Backpack with improved comfort structure

Claim 2

A backpack frame for hikers and the like, comprising in combination: (a) a primary frame having a pair of spaced generally parallel siderails joined at their upper and end portions by a cross-bar, (b) said primary frame adapted to support a pack body secured to the rear side of said primary frame, (e) a supplemental frame disposed adjacent said primary frame and having a pair of spaced generally parallel legs joined at their lower end portions of a cross-bar and being positioned outwardly of said siderails, (d) pivot means pivotally joining intermediate portions of said siderails and legs on each side thereof for movement between collapsed generally vertical positions for hiking and extended open positions forming a chair, portions of said legs located above said pivot means when in the closed position being movable about said pivot means rearwardly of said primary frame into said open position for engagement with a ground surface portions of said siderails located below said pivot means being engageable with the ground surface at locations forwardly of said leg portions, and portions of said legs located below said pivot means when in the closed position being movable about said pivot means forwardly of said primary frame into said open position projecting from the plane of said primary frame to form a seat frame, (e) and means for connecting said primary and supplemental frames below said pivot means in said open positions thereof, and wherein said legs have main body portions and foot portions located at ends opposite the cross-bar, said foot portions extending at an angle relative to said main body portions such that when the legs are in said open position the portions extend generally vertically for engaging the ground.

Claim 3

The backpack frame defined in claim 1 wherein said foot portions extend at an obtuse angle relative to the main body portions of said legs.

Claim 4

The backpack frame defined in claim 2 wherein said foot portions are bent portions integral with the main body portions of the legs.

Claim 5

A backpack frame for hikers and the like, comprising in combination: (a) a primary frame having a pair of spaced generally parallel siderails joined at their upper and end portions by a cross-bar, (b) said primary frame adapted to support a pack body secured to the rear side of said primary frame, (c) a supplemental frame disposed adjacent said primary frame and having a pair of spaced generally parallel legs joined at their lower end portions by a cross-bar and being positioned outwardly of said siderails, (d) pivot means pivotally joining intermediate portions of said siderails and legs on each side thereof for movement between collapsed generally vertical positions for hiking and extended open positions forming a chair, portions of said legs located above said pivot means when in the closed position being movable about said pivot means rearwardly of said primary frame into said open position for engagement with a ground surface, portions of said siderails located below said pivot means being engageable with the ground surface at locations forwardly of said leg portions, and portions of said legs located below said pivot means when in the closed position being movable about said pivot means forwardly of said primary frame into said open position projecting from the plane of said primary frame to form a seat frame, (e) and means for connecting said primary and supplemental frames below said pivot means in said open positions thereof, and wherein said means for connecting said primary and supplemental frames includes connector elements and means releasably connecting said connector elements to said primary and supplemental frames on each of their sides below said pivot means, and wherein said legs have main body portions and foot portions located at ends opposite the cross-bar, said foot portions extending at an obtuse angle relative to said main body portions said that when the legs are in said open positions the foot portions extend generally vertically for engaging the ground.

Claim 6

A backpack frame for hikers and the like, comprising in combination: (a) a primary frame having a pair of spaced generally parallel siderails joined at their upper and end portions by a cross-bar, (b) said primary frame adapted to support a pack body secured to the rear side of said primary frame, (c) a supplemental frame disposed adjacent said primary frame and having a pair of spaced generally parallel legs joined at their lower end portions by a cross-bar and being positioned outwardly of said siderails, (d) pivot means pivotally joining intermediate portions of said siderails and legs on each side thereof for movement between collapsed generally vertical positions for hiking and extended open positions forming a chair, portions of said legs located above said pivot means when in the closed position being movable about said pivot means rearwardly of said primary frame into said open position for engagement with a ground surface, portions of said siderails located below said pivot means being engageable with the ground surface at locations forwardly of said leg portions, and portions of said legs located below said pivot means when in the closed position being movable about said pivot means forwardly of said primary frame into said open position projecting from the plane of said primary frame to form a seat frame, (e) and means for connecting said primary and supplemental frames below said pivot means in said open positions thereof, and wherein said means for connecting said primary and supplemental frames includes connector elements and means releasably connecting said connector elements to said primary and supplemental frames on each of their sides below said pivot means, and wherein said legs have main body portions and foot portions located at ends opposite the cross-bar, said foot portions extending at an obtuse angle relative to said main body portions said that when the legs are in said open positions the foot portions extend generally vertically for engaging the ground.

Claim 7

The backpack frame defined in claim 4 wherein said foot portions are bent portions integral with the main body portions of the legs.

Claim 8

A backpack frame for hikers and the like, comprising in combination: (a) a primary frame having a pair of spaced generally parallel siderails joined at their upper and end portions by a cross-bar, (b) said primary frame adapted to support a pack body secured to the rear side of said primary frame, (c) a supplemental frame disposed adjacent said primary frame and haing a pair of spaced generally parallel legs joined at their lower end portions by a cross-bar and being positioned outwardly of said siderails, (d) pivot means pivotally joining intermediate portions of said siderails and legs on each side thereof for movement between collapsed generally vertical positions for hiking and extended open positions forming a chair, portions of said legs located above said pivot means when in the closed position being movable about said pivot means rearwardly of said primary frame into said open position for engagement with a ground surface, portions of said siderails located below said pivot means being engageable with the ground surface at locations forwardly of said leg portions, and portions of said legs located below said pivot means when in the closed position being movable about said pivot means forwardly of said primary frame into said open position projecting from the plane of said primary frame to form a seat frame, (e) and means for connecting said primary and supplemental frames below said pivot means in said open positions thereof, and wherein said means for connecting said primary and supplemental frames includes connector elements and means releasably connecting said connector elements to said primary and supplemental frames on each of their sides below said pivot means, and wherein there is further included a hip belt connected to lower portions of one of said primary and supplemental frames and adapted to be worn on the hips of a user of the backpack frame to transfer loads from the backpack frame to the hips of the user, and wherein said legs have main body portions and foot portions located at ends opposite the cross-bar, said foot portions extending at an obtuse angle relative to said main body portions such that when the legs are in said open positions the foot portions extend generally vertically for engaging the ground and wherein said foot portions are bent portions integral with the main body portions of the legs.

Claim 9

A backpack frame for hikers and the like, comprising in combination: (a) a primary frame having a pair of spaced generally parallel siderails joined at their upper and end portions by a cross-bar, (b) said primary frame adapted to support a pack body secured to the rear side of said primary frame, (c) a supplemental frame disposed adjacent said primary frame and haing a pair of spaced generally parallel legs joined at their lower end portions by a cross-bar and being positioned outwardly of said siderails, (d) pivot means pivotally joining intermediate portions of said siderails and legs on each side thereof for movement between collapsed generally vertical positions for hiking and extended open positions forming a chair, portions of said legs located above said pivot means when in the closed position being movable about said pivot means rearwardly of said primary frame into said open position for engagement with a ground surface, portions of said siderails located below said pivot means being engageable with the ground surface at locations forwardly of said leg portions, and portions of said legs located below said pivot means when in the closed position being movable about said pivot means forwardly of said primary frame into said open position projecting from the plane of said primary frame to form a seat frame, (e) and means for connecting said primary and supplemental frames below said pivot means in said open positions thereof, and wherein said means for connecting said primary and supplemental frames includes connector elements and means releasably connecting said connector elements to said primary and supplemental frames on each of their sides below said pivot means, and wherein there is further included a hip belt connected to lower portions of one of said primary and supplemental frames and adapted to be worn on the hips of a user of the backpack frame to transfer loads from the backpack frame to the hips of the user, and wherein said legs have main body portions and foot portions located at ends opposite the cross-bar, said foot portions extending at an obtuse angle relative to said main body portions such that when the legs are in said open positions the foot portions extend generally vertically for engaging the ground and wherein said foot portions are bent portions integral with the main body portions of the legs.