PACK AND BELT SYSTEM

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/641,554, filed on May 2, 2024. The prior application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present application generally relates to a wearable pack system.

BACKGROUND

Conventional wearable pack systems offer limited flexibility of operation. Conventional hip pack systems, for example, generally have a pack fixed in place along a belt. In order to access the pack, the hip pack system, in its entirety, must be rotated or removed from the wearer. This restricts the usability of the pack in certain situations and, therefore, improvements in such systems are desirable.

SUMMARY

The present application discloses a hip pack system comprising a pack having a storage compartment and one or more attachment points, a belt configured to be worn around a waist of a user, the belt having a track system that extends along a length of the belt, and a connection system for coupling the pack to the track system of the belt, the connection system having a braking system that restricts movement of the pack relative to the track system. The track system defines a predetermined path of movement for the pack.

In some examples, the connection system comprises a T-shaped element and the track system comprises a sleeve that is sized to receive at least a portion of the T-shaped element, the T-shaped element being moveable along the track system in the predetermined path of movement and being restricted from vertical movement relative to the track system.

In some examples, the braking system comprises a first braking member on a first side of the pack and a second braking system on a second side of the pack, wherein the first braking member is a one-way braking system that, when locked, permits the pack to move freely in a first direction and the second braking member is a one-way braking system that, when locked, permits the pack to move freely in a second direction that is opposite that of the first direction.

The braking system cam include a first cam unit on a first side of the pack and a second cam unit a second side of the pack. The first cam unit can be coupled to a first handle on the second side of the pack and the second cam unit can be coupled to a second handle on the first side of the pack. The first and second handles can be configured to, when a force is applied by a user, release the respective first and second cam units from a locking position. In some examples, the pack is removable from the track system, such as by moving a T-shaped element to an end of the track system, so that the T-shaped element exits the track system.

In another example, a hip pack system comprises a pack having a storage compartment, a belt having a track system that extends along at least a portion of its length, a connection system for movably coupling the pack to the track system of the belt. The connection system can include an element that extends into a sleeve defined by the track system so that the pack can move along a predetermined path defined by the track system.

In some examples, the connection system can include a first cam unit and a second cam unit, the first cam unit positioned on the first side of the pack and the second cam unit positioned on the second side of the pack. The first cam unit can be coupled to a first handle on the second side of the pack, and the second cam unit can be coupled to a second handle on the first side of the pack. When a force is applied by a user, the first and second handles can be configured to release the respective first and second cam units from a locking position, allowing movement of the pack along the track system.

In another example, a method of using a hip pack system is provided. The method can include providing a pack with a storage compartment and one or more attachment points, attaching a belt around a waist of a user, the belt having a track system extending along its length, coupling the pack to the track system of the belt using a connection system, and moving the position of the pack by releasing a braking system and sliding the connection system along the track system.

In some examples, moving the position of the pack can include sliding a T-shaped element of the connection system along a sleeve of the track system. In addition, moving the position of the pack can include release at least one one-way braking system to permit the pack to move freely in one direction.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a novel hip pack system that comprises a pack and a belt.

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the hip pack system shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 3 is a partial, close-up view of the hip pack system shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 4 is a partial view of a track system and connection system of a hip pack system.

FIG. 5 is a partial view of a track system and connection system of a hip pack system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

General Considerations

For purposes of this description, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the embodiments of this disclosure are described herein. The disclosed methods, apparatus, and systems should not be construed as being limiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directed toward all novel and nonobvious features and aspects of the various disclosed embodiments, alone and in various combinations and sub-combinations with one another. The methods, apparatus, and systems are not limited to any specific aspect or feature or combination thereof, nor do the disclosed embodiments require that any one or more specific advantages be present or problems be solved. The scope of this disclosure includes any features disclosed herein combined with any other features disclosed herein, unless physically impossible.

Although the operation of some of the disclosed examples are described in a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation, it should be understood that his manner of description encompasses rearrangement, unless a particular ordering is required by specific language set forth below. For example, operations described sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently. Moreover, for the sake of simplicity, the attached figures may not show the various ways in which the disclosed methods can be used in conjunction with other methods. Additionally, the description sometimes uses terms like “provide” or “achieve” to describe the disclosed methods. These terms are high level abstractions of the accrual operations that are performed. The actual operations that correspond to these terms may vary depending on the particular implementation and are readily discernible to one of ordinary skill in the art.

As used in the application and in the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Additionally, the term “includes” means “comprises.” Further, the terms “coupled” and “associated” generally mean electrically, electromagnetically, and/or physically (e.g., mechanically or chemically) coupled or linked and does not exclude the presence of intermediate elements between the coupled or associated items absent specific contrary language.

In the description, certain terms may be used such as “forward,” “front,” “rear,” “up,” “down,” “upper,” “lower,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “left,” “right,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” and the like. These terms are used, where applicable, to provide some clarity of description when dealing with relative relationships. However, these terms are not intended to imply absolute relationships, positions, and/or orientations. For example, with respect to an object, an “upper” surface can become a “lower” surface by turning the object over. Nevertheless, it is still the same object.

As used in this application, “track system” refers to any structure that can be secured to a belt to guide movement of another component along a defined path of the track system, such as by allowing horizontal movement along the defined path while restricting vertical movement within a sleeve or other complete or partial enclosure.

As used in this application, “pack” refers to any container for carrying items that can be secured to the track system of this disclosure. The pack can be a soft pack, e.g., a flexible pack formed from fabric, leather, or various synthetic materials, or the pack can be a hard pack, e.g., a substantially non-flexible pack formed from materials such as metal or plastic.

Examples of the Disclosed Technology

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrates a novel hip pack system 100 that comprises a pack or bag 102 and a belt 104. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the pack 102 is received in a track system 106 that allows the pack 102 to be moved easily from one location on the track system 106 (e.g., from the back of the user's body) to another location on the track system 106 (e.g., to the front of the user's body) and vice versa, without the need for the belt 104 to be loosened or removed. For example, FIGS. 1A and 1B are views of the hip pack system 100 showing the pack 102 being moved from the rear side 110 of the hip pack system 100 (FIG. 1A) in the direction of arrow 108 to the front side 112 of the hip pack system 100 (FIG. 1B). The front and back sides of the belt 104 can be identical in shape, or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1B, the rear side 110 of the belt 104 can be wider than the front side 112 to provide greater comfort for the wearer.

The track system 106 can include at least one end that terminates to permit the pack 102 to be removed from the track system 106. For example, FIG. 1B shows a first track end 114 at which the pack 102 can be removed from the track system 106 and attached to the track system 106.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the belt 104 can be secured to the waist of a user by a fastening mechanism 116. In FIG. 1A, the fastening mechanism 116 is a quick-release buckle that allows for the two ends of the belt 104 to be quickly and securely connected. Although the fastening mechanism can be any closure structure that allows for attachment of both ends, preferably the fastening mechanism allows for rapid and easy detachment by manipulating the buckle's components such as the quick-release buckle shown in FIG. 1A.

The pack 102 can also have a fastening mechanism 116. FIG. 1A illustrates the pack's fastening mechanism 116 as the same type of quick-release buckle as used with the belt 104; however, it should be understood that any suitable closure can be used (e.g., a tuck or push lock, magnetic snaps, sippers, hook and loop closures, etc.).

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the hip pack system 100 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. As shown in FIG. 2, pack 102 is secured to the track system 106 though a connection system 118. The connection system 118 comprises a track engaging member 120. In the embodiment in FIG. 2, the track engaging member 120 comprises a t-shaped extrusion member that can be connected and captured within the track system 106. The t-shaped extrusion member, when captured within the track system 106, can move along a length of the track system 106.

The track engaging member 120 of the connection system 118 is secured to the pack 102 so that movement of the track engaging member 120 also causes the pack 102 to move along the track system 106. FIG. 2 shows a pin connection system through which the track engaging member 120 is coupled to one or more components 122 secured to pack 102 using one or more pins 124 that extend through the component 122 and a corresponding opening in the track engaging member 120.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, component 122 is portion of a cam unit 126, as shown in FIG. 3. The hip pack system 100 can comprise two cam units 126, one at each side of the pack 102. In this manner, the pack 102 can be held in place by a spring-loaded cam or clutch of the cam unit 126 at each end of the pack 102. The cam units 126 can ensure that the motion of the pack 102 along the belt 104, and around the body, is only initiated by the user. In particular, the user can release the cam unit 126 by pulling on a handle 128 of the cam unit 126 on the opposing side of the pack 102. This releases the opposing cam unit's engagement with the track system 106, and in particular, with one or more raised portions 130 of track system 106.

The cam units 126 can comprise two logarithmic, spring-loaded camming devices. In other embodiments, different types of locking devices can be used to secure the pack 102 in a desired position along the track system 106, such as clutched or braked wheels.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the manner in which the cam units 126 can control movement (i.e., allow and restrict movement) of the pack 102. In particular, cam units 126 engage the outer surfaces (e.g., raised portions 130) of the track system 106, pinching the outer surfaces between the cam units 126 and the track engaging member 120 (e.g., the t-shaped extrusion member) that can slide along the track system 106 (e.g., by moving through the “sleeve” formed within the track system 106.

In some embodiments, cam units 126 permit free movement of the pack 102 in one direction and resists movement in the opposite direction. In this manner, by providing a cam unit 126 on each side of the pack 102, release one of the cam units can permit the pack to move in a designated direction. For example, the cam unit 126 on the left side of the bag can be configured to allow free movement in the direction to the left, but resists movement in the direction to the right, while the cam unit 126 on the right side of the bag allows for free movement in the direction to the right while resisting movement in the direction to the left. Thus, when stationary, the cam units 126 collectively oppose motion in either direction, locking the bag in place on the belt 104.

As shown, for example, in FIG. 2, each cam unit 126 comprises a handle 128 that is attached to a cable 132, which passes behind the pack 102 to the cam unit 126 on the opposite side of the pack 102. Pulling one of these handles 128 engages the cable 132 which, in turn, releases the resistance of motion of the cam unit 126 on the opposite side. In operation, for example, pulling the handle 128 on the right side of the pack 102 allows the pack 102 to move along the track system 106 to the right, and pulling the handle 128 on the left side of the pack 102 allows the pack 102 to move along the track system 106 to the left.

In view of the many possible ways in which the principles of the disclosure may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated configurations depict examples of the disclosed technology and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the disclosure nor the claims. Rather, the scope of the claimed subject matter is defined by the following claims and their equivalents.