Method, Apparatus and System for Front Access Backpack
A side access back pack design is proposed which is fully mechanized. Through a user trigger, a vital portion of the storage compartment mechanically moves out, pivots and linearly traverses towards the front and side of the user. The storage compartment is designed to carry critical equipment that a user wishes to access quickly without a need to unshoulder the back pack and access it in non-wear mode which has several disadvantages, including inconvenience and loss of time. After use of the critically accessed equipment, again on user trigger, the storage compartment retracts and folds itself within the contours of a regular backpack.
This invention relates to design of backpacks. Backpacks suffer from a limitation of use and convenience since access for stored items requires unshouldering it, yielding it to the front and with one hand holding it, the other had is used to access the objects. This invention overcomes this limitation by providing a side and front access to critical objects by mechanical design so that a portion of the storage compartment, attached to the backpack, mechanically moves out, pivots and linearly moves to the side and front for easy equipment access.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBackpacks are popular carriers of equipment, goods, food, water and travel gadgets. Their main advantage stems from the fact that the entire weight of the goods when in the backpack and worn, is offloaded onto the shoulders and likely the strongest portion of the human skeleton. It also makes both hands of the individual to be free to run, do necessary work or carry additional objects, hold hangs in a crowd etc. When travelling, the freeing of the hands makes it easy to get into a train, a bus. It is possible to ride a bicycle with weight carried on the shoulder. Some more professional forms of the backpacks are used by mountaineers, hikers to carry supplies, clothing, tools, water, oxygen and food. Armed forces use similar backpacks for the same purpose, to carry supplies and food while keepings hands free to use weapons, engage in combat or to perform daily chores and activities.
While backpacks are very useful as described above, they suffer from a serious limitation. To access the backpack, since it is located on the back, the user has to un-deploy it, use the hands, one to hold it and another to open zips and locks to access the contents of the bag. Since use of hands and un-deploying is required, the user has to essentially stop the activity he or she was engaging in. User has to either use one hand to hold and other to access or look for an external support on which the bag can be placed. Often, for want of this support, the backpack is placed on the ground, which forces the user to bend and stress the back. Lift of the entire load is required to redeploy the bag. These disadvantages have been attempted to be overcome by several designs.
Photographers who wish to have easy and quick access to the camera have considered a joint waist bag and backpack design. However when both are used simultaneously, one of them interferes with the other. Where a retractable storage container is made accessible over the head of the user, the container is essentially turned upside down, requiring contents to be tied to the container to prevent a fall. Manipulation of storage containers from the backpack requires repositioning of the shoulder straps. Users have attempted to replace the backpack with a waist bag, but the waist bag due to its placement is not ideal to carry heavy weight if at the back. If it is in the front, the bulk of the storage container interferes with the user as it is directly in front of him. Some solutions have used metal frames and through use of a latch, a portion of the container (swing-around portion) opens up and moves towards the front. Due to the interference of the straps and the metal frame, the arrangement becomes cumbersome and messy. Accordingly, a fully mechanized and/or motorized version of the deployment and un-deployment towards the side and front of the user will be an enhancement of the prior art and overcome the shortcomings described.
In the following description specific details are set forth describing certain embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the disclosed embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. The specific embodiments presented are meant to be illustrative, but not limiting. One skilled in the art may realize other methods, apparatus or systems that, although not specifically described herein, are within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.
In one embodiment, through Miter gear set 1 8108 with one to one ratio, the drive shaft 8111 and the pinion gear 8109 are turned, which through the use of gear rack 8110, is converted into a slide out movement. In one embodiment, through a second Miter gear set 2 8112 at one to one ratio, the traverse shaft is turned which has a Bevel gear set 8114 at one to two ratio which turns the rotator shaft The entire quick access container chassis 8106 turns 180 degrees on the rotator shaft. Initially, in the un-deployed position, the chassis 8106 is located perpendicular to the slide out chassis 8105. Through the rotator shaft, it is first rotated ninety degree and then another ninety degree to make the container installed on it accessible. It is still perpendicular to the “slide out chassis,” but has now opened out away from the backpack main container for it to be accessible by the user. Through the use of a gear pulley 8115 and gear belt 8117, the “quick access container chassis” 8106, carrying container carriage frame 8119 moves towards the front on the “linear slide shaft” 8121. The gear belt is mounted on gear belt mounting bracket 8118 and kept in place.
The backpack quick side (left or right) access by the wearer is accomplished by three distinct and simultaneous motions. The first such motion in one embodiment comprises of the slide mechanism assembly 8103 a “quick access container” 7102 sliding out towards the side. The second such motion involves item 7102 pivot 180 degrees on rotator shaft 8115. The third motion involves gear belt 8117 engaged around stationary pulley gear 8116 drive the container carriage frame 8119 forward. Since all these motions are triggered through a motor 8107, the motions occur simultaneously. In one embodiment, the simultaneous motions also reduce the time to deploy and engage as well as un-deploy and disengage. Although in all embodiments, the “quick access container” is shown on the right side of the user, in another embodiment, it could be on the left side. In yet another embodiment, the same motor may be used to control two or a plurality of containers, particularly on the left and right side.
In one embodiment, the slide mechanism assembly 8103 works through gear motor 8107 driving the Miter gear set 1 8108 through drive shaft 8111. It also turns Pinion gear 8109 engaged with gear rack 8110 to move the assembly towards the side. Simultaneously, in one embodiment, the Miter gear set 2 8112 turns traverse shaft 8113. Traverse shaft 8113 in turn through the use of bevel gear set 8114 turns the rotator shaft 8115.
The illustrations of embodiments provided above are exemplary only and are not intended to be limiting. One skilled in the art may readily devise other systems consistent with the disclosed embodiments, which are intended to be within the scope of this disclosed. As such, the invention is only limited by the claims.
Claims
1. A backpack system, comprising:
- a back portion comprising of a regular holding space, a base wearable on a user's back using two shoulder straps for carrying the system on a user's back and;
- a plurality of front access storage compartments mounted on a plurality of sliding chassis attached to the base and;
- a mechanical system to mount a plurality of sliding chassis on a plurality of a second set of sliding chassis and;
- a mechanical and electrical system to move a plurality of storage compartments sideways outward, rotate on a pivot and sideways forward for frontal access.
2. The backpack system of claim 1 comprising a single first sliding chassis, a single second sliding chassis and a single storage compartment.
3. The backpack system of claim 1 where frontal access is at least from the right side or left side.
4. The backpack system of claim 1 where electrical and mechanical apparatus comprises of an electric motor, a switch, a plurality of gears of a plurality of ratios and a plurality of sliding and rotating shafts.
5. The backpack system of claim 1 where the mechanical apparatus comprises a waterproofing rubber seal, storage compartment cover pressed over the storage compartment using rotating plate and pull cable.
6. The backpack system of claim 1 where the two sideways and one rotate movement occur simultaneously.
7. A backpack method, comprising:
- a back portion comprising of a regular holding space, a base wearable on a user's back using two shoulder straps for carrying on a user's back and;
- a plurality of front access storage compartments mounted on a plurality of sliding chassis attached to the base and;
- a method to mount a plurality of sliding chassis on a plurality of a second set of sliding chassis and;
- a method to move a plurality of storage compartments sideways outward, rotate on a pivot and sideways forward for frontal access.
8. The backpack method of claim 7 comprising a single first sliding chassis, a single second sliding chassis and a single storage compartment.
9. The backpack method of claim 7 where frontal access is at least from the right side or left side.
10. The backpack method of claim 7 where electrical and mechanical apparatus comprises of an electric motor, a switch, a plurality of gears of a plurality of ratios and a plurality of sliding and rotating shafts.
11. The backpack method of claim 7 where the mechanical apparatus comprises a waterproofing rubber seal, storage compartment cover pressed over the storage compartment using rotating plate and pull cable.
12. The backpack method of claim 7 where the two sideways and one rotate movement occur simultaneously.
13. A backpack apparatus, comprising:
- a back portion comprising of a regular holding space, a base wearable on a user's back using two shoulder straps for carrying on a user's back and;
- a plurality of front access storage compartments mounted on a plurality of sliding chassis attached to the base and;
- an apparatus to mount a plurality of sliding chassis on a plurality of a second set of sliding chassis and;
- an apparatus to move a plurality of storage compartments sideways outward, rotate on a pivot and sideways forward for frontal access.
14. The backpack apparatus of claim 13 comprising a single first sliding chassis, a single second sliding chassis and a single storage compartment.
15. The backpack apparatus of claim 13 where frontal access is at least from the right side or left side.
16. The backpack apparatus of claim 13 where electrical and mechanical apparatus comprises of an electric motor, a switch, a plurality of gears of a plurality of ratios and a plurality of sliding and rotating shafts.
17. The backpack apparatus of claim 13 where the mechanical apparatus comprises a waterproofing rubber seal, storage compartment cover pressed over the storage compartment using rotating plate and pull cable.
18. The backpack apparatus of claim 13 where the two sideways and one rotate movement occur simultaneously.
19. The backpack apparatus of claim 17 where the electric motor is replaced by a manual movement or movement through use of springs.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 18, 2015
Publication Date: Mar 23, 2017
Inventor: Frank Romero (Vallejo, CA)
Application Number: 14/859,120