bowerbags white paper
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Bowerbags White Paper:Assisting War Fighters in Mobility, Load Management, Mission Readiness, and Lower Back Pain Reduction. Designing Versatile, Modular Carrying system.TRANSCRIPT
ASSISTING WAR FIGHTERS IN MOBILTY, LOAD MANAGEMENT, MISSON
READINESS, AND LOWER BACK PAIN REDUCTION: DESIGNING VERSATILE,
MODULAR CARRYING SYSTEMS WITH CONFIGURABLE PADDING AND MODULAR
RAPID-RELEASE ATTACHMENTS.
Table of Contents:
Executive Summary
The Problem: Ergonomics
The Problem: Back Pain
The Solution: Customized Ergonomics
Bowerbags Modular Padding Configurations
Current Modular Solutions: MOLLE
The Bowerbags System
The Bowerbuckle System
Bowerbuckle Materials
Conclusion/ References
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A year-long study was conducted in 2013 to better understand which combat soldiers are more likely to develop back pain. It was discovered that 77% of soldiers returning from Afghanistan experienced some form of back pain, of which 22% developed moderate to severe symptoms. [1]
Lower back pain is the most common injury of war. Weight of the equipment worn was found to be the leading cause of lower back pain for all soldiers during the Afghanistan deployment. Several factors increased the risk of back pain including wearing body armor for long hours and carrying heavy loads. Soldiers whose tasks included long walking patrols were more likely to experience moderate to severe back pain.
Backpacks and storage solutions are a necessary part of a war fighter’s gear. However, no customization of padding is offered for war fighters to make individual changes to match their performance needs.
This study, along with other studies, indicates a clear need for new solutions and innovations to a common problem: load management, back pain, and mobility. Patented Bowerbags and Bowerbuckles offer new customized solutions to these common carrying problems.
Executive Summary
[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23532119
Vast differences in ergonomics occur across genders as well as within the same gender. Padding in military backpacks is sewn inside the bag for a “one-size-fits-all solution” despite differences in musculoskeletal systems from person to person. By re-engineering the backpack, Bowerbags offers individual customization in back padding providing custom ergonomics for specialized support to meet individual needs to reduce and eliminate back pain.
The Problem: Ergonomics
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The Problem: Back Pain
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Open Cell Foam Closed Cell Foam Memory Foam
The Human Spine has a curvature that can vary from one individual to another.
Bag Padding is not designed to adjust to a human’s unique contours.
This creates pain points in various areas on the back.
Excessive weight and poor pack design leads to long-term pain and back problems.
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Customized padding for back modules adjusts to fit individual ergonomics. Customizable shoulder padding allows for increased comfort in load management.
Foam padding options in each back module allow for malleability preference.
The Solution: Customized Ergomonics
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Bowerbags Modular Padding ConfigurationsBowerbags patented configurable padding modules allow for personalized customization to meet any individual’s back support needs. Back padding represents a relatively small cost compared to the overall cost of a backpack. Custom padding allows war fighters to reduce or eliminate pain and pressure points at a low cost to increase comfort, alter weight distributions and load management to enhance mission readiness.
How it works: Bowerbags customized padding modules at a 3/4 view.
With netting cover.Modules connect to bag via velcro and are covered with netting.
The system allows for alteration of the padding in any direction along the back, as well as customized choices in size, depth, and density of a padding module. There is a wide array of material choices for individuals to choose a personalized comfort and fit to combat back pain and increase overall mobility.
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Current Modular Solutions: MOLLE
The MOLLE system (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) replaced the older Alice gear for the military. MOLLE gear and vest have PALS (Pouch Attachment Ladder System) consisting of interwoven straps to attach multiple pieces of gear; small pouches, accessory carriers, and other attachments. Variations of the MOLLE, including MOLLEminus, seek to reduce the weight of the MOLLE System, yet do not allow for rapid attachment or separation of gear, making it difficult to perform alterations in the field.
Our rapid-release clipping system is designed to work with all MOLLE and PALS systems. The hook and loop action of MOLLE and MOLLEminus are difficult and very time consuming. Bowerbuckles offer rapid-release flexibility to manage or alter weight loads without having to do the multiple hook and loop pulls for attachment. Using Bowerbuckles, war fighters retain the strength to carry maximum weight loads with the flexibility to quickly alter configurations.
Bowerbuckles: interchange with all current Molle and Molleminus solutions.
The rapid-release system of Bowerbags and Bowerbuckles is ideal for use with Breachers bags and removing ammunition pouches quickly. It is especially useful for removing pockets or ammunition bags attached to the back, belt, or other hard-to-reach places without having to remove the entire kit.
The rapid-release system offers infinite possibilities to design situational carrying systems that can be altered on the fly. Configurations of medical bags, ammunition bags, and packs for short missions can be created quickly to meet the needs of warfighters in the field.
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1.7”
2.5”
Length: 2.5”Width:1.7”Height: .32”
TheB O W E R B U C K L E
System
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4
Pinch the webbing
Move peg or clip on webbing
Smooth webbing flat
Repeat steps 1-3 on other side.
Available Materials:Nylon 66AluminumSpring Steel Carbon Fiber
Weight Varies by Material.
Multiple Clip Variations Possible, Based on Specification.
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Bowerbuckles are available in a wide array of color choices and material options. Load capabilities vary from holding 35 pounds up to 100 pounds per clip based on the model and material choices. Bowerbuckles are available in various lengths and widths depending on the application and use.
Nylon 66 Olive Green
Steel Black
Steel Nylon 66 (11% glass blend) Tan
Carbon Fiber and Spring Steel Spring Steel and Nylon 66
Titanium and Spring Steel
Widths range from .5”-2.5’ Lengths ranging from 1” to 2.5” Depths ranging from 1/8” to 1”
Bowerbuckle Materials:
Conclusions:
Data collected by the Military and NIH indicate a clear problem with men and women returning from Afghanistan suffering from back pain, knee pain, and arthritis. This pain creates a quality of life issue for the returning veteran and the long-term health care costs to treat these problems can be exponential, resulting in expensive surgeries and medication.
Having a customizable packing system to reduce or eliminate these pains and reduce long-term health care costs is a clear and quick solution to effectively minimize this problem. Bowerbags offers solutions that can be quickly and cost effectively put into the hands of war fighters to greater increase mobility, load management, mission readiness, and reduce lower back pain.
References:
[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23532119
[2] http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2013/05/15/One-Injured-Soldier-of-War-Costs-the-US-2-million.aspx#tmOKlfl767z0mCBr.99#ixzz3amslW1qI
[3] http://www.stripes.com/news/rigors-of-war-leave-troops-battling-arthritis-at-a-young-age-1.156110
[4] http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/news/20050629/small-weight-loss-takes-pressure-off-knee
[5] http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/increasing-number-of-iraq-afghanistan-veterans-suffer-spinal-pain-9v7i5lm-178456631.html
[6] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3706700/
[7] http://www.everydayhealth.com/pain-management/when-veterans-cope-with-chronic-pain.aspx