Patent Publication Number: US-2010108730-A1

Title: Backpack for boots and ski equipment

Description:
The present invention relates to backpack constructions especially configured to carry ski or snowboard boots and snowboards or snow skis by a skier/snowboarder. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The state of the backpack art is well-developed and includes teachings of various sizes, shapes, and carrying strap configurations to accommodate specific loading situations and particular equipment to be transported including sporting goods and the like. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,708 is directed to an arrangement for carrying bulky, heavy footwear such as ski boots along with a snowboard. U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,051 discloses a backpack for carrying a snowboard, skateboard or skis. U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,364 discloses another arrangement for carrying a snowboard with backpack straps. 
     Despite the many developments in backpacks, there remains a need for an efficient carrier of bulky boots and other ski equipment, a snowboard or snow skis, which backpack is compact, easy to pack and unpack, and comfortable to use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A new and improved backpack is provided which essentially includes a basic backpack shell construction, one having a stiff back panel supporting a major storage compartment projecting outwardly therefrom and carried on the user&#39;s back by a pair of padded shoulder straps into which basic shell a pair of tandem collapsible boot pockets are integrated at opposite sides. The front face of the basic backpack shell, is rubberized or otherwise provided with a frictional surface against which skis or a snowboard may be secured by adjustable straps extending across the upper and lower regions of the front face. 
     Access to the backpack interior is provided by a hinged top panel secured by zippers. Full access to the boot pockets is provided by zipper openings extending along the front vertical edges of the backpack and along the top panel. 
     The new backpack is compact, yet efficiently provides stowage room for boots, gear, and skis or a snowboard. 
     For a more complete appreciation of the present invention and understanding of its advantages, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the new backpack; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the new backpack with one of the boot pockets open; and 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the backpack. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The new and improved backpack is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and includes a closed, generally cubic body  10  formed by six walls, including a flat, horizontal, rectangular bottom wall  11 ; parallel quadrilateral side walls  12 ,  13 ; a front wall  14 ; a rear wall  15 ; and a top wall  16  extending between the front and rear walls. 
     In accordance with the invention, identical separate boot pockets  17  are formed from waterproof fabric at the opposite sides of the backpack by boot bags  18  sewn along the inner peripheral edges of the body  10 . Each of the pockets  17  is three-dimensional, having top, bottom, inner and side planar portions suitably sized to contain a ski boot B. The pockets  17 ,  18  are accessed by and closed off by the side walls  12 ,  13 , respectively, which are connected to the front and top walls  14 ,  16  by elongated zippers  19 ,  20  extending for full depth and full height of the body as shown in  FIG. 1 . Opening and closing of the zippers  19 ,  20  provides ready access to the pockets  17  for storage and removal of boots as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The side walls  12 ,  13  have separate liners  21  sewn or otherwise fastened to their inner surfaces to form closed utility storage compartments  22  accessible through the opening of horizontal full depth zippers  23 . 
     The inside of the body  10  forms a main storage compartment which is accessed through a U-shaped panel  24  articulated to the top wall  16  along the upper edge of rear wall  15  and connected to the top wall by U-shaped zipper  25 . The panel  24  itself may be lined to form another small utility compartment (not shown) if desired. 
     In accordance with the invention, the face of the front wall  14  is treated or otherwise covered with an elastomeric material to provide a rubberized high friction, anti-slip surface  15  for engaging and helping to secure skis or a snowboard. Adjustable clamping straps  30 ,  31  are anchored to tabs  32 ,  33  articulated to the edges of the wall  14 . The straps are comprised of opposed inner hooked and outer looped Velcro® fastener portions  34 ,  35 . The straps  30 ,  31  pass through buckles  36 ,  37  mounted on tabs  38 ,  39  articulated to the opposite edges of the wall  14 . The effective lengths of the straps  30 ,  31  may be adjusted by varying the length of face-to-face engagement and locking contact of the hooked and looped portions, as will be understood. 
     In addition to the clamping straps, a U-shaped securing band  40  of nylon webbing is sewn to the bottom edge of the front panel  14  and an auxiliary adjustable holding strap  50  is mounted by a buckle  51  articulated to the top edge of the wall  14  by webbing  52  sewn to the top of the wall  14 . The strap  50  passes through the buckle  51  and has a buckle  53  at one end and facing, selectively engaged hooked and looped Velcro® portions  54 ,  55  at the other end. The strap  50  may form a closed, selectively adjustable band by passing the hooked portion  55  through the buckle  53  and engaging the looped portion  54  of the straps. 
     The backpack body  10  includes a pair of padded, wide shoulder straps  68 ,  69  secured to the rear wall  15  through webbing straps  60 ,  61  at lower portions by D-rings  62 ,  63  attached by tabs  64 ,  65  sewn to the edges of the rear wall  15  and snap-fasteners  78  connected to the lower ends of the straps  68 ,  69 . The upper ends of the shoulder straps are sewn beneath the upper edges of the back and reinforced by a web panel  80 . Buckles  66 ,  67  articulated to the upper edges of the back wall  15  support auxiliary straps  81 ,  82  sewn to straps  68 ,  69 . 
     The shoulder straps  68 ,  69  are selectively interconnected by adjustable harness straps  70 ,  71  having a blade fastener hardware  72 ,  73 . 
     An upper utility pouch (not shown) may be sewn at the top of the body  10  and accessed by zipper  75 . A carrying handle  76  is attached to the panel  24  by rivets  77  as shown. 
     In use by a skier or snowboarder, the new backpack may be easily loaded by placing boots in the side boot pockets  17 ,  18  by opening and closing the zippers  19 ,  20  which extend for the full height and depth of the pockets. 
     Smaller articles such as eyeglasses, goggles, cell phones and the like may be packed in the smaller compartments  22 . Clothing may be stowed in the body  10  itself through opening the panel  24  by zipper  25 . 
     In accordance with the invention, a snowboard on skis may be secured firmly to the backpack body  10  for transport by clamping the skis or board against the rubberized surface  15  of the front wall by tightening the straps  30 ,  31  against the skis/board. In addition, the straps  50  may be used to hold the skis/board against the wall  14 . 
     It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.