User:Gtorrisi
Selected US Patent
Back Pack Having a Releasable Climbing Harness
- Patent #: 4318502
- Date Issued: March 9, 1982
This invention is a combination of a backpack, the kind often used for hiking, with a climbing harness. Many hiking style backpacks include a waist strap to help distribute the load more comfortably. The waist strap on this backpack is easily detachable and includes leg loops so that it may be used as a climbing harness. As pointed out in the documentation, this would prove particularly useful for military and rescue uses where it may be vital to carry equipment, and it may be necessary to use a harness to navigate difficult terrain and/or utilize a rope from a helicopter. The harness portion is connected to the main backpack by placing a loop on the harness through a buckle on the pack, and a pin through this loop to prevent it from slipping out. I enjoy climbing and have been backpacking as well so this seemed like an interesting patent to me. I found this on patentstorm.com and used google patents to read the full patent complete with pictures.