ANTLER BACKPACK

Abstract

The present invention relates to a backpack, having an internal area, configured to also carrying hunting supplies, such as rattling antlers, in an external storage area that provides greater access. Using various flaps, an upside-down upper pocket, a bottom pocket, a left side pocket and a right side pocket may be created on a back surface of the backpack that defines an external storage area. Altering the sizes and locations of the flaps may be used to alter the size and location of the external storage area on the back of the backpack. In addition, vertical straps may be used to adjust a vertical dimension of the external storage area and horizontal straps may be used to adjust a horizontal dimension of the external storage area.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. Non-Provisional patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/438,324, filed Jan. 11, 2023 and titled Antler Backpack, which is fully incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved backpack specifically designed for the easy transportation of antlers in an exterior storage area of the backpack.

BACKGROUND

Hunters of bucks (male deer) and/or bulls (male elks) often try to improve their hunting skills by using various methods. One method used by hunters to attract bucks and/or bulls is to aggressively strike their antlers together (either actual antlers or simulated materials), which is referred to as antler rattling. Striking the antlers together simulates the sound of a pair of bucks or a pair of bulls fighting, which may attract actual bucks or bulls to the hunter using this technique. The antler rattling may also be used to cover other sounds of the hunter that might scare away the bucks or bulls. Thus, this technique has several advantages and is often used by hunters.

Applicants have noticed that one problem with antler rattling for the hunter is that antlers tend to be large and have an awkward shape for carrying through the woods. The antlers might not fit into the backpack, or if they do fit, the antlers take up most of the room in the backpack. If the antlers are attached to the outside of the backpack, their tines (tips) will typically be exposed and become dangerous weapons and/or get tangled in the bushes as the hunter hikes through a wooded area. What is needed is an easy method for a hunter to carry a pair of antlers (usually a left and a right antler, although two lefts or two rights may also be used) while hiking through the woods hunting for bucks or bulls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a backpack with an easily accessible external storage area that may store, as non-limiting examples, rattling antlers or other hunting supplies.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

The present invention provides a backpack configured for externally carrying supplies. The backpack may have an internal area inside the backpack that may be opened or closed with a zipper. The backpack may have a front surface configured to rest against a back of a person wearing the backpack. The backpack may have a left front strap and a right front strap configured to go across the shoulders of the person wearing the backpack to place the weight of the backpack on the person's shoulders.

The backpack may have a back surface configured for externally carrying supplies. The backpack may have an upper cross flap attached horizontally across the upper portion of the back surface of the backpack that forms an upside-down upper pocket between the upper cross flap and the back surface of the backpack.

The backpack may have a lower cross flap attached horizontally below the upper cross flap. The lower cross flap that forms a lower pocket between the lower cross flap and the back surface of the backpack. An external storage area may be created between the upside-down upper pocket and the lower pocket.

The backpack may have a left cross flap attached vertically along a left edge of the back surface of the backpack that creates a left side pocket between the left cross flap and the back surface of the backpack. The backpack may also have a right cross flap attached vertically along a right edge of the back surface of the backpack that creates a right side pocket between the right cross flap and the back surface of the backpack. An external storage area may be defined or created between the upside-down upper pocket, the lower pocket, the left side pocket and the right side pocket.

The backpack may also have a left vertical strap and a right vertical strap, wherein a length of the left vertical strap and a length of the right vertical strap are adjustable and the left vertical strap and the right vertical strap are configured to be able to adjust a vertical dimension of the external storage area.

The backpack may also have a top horizontal strap and a bottom horizontal strap, wherein a length of the top horizontal strap and a length of the bottom horizontal strap are adjustable and the top horizontal strap and the bottom horizontal strap are configured to be able to adjust a horizontal dimension of the external storage area.

The upper cross flap, the lower cross flap, the left cross flap and the right cross flap may enclose any desired percentage of an outside face of the external storage area. As non-limiting examples, an exposure (not covered by material) of greater than 50% provides easier access to items stored in the external storage area while an exposure of less than 50% provides a more secure external storage area with a reduced chance of items falling out and/or being lost.

This Summary section is neither intended to be, nor should be, construed as being representative of the full extent and scope of the present disclosure. Additional benefits, features and embodiments of the present disclosure are set forth in the attached figures and in the description hereinbelow, and as described by the claims. Accordingly, it should be understood that this Summary section may not contain all of the aspects and embodiments claimed herein.

Additionally, the disclosure herein is not meant to be limiting or restrictive in any manner. Moreover, the present disclosure is intended to provide an understanding to those of ordinary skill in the art of one or more representative embodiments supporting the claims. Thus, it is important that the claims be regarded as having a scope including constructions of various features of the present disclosure insofar as they do not depart from the scope of the methods and apparatuses consistent with the present disclosure (including the originally filed claims). Moreover, the present disclosure is intended to encompass and include obvious improvements and modifications of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a backpack according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the backpack as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a front side of a backpack.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a back side of a backpack in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description describes a backpack having an external storage area, method of using and making the same and is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the disclosed subject matter in the context of one or more particular implementations. Various modifications, alterations, and permutations of the disclosed implementations can be made and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined may be applied to other implementations and applications, without departing from scope of the disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the described or illustrated implementations, but to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the described principles and features.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing(s), and specific language will be used to describe the same.

Appearances of the phrases an “embodiment,” an “example,” or similar language in this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment, to different embodiments, or to one or more of the figures. The features, functions, and the like described herein are considered to be able to be combined in whole or in part one with another as the claims and/or art may direct, either directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly.

As used herein, “comprising,” “including.” “containing,” “is,” “are,” “characterized by,” and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional unrecited elements or method steps unless explicitly stated otherwise.

Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment of the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

The present invention is a backpack 100 with an external storage area 180 that solves the problems of the prior art. Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a backpack 100 is illustrated that is configured for externally carrying hunting supplies. The backpack 100 may have an internal area inside the backpack 100 that may be opened or closed with a zipper. The backpack 100 may have a front surface 105 configured to rest against a back of a person wearing the backpack 100.

The backpack 100 may have a left front strap 106 having a top and a bottom. The top of the left front strap 106 may be attached proximate to a top center of the front surface 105 of the backpack 100. The bottom of the left front strap 106 may be attached proximate to a bottom left of the front surface 105 of the backpack 100.

The backpack 100 may have a right front strap 108 having a top and a bottom. The top of the right front strap 108 may be attached proximate to the top center of the front surface 105 of the backpack 100. The bottom of the right front strap 108 may be attached proximate to a bottom right of the front surface 105 of the backpack 100.

The backpack 100 may have a back surface 110, having an upper portion, a lower portion, a left edge and a right edge. In preferred embodiments, the back surface 110 of the backpack 100 may be configured to externally carry hunting supplies, such as rattling horns or other hunting equipment.

The backpack 100 may have an upper cross flap 115 attached horizontally across the upper portion of the back surface 110 of the backpack 100. A top, a left side and a right side of the upper cross flap 115 may be attached to the upper portion of the back surface 110 of the backpack 100, while a bottom of the upper cross flap 115 may not be attached to the back surface 110 of the backpack 100. Attaching the top, the left side and the right side, but not the bottom of the upper cross flap 115 forms an upside-down upper pocket 120 between the upper cross flap 115 and the back surface 110 of the backpack 100. In preferred embodiments, the upper cross flap 115 is rectangular with a horizontal length between eight inches and 14 inches and a vertical height between one inch and four inches.

The backpack 100 may have a lower cross flap 125 attached horizontally across the lower portion of the back surface 110 of the backpack 100. A bottom, a left side and a right side of the lower cross flap 125 may be attached to either to a bottom of the backpack 100 or to the lower portion of the back surface 110 of the backpack 100, while a top of the lower cross flap 125 is not attached to the bottom or the back surface 110 of the backpack 100. Attaching the bottom, the left side, the right side, but not the top of the lower cross flap 125 forms a lower pocket 130 between the lower cross flap 125 and the back surface 110 of the backpack 100, thereby creating an external storage area 180 between the upside-down upper pocket 120 and the lower pocket 130.

The size of the upside-down upper pocket 120 and the lower pocket 130 may be adjusted by changing the dimensions of the upper cross flap 115 and the lower cross flap 125. In this way, the upside-down upper pocket 120 and the lower pocket 130 may be altered depending on the equipment intended to be carried. In addition, the height of the external storage area 180 may be adjusted as desired by increasing or decreasing the distance between the upper cross flap 115 and the lower cross flap 125. In other embodiments, the lower cross flap 125 may have a horizontal width between eight inches and 14 inches and a vertical height between six inches and 18 inches. In another embodiment, the top of the upper cross flap 115 may be between three inches and 12 inches from the top of the lower cross flap 125 in order to create an external storage area 180 of the backpack 100 when it is intended to carry rattling antlers or other items of similar size.

The backpack 100 may also have a left cross flap 135 attached vertically along a left edge of the back surface 110 of the backpack 100. A top, a left side and a bottom of the left cross flap 135 may be attached to the left edge of the back surface 110 of the backpack 100, while a right side of the left cross flap 135 is not attached to the back surface 110 of the backpack 100. Attaching the top, the left side and the bottom, but not the right side forms a left side pocket 140 between the left cross flap 135 and the back surface 110 of the backpack 100.

The backpack 100 may also have a right cross flap 145 attached vertically along a right edge of the back surface 110 of the backpack 100. A top, a right side and a bottom of the right cross flap 145 may be attached to the right edge of the back surface 110 of the backpack 100, while a left side of the right cross flap 145 is not attached to the back surface 110 of the backpack 100. Attaching the top, the right side and the bottom, but not the left side forms a right side pocket 150 between the right cross flap 145 and the back surface 110 of the backpack 100. The external storage area 180 may be created between the upside-down upper pocket 120, the lower pocket 130, the left side pocket 140 and the right side pocket 150.

The backpack 100 may have a left vertical strap 155 having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the left vertical strap 155 is attached to a left portion of the upside-down upper pocket 120 and the bottom of the left vertical strap 155 is attached to a left portion of the lower pocket 130. The backpack 100 may also have a right vertical strap 160 having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the right vertical strap 160 is attached to a right portion of the upside-down upper pocket 120 and the bottom of the right vertical strap 160 is attached to a right portion of the lower pocket 130. A length of the left vertical strap 155 and a length of the right vertical strap 160 may be adjustable using one or more buckles or strap length adjustment means as is now known or may be known in the future. The left vertical strap 155 and the right vertical strap 160 may be configured to be able to adjust a vertical dimension of the external storage area 180. Specifically, by shortening the length of the left vertical strap 155 and the length of the right vertical strap 160 constricts or decreases the size of the external storage area 180 in the vertical direction.

The backpack 100 may have a top horizontal strap 165 having a left side and a right side. The left side of the top horizontal strap 165 may be attached to a top portion of the left side pocket 140 and the right side of the top horizontal strap 165 is attached to a top portion of the right side pocket 150.

The backpack 100 may have a bottom horizontal strap 170 having a left side and a right side. The left side of the bottom horizontal strap 170 may be attached to a top portion of the left side pocket 140 and the right side of the bottom horizontal strap 170 may be attached to a bottom portion of the right side pocket 150.

A length of the top horizontal strap 165 and a length of the bottom horizontal strap 170 are preferably adjustable and the top horizontal strap 165 and the bottom horizontal strap 170 may be configured to be able to adjust a horizontal dimension of the external storage area 180. Specifically, by shortening the length of the top horizontal strap 165 and the length of the bottom horizontal strap 170 constricts or decreases the size of the external storage area 180 in the horizontal direction.

The upper cross flap 115, the lower cross flap 125, the left cross flap 135 and the right cross flap 145 of the backpack 100 may enclose any desired percentage of an outside face of the external storage area 180. In a preferred embodiment, the upper cross flap 115, the lower cross flap 125, the left cross flap 135 and the right cross flap 145 encloses less than 50% of the outside face of the external storage area 180. In other words, in this example embodiment, more than 50% of the outside face of the external storage area 180 is totally exposed, i.e., not covered. This exposer of the external storage area 180 allows for items, such as rattling antlers stored in the external storage area 180, to be accessed by the wearer of the backpack 100 without taking the backpack 100 off the back of the person wearing the backpack 100. In other words, the external storage area 180 may be configured so that items stored in the external storage area 180 may be easily removed by a person wearing the backpack 100 without taking the backpack 100 off the back of the person wearing the backpack 100. In another preferred embodiment, the upper cross flap 115, the lower cross flap 125, the left cross flap 135 and the right cross flap 145 encloses more than 50% of the outside face of the external storage area 180. In this example embodiment, less than 50% of the outside face of the external storage area 180 is totally exposed, i.e., not covered. This exposer of the external storage area 180 allows for items stored in the external storage area 180 to be more secure (even if they are now less accessible). Changing the percent of exposure by the external storage area 180 may either increase or decrease accessibility while, at the same time, but in the opposite direction, decreases or increases security of stored items.

In another embodiment, the backpack 100 may have a lower cross flap 125 positioned near the bottom on the back side of the backpack 100 that creates a lower pocket 130 configured to receive a lower portion of the pair of antlers. The lower cross flap 125 may have two (one on each side) lower cross flap 125 side panels made from a flexible, but durable material, that constrict around the lower portion of the pair of antlers to securely hold the lower portion of the antlers in the lower pocket 130.

The backpack 100 may also have an upper cross flap 115 that extends horizontally across the backside of the backpack 100. A top of the upper cross flap 115 may be fixedly attached, such as by sewing, to the backpack 100 while a lower portion of the upper cross flap 115 may be left unattached so as to create an upside-down upper pocket 120, i.e., a narrow pocket, running across the backpack 100. The upper cross flap 115 may be created using any durable material and be of any desired width. In preferred embodiments, the upper cross flap 115 is one to three inches in width.

Referring to FIG. 2, a top portion of the antlers may be tucked into the upside-down upper pocket 120 created between the upper cross flap 115 and the back of the backpack 100. One or more sets of straps and buckles may be used to further retain the pair of antlers in the lower pocket 130 and the upside-down upper pocket 120 created by the upper cross flap 115 and the backpack 100. The straps and/or buckles may be attached to any desired part of the backpack 100, but in a preferred embodiment the straps are connected to or near the lower cross flap 125 while the buckles are connected to or near the upper cross flap 115. In other embodiments, the straps are connected to or near the upper cross flap 115 while the buckles are connected near or to the low flap.

Some embodiments allow additional gear, such as the illustrated jacket, to be attached over the created pocket of the lower cross flap 125 holding the antler pair, using one or more straps and brackets that when connected run horizontally across the back of the backpack 100. These straps may be on the left side and the brackets on the right, or vise versa, of the backpack 100 to create these horizontal holders of gear.

The inventions and methods described herein can be viewed as a whole, or as a number of separate inventions, that can be used independently or mixed and matched as desired. All inventions, steps, processed, devices, and methods described herein can be mixed and matched as desired. All previously described features, functions, or inventions described herein or by reference may be mixed and matched as desired.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variation can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A backpack configured for externally carrying hunting supplies, comprising:

an internal area inside the backpack that may be opened or closed with a zipper;

a front surface configured to rest against a back of a person wearing the backpack;

a back surface, having an upper portion, a lower portion, a left edge and a right edge, configured for externally carrying hunting supplies;

an upper cross flap attached horizontally across the upper portion of the back surface of the backpack, wherein a top, a left side and a right side of the upper cross flap are attached to the upper portion of the back surface of the backpack and a bottom of the upper cross flap is not attached to the back surface of the backpack, thereby forming an upside-down upper pocket between the upper cross flap and the back surface of the backpack; and

a lower cross flap attached horizontally across the lower portion of the back surface of the backpack, wherein a bottom, a left side and a right side of the lower cross flap are attached to either to a bottom of the backpack or to the lower portion of the back surface of the backpack and a top of the lower cross flap is not attached to the bottom or the back surface of the backpack, thereby forming a bottom pocket between the lower cross flap and the back surface of the backpack, wherein an external storage area is created between the upside-down upper pocket and the bottom pocket.

2. The backpack of claim 1, further comprising:

a left cross flap attached vertically along a left edge of the back surface of the backpack, wherein a top, a left side and a bottom of the left cross flap are attached to the left edge of the back surface and a right edge of the left cross flap is not attached to the back surface of the backpack, thereby forming a left side pocket between the left cross flap and the back surface of the backpack; and

a right cross flap attached vertically along a right edge of the back surface of the backpack, wherein a top, a right side and a bottom of the right cross flap are attached to the right edge of the back surface and a left edge of the right cross flap is not attached to the back surface of the backpack, thereby forming a right side pocket between the right cross flap and the back surface of the backpack, wherein the external storage area is created between the upside-down upper pocket, the bottom pocket, the left side pocket and the right side pocket.

3. The backpack of claim 2, further comprising:

a left vertical strap having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the left vertical strap is attached to a left portion of the upside-down upper pocket and the bottom of the left vertical strap is attached to a left portion of the bottom pocket; and

a right vertical strap having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the right vertical strap is attached to a right portion of the upside-down upper pocket and the bottom of the right vertical strap is attached to a right portion of the bottom pocket, wherein a length of the left vertical strap and a length of the right vertical strap are adjustable and the left vertical strap and the right vertical strap are configured to be able to adjust a vertical dimension of the external storage area.

4. The backpack of claim 3, further comprising:

a top horizontal strap having a left side and a right side, wherein the left side of the top horizontal strap is attached to a top portion of the left side pocket and the right side of the top horizontal strap is attached to a top portion of the right side pocket; and

a bottom horizontal strap having a left side and a right side, wherein the left side of the bottom horizontal strap is attached to a top portion of the left side pocket and the right side of the bottom horizontal strap is attached to a bottom portion of the right side pocket, wherein a length of the top horizontal strap and a length of the bottom horizontal strap are adjustable and the top horizontal strap and the bottom horizontal strap are configured to be able to adjust a horizontal dimension of the external storage area.

5. The backpack of claim 4, wherein the upper cross flap, the lower cross flap, the left cross flap and the right cross flap enclose less than 50% of an outside face of the external storage area.

6. The backpack of claim 5, wherein the external storage area is configured so that items stored in the external storage area may be easily removed by a person wearing the backpack without taking the backpack off the back of the person wearing the backpack.

7. The backpack of claim 6, wherein the external storage area is configured to store rattling antlers.

8. A backpack configured for externally carrying supplies, comprising:

an internal area inside the backpack that may be opened or closed with a zipper;

a front surface configured to rest against a back of a person wearing the backpack;

a left front strap having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the left front strap is attached proximate to a top center of the front surface of the backpack and the bottom of the left front strap is attached proximate to a bottom left of the front surface of the backpack;

a right front strap having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the right front strap is attached proximate to the top center of the front surface of the backpack and the bottom of the right front strap is attached proximate to a bottom right of the front surface of the backpack;

a back surface, having an upper portion, a lower portion, a left edge and a right edge, configured for externally carrying supplies;

an upper cross flap attached horizontally across the upper portion of the back surface of the backpack, wherein a top, a left side and a right side of the upper cross flap are attached to the upper portion of the back surface of the backpack and a bottom of the upper cross flap is not attached to the back surface of the backpack, thereby forming an upside-down upper pocket between the upper cross flap and the back surface of the backpack; and

a lower cross flap attached horizontally across the lower portion of the back surface of the backpack, wherein a bottom, a left side and a right side of the lower cross flap are attached to either to a bottom of the backpack or to the lower portion of the back surface of the backpack and a top of the lower cross flap is not attached to the bottom or the back surface of the backpack, thereby forming a bottom pocket between the lower cross flap and the back surface of the backpack, wherein an external storage area is created between the upside-down upper pocket and the bottom pocket.

9. The backpack of claim 8, further comprising:

a left cross flap attached vertically along a left edge of the back surface of the backpack, wherein a top, a left side and a bottom of the left cross flap are attached to the left edge of the back surface and a right edge of the left cross flap is not attached to the back surface of the backpack, thereby forming a left side pocket between the left cross flap and the back surface of the backpack; and

a right cross flap attached vertically along a right edge of the back surface of the backpack, wherein a top, a right side and a bottom of the right cross flap are attached to the right edge of the back surface and a left edge of the right cross flap is not attached to the back surface of the backpack, thereby forming a right side pocket between the right cross flap and the back surface of the backpack, wherein the external storage area is created between the upside-down upper pocket, the bottom pocket, the left side pocket and the right side pocket.

10. The backpack of claim 9, further comprising:

a left vertical strap having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the left vertical strap is attached to a left portion of the upside-down upper pocket and the bottom of the left vertical strap is attached to a left portion of the bottom pocket; and

a right vertical strap having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the right vertical strap is attached to a right portion of the upside-down upper pocket and the bottom of the right vertical strap is attached to a right portion of the bottom pocket, wherein a length of the left vertical strap and a length of the right vertical strap are adjustable and the left vertical strap and the right vertical strap are configured to be able to adjust a vertical dimension of the external storage area.

11. The backpack of claim 10, further comprising:

a top horizontal strap having a left side and a right side, wherein the left side of the top horizontal strap is attached to a top portion of the left side pocket and the right side of the top horizontal strap is attached to a top portion of the right side pocket; and

a bottom horizontal strap having a left side and a right side, wherein the left side of the bottom horizontal strap is attached to a top portion of the left side pocket and the right side of the bottom horizontal strap is attached to a bottom portion of the right side pocket, wherein a length of the top horizontal strap and a length of the bottom horizontal strap are adjustable and the top horizontal strap and the bottom horizontal strap are configured to be able to adjust a horizontal dimension of the external storage area.

12. The backpack of claim 11, wherein the upper cross flap, the lower cross flap, the left cross flap and the right cross flap enclose less than 50% of an outside face of the external storage area.

13. The backpack of claim 12, wherein the external storage area is configured so that items stored in the external storage area may be easily removed by a person wearing the backpack without taking the backpack off the back of the person wearing the backpack.

14. The backpack of claim 13, wherein the external storage area is configured to store rattling antlers.

15. A backpack configured for externally carrying hunting supplies, comprising:

a front surface configured to rest against a back of a person wearing the backpack;

a back surface, having an upper portion, a lower portion, a left edge and a right edge, configured for externally carrying hunting supplies;

an upper cross flap attached horizontally across the upper portion of the back surface of the backpack, wherein a top, a left side and a right side of the upper cross flap are attached to the upper portion of the back surface of the backpack and a bottom of the upper cross flap is not attached to the back surface of the backpack, thereby forming an upside-down upper pocket between the upper cross flap and the back surface of the backpack, wherein the upper cross flap is rectangular with a horizontal length between eight inches and 14 inches and a vertical height between one inch and four inches; and

a lower cross flap attached horizontally across the lower portion of the back surface of the backpack, wherein a bottom, a left side and a right side of the lower cross flap are attached to either to a bottom of the backpack or to the lower portion of the back surface of the backpack and a top of the lower cross flap is not attached to the bottom or the back surface of the backpack, thereby forming a bottom pocket between the lower cross flap and the back surface of the backpack, wherein the lower cross flap has a horizontal width between eight inches and 14 inches and a vertical height between six inches and 18 inches, and wherein an external storage area is created between the upside-down upper pocket and the bottom pocket.

16. The backpack of claim 15, further comprising:

a left cross flap attached vertically along a left edge of the back surface of the backpack, wherein a top, a left side and a bottom of the left cross flap are attached to the left edge of the back surface and a right edge of the left cross flap is not attached to the back surface of the backpack, thereby forming a left side pocket between the left cross flap and the back surface of the backpack; and

a right cross flap attached vertically along a right edge of the back surface of the backpack, wherein a top, a right side and a bottom of the right cross flap are attached to the right edge of the back surface and a left edge of the right cross flap is not attached to the back surface of the backpack, thereby forming a right side pocket between the right cross flap and the back surface of the backpack, wherein the external storage area is created between the upside-down upper pocket, the bottom pocket, the left side pocket and the right side pocket.

17. The backpack of claim 16, further comprising:

a left vertical strap having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the left vertical strap is attached to a left portion of the upside-down upper pocket and the bottom of the left vertical strap is attached to a left portion of the bottom pocket; and

a right vertical strap having a top and a bottom, wherein the top of the right vertical strap is attached to a right portion of the upside-down upper pocket and the bottom of the right vertical strap is attached to a right portion of the bottom pocket, wherein a length of the left vertical strap and a length of the right vertical strap are adjustable and the left vertical strap and the right vertical strap are configured to be able to adjust a vertical dimension of the external storage area.

18. The backpack of claim 17, further comprising:

a top horizontal strap having a left side and a right side, wherein the left side of the top horizontal strap is attached to a top portion of the left side pocket and the right side of the top horizontal strap is attached to a top portion of the right side pocket; and

a bottom horizontal strap having a left side and a right side, wherein the left side of the bottom horizontal strap is attached to a top portion of the left side pocket and the right side of the bottom horizontal strap is attached to a bottom portion of the right side pocket, wherein a length of the top horizontal strap and a length of the bottom horizontal strap are adjustable and the top horizontal strap and the bottom horizontal strap are configured to be able to adjust a horizontal dimension of the external storage area.

19. The backpack of claim 18, wherein the upper cross flap, the lower cross flap, the left cross flap and the right cross flap enclose less than 50% of an outside face of the external storage area.

20. The backpack of claim 19, wherein the external storage area is configured so that items stored in the external storage area may be easily removed by a person wearing the backpack without taking the backpack off a back of the person wearing the backpack.