Abstract:
An improved equipment backpack which incorporates two novel and unique features. The first feature is a unique system for holding a tripod in place so that it can be carried on the backpack. The second feature is the incorporation of wing accessory pockets on the exterior of the backpack which retain objects in a visible, organized and readily accessible manner so that easy access to the objects can be achieved without the necessity of opening the entire backpack.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of backpacks which incorporate pockets for retaining equipment which needs to be transported to various locations, which by way of example can be cameras; lenses and photographic accessories, motion picture film accessories, or other types of non-photographic equipment. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In general, backpacks having pockets for retaining different types of equipment including, but not limited to photographic equipment such as cameras, lenses and photographic accessories are known in the prior art. However, prior art equipment backpacks including prior art photographic backpacks lack several features which the present inventor believes are vital for a complete equipment backpack. First, prior art photographic equipment backpacks have inefficient and ineffective means to retain and carry a camera tripod. Second, prior art equipment backpacks of all types do not have exterior compartments which are conveniently accessible for retaining equipment and accessories. There is a significant need for an improved equipment backpack which addresses these two features. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an improved equipment backpack which incorporates two novel and unique features. The first feature is a unique system for efficiently and effectively holding a tripod in place so that it can be carried on the backpack. The second feature is the incorporation of wing accessory pockets on the exterior of the backpack so that easy access to accessories can be achieved without the necessity of opening the entire backpack. 
     It has been discovered, according to the present invention, that if the equipment backpack includes on its rear exterior surface a bottom pocket with a pair of oppositely disposed closing means such as zippers, then two feet of a tripod can be securely held in the pocket with the zippers closing around either side of the two feet of the tripod. In addition, if the interior of the pocket is reinforced with plastic, the feet of the tripod will not tear through the pocket as the tripod is carried on the backpack. 
     It has further been discovered, according to the present invention, that if the backpack further includes a pair of oppositely disposed wing pockets located above the bottom pocket, with each wing pocket positioned to create an exterior channel on their respective inward sides, then two oppositely disposed legs of the tripod can be respectively positioned in a respective channel to thereby prevent the tripod from rocking side to side as it is carried on the backpack. 
     It has also been discovered, according to the present invention, that if a multiplicity of cinch straps are incorporated along the length of the area where the tripod is retained, the cinch straps when tied around the tripod at various vertical locations, will securely retain the tripod as it is carried on the backpack. 
     It has additionally been discovered, according to the present invention, that if a pair of wing pockets are incorporated into the exterior of the backpack, then equipment and accessories retained within the wing pockets can be easily organized and accessed without the necessity of opening the entire backpack. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a unique means to efficiently, safely and securely retain a tripod on an equipment backpack. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a means for retaining equipment and accessories in an organized and easily accessible manner on the outside of a backpack so that it is not necessary to open the entire backpack to gain access to those equipment and accessories. 
     Further novel features and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, discussion and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustration only and not limitation, there is illustrated: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the rear of the present invention equipment backpack, illustrating the novel features of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the rear of the present invention equipment backpack, illustrating the novel feature of the present invention with a tripod efficiently and effectively retained on the equipment backpack; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the front of the present invention equipment backpack; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the rear of the present invention equipment backpack with the exterior wing pockets in the opened condition; and 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the present invention photographic equipment backpack with the main zipper unfastened to expose the interior pockets of the equipment backpack. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that such embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative of but a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which can represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , several of the conventional features incorporated into the present invention equipment backpack  10  will be discussed first before the novel features of the present invention will be discussed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the front  100  of the equipment backpack  10  has a front exterior surface  102  which rests against a person&#39;s back as the backpack is carried. Adjacent the lower portion of front surface  102  is waist belt  104  having a right section  106  and a left section  108  with connecting means  110  so that the equipment backpack  10  can be strapped around a person&#39;s waist. Extending the length of front surface  102  are a pair of parallel oppositely disposed shoulder straps  112  and  114  so that the equipment backpack can be carried on the person&#39;s shoulders with a respective arm placed through a respective shoulder strap. When not being worn, the equipment backpack  10  can be carried by a handle  116  located at the top of the equipment backpack  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the interior compartment  120  is illustrated. The interior compartment is accessed by opening large compartment zipper  122  so that the rear section  130  can fold outwardly from the main body  140  to gain access to the multiplicity of interior compartments  150  which are specially designed to retain many types of equipment such as photographic equipment including cameras, lenses, and photographic accessories. The pockets can be modified to hold larger and different types of equipment. After the desired equipment is removed from its interior compartment, the rear section  130  is rotated to be against the main body  140  and the large compartment zipper  122  is closed. 
     The novel features of the present invention are primarily incorporated into the rear face  132  of the rear section  130  of equipment backpack  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5 , the first novel feature of the present invention is the incorporation of a pair of oppositely disposed pair of exterior wing accessory pockets. First exterior wing accessory pocket  20  is located on the left side of rear face  132  and has a main body  22  and a front cover  24  which is attached to the main body  22  along one side and is opened by closure means such as zipper  26 . When in the opened condition as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , both the interior of the body  22  and the front cover  24  have pockets and compartments  25  and  27  which can house objects such as cell phones, memory cards, card readers, MP3 players, batteries, credit cards and many other small objects. A key feature of the present invention is that by incorporating the wing exterior pocket  20  into the outside of the equipment backpack  10  on the rear face  132  of rear section  130 , these smaller items can be stored in a visible and organized manner so that they can be readily located and the items can be easily retrieved without having to open the entire equipment backpack to gain access to interior compartment  120 . Optionally, a zip clip  29  can be included to lock first exterior wing accessory compartment  20 . An additional key feature is the incorporation of a longitudinal channel  28  on the interior facing longitudinal wall of pocket  20 . 
     Also referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5 , there is illustrated second exterior wing accessory pocket  30  which is located on the right side of rear face  132  and is generally parallel to first exterior wing accessory pocket  20 . The two pockets  20  and  30  can be the same size or they can be of different sizes. In the illustrations, pocket  30  is the same size as pocket  20 . Second exterior wing accessory pocket  30  has a main body  32  and a front cover  34  which is attached to the main body  32  along one side and is opened by closure means such as zipper  36 . When in the opened condition as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , both the interior of the body  32  and the front cover  34  have pockets and compartments  37  and  35  which can house objects such as cell phones, memory cards, card readers, MP3 players, batteries, credit cards and many other small objects. A key feature of the present invention is that by incorporating the wing extension pocket  30  into the outside of the equipment backpack  10  on the rear face  132  of rear section  130 , these small items can be stored in a visible and organized manner so that they can be readily located and the items can be easily retrieved without having to open the entire equipment backpack to gain access to the interior compartment  120 . Optionally, a clip  39  can be included to lock second exterior wing accessories compartment  30 . An additional key feature of the second exterior wing accessory pocket  30  is the incorporation of a longitudinal channel  38  on the interior facing longitudinal wall of pocket  30 . Channels  28  and  38  are parallel to each other. Each channel  28  and  38  are each sized to accommodate a leg of a tripod. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5 , the second novel feature of the present invention, is the incorporation of tripod retaining means to enable a tripod  200  to be efficiently, effectively, safely and securely carried on the equipment backpack  10 . In general, a tripod  200  has a platform  210  having a first leg  220 , a second leg  230  and a third middle leg  240 . The three legs  220 ,  230  and  240  are rotatably connected adjacent the lower surface of platform  210 . The upper surface of platform  210  supports camera mounting means  250 . 
     The tripod retaining means is comprised of the following components. The first component is a bottom pocket  40  having a main body  42  and a front cover  44  with closure means with preferably a pair of zippers  46  and  48  which run along the same zipper track along opposite top portions of the main body  42  and front cover  44 . 
     An interior compartment  50  is contained between main body  42  and front cover  44 . Optionally, the compartment  50  can be reinforced with reinforcing means  52  which lines the entire interior compartment  50 . By way of example, the reinforcing means can be plastic lining to provide additional strength and durability to the fabric pocket. The bottom pocket  40  is positioned below and spaced apart from first and second exterior wing accessory pockets  20  and  30  and aligned with the space between pockets  20  and  30 . The tripod  200  is partially housed in bottom pocket  40  by having first leg  220  and second leg  230  placed into interior compartment  50  while third middle leg  240  rests immediately outside pocket  50  and rests against front cover  44  as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . To further secure the bottom of legs  220  and  230  in compartment  50 , the zippers  46  and  48  are brought into the closed position to close around and securely hold feet  220  and  230  of tripod  200  within compartment  50 . 
     The second component of the tripod retaining means is a multiplicity of cinch straps which wrap around the three legs of the tripod to securely hold the legs against the rear face  132  of rear section  130  of equipment backpack  10 . In the preferred embodiment, there are three cinch straps as illustrated but it will be appreciated that at least one cinch strap or any; multiplicity of cinch straps are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4  and  5 , first lower cinch strap  60  is comprised of a pair of oppositely disposed strap members  62  and  64 , each attached at one end to rear face  132  at a location between wing pockets  20  and  30  and connected at their opposite ends by closure means  66  so that the cinch strap  60  is located immediately above bottom pocket  40  and adjacent the lower ends of exterior wing accessory pockets  20  and  30 . Located higher up on rear face  132  and between pockets  20  and  30  is second middle cinch strap  70  which also is comprised of oppositely disposed strap members  72  and  74 , each attached at one end to rear face  132  at a location between wing pockets  20  and  30  and connected at their opposite ends by closure means  76  so that the cinch strap  70  can be wrapped around the three tripod legs as illustrated. Second middle cinch strap is located approximately two-thirds of the distance up the two pockets  20  and  30 . The third top cinch strap  80  is located at the top of the equipment backpack  10  and is comprised of oppositely disposed strap members  82  and  84 , each attached at one end to the top  118  of equipment backpack  10  and connected at their opposite ends by closure means  86 . The third top cinch strap wraps around the upper portion of the tripod  200  at a location above the three legs. 
     As an additional optional feature of the tripod retaining means, longitudinal channel  28  of first exterior wing accessory pocket  20  is designed to receive and support a portion of leg  220 . Similarly, longitudinal channel  38  of second exterior wing accessory pocket  30  is designed to receive and support a portion of leg  230 . The channels  28  and  38  enable the tripod  200  to be efficiently, safely and securely held on the equipment backpack  10  without rocking side to side when the equipment backpack  10  is carried. 
     Therefore, through use of the combination of the bottom pocket  40 , the multiplicity of cinch straps  60 ,  70  and  80  and the channels  28  and  38 , the tripod  200  is very securely retained on the equipment backpack  10  and can be easily transported along with the rest of the equipment retained within the equipment backpack. 
     Defined in detail, the present invention is an equipment backpack having a rear face and which can retain a tripod having a first leg, a second leg, and a third middle leg, the equipment backpack comprising: (a) a first exterior wing accessory pocket on one side of the rear face and having a main body and a front cover which is attached to the main body along one side and is opened by closure means, the interior of the main body and cover having pockets for retaining objects in a visible and organized manner so that the objects are readily accessible, the closed first exterior wing accessory pocket having a longitudinal channel along its exterior inwardly facing sidewall; (b) a second exterior wing accessory pocket on the opposite side of the rear face and having a main body and a front cover which is attached to the main body along one side and is opened by closure means, the interior of the main body and cover having pockets for retaining objects in a visible and organized manner so that the objects are readily accessible, the closed second exterior wing accessory pocket having a longitudinal channel along its exterior inwardly facing sidewall, the first and second exterior wing accessory pockets being parallel to each other so that their respective inwardly facing longitudinal channels are parallel, and a space formed between the first and second exterior wing accessory pockets and between their respective longitudinal channels; and (c) a bottom pocket positioned below and spaced apart from the first and second exterior wing accessory pockets and aligned with the space between the two exterior wing accessory pockets, the bottom pocket having a main body and a front cover with a pair of oppositely disposed closure means, the bottom pocket having an interior compartment between the main body and the front cover; and (d) a multiplicity of cinch straps located above the bottom pocket and longitudinally spaced apart along the space between the two exterior wing accessory pockets; (e) whereby, the tripod is retained on the photographic equipment backpack by having the bottom of the first leg retained in the compartment of the bottom pocket and a portion of the leg is positioned along the longitudinal channel of the first exterior wing accessory pocket, the bottom of the second leg retained in the compartment of the bottom pocket and a portion of the leg is positioned along the longitudinal channel of the second exterior wing accessory pocket, the middle third leg resting outside the bottom pocket, the closure means of the bottom pocket tightly enclosing the bottom of the first and second tripod legs, and the multiplicity of cinch straps wrapped around the three legs to further support the tripod on the photographic equipment backpack. 
     Defined broadly, the present invention is an equipment backpack having a rear face and which can retain a tripod having at least a first leg and a second leg, the equipment backpack comprising: (a) a first exterior wing accessory pocket on one side of the rear face which has a longitudinal channel on its exterior inwardly facing sidewall; (b) a second exterior wing accessory pocket on the opposite side of the rear face and having a longitudinal channel along its exterior inwardly facing sidewall so that the longitudinal channels of the first exterior accessory wing pocket and the second exterior wing accessory pocket are spaced apart and parallel to each other with a space on the rear face between the two longitudinal channels; (c) a bottom pocket positioned below and spaced apart from the first and second exterior wing accessory pockets and aligned with the space between the longitudinal sidewalls of the first and second exterior wing accessory pockets, the bottom pocket having a main body and a front cover with closure means thereon, the bottom pocket, having an interior compartment between the main body and the front cover; and (d) at least one cinch strap located above the bottom pocket and located in the space between the longitudinal channels of the first and second exterior wing accessory pockets; 
     (e) whereby the tripod is retained on the equipment backpack by having the bottom of its first leg retained in the interior compartment of the bottom pocket and having a portion of the leg retained against the longitudinal channel of the first exterior wing accessory pocket, the bottom of the second leg is retained in the interior compartment of the bottom pocket and having a portion of the leg retained against the longitudinal channel of the second exterior wing accessory pocket, and the closure means on the bottom pocket securely retain the bottom of the legs therein, and the at least one cinch strap is wrapped around the legs to further securely retain the tripod on the equipment backpack. 
     Defined more broadly, the present invention is an equipment backpack having a rear face and which can retain a tripod having at least a first leg and a second leg, the equipment backpack comprising: (a) a bottom pocket positioned adjacent a bottom of the rear face, the bottom pocket having a main body and a front cover with closure means thereon, the bottom pocket having an interior compartment between the main body and the front cover; and (b) at least one cinch strap located on the rear face of the backpack and vertically positioned above the bottom pocket on the rear face; (c) whereby, the tripod is retained on the backpack by having the bottom of the first leg and the bottom of the second leg retained within the interior compartment of the bottom pocket and securely retained therein by the closure means, the at least one cinch strap wrapped around the at least two legs of the tripod to securely retain the tripod on the equipment backpack. 
     Defined even more broadly, the present invention is an equipment backpack having a rear face, the equipment backpack comprising: (a) a first exterior wing accessory pocket on one side of the rear face and having a main body and a front cover which is attached to the main body along one side and is opened by closure means, the interior of the main body and cover having pockets for retaining objects in a visible, organized and readily accessible manner; and (b) a second exterior wing accessory pocket on the opposite side of the rear face and having a main body and a front cover which is attached to the main body along one side and is opened by closure means, the interior of the main body and cover having pockets for retaining objects in a visible, organized and readily accessible manner, the first and second exterior wing accessory pockets being parallel to each other. 
     Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to any particular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or any specific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified in various particulars or relations without departing from the spirit or scope of the claimed invention hereinabove shown and described of which the apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration and disclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the various forms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied or operated. 
     The present invention has been described in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent laws by providing full public disclosure of at least one of its forms. However, such detailed description is not intended in any way to limit the broad features or principles of the present invention, or the scope of the patent to be granted. Therefore, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.