Shoulder strap positioner for backpacks & other carriers

Abstract

Systems for maintaining a desired spacing between shoulder straps ( 10 a, 10 b ) of a pack ( 12 ) employ positioning arms ( 14 a, 14 b ) which are supported by a structure that is located behind the neck. According to a first aspect of the invention, an adjustment mechanism allows reconfiguration of the positioning arms between an open state for putting on and taking off the pack, and a state in which the positioning arms are brought together to maintain proximity between the right and left shoulder straps of the pack. According to a second aspect, a series of parallel hinges ( 24 ) in each positioning arm provides directionally-limited flexibility, allowing the positioning arm to be lifted away from the body to open up accessibility for putting on and taking off the pack, while resisting lateral displacement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for maintaining a desired spacing between a right shoulder strap and a left shoulder strap of a pack worn by a user, the system comprising:
 (a) a first positioning arm configured for extending over a right shoulder of the user and extending downwards to a distal portion for association with the right shoulder strap;   (b) a second positioning arm configured for extending over a left shoulder of the user and extending downwards to a distal portion for association with the left shoulder strap; and   (c) a rigid bridging portion mechanically associated with both said first positioning arm and said second positioning arm so as to be located at least in part behind a neck of the user,   wherein each of said first and second positioning arms is formed from a plurality of rigid segments, and has a plurality of mutually-parallel hinges interconnecting between successive of said rigid segments and/or between one of said rigid segments and said bridging portion, said bridging portion, said rigid segments and said hinges being configured such that the system assumes a body-fitting state in which said positioning arms extend over the user's shoulders and downwards across a chest of the user so as to maintain a state of proximity between the right and left shoulder straps of the pack.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein upward flexing of at least one of said positioning arms at said hinges facilitates putting on and taking off the pack. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said positioning arms has an extensional direction, and wherein said positioning arms are mechanically associated with said rigid bridging portion so that said extensional directions diverge. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said positioning arms has an extensional direction, and wherein said positioning arms are mechanically associated with said rigid bridging portion via an adjustable connection configured to allow adjustment of an angle of divergence between said extensional directions. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the positioning arms diverge behind the neck of the user. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the positioning arms converge as they extend downwards. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the rigid bridging portion is comprised in an adjustment mechanism of the system. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said adjustment mechanism defines a motion of said first positioning arm as a rotation about a first axis and a motion of said second positioning arm as a rotation about a second axis. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said first and second axes are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said adjustment mechanism is integrated into the pack. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said adjustment mechanism is configured for mounting externally to the pack. 
     
     
         12 . A system for maintaining a desired spacing between a right shoulder strap and a left shoulder strap of a pack, the system comprising:
 a first positioning arm, a second positioning arm and a rigid bridging portion mechanically associated with both said first and second positioning arms, wherein   each of said first and second positioning arms comprises a plurality of rigid segments, and a plurality of hinges interconnecting between successive of said rigid segments.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of hinges are parallel one to the other. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein at least part of the rigid segments are generally rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the generally rectangular shaped rigid segments comprise hinge links at opposing sides of their rectangular periphery and interconnecting between successive of said rigid segments is via the hinge links. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each of said positioning arms has an extensional direction, and wherein said positioning arms are mechanically associated with said rigid bridging portion via an adjustable connection configured to allow adjustment of an angle between said extensional directions. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the rigid bridging portion is comprised in an adjustment mechanism of the system. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said adjustment mechanism defines a motion of said first positioning arm as a rotation about a first axis and a motion of said second positioning arm as a rotation about a second axis. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein said first and second axes are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises first and second sliding carriages that are slidable along the rigid bridging portion, and wherein the first positioning arm is pivotally coupled to the first sliding carriage and the second positioning arm is pivotally coupled to the second sliding carriage. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second positioning arms are each free to rotate relative to their respective sliding carriages in a range spanning between stops comprised in the adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the stops are comprised in the sliding carriages.