WO2002078487A1

WO2002078487A1 - An improved backpack

Info

Publication number: WO2002078487A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/000438
Authority: WO
Inventors: Craig Colin Dickson
Original assignee: Craig Colin Dickson
Priority date: 2001-03-29
Filing date: 2002-04-02
Publication date: 2002-10-10
Also published as: EP1377187A1; CA2442226A1; EP1377187A4; JP2004520913A; US20050258294A1; AUPR419701A0

Abstract

A backpack (10) has a plurality of storage compartments and pockets (50, 56) adapted for storing therein one or more components of a tent within the backpack (10). The pockets (50, 56) are so disposed within the backpack (10) that storage of the one or more tent components therein provides structural rigidity and reinforcement to the backpack. In particular, there is a pair of elongated, upright pockets (50) adapted for storing tent pole members (40) therein so as to provide a rigid backbone to the backpack (10), and there is a pocket (56) located in the base of the backpack (10) adapted for storing a tent canopy and floor sheet (55) therein so as to provide a reinforced and cushioned base to the backpack (10). The backpack (10) also includes a lumbar support pad (30) foldably connected thereto and adapted to be folded down from the backpack (10) to serve as a cushioned seat to the user, the position of the upright main body of the backpack (10) relative to the folded down pad (30) being such that the main body serves as a back rest for the user when seated upon the pad.

Description

AN IMPROVED BACKPACK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved backpack and, in particular, to a backpack adapted to store therewithin the components of a tent in a manner that is space saving, less prone to theft of the tent components, and improves the structure and function of the backpack.

Backpacks have become one of the most widespread and popular forms of portable carrying devices in recent decades. However, conventional backpacks are ill-suited to storing therewithin the components of a tent. The fastening of tent components to the exterior of a backpack is normally cumbersome to the backpack wearer, and the tent components, if not the entire backpack, are prone to theft arising from the visibility and allure of the tent components.

Furthermore, the proliferation of backpacks generally has given rise to a specialization of their structure and function to suit particular niche markets. Their popularity, particularly in the niche market of school carry packs, has brought with it a demand for greater versatility, as users seek a "one pack suits all" backpack that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as for schooling, walking/trekking and camping purposes. In many cases, backpacks suited for school use are ill suited for other purposes. For instance, school carry packs lack the necessary adjustability, strength, and storage capacity required for walking/trekking and camping purposes. On the other hand, backpacks suited for walking/trekking and camping purposes are often ill suited for school use. The need for greater versatility of structure and function of backpacks is addressed in the present specification. It is an object of a preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein to provide a backpack having a removable rigid backbone structure provided by tent pole members stored within one or more dedicated pockets of the backpack. It is an object of another preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein to provide a backpack having a reinforced and cushioned base provided by a tent canopy and floor sheet stored within a dedicated pocket in the base of the backpack.

It is an object. of yet another embodiment of the invention disclosed herein to provide a backpack in which the stored tent pole members and stored canopy and floor sheet can be easily removed from the backpack and assembled to form a tent and, upon disassembly of the tent, easily stored within the backpack.

Furthermore, it is an object of an invention disclosed herein to provide a backpack having a lumbar support pad which can be adapted for use as a cushioned seat for the user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a backpack comprising storage means, and pocket means adapted for storing therein one or more components of a tent within the backpack, the pocket means being so disposed within the backpack that storage of the one or more tent components therein provides structural rigidity and reinforcement to the backpack.

In particular, the present invention provides a backpack comprising storage means, and elongated, upright pocket means adapted for storing tent pole members therein so as to provide a rigid backbone to the backpack. The present invention also provides a backpack comprising storage means, and pocket means located in the base of the backpack, the pocket means being adapted for storing a tent canopy and floor sheet therein so as to provide a reinforced and cushioned base to the backpack.

In another aspect, there is provided a backpack comprising storage means, and a lumbar support pad foldably connected to the backpack and adapted to be folded down from the backpack, when upright, to provide a cushioned seat to a user, a main body of the backpack from which the pad has been folded down serving as a back rest for the user when seated upon the pad.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a combined backpack and tent structure comprising a backpack, including storage means, and pocket means within the backpack in which is stored a plurality of tent pole members, and a canopy and floor sheet which are removable from the pocket means for assembly of a tent therefrom. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig 1 is a perspective view of a backpack according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which the backpack is fully closed,

Fig 2 is a perspective view of the backpack of Fig 1 in which the rear flap has been opened to show a lumbar support pad and an adjustable harness arrangement, the adjustable harness arrangement having a twin track means and a harness means slidably engaged to the track means at a location near the lower extremity of the twin track means, Fig 3 is a perspective view similar to that of Fig 2 but in which the harness means is slidably engaged to the track means at the upper extremity of the twin track means, and the lumbar support pad is folded down to provide a cushioned seat for the user, Fig 4 is a side view of an articulated tent pole member adapted to be stored within the backpack of Fig 1 , Fig 5 is a perspective view of the backpack of Fig 1 in which a main storage compartment of the backpack is partly opened to show the tent pole member of Fig 4 being stored in one of a pair of elongated, upright pocket means therein,

Fig 6 is a perspective view of the backpack of Fig 1 in which a base pocket of the backpack is opened to show a folded tent canopy and floor sheet being released from its stored position therein, and Fig 7 is a perspective view of a tent assembled from the tent pole members and the canopy and floor sheet shown in Figs 4 and 6 respectively, with the backpack of Fig 1 located therein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The backpack 10 shown in the Figures is fabricated of a strong, water protective, sheet material normally used to make backpacks. The backpack 10 includes storage means in the form of numerous compartments openable and closable by zip-fastener arrangements. There is a rearmost compartment for storing a harness and support arrangement which is accessible by a pair of slidable zip runners 14, 16 engaging the interlocking teeth of a zip-fastener track 18 set along the two opposing edges which define the opening to the rearmost compartment. The runners 14, 16 can be pulled in opposite directions to separate the two edges, thereby peeling away the rear flap 20 so as to open the rearmost compartment.

Secured within the rearmost compartment is a harness means comprising a pair of padded shoulder straps 22, 24, a padded waist strap 26, (shown unbuckled), and a tightening belt and buckle arrangement 28 which can be tightened across the chest of the person. There is also a lumbar support pad 30. The rear flap 20, in rolled-up form, is stored in a small compartment 31 at the top of the backpack 10.

The padded shoulder straps 22, 24 are joined by a support portion 32 to which is attached a pair of slidable anchor pieces (not shown). Each anchor piece is able to slide up and down a respective one of a pair of symmetrically disposed track members 36, 37 secured firmly to the backpack 10. As a consequence, the shoulder straps 22, 24 can have their height adjusted relative to the remainder of the backpack 10. Where the shoulder straps 22, 24 are low (as shown in Fig 2), the support portion 32 is prevented from sliding upwardly (as is likely to occur as a result of movement during wearing) by a locating belt and buckle arrangement. Adjusting the position of the shoulder straps 22, 24 along the track members 36, 37 allows the backpack 10 to be worn at different height positions on the back of the person in accordance with that person's comfort preference. A low backpack height position will be the result of wearing the backpack, as adjusted, shown in Fig 3, where the shoulder straps 22, 24 are at their highest location along the track members 36, 37. A high backpack height position will be the result of wearing the backpack, as adjusted, shown in Fig 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the lumbar support pad 30, which is stitched or otherwise foldably secured along its bottom edge to the base of the backpack 10, is folded down to provide a cushioned seat for the user. The lumbar support pad 30 is normally fastened in an upright position against the backpack 10 by a pair of first hook and loop type strips 31 on the inside surface of the pad 30 engaging a pair of second hook and loop type strips 33 on the intermediate connecting portion of the waist straps 26. The extent to which the pad 30 can be folded down may be determined by a pair of buckled straps 35, 37. The cushioned seat provided by the folded down pad 30 may be useful for relaxation, and its location at the base of the backpack 10 enables the seated user to use the upright main body portion of the backpack 30 as a back rest. The straps 35, 37 inhibit the upright main body portion from falling down when back pressure is applied by the pad seated user against it.

The articulated tent pole member 40 shown in Fig 4 is known in the art, and two of the pole members 40 are used in assembling the tent shown in Fig 7. Each pole member 40 has seven pole portions 42 connected by six joint assembles 44. Each joint assembly 44 comprises a hollow tubular member 46 extending from the end of one of the pole portions 42, and a spring action cord 48, one end of which is secured to a fastening point inside the tubular member 46 and the other end of which is secured to the free end of the adjacent pole portion 42, such that alignment of the two pole portions 42 will cause the free end to be drawn into the tubular member 46 by the natural tendency of the cord 48 to contract.

The tent pole member 40, by virtue of its articulated structure, can be folded into a compact form 49 and inserted into an elongated, upright pocket 50 as shown in Fig 5. Because the tent to be assembled requires two tent pole members 40, there are two upright pockets 50 and they are located inside a central compartment 52 of the backpack 10 against a wall nearest the rearmost compartment and are symmetrically disposed across an upright axis of the backpack. When a tent pole member in compact form 49 is stored in each of the upright pockets 50, a rigid backbone structure is formed that strengthens the backpack 10 against distortion. Each upright pocket 50 is closed by a top flap 54 utilizing a hook and loop type fastening means.

The folded tent canopy and floor sheet 55, shown in Fig 6 being released from its stored position in a base pocket 56 of the backpack 10, is known in the art, and is used in assembling the tent 64 shown in Fig 7. The base pocket 56 is openable and closable by a zip-fastener arrangement and, when it stores the folded tent canopy and floor sheet 55, it provides a reinforced and cushioned base to the backpack 10. The folded and stored tent canopy and floor sheet 55 is thus protected from physical damage and external conditions, and is less prone to theft, by its protected and invisible storage position inside the backpack 10. These benefits also apply to the stored tent pole members 40 by virtue of their storage position inside the backpack 10. There are a pair of female clasping members 70, 72 secured to the inside of the base pocket 56 which are used to releasably fasten the backpack 10 to the tent canopy and base sheet 55 which has corresponding male clasping members 74, 76 (see also Fig. 7). The fastening means may, alternatively, be a press-stud arrangement, a zip-fastener arrangement or the like.

After the tent canopy and floor sheet 55 has been released from within the backpack 10 and unfolded, and the tent pole members 40 have similarly been removed and unfolded, the tent structure 64 shown in Fig 7 may be assembled. The male clasping members 74, 76 also provide a readily identifiable reference position to facilitate the correct order of folding of the tent canopy and floor sheet 55 within the base pocket 56. Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention.

Claims

1. A backpack comprising storage means, and pocket means adapted for storing therein one or more components of a tent within the backpack, the pocket means being so disposed within the backpack that storage of the one or more tent components therein provides structural rigidity and reinforcement to the backpack.

2. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the pocket means comprises one or more elongated, upright pockets adapted for storing tent pole members therein so as to provide a rigid backbone to the backpack.

3. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the pocket means comprises a pocket located in the base of the backpack, the pocket being adapted for storing a tent canopy and floor sheet therein so as to provide a reinforced and cushioned base to the backpack.

4. A combined backpack and tent structure comprising a backpack including storage means, and pocket means within the backpack in which is stored a plurality of tent pole members, and a canopy and floor sheet which are removable from the pocket means for assembly of a tent therefrom.

5. The backpack of claim 2 where there are two elongated, upright pockets located within a storage compartment of the backpack.

6. The backpack of claim 5 wherein each of the pockets has an opening that is closable by a flap.

7. The backpack of claim 5 wherein the pockets are symmetrically disposed across an upright axis of the backpack.

8. The backpack of claim 3 wherein the pocket has secured therewithin fastening means for releasably fastening the backpack to the tent canopy and base sheet.

9. A backpack comprising storage means, and a lumbar support pad foldably connected to the backpack and adapted to be folded down from the backpack, when upright, to provide a cushioned seat to a user, a main body of the backpack from which the pad has been folded down serving as a back rest for the user when seated upon the pad.

10. The backpack of claim 1 further including a lumbar support pad foldably connected to the backpack and adapted to be folded down from the backpack, when upright, to provide a cushioned seat to a user, a main body of the backpack from which the pad has been folded down serving as a back rest for the user when seated upon the pad.