Patent Publication Number: US-2013233661-A1

Title: Integrated multi-component travel and backpack

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/609,809, filed Mar. 12, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to travel/adventure packs and, more particularly, to an integrated travel/adventure backpack which conforms to the user&#39;s needs for capacity and flexibility. 
     Many travelers, faced today with increasing baggage fees and the fear of lost luggage, choose to carry their baggage with them. Similarly, many travelers, because they do not have a place to keep their baggage or for security reasons (such as when staying at Hostels with no secure place to store belongings), prefer to carry their belongings with them. 
     This, however, can become cumbersome, as there is often a need for a place to keep clean clothes, a place for dirty clothes, a place for more formal clothes, and the like. Many travelers can be seen carrying multiple bags through an airport, for example. Often, they are haphazardly strapped together, often with one bag on wheels and the other bags attached. While this configuration can work, but all too often, one bag shifts, requiring the traveler to stop and reposition their bags. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an integrated backpack system having multiple packs that connect together in a stable, easy to use configuration. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, an integrated baggage system comprises a main backpack portion operable to be worn on a user&#39;s back; a duffel portion removably attached to the main backpack portion at a top, bottom and each side of the main backpack portion; wherein the duffel portion includes a plurality V-flaps, each containing a first set of connectors, wherein each of the first set of connectors are adapted to connect to a plurality of second sets of connectors disposed on the main backpack portion. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, an integrated baggage system comprises a main backpack portion operable to be worn on a user&#39;s back; a duffel portion removably attached to the main backpack portion at a top, bottom and each side of the main backpack portion; a laundry bag extendable from a pocket formed in a side portion of the duffel portion, the laundry bag extendable over a front portion of the duffel portion and attachable to an opposite side portion of the duffel portion; a garment bag removably disposed in an expandable garment sleeve pocket disposed on a front portion of the duffel portion; and stabilizer straps extending from a back portion of the duffel portion and operable to secure to the main backpack portion, wherein the duffel portion includes a plurality V-flaps, each containing a first set of connectors, wherein each of the first set of connectors are adapted to connect to a plurality of second sets of connectors disposed on the main backpack portion. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a backpack portion of an integrated pack according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the backpack portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the backpack portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the backpack portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the backpack portion of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the backpack portion of  FIG. 1  attached to a duffel portion of the integrated pack of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the duffel portion of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the duffel portion attached to the backpack portion; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the duffel portion attached to the backpack portion; 
         FIG. 10  right side view of the duffel portion of the integrated pack; 
         FIG. 11  is a left side view of the duffel portion of the integrated pack; 
         FIG. 12  is a back view of the duffel portion of the integrated pack; 
         FIG. 13  is a right side view of the duffel portion of the integrated pack, showing a laundry bag extended therefrom; 
         FIG. 14  is a back view of a garment sleeve disposable in the duffel portion of the integrated pack; and 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of the garment sleeve of  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an integrated connection system that combines disparate bags into one wearable unit. The system allows users maximum flexibility concerning capacity and configuration during travel. The system, configured as a backpack, allows users significant freedom of movement. The system can integrate a main backpack, a duffel bag, a laundry bag and a garment bag in a single, wearable system. The system can be used as one complete integrated system or the components can be used separately. The main backpack can be used to store valuables and for specific excursions; the duffel can be used to provide capacity to detach to store a traveler&#39;s bulk load in any given secure location; the garment bag can be removed and hung in a closet; and the laundry bag can be detached to carry cloths to be cleaned, for example. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , a main backpack portion  10  of the integrated backpack system of the present invention, includes a main body  12  defining an main interior section of the main backpack portion  10 . The main body  12  can be made of a front portion  14 , side portions  16  and a back portion  18 . The side portions  16  can include one or more mesh pockets  20  with elastic binding  22  as an exterior storage pocket. The mesh pockets  20  can be from about 4 to about 8 inches high, typically about 6 inches high along the side portions  16 . Lash tabs  24  can be disposed on an upper part of the side portions  16 . The lash tabs  24  can be, for example, sized for 1-inch webbing. A main zipper  26  can be disposed along the side portions  16  and a top portion  28  of the main body  12  to allow access inside the main body  12 . A grab handle  40  can extend from the top portion  28 . Female buckles  58  can be disposed on each of the side portions  16 , disposed along a seam formed between the side portions  16  and the back portion  18 . 
     The front portion  14  can include a first front zipper  30  to provide access to the interior of the main body  12 . A second front zipper  32  can provide access to a flat front pocket formed in the main body  12 . A plurality of gear loops  36  can be disposed from elastic webbing for securing gear thereto. Reflective piping  38  can be disposed along the front portion  14  in various configurations. 
     The back portion  18  can include shoulder straps  42  extending from a top end to a bottom end of the back portion  18 . The shoulder straps  42  can include padding for user comfort. The shoulder straps  42  can connect to a include a ladderlock  44  to provide a length adjustment for the shoulder straps  42 . The shoulder strap  42  can be made of, for example, 19″ long by 2.5 inch wide padded webbing  46  that is connected to 1-inch webbing  47  via the ladderlock  44 . A male buckle  48  and a female buckle  50  can be attached to the padded webbing  46 . An optional cell phone pocket  52  can be provided along the padded webbing  46 . A waist belt  53  can be operable to removably and adjustably attach around a user&#39;s waist. 
     The back portion  18  can include raised airmesh panels  54  formed with, for example, 1.5-2 cm closed cell foam. The raised panels  54  can provide user comfort. Typically, two panels  54  are disposed adjacent to each other, forming an air channel  56  therebetween. 
     A plastic panel, such as a polyethylene panel, (not shown) can be disposed under the back portion  18  for structural support. In some embodiments, a zipper can be disposed in the top of the lining of the back portion  18  to allow a user to insert and remove the plastic panel as desired. 
     The top panel  28 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , can include two female buckles  60 , typically centered and spaced apart by about 3 to 5 inches. A bottom panel  62 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , can include two female buckles  64 .  FIG. 5  also shows a V-flap of a duffel portion, as described in greater detail below. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 through 12 , a duffel portion  66  can include a duffel main body  68  having a left side  70 , a right side  72 , a top portion  74 , a bottom portion  76 , a front side  78  and a back side  80 . The duffel portion  66  can attach securely to the main backpack portion  10  of the integrated backpack system of the present invention. 
     Side V-flaps  82  can be disposed inside a zippered pocket  84  on each side of the back portion  80  of the duffel portion  66 . The side V-flaps  82  can be extended out of the zippered pocket  84  and can include male buckles  86  operable to removably engage with the female buckles  58  on the sides of the main backpack portion  10 . 
     Stabilizer straps  88  can be disposed inside a zipper pocket  90  on the back portion  80  of the duffel portion  66 . The stabilizer straps  88  can wrap around the backpack portion  10 , from top to bottom, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The stabilizer straps  88  can include an adjustment mechanism to permit cinching the straps  88  securely. The stabilizer straps  88  can connect to the male buckle  48  and the female buckle  50  on the shoulder straps  46 . 
     A top V-flap  92  may be disposed inside the zippered pocket  90 . A bottom V-flap  94  may be disposed inside the zippered pocket  96 . The distance between the zippered pocket  90  and the zippered pocket  94  may be approximate the same as the height of the main backpack portion  10 . The V-flaps  92 ,  94  can include male buckles  98  that can secure to the female buckles  60 ,  64  on the top panel  28  and bottom panel  62  of the main backpack portion  10 . 
     The top portion  74  can include an access flap  98  having a zipper  100  to open and close. The access flap  98  can provide access inside the duffel. A handle  102  can be attached to the top portion  74 . Similarly, a handle  104  can be attached to the bottom portion  76 . The handles  102 ,  104  can be designed and attached in various manners. For example, the handles  102 ,  104  can be made of a webbing material wrapped with leather and/or padding material/fabric. The handles  102 ,  104  can be attached to the duffel with stitching and reinforces with a rivet, for example. 
     The front portion  78  of the duffel can include a zipper  106  to access a flap zip pocket formed in the front portion  78 . A garment sleeve pocket  108  can be formed in the front portion  78  and can be sized about 21.5 inches by 12 inches by 2 inches deep. The garment sleeve pocket  108  can be designed to expand by about 3.5 inches deep to accommodate a garment sleeve, as described below. 
     A main zipper  110  can provide access to the inside of the duffel. Typically, the main zipper  110  can extend at least around three sides of the duffel. Pocket piping  112  can be included about the garment sleeve pocket  108 . Duffel piping  114  can be included about the perimeter of the duffel. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  13 , the left side  70  of the duffel can include male buckles  116  attached thereto. The buckles  116  can be attached with an adjustable webbing  124 , for example. The right size  72  of the duffel can include a zip pocket  118  containing a laundry bag  120  (see  FIG. 13 ) disposed therein. The laundry bag  120  can include a seal, such as a zipper  122  to keep contents contained therein. The laundry bag  120  can include female buckles  126  disposed on a distal end thereof such that the laundry bag  120  can extend from the zip pocket  118 , extend around the front of the duffel and be secured by attaching the female buckles  126  and the male buckles  116  together. The end opposite the female buckles  126  can be removable secured to the inside of the zip pocket  118  by various means to allow removal of the laundry bag  120 . In some embodiments, the laundry bag can be fixed to the inside of the zip pocket  118 . 
     Hook and loop patches  128  can be sewn inside the zip pocket  118  to permit closure of the zip pocket  118  when the laundry bag  120  is extend out of the zip pocket  118 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , a garment bag  130  can be included in the integrated backpack system of the present invention. The garment bag can include a lightweight frame or sheeting  132  disposed in the lower third thereof to provide rigidity for folding the garment bag  130  for storage in the garment sleeve pocket  108 . A seam  134  can keep the frame/sheeting  132  in place. The garment bag can include a zipper  136  for access. 
     The garment bag  130  can include webbing  138  with snaps  140 , or the like, to secure with a mating fastener  142  disposed about two-thirds down the garment bag  130 . Like typical garment bags, the garment bag  130  of the present invention can have an opening  144  at a top portion to allow hangers to pass through as well as pleated sides  146  for expansion. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.