Abstract
A rucksack is provided with a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap, whereby respective end sections of the shoulder straps are connected with each other by means of a middle piece. The middle piece is continuously slidable along at least one guide element in a vertical direction of the rucksack. The middle piece is attached to a strap with a first free end and a second free end, whereby the free ends are coupled with each other in a way that permits a transfer of a tensile force. The strap is redirected at a first redirecting element and a second redirecting element, which are located opposite each other in the vertical direction of the rucksack.
Claims
1. A rucksack comprising a first buckle element, a back part, a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap, each of the first and second shoulder straps including an end section, whereby the respective end sections of the shoulder straps are connected with each other by a middle piece, whereby the middle piece is continuously slidable along at least one guide element in a vertical direction of the rucksack, wherein the middle piece is attached to a strap, the strap including a first free end, a second free end, a first layer, and a second layer, whereby the free ends are coupled with each other in a way that permits a transfer of a tensile force, and whereby the first and second layers are movable in opposite directions by redirecting the strap around a first redirecting element and a second redirecting element, the first and second redirecting elements located opposite each other in a vertical direction of the rucksack, wherein one of the redirecting elements is formed on the first buckle element, and an arresting device comprising a lever arranged on the first buckle element, the lever including a lock position and a release position for a reversible attachment of the first layer relative to the second layer, wherein when the lever is in the lock position, the two layers are fastened relative to each other, and when the lever is in the release position, the two layers are movable in opposite directions, and a plate-like cover disposed against the lever, wherein at least part of the first buckle element is biased against the back part.
2. The rucksack according to claim 1, wherein the first buckle element is held to a first belt buckle part by a webbing, said first belt buckle part being detachably coupled with a second belt buckle part, whereby the second belt buckle part is fastened to a back part of the rucksack.
3. The rucksack according to claim 1, wherein the lever comprises a plurality of teeth formed to hook into the first layer and to prevent an upward movement of the middle piece in the vertical direction of the rucksack when the arresting device is in the lock position.
4. The rucksack according to claim 1, wherein the lever is configured to move from the lock position to the release position against the force of a spring element.
5. The rucksack according to claim 1, further comprising at least one mesh element attached to the middle piece to define a tunnel through which the first layer is disposed, whereby the first layer is connected with the at least one mesh element and whereby the second layer is disposed outside the tunnel.
6. The rucksack according to claim 1, wherein the free ends of the strap are connected by a second buckle element or are formed as loops, which are connected with each other by a belt buckle or a U-shaped hook including a first side and a second side, whereby each side of the hook is disposed through the loops.
7. The rucksack according to claim 6, wherein the sides of the hook are secured against coming off the loops by a fastening element.
8. The rucksack according to claim 1, wherein one of the redirecting elements is a ring hidden by a cover element, and is arranged in an upper region of a back part of the rucksack.
9. The rucksack according to claim 8, wherein the ring is constructed of a metal and/or a plastic.
10. The rucksack according to claim 1, wherein the at least one guide element includes first and second guide elements, and wherein when the first and second guide elements are in a first region in which the middle piece is continuously movable, the first and second guide elements have a first constant distance from each other, and when the first and second guide elements are in a second region, the first and second guide elements have a second distance from each other of less than the first constant distance.
11. The rucksack according to claim 8, wherein the ring is substantially rectangular.
12. The rucksack according to claim 10, wherein the second region is a region of a hip belt.
13. A rucksack, comprising: a strap having a first free end and a second free end, wherein the free ends are coupled with each other in a way that permits a transfer of a tensile force; a U-shaped hook connecting the free ends of the strap as loops, the hook including a first side and a second side, each of the sides disposed through the loops; a fastening element securing the sides of the hook with the loops against coming off; a middle piece attached to the strap and continuously slidable along at least one guide element in a vertical direction of the rucksack; a first shoulder strap including an end section; a second shoulder strap including an end section, wherein the respective end sections of the shoulder straps are connected with each other by the middle piece; a first redirecting element; and a second redirecting element located opposite the first redirecting element in a vertical direction of the rucksack, wherein the strap is redirected at the first and second redirecting elements.
14. The rucksack according to claim 13, wherein the strap comprises a first layer and a second layer, the first and second layers movable in opposite directions by redirecting the strap around the redirecting elements, whereby an arresting device is provided for a reversible attachment of the first layer relative to the second layer.
15. The rucksack according to claim 14, wherein the arresting device comprises a lever including a lock position and a release position, wherein when the lever is in the lock position, the two layers are fastened relative to each other, and when the lever is in the release position, the two layers are movable in opposite directions.
16. The rucksack according to claim 15, further comprising a buckle element, wherein the lever is arranged on the buckle element, and wherein one of the redirecting elements is formed on the buckle element.
17. The rucksack according to claim 16, further comprising a back part and a plate-like cover disposed against the lever, wherein at least part of the buckle element is biased against the back part.
18. The rucksack according to claim 15, wherein the lever comprises a plurality of teeth formed to hook into the first layer and to prevent an upward movement of the middle piece in the vertical direction of the rucksack when the arresting device is in the lock position.
19. The rucksack according to claim 15, wherein the lever is configured to move from the lock position to the release position against the force of a spring element.
20. The rucksack according to claim 13, wherein the at least one guide element includes first and second guide elements, and wherein when the first and second guide elements are in a first region in which the middle piece is continuously movable, the first and second guide elements have a first constant distance from each other, and when the first and second guide elements are in a second region, the first and second guide elements have a second distance from each other of less than the first constant distance.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The figures show the following:
(2) FIG. 1 A view of the back of a rucksack with continuous back length adjustment, in which a strap with coupled ends is attached to a middle piece, to which two shoulder straps of the rucksack are attached;
(3) FIG. 2 An option of coupling the two free ends of the strap, which comprises two layers that are movable relative to each other;
(4) FIG. 3 An alternative buckle element to couple the two free ends of the strap with each other;
(5) FIG. 4 Another buckle, which is formed as the bottom redirecting element for the strap, whereby the buckle comprises an arresting device with a lever;
(6) FIG. 5 Components of a back part of the rucksack, whereby the course of guide rails is shown along which the middle piece can be moved,
(7) FIG. 6 The attachment of a first layer of the strap to the middle piece,
(8) FIG. 7 A flap with which a second redirecting element for the strap is covered, whereby the second redirecting element is formed as a rectangular ring,
(9) FIG. 8 Loops or tunnels, respectively, which accommodate the guide rails, and
(10) FIG. 9 A scale provided on the back part of the rucksack to indicate the back length as well as a pointer element attached to the middle piece.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(11) FIG. 1 shows a rucksack 10 comprising a first shoulder strap 12 and a second shoulder strap 14. The end sections of the shoulder straps 12, 14 are attached to a middle piece 16. The middle piece 16 is continuously movable along two guide rails 18, 20 that serve as guide elements in a vertical direction 22 of the rucksack 10, i.e. upward or downward. The vertical direction 22 is therefore illustrated in FIG. 1 by a double arrow. The guide rails 18, 20 can be formed in particular from an aluminum alloy.
(12) The middle piece 16 is also referred to as the central component of the shoulder straps and ensures at the same time that the end sections of the shoulder straps 12, 14 are connected with each other. The middle piece 16 comprises a plate-type base 24 (cf. FIG. 6), which can be provided, for example, by at least one substantially rectangular plate from a plastic such as polyethylene. On this plate-type base 24 are the pads 26, 28 shown in FIG. 1, which lie against the back of a user of the rucksack 10 in the region of the shoulder blades (or respectively in the region of the upper back), when the user wears the rucksack 10.
(13) The middle piece 16 is, in this case, attached to a strap 30, of which the first layer 32 that faces the back of the user is shown in FIG. 1. The strap 30, however, has a second layer 34 as well, which is shown in FIG. 2 and which is covered in FIG. 1 by the first layer 32. This second layer 34 of the strap 30 is located between the first layer 32 and a back part 36 of the rucksack 10. In the embodiment of the rucksack 10 shown here, the free ends 38, 40 of the strap 30 are configured as loops (cf. FIG. 2). The free ends 38, 40 can be coupled with each other, for example by means of a U-shaped hook 42 in a manner that permits the transfer of a tensile force. This coupling of the two free ends 38, 40 of the strap 30 with each other provides a closed, or respectively revolving strap 30 to which the middle piece 16 is attached.
(14) The strap 30 is redirected on a first redirecting element in the form of a ring 44 and on a second redirecting element, which, in the embodiment of the rucksack 10 shown in FIG. 1, is formed as a ring as well. The two rings 44, 46 face each other when looking at them from the vertical direction 22 of the rucksack 10. Here, the top ring 44 is arranged, for example, in the upper region of the back part 36, i.e. below a head cavity 48 of the rucksack 10. The bottom ring 46, or respectively the bottom redirection element is, however, in the embodiment of the rucksack 10 shown in FIG. 1, arranged above a central lumbar pad 50 in the region of a hip belt 52 of the rucksack 10. The strap 30 formed as a closed loop by the coupling of the free ends 38, 40 with each other, runs through these redirection elements in the form of the rings 44, 46, when the middle piece 16 is adjusted along the guide rails 18, 20. This redirecting process can be carried out with minimal friction, so that the continuous adjustment of the back length of the rucksack 10 can be carried out with great ease of use.
(15) FIG. 2 shows that, when using the hook 42 to couple the free ends 38, 40 of the strap 30, forced as loops, with each other, the respective sides 54, 56 of the U-shaped hook 42 can enter through the loops. There, where the sides 54, 56 exit from the loops, a fastening element is provided in the form of a fastening ring 58 from metal, which holds the ends of the two sides 54, 56 together. The fastening ring 58, may, for example, be guided through an opening, which is formed in the side 56, and be held on the other side 54 in a take-up device.
(16) It is also possible, however, to couple the two free ends 38, 40 of the strap 30 by means of a buckle 60, which is shown in FIG. 3, and which permits the transfer of the tensile force. Such a buckle element can be formed in particular in the manner of a frame, in which side portions 62 of the frame can be coupled with each other through a bar 64. The free end 38, can, for example, be fastened to the buckle 60, which is formed here as a three-bar buckle 60, in particular by means of sewing, and the free end 40 can be threaded into the buckle 60. The two free ends 38, 40 can also, however, be fastened to the buckle 60 or threaded into the buckle 60. It is furthermore feasible to couple the free ends 38, 40 of the strap 30 by means of a belt buckle or key lock in a destruction-free and detachable manner. A ring may also be used as a coupling element to transfer the tensile force, said ring (formed preferably in a rectangular shape) having an opening to hang the free ends 38, 40 of the strap 30 formed as closed loops. The ring, in particular a rectangular ring, or, respectively, bars forming frames may be formed in a rectangular, in particular square, shape in the cross section.
(17) Furthermore, it may be provided that the two free ends 38, 40 of the strap 30 are coupled with each other by means of a Velcro fastener. A coupling point formed by the Velcro fastener, where the two free ends 38, 40 of the strap 30 are connected with each other in a manner that permits the transfer of the tensile force, or respectively a coupling element, for example in the form of the hook 42 or the buckle 60, therefore move upward or downward when the back length of the rucksack 10 is continuously adjusted in the vertical direction 22 of the rucksack 10.
(18) In particular the redirecting element that, when viewed from the vertical direction 22 of the rucksack 10, is the bottom element can be formed as a buckle element 66, which is shown as an example in FIG. 4. The buckle element 66 comprises, for example, a bar 68, around which the strap 30 is placed, or, respectively, on which the strap 30 is redirected and thus forms the two players 32, 34. Another bar of the buckle element 66 is fastened to the back part 36 of the rucksack 10 by means of webbing 70.
(19) In the embodiment of the redirecting element shown in FIG. 4, the buckle element 66 furthermore comprises an arresting device 72, which comprises a lever 74. The lever 74 is rotatable around an axis of rotation 76 and comprises teeth at the side facing the first layer 32. In FIG. 4, the lever 74 is shown in its lock position, in which the teeth are hooked into the first layer 32. This prevents the strap 30 from running freely around the redirecting elements.
(20) If, however, the lever 74 is moved away from the back part 36, i.e. moved to its release position, the teeth no longer hook into the first layer 32 and the strap 30 can freely run around the redirecting elements, for example in the form of the bar 68 and the ring 44 (cf. FIG. 1). The lever 74 of the arresting device 72 can be held in the lock position in particular by means of a spring element.
(21) In particular when viewed together with FIG. 5, it becomes clear that the lever 74 lies against a plate-type cover 78 in its lock position, through which a portion of the buckle element 66 is pressed against the back part 36 of the rucksack 10. The plate-like cover 78, which, in this case, has the form of a butterfly and therefore has wings arranged on both sides of the strap 30, ensures here that only the lever 74 is moved away from the back part 36 when the lever 74 is shifted to the release position.
(22) FIG. 5 shows as well that the back part 36 of the rucksack 10 may be reinforced by additional plates 80, 82. The additional plates 80, 82 are provided in particular in a region of the back part 36 in which the middle piece 16 can be adjusted in the vertical direction 22. According to FIG. 5, the two guide rails 18, 20 are preferably arranged parallel in a first region 84, in which the middle piece 16 is moved during the continuous back length adjustment. The guide rails 18, 20 therefore have a constant distance 86 from each other in the first region 84. In contrast, the guide rails 18, 20 are less far apart from each other in a second region, i.e. in this case in the region of the hip belt 52. Accordingly, the guide rails 18, 20 show a curve on the level of the back part 36. Furthermore, the guide rails 18, 20 are curved preferably vertical to the level of the back part 36. Thus, the guide rails 18, 20 are arranged closer to the back of the user of the rucksack 10 in the region of the hip belt 52 than in the upper region 84.
(23) FIG. 5 furthermore shows that the buckle element 66 (cf. FIG. 4) of which FIG. 5 only shows the lever 74, may be fastened to a first belt buckle part 88 by means of the webbing, which is coupled detachably with a second belt buckle part 90. The second belt buckle part 90 is attached once again here to the back part 36 of the rucksack by means of webbing 92. In this embodiment, it is particularly easy to replace the buckle element 66.
(24) FIG. 6 shows that other, pocket-shaped, or respectively strip-shaped elements 94 may be provided in the region of the plate-type base 24 of the middle piece 16. These types of elements 94 may be provided to connect the shoulder straps 12, 14 to the middle piece 16 or respectively to connect the shoulder straps 12, 14 to the middle piece 16. Furthermore, such elements 94 may form a pocket for the plate-like base 24. The middle piece 16 may furthermore comprise tunnels 110 for the rails 18, 20 formed from mesh elements or the like. Furthermore, two mesh elements 96 attached to the middle piece 16 form the respective tunnels through which the first layer of the strap 30 is guided. In the region of the mesh elements 96, the first layer 32 of the strap 30 is sewn to the middle piece 16 or fastened to it in another suitable manner. The second layer 34 of the strap 30 may also be guided through the tunnels that are formed by the mesh elements 96. Preferably, however, the second layer 34 is located outside of the tunnel formed by the mesh elements 96, because this way, the two layers 32, 34 can be in opposing directions with minimal friction, when the middle piece 16 is moved along the guide rails 18, 20 in the vertical direction 22 of the rucksack 10.
(25) FIG. 7 shows that preferably the ring 44, which serves as the upper redirecting element and which has a substantially rectangular form here, can be hidden by a cover in the form of a flap 98 or the like. In that case, the ring 44 is well protected and contact between the ring 44 with the neck or head of the user of the rucksack 10 is avoided.
(26) FIG. 8 shows that pockets 100 may be provided in the region of the head cavity 48, which may be directly connected with a back plate 102 of the back part 36 of the rucksack 10 and into which the end sections of the guide rails 18, 20 are inserted. Furthermore, the guide rails 18, 20 can be guided through further feedthroughs or tunnels 104 to fasten their position on the back plate 102, which may also be directly connected to the back plate 102. Additional tunnels 106 or pockets may be provided in the area of the lumbar pads 50. The other end sections of the guide rails 18, 20, may, in particular, be inserted into these types of tunnels 106 or pockets, which are provided in the area of the lumbar pads. In particular where the guide rails 18, 20 pass in the lumbar region, additional reinforcements, in particular in the form of plastic plates and the like, may be provided. Furthermore, reinforcing plates may be provided where the ring 44 is attached, in order to provide a particularly good mounting for the ring 44.
(27) According to FIG. 1, an arrow point 112 is preferably arranged on one side of the middle piece 16, which is schematically shown in FIG. 9. Furthermore, tick marks 114 and/or symbols 116 may be provided on the back part 36 of the rucksack 10, which indicate the length for which the rucksack 10 was adjusted. The symbols 116 may be formed as the letters L, M, and S, for example, to indicate the back length.
(28) The back length adjustment of the rucksack 10 may be provided in particular in a region which is delimited here by the tick marks 114, which are assigned to the symbols 116 L and S. This adjustment range between the tick marks 114 on the symbols 116 in the form of the letters L and S can have a length between approximately 8 cm and approximately 20 cm in the vertical direction 22 of the rucksack 10. The length of the adjustment range may be, for example, between approximately 10 cm and approximately 16 cm. The length of the adjustment range, or respectively a distance between the tick marks 114, to which here the symbol 116 in the form of the letter L on the one hand and the symbol 116 in the form of the letter S are arranged on the other hand, may amount to approximately 12 cm.
(29) Through a respective placement of the coupling element to couple the two free ends 38, 40 with each other, for example in the form of the U-shaped hook 42 (cf. FIG. 2) it is possible to ensure that such a coupling element cannot be seen either in the highest position of the middle piece 16 or the lowest position of the middle piece 16, because in the respective positions, the coupling element can be covered by a pad 118 of the rucksack 10 (cf. FIG. 1), for example in the region of the kidneys, or, respectively, by the middle piece 16.
