Abstract:
A backpack has a folding durable panel attached to the back side thereof. The panel is configured to wrap around a middle portion of a skateboard deck, such that the trucks and wheels positioned away from the back of the wearer. The skateboard is secured to the backpack by an attachment means attached to the ends of the fabric panel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-in-part and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/304,529 which was filed Mar. 7, 2016, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of backpacks and more specifically relates to a skater pack system. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many people enjoy skateboarding. Numerous areas are available to skateboarders such as a skateboard specific recreational areas. In addition, skateboarding is a useful means of transportation that is low cost and low maintenance. There are areas where skateboarding is restricted, and the skateboard must be carried by the rider. This can be cumbersome to carry in these areas, especially if the area is crowded, such as public transportation. Placing a skateboard in a backpack may cause damage to the board and wheels, as well as the backpack. A precariously placed skateboard may fall, also causing damage to the board. 
         [0004]    Jamming a skateboard in a backpack and the inability to remove the backpack while riding full public transportation, may cause serious strain and back fatigue due to the inability to align the skateboard properly to the back. Also, carrying the skateboard in this manner may damage the small components connecting the wheels and trucks. It is therefore desirable to design a way to carry a skateboard in a backpack. 
         [0005]    Various attempts have been made to solve problems found in the backpack art. Among these are found in: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,832,711 to Bradley Thomas Black; U.S. Pat. No. 8,201,837 to Steven Dweek; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,794 to Donald L. Beagle Jr. These prior art references are representative of a skateboard backpack system. 
         [0006]    None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. Thus, a need exists for a reliable skateboard backpack system, and to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The principles of the present invention provide for a backpack, comprising a backpack body which has a pair of sides, a front side, a top side, a bottom side, and a rear side, and at least one compartment, each accessible via a backpack fastener; a pair of shoulder straps with each strap having distal ends affixed to aligned upper and lower positions on the rear side and adjacent to one (1) of the pair of sides, a chest strap which is capable of removably attaching to and spanning a distance between the pair of shoulder straps and an attachment pad which is affixed to the rear side between the pair of shoulder straps. The attachment pad is capable of enveloping and securing a skateboard against the rear side. In a separate embodiment, the backpack may also comprise a pair of wheel recesses located on opposing upper and lower locations of the rear side and a pair of truck recesses, each of which are an extension of an individual wheel recess. Each pair of wheel recesses are capable of receiving at least a portion of a wheel of a skateboard while each pair of truck recesses are capable of receiving at least a portion of a truck of a skateboard. 
         [0008]    The backpack may also have a handle which is located on the top side, a carabiner which located on the top side, adjustable strap which is located on each of the pair of sides, an elastic netting located on each of the pair of side, a pouch located on the front side, an illuminating device removably attached to the front side or the chest strap, a foam insert which is capable of being placed within the attachment pad and an adjustable comfort pad associated with the attachment pad. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an environmental view of a backpack  10  holding a skateboard  80  on the back of a user  75 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top view illustrating the backpack  10  holding a skateboard  80 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a rear view illustrating the backpack  10  holding a skateboard  80 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front view illustrating a representative shoulder strap  25 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a front view illustrating a chest strap  35  and an individual shoulder strap  20 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a molded frame  100  as used with the backpack  10 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a front view illustrating a hook-and-loop wheel securement system  105  as used with the backpack  10 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view as seen along a line I-I as seen in  FIG. 2 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of the backpack  10 , according to an embodiment of the present invention; and, 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a perspective top view of a light source  155  having a belt clip  175 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
       [0000]    
       
           10  backpack 
           16  side strap 
           17  side strap buckle 
           20  attachment pad 
           25  shoulder strap 
           27  zipper 
           30  handle 
           31  cushion 
           32  carabiner 
           35  chest strap 
           36   a  first fastener 
           36   b  second fastener 
           37  loop 
           38  chest strap buckle 
           40  pouch 
           45  netting 
           47  truck recess 
           48  wheel recess 
           50  illumination device 
           75  user 
           80  skateboard 
           81  wheel 
           82  truck 
           100  molded frame 
           105  hook-and-loop wheel securement system 
           101  upper pocket 
           102  lower pocket 
           110  notches 
           115  first side of hook-and-loop fastener 
           120  second side of hook-and-loop fastener 
           125  hard foam spacer 
           130  direction arrow 
           135  foam cradle pad 
           140  opening 
           145  travel path 
           150  lumbar pad 
           160  first knob 
           165  second knob 
           170  light bulb 
           175  clip 
           180  light bulb housing 
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0061]    The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIG. 1 through 10 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one (1) particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
         [0062]    The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one (1) of the referenced items. 
         [0063]    The present invention is directed to a backpack  10  capable of holding and securing a skateboard  80  and capable of being worn by a user  75 . In one (1) embodiment, the backpack  10  may comprise a rear section with an attachment pad  25  attached thereto for securing a skateboard  80 , a front section with standard backpack components, and a pair of elongated shoulder straps  25  for accommodating the length of a skateboard  80 . 
         [0064]    Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , a backpack  10  capable of securing a skateboard  80  thereto. As shown, the skateboard  80  may be secured to the rear of the backpack  10 . The skateboard  80  may be positioned with the wheels  81  facing away from the user  75  so as to avoid injury. The remainder of the backpack  10  may retain any additional items needed for skateboarding, along with any other items the user  75  deems necessary. The shoulder straps  25  are longer in length than a traditional backpack  10  to adapt to the span of a skateboard  80 . The shoulder straps  25  are longer than conventional shoulder straps and have distal ends attached to the rear of the backpack  10 . The length of the shoulder straps  25  may be twenty-two inches long by two-and-a-half inches wide (22×2½ in.) for comfort and ease of placing the backpack  10  on the user&#39;s back  75 . A foam cradle pad  135  as well as a lumbar pad  150  are also depicted and will be described in greater detail herein below. 
         [0065]    The attachment pad  20 , preferably having complementary hook-and-loop-type (Velcro®-type) fasteners on outer portions thereof, are wide to assist in securing the skateboard  80  to the rear of the backpack  10  without fear of the skateboard  10  shaking loose and becoming damaged in an unexpected drop. The wheels  81  and the trucks  82  of the skateboard  80  either reside within wheel recesses  48  and truck recesses  47 , respectively, formed in the upper and lower locations on the rear of the backpack  10  rest, or alternately the wheels  81  and trucks  82  can rest on top of the backpack  10  for an extra measure of stability. The rest of the backpack  10  remains accessible in order to carry the extra items, leaving the hands of the user  75  free. The attachment pad  20  may be a length of thirteen inches (13 in.) down the rear of the backpack  10 , and eight inches (8 in.) wide where the skateboard  80  will be secured thereto. Other embodiments include foam inserts (not shown) for the attachment pad  20 , measuring two inches by two inches (2×2 in.), which may also be hook-and-loop-type (Velcro®-type) fasteners so that the attachment pad  20  can be adjusted based on user preference. Additionally, there can be an adjustable comfort pad (not shown), capable of providing lumbar support for a lower back of the user  75 . 
         [0066]    The inside of the backpack  10  itself may contain a molded plastic bar measuring sixteen inches by three inches (16×3 in.), and will be inserted into the bottom rear of the backpack  10  for stability against the weight of the skateboard  80 . It is preferred that the backpack  10  have at least one (1) compartment, accessible via a fastener such as a zipper  27 , preferably accessible near the top of the backpack  10 . Adjacent to the zipper  27  of each compartment, and preferably located rear of the zipper  27  access of a compartment, is a handle  30 . A carabiner  32  is also present in similar locations as the handle  30 , but preferably located between two (2) zipper tracks  27  of adjacent compartments. 
         [0067]    The sides of the backpack  10 , at an intermediate location, have a side strap  16  capable of laterally adjusting the width of the backpack  10 , such as in instances where one (1) of the compartments is empty and the user  75  wishes to minimize the width of the backpack  10 . A side strap buckle  17  is utilized to secure the desired width. Subjacent to the side strap  16  on each side is netting  45  that is attached to the backpack  10  and capable of receiving and securing items therein, such as a drinking vessel. The netting  45  may have an upper horizontal portion, or the entire netting  45  itself, may comprise elastic properties to accomplish this. 
         [0068]    The front of the backpack has preferably a pouch compartment  40  that extends forwardly from the backpack  10  and is also accessible via a zipper  27 . On the front of the backpack  10 , between the zipper  27  for one (1) of the compartments and the pouch  40 , is an illumination device  50  that is capable of removably attached to the backpack  10 . Additionally, the illumination device  50 , or an additional illumination device  50  can be removably attached to the chest strap  35 .  FIG. 10 . 
         [0069]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , more detail regarding the shoulder straps  25  and chest strap  35  is described. Each shoulder strap  25  comprises a cushioned member  31  either affixed around a perimeter thereof, or enveloping the shoulder strap  25  such that it can be adjusted along a length thereof. Located along a common axial centerline on the cushioned member  31  is a plurality of lops  37 . The chest strap  35  a chest strap buckle  38  centrally located. The chest strap also  35  has a pair of first fasteners  36   a,  each located adjacent to a distal end thereof, and a pair of second fasteners  36   b,  each located between an individual one (1) of the first fasteners  36   a  and the chest strap buckle  38 . To secure the chest strap  35  to the shoulder straps  20 , the distal ends of the chest strap  35  are routed through desired one (1) of the plurality of loops  37 , doubled back on itself, and ensuring that the first fastener  36   a  is attaching to a second fasteners  36   b.    
         [0070]    Referring next to  FIG. 6 , a perspective view illustrating a molded frame  100  as used with the backpack  10 , according to an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The molded frame  100  is envisioned to be made of impact resistant plastic in an injection molding process. This molded frame  100  is provided with an upper pocket  101  and a lower pocket  102  for accepting the truck assemblies  82  (not shown in this figure) of a skateboard  80  (not shown in this figure). The upper pocket  101  is provided with two ( 2 ) notches  110  to allow the shoulder straps  25  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) to pass through. The molded frame  100  is used to provide physical protection for the skateboard  80  (not shown in this  FIG. 1 ). However, the backpack  10  may be used without the molded frame  100  (as indicated in  FIG. 1 ), and as such, is not intended to be a limiting factor of the present invention. 
         [0071]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a front view illustrating a hook-and-loop wheel securement system  105  as used with the backpack  10 , according to an embodiment of the present invention is depicted. As different skateboards  80  (not shown in this figure) will have different sized trucks  82  and wheels  81 , the hook-and-loop wheel securement system  105  will aid in securement of the skateboard  80  as well as prohibit unwanted wheel movement. The first side of hook-and-loop fastener  115  is provided within the wheel recess  48  of the backpack  10 . Hard foam spacers  125  with the second side of hook-and-loop fastener  120  are then attached the first side of the hook-and-loop fastener  115  as indicated by direction arrows  130 . The first side  115  is preferably the hook side and the second side  120  is preferably the loop side. The hard foam spacers  130  are envisioned to be made available in multiple thicknesses such as one-eighth inch (⅛ in.), one-quarter inch (¼ in.), one-half inch (½ in.), and three-quarter inch (¾ in.) to suit all sizes of skateboards  80 . The remaining dimensions of the hard foam fasteners  125  are envisioned to be approximately one-and-a-half by three-and-a-quarter inch (1½ by 3¼ in.). 
         [0072]    Referring next to  FIG. 8 , a sectional view as seen along a line I-I as seen in  FIG. 2 , according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. This figure provides additional disclosure regarding the attachment of the skateboard  80  as well as carrying comfort when wearing the backpack  10 . A foam cradle pad  135  as well as the attachment pads  20  are covered in hook-and-loop fastener. The skateboard  80  is centered within an opening  140  as indicated by a travel path  145 . It is envisioned that the thickness of the foam cradle pad  135  is approximately one inch (1 in.) thick. Once positioned, one (1) of the attachment pads  20 , is folded over followed by the remaining attachment pad  20  to provide a flush surface against the wearer&#39;s back once positioned. 
         [0073]    Referring next to  FIG. 9 , a rear view of the backpack  10 , according to an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. This figure discloses the skateboard  80  secured within the foam cradle pad  135  with both attachment pads  20  in the closed and secured position. As the exterior surface of the outer attachment pad  20  is covered with hook-and-loop fastener, it provides a means to secure a lumbar pad  150 . The lumbar pad  150  is envisioned to be manufactured of hard foam board with an external durable padding and is approximately one inch (1 in.) thick. The rear surface of the lumbar pad  150  is covered with an opposing hook-and-loop fastener allowing it to be located at the optimum position on the external attachment pad  20 . The optimum positioning is governed by multiple factors including but not limited to user size, user wearing position, size of skateboard, and the like. 
         [0074]    Referring finally to  FIG. 10 , a perspective top view of an illumination device  50  having a belt clip  175 , according to an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. This figure discloses the light  170 , within a housing  180  which is moveable up or down by the turning of either a first knob  160  or a second knob  165 . A clip  175  is disposed beneath the light which permits the light source to be removably secured to either the chest strap  35  or the shoulder strap  25 .