Abstract: A combination backpack and splash guard used by a bicycle rider. The combination is designed to protect the bicycle rider's clothing from water and mud during wet weather and when riding through water and mud puddles. Also, the backpack and splash guard provides for carrying various items when riding a bicycle. Further, the backpack and splash guard includes reflective material and/or reflective tape sewn thereon for providing greater visibility to approaching vehicles under dark conditions. The backpack and splash guard includes an outside waterproof back cover with adjustable reflective shoulder straps and waist straps. The shoulder straps and waist straps are used to secure the back cover to a back of a bike rider. An inside back cover, made of mesh material, is attached to a rear face of the outside back cover with a storage opening between the tops of the outside and inside covers.

Abstract: A pack for holding articles and providing fluid hydration is provided. The pack includes a bladder compartment having an opening for securing a fluid bladder therein for hydration with a hose attached thereto. The bladder has a front side adapted to be positioned against the user's back and a back side opposite the front side. The pack bag is sewn onto the back of the bladder compartment and is larger than the bladder compartment. The bladder compartment provides a cushion between the pack bag and the user and contours the back of the user. Shoulder straps are attached from the top of the bladder compartment to the bottom of the pack bag. A hip belt also extends from the bottom of the pack bag around the hips of the user. The top of the bladder compartment is at least partially separated from the top of the pack bag to allow the contouring of the bladder compartment along the upper portion of the back of the user. A lift strap extends between the top of the shoulder pad and the top of the pack bag.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus adapted to be disposed within a channel formed in an outer body surface of a vehicle, wherein the channel includes a permanently disposed hook portion, for securing a slat to the hook portion without the use of conventional riv-nut fasteners and without requiring holes to be drilled in the outer body surface. The apparatus comprises a mounting bracket having a base portion and a pair of offset arm portions. The base portion is adapted to slide under a lip of the permanently secured hook portion so as to be disposed substantially completely within the channel formed in the outer body surface of a vehicle. The arm portions include threaded openings which allow conventional fastening elements to be used to secure the slat to the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket can be used with or without a conventional resilient mounting pad.

Abstract: A backpack has a pair of vertical posts, a base connected to the posts, and an extension that is slidable within the base. Various accessories such as tree claws and clamps for holding guns and bows are attachable to the base and extension. By sliding the extension within the base, the distance between the tree claws or clamps can be adjusted. A seat having a concave undersurface is pivotally connected to the post. When in a folded mode, the seat nests between the posts, and the seat undersurface bears against the back of the person to thereby make the backpack comfortable to carry.

Abstract: A backpack having a bow-shaped frame incorporated into its backside and two carrying straps is provided, in which the carrying straps are attached directly or indirectly to a strap that can be adjustably slid longitudinally along the backpack backside, and is connected to the backpack by its free ends in an area in which free ends of the bow-shaped frame end.

Abstract: A truck cargo bed utility box blow molded of high density polyethylene which complements the styling of many truck bedliners. The utility box incorporates a mounting system for a central pneumatic spring which holds the lid of the box open. The mounting system consists of a bracket mounted to a wall forming part of the storage bin and a bracket on the bin lid. The lid bracket and the bin bracket extend to and engage with a hinge pin which joins the lid to the storage bin. The brackets are constructed of sheet metal and are mechanically joined by the hinge pin. The loads imposed on the lid and bin wall by the air spring are distributed through the hinge pin. The bin bracket is also attached to a metal rim which surrounds the opening into the box to provide load distribution. The metal rim provides a distortion resistant structure to which locking hasps can reliably latch. By distributing the loads imposed on the plastic lid and plastic bin distortion of the plastic is prevented.

Abstract: A concealed weapon holster having an exterior facade that looks like a carrying case or has the appearance of a beeper/pager/battery pack and a portable phone/radio. A clip having a fixed through-hole on the back of the case allows a belt to be inserted therein. The case has an upside down L-shape with a rigid antenna connected to an upwardly raised from the case. The wearer pushes the antenna away from their body causing the case to open a front portion allowing a weapon to be rapidly withdrawn. Sides of the case can be attached together by Velcro.RTM. type fasteners, zippers, snaps and the like. A bottom portion of the vertical section of the case can remain fixably together and can hold the muzzle of a firearm pistol. An optional foam insert can be used inside the case to hold the weapon in place. The case can include flashing light(s) and beep/ring sound producing to further enhance the realism of the case. A safety switch on the case can prevent accidental release of the weapon.

Abstract: Load distribution shoulder pads (12, 14) for a backpack (10). Each shoulder pad is constructed from a first cushioned layer (16) and a second cushioned layer (18). Each cushioned layer is covered by a corresponding fabric layer (20, 22). The cushioned layers are contoured by the formation of a skived longitudinal recess (66) cut into the interior surface (62) of each cushioned layer along the perimeter edge (64) of the cushioned layer, defining a reduced thickness perimeter lip (70) around each cushioned layer. For assembly, the cushioned layers are placed exterior fabric side against exterior fabric side and a cushioned layer/fabric seam allowance (74) is sewn with stitching (76). The shoulder pad is then reversed inside-out, such that the seam allowances are received between the cushioned layers within a cavity (78) defined by the opposing skived recesses. The shoulder pad has a uniform thickness and density across the entire width, and uncomfortable pressure ridges are avoided.

Abstract: A storage rack assembly is adapted to be clamped between the two horizontally-spaced longitudinally-extending I-beams of a flat bed trailer, comprising a pair of tray-like end sections each including a pair of parallel horizontally-spaced side walls, a plurality of transverse members that are connected between the side walls to define a lower first storage chamber, and an upper rack device defining a second storage device connected between the upper edges of the side walls at a first end of the end section, the end sections being collinearly arranged with their other ends adjacent each other and connected together on opposite sides of a transverse divider wall.

Abstract: A device for assisting an infant with gripping a toy is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the device comprises a first toy-loop, for engaging a first portion of a toy, a second toy-loop, for engaging a second portion of a toy, a hand-strap, for connecting the first and second toy loops, a wrist-band, and a connecting strip, for connecting the wrist-band to the hand-strap. When properly placed on an infant, the wrist-band and hand-strap keep the toy positioned near the infant's hand in case the infant releases his/her grip on the toy so that the toy can be readily gripped again. Furthermore, the infant's hand is disposed between the toy and the hand-strap, thereby positioning the toy near the infant's palm for easy gripping by the infant.

Abstract: A device allowing one person to easily and conveniently load a kayak or similar article onto an automobile's roof rack. The device comprises several freely rotating rollers oriented in a "V" configuration by rigid struts attached to a crossmember. Padded feet flexibly mounted to vertical stanchions extending downward from the crossmember support the rear most portion of the loading device. An attachment mechanism extends forward from the crossmember which securly latches the loading device onto a vehicle's roof rack crossbar. Loading a kayak requires first positioning a kayak's bow into the vertex of the rollers. The stern of the kayak is then pushed upwardly and forwardly along the rollers onto the automobile's roof rack. The device is removed from the automobile's roof rack after the kayak is loaded.

Abstract: A dual strap arrangement for golf bags includes a first shoulder strap (20) having an upper end (24) attached to a generally tubular body (11) of a golf bag (10) at a first location (26) proximate a top end (12) of the body (11) and a lower end (28) attached to the tubular body (11) at a second location (30) generally intermediate the body top end (12) and a bottom end (14) of the body (11). The first location (26) is on one side of a spinal axis (15) that extends longitudinally between the body top and bottom ends (12, 14), and the second location (30) is on the other side of the spinal axis (15) so that a straight line (27) extending between the first and second locations (26, 30) traverses the spinal axis (15). A second shoulder strap (22) has upper and lower ends (32, 34) attached to the body (11) at third and fourth locations (36, 38), respectively.

Abstract: A spare tire storage system for an automotive vehicle includes a swing arm having a first end rotatably attached to a first portion of a vehicle undercarriage and a second end detachably engagable to a second portion of a vehicle undercarriage, the swing arm rotatable in a vertical and horizontal plane when in a disengaged state, and a tire attached to the second end of the swing arm.

Abstract: A carrier belt is connected to a golf bag having a bag body with a longitudinal axis and a closed end and an open end. The carrier strap includes a fixing strap having a predetermined length with a first end attached to the bag body near the open end and a second end attached to the bag body at an intermediate position between the open end and the closed end. The fixing strap is elongated, flexible and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bag body. A pair of shoulder straps attached to the fixing strap provide a pair of loops which enable a user to position one shoulder of the user in one loop and the other shoulder of the user in the other loop. The shoulder straps are attached to the fixing strap so that the loops are oriented in a plane which is generally at a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bag body and adjustable along the predetermined length of the fixing strap to accommodate the physique of the user.

Abstract: A combination backpack and stool with a variable height seat and a grounding mechanism for limiting lateral movement of a sole central column. The lightweight structure has straps for carrying and an integral bag for storage.

Abstract: A load support system is provided including a flexible frame unit attached to a shoulder support structure and to a hip belt assembly. The frame is pivotally attached to the hip belt assembly and is held in a slightly bowed configuration, whereby load is transferred from the frame to the hip belt through pivot points and a venting space is created between the frame and a user's back. The shoulder support structure preferably includes a pair of independently positionable shoulder straps that are removably attached to the frame. The hip belt assembly preferably includes a load support belt that may be coupled to the frame, and a hip pad coupled to the load support belt via a hook and loop fastening system. The suspension system may be used to support backpacks, and the like, or may be adapted for other applications including SCUBA tank support.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for carrying a weight-bearing object, such as a golf bag, has a hip belt member for supporting the weight-bearing object and reducing the load on the user's back and shoulders. An attachment member is coupled to the hip belt member for attaching the hip belt member to the weight-bearing object, and a belt fastener connects the hip belt member about the user's waist. Additional shoulder straps can be utilized to stabilize and reduce movement of the weight-bearing object about the user.

Abstract: A flexible tote strap for luggage and other portable articles includes an elongate strap which is attached at its opposite ends to the article to be supported by the strap. A buckle having first and second elements wherein each element includes a loop through which the strap is fitted and first and second connector rings through which the strap is looped coact to permit conversion of the strap from a single elongate support member for th e article to a three layer or five layer foreshortened support for the article. Permutations of the positioning of the ring elements and buckle elements as well as variable strap configurations are disclosed. The article or luggage is, thus, convertible between a shoulder strap and a handle type construction.

Abstract: A baby sling having an elongated pouch of a double layer of fabric and a wide tail. The baby sling includes bumpers and a pillow located between the pouch fabric layers. A baby is held in the pouch against the caregiver's body. The pouch is wide for extra security. The baby sling has two rings through which the tail is looped for attachment. The bumpers are approximately cylindrical and may have drawstrings attached. The tail may have a zippered pocket.

Abstract: A bicycle carrier includes two frames between which a connecting device and an engaging device are respectively disposed. One of the frames has a tongue member extending laterally from a lower end thereof. The engaging device includes a retaining member having an open bottom and a second recess is defined in a peripheral wall of the retaining member and communicates with the open bottom so that a connecting sphere of a car is received in the retaining member via the open bottom and limited by the tongue member.