Inflatable lumbar support for backpack

A removable inflatable support and comfort bag that is designed to be inserted into a specially formed pocket built into the lumbar region of a backpack waist belt. The partially or fully inflated bag helps transfer the weight of the load of the backpack in the lumbar region of the user's back, providing relief from fatigue. The bag is in the form of an airtight, watertight bladder that is insertable into a lumbar pocket in the waist belt of a backpack, and is connected by a hose to a hand pump which includes a release valve. The waist belt may include a pre-molded pad with grooves for channeling perspiration and moisture away from the lumbar region.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to packs used in outdoor backpacking, and 
more particularly to a new and improved lumbar support and comfort device 
for a backpack. 
Backpacking has become a popular all-season outdoor recreational activity. 
Overnight backpacking camping trips and extended cold-weather day trips 
usually require large capacity packs. The larger and heavier the pack, the 
more important even load distribution becomes. Padded waist belts are 
designed to transfer the bulk of the weight of the pack to the pelvis area 
of the user. Shoulder straps transfer the remaining weight to the user's 
back, and are used to adjust the pack to distribute the load between the 
user's back and pelvis area. 
Over many hours or many days of use, it is common for a backpacker to 
develop fatigue in the lower lumbar region of the back. This is 
particularly true if an excessive load is inadvertently or deliberately 
placed on the shoulders and back instead of the waist. Such constant 
weight on the shoulders and back is absorbed by the vertebrae of the spine 
where fatigue can then develop. Such fatigue can be increased by poor 
posture of the user while wearing the backpack. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention solves many of the support and fatigue problems 
presented by heavy backpacks by providing a removable inflatable support 
and comfort bag that is designed to be inserted into a specially formed 
pocket built into the lumbar region of a backpack waist belt. The 
partially or fully inflated bag helps transfer the weight of the load of 
the backpack in the lumbar region of the back, providing relief from 
fatigue. The bag is in the form of an airtight, watertight bladder 
connected by a hose to a hand pump which includes a release valve. The 
pocket is located in a pad that may be folded into place in the lumbar 
region of the waist belt. In an alternative embodiment, the pad includes a 
pre-molded pattern for improved comfort. The pattern is designed to 
facilitate more rapid removal of perspiration and moisture from the lumbar 
region. 
The pocket in the backpack may be closable by means of a zipper, 
interengaging hook and loop means (Velcro.RTM.), snaps, buttons, or the 
like which allow the hose to extend out therefrom. The pump may be a 
squeeze bulb or other hand operated inflation device. The bag is inserted 
into the pocket, and partially or fully inflated using the hand pump until 
the appropriate relief from the load is achieved. If relief is needed in a 
particular area of the lumbar region, the bag may be shifted to that area 
and partially or fully inflated to provide maximum comfort. If no 
additional support or comfort is required, the bag can be deflated and/or 
removed. 
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a 
removable, inflatable support and comfort device that is insertable into a 
pocket of the waist belt of a backpack to provide the wearer with relief 
from fatigue in the lumbar region of the back. 
It is a further important object of the present invention to provide a 
removable, adjustable device to provide support and comfort in the lumbar 
region of a backpack waist belt. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a removable 
support and comfort bag for use in a pocket of the waist belt of a 
backpack that may be moved around within such pocket to provide relief 
from fatigue to a targeted area. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pocket in the 
waist belt of a backpack for receiving a partially or fully inflatable 
support and comfort device to help shift the weight of the backpack in the 
lumbar region of the user's back. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that 
gives relief from fatigue in the lumbar region of the back caused by the 
load of a backpack. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide the combination 
of an inflatable bag connected to a hose, hand pump and valve together 
with a pocket in the waist belt of a backpack for receiving said bag to 
provide adjustment of the backpack while being worn to move the in from 
the lumbar region of the wearer's back thereby providing relief from 
fatigue. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a 
pocket located in a pad that may be folded into the lumbar region of the 
waist belt of a backpack, said pocket receiving a partially or fully 
inflatable support and comfort device to help shift the weight of the 
backpack in the lumbar region of the user's back. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pre-molded pad 
that may be folded into the lumbar region of the waist belt of a backpack, 
said pad including a pocket for receiving a partially or fully inflatable 
support and comfort device to help shift the weight of the backpack in the 
lumbar region of the user's back.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like 
or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring 
particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, it is seen that the invention includes 
an inflatable bag 5 attached to a hose 6 at one end, and a valve 7 and 
hand pump 8 at the other end. The bag is insertable into a pocket 10 in a 
foldable pad section 11 of the backpack waist belt 12. Pad section 11 is 
foldable along line 17 as shown in FIG. 2. The pocket is closable using a 
means 13 such as a zipper or other suitable closing means. Pad section 11 
containing pocket 10 includes a pair of straps 18a and 18b attached to the 
corners opposite fold 17. A pair of buckle means 19a and 19b are located 
on backpack 15 above waist belt 12. After pocket 10 is closed (whether or 
not bag 5 is inserted therein), pad section 11 may be folded upward along 
fold 17 and attached to buckles 19a and 19b using, respectively, straps 
18a and 18b (see FIG. 1). This places the pad section 11 between the user 
and the waist belt 12. 
Each of straps 18a and 18b include interengaging means 23a and 23b (such as 
Velcro.RTM.) which engage with corresponding interengaging means 24a and 
24b, respectively, located on the surface of pad section 11 (see FIG. 2). 
When the pocket is closed as shown in FIG. 1, hose 6 protrudes through the 
end 26 of zipper 13 to the outside. The hose 6 is long enough to allow 
easy access by the backpack wearer so that hand pump 8 and the clamp 9 of 
valve 7 may be easily operated. 
In use, bag 5 is inserted into the pocket section 11 of waist belt 12 as 
shown in FIG. 2. Section 11 is then folded inside waist belt 12 so that it 
corresponds to the lumbar region of the back of the wearer when in use 
(see FIG. 1). The backpack 15 is then donned by the wearer with shoulder 
straps 16 over the wearer's shoulders, and waist belt 12 wrapped around 
the waist. The weight of the backpack is thereby transferred to the waist, 
back and shoulders of the user. In order to move the weight of the 
backpack in the lumbar region of the wearer's back, bag 5 of the present 
invention may be partially or completely inflated using hand pump 8. Air 
may be adjustably released from the bag by turning clamp 9 of valve 7 
until a proper level of comfort is reached. 
Pocket 10 is large enough that bag 5 may be moved around therein in order 
to target relief to a particular area of the lumbar region of the wearer. 
Bag 5 may also be removed entirely (see FIG. 3) from pocket 10. 
In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the foldable pad 11 is pre 
molded on at least one side to provide a series of horizontal grooves 20 
and a pair of extending grooves 21. The opposite side (not shown in FIG. 
5) is the same as that shown in FIG. 2 including the pocket 10 into which 
the inflatable bag 5 may be inserted. The padding between grooves 20 and 
21 provides added comfort, and the grooves themselves provide channels for 
removal of perspiration and moisture away from the lumbar region of the 
wearer for additional comfort. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In the preferred embodiment, bag 5 of the present invention is made of a 
flexible airtight and watertight material, such as nylon, gortex.RTM. or 
plastic, although wood or other material may also be used. The 
corresponding waist belt 12 and pocket region 11 of pack 15 should be made 
of durable nylon or webbing with padding. The pocket closing means 13 
should be a zipper, but could also be made of hook and loop fasteners 
(VELCRO.RTM.), snaps, buttons, or the like. Bag 5 is slided into pocket 10 
and held in place by closing means 13. 
The invention is designed so as to minimize any interference with the 
normal use of the waist belt, while at the same time providing available 
support and comfort by moving the weight of the pack off the users back 
through inflation of the bag. 
The alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5 improves comfort by providing 
additional padding as well as a means for removal of perspiration and 
moisture from the lumbar region of the wearer. 
It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the present 
invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is also 
to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited by the 
specific embodiments disclosed herein, but only in accordance with the 
appended claims when read in light of the foregoing specification.