Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKPACK WITH SECURITY FEATURE
Background of the Invention
This inventive backpack relates to the field of backpacks, daypacks, or book
bags
in general. Such backpacks are of the type which are generally non-structured
textile
packs carried by at least one shoulder strap on the back of the user. Also,
this invention
relates to backpacks which are used in an environment where the user may be
subjected
to pickpockets and the like who could secretly access the contents of the
packing
compartment in such a backpack when it is being carried on the back of the
user. Without
special provisions, it is quite easy for a thief or pickpocket to deftly open
the usual zipper
access opening into the packing compartment and remove some of the contents.
There have been efforts by others to reduce such access, for example, by
replacing
the usual zippered access with a complex hook and loop closure. The sneak
thief would
have to struggle with the hook and loop closure making the attempt at the
thievery known
to the wearer of the backpack at least by the noise of the hook and loop
opening being
tampered with. Also, Karry-Safe Ltd., a company in the United Kingdom, has one
backpack with a removable hood to envelop at least the upper portion of the
backpack
containing the conventional zippered access. This hood serves at least as an
extra barrier
against sneak thievery.
Brief Summary of the Invention
The inventive backpack disclosed herein has at least one shoulder strap
attached to
a back face of the backpack for carrying the backpack on one's back, as is
conventionally
done. The backpack has an upper portion which is normally above a lower
portion
thereof, and the backpack has a main packing compartment located between this
back
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face and a front face for containing things to be carried in the backpack by
the user.
There is a zippered opening into this main packing compartment through which
things to
be carried may be placed in the main packing compartment. This zippered
opening has at
least one zipper slider and a zipper track along at least a portion of this
zippered opening.
The improved backpack has a pouch located adjacent the back face of the
backpack into which the zipper track passes. This pouch is sized to receive at
least the
one zipper slider when the zipper slider is positioned in the pouch on the
zipper track. In
this way, access into the main packing compartment through the zippered
opening is
extremely restricted, especially when the user is carrying the backpack on the
user's back
by at least one shoulder strap.
More specifically, the inventive backpack's pouch, as mentioned above, has a
flap
mounted on the surface of the back face of the backpack. This flap has a first
edge
affixed to the back face and a second, releasable edge that is releasably
attached to the
back face, so that the zipper slider positioned therein can be accessed when
the releasably
attached edge is released. Preferably, the zipper track terminates within the
pouch.
As with many backpacks, the back face of the backpack includes padding,
provided for comfort, which normally contacts the back of the user when the
user is
carrying the backpack with one shoulder strap on one shoulder or both shoulder
straps on
both of the user's shoulders. The pouch has a surface with similar padding
which
normally also contacts the back of the user when the user is carrying the
backpack with
the shoulder strap or straps on the user's shoulder or shoulders.
The inventive backpack has a major portion of the zipper track (for the
zippered
opening) located on the front face of the backpack such that the zippered
opening is
located on the front face of the backpack, and the main packing compartment
can be
accessed through the front face of the backpack. A relatively small or "minor"
portion of
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the zipper track extends from this front face to the back face of the
backpack. This minor
portion of the zipper track is located on the lower portion of the backpack,
with the major
portion of the zipper track located on the upper portion of the backpack,
preferably, as
stated above, on the front face of the backpack.
The zipper track of the inventive backpack comprises two rows of inter-
engageable zipper teeth that are arranged on a pair of textile tapes, as is
conventional.
Here, however, the textile tapes in the minor portion of the zipper track that
extends from
the front face of the backpack to the back face thereof are attached together,
whereby,
when the zipper slider is manipulated to open the zippered opening into the
main packing
compartment, the zippered opening is defined substantially only by the major
portion of
the zipper track, and not at all by the minor portion of the zipper track.
This minor
portion of the zipper track is attached together by a narrow textile ribbon
extending from
the location of the pouch on the back face of the backpack to the zippered
opening of the
main packing compartment. The major portion of the zipper track extends along
a first
plane at the front face of the backpack, and the minor zipper portion of the
zipper track
follows a curved path from the major portion of the zipper track to extend
along a second
plane which is substantially perpendicular to the first plane. This second
plane cuts
across the thickness of the main packing compartment from the front face to
the back face
of the backpack.
A secondary packing compartment is defined by a second zippered opening that
runs along the upper and side portions of the back face of the backpack. As
does the
zippered opening of the main packing compartment, the second zippered opening
also
terminates within the pouch. A benefit of the present invention is that
multiple packing
compartments may be secured at a single location by one security pouch.
Additional
compartments of various sizes may be located on the front face, back face,
sides, or any
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other location on the backpack that may have horizontal, vertical, or other
directional
zippers that also terminate in the same security pouch. Examples of
compartments
include change purse compartments or compartments sized for specific objects
such as
passports, credit cards, or wallets. Of course, any number of packing
compartments may
be associated with the present invention; however, for the purposes of this
application,
two packing compartments are disclosed.
Brief Description of the Figures
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the backpack embodying the inventive
features
detailed herein.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the opposite side of the backpack revealing
more
of the zipper track.
Figure 3 is a close-up of the pouch attached to the back face of the backpack.
Figure 4 shows the interior of a secondary packing compartment, with shoulder
straps flipped over the front face of the backpack to better show this
secondary packing
compartment, and the pouch in a released condition.
Figure 5 shows the minor portion of the zipper track extending along the right
side
of the lower portion of the backpack.
Figure 6 shows a close-up of the minor portion of the zipper track and how it
is
sewn closed.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the back face of the backpack with a second
zippered opening into the secondary packing compartment.
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to the figures, which show a single preferred embodiment, the
inventive
backpack 2 has an overall conventional textile fabric construction, but could
be made of
any relatively flexible laminate material. The preferred backpack 2 includes a
pair of
shoulder straps 4 forming a yoke or harness for hands-free carrying of the
backpack 2 on
the back of the user. It is also understood that the backpack 2 could be
carried by a single
shoulder strap 4 or could be provided with only a single shoulder strap 4 that
extends
across the front of the user's body from the top portion of the backpack 2 to
a lower or
opposite back corner thereof, although the conventional 2-shoulder strap
backpack
configuration is preferred.
This backpack 2 has a front face 14, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, and a
back
face 6 which normally contacts a back or upper back portion 8 of the user,
with the
shoulder straps 4 extending over the tops of the shoulders of the user and
down the chest
of the user to attachment points on the lower portion 10 of the back face 6.
The front face
14 includes a zipper track 20 which extends from a mid-portion 9 of the front
face 14 up
over the upper portion 8, and back down the right side. Zipper track 20 and
the resulting
zippered opening 16 defined by zipper track 20 permit ready access to the
interior of the
main packing compartment 12 defined by the normal textile portions of the
backpack 2.
An unusual feature of the preferred embodiment is shown in Figure 2 and
elsewhere. This zipper track 20 includes a further, relatively small or
"minor" portion 34
which extends from a major portion 36 of the zipper track 20 described above,
across the
thickness of the backpack 2 to the back face 6 thereof. Thus, the zipper track
20 includes
a major portion 36, which defines the opening into the main packing
compartment 12, and
a minor portion 34, which follows a curved path 48 along a plane that is
substantially
perpendicular to the plane that substantially contains the major portion 36 of
the zipper
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track 20 to a pouch 22 located on the back face 6 of the backpack 2. This
pouch 22
consists of a flap 24 which is permanently attached on the back face 6 of the
backpack 2
by a self hinged edge 26 (see Figures 3 and 7) and a releasable edge 28.
Releasable edge
28 may be attached to and released from back face 6 by any mechanism,
including snaps,
S hook and loop mechanisms, ribbons, other ties, or any other mechanism. In
this preferred
embodiment of the present invention, releasable edge 28 preferably comprises
an
arrangement of hook fasteners 29 located on or along the opposite releasable
edge 28
thereof.
Referring to Figure 3, the flap 24 is primarily made of padded textile
material
similar to the padded textile material that covers the back face 6 of the
backpack 2. This
is because flap 24 and the pouch 22 defined thereby are normally positioned
between the
back of the user and the back face 6 of the backpack 2. Of course, flap 24
could be made
of any relatively flexible laminate material. The hook fastener 29 is arranged
along the
releasable edge 28 of the flap 24. The hook fastener 29 extends along the
entire
releasable edge 28 while two loop portions 31 are located on either side of
the minor
portion 34 of zipper track 20 as zipper track 20 terminates inside pouch 22.
In the preferred embodiment, this zipper track 20 includes two zipper sliders
18 so
that the user may choose to position the closure elsewhere than within pouch
22
(underneath the hook and loop-fastened releasable flap 24). The zipper sliders
18
preferably include linkable openings to receive a conventional padlock type
closure (not
shown). Any pull tabs or ribbons 37 (ribbons 37 shown in figure 3) are also
secured
under, and thus hidden by, the flap 24 of the innovative pouch 22.
Figures 5 and 6 show this minor portion 34 of zipper track 20 in detail.
Zipper
track 20 is affixed to backpack 2 by textile tapes 40. Two rows of textile
tapes 40 are
attached to two rows of inter-engageable zipper teeth 38. The textile tapes 40
are
6
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attached to the backpack 2 by basting tape 41, which runs along the length of
zipper track
20 within the inside perimeter of backpack 2. A textile ribbon 44 is sewn to
the inner
surfaces of textile tapes 40. This textile ribbon 44 is essentially an
elongated rectangular
piece of textile. Textile ribbon 44 prevents the minor portion 34 of zipper
track 20 from
opening in this area, even though the inter-engageable teeth 38 in this minor
portion 34
can still be freely zipped and un-zipped depending on where the zipper slider
18 are
positioned.
This construction has the following advantages, which will become apparent
when
viewing the other figures. The pouch 22, and the zipper sliders 18 secured
thereunder
while the backpack 2 is being carried, are located in the lower portion 10 of
the backpack.
The upper portion 8 of backpack 2 contains the major portion 36 of zipper
track 20 and,
thus, the access to the packing compartment can be had primarily only from the
upper
portion 8 of the backpack 2. The lower portion 10 of backpack 2 remains sealed
and will
not gap open even when the zipper slider 18 or zipper sliders 18 are
positioned at this
lowermost portion near the pouch 22. The textile ribbon 44 maintains the minor
portion
34 of zipper track 20 closed. Figure 4 shows the back face 6 of the inventive
backpack 2
with a secondary compartment 50 opened, at zippered opening 52, via a second
zipper
track 56 that extends in a vertical plane around the periphery of the padded
portion on the
back face 6 of the backpack 2. The pouch 22 is sized to receive the
terminating end of
this second zipper track 56, as well as its respective zipper slider or
sliders 54, as seen in
the previous figures. Thus, the single pouch 22 can serve to provide extra
security for not
only limiting access to the main packing compartment 12, but to this secondary
packing
compartment 50 as well.
Figure 7 is an illustration of the backpack 2 in a completely secure
condition.
Shown in Figure 7 is the back face 6 of backpack 2 with secondary compartment
50
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closed via second zipper track 56. Zipper track 56 securely terminates within
pouch 22
behind the closed flap 24. Also shown in Figure 7 is the minor portion 34 of
zipper track
20, which similarly terminates behind closed flap 24.
Another feature of the inventive backpack 2 includes positioning a small
elastic
grommet 3, shown in Figures 2, 3 and .5, in the portion of the main packing
compartment
12 outer surface just above the curved path 48 of the minor portion 34 of
zipper track 20.
This is a convenient point through which a cable to headphones being used by
the user
can pass to a CD player or other source of audio programming normally
contained in the
main packing compartment 12. This access port or grommet 3 is above the path
of the
zipper track 20, thus keeping the headphone cable free from entanglement
during the
opening of the main packing compartment.
The present invention therefore provides a secure backpack that reduces
thievery.
Should a thief attempt to steal contents of the backpack, the noise generated
by the release
of the releasable edge of the flap alerts the user. Another inventive feature
of the flap is
that should the user forget to secure the releasable edge of the flap to the
back face of the
backpack, once the backpack comes into contact with the user's body (either by
slinging
the backpack over one shoulder or over two shoulders), the flap is pushed
against the
back face thereby engaging the hook and loop fasteners. Furthermore, when the
backpack is worn on the user's back, a thief may only attempt access from the
side. Not
only will the thief therefore be in the user's peripheral vision, but upon
attempting to
release the flap, the user would feel the flap being pressed against the
user's body. Even
when the backpack is worn over one shoulder, a thief's access to the pouch is
difficult.
