Load carrying system

Abstract

In an embodiment, a load carrying system for a wearer includes a carrier made of at least one flexible carrier material and comprises a front portion to be disposed at the wearer's front, and a back portion to be disposed at the wearer's back, when the system is worn by the wearer; a load attachment arrangement for detachably attaching a load to at least the front portion; a front load distribution arrangement comprising at least one elongated front load distribution element made of a material more rigid than the carrier material and attached to the front portion of the carrier by a front attachment member different from, and operating independently of, the load attachment arrangement; and a back load distribution arrangement disposed in the back portion of the carrier and separated from the front load distribution arrangement by the material of the carrier.

1 . A load carrying system for a wearer, comprising:
 a carrier made of at least one flexible carrier material, the carrier comprising a front portion to be disposed at a front of the wearer and a back portion to be disposed at a back of the wearer, when the load carrying system is worn by the wearer;   a load attachment arrangement for detachably attaching a load to at least the front portion;   a front load distribution arrangement comprising at least one elongated front load distribution element made of a material more rigid than the carrier material and attached to the front portion of the carrier by a front attachment member different from, and operable independently of, the load attachment arrangement; and   a back load distribution arrangement disposed in the back portion of the carrier and separated from the front load distribution arrangement by the material of the carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The load carrying system according to  claim 1 , wherein the front portion has a height dimension substantially parallel to that of the wearer, the at least one elongated front load distribution element extending along a majority of the height dimension of the front portion. 
     
     
         3 . The load carrying system according to  claim 2 , wherein the carrier has at least two carrier wearing straps, at least a front portion of the at least two carrier wearing straps constituting at least a part of the front portion of the carrier, the at least two carrier wearing straps being spaced from each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the height dimension of the front portion, at least a part of the at least a front portion of each of the at least two carrier wearing straps being associated with the at least one elongated front load distribution element and comprising the front attachment member. 
     
     
         4 . The load carrying system according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least a part of the at least a front portion of each of the at least two carrier wearing strap comprises a sleeve configured to receive therein the at least one elongated front load distribution element, which is insertable in, and withdrawable from, the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The load carrying system according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least elongated front load distribution element comprises a plurality of elongated front load distribution elements that are each detachably attachable to the front portion of a corresponding one of the at least two carrier wearing straps. 
     
     
         6 . The load carrying system according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least two carrier wearing straps bear at least a part of the load attachment arrangement. 
     
     
         7 . The load carrying system according to  claim 1 , wherein part of the load attachment arrangement is spaced from the at least one elongated front load distribution element by the material of the carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The load carrying system according to  claim 3 , wherein part of the load attachment arrangement is spaced from the at least one elongated front load distribution element by the material of the at least two carrier wearing strap. 
     
     
         9 . The load carrying system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated front load distribution element comprises a rod or a longitudinal strip. 
     
     
         10 . The load carrying system according to  claim 9 , wherein the rod or the longitudinal strip made of metal. 
     
     
         11 . The load carrying system according to  claim 1 , wherein the load attachment arrangement comprises one or more load carrying pockets detachably attachable at least to the front portion of the carrier and configured for carrying the load therein. 
     
     
         12 . The load carrying system according to  claim 2 , wherein the load comprises a front armor panel. 
     
     
         13 . The load carrying system according to  claim 12 , wherein the front armor panel's dimension in a direction substantially perpendicular to the height dimension of the carrier when the panel is attached to the load carrying system approximately corresponds to a dimension of the spacing between the front portions of the at least two carrier wearing straps. 
     
     
         14 . The load carrying system according to  claim 1 , wherein the back load distribution arrangement comprises at least one elongated back load distribution element made of a material more rigid than the carrier material. 
     
     
         15 . The load carrying system according to  claim 14 , wherein the back load distribution arrangement comprises at least the same number of the elongated back load distribution elements as the at least one elongated front load distribution element. 
     
     
         16 . The load carrying system according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one back load distribution element extends along the back portion of the carrier. 
     
     
         17 . The load carrying system according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one back load distribution element comprises a plurality of back load distribution elements that are spaced from each other along at least a part of respective lengths thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The load carrying system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a belt adapted to encompass a pelvic area of the wearer, when the carrier is worn by the wearer, the front and back portions of the carrier joining the belt at respective bottoms thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The load carrying system according to  claim 18 , wherein the belt comprises a belt front section associated with the front of the wearer so that the front load distribution arrangement terminates at the belt front section. 
     
     
         20 . A kit, comprising:
 a load carrying system for a wearer including:
 a carrier made of at least one flexible carrier material, the carrier comprising a front portion to be disposed at a front of the wearer and a back portion to be disposed at a back of the wearer, when the system is worn by the wearer; 
 a load attachment arrangement for detachably attaching a load to at least the front portion; 
 a front load distribution arrangement comprising at least one elongated front load distribution element made of a material more rigid than the carrier material and attached to the front portion of the carrier by a front attachment member different from, and operable independently of, the load attachment arrangement; and 
 a back load distribution arrangement disposed in the back portion of the carrier and separated from the front load distribution arrangement by the material of the carrier; and 
   at least one load carrying pocket for carrying a load therein configured for being detachably attached to the carrier by the load attachment arrangement.   
     
     
         21 . A carrier for a wearer made of at least one flexible carrier material, the carrier comprising:
 a front portion to be disposed at a front of the wearer, a back portion to be disposed at a back of the wearer, and a belt configured to encompass a pelvic area of the wearer, when the carrier is worn by the wearer, the belt comprising a belt front section to be disposed at the front of the wearer, a belt back section to be disposed at the back of the wearer and belt side sections therebetween being detachably attachable to the belt front section or the belt back section to allow adjustment of a width of the belt; and   two carrier wearing straps, a front portion of the two carrier wearing straps constituting at least a part of the front portion of the carrier, the two carrier wearing straps attached at respective lower ends thereof to the belt side sections at locations spaced by a distance configured to change in accordance with a change of the width of the belt.   
     
     
         22 . The carrier of  claim 21 , wherein the belt side sections are adjustably attachable to the belt front section or the belt back section to allow adjustment of the width of the belt.