Bucket Backpack

Abstract

A backpack bucket carrier comprising a rigid frame having a vertical back-frame, a horizontal bucket shelf extending rearwardly from the back-frame and having a raised circular bucket-retaining ring spaced from the vertical back-frame, a backpack type soft harness secured to the rigid frame, and a telescoping handle assembly stowed in the vertical back frame.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS/PRIORITY BENEFIT CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/328,822, filed Apr. 28, 2016 by the same inventor (Wistrand), the entirety of which provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The subject matter of the present application is in the field of backpacks, and in particular backpacks for carrying cylindrical containers such as buckets.

BACKGROUND

Sportsmen and workers in certain vocations often use large plastic buckets, i.e. “five gallon” or “utility” buckets with rigid cylindrical bodies and snap-tight lids, for transporting equipment to and from locations such as hunting blinds, ice fishing holes, and worksites. While the size of the buckets may vary, they are generally bulky and heavy when full, and difficult to carry far by hand.

Devices for carrying or transporting such buckets are known, and seem to fall into two general types: backpack carriers, and wheeled frames similar to dollies or wheeled luggage transports.

Examples of prior bucket-transporting devices include those shown in U.S. Patent Application Publication US-2015/0076202 to Jensen et al (utility bucket backpack comprising spaced upper and lower straps connected around the circumference of the bucket, and connected to two backpack straps); U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,761 to Nish (sportsmen's utility bucket cover comprising a fabric backpack with a cylindrical fabric pack body having a circular foam lid for a seat, and various pockets); and U.S. Pat. No. 8,789,836 to Umbro et al (wheeled transport carrier for standard sized buckets and propane tanks, with an offset handle positioned over the bucket center of gravity, and convertible to a skid).

While various carriers such as the examples above might be useful in certain situations, there is room for improvement in terms of strength, carrying stability, comfort, and, especially, outdoor recreational utility.

BRIEF SUMMARY

I have invented a bucket backpack comprising a rigid pack frame with backpack straps, especially useful for carrying utility buckets to fishing and hunting spots. The backpack is not limited to these uses, however.

In a first form, the backpack comprises a rigid pack frame having a substantially rectangular upright back-frame; a rigid circular horizontal bucket shelf extending rearwardly from the back-frame with a substantially continuous vertical ring around its perimeter, the ring spaced rearwardly from the back-frame; and a telescoping handle stored in the back-frame, the handle having a stored position resting above a maximum height of a bucket on the circular shelf, the handle further having an extended position forming an elongated vertical backrest, and the handle being substantially coplanar with the back-frame.

The frame is useful on its own for carrying a bucket short distances by hand, and for converting the bucket to a convenient chair without removing the bucket from the frame. The frame also includes a preferably detachable padded backpack portion with shoulder straps, and one or more bucket-securing straps or similar securing members.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description below, in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an example backpack according to the invention, with a bucket secured therein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the backpack of FIG. 1, with the bucket shown in an exploded assembly position.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the backpack frame from FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the backpack frame of FIG. 1 with a removable padded back and shoulder straps portion in phantom.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the backpack of FIG. 1 being worn by a person.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the backpack of FIG. 1 being used as a chair by a person.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1-4, a bucket backpack 10 is shown in exemplary form in order to teach how to make and use the claimed invention. Backpack 10 includes a rigid frame 20 having a vertical back-frame portion 22 and a horizontal bucket shelf 24 extending rearwardly from the back-frame, and a soft pack portion 30 removably attached to frame 20. Frame 20 in the illustrated example is made from welded tubular steel or aluminum members, although other materials including wood or suitably strong polymers or composites could be used, and other known joining techniques for the members making up the frame are possible, e.g. mechanical fasteners or molding in one-piece. Soft pack portion 30 is sewn from typical backpack materials such as nylon canvas.

Backpack 10 is used to secure and transport a common utility bucket B of known type, in particular a “five-gallon” type bucket with a lid L, although other types and sizes of buckets may be carried on the backpack.

Vertical back-frame 22 provides attachment points for soft pack portion 30, in the illustrated example with wraparound wings or sleeves of fabric such as 38 secured with snaps, rivets, pins, or Velcro® fastener into or around vertical back-frame members 22a and/or horizontal back-frame members 22b.

Horizontal bucket shelf 24 includes longitudinal brace members 24a extending rearwardly from vertical back-frame 22, and cross-members 24b as needed for strength. Shelf 24 further includes a circular retaining ring 24c comprising a substantially continuous raised circular wall or flange extending e.g. one or two inches upwardly from the horizontal shelf formed by brace members 22a and 22b. The diameter of ring 24c approximates and is sufficient to receive the diameter of the lower end of bucket B therein, with a close fit minimizing movement of the bucket in the ring. As best seen in FIGS. 1-3, ring 24c is spaced from the plane of back-frame 22 defined by members 22a, with an air gap 23 that ensures space is maintained between the bucket and a user's back. Ring 24c may include perforations or interruptions, slots, etc. for weight savings and drainage, or may even be a series of raised tabs in circumferential arrangement on the shelf corresponding to the outer circumference of the lower end of the bucket and sufficient to prevent the lower end of the bucket from shifting in any direction on the shelf.

Back-frame 22 further includes a telescoping handle assembly 26 extendable from the upper ends of tubular frame members 22a. Handle assembly 26 includes two spaced vertical members 26a nested telescopically in tubular back-frame members 22a, and a cross-handle 26b connecting the upper ends of vertical members 26a. Cross-handle 26b can be padded or rubberized for insulation, comfort, and grip. Handle assembly 26 can be locked into its stowed position and one or more raised positions using removable clevis pins 27 extending through aligned holes 126a formed through vertical tubular members 22a and 26a. Other locking means such as detent pins, expanding screw collars, and similar are also possible.

The close fit between bucket B and the interior of horizontal shelf ring 24c prevents any significant shifting of the bucket while walking. Bucket B can be further secured on the pack frame with one or more sets of straps 28 anchored to or wrapped around the frame and secured around the circumference of the bucket with buckles, Velcro® fastener, or similar known connectors 28b. Other possible securing means include rope, bungee cords, and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 5, soft pack portion 30 presents an essentially conventional backpack strap harness 34 and padded or ventilated fabric back panel 32 to the user, with the option of storage compartments or pockets if desired. A waistbelt 36 is desirable for additional carrying comfort and stability. Bucket B is supported rigidly and securely in rigid frame 20, without shifting, while the person is carrying the pack via the softer strap harness. Handle assembly 26 is positioned above the top of the bucket in the stowed position shown in FIG. 5, providing an attachment point for additional gear carried on top of the bucket, and keeping the handle clear for easy grasping if the bucket/pack combination is to be hand carried a short distance without donning the pack harness 34.

Also shown in FIG. 5 is the air gap 23 maintained between the non-breathable, rigid sidewall of the bucket B and the user's back. Air gap 23 keeps the user cool and prevents uncomfortable contact between the user's back and the bucket, eliminating the need for special cushioning so that soft pack back-panel portion 32 may be a lattice of straps or a simple panel of mesh or fabric for enhanced breathability.

Bucket B is easily removed from frame 20 for various purposes once a desired use location is reached, but can pick up dirt, water, snow, leaves, etc. when set on the ground. The open nature of bucket shelf 24 allows such debris to simply drain or fall off once the bucket is re-inserted in the frame and the frame is hefted onto the back for carrying, keeping the wearer and the soft pack portions clean and dry.

FIG. 5 also shows equipment holders or attachments 25 secured or attached to ring 24c, for example fabric pouches mounted on the ring or rigid holders such as b-rings or clips welded, molded, or mechanically secured to the material of the ring 24c. Holders 25 can be used to carry items such as fishing equipment or tools, for example, on the outside of the bucket shelf where they can be readily accessed.

Referring next to FIG. 6, the combination of bucket B and the rigid framework 20 of backpack 10 allows it to be used as a sturdy and comfortable chair, including a seatback created when handle assembly 26 is raised and locked in place. For additional comfort, a preferably removable backpad 29 may be secured to the inner face of the handle assembly 26, attached by Velcro® straps or similar. Backpad 29 may be stowed and carried somewhere on or in the soft pack portion 30, or on top of or inside bucket B if the backpad is not permanently attached to handle assembly 26. Lid L can also be provide with a cushion or pad (not shown, but known) for sitting, either removably or permanently attached to the lid. The rigid, L-shaped frame 20 with the brace members 24a and 24b in contact with the ground, and the large-diameter rigid ring 24c, ensures that the pack/bucket combination sits level on the ground for a stable seat.

It will finally be understood that the disclosed embodiments represent presently preferred examples of how to make and use the invention, but are intended to enable rather than limit the invention. Variations and modifications of the illustrated examples in the foregoing written specification and drawings may be possible without departing from the scope of the invention. It should further be understood that to the extent the term “invention” is used in the written specification, it is not to be construed as a limiting term as to number of claimed or disclosed inventions or discoveries or the scope of any such invention or discovery, but as a term which has long been used to describe new and useful improvements in science and the useful arts. The scope of the invention supported by the above disclosure should accordingly be construed within the scope of what it teaches and suggests to those skilled in the art, and within the scope of any claims that the above disclosure supports in this application or in any other application claiming priority to this application.

Claims

1. A backpack for carrying a large utility bucket, the backpack comprising: a rigid pack frame having a substantially rectangular upright back-frame; a rigid horizontal bucket shelf extending rearwardly from the back-frame with a substantially continuous vertical ring around its perimeter, the ring spaced rearwardly from the back-frame with an air gap therebetween; and a telescoping handle stored in the back-frame, the handle having a stored position resting above a maximum height of a bucket on the circular shelf, the handle further having a lockable extended position forming an elongated vertical backrest, and the handle being substantially coplanar with the back-frame.

2. The backpack according to claim 1, further comprising a removable soft pack portion attached to the rigid pack frame, the soft pack portion comprising a shoulder strap harness.

3. The backpack according to claim 1, wherein the ring is sized for a close non-shifting fit with the lower end of a bucket.

4. The backpack according to claim 3, further comprising one or more strap means attached to the pack frame and configured to wrap around a bucket.

5. The backpack according to claim 1, wherein the upright frame comprises a pair of spaced vertical members, and further wherein the circumference of a bucket inserted in the ring does not extend between the spaced members.