Apparel – Body garments – Coats
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-04
2001-10-02
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Body garments
Coats
C002S462000, C224S921000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295650
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The demands of bird hunting have stimulated improvements in game vests, which have become commonly referred to as upland vests. Hunters use upland vests to carry provisions and supplies for the hunting expedition (e.g., food, water, ammunition, tools, etc.) as well as game. Typically, game is loaded into a rear game pouch. Such vests must be versatile and durable to meet the demands of hunters. It is also important that the vest be comfortable throughout the hunting expedition, including both before and after loading game in the vest.
Some previously known backpack-type vests use a crude combination of the shoulder straps and hip belt to provide load support. However, as loads change during the hunting expedition, the prior art vests often become cumbersome and uncomfortable. For example, some hunters like the load to swing slightly relative to the body with each stride.
Hunters can normally carry heavy loads for a longer period of time, with less fatigue and greater comfort if the load is supported by the lumbar region and movable, within limits, so that the body does not jerk the vest through a series of forceful oscillations corresponding to the walking or running rhythm.
On the other hand, it is important that the swing movement be adjustable to the particular characteristics of the load and the hunter. Every person has a slightly different body build, muscle distribution, and stride characteristics. Even the same person may prefer changing the adjustment of his vest assembly from time-to-time, in order to switch the load slightly from one set of muscles to another.
Prior art upland vests having rear game pouches tend to become tail heavy when game is loaded into the rear game pouch. When this happens, the vest tends to ride low. Those skilled in the art have attempted to overcome this problem by using a hip belt. One of the problems with hip belts is that an inordinate amount of weight is supported on the hip belt, and this is uncomfortable. Without hip belts, however, virtually all of the weight of the pack belt is on the shoulders, and the backpack slides backwards.
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a comfortable upland vest with a rear game pouch that allows the hunter to adjust and stabilize the load while hunting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is an upland pack vest that uses a unique combination of adjustable straps in order to allow the distribution of weight in a loaded rear game pouch between the shoulder straps and the hip belt. The invention uses a pair of diagonal straps to accomplish this advantage. Each diagonal strap connects one of the shoulder straps at a location below the sternum to the rear panel of the pack vest in the vicinity of the rear game pouch. In this manner, the load within the game pouch can be redistributed onto the shoulder straps so that the majority of the weight in the game pouch is evenly balanced on the shoulder straps. A sternum strap connects the shoulder straps to prevent the shoulder straps from separating. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the length of the diagonal straps is adjustable in order to enable the hunter to easily redistribute the load in the rear game pouch onto the front part of the shoulder straps.
The upland pack vest is provided with compartments to provide easy access to water bottles, ammunition, hunting tools, food, clothes and other hunting accessories. The upland pack vest preferably includes a pair of front pocket assemblies that are normally used for carrying ammunition or other hunting accessories. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the front pocket assemblies are separated from the hip belt, and hang freely or float relative to the shoulder straps and the hip belts. A quick release connection strap between the freely hanging front pockets is preferably used to prevent the front pockets from excessive swinging.
Preferably, adjustable compression straps are connected to the outer panel of the rear game pouch in order to enable the hunter to carry clothing or other bulky items outside of the game pouch. Also, it is preferred that the sternum strap be attached to the shoulder straps in such a manner that the height of the sternum strap is adjustable. This feature is useful because hunters have various sized torsos, and is so particularly useful when the upland pack vest is used by women. The adjustable eight sternum strap allows women to locate the sternum strap above their breasts.
Other features and advantages of the invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art upon inspecting the following drawings and description thereof.
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patent: 5913409 (1999-06-01), Test
Boyle Fredrickson Newholm Stein & Gratz S.C.
Calvert John J.
Patel Tejash
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