Load management system for backpacks and other wearable packs with shoulder straps

Abstract

A wearable pack has a generally pliable body defining a volume for the containment of articles, the body generally having a height, width, and depth, at least one shoulder strap secured to the body, at least one tension strap secured to the body at a first anchor point and adjustably secured to the body at a second anchor point, the tension strap routing through at least one channel disposed on the body between the anchor points so that the tension strap is accessible in a frontal plane of the wearer so that the wearer does not need to reach rearwardly of the frontal plane to pull the tension strap.

1 . A wearable pack, comprising:
 a generally pliable body defining a volume for the containment of articles, the body generally having a height, width, and depth;   at least one shoulder strap secured to the body; and   at least one tension strap secured to the body at a first anchor point and adjustably secured to the body at a second anchor point, the tension strap routing through at least one channel disposed on the body between the anchor points so that the tension strap is accessible in a frontal plane of the wearer so that the wearer while wearing the pack does not need to reach rearwardly of the frontal plane to pull the tension strap, wherein at least a portion of one channel is disposed at a front surface of the pack.   
     
     
         2 . A wearable pack, comprising:
 a generally pliable body defining a volume for the containment of articles, the body generally having dimensions of height, width, and depth, and at least three of a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and left and right side surfaces defining the volume for containment of articles;   at least one shoulder strap secured to the body; and   at least one tension strap secured to the body at a first anchor point and adjustably secured to the body at a second anchor point, the tension strap routing through at least one channel disposed on the body between the anchor points so that adjustment of tension on the tension strap adjusts two or more of the dimensions simultaneously. at least one of the dimensions being the height of the pack.   
     
     
         3 . The wearable pack of  claim 2  wherein the tension strap is routed to a shoulder strap or hip belt disposed on the pack so that wearer can access a portion of the strap at that location and adjust tension. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable pack of  claim 3  wherein the routing of the tension strap is to the shoulder strap. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable pack of  claim 4  wherein the wearable pack comprises a backpack and further comprises a second shoulder strap and a second tension strap, the second tension strap routing to the second shoulder strap in like fashion to the routing of the first tension strap to the first shoulder strap, the tension straps being arranged in spaced relationship generally similar to the spacing and orientation of the shoulder straps. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable pack of  claim 1  wherein a tension strap routes across a bottom surface of the pack, upwards over the front surface and to the top or back surface of the pack. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable pack of  claim 6  wherein the tension strap routes from the top or back surface to a channel disposed on a shoulder strap. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable pack of  claim 7  wherein a second tension strap is routed in like fashion to a second shoulder strap in like fashion to the routing of the first tension strap to the first shoulder strap. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable pack of  claim 1  wherein a tension strap has a portion slideably secured to the pack using an adjustment mechanism anchored to the pack at an anchor point. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable pack of  claim 1  wherein at least one tension strap comprises two or more separate sections that are coupled together. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable pack of  claim 10  wherein the sections are arranged linearly or sequentially. 
     
     
         12 . The wearable pack of  claim 10  wherein one section is oriented transversely to another section so that the tension strap has at least two arms branching off a common section. 
     
     
         13 . The wearable pack of  claim 1  wherein a tension strap is arranged so that adjustment of tension simultaneously changes the height and depth of the pack by lifting or dropping the bottom surface and moving in or out the front surface from the back surface. 
     
     
         14 . The wearable pack of  claim 1  wherein the pack includes a protective compartment configured for securing a laptop, other computing device or other device with an electronic display. 
     
     
         15 . The wearable pack of  claim 14  wherein the protective compartment is accessible from the side or back of the pack. 
     
     
         16 . The wearable pack of  claim 3  wherein a tension strap is arranged so that adjustment of tension simultaneously changes the height and depth of the pack by lifting or dropping the bottom surface and moving in or out the front surface from the back surface. 
     
     
         17 . The wearable pack of  claim 16  wherein the pack includes a protective compartment configured for securing a laptop or computer computing device or other device with an electronic display. 
     
     
         18 . The wearable pack of  claim 14  wherein the protective compartment is accessible from the side or back of the pack. 
     
     
         19 . The wearable pack of  claim 17  wherein the protective compartment is accessible from the side or back of the pack. 
     
     
         20 . A method of making a wearable pack, comprising:
 providing a generally pliable body defining a volume for the containment of articles, the body generally having dimensions of height, width, and depth, and at least three of a front surface, a back surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, and left and right side surfaces defining the volume for containment of articles;   assembling at least one shoulder strap secured to the body; and
 assembling at least one tension strap secured to the body at a first anchor point and adjustably secured to the body at a second anchor point, the tension strap routing through at least one channel disposed on the body between the anchor points so that adjustment of tension on the tension strap adjusts two or more of the dimensions simultaneously, at least one of the dimensions being the height of the pack. 
   
     
     
         21 . The wearable pack of  claim 1  wherein a majority of the channel portion that is disposed at the front surface of the pack is routed along an internal side of the front surface so as to be hidden from external view. 
     
     
         22 . The wearable pack of  claim 2  wherein at least a portion of one channel is disposed at the front surface of the pack and is routed along an internal side of the front surface so as to be hidden from external view.