US20020074374A1

US20020074374A1 - Backpack

Info

Publication number: US20020074374A1
Application number: US09/966,808
Authority: US
Inventors: Werner Holbl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Swarovski Optik AG and Co KG
Priority date: 2000-10-02
Filing date: 2001-09-28
Publication date: 2002-06-20
Also published as: GB0118488D0; DE10048852A1; GB2367235A

Abstract

The back section (1) of a backpack is as formed as an inflatable back support pad (3).

Description

This invention relates to a backpack with a back section having support pads.

For optimal ergonomic design, backpacks nowadays have a stiff back section provided with support pads to avoid pressure points in the area of the shoulders and pelvis.

The stiff back section, however, makes known backpacks hard to stow. That is, they take up a lot of room even in the empty state for example as baggage in a car. Moreover, as hand baggage on air journeys they do not look very respectable, or in any case very attractive. Particularly distinguished people, for example ones going on a trip to observe animals, therefore often do without the comfort offered by such a backpack with a padded back section.

The problem of the invention is therefore to provide a backpack which can be folded up in space-saving fashion without a need to do without the comfort offered by a backpack with a stiff, padded back section.

This is obtained according to the invention by the backpack characterized in claim 1. The subclaims state advantageous embodiments of the invention.

According to the invention, the back support pads of the back section are of inflatable design.

To give the back section the necessary stiffness, the inflatable back pads are preferably interconnected. The connection may consist of air channels connecting the individual pads pneumatically. However, the connection may not be pneumatic but purely mechanical, preferably articulated, for example flat bars, for example of plastic, or film hinges connecting the pads.

One achieves an especially small volume of the folded up backpack if the back section consists substantially only of the pads and the sections connecting the pads.

The pads can be inflatable with one valve each, or in groups with one valve each. However, all pads are preferably designed to be inflated with a single valve.

The inflatable pads can be located at the places where the back section of conventional backpacks is padded, i.e. in particular in the shoulder area and the hip or pelvic area. The pads at the same time keep the back section at a distance from the back of the person wearing the backpack, thereby ensuring air circulation along the back.

In the uninflated state, the inventive backpack can thus be folded up, for example rolled up, into a small, easily stowable volume.

Preferably, the back section is detachably fastened to the bag portion of the backpack. The detachable fastening can be formed in any desired fashion, for example by eyelets for straps or strings on the back section, or buckles or buttons fastened to the back section and engaging suitable counterparts or receiving means on the bag portion. Also, the bag portion can have such buckles or buttons which engage counterparts or receiving means on the back section.

The back section and bag portion can thus be stowed separately. Also, the back section can be stowed while the bag portion is used as a traveling bag, for example as hand baggage on the airplane.

Also, the shoulder straps, belly belt and the like can be adapted to be detached. The back portion can be made for example of tear-resistant textile material coated with rubber-elastic material, or another airtight flexible material. It can also be used as a seat cushion.

The inventive backpack is not only comfortable and can be folded up in space-saving fashion. The back section can also be formed with lower weight than the padded back section of conventional backpacks. It goes without saying that weight saving is of special importance for a backpack.

The bag portion can have an opening extending in the middle from the top to its bottom portion and closable for example with a zipper. This permits the bag portion to be opened in two halves like a cupboard, thereby making the total interior of the bag more accessible and eliminating the “rummaging down” known from conventional backpacks. Also, the bag portion can have the usual accessories, for example a bottle holder.

In the following, an embodiment of the inventive backpack will be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the drawing. [0017]
FIG. 1 shows a front view of the backpack; [0018]
FIG. 2 shows a side view of the backpack according to FIG. 1 [0019]
According to FIG. 1 the backpack consists of back section [0020] 1 and bag portion 2.
Back section [0021] 1 is formed by back support pad 3 consisting of a plurality of interconnected inflatable sections to be inflated by single inflating valve 4.
The inflatable sections of back support pad [0022] 3 are composed of shoulder section 5, the two hip or pelvic sections 6, 7 and connecting sections 8, 9 connecting the shoulder section with one and the other pelvic section 6, 7.
Pelvic [0023] sections 6, 7 are interconnected by joint 11, for example a flexible bar or film hinge.
[0024] Shoulder section 5 in turn comprises heart section 12 connecting the area of the two shoulder blades and from which connecting sections 8, 9 extend to pelvic sections 6, 7, as well as yoke section 13 disposed above heart section 12 on the two shoulders.
Inflating [0025] valve 4 is provided on one side at the top in the area of yoke section 13. Shoulder straps 14, 15 are fastened to one and the other side of yoke section 13. Shoulder straps 14, 15 are formed in the shoulder area as inflatable pads 16, 17 which are connected with yoke section 13 for inflation.
Hip [0026] fins 18, 19 connecting belly belt 23 with pelvic sections 6, 7 are likewise formed as inflatable pads 21, 22.
For letting out the air one can provide back support pad [0027] 3 with fast opening valve 20 which is disposed beside inflating valve 4 on yoke section 13. To adapt pads 16, 17 on straps 14, 15 and pads 21, 22 of hip fins 18, 19 to the shoulders and hip, respectively, one provides them with articulated constrictions 24, 25.
[0028] Bag portion 2 which is made of textile material, leather or another flexible material is detachably fastened to back section 1. According to FIG. 2 the back section can for this purpose have hooks 26, 27 at the top and bottom on both sides for engaging corresponding eyelets 28, 29 provided on bag portion 1.
Furthermore, [0029] bag portion 2 can have an opening extending in the middle from the top to its bottom area and closable with zipper 31.

Claims

1. A backpack with a back section having a back support pad, the back support pad being inflatable.

2. The backpack of claim 1 in which the inflatable back support pad comprises interconnected inflatable pad sections.

3. The backpack of claim 2 wherein said inflatable back support pad sections are interconnected with an inflatable valve permitting inflation thereof.

4. The backpack of claim 1 in which the inflatable back support pad has a shoulder section and, on each side thereof, a pelvic section connected to the shoulder section by at least one connecting section.

5. The backpack of claim 4 in which the pelvic sections are interconnected by at least one joint.

6. The backpack of claim 4 in which the shoulder section of the inflatable back support pad includes a heart section overlying the area between the two shoulder blades and from which at least one connecting section extends to the pelvic sections, and a yoke section disposed above the heart section for overlying the shoulders of a wearer.

7. The backpack of claim 4 including an inflating valve provided in the area of said shoulder section.

8. The backpack of claim 4 including shoulder straps, the shoulder straps including inflatable pads positioned to overlie the shoulders of a wearer.

9. The backpack of claim 8 wherein said inflatable pads of the shoulder straps are pneumatically connected with the shoulder sections for inflation.

10. The backpack of claim 4 wherein said back support pad includes hip fins having inflatable pads for overlying the hips of a wearer.

11. The backpack of claim 10 wherein said inflatable pads of the hip fins are pneumatically connected with respective pelvic sections for inflation.

12. The backpack of claim 10 wherein said inflatable pads of the shoulder straps and/or the pads of the hip fins have articulated constrictions.

13. The backpack of claim 1 including a bag portion that is detachably fastenable to said back support pad.

14. The backpack of claim 13 wherein said bag portion has a top, a bottom, and sides, and includes a closable opening extending from the top to the bottom of the bag intermediate said sides.