NO348174B1

NO348174B1 - A carrying device for carrying an object

Info

Publication number: NO348174B1
Application number: NO20230093A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Eirik Andersen
Original assignee: Vorn Equipment As
Priority date: 2023-01-31
Filing date: 2023-01-31
Publication date: 2024-09-16
Also published as: NO20230093A1; WO2024162858A1

Description

A CARRYING DEVICE FOR CARRYING AN OBJECT

A carrying device for carrying an object in front of a person, the carrying device comprises an attachment portion, an opposite counterweight body, and a mid-portion comprising at least a first strap and a second strap connecting the attachment portion and the counterweight body. The counterweight body is formed in a rigid or semi-rigid material and adapted to rest on the back and behind the neck of a person wearing the carrying device. More particularly a pull from the object via the mid-portion displaces the counterweight body towards the neck. Due to that a portion of the person’s shoulder acts as a fulcrum, a distal part of the counterweight body is lifted off the back due to the stiffness of the counterweight body. I.e. the counterweight body acts as a lever and a part of the shoulder acts as a fulcrum. By the law of the lever a light counterweight balances off a larger pull from the object if the distance from the mid-portion to the fulcrum is relative small compared to the distance from the fulcrum to the counterweight, and the fulcrum is between the mid-portion and the counterweight.

Often it is required to carry an object that needs to be readily accessible and operable such as a binocular, distance measurement device, camera, spectacle, cell phone, or other objects that a person may want easily accessible.

A common type of a carrying device is a neck strap that keeps the object accessible and allows it to be used by the person with ease. The neck strap may however be very uncomfortable for a neck region if the object is heavy or carried for a long duration of time.

US 9,894,965 discloses a necklace with a counterweight located in an opposite position of an object being carried. Preferably the weight of the counterweight equals the weight of the object. A necklace chain extends from the counterweight to the object. A disadvantage of the prior art is that the chain seeks towards a centre due to a gravitational pull on the object and the counterweight. It may therefore be required to use two hands when placing or removing the necklace from the neck region.

US2017/0035191 discloses a neck strap provided with an auxiliary member. The auxiliary member is attached to a loaded object to be carried on a person’s back. The loaded object may be a backpack.

US 6,662,984 discloses a yoke with a radial extension attached to a backpack. Two straps connect the yoke and the object being carried in front of the person.

A disadvantage of US2017/0035191 and US 6,662,984 is that the backpack is required to be carried by the person to keep the straps away from the neck region. It is inconvenient to take on and off the backpack when it is attached to the object carried in front of the person by a strap on each side of the head. The weight of the backpack needs to be equal to or greater than the object carried in front of the person.

The invention has for its object to remedy or to reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative to prior art.

The object is achieved through features, which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow.

The invention is defined by the independent patent claim. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments of the invention.

More specifically, the invention relates to a carrying device for carrying an object in front of a person, the carrying device comprises an attachment portion, an opposite counterweight body, and a mid-portion comprising at least a first strap and a second strap connecting the attachment portion and the counterweight body, wherein,

- the counterweight body comprises at least one rigid or semi-rigid elongated member, the elongated member comprises a first edge portion and a second edge portion separated by a lateral distance;

- the lateral distance forms a line from a centre of the first edge portion to a centre of the second edge portion;

- the first edge portion is rotatable relative to the first strap and the second edge portion is rotatable relative to the second strap;

-the counterweight body forms a centreline perpendicular to the line;

-the counterweight body comprises at least one of a counterweight and a counterweight base at a distance measured along the centreline from the line and in a fixed orientation relative to the elongated member.

The result to be achieved being a carrying device for carrying an object in front of a person, the carrying device comprises;

- an attachment portion and a counterweight body in the opposite end;

- the attachment portion is configured to connect when in use the object to the carrying device;

- a mid-portion comprising at least a first strap and a second strap connecting the attachment portion and the counterweight body, wherein;

- the carrying device is shaped so that when worn by a person, the counterweight body is adapted to create an object moment and an opposite counterweight moment around a fulcrum in a region of a person’s shoulders;

- the object moment is created by the object pulling the first strap and second strap with a first lever arm between the first strap, the second strap and the fulcrum;

- the counterweight moment is created by a counterweight on the other side of the fulcrum;

All references made to “the counterweight” are applicable for an integrated counterweight or a detachable counterweight configured to be connected to the counterweight base, when the carrying device is in use.

The object being carried may be a binocular, distance measurement device, camera, spectacle, cell phone, or other devices that a person may want easily accessible.

The attachment portion may comprise an attachment means for attaching the object to the carrying device. The attachment means may be formed by the end portions of the first strap and the second strap. The attachment means may comprise an apparatus that the object is connected to or positioned within. The attachment means may comprise a clip. The attachment means may be other means known in the art.

The first strap and the second strap may comprise a fabric material, leather material or other suitable materials know in the art. The first strap and the second strap may comprise a means for adjusting a strap length. The means for adjusting the strap length may be a ladderlock, an adjustable buckle, or other suitable means known in the art.

The elongated member may comprise a single element forming the elongated member.

The elongated member may comprise a plurality of connected members to form the elongated member. An effect of this is that it may be possible to change the position of the counterweight relative to the line formed by the centre of the first edge portion and the centre of the second edge portion. The means for connecting the plurality of members may be a screw connection, velcro, glue, stitching, or other suitable means known in the art.

The elongated member may comprise a plurality of materials. An aluminium, composite, plastic, or other suitable materials known in the art may be used to form a rigid or semirigid elongated member.

The elongated member may be wrapped with a fabric material to increase comfort when the carrying device is used.

The first strap and the second strap may be permanently attached to the elongated member by stitching, glue, or other suitable means known in the art.

The elongated member may comprise a strap engagement member. The strap engagement member may comprise a slot, velcro, or other suitable means known in the art.

The counterweight body is adapted to position the counterweight at the distance measured along the centreline from the line and in the fixed orientation relative to the elongated member. In some embodiments the counterweight may be permanently fixed to the elongated member. In these embodiments, the means for attaching the counterweight may comprise a glue, stitching, or other suitable means known in the art.

In an alternative embodiment, the counterweight body may comprise a fabric embedding the counterweight, wherein the fabric is attached to the elongated member.

In an alternative embodiment, the counterweight body may comprise a plastic member, where the counterweight is embedded inside the plastic member. In this embodiment, the plastic member may form the elongated member or form a part of the elongated member.

In an alternative embodiment, the counterweight body may comprise a single member where a part of the single member may have an enlarged cross-sectional area. The part with the enlarged cross-sectional area may form the counterweight. In this embodiment, the single member may form the elongated member or form a part of the elongated member.

In an alternative embodiment, the counterweight may be formed by the elongated member extending from the fulcrum to a distal end opposite of the first end portion and the second end portion. The counterweight as described here is considered as an integrated counterweight in the elongated member.

The counterweight may comprise a material with a high density. The counterweight may comprise a solid material. The material may be lead. The material may be steel. The material may be other suitable high-density materials known in the art. An effect of using these materials is that the counterweight body becomes more compact.

An effect of the lateral distance separating the first edge portion and the second edge portion is that an open space is created between the first strap and the second strap. The carrying device may therefore be placed around the neck region and removed from the neck region using one hand. Another effect is that when the carrying device is placed around the neck region, the first strap and the second strap are kept away from the neck.

The lateral distance may be between 7 centimetres and 25 centimetres, such as between 10 centimetres and 25 centimetres, such as between 15 centimetres and 25 centimetres.

When the carrying device is placed around the neck region, the object by its weight may pull the counterweight body such that the counterweight body slides upwards along the person’s back. As a result, the first edge portion and the second edge portion are no longer resting on the shoulder. As previously described, the first edge portion and the second edge portion are rotatable relative to the first strap and the second strap, respectively. The object, supported by the first strap and the second strap, creates the object moment around the fulcrum in the shoulder region. The object moment acts on the counterweight with an upward directed force while the counterweight balances the upward force with a downward force. The downward force creates the counterweight moment. Initially when the counterweight body is pulled upwards, the first lever arm from the first edge portion and the second edge portion to the fulcrum is shorter than a second lever arm from the counterweight to the fulcrum. By the law of the lever, the weight of the counterweight may be less than the weight of the object to maintain a favourable balance in the object moment and the counterweight moment. The favourable balance in the object moment and counterweight moment is defined as the counterweight moment being equal or greater than the object moment. With the favourable balance in the object moment and the counterweight moment, the counterweight body stops sliding upwards and maintains a clearance between the counterweight body and the neck.

The counterweight is positioned at the distance measured along the centreline from the line created between the centre of the first edge portion and the centre of the second edge portions. The distance determines a second lever arm from the counterweight to the fulcrum. To maintain the favourable balance in the object moment and the counterweight moment for a given weight of the object, a longer distance requires a smaller weight in the counterweight and vice versa. A person skilled in the art may use a moment equation to calculate an appropriate distance and an appropriate weight of the counterweight when the weight of the object is known. The distance between the line created between the centre of the first edge portion and the centre of the second edge portion and the counterweight may be between 2 centimetres and 30 centimetres, such as between 5 centimetres and 20 centimetres, such as between 7 centimetres and 15 centimetres.

In one embodiment, the weight of the counterweight may be 1/3 of the weight of the object.

The counterweight may be positioned in the fixed orientation relative to the elongated member. An effect of this is that when the elongated member rotates around the fulcrum, the counterweight is enabled to create the counterweight moment.

In an alternative embodiment the counterweight may be hingedly attached to the counterweight body along a rotational axis parallel to the line. The line, as previously described, is formed between the centre of the first edge portion and the centre of the second edge portion. The hinge may have an endpoint where any further rotation is prevented. When the hinge reaches the endpoint, the counterweight is positioned in the fixed orientation relative to the elongated member and may create the counterweight moment. An effect of the hinge is that it may enable a compact storage of the counterweight body.

The counterweight body may require a minimum of rigidity to create the object moment and counterweight moment with the fulcrum in the shoulder region. A geometry of the elongated member combined with the properties of the materials used may generate some flexibility in the counterweight body. The elongated member is as described here defined as rigid or semi-rigid when it is capable of providing sufficient rigidity to generate the object moment and counterweight moment with the fulcrum in the shoulder region, i.e. the counterweight is not resting on the users back when the mid-portion is pulled forward.

An effect of the carrying device comprising the counterweight body may be that the carrying device may be used independent of a backpack.

The counterweight base may comprise at least one engagement member for at least one detachable counterweight. An effect of this is that the weight of the counterweight may be changed if the weight of the object is changed. The weight of the counterweight may be changed by selecting between a plurality of detachable counterweights. The weight of the detachable counterweights may be fixed. The weight of the detachable counterweights may be adjustable. The engagement member may be a velcro. The engagement member may be a screw connection. The engagement member may be other suitable means known in the art.

The counterweight body may comprise a counterweight storage device. An effect of this is that the weight of the counterweight may comprise of an article associated with the use of the object. The article may be, but not limited to, a spare battery for the camera, or an equipment for cleaning a lens. Another effect may be that it is easy to change the weight of the counterweight by adding or removing an article from the counterweight storage device.

The counterweight body may comprise a hinge. An effect of this is that the counterweight body may be folded to a compact state when stored. Another effect of this is that the counterweight body may adapt to the back of the person. This may improve the comfort when using the carrying device.

The hinge may be oriented parallel to the centreline. The hinge may be oriented in an orientation closer to the centreline then to the line.

The hinge may comprise a fabric material for folding along a hingeline. The hinge may comprise a hinge in a solid material. The hinge may be formed by other suitable means known in the art.

The elongated member may comprise the hinge. The counterweight may comprise the hinge. The detachable counterweight may comprise the hinge.

The counterweight body may comprise at least one storage device. An effect of this is that the carrying device may be used for carrying other articles then the object. Another effect may be that the counterweight body may protect the object during storage due to the rigidity in the elongated member. The storage device may be used for storing the object when the carrying device is not in use. The storage device may be used for storing an article associated with the use of the object. The article may be, but not limited to, a memory card for the camera, or an equipment for cleaning the lens.

The counterweight may comprise at least one of a rigid and a semi-rigid material. An effect of this is that the counterweight may increase the rigidity in the elongated member.

The counterweight body may comprise a surface comprising an anti-slip material.

When the carrying device is placed around the neck region, a surface of the counterweight body rests on the back and the shoulder region. The surface or at least a part of the surface may comprise an anti-slip material. The anti-slip material resting on the back and the shoulder region may resist a movement of the counterweight body up the back of the person. An effect of this is that the weight of the counterweight may be reduced.

Another effect is that the anti-slip material may resist a movement of the counterweight body down the back when the weight of the object is supported by the persons hands and not by the first strap and the second strap.

The anti-slip material may be rubber, synthetic rubber, leather or other suitable materials known from the art. The anti-slip material may reduce the probability of a slippage between the counterweight body and a garment.

The elongated member may comprise at least one of an angled member extension and a curved member extension. The elongated member may be curve shaped. An effect of this is that the elongated member may comprise a shape to increase the clearance between the carrying device and the neck. The shape may be a U-shape. The shape may be a V-shape. The shape may be a Y-shape. The shape may comprise a transverse member with one arm extending from each side of the transverse member. The shape may comprise a curve connecting the first edge portion and the second edge portion.

The counterweight body may comprise a position element connecting the first edge portion and the second edge portion. The position element may comprise a strap. The position element may comprise a cloth covering a space between the first edge portion, the second edge portion and the distal end opposite of the first edge portion and the second edge portion. An effect of this is to prevent an unlikely event where the counterweight body slide up the back of the person to a balance point. The balance point is defined as the point where any further movement of the counterweight body towards the neck result in an unfavourable balance between the object moment and the counterweight moment. The unfavourable balance occurs when the length of the second lever arm between the counterweight and the fulcrum decreases below a minimum value. In this situation, the object moment becomes greater than the counterweight moment. If this occurs, the counterweight body may continue to slide toward the neck region. The position element may prevent the unfavourable balance from occurring by restricting the counterweight body from sliding too far up the back.

In the following are described examples of preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig.1 shows a carrying device in an unfolded state;

Fig.2 shows the carrying device worn by a person as seen from behind;

Fig.3 shows the carrying device worn by the person in a side view; and

Fig.4 shows an alternative embodiment of the carrying device worn by the person as seen from behind.

Any positional indications refer to the position shown in the figures.

In the figures, same or corresponding elements are indicated by same reference numerals. For clarity reasons, some elements may in some of the figures be without reference numerals.

A person skilled in the art will understand that the figures are just principal drawings. The relative proportions of individual elements may also be distorted.

In figure 1 reference numeral 1 refers to a carrying device for carrying an object 24 in front of a person. The object 24 is in this embodiment shown as a binocular. The object 24 may also be a distance measurement device, camera, spectacle, cell phone, or other devices that a person may want to carry easily accessible.

The carrying device 1 comprises an attachment portion 2, an opposite counterweight body 4, and a mid-portion 3. The mid-portion 3 comprises at least a first strap 32 and a second strap 34. The first strap 32 and the second strap 34 connect the attachment portion 2 with the counterweight body 4. The first strap 32 and the second strap 34 are in this embodiment straps made of a fabric. In an alternative embodiment, the first strap 32 and the second strap 34 may comprise leather or other suitable materials known in the art.

The attachment portion 2 comprises an attachment means 22 for attaching the object 24. The attachment means 22 may be the end portions of the first strap 32 and the second strap 34 which are fastened to the object 24. In an alternative embodiment, the attachment means 22 may be a clip (not shown). The attachment means 22 may comprise an apparatus that the object 24 is connected to or positioned within.

The first strap 32 and the second strap 34 are provided with means 36 for adjusting the strap length. The means 36 for adjusting the strap length may be a ladderlock, an adjustable buckle, or other suitable means known in the art.

The counterweight body 4 comprises a rigid or semi-rigid elongated member 42. The elongated member 42 comprises a first edge portion 422 and a second edge portion 424 separated by a lateral distance 430. The lateral distance 430 forms a line 450 from a centre 4222 of the first edge portion 422 to a centre 4242 of the second edge portion 424. The first edge portion 422 is rotatable relative to the first strap 32 and the second edge portion 424 is rotatable relative to the second strap 34. The first strap 32 and the second strap 34 are connected to the first edge portion 422 and the second edge portion 424, respectively, with stitching. In an alternative embodiment, the first strap 32 and the second strap 34 may be detachable from the first edge portion 422 and the second edge portion 424. The first edge portion 422 and the second edge portion 424 may comprise a strap engagement member (not shown). The strap engagement member may be a groove or a clip.

The elongated member 42 comprises a transverse member 426 with an arm 428 on each side. The transverse member 426 comprises a hinge 46 parallel to a centreline 440. In other alternative embodiments (not shown), the elongated member 42 may form a U-shape, V-shape, Y-shape, or a curve formed between the first edge portion 422 and the second edge portion 424.

The counterweight body 4 forms the centreline 440 perpendicular to the line 450. The counterweight body 4 comprises a counterweight 44 at a distance 460 measured along the centreline 440 from the line 450, and in a fixed orientation relative to the elongated member 42. There is one counterweight 44 on each side of the hinge 46. The counterweight 44 is attached to the elongated member 42 by a glue.

The counterweight body 4 comprises a counterweight base 45 at the distance 460 measured along the centreline 440 from the line 450. The counterweight base 45 may comprise at least one engagement member for at least one detachable counterweight 48. In figure 1, the detachable counterweights 48 are not attached to the counterweight base 45. The engagement member may be a velcro.

The counterweight 44 and the detachable counterweight 48 may comprise of lead, steel or other suitable high-density materials known in the art.

Figure 2 shows that due to the lateral distance 430, the first strap 32 and the second strap 34 are positioned on each side of the neck and at a distance from the neck.

In figure 3, a weight of the object 24 has caused the counterweight body 4 to slide up a back of the person. The first edge portion 422 and the second edge portion 424 are no longer supported by a shoulder region. The first edge portion 422 and the second edge portion 424 are rotatable relative to the first strap 32 and the second strap 34, respectively. The object 24 being supported by the first strap 32 and the second strap 34 creates an object moment 500 with a fulcrum 480 in the shoulder region. The object moment 500 lifts the distal end opposite of the first end portion 422 and the second edge portion 424 off from the back of the person. The counterweight 44 creates a counterweight moment 510 with the fulcrum 480. A first lever arm is shorter from the first edge portion 422 and the second edge portion 424 to the fulcrum 480 relative to a second lever arm from the counterweight 44 to the fulcrum 480. An effect of this is that a weight of the counterweight 44 may be less than the weight of the object 24, while maintaining a favourable balance in the object moment 500 and the counterweight moment 510. With the favourable balance in the moments 500, 510, the counterweight body 4 stops to slide up the back of the person.

A surface 6, or at least a part of the surface 6 that may be supported by the back and the shoulder region, is covered with an anti-slip material. The anti-slip material may be rubber, synthetic rubber, leather or other suitable materials known in the art to reduce a probability of a slippage between the counterweight body 4 and a garment.

A person skilled in the art may use a moment equation known in the art to calculate an appropriate distance 460 and an appropriate weight of the counterweight 44 based on the weight of the object 24 and the use of the carrying device 1. The elongated member 42 comprises a geometry and a material to provide sufficient rigidity to create the object moment 500 and the opposite counterweight moment 510. The core of the elongated member 42 may be aluminium, composite, plastic, or other suitable materials known in the art. The elongated member 42 is wrapped with a fabric to increase comfort. The fabric forms the hinge 46 as the fabric allows the elongated member 42 to fold along the centreline 440.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the carrying device 1 wherein a position element 41 connects the first edge portion 422 and the second edge portion 424. The position element 41 is in this embodiment a strap member. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the position element 41 may be a cloth covering the space created between the transverse member 426 and the two arms 428.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. A carrying device (1) for carrying an object (24) in front of a person, the carrying device (1) comprises an attachment portion (2), an opposite counterweight body (4), and a mid-portion (3) comprising at least a first strap (32) and a second strap (34) connecting the attachment portion (2) and the counterweight body (4), c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that:

- the counterweight body (4) comprises at least one rigid or semi-rigid elongated member (42), the elongated member (42) comprises a first edge portion (422) and a second edge portion (424) separated by a lateral distance (430);

- the lateral distance (430) forms a line (450) from a centre (4222) of the first edge portion (422) to a centre (4242) of the second edge portion (424);

- the first edge portion (422) is rotatable relative to the first strap (32) and the second edge portion (424) is rotatable relative to the second strap (34);

- the counterweight body (4) forms a centreline (440) perpendicular to the line (450); and

- the counterweight body (4) comprises at least one of a counterweight (44) and a counterweight base (45) at a distance (460) measured along the centreline (440) from the line (450) and in a fixed orientation relative to the elongated member (42).

2. The carrying device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight base (45) comprises at least one engagement member for at least one detachable counterweight (48).

3. The carrying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the counterweight body (4) comprises a counterweight storage device.

4. The carrying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the counterweight body (4) comprises a hinge (46).

5. The carrying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the counterweight body (4) comprises at least one storage device.

6. The carrying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the counterweight (44) comprises at least one of a rigid and a semi-rigid material.

7. The carrying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the counterweight body (4) comprises a surface (6) comprising an anti-slip material.

8. The carrying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongated member (42) comprises at least one of an angled member extension (428) and a curved member extension.

9. The carrying device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the elongated member (42) comprises a curved shape.

10. The carrying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the counterweight body (4) comprises a position element (41) connecting the first edge portion (422) and the second edge portion (424).