Abstract:
A backpack is positioned to rest in an essentially flat configuration between the shoulder blades, so as to mitigate backpack pain or stress. The pack is worn tightly across the individual to eliminate the downward forces of the weight included in a pocket having a rhombus shape. Stretchable material of the pack conforms to the contents of the pack. Effectively, the weight of the pack is distributed across the chest and back of an individual to provide a “weightless effect”.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of a backpack made of stretchable material so as to secure its contents in place and distribute the weight of the contents of the backpack across the back and chest of the wearer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various backpacks are known having a single shoulder strap or two shoulder straps to support the weight of the backpack on the shoulder or shoulders of an individual. These backpacks introduce a strain to the shoulder or shoulders of an individual which, over time, can cause pain and/or injury. 
     Alternatively, a pack that is secured around the waist of an individual places the weight of the load at a lower portion of a back. This also can result in injury to the wearer, depending upon the amount of weight being carried. 
     Further, whether the backpack is of a single shoulder, double shoulder or hip belt configuration, the weight of its contents is shiftable on the individual tending to introduce instability in use. This may be alleviated by a weight supporting belt and/or a sternum strap to provide additional measures of securing the pack to an individual. However, there is a need for a simple yet durable pack which evenly distributes the weight of its contents, so as not to encumber the movement of an individual and provide a “weightless effect”. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a backpack from, preferably, two pieces of material, secured to each other. A first one of the pieces of material has a lay flat configuration of a T-shape. The T-shape includes two arms, forming straps, extending laterally from opposite sides of an upper portion of a stem portion of the “T”. The second piece of material is of square or rectangular shape and is secured by stitching to the first piece of material to form a pocket. 
     The two pieces of material of the pack are preferably made of a stretchable material so as to tightly grip the contents of the pack when the pack is secured across the chest of an individual. A strap formed by one arm of the T-shaped material extends from the back of the individual, over one shoulder and across the chest of the individual. The other strap formed by the other arm of the T-shaped material extends from the back and under the arm of the opposite side of the individual. The two straps are removably secured to each other across the chest of the individual. 
     Due to the stretchable material of the pack, the pack is positioned to rest in an essentially flat configuration between the shoulder blades, so as to mitigate backpack pain or stress. The pack is worn tightly across the individual to eliminate the downward forces of the weight included in a pocket having a rhombus shape. The stretchable material conforms to the contents of the pack. Effectively, the weight of the pack is distributed across the chest and back of an individual to provide a “weightless effect”. The person does not notice the effect of the weight from the pack. The pack conforms to the shape of the back providing an aerodynamic configuration to reduce drag and resistance on the body. 
     The stretchable material used may be neoprene material available from Dupont. G-type neoprene may be used having a thickness of ⅛ of an inch to ¼ of an inch. The stretchability of the neoprene material is approximately 1.5 to 2.5, and preferably 1.5 to 2.0 times its size at rest to provide the necessary stretching of the material to hug the contents of the pack and conform to the shape of the body of the individual wearing the pack. 
     By the inverted T-shaped configuration of one piece of material of the pack, a pocket is provided within which materials, typically textbooks and notebooks, may be positioned. A flap formed by a bottom portion of the stem portion of the “T” covers the opening into the pocket and is secured in place by a plurality of hook and loop fasteners such as are available under the trademark Velcro®. The tight closure of the pocket and the stretching of the pocket itself around its contents provides a secure package. 
     Opposing straps extending from opposite sides of the pocket are positioned to pass over one shoulder on one side of the body and under the arm of an individual on the opposite side of the body. The straps meet in front of the chest area on the front of the individual and are interconnected by hook and loop fasteners. An optional pocket is located on one of the two arms for holding of a water bottle or wallet and keys of an individual, for example. 
     When the flap seals the pocket of the pack, and the pack is worn, the flap is compressed between the pocket and the back of the individual. A fold line for collapsing the flap over the pack is worn vertically uppermost in the pack, so as to aid in sealing the contents of the pack in the pocket. The flap pressed against the back of an individual is assisted in being secured in place. 
     When the arms of the pack are stretched to connect on the chest of the wearer, the material of the pack is further stretched to conform to the configuration of the individual, so as to minimize the extension of the pack away from the body. The stretching of the pack and the compression of the materials contained in the pocket of the pack aids in the distribution of the weight of the pack across the chest, sides and back of an individual so that it is difficult to even feel the weight of the pack when worn correctly. 
     Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a backpack made of a stretchable material which is secured on the back of an individual by two opposing arms which connect on the chest of the individual after passing over one shoulder and under the arm of an opposite side of an individual. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a backpack made of a stretchable material which is secured on the back of an individual by two opposing arms which connect on the chest of the individual after passing over one shoulder and under the arm of an opposite side of an individual with a pocket for holding the contents of the backpack being sealed by a flap positioned between the back of the individual and the pocket of the backpack. 
     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a backpack made of a stretchable material which is secured on the back of an individual by two opposing arms which connect on the chest of the individual after passing over one shoulder and under the arm of an opposite side of an individual with a pocket for holding the contents of the backpack being sealed by a flap positioned between the back of the individual and the pocket of the backpack where the flap is secured over the pocket by hook and loop fasteners and the opposed arms connect on the chest of the individual also by hook and loop fasteners after being pulled to meet over the chest and stretch the material of the backpack to conform to the shape of an individual. 
     These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings illustrate examples of various components of the invention disclosed herein, and are for illustrative purposes only. Other embodiments that are substantially similar can use other components that have a different appearance. 
         FIG. 1  is a rear view of a T-shape piece of material of the backpack, shown in a lay flat condition. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the T-shape piece of material in an inverted position, having another piece of material secured to the T-shape material to form a pocket therebetween. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the pocket for storing the contents of the backpack. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the closing of a flap over the pocket of the backpack. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the interconnection of the two arms of the backpack across the chest of an individual. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view with the contents of the backpack worn on the back of the individual. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     With reference to the drawings, in general, and to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in particular, a backpack embodying the teachings of the subject invention is shown. With reference to its orientation in  FIG. 1 , the backpack, in its lay flat configuration, includes two pieces of material with one of the pieces of material  10  in the shape of a “T”. 
     The T-shaped piece of material includes two arms  12  and  14  extending laterally from an upper portion of a central stem portion. The central stem portion from which the arms extend includes an upper pocket portion  16  and a lower flap portion  18 . The backpack including the T-shaped piece of material  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 , is preferably of a single piece of stretchable material, except for the compartment  20  for holding a bottle or personal items of an individual. 
     It is only when the backpack lay flat configuration is reversed and inverted, as shown in  FIG. 2 , that an additional or second layer of material  22  in a preferably rectangular shape is secured by stitching lines  30 ,  32  to the single T-shaped piece of material  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . A pocket  24  is formed therebetween for holding the contents of the backpack. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the flap portion  18  includes three parts  26  of a hook and loop fastener. The complementary parts  28  of the hook and loop fastener are found on the layer of material  22  which is secured to the T-shaped piece of material. 
     The arms  12 ,  14  serve as straps for securing the backpack around an individual. To secure the two arms  12 ,  14  together, arm  12  includes parts  34  of hook and loop fasteners. The other parts  36  of the hook and loop fasteners are located on the opposite side of arm  14 . 
     By using three parts  34  and three parts  36  spaced across the arms  12 ,  14 , respectively, an adjustability is provided for overlap of arm  12  onto arm  14  in an infinite number of positions. The position of interconnection of the arms  12 ,  14  depends upon the size of the individual, so as to stretch the arms  12 ,  14  as well as the upper pocket portion  16  across the back of an individual. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the interior pocket  24  formed by a spacing away of layer of material  22  from upper pocket portion  16  exposes two interior pockets  38 ,  40  separated by stitch line  42 . The tops of the pockets  38 ,  40  have an elastic band  44  which is stretchable to position loose items such as pens and pencils or paperback books, for example, between the exposed portions of pockets  38 ,  40  as shown in  FIG. 3  and the upper pocket portion  16  of the pocket  24 . The space between the pockets  38 ,  40  and the layer of material  22 , forming a front wall of pocket  24 , are used to hold larger sized items such as textbooks and notebooks. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the lower flap portion  18  is moved so that its parts  26  of the hook and loop fasteners overlie the complementary parts  28  of the layer of material  22 , so as to engage with each other and securely fasten the lower flap portion  18  to the layer of material  22 . The interengaged arms  12  and  14  are shown spaced from the lower flap portion  18 , so as to provide an opening  40  which is normally occupied by an individual when the backpack is in use as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the arm  12  overlies arm  14  across the chest of an individual  42  at an angle of approximately 45°. Parts  34  engage the parts  36  of the hook and loop fasteners after tightly stretching the arms  12  and  14  to lock the backpack onto an individual. The stretching of the arms causes a simultaneous stretching of the upper pocket portion  16  located on the back of an individual, so that the backpack is secured close to an individual with the lower flap portion  18  secured between the back of the individual and the layer of material  22 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the backpack is positioned over the shoulder of the individual, across the back at an angle of approximately 45° and under the arm of the opposite side of the individual. By the stretching of the arms  12 ,  14 , the portion of the backpack positioned on the back of the individual tightly adheres to the back, so that the weight of the backpack is distributed across the back as well as across the chest of the individual. This greatly alleviates any pressure points on the individual which could potentially injure the wearer. 
     The foregoing description should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.