Amer Sports Canada Inc.

Arc'teryx Equipment Inc.

Gordon Thompson Rose

Michael Douglas Blenkarn

Thomas Walker Clarke Fayle

Daniel Allan Green

Peter Hill

Carl Moriarty

Gary Bryant

Jason Berns

Gary John Briant

Mickael Blenkarn

A backpack for carrying by a user includes a body, an inflatable balloon, a balloon inflation system, a balloon inflation system coupled to the body and to the inflatable balloon, an actuator operably coupled to the balloon inflation system, and a leg strap assembly. The body includes a support element and at least a first enclosure. The inflatable balloon is positioned within the enclosure. The leg strap assembly includes a leg strap fastener, a first leg strap having a first end coupled to the support element and a second end coupled to the leg strap fastener, and a second leg strap end having a first end coupled to the body and a second end releasably connectable to the leg strap fastener. The support element is coupled to the balloon such that, upon inflation of the balloon, tensile force is applied to the support element and to the leg strap assembly.

Leg strap assembly for a backpack with an inflatable airbag

A strap for releasably retaining one or more articles. The strap includes a flexible elongate body and a buckle coupled to the first end. The body has a first region adjacent a first end of the body, a second region adjacent a second end of the body, and a central region positioned between the first and second regions. The central region of the body defines a plurality of spaced apart fastening holes. The first region defines a strap opening for receiving the second end of the strap and releasably engaging a portion of the body. The buckle includes a frame including a proximal region coupled to the first end of the body, a distal region, and first and second side regions between the proximal and distal region. The second side region includes a gateway for releasably receiving any region of the body.

Strap for retaining articles

A backpack including a body including a first enclosure defining a first compartment and an opening, an inflatable balloon positioned within the compartment, a zipper, a balloon inflation system, and an actuator. The first enclosure includes at least a first restricting element. The zipper includes first and second fastener tapes attached to the enclosure at the opening. The zipper includes at least a first targeted zipper separation location aligned with the first restricting element. The balloon inflation system is coupled to the body and the inflatable balloon. The actuator is operably coupled to the balloon inflation system, such that upon actuation of the inflation system with the zipper in a closed position, the first restricting element concentrates a zipper separation force in a direction generally perpendicular to an engagement line of the zipper to separate the first and second fastener tapes of the zipper at the first targeted zipper location.

Enclosure release for a backpack with an inflatable airbag

The invention is directed to an airbag system and, more particularly, to such a system employed as a rescue or life-saving system to enable a person to survive an avalanche, for example. In a particular embodiment, the invention relates to an airbag system utilized with a backpack to be worn by a skier, snowboarder, hiker, or snowmobiler, for example. Instead of relying upon compressed gas cartridges or cylinders to inflate the airbag(s), the invention inflates the airbag(s) with ambient air only. In a particular embodiment, air is supplied to the airbag by means of a battery-powered electrical motor.

Airbag rescue system

An airbag rescue system employed as a life-saving system to enable a person to survive an avalanche or other situation, such as a water rescue. The airbag system includes an air movement device that takes the form of a source of compressed air or an electrically powered air mover, such as one that includes a bladed rotor for inflating the airbag with ambient air, such as 100% ambient air, for example. The system further includes a supporting device, such as a harness or a backpack, for supporting the inflatable airbag and the powered air movement device on a user in a ready position of the airbag rescue system. The system also includes triggering device that includes a trigger handle configured and arranged to initiate inflation of the inflatable airbag by being manipulated by the user. In the ready position of the airbag rescue system, while the airbag is not yet in a deployed position, the trigger handle is conveniently externally accessible for the user to trigger the inflation of the airbag.

Airbag rescue system and triggering device therefor

The invention is directed to an airbag system and, more particularly, to such a system employed as a rescue or life-saving system to enable a person to survive an avalanche. In a particular embodiment, the invention relates to an airbag system utilized with a backpack to be worn by a skier, snowboarder, hiker, or snowmobiler, for example. Instead of relying upon compressed gas cartridges or cylinders to inflate the airbag(s), the invention inflates the airbag(s) with ambient air only. In a particular embodiment, air is supplied to the airbag by means of a battery-powered electrical motor.

An adjustable positioning mechanism, such as for positioning ends of straps or handles of bag or packs, such as for backpacks, but also, more generally, for removably connecting an item to an article to be carried to provide a range of attachment locations for the item relative to the article, to achieve an optimum ergonomic position of the item at one of the attachment locations. One element of the adjustment mechanism can be either adhesively bonded to the article or made in one piece with a frame of the article, the item to be attached bearing a second element of the mechanism. Embodied as part of a bag or pack, the invention can include a carrying system directly or indirectly connected to the pack portion and include at least one carrying element, and an adjustment mechanism to provide a range of attachment locations on the pack portion for a carrying member of the carrying system, such as one or more shoulder straps, such adjustment mechanism including at least one element that is bonded to the backpack. In a particular embodiment, the backpack includes a frame connected to the back side of the pack portion, the frame including at least a rigid or semi-rigid sheet frame which is affixed to the back side of the pack portion by adhesive bonding. The element(s) of the adjustment mechanism are bonded to the backpack against the area at which the frame is mounted.

Growing community of inventors

Bowen Island, Canada

Gordon Thompson Rose