Abstract:
A utility carrier adapted for releaseable securement to a backpack, comprised of a front face having one or more pockets, a back face; and a means for releaseably securing the carrier to the backpack.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/127,844, filed May 16, 2008, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Backpacks have become very common items used to store and transport personal articles. They have become particularly common in schools. Nearly every school age child carries a backpack to store and transport books, school supplies, and personal items. 
         [0003]    While backpacks work well for these purposes, there are certain drawbacks. In particular, it can be difficult to segregate items inside the backpack. Also, storing dirty, damp, or wet articles along with books and school supplies causes problems. 
         [0004]    This is especially a problem in northern climates, or in wet climates, where school children often wear rain or snow gear to school, such as snow pants, boots, raincoats or jackets, hats, umbrellas, and the like. Once the children arrive at school, or at home, the wet and/or dirty articles are removed and must be stored. Often the children have nowhere to put the articles except in their backpacks. The backpack then becomes dirty and wet, which makes it difficult to store other items that need to remain clean and dry. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, the backpack must be used during the school day as items are removed and returned to the pack. This further complicates the issue of what to do with dirty and wet articles of clothing. It is impractical to simply place them in the backpack along with the other articles, which need to be removed periodically. 
         [0006]    Backpacks often have compartments for storage of articles to allow for segregation of articles, and in some cases the compartments are detachable; however, this does not fully address the problem. The compartments still become dirty and wet, and therefore need regular cleaning, and backpacks are generally constructed of material that is waterproof to keep the interior dry, which prevents the backpack from drying out when it becomes wet. 
         [0007]    Similar problems occur at the beach. Backpacks are frequently used to carrier various articles to the beach, including, towels, clothing, food, beverages, and the like; however, when articles such as clothing become wet and covered with sand it is not desirable to simply place them back into the backpack with clean dry articles. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, a need exists for a device that can store and transport dirty, wet, and damp articles in connection with a backpack that reduces or eliminates the problems of the prior art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a composite drawing of various views of a utility carrier. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a view of a front face of a first alternative utility carrier. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a view of a back face of the first alternative utility carrier. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a view of the upper front face of the first alternative carrier. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a view of a back face of a second alternative carrier. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a view of front face of the second alternative carrier. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a view of the left of the second alternative carrier. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a partial view of the right side of the second alternative carrier. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    In the Figures, a utility carrier  10  is shown.  FIG. 1  is a composite rendering of various view of the carrier  10 . The carrier  10  comprises on its front face an upper pocket  12  and a lower pocket  14 . The pockets  12 ,  14  are open on the top and flexible to allow for overstuffing. The pockets include a draw string pull  16  that allows for tightening the pockets at the open end. 
         [0018]    The back face of the carrier  10  is generally flat and includes at its upper end a handle  18  and two Velcro type straps  20 . The handle  18  is U-shaped and is adapted for independent carrying of the carrier  10 . The straps  20  are designed to allow the carrier  10  to attach to a conventional backpack (not shown). The straps  20  when unfolded can loop around, for example, the tops of the shoulder harness of a backpack or a handle loop, which will secure the carrier over the outside face of the backpack. The straps  20  can be attached to any other feature of the backpack, such as loops, straps, or hooks, and the straps can releasably secure with snaps, hooks, buttons, or other similar devices. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 2-4  show a first alternative embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  shows the front face of the carrier  10 , which includes an upper and lower pocket  12 ,  14 . The pockets  12 ,  14  are constructed of a mesh type material which allows for draining, easy cleaning, and quick drying. The pockets  12 ,  14  are over sized and the material is somewhat flexible to allow for overstuffing. The pockets  12 ,  14  are open on the top and have drawstrings  16  and pulls to fasten the pockets and secure the contents therein. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  shows the back face of the carrier  10 . The back includes adjustable shoulder harness straps  22  to allow the carrier  10  to be used as a stand alone pack, and includes a handle  18 , and comprises straps which include Velcro fasteners to allow for releasable securement of the carrier  10  to a backpack. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  shows a close in view of the upper front face of the carrier  10  wherein the straps  20  are more easily viewed. The straps  20 , one is folded the other extended, can wrap around the shoulder harness, handle loop, or other feature of a backpack and secure the carrier  10  to the outward facing portion of the backpack. The handle  18  allows for convenient carrying of the carrier  10 , and can be used to hang the carrier  10  from a hook for storage. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 5-8  show a second alternative embodiment of the carrier  10 .  FIG. 5  shows a back face of the carrier  10 , which includes shoulder straps  22  for carrying the carrier  10  apart or separate from a backpack. The back face also has a space for a nametag  24  to be attached, or written onto the back surface of the carrier  10 . The carrier  10  also includes a handle  18 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 6  shows the front face of the carrier  10 . The front face includes lower and upper pockets  12 ,  14  and drawstrings  16  for securing/enclosing the pockets  12 ,  14 . The carrier  10 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , also includes straps  20  for securing to a backpack that are incorporated into the top of the shoulder straps  22 . The straps  20  use Velcro type pads to form a releasable loop that can secure to any convenient feature of the backpack, such as, a strap, loop, hook, or the like. As in the other embodiments, the pockets  12 ,  14  are mesh, but other fabrics/styles are within the scope of the invention. Upper and lower spaces are provided for a logo as well. 
         [0024]      FIG. 7  shows a left side view of the carrier  10 , which shows that the carrier  10  is configured with an internal pocket accessible through zipper  26 . The zipper  26  extends from the left side across the top of the carrier  10  and down at least a portion of the right side of the carrier  10 . The internal pocket can be a full or partial pocket, wherein the internal pocket may extend the entire length of the carrier or just a portion thereof. Furthermore, the side of the carrier  10  includes a mesh side pocket  28 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 8  shows a partial right side view of the carrier  10 , and further comprises a pocket  30  what can be sized, for example, for a cell phone or similar device. 
         [0026]    In this manner the present invention substantially overcomes the limitations of the prior art. The carrier  10  can be used to store and transport articles that would not be convenient to place in a backpack. In particular, wet, dirty, and damp items such as winter clothing, rain gear, snow pants, boots, hats, gloves, scarves, raincoats, jackets, and the like. The items can be segregated from clothing, books, and school supplies that would be damaged if they became wet or dirty. Furthermore, the carrier  10  can be attached to a backpack for transportation together, or carried separately by the handle or shoulder harness. Also, the carrier  10  can either be stored on the floor or hung from a hook. 
         [0027]    In the school application, the children can transport a backpack and the carrier  10  together, either while they are wearing the clothing to be stored in the carrier  10  or the carrier  10  can be used to carry the clothing. When the children arrive at school or home, the carrier  10  can be removed from the backpack and separately stored, or cleaned and hung up to dry. Also, clothing articles can be placed on the carrier for storage during school, or at night. 
         [0028]    Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods, and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. 
         [0029]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art that have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.