Patent Publication Number: US-9848687-B2

Title: Adjustable strap height mechanism

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to backpacks. More specifically, this invention relates to a mechanism that adjusts the height of the attachment point of a backpack shoulder strap to a backpack. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention. 
     A conventional backpack includes shoulder straps worn over the shoulders of the user, waist straps fastened across the waist of the user, and chest straps fastened across the chest of the user. 
     The shoulder straps serve to support the backpack, and the waist straps and the chest straps serve to prevent the backpack from tilting backwards and to more stably adhere the backpack to the body of the user so as to prevent the backpack from swinging while keeping a state in which the user stably wears the backpack. 
     In conventional backpacks, the shoulder straps, which are the principle components in supporting the backpack, do not have a length adjustment function and are fixed to the same position of the back surface of any backpack, thus being worn by users in the same shape regardless of physical characteristics of the users. That is, in conventional backpacks, the upper ends of the shoulder straps are sewn to the upper end of the back surface of the backpack, and the lower ends of the shoulder straps are connected to straps sewn to the lower end of the back surface of the backpack such that the length of the shoulder straps is adjustable. Therefore, a user has no option but to use the backpack in a state in which the upper ends of the shoulder straps are fixed to the upper end of the backpack regardless of amounts or sizes of articles received in the backpack or a size of the backpack. 
     If the user wears the backpack in which the upper ends of the shoulder straps are simply fixed in such a manner, the lower end of the backpack may ride excessively low or high according to the body size of the user and thus the user cannot stably wear the backpack. Therefore, when the backpack is worn for a long period of time or when mountain climbing, such an unstable worn state of the backpack provides considerable fatigue and inconvenience to the user. 
     For example, if a short user wears the backpack, the backpack is located at a position below the waist of the user, and thus the backpack may cause unpleasant contact with the body of the user and provide inconvenience to the user due to swinging of the lower end of the backpack during walking and the user may easily feel tired. On the other hand, if a tall user wears the backpack, the backpack is located at a position above the waist of the user, and thus the backpack may be out of balance due to upward movement of the center of gravity and the user may easily feel tired or stable walking of the user may be difficult. 
     Although the waist straps and the chest straps assist the backpack to be in close contact with the body of the user, the waist straps and the chest straps cannot adjust the center of gravity, thus being incapable of solving the unbalanced state of the backpack. 
     Accordingly, proper adjustment of a position of the shoulder straps of the backpack during contact between the backpack and the body of the user is required. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     With the above in mind, embodiments of the present invention are related to a strap height adjustment apparatus including a backpack, a locking strap adjuster, a non-locking strap adjuster, an adjusting strap, and a shoulder strap. The locking strap adjuster may be secured to the backpack at a first attachment point. The non-locking strap adjuster may be secured to the backpack at a second attachment point. The adjusting strap may be configured to be carried by the locking strap adjuster and the non-locking strap adjuster. The shoulder strap may be secured to the adjusting strap at a shoulder strap attachment point. 
     The adjusting strap may be adapted to form a continuous loop. 
     The shoulder strap may be secured to an outer portion of the adjusting strap at a shoulder strap attachment point. 
     The shoulder strap attachment point may be configured to be adjustably positioned between the non-locking strap adjuster and the locking strap adjuster. 
     The locking strap adjuster may be secured to the backpack in vertical alignment with the non-locking strap adjuster. 
     The strap height adjustment apparatus may include a horizontal support member secured to the backpack. The locking strap adjuster may be secured to the horizontal support member. 
     The strap height adjustment apparatus may include an adjusting strap connection portion affixed to the shoulder strap. The adjusting strap connection portion may include an adjusting strap first end portion first side and an adjusting strap second end portion first side secured to the adjusting strap first end portion first side. 
     The non-locking strap adjuster and the locking strap adjuster may be affixed to an upper back half portion of the backpack. 
     The non-locking strap adjuster and the locking strap adjuster may be affixed to an upper back quarter portion of the backpack. 
     The locking strap adjuster may include a ladder lock. 
     The non-locking strap adjuster may include a square ring. 
     The strap height adjustment apparatus may include a locking strap adjuster attachment strap and a non-locking strap adjuster attachment strap. The locking strap adjuster attachment strap may be adapted to carry the locking strap adjuster and affixed to the backpack. The non-locking strap adjuster attachment strap may be adapted to carry the non-locking strap adjuster and affixed to the backpack. 
     The locking strap adjuster may be flexibly affixed to the backpack. 
     The non-locking strap adjuster may be flexibly affixed to the backpack. 
     The adjusting strap may include a nylon webbing material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a left side elevation view of a strap height adjustment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a back elevation view of the strap height adjustment apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view of inset  3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a left side perspective view of the strap height adjustment apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a left side elevation view of the strap height adjustment apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art realize that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
     Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention. 
     In this detailed description of the present invention, a person skilled in the art should note that directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” and other like terms are used for the convenience of the reader in reference to the drawings. Also, a person skilled in the art should notice this description may contain other terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction without departing from the principles of the present invention. 
     Furthermore, in this detailed description, a person skilled in the art should note that quantitative qualifying terms such as “generally,” “substantially,” “mostly,” and other terms are used, in general, to mean that the referred to object, characteristic, or quality constitutes a majority of the subject of the reference. The meaning of any of these terms is dependent upon the context within which it is used, and the meaning may be expressly modified. 
     An embodiment of the invention, as shown and described by the various figures and accompanying text, provides a strap height adjustment apparatus  30 . The strap height adjustment apparatus  30  may include a backpack  31 , a locking strap adjuster  32 , a non-locking strap adjuster  34 , an adjusting strap  36 , and a shoulder strap  37 . 
     The backpack  31  may be any container adapted to be worn by a human or animal, and carried over at least one shoulder or appendage. The backpack  31  may be secured to at least one shoulder strap  37 . In one embodiment, the backpack  31  may be carried over two shoulders and may include exactly two shoulder straps  31 . The backpack  31  may be any bag, satchel, knapsack, pouch, pack, tote, or the like. The backpack  31  may be adapted to carry one or more items within a carrying compartment. The backpack  31  may be constructed, at least in part, from flexible material. The backpack  31  may be adapted to prevent water from entering the backpack  31 . 
     The locking strap adjuster  32  may be secured to the backpack at a first attachment point  33 . The first attachment point  33  may, for example, be connected to an elongate member. For example, the elongate member may be a part of a frame that extends along a width of the backpack. The locking strap adjuster  32  may be connected to a portion of the elongate member. Alternatively, the first attachment point  33  may be fixed on a portion of the backpack. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that connection of the locking strap adjuster  32  to the elongate member may also be achieved by connecting the locking strap adjuster  32  to a portion of the backpack, or by connecting a second attachment point member to a portion of the backpack so that the first attachment point  35  may be connected to the second attachment point member. 
     The locking strap adjuster  32  may be adapted to carry an adjusting strap  36 . The locking strap adjuster  32  may include a first aperture through which the adjusting strap  36  may pass. The locking strap adjuster  32  may be adapted to adjustably secure the adjusting strap  36  within the locking strap adjuster  32 . The adjusting strap  36  may be adjustably secured when the adjusting strap  36  may be selectably secured in more than one fixed relation to the locking strap adjuster  32 . The fixed relation may be adjusted by manipulating the locking strap adjuster  32  to allow the adjusting strap  36  to move with respect to the locking strap adjuster  32 . Absent manipulation of the locking strap adjuster  32 , the relation between the locking strap adjuster  32  and the adjusting strap  36  may remain static. In one embodiment, the locking strap adjuster  32  may be a ladder lock. In embodiments in which a ladder lock is utilized, applying upward pressure to the ladder lock may allow the adjusting strap  36  to be adjusted within the locking strap adjuster  32 . Absent upward pressure on the locking strap adjuster  32 , the adjusting strap  36  may be retained at a fixed location by the locking strap adjuster  32 . The locking strap adjuster  32  may be adapted to include a connection portion. The connection portion may be utilized to secure the locking strap adjuster  32  to the backpack  31 . The connection portion may be a second aperture through which a locking strap adjuster attachment strap  43  may pass. The locking strap adjuster  32  may be adapted to carry a locking strap adjuster attachment strap  43 . The locking strap adjuster attachment strap  43  may have a first and an opposing second end, both of which may secure to the backpack forming a loop upon which the locking strap adjuster  32  may be carried. 
     A non-locking strap adjuster  34  may be secured to the backpack at a second attachment point  35 . The non-locking strap adjuster  34  may be adapted to carry the adjusting strap  36 . The non-locking strap adjuster  34  may include a first aperture through which the adjusting strap  36  may pass. The non-locking strap adjuster  34  may be adapted to movably retain the adjusting strap  36  within the non-locking strap adjuster  34 . The adjusting strap  36  may be movably retained when the adjusting strap  36  may move freely within the non-locking strap adjuster  34 . By way of example, and not as a limitation, the non-locking strap adjuster  34  may be a d-ring, a square ring, or the like. The non-locking strap adjuster  34  may be adapted to include a connection portion. The connection portion may be utilized to secure the non-locking strap adjuster  34  to the backpack  31 . The connection portion may be a second aperture through which a non-locking strap adjuster attachment strap  51  may pass. The non-locking strap adjuster attachment strap  51  may have a first and an opposing second end, both of which may secure to the backpack forming a loop upon which the non-locking strap adjuster  34  may be carried. 
     A shoulder strap  37  may have an upper end and a lower end. The lower end of the shoulder strap  37  may secure to the backpack  31 . The upper end of the shoulder strap  37  may secure to the adjusting strap  36  at a shoulder strap attachment point  41 . The shoulder strap attachment point  41  may be configured to be adjustably positioned along a length between the locking strap adjuster  32  and the non-locking strap adjuster  34 . Adjusting the fixed relation of the adjusting strap  36  with respect to the locking strap adjuster  32  may adjust the position of the shoulder strap attachment point  41  along the length. Positioning the adjusting strap  36  at different fixed relations with respect to the locking strap adjuster  32  may adjust the height of the attachment of the upper end of the shoulder strap  37  to the backpack  31 . This adjustment may result in raising or lowering the placement of the backpack  31  with respect to a user&#39;s body when the strap height adjustment apparatus  30  is worn over the shoulder or shoulders of the user. 
     The locking strap adjuster  32  and the non-locking strap adjuster  34  may carry an adjusting strap  36 . The adjusting strap  36  may be adapted to form a continuous loop. The adjusting strap  36  may have a first end portion  38  and an opposing second end portion  39 . The first end portion  38  may be fixedly secured to the second end portion  39  to form a continuous loop. The adjusting strap  36  may be adapted to pass through and be carried by an aperture in the locking strap adjuster  32  and also an aperture in the non-locking strap adjuster  34 . The adjusting strap  36  may be a fixed length. The adjusting strap  36  may move freely within the aperture of the non-lacking strap adjuster  34 . The adjusting strap  36  may be fixedly carried by the locking strap adjuster  32 . “Fixedly carried by” may mean that at least one portion of the adjusting strap  32  may be impeded from movement by the locking strap adjuster  32 . The adjusting strap  36  may have an inner portion and an opposing outer portion  40 . The inner portion may define the inner perimeter of the loop. The shoulder strap  37  may secure to the outer portion  40  of the adjusting strap  36 . The shoulder strap attachment point  41  may be located proximate the connection of the first end to the second end. The shoulder strap attachment point  41  may be the portion of the adjusting strap  32  defined by the connection of the first end to the second end. 
     The adjusting strap  36  may be adjustably carried by the locking strap adjuster  32 . The adjusting strap  36  may be constructed, at least in part, from nylon webbing material. The adjusting strap  36  may be constructed entirely from nylon webbing material. The locking strap adjuster  32  may be adapted to prevent or limit free movement of the adjusting strap  36  through the locking strap adjuster  32 . The locking strap adjuster  32  may be a ladder lock configured to prevent movement of the adjusting strap  36  when the backpack  31  is worn by a user. The locking strap adjuster  32  may be secured to the backpack  31  at a location higher than the non-locking strap adjuster  34 . The shoulder strap  37  may be secured to an outer portion  40  of the adjusting strap  36  below the locking strap adjuster  32 . When the backpack  31  is worn, the shoulder strap  37  may apply an upward force to the adjusting strap  36 , which in turn may apply an upward force on the locking strap adjuster  32 , which may prevent or limit movement of the adjusting strap  36  through the locking strap adjuster  32 . 
     The locking strap adjuster  32  may be positioned in vertical alignment with the non-locking strap adjuster  34 . “Vertical alignment” may occur when the locking strap adjuster  32  and the non-locking strap adjuster  34  are oriented to allow the adjusting strap  36  to be carried by both adjusters  32 ,  34  and extend orthogonally from each of the adjusters  32 ,  34  simultaneously. 
     A user may apply downward pressure to the shoulder strap  37 , which will in turn apply downward pressure on the adjusting strap  36  and enable the adjusting strap  36  to move through the locking strap adjuster  32 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the locking strap adjuster  32  may be positioned at release angle, which may be 90°, relative to its nominal operating position. At the release angle, upward pressure may be applied to the shoulder strap  37 , which will in turn apply upward pressure to the adjusting strap  36  and allow the adjusting strap  36  to move within the aperture of the locking strap adjuster  32  carrying the adjusting strap  36 . Movement of the adjusting strap  36  through the locking strap adjuster  32  may alter the height of the shoulder strap  37  with respect to the back pack  31 . Adjustment of the shoulder strap  37  height may be beneficial to the user by increasing comfort or decreasing fatigue. 
     The backpack  31  may have a horizontal support member  42  secured thereto. The horizontal support member  42  may extend across an upper back portion of the backpack  31 . The horizontal support member  42  may extend the entirety of the distance between a first shoulder strap&#39;s  37  attachment point  41  and a second should strap&#39;s  37  attachment point  41 . The adjusting strap  36  may be configured in a direction orthogonal to the length of the horizontal support member  42 . The locking strap adjuster  32  may be secured to the horizontal support member  42 . A locking strap adjuster attachment strap  43  may be carried by the backpack  31  and may carry the locking strap adjuster  32  or the horizontal support member  42 . The locking strap adjuster attachment strap  43  may secure the locking strap adjuster  32  or the to the horizontal support member  42  to the backpack  31 . The locking strap adjuster attachment strap  43  may be adapted to carry the locking strap adjuster  32 . The locking strap adjuster attachment strap  43  may be adapted to carry the horizontal support member  42 . The locking strap adjuster attachment strap  43  may be material with a length having a first end and an opposing second end. The first end may be affixed to the backpack  31 . A first portion of the length may be located beneath the horizontal support member  42 . A second portion of the length may pass through an aperture of the locking strap adjuster  32  and be adapted to carry the locking strap adjuster  32 . A third portion of the length may be located above the horizontal support member  42 . The length of material may be adapted to carry the horizontal support member  42  between the first and third portions. The second end may secure to the first end. The locking strap adjuster attachment strap  43  may be affixed to the backpack  31 . The locking strap adjuster attachment strap  43  may be flexible. The locking strap adjuster attachment strap  43  may flexibly affix the locking strap adjuster  32  to the backpack  31 . 
     A non-locking strap adjuster attachment strap  51  may be carried by the backpack  31  and may carry the non-locking strap adjuster  34 . The non-locking strap adjuster attachment strap  51  may secure the non-locking strap adjuster  34  to the backpack  31 . The non-locking strap adjuster attachment strap  51  may be adapted to carry the non-locking strap adjuster  34 . The non-locking strap adjuster attachment strap  51  may be material with a length having a first end and an opposing second end. The first end may be affixed to the backpack  31 . A middle portion of the length may pass through an aperture of the non-locking strap adjuster  34  and be adapted to carry the non-locking strap adjuster  34 . The second end may secure to the first end. The non-locking strap adjuster attachment strap  51  may be affixed to the backpack  31 . The non-locking strap adjuster attachment strap  51  may be flexible. The non-locking strap adjuster attachment strap  51  may flexibly affix the non-locking strap adjuster  34  to the backpack  31 . 
     An adjusting strap connection portion  48  may be affixed to the shoulder strap  37 . The adjusting strap connection portion  48  may have an adjusting strap first end portion first side  46  and an adjusting strap second end portion first side  47 . The adjusting strap first end portion first side  46  may be a portion of the adjusting strap  36  located on the inner portion of the adjusting strap  36  at the first end portion  38 . The adjusting strap second end portion first side  47  may be a portion of the adjusting strap  36  located on the inner portion of the adjusting strap  36  at the second end portion  39 . The adjusting strap first end portion first side  46  may be secured to the adjusting strap second end portion first side  47  to form a shoulder strap securement portion. The shoulder strap securement portion may be secured to the shoulder strap  37 . The shoulder strap securement portion may be secured directly to an upper side of the shoulder strap  37 . 
     The backpack  31  may have an upper half defined as the half of the backpack  31  that is furthest from the ground when worn by a user. The backpack  31  may have a back portion defined as the side of the backpack  31  positioned along the user&#39;s back when worn by a user. The backpack  31  may have an upper back half portion defined as the upper half of the back portion of the backpack  31 . The non-locking strap adjuster  34  may be affixed to the upper back half portion of the backpack  31 . The locking strap adjuster  32  may be affixed to the upper back half portion of the backpack  31 . 
     The backpack  31  may have an upper quarter portion defined as the quarter of the backpack  31  that is furthest from the ground when worn by a user. The backpack  31  may have an upper back quarter portion defined as the upper quarter of the back portion of the backpack  31 . The non-locking strap adjuster  34  may be affixed to the upper back quarter portion of the backpack  31 . The locking strap adjuster  32  may be affixed to the upper back quarter portion of the backpack  31 . 
     Some of the illustrative aspects of the present invention may be advantageous in solving the problems herein described and other problems not discussed which are discoverable by a skilled artisan. 
     While the above description contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presented embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best or only mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. 
     Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.