BACKPACKS AND RELATED METHODS
Backpacks for carrying one or more items therein and related methods are provided. The backpack can include an outer shell forming a bottom and a top and front, back and side walls with the outer shell defining an interior space. The backpack also can include a divider extendable between the front wall and the back wall of the outer shell to form a shelf between the top and bottom of the outer shell. When the divider is extended between the front wall and the back wall, a first storage compartment is formed between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf and a second compartment is formed between the shelf and the top of the outer shell. The divider can be detachably secured between the front wall and the back wall so that one or more books are supportable by the shelf formed by the divider.
The presently disclosed subject matter claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/524,114, filed Aug. 16, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates generally to backpacks for carrying items on the back of a user and related methods of using the same. More particularly, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to backpacks that are used for carrying books closer to the body of the user than conventional book bags and related methods for using the same.
BACKGROUNDFor students of today, a book bag is an essential piece of equipment for transporting books and papers back and forth between class and home. The amount of homework and the need for access to the textbooks used to teach the students requires that a plurality of books are carried in a student's book bag at any given time These book bags have not changed much over at least the last 25 years. The dimensions of most book bags currently available are wider at the bottom, or bottom portion, and decrease in width as the top, or top portion, of the book bag as the top is approached. Similarly, most book bags currently available have a greater thickness at the bottom than the thickness at the top of the book bag as the top is approached. For example, a typical book bag may have a bottom width of about 13 inches at the base of a book bag where the books are placed and a width of about 6 inches at the top of the book bag which normally does not house books therein. Such a book bag may have a thickness of roughly about 8 inches at the bottom where the books are placed and, about 6 inches at the top. Such a book bag can have a height of about 18 inches which allows the books to generally occupy the bottom, or lower portion, of the book bag while leaving the top, or upper portion, of the book bag unoccupied.
If a student carries books in most book bags that are currently available, all the books are placed in the bottom portion of the respective book bag. For example, if a student carries six books in a normal book bag, all six books would be placed along the bottom, for instance, in an alignment where the books face each other cover to cover. The six books extend the thickness of the bag in its bottom portion and are carried down by the lower back of the user wearing the book bag. These books, being placed all in a row, extend outward from the lower back with the outer books creating a greater moment of force, based on the distance at which these books are located from the lower back of the user, and thus a greater force on the back, shoulders and lower back of the user. Thereby, the back of the user that wears such a conventional book bag is placed under greater stress than just by the weight of the books alone. Accordingly, there remains room for variation and improvement within the art of book bags and backpacks that will reduce the stress on a wearer's back.
SUMMARYIn accordance with this disclosure, the present subject matter provides backpacks for carrying items on the back of a user and related methods of using the same. More particularly, it is an aspect of at least one embodiment of the present subject matter to provide backpacks that are used to carry books closer to the body of the user than conventional book bags and related methods for using the same.
Some of the objects of the subject matter disclosed herein having been stated hereinabove, and which are achieved in whole or in part by the presently disclosed subject matter, other objects will become evident as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings as best described hereinbelow.
The features and advantages of the present subject matter will be more readily understood from the following detailed description which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that are given merely by way of explanatory and non-limiting example, and in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to possible aspects or embodiments of the subject matter herein, one or more examples of which are shown in the figures. Each example is provided to explain the subject matter and not as a limitation. In fact, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used in another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. It is intended that the subject matter disclosed and envisioned herein covers such modifications and variations.
Although the terms first, second, top, bottom, upper, lower, etc. may be used herein to describe various features, elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these features, elements components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one feature, element, component, region, layer or section from another feature, element, component, region, layer or section and, in some instances, to provide a relative relationship between the features, elements, components, regions, layers or sections. Thus, a first feature, element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second feature, element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the disclosure herein. Similarly, a top or upper feature, element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a bottom or lower feature, element, component, region, layer or section depending on their relative orientation without departing from the teachings of the disclosure herein.
Embodiments of the subject matter of the disclosure are described herein with reference to schematic illustrations of embodiments that may be idealized. As such, variations from the shapes and/or positions of features, elements or components within the illustrations as a result of, for example but not limited to, user preferences, manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances are expected. Shapes, sizes and/or positions of features, elements or components illustrated in the figures may also be magnified, minimized, exaggerated, shifted or simplified to facilitate explanation of the subject matter disclosed herein. Thus, the features, elements or components illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes and/or positions are not intended to illustrate the precise configuration of a system or apparatus and are not intended to limit the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein.
The present subject matter discloses backpacks for carrying items and related methods for configuring such backpacks. A backpack configured for carrying items therein on the back of a user can comprise an outer shell forming a front wall, a back wall, opposing side walls, a bottom and a top. The front wall, the back wall, the opposing side walls, the bottom and the top of the outer shell can define an interior space of the outer shell.
The backpack can comprise straps that can be attached to the outer shell and extend over an exterior of the back wall. Each strap can create an opening through which a user can place an arm so that the backpack can be carried on the back of a user. Each strap can comprise padding and an adjustment buckle to increase the comfort level for the user of the backpack. One or both straps can have a pocket thereon that can be closable. The pocket can be used to carry small items, such as pens, pencils, erasers, candy bars, nail clippers, or the like. The straps can be made thicker than normal book bags to provide additional comfort on the shoulders of the user. Additionally, the strap can be attached at the very bottom of the backpack in order to force the backpack to ride higher on the user and the weight within the backpack to be carried more on the user's shoulders.
The backpack can also comprise a divider that can be extended between the front wall and the back wall of the outer shell to form a shelf between the top and bottom of the outer shell. When the divider is extended between the front wall and the back wall, a first storage compartment is formed between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf and a second storage compartment is formed between the shelf and the top of the outer shell. The divider can be detachably secured between the front wall and the back wall so that one or more items are supportable by the shelf formed by the divider.
One or more fasteners can be used to detachably secure the divider between the front wall and the back wall. Each fastener can have a first fastener portion attached to the divider and a second fastener portion attached to at least one of the front wall, the back wall or the opposing side walls. The first fastener portion can engage the second fastener portion to secure the divider between the front wall and the back wall. The fasteners can comprise different types of fasteners. For example, the fasteners can be one or more hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buckles and straps, latches and hooks or loops, clips, buttons or the like.
In some embodiments, the divider can be detachably secured to both the front wall and the back wall. In some embodiments, the divider can fixedly attached to one of the front wall or the back wall and can be detachably secured to the other of the front wall or back wall. For example, the divider can be sewn to the front wall to fixedly attach the divider thereto and can be detachably secured to the back wall. In some such embodiments, a fastener for detachably securing the divider to the back wall can comprise a hook and loop fastener with a first portion of the hook and loop fastener attached to the divider extending along at least a portion of a width of the divider and a second portion of the hook and loop fastener attached to the back wall extending along at least a portion of a width of the back wall. In some embodiments, the fasteners can have a first fastener portion attached to the divider and a second fastener portion attached to at least one of the opposing side walls. In such embodiments, the first fastener portion can engage the second fastener portion to secure the divider in an extended position between the front wail and the back wall.
In some embodiments, the backpack can comprise a closable opening that can extend along the top of the outer shell that provides access to the interior space when the opening is in an open position. In some such embodiments, the closable opening can extend along an upper portion of the opposing side walls to provide access to the interior space and to the second storage compartment between the shelf formed by the divider and the top of the outer shell when the divider is secured between the front and back walls.
In some embodiments, the backpack can comprise a flap formed in at least one of the opposing side walls between the top and the bottom of the outer shell. The flap can opened to provide access to the interior space of the outer shell and can be closed to limit access to the interior space of the outer shell. In some such embodiments, the flap can be formed in a lower portion of one of the opposing side walls adjacent the bottom of the outer shell to provide access to the interior space and to the first storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf formed by the divider when the divider is secured between the front and back walls.
In some embodiments, the backpack can comprise one or more pockets secured to at least one of the front, back or side walls. For example, one or more pockets can be secured to an exterior of the front wall. Such pockets can be securably closable, for example, by a fastener, such as a zipper, buttons, snaps, or the like. Similarly, pockets can be secured to one or both of the opposing side walls. As stated above, in some embodiments, pockets can also be attached to the outer portion of a padded strap. In some embodiments, the backpack can comprise one or more pockets formed on an interior of at least one of the front, back or side walls.
In some embodiments, the backpack configured for carrying books therein on the back of a user can comprise an outer shell forming a front wall, a back wall, opposing side walls, a bottom and a top such that the backpack can have a uniform width between the front wall and back wall. The front wall, back wall, opposing side walls, bottom and top can define an interior space of the backpack. As above, the backpack can comprise straps that can be attached the outer shell and extend over an exterior of the back wall. Each strap can create an opening through which a user can place an arm so that the backpack can be carried on the back of a user. Each strap can comprise padding and an adjustment buckle to increase the comfort level for the user of the backpack. The backpack also can comprise a divider that can be extended between the front wall and the back wall of the outer shell to form a shelf between the top and bottom of the outer shell. When the divider is in an extended position between the front and back walls, a lower storage compartment can be formed between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf and an upper storage compartment can be formed between the shelf and the top of the outer shell. The divider can be detachably secured between the front wall and the back wall so that one or more books are supportable by the shelf formed by the divider. In such embodiments, a closable opening can be formed along the top of outer shell and along an upper portion of the opposing side walls to provide access to the interior space and to the upper storage compartment between the shelf formed by the divider and the top of the outer shell when the divider is secured between the front and back walls. Also, a flap can be formed in a lower portion of one of the opposing side walls adjacent the bottom of the outer shell to provide access to the interior space and to the lower storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf formed by the divider when the divider is secured between the front and back walls.
Accordingly, a method is provided of configuring a backpack for carrying items therein on the back of a user. The method can comprise providing a backpack that has an outer shell forming a front wall, a back wall, opposing side walls, a bottom and a top, and an interior space. The backpack can also have a divider that can be extended between the front wall and the back wall of the outer shell. The method can further comprise detachably securing the divider between the front wall and the back wall to form a shelf between the top and bottom of the outer shell and thereby forming a first storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf and a second storage compartment between the shelf and the top of the outer shell. The method can also comprise forming a closable opening that extends along the top of outer shell and along an upper portion of the opposing side walls to provide access to the interior space and to the second storage compartment between the shelf formed by the divider and the top of the outer shell when the divider is secured between the front and back walls. Similarly, the method can comprise forming a flap in a lower portion of one of the opposing side walls adjacent the bottom of the outer shell to provide access to the interior space and to the first storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf formed by the divider when the divider is secured between the front and back walls.
In some embodiments, opposing side walls 20A, 20B and top 24 can comprise the same material, such as a unitary piece of sturdy fabric with other pieces of fabric or padding or other features added as needed or desired. Bottom 22 can comprise the same or different material as needed or desired as well. Bottom 22 can comprise a reinforced and/or padded fabric material since backpack 10 usually rests on bottom 22. Back wall 18 can also comprise padding to help improve comfort for the user as the user wears backpack 10, especially when weighted down by items carried within backpack 10, such as Books BU, BL as shown in
As shown in
Backpack can also comprise a closable opening 30 as shown in
To help balance the weight of the items carried in backpack 10 and to reduce the amount of force created by having a large number of items, such as books, extending outward along bottom 22, backpack 10 can also comprise a divider 40 that can be extended between front wall 16 and back wall 18 of outer shell 12. Divider 40 can form a shelf 42 between top 24 and bottom 22 of outer shell 12 on which items such as books BU can be stacked. As shown in
Divider 40 can be detachably secured between front wall 16 and back wall 18 so that one or more items, such as books BU, are supportable by shelf 42 formed by divider 40. One or more fasteners such as fasteners 44, 46 shown in
For example, as shown in
Further to help ensure securerment of divider 40 to back wall 18, a fastener 46 can be used on each side of divider 40 as shown in
The use of backpack 10 with divider 40 that creates shelf 42 within the interior of backpack 10 in combination with straps 26 and their placement on backpack 10 can facilitate the carrying of books BU, BL closer to the user's back and higher to the user's shoulders. Thereby, backpack 10 can better distribute the weight of books BU, BL. This distribution can make the load of books BU, BL feel lighter to the user and more ergonomically correct for the user's back by avoiding overstraining the lower back.
As shown in
Also, backpack 10 can comprise a closable flap 50 formed in at least one of opposing side walls 20A, 20B between top 24 and bottom 22 of outer shell 12. Flap 50 can opened to provide access to interior space 14 of outer shell 12 and can be closed to limit access to interior space 14 of outer shell 12. For example, flap 50 can have a fastener, or fastener system, 52 as mentioned above with respect to closable opening 30, such as a zipper. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In
As shown in
Thus, through the embodiments of the backpacks shown and described herein, a user can more comfortably carry a heavier load, such as a large amount of books with less stress on the user's shoulders and back. By keeping more of the weight of the load closer to the user's back, less force is placed on the user's back than if the same amount of load was stacked in a single file row outward from the user's back. In some embodiments as described, the detachably securable divider can form a shelf that creates the stacked storage compartments that permit the stacking of items, such as books, being carried. In some embodiments, different flaps and our closable openings in walls of the backpack allow for easy access to the books, or other items, stored within the backpacks.
The present subject matter can be embodied in other forms without departure from the spirit and essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments described therefore are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Although the present subject matter has been described in terms of certain embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of the present subject matter.
Claims
1. A backpack configured for carrying items therein on the back of a user, the backpack comprising:
- an outer shell forming a front wall, a back wall, opposing side walls, a bottom and a top, the outer shell defining an interior space; and
- a divider extendable between the front wall and the back wall of the outer shell to form a shelf between the top and bottom of the outer shell and a first storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf and a second storage compartment between the shelf and the top of the outer shell, the divider being detachably securable between the front wall and the back wall so that one or more items are supportable by the shelf formed by the divider.
2. The backpack according to claim 1, wherein the divider is fixedly attached to the front wall and the divider is detachably securable to the back wall.
3. The backpack according to claim 1, further comprising one or more fasteners, each fastener having a first fastener portion attached to the divider and a second fastener portion attached to at least one of the front wall, the back wall or the opposing side walls, the first fastener portion engagable with the second fastener portion to secure the divider between the front wall and the back wall.
4. The backpack according to claim 3, wherein the one or more fasteners comprises a hook and loop fastener with a first portion of the hook and loop fastener attached to the divider extending along at least a portion of a width of the divider and a second portion of the hook and loop fastener attached to the back wall extending along at least a portion of a width of the back wall.
5. The backpack according to claim 1, further comprises straps attached to the outer shell that extend over an exterior of the back wall, each strap capable of forming an opening through which a user can place an arm so that the backpack can be carried on the back of a user.
6. The backpack according to claim 1, further comprising one or more fasteners, each fastener having a first fastener portion attached to the divider and a second fastener portion attached to at least one of the opposing side walls, the first fastener portion engagable with the second fastener portion to secure the divider in an extended position between the front wall and the back wall.
7. The backpack according to claim 1, further comprising a closable opening that extends along the top of the outer shell and provides access to the interior space when the opening is in an open position.
8. The backpack according to claim 7, wherein the closable opening extends along an upper portion of the opposing side walls and the top of the outer shell to provide access to the interior space and to the second storage compartment between the shelf formed by the divider and the top of the outer shell when the divider is secured between the front and back walls.
9. The backpack according to claim 1, further comprising a flap formed in at least one of opposing side walls between the top and the bottom of the outer shell, the flap being openable to provide access to the interior space of the outer shell and closable to limit access to the interior space of the outer shell.
10. The backpack according to claim 9, wherein the flap is formed in a lower portion of one of the opposing side walls adjacent the bottom of the outer shell to provide access to the interior space and to the first storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf formed by the divider when the divider is secured between the front and back walls.
11. The backpack according to claim 1, wherein the divider is detachably securable to the front wall and the back wall.
12. The backpack according to claim 1, further comprising one or more pockets secured to at least one of the front, back or side walls.
13. A backpack configured for carrying books therein on the back of a user, the backpack comprising:
- an outer shell forming a front wall, a back wall, opposing side walls, a bottom and a top, the front wall, back wall, opposing side walls, bottom and top defining an interior space;
- straps attached to the outer shell and extending over an exterior of the back wall of the outer shell;
- a divider extendable between the front wall and the back wall of the outer shell to form a shelf between the top and bottom of the outer shell and a lower storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf and an upper storage compartment between the shelf and the top of the outer shell, the divider being detachably securable between the front wall and the back wall so that one or more books are supportable by the shelf formed by the divider;
- a closable opening that extends along the top of outer shell and along an upper portion of the opposing side walls to provide access to the interior space and to the upper storage compartment between the shelf formed by the divider and the top of the outer shell when the divider is secured between the front and back walls; and
- a flap formed in a lower portion of one of the opposing side walls adjacent the bottom of the outer shell to provide access to the interior space and to the lower storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf formed by the divider when the divider is secured between the front and back walls.
14. The backpack according to claim 13, wherein the divider is fixedly attached to the front wall and the divider is detachably securable to the back wall.
15. The backpack according to claim 14, further comprising one or more fasteners, each fastener having a first fastener portion attached to the divider and a second fastener portion attached to the back wall, the first fastener portion engagable with the second fastener portion to secure the divider to the back, wall.
16. The backpack according to claim 15, wherein the one or more fasteners comprises a hook and loop fastener with a first portion of the hook and loop fastener attached to the divider extending along at least a portion of a width of the divider and a second portion of the hook and loop fastener attached to the back wall extending along at least a portion of a width of the back wall.
17. The backpack according to claim 13, wherein the divider is detachably securable to the front wall and the back wall.
18. A method of configuring a backpack for carrying items therein on the back of a user, the method comprising:
- providing a backpack comprising: an outer shell forming a front wall, a back wall, opposing side walls, a bottom and a top, the outer shell defining an interior space; and a divider extendable between the front wall and the back wall of the outer shell; and
- detachably securing the divider between the front wall and the back wall to form a shelf between the top and bottom of the outer shell and a first storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf and a second storage compartment between the shelf and the top of the outer shell.
19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising forming a closable opening that extends along the top of outer shell and along an upper portion of the opposing side walls to provide access to the interior space and to the upper storage compartment between the shelf formed by the divider and the top of the outer shell when the divider is secured between the front and back walls.
20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising forming a flap in a lower portion of one of the opposing side walls adjacent the bottom of the outer shell to provide access to the interior space and to the lower storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf formed by the divider when the divider is secured between the front and back walls.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 16, 2012
Publication Date: Feb 21, 2013
Inventor: Christopher M. Connell (Hamilton, OH)
Application Number: 13/587,106
International Classification: A45F 3/04 (20060101);