Background Art Backpacks are well known and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Often a backpack system may have a waistbelt or other support for stabilizing a load contained with the backpack.

Waistbelts are typically constructed of fabric and may provide fabric compression straps that may be sewn directly to the waistbelts. Such compression straps can be attached to a backpack with a common fastener, such as sliding three-bar buckles located on the backpack. Most waistbelts also have fabric buckling straps that may be sewn directly to the waistbelt and may be tightened to allow a user to fasten and tighten the waistbelt securely around the user's waist. The buckling straps are often threaded through sliding three-bar buckle fasteners, however, other fasteners may be used. Many waistbelts are padded for the user's comfort and offer support for at least some of the weight of the backpack on the user's hips. When fit and worn properly, the waistbelt may reduce shifting and swaying of the backpack load on the user's hips and waist, thereby stabilizing the load.

Previous waistbelts may have included a padded portion on the waistbelt to support the load of the backpack. The padded portion allows the user to comfortably support the load of the backpack on the user's waist that might not otherwise be possible with bare straps. Such previous attempts at padded portions of waistbelts are usually made with a single, non-adjustable length. Previous waistbelts may include buckling straps which are sewn directly to the terminal ends of the waistbelt and the waistbelt is adjusted to fit various waist sizes by sliding the sliding three-bar buckle fasteners along some portion of the lengths of the buckling straps. Due to the single, non-adjustable length of the padded portion of the waistbelt, there may be many instances in which the padded portion of the waistbelt on the belt itself does not sufficiently surround the user's waist. Thus, the buckling straps themselves, may have to support a significant amount of the backpack weight, transferring the load from the straps to the user's hips and waist, which can be very uncomfortable. For example, a person with a larger waist size may be forced to place the sliding three-bar buckle fasteners farther from the belt and padded portion and toward distal ends of the buckling strap to effect a lengthening of the belt. Therefore, a larger portion of the backpack load gets supported on the person's waist and hips by the uncomfortable buckling straps instead of being supported by the more comfortable waistbelt padded portion.

Adequate support and stability as that of the padded portion of previous waistbelts may not be achieved by the buckling straps. The load that is carried in the backpack may shift and sway substantially. Once the load begins to shift and sway, the waistbelt may become uncomfortable and cause fatigue. Moreover, as previous waistbelts rub against the user's body, the waistbelt may cause chafing and abrasions.

Many suppliers and retailers of more upscale backpacks have attempted to address problems of past attempts by providing different lengths of waistbelts, which can be installed on particular backpacks to custom fit the backpacks with waistbelts that may match more closely the size of a user's waist. But this solution has it drawbacks, not the least of which is the necessity of having to carry an inventory of more waistbelts in order to meet the custom sizing requirements. Also a person with a smaller waist cannot wear a backpack fitted with a larger sized waistbelt, so there is little versatility in this approach.

Hence, there is a need for an adjustable waistbelt that offers support to users with different waist sizes, such that the backpack load is stabilized and distributed comfortably around a particular user's waist and hips.

Disclosure of the Invention It is a general object of the present invention to provide support to a user carrying a backpack.

It is a more specific object of this invention to limit shifting and swaying of a backpack load by providing a more comfortable and supportive waistbelt.

It is also a more specific object of this invention to variably extend the length of a waistbelt at which support and comfort are provided by telescoping or otherwise increasing or decreasing the length of the waistbelt at terminal ends of the waistbelt.

Yet another more specific object of this invention is to prevent chafing and abrasions to a user who would normally have to rely on buckling straps for support.

Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention shall be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following description or may be learned by the practice of the invention.

The objects and the advantages may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and in combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, one embodiment of the present invention may provide an adjustable support system comprising support elements that may be positioned at terminal ends of a waistbelt or other support, and in some embodiments, positioned in cavities, pockets, or the like, formed at the terminal ends. The support elements may comprise, in some embodiments, waistbelt inserts. The support elements may be adjustably positioned at the terminal ends by adjustment elements, and in some embodiments by sliding three-bar buckles attached to the support elements. Straps may be attached to the terminal ends of the waistbelt and may, in some embodiments, in conjunction with the adjustment elements, provide adjustable positioning of the support elements. In accordance with one embodiment, adjustment of sliding three-bar buckle along the length of a strap can adjust the position of support elements and extend the length of the waistbelt.

To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purposes of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, an adjustable support system may alternatively comprise support elements that may be positioned adjacent and at terminal ends of a waistbelt or other support or other attachments with straps. Support elements may be adjustably positioned at the terminal ends, by adjacent elements and in preferred embodiments, by sliding three-bar buckles attached to the support elements. Straps, in some embodiments, may be attached to the waistbelt and may be pulled through sliding three-bar buckles to provide adjustable positioning of the support elements. Adjustment of the sliding three-bar buckle along the length of the strap can adjust the position of the support elements and extend the length of the waistbelt.

Brief Description Of The Drawings FIG. 1 is a view of one embodiment of the present invention as worn on a user; FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a profile view of the embodiment of Figure 2 as may be seen exterior to the user; FIG. 4 is a profile view of the embodiment of Figure 2 as may be seen adjacent to the user; FIG. 5 is a profile view of a portion of one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view along A-A'of the embodiment of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a profile view of a portion of a second embodiment of the present invention; Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention An adjustable support system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is depicted in Figure 1. A support, and in a preferred embodiment waistbelt 10, may support a backpack 11 or other loads on a user's waist and hips. The support or waistbelt 10 may be padded and may surround a portion, and in preferred embodiments substantially surround a user's waist. Padding for the belt may be situated on a person's hips when worn and may be sewn within the waistbelt 10 or otherwise attached to the waistbelt 10 as pads. Padding may be sewn within the waistbelt 10 to form a padded region 28. The waistbelt 10, and in some embodiments in combination with the padded region 28, may at least in part support the load of back pack 11 and distribute the load to the person's waist and hips. Attachments, and in a preferred embodiment straps 14 and 15, may be adjustably attached to terminal ends, such as terminal end 19, of the waistbelt 10 to preferably and at least partially fasten and retain the waistbelt 10 around the person's waist. Any suitable fastener, such as the belt buckle 18,20, can be used to fasten and secure the straps 14 and 15. Compression straps, such as compression 34, may be attached to the waistbelt 10 for attaching to the backpack 11 or other load. The compression straps may assist in the stabilization of the load carried in backpack 11.

Support elements may be provided as part of the adjustable support system. One embodiment of the present invention provides support elements, such as waistbelt insert 12, positioned into pockets, cavities, or the like, formed in the terminal ends of the waistbelt 10. The waistbelt insert 12 may be adjustably attached to the strap, and in some embodiments attached by an adjustment element. A Sliding three-bar buckle 16, or other like adjustment element, adjustably attached to strap 14, may serve as an adjustment element. A fabric loop 24 or other like element may by attached to the sliding three-bar buckle 16 to render leverage to the user for adjusting the waistbelt 10. The support element or waistbelt insert 12 may be adjustably positioned to increase or decrease the waistbelt 10 and, for example, render additional support and accommodate differing sizes of a user.

Figure 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an adjustable support system and a support comprising waistbelt 10. The waistbelt 10 may comprise a belt band 23, labeled as an encircled 23, that in some embodiments comprises three regions, two padded regions 28 and 29 and an unpadded region 30. Compression straps 34,36, and 44 may be attached to the padded region 28 and compression straps 38,40, and 42 may be attached to the padded region 29 for further attachment, such as the compression strap 34 to the backpack 11 as shown in FIG. 1.

Straps 14 and 15 may be attached to the terminal ends 19 and 21 of the belt band 23. Pockets, cavities, or the like, may be formed at the terminal ends 19 and 21 of the belt band 23 and may assist in positioning the waistbelt inserts 12 and 13. The waistbelt inserts 12 and 13 may have, in some embodiments, adjustment elements, and in a preferred embodiment, sliding three-bar buckles 16 and 17, respectively associated or otherwise attached to the waistbelt inserts 12 and 13. Although the attachments or straps 14 and 15 may be attached to the terminal ends 19 and 21, the straps could be variously attached to the belt band 23. In one embodiment, straps 14 and 15 may be woven through the sliding three-bar buckles 16 and 17 to provide adjustable positioning of the waistbelt inserts 12 and 13. Fabric loops 24 and 25 or other like elements may be attached to the sliding three-bar buckles 16 and 17 to assist the user in adjustment of the respective waistbelt inserts 12 and 13. By adjusting the straps through the buckles or by adjusting one or both of the fabric loops 24 and 25, or both, for example by pulling the loops which respectively adjusts one or both waistbelt inserts 12 and 13, the user can adjust the length of the waistbelt 10.

The straps 14 and 15 may further provide attachment to secure the waistbelt 10 to the user's waist. A fastening mechanism, comprising in some embodiments buckle 18,20, may provide the attachment of strap 14 to strap 15. However, it should be noted that the attachment of strap 14 to strap 15 could be fashioned in a myriad of ways, such as simply tying the straps 14 and 15 together. The buckle 18, 20 may be comprised of a lock insert 18 and a lock 20. In some embodiments, the lock insert 18 may be movably attached to the strap 14 by weaving or otherwise associating the strap 14 to the lock insert 18. Similarly, strap 15 may be woven or otherwise associated to the lock 20. Respective adjustments of the lock insert 18 and the lock 20 may serve to tighten the waistbelt 10.

FIG. 3 is a profile view of the embodiment of Figure 2 as may be seen exterior to the user. As previously stated, the belt band 23 may in some embodiments be comprised of the two padded regions 28 and 29 and the unpadded region 30. The unpadded region 30 may separate the two padded regions 28 and 29. Other embodiments of the belt band 23 may include only a single padded region or even comprise more than two padded regions. It should also be noted that the placement and number of the compression straps, such as compression straps 34,36, 42, 38,40, and 44, could be varied to make the waistbelt 10 compatible with a variety of backpack products or other loads. Pockets 46 and 47 are respectively located or formed at the terminal ends 19 and 21 and may be used to position the support elements, and in some embodiments the waistbelt inserts 12 and 13. In some embodiments the waistbelt inserts 12 and 13 are respectively and adjustably positioned at the terminal ends 19 and 21 of the belt band 23.

Adjustable positioning may be accomplished through the use of adjustment elements, or in preferred embodiments, sliding three-bar buckles 16 and 17 being respectively, and in a preferred embodiment adjustably attached, attached to the straps 14 and 15. The lock insert 18 is adjustably attached to the strap 15 and the lock 20 is adjustably attached to the buckling strap 14.

The lock insert 18 and lock 20 form the locking buckle 18,20 when fastened together.

FIG. 4 is a view of the waistbelt 10 that shows a surface that may be worn adjacent to the user. Pockets, cavities, or the like, and in one embodiment pockets 46 and 47, may be respectively located at the terminal ends 19 and 21. In one embodiment, the pockets 46 and 47 may be (dotted lines) are located within the respective terminal ends 19 and 21 of the padded regions 28 and 29.

A portion of one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5 and provides both structure and operation for one embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, a support element, and in one embodiment a waistbelt insert 12, may be at least partially inserted into the pocket 46 formed in the terminal end 19 of the belt band 23. The waistbelt inserts 12 and 13 may have complementing configuration to pockets 46 and 47 and terminal ends 19 and 21. The waistbelt insert 12 may be adjustably positioned or otherwise associated at least in part by the pocket 46. An adjustment element, and in one embodiment a sliding three-bar buckle 16, may be attached to waistbelt insert 12. A fabric loop 24 may be attached to the sliding three-bar buckle 16. The strap 14 may be attached to the terminal end 19 of the belt band 23. The strap 14 is woven through or otherwise associated to the sliding three-bar buckle 16, providing an adjustable attachment to the waistbelt insert 12. The waistbelt insert 12 may be positioned, held within, or otherwise associated with the pocket 46 of terminal end 19. Pocket 46 allows the waistbelt insert 12 to be adjustably positioned, and in some embodiments, to telescope in and out of the pocket 46 while being adjustably attached to strap 14. To adjustably position at least a portion of the waistbelt insert 12 out from the pocket 46, and extend or lengthen the waistbelt 10, the user may appropriately adjust the strap 14, pull on the fabric loop 24 in a direction away from the terminal end 19 of the belt band 23, or both. To adjustably position at least a portion of the waistbelt insert 12 into the pocket 46, the user may appropriately adjust strap 14, pull the sliding three-bar buckle towards the terminal end 19 of the belt band 23, or both. An alternative embodiment of the invention might have an additional fabric loop or a plurality of loops to assist the user in pulling the sliding three-bar buckle towards the direction of the terminal end of the belt band 23. Line A-A'is drawn through the belt to represent the cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG 6.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 provides the pocket 46 formed from a layering of first and second surfaces of the padded region 28. The waistbelt insert 12 is positioned or otherwise associated at least in part in the pocket 46. Sliding three-bar buckle 16 is attached to waistbelt insert 12, and in some embodiments, attached by a strap 68. In accordance with some embodiments, the strap 68 is woven under a bar 62 of the sliding three-bar buckle 16, over a bar 64 of the sliding three-bar buckle 16, and under a bar 66 of the sliding three-bar buckle 16. The strap 14 may be attached to the terminal end 19 and adjustably attached to the waistbelt insert 12.

The strap 14 may be woven through the sliding three-bar buckle 16 in a manner similar to strap 68. In one embodiment, the strap 14 may be woven under the bar 62 of the sliding three-bar buckle 16, over the bar 64 of the sliding three-bar buckle 16, and under the bar 66 of the sliding three-bar buckle 16. This method of attachment of the buckling strap 14 to the waistbelt insert 12 provides an adjustable attachment to the waistbelt insert 12. In some embodiments, the fabric loop 24 may be attached to the bar 66 of the sliding three-bar buckle 16 to provide leverage to the user when adjusting the waistbelt insert 12 away from or towards the direction of terminal end 19 of the belt band 23. Loop 24 or other like element may be fashioned and affixed in a variety of manners known to one skilled in the art, such as, for example, attaching a fabric loop to the bar 62 of the sliding three-bar buckle 16, attaching multiple fabric loops or even no fabric loop at all.

FIG. 7 provides a second embodiment of the present invention. A strap 72 may be provided at least partially positioning or otherwise associating which waistbelt extension 80.

One or a plurality of straps may be used to provide adjustable attachment of the waistbelt extension 80 to the waistbelt 10. Support could be fashioned in a variety of other ways. A Strap 74 may be attached to or otherwise associated with belt band 70 in a manner that does not interfere with the adjustment of or motion of the waistbelt extension 80. A sliding three-bar buckle 76 may be attached to the waistbelt extension 80 in a manner similar to that of the sliding three bar buckle 16 to waistbelt insert 12 shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. The strap 74 may be woven through or otherwise associated with the sliding three-bar buckle 76, and in some embodiments, in a manner similar to that of the buckling strap 14 through the sliding three-bar buckle 16 shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. A fabric loop 78 may be attached to or otherwise associated with the sliding three-bar buckle 76, and in some embodiments, in a manner similar to that of the fabric loop 24 to the sliding three-bar buckle 16 shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. The user may adjust the length of the waistbelt 10 by sliding the waistbelt extension 80 along a length of the buckling strap 76, by adjusting sliding three-bar buckle 76, or both.

There are, of course, many other manners consistent with the present invention to adjust the length of a waistbelt without departing from the scope of this invention.

The forgoing description is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and process shown as described above. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims which follow.