Personal equipment suspension system with active lumbar support

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10485690-B2
Application number	US-201213978172-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2012
Priority date	Jan 6, 2011
Publication date	Nov 26, 2019
Grant date	Nov 26, 2019

Abstract

A personal equipment suspension system with active support to the lumbar region includes a belt to surround the user's waist and a frame supported on the belt with a resilient membrane of synthetic elastomeric crystalline material in tension on the frame to be interposed between the belt and the user. The frame includes spaced ends and the membrane is a lattice in tension between the spaced ends. In one embodiment, the system is a support belt. In another, it is load bearing such as a backpack configuration. In another, it includes stanchions to support a body armor vest.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A personal equipment suspension system comprising:
a waist encircling belt to be worn by a user in surrounding relation to the waist, said waist encircling belt including one or more attachment devices directly secured to said waist encircling belt and,
an active lumbar support mechanism connected to said belt for positioning in association with the lumbar region of the user,
comprising a frame directly secured to the attachment device of said belt, and
a membrane of resilient synthetic crystalline elastomeric material connected to and held in tension on said frame overlying an interior surface of said belt,

wherein said membrane is sized and arranged to overlie a user's lumbar region on attachment of said belt to the user's waist, and
wherein said frame includes spaced attachment terminals and said resilient membrane comprises a lattice of resilient strips connected to said spaced attachment terminals in tension between said attachment terminals, and
wherein said frame includes at least one tubular member, said attachment terminals are positioned at opposite ends of said at least one tubular member, and
wherein said belt extends through said lattice adjacent said attachment terminals.

2. A personal equipment suspension system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said belt has an exterior surface and wherein said frame is directly connected to said exterior surface of said belt by way of the attachment device.

3. A personal suspension system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said system includes a load suspension mechanism supported by said belt, the load suspension mechanism separate from said frame.

4. A personal equipment suspension system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said load suspension mechanism comprises a backpack support.

5. A personal equipment suspension system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said frame of said active lumbar support mechanism is supported upon said load suspension mechanism and extends between a user's waist and shoulders and said membrane extends along said frame beyond a user's lumbar region.

6. A personal equipment suspension system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said frame includes spaced bars having attachment terminals and said resilient membrane comprises a lattice of resilient strips connected to said spaced attachment terminals in tension between said attachment terminals.

7. A personal equipment suspension system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said frame of said active lumbar support mechanism includes a horizontal bar and said load suspension mechanism includes spaced vertical support stanchions at opposite ends of said bar.

8. A personal equipment suspension system comprising:
a waist encircling belt to be worn by a user in surrounding relation to the waist said waist encircling belt including one or more attachment devices directly secured to said waist encircling belt,
an active lumbar support mechanism connected to said belt for positioning in association with the lumbar region of the user,
comprising a frame directly secured to the attachment device of said belt, and
a membrane of resilient synthetic crystalline elastomeric material connected to and held in tension on said frame overlying an interior surface of said belt and,

wherein said membrane is sized and arranged to overlie a user's lumbar region on attachment of said belt to the user's waist, and
wherein said frame includes spaced attachment terminals and said resilient membrane comprises a lattice of resilient strips connected to said spaced attachment terminals in tension between said attachment terminals, and
wherein said frame includes at least one tubular member, said attachment terminals are positioned at opposite ends of said at least one tubular member, and
wherein said system includes a load suspension mechanism supported by said belt, the load suspension mechanism separate from said frame,
wherein said frame of said active lumbar support mechanism includes a horizontal bar and said load suspension mechanism includes spaced vertical support stanchions at opposite ends of said bar,
wherein said horizontal bar includes a series of closely spaced ribs at opposite ends thereof, said resilient membrane comprises a lattice of resilient strips connected to said notches in tension at respective opposite ends of said bar.

9. A personal equipment suspension system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said bar and said stanchions are curved between said spaced support stanchions to conform to a user's back.

Assignees

• Ernst Jr Craig E
• Anderson Jeffrey D
• Iannello Christopher A J
• Nilsen Martin J
• Shereyk David A
• Coffield Timothy P
• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Ernst Jr Craig E
• Anderson Jeffrey D
• Iannello Christopher A J
• Nilsen Martin J
• Shereyk David A
• Coffield Timothy P

Classifications

• A61F5/028 Primary

  Braces for providing support to the lower back, e.g. lumbo sacral supports · CPC title

• A45F3/005

  Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of a single strap around the waist · CPC title

• A45F3/04

  Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders · CPC title

• A45F2003/144

  Pack-carrying waist or torso belts · CPC title

• A45F2003/045

  and one additional strap around the waist · CPC title