Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKPACK HAVING INSULATED COMPARTMENT :~
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates generally to backpacks,
and more particular to backpacks having a plurality of
compartments including a secured insulated compartment. ~ ~-
The Prior Art
Backpacks are well known commercial products. Typical -
backpacks comprise a backpack body formed of a plurality of
fabric panels. The backpacks may also include at least one
compartment for receiving a variety of articles including
books, sports equipment, clothes, and food. Some of the
backpacks also include separate compartments for receiving -~
insulated containers which themselves hold food and
beverages.
While the above identified existing backpacks work
sufficiently, there are certain limitations which exist
therein. First, while some existing backpacks have a
compartment for receiving an insulated container, the
insulated container is separate and independent from the
backpack. Therefore, it is possible that the insulated
container for holding food and beverages could easily be
misplaced from the backpack.
Secondly, some of the existing backpacks do not provide
for separate compartments for carrying articles such as
books, food, and beverages in separate insulated and/or non
insulated compartments.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention eliminates the above deficiencies -
in the state of the art backpack by providing a portable
backpack having a secured insulated compartment. The backpack
body and insulated compartment are each formed of a plurality -~
of fabric panels secured together at their respective edges.
The fabric panels in the insulated compartment and backpack
may include a plurality of layers secured together at their
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respective edges. Specifically, the insulated compartment ; -~
includes an insulating layer.
The backpack may also include at least one additional
storage section for receiving insulated or non-insulated
articles. The storage section may also be formed of a
plurality of fabric panels secured together at their
respective edges. The storage section may be attached to and
positioned at various locations on the backpack. -~
Accordingly, it is an objective to provide an improved
backpack having a secured insulated compartment.
It is another objective to provide an improved backpack
having a secured insulated compartment for storing and ;~
transporting articles such as food and beverages.
It is a further objective to provide an improved
backpack having at least one additional storage section
having an independent and separate access to that of the
access to the backpack.
Still a further objective is to provide an improved
backpack which can stand unassisted in a vertical and upright
position, while resting on a bottom panel.
Yet another objective is to provide an improved
backpack having separate storage compartments for receiving
and retaining a variety of articles.
These, and other objectives, which will be apparent to
one skilled in the art, are achieved by a preferred
embodiment which is described in detail below and which is
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Accompanying Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the subject backpack ~ ;
having a secured insulated compartment;
Figure 2 is a frontal view of the subject backpack
having a secured insulated compartment;
Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the subject
backpack having a secured insulated compartment;
Figure 4 is a sectional view through the subject
backpack having a secured insulated compartment taken along
lines 4-4 of Figure 2; ~ ~
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Figure 5 is a perspective view of the subject backpack
having a secured insulated compartment, wherein the insulated
compartment and the additional storage section are in open
positions.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring initially to Figures 1-4, a portable backpack
10 according to the present invention is illustrated. The -
backpack body 12 is formed of a plurality of fabric panels
including a front panel 14, rear panel 16, side panels 18,
top panel 20, and a first bottom panel 22. The panels are
generally joined together at their respective edges to form
the backpack body 12. A closure device such as a zipper 24 is
secured to edges of at least some of the panels and allows
the user to selectively open and close the mouth of the
backpack body 12. Other closure devices such as Velcro,
snaps, or buttons may also be used to allow the user to
selectively open and close the mouth. Backpack straps 26 may
be secured to the front panel 14 and/or the top panel 20. The
user may place one or both of the backpack straps 26 over one
or both of his shoulders, thus enabling the user to carry the ,
backpack 10. A buckle 28 may be provided on one or both of
the backpack straps 26 for adjustably adapting the backpack
10 to a particular user.
Also, illustrated in Figures 1-4 is an insulated
compartment 30, vertically secured to an exterior portion of
the rear panel 16 of the backpack body 12. However, the ~ i
insulated compartment 30 may be secured, either vertically or
horizontally, to any panel of the backpack body 12, including
being secured to the backpack body such that it is adjacent -~
to the first bottom panel 22. The insulated compartment 30
may be of a variety of shapes and sizes, and include a
variety of walls. Specifically, in Figure 1, the insulated
compartment 30 includes at least one side wall 32 and a top
wall 34. The rear panel 16 of the backpack body 12 is
approximately perpendicular to the side wall 32 of the
insulated compartment 30 and approximately parallel to the
top wall 34 of the insulated compartment 30.
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The side wall 32 and top wall 34 may be forme~ of a ~-
plurality of layers including an insulating layer 36, as
illustrated in Figure 4. The insulating layer 36 may be
adjacent to an exterior layer 38 and an interior layer 40.
The insulating layer 36 helps to keep articles cold which are
placed in the interior of the insulated compartment 30. The
described structure provides a backpack 10 having a secured
insulated compartment 30, such that the insulated compartment -~
30 is substantially insulated along all of its outside walls.
The thickness of the insulating layer 36 may vary depending
upon the characteristics desired. In addition, the insulating
layer 36 may be made of various thermally insulative
materials including polyurethane, or polyethylene.
A closure device such as a zipper 42 allows the user to
selectively open and close the insulated compartment 30, as
illustrated in Figure 5. Other closure devices such as ~;
Velcro, snaps or buttons may also be used to allow the user
to selectively open and close a mouth 44 of the insulated
compartment 30. A variety of articles and containers of
various shapes and sizes may be retained within the insulated
compartment 30 when the mouth 44 is closed. In addition, a
panel 46, which may be formed of various materials, may also
be secured in part to the interior layer 40 of the insulated
compartment 30 for receiving separate and additional cooling
means.
The backpack 10 may also contain an additional storage
section, which can be of various shapes and sizes. In
addition, the storage section may be attached to various
positions on the backpack body 12. In one preferred
embodiment, and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, a pouch 48 -
is located adjacent to a lower portion of the backpack body
12.
Specifically, and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4, a
portion of the pouch 48 may be located approximately parallel
to the first bottom panel 22 of the backpack body 12. Similar
to the backpack 10 and insulated compartment 30, the pouch 48
may be formed of a plurality of fabric panels attached
together at their respective edges. Specifically, the pouch
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48 may have a front panel 50, top panel 52, bottom panel 54
and rear panel (not shown). The pouch bottom panel 54 is ~ ;
approximately adjacent to the backpack first bottom panel 22.
The backpack first bottom panel 22 and the pouch bottom panel
54 act in part to provide a confined area for the pouch 48 to
occupy. ~ ;
Alternatively, the pouch bottom panel 54 may also be
adjacent to an insulating or padding layer 62. The insulating `
or padding layer 62 is confined between an interior layer 60
and the backpack first bottom panel 22. The insulating or ; ~`~
padding layer 62 helps in part to protect any article
retained within the pouch 48. Also, the insulating or padding
layer 62 assists in allowing the backpack 10 to rest in a
vertical or upright position, in part on the backpack first
bottom panel 22.
The pouch top panel 52 is adjacent to a backpack second - ;
bottom panel 58. The backpack second bottom panel 58 and
pouch top panel 52 act in part to separate an interior ~ .
portion of the pouch 48 and the interior portion of the
backpack body 12. In addition, the backpack second bottom
panel 58 and the pouch top panel 52 act in part to provide a
confined area for the pouch 48 to occupy.
A closure device such as a zipper 64 is secured to
edges of at least some of the fabric panels forming the pouch ;
48. The zipper 64 allows the user to selectively open and
close a mouth 66 leading to the interior portion of the pouch
48. Again, other closure devices may be utilized. The pouch
48 as illustrated in Figures 1-5 is sized to retain
containers of various sizes including a cylindrical container -
such as an insulated beverage bottle.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the insulated compartment 30, backpack body 12 and pouch 48
are all formed of material which is substantially flexible, -
waterproof, and weather resistant such as Nylon. The backpack
straps 26 may be formed of polypropylene or nylon. Other
materials having the desired characteristics may also be used
to form the insulated compartment 30, backpack body 12, pouch
48 and backpack straps 26.
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A padding layer also may be contained within the
backpack straps 26 to provide comfort to the user when
carrying the backpack 10. The thickness of the padding layer
may vary depending upon the characteristics desired.
While the above is the preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the subject invention is not to be so
confined. Other embodiments, which will be apparent to one
skilled in the art, and which utilize the teachings herein
set forth, are intended to be within the scope and spirit of
the subject invention.
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