Patent ID: 6837409

Claim:
A pack system worn by a wearer comprising: (a) a pack having a front surface, rear surface, top, bottom and opposite first and second sides; (b) a waist belt having first and second free ends, said waist belt attached to the front surface of said pack and having cooperative adjustable fasteners associated with said first and second belt free ends so the belt may be selectively tightened or loosened about the torso of the wearer; (c) a first compression suspension system including: (i) a first compression strap member having opposite ends secured to said first side of said pack at spaced-apart locations; (ii) an adjuster having a free end and connected to said first compression strap member at a connector; and (iii) retaining means for retaining said first compression strap member in a selected position when a manual tensioning force is applied via said adjuster; and (d) a first shoulder strap extending between the top of said pack and one of said sides to extend across the chest area of the wearer whereby said waist belt can be loosened to allow the wearer to shift the pack from a rear to a frontal position and vice versa.