Abstract:
A backpack and toy combination includes a backpack having an exterior surface, at least one toy character, at least one support on the exterior of the backpack for releasably engaging the at least one toy character. A story book is preferably disposed inside the backpack, the story book including at least one illustration of the toy character. The story book preferably also in a reference to an item, such as a magnifying glass or binoculars, that secured in a pocket or pouch in the backpack. The backpack preferably has a front panel and a back panel hingedly connected along one edge, and further has releasable fasteners along the other edges, to releasably engage the other edges of the front and back panels, and define an interior space therebetween. At least one, and preferably two panels are hingedly mounted between the front and back panels, and can pivot to any open position in which the panels overlie the front and back panels, in side by side relationship, forming a smooth work surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/577,251, filed on Jun. 4, 2004. The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to backpacks for children, and in particular to backpack integrated with toys and storybook.  
         [0003]     A wide variety of bags and backpacks have been developed for storing and transporting articles. Backpacks or tote bags may ordinarily be used to transport these items. A backpack or tote bag traditionally includes a front panel, a back panel, at least one side panel, at least one strap, and a closure. These elements of the back pack or tote bag are connected together to form a compartment which may be carried on the shoulders of the wearer.  
         [0004]     Several backpacks have been specifically developed for children, including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,874,340, 5,975,392, and 6,510,974 B2, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A backpack and toy combination includes a backpack having an exterior surface, at least one toy character, at least one support on the exterior of the backpack for releasably engaging the at least one toy character. A story book is preferably disposed inside the backpack, the story book including at least one illustration of the toy character. The story book preferably also in a reference to an item, such as a magnifying glass or binoculars, that secured in a pocket or pouch in the backpack.  
         [0006]     The backpack preferably has a front panel and a back panel hingedly connected along one edge, and further has releasable fasteners along the other edges, to releasably engage the other edges of the front and back panels, and define an interior space therebetween.  
         [0007]     At least one and preferably two panels are hingedly mounted between the front and back panels. The panels can pivot relative to each other and relative to the front and back panels to an open position in which the panels overlie the front and back panels, in side by side relationship, forming a smooth work surface. Various receptacles and pockets can be disposed on the inside faces of the front and back panel and on the faces of the interior panels facing the front and back panels, for holding various items.  
         [0008]     The backpack preferably has a cushioned back panel for the comfort of the user and so that the backpack can be used like a pillow. The back pack has arm loops which preferably can be opened when not in use to reduce risk of choking. These and other features and advantages will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of the preferred embodiment;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view thereof;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view thereof;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view thereof;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a left side elevation view thereof;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a right side elevation view thereof;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is an elevation view of the opened back pack;  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is an elevation view of the opened back pack;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8A  is an elevation view of an alternate construction of the opened back pack;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is an elevation view of the opened back pack;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the opened back pack;  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of the back pack with the doll removed;  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is a front elevation view of the back pack with the doll removed and the doll holder folded down. 
     
    
       [0022]     Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the preferred embodiment, indicated generally at  62 , is constructed of a front panel  64 , a binding side panel  66 , and at least one other side panel  68 . Each of the panels of the preferred embodiment is made preferably out of a flexible, durable, cloth material. The front panel  64  is preferably constructed with decorative quilted cushioning. However, each of the panels may be constructed from various materials such as nylon, vinyl, plastic, or metal.  
         [0024]     As shown, the preferred embodiment also includes a back panel  70 , a handle  72  having a left end  74  and a right end  76 , and at least one shoulder strap  78 . The back panel has an inside surface  80  (shown in  FIG. 9 ), and outside surface  82 , and an edge  84 . Although the back panel is preferably constructed using a cushioned material so as to provide comfort when being carried on the back of the wearer, it may be constructed using plastic, vinyl, nylon, uncushioned cloth, or other materials. The left end of the handle  74  is secured to the left portion of the top edge of the back panel. The-right end of the handle  76  is secured to right portion of the top edge of the back panel. The handle  72  is preferably secured by sewn stitches but may be secured using any attaching device such as snaps, buttons, ties, glue, clips, or some other device.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the shoulder strap  78  has a shoulder harness  86  having an upper end  88  and a lower end  90 , at least one adjuster  92 , at least two strands  94  and  96  of strapping. The strand  94  has a first end  98  secured to the shoulder harness  86 , and at least one releasable fastener  106  having an upper slit  108  and a lower slit  110 . The upper end of the shoulder harness  88  is secured to the top edge of the back panel  84 . The lower end of the shoulder harness  90  is secured to first end of the first strand of strapping  98 . The shoulder harness  86  is preferably made out of a cushioned, flexible, and durable material but may be constructed from more rigid materials. The first strand of strapping  94  is threaded through the adjuster  92  and upper slit of the releasable fastener  108 . The second strand of strapping  96  is threaded through the lower slit of the releasable fastener  110 . Both the first and the second ends of the second strand of strapping  96  are attached to the bottom edge of the back panel  84 . The preferred embodiment  62  preferably includes two shoulder straps sized and placed such that a person may place their arms through the loops created from the shoulder straps and wear the preferred embodiment comfortably on the person&#39;s back. However, the embodiment may include only one strap to be worn over one shoulder or several straps that can be worn over the shoulders, around the torso, around the wrist, or held in the user&#39;s hand.  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , the binding side panel  66  has an outside surface  112 , an inside surface  114 , and at least one edge  116 . The edge of the binding side panel  116  is secured to the front panel  64 , another side panel  68 , and the back panel  70  so as to form a compartment having an interior  118 . The seams where the panels are secured are preferably reinforced with a stiff material so as to enhance the durability and give the preferred embodiment a shape.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 4, 5 , and  6 , display the other side panel  68  and a fastening closure  122  which are further included in the preferred embodiment  62 . The fastening closure  122  is secured to the side panel  68  so that when it is unfastened the preferred embodiment may be unfolded and the front and back panels may be rotated around the binding side panel to lie in the same plane. The fastening closure  122  is preferably a zipper but any closure device known to those skilled in the art may be used such as Velcro, snaps, buttons, ties, clips, elastic, or drawstrings.  
         [0028]     The inside of the preferred embodiment includes at least one divider and a means for attaching a book. The Figures show an inside surface  124 , an outside surface  126 , and an edge  128  of the front panel, a first divider  130  having a front surface  132 , a rear surface  134 , and an edge  136 , a book  138  having attachable binding  140 , and a second divider  142  having a front surface  144 , a rear surface  146 , and an edge  148 . The edge of the first divider  136 , the edge of the second divider  146 , and the attachable binding of the book  140  are each attached to the inside surface of the binding side panel  114  so that they may be rotated at least 180° around the binding side panel. Various methods of attaching the edges of the dividers and the attachable binding of the book to the inside of the binding side panel are available. The preferred method is stitching but riveting, gluing, spiral binding, clips or any other method of binding may be used.  
         [0029]     The preferred embodiment  62  may also include several storage compartments. The storage compartments may be sized to fit the accessories that correspond to the story book or theme of the preferred embodiment. Accessories may include writing and coloring tools, rulers, folders, clip boards, note pads, paper, pictures, calculators, binoculars, magnifying glasses, toy phones, books, toy food items, wallets, stuffed animals, dolls, toy cars, figurines, or any other toy or accessory. The material used to construct the storage compartments may include canvas, mesh, nylon, vinyl, plastic, metal, or some other material. The storage compartment may have an opening with no closure, a partial closure, or a full closure. The closure devices may include snaps, zippers, pins, buttons, drawstrings, elastic, Velcro, or any other closure devices known to those skilled in the art. Additionally, various sub-compartments may be included to provide added organization.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  depicts a first storage compartment  150 . The first compartment has an edge  152  which is attached to the inside surface of the front panel  124  so as to leave an opening. The edge of the first compartment which defines the dimension of the opening  154  includes an elastic closure  156 . The first compartment is made of a mesh material and-sized to accommodate a book  158 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 7  shows a second  160 , third  162 , fourth  164 , and fifth  166  storage compartment. The second compartments has an edge  168  which is attached to the front surface of the first divider  132  so as to leave an opening. The edge of the second compartment which defines the dimension of the opening  170  includes an elastic closure  171 . The second compartment is made of a mesh material and sized to accommodate a package of markers  172 . The third compartment  162  has an edge  174  which attached to the front surface of the first divider  132 . A closure device  176  runs along the third compartment  162  providing an opening. The third compartment  162  is made of a denim material and a zipper is used for the closure device  176 . The fourth compartment  164  is folded and has an edge  178  which is attached to the front surface of the first divider  132  to form a pocket with an opening. Divisions  180  are sewn on the pocket so that pencils or pens  182  may be inserted between the sewn divisions in the pocket. The fifth compartment  166  has a pouch  184  with edges  186  and a drawstring  188 . The edges of the pouch  186  are attached to the front of the first divider  132  so that accessories may be stored inside the pouch.  
         [0032]     The material used to construct the first divider  130  includes a material that is rigid and smooth in order to provide a writing surface for the user. The surface may be constructed for uses other than writing such as playing with toys. It may be designed with pictures related to the story of the book  158 ,  138  or other included accessories or themes.  
         [0033]      FIG. 9  shows a sixth compartment  190  which is also included in the preferred embodiment  62 . The sixth compartment  190  has an edge  192  which is attached to the edge of the second divider  148  leaving an opening. The edge defining the opening  194  includes an elastic closure  196 . The sixth compartment is made of a mesh material and may hold various accessories such as a package of markers  198 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 9  shows that the preferred embodiment  62  further includes a seventh  200 , eighth  202 , and ninth  204  compartment. The seventh compartment  200  has a surface  206  and edge  208  which is attached to the edge of the back panel  84  leaving a side opening. The eighth compartment  202  includes a pouch  210  having a zipper closure  212  and an edge  214 . The edge is attached to the surface of the seventh compartment  206 . The eighth compartment is sized to fit an accessory such as binoculars  216 . The ninth compartment  204  is folded and has an edge  217  which is attached to the surface of the seventh compartment  206  to form a pocket with an opening. The ninth compartment may be sized to fit an accessory such as a magnifying glass  218 .  
         [0035]     The preferred embodiment also includes a doll  220 , shown in  FIG. 1 . The doll shown has legs  222 , arms  224 , a torso  226 , and a head  228 . However, the doll is not limited by these elements. The doll may be any toy having a shape that may fit in a harness  230 , which is also included in the preferred embodiment  62  and pictured in  FIGS. 1, 10 , and  11 .  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the harness for the doll  230  has a front surface  232 , a back surface  234 , and at least two vertices  236  and  238 . The harness is preferably in the general shape of a triangle but various shapes may be used. The preferred embodiment  62  also includes at least two loops  240  and  242  and at least two fasteners  244  which are used to attach the doll harness  230 . The first vertex of the doll harness  236  is threaded through the first loop  240  and attached to the back surface of the harness  234 . Similarly, the second vertex of the doll harness  238  is threaded through the second loop  242  and attached to the back surface of the harness  234 . The vertices may be attached using Velcro, snaps, pins, buttons, ties, zippers, stitching, glue, or any other means of attachment. Preferably the fasteners  244  have a front surface  246 , a back surface  248 , a first end  250 , and a second end  252 . However, any type of fastener may be used such as Velcro, ties, stitching, pins, or any other means for attaching the loops to the outside surface of the front panel  126 . The first end of the back surface of the fasteners is secured to the outside surface of the front panel  126 . The fasteners are then threaded through the loops, folded over, and the front surface of the first end of the fasteners are attached to the front surface of the second end of the fastener in order to connect the loop to the front surface of the front panel  126 .  
         [0037]     The preferred embodiment may include any number of additional toy accessories  254 . The toy accessory has a connector  256  which is used to connect the accessory to the doll harness  230 . Any type of connecting device may be used such as string, buttons, Velcro, snaps, or an extension or shape of the toy accessory  256 .