Abstract:
An improved convertible backpack construction is convertible from wheeled luggage to backpack and includes a back panel with a pocket for storing attachment belts and carrying straps.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a utility application from Ser. No. 60/213,402 filed Jun. 23, 2000 entitled “Backpack” upon which we claim priority. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a backpack carrying case and more particularly to a backpack that is convertible between luggage with handles, a wheeled carrying case and a backpack. 
     Campers, students and others often use backpacks to carry gear, books, and other equipment. On various occasions it is inappropriate or not convenient to carry such items as a backpack. In such instances, for example, it may be more appropriate to carry items either as a regular carrying case by means of a handle or as a wheeled case. Thus there has developed a need for a luggage item that is convertible so may be carried or transported by various means or modes including as a backpack. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the present invention comprises a backpack that includes a back panel with an enclosure mounted thereon and a telescoping handle mounted so that it projects upwardly from the top of the backpack. Various handles may be attached to the sides of the backpack. The backside of the backpack includes a zippered enclosure in which backpack straps are stored. The backside of the backpack further includes a storage flap that may be folded outwardly to reveal a belt construction as well as an optimal back cushion. The backpack further includes wheels along the lower edge of the back panel. The described construction may be utilized as a backpack, as wheeled luggage, or as hand carried luggage. 
     Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improved luggage construction. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved luggage construction that is convertible between a backpack configuration and a wheeled luggage construction. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a backpack construction which is easily carried, and that is rugged and economical. 
     These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the detailed description that follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the backpack luggage viewed from the backside thereof with various straps exposed; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the backpack luggage of FIG. 1 with the backpack straps stored; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the backpack luggage of FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the backpack straps have been connected in an alternate manner to the sides of the backpack; 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the invention as viewed from the backside wherein shoulder straps have been removed from a storage pocket; 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 wherein a storage pocket has been released to reveal a belt or waist strap construction for use in combination with backpack straps; 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the backpack luggage of FIG. 5 wherein the back straps as well as waist straps have been connected together for support and use of the backpack in the backpack configuration; 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the backpack luggage as viewed from the front side thereof, 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric front view of the backpack luggage of FIG. 7 wherein a telescoping handle has been extended; and 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic side view illustrating the manner of use of the backpack straps to support the backpack. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the figures, the backpack luggage embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 includes a generally rigid, planar, back panel  10  having a top edge  12 , a bottom edge  14 , a first side edge  16  and a second side edge  18 . The edges  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  define a generally rectangular or generally trapezoidal shape with top edge  12  and bottom edge  14  generally parallel. Other shapes are possible, but the disclosed shape is preferred, inasmuch as it fits comfortably against the back of a user carrying the backpack. Top edge  12  may, for example, be arcuately shaped. 
     An enclosure  20  with a topside  23  is affixed to the back panel  10  on the front side thereof. A telescopic handle  22  is fitted against the panel  10  on the inside of the enclosure  20  and is retained within the enclosure  20 . The telescopic handle  22  may be extended or retracted into the enclosure  20 . A hand carrying handle  24  is also provided on the top side  23  enclosure  20 . Additional handles, similar to the top handle  24 , may be provided on the front or other portions or sides of the backpack enclosure  20 . Enclosure  20  is typically a flexible, bag-like enclosure; however, one or more sides thereof may be formed by a rigid panel. A zipper flap access panel forming the outside or front of enclosure  20  and operated by means of a zipper  26  is provided for access to the interior of the enclosure  20 . 
     A lumbar cushion  30  is attached to the back side surface  32  of the back panel  10  adjacent the lower edge  14 . Cushion  30  is mounted on a flexible flap  40  that is attached to back panel  10  along a fold line  31  extending between side edges  16 ,  18  (see FIG.  2 ). Flap  40  fits over pocket  38  and may be attached to panel  10  by a fastener such as a Velcro fastener or zipper to store the cushion  30  and flaps  34 ,  36  described below. The lumbar cushion  30  is configured to fit against the lower back torso of a person carrying the backpack on their shoulders. Thus, the cushion  30  is shaped to fit against the back of a person and is also made from a cushioning material, such as sponge rubber, which facilitates maintaining the backpack in position by someone who is carrying the backpack as shown in FIG.  1 . Cushion  30  is on the inside of flap  40  and is exposed as shown in FIG. 1 when flap  40  is released from pocket  38  on panel  10 . 
     A first side flap  34  is an extension of flap  40  along side edge  18 . A second retaining side flap  36  is an opposite extension of flap  40  outwardly of side edge  16 . The flaps  34  and  36  are made from flexible or semi-rigid material and each flap  34  and  36  folds inwardly over panel  40  parallel to the respective side edge  18  and  16  and fits against and over the lumbar cushion  30  when flap  40  is closed over pocket  38 . 
     The foldable retaining flap system comprising an upper flap pocket  38  and a lower flap  40  thus retain the side flaps  34  and  36  when the backpack is being used in a configuration without backpack carrying straps (FIG.  2 ). That is, the flaps  34  and  36  may be folded against the cushion  30  and retained by the flaps  40  which folds over and fasten by fasteners such as Velcro strip fasteners. 
     When unfolded and in use, the side flaps  34  and  36  include belt straps  44  and  46  with buckles  48  and  50  that fit around the waist of a person to help hold the backpack in position. The straps  44  and  46  are thus adjustable in length. The straps  44  and  46  may include buckle members, such as buckle member  52  at the inner end of the strap  46 , which cooperate with a retaining buckle  54  to facilitate the connection of the flap  36  and to provide extra support when supporting the backpack upon the back of a person carrying the backpack luggage. 
     Shoulder straps, which are adjustable in length, comprise a first and a second shoulder strap  60  and  62  retained and stored in a pocket  64  in back panels closed by a zipper  66 . Each strap  60  and  62  includes a buckle, such as buckle  70  for strap  62 , which cooperates with a buckle element  72  on associated flap  36  so that the back support straps  60  and  62  can be placed over the shoulders of a person carrying the backpack luggage and effectively connected at each end to back panel  10 . When the straps  60  and  62  are not being utilized, they are stored in the pocket  64  and the zipper  66  is in the closed position such as depicted in FIG.  2 . Similarly, the telescoping handle  22  is maintained in a zippered enclosure defined by and enclosed by the zipper  27 . The flap  40  may also be closed by means of a zipper, for example, zipper  28  in FIG. 2, or by means of fasteners, such as Velcro-type fasteners. Additional buckles, such as buckles  76 , may be provided on the lateral sides  75  of the enclosure  20  for connection with an associated buckle  70  of an adjustable strap  62  as an alternative connection for strap  62 . 
     A wheel housing  80  is integrated into the lower edge  14  of the back panel  10 . The housing  80  supports wheels  82  and  84 . The backpack luggage may then be carried and used as a typical wheeled luggage item by extension of the telescoping handle  22  and storage of the various straps as previously described. 
     FIGS. 4 through 9 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention. In this alternative embodiment the luggage item may also be utilized as a backpack or as a wheeled luggage item which is a wheeled case with a telescoping handle or alternatively as a luggage merely movable or transportable by means of handles on the sides of the luggage item. 
     Referring therefore to FIGS. 4-9, the luggage item comprises a back panel  90  that is generally rigid as in the first embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. Wheels  92  and  94  are provided along a lower edge  96  of the back panel  90 . A telescoping handle  98  shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is fastened on the inside of the back panel  90  and may be extended through a zippered opening  100  so that the luggage item may be transported via use of the wheels  92 ,  94 . The back panel  90  includes an enclosure  102  mounted thereon or attached thereto for carrying various items such as books, clothing, etc. The shape of the enclosure  102  is generally parallelpiped although in the embodiment depicted the upper side of the enclosure  102  is arcuate. Handles  104  and  106  are provided along the topside  108  and lateral side  110  of the enclosure  102 . Thus the telescoping handle  98  may be placed within the zippered opening  100  and the luggage carried as traditional luggage by means of handles  104  or  106 . The enclosure  102  includes a front flap  112  which may be attached to the sides of the enclosure by means of a zippered fastener  114  for example. In any event, two modes of utilization of the luggage namely, as regular luggage carried by handles  104  and  106  or as a wheeled case movable on the wheels  92 ,  94  by pulling the telescoping handle  98  are depicted. 
     The luggage item may be easily converted to a full backpack also. That is, referring to FIG. 4 there is illustrated a flexible flap  118  which is attached by a living hinge  120  extending between lateral sides  122  and  124  of the back panel  90 . The panel flap  118  defines a pocket into which shoulder straps  126  and  128  may be fitted. The shoulder straps  126 ,  128  are attached at their respective upper ends  130  and  132  within the zippered pocket defined by the flap  118 . The shoulder straps  126  and  128  include, respectively, strap extensions  140 ,  142  that are adjustable. The strap extensions  140  and  142  are attached by buckles or ring attachments such as ring attachment  144  respectively to opposite sides of the enclosure  102 . In this manner, the shoulder straps  126  and  128  are adjustable in length and may be fitted over the shoulder of a person wishing to carry the item as a backpack. 
     Additionally as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pocket defined by the flap  118  includes on the inside thereof a first flap extension  150  and the second flap extension  152  with buckle straps  154  and  156  incorporated therein. Also a downwardly extending retention strap  158  is connected to the buckle  160  on the front panel  112  as shown in FIG.  7 . This serves to retain the flap  118  in an adjusted position about the hinge connection  120 . 
     The backpack may then be carried on the back of an individual in the manner illustrated in FIG.  9 . That is, straps such as strap  126  may be fitted over the shoulder and attached to the connector  144 . The side flap  150  and more particularly the side extension strap  154  may be fitted about the waist of an individual and connected to the straps  152 ,  156  on the opposite side of the luggage item to hold the backpack in position about the waist of a person. The strap  158  that is attached to the front panel  112  of the luggage item holds the luggage item and more particularly the flap  118  in the appropriate orientation or position so that the luggage item will be in proper balance when carried. Multiple adjustments can thus be made using the straps and flaps as described to ensure appropriate comfort and balance. Further, the inside of the flap  118  may include a lumbar support configuration or pad (not shown) similar to that depicted in FIG. 1 that will further facilitate the comfort of carrying the luggage backpack. 
     While preferred embodiments have been disclosed, the invention is limited only by the following claims are equivalents thereof.