Rucksack Carrier Frame with Articulated Chest and Hip Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rucksack designs lead to painful shoulders and backs due to uneven weight distribution, forward leaning, and moment forces concentrated on the shoulders and lumbar spine, causing strain and discomfort during long-term carrying.
Innovation Solution
A carrier frame with chest frames extending in front of the body, connected to a hip frame via articulated devices, distributing weight evenly across the chest and hips, reducing pressure on the shoulders and allowing an upright posture, with flexible connections to facilitate comfortable carrying on various gradients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the rucksack is positioned behind the back with a carrier frame, then the centre of gravity is displaced towards the body's vertical line, but the load on the shoulders and back increases due to the raised centre of gravity creating moment forces
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier frame is divided into separate functional components: a hip frame that rests on the iliac crests, chest frames that extend forward to contact the chest, and connection elements. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed across multiple body regions (hips and chest) rather than concentrated on the shoulders, while maintaining the stabilizing effect of a rearward positioned centre of gravity
Solution Approach 2:
The chest frames extend in the forward direction (anterior-posterior dimension) to contact the chest, creating a three-dimensional load distribution structure. This dimensional extension allows the frame to leverage the chest as an additional load-bearing surface, converting the moment forces that would otherwise strain the shoulders into a distributed load across the chest and hip regions
2Force
If the chest frames extend forward to contact the chest, then the load is distributed to the chest and hips, but the device complexity increases due to articulated connections
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated connections are implemented only at specific locations where flexibility is most beneficial - primarily at the connection between the chest frames and the hip frame. The hip frame itself remains relatively simple and stable, providing a solid foundation. This localized application of articulation provides the necessary adaptability without unnecessarily complicating the entire structure
Solution Approach 2:
The articulated connections enable the carrier frame to dynamically adapt to the wearer's movements and posture changes. The joints allow relative movement between the chest frames and hip frame, accommodating forward bending, backward leaning, and lateral movements while maintaining comfortable contact and proper load distribution throughout the carrying operation
3Force
If the rucksack pulls down the waist band from the hips, then the weight is distributed to the hips, but the load is concentrated over both iliac crests rather than evenly distributed around the hip area
Solution Approach 1:
The hip frame is designed with a curved configuration that follows the natural contour of the iliac crests and hip structure. This curved geometry distributes the contact pressure along the arc of the frame rather than concentrating it at discrete points, enabling even load distribution around the entire hip region while maintaining secure contact with the body's anatomy
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a carrier frame for a load in the form of a rucksack or equivalent comprising a hip frame (1) which is more rigid in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction and a pair of chest frames (2). The hip frame (1) is designed to be applied around the user's hips in order to transfer loads to the carrier's hip region. The chest frames (2) extend from the hip frame (1) upwards in front of the user's body and are fully or partially in contact with the user's chest area, below the user's collar bone but above the user's waist. The chest frames are each provided with a chest plate (4) in order to distribute the pressure over a greater area when applied to the user's chest area and to reduce the pressure per unit area on the user's chest. The chest frames also extend above the user's shoulders essentially without being in contact with them. The chest frames also extend behind the user's head and are flexibly connected to each other at a position behind and/or above the nape of the user's neck. The chest frames (2) are connected to the hip frame (1) at respective side parts of the hip frame, essentially right by the user's iliac crests. The connections between the chest frames and the hip frame can comprise an articulated device whereby the chest frames are movable relative to the hip frame.