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  Backpack support apparatusUSPTO Application #: 20060240960Title: Backpack support apparatus Abstract: The present invention comprises a user-friendly, soft and resilient, biomimetic (mimicking biological entities) back pack weight support and mobility enhancement system that can function like a caddie and can be worn externally by people carrying a back pack to improve and enhance shoulder, back, upper body, abdomen, waist, hips, lower limb, legs, knees, calves, quadriceps and hamstrings muscles performance in all dynamic activities while carrying a back pack. The present invention can comprise an outfit, allowing a portion of the back pack's weight to be excluded from being transmitted to the shoulder, back, upper body, abdomen, waist, hips, lower limb, legs, knees, calves, quadriceps and hamstrings muscles; instead directly transmitting the weight to the footwear and/or the ground, through soft elastic columnar quasi-legs equipped with smart biomimetic materials such as shape memory materials and artificial muscles such as synthetic and/or ionic polymeric muscles and provide support function by buckling and bending in accordance with the dynamic maneuvering of the user. The outfit can be encapsulated by user-friendly fabric means for easy wear. The upper portion of the outfit can be in the form of a pouch equipped with fastening portions to be attached to the bottom of the back pack worn by the user while the lower portion of the outfit can be attached to the footwear while transmitting the weight of the back pack to the ground or attached to a ball and socket wheel on the ground right behind the user. (end of abstract)
Agent: V. Gerald Grafe, Esq. - Corrales, NM, US Inventor: Mohsen Shahinpoor USPTO Applicaton #: 20060240960 - Class: 482121000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Resilient Force Resistance The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060240960. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSSREFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. utility application Ser. No. 11/115,731, "Human lower limb performance enhancement outfit," filed Apr. 26, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference, and is related to U.S. utility application entitled "Human Lower Limb Performance Enhancement Outfit Systems," filed concurrently, which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND [0002] The present invention relates to back pack weight or load support and mobility enhancement system, and can function like a caddie and can be worn and carried externally by people carrying a heavy back pack, more particularly, of a type useful to long hikers, soldiers and mountaineers. [0003] Soldiers, hikers, mountaineers, and others experience shoulder, back, upper body, abdomen, waist, hips, lower limb, legs, knees, calves, quadriceps and hamstrings muscles strain and fatigue, which of course limits their mobility and maneuvering capabilities. Accordingly, soldiers and other long users of heavy back packs, and weak individuals, partially disabled individuals and the elderly, have a need for a user-friendly outfit, which could enhance their performance by lessening the strain on their shoulders, back, upper body, abdomen, waist, hips, lower limb, legs knees, calves, quadriceps and hamstrings muscles while carrying a pack. [0004] Previous backpack-related inventions concern certain additional features or design changes to enhance the performance of the user and functionality of the backpack. However, there has been little improvement in connection with effective reduction of the load and weight a back pack imparts on the human torso, shoulder, back, upper body, abdomen, waist, hips, lower limb, legs, knees, calves, quadriceps and hamstrings muscles. Back packs are generally supported by shoulder straps on the back of the wearer, providing pouches and containers for carrying clothing, food, gear and equipment. With such an arrangement, the bulk of the load produces a large vertical component on the shoulder, back, upper body, abdomen, waist, hips, lower limb, legs, knees, calves, quadriceps and hamstrings muscles tending to tire the wearer and to distort his posture. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,447, "Back Pack Device," issued May 16, 1978 to Achmeteli, discusses a resilient back pack supporting member for carrying loads, particularly for hikers or mountaineers. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,576, "Back Pack Support Device," issued Jul. 21, 1992 to Turnipseed, teaches a back pack support device which utilizes interconnected front and back crossing straps and a separate waist strap, the straps providing for a more even distribution of the backpack load. [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,295, "Back Pack Holder," issued Jun. 23, 1998 to Alves, describes a back pack holder, comprising an elongated strap having upper and lower ends, the strap upper end operatively connected to the upper extent of the back pack, and the strap lower end selectively connectible to either one of two lower extents of the back pack, the strap having a width which widens along the strap length toward the upper end. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,424, "Modular Load Bearing Field Support System," issued Aug. 13, 2002 to Smith, presents a modular load bearing field support system having a waist belt, a pair of shoulder straps, each of the shoulder straps having a front end attached to the waist belt and a rear end attached to the waist belt, and a middle section disposed between said front and rear ends. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,543, "Backpack With Adjustable Lumbar Support Belt," issued Apr. 20, 2004 to Fitzgerald, teaches a backpack with an adjustable lumbar support belt, having a front panel, a bottom panel, and a top panel which define an interior capable of containing various items which create a load weighty. [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,684, "Wheeled Backpack," issued on Jun. 1, 2004 to Oh, discusses an improved convertible luggage which conveniently converts from a wheeled suitcase to a backpack having a first compartment, a pair of wheels mounted to the first compartment, a second compartment affixed to the first compartment, a second compartment, a first cover on the backside of the first compartment forming a pocket, a frame piece situated within that pocket, a second cover, and a pair of shoulder straps. [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,030, "Posture Pack," issued Nov. 30, 2004 to Dolan, teaches a back pack assembly comprised of a back pack front shoulder straps and a lateral back strap designed to concentrate the weight bearing forces of the back pack assembly on the thoracic spinal column and thereby promote normal posture of the person. [0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,409, "Backpack System," issued Jan. 4, 2005 to Lemanski, teaches a backpack system having a suspension system with a waist belt, which slidably carries a bag or pack. [0013] None of the previous approaches allow effective reduction of the pack weight transferred to a human body, and accordingly there remains a need for an apparatus that allows more effective transport of packs, for example transport of heavier than previously practical, transport for longer times or distances than previously practical, or transport by weaker carriers than previously practical. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014] The present invention comprises a back pack weight/load support and mobility enhancement system that serves like a caddie that can be worn externally by people carrying a back pack to improve and enhance shoulder, back, upper body, abdomen, waist, hips, lower limb, legs, knees, calves, quadriceps and hamstrings muscles performance in all dynamic activities while carrying a back pack. More specifically, the present invention relates to an outfit, which allows a portion of the back pack's weight to be excluded from being transmitted to the shoulder, back, upper body, abdomen, waist, hips, lower limb, legs, knees, calves, quadriceps and hamstrings muscles by directly transmitting them to the footwear and/or the ground, through soft elastic columnar quasi-legs that are equipped with smart biomimetic materials such as shape memory materials and artificial muscles such as synthetic and/or ionic polymeric muscles and provide support function by buckling and bending in accordance with the dynamic maneuvering of the user. [0015] The present invention can provide an outfit, which allows a portion of the weight and load of a back pack to be excluded from being transmitted to the shoulders, back, upper body, abdomen, waist, hips, lower limb, legs knees, calves, quadriceps and hamstrings muscles while carrying the back pack. The weight and load can instead be directly transmitted them to the ankles, footwear and/or the ground, through soft elastic columnar quasi-legs that are equipped with soft resilient elastic biomimetic smart materials such as shape memory materials and artificial muscles such as synthetic and ionic polymeric muscles as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,852 to Shahinpoor, et al., entitled "Soft Actuators and Artificial Muscles", issued Aug. 29, 2000 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,475,639 to Shahinpoor, et al., entitled "Ionic Polymer Sensors and Actuators", issued Nov. 5, 2002, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, and provide support function by buckling and bending in accordance with the maneuvering of the user. The performance-enhancing outfit can be encapsulated by user-friendly fabric means for easy wear. The upper portion of the outfit can comprise a pouch equipped with attachable portions (e.g., fitted with material like Velcro.RTM.) to be securely attached to the bottom of a back pack worn by the user while the lower portion of the outfit can be attached securely to the footwear of the user while transmitting the weight of the back pack to the ground or attached to a ball and socket wheel on the ground behind the user. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0016] The invention is explained by using embodiment examples and corresponding drawings, which are incorporated into and form part of the specification. [0017] FIG. 1a is three-dimensional view of a quasi-leg in its initial unloaded configuration equipped with a ball and socket type wheel to support a backpack. [0018] FIG. 1b is three-dimensional view of a quasi-leg in its bent loaded configuration equipped with a ball and socket type wheel to support a backpack. [0019] FIG. 2a is a three-dimensional view of a pair of quasi-legs in their initial neutral configuration with footwear/ground attachment means. [0020] FIG. 2b is a three-dimensional view of a pair of quasi-legs in their bent loaded configurations with footwear/ground attachment means. Continue reading... Full patent description for Backpack support apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Backpack support apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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