Patent Publication Number: US-6712249-B2

Title: Backpack entertainment system with detachable pockets for speakers

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/777,232 filed Feb. 5, 2001, which application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/180,491 filed Feb. 5, 2000, the entire disclosures of which are both incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to backpacks with audio entertainment systems associated therewith. More specifically, the present invention relates to a backpack entertainment system having audio equipment incorporated therein and having detachable pockets for speakers that allow for the speakers to be positioned away from the backpack to provide an enhanced stereo sound quality and/or ambience. 
     2. Related Art 
     Backpacks provide a convenient means for transporting objects from one location to another. Indeed, individuals frequently use backpacks to carry around everyday items such as books, sports equipment, etc., to various locations and/or events such as schools, camping trips, sporting events, etc. Backpacks allow items to be conveniently carried on the back of a person while freeing-up the person&#39;s arms and hands. However, while carrying a backpack, it is often desirable to carry a portable music system, such as a CD player, MD player, tape player, AM/FM radio, or the like. Typically, the portable music system is held separately. This requires one to hold the music system, thereby defeating the hands-free approach associated with a backpack. Alternatively, one can use a device such as a WALKMAN to listen to music, but headphones make the experience a private one as opposed to a shared one. 
     There have been a number of efforts by others to provide audio equipment associated with backpacks and clothes, but none provided detachable speaker pockets for easily and conveniently positioning the speakers in a manner to enhance the stereo sound quality. 
     Accordingly what would be desirable, but has not heretofore been provided, is a backpack entertainment system with speakers in detachable pockets which allow for the speakers to be positioned to provide an enhanced stereo sound quality and/or ambience. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a backpack entertainment system having pockets for speakers which pockets can be detached from the backpack to allow the speakers to be positioned to provide an enhanced stereo sound quality and/or ambience. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a backpack entertainment system having detachable pockets for speakers that can be easily attached back to the sides of the backpack after use. 
     The present invention relates to a backpack entertainment system having detachable pockets for speakers. The backpack includes an audio amplifier and speakers connectable with a personal music device, such as a CD player, tape player, MD player, AM/FM stereo, or the like. The backpack includes sufficient interior room to allow a wearer to carry other desired items, such as books, folders, sports equipment, containers, etc., along with the audio entertainment system. The speakers are positioned in and connected to pockets along the sides of the backpack. The pockets are detachable from the backpack, to allow the speakers to be positioned away from the backpack to provide an enhanced stereo sound quality. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention, the speaker pockets are removably attached to sides of the backpack by zippers, so that the user can quickly unzip the speakers from the backpack and position same according to the user&#39;s tastes. The speakers can be positioned to face in any desired direction, and are attached to the amplifier by speaker wires extendable from the backpack. When finished, the user can re-attach the speaker pockets to the backpack by zipping same thereto. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other important objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the Invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the backpack entertainment system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the speaker pocket with a speaker interconnected therewith. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the backpack entertainment system of the present invention, showing one of the speakers detached from the backpack. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the backpack entertainment system of FIG. 1 shown in greater detail. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the amplifier of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the backpack of FIG. 1 and a skateboard which can be secured thereto. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a backpack entertainment system with detachable pockets for speakers that can be detached from the backpack and positioned to provide enhanced stereo sound quality. The backpack includes an amplifier connected to the speakers for allowing a personal music system, such as a CD, tape, or MD player, AM/FM stereo, or the like, to be connected therewith. The speakers can be attached to the amplifier by speaker wires that can be extended from the backpack to a desired length. The speaker pockets are preferably made of a material similar to the backpack to provide protection for the speakers and an overall uniform appearance. The speaker pockets are removably attached to the backpack by zippers or other similar attachment means. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the backpack entertainment system of the present invention. Attached to backpack  10  are speaker pockets  20  and  30  which house speakers therewithin. Pockets  20  and  30  are removably attachable to the sides of backpack  10  according to a user&#39;s desires. Backpack  10  can be any backpack known in the art. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, backpack  10  is manufactured from canvas or other similar material, and has sufficient internal room to allow an individual to carry a plurality of items, such as books, folders, sports equipment, containers, etc. Of course, backpack  10  can be manufactured from any material known in the art, and it is conceivable that speaker pockets  20  and  30  could be attached to backpack  10  at locations other than the sides thereof. A preferred backpack is disclosed in the co-pending parent patent application hereinbefore referenced. 
     Speakers pockets  20  and  30  are preferably made of the same material as backpack  10  to provide a uniform appearance when the speaker pockets are attached to the backpack, and to protect the speakers against damage. Further, speaker pockets  20  and  30  may optionally include additional zippers  24  and  34  that allow access to the interior of the speaker. Zippers  22  and  32  attach the speaker pockets  20  and  30  to the backpack  10 , and allow a user to quickly and easily detach the speaker pockets  20  and  30  for positioning the speakers in any desired location. Other attachment means known in the art, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, clasps, or other similar devices, can be used to attach speaker pockets  20  and  30  to backpack  10  without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, the speakers  21  are positioned within and connected to an outer surface of the speaker pocket  20 . The body of the speaker  21  is positioned within the pocket  20 . The speaker grill  26  and surrounding attachment ring  23  are positioned on the exterior of the pocket  20  and are connected to speaker  21  by fasteners extending through apertures disposed about the perimeter of ring  23 , through the pocket material and through corresponding receptacles disposed about the perimeter of speaker  21 . Preferably the pocket includes an aperture aligned with the grill  26 . As such, the speaker  21  is positioned within and connected to the pocket  20  and delivers sound through the grill  26  to the exterior of the pocket  20 . Speaker wire  28  passes through aperture  27  and then into the backpack. Zipper  22  attaches pocket  20  to the backpack and zipper  24  allows access to the speaker  21  in the pocket  20 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the backpack entertainment system of the present invention, showing the speaker pocket  20  of FIG. 1 detached from the backpack  10 . As previously mentioned, each of speaker pockets  20  and  30  can be detached from the backpack  10  and the speakers can be positioned separately from the backpack to provide enhanced stereo sound quality. Speaker wire  28  connects the speaker in speaker pocket  20  to an amplifier contained within backpack  10 , the speaker wire  28  entering backpack  10  via opening  40 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, opening  40  allows the speaker wire  28  to enter the backpack  10 , but prevents rain or other debris from infiltrating the interior of backpack  10  when the speaker pockets  20  and  30  are detached therefrom. The opening  40  is defined by circular aperture having a reinforcing ring or flexible grommet. A flexible material such as neoprene can be secured within the aperture. A slit in the neoprene allows the speaker wire  28  to pass through the aperture. A similar construction can be used to allow the speaker wire  28  to pass into the speaker pocket  20 . Further, similar apertures can be positioned at an upper rear area of the backpack to allow for headphone cables to be passed to the interior of the backpack  10 . A speaker wire  38  connects the speaker in speaker pocket  30  to an amplifier or other audio device stored within backpack  10 , in the same manner as described for speaker wire  28 . 
     The backpack  10  can include pockets such as mesh pockets  25  disposed on each side of the backpack to retain speaker wires  28  and  38  when the speaker pockets  20  and  30  are attached to backpack  10 . Conceivably, the present invention could also include a device in backpack  10  for retracting the speaker wires  28 ,  38  thereinto via opening  40 , when speaker pockets  20  and  30  are reattached to backpack  10 . As can be readily understood, any means for spooling or otherwise retaining speaker wires  28 ,  38  could be included with backpack  10  without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the backpack entertainment system of FIG.  1 . As shown in FIG. 3, speaker pockets  20  and  30  are detached from backpack  10  and the speakers positioned separately from the backpack to achieve an enhanced stereo sound quality. The speaker wires  28  and  38  are extended from the backpack  10  via openings  40  and  42 , respectively, and are connected to amplifier  50 , which is shown in phantom and stored within backpack  10 . Importantly, it is desirable that the backpack  10  contain sufficient room to allow a user to store desired items within backpack  10 , such as books, sports equipment, and other items, in addition to audio equipment and the amplifier  50 . As can be readily understood, the grilles  26  and  36  of speaker pockets  20  and  30 , and hence the speakers, can be aimed in any desired direction to achieve any desired stereo sound effects without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the amplifier of the present invention. Amplifier  50  can be any amplifier of any design suitable to provide sufficient power to drive the speakers at an acceptable volume level. Amplifier  50  comprises a patch cord  52  that allows connection of the amplifier  50  to a personal music system, such as a CD player, MD player, tape player, AM/FM stereo, MP3 player, or any other similar device known in the art. Further, amplifier  50  includes a switch  54  for controlling power to the amplifier, and a power jack  56  for connecting the amplifier  50  to an external power source (i.e., AC-to-DC wall adapter). To allow portability, amplifier  50  preferably includes batteries. Speaker wires  28  and  38  are removably connected with amplifier  50  via plugs and jacks, and allow connection to speakers in speaker pockets  20  and  30 , respectively. 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 3 is shown. As can be seen, the backpack  10  includes a handle  11  and straps  12 . The amplifier  50  is positioned internally in the amplifier pocket  51 . Speaker and speaker pockets are shown in phantom. Compartment  14  is provided for receiving audio equipment such as a CD player or other device. Compartment  14  is accessed through a zipper at an upper edge thereof and expands to accommodate equipment of various sizes. Similarly, front pocket  15  can be used to house audio equipment or other items to be carried in the backpack  10 . Central compartment  16  can be used to hold items to be carried in the backpack  10  or can hold additional audio equipment. Apertures can be provided adjacent to pocket  14  for allowing headphone cables to pass into the backpack which headphones can be worn by a user to listen to the audio equipment while carrying the backpack  10 . 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the backpack and a skateboard to be attached thereto. Straps  18  having attachment means thereon such as hook and loop fasteners  19  are attachable about a skateboard to secure a skateboard thereto. As can be seen, the straps  18  are positioned between the wheel assemblies to secure the skateboard to the backpack. The ends of the straps  18  can be detached to allow the skateboard to be removed from its connection to the backpack. Importantly, a central fastening member  19   a  is firmly secured to the backpack when not being used to carry a skateboard. 
     Having thus described the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit and scope thereof. What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.