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(11) | EP 0 650 677 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Carrying device |
| (57) The shoulder straps (11, 12) of the article carrier define an independent shoulder
strap unit (10) in which they extend in an arc between two initial points (A, B) in
which they are joined at their ends, crossing in a crossing point located on the wearer's
back. Adjacent each attachment point (A, B) is a means (13, 14) provided for releasable
attachment of the first end of a carrying means (20) which comprises one or two flexible
carrying elements (201, 202) in the form of a cord, a strip or a chain. |
[0002] In a known article carrier according to US-A-4,962,873 are shoulder straps in the manner of braces affixed to a waist belt and kept together on the wearer's chest by a tie means embodied by a strip attached to one of the shoulder straps spacedly from the strap's initial point at the waist belt and by a co-operating belt buckle attached to the other shoulder strap. The shoulder straps cross loosely in a crossing point on the wearer's back, and the carrying means is embodied by a hook mounted on the waist belt.
[0003] In another known article carrier according to US-A-2,651,441, provided for carrying plate-shaped loads, is the carrying means embodied by a strap element which defines an immediate extension of the shoulder straps and which at its free end is provided with a rigid gripping means which has a reactangular, L-shaped profile with an outwardly inclined edge at the end of the horizontal leg of the L-shape.
[0004] In yet another known article carrier according to US-A-1,727,873, provided for carrying two loads, are the shoulder straps extended beneath the wearer's waist, and are provided with U-shaped hooks at their free ends for carrying e.g. suitcases. The shoulder straps are on the wearer's chest, closely under the shoulders, interconnected by a tie means embodied by a flexible strip.
[0005] It is further known to use for stretcher transport artivle carriers embodied by a loop on each side of the wearer into which the two handles of the stretcher may be introduced.
[0006] It occurs often in practice, e.g. in the removal or building lines, that an operator has to carry objects of varying nature during a working period, and he is then forced to change an article carrier of one type, e.g. for plate-shaped objects, for an article carrier of another type.
[0007] It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an ergonomically expedient article carrier which readily can be adapted for carrying various loads. This object is achieved in the manner evident from the enclosed claims.
[0008] Due to the fact that the flexible carrying element, in a preferred embodiment, is with one its end fastened to the shoulder strap unit and with the other end to the waist belt unit, the weight of a load (which possibly may be supported with the aid of an additional carrying element) is divided between the shoulder strap unit and the waist belt unit.
[0009] The carrying element is to at least one of the two units preferably attached in a readily disengageable manner, e.g. by means of a carbine hook, so that e.g. the said additional carrying element may readily be slipped on, or the carrying element itself can be readily exchanged for another one which e.g. forms between the shoulder strap unit and the waist belt unit a loop with other dimensions.
[0010] The user may put on the shoulder strap unit and the waist belt unit at the beginning of a work period and attach a suitable carrying means first when a specific carrying task comes up.
[0011] The article carrier of the invention relieves the pressure from the arms and makes them free, and the user may manoeuvre the burden so that the load on his shoulders and his back becomes as little uncomfortable as possible. The lifting height is decreased, in particular when the carrying means is made length adjustable, and the lifting operation may be executed in a more straight position of the back, viz. mainly by the foot musculature. The breaking moment, which arises when one is lifting with a bent or twisted back, and when the risk of joint, muscle and disc injury is biggest, is eliminated.
[0012] As far as the arm and shoulder musculature is concerned, the static moment during carrying is eliminated, and the consumption of power when lifting is appreciably reduced. Even the injurious strain on the knee joints is reduced thanks to the smaller height of lift. The power in the quadriceps musculature of the thigh can be better used, so that heavier loads can be lifted without injury.
[0013] The shoulder strap unit is constructed so that the pulling forces partially compensate one another due to the fact that the straps are attached alternately. The pressure on the upper part of the body is dispersed on the shoulders as well as on the chest, which means that the weight gets closer to the body.
[0014] The invention will in the following be further described with reference to the enclosed drawings illustrating exemplary embodiments, and in which
Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the article carrier according to the invention,
Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the shoulder strap unit,
Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of the shoulder strap unit,
Fig. 4 shows a carrying means for plate-shaped products,
Fig. 4a illustrates the operating principle of the gripping means in the carrying means of Fig. 4,
Fig. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the shoulder strap unit,
Fig. 6 illustrates diagrammatically a carrying means for two loads,
Fig. 7 shows in plan view, and Fig. 7a in front view, an embodiment of the side-spacer in the carrying means of Fig. 6,
Fig. 7b shows on an enlarged scale a detail of this side-spacer, and
Fig. 8 shows the side-spacer of the Figs. 7 and 7a in folded condition.
[0015] According to Fig. 1, the article carrier of the invention consists of a shoulder strap unit 10, a carrying means 20, and a waist belt part or unit 300. The shoulder strap unit 10 comprises a first, partially padded shoulder strap 11 which starts out from a first initial point A and extends in an arc to a second initial point B, which at the same time defines an initial point for a second partially padded shoulder strap 12 which in its turn extends in an arc back to the first initial point A. The shoulder straps 11, 12 are thus joined at both their ends and cross in a crossing point C on the user's back.
[0016] The shoulder straps 11, 12 are so interconnected at the crossing point C, each by passing with friction through a pair of slots in a disc 15 of soft material, that they may be adjusted to and retained in a selected mutual position.
[0017] The carrying means 20 is embodied by two flexible strips 201, 202 which each define a loop between the shoulder strap unit 10 and the waist belt unit 300. At both initial points A, B on the shoulder strap unit 10 are belt buckles 13, 14 provided for the one ends of the strips 201, 202, so that the two initial points A, B define attachment points for the strips 201, 202 on the shoulder strap unit 10. The strips 201, 202 are at their other ends attached to the waist belt unit 300 in attachment points 300A, 300B. The size of the loops formed by the strips 201, 202 may be adjusted in the buckles 13, 14, and e.g. the handles of a stretcher can be introduced in the loops.
[0018] In the shoulder strap unit 10' of Fig. 2 are at both attachment points A, B eyes 13', 14' mounted to which the stripes 201, 202 of a carrying means 20' can be attached with the aid of carbine hooks 21. The shoulder straps 11, 12' are so long that the eyes 13', 14' are located somewhat above the waist of the wearer, which has proven to be ergonomically advantageous. The shoulder straps 11', 12' are in known manner held together on the chest of the user held a connecting means embodied by a flexible tie 16.
[0019] An article carrier according to Fig. 3 comprises a shoulder strap unit 10'' in which an eye 14'' is mounted adjacent the initial point B, a first carbine hook 132, engageable in this eye, being mounted adjacent the initial point B. The hook-and-eye connection 13''/14'' embodies thus a connection means of the shoulder strap unit 10'' which holds the two shoulder straps together in the wearer's chest or waist region, and at the same time defines the unit's (only) point of attachment of a carrying means, e.g. a single strip 201 as shown in Fig. 3, or two strips 201, 202 as shown in Fig. 2. The strip or strips of the carrying means is/are attached to the eye 14'' by means of one or two further carbine hooks 21.
[0020] A carrying means 20a according to Fig. 4 for carrying plate-shaped loads such as doors and the like consists of a strip 203 which with the aid of a hook 21' can be fastened on one of the strips 201, 202 or to the eye 14'' of the article carrier 14'' and the like. The strip 203 is at its free lower end provided with a gripping means 25 which essentially consists of an arc 26 of rigid material such as metal. The arc 26 is on its both ends provided with inwardly protruding gripping elements in the form of short rods or tubes 28, 28' which extend transversely to the plane in which the arc shape extends. The gripping elements 28, 28' are approximately three times so long as the arc 26 is wide.
[0021] The arc 26 is a circular arc in the order of magnitude of about 180° and goes at its first end, where it is attached to the strip 203, over to a short tangential part 26'. An eye 27 for attachment to the strip 203 projects on this first end outwardly, i.e. from the outer side of the arc. In Fig. 4a is the principle of the self-locking action of the gripping means 25 illustrated as a heavy plate-shaped load L is carried. The self-locking effect is achieved by the inwardly protruding gripping means 28, 28' and is further enhanced by the eye 27 being mounted outwardly projecting.
[0022] The arrow T indicates the direction of the force of gravity which affects the load L and which in point S is transferred to the gripping means 25. From Fig. 4a is evident that the gripping means 28 on the first end, i.e. adjacent the eye 27, possibly may be omitted, while the gripping means 28' on the free second end is inevitable. The gripping means 25 may preferably be provided with a protecting and/or friction enhancing outer layer or coating on its faces turned toward the load L .
[0023] A gripping means according to Figs. 4 and 4a for carrying plate-shaped loads may of course also be used in connection with other article carriers.
[0024] In Fig. 5 is shown a shoulder strap unit 10''' which in per se known manner is bedded in the inner side 31' of a work jacket 31, the eyes 13', 14' passing outside the jacket through slots 31a, 31b. The shoulder strap unit 10''' may be stiched together with the jacket, but it is preferably attached disconnectably, e.g. by means of a Velcro fastening.
[0025] In Fig.' 6 is illustrated the principle of a carrying means 20''' for carrying two loads (chiefly two essentially equal loads), e.g. two buckets or the like. The carrying means 20''' comprises two flexible strips 204, 205 which on their one ends are provided with hooks 21 for attachment to two attachment points located at a mutual spacing a, e.g. on a shoulder strap unit and/or on a waist belt unit (e.g. by being slipped-on on the two loops in Fig. 1), or to one attachment point (e.g. the eye 14'' in Fig. 3). The spacing a is defined by the wearer's waist-measurement (width of the body in the waist region) and can be equal thereto at the utmost.
[0026] The strips 204, 205 are on their free lower ends provided with carrying hooks 29', 29'' (or e.g. with gripping means 25) for bearing a load.
[0027] Between the two strips 204, 205 is a rigid side-spacer 29 of metal, plastics, or the like provided which holds the two strips at a desired mutual spacing b which is larger than the spacing a.
[0028] In the Figs. 7, 7a and 8 is shown a practical embodiment of this side-spacer. The side-spacer 30 is length-adjustable and comprises two preferably identical side parts 30a, 30c which are connected one with the other by an intermediate part 30b. The side parts 30a, 30c are bent at d and d', adjacent their free ends 30d, 30d', so that the side-spacer 30 has in plan view the shape of a bow with a straight central portion.
[0029] The parts 30a and 30b may be embodied e.g. by profiled bars or, as in the example shown, by rods or tubes, part 30c being embodied by a tube even when the parts 30a and 30b are rods.
[0030] The intermediate part 30b is provided with a plurality of holes 30b' for a draw pin 30c', and has such an outer diameter that it can be inserted in the tube-shaped side part 30c. The intermediate part 30b is either made in one piece with a (bar- or tube-shaped) side part 30a, or it is affixed in a tube-shaped side part 30a (itself being either bar- or tube-shaped).
[0031] It will be readily understood that the intermediate part 30b also can be omitted, if the side part 30a has along its entire length the reduced diameter of the intermediate part, and the holes 30b' on one its end portion. On the other hand, the intermediate part 30b may of course also be connected with both side parts 30a, 30b in adjustable manner.
[0032] The side part 30c has an opening for the draw pin 30c' which through this opening may be inserted in an arbitrary hole in the intermediate part 30b, whereby the total length b of the side-spacer 30 may be adjusted. The draw pin 30c' is preferably mounted in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7b, which for clarity is not shown in the other drawing figures, viz. spring-loaded and in a cage 30c''.
[0033] As the side-spacer 30 has a greater length b than what the wearer's waist measurement is, the two strips 204, 205 diverge outwardly irrespective of if they radiate from one or from two attachment points, and the loads are carried laterally spaced from the wearer's body.
[0034] The side-spacer 30 is preferably made foldable or dismountable for easier transport and/or storage. It will be readily understood that dismounting is achieved simply by the side part 30c being drawn out of the intermediate part 30b. Foldability may be obtained e.g. with the aid of a hinge mounting or the like.
[0035] It is expedient to connect the individual parts by a connecting element which allows dismounting without being in the way in the assembled condition, so that the dismounted parts might not come astray. Such a connecting element, flexible and elongated, may be embodied by a cord or the like 206 mounted inside the side part 30c and anchored on the one hand at 30b'' on the free end of the intermediate part 30b, and on the other hand inside the side part 30c, e.g. adjacently its outer end. The cord 206 has a length allowing the parts 30a and 30c to be further separated, from the position shown in Fig. 7a, to a distance somewhat greater than the spacing e.
[0036] In the illustrated example is in the side tube 30c further mounted a tension spring 207 in continuation of the cord 206 which in this instance may be shorter, the purpose of the tension spring 207 being to overcome by its own stretching the spacing e. The cord 206 and the tension spring 207 may be arranged so that the tension spring 207 is stretched already when the side parts 30a and 30c bear against one another, i.e. when the side-spacer 30 is shortest. Instead of the cord 206A a long tension spring may possibly be used.
[0037] The hooks 29', 29'' are mounted on short stripes 204', 205' which may be embodied by lengths of the stripes 204, 205 passing through slots in the side-spacer 30, or by independent short stripe elements.
[0038] Thanks to the bent-off end portions 30d, 30d', a carrying means with the side-spacer 30 may be optionally borne in front or behind the body. The side-spacer may to the same purpose have the shape e.g. of a circular arc, the decisive feature being that its two end portions are in a retracted position relative to the central portion 30e.
1. Article carrier with two shoulder straps (11, 12) and a carrying means (20, 20', 20'')
for bearing a load, characterized by the shoulder straps (11, 12) embodying an independent shoulder strap unit (10, 10',
10'') in which they in an arc extend between two initial points (A, B) in which they
are joined, crossing in a crossing point (C) located on the wearer's back, adjacent
each initial point (A, B) being mounted a means (13, 14, 13', 14') for releasable
attachment of a first end of the carrying means (20, 20''), which means comprises
one or two flexible carrying elements (201, 202) in the form of a cord, a strip, or
a chain.
2. The article carrier of Claim 1, characterized by further comprising an independent waist belt unit (300) not associated to the shoulder
strap unit (10, 10', 10'') and provided with means (300A, 300B) for releasable attachment
of said carrying elements (201, 202) on their other end or ends, so that the weight
of a load (L), which possibly is carried with the aid of an additional carrying element
(203, 20'''), is divided between the shoulder strap unit and the waist belt unit.
3. The article carrier of Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the two initial points (A, B) on the shoulder strap unit (10'') being releasably
interconnected by means of a hook-and-eye connection (13', 14) defining a tie means
of the shoulder strap unit (10'') located in the wearer's chest or waist region, the
carrying means (20'') being with the aid of at least one hook (21) releasably connectable
to said eye (14) so that this eye at the same time embodies a coupling means of the
shoulder strap unit (10'').
4. Article carrier according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the shoulder straps (11, 12) in the shoulder strap unit (10') being in the crossing
point so interconnected that they can be adjusted to and maintained in a selected
mutual position, e.g. by each passing with friction through a pair of slots in a disc
(15).
5. Article carrier with two shoulder straps (11, 12) and a carrying means (20a'') for
carrying plate-shaped loads (L), comprising a flexible carrying element (203) defined
by a cord, a strip or a chain, and to which the first end of a gripping means (25)
is affixed, according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized by the gripping means having substantially the shape of an arc (26) in the order of
magnitude of 180°, a gripping element (28') which projects inwardly into the arc being
mounted at least at the free second end of the arc, so that self-locking of a carried
load is obtained.
6. The article carrier of Claim 6, characterized by the gripping elements being defined by a rod or a tube (28, 28') extending transversely
the plane of the arc shape.
7. The article carrier of Claim 5 or 6, characterized by the gripping means, in order to increase the self-locking effect, being attached
to the carrying element (203) by means of an eye (27) projecting outwardly from the
arc shape.
8. Article carrier with two shoulder straps (11, 12) and a carrying means (20''') for
carrying two loads, and comprising one or two flexible carrying elements (204, 205)
defined by a cord, a strip or a chain, according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized by the attachment point for the two carrying elements, or two such attachment points
spaced by a distance (a) defined by the wearer's waist measurement, being located
in the region of the wearers waist on the shoulder strap unit (10, 10', 10''') and/or
on the waist belt unit (300), the two carrying elements (204, 205) extending from
their respective attachment points to one end of a rigid, horizontally extending side-spacer
(29, 30) whose length (b) is greater than said waist measurement (a), and at whose
said ends means (29', 29'') for bearing a load are attached, so that the carrying
elements (204, 205) diverge from the wearer's waist outwardly and the loads are carried
laterally spaced from the wearer's body.
9. The article carrier of Claim 8, characterized by the side-spacer (30), in order to adjust the spacing of the two loads, being length
adjustable by comprising at least two telescoped parts (30b', 30c') affixable in a
selected mutual position.
10. The article carrier of Claim 9, characterized by the side-spacer (30) comprising at least two side parts (30a, 30c) of which at least
one (30c) is tube-shaped, so that the other part (30a) may be directly, or by means
of an intermediate part (30b), comprised therein.
11. Article carrier according to one of the claims 8 to 10, characterized by the side-spacer (30) being dismountable so that it may be brought into a space-saving
transport and/or storage condition, and preferably being provided with an element
(206) joining its parts (30a, 30c) when dismounted and not being in the way in the
assembled condition of the side-spacer, e.g. a cord (206) and/or a tension spring
(207) mounted inside a tube-shaped side part and having a length which allows disassembly
of the parts.
12. Article carrier according to one of the claims 8 to 11, characterized by the side-spacer having a plan view shape in which its end parts (30d, 30d') are retracted
relative to the central portion (30e), so that the side-spacer (30) optionally can
be carried in front or behind the body.