A BALANCE BACKPACK FOR IMPROVED WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND POSTURE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

[0001]The present invention relates generally to backpacks but more particularly to a balance backpack that distributes weight more efficiently and improves posture.

2. Description of Related Art

[0002]Backpack, knapsack, pack, packsack, rucksack and other names they go by have been around in one form or another for hundreds of years. Over the years, as the needs of people changed, so did the size, shape, fabric and function of backpacks. A lot of backpacks these days cater to the needs of school children, university students, office workers, travelers, executives and vary in material from canvas, cotton, nylon, hemp, jute, pvc, silicone, leather etc. Because of the variety of users, backpack manufacturers juggle between materials, the right combination of pockets, theft safety, size, function and durability that their targeted user will find the most useful. One factor that has been given little attention to is the balance and how it impacts the. posture of the user. There hence exists a need for an improved backpack for weight distribution and posture.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003]The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0004]It is a main object of the present disclosure to provide for a backpack that comprises of at least one split partition which can be partially (or fully) detached from the main backpack and moved to the front chest and stomach area of the user. This splits the weight of the contents of the backpack and the partition in front pulls on the weight of the rear backpack via the shoulder straps using the shoulders as a pivot point, thereby further reducing the weight on the intended user's back such that the user can maintain an upright posture with minimal stress on the back and shoulder muscles.

[0005]In order to do so the balance backpack converts from a regular rear loaded backpack into a balanced back and front backpack by having a main pack and at least one front pack releasably attached thereto. A connecting strap from a shoulder strap of the main pack connects to a slide rail at a top end of the front pack. The connecting strap has one end attaching to a swivel and flip buckle which is affixed to the shoulder strap of the main pack and the opposite end of the connecting strap attached via a ring buckle to one end of the slide rail.

[0006]In a preferred embodiment, the slide rail is shaped angularly upwards at each end similar to cat's ears so as to provide a non-slip nook for the ring buckle and a slide rail means of attachment to position themselves.

[0007]In yet another embodiment, the swivel and flip buckle is configured to allow the connecting strap and the front pack to flip vertically via a fixed axle to the front of the intended user.

[0008]In a further embodiment, the swivel and flip buckle is configured to allow the connecting strap and the front pack to rotate horizontally, via a rotatable wheel mechanism rotatable axle, to the front of the intended user.

[0009]In still another embodiment, an anti-theft feature is enabled by having the ring buckle of the connecting strap remaining on the same end of the slide rail such that an openable compartment located on the outer side of the front pack is pressing against the intended user's chest and the inner surface of the front pack now on the side facing outwards. The front pack still supported by the connecting strap from one shoulder strap and the opposite top end of the front pack supported via a means of top end attachment provided on the front of the opposite shoulder strap and attached to the opposite end of the slide rail.

[0010]In still a further embodiment, the front pack is secured to the intended user via adjustable side straps having side release buckles.

[0011]In yet another embodiment, a swivel and flip buckle variation has a spring-clamp mechanism allowing the swivel and flip buckle to be detached along with the front pack and connecting strap. The spring-clamp mechanism along with a top end attachment which is attachable to the opposite side of the slide rail or to a ring buckle to allow the front pack to be affixed to standard backpacks and flipped over or swiveled across. The top end attachment is detached and attached to the opposite shoulder strap when the front pack is in front of the intended user.

[0012]In still another embodiment, the front pack is additionally supported by hook and loop patches provided on the outer surface of the main pack and the inner surface of the front pack.

[0024]The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present disclosure so that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood and so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific methods and structures may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025]Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026]FIG. 1 A-C is a front view showing the invention with front and main pack together as one unit, a front view of the main pack with front pack being flipped over and a front view of the main pack with front pack being swiveled over sideways.

[0027]FIGS. 2A-C is a side view of the invention with front pack flipped/slid across to the front, a view of the front pack flipped over and a view of the backpack with front pack slid over sideways.

[0028]FIG. 3A-B is a side view of a user wearing the invention on his back as a combined front and main pack and a side view of the user wearing a split backpack with front pack slid/flipped to the front of the user.

[0029]FIG. 4A-B are top views of the swivel and flip buckle showing a portion of the connecting strap being able to flip 180 degrees vertically on an axle.

[0030]FIG. 4C is a side cutaway view of the swivel and flip buckle.

[0031]FIG. 4D-F are top views of the swivel and flip buckle showing a portion of the connecting strap being able to rotate about on an axle via a wheel mechanism.

[0032]FIG. 5A-B is a side view of a spring/clamp type swivel and flip buckle and a side view of a spring/clamp type adjustable lobster clasp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0033]The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein.

[0034]It is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as to mean “at least one”. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, not necessarily mechanically, and not permanent. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time. As used herein, the terms “about”, “generally”, or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider near the stated amount by about 0%, 5%, or 10%, including increments therein. In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure.

[0035]Referring now to any of the accompanying FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a balance backpack (10) having at least one detachable partition henceforth referred to as a front pack (12) and wherein such front pack (12) is attached to a main pack (14) by means of a connecting strap (16) extending integrally from a shoulder strap (18) of the main pack (14) at one end, to a slide rail (36) at its opposite end. The slide rail (36) is located on the top portion of the front pack (12) and the connecting strap (16) is attached to it by means of a ring clip (34) or similar fixation. The front pack (12) is releasably attached to the main pack (14) by way of a slide rail means of attachment (20) such as a lobster clasp bolt snap or carabiner clip, as non-limiting examples to the other end of the slide rail (36). Alternatively the slide rail means of attachment (20) can be releasably attached to a ring buckle (42) located at the top portion of the front pack (12) for an adjusted positioning of the front pack (12) when desired. The front pack (12) when placed on the main pack (14) is additionally held in place by a front pack means for holding (22) such as hook and loop patches, or snap fasteners, as non-limiting examples and which are located on a front surface (24) of the main pack (14) and a rear surface (26) of the front pack (12). The main pack (14) and front pack (12) each have at least one openable compartment (11) and (13) respectively.

[0036]The connecting strap (16) attaches to a swivel and flip buckle (28) at an end which is affixed to the shoulder strap (18) of the main pack (14). The other end of the connecting strap (16) is attached via a ring buckle (34) to one end of the slide rail (36) affixed to the top of the front pack (12). The slide rail means of attachment (20) provided on the main pack (14) attaches to the other end of the slide rail (36) or to ring buckles (42) alternatively. The slide rail (36) is shaped similarly to cat's ears angularly upwards at each end so as to provide a non-slip nook for the ring buckle (34) and the slide rail means of attachment (20) to position themselves.

[0037]The swivel and flip buckle (28) allows the connecting strap (16) and front pack (12) to flip vertically via a fixed or rotatable axle (30) to the front of the user (44) or alternatively rotate horizontally via a rotatable wheel mechanism (32) (see FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4D, 4E & 4F) to the front of the user (44).

[0038]When the front pack (12) is flipped vertically over to the front of the user (44), the ring buckle (34) of the connecting strap (16) remains on the same end of the slide rail (36) and an openable compartment (15) which is on the outer side of the front pack (14) now presses against the user (44) and becomes inaccessible from theft. The inner surface (26) of the front pack (14) now becomes the side facing outwards. The front pack (12) continues to be supported by the connecting strap (16) from one shoulder strap (18) and the opposite top end of the front pack (12) is supported via means of a top end attachment (21) provided on the front of an opposite shoulder strap (18′) and attached to the opposite end of the slide rail (36) or alternatively to the ring buckle (42).

[0039]The front pack (12) can alternatively be swiveled over the side or shoulder and to the front of the user (44) by unclasping the slide rail means of attachment (20) and rotating the front pack (12) horizontally about the swivel and flip buckle (28) such that the outer face of the front pack (12) and openable compartment (15) face outward from the front of the user (44). The ring buckle (34) slides over to the other end of the slide rail (36) and is supported in the frontal position by the connecting strap (16) on one end and the other top end of the front pack (12) is held by the means of top end attachment (21) provided on the front of the opposite shoulder strap (18′) attaching to the opposite end of the slide rail (36) or to the ring buckle (42′). Additionally the front pack (12) is secured firmly to the user (44) via adjustable side straps (46) having side release buckles (48). FIGS. 1B and 1C show a main pack (14) with a second openable compartment (17).

[0040]In an alternate embodiment of the backpack (10) (see FIGS. 1A, 1C) instead of the swivel and flip buckle (28) (see FIG. 1B), a circular buckle (38) is attached to the shoulder strap (18) of the main pack (14) to which the connecting strap (16) is attached thereto.

[0041]In yet an alternate version of a swivel and flip buckle (28′) (see FIG. 5A) comprises a spring-clamp mechanism (31) which allows the swivel and flip buckle (28′) to be detached along with the front pack (12) and connecting strap (16). The spring/clamp mechanism (31) along with a spring-clamp type clasp (50) which is attachable to the opposite side of the slide rail (36) or to the ring buckle (42) allows the front pack (12) to be affixed to most types of backpacks and flipped over or swiveled across. The spring-clamp type clasp (50) can be attached to the opposite shoulder strap (18′) when the front pack (12) is in front of the user (44) or affixed directly to the main backpack (14) when worn behind the user (44).

[0042]A major advantage of the backpack (10) is its ability to transfer weight to the front of the user (44) so as to lessen the load on the intended user's (44) back. Additionally the front pack (12) pulls on the shoulder straps (18, 18″) so as to utilize the intended user's (44) shoulders as a pivot point and further balance and reduce the overall load on the intended user's (44) back and shoulder muscles.

[0043]The backpack (10), in a version where the front pack (12) is non-detachable, ensures that the front pack (12) is not misplaced or separated inadvertently as in the need case of a child's school backpack (see FIG. 10 1A, 1C).

[0055]In order to remove the balanced backpack (10), the hereinabove steps can be applied in reverse order. Alternately the fastening straps (44) are detached and the balanced backpack (10) is removed by unhooking the shoulder straps (18.18″) from the intended users (44) shoulders and pulling it up and over the intended users (44) head while keeping the front pack (12) still attached to releasably attached means (21).

[0056]Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0057]It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the labels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique, proximal, distal, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an object.

[0058]In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. members throughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) are not used to show a serial or numerical limitation but instead are used to distinguish or identify the various members of the group.