Technical field

The present invention relates to a backpack, for putting most part of the weight of the backpack on the sternum of a user. Background

In our work with posture improvement, we discovered that one of the biggest problems with posture can be found in how we carry around our personal belongings. Carrying on one shoulder brings the risk of making the back crooked. To carry a backpack on both shoulders leads to hunched shoulders and back to compensate for the weight pulling from behind. To carry a heavy load unevenly distributed on the two sides of the body places an undue strain on one of the sides.

Today, more and more people are working partly from home and we are expected in a greater extent to carry our technical equipment to and from the office. Many do this in a harmful way, e.g. by a shoulder bag, by a backpack lying over the shoulders or with the weight burdening only one side of the body.

Thus, there is a need on the market for an everyday carrying system which is good for the posture and which is not harmful for the body.

One well-known solution is to have a belt over the hips in combination with a buckle over the chest. The carrying system then rests on the hips and pulls backwards over the chest. Such a system is bulky and needs features for adjusting the length of the back to fit all users.

The carrying system Coxa Carry is a system where the weight is carried on the hips. The carrying straps are connected to a connecting device which can be adjusted in position on the user by adjusting the length of the straps. The straps are connected to each other over the chest for holding the straps together and all the weight is put on the hips of the user. Another backpack which puts the weight on the hips of the user is shown in GB2525662A. The backpack has buckle straps that connect over the chest and a separate hip belt for putting the weight on the hips.

USWE produces bounce-free action packs which are rotatably connected over the sternum. Summary It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved carrying system which is good for the posture of the users of the carrying system. The present disclosure aims to provide a carrying system which puts no weight on the shoulders and instead puts most of the weight on the sternum of the user.

The inventors have studied how the positioning of the shoulders affects the strain on the torso and the position of the head. When a carrying system puts weight on the shoulders, there is a weight that pulls the shoulders backwards. To compensate, the user hunches the shoulders, i.e. rotates them forward, and back and instead of having the head balanced over the spinal column, the head is hanging in front of it. The hip is also angled and the knees are then unnaturally stressed. If a person carries heavily a lot, there is a risk that the body is harmed. The inventors wanted to make use of similar principles as when carrying on top of the head as is done in many places around the world, such that the weight is carried where the body is at its strongest, centrally and as close to the center of gravity as possible.

The backpack according to the disclosure aims at carrying the weight centrally with tension in the torso. The weight is resting over the sternum and the shoulders are completely free of weight. The user will get a natural movement in the shoulders, an S-shaped spine, the head resting above the spinal column, the hip in a neutral position and natural pressure in the knees that allows the body to be spared during the carrying.

This aim is achieved by the device as defined in claim 1.

According to an embodiment, it comprises a backpack, for putting a majority of the weight of the backpack on the sternum of a user, comprising a bag comprising a backpiece, the backpiece defining a plane having a longitudinal axis between an upper and lower part of the bag and a cross axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a first carrying strap and a second carrying strap. The plane defined by the backpiece can thus be defined by two perpendicular lines; one in the longitudinal direction between the upper and lower part of the bag and one across the bag, perpendicular to the longitudinal line. The backpiece is intended to face the back of a user carrying the backpack.

Each of the first and second carrying straps extends between the upper part of the bag and the lower part of the bag, and comprises an upper section, intermediate section and a lower section. Thus, the carrying straps comprise three parts which have some different characteristics. The upper section being arched and an upper end of the upper section being fastened to the upper part of the bag such that the first and second carrying straps are angled away from each other. The arching is to give room for the head of the user. In other words, the upper ends of each of the first and the second carrying straps are arched away from each other so that there is room for the head. They are also fastened at a non-perpendicular angle to the cross axis such that the straps are angled outwards, away from the head. The arched shape results in that the first and second carrying straps gives room for the head and then comes back together. The straps are thus angled over the shoulders to better follow the shape of the shoulder of the user.

The intermediate part is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the pla ne and comprises a plurality of fastening members arranged over a distance in the longitudinal direction, the fastening members of the first carrying strap are arranged to attach to corresponding fastening members of the second carrying strap, wherein the fastening members are arranged so that the intermediate parts of the first and second carrying straps overlap along the distance when attached. That is, in the intermediate part of the straps, there are at least two fastening members aligned with the longitudinal axis. The intermediate part is substantially straight. When the fastening members are engaged, the intermediate parts overlap. The fastening members are to be located over the sternum of a user carrying the backpack when they are engaged. Thus, when the backpack is in use, the first and the second straps will lie over the sternum of the user with the intermediate part. The width of the backpack over the sternum is thus only the width of one strap. The lower section of each of the first and second carrying straps is attached to the lower part of the bag and comprises an adjusting member arranged so that the length of the lower sections is variable. The first and second straps can thus be adjusted to fit any user by adjusting the length of the lower section.

The arch shape of the upper sections, the fastening such that the first and second carrying stra ps are angled away from each other, the fastening members being arranged over a distance in the longitudinal direction and the adjusting member are all contributing so that a person carrying the backpack carries all weight of the backpack over the sternum and the lower back. The angle and arch-shape of the straps give room for the shoulders and head. The fastening members over a longitudinal distance give a fastening over the sternum with pressure distribution over the sternum. When a user of the backpack tightens the straps by the adjusting member, the backpack sits tightly against the user primarily at the sternum and the lower back while putting no weight on the shoulders. The shoulders are thus freely movable. Thus, the weight is carried centrally on the user, closer to the center of gravity of the body of the user where the user is the strongest. The shape and fastening angle of the carrying straps are specially shaped for this purpose and together with the elongated fastening of the straps over the sternum, a backpack is achieved which overcomes the problems discussed above.

In other words, the bag is fastened behind the shoulder of the user in line with the neck of the user. The carrying straps are resting over the shoulders at an angle which relieves the shoulders from pressure. The angle continues to make room for neck and throat and then meets over the sternum where most of the weight is placed. The fastening points of the carrying straps are imbricated with the help of the fastening members, for example, magnets. The carrying straps then turn away from the center of the user and are attached to the bag with, for example, an adjustable buckle for adjusting the length.

According to some aspects, each of the first and the second carrying straps are fastened to the upper part in an angle of between 110° and 125° from the cross axis such that they are angled away from each other. An angle between 110° and 125° gives good room for the shoulders and neck.

According to some aspects, the distance in the longitudinal direction over which the fastening members are arranged is between 8 cm and 15 cm. The distance is from a top end of topmost fastening member to a lowest end of the lowermost fastening member. The distance ensures a good pressure distribution over the sternum as well as makes sure that the straps do not go over the breasts of a user.

According to some aspects, the plurality of fastening members is 2, 3 or 4 fastening members. The number of fastening members is not as important as the distance. The two straps need to be attached to each other over the distance, and the choice of fastening members will determine how many fastening members are needed.

According to some aspects, the fastening members comprise magnets, wherein each magnet in the first carrying strap has a corresponding attracting magnet in the second carrying strap. The strength of the magnets obviously needs to be able to hold the backpack in place. Different sizes of magnets may require different number of magnets. Magnets are easy to fasten and this makes the process of attaching the fastening members simple and fast.

According to some aspects, the fastening members comprise buckles. Buckles are a well- known alternative to magnets. Buckles have the advantage over magnets that they can be fastened to not release simply from pulling them apart.

According to some aspects, each of the first and second carrying straps has a width between 3 cm and 8 cm in the intermediate section. The width should be wide enough for a weight distribution over the sternum to not be simply over one line but also narrow enough for the straps to be suitable for people with breasts so that the intermediate section can lay between the breasts of a user.

According to some aspects, the arch shape of the upper sections, the fastening such that the first and second carrying straps are angled away from each other, the fastening members being arranged over a distance in the longitudinal direction and the adjusting member are arranged such that a person carrying the backpack carries all weight of the backpack over the sternum and the lower back. Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be explained more closely by the description of different embodiments of the invention and with reference to the appended figures. Fig. 1.1 shows an overview of an example backpack from the front of a user

Fig. 1.2 shows an overview of an example backpack from the upper side of a user

Fig. 2.1 shows an example of the fastening on the upper part of the bag

Fig. 3.1 shows an example arch shape for the neck and throat of the first and second carrying straps

Fig. 4.1 shows an example of the right carrying strap, in this case the magnets of the right straps are facing away from the user

Fig. 4.2 shows an example of the left carrying strap, in this case the magnets of the right straps are facing the user

Fig. 4.3 shows an example where the right and left carrying straps are attached to each other with the right carrying strap under the left and fastened with neodymium magnets in even couples

Fig. 5.1 shows an example where the carrying straps have an adjustable buckle

Fig. 6.1 shows an example of how the carrying straps are fastened at the bottom part of the bag

Fig. 6.2 shows the same as 6.1 but in a larger context

Fig. 7.1 shows an example magnet

Detailed description

Aspects of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The device and method disclosed herein can, however, be realized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the aspects set forth herein. Like numbers in the drawings refer to like elements throughout.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects of the disclosure only, and is not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

Figure 1.1 shows an overview of an example backpack 1 from the front of a user 2. The disclosure provides a carrying system, i.e. a backpack 1, where carrying straps 5a, 5b are rounded for the neck and throat of a user 2, the carrying straps overlap over the sternum and have adjustable length. The carrying straps are fastened in the top and bottom parts of a bag 3 of the backpack 1. Figure 1.2 shows an overview of an example backpack 1 from the upper side of a user 2 and figure 2.1 shows an example of the fastening on the upper part 3a of the bag 3.

Again, figure 1.1 shows a carrying system, i.e. a backpack 1, for carrying a weight on the back. The backpack 1 has two carrying straps 5a, 5b fastened to the weight, i.e. the bag 3 on the back of the user 2, on an upper part 3a and a lower part 3b of the bag 3. The carrying straps 5a, 5b are overlappingly attached to each other over the sternum with, for example, parallelly aligned magnets. The carrying straps 5a, 5b are shaped such that they give room for the neck and throat of the user 2 and the attachment over the sternum distributes weight and pressure there instead of on the shoulders. The carrying straps are fastened at an angle a on the bag 3. Figure 2.1 illustrates the angle a.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, it comprises a backpack 1, for putting a majority of the weight of the backpack 1 on the sternum of a user 2, comprising a bag 3 comprising a backpiece 4, the backpiece 4 defining a plane having a longitudinal axis between an upper 3a and lower part 3b of the bag 3 and a cross axis x perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a first carrying strap 5a and a second carrying strap 5b. The longitudinal axis defines a longitudinal direction y which can be seen in figure 1.1. The cross axis defines a cross-direction x that can be seen in figure 1.1. The plane defined by the backpiece 4 can thus be defined by two perpendicular lines; one in the longitudinal direction between the upper 3a and lower part 3b of the bag 3 and one across the bag 3, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The backpiece 4 is intended to face the back of a user 2 carrying the backpack 1. The plane defined by the backpiece 4 is thus illustrated in figure 1.1.

Figure 3.1 shows an example arch shape for the neck and throat of the first and second carrying straps 5a, 5b. The figure also illustrates that the carrying straps have three distinctive shapes. Each of the first 5a and second 5b carrying strap extends between the upper part 3a of the bag 3 and the lower part 3b of the bag 3, and comprises an upper section 5al, 5bl, an intermediate section 5a2, 5b2, and a lower section 5a3, 5b3. Thus, the carrying straps comprise three parts which have some different characteristics.

The carrying straps are fastened on the upper part 3a of the backpack 1 on two sides of the neck of a user 2 carrying the backpack 1. Each fastening is arranged in an outwards rotating angle a with respect to the bag 3 and is located behind the shoulder in height with the neck of the user 2, see for example figure 1.2 and 2.1.

The upper sections 5a 1, 5bl being arched and an upper end of the upper sections 5a 1, 5bl being fastened to the upper part 3a of the bag 3 such that the first 5a and second 5b carrying straps are angled away from each other. The fastening is done substantially along the cross- direction x. In other words, the fastening, e.g. by a seam, is substantially in the cross-direction x, and the straps are tilted such that they are angled away from each other. The arching is to give room for the head of the user 2. In other words, the upper ends of each of the first 5a and the second 5b carrying straps are arched away from each other so that there is room for the head. They are also fastened at a non-perpendicular angle to the cross-direction x such that the carrying straps are angled outwards, away from the head. The arched shape then gives that the first 5a and second 5b carrying straps give room for the head and then come back together. The carrying straps are thus angled over the shoulders to better follow the shape of the shoulder of the user 2. The carrying straps rest over the shoulder in an angle which leads to reduced pressure on the neck. The angle continues in an outwards rotated c- formation to make room for the neck and throat of the user 2. The angle of the carrying straps then turns back towards the center of the user 2 to meet at the height of the sternum and the largest part of the weight of the backpack 1 is carried here.

The intermediate parts 5a2, 5b2 are elongated in the longitudinal direction of the plane and comprise a plurality of fastening members 6 arranged over a distance d in the longitudinal direction. The fastening members 6a of the first carrying strap 5a are illustrated in figure 4.1. The figure shows an example of the right carrying strap, i.e. the first carrying strap, in this case the fastening members of the carrying straps are facing away from the user 2. The fastening members 6b of the second carrying strap 5b are illustrated in figure 4.2. The figure shows an example of the left carrying strap, i.e. the second carrying strap, in this case the fastening members 6b of the left carrying strap are facing the user 2. The fastening members 6a of the first carrying strap 5a are arranged to attach to corresponding fastening members 6b of the second carrying strap 5b, wherein the fastening members 6 are arranged so that the intermediate parts 5a2, 5b2 of the first 5a and second 5b carrying straps overlap along the distance d when attached. That is, in the intermediate part of the carrying straps, there are at least two fastening members 6 aligned with the longitudinal axis. The intermediate parts 5a2, 5b2 are substantially straight. When the fastening members 6 are engaged, the intermediate parts of the two carrying straps overlap. The fastening members 6 are to be located over the sternum of a user 2 carrying the backpack 1 when they are engaged. In figure 4.3, it is illustrated when the fastening members of the examples of figures 4.1 and 4.2 are attached. Thus, when the backpack 1 is in use, the first and the second carrying strap will lie over the sternum of the user 2 with the intermediate part. The width of the backpack 1 over the sternum is thus only the width of one carrying strap. According to some aspects, the first 5a and second 5b carrying straps fully overlap along the distance d such that the carrying strap placed over the other fully covers the other carrying strap over the distance d. In other words, the elongated attachment between the first 5a and the second 5b carrying straps is such that the two carrying straps are arranged with one over the other in the intermediate part.

It should be noted that, depending on the fastening members, the two intermediate parts do not have to overlap or at least not fully. If the carrying straps are fastened to each other with fastening members such that they are fastened over a distance d and such that there is no point wise pressure on the sternum of the user, they need not overlap fully.

In figure 4.3, it is illustrated where the right carrying strap 5a lays under the left carrying strap 5b. In this example, the fastening members 6 are magnets where the magnets of the right carrying strap are facing away from the body of the user 2 and the magnets on the left carrying strap are facing the body. The magnets attract each other and easily attach to each other when a user 2 puts on the backpack 1.

The lower sections 5a3, 5b3 of each of the first 5a and second 5b carrying straps are attached to the lower part 3b of the bag 3 and comprise an adjusting member 7 arranged so that the length of the lower sections 5a3, 5b3 is variable. An example of adjusting member is illustrated in figure 5.1. The first and second carrying straps can thus be adjusted to fit any user 2 by adjusting the length of the lower sections 5a3, 5b3. The shape of the first 5a and second 5b carrying straps then turn away from the center of the user 2 in the lower sections 5a3, 5b3 in an approximate height of the lower ribs of the user 2 and has, according to some aspects, an adjusting member 7, such as buckle, where the length can be adjusted of the lower part 3b. The buckle is attached to a part of the lower sections 5a3, 5b3 of the carrying strap, which attaches to the bag 3 behind the back of the user 2 in the lower part 3b of the bag 3. An example of a fastening of the lower section to the bag is illustrated in figures 6.1 and 6.2 where an area 8 of figure 6.2 is enlarged in figure 6.1.

The pressure from the weight of the backpack 1 on the user 2 is from the intermediate part on the sternum partly because the arrangement of the weight of the backpack 1 can be adjusted with the adjusting member 7. The shoulders are free from weight since there is an air gap between the carrying straps and the shoulder.

The arch shape of the upper sections 5al, 5bl, the fastening such that the first 5a and second 5b carrying straps are angled away from each other, the fastening members 6 being arranged over a distance d in the longitudinal direction and the adjusting members 7 are all contributing so that a person carrying the backpack 1 carries all weight of the backpack 1 over the sternum and the lower back. The angle and arch-shape of the carrying straps give room for the shoulders and head. The fastening members 6 over a longitudinal distance d give a fastening over the sternum with pressure distribution over the sternum. When a user 2 of the backpack 1 tightens the carrying straps by the adjusting members 7, the backpack 1 sits tightly against the user 2 primarily at the sternum and the lower back while putting no weight on the shoulders. The shoulders are thus freely movable. Thus, the weight is carried centrally on the user 2, closer to the center of gravity of the body of the user 2 where the user 2 is the strongest. The shape and fastening angle of the carrying straps are specially shaped for this purpose and together with the elongated fastening of the carrying straps over the sternum, a backpack 1 is achieved which overcomes the problems discussed above.

In other words, the bag 3 is fastened behind the shoulder of the user 2 in line with the neck of the user 2. The carrying straps are resting over the shoulders at an angle which relieves the shoulders from pressure. The angle continues to make room for neck and throat and then meets over the sternum where most of the weight is placed. The fastening points of the carrying straps are imbricated with the help of the fastening members 6, for example magnets. The carrying straps then turn away from the center of the user 2 and are attached to the bag 3 with, for example, an adjustable buckle for adjusting the length. As previously discussed, the upper sections 5al, 5bl are fastened to the upper part 3a of the bag 3 along the cross direction x and such that the first 5a and second 5b carrying straps are angled away from each other. According to some aspects, each of the first 5a and the second 5b carrying straps is fastened to the upper part 3a in an angle a of between 110° and 125° from the cross axis such that they are angled away from each other. Again, the angle a is illustrated in figure 2.1. An angle a between 110° and 125° gives good room for the shoulders and neck. The angle a together with the arch shape of the upper part 3a results in that the carrying straps are inclined to match the inclination of the shoulder of the user 2. Thus, the carrying straps give more room for the shoulders.

The fastening members 6 are arranged over a distance d in the longitudinal direction and when the fastening members 6a of the first carrying strap 5a are attached to the fastening members 6b of the second carrying strap 5b, the carrying straps are overlapping. According to some aspects, the distance d in the longitudinal direction over which the fastening members 6 are arranged is between 8 cm and 15 cm. The distance d is from a top end of topmost fastening member to a lowest end of the lowermost fastening member. The distance d ensures a good pressure distribution over the sternum as well as makes sure that the carrying straps do not go over the breasts of a user 2. The number of fastening members 6 is not as important as the distance d as long as the distance d in the longitudinal direction is kept. The two carrying straps need to be attached to each other over the distance d, and the choice of fastening members 6 will determine how many fastening members 6 are needed. According to some aspects, the plurality of fastening members 6 is 2, 3 or 4 fastening members 6.

The fastening members 6 comprise, according to some aspects, magnets, wherein each magnet in the first carrying strap 5a has a corresponding attracting magnet in the second carrying strap 5b. An example magnet is illustrated in figure 7.1. The strength of the magnets obviously needs to be able to hold the backpack 1 in place. Different sizes of magnets may require different number of magnets. Magnets are easy to fasten and this makes the process of attaching the fastening members 6 simple and fast. The magnets are at least 25mm in diameter and have a thickness of at least 5 mm. Buckles are a well-known alternative to magnets. Buckles have the advantage over magnets that they can be fastened to not release simply from pulling them apart. According to some aspects, the fastening members 6 comprise buckles. Any other fastening members 6 which can fasten the first and the second carrier straps overlappingly can be used. One such example is to use hook-and-loop fasteners with the fasteners on one of the strips with hooks and the other with loops. According to one aspects, the fastening members 6 comprise one long hook-and-loop fastener on each carrying strap. The hook-and-loop fastener then extends over the above discussed longitudinal distance d. The width of the intermediate sections 5a2, 5b2 of the first 5a and second 5b carrying straps should be wide enough for a weight distribution over the sternum to not be simply over one line but also narrow enough for the carrying straps to be suitable for people with breasts so that the intermediate sections 5a2, 5b2 can lay between the breasts of a user 2. According to some aspects, each of the first 5a and second 5b carrying straps has a width between 3 cm and 8 cm in the intermediate section. If the carrying straps are narrower than 3 cm the weight distribution over the sternum will be so narrow that it may hurt the user 2 if the bag 3 is packed heavily. If the carrying straps are wider than 8cm the carrying straps may be uncomfortable over the breasts of a user 2. According to some aspects, the arch shape of the upper sections 5al, 5bl, the fastening such that the first 5a and second 5b carrying straps are angled away from each other, the fastening members 6 being arranged over a distance d in the longitudinal direction and the adjusting members 7 are arranged such that a person carrying the backpack 1 carries all weight of the backpack 1 over the sternum and the lower back.

An example of a backpack 1 according to the disclosure will now be described with example features. The example of backpack 1 has two carrying straps fastened to the bag 3 in a seam between the backpiece 4 and the rest of the bag 3. The seam is parallel with the cross- direction. The carrying straps are angled outwards and away from each other with an angle a of 110° from the cross axis. The upper sections 5al, 5bl of the carrying straps are C-shaped and come together at or just above the sternum of the user 2 of the backpack 1. The intermediate sections 5a2, 5b2 then extend in the longitudinal direction, i.e. downwards on the user 2, for 10 cm. The fastening means are 3 magnets which are fastened along those 10 cm; there being 10 cm between the upper edge of the topmost magnet and the lower edge of the bottommost magnet. The carrying straps then go into the lower sections 5a3, 5b3 which again turn away from the sternum and approximately follow the lower ribs of the user 2, depending on the height of the user 2, outwards and to a fastening location in the lower part 3b of the bag 3. In this case on the sides of the bags. The lower sections 5a3, 5b3 have a buckle which can be used to adapt the length of the lower sections 5a3, 5b3, and thus of the carrying straps, so that the backpack 1 snuggly fits the user 2. When the carrying straps are tightened, the weight of the backpack 1 will lie against the sternum of the user 2 and on the lower back; thus, little or no weight will be on the shoulders.

Reference list:

1. Backpack

2. User

3. Bag

a. Upper part

b. Lower part

4. Backpiece

5. Carrying straps

a. First carrying strap

1. Upper section

2. Intermediate section

3. Lower section

b. Second carrying strap

1. Upper section

2. Intermediate section

3. Lower section

6. Fastening members a. Fastening members of the first carrying strap b. Fastening members of the second carrying strap

7. Adjusting member

8. Area of attaching the lower section of a strap a. Angle

d. Distance