Bear-Proof Backpack And Latch System
A bear-proof backpack and latching system. The bear-proof backpack and latching system has a hard shelled main body portion having perimeter sidewalls that define a main body portion cavity, a first open mouth at a first end of the main body portion, the first open mouth having a first rim. It further includes a first hard shelled lid that detachably attaches over the first open mouth, the first lid having a perimeter lip with a leading edge that fits over the first rim. The first lid is attached to the first open mouth by a primary latch system that has a first latch mechanism located on the main body portion and a second latch mechanism located on the first lid, which first and second latch mechanisms detachably lock the first lid to cover the first open mouth of the main body portion.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/740,321, filed on Dec. 20, 2012 entitled “BEAR-PROOF BACKPACK AND LATCH SYSTEM.”
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a hard shell backpack, and more specifically to a bear-proof backpack and latching system.
Bears have an acute sense of smell and aggressively seek food when hungry. Bears have been known to tear open car doors to get at food left instead parted vehicles. In the last several years, hikers and backpackers traveling through and staying overnight in U.S. Federal and State parks have been required to store food items in super strong containers that will thwart the efforts of bears to get at the food. However, such bear-proof containers, which are hard shelled and take up considerable space in backpacks can be heavy and inconvenient to use, particularly when carry a lot of food.
It would therefore be useful to have a hard-shelled backpack that can be opened easily and secured to prevent a bear from accessing the contents of the backpack.
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With this system, a simply turn of the knob 50 of the latch will move a cable 42, which simultaneously locks or unlocks the latches of the system, allowing the lids 18A and 18B to be removed. Although the exemplary embodiment shows a bear-proof with an two lids and a center divider, form shorter backpacks, it is possible to make the bottom lid be permanently attached, and just have the top lid be removable. In addition, it is possible to design the bear-proof backpack with a removable divider wall 30 to obviate the need for two removable lids.
In addition, while particular latching mechanisms have been shown, other latches can be used. Indeed, it is possible to make the lid hinged to the body portion.
The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, so that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
Claims
1. A bear-proof backpack and latching system, comprising:
- a hard shelled main body portion having perimeter sidewalls that define a main body portion cavity, a first open mouth at a first end of the main body portion, the first open mouth having a first rim;
- a first hard shelled lid that detachably attaches over the first open mouth, the first lid having a perimeter lip with a leading edge that fits over the first rim; and
- a primary latch system comprising a first latch mechanism located on the main body portion and a second latch mechanism located on the first lid, which first and second latch mechanisms detachably lock the first lid to cover the first open mouth of the main body portion.
2. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 1, further comprising a hard and inflexible divider wall located within the cavity and engaged with the perimeter sidewalls thereof to stiffen the main body portion and divide it into two sections.
3. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 2, wherein the hard and inflexible divider wall is permanently affixed to perimeter side walls and has at least one aperture formed therein.
4. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 1, further comprising a protruding bead formed on the first rim adjacent to the first open mouth, wherein when the first lid is engaged over the first open mouth, the leading edge of the perimeter lip will be in close proximity to the protruding bead and form a smooth interface that is resistant to a bear's claw separating the first lid from the main body portion.
5. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 1, further comprising a support harness that is affixed to the main body portion, which support harness includes shoulder straps for a user to carry the backpack on a user's back.
6. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 5, wherein the support harness comprises a pair of arms that detachably attach to opposite sides of the main body portion.
7. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 1, wherein the main body portion comprises at least two hard shell sections which are permanently affixed together.
8. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 1 wherein the hard shelled main body portion and the first hard shelled lid comprise material composite materials.
9. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 1, wherein in the primary latch system the first latch mechanism comprises (a) a lock assembly that is positioned on the hard shelled main body portion near the first end of the main body portion, (b) a plurality of spaced apart female portion latches that are positioned on inside walls of the hard shelled main body portion, each female latch portion latch having a body with a through hole that slidably receives a blocking cylinder, and a prong hole that intersects its through hole, and (c) a cable that is connected to the lock assembly and to each blocking cylinder, and wherein the second latch mechanism comprises a plurality of male latch portions that are affixed to the first hard shelled lid, each male latch portion having a prong with a notch formed thereon, wherein when the first lid hard shelled lid is fitted over the first mouth of the main body portion, the prongs are slidably received in the prong holes of the spaced apart female portion latches, and wherein when the lock assembly is in the locked state, the cable moves the blocking cylinders so they intersect the prong holes with the blocking cylinders engaging with the notches on the prongs to thereby block withdrawal of the prongs from the female portion latches, and wherein when the lock assembly is in the unlocked state, the cable moves the blocking cylinders out of intersection with the prong holes, thereby allowing withdrawal of the prongs from the female portion latches and removal of the first lid from the first mouth of the main body portion.
10. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 9, wherein the lock assembly comprises a rotating outer handle portion that is accessible from an outside of the main body portion, a spring loaded keeper that must be activated to allow the outer handle portion to be rotated from a locked state to an unlocked state, and a cable pulley rotatably connected to the outer handle portion, which cable pulley is located inside of the main body portion and connects to and moves the cable and blocking cylinders connected thereto.
11. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 1, wherein the main body portion has a generally kidney-shaped cross-section.
12. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 1, wherein the hard shelled main body portion further has a second open mouth at a second end of the main body portion that is opposite of the first mouth, the second open mouth having a second rim, and a second hard shelled lid that detachably attaches over the second open mouth, the second lid having a perimeter lip with a leading edge that fits over the second rim, and a secondary latch system comprising a first latch mechanism located on the main body portion and a second latch mechanism located on the first lid, which first and second latch mechanisms detachably lock the second lid to cover the second open mouth of the main body portion.
13. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 12, further comprising a protruding bead formed on the second rim adjacent to the second open mouth, wherein when the second lid is engaged over the second open mouth, the leading edge of the perimeter lip will be in close proximity to the protruding bead and form a smooth interface that is resistant to a bear's claw separating the second lid from the main body portion.
14. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 12, wherein in the secondary latch system the first latch mechanism comprises (a) a lock assembly that is positioned on the hard shelled main body portion near the second end, (b) a plurality of spaced apart female portion latches that are positioned on inside walls of the hard shelled main body portion near the second end, each female latch portion latch having a body with a through hole that slidably receives a blocking cylinder, and a prong hole that intersects its through hole, and (c) a cable that is connected to the lock assembly and to each blocking cylinder, and wherein the second latch mechanism comprises a plurality of male latch portions that are affixed to the second hard shelled lid, each male latch portion having a prong with a notch formed thereon, wherein when the second lid hard shelled lid is fitted over the second mouth of the main body portion, the prongs are slidably received in the prong holes of the spaced apart female portion latches, and wherein when the lock assembly is in the locked state, the cable moves the blocking cylinders so they intersect the prong holes with the blocking cylinders engaging with the notches on the prongs to thereby block withdrawal of the prongs from the female portion latches, and wherein when the lock assembly is in the unlocked state, the cable moves the blocking cylinders out of intersection with the prong holes, thereby allowing withdrawal of the prongs from the female portion latches and removal of the second lid from the second mouth of the main body portion.
15. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 14, wherein the lock assembly comprises a rotating outer handle portion that is accessible from an outside of the main body portion, a spring loaded keeper that must be activated to allow the outer handle portion to be rotated from a locked state to an unlocked state, and a cable pulley rotatably connected to the outer handle portion, which cable pulley is located inside of the main body portion and connects to and moves the cable and blocking cylinders connected thereto.
16. A bear-proof backpack and latching system, comprising:
- a hard shelled main body portion having perimeter sidewalls that define a main body portion cavity, a first open mouth at a first end of the main body portion, the first open mouth having a first rim a protruding bead formed on the first rim adjacent to the first open mouth;
- a hard and inflexible divider wall located within the cavity and engaged with the perimeter sidewalls thereof to stiffen the main body portion and divide it into two sections.
- a first hard shelled lid that detachably attaches over the first open mouth, the first lid having a perimeter lip with a leading edge that fits over the first rim; and
- a primary latch system comprising a first latch mechanism located on the main body portion and a second latch mechanism located on the first lid, which first and second latch mechanisms detachably lock the first lid to cover the first open mouth of the main body portion; wherein when the first lid is engaged over the first open mouth, the leading edge of the perimeter lip will be in close proximity to the protruding bead and form a smooth interface that is resistant to a bear's claw separating the first lid from the main body portion.
17. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 16, further comprising a support harness that is affixed to the main body portion, which support harness includes shoulder straps for a user to carry the backpack on a user's back.
18. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 16, wherein in the primary latch system the first latch mechanism comprises (a) a lock assembly that is positioned on the hard shelled main body portion near the first end of the main body portion, the lock assembly comprising a rotating outer handle portion that is accessible from an outside of the main body portion, a spring loaded keeper that must be activated to allow the outer handle portion to be rotated from a locked state to an unlocked state, and a cable pulley rotatably connected to the outer handle portion, which cable pulley is located inside of the main body portion, (b) a plurality of spaced apart female portion latches that are positioned on inside walls of the hard shelled main body portion, each female latch portion latch having a body with a through hole that slidably receives a blocking cylinder, and a prong hole that intersects its through hole, and (c) a cable that is connected to the lock assembly and to each blocking cylinder, and wherein the second latch mechanism comprises a plurality of male latch portions that are affixed to the first hard shelled lid, each male latch portion having a prong with a notch formed thereon, wherein when the first lid hard shelled lid is fitted over the first mouth of the main body portion, the prongs are slidably received in the prong holes of the spaced apart female portion latches, and wherein when the lock assembly is in the locked state, the cable moves the blocking cylinders so they intersect the prong holes with the blocking cylinders engaging with the notches on the prongs to thereby block withdrawal of the prongs from the female portion latches, and wherein when the lock assembly is in the unlocked state, the cable moves the blocking cylinders out of intersection with the prong holes, thereby allowing withdrawal of the prongs from the female portion latches and removal of the first lid from the first mouth of the main body portion.
19. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 16, wherein the hard shelled main body portion further has a second open mouth at a second end of the main body portion that is opposite of the first mouth, the second open mouth having a second rim, and a second hard shelled lid that detachably attaches over the second open mouth, the second lid having a perimeter lip with a leading edge that fits over the second rim, and a secondary latch system comprising a first latch mechanism located on the main body portion and a second latch mechanism located on the first lid, which first and second latch mechanisms detachably lock the second lid to cover the second open mouth of the main body portion.
20. The bear-proof backpack and latching system of claim 16, wherein in the secondary latch system the first latch mechanism comprises (a) a lock assembly that is positioned on the hard shelled main body portion near the second end of the main body portion, the lock assembly comprising a rotating outer handle portion that is accessible from an outside of the main body portion, a spring loaded keeper that must be activated to allow the outer handle portion to be rotated from a locked state to an unlocked state, and a cable pulley rotatably connected to the outer handle portion, which cable pulley is located inside of the main body portion, (b) a plurality of spaced apart female portion latches that are positioned on inside walls of the hard shelled main body portion, each female latch portion latch having a body with a through hole that slidably receives a blocking cylinder, and a prong hole that intersects its through hole, and (c) a cable that is connected to the lock assembly and to each blocking cylinder, and wherein the second latch mechanism comprises a plurality of male latch portions that are affixed to the second hard shelled lid, each male latch portion having a prong with a notch formed thereon, wherein when the second lid hard shelled lid is fitted over the second mouth of the main body portion, the prongs are slidably received in the prong holes of the spaced apart female portion latches, and wherein when the lock assembly is in the locked state, the cable moves the blocking cylinders so they intersect the prong holes with the blocking cylinders engaging with the notches on the prongs to thereby block withdrawal of the prongs from the female portion latches, and wherein when the lock assembly is in the unlocked state, the cable moves the blocking cylinders out of intersection with the prong holes, thereby allowing withdrawal of the prongs from the female portion latches and removal of the second lid from the second mouth of the main body portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 20, 2013
Publication Date: Jun 25, 2015
Inventor: Mark Talmo (Temple City, CA)
Application Number: 14/137,496