Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Convertible or combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-22
2001-11-13
Vidovich, Gregory M. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Convertible or combined
C224S259000, C224S261000, C224S262000, C224S633000, C224S634000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315177
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a frame assembly for a backpack and more specifically to a frame assembly for a backpack that has been designed to easily carry a canoe and collapsible table.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Numerous styles of backpacks have been developed to help the hiker or user to more comfortably carry a wide variety objects. The evolution of the backpack carrier has focused on providing greater comfort, convenience and support for the user. Specific difficulties arise when one is trying to carry any substantial weight during a long hike or traverse uneven terrain. Traditional backpack frames often provided just a frame and shoulder straps. This arrangement promoted tension and excessive muscle use from trying to effectively accommodate and negotiate a heavy load on the user's back.
Specific problems arise when the user is trying to carry a heavy and long canoe over any substantial distance or rough terrain. Since canoes are a substantial weight, it is difficult for one person to carry it and often requires two people. Even with two people, problems can arise depending on the terrain that is being traversed, and whether the physical abilities of the two individuals are matched. People portaging on their own are at a further disadvantage as they must try to manoeuvre the canoe on their own.
Prior art back-packs and carriers have been devised to address the aforenoted problems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,246 issued on Aug. 20, 1996 to Michael Lambert of Ottawa, Canada, relates to a combination canoe carrier and camp chair. The carrier supports an inverted canoe on a person's back and is also capable of being converted to a folding camp chair. In the canoe carrier mode, a web interconnects upper ends of the frames to support the thwart of the inverted canoe. Suitable shoulder straps and a hip belt are also attached to the carrier.
Furthermore, due to the heavy loads and the lack of amenities that are available on such portage trips, the ability to have other camping equipment, such as a chair or table would be beneficial.
Donald F. Wilkes of Albuquerque, N.M., is the owner of U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,903 which issued on Jan. 25, 1983. This patent relates to a pack frame for a backpack which includes structure for transferring a substantial portion of the vertical load component to a position at the hip area of a wearer which is well below the load's centre of gravity. The pack frame is comprised of a tubular frame structure which is adapted to support a load on the back of a wearer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,578 issued to Michael S. Bell of Goleta, Calif. on Dec. 31, 1985. This patent relates to a backpack with a frame to carry a load. The frame has a pair of upright rails, one at each side of the hiker. An encircling belt is attached to each of the upright rails, and a pair of shoulder rests fit over each of the shoulders.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,251 was issued on Jun. 9, 1998 has been assigned to Dana Design Ltd. of Bozeman, Mont. This patent relates to an external frame backpack which includes a frame, a hip-belt, two flexible stays, a back panel, and a lower panel. The frame is external and substantially rigid.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,760 issued on May 2, 1972 to the inventor Lewis H. Blood of Leonardo, N.J. This patent relates to shoulder carriers or slings and to a type that is adapted for the transport particularly of canoes, small boats or outboard motors. It involves shoulder straps in the form of loops, connected at both ends, and a board in which the straps are attached and adjustable and said board provided with means to hold a boat, canoe or outboard motor.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,734,367 issued to William S. Jackson of Ann Arbor, Mich. on May 22, 1973. This patent relates to an apparatus to be worn by an individual for carrying a canoe in an inverted position and simultaneously to be used for carrying a pack. The apparatus comprises a pack carrier adapted to be strapped to the back of the individual, and includes arms pivotally connected to the lower portion of the pack carrier and having attachment means at the distal ends of the arms for attachment to a transverse strut of the canoe.
Raytheon Company is the owner of U.S. Pat. No. 5,806,740 which issued on Sep. 15, 1998. This patent relates to an improved universal adjustable modular load backpack for carrying heavy loads to be used in conjunction with a multi-functional, soldier-centred, computer enhanced warfare system and includes storage modules releasably mounted on a flexible pack frame extending the wearer's level of comfort and range of motion.
Thus a frame assembly for a canoe backpack carrier which allows for an individual to carry a canoe on their own, is comfortable and reduces the tension an individual experiences while carrying the backpack and includes additional camping equipment such as a collapsible table is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved frame assembly for a canoe backpack carrier that can include a collapsible table and that can be operated by an individual.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a frame assembly for a canoe backpack carrier comprising of a support means, an adjustable holding means and an adjustable carrying means. The adjustable carrying means may be attached to the support means to allow a user to carry the frame assembly. The support means may be adapted to receive the adjustable holding means which secures the canoe to the frame assembly and more particularly to the support means.
Conveniently, the support means may be further defined as a series of rods having cross braces. The rods and cross braces are arranged in such a fashion so as to provide two pairs of rods that are connected to one another at one end of the frame assembly.
Preferably the adjustable holding means may be further defined as an adjustable web that is secured to the cross braces of the support means. The adjustable web may allow for the canoe, and more specifically the cross strut located at the centre of the canoe, to rest on the frame assembly securely.
The adjustable carrying means may be further defined to include an adjustable back pad, adjustable straps, and hip belt that may be attached to the rods and cross braces. The supports means may include additional supports that may be defined as C-channels that can be used to attach to the frame assembly or other solid object to form a support for a table.
Advantages of the present frame assembly for carrying a canoe include: easy mounting and securing of the canoe to the frame assembly; the ability to mount and secure the canoe by one person, the user; improved distribution of the canoe's weight on the user's back and shoulders; adjustable webbing to allow the user to mount and carry a variety of types of canoes and a collapsible table concealed within the frame assembly.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3648907 (1972-03-01), Romney
patent: 3659760 (1972-05-01), Blood
patent: 3734367 (1973-05-01), Jackson
patent: 4361259 (1982-11-01), Chanter
patent: 4369903 (1983-01-01), Wilkes
patent: 4561578 (1985-12-01), Bell
patent: 4582165 (1986-04-01), Latini
patent: 5547246 (1996-08-01), Lambert
patent: 5762251 (1998-06-01), Gleason
patent: 5806740 (1998-09-01), Carlson
patent: 5875946 (1999-03-01), Knudsen
patent: 5975389 (1999-11-01), Braun et al.
Brevaro Maerena N.
Gierczak Eugene J. A.
Vidovich Gregory M.
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