Pack and Belt System

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/641,554, filed on May 2, 2024. The prior application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present application generally relates to a wearable pack system.

Conventional wearable pack systems offer limited flexibility of operation. Conventional hip pack systems, for example, generally have a pack fixed in place along a belt. In order to access the pack, the hip pack system, in its entirety, must be rotated or removed from the wearer. This restricts the usability of the pack in certain situations and, therefore, improvements in such systems are desirable.

The present application discloses a hip pack system comprising a pack having a storage compartment and one or more attachment points, a belt configured to be worn around a waist of a user, the belt having a track system that extends along a length of the belt, and a connection system for coupling the pack to the track system of the belt, the connection system having a braking system that restricts movement of the pack relative to the track system. The track system defines a predetermined path of movement for the pack.

In some examples, the connection system comprises a T-shaped element and the track system comprises a sleeve that is sized to receive at least a portion of the T-shaped element, the T-shaped element being moveable along the track system in the predetermined path of movement and being restricted from vertical movement relative to the track system.

In some examples, the braking system comprises a first braking member on a first side of the pack and a second braking system on a second side of the pack, wherein the first braking member is a one-way braking system that, when locked, permits the pack to move freely in a first direction and the second braking member is a one-way braking system that, when locked, permits the pack to move freely in a second direction that is opposite that of the first direction.

The braking system cam include a first cam unit on a first side of the pack and a second cam unit a second side of the pack. The first cam unit can be coupled to a first handle on the second side of the pack and the second cam unit can be coupled to a second handle on the first side of the pack. The first and second handles can be configured to, when a force is applied by a user, release the respective first and second cam units from a locking position. In some examples, the pack is removable from the track system, such as by moving a T-shaped element to an end of the track system, so that the T-shaped element exits the track system.

In another example, a hip pack system comprises a pack having a storage compartment, a belt having a track system that extends along at least a portion of its length, a connection system for movably coupling the pack to the track system of the belt. The connection system can include an element that extends into a sleeve defined by the track system so that the pack can move along a predetermined path defined by the track system.

In some examples, the connection system can include a first cam unit and a second cam unit, the first cam unit positioned on the first side of the pack and the second cam unit positioned on the second side of the pack. The first cam unit can be coupled to a first handle on the second side of the pack, and the second cam unit can be coupled to a second handle on the first side of the pack. When a force is applied by a user, the first and second handles can be configured to release the respective first and second cam units from a locking position, allowing movement of the pack along the track system.

In another example, a method of using a hip pack system is provided. The method can include providing a pack with a storage compartment and one or more attachment points, attaching a belt around a waist of a user, the belt having a track system extending along its length, coupling the pack to the track system of the belt using a connection system, and moving the position of the pack by releasing a braking system and sliding the connection system along the track system.

In some examples, moving the position of the pack can include sliding a T-shaped element of the connection system along a sleeve of the track system. In addition, moving the position of the pack can include release at least one one-way braking system to permit the pack to move freely in one direction.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying figures.

For purposes of this description, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the embodiments of this disclosure are described herein. The disclosed methods, apparatus, and systems should not be construed as being limiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directed toward all novel and nonobvious features and aspects of the various disclosed embodiments, alone and in various combinations and sub-combinations with one another. The methods, apparatus, and systems are not limited to any specific aspect or feature or combination thereof, nor do the disclosed embodiments require that any one or more specific advantages be present or problems be solved. The scope of this disclosure includes any features disclosed herein combined with any other features disclosed herein, unless physically impossible.

Although the operation of some of the disclosed examples are described in a particular, sequential order for convenient presentation, it should be understood that his manner of description encompasses rearrangement, unless a particular ordering is required by specific language set forth below. For example, operations described sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performed concurrently. Moreover, for the sake of simplicity, the attached figures may not show the various ways in which the disclosed methods can be used in conjunction with other methods. Additionally, the description sometimes uses terms like “provide” or “achieve” to describe the disclosed methods. These terms are high level abstractions of the accrual operations that are performed. The actual operations that correspond to these terms may vary depending on the particular implementation and are readily discernible to one of ordinary skill in the art.

As used in the application and in the claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural forms unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Additionally, the term “includes” means “comprises.” Further, the terms “coupled” and “associated” generally mean electrically, electromagnetically, and/or physically (e.g., mechanically or chemically) coupled or linked and does not exclude the presence of intermediate elements between the coupled or associated items absent specific contrary language.

In the description, certain terms may be used such as “forward,” “front,” “rear,” “up,” “down,” “upper,” “lower,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “left,” “right,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” and the like. These terms are used, where applicable, to provide some clarity of description when dealing with relative relationships. However, these terms are not intended to imply absolute relationships, positions, and/or orientations. For example, with respect to an object, an “upper” surface can become a “lower” surface by turning the object over. Nevertheless, it is still the same object.

As used in this application, “track system” refers to any structure that can be secured to a belt to guide movement of another component along a defined path of the track system, such as by allowing horizontal movement along the defined path while restricting vertical movement within a sleeve or other complete or partial enclosure.

As used in this application, “pack” refers to any container for carrying items that can be secured to the track system of this disclosure. The pack can be a soft pack, e.g., a flexible pack formed from fabric, leather, or various synthetic materials, or the pack can be a hard pack, e.g., a substantially non-flexible pack formed from materials such as metal or plastic.

illustrates a novel hip pack systemthat comprises a pack or bagand a belt. As shown in, the packis received in a track systemthat allows the packto be moved easily from one location on the track system(e.g., from the back of the user's body) to another location on the track system(e.g., to the front of the user's body) and vice versa, without the need for the beltto be loosened or removed. For example,are views of the hip pack systemshowing the packbeing moved from the rear sideof the hip pack system() in the direction of arrowto the front sideof the hip pack system(). The front and back sides of the beltcan be identical in shape, or alternatively, as shown in, the rear sideof the beltcan be wider than the front sideto provide greater comfort for the wearer.

The track systemcan include at least one end that terminates to permit the packto be removed from the track system. For example,shows a first track endat which the packcan be removed from the track systemand attached to the track system.

As shown in, the beltcan be secured to the waist of a user by a fastening mechanism. In, the fastening mechanismis a quick-release buckle that allows for the two ends of the beltto be quickly and securely connected. Although the fastening mechanism can be any closure structure that allows for attachment of both ends, preferably the fastening mechanism allows for rapid and easy detachment by manipulating the buckle's components such as the quick-release buckle shown in.

The packcan also have a fastening mechanism.illustrates the pack's fastening mechanismas the same type of quick-release buckle as used with the belt; however, it should be understood that any suitable closure can be used (e.g., a tuck or push lock, magnetic snaps, sippers, hook and loop closures, etc.).

is a partial exploded view of the hip pack systemshown in. As shown in, packis secured to the track systemthough a connection system. The connection systemcomprises a track engaging member. In the embodiment in, the track engaging membercomprises a t-shaped extrusion member that can be connected and captured within the track system. The t-shaped extrusion member, when captured within the track system, can move along a length of the track system.

The track engaging memberof the connection systemis secured to the packso that movement of the track engaging memberalso causes the packto move along the track system.shows a pin connection system through which the track engaging memberis coupled to one or more componentssecured to packusing one or more pinsthat extend through the componentand a corresponding opening in the track engaging member.

In the embodiment shown in, componentis portion of a cam unit, as shown in. The hip pack systemcan comprise two cam units, one at each side of the pack. In this manner, the packcan be held in place by a spring-loaded cam or clutch of the cam unitat each end of the pack. The cam unitscan ensure that the motion of the packalong the belt, and around the body, is only initiated by the user. In particular, the user can release the cam unitby pulling on a handleof the cam uniton the opposing side of the pack. This releases the opposing cam unit's engagement with the track system, and in particular, with one or more raised portionsof track system.

The cam unitscan comprise two logarithmic, spring-loaded camming devices. In other embodiments, different types of locking devices can be used to secure the packin a desired position along the track system, such as clutched or braked wheels.

show the manner in which the cam unitscan control movement (i.e., allow and restrict movement) of the pack. In particular, cam unitsengage the outer surfaces (e.g., raised portions) of the track system, pinching the outer surfaces between the cam unitsand the track engaging member(e.g., the t-shaped extrusion member) that can slide along the track system(e.g., by moving through the “sleeve” formed within the track system.

In some embodiments, cam unitspermit free movement of the packin one direction and resists movement in the opposite direction. In this manner, by providing a cam uniton each side of the pack, release one of the cam units can permit the pack to move in a designated direction. For example, the cam uniton the left side of the bag can be configured to allow free movement in the direction to the left, but resists movement in the direction to the right, while the cam uniton the right side of the bag allows for free movement in the direction to the right while resisting movement in the direction to the left. Thus, when stationary, the cam unitscollectively oppose motion in either direction, locking the bag in place on the belt.

As shown, for example, in, each cam unitcomprises a handlethat is attached to a cable, which passes behind the packto the cam uniton the opposite side of the pack. Pulling one of these handlesengages the cablewhich, in turn, releases the resistance of motion of the cam uniton the opposite side. In operation, for example, pulling the handleon the right side of the packallows the packto move along the track systemto the right, and pulling the handleon the left side of the packallows the packto move along the track systemto the left.

In view of the many possible ways in which the principles of the disclosure may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated configurations depict examples of the disclosed technology and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the disclosure nor the claims. Rather, the scope of the claimed subject matter is defined by the following claims and their equivalents.