Patent Publication Number: US-2003234269-A1

Title: Knapsack

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention is directed to knapsacks designed for carrying of footwear to the exterior thereof.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Certain sporting activities and in particular, downhill skiing and snowboarding, use bulky footwear. This footwear, together with related equipment is difficult to carry to a chalet or building at the base of the hill in preparation for the particular activity. Various bags have been designed for carrying of boots therein, however, the bag is heavy and is awkward to carry with the other equipment. To partially solve this problem, it is known to wear ski boots from the parking lot to the base lodge. With younger children, the parent or adult typically have to carry their own equipment plus most of the equipment of the child.  
       [0003] The present invention provides a unique knapsack structure which simplifies the carrying of boot type footwear in particular.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] A knapsack according to the present invention comprises a base, front, back and two sides cooperating to define a cavity which is selectively closed by a top flap. The knapsack further includes two shoulder straps for securing of the knapsack and two footwear securing arrangements located on opposite sides of the exterior of the knapsack. Each footwear securing arrangement comprises a support member for supporting a base portion of one footwear and a releasable securing member positioned to engage an upper portion of the one footwear and draw the footwear into engagement of the knapsack.  
       [0005] In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, the footwear securing arrangement is designed for engaging a footwear of a boot design.  
       [0006] According to a further aspect of the invention, the footwear securing arrangement is formed by straps attached to the exterior of the knapsack.  
       [0007] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the footwear securing arrangement is formed by straps and the straps cooperate to form a holster type arrangement for receiving a heel portion and a neck portion of one footwear with a toe portion thereof extending to the front of the knapsack.  
       [0008] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the straps of the footwear support arrangement include base straps secured to the base, a releasable upper strap attached at the junction of the back and one side of the knapsack and intermediate the height of the back.  
       [0009] According to a further aspect of the invention, each footwear support arrangement is sized for supporting a ski boot or snowboard boot.  
       [0010] According to a further aspect of the invention, a knapsack is designed for receiving one footwear of a boot design.  
       [0011] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, each footwear support arrangement is formed by at least two connecting straps with one strap supporting a sole portion of the footwear and one strap engaging a neck portion of the footwear.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0012] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein:  
     [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the knapsack;  
     [0014]FIG. 2 is a top view of the knapsack of FIG. 1;  
     [0015]FIG. 3 is a side view of the knapsack of FIG. 1;  
     [0016]FIG. 4 is a back view of the knapsack; and  
     [0017]FIG. 5 is a front view of the knapsack showing supporting a ski boot to one side of the knapsack and a snowboard boot to the opposite side of the knapsack. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0018] The knapsack  2 , as shown in the perspective of FIG. 1, has a back  4 , opposed sides  6 , a front  10  and a top flap  8  which is releasably secured to the front. These components collectively define a cavity for carrying various user items.  
     [0019] As with traditional knapsacks, two padded shoulder straps  12  are provided and the knapsack preferably has a waist strap  50  as shown in FIG. 4. The back of the knapsack adjacent the top flap  8  has a lift handle  14  defined by the strap  16  which passes through the molded handle  18 . The strap  16  is typically stitched to the back  4  of the knapsack with the stitching of the padded shoulder straps  12  to this back. In this way, the knapsack can be carried by the shoulders of the user or the user may prefer to carry the knapsack by the lift handle  14 .  
     [0020] Each side  6  of the knapsack has secured exterior thereto, a footwear securing arrangement shown as  30  or  32 . Each footwear securing arrangement includes a base strap  36  secured to the base of the knapsack and extends from the base of the knapsack near the back of the knapsack. This base strap joins with and is secured to the side strap  38 . Side strap  38  is secured intermediate the height of the side of the knapsack and at the junction at the side and back of the knapsack.  
     [0021] The side strap provides a vertical support for the base strap at a position spaced outwardly from the respective sides of the knapsack. The side strap extends forwardly and is releasably joined to the front of the knapsack by means of the buckle  40 . One portion of the buckle is secured to the side strap  38  and the other portion of the buckle is secured to the stub strap  42 . The stub strap  42  is again located at a junction of the side and in this case, the front of the knapsack. Typically, the stitching is used to secure the various components to one another and is also used to secure the straps to the knapsack.  
     [0022] The footwear securing arrangement  30  or  32  defines a slot like opening to the side of the knapsack. A ski boot, snowboard boot, roller blade or other boot type footwear can be positioned in the slot like opening with the toe of the footwear extending forwardly and the sole of the footwear approximately at the level of the base of the knapsack. Basically, a heel portion of the footwear is located in the slot arrangement and the base strap  36  provides a bottom support. The side strap  38  is placed about the neck of the boot portion and drawn into engagement with the side  6  of the knapsack.  
     [0023]FIG. 5 shows the knapsack arrangement with a ski boot secured on one side of the knapsack and a snowboard boot secured on the other side of the knapsack.  
     [0024] With this securing arrangement, it can be seen that the sole of the footwear in the case of a snowboard boot or ski boot, is generally adjacent to and at the level of the base of the knapsack. If the knapsack is placed on a horizontal surface, the ski boot to a large extent will be self supporting at the side of the knapsack. The ski boot will not fall over as the side strap  38  secures it to the knapsack. The knapsack is essentially self supporting and any force of one ski boot on one side of the knapsack is opposed by an opposite force on the other side of the knapsack. Thus the knapsack can be set on its base and the footwear is essentially self supporting at the side of the knapsack. The releasable buckle  40  can be of various designs and allows the footwear to be easily inserted or removed from the holster type securing arrangement.  
     [0025] It is preferable that the base strap  36  extends outwardly from the base of the knapsack and then extends upwardly to be joined and secured to the side strap  38 . It is preferred that these two straps be stitched together to maintain the particular orientation. In this orientation the side strap  38  goes up the outside of the boot of the footwear and draws the boot into engagement with the knapsack.  
     [0026] The footwear securing arrangements  30  and  32  maintain the footwear generally at the side of the knapsack, thus the knapsack can be easily worn on the back of the user. Fortunately for young children, the size of the knapsack can be reduced and the size of the footwear securing arrangement is similarly reduced due to smaller size boot. This arrangement makes it quite easy and convenient for young participants to carry their own footwear equipment as well as other items for the day&#39;s activities.  
     [0027] Knapsacks of this type are also very convenient for various children&#39;s programs where large groups or clubs are taken to the ski hill or activity site by bus or motor coach. The knapsack with the various equipment for the day such as extra mittens, scarves, goggles, etc. are provided in the knapsack together with a lunch. The ski boots or snowboard boots are provided to the outside of the knapsack. The knapsack is carried by the lift handle  18  onto the bus and the knapsack is worn from the motor coach to the base lodge. This arrangement leaves the hands of the user free to carry their skis, ski poles or snowboard, etc.  
     [0028] It can be appreciated that other arrangements for securing of the footwear at the sides of the knapsack can be used. It is preferred that the footwear arrangements define a slot like arrangement which includes an upper portion for gripping of the neck or boot portion of the footwear. This knapsack is also suitable for carrying other footwear such as roller blades, skates, hiking boots, etc. It is preferred that the head position of the footwear be located at the back of the knapsack with the rear of the boot extending upwardly. This provides a large area to reduce the load exerted by the boot against the user&#39;s back. It is also preferred that the two sides of the knapsack and the back thereof be reinforced with a stiffening material. This assists in keeping the knapsack upright when it is taken off and set on the floor with footwear secured either side thereof.  
     [0029] Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.