 1 , wherein the back panel has a height that extends from the base to the top, and a width that is perpendicular to the height, wherein the nicking article further comprises:
 a plurality of pad members on the exterior side that extend across a width of the back panel;   a lumbar support member located between the plurality of pad members and the base, wherein the lumbar support member has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of any one of the plurality of pad members;   a closure that removably couples the front panel to the top and at least a portion of each of the lateral sides, such that the closure is configured to permit access to an interior of the nicking article;   a pocket assembly coupled to the interior side of the back panel, the pocket assembly having at least the first pocket, the first pocket having a pocket width, a pocket length that is perpendicular to the pocket width, a pocket depth that is perpendicular to the pocket width and the pocket length, and a closure flap, wherein the pocket length, pocket width and pocket depth define the internal pocket volume; and   an internal frame assembly inside a compartment of the back panel, the internal frame assembly extending from the base to the top within the compartment, such that, the internal frame assembly provides rigid support to the back panel along an entirety of the height of the back panel and the width of the back panel.   
     
     
         12 . The nicking system according to  claim 11 , further comprising shoulder straps configured to secure the nicking article to a wearer, and a sternum strap removably coupled to the shoulder straps and configured to be selectively clasped. 
     
     
         13 . The nicking system according to  claim 12 , wherein the combination of the lumbar support member, the internal frame assembly, and the sternum strap are configured to maintain stability of the nicking system during active movement by the wearer when the nicking article is worn, and the sternum strap is clasped. 
     
     
         14 . The nicking system according to  claim 12 , wherein the lumbar support member extends across an entirety of the width of the back panel, and between 10% and 25% of the height of the back panel. 
     
     
         15 . The nicking system according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of pad members define a plurality of planar contact surfaces that lie along a first plane, and the lumbar support member defines a contact surface that lies along a second plane, wherein a thickness between the lumbar support member and any one of the plurality of pad members extends perpendicularly from the first plane to the second plane and is between 0.25 inches to 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The nicking system according to  claim 11 , wherein the internal frame assembly comprises a planar rigid member and a foam layer adjacent to the planar rigid member. 
     
     
         17 . A rucking system, comprising:
 a first plate having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first length that extends from the first end to the second end, a first width that is perpendicular to the first length, a first thickness that is perpendicular to the first length and the first width, and a first weight, wherein the first length is greater than the first width and the first thickness; and   a second plate having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a second length that extends from the first end of the second plate to the second end of the second plate, a second width that is perpendicular to the second length, a second thickness that is perpendicular to the second length and the second width, and a second weight that is the same as the first weight or greater than the first weight, wherein the second length is greater than the second width and the second thickness,   wherein the first length of the first plate and the second length of the second plate are substantially the same and the first width of the first plate and the second width of the second plate are substantially the same, such that, when the first plate and the second plate are stacked adjacent to each other, the first and second plates slidingly fit in an internal pocket volume of a pocket inside a nicking article.   
     
     
         18 . The nicking system according to  claim 17 , wherein the first plate has a first side, and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the second plate has a first side, and a second side opposite the first side, wherein when the first plate and the second plate are stacked adjacent to each other to form a plate assembly, an entirety of the first ends of the first and second plates are coplanar, an entirety of the second ends of the first and second plates are coplanar, an entirety of the first sides of the first and second plates are coplanar, and an entirety of the second sides of the first and second plates are coplanar. 
     
     
         19 . The nicking system according to  claim 17 , wherein the first plate has a first through hole and a second through hole located at or near first and second ends of the first plate, respectively, wherein the first and second through holes of the first plate extend along the first thickness, wherein the second plate further has a first through hole and a second through hole located at or near opposed ends of the second plate, wherein the first and second through holes of the second plate extend along the second thickness, and dimensions of the first and second through holes of the first plate are different from dimensions of the first and second through holes of the second plate. 
     
     
         20 . The nicking system according to  claim 17 , wherein the first width extends from a first side to a second side of the first plate, wherein the first length is about 11.5 inches and the first width is about 9 inches. 
     
     
         21 . The nicking system according to  claim 19 , wherein the first and second through holes of the first plate are positioned a distance that is closer to the first end and the second end, respectively, of the first plate, than a distance from the first and second through holes to a centerline of the first plate, wherein the centerline is equidistant between the first end and the second end, and is parallel to the first width of the first plate. 
     
     
         22 . The nicking system according to  claim 21 , wherein the first and second through holes of the second plate are positioned a distance that is closer to the first end and the second end, respectively, of the second plate, than a distance from the first and second through holes to a centerline of the second plate, wherein the centerline is equidistant between the first end and the second end, and is parallel to the second width of the second plate. 
     
     
         23 . The nicking system according to  claim 17 , wherein the first weight of the first plate is 10 lbs., and the second weight of the second plate is 20 lbs. 
     
     
         24 . The nicking system according to  claim 17 , further comprising a nicking article having the pocket, wherein the pocket is inside the nicking article and is further sized to slidingly receive the first and second plates when stacked together. 
     
     
         25 . The nicking system according to  claim 17 , further comprising a nicking article, the nicking article having:
 a base;   a top spaced from the base;   lateral sides that extend from the base toward the top;   a front panel coupled to the base;   a back panel coupled to the base, the top, and the lateral sides, the back panel having an exterior side, an interior side opposite the exterior side, a height that extends from the base to the top, and a width that is perpendicular to the height;   a plurality of pad members on the exterior side that extend across the width of the back panel;   a lumbar support member located between the plurality of pad members and the base, wherein the lumbar support member has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of any one of the plurality of pad members;   a closure that removably couples the front panel to the top and at least a portion of each of the lateral sides, such that the closure is configured to permit access to an interior of the nicking article;   a pocket assembly coupled to the interior side of the back panel, the pocket assembly having at least the pocket with a pocket width, a pocket length that is perpendicular to the pocket width, a pocket depth that is perpendicular to the pocket width and the pocket length, and a closure flap, wherein the pocket length, pocket width and pocket depth define the internal pocket volume;   an internal frame assembly inside a compartment of the back panel, the internal frame assembly extending from the base to the top within the compartment, such that, the internal frame assembly provides rigid support to the back panel along an entirety of the height of the back panel and the width of the back panel; and   shoulder straps configured to secure the nicking article to a wearer.