US2822117A - Carrier - Google Patents

Description

R. G. MACK Feb. 4, 1958 CARRIER 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed May 31, 1955 INVENTOR. firmed 6. Mar

irfdfi/vi) Feb. 4, 1958 R. G. MACK 2,822,117

CARRIER Filed May 31, l955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. 90mm d/VAQK United States Patent CARRIER Richard G. Mack, Palo Alto, Calif.

Application May 31, 1955, Serial No. 511,859

8 Claims. (Cl. 224-8) This invention relates to improvements in carriers for packs, children and various types of loads, which may be carried with comfort on the back of an individual. There have been various packs and carriers devised for the purpose of supporting loads carried on the backs of human beings. Most of them are heavy and uncomfortable and are not designed or intended to carry the maximum load with the minimum discomfort and weight. Also, most of them are single purpose carriers, designed to accomplish only a single specific use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a carrier which is strong enough to support loads upwards of one hundred pounds, and yet be extremely light in its own Weight. It is intended that the carrier should not exceed a weight of four pounds with all of its attachments.

It is another object of the present invention to supply a carrier which is supported in position on the back of a human being by two heavy-duty shoulder straps secured to a flexible back member for distributing the load, with buckle adjustments or the like for the straps and a bow back support which fits just above the small of the back of the bearer.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a support for the carrier which will position it at least forwardly with respect to a perpendicular to the ground level so as to eliminate any dangling or overhead effect which the natural curves of the human back necessarily produce with the conventional packs and carriers of the prior art. It is also to be observed that in achieving this angle infant cargo is in a slightly reclining seated position, which is both comfortable and restful, as well as orthopedically correct.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a collapsible carrying unit which may be folded into a compact form so that when it is not in use it occupies a minimum of space, both for storage and transportation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a readily convertible carrier, which, by the application of simple attachments, may be converted into an infants automobile seat, readily secured to the back of an automobile seat, or with other simple attachments converted into a campaign chair for rest and relaxation.

It is likewise an object of the present invention to provide a carrier which gives freedom of action of the arms and hands of the wearer for any kind of rigorous activity, without disturbing the comfort of the wearer or the load and without danger to the load.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a carrier which may be used by women as well as men with out any danger of fatigue or other discomfort, or temporary or permanent damage to the body of the wearer.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, economy and ease of assembly and disassembly, also such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will fully appear and as are inherently possessed by the device and the invention described herein.

The invention further resides in the'combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, together with two sets of attachments therefor, it is to be understood that the same ismerely illustrative of the invention and that the invention is capable of modification and comprehends other details of construction without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the carrier as it would appear on the back of the wearer;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the carrier shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the carrier folded, or in the collapsed position;

Figure 4 is a detail of the joint fixtures used in the device;

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the carrier shown in Figure l;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the carrier in position as a campaign chair;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the carrier adapted for use as an infants automobile seat; and

Figure 8 is the detail of one of the hook attachments to convert the carrier into an infants automobile seat, showing the locking means.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views, the underlying structure of the carrier is preferably tubular aluminum, although any other suitable material may be used. The frame for the seat or platform is a U-shaped tubular member 10, the open ends 11 of which are flattened in order to provide bearing surfaces for other parts which are connected thereto. Pivotally attached to the bearing surfaces 11 by means of bolts and wing nuts 12, or any other readily operable tightening means, are outwardly angled bracket members 14 which rigidly support plates 15 at their open ends. The plate 15 is provided with a vertical slot 16 adjacent its outward edge, for securing the back brace or bow 17, which fits just above the small of the back of the wearer. It is apparent that the back brace or bow 17 is preferably of a flexible and pliable, but sturdy fabric, the ends of which are looped through the vertical slots 16 of the stationary bracket 15 and secured back on itself in any suitable manner such as stitching or riveting. The vertical adjustment of this back brace or bow is accomplished by loosening the wing nuts and bolts 12 and moving the brackets 14 pivotally thereon to the adjusted position and then tightening the wing nuts. Very little vertical adjustment is required, even though there may be a great difference in the respective heights of the wearers.

Adjacent the ends of the leg members of the U-frame 10 is a spreader bar 18 which may either be flat stock, as shown in Figure 2, or tubular, as are the other members. The spreader bar 18 is rigidly secured to the U-member 10. Between the fastening of the spreader bar 18 and the flattened ends 11 of the U- member 10 is a joint fixture 20, which fits around the tubular leg and is secured thereto by the rivet 21, or in any other suitable manner. The joint fixture 20 is provided with an upstanding slot 22, having a bore 23 horizontally through the side walls thereof for pivotally mounting the flattened ends 24 of the U-shaped back frame 25. The slot of the bracket 20 is provided with a solid back 26 to permit pivotal movement only within a range of substantially The back frame 25 is preferably bent at 27 and 28 and, while the top thereof and the open ends of the leg members are in substantially the same plane, the bends 27 and 28 are respectively outwardly and inwardly toward this plane in order to insure that no metal will rub or bear against any part of the wearer.

On the legs of the back member 25 and spaced from the pivoted ends thereof, are other joint fixture members with the back 26 downwardly. Pivotally secured within these brackets 20 are the flattened ends 30 of a third U-shaped member 31, which may act as an arm rest for infant cargo or young children, orfor confining arock sack or other pack. It is apparent that member 31 pivots upwardly on pivot 32, substantially 90 to lie alongside the leg members of the back 25, in the folded' position. v

Adjacent, but below, the bend 28 in the back member 25, and on both legs thereof, is a rearwardly protruding button 33, rigidly secured therein, the purpose and function of which will be discussed later herein.

The seat or base 34 of the carrier is preferably of a tough, strong fabric. Aswill be seen, particularly in Figure 2, it is a double thickness sewed with a seam 35 on the perimeter and with an internal seam 36, conforming in general to the shape of the member 10 and closed along the rear. A from retaining strap 37'is also folded to form a double thickness and is looped over the retaining member 31. The two ends pass through the seam 35 of the seat 34 at the front edge, under the frame member 10 and are retained by the stitching to thebottom 34, or by rivets, or in any other acceptable manner. Similarly, there are a pair of side retaining straps 38 which encircle the legs of the U-member 31 and are attached in a similar manner asstrap 37, to the seat 34.

The back support for the load, as well as providing a yielding pressure member against the back of the wearer, is a single piece of strong, tough. fabric 40, one edge of which, 41, is directly secured, by sewing or the like, between the two layers of the seat material. 34. It passes upwardly over the back frame 25. and: downwardly, under and around the spreader bar 18, where it. is then folded back upon itself and secured in. any suitable manner, such as stitching or riveting. With this: arrangement it is easily seen that the front portion of this back support 40 operates as a yielding back support-for the. burden. carried by the wearer, while the rear portion. will conform to the back of the wearer and spread the load over a substantial area.

It will be seen, especially in Figures 1 and 5, that two carrying straps 43 and 44 are sewed or otherwise firmly secured as at 42 to the rear portion of the back support member 40 adjacent the top. They are preferably of a tough yieldable material, such" as a belting fabric capable of withstanding the pull of the load. The. other end-is secured in an adjustable manner through the groove 45 which is at an angle in the plate 15; As is shown in Figure 1, the adjustable portion. 46 of thestrap 44- may be of leather with a buckle 49. or-other'form' of adjustable connection, so that theshoulder straps43and- 44 maybe properlycfitted to accommodate the comfort and form of the wearer.

The carrier of the present invention is shown in the collapsed or folded form in Figure 3. This position may be accomplished merely by pivoting the lower frame member upwardly about the pivots 29, and also moving the upper frame member 31 pivotally aboutthe pivots32. In this position a minimum space is: required either for storage or for transportation and packing to a point of use.

In Figure 6 there is shown the adaptation of the carrier into the form of a campaign chair. In order to accomplish this purpose all that is necessary isto loosen-wing nut 12 and adjust the brackets 14 to the vertical position so that the long edge of the plate 15 becomes therear foot of the chair leg at either side. In order to provide'front legs for the chair, the frame 10 is drilled laterally to receive bolts 47 with wing nuts 48. Provision is made in the seam 35 of the fabric member. 34'to-permit.the bolts to extend therethrough as at 50 in Figure l. T-he'wing nuts 48 are removed and separate leg members 51, with solid footing members 52 in place thereon and fiattened'bearing portions 53 suitably drilled to beireceived on bolts 47, are placed in the position shown in Figure 6 andthe wing'nut 48'tightened. The front strapmemberSTm-ay have buttons 54 so that the strap 37 can be removed from the member 31, leaving the seat open for an occupant if this is desired. It is apparent that if the seat is to be occupied by a child, it is desirable to leave the strap 37 in place.

.In Figure 7 there is shown the carrier adapted as a childs auxiliary automobile seat, and this is accomplished by merely removing the bracket members 14 with their attached plates 15, and attaching the hook members 55 which are also shown in detail in Figure 8. The hook members are adapted to easily fit over the top of an automobile seat and to suspend as well as support the carrier. The vertical contacting foot 56 of the hook member 55 is provided with a hole 57, which islarge enough to permit the head of the button 33 to pass therethrough. Depending from the bore 57 is a slot 58 which receives the shank of the button member 33. On the button head side of the book 55, when the carrier is in place thereon, is a swinging locklug 69 which is pivoted on pivot 61; When the button is in position with the shank of the-button 33 resting at the'bottom of the slot 58, the lug; swings to the vertical position and bears tangentially against the head of the button 33 and prevents it from slipping out of engagement inadvertently.

It will be observed that the carrier of the present invention accomplishes the purposes and objectives previously set forth, as well as many others which are not delineated specifically herein. It provides a carrier which is multipurpose, and yet which is light and strong and scientifically constructed for maximum comfort andcarrying. capacity. The bow, or back strap 17 positions the carrier a. sufiicient distance from the back of thewearer so that even if the wearer stands erect, the carrier, itself, will be at an angle of substantially 15 from the vertical to give a slight reclining position to the seat and back, which. makes it comfortable and correct for infant cargo and youngehildren, as well as balancing the loadin both human and nonhuman cargos.

I claim:

1. A carrier for carrying cargo on the backofa wearer. comprising incombination a U-shapedbaseframc, the open ends of which partially surround the wearer, slotted plates at each of the open ends of said frame, a yielding, member secured between the saidslotted plates providing a bow back support for the wearer, aretaining member joined between the leg members of the U-shaped base frame rearwardly of said how back support and adjacent thereto, a fabric covering for said base frame forming a seat or base, a back frame pivotally mounted on said'base frame said mounting being restricted to movement to and from. the operative position and-folded position, a. fabric member secured to said fabric seat, passing upwardly and over said backframeand se'cured tosaid retainingmember, and a pair of adjustable shoulder strapssecured. at one end to the back fabric-and at the other totheslotted plates of thebase frame.

2. A carrier for carryingcargo on the back of a wearer comprising in combination a U-shapedbase-frame, the open ends of which partially surround thewearer, slotted plates at each ofthe open ends of said frame, a yielding member. secured between the said slotted platesproviding a bow back. support for the wearer, a fabric covering for said base frame forming a seat or base, aback frame pivotally mounted on said baseframe said: mounting being restricted to movement to and from the. operative position and the folded position, a fabric member secured to said fabric seat, passing upwardly. andover-r saidback frame and'secured to-the base frame, a retainingframe member pivotally mounted on said back frame and spaced upwardly from said base frame said lastmentioned pivotal mounting being provided with a stop at the operative-position, fabric panel members at thefront and .sidesassociated with the seator base and connecting said retaining :frame and base frame, and-a pain ofadjustable. shoulder strapssecured atone endtothe back fabric and'at'the" other tothe slottcdplates of the base frame.

3. A carrier for carrying cargo on the back of a wearer comprising in combination a U-shaped base frame, the open ends of which partially surround the wearer, slotted plates at each of the said open ends, a yielding member secured between the said slotted plates providing a bow back support for the wearer, a fabric covering for said base frame forming a seat or base, a back frame pivotally mounted on said base frame said pivotal mounting having a stop at the operative position preventing movement therebeyond, a fabric member secured to said fabric seat, passing upwardly and over said back frame and secured to the base frame, a retaining frame member pivotally mounted on said back frame and spaced upwardly from said base frame said last mentioned pivotal mounting having a stop in the operative position preventing movement therebeyond, fabric panel members at the front and sides associated with the seat or base and connecting said retaining frame and base frame, hook members removably attached to either side of said back frame, and lock means for locking said hook members on said back frame in operative position against anything except intentional release.

4. A carrier comprising in combination a U-shaped base frame, adjustable bracket members having slotted plates attached to the ends of said base frame, a spreader adjacent the ends of said base frame and secured thereto, a U-shaped back frame having its ends pivotally attached to said base frame said last mentioned pivotal attachment having a stop at the operative position, webbing secured to the base frame to form a seat or platform, webbing secured to said back frame and adjustable straps attached at one end to said base frame and to the slotted plates of said bracket members at the other.

5. A carrier comprising in combination a U-shaped base frame, adjustable bracket members attached to the ends of said base frame, a spreader adjacent the ends of said base frame, slotted plates on the ends of said bracket members, and secured thereto, a U-shaped back frame having its ends pivotally attached to said base frame said pivotal attachment having a stop at the operative position to prevent movement therebeyond, said back frame being bent forwardly toward the bottom and forwardly toward the top thereof, webbing secured to the base frame to form a seat or platform, webbing secured at one end to said seat and passing over the top of said back frame with the other end secured to said spreader, and adjustable straps attached at one end to said back webbing and to the bracket members at the other.

6. A carrier comprising in combination a U-shaped base frame, adjustable bracket members attached to the ends of said base frame, a spreader adjacent the ends of said base frame and secured thereto, a U-shaped back frame having its ends pivotally attached to said base frame, said back frame being bent forwardly toward the bottom and forwardly toward the top thereof, webbing secured to the base frame to form a seat or platform, webbing secured at one end to said seat and passing over the top of said back frame with the other end secured to said spreader, a retainer U-shaped frame, the ends of which are pivotally secured to said back frame and spaced above said base frame, webbing at the front and sides det-achably connecting said base frame and said retainer frame, and adjustable straps attached at one end to said back webbing and to the bracket members at the other.

7. A carrier comprising in combination a tubular U shaped base frame, adjustable bracket members attached to the ends of said base frame, a spreader adjacent the ends of said base frame and secured thereto, a tubular U-shaped back frame having its ends pivotally attached to said base frame said pivotal attachment having a stop at the operative position preventing movement there beyond, said back frame being bent forwardly toward the bottom and forwardly toward the top thereof, webbing secured to the base frame to form a seat or platform, webbing secured around said back frame, a tubular retainer U-shaped frame, the ends of which are pivotally secured to said back frame and spaced above said base frame said last mentioned pivotal mounting having a stop at the operative position to prevent movement and beyond, webbing at the front and sides detachably connecting said base frame and said retainer frame, and adjustable straps attached at one end to said base frame and to the bracket members at the other.

8. A carrier comprising in combination a tubular U- shaped base frame, adjustable bracket members attached to the ends of said base frame, a spreader secured adjacent the ends of said base frame and rigidly connecting them, a tubular U-shaped back frame having its ends pivotally attached to said base frame, said pivotal attachment having a stop at the operative position preventing movement therebeyond, said back frame being bent forwardly toward the top, webbing secured on the base frame to form a seat or platform, Webbing secured around the back frame, a tubular retainer U-shaped frame the ends of which are pivotally secured to said back frame and spaced above said base frame, said last mentioned pivotal attachment having a stop at the operative position preventing movement of said retainer frame therebeyond, fabric panel members at the front and sides associated with the seat or base and connecting said retaining frame and base frame, hook members removably attached to either side of said back frame, and lock means for locking said hook members on said back frame in operative position against anything except intentional release.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,104,486 Johansen Ian. 4, 1938 2,712,404 Miller July 5, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 449,569 Great Britain June 30, 1936 960,444 France Oct. 24, 1949

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