Abstract:
A combination backpack and hydration pack has a hydration pack portion and a standard backpack portion which are detachably connected to each other. The two portions can thus be used together as a hydration pack/standard backpack combination or separately as a pack solely for hydration purposes. The hydration pack portion has a bladder portion for holding liquid. The backpack portion is attachable to and circumscribes the hydration pack portion for providing additional carrying space.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of backpacks, and, more particularly, to a two-in-one hydration pack for carrying liquid which has a hydration pack portion and an attachable backpack portion. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Backpacks are extremely useful in many different settings. They are not only used for carrying everyday items, such as schoolbooks, but are also used for assisting those engaged in physical activities such as hiking, camping, biking, and skiing. These uses in particular call for special packs that are capable of easily carrying liquid for drinking, cooking, and washing. These special packs are called “hydration packs.” Hydration packs are an alternative to a user having to carry, for example, the liquid in a thermos or water bottle placed in the backpack or on the user&#39;s person. A thermos or water bottle may be easily misplaced or damaged, and moreover it can be inconvenient for a user to access the thermos or water bottle while engaged in a physical activity. 
     Hydration packs are often constructed so that a bladder portion of the pack holds the liquid, which the user may access by way of a hose attached to the bladder portion. This configuration affords the user convenient access to the liquid. The bladder or reservoir is normally a polyethylene water storage unit that slides into a pouch that is typically sewn inside the rear of the packbag. The polyethylene bladder or reservoir cannot be used by itself as a backpack. Typically, then, the bladder portion is integrated with the pack; that is, the bladder portion is sewn to the pack or fastened in some other irreversible manner. This can be a drawback, however, in that the user of the pack is restricted to carrying the entire pack, even if the user knows he or she will be needing only the bladder portion of the pack on that particular day. This forces the user to carry unnecessary weight and bulk, and provides a pack that is more unwieldy than need be. Conversely, if the user happens to not need the bladder portion of the pack, he or she must nonetheless carry around the entire pack including the bladder portion. 
     One typical hydration pack is Hydrobak™, made by Camelbak®. Hydrobak™ is a pack which may be used only for hydration purposes; that is, the pack has no extra pockets for carrying additional items, and otherwise has only very limited carrying space in the form of an elastic cord located on the front of the pack. Therefore, the sole function of the pack is to carry water to keep the user hydrated. 
     Another typical hydration pack is Cloud Walker, also made by Camelbak®. Cloud Walker is a hydration pack which does have additional carrying space in the form of pockets. However, the bladder portion of the pack is integrated into the pack, and cannot be separated from the pack. 
     The drawbacks of the prior art as discussed above are overcome by the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to solve the above mentioned problems by providing a hydration pack having a hydration pack portion and an attachable backpack portion. In this way, the user is able to easily attach or detach the backpack portion from the hydration pack portion which carries the bladder portion. Therefore, if the user wishes simply to use the smaller hydration pack portion, and not the entire pack, the user may simply detach the backpack portion and use the hydration pack portion separately. 
     The present invention therefore provides a so-called “two in one” hydration pack which has a hydration pack portion and a standard backpack portion which are detachably connected to each other. The two portions can be used together as a hydration pack/standard backpack combination or separately as a pack solely for hydration purposes. The hydration pack fits within the backpack. The invention allows the opportunity for a person to purchase one product that will serve two purposes or needs. 
     In summary, the present invention in one embodiment provides a two-in-one hydration pack. It includes a hydration pack portion, having a bladder portion for holding liquid, a pair of shoulder straps with male mating means disposed at a bottom end of each shoulder strap, and a first pair of female mating means disposed at a bottom of the hydration pack portion for receiving the male mating means of the shoulder straps when the hydration pack portion is used separately. It further includes a backpack portion attachable to and circumscribing the hydration pack portion for providing additional carrying space, the backpack portion having a pair of openings disposed at a top of the backpack portion for receiving each shoulder strap and having a second pair of female mating means disposed at a bottom of the backpack portion for receiving the male mating means of the shoulder straps to attach the backpack portion to the hydration pack portion. This permits the hydration pack portion and the backpack portion to be detachably connected to each other. The male and female components could also be reversed; it is simply necessary that the components be complementary. 
     The male mating means of each shoulder strap may comprise a male snap buckle, and the first and second pairs of female mating means may each comprise a pair of female snap buckles. 
     The bladder portion may comprise a bag for holding the liquid, with a hose extending from the bag to enable a user to access the liquid. A mouthpiece may be disposed at the end of the hose, the mouthpiece having a slit to allow the user to bite down and receive the liquid. 
     The present invention in another embodiment provides a two-in-one hydration pack. The hydration pack portion has a bladder compartment for holding liquid. The backpack portion is attachable to and circumscribes the hydration pack portion for providing additional carrying space. There are mating means for attaching the backpack portion to the hydration pack portion such that the backpack portion and the hydration pack portion are detachably connected to each other. 
     The hydration pack portion may further comprise a pair of shoulder straps, each shoulder strap having a bottom end detachably connected to one of the hydration pack portion and the backpack portion by way of the mating means. 
     The backpack portion may further comprise a pair of openings disposed at a top of the backpack portion for receiving the pair of shoulder straps when the bottom end of each shoulder strap is detachably connected to the backpack portion by way of the mating means. 
     The mating means may comprise male mating means disposed at the bottom end of each shoulder strap, a first pair of female mating means disposed at a bottom of the hydration pack portion, and a second pair of female mating means disposed at a bottom of the backpack portion. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a hydration pack portion configured to receive an attachable backpack portion, according to a preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the embodiment of the hydration pack portion shown in FIG. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a shoulder strap of the hydration pack portion shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the backpack portion which may be attached to and circumscribes the hydration pack portion, according to a preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a rear view of the backpack portion which may be attached to the hydration pack portion, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an inner view of the backpack portion which may be attached to the hydration pack portion, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a bladder portion and hose assembly according to one embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a hydration pack portion  10  configured to fit within an attachable backpack portion, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The hydration pack portion  10  houses a bladder portion for holding the liquid (the bladder portion and hose assembly will be discussed below in relation to FIG.  7 ). 
     FIG. 1 shows a main compartment of the hydration pack portion  10  which houses the bladder portion, with a first zipper  12  for opening and closing the compartment. A second zipper  14  opens and closes a mesh pocket  16  used for storing small items. An elastic cord system provides additional storage. That system comprises an elastic cord  18 , webbing loops  20 , clip hooks  22 , and an ellipse cord lock  24 . As can be seen in FIG. 1, the hydration pack portion  10  has a number of extra pockets and space for carrying items other than the bladder portion. In this way, if the user opts to use only the hydration pack portion  10  (i.e., without the attachable backpack portion) then the user still has space for carrying additional items. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the embodiment of the hydration pack portion  10  shown in FIG.  1 . An exit hole  26  permits a hydration hose (see FIG. 7) of the bladder portion to extend outwardly from the hydration pack. Shoulder straps  28 ,  30  (shown cut off in FIG. 2) allow the user to strap on the hydration pack portion  10  for carrying. The shoulder straps  28 ,  30  are attachable to the lower part of the hydration pack portion  10  using female type snap buckles  32 ,  34 . A waist belt  36  may be placed around the user&#39;s waist for securing the hydration pack portion  10  around the user. Of course, other types of buckles and fasteners also may be used. And, of course, the male and female components of the buckles could be reversed. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a shoulder strap  28  or  30  of the hydration pack portion  10 . A hose clip  38  secures the hose onto the shoulder strap  28  or  30 . An adjuster buckle  40 , an snap buckle  42 , and a tension lock  44  help secure the hydration pack portion  10 . A male snap buckle  46  mates with the female airlock buckles  32 ,  34  of the hydration pack portion  10  so that the shoulder straps  28 ,  30  may be attached to the hydration pack portion  10 . Other types of buckles and locks also may be used for this purpose. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the backpack portion  50  which may be attached to the hydration pack portion  10 , according to a preferred embodiment. The backpack portion  50  has a main body  52 , with a center panel  54 , a side panel  56 , and a bottom panel  58 . The center panel  54  serves as a pocket for carrying smaller items. The center panel  54  has an elastic top edge  60 , and the sides of the center panel  54  are mesh panels  62 ,  64 . The hydration pack portion  10  fits easily within the backpack portion  50 . 
     An elastic cord system similar to the elastic cord system of the hydration pack portion  10  is disposed across the center panel  54  to provide even more carrying space. The elastic cord system comprises an elastic cord  66 , webbing loops  68 , clip hooks  70 , and an ellipse cord lock  72 . Other types of storage systems also may be used. A zipper  74  opens and closes the main compartment. Side compression straps  76  operate in conjunction with airlock buckles  78  to help tighten the backpack portion  50 . An snap buckle  80  helps close the pocket created by the center panel  54 . An exit hole  82  for the bladder hose is located at the top of the pack  50 . A haul loop  84  allows the user to haul or hang the backpack portion  50 . Of course, other types of buckles and fasteners also may be used. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a rear view of the backpack portion  50  which may be attached to the hydration pack portion  10 , according to the embodiment shown in FIG.  4 . Slots or openings  86 ,  88  receive the shoulder straps  28 ,  30 . Snap buckles  90 ,  92  attach the shoulder straps  28 ,  30  to the backpack portion  50  when the user wishes to utilize both the hydration pack portion  10  and the attachable backpack portion  50 . A hip belt  94  fits around the user&#39;s waist for securing the backpack  50  to the user. Other buckles and straps could be used for this purpose. 
     Therefore, if the user wishes to use the hydration pack portion  10  separately (i.e., without attaching the backpack portion), then the user simply attaches the shoulder straps  28 ,  30  by way of the male snap buckle  46  on each shoulder strap  28 ,  30  to the airlock buckles  32 ,  34 . On the other hand, if the user wishes to attach the backpack portion to the hydration pack portion  10  for additional carrying space, then the user detaches the shoulder straps  28 ,  30  from the snap buckles  32 ,  34  on the hydration pack portion  10 , slides the shoulder straps through slots  86 ,  88  on the backpack portion  50 , and fastens the shoulder straps  28 ,  30  to the snap buckles  90 ,  92  on the backpack portion  50 . 
     In this way, the hydration pack portion  10  may be used either as its own pack, or may easily be received within the attachable backpack portion so that additional carrying space is provided. A unique feature of the invention, therefore, is that the shoulder straps  28 ,  30  are attachable either to the hydration pack portion  10  or to the backpack portion  50 . Thus, a “two in one” pack is created whereby the user may attach or detach the backpack portion with ease as needed. Of course, using snap buckles as the attachment means is merely illustrative of one embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to any specific attachment means. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates an inner view of the pockets and panels of the attachable backpack portion  50 , according to the embodiment shown in FIG.  4 . An exit hole cover  96  covers the exit hole  82  when the bladder hose is not disposed through the exit hole  82 , i.e., when the backpack portion  50  is not attached to the hydration pack portion  10 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a bladder portion and hose assembly according to one embodiment. A bag  98  holds the liquid, and is disposed inside the main compartment of the hydration pack portion  10 . On one end of the bag  98  is a ziplock-type opening  100 , to make the bag easier to clean and refill. On another end of the bag  98  is a hose assembly, wherein a hydration hose  102  is attached to a bottle cap  104  on one end and to a mouthpiece  106  on the other. The mouthpiece  106  has a slit in the front of it which allows the user to bite down to receive the liquid. Of course, the bag and hose assembly is merely illustrative of one embodiment of the bladder portion, and the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     Alternate embodiments of the invention can be imagined as well. For example, the shoulder straps of the hydration pack portion could be detachable on both ends, and could attach either to the backpack portion or to the hydration pack portion. In this way, if the user needs only the backpack portion and not the hydration pack portion, the user could simply detach the shoulder straps from the hydration pack portion and attach them to the backpack portion. 
     The above invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, but a person skilled in the art could introduce many variations on these embodiments without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims. The embodiments are presented for the purpose of illustration only and should not be read as limiting the invention or its application. Therefore, the claims should be interpreted commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention.