ADJUSTABLE MOUNT FOR A BACKPACK OR SCHOOLBAG

Abstract

An adjustable mount for a backpack has a housing secured to the backpack rear wall. A slide movable vertically inside the housing is formed with at least one transversely open recess. A support plate secured to the backpack straps is axially fixed to the slide for joint axial movement therewith. A rack rod rotatable but axially fixed in the housing has a plurality of axially spaced and radially projecting teeth. The rack rod is rotatable between a locking position with at least one of the teeth engaged in the recess and thereby preventing movement of the slide in the housing and a freeing position with the teeth disengaged from the slide and the slide and support plate relatively movable. An actuating element projecting from and fixed to the rod outside the housing is actuatable by the wearer of the backpack to rotate the rod its positions.

Claims

1. An adjustable mount for a backpack having a rear wall attached to shoulder straps, the mount comprising: a housing secured to the rear wall and of substantially rectangular basic shape and formed by a base part and a cover part; longitudinally extending guide rails on one of parts and projecting into the housing, the other part being formed with longitudinally extending slots; a slide movable along the rails inside the housing and formed with at least one transversely open recess; a support plate secured to the straps and axially fixed through the slots to the slide for joint axial movement therewith; a rack rod extending along a longitudinal axis between the rails, rotatable about the axis on the housing but axially fixed thereto, and having a plurality of axially spaced and radially projecting teeth, the rack rod being rotatable between a locking position with at least one of the teeth engaged in the recess and thereby preventing movement of the slide and support plate relative to the housing and a freeing position with the teeth disengaged from the slide and the slide and support plate movable relative to the housing, whereby the backpack can be vertically adjusted on a wearer of the backpack in the freeing position; and an actuating element projecting radially from and fixed to an end of the rod outside the housing and actuatable by the wearer of the backpack to rotate the rod between the locking position and the freeing position.

2. The adjustable mount according to claim 1, wherein the rack rod is cylindrical shape and the teeth project approximately radially from the rack rod, spacings between two adjacent teeth and the recesses formed on the slide being equal.

3. The adjustable mount according to claim 1, wherein there is one such actuating element on a one end of the rod and on an opposite end of the rod.

4. The adjustable mount according to claim 1, further comprising: a spring urging the rod into the locking position.

5. The adjustable mount according to claim 1, wherein the axis extends parallel to and between the rails and the actuating element extends radially of the axis.

6. The adjustable mount according to claim 1, further comprising: a latch plate fixed on the rear wall and to the base part and the cover part is releasably connected to the base part or the latch plate.

7. The adjustable mount according to claim 6, wherein the latch plate is fixed to the rear wall.

8. The adjustable mount according to claim 1, wherein the support plate is fixed to the shoulder straps by stitches, screws, rivets, or glue.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0030] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an adjustable mount according to the invention;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows another adjustable mount according to the invention in a rear view in the freeing position;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2 in the latched position; and

[0034] FIG. 4 is a view obliquely from the rear of the school bag according to the invention with an adjustable mount.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The drawing shows an adjustable mount 1 that can be attached (FIGS. 1 to 3) or is attached (FIG. 4) to the outside of the rear wall of a school bag 13 with shoulder straps 14 or unillustrated backpack. As mentioned above, the term backpack is intended to include a school bag or the like.

[0036] The adjustable mount 1 has a housing with a substantially rectangular basic shape. The housing is formed by a base part 2 and a housing cover 3. The base part 2 has longitudinally extending guide rails 4 projecting into the interior of the housing. A slide 5 can move along these guide rails 4 and be locked thereto in desired set positions. The slide 5 is or can s shown in FIG. 4 be connected to the shoulder straps 14 by a support plate 6.

[0037] Movement of the slide 5 together with the support plate 6 and the shoulder straps 14 of the school bag 13 attached thereto thus adjusts the height of the shoulder straps 14 relative to the school bag 13 or, in particular, relative to its rear wall. This serves to adjust the height of the school bag 13 according to the size of the wearer, so that a comfortable and ergonomic height is possible even when such a school bag 13 is worn for long period of time.

[0038] The school bag is secured in place by a latch element that can be moved from a latched position to a released position and vice versa. This makes it possible to lock the height-adjusted school bag 13 or the shoulder straps 14 in the set position in order to prevent unwanted further adjustment. During adjustment, the slide 5 is basically moved with the support plate 6, whereby the support plate 6 is outside the housing of the adjustable mount 1 and the slide 5 is inside the housing of the adjustable mount 1.

[0039] As can be seen from the drawing, the adjustment takes place along slots 7 formed in the housing cover 3.

[0040] According to the invention, the latch element is formed by a toothed rack rod 8 set approximately centrally in the housing between the two longitudinally extending guide rails 4. The rack rod 8 can be adjusted by an actuating element 9 outside the housing and accessible there. The adjustment takes place between a first locking position in which teeth 10 formed on the toothed rack rod 8 engage in recesses 11 formed on the slide 5 and lock the slide 5 in this position and a second freeing position in which the teeth 10 of the toothed rack rod 8 do not engage in the recesses 11.

[0041] The opposite adjustment analogously is likewise made possible in a simple manner. For this the wearer of the school bag 13 or the backpack only has to grip the actuating element 9 by hand and turn it slightly in order to pivot the toothed rack rod 8 between the locking position and the freeing position.

[0042] In the manually set freeing position, adjustment of the slide 5 together with the support plate 6 and, if applicable, the shoulder straps 14 attached to the support plate 6 is made possible in a simple manner. To lock it in the position once set, the wearer only has to manually move the toothed rack rod 8 back into the latched position by turning the actuating element 9, so that in this position the height position is set and undesired height adjustment is effectively prevented.

[0043] The height adjustment of the shoulder straps 14 with respect to the adjustable mount 1 on the back of the school bag 13 is made possible by the actuating element 9 according to the invention that adjusts the rack rod 8 according to the invention, even when the school bag 13 or the backpack is on the back of the wearer. It is therefore not necessary to remove the school bag 13 or the backpack from the back in order to adjust it with regard to the height of the shoulder straps 14.

[0044] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 1, the rack rod 8 is cylindrical with its teeth 10 projecting approximately radially from the rack rod 8. The spacing between two adjacent, i.e. consecutive, teeth 10 and between the recesses 11 formed on the slide 5 is the same. The size of the teeth 10 corresponds to the size of the recesses 11, so that the teeth 10 are suitable for engaging in the recesses 11 and fitting snugly there.

[0045] In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the actuating element 9 is at the backpack of the rack rod 8. Alternatively, and not shown in the figures, the actuating element 9 can also be at the lower end of the toothed rack rod 8, i.e. opposite the upper end, or at both ends of the toothed rack rod 8. This ensures that the actuating element 9 is accessible at all times, depending on the height of the wearer.

[0046] Here, the rack rod 8 and thus the actuating element 9 attached to the rack rod 8 are held in the locking position against the force of a spring 15. This ensures that after adjustment the rack rod 8 and in particular its teeth 10 are pivoted back into the latched position and hold there. This effectively prevents accidental or unintentional adjustment of the position once it has been set.

[0047] The actuating element 9 projects orthogonally from the rack rod 8.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the housing cover 3 is detachably connected or can be clipped to two latch plates 12 on the rear wall of the school bag 13 and fastened there. In this case, the latch plate or plates 12 are nondetachably fastened to the rear wall of the school bag 13 and, if necessary, covered there with cover fabric.

[0049] In a manner known per se, each support plate 6 is fixed to the shoulder straps 14; this connection is usually made by sewing, screwing or riveting. Bonding is also possible here.

[0050] The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment but is variable in many ways within the scope of the disclosure.

[0051] All new individual and combination features disclosed in the description and/or drawing are considered essential to the invention.