Abstract:
This invention provides a backpack with a compartment containing a plurality of pockets for carrying personal electronic devices, including a specific pocket for storing a rechargeable battery pack within a range of sizes, shapes and cable socket number/placement on the pack&#39;s housing. The battery pocket defines crossing bands of elastic that accommodates/secures various battery form factors. Power cable access to sockets on the pack is eased by the flexibility of the straps and their interstices. The main compartment includes pockets for other electronic items, such as a tablet computer, smartphone and/or music player. Pockets are constructed from a mesh that includes an elastomer coating for frictional retention of items. A cable pocket, including pass through openings is also provided to route and store gathered/wound sections of power cables from the battery pack located therebelow. Cables extend from the cable pocket to various electronic devices in adjacent pockets, or externally.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/101,978, entitled BACKPACK FOR ORGANIZING AND POWERING PERSONAL ELECTRONICS, filed Jan. 9, 2015, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to bags and backpacks for carrying personal effects, and more particularly to backpacks adapted to carry personal electronics. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Bags and backpacks are a ubiquitous part of daily life in personal, scholastic, and business endeavors. They are used to carry books, personal effects and documents during transit on foot, bicycle, vehicle, and all forms of public transportation, and have become a vital hub in a person&#39;s activities. As bags and backpacks have taken on more roles they have also become more versatile, often providing specialized pockets and wire chase for music players, headphones, smartphones, tablets and laptop computers, so as to avoid mingling such items with the clutter of a main storage compartment. 
     Since such bags and backpacks now serve as electronic hubs, the ability to power such items becomes more desirable. The advent of USB-based charging ports provided in various venues, such as airports, terminals and restaurants, as well as power strips, has provided a relatively safe, standardized, low-voltage solution for charging a wide range of electronics. This enhances the ability to provide an integrated power solution for bags and backpacks. However, many powered items and power sources (e.g. USB-rechargeable battery units) are provided in a wide range of form factors, and integrating them into a bag or backpack requires specific pocket designs that can outlive the current technology and render a bag quickly obsolete or, at best, inconvenient to use over the long term. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention overcomes disadvantages of the prior art by providing a backpack or similar bag with a main compartment containing a plurality of pockets for carrying personal electronic devices, including a specific pocket for storing a rechargeable battery pack within a range of sizes, shapes and cable socket number/placement on the pack&#39;s housing. The battery pocket is constructed of crossing bands of elastic webbing within a perimeter that is sized and arranged to accommodate, and to secure-in-place, a wide range of commercially available battery pack form factors. Power cable access to sockets on the pack is eased by the flexibility of the straps and the interstitial openings provided between them. The main storage compartment also includes additional pockets, with and without (free-of) zippered or snapped closures that are sized for other electronic items, such as a tablet computer, smartphone (e.g. Apple iPhone®, Samsung Galaxy, Motorola Droid® etc.) and/or music player (e.g. Apple iPod®). Pockets can be constructed from a mesh material that includes an elastomer coating for frictional retention of such electronics. A cable pocket, including pass through openings is also provided to route and store gathered/wound sections of power cables from the battery pack located therebelow. Cables extend from the cable pocket to various electronic devices stored in adjacent pockets, or external to the storage compartment. A pass-through is provided for routing a cable (e.g. a USB charging cable) from the storage compartment adjacent the battery pack (e.g. near the bottom of the compartment and additional pass throughs can be provided near the top of the storage compartment. One pass through can be used to route a charging cable from the cable pocket to a pocket on a back strap that can contain a smartphone/music player and another pass through can be used to route headphone cables from the storage compartment to a user when the smartphone/music player resides within the storage compartment. 
     In an illustrative embodiment, a backpack for organizing and powering personal electronic devices comprises an inner storage compartment having a battery pack pocket defining a plurality of crossing elastic strips. The strips are constructed and arranged to allow a battery pack within a predetermined range of sizes and shapes to pass between the strips and to be secured by the strips, with a power cord and a charging cord exiting between the strips from the pocket. Illustratively, the battery pack pocket is located on a pocket panel assembly that includes a plurality of pockets to which cables are guided from the battery pack pocket. The pocket panel assembly includes a slot for storing a laptop or tablet and a cable pocket adjacent to the battery pack pocket having a cutout for receiving a cable therethrough from the battery pack. The cable pocket can define a mesh material and includes two compartments with respective cutouts. The pocket panel assembly can also include a device pocket for receiving a smartphone or music player, and the device pocket can be constructed from a mesh material. The backpack can include pass throughs that allow cables to extend from the inner compartment to the exterior, and one of the pass throughs can be located adjacent to the battery pack pocket to allow a battery pack charging cable to extend therefrom. Additionally, one of the pass throughs can be located adjacent to a top of the backpack and routes a device power cable from the battery pack to a location along a shoulder strap. The shoulder strap can include a device pocket for receiving a personal electronic device with the device power cable connected thereto and hold downs for the device power cable between the respective pass through and the device pocket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention description below refers to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a backpack for organizing and powering electronic devices according to an illustrative embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the backpack of  FIG. 1  shown with the main storage compartment exposed to reveal various pockets for retaining and organizing personal electronic devices, cables and a rechargeable battery pack; 
         FIG. 3  is a further front perspective view of the backpack of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a frontal view of the backpack of  FIG. 1  with main flap open to reveal the main compartment and electronic device storage pockets; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the layout of electronic device storage pockets on the surface of the main storage compartment of the backpack of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is more detailed frontal view of the battery pack and cable storage pockets on the surface of the main storage compartment of the backpack of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial side view of a pass through for a battery pack charging cable for the backpack of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial side view of a pass through for an electronic device power cable; and 
         FIG. 9  is a rear view of the backpack of  FIG. 1  showing the back straps and a strap-mounted pouch containing an exemplary electronic device with power cord guided along the strap. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-4  show a backpack  100  for organizing and powering personal electronic devices according to an illustrative embodiment. The backpack is shown with main flap  110  closed in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , and with main flap  110  open to reveal the main storage compartment  210  in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The backpack can be constructed from a variety of materials, both synthetic and natural, as well as a combination of materials. For example, padded nylon fabric can be used. As shown a variety of design enhancements, such as quilting  112  and colored bands  114  and  116  can be provided. In this embodiment, the main flap  110  and subsidiary compartments are secured by one or more zipper closures  120 . Additional pockets constructed from a commercially available mesh material or another fabric can also be provided, for example, along one or both sides of the backpack  100 . The backpack  100  can also include a conventional handle  130  for ease of hand-carriage. The bottom of the backpack  100  can include reinforcing fabric  140 , and optionally, an internal stiffener (not shown) to maintain the shape of the backpack. Likewise additional padding (e.g. foam, plastic sheet, etc.—not shown) can be placed at various locations between fabric layers, such as at the rear surface  220  of the main storage compartment  210 . This padding can aid in cushioning the rear surface  220  and stored contents of the main compartment from the user&#39;s back and can be conventional. 
     The main flap  110  opens to the side as shown with a zipper seam  150  that crosses diagonally across a portion of the backpack&#39;s front face  160  so as to provide a partially covered (by the (e.g.) quilted area  112 ) main compartment  210  when the flap  110  is fully opened. The rear surface  220  supports a pocket assembly or layer  230  that allows a tablet  240  or laptop to be stored between the pocket assembly  230  and the rear surface  220 . With further reference to  FIG. 5 , the pocket assembly/layer  230  includes four pockets (for example)  510 ,  520 ,  530  and  540 . The bottom left pocket  510  is defined as a series of ½-¾-inch wide elastic webbing strips  550  that cross at (approximately) right angles (although the angle of cross can vary). The strips  550  are free of stitches or interconnections therebetween, so that they can stretch and slide freely with respect to each other. They are anchored at their ends by stitching and are interwoven as shown to provide a more cohesive overall mesh. Illustratively the pocket  510  and can be optionally coated with a friction-producing elastomer that should be clear to those of skill. The size and outline shape of the pocket is highly variable. In this embodiment, it has a rectangular height HPB of between 5 and 6 inches and a rectangular width WPB of between 3 and 4 inches. This dimension is sufficient to receive and secure a wide range of commercially available, USB-based battery packs  552 . 
     Operationally, the depicted, exemplary pack  552  is secured as shown beneath the strips  550  by passing it through the diamond-shaped slots  554  (that are between approximately ½ and 1¼ inch square), so that it as elastically compressed between the strips  550  and the base material of the pocket assembly/layer  230 . The slots  554  allow for cords  556  to pass from the pocket  550  to other locations within and external of the main compartment  210 . 
     With reference also to  FIG. 6 , the cords/cables  556  extend into a cord/cable-organizing pocket  530 . The cords/cables  556  pass through cutouts  560  in the bottom of the pocket material, which in this embodiment is a fine mesh with an (optional) elastomeric coating that assists in retaining the cords/cables in the pocket. In this embodiment, the pocket  530  is divided into two compartments  562 . Cords/cables  556  are inserted in bundled/coiled form as shown in the compartment  562  through a top opening  564  (openings can be placed along another edge), with one lead passing through the respective cutout  560  to an associated socket of the battery pack  552  or another device. The opposing lead of the cord/cable extends out of the top opening  564  to a device within the compartment  210  (e.g. the tablet  240  or a smartphone/music player  570  stored within the pocket  520 ), or to an external device. The pocket  520  is constructed from a fine mesh with an optional elastomeric coating. The pocket defines an open top  574  through which the phone (or other device) is inserted and removed, and from which a cord/cable exists, as shown. It is sized to accommodate various form factors of phone/music player. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the charging cord  710  for the battery pack  552  extends to the exterior through a pass through (slit gusset)  720  that is sized and arranged to allow the end of the USB plug  730  to clear the slot. The gusset  720  is located near the battery pack  552  at the base of the backpack  100 . It can be located within the pocket  510  or adjacent to it on the rear or side wall of the backpack. 
     Cables are routed to an external device through an appropriate pass through (e.g. a slot gusset  580 ) on the rear surface  220 . An elastic hold-down  582  can be provided near the gusset  580 . In an embodiment, gussets are located on both top sides of the backpack  100  to provide a pass through from the main compartment  210  to the exterior. The exit  810  of the opposing gusset  580  is shown in  FIG. 8 , where a cable  820  exits to the exterior of the backpack  100 . This cable can be a headphone cable connected to an internally stored phone/music player (e.g. phone  570  in  FIG. 5  in pocket  520 ). 
     One or more of the gussets  580 ,  720 , etc., can be replaced with a flexible grommet, such as a round, flexible, plastic grommet with a central hole and a series of radial slits. Referring to  FIG. 5 , an additional zippered pocket  540  is located on the pocket assembly/layer  230  and can be constructed from mesh or another fabric. It can be used for items that are desirably stored in a sealed pocket. Note that more or fewer pockets can be provided in alternate embodiments, and such pockets can be sized and arranged for storage of various devices or other items—such as a drivers license, passport, identification card, change, credit cards, keys, etc. 
     Reference is made to  FIG. 9 , which shows the rear of the backpack  100 , including the shoulder straps  910  and  912 . The shoulder straps  910 ,  912  are padded and include adjustment buckles  920  on web end straps  922  according to a conventional arrangement. A conventional cross strap assembly  930  with buckle  932  is also provided. The strap  912  includes a mesh pocket  940  with optional elastomeric coating. The pocket  940  is accessed by a sloped top opening  942  and is sized in width and height to conform to the size\/shape of a given electronic device (e.g. a smartphone/music player such as the Apple iPhone®/iPod®)  950 . The pocket opening  942  is adapted to expose a corner  952  of an average sized device so it can be removed easily. As shown, a charging cable  960  is guided along the outer face of the strap  912  as shown from a gusset on the side of the backpack (described above). A guiding loop  970  of material is provided a few inches from the pocket  940  and an elastic hold-down strap  972  is provided above the loop  972  spaced a few inches therefrom. Additional loops or straps can be employed, and the depicted loops can be replaced with straps and vice versa. Alternate hold-down arrangements including a mesh or fabric tube on the strap surface can be employed in alternate embodiments. The loop  970  should be sufficient in size to allow pass-through of a plug end  974 . By way of example, the plug end can be a micro or mini USB or an Apple Lightning® connector. Other form factors can also be accommodated. The pocket  940  and cord-guiding arrangement of the shoulder strap  912  allows a user to keep his or her device ( 950 ) accessible, yet secure and to charge it from the battery pack ( 552 ). Alternatively, the device pocket can be provided on the opposing strap  910  or on both straps. An additional pocket, such as a headphone pocket can be provided on the opposing strap  910 . 
     Illustratively, various locations on the strap can include indica describing the particular function of the component. For example, cable indica  590  can be provided on the cable compartments  562 . A phone indicia  592  can be provided on the phone pocket  520 . A power cable indicia  840  can be provide near the top gusset  810  ( FIG. 8 ). Other indicia are expressly contemplated. 
     While the USB standard is used to deliver power in this embodiment, it is expressly contemplated that other standard or proprietary protocols can be employed—for example 12 VAC or DC. Optionally/alternatively, the pocket, or another location on the backpack  100 , can be adapted to store a wall current power adapter/transformer. 
     It should be clear that the backpack described herein allows a user to select an appropriate battery pack without the constraints of a predefined pocket shape. The pack is secured, yet removable and accessible, reducing the possibility that it will shift and suffer damage (or damage other items) in use. Other devices are well-organized and cords are neatly routed therebetween. Charging of the battery pack is straightforward, and can be accomplished without (free of) opening or accessing the main storage compartment or any other sealed compartment by passing a cord/cable through a bottom pass through (gusset). 
     The foregoing has been a detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the invention. Various modifications and additions can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Features of each of the various embodiments described above may be combined with features of other described embodiments as appropriate in order to provide a multiplicity of feature combinations in associated new embodiments. Furthermore, while the foregoing describes a number of separate embodiments of the apparatus and method of the present invention, what has been described herein is merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. For example, as used herein various directional and orientational terms (and grammatical variations thereof) such as “vertical”, “horizontal”, “up”, “down”, “bottom”, “top”, “side”, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “forward”, “rearward”, and the like, are used only as relative conventions and not as absolute orientations with respect to a fixed coordinate system, such as the acting direction of gravity. Likewise, the arrangement of pockets, zippers, flaps, as well as the placement of pockets, pass throughs and the like can be widely varied. Additional internal pockets and/or compartments can also be provided as appropriate and the outline shape of the backpack is highly variable. Also, the strips and/or other locations on the backpack can be color-coded to assist in organizing items and devices. Accordingly, this description is meant to be taken only by way of example, and not to otherwise limit the scope of this invention.