Integrated Skirt-Hood For A Backpack
A backpack having a body including a storage compartment formed between first and second ends. A support member can be attached to the body for supporting the body on a user. A skirt may be connected to the first end of the body and a hood can be integrally connected to the skirt. An actuation member may extend along at least a portion of the top edge portion of the skirt and connected to the hood to move the skirt and hood between open and closed positions so that when the actuation member is pulled, the skirt and hood are simultaneously moved to the closed position in a single motion to close the storage compartment at the first end of the body.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/053,906, filed May 16, 2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention generally relates to an integrated skirt-hood for a backpack.
BACKGROUNDDuring outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, or rock-climbing, backpacks use various means to prevent snow and rain from entering the pack. In some instances, in order to achieve this task, some top-loading or top-access backpacks use skirts (e.g., snow skirts, sleeves, spindrift collars, collars, etc.). For instance, skirts may be loose material that can be pulled together to close the pack, much like a drawstring trash bag. Thus, the skirt may be used to form a first storage compartment. After the skirt is pulled closed, another piece of material—called a hood, lid, pod, or spindrift collar—is flipped over the top of the skirt and secured to form a second enclosure. In this way, the pack is able to protect the items stored in the backpack from the natural elements (e.g., rain, sleet, snow, etc.). The second enclosure may also act as pocket for storing items.
For example,
Backpacks, such as the ones shown in
Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved backpack. More specifically, in embodiments of the present invention, the closure of the pack may be substantially simplified because a user is able to close both the skirt and the hood with a single motion to form a single storage compartment, thus reducing time, simplifying operation of the backpack, and decreasing the overall weight of the pack (because the combination of the skirt and hood allows less material to be used).
Thus, certain embodiments of the present invention address the need for a combination skirt-hood apparatus that allows a user to quickly close a backpack—such as a top-loading backpack—with a single motion, such as a single pull to form a single storage compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONThe present invention generally relates to an integrated skirt-hood for a backpack such that both the skirt and the hood can be closed with a single motion of an actuation member to form a single storage compartment.
In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, a backpack is provided having a body including a storage compartment formed between first and second ends. A support member can be attached to the body for supporting the body on a user. A skirt may be connected to the first end of the body and a hood can be integrally connected to the skirt. An actuation member may extend along at least a portion of a top edge portion of the skirt and connected to the hood to move the skirt and hood between open and closed positions so that when the actuation member is pulled, the skirt and hood are simultaneously moved to the closed position in a single motion to close the storage compartment at the first end of the body.
In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, a backpack is provided having a body including a storage compartment formed between first and second ends. A pair of shoulder straps may be attached to the body for supporting the body on a user. A snow skirt may be connected to the first end of the body and a hood may be integrated with the snow skirt. A drawstring may extend along at least a portion of a top edge portion of the snow skirt and connected to the hood to move the skirt and hood between open and closed positions. A cord locking device may be attached to the drawstring. When the drawstring is pulled, the snow skirt and hood may be simultaneously moved to the closed position in a single motion to close the storage compartment at the first end of the body.
In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, a top-loading technical backpack is provided having a body including a storage compartment formed between a top end and a closed bottom end. A pair of shoulder straps may be attached to the body for supporting the body on a user. A snow skirt may be connected to the top end of the body and a hood may be integrally connected to the snow skirt. A drawstring may extend along at least a portion of a top edge portion of the snow skirt, and connected to the hood, to move the skirt and hood between open and closed positions, and a cord locking device may be attached to the drawstring. When the drawstring is pulled, the snow skirt and hood are simultaneously moved to the closed position in a single motion to close the storage compartment at the top end of the body.
The invention may be embodied in numerous devices and through numerous methods and systems. The following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses examples of the invention. Other embodiments, which incorporate some, all or more of the features as taught herein, are also possible.
Referring to the drawings, which form a part of this disclosure:
The present invention generally relates to an integrated skirt-hood for a backpack. Certain embodiments of the present invention integrate the backpack's skirt with a hood such that a single motion closes both the skirt and the hood.
Referring initially to
As seen in
As seen in
Turning to
Turning to
Also shown in
As the drawstring 33 of the skirt 32 is pulled, the skirt 32 is tightened closed, while the hood 31 is simultaneously pulled over the skirt. When the drawstring 33 is fully pulled, the skirt 32 will be completely closed and the hood 31 will be pulled on top of the closed skirt, as shown in
In certain embodiments of the present invention the hood 31 and skirt 32 may be secured in the closed position using cord lock 40 (shown in
While various embodiments have been described, other embodiments are plausible. It should be understood that the foregoing descriptions of various examples of the integrated skirt-hood for a backpack are not intended to be limiting, and any number of modifications, combinations, and alternatives of the examples may be employed.
The examples described herein are merely illustrative, as numerous other embodiments may be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, while certain features of the invention may be shown on only certain embodiments or configurations, these features may be exchanged, added, and removed from and between the various embodiments or configurations while remaining within the scope of the invention. Likewise, methods described and disclosed may also be performed in various sequences, with some or all of the disclosed steps being performed in a different order than described while still remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A backpack, comprising:
- a body including a storage compartment formed between first and second ends;
- at least one support member attached to the body for supporting the body on a user;
- a skirt connected to the first end of the body;
- a hood integrally connected to the skirt; and
- an actuation member extending along at least a portion of a top edge portion of the skirt and connected to the hood to move the skirt and hood between open and closed positions,
- wherein when the actuation member is pulled, the skirt and hood are simultaneously moved to the closed position in a single motion to close the storage compartment at the first end of the body.
2. The backpack of claim 1, further comprising at least one fastening member to secure the hood to the body.
3. The backpack of claim 2, wherein the at least one fastening member is a buckle assembly.
4. The backpack of claim 2, wherein the at least one fastening member is a hook and loop fastener.
5. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the actuation member is a drawstring.
6. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the backpack is a top-loading backpack.
7. The backpack of claim 4, wherein the backpack is a technical backpack.
8. The backpack of claim 1, further comprising a cord locking device attached to the drawstring.
9. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the at least one support member is a pair of shoulder straps.
10. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the skirt is a snow skirt.
11. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the first end is a top of the backpack and the second end is the bottom of the backpack.
12. The backpack of claim 11, wherein the bottom of the backpack is closed.
13. A backpack, comprising:
- a body including a storage compartment formed between first and second ends;
- a pair of shoulder straps attached to the body for supporting the body on a user;
- a snow skirt connected to the first end of the body;
- a hood integrated with the snow skirt;
- a drawstring extending along at least a portion of a top edge portion of the snow skirt and connected to the hood to move the skirt and hood between open and closed positions; and
- a cord locking device attached to the drawstring,
- wherein when the actuation member is pulled, the snow skirt and hood are simultaneously moved to the closed position in a single motion to close the storage compartment at the first end of the body.
14. The backpack of claim 13, further comprising at least one fastening member to secure the hood to the body.
15. The backpack of claim 13, wherein the backpack is a top-loading backpack.
16. The backpack of claim 13, wherein the backpack is a technical backpack.
17. The backpack of claim 13, wherein the first end is a top of the backpack and the second end is the bottom of the backpack.
18. The backpack of claim 17, wherein the bottom of the backpack is closed.
19. A top-loading technical backpack, comprising:
- a body including a storage compartment formed between a top end and a closed bottom end;
- a pair of shoulder straps attached to the body for supporting the body on a user;
- a snow skirt connected to the top end of the body;
- a hood integrally connected to the snow skirt;
- a drawstring extending along at least a portion of a top edge portion of the snow skirt and connected to the hood to move the skirt and hood between open and closed positions; and
- a cord locking device attached to the drawstring,
- wherein when the actuation member is pulled, the snow skirt and hood are simultaneously moved to the closed position in a single motion to close the storage compartment at the top end of the body.
20. The backpack of claim 19, further comprising at least one fastening member to secure the hood to the body.
Type: Application
Filed: May 15, 2009
Publication Date: Nov 19, 2009
Inventor: Gregory Bass (Oakland, CA)
Application Number: 12/466,881
International Classification: A45F 3/04 (20060101);