Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKPACK FOR DISPLAYING OBJECTS STORED WITH1N
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to carrying bags, and particularly
backpacks
commonly used by both children and adults.
Backpacks are a most popular means for people to carry articles. For example,
students
utilize backpacks to carry books, papers, clothing and food to and from
school. Backpacks are
also used by persons conducting recreational activities such as hiking. More
recently, even small
children utilize backpacks to carry their toys and other articles.
Generally, backpacks are constructed of a semi-rectangular shape with access
to an
interior compartment by a long peripheral zipper that allows access to a
single large cavity or
compartment. Items to be transported are usually placed in a large interior
compartment and the
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zipper is drawn to a close to close the backpack. Shoulder strap extends from
the main storage
compartment for enabling the pack to be carried on one's back; hence the term
backpack. The
backpack may further include a handle strap mounted on the top end of the
storage compartment
to enable the pack to be more easily picked up.
Pockets may be provided for storing small items and for separating those items
from
other articles stored within the pack. For example, US Patent No. 4,096;978
issued to Noice
describes a backpack including a large interior compartment, outside pockets
and a zipper
closure. Straps are provided within the interior of the compartment to tie
down loads within the
compartment against inadvertent movement. Similarly, U.S. Patent No. 5,950,895
issued to
Zakarian discloses a backpack including a central compartment attached to two
outside pockets.
One of the pockets is co~gured in the shape of a baseball cap for storing a
baseball cap. U.S.
Patent No. 6,129,254 issued to Yu discloses a backpack with wheels having a
central
compartment. Within the central compartment are integrated flexible filing
compartments for
storing books, papers and the like.
Unfortunately, previous backpacks have not been constructed to both carry
items and act
as an apparatus for displaying items stored within the backpack. It would thus
be desirable to
provide a backpack which would facilitate the carrying of objects, which is
also constructed to
display items carried within the backpack.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTTON
Briefly, in accordance with the invention, a backpack is. provided for
displaying objects
stored within the backpack. The backpack includes a pack constructed of a back
panel, front
panel and one or more side panels for connecting the back panel to the front
panel. The back
panel, front panel and side panels form a main interior storage compartment
for storing objects.
The backpack further includes a closure device for attaching and detaching the
front panel to the
one or more of the side panels so as to enable persons to place objects within
the interior storage
compartment. The closure device also allows the front panel to disconnect from
the side panels
for allowing the front panel to fold downwardly from the front panel's upper
edge to enable one
IO to display objects stored within the pack's interior storage compartment.
The closure device may
include zippers, buttons, snaps, or any other closure devices known to those
skilled in the art.
The backpack of the present invention also includes a pair of shoulder straps
having
upper and lower ends. Each shoulder strap is connected at its upper end to an
upper portion of
. the pack's back panel and at a lower end to a lower portion of the back
panel. The backpack may
also include a waist belt. The shoulder straps and waist belt are positioned
and constructed to
enable a person to attach the backpack to a person's back.
T'he backpack of the present invention also includes a first set of one or
more pockets
located in the interior storage compartment. The first set of pockets are
attached to the interior
surface of the backpack's back panel and are formed with openings at the
pocket's upper
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extremities. The openings may be constructed with closure devices such as
flaps, snaps, zippers
or the like. The backpack also includes a second set of one or more pockets
located in the
interior storage compartment. The second set of pockets are attached to the
inside surface of the
backpack's front panel. The second set of pockets also have openings. However,
the openings
of the second set of pockets are positioned at the pocket's lower extremities
when the pack is in a
closed condition, meaning the front panel is attached to the pack's side
panels. Conversely,
when the front panel is opened downwardly from its upward edge to place the
pack in an open
condition, the openings of the second set of pockets are rotated. so that the
openings are
positioned at the upper extremities of the pocket. Again, the second set of
pockets may include
closure devices such as zippers, flaps, snaps, buttons or the like.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a backpack for storing and
carrying
obj ects.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an improved
backpack.
constructed for displaying objects stored within the backpack.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the backpack of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a front elevation view thereof;
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Fig. 3 is a left elevation view thereof;
Fig. 4 is a right elevation view thereof;
Fig. 5 is a rear elevation view thereof;
Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof;
Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view thereof;
Fig. 8 is a front elevation view illustrating the backpack in an expanded
position;
Fig. 9 is a left .elevation view thereof;
Fig. I0 is a right elevation view thereof;
Fig. 11 is a rear elevation view thereof;
Fig. 12 is a top plan view thereof;
Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view thereof;
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Fig.14 is a front elevation view of the backpack illustrating the backpack in
an open
construction;
Fig. 15 is a top plan view thereof;
Fig. 16 is a right elevation view thereof;
Fig. 17 is a rear elevation view thereof;
Fig. 18 is a bottom plan view thereof;
Fig. 19 is a left elevation view thereof;
Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the backpack of the
present
invention;
Fig. 21 is a front elevation view thereof;
Fig. 22 is a Left elevation view thereof;
Fig. 23 is a right elevation view thereof;
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Fig. 24 is a rear elevation view thereof;
Fig. 25 is a top plan view thereof;
Fig. 26 is a bottom plan view thereof;
Fig. 27 is a front elevation view illustrating the backpack in an expanded
position;
Fig. 28 is a left elevation view thereof;
Fig. 29 is a right elevation view thereof;
Fig. 30 is a rear elevation view thereof;
Fig. 31 is a top plan view thereof;
Fig. 32 is a bottom plan view thereof;
14 Fig. 33 is a front elevation view of the backpack illustrating the backpack
in an open,
construction;
Fig. 34 is a top plan view thereof;
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Fig. 35 is a right elevation view thereof;
Fig. 3s is a rear elevation view thereof;
Fig. 37 is a bottom plan view thereof;
Fig. 38 is a left elevation view thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in Various forms, as
shown in
the drawings, hereinafter will be described the presently preferred embodiment
of the invention
with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the
invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific
embodiments illustrated.
As shown in the figures, the backpack 1 of the present invention includes a
pack 3: The
pack is constructed of a hack panel 5, front panel 13, and one or more side
panels 21. The back
panel and front panel are spaced apart to provide the pack 3 with a main
interior storage
compartment 20. The back panel 5 has an inside surface 7, an outside surface 9
and an edge l 1.
Similarly, the front panel 13 also has an inside surface 15, outside surface
l7 and an edge 19.
The side panel 21 peripherally engages the back panel's edge 11 and front
panel's edge 19 to
' connect the back panel to the front panel. The pack also includes a closure
device 23, which as
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shown in the figures is a zipper, which allows the front panel 13 to attach
and detach from the
back panel 5 and side panels 21.
The backpack 1 of the present invention further includes a left shoulder strap
25 having
an upper end 27 and lower end 29, and a right shoulder strap 31 having an
upper end 33 and a
S lower end 35. The upper end of the shoulder straps are sewn or otherwise
secured to the upper
portion of the back panel. Conversely, the lower ends of the shoulder straps
are attached, such as
by a clip 39, to the lower portion of the back panel 5. These shoulder straps
are sized and
configured for allowing a person to place their arms through the loops formed
by the shoulder
straps to enable one to attach the backpack 1 to a person's back:. The
backpack may further
include a waist belt (not shown) so that a substantial portion of the pack,
and any contents stored
therein, are carried by the hips of one wearing the backpack. Preferably, the
backpack includes a
hand strap 37 so that a person can optionally carry the backpack in their
hands.
With reference primarily to Figs. 14 and 28, the backpack l includes first and
second sets
of pockets 41 and 49, respectively. The first set of pockets 41 includes at
least one pocket,
though preferably more, which are located within the pack's main interior
storage compartment
and are attached to the inside surface of the back panel 5. The pockets may be
constructed of any
fabric type material, though a nylon mesh is considered preferable due to its
elastic properties.
Each of the pockets of the first set of pockets 41 have an opening 47 at the
pocket's upper
extremity 43. The openings are provided so as to enable persons to place
objects within the
pockets and enable persons to remove objects from inside the pockets. The
pockets may include
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a closure device such as snaps, buttons or zippers, or any other closure
devices known to those
skilled in the art. As shown in the drawings, the pockets are substantially
closed by an elastic
band which constricts the pocket's opening 47.
The second set of pockets 49 are also located in the main interior storage
compartment
20. However, they are attached to the inside surface of the pack's front panel
13. The second set
of pockets also include at least one pocket, though preferably more, and are
also constructed of a
fabric material; such as a nylon mesh. Each pocket of the second set of
pockets 49 includes an
opening at their lower extremities when the pack is in a closed condition.
More particularly;
when the front panel 13 is attached to the pack's back panel 5, the pockets
are positioned in an
otherwise upside-down condition so that the pocket's openings are located at
their lower
extremities. Meanwhile, with reference to Figs: 14 and 28, when the pack is in
an open condition
with the front panel 13 folded downwardly so as to display objects within the
pack, the pockets
are located so that the openings 5~ of the second set of pockets are
positioned at the pocket's
upper extremities 51. The openings of the second set of pockets are positioned
in such manner
so as to enable persons to position objects within the, pockets and have them
displayed without
falling out of the pockets when the pack is in an open condition.
Although particular preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
described
herein, it is to be understood that variations may be made in the
construction, materials and shape
of the backpack without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
For example, the
backpack may be constructed of any durable material such as canvas, cotton or
nylon. Moreover,
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the pack may be constructed purely for utility, or the pack ma;y be
constructed including
significant ornamental features. For example; as shown in the figures, the
backpack I of the
present invention is preferably constructed to resemble an animal. For
example, Figs. 1 - 19
illustrate an elephant design, while Figs. 20 - 38 illustrate a cat design.
The packs include
numerous appendages 59 in the forms of feet, noses; ears and the like.
Moreover, the backpack
includes a flap 57 which extends downwardly and rearwardly from the pack's
front panel 13.
The flap may include innumerable ornamental designs or features. As shown in
the figures, the
flap 57 is constructed in the shape of an animal head so that the backpack is
constructed to
provide the illusion that a person is carrying a fanciful animal on their back
when a person wears
the backpack of the present invention.
