Patent Publication Number: US-10758029-B1

Title: Backpack with two attached hoods

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a backpack with multiple attached hoods that can be selectively and independently used as desired. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Traditionally backpacks have been known and widely used for their increased carrying capacity and ability to provide ready access to needed gear or items while also providing protection of the gear and items from collision, abrasion, dust, and theft, as well as from the elements and weather conditions such as rain and snow. However, recently, backpacks have become very popular not only for their utility, but also as fashion accessories. Moreover, a backpack can now also function as a fashion accessory that may be selected and worn simply for the purposes of fashion style instead of or in addition to its aforementioned utilitarian functions. 
     Likewise, garments with attached single hoods, including hooded sweatshirts, commonly referred to as “hoodies,” have also been traditionally known and worn for their utility in protecting a wearer&#39;s head and face from sun, wind, rain, snow, cold and other outside elements and forces. However, similar to backpacks, hooded garments have also become fashionable in recent years. Depending on the wearer&#39;s personal style, the wearer can select whether to wear the hood up, covering the head, or down, generally hanging at an upper area of the back of the garment. In addition, hooded garments also reflect a wearer&#39;s personal style and fashion trends since the hoods of these garments are often decorated with decorative logos or indicia on them. 
     More recently, many designers have sought to combine the utilitarian and fashionable aspects of both backpacks and hooded garments by creating and marketing backpacks with integral single hoods. Some of these backpacks feature compartments or pockets for storing a single hood. However, backpacks having integral single hoods have utilitarian, as well as stylistic limitations. More specifically, when a single hood is attached to a backpack, the wearer is limited to the fabric limitations of the single hood. For instance, if the single hood is only comprised of non-water proof or non-water resistant fabrics, the hood will not keep the users head dry in the event of rain or snow. Likewise, if the hood is only comprised of heavy, non-breathable fabrics, the hood will not keep the users cool when traveling to a warm climate. Similarly, with backpacks featuring an attached single hood, the wearer is limited to wearing a single hood having only one color or decorative theme, indicia, or logo(s). 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a backpack with multiple attached hoods wherein each of the hoods can be worn separately and independently, and wherein each of the multiple hoods can be comprised of different fabrics, as well as feature different indicia or decorations so as to better adapt to the wearers&#39; fashion, style, and utilitarian demands. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Numerous prior art patents disclose backpacks having an integral hood that can be removably stored within a compartment or pocket within the backpack. For instance, the following design patents disclose the ornamental designs for the combination of a backpack with a single hood: (a) U.S. Design Pat. No. D339,912 to Keith H. Delauter entitled “Combined Backpack and Hood” which issued on Oct. 5, 1993 discloses the ornamental design for a combined backpack and a single hood wherein the hood is removably stored in a pocket in the backpack; and (b) U.S. Design Pat. No. D781,532 to Edward Kelly entitled “Hood for a Backpack” which issued on Mar. 21, 2017 discloses the ornamental design for a single hood for a backpack that removably folds into a zippered pocket. 
     Likewise, the following utility patents disclose the structural combination of a backpack with a single hood: (a) US Patent Publication No. 2010/0078457 to Scott Pitchford, et al. entitled “Hooded Backpack and Speaker Combination Device and Method Therefor” which published on Apr. 1, 2010 discloses a backpack with a single hood attached to the backpack that can be into a compartment on the top of the backpack. (b) U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,735 to Rita E. McLaughlin entitled “Convertible Article” which issued on Jan. 28, 1983 discloses a coat with a single hood that can be folded into a separate compartment of the backpack; (c) U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,777 to Park entitled “Combination Cargo Pack” which issued on Jan. 14, 1986 discloses a cargo pack wherein the front panel of the pack provides a flap closure for removably storing a garment with a single hood; (d) 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,165,111 to Richard A. Lieberman entitled “Backpack with Integral Garment” which issued on Nov. 24, 1992 discloses a backpack having an integral garment with a single hood wherein the integral garment may be withdrawn from storage compartment within the backpack; (e) U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,112 to Thomas N. Christodoulou, et al. entitled “Convertible Backpack” which issued on Apr. 18, 1995 discloses a convertible backpack having a storage compartment for a single hooded raincoat in the front of the pack; (f) U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,293 to Beverly W. Farris entitled “Backpack and Method of Using Same” which issued on Oct. 14, 1997 discloses a backpack with a hood attached to the upper portion of the pack by a strap; (g) U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,398 to Isaac Zion entitled “Rucksack” which issued on Jan. 18, 2005 discloses a knapsack or rucksack with an integral single cap or hood that can be stored within a pocket on the top portion of the sack; and (h) U.S. Pat. No. 9,125,477 to Bernard J. Killion entitled “Backpack Hood Strap” discloses a backpack with an integral attached single hood which may be stored within a pocket or storage compartment of the shoulder straps of the backpack. 
     Also, the following two prior art utility references disclose a sweatshirt and a jacket each having multiple hoods respectively. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0118960 to Tymond B. Goodwin entitled “Hoody Hood Sweatshirt,” which was published on May 31, 2007 discloses a sweatshirt made with two hoods, one in the back and the other in the front wherein the two hoods are connected by a single stitch. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,874,162 to Valentino T. Boezi entitled “Reversible Jacket Having Multiple Hoods” was issued on Apr. 5, 2005 and discloses a reversible jacket that includes two independently functional flexible hoods that allow a person wearing the jacket to utilize one hood in one configuration of the jacket, and the other hood in a reversed configuration. Both hoods are stored within the same pocket on the back of the jacket. 
     However, none of the aforementioned prior art references teach or disclose the basic structure of a backpack with two or multiple hoods that are integrally attached to the backpack and that can be selectively and independently stored in a pocket or compartment of the backpack. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a backpack with attached multiple hoods that allows the wearer to selectively choose which hood to wear. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a backpack with attached multiple hoods wherein the attached hoods are each attached to an attachment strip on the front wall of the backpack which permits each hood to be either worn or folded into a pocket independently of the other one. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a backpack with attached multiple hoods wherein each attached hood can be made of different fabrics or materials for combating different weather conditions and different climates. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a backpack with attached multiple hoods that combines the portability and carrying capacity of a backpack and the protection and decorative and fashion aspects of a hood. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a backpack with attached multiple hoods wherein one or both of the hoods contains a fabric liner. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a backpack with attached multiple hoods wherein each attached hood can feature different design indicia. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A backpack is provided with multiple attached hoods having a first inner compartment for carrying items, a second outer compartment having a pocket opening, and an attachment strip attached to the front wall of the backpack, but spaced apart from the front wall for creating a passage to the pocket opening of the second outer compartment. The backpack has a first hood and a second hood, which are nestable, and they are both attached to the attachment strip. One or both of the first and second hoods may be selectively stored in the second outer compartment by passing the hoods through the passage to enter the pocket opening of the second outer compartment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of the first embodiment of the front wall of the backpack, the front view of the two attached hoods, the attachment strip, and the outer pocket compartment for storing the hoods of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view thereof of the backpack showing the back wall, the back pocket, and the back of the hoods; 
         FIG. 3  is a right side view thereof of the backpack, the attached hoods, the attachment strap, and the shoulder straps; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view thereof showing the inner compartment in an open position and showing the top of the back second hood; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view thereof showing the first front hood being folded over the attachment strip and tucked into the outer pocket compartment; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view thereof showing the second back hood being folded under the attachment strip and tucked into the outer pocket compartment; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view thereof showing the first front hood and second back hood being both folded over the attachment strip and tucked into the outer pocket compartment; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view thereof showing the first front hood and second back hood being both folded under the attachment strip and tucked into the outer pocket compartment; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the backpack of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention provides a backpack  100  with multiple attached hoods  200 , composed of natural or synthetic fabric, plastic, or leather or combinations thereof. Specifically, the backpack and hood may be constructed from materials selected from a group comprising: poplin, fleece, polar fleece, tricot, plated jersey, French terry, wool, velour, cotton terry, poly mesh, leather, nylon, cashmere, denim, twill, corduroy, synthetic leather, waterproof materials, or other non-waterproof materials. The backpack  100  further includes a front wall  120 , a back wall  140 , a first inner compartment  160  for carrying items, a second outer compartment  180  having a pocket  181 , and an attachment strip  182 . The attachment strip  182  is attached to the front wall  120  at attachment points  182   a  and  182   b , but spaced apart from wall  120  for creating a passage  184  to the pocket  181  of second outer compartment  180 . Additionally, the front wall  120  of the outer compartment  180  has shoulder straps  128   a  and  128   b  that are each attached to the top section  100   a  of the backpack. In addition, the back wall  140  can optionally have one or more pockets  140   a  for storing items. 
     Preferably, the first inner compartment  160  of the backpack  100  has a closure device  160   a  for securing items in the first inner compartment  160 . The closure device  160   a  extends along the top and both sides of the inner compartment  160  and it can be a zipper, a hook and loop fastener, buttons and button holes, snaps, a tongue and groove fastener, overlapping flaps, or a combination thereof. 
     The backpack  100  also has an attached first front hood  220  and an attached second back hood  240 . The first and second hoods  220 ,  240  are both attached along a single common seam to the attachment strip  182 . Also, the first front hood  220  is nestable with the second back hood  240 . Because the bottom edges of the first front hood  220  and the second back hood  240  are attached by stitch lines  182   c  to the attachment strip  182 , and are not directly attached to the backpack, the first and second hoods  220 ,  224  are each constructed to pass through the passage  184 . Also, each hood can be selectively and independently stored in the outer compartment  180 . 
     Thus, pursuant to this construction, the wearer can choose to either wear both the first and the second hoods  220 ,  240  together with the first hood  220  nested into the second hood  240 , or the wearer can choose to wear either the first hood  220  or the second hood  240  by themselves independently of the other. In addition, either or both of the first or the second hoods  220 ,  240  may each contain a hood liner  260  comprised of a separate material attached to the inside of the hood  210 . 
     In addition, at least one or both of the first and second hoods  220 ,  240  can be folded or stuffed and thereby stored into the outer compartment  180 . Preferably, the outer compartment  180  has a center front wall  180   a  wherein a pocket is formed thereon for storing one or both of the first and second hoods  220 ,  240  inside. In accordance with this construction, when the wearer of the backpack  100  chooses to wear only the first attached hood  220 , the wearer can optionally let the second attached hood  240  hang over the back wall  140  of the backpack  100  or optionally the wearer can pass the second attached hood  240  through the passage  184  and into the pocket of the second outer compartment  180 . Also, in accordance with this construction, when the wearer of the backpack  100  chooses to wear only the second attached hood  240 , the wearer can optionally let the first attached hood  220  hang over the back wall  140  of the backpack  100  or optionally the wearer can pass the first attached hood  220  through the passage  184  and into the pocket of the second outer compartment  180 . However, when the wearer of the backpack  100  does not choose to wear the first and second hoods  220 ,  240 , the wearer can either optionally let both hoods  220 ,  240  hang over the back wall  140  of the backpack  100 , or optionally the wearer can insert the first and/or the second attached hoods  220 ,  240  through the passage  184  and into the pocket  181  of the second outer compartment  180 . 
     Like the backpack, the attached first and second hoods  220  and  240  and hood liner(s)  260  can be composed of natural or synthetic fabric, plastic, or leather or combinations thereof. Specifically, the materials for constructing the first and second hoods, and the hood liner(s) may be selected from a group comprising: poplin, fleece, polar fleece, tricot, plated jersey, French terry, wool, velour, cotton terry, poly mesh, leather, nylon, cashmere, denim, twill, corduroy, synthetic leather, waterproof materials, or other non-waterproof materials. However, the first and second hoods  220  and  240 , and the hood liner(s)  260  can each be comprised of different materials. Also, at least one or both of the first and second hoods  220  and  240  can have design indicia on them. 
     The term “backpack” as used throughout this specification should be taken to include all forms of backpacks, bookbags, packs, haversacks, knapsacks, rucksacks, and bags with shoulder straps generally. 
     In the specification the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising” or any variation thereof and the terms “include, includes, included and including” or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation. 
     ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a backpack with attached multiple hoods that allows the wearer to selectively choose which hood to wear. 
     Another advantage of the invention is to provide a backpack with attached multiple hoods wherein the attached hoods are each attached to an attachment strip on the front wall of the backpack which permits each hood to be either worn or folded into a pocket independently of the other one. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a backpack with attached multiple hoods wherein each attached hood can be made of different fabrics or materials for combating different weather conditions and different climates. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a backpack with attached multiple hoods that combines the portability and carrying capacity of a backpack and the protection and decorative and fashion aspects of a hood. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a backpack with attached multiple hoods wherein one or both of the hoods contains a fabric liner. 
     A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a backpack with attached multiple hoods wherein each attached hood can feature different design indicia. 
     A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.