Load-bearing belt

Abstract

A load-bearing belt for use with a hiking backpack or the like, particularly for female users, is provided. The load-bearing belt includes a back portion and two side portions. The two side portions extend downward from the back portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A load-bearing belt comprising:
 a back portion; and   two side portions extending downward from the back portion.   
     
     
         2 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 1  further comprising a backpack secured to the back portion. 
     
     
         3 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 2 , wherein the backpack comprises a support structure, and wherein the back portion is secured to the support structure. 
     
     
         4 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 1  further comprising a child carrier secured to the back portion. 
     
     
         5 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 1 , wherein the load-bearing belt is configured to be used with at least one of a water pack, a water belt, and a lumbar pack. 
     
     
         6 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 1 , wherein the back portion is configured to provide lumbar support for the user. 
     
     
         7 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 1 , wherein when releasably secured around a user's hip, each side portion is disposed below the user's iliac crest and above the user's hip joint. 
     
     
         8 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 1 , wherein each side portion extends downward from the back portion at an angle greater than ninety degrees and less than 135 degrees with respect to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         9 . A load-bearing belt configured to transfer the weight of a backpack to a user's hips, the load-bearing belt comprising:
 a back portion configured to be disposed near a lower back of a user; and   two side portions, each side portion extending from the back portion and configured to be releasably secured around a corresponding hip of the user when worn, wherein each side portion extends downward from the back portion such that, when releasably secured around the corresponding hip, the side portion is disposed below the user's iliac crest and above the user's hip joint.   
     
     
         10 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 8  further comprising a backpack secured to the back portion. 
     
     
         11 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 9 , wherein the backpack comprises a support structure, and wherein, the back portion is secured to the support structure. 
     
     
         12 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 8  further comprising a child carrier secured to the back portion. 
     
     
         13 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 8 , wherein the load-bearing belt is configured to be used with at least one of a water pack, a water belt, and a lumbar pack. 
     
     
         14 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 8 , wherein the back portion is configured to provide lumbar support for the user. 
     
     
         15 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 8 , wherein each side portion extends downward from the back portion at an angle greater than ninety degrees and less than 135 degrees with respect to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         16 . A backpack comprising:
 a bag configured to house a load;   a support structure for the bag;   a shoulder harness configured to releasably secure the backpack around a user's shoulders; and   a load-bearing belt configured to releasably secure the backpack around the user's hips such that, when secured, at least a portion of the load is supported by the user's hips, wherein the load-bearing belt comprises:
 a back portion secured to at least one of the bag and the support structure and configured to be disposed near a lower back of the user; and 
 two side portions, each side portion extending downward from the back portion such that, when the backpack is releasably secured around the user's hips, each side portion is disposed below an iliac crest and above a hip joint. 
   
     
     
         17 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 16 , wherein the back portion is configured to provide lumbar support for the user. 
     
     
         18 . The backpack of  claim 15 , wherein the at least a portion of the load comprises a majority of the load. 
     
     
         19 . The backpack of  claim 15 , wherein, when secured, the load-bearing belt is configured to transfer a first portion of the load to the user's hips, wherein the shoulder harness is configured to transfer a second portion of the load to the user's shoulders, and wherein the first portion is greater than the second portion. 
     
     
         20 . The load-bearing belt of  claim 15 , wherein each side portion of the load-bearing belt extends downward from the back portion at an angle greater than ninety degrees and less than 135 degrees with respect to a vertical axis.