Support structure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a support structure for a rucksack, including a support framework having a first and a second bearing point arranged at a spacing from one another along a first direction, and a first and a second rotation element. The first rotation element is mounted on the support framework at the first bearing point and is rotatable about a first rotation axis and the second rotation element is mounted on the support framework at the second bearing point and is rotatable about a further rotation axis. The first and second rotation elements are constructed for receiving a shoulder belt and hip belt, respectively, in a torsion-resistant manner. The first and the second rotation element are rotationally coupled to one another in a manner reversing the direction of rotation.

Claims

1. A support structure for a rucksack having two shoulder belts and two hip belts, the support structure comprising: a support framework having a first and a second bearing point, wherein the first and second bearing points are arranged at a spacing from one another along a first direction; a first rotation element being mounted on the support framework at the first bearing point such that it is rotatable about a first rotation axis extending substantially transversely to the first direction; and a second rotation element being mounted on the support framework at the second bearing point such that it is rotatable about a second rotation axis extending substantially parallel to the first rotation axis, a flexible rod being mounted on one of the first and second rotation elements in a fixed manner, wherein the first rotation element is constructed for fastening each shoulder belt extending substantially along the first direction and the second rotation element is constructed for fastening each hip belt extending substantially transversely to the first direction and to the first and second rotation axes, and wherein the flexible rod is mounted on the other of the first and second rotation elements such that it is displaceable along the first direction and fixed transversely thereto.

2. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second rotation elements is displaceable along the first direction in various sliding positions for length adaptation of the support structure and can be fixed in place there.

3. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein at least one stop element is provided, which limits a rotation of the first and/or the second rotation elements.

4. The support structure according to claim 3, wherein two stop elements are provided.

5. The support structure according to claim 3, wherein a rotation angle with respect to the straight connecting line through the first and second rotation axes is limited to 15 or less.

6. The support structure according to claim 5, wherein said rotation angle is limited to 10 or less.

7. The support structure according to claim 1, further comprising the two shoulder belts and the two hip belts.

8. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the flexible rod is constructed in one piece with the one of the first and second rotation element onto which it is mounted in a fixed manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which merely serve for explanation and should not be interpreted as being restrictive. The drawings show:

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective view of a preferred first embodiment of the support structure;

(3) FIG. 2 a plan view of the support structure according to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 a perspective longitudinal sectional view of the support structure according to FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 a longitudinal sectional view of the support concept according to FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 a plan view of the support structure according to FIG. 1, with shoulder belt, hip belt and bracket frame;

(7) FIG. 6 the support structure according to FIG. 5 with an integrating means for fastening to the rucksack;

(8) FIG. 7 the shoulder belt according to FIG. 5;

(9) FIG. 8 the hip belt according to FIG. 5;

(10) FIG. 9 the rotation elements, which are coupled via a bending rod, in two length adjustments;

(11) FIG. 10 the support structure according to FIGS. 1 to 9 in an activated bending position and a passive starting position;

(12) FIG. 11 a support structure according to a further embodiment with an alternative rotational coupling device; and

(13) FIG. 12 a support structure according to a further embodiment with a further alternative rotational coupling device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(14) Preferred embodiments are now described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12.

(15) FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view, the support structure 1 according to a preferred embodiment. FIG. 2 shows this support structure 1 in a plan view, FIG. 3 in a perspective longitudinal sectional view, FIG. 4 in a longitudinal sectional view. This support structure 1 is suitable for being combined with a rucksack 10 (see FIG. 6).

(16) The support structure 1 comprises a longitudinal support 20. The longitudinal support 20 is constructed as a bending- and torsion-stable flat rod and has a first end portion 206 and a second end portion 205. The longitudinal support 20 can be manufactured from a light metal and/or from plastics material or other materials.

(17) A respective T-shaped connecting element 18 is fitted on both end portions 205, 206 of the longitudinal support 20. The connecting elements can be made from light metal and/or plastics material. In particular, they can be single-part plastics elements which are preferably die cast. An opening for receiving part of the respective end portion 205, 206 is provided at the free end of the vertical portion of the connecting element 18. The horizontal portion of the connecting element 18 has laterally orientated cutouts 181 into which respective portions of brackets 81, 82 (see FIG. 5) are inserted for forming the support framework.

(18) Through-holes are provided in the region of the first and second end portion 206, 205. These through-holes 202, 2050 define a first bearing point 16 and a second bearing point 17. The first and second bearing points 16, 17 are arranged at a spacing from one another along the first direction R, which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal support 20. Central axes through the through-holes 202, 2050 extending transversely to R extend parallel to a first rotation axis 14 and a second rotation axis 15. A first rotation element 12 is mounted in the through-hole 202 at the first bearing point 16 and a second rotation element 13 is mounted in the second through-hole 2050 at the second point 17 such that they are each rotatable about the respective first and second rotation axis 14 and 15.

(19) The first and the second rotation elements 12, 13 each have a base plate 120, 130 which is substantially rectangular in design. Cutouts 121, 131, which serve for fastening belts 5, 7 in a torsion-resistant manner by means of bolt connections, are provided in the four corner regions. Other fastenings can be provided. The base plates 120, 130 are each provided with a web 125, 135 at the edge, which increases the stability of the rotation element 12, 13 accordingly. The rotation elements can likewise be light metal or plastics elements. Mutually facing lateral edges of the base plates 120, 130 each extend towards one another and are provided centrally with a protruding first finger element 122 and second finger element 132. The first and second finger element 122, 132 is each constructed as a distally tapering flat rod, wherein a cylindrical cover 124, 134 extending along the finger element 122, 132 (i.e. parallel to R when the rotation elements 12, 13 are in the starting position) is provided and wherein cylindrical bores extending centrally along the longitudinal axis of the finger element 122, 132 are provided for receiving a rod element 3. The distal openings 123, 133 leading into the cylindrical blind holes in the finger elements 122, 132 are directed towards one another in the starting position and are pivotable out of this alignment according to a rotation of the respective rotation element 12, 13. Moreover, it can be seen in particular in FIG. 1 that the cylindrical cover 124, 134, which protrudes upwards over the respective base plate 120, 130, reaches almost centrally into the base plate 120 and 130 in the R direction so that the blind holes can have corresponding depths to ensure a stable seat for the rod element 3.

(20) Now to the bearing arrangement of the first and second rotation element 12, 13. The first bearing of the first rotation element 12 has a hollow cylindrical body 161, which is seated on the longitudinal support 20 by means of a flange 1612 through a cutout 126 in the base plate 120. At its upper end (as illustrated in FIG. 3), a shaft securing ring 1611 is provided, which lies in a circumferential groove of the hollow cylindrical body 161 and lies on the base plate 120 with the radially protruding portion, whereby the hollow cylindrical body 161 is fixed on the base plate 120 such that is prevented from slipping downwards. The radially protruding flange 1612 is mounted in a slide 19 which lies on the longitudinal support 20 transversely to the longitudinal direction R, whereby the hollow cylindrical body 161 is fixed in place axially.

(21) The slide 9 reaches around the longitudinal support 20 with a first slide element 191 sliding on one flat side of the longitudinal support 20 and a second slide element 192 sliding on the other flat side of the longitudinal support 20, wherein the slide elements 191, 192 are connected to one another in a fixed manner. The slide 19 is designed such that it is displaceable along the longitudinal support 20 in a sliding manner, carrying the hollow cylindrical body 161.

(22) A bolt 162 is provided through the central bore of the hollow cylindrical body 161, which bolt has a longer construction than the hollow cylindrical body 161 and reaches through the longitudinal support and the slide 19. At its lower end region, a circumferential radially protruding bolt flange 1620 is provided for lying on the longitudinal support 20, wherein the diameters of the bolt 162 and flange 1620 are designed such that that region of the bolt 162 which protrudes distally downwards from the flange 1620 engages in the through-hole 202 in the locking position shown in FIG. 3 and the flange 1620 lies on the support 20. In this case, the length of the bolt 162 should be dimensioned so that a lower surface of the longitudinal support 20 and a distal (lower) end face of the bolt 162 are substantially flush in the locking position, i.e. when the flange 1620 is lying on the upper side of the longitudinal support 20.

(23) The central bore is radially widened in the centre region of the hollow cylindrical body 161, wherein a pressure spring 164 is positioned in the hollow cylindrical body 161 between an upper stop surface provided by the comparatively reduced bore diameter and the flange 1620. The pressure spring 164 is supported on the upper stop surface in the central bore and presses the bolt 162 downwards into the locking position as a result of applying pressure to the flange 1620. At its upper end, the bolt 162 has a protruding and manually operable head 163, which is fixed in the bolt 162 via a screw. If this head 163 is now pulled, the pre-tensioned bolt 162, under compression of the pressure spring 164, can be pulled upwards out of the locking position according to FIG. 3 into a release position. If the bolt 162 is located in the release position, then the hollow cylindrical body 161, which is mounted in the slide 19 together with the on the longitudinal support 20, can be displaced on the longitudinal support 20 along the direction R since the bolt 162 no longer engages in the cutout in the support 20. Therefore, length adjustment is thus provided. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, three different longitudinal positions are provided by the three through-holes 201, 202, 203 arranged at a spacing from one another in the direction R. It is conceivable to provide more or fewer holes or an elongated hole, wherein, in the case of the elongated hole, a clamping of the slide relative to the longitudinal support 20 can be realised in the locking position.

(24) The second rotation element 13 is likewise fixed on the longitudinal support 20 via a hollow cylindrical body 171. The hollow cylindrical body 171 again has an upper flange 1710 with which the hollow cylindrical body 171 lies on the base plate 130, wherein the centre region of the hollow cylindrical body 171 projects downwards through a central opening 136 through the base plate 130 to the longitudinal support 20. A screw 172 is inserted in the central bore of the hollow cylindrical body 171, which screw reaches to below the longitudinal support 20 through the through-hole 2050. Below the longitudinal support 20, the screw 172 has a circumferential groove in which a nut 173 is inserted. The hollow cylindrical body 171 is therefore fixed between the upper flange 1710 and the lower nut 173.

(25) Both rotation elements 12, 13 are moreover formed in such a way that they have downwardly projecting collar elements 127, 137 for lying cylindrically on the hollow cylindrical bodies 161, 171 in an optimum manner, which collar elements are supported on the central portions of the hollow cylindrical bodies 161, 171 for a rotational bearing arrangement. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the first cylindrical collar element 127 of the first rotation element 12 is supported on a disc 21 which is in turn supported on the slide 19. The second cylindrical collar element 137 of the second rotation element 13 lies distally directly on the longitudinal support 20.

(26) Owing to the length adjustability, the support structure 1 can be adapted to the anatomy of the particular wearer, as is depicted in FIG. 9. The starting configuration is shown by continuous lines, a shortened configuration by interrupted lines.

(27) It can moreover be seen from FIG. 4 that, by means of an end portion 32, the flexible, inherently stable rod element 3 reaches through the opening 133 to the depth of the cylindrical hole in the second rotation element 13. The second end portion 32 is anchored in the rotation element 13 in a fixed manner, for example via a material-fitting connection or other fastening means. On the other side, the rod element 3 has a first end portion 31, which engages loosely in the cylindrical blind hole of the first rotation element 12 through the opening 123. The first end portion 31 is therefore axially displaceably received in the rotation element 12. This displaceability is possible due to an empty space 4 distally of the end portion 31 and serves for the length adaptation when the first and the second rotation element 12, 13 are rotated. This displaceable bearing moreover enables a length adjustment to be possible, i.e. a spacing between the first and second bearing points 16, 17, as described above (see also FIG. 9). The first end portion 31 is encompassed laterally to transmit the rotation movement.

(28) The rod element 3 is an elastic element, a bending rod here. It can moreover be seen from FIG. 4 that the first end portion 31 is mounted higher than the second end portion 32. Owing to the flexibility of the bending rod 3, this structure-related height-difference can be overcome without difficulty.

(29) The disc 21 serves as a sliding element so that rucksack parts, i.e. rear wall portions, can be received between the longitudinal rod 20 and the disc 21 where a gap is formed, as can be seen from FIG. 4. The corresponding regions of the rucksack 10 which are located around this disc 21 can be removed accordingly so that the length adjustment is possible; they can also have corresponding slots. In this simplest variant, the rucksack wall simply has a longitudinal slot extending along the direction there, which enables the adjustment of the bearing point 16.

(30) FIG. 5 shows, in a plan view, the assembled support structure 1 having the fitted bracket elements 81, 82. The first and second bracket elements 81, 82 each have a U shape, wherein the free ends 811, 812 and 821, 822 are inserted into the respective cutouts 181 of the connecting elements 18. The longitudinal support 20 and the bracket elements 81, 82 form the frame of the support structure 1.

(31) It can moreover be seen in FIG. 5 that stop elements 61 and 62 projecting over the finger elements 122, 132 are provided, which provide two symmetrically arranged lateral stop surfaces and therefore limit a rotation of the rotation elements 12, 13 laterally on both sides to a rotation angle (FIG. 10). These stop elements 61, 62 can be loop bands or brackets.

(32) A shoulder belt base plate 73, from which a first and a second shoulder strap 71, 72 extend, is mounted on the first base plate 120. These shoulder straps 71, 72 extend substantially along the direction R.

(33) A hip belt plate 53, from which hip belt portions 51, 52 extend, is provided on the second base plate 130, which hip belt portions 51, 52 extend transversely to the direction R and to the dorsal direction, i.e. in the lateral direction.

(34) The base plates 53, 73 are each connected to the base plates 120, 130 in a fixed manner. To this end, the base plates 53, 73 have cutouts 532, 732 near to the edge for bolt connections, which are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Other fastening options are conceivable. The respective central cutout 531, 731 through which the corresponding cylindrical body 161, 171 is guided can moreover be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8.

(35) If one of the rotation elements 12, 13 is now rotated, its rotation movement is transmitted via the bending rod 3 to the other rotation element 13, 12 in a manner reversing the direction of rotation. This is illustrated in FIG. 10, where the bending position is illustrated by continuous lines and the starting position is illustrated by interrupted lines. The bending element 3 therefore produces a rotational coupling between the rotation elements 12, 13 which reverses the direction of rotation. The length compensation owing to the bending of the bending rod 3 is ensured by the sliding of the first end portion 31 in the first rotation element 12.

(36) FIG. 6 shows the integration of the support structure 1 including the frame in the rucksack 10. To this end, a rucksack wall is provided with a reinforcement 91 in the region of the first rotation element 12 and a reinforcement 93 in the region of the second rotation element 13, wherein a further reinforcement 92 is provided in the region of the freely extending bending rod 3. Support straps 94 and closure elements 96 are then provided for further integration. The rucksack opening 95 enables access to the packing volume.

(37) FIGS. 11 and 12 show alternative rotational coupling devices for coupling the rotation elements 12, 13 in a manner reversing the direction of rotation.

(38) According to FIG. 11, mutually crossing poles or tension cables 301, 302 are provided, which are fastened at fastening points 304 to 306 arranged in opposing pairs on first and second sides S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 (see FIG. 11) with respect to the straight connecting lines g of the two rotation axes 14, 15. The connecting elements 301, 302 rotationally couple the base plates 53, 73 functioning as rotation elements. A reversal of the direction of rotation occurs as a result of the crossing of the connecting elements 301, 302. The starting position is shown by interrupted lines and the deflected position by continuous lines. Necessary length adaptations can be achieved by flexible connecting elements 301, 302 or by mounting the connecting element 301, 302 in elongated holes.

(39) According to FIG. 12, the finger elements 122, 132 are connected to one another directly via a joint 310. The joint 310 can be formed by a bolt on one finger, which engages in an elongated hole in the other finger element. The shortening of the coupling in the starting position (interrupted lines) compared to the deflected position (continuous lines) can take place as a result of the elongated hole.