A backpack with shoulder straps that conform to the user's shoulder shape and body movements.

Abstract

The problem addressed by this invention is that conventional backpacks cannot adequately accommodate differences in shoulder width, height differences between the left and right shoulders, differences in carrying position, and vertical and rotational movements during walking, which often leads to the shoulder straps slipping off or causing discomfort. Furthermore, in structures where the base of the shoulder straps is sewn to the outer fabric, the outer fabric is constrained, causing deformation of its appearance and reducing design freedom. [Solution] As a solution to this problem, the upper ends of the left and right shoulder straps are supported by a fulcrum inside the bag, allowing them to rotate left and right around the fulcrum. In addition, the base of the shoulder straps is sewn to the inner bag to prevent the outer fabric from being restricted, and the lower end of the rear shoulder strap is attached closer to the center of the lower back of the torso, allowing the bag to sway slightly to adjust the center of gravity and improve followability and stability while walking.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a backpack, particularly a backpack having a structure that easily follows the physical characteristics and movements of a user, such as the difference in shoulder width and the up-and-down movement of the shoulders during walking.

Background Art

[0002] In conventional backpacks, it is common to sew and fix the left and right shoulder straps to the upper edge of the back body with the seam direction generally perpendicular to the gravitational direction. In this structure, since the load applied to the shoulder straps concentrates as a lateral component with respect to the seam, it is necessary to take a wide seam width to ensure sewing strength, and the base of the shoulder straps is pressed against the back body surface with a wide contact surface. That is, the widening of the seam width for strength assurance has the function of surface-restraining the base of the shoulder straps to the back body surface, and deprives the rotational freedom of the base of the shoulder straps in the left-right direction. Therefore, the shoulder straps cannot appropriately follow the differences in the height of the carrying positions (upper, middle, and lower parts of the back), the difference in the height of the left and right shoulders, and the left-right differences in the shape, thickness, and inclination of the shoulders among users. Furthermore, during walking, the left and right shoulders move up and down alternately, and a slight rotational movement also occurs in the shoulder girdle. Although the left and right shoulders move on independent trajectories, there is no mechanism in the conventional structure to make the left and right shoulder straps independent. As a result, there are problems such as slipping off the shoulders, pain due to local compression and rubbing on the shoulders, a sense of discomfort when wearing, and wear and tear of the sewing part and the base fabric, as well as a decrease in durability due to the concentration of the load on specific parts. In addition, although the bag body of a conventional backpack is generally three-dimensional in shape, it has a structure that is suspended only by one side formed at the upper edge of the back body. Therefore, the weight of the stored items is concentrated and transmitted to the upper edge of the back body through the shoulder straps. At this time, the other surfaces (front body and side surfaces) of the bag body are not supported, and a force is applied to pull them out in the load direction, and there is a problem that the shapes of the front body side and the side surface side are easily deformed.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] As described above, conventional backpacks employ a structure in which the base of the shoulder straps is constrained planarly to the back and the direction in which the shoulder straps are attached does not coincide with the direction of gravity. As a result, the load acting on the shoulder straps is misaligned with the sewing direction, causing excessive force to concentrate at the seams, reducing strength and durability. Furthermore, such structures require multiple layers of fabric or the addition of separate components for reinforcement, increasing the number of parts and sewing processes, thus raising manufacturing costs. In addition, because the base of the shoulder straps does not have rotational freedom relative to the back, it cannot follow the differences in shoulder width, height and shape of the left and right shoulders, the height difference of the carrying position, and the independent vertical and rotational movements of the left and right shoulders during walking, leading to problems such as slipping off the shoulders, chafing, pressure, and discomfort when worn. Furthermore, in structures where the outer fabric of the bag directly bears the load of the contents, the front and sides are pulled out in the direction of the load and deformed, making it easy for the shape to collapse, thus limiting the freedom of the external design. The present invention aims to solve all of these problems simultaneously. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] The backpack according to the present invention comprises a bag body consisting of a front and back section, and a pair of left and right front shoulder straps and a pair of left and right back shoulder straps provided on the upper edge of the bag body. The front and back shoulder straps are connected on the left and right sides, respectively, so that even when the bag opening is open, the bag opening is naturally guided towards closing in accordance with the user's carrying motion. The upper ends of the back shoulder straps are supported in a folded manner by a base provided inside the bag at the upper part of the back section, and since this is a point or line support rather than a surface restraint, the base has the degree of freedom to allow the shoulder straps to rotate in the left and right direction. As a result, the shoulder straps naturally adjust to the user's differences in shoulder width, the difference in height between the left and right shoulders, and the difference in height of the carrying position, reducing the slippage of the shoulder straps and uncomfortable pressure. Furthermore, the lower ends of the back shoulder straps are connected to a support provided towards the center at the lower part of the back section. This configuration provides the lower part of the bag body with the degree of freedom to swing in the front and back direction. During walking, the user's left and right shoulders move independently up and down, rotate, and their torso sways alternately. However, the bag is not excessively constrained by these bodily movements, and by allowing slight swaying, it adjusts its center of gravity on its own. As a result, the entire bag becomes stable, and the shoulder straps naturally conform to the slope of the user's shoulders, making them less likely to slip down. Furthermore, since the sewing direction of the back shoulder straps is roughly aligned with the direction of gravity, the load acting on the shoulder straps is transmitted along the sewing line, contributing to improved sewing strength and durability. The upper end of the front shoulder straps is also supported in a folded manner by a base provided inside the bag, similar to the back shoulder straps, and has a structure that allows for rotational freedom by providing point or linear support rather than surface constraint. However, to ensure the mobility of the bag opening, it is preferable that the front shoulder straps be made of a narrower and more flexible strip-like material than the back shoulder straps. This design allows for smooth loading and unloading of contents while the bag opening is open, and when the user puts the bag on, the front and back shoulder straps work together to naturally guide the bag opening towards the closing direction. Furthermore, by positioning the lower end of the back shoulder strap closer to the center, even when the bag opening is open, the bag opening is less likely to tilt significantly to the sides when lifting the shoulder strap with one hand or when putting on or taking off the bag, thus preventing contents from spilling out. In addition, the shape of the bag becomes less prone to distortion under load, making it possible to apply this design to various bag shapes without compromising the freedom of the exterior design.Furthermore, this configuration prevents excessive load concentration at the base of the shoulder strap, thus eliminating the need for overlapping stitching and reinforcing materials that were previously required. This contributes to reducing manufacturing costs by decreasing the number of sewing processes and parts. [Effects of the Invention]

[0005] In the backpack according to the present invention, the left and right shoulder straps are supported by the bag body with a shoulder strap base formed in a folded shape at the upper edge of the bag body as a pivot point. Since this shoulder strap base is not constrained by the back surface, the left and right shoulder straps can rotate independently relative to the bag body. Furthermore, the shoulder strap base is sewn to an inner bag located inside the bag body rather than the outer fabric of the bag body, and the inner bag is structured to primarily bear the weight of the stored items, thus freeing the outer fabric from the downward force caused by the load. As a result, the outer fabric is not subject to structural support constraints, allowing for a high degree of design freedom. Moreover, by supporting the lower ends of the shoulder straps towards the center at the lower back, the bag body performs slight swaying independently of the user's body movements, exhibiting a behavior that adjusts its center of gravity on its own. As a result, the bag body is stable when walking, the shoulder straps naturally conform to the inclination of the shoulders and independent left and right movements, and the slippage of the shoulder straps and discomfort when wearing the bag are reduced. Furthermore, when putting the bag on, taking it off, lifting the shoulder strap with one hand, or placing it on the ground or a table, the opening of the bag is less likely to suddenly collapse to one side, preventing the contents from spilling out. This improves ease of use when operating with one hand, enhancing safety and convenience. In addition, because the sewing direction of the back and shoulder straps aligns with the direction of gravity, the load acting on the shoulder straps is stably transmitted along the sewing line, contributing to improved sewing strength and durability. Moreover, in the configuration of this invention, excessive load is not concentrated at the base of the shoulder straps, so the overlapping stitching and reinforcing members that were previously required can be reduced, contributing to a reduction in manufacturing costs by reducing the sewing process and the number of parts. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] This is a front view of the backpack of the present invention, showing the bag body 10, back panel 20, front panel 30, opening 40, inner bag section 50, shoulder strap connection section 60, rear shoulder strap 70, front shoulder strap 80, and left and right shoulder strap connecting sections 90. [Figure 2] This is a rear view of the backpack of the present invention, showing the back panel 20, left and right rear shoulder straps 70, a pivot point 100 supporting the upper ends of the rear shoulder straps, the attachment point 110 of the lower ends of the rear shoulder straps to the back panel, an opening 40 at the upper edge of the bag body, and an adjuster 95 provided on the rear shoulder straps. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the shoulder strap base structure (method 1), in which the rear shoulder strap 70 and the front shoulder strap 80 are rotatably supported via a pivot point 100 to the shoulder strap connection part 60 provided inside the bag 50. Figure 3A shows the state in which the shoulder strap base is formed by sewing the upper end of the shoulder strap in a folded shape. Figure 3B shows the configuration in which the folded upper end of the shoulder strap is sewn in an unfolded state and connected to the bag body side. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of the shoulder strap base structure (method 2), showing how the front shoulder strap 80 and rear shoulder strap 70 are rotatably supported via a pivot point 100, and how the lower end of the back shoulder strap is attached to a mounting position 110 near the center of the lower part of the back torso 20. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the movement of the shoulder straps when the bag 10 is carried on the back at a high or low position. Figure 5A shows the case when the bag is carried at a high position, and Figure 5B shows the case when the bag is carried at a low position. In both cases, the rear shoulder strap 70 and the front shoulder strap 80 move left and right around the pivot point 100, naturally following the shape of the user's shoulders. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing how the bag body 10 swings while independently adjusting its center of gravity in response to the twisting of the user's body and the up-and-down movement of the left and right shoulders during walking. Figure 6A shows the case where the bag body 10 swings in the front-to-back direction, and Figure 6B shows the case where it swings in the left-to-right direction. In either case, the movement of the front shoulder strap 80 and the rear shoulder strap 70 is not hindered, so the shoulder straps continue to fit comfortably on the user's shoulders. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the present invention comprises a backpack body 10, a bag body consisting of a back panel 20 and a front panel 30, an opening 40 provided at the upper edge of the bag body, an inner bag 50 provided inside the bag, and a pair of left and right rear shoulder straps 70 and front shoulder straps 80.

[0008] As shown in Figure 2, an adjuster 95 for adjusting the length of the shoulder strap is provided in the middle of the rear shoulder strap 70. This allows the user to adjust the backpack body 10 to any position (high, medium, or low) and wear it comfortably regardless of their body type.

[0009] The rear shoulder strap 70 and the front shoulder strap 80 are connected on the left and right sides, and a left / right shoulder strap connecting section 90 is formed near the upper ends of the left and right shoulder straps. As a result, even when the bag opening is open, the front and rear shoulder straps are pulled up on both sides when the user puts the bag on, and the bag opening 40 is naturally guided towards closing.

[0010] As shown in Figure 3, the upper ends of the rear shoulder strap 70 and the front shoulder strap 80 are folded in half at the pivot point 100. At the shoulder strap connection part 60, the straps may be sewn in this folded shape, or they may be sewn after opening the fold. In either case, the seams of the shoulder straps face in the direction of gravity, improving sewing strength, and the rear shoulder strap 70 and the front shoulder strap 80 can rotate left and right around the pivot point 100. In addition, the left and right shoulder straps can rotate independently of each other. The shoulder strap connection part 60 is sewn to the inner bag 50, not to the outer fabric of the bag, and is configured not to constrain the surface of the bag.

[0011] This shoulder strap connection structure with a pivot point 100 allows the rear shoulder strap 70 and front shoulder strap 80 to independently change angle according to the difference in height, shoulder width, and carrying position of the user's left and right shoulders. Furthermore, it follows asymmetrical body movements such as the vertical movement of the left and right shoulders and the slight rotation of the shoulder girdle that occur during walking, ensuring that the shoulder straps always conform to the slope of the shoulders and suppress slippage and pressure.

[0012] In another embodiment shown in Figure 4, the lower end of the rear shoulder strap 70 is sewn to an attachment point 110 near the center of the lower part of the back panel 20. As a result, the rear shoulder strap 70 is supported by the bag at two points: the pivot point 100 at the upper end and the attachment point 110 at the lower end, giving it a wide range of motion relative to the bag. Furthermore, by positioning the attachment point 110 near the center of the back panel 20, the bag is less likely to tip over when putting it on or taking it off, or when carrying it over one shoulder, and the contents are less likely to spill out.

[0013] As shown in Figure 5, in the shoulder strap support structure of the present invention, the rear shoulder strap 70 and the front shoulder strap 80 are rotatable around the pivot point 100. Therefore, regardless of whether the length of the shoulder straps is adjusted and the backpack body 10 is positioned high, medium, or low on the back, the shoulder straps take on a natural angle according to their position, regardless of the shape of the shoulders or the difference in shoulder width, suppressing localized strain on the shoulders and preventing slippage.

[0014] As shown in Figure 6, walking involves complex forward / backward, left / right, and rotational movements in the shoulders and trunk. However, the backpack body 10 of the present invention, with its two-point support structure of the rear shoulder straps 70, allows the bag to sway slightly forward / backward and left / right, adjusting its own center of gravity. This allows the bag to maintain independent inertial motion without being forcibly dragged by body movements, and the shoulder straps to always conform to the slope of the shoulders.

[0015] The upper ends of the rear shoulder straps 70 and front shoulder straps 80 are sewn to the inner bag 50, and the outer fabric on the outside of the bag is not constrained by the shoulder strap bases, so the outer fabric is not directly affected by loads or rotational forces. Furthermore, since the bag is supported at multiple points on the front body 30 and back body 20 sides, the weight of the bag is not concentrated on a particular side, and the external shape is less likely to be distorted. As a result, the tension balance of the outer fabric is stable, and a high degree of design freedom can be maintained. In addition, since the shoulder strap bases are made up of a simple folded sewing structure, the complexity of the sewing process is suppressed, and the secondary effect of reducing manufacturing burden and costs is also obtained.

[0016] As described above, the backpack of the present invention has a shoulder strap base with a high degree of rotational freedom at the pivot point 100, and a two-point support structure that supports the lower end of the rear shoulder strap 70 at a central attachment position 110. This allows it to flexibly follow the user's physical differences and walking movements, significantly reducing shoulder strap slippage and pressure. Furthermore, the structure does not restrict the outer fabric of the bag, making it less prone to deformation of the appearance and ensuring freedom of design. Moreover, the alignment of the sewing direction and the load direction results in high sewing strength, and durability is ensured without complicating the structure, achieving multiple effects simultaneously. [Examples]

[0017] Specific embodiments of the present invention are shown below. The numerical values, materials, and configurations of the embodiments are examples to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In Embodiment 1, canvas was used for the outer fabric and polyester fabric for the inner bag, and a prototype was made with a bag body measuring 300 mm in width, 150 mm in depth, and 430 mm in height, with a back shoulder strap width of 55 mm and a front shoulder strap width of 25 mm. The base of the shoulder straps was folded in half and sewn to the inner bag to ensure freedom of rotation and freedom of design for the outer fabric. The lower end of the back shoulder straps was connected to a central support part located approximately 115 mm inward from the side edge. In this prototype, even when the user put on and took off the bag, or when lifting the shoulder straps with one hand, the opening of the bag did not tilt significantly to the left or right, and the contents did not spill out. In addition, when walking, the bag body swayed slightly in the front-to-back direction, and the shoulder straps naturally followed the slope of the user's shoulders. [Industrial applicability]

[0018] The backpack bag of the present invention is applicable to a wide range of fields, including everyday bags, outdoor bags, and bags for caregiving purposes, and is also useful for the following users and usage environments that conventional backpacks have difficulty addressing. Users who have difficulty operating fasteners such as zippers and buckles due to reduced grip strength or medical conditions. • Users who need to operate with only one hand due to paralysis, injury, etc. • Situations where one hand is constantly occupied due to childcare, work, etc., requiring one-handed operation. · Scenarios where there is no time to operate the closing device and quick access to stored items is required · Users with different shoulder heights, inclinations, and shapes on the left and right due to illness or postural characteristics · Users with a large body sway during walking or an asymmetrical left - right movement pattern · Scenarios where it is necessary to carry long or bulky items with the top of the bag open (e.g., vertically long ingredients such as daikon radish, long green onions, French bread, tennis rackets, badminton rackets, drawing tubes, drafting cases, work materials, gardening supports, etc.) Furthermore, the structure of the present invention allows the bag body to autonomously adjust its center of gravity and stabilize. Therefore, even when storing heavy items, swaying is suppressed, and an excessive burden on the shoulders is unlikely to occur. Thus, it is also suitable for applications where long and heavy items are carried simultaneously. As a result, in addition to the medical, nursing, and welfare fields, the present invention has high applicability in various industrial fields such as shopping, leisure and sports, education and design sites, Furthermore, it has high availability in work sites, agricultural work, and other diverse industrial fields.

Explanation of Signs

[0019] 10 Bag body (backpack main body) 20 Back torso 30 Front torso 40 Opening 50 Inner bag of the back torso · Inner bag of the front torso 60 Shoulder strap connection part 70 Rear shoulder strap 80 Front shoulder strap 90 Left - right shoulder strap connection part 95 Adjusting device 100 Fulcrum 110 Attachment position to the back torso

Claims

1. A backpack bag having a pair of front shoulder straps and a pair of rear shoulder straps on the upper edge of the bag body, wherein the upper end of each shoulder strap is supported at a pivot point provided inside the bag body, and the upper end of each shoulder strap is formed to be double-layered or superimposed along the longitudinal direction of each shoulder strap at the pivot point so that each shoulder strap can rotate left and right about the pivot point, and is connected to the bag body.

2. A backpack bag according to claim 1, wherein the upper end of the shoulder strap is sewn to the inner bag rather than to the outer fabric on the outside of the bag, and the outer fabric is not constrained by the base of the shoulder strap.

3. A backpack according to Claim 1, wherein the lower end of the rear shoulder strap is connected to an attachment point located near the center of the lower part of the back.

4. The backpack bag according to claim 3, wherein the rear shoulder strap is pivotable relative to the bag body by two-point support at the pivot point and the attachment position, and is capable of changing angle to follow the up-and-down and rotational movements of the shoulders accompanying walking.

5. A backpack bag according to Claim 1, wherein the double-layered or multi-layered portion formed at the upper end of the shoulder strap constitutes a pivot structure that ensures the degree of freedom of rotation at the pivot point.

6. A backpack bag according to Claim 5, wherein the left and right front shoulder straps and the left and right rear shoulder straps are connected to each other, and the opening of the bag is naturally guided in the closing direction when the user puts the bag on their back.

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