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.

1 ) A performance enhancement apparatus for a human carrying a back pack, comprising a biomimetic resilient and bendable quasi-leg, having first and second ends, wherein the first end is adapted to be supported on the ground behind the human, and wherein the second end is adapted to mount in a weight-bearing relationship to the back pack.  
   
   
       2 ) An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the first end comprises a ball and socket.  
   
   
       3 ) An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the second end comprises a support platform adapted to support a backpack.  
   
   
       4 ) An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the quasi-leg comprises a resilient column.  
   
   
       5 ) An apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein the resilient column comprises a shape memory alloy.  
   
   
       6 ) An apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein the resilient column comprises an artificial muscle.  
   
   
       7 ) An apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising fabric encapsulating at least a portion of the apparatus.  
   
   
       8 ) A performance enhancement apparatus for a human carrying a back pack, comprising a biomimetic resilient and bendable quasi-leg, having first and second ends, wherein the first end is adapted to mount with the foot or footwear of a human, and wherein the second end is adapted to mount in a weight-bearing relationship to the back pack.  
   
   
       9 ) An apparatus as in  claim 8 , wherein the first end comprises a binding strap suitable for attachment to human footwear.  
   
   
       10 ) An apparatus as in  claim 8 , wherein the first end comprises footwear suitable for wear by a human.  
   
   
       11 ) An apparatus as in  claim 8 , wherein the second end comprises a support platform adapted to support a backpack.  
   
   
       12 ) An apparatus as in  claim 8 , wherein the quasi-leg comprises a resilient column.  
   
   
       13 ) An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the resilient column comprises a shape memory alloy.  
   
   
       14 ) An apparatus as in  claim 12 , wherein the resilient column comprises an artificial muscle.  
   
   
       15 ) An apparatus as in  claim 8 , further comprising fabric encapsulating at least a portion of the apparatus.  
   
   
       16 ) An apparatus as in  claim 8 , further comprising a second biomimetic quasi-leg, having first and second ends, wherein the first end is adapted to mount with the footwear of a human and supported on the ground, and wherein the second end is adapted to mount in a weight-bearing relationship to the back pack.  
   
   
       17 ) An apparatus as in  claim 8 , wherein the second end mounts securely with the backpack.  
   
   
       18 ) An apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the second end mounts securely with the backpack.