Back Suspender Apparatus with Suspension Arrangement

Abstract

A back suspender apparatus includes a back carrier for carrying at least an object thereat and a suspension arrangement. The suspension arrangement includes a back support coupled to the back carrier, and a carrying system which includes two shoulder straps extended from the back support and two resilient straps provided at the shoulder straps respectively for absorbing a bounding force of the back carrier so as to minimize a relative movement of the back carrier with respect to each of the shoulder straps.

Claims

1. A back suspender apparatus, comprising: a back carrier for carrying at least an object thereat; and a suspension arrangement, which comprises: a back support coupled to said back carrier; and a carrying system which comprises two shoulder straps extended from said back support and two resilient straps provided at said shoulder straps respectively for absorbing a bounding force of said back carrier so as to minimize a relative movement of said back carrier with respect to each of said shoulder straps.

2. The back suspender apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said resilient straps has a first resilient end extended from an upper end of said shoulder strap and a second resilient end coupled at said back support for absorbing the bounding force from said back support by said back carrier.

3. The back suspender apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said second resilient end of each of said resilient straps is attached to a top edge of said back support.

4. The back suspender apparatus, as recited in claim 3, wherein said carrying system further comprises a strap fastener provided at each of said resilient straps to detachably couple said first resilient end of each of said resilient straps to said upper end of said shoulder strap so as to selectively a resilient length of said resilient strap between said upper end of said shoulder strap and said back support.

5. The back suspender apparatus, as recited in claim 3, wherein said carrying system further comprises two receiving sleeves extended from said back support to said upper ends of said shoulder straps respectively that said resilient straps are extended within said receiving sleeves respectively in a hidden manner.

6. The back suspender apparatus, as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said receiving sleeves has an extensible structure for enabling said receiving sleeve being extended to increase a length thereof.

7. The back suspender apparatus, as recited in claim 2, wherein said second resilient end of each of said resilient straps is attached to an outer side of said back support where said back carrier is coupled thereat, such that each of said resilient straps has a hidden portion extended between said back support and said back carrier, and an exposed portion extended from said hidden portion to said upper end of said shoulder strap.

8. The back suspender apparatus, as recited in claim 7, wherein said carrying system further comprises a strap fastener provided at each of said resilient straps to detachably couple said second resilient end of each of said resilient straps to said outer side of said back support so as to selectively a resilient length of said resilient strap between said upper end of said shoulder strap and said back support.

9. The back suspender apparatus, as recited in claim 7, wherein said carrying system further comprises two receiving sleeves extended from said back support to said upper ends of said shoulder straps respectively that said exposed portions of said resilient straps are extended within said receiving sleeves respectively in a hidden manner.

10. The back suspender apparatus, as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said receiving sleeves has an extensible structure for enabling said receiving sleeve being extended to increase a length thereof.

11. The back suspender apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said back support comprises a back frame and a back frame fastener provided thereat to couple with said back carrier so as to mount said back carrier at said back frame.

12. The back suspender apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said back carrier is detachably coupled at said back support.

13. The back suspender apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein said suspension arrangement further comprises two lower resilient straps extended from lower ends of said shoulder straps respectively to said back support.

14. A suspension arrangement, comprising: a back support adapted for carrying at least an object; and a carrying system which comprises two shoulder straps extended from said back support and two resilient straps provided at said shoulder straps respectively for absorbing a bounding force of the object so as to minimize a relative movement of the object with respect to each of said shoulder straps.

15. The suspension arrangement, as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said resilient straps has a first resilient end extended from an upper end of said shoulder strap and a second resilient end coupled at said back support for absorbing the bounding force from said back support by said back carrier.

16. The suspension arrangement, as recited in claim 15, wherein said second resilient end of each of said resilient straps is attached to a top edge of said back support.

17. The suspension arrangement, as recited in claim 15, wherein said second resilient end of each of said resilient straps is attached to an outer side of said back support where the object is coupled thereat.

18. The suspension arrangement, as recited in claim 14, wherein said back support comprises a back frame and a back frame fastener provided thereat for coupling with the object so as to mount the object at said back frame.

19. The suspension arrangement, as recited in claim 18, wherein said back frame is made of rigid but lightweight material and has an inner side where said shoulder straps are located and an outer side where the object is held thereat.

20. The suspension arrangement, as recited in claim 14, wherein said carrying system further comprises two lower resilient straps extended from lower ends of said shoulder straps respectively to said back support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a back suspender apparatus with a suspension arrangement according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the back suspender apparatus with the suspension arrangement according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the suspension arrangement of the back suspender apparatus according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative mode of the suspension arrangement of the back suspender apparatus according to the above first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a back suspender apparatus with a suspension arrangement according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the suspension arrangement of the back suspender apparatus according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative mode of the suspension arrangement of the back suspender apparatus according to the above second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments are provided in the following description only as examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined in the following description would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, a back suspender apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the back suspender apparatus comprises a back carrier 10 for carrying at least an object thereat and a suspension arrangement 20.

[0031] According to the preferred embodiment, the back carrier 10 comprises a backpack 11 adapted for carrying different objects therein. Alternatively, the back carrier 10 can be a baby carrier backpack 11A or individual items 11B.

[0032] The suspension arrangement 20 comprises a back support 30 and a carrying system 40. The back support 30 is coupled to the back carrier 10. The carrying system 40 comprises two shoulder straps 41 extended from said back support and two resilient straps 42 provided at the shoulder straps 41 respectively for absorbing a bounding force of the back carrier 10 so as to minimize a relative movement of the back carrier 10 with respect to each of the shoulder straps 41.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the back support 30 forms a connecting bridge between the carrying system 40 and the back carrier 10. The back support 30 comprises a back frame 31 and a back frame fastener 32 provided thereat to couple with the back carrier 10 so as to mount the back carrier 10 at the back frame 31.

[0034] Preferably, the back frame 31 is made of rigid but lightweight material, such as aluminum, to support the weight of the back carrier 10 or evenly directly support the individual items. In one embodiment, the back frame 31 has a planar configuration defining an inner side and an opposed outer side, wherein the carrying system 40 is provided at the inner side of the back frame 31 while the back carrier 10 is loaded at the outer side of the back frame 31. It is worth mentioning that the back frame 31 can be made of different material as long as the back frame 31 can support the back carrier 10. For example, the back frame 31 has a H shape defining two top edges, two bottom edges, and two side edges. It is appreciated the back frame 31 can be configured in different shapes and can provide at least a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges. Furthermore, the back frame 31 further has a cushioning layer provided at the inner side thereof, such that when the back frame 31 is carried by the wearer via the carrying system 40, the cushioning layer will provide a comfortable touch of the back frame 31 to the back of the wearer.

[0035] In one embodiment, the back frame fastener 32 is configured to mount the back carrier 10 at the outer side of the back frame 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the back frame fastener 32 comprises at least two fastening straps 321 sidewardly extended from the side edges of the back frame 31 respectively, and at least a fastening channel 322 provided at a back of the back carrier 10. The fastening straps 321 are extended through the fastening channel 322 and are detachably fastened with each other to detachably mount the back carrier 10 at the back frame 31. In other words, the back frame fastener 32 is arranged to detachably mount the back carrier 10 at the back frame 31. As a result, the wearer is able to interchange different back carriers 10, such as the backpack 11 or baby carrier backpack 11A, to the back frame 31. The back frame fastener 32 can also directly bind the individual items 11B. As shown in FIG. 2, four fastening straps 321 are provided that two fastening straps 321 are extended from an upper portion of the back frame 31 and the other two fastening straps 321 are extended from a lower portion of the back frame 31. Correspondingly, two fastening channels 322 are provided at an upper portion and a lower portion of the back carrier 10, such that the back carrier 10 can be securely mounted at the back frame 31 via the fastening straps 321 and the fastening channels 322. It is worth mentioning that the back frame fastener 32 can be configured to permanently mount the back carrier 10 at the outer side of the back frame 31. For example, the fastening straps 321 can be directly stitched at the back carrier 10 to permanently mount the back carrier 10 at the back frame 31.

[0036] Each of the resilient straps 42 is configured to generate a predetermined resilient force between the back support 30 and the shoulder straps 41 for absorbing the bounding force of the back support 30 when the back carrier 10 is held thereat, especially when the wearers walks or runs, to minimize the relative movement of the back support 30 with respect to each of the shoulder straps 41. As it is mentioned above, if there is no relative movement of the back support 30 (with the back carrier 10) with respect to the shoulder straps 41, the loading force is directly exerted to the shoulder straps 41 from the back carrier 10. On the other hand, when there is a relative large movement of the back carrier 10 with respect to the shoulder straps 41, the bounding force of the back carrier 10 will be varied in response to the movement of the back carrier, causing the backpack to be worn uncomfortably. Therefore, the resilient strap 42 of the present invention allows the relative movement of the back carrier 10 with respect to each of the shoulder straps 41 but minimizes the relative movement of the back carrier 10 by absorbing the bounding force of the back carrier 10.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, each of the resilient straps 42 has a first resilient end 421 extended from an upper end of the shoulder strap 41 and a second resilient end 422 coupled at the back support 30 for absorbing the bounding force from the back support 30 by the back carrier 10. Accordingly, the resilient straps 42 are made of stretchable material to generate the resilient force. The resilient force provided by the resilient straps 42 can absorb the bounding force of the back carrier 10 to the shoulder straps 41. Each of the resilient straps 42 has a rectangular shape that a width of the first resilient end 421 is the same as a width at the second resilient end 422. This uniform width of the resilient strap 42 will ensure the loading force to be transferred to the shoulder strap 42. In addition, the resilient force at the first resilient end 421 of the resilient strap 42 is the same as the resilient force at the second resilient end 422 of the resilient strap 42 to ensure the uniform resilient force thereat to support the back carrier 10.

[0038] Accordingly, the first resilient end 421 of the resilient strap 42 is permanently affixed to the upper end of the respective shoulder strap 41 while the second resilient end 422 of the resilient strap 42 is permanently affixed to the top edge of the back frame 31. Therefore, the resilient length, i.e. a length between the first and second resilient ends 421, 422, of the resilient strap 42 is fixed.

[0039] The resilient straps 42 are also provided at the shoulder straps 41 individually for evenly distributing the loading force of the back carrier 10 to each of the shoulder straps 41, such that the resilient straps 42 can absorb the bounding force of the back carrier 10 at different directions, such as an up-and-down direction or a lateral direction. For example, when the items are unevenly disposed in the back carrier 10, the loading force may not be exerted at a centerline of the back carrier 10. As a result, the loading force may be evenly distributed to the shoulder straps 41. Since the resilient straps 42 are provided at the shoulder straps 41 individually, the resilient straps 42 will generate the independent resilient force at each of the shoulder straps 41 to balance the uneven loading force at the back carrier 10, such that the loading force can be evenly distributed the loading force of the back carrier 10 to each of the shoulder straps 41.

[0040] According to the preferred embodiment, the carrying system 40 further comprises two receiving sleeves 43 extended from the back support 30 to the upper ends of the shoulder straps 41 respectively that the resilient straps 42 are extended within the receiving sleeves 43 respectively in a hidden manner.

[0041] Accordingly, each of the receiving sleeves 43 has an upper end coupled at the top edge of the back frame 31 and a lower end coupled at the upper end of the shoulder strap 41. Each of the receiving sleeves 43 has an extensible structure for enabling the receiving sleeve 43 being extended to increase a length thereof, wherein the resilient strap 42 is extended and protected within the receiving sleeve 43. In one embodiment, each of the receiving sleeves 43 is formed in a bellow shape to enable the receiving sleeve 43 being extended.

[0042] An extensibility of the receiving sleeve 43 is smaller than a resilience of the resilient strap 42 to limit a stretching length of the resilient strap 42. In other words, a fully extended length of the receiving sleeve 43 is smaller than the fully stretched length of the resilient strap 42. When loading the back carrier 10 at the back support 30, the resilient strap 42 is pulled and stretched while the receiving sleeve 43 is extended at the same time. In other words, the length of the resilient strap 42 and the length of the receiving sleeve 43 are prolonged correspondingly. Therefore, when the receiving sleeve 43 is fully extended via the load at the back carrier 10, the resilient strap 42 cannot be further pulled and stretched to prevent an over-stretching of the resilient strap 42. In other words, the receiving sleeve 42 provides multiple features of guiding the sliding movement of the resilient strap 42, protecting the resilient strap 42 and limiting the stretching length of the resilient strap 42 to prevent an over-stretching of the resilient strap 42.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the carrying system 40 further comprises two length-adjustable straps 44 extended from two lower ends of the shoulder straps 41 respectively to the back support 30. Particularly, each of the length adjustable straps 44 has an upper end attached to the lower end of the shoulder strap 41 and a lower end attached to the lower portion of the back frame 31, wherein a length of the length adjustable strap 44 is selectively adjusted to adjust a distance between the lower end of the shoulder strap 41 and the back frame 31. It is worth mentioning that the length adjustable straps 44 will pull the inner side of the back frame 31 close to the back of the wearer when the back support 30 is worn to ensure the weight of the back carrier 10 to close to the center of mass of the wearer.

[0044] Preferably, each of the length-adjustable straps 44 is made of elastic fabric to provide a predetermined tension to absorb the bounding force of the load at the back support 30. In other words, each of the length adjustable straps 44 is configured to generate a predetermined resilient force between the back support 30 and the shoulder straps 41 for absorbing the bounding force of the back carrier 10. Therefore, the length adjustable straps 44 serve as two lower resilient straps incorporating with the resilient straps 42 for absorbing the bounding force of the back carrier 10. In addition, the resilient straps 42 and the length adjustable straps 44 (lower resilient straps) will provide the resilient forces at different directions of the back carrier 10 for not only minimizing any up-and-down movement of the back carrier 10 but also reducing any sideward swinging movement of the back carrier 10.

[0045] FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative mode of the carrying system 40A, wherein each of the resilient straps 42A has a detachable feature to allow the user to adjust the tension of the resilient straps 42A. In one embodiment, the first resilient end 421A of each of the resilient strap 42A is detachably coupled at the upper end of the shoulder strap 41A. Particularly, the carrying system 40A further comprises a strap fastener 45A provided at each of the resilient straps 42A to detachably couple the first resilient end 421A of each of the resilient straps 42A to the upper end of the shoulder strap 41A so as to selectively a resilient length of the resilient strap 42A between the upper end of the shoulder strap 41A and the back support 30.

[0046] The strap fastener 45A comprises a plurality of first tension fasteners 451A spacedly formed at each of the resilient straps 42A and a second tension fastener 452A formed at the shoulder strap 41A to selectively fasten with one of the first tension fasteners 451A so as to selectively adjust the tension of the resilient strap 42A. When the resilient strap 42A is shortened, i.e. the resilient length thereof is reduced, the tension of the resilient strap 42A will be reduced. When the resilient strap 42A is prolonged, the tension of the resilient strap 42A will be increased.

[0047] Accordingly, the first tension fasteners 451A are embodied as a plurality of first button holes spacedly formed along the resilient straps 42A. The second tension fastener 452A comprises a fastening button provided at the shoulder strap 41A to selectively fasten with one of the first button holes to detachably affix the resilient strap 42A.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 4, the carrying system 40A further comprises a tension adjustor 46A to adjust the tension of each of the resilient straps 42A, wherein the tension adjustor is detachably between the shoulder strap 41A and the receiving sleeve 43A. Preferably, the tension adjustor 46A has a first end detachably coupled at the shoulder strap 41A via the second tension fastener 452A and a second end detachably coupled at the receiving sleeve 43A via a third tension fastener 453A.

[0049] Accordingly, when the tension adjustor 46A is made of non-stretchable material to serve as a non-stretchable member, the distance between the receiving sleeve 43A and the upper end of the shoulder strap 41A is fixed to restrict the respective resilient strap 42A to be stretched. When the tension adjustor 46A is made of stretchable material to serve as a stretchable member, the tension adjustor 46A has a predetermined tension added on to each of the resilient straps 42A. Therefore, the overall tension of the resilient strap 42A and the tension adjustor 42A will be increased for carrying a heavier load of the back carrier 10. It is appreciated that different fasteners can be used for detachably fastening the tension adjustor 46A between the back carrier 10 and the shoulder strap 41A. Therefore, depending the load of the back carrier 10, the user is able to change different tension adjustors 46A to adjust selectively adjust the tension of each of the resilient straps 42A. It is worth mentioning that the second end of the tension adjustor 46A can be detachably coupled at the back frame 31. Furthermore, the tension adjustor 46A can be incorporated with the above first embodiment that each of the resilient straps 42A has a non-detachable feature.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a back suspender apparatus according to a second embodiment illustrates an alternative mode of the first embodiment of the present invention. The major difference between the first and second embodiments is that the attachment of the resilient strap 42B. Accordingly, each of the resilient straps 42B has a first resilient end 421B extended from an upper end of the shoulder strap 41B and a second resilient end 422B coupled at the back support 30 for absorbing the bounding force from the back support 30 by the back carrier 10.

[0051] Particularly, the second resilient end 422B of each of the resilient straps 42B is attached to the outer side of the back support 30 where the back carrier 10 is coupled thereat, such that each of the resilient straps 42B has a hidden portion 423B extended between the back support 30 and the back carrier 10, and an exposed portion 424B extended from the hidden portion 423B to the upper end of the shoulder strap 41B. In other words, each of the resilient straps 42B has the hidden portion 423B defined at the second resilient end 422B and the exposed portion 424B defined at the first resilient end 421B. Furthermore, the hidden portion 423B of each of the resilient straps 42B is defined at the outer side of the back frame 31 and the exposed portion 424B of each of the resilient straps 42B is defined at the inner side of the back frame 31. In one embodiment, each of the resilient straps 42B is extended to ride over the top edge of the back frame 31, such that the hidden portion 423B of each of the resilient straps 42B is extended at the outer side of the back frame 31 and the exposed portion 424B of each of the resilient straps 42B is extended at the inner side of the back frame 31.

[0052] It is worth mentioning that the hidden portions 423B of the resilient straps 42B are extended to the outer side of the back frame 31 to evenly distribute the loading force at the back carrier 10. Preferably, the first resilient ends 421B of the resilient straps 42B are permanently coupled at the back frame 31 close to a mid-portion of the back carrier 10 which is the center of mass of the back carrier 10. As a result, by prolong the length of the hidden portion 423B of each of the resilient straps 42B, the resilient straps 42B can provide better resilient force for absorbing the bounding force of the back carrier 10 and can enhance the even distribution of the loading force at the back carrier 10.

[0053] Accordingly, the two receiving sleeves 43B are extended from the back support 30 to the upper ends of the shoulder straps 41B respectively that the exposed portions 424B of the resilient straps 42B are extended within the receiving sleeves 43B respectively in a hidden manner. Each of the receiving sleeves 43B has an upper end coupled to the top edge of the back frame 31 and a lower end coupled at the upper end of the shoulder strap 41B. Each of the receiving sleeves 43B has an extensible structure for enabling the receiving sleeve 43B being extended to increase a length thereof, wherein the resilient strap 42B is extended and protected within the receiving sleeve 43B.

[0054] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative mode of the carrying system 40C, wherein each of the resilient straps 42C has a detachable feature to allow the user to adjust the tension of the resilient straps 42C. In one embodiment, the first resilient end 421C of each of the resilient strap 42C is detachably coupled at the outer side of the back support 30. Particularly, the carrying system 40C further comprises a strap fastener 45C provided at each of the resilient straps 42C to detachably couple the second resilient end 422C of each of the resilient straps 42C to the outer side of the back support 30 so as to selectively a resilient length of the resilient strap 42C between the upper end of the shoulder strap 41C and the back support 30. In one embodiment, the second resilient end 422C of each of the resilient straps 42C is detachably coupled at the outer side of the back frame 31 of the back support 30.

[0055] The strap fastener 45C comprises a plurality of first tension fasteners 451C spacedly formed at each of the resilient straps 42C and a second tension fastener 452C formed at the outer side of the back frame 31 to selectively fasten with one of the first tension fasteners 451C so as to selectively adjust the tension of the resilient strap 42C. When the resilient strap 42C is shortened, i.e. the resilient length thereof is reduced, the tension of the resilient strap 42C will be reduced. When the resilient strap 42C is prolonged, the tension of the resilient strap 42C will be increased.

[0056] Accordingly, the first tension fasteners 451C are embodied as a plurality of first button holes spacedly formed along the hidden portion 423C of the resilient straps 42C. The second tension fastener 452C comprises a fastening button provided at the outer side of the back frame 31 to selectively fasten with one of the first button holes to detachably affix the resilient strap 42C.

[0057] It is worth mentioning that the back carrier 10 can be permanently coupled at the back support 30 or can be detachably coupled at the back support 30. According to the first case, the hidden portion 423B, 423C of the resilient straps 42B, 42C are extended into a bag cavity of the back carrier 10 to couple at the outer side of the back frame 31. In other words, the outer side of the back frame 31 is integrally formed with a back of the back carrier 10. In another case, the hidden portion 423B, 423C of the resilient straps 42B, 42C are extended to couple at the outer side of the back frame 31, such that the hidden portion 423B, 423C of the resilient straps 42B, 42C are sandwiched between the outer side of the back frame 31 and the back of the back carrier 10.

[0058] It is worth mentioning that the modifications are two different alternative modes of the first and second preferred embodiments. All the features in the preferred embodiments and their alternatives are interchangeable to achieve the objective of the present invention. For example, the tension adjustor 46A as the alternative mode of the first embodiment can be incorporated with the back suspender apparatus of the second embodiment and its alternative mode.

[0059] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

[0060] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.