Releasable Backpack

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a releasable backpack.

2. Description of Related Art

Soldiers typically utilize a backpack to carry equipment and other gear. The backpacks have a pair of shoulder straps and a waist strap that secure the pack to the soldier. When in combat it is sometimes desirable to remove the backpack to reduce the weight carried by the soldier. The soldier must manipulate out of the straps to remove the pack. Disengaging from the straps is a two-handed, time consuming procedure that prevents the soldier from engaging in combat activity. It would be desirable to provide a backpack that can be quickly detached from a soldier.

The present invention is a releasable backpack. The backpack includes a pin that extends from a first frame. The first frame supports a bag or equipment that is carried by an end user. The backpack also includes a second frame that is worn by the end user. The second frame has a spring biased lock rod that moves between a lock position and a release position. In the lock position the rod engages the pin and attaches the first frame to the second frame. The lock rod is attached to a cord which can be pulled to move the rod to the release position. To release the backpack, the end user pulls the cord to disengage the lock rod from the pin. The pin is then separated from the rod to release the first frame from the second frame. The backpack can be re-attached by inserting the pin into the spring biased lock rod.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a backpack of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a latching mechanism of the backpack;

FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of the latching mechanism shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the locking mechanism in a release position;

FIG. 5 s a top sectional view of the locking mechanism shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the latching mechanism in an extended position;

FIG. 7 is a top sectional view showing the latching mechanism of FIG. 6 in a release position;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the backpack being released;

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the latching mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the latching mechanism shown in FIG. 9 in a release position;

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of a alternate embodiment of the latching mechanism.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, FIG. 1 shows a backpack 10 of the present invention. The backpack 10 includes a first frame 12 that can be releasably attached to a second frame 14. The second frame 14 typically has a pair of shoulder straps 16 that can be donned by an end user. The frame 14 can be secured to the user by a waist strap 18.

The first frame 12 may support a bag 20 that can carry various items. As an alternate embodiment, the first frame 12 may support an electronic assembly, or any other device that is mounted directly to the frame 12. Extending from the first frame 12 are a pair of pins 22. The pins 22 are inserted into apertures 24 of the second frame 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the second frame 14 contains a latching mechanism 26 that secures the pins 22 of the first frame 12. There is a mechanism 26 for each aperture 24 in the second frame 14. The mechanism 26 includes a latch rod 28 that moves between a latch position and a release position.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when in the lever position the lever rod 28 engages the pin 22 and attaches the first frame 12 to the second frame 14. In the preferred embodiment, each pin 22 has an annular groove 30 which receives a chamfered surface 32 of a lever rod 28. Each pin 22 may have a stop washer 34 which limits the insertion depth of the pin 22 and aligns the groove 30 with the rod 28. Each pin 22 may also have an outer conical shaped bearing surface 36 that engages and pushes the lever rod 28 to the release position when the pin 22 is inserted into the aperture 24.

Each mechanism 26 includes a spring 38 that biases the lever rod 28 into the lock position. The lock rod 28 is also connected to a release cord 40 that extends from the second frame 14. The cord 40 can be pulled by an end user to move the lever rod 28 to the release position and disengage the rod 28 from the pin 22. The lever rod 28 may also have a lever 42 that can be pushed by the end user to move the rod 28 to the release position. The lever 42 may provide a back-up mechanism, in the event the cord 40 becomes inoperative.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the backpack 10 can be released by pulling the cord 40 and moving the latch rods 28 to the release positions. The rods 28 become disengaged from the pins 22 so that the first frame 12 can be pulled away from the second frame 14. When the pins 22 are pulled out of the apertures 26 and the cord 40 is released, the springs 38 push the latch rods 28 back to the original position.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment of a locking mechanism 26' which has a ball 44 that is biased into a chamfered surface 46 of the latch rod 28 by a spring 48. The mechanism 26' does not have the spring 38 shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the lock rod 28 is pulled to an extended position the ball 44 moves beyond the chamfered surface 46 so that the spring 48 does not push the rod 28 back to the original position. This allows the end user to detach the first frame 12 from the second frame 14 without continually pulling the cord 40.

As shown in FIG. 8, the first frame 12 may have a male catch 50 that is received by a female catch 52 of the second frame 14. The female catch 52 supports the first frame 12 and accompanying hardware. The catches 50 and 52 are constructed so that the first frame 12 can pivot about the second frame 14 when the pins 22 are removed from the apertures 24. The male catch 50 can be pulled out of the female catch 52 to separate the first frame 12 from the second frame 14 after being rotated to a position to disengage the lips 53 of the catches.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an alternate embodiment of a latching mechanism 54 which has an ejector pin 56 that engages and pushes the pin 22 out of the aperture 24 when the latch rod 28 is moved to the release position. The ejector pin 56 can be coupled to the latch rod 28 to follow the movement of the rod 28.

FIG. 11 shows another alternate embodiment of a latching mechanism 58 which has an ejector spring 60 that pushes the pin 22 out of the aperture 24 when the latch rod 28 is moved to the release position.

While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad invention, and that this invention not be limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.