Patent Publication Number: US-8991667-B2

Title: Backpack system with associated tent

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of application Ser. No. 61/557,373, filed Nov. 8, 2011. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     This application relates generally to backpack systems and more particularly to backpack systems including sleeping pads and shelters such as tents. 
     Backpacks are commonly used to conveniently carry around items in a variety of environments and scenarios such as camping, school, military, etc. Backpacks are typically not large enough or configured to also carry things such as sleeping pads, sleeping bags, pillows and the like. It would be advantageous to have available a backpack capable of supporting sleeping items and items of shelter. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides a backpack which in addition to providing the usual functions of a backpack, supports additional functions extending to accommodating sleeping and providing shelter. Shelter is provided by a tent having a skeletal frame and fabric supported on the skeletal frame. A ground pad is also provided. 
     Elements of the skeletal pad may be manually assembled and disassembled, and contained within the backpack when disassembled. The backpack may incorporate elements to assist in holding the skeletal frame in operable position, and may removably fasten to the ground mat. 
     The skeletal frame is quite lightweight and minimal in bulk and structure. When assembled, it holds its form against spontaneous collapse by tension, providing a deformable shape for supporting the tent fabric in an elevated condition to define an occupiable space therewithin. 
     While tents can obviously serve general and civilian purposes, the present combination of backpack and tent is regarded as highly advantageous for military purposes. The tent and ground mat are compact, light weight, and readily contained within the backpack, which may also carry other items. The tent is adjustable as to the degree of exposure of an occupant to the exterior. This characteristic offers versatility in use, such as exposing the interior to a greater or lesser extent for purposes of surveillance, concealment, accommodation of weaponry for sniping purposes, and the like. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a light weight, practical tent which may be carried about in an associated backpack. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a shelter having minimal weight and bulk. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the backpack and tent frame of a backpack system according to at least one aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective detail view of a component seen towards the bottom right of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of  FIG. 1 , with some components omitted for clarity of the view. 
         FIG. 4 . is a detail view of a backpack seen towards the left of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the backpack system of  FIG. 1 , showing a tent member installed. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a backpack system according to a further aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the backpack system of  FIG. 6 , but showing a tent member installed. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a backpack system according to a still further aspect of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a backpack system  100  comprising a backpack  102 , a ground mat  104 , and a knock-down skeletal frame  106  which will be used to support a fabric tent member  180 , seen in  FIG. 5 . It should be recognized that the backpack system  100  is convertible between a first configuration serving as a backpack and a second configuration serving as a tent, as will be further explained as description of the invention progresses. When configured as a backpack, the backpack system  100  may comprise a plurality of flaccid walls, as best seen in  FIG. 4 . In the tent configuration, the backpack system includes a ground mat  104 , and which may either be integral with or preferably manually connectable to and removable or detachable from the backpack components. Attachment of the ground mat  104  may be accomplished using a zipper, snaps, hook and loop fastening material, or other common attachment devices. 
     The skeletal frame  106  may comprise a first spar  108 , a second spar  110 , and a third spar  112 . Each one of the first spar  108 , second spar  110 , and third spar  112  may be made from segments which connect serially to one another to form one elongated spar member. As seen in  FIG. 1 , each one of the first spar  108 , second spar  110 , and third spar  112  is arcuate when assembled. This arcuate configuration may be built into the individual spar, such as by making each segment rigid and arcuate. Alternatively, arcuate configuration of the spars  108 ,  110 ,  112  may result from fabricating the spars  108 ,  110 ,  112  in single or plural connectable segments which are slightly flexible, with curvature arising from cumulative axial misalignment of the individual segments. The first spar  108 , second spar  110 , and third spar  112  collectively form the skeletal frame  106  and its characteristic curved upper surface. This surface is better understood when viewing how a tent fabric member is draped over the first spar  108 , second spar  110 , and third spar  112 , as seen in Fig. However, before discussing the completed or nearly completed tent, stabilization of the skeletal frame  106  will be discussed. 
     In summary, the arcuate shape collectively defined by the members of the skeletal frame  106  may be the result of tension forces imposed on the individual of first spar  108 , second spar  110 , and third spar  112 , together with a fastener such as a clamp  114  which gathers the first spar  108 , second spar  110 , and third spar  112  where the first spar  108 , the second spar  110 , and the third spar  112  cross one another at a common point at the maximum height of each. The outer first spar  108  may be coupled to a frame  116 , such as by fixing the end of the first spar  108  at a corner  118  of the frame  116  in any suitable way. The spar  110  occupies a plane which generally intersects the longitudinal axis of the ground mat  104  when the spar  110  is in its operative position fixed to the receptacle at its first end and its second end. By contrast, the spars  108 ,  112  are connected at their respective first end and second end at corners of the ground mat  104 . 
     Each spar  108 ,  110 , or  112  may comprise a first end and a second end and forms an arc when the first end and the second end of the spar are fixed to the receptacle or to the ground mat  104 . Each of the first end and the second end of each spar  108 ,  110 ,  112  is engageable with the one of the connectors of the backpack so as to hold the spars  108 ,  110 ,  112  in an erect position projecting above the ground mat  104  when the ground mat  104  lies on flat ground. 
     To this end, a plurality of connectors is disposed on the receptacle or the ground mat  104 , as may be appropriate. These connectors may take a female form such as a hole or eye, or pocket, for accepting insertion of one end of one of the spars. Alternatively, the connectors may take a male form, such as a stud. Either a hole or a stud may be threaded if desired, although other arrangements are possible. Successful engagement of a connector may rely on friction fit, clips, snap hooks, hook and loop material, or may take other forms. Although threaded fasteners (not shown) may be employed if desired, it would also be possible to rely on resilience of the first spar  108 , which may display a tendency to assume a straight configuration if not confined by attachment to the frame  116 , corresponding structure of the backpack system  100  at the opposite end thereof, and to the clamp  114 . If resiliency is relied upon, the first spar  108  may terminate in small fingers (not shown) at either end, which are caused to penetrate corresponding close fitting holes formed in the frame  116  and corresponding structure at the opposite end. 
     Once the backpack system  100  is disassembled and the spars  108 ,  110 ,  112  are separated from the ground mat  104  and from one another, all of the spars  108 ,  110 ,  112  fit within the receptacle of the backpack for stowage. 
     The frame  116  may be seen to comprise a cross bar  120  and arms  122 ,  124  which connect the cross bar  120  to a suitable sturdy member (not shown) at the end of the ground mat  104 . Such a sturdy member may be for example another cross bar which is fixed along its length to the fabric or other significant member of the ground mat  104 . 
     A forward arm  126  may project upwardly from the cross bar  120  at an acute angle to the ground. Preferably, apart from the forward arm  126 , the frame  116  lies essentially parallel to the plane occupied by the ground mat  104  when the ground mat  104  lies on flat ground. The forward arm  126  may have a hole (for use with spars  110  terminating in small fingers, not visible in  FIG. 1 ) or other structure for receiving and releasably anchoring the end of the spar  110 . 
     The clamp  114  may be a multipiece device, such as comprising two or three complementing sections which may be joined in any suitable way, such as by threading. For example, the uppermost component of the clamp  114  may comprise a threaded shaft projecting from a circular head, which threads to a threaded hole formed in a lower component of the clamp  114 . The lower component of the clamp  114  may have troughs or passages formed therein and adapted to hold the spars  108 ,  110 ,  112  in appropriate positions to enable the ends of the spars  108 ,  110 ,  112  to align with their respective anchorage points. The separate components of the clamp  114  are not per se critical to the invention and are not specifically shown. 
     The second spar  110 , which in  FIG. 1  is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ground mat  104 , may be anchored at one end at the forward arm  126 , and at the opposed end at an anchor tab  142 . The anchor tab  142  may have a pocket for receiving one end of the second spar  110  for example. Thus, the first spar  108 , second spar  110 , and third spar  112  are all held as shown in  FIG. 1  when the backpack system  100  is assembled as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The head end  144  of the backpack system  100  may be anchored to the ground by a system employing a connector strap  128 . The connector strap  128  is shown drawn to enlarged scale in  FIG. 2 . The connector strap  128  may comprise a strip of rugged polymeric material, adapted to comprise a pocket  130 , a second pocket  132 , an open loop  134 , and a fastener such as a snap  136 . The snap  136  may be utilized to connect the connector strap  128  to a sturdy component of the ground mat  104 . Alternatively, the connector strap  128  may be integrated with the ground mat by making it integral with a sturdy component of the ground mat  104  (this option is not shown). The pockets  130 ,  132  are closed at their distal ends so that elongated members such as the end of one arm  138  of a bracket or frame (not shown) forming a structural component at the head end  144  of the backpack system inserted therein cannot escape. By contrast, the open loop  122  is open at both ends, so that a member such as an anchor strip  146  passes entirely through the open loop, as indicated by an arrow  152 . The anchor strip  146  may bear holes  148 ,  150  to accommodate headed pins (not shown) which may be driven into soft ground to help keep the ground mat  104  from moving along the ground should occupants move about in the course of sleeping for example. 
     The ground mat  104  has a distal end located opposite the head end  144  along the length of the ground mat  104 . The rigid frame  116  projects from this distal end. The second ends of the spars  108 ,  110 ,  112  are all anchored to the rigid frame  116  at three of the connectors when the backpack system  100  is assembled in the second configuration as a tent. The spar  110  may be anchored at its first end to a member of the receptacle such as a flaccid flap  143  by the anchor tab  142 . At its second end, the spar  110  may be anchored to the forward arm  126 . 
     The backpack  102  may play various roles in assembly of the backpack system  100 . For example, the anchor tab  142  may be part of the backpack  102 . Also, the backpack  102  may have a strip  144  bearing snaps  146 , which connect to corresponding snaps (not visible) provided on the ground mat  104 . In the implementation of the invention of  FIG. 1 , the backpack  102  becomes a link in that structure holding the two ends of the second spar  110 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  also show how the anchor strip  146  is used. The anchor strip  126  has holes (such as the holes  148 ,  150  seen in greater scale in  FIG. 2 ) for receiving a fastener such as a nail  156  (see  FIG. 2 ). The nail  156  may be typical of several nails which may be used to stabilize the ground mat  104 . The nails are to be driven into the ground, and once so driven, pin their associated anchor strips against the ground. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the spar  110  is seen to comprise three manually separable, serially connectable sections or segments  158 ,  160 ,  162  which may be joined serially by a frictional arrangement such as one using a peg which fits into a socket, for example. Of course, any or all of the spars  108 ,  110 ,  112  may be so formed. Alternatively, the spars  108 ,  110 ,  112  may each comprise only one section if desired. 
       FIG. 3  provides a frontal perspective view for further elucidation of assembly, but with the second spar  110  removed for clarity of the view. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , the backpack  102  may be in many ways typical of backpacks. The backpack  102  may comprise a floor  168 , a generally flaccid upstanding peripheral wall  170 , and a closure flap  172 , all of which combine to define a receptacle  174  when the closure flap  172  is fixed along the upper edge of the peripheral wall  170 . The closure flap  172  may be fixed by a zipper (not shown) for example, as is conventional with many backpacks. The backpack  102  may have two arm straps  176 ,  178  for encircling the arms of the user when the backpack  102  is worn on the back. 
       FIG. 5  shows a fabric tent member  180  mounted to the skeletal frame  106  (see  FIG. 1 ; the skeletal frame  106  is concealed in  FIG. 5 ). The outer configuration of the fabric tent member  180  is seen to reflect engagement with the first spar  108 , the second spar  110 , and the third spar  112  by close cooperation therewith. This cooperation is seen as creases  182 ,  184  formed in the fabric tent member  180 , which is somewhat tautly draped over the skeletal frame  106 . Once mounted to the skeletal frame  106 , an occupiable space is defined inside the fabric tent member  180 , above the ground mat  104 . 
     The lower edges of the fabric tent member  180 , such as the lower edge  186 , may be fastened to the ground mat  104  by snaps (not visible in  FIG. 5 , but which may be similar to the snaps  164 ,  166 ,  168  seen in  FIG. 3 . Snap connection provided by the snaps may be of sufficient numbers and spacing so as to eliminate gaps which would otherwise occur between the fabric tent member  180  and the ground mat  104 . 
       FIG. 5  shows the second spar  110  disconnected from the anchor tab  142 . The second spar  110  may remain in the position shown in  FIG. 5  due to tension of the fabric tent member  180 . 
       FIG. 6  shows an arrangement wherein the distal end  188  of the second spar  110  is held by a connector tab  190  mounted to two flexible cord-like tethers  192 ,  194 . In this implementation of the invention, the anchor tab  142  is not used. It will be seen in  FIG. 6  that the distal end  188  of the second spar  110  is located well above the ground mat  104 . This enables an occupant of the tent of the backpack system  100  to peer out from the tent. 
       FIG. 7  shows how the fabric tent member  180  may be pulled away from the distal end  188  of the second spar  110  to increase the size of the opening of the tent. 
       FIG. 8  shows how the tent of the backpack system  100  may be fully sealed. A panel  196  may seal one end of the tent, while a panel  198  may seal the opposite end of the tent. The panels  196 ,  198  may be formed integrally with the fabric tent member  180 , or may be separate components which are attachable to the fabric tent member  180  such as by snaps  200 . 
     While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.