Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BACKPACK WITH STOWED RAIN COVER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates generally to backpacks. More
particularly, the
present invention relates to backpacks having storage compartments for
backpack accessories
or other activity-specific accessories and gear, such as hoods, ponchos,
raincoats, canopies,
ground covers, blankets, and the like.
Background Art
[0002] It is known to conceal and stow various kinds of gear and
accessories in various
pockets and pouches of backpacks or other kinds of carry bags. Exemplary
teachings include:
[0003] U.S. Patent No. 9,125,477, to Killion, teaches a backpack having a
two-panel
hood stowed in, and deploying from, zippered compartments in the shoulder
straps.
[0004] U.S. Patent No. 7,374,071 to Lavelle discloses raingear housed in a
pocket located
on the top of the backpack so as to allow the wearer to reach over his
shoulders to grab hold
of a portion of the raingear.
[0005] U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 20050050614, by Leung, shows a
backpack type
satchel having a hood stowed in a compartment at the upper convergence of the
shoulder
straps.
[0006] U.S. Patent No. 5,743,448, to Tsai teaches a raincoat concealing
backpack that
provides a zippered storage compartment integrated into the pack material on
the side of the
pack usually borne against the back of the user.
[0007] U.S. Design Patent D509,653 to Yu, discloses a backpack with an
integrated
cover that stows in a zippered compartment immediately proximate the haul
strap.
[0008] U.S. Patent No. 8,727,190 to Blair discloses a backpack hunting
blind that may be
used, for example, as a hunter blind and backpack frame. The camouflage cover
deploys from
the upper and inner portions of the frame members, not from a haul strap.
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[0009] U.S. Patent No. 7,051,908 to Mignano discloses a backpack hunting
blind with
rear portion and hunting blind in a deployed position.
[0010] U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0078457 to Pitchford et al.
discloses a hooded
backpack and speaker combination device having a plurality of pockets on its
shoulder straps.
[0011] U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0216511 to Brown et al. discloses
an outdoor
shelter system comprising a moveable rain fly coupled based layer and support
apparatus. It
is representative of covers/shelters that store and deploy from packs, but
does not include
disclosure regarding a rain cover stowed and deployed from a haul strap.
[0012] Indeed, while all of the foregoing patents reflect the current state
of the art of
which the present inventor is aware, none disclose, teach, suggest, show, or
otherwise render
obvious, either singly or when considered in combination, the invention
described herein.
There are, in fact, no known prior art products or teachings describing a
backpack having a
rain cover incorporated into, and concealed within, a haul strap. Accordingly,
while the
foregoing patents reflect the current state of the art of which the present
inventor is aware,
reference to, and discussion of, these patents is intended to aid in
discharging Applicant's
acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be relevant to
the
examination of claims to the present invention. However, it is respectfully
submitted that
none of the above-indicated patents disclose, teach, suggest, show, or
otherwise render
obvious, either singly or when considered in combination, the invention
described and
claimed herein.
Disclosure of Invention
[0013] The present invention is a backpack having an associated (backpack)
rain cover
for pack and person concealed within and deployable from a modified haul
strap. The storage
compartment thus does not utilize any pockets or other storage areas needed
for gear. Further,
the stowed rain cover adds padding to the handle, a feature of no small
significance when
consideration is given to how uncomfortable thin haul straps are when carrying
loaded
backpacks. Indeed, the modest but meaningful expansion in cross-sectional
dimension, as
well as the padding added by the stowed rain cover, makes the haul strap a
comfortable carry
strap even for heavy loads.
[0014] The inventive method and apparatus for stowing a rain cover may be
incorporated
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into virtually any type of backpack of any size, whether a small 5 liter
daypack, a larger 30-
50 liter weekend pack, or a 70+ liter multiday backpack, though it is
particularly well-suited
for use with backpacks of the kind described in U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ. No.
2016/0227908,
which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.
[0015] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new
and improved
stow compartment for a backpack rain cover.
[0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and
improved haul
strap adapted for use as a primary carrying handle that provides enhanced
comfort while
simultaneously providing an entirely discrete functional advantage ¨ namely,
the storage
compartment for a rain cover.
[0017] A further object or feature of the present invention is a new and
improved
backpack that provides a discrete storage pocket for a (potentially) wet
article, thereby
protecting other stowed goods from getting wet.
[0018] Other novel features characteristic of the invention, as to
organization and method
of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be
better understood
from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying
drawing, in
which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of
example. It is to be
expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for illustration and
description only and is
not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. The various
features of novelty
which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the
claims annexed to
and forming part of this disclosure. The invention resides not in any one of
these features
taken alone, but rather in the particular combination of all of its structures
for the functions
specified.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0019] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those
set forth
above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following
detailed description
thereof Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 is an upper front left perspective view of the inventive rain
cover storage
apparatus incorporated in a backpack haul strap;
[0021] FIG. 2A is an upper perspective view showing the haul strap with a
zipper as a
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closure device and the rain cover entirely stored and concealed within the
strap storage
volume;
[0022] FIG. 2B is the same view showing the zipper open and the stowed rain
cover
partially deployed;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view in elevation of the haul strap
handle taken
along section line 3-3 of FIG. 2A;
[0024] FIG. 4A is a left side view in elevation showing the rain cover and
hood partially
deployed from the haul strap;
[0025] FIG. 4B is the same view showing the rain cover pulled over to fully
cover the
backpack with the hood partially deployed;
[0026] FIG. 4C is the same view showing the hood fully covering the head of
the wearer;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a front left perspective view showing the rain cover fully
deployed and
enclosing the backpack itself;
[0028] FIG. 6 is an upper rear left perspective view (side facing the
wearer) showing the
rain cover enclosing the backpack with the shoulder straps, waist belt, and
chest straps
exposed; and
[0029] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view showing the rain cover fully
deployed, covering
the backpack, with the integral hood covering the head of the user.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, wherein like reference numerals
refer to like
components in the various views, there is illustrated therein a new and
improved method and
apparatus for storing a backpack rain cover in a haul strap, the invention
generally
denominated 10 herein.
[0031] In an embodiment, and in its most essential aspect, the backpack 10
incorporating
the inventive rain cover storage and deployment apparatus may be embodied as a
daypack,
travel pack, rucksack, or multi-day excursion pack. In the views, the system
is shown
incorporated in a daypack style backpack 12. The overall backpack includes a
backpack body
14 constructed of a flexible fabric, either synthetic or natural, and most
typically a woven
polymeric or nylon fabric.
[0032] The backpack body 14 is typically laterally symmetrical (from right
to left) about
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a vertical axis (in the transverse plane), and asymmetrical anteriorly and
posteriorly about a
vertical axis in the coronal plane, though small variations in componentry may
be included on
either side of the backpack body. In a daypack-style backpack, such as that
shown in the
views, there will be included a primary front compartment 16 accessible by an
opening
selectively closed by a zipper or other closure device 18 (hook-and-loop,
snaps, buttons, etc.),
a secondary (or front) compartment or pocket 20, also accessible through an
opening
selectively closed by a zipper or other closure device 22, and one or more
side pockets 24,
again having selectively closeable zippered openings 26. The back side 28 of
the pack
includes a back panel 30 and various carry straps, including padded shoulder
straps 32, a
sternum strap 34, a padded hip belt 36, possibly including an integral lumbar
pad.
[0033] The upper portion 38 of the pack includes a pack handle or haul
strap 40,
generally disposed either between the shoulder straps or at the top of the
pack. The handle is
interiorly hollow and opens through a zippered or other closure opening 42
having a zipper or
other closure feature 44 and provides a stowage compartment 46 into which a
rain cover 48
may be stowed. The rain cover may be a pack cover only, a combined pack cover
and hood
50, a poncho and integral hood, and the like. Further, the rain cover may be
connected to the
interior of the storage compartment, for instance by stitching 52, such that
the pack cover
portion 48 tends to deploy downwardly while the hood 54 portion for the user
tends to deploy
upwardly, or above the pack cover. Alternatively, the rain cover may be kept
entirely loose or
free from any physical connection to the storage compartment interior such
that it may be
used independently of the backpack. The rain cover may also be provided with
means for
securing the cover tightly around the backpack, such as by an elastic
drawstring closure or
cinch closure with a cord lock or cord stopper.
[0034] The above disclosure will enable one of ordinary skill in the art to
practice the
invention. The disclosure provides a disclosure of embodiments of the
invention. However,
the embodiments do not limit the invention to the exact construction,
dimensional
relationships, and operation shown and described. Modifications, alternative
constructions,
changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may
be employed, as
suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
[0035] Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be
construed as
limiting the scope of the invention, which will be defined by claims presented
in a non-
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provisional patent application claiming the benefit of the filing date of this
provisional patent
application.
[0036] The foregoing disclosure is sufficient to enable those with skill in
the relevant art
to practice the invention without undue experimentation. The disclosure
further provides the
best mode of practicing the invention now contemplated by the inventor.
[0037] While the particular backpack and rain cover storage method herein
shown and
disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing
the advantages stated
herein, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently
preferred
embodiment of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the detail
of construction
or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.
Accordingly, the proper
scope of the present invention should be determined only by the broadest
interpretation of the
appended claims so as to encompass all such modifications as well as all
relationships
equivalent to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the
specification.
