GB2328147A - A rucksack with a compression panel - Google Patents

1 IMPROVED RUCKSACK 2328147 This invention relates to rucksacks, and more

particularly to means for stabilising the bag or load carrying portion of a rucksack relative to the user.

Rucksacks, and in particular large load-carrying rucksacks, commonly comprise a back attachment system to be worn by the user, and a bag holding the contents of the rucksack to which the back attachment system is mounted.

The back attachment system typically includes a pair of shoulder straps and a hip belt, the shoulder straps and the hip belt being adjustable whereby a given rucksack can be worn comfortably by users having a variety of different heights, sizes and configurations.

However, and no matter how well the back attachment fits the user, there is a tendency for the bag to move in opposition to movement of the user and therefore of the back attachment system.

This instability is a particular problem in large, load-carrying rucksacks, as well as in high energy/dynamic activities, and in situations where the rucksack is not full.

Conshquently, various proposals have been put forward to counter this instability, with the result that most current rucksacks incorporate some sort of means to restrain movement of the bag.

2 For example, it is known to provide adjustable tension straps extending between the upper portion of the bag and each of the shoulder straps, and between the lower portion of the bag and each side of the hip belt, such straps serving to reduce movement at the top and bottom of the bag.

In order to overcome the problem of the content of a partly loaded bag moving about within the bag, on movement of the user, thereby to cause instability of the rucksack even if the aforementioned tension straps are present, it has been proposed to add one or more compression straps to the bag as illustrated in Fig. 1, the straps 2 being secured to the bag 4 and being adjustable whereby the volume of the bag 4 can be reduced from that shown in full lines in the drawings to that shown in dotted lines, the straps 2 embracing the bag 4 whereby the bag itself more closely surrounds the contents thereof.

The area over which the compression load applied by the straps 2 extends can be increased as shown in Fig. 2, the ends of the straps 2 being attached to the sides of the bag 4 by means of fabric fins 6, these fins being attached to the bag 4 over a substantial length a,.

In a still further known arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the compression straps 2 are secured to a compression panel 8 positioned substantially centrally over the outer wall of the bag 4, tightening of the straps 2 serving to pull the panel 8 against said wall of the bag whereby the outer wall and side walls of the bag 4 more closely encase the contents of the bag 4.

It is also known to try to improve the stability j and balance of the rucksack by providing various fibreglass hoops and the like, such as shown at 10 in Fig. 4, connected to the base of the bag and which can be drawn by associated straps against the outer wall of the rucksack in the manner of the straps 2 and panel 8 of Figs. 1 to 3.

It will be appreciated that all of the above described arrangements attempt to stabilise a loaded rucksack by compressing the load-carrying portion or bag of the rucksack, which itself then requires stabilising against the body of the user.

However, the only interaction between the bag and the body is by way of the aforementioned tension straps between the bag and the shoulder straps and between the bag and the hip belt, and these tension straps do not provide the desired overall stability.

It would be desirable to be able to provide a rucksack including a back attachment system and a loadcarrying portion in which the load carrying portion is less prone to movement relative to the user than heretofore.

According to the present invention there is provided a rucksack comprising a back attachment system having a pair of shoulder straps and a hip belt, a load-carrying portion mounted to the back attachment system, and a compression panel overlying part at least of the wall of the load-carrying porion remote from the back attachment system, characterised in that the compression panel is adjustably attached to the back attachment system.

Thus, it will be appreciated that, as the 4 compression panel is attached to the back attachment system, adjustment of the compression panel causes the compression panel to embrace the contents of the load carrying portion of the sack and to draw the load carrying portion and its contents towards the back of the user whereby the load carrying portion is more closely moulded to the shape of the user than heretofore.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compression panel is adjustably attached to each of shoulder straps and to the hip belt of the back attachment system.

In such an embodiment, the compression panel may comprise a central panel portion from which extend four straps, one attached to each of the shoulder straps, and one attached to each side of the hip belt, attachment to the shoulder straps and to the hip belt conveniently being by means of buckles receiving therethrough said straps.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the compression panel may be secured to, to be integral with, the hip belt, and adjustably attached to the shoulder straps. In such an embodiment, the hip belt may be separate from the shoulder straps.

In a still further embodiment, the compression panel may be secured to, to be integral with, the shoulder straps, and adjustably attached to the hip belt.

In all embodiments, it is to be emphasised that the compression panel is separate from, and floats relative to, the load carrying portion of the rucksack whereby, in use, adjustment of the position and/or configuration of the load carrying portion can be made relative to the user.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings which are a front perspective view and a rear perspective view respectively of a rucksack according to the invention.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the illustrated rucksack includes a load carrying portion or bag 20 to which is secured a back attachment system comprising a pair of shoulder straps 22 and a hip belt 24 all of conventional form.

The rucksack further includes a compression shield indicated generally at 26 in the form of a fabric panel 28 of high tensile material padded with, for example, 4mm thick foam, overlying a substantial portion of the area of the rear wall of the bag 20 and from which radiate four arm portions 30, 32, 34, 36, one from each corner of the panel 28.

The portions 30, 32 overlie the upper regions of the shoulder straps 22 and are adjustably and releasably attached to the shoulder straps 22 by means of straps 38, 40 secured to the ends of the portions 30, 32 respectively, said straps 38, 40 being received within buckles attached to the shoulder straps 22.

Similarly, the arm portions 34, 36 each overlie an associated side extent of the hip belt 24, and are adjustably and releasably attached to the hip belt 24 by means of straps 42, 44 secured to the ends of the 6 portions 34, 36 respectively, said straps 42, 44 being received within buckles attached to the sides of the hip belt 24.

The shield 26 is located relative to the bag 20 by a series of loops 46 on the rear wall of the bag 20 through which the panel 28 and arm portion 34, 36 pass as best seen in Fig. 6, the shield 26 being separate from the bag 20 and movable relative thereto and to the loops 46.

The described rucksack incorporates the conventional adjustment straps (not shown) between the shoulder straps 22 and the bag 20, and between the hip belt 24 and the bag 20. In use, these straps, together with the straps 38, 40, 42, 44, are adjusted to locate the rucksack comfortably on the user, the adjustment of the straps 38, 40, 42, 44 serving, by way of the panel 28, to pull the bag 20 and the load therein close to the user's body and to wrap the bag around the contours of the user's back. At the same time the panel 28 embraces the contents of the bag 20 substantially to prevent relative movement between said contents and the bag 20.

The compression shield 26 thus minimises movement of the rucksack and its contents relative to the user, ensuring that such movement occurs in the same direction as that of the user. Consequently, the provision of the shield 26 in the manner of the invention serves to bring the load closer to the user's centre of gravity, thereby greatly reducing unbalancing movement of the rucksack compared with prior arrangements and thereby reducing energy expended in the upper body of the user to keep the rucksack stable.

7 Modifications and variations to the described arrangement can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, the compression shield 26 may be secured to, to be integral with, one of the hip belt 24 and the shoulder straps 2, and adjustably and releasably attached to the other of the hip belt 24 and the shoulder straps 22.

The compression shield 26 may be adjustably attached to the shoulder straps 22 and/or the hip belt 24 by other than straps/buckles.

is If the shield 26 is secured to, to be integral with, the hip belt 24, said hip belt 24 may be separate from the shoulder straps 22.

The rucksack may include a stiffener or other rigid plate to protect the back of the user from the contents of the rucksack.

Other modifications and variations will be apparent to the person skilled in the art.

C:\WORK\SPECIFIC\UK\5638317.SPE 8