Patent Publication Number: US-7594569-B2

Title: Front pack to front flap multi-backpack conversion system

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/832,616, filed Jul. 24, 2006. 

   BACKGROUND 
   1. Technical Field 
   Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to convertible backpacks. More particularly, embodiments relate to backpacks that are convertible between multi-pack configurations and single pack configurations. 
   2. Discussion 
   Luggage cases such as backpacks have long been used by hikers, athletes, and students in a wide variety of circumstances. Recent developments in backpack configurations have centered around the concept of a dual backpack assembly that can include a relatively large backpack having a smaller backpack attached to it. The dual backpack configuration may provide the user with more flexibility in the amount of gear to be toted. Conventional designs to the attachment system between the two packs may enable the smaller backpack to be zipped off of the larger backpack, wherein the zipper coils of the two packs are exposed while the packs are separated. Although dual backpack assemblies have grown in popularity, a number of challenges remain. For example, damage may occur to the exposed zipper coils of the two packs while they are detached from one another. Moreover, in conventional solutions the front face of the larger pack typically lacks storage capacity after the smaller pack is removed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The various advantages of the embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and appended claims and by referencing the following drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1A  is a front view of an example of a backpack assembly with a luggage case removably attached to a backpack according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 1B  is a side view of an example of the backpack assembly shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of an example of the backpack assembly shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
       FIG. 2A  is a front view of an example of a backpack assembly with the backpack detached from the luggage case according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2B  is an enlarged view of an example of the region labeled  2 B in  FIG. 2A  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2C  is a side view of an example of the backpack assembly shown in  FIG. 2A  with a removably attachable conversion flap extended from the luggage case according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2D  is a perspective view of an example of the backpack assembly shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2C  with the conversion flap partially attached to the attachment interface of the luggage case according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3A  is a front view of an example of a backpack assembly with the conversion flap fully coupled to the attachment interface of the luggage case according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3B  is an enlarged view of an example of the region labeled  3 B in  FIG. 3A  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3C  is a side view of an example of the backpack assembly shown in  FIG. 3A  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3D  is a perspective view of an example of the backpack assembly shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a rear view of an example of a daypack according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a rear view of an example of a luggage case configured to optionally function as a backpack according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart of an example of a method of converting a multi-pack configuration into a single-pack; configuration according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are enlarged views of examples of luggage case, conversion flap and pouch attachment interfaces having snaps according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  are enlarged views of examples of luggage case, conversion flap and pouch attachment interfaces having hook and loop fasteners according to an embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a luggage case having a first attachment interface, wherein the first attachment interface is configured to be mated with a second attachment interface of a backpack to removably attach the backpack to the luggage. The luggage case may also include a flap having a third attachment interface that is configured to be mated with the first attachment interface if the backpack is detached from the luggage case. 
   In another embodiment, a backpack assembly with multiple backpacks/luggage cases is provided. In particular, a luggage case can have a first attachment interface and a backpack can have a second attachment interface, wherein the second attachment interface is configured to be mated with the first attachment interface to removably attach the backpack to the luggage case. The luggage case may further include a flap with a third attachment interface that is configured to be mated with the first attachment interface if the second backpack is detached from the luggage case. 
   Another embodiment provides a method of converting a multi-pack configuration into a single-pack configuration in which a second backpack is removed from a first backpack by decoupling the attachment interfaces of the two packs. The method provides for opening a pouch containing a conversion flap The flap is extended from the pouch and coupled to the attachment interface of the first backpack. 
   A number of advantages such as increased storage capacity, enhanced protection for the attachment interfaces and improved appearance can be obtained through approaches such as these. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 1A-1C , an example of a backpack assembly  10  is shown. The illustrated assembly  10  includes a luggage case  12  and a backpack  14 . As will be described in greater detail, the luggage case  12  and backpack  14  are detachable so that the user of the assembly  10  can adjust the number of items and weight to be carried. For example, a traveler/hiker could take the assembly  10  on an extended trip lasting for several days, with bulkier items, such as a tent, sleeping bag, outer wear and boots packed into the larger luggage case  12 . Less bulky items, however, such as food and water can be packed into the smaller backpack  14 . Once the hiker arrives at a given destination, the bulky items (e.g., the tent and sleeping bag) can be used to set up camp, and the smaller backpack  14  can be used to take food and water on daily excursions. Thus, in this usage model, the smaller backpack  14  is used as a “daypack”. Alternatively, the luggage case  12  could be used without the smaller backpack  14  in order to reduce the load on the individual. As will be discussed in greater detail, the luggage case  12  may also be used as a backpack. Other examples of the luggage case  12  include, but are not limited to, hard-sided luggage, soft-sided luggage, duffel bags, adventure travel packs and adventure travel luggage. Other examples of the backpack  14  include, but are not limited to, accessory bags, shoulder bags and briefs. The luggage cases, backpacks, conversion flaps, etc. described herein may be made of a wide variety of materials and/or fabrics, including, but not limited to, nylon, nylon with polymethane coating, cotton blends, polyester, plastic, etc. 
   The attachment interfaces also can be of any suitable construction. For example, the backpack  14  can be removably attached to the luggage case  12  by a zipper (e.g., tracks with teeth or plastic rails as in Ziploc® zippers), buttons, snaps, buckles, hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro® fasteners), etc. In particular,  FIGS. 7A and 7B  show pre-flap and post-flap installment configurations  70  and  72 , respectively, in which the attachment interfaces include snap attachment components.  FIGS. 8A and 8B  show pre-flap and post-flap installment configurations  80  and  82 , respectively, in which the attachment interfaces include hook and loop attachment components. 
   Notwithstanding, there are a number of aspects of the backpack assembly  10  for which zippers are well suited. For example, zippers may be particularly advantageous due to their ease of use and sealing ability. In the illustrated example, each of the luggage case  12  and backpack  14  is provided with a zipper half having teeth to enable selective attachment, as will be described in greater detail. The luggage case  12  can also include stabilizer straps  16  having male/female snap connectors that lock into female/male snap connectors  18  mounted on the front face of the backpack  14 . The length of the straps  16  can be adjusted to compress the luggage case  12  and backpack  14  together so that the load in the storage compartments is stabilized. At best seen in  FIG. 1C , the front face of the backpack  14  can have a storage pocket that is readily accessed by manipulating zipper slides  36 . This can eliminate the need to access the main storage compartment of the backpack  14  for certain items. 
     FIGS. 2A-2D  show an example of the luggage case  12  with the backpack  14  (FIGS,  1 A- 1 C) removed. In particular, the luggage case  12  can have an attachment interface such as a zipper half  20 , which may include zipper slides  22  coupled to a standard zipper track with metal or synthetic teeth, A corresponding zipper half  38  (as best shown in  FIG. 4 ) may be provided on the backpack  14 , wherein mating the two zipper halves  20 ,  38  attaches the backpack  14  to the luggage case  12 . 
   The illustrated luggage case  12  also has a zippered pouch  24  and one or more pockets  26 . The pockets  26  can provide for the storage of additional items. In particular, including such pockets  26  on the front face of the luggage case  12  provides for storage that is easily accessible without the need to open the main storage compartment of the luggage case  12 . In order to prevent items stored in the pockets  26  from becoming dislodged, a stowable flap  30  can be installed within the pouch  24 , where the flap  30  is pulled out to cover an opening  100  left by the removal of the backpack  14  from the luggage case  12 . In particular, the illustrated pouch  24  includes a flap  30  that can be extended (as best shown in  FIG. 2C ) and mated with the zipper half  20  of the luggage case  12  to cover the pockets  26 . The flap  30  can have a fixed end  40  that is sewn, or otherwise coupled to the interior of the pouch  24 , and a free end  42  that may be manipulated to cover the opening  100  left by the removal of the backpack  14 . Permanently attaching the flap  30  to the interior of the pouch  24  reduces the likelihood that the flap  30  will be misplaced in between uses. 
   Thus, by simply using the zipper slide  28  (as best shown in  FIG. 2B ) to open the pouch  24 , the flap  30  can be readily accessed. As already noted, the flap  30  may have an attachment interface such as zipper half  32 , which can be mated with the zipper half  20  of the luggage case  12 . In the illustrated example, the zipper half  32  of the flap  30  is very similar to the zipper half  38  ( FIG. 4 ) of the backpack  14 . 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 3A-3D , an example of the luggage case  12  with the flap  30  fully installed is shown. The flap  30  can completely cover the opening formally occupied by the backpack  14 , including the additional pockets  26  ( FIGS. 2A-2D ) mounted to the front face of the luggage case  12 . The illustrated flap  30  also enables a much more aesthetically pleasing and finished appearance to be obtained for the luggage case  12  because the attachment interface is much less exposed, and decorative insignias  44 , fabric combinations and stitching patterns can be more easily applied to the front face of the luggage case  12 . In addition, the male/female snaps of the luggage case&#39;s stabilizer straps  16  can be configured to mate with corresponding female/male snaps  34  that are mounted on the front face side of the flap  30  to enable tightening and stabilization of the load within the luggage case  12 . 
     FIG. 5  demonstrates that the luggage case  12  may function as a piece of wheeled luggage or as a backpack. In particular, the illustrated luggage case  12  includes a pair of wheels  60  coupled to a bottom portion of the luggage case  12  as well as an extendable handle  62  coupled to a top portion of the luggage case  12 , wherein extending the handle  62  in the upward direction and leaning the luggage case  12  back onto its wheels  60  facilitates use of the luggage case  12  in “pull-behind” mode. Alternatively, the luggage case  12  may be converted into a backpack by opening a free end of a second conversion flap  64  that is coupled to a back face of the luggage case  12 , which exposes a pair of shoulder straps  66  and a waistbelt  68 . In the illustrated example, various belts, straps and snaps provide for adjustment of the luggage case  12  to comfortably fit the body of the wearer. The luggage case  12  may also be configured to be converted into other types of functional bags, such as shoulder bags, etc. 
     FIG. 6  shows a flowchart of an example of a method  50  of converting a multi-pack configuration into a single-pack configuration, wherein a luggage case is configured to function as a first backpack and a smaller backpack is configured to function as a second backpack in daypack mode. In the illustrated example, process block  52  provides for removing the second backpack from the first backpack. This can be achieved by de-coupling the attachment interface of the first pack from the attachment interface of the second pack. As already noted, this could involve unzipping two zipper halves, removing a series of buttons from corresponding button holes, de-coupling a series of male/female snaps, and so on. A storage pouch of the first pack is opened at process block  54  and a free end of a conversion flap is extended from the pouch at block  56 . Process block  58  provides for coupling the flap to the attachment interface of the first backpack. The result is a finished larger backpack with additional storage capacity. In addition, the attachment interface is more durable because it is not left exposed when the two backpacks are detached. 
   The terms “coupled” and “attached” are used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct, or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to stitched, bonded, welded, laminated, or other connections. In addition, any use of the term “first”, “second” and so on is only to facilitate discussion, and does not necessarily infer any type of temporal or chronological relationship. 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments of this invention have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specifications, and following claims.