BACK PACK FOR ELONGATED ITEMS
A backpack for carrying elongated equipment includes a storage compartment with an internal structural frame. Multiple straps or bands from the storage compartment provide shoulder and waist straps or bands for mounting the backpack to an individual and upper and lower restraining bands secure the elongated equipment to the rear of the backpack. The upper and lower bands extend rearward, such that a pair of upper restraining bands secure an upper portion of the elongated equipment to an upper portion of the backpack and a pair of lower restraining bands secure a lower portion of the elongated equipment to a lower portion of the backpack. The upper and lower restraining bands are secured to, or pass through, the structural frame and strap openings within the wall of the storage compartment. The restraining bands are preferably secured to the frame to prevent sideways motion of the elongated equipment.
Benefit is claimed of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/576,925 filed Dec. 16, 2011.
Described herein is a back pack for use in securing and carrying elongated devices and in particular, sports equipment such as skis, snow boards, surfboards and other similarly shaped devices.
BACKGROUNDSports equipment users often must carry a specific piece of equipment for an intended activity along with numerous other items such as special clothing, safety gear, etc as well as personal items and other equipment for use at the site of the activity. Further, it is often necessary that these items be carried a considerable distance over difficult terrain not readily accessible by a motor vehicle. For example, skiers or snow boarders often must carry extra clothing for cold weather or outfits to change into after skiing. Besides carrying one or more surf boards, surfers typically carry a wet suit as well as other paraphernalia for use on the beach before and after a surfing session. Because skis and surfboards may be cumbersome to carry along with all the other desired equipment there is a need for a convenient carrying apparatus that will allow the skis, snowboards, surfboards or other similar shaped equipment to be readily carried by a single individual along with all of the other desired items. Described herein is a backpack which addresses all of these needs.
SUMMARYDescribed herein is a carrier configured for strapping to an individual's back specifically designed for carrying elongated articles such as surfboards, snow boards, skis, etc. In a preferred embodiment the carrier is a back pack with shoulder, chest and waist straps for securing the back pack to an individual Included therein are non-slip straps which are attached to a structural frame located within the carrier for securing the elongated item to the carrier and structure on or in the lower rear portion of the carrier to properly elevate and angle the elongated item so it does interfere with the individual walking or climbing while carrying the elongated item, such as by contacting the rear of the individual's legs or the back portion of the individual's head. The non-slip straps pass through the wall of the back pack and slots through the frame or retainers attached to the frame so as to prevent vertical movement of the straps while at the same time maintaining the elongated item in its preferred vertical carrying orientation.
The carrier 100 includes a compartment 300 for storage and portability of personal items.
A rubberized carrying handle 200 is attached to the compartment 300 (best shown in the folded configuration in
As best shown in
Two halves of a padded cummerbund 107A, 107B in combination with proper placement of the shoulder straps 102A, 102B increase the comfort and stability of the pack when properly secured. Attached to the cummerbund, on the right side towards the rear portion of the cummerbund 107B, is a mesh drink bottle holder 208 located for easy access to and insertion of a beverage container (not shown). On the forward portion of both the left and right cummerbund portions 107A, 107B are zippered utility pockets 108A, 108B stitched in for secure holding of personal items such as keys, surfboard wax and the like. Stitched on top of the zippered utility pockets 108A, 108B are expandable Velcro utility pocket 110A, 110B which are also designed to hold any personal items for easy and quick access. The left forward portion of the cummerbund 107A has a male double adjust side release cummerbund buckle 210 (1.5″) which works in combination with a mating female double adjust side release cummerbund buckle 211 to attach and secure the left and right sides 107A, 107B of the cummerbund together. The left male and right female buckles 210, 211 are attached by nylon webbing (1.5″) with Velcro® pull strap adjustment for securing the length of the cummerbund pull straps 209, 212.
Referring to
While the upper or lower support frame pass throughs 403A, 403B are a preferred arrangements, other structures may be used such as retainers attached to the exterior of the frame for receiving the straps 118, 122. Alternatively the mounting straps 118, 122 can be riveted or otherwise secured directly to the frame. As a further alternative, each strap may be provided as separate left and right straps secured to the frame.
The combination of the various straps, buckles and adjustment mechanisms as described above, along with the inflatable cushion, in combination with the frame and the preferred manner of mounting the frame in and to the carrier results in a comfortable and stable structure for carrying elongated items. The various pockets, enclosures, attachments and accessories also described add convenience in its use. As a result the arrangements of components set forth herein, when taken in combination, provide a synergistic relationship and thus a unique product which is more than merely an assembly of disparate pieces which individually may have been shown in back packs or carriers in the past.
Claims
1. A backpack for carrying elongated equipment comprising:
- an openable storage compartment configured for mounting on the back of an individual, said storage compartment having a tubular structural frame extending at least vertical within said storage compartment
- said storage compartment having multiple straps or bands extending therefrom and a structural frame extending at least vertically within said storage compartment, said straps or bands comprising: a pair of shoulder straps extending from an upper portion of said compartment, a pair of waist bands extending from a lower portion of said compartment a pair of upper restraining bands and a pair of lower restraining bands said upper and lower restraining bands being secured to, or passing through, said structural frame and strap openings within the wall of the storage compartment,
- such that when the backpack is mounted on the back of an individual the pair of waist bands extend forward and are joined together across the stomach or front waist area of an individual and the shoulder straps are position over the shoulders of said individual, extend across a chest area of the individual and are attached to the waist band in the individuals front waist area, and the two bands comprising the pair of upper restraining bands and the two bands comprising the pair of lower restraining bands extend rearward, the pair of upper restraining bands securing an upper portion of the elongated equipment to an upper portion of the storage compartment and the pair of lower restraining bands securing a lower portion of the elongated equipment to a lower portion of the storage compartment.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 17, 2012
Publication Date: Jul 11, 2013
Inventors: Tierre Turner (Woodland Hills, CA), Camille Turner (Woodland Hills, CA), Rene Paul Mousseut (Woodland Hills, CA)
Application Number: 13/717,362
International Classification: A45F 3/04 (20060101);