Patent Publication Number: US-6216926-B1

Title: Combination workout backpack and detachable backpack bag

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to backpacks, and more particularly to backpacks suitable for hiking and for training. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Backpacks are widely used by hikers such as travelers or campers to carry various items such as food, water, cook stoves, tents, sleeping bags, first-aid kits, flashlights, rain gear, maps, etc. In order to enjoyably reach out-of-the-way locations, a hiker needs to be physically fit to carrying a backpack which typically weighs about twenty-five to forty pounds when fully loaded with such items. 
     Various attempts have been made for building strength and endurance for hiking. For example, a hiker can train locally outdoors or in a gym with a fully loaded conventional backpack. However, a fully loaded convention backpack with its large size often calls attention to the hiker when training. In addition, particularly at a gym, a fully loaded conventional backpack limits movement of the hiker to avoid bumping into others or bumping into exercise equipment. In addition, it is often not practical to train with a fully loaded backpack which includes food items, thus requiring a hiker to find and use substitute items, such as metal, disk-shaped, free weights which can easily shift position in a conventional backpack when training. 
     Other attempts for building strength and endurance for hiking include specially designed exercise backpacks. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,379 to Bannister discloses a collapsible exercise backpack having a single compartment with an opening at the bottom for receiving a flexible weight carrying member, U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,509 to Snider discloses a weight lifting backpack which accepts standard sized, disk-shaped weights, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,999 to Brine discloses a rigid weight pack which receives rectangular-shaped planar weights. 
     A drawback of such prior art specially designed exercise backpacks is that they fail to provide a similar “feel”, e.g., weight positioning and weight distribution compared to a conventional backpack for hiking, thereby limiting a hiker&#39;s ability to fully build strength and endurance. Furthermore, a hiker requires, in addition to the specially designed exercise backpacks for training, a separate conventional backpack for carrying items when hiking. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a low-cost, workout backpack suitable for optimizing training, as well as attachable to a detachable backpack bag suitable for carrying various items when hiking. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above-mentioned drawbacks are overcome by the present invention which provides a combination workout backpack and detachable backpack bag which includes a workout backpack having at least one shoulder strap and at least one weight storage compartment in which is receivable at least one standard weighted weight therein, and a detachable backpack bag releasably attachable to the workout backpack. The workout backpack and the at least one standard weight is operable for training, and the workout backpack attached to the detachable backpack bag without the at least one standard weight is operable for hiking. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, the at least one weight storage compartment is sized so that the at least one standard weighted weight fits within and is restrained from horizontal movement in the at least one weight storage compartment. Desirably, the at least one weight storage compartment is adjustably conformable to a portion of the at least one standard weighed weight. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, the workout backpack releasably attaches to a central back portion, front lateral side portions, and a top portion of the detachable backpack bag. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a plurality to standard weighted weights are provided and comprise a plurality of standard weighted flexible weight bags. 
     In still another aspect of the present invention, the at least one weight storage compartment comprises a plurality of elongated, vertically-extending, side-by-side weight storage compartments having a vertically-extending opening, and a plurality of releasably attachable safety straps extendable across the openings. The safety straps are also releasably attachable to a central back portion and lateral front side portions of the workout backpack. 
     In yet another aspect of the present invention, a rigid liquid container is receivable in the at least one weight storage compartment, and a drinking tube having an end is attachable to the liquid container. Desirably, the combination workout backpack and detachable backpack bag further includes a liquid storage compartment attached to the at least one weight storage compartment, a liquid container receivable in the liquid storage compartment, and a drinking tube having an end attachable to the liquid container. 
     Advantageously, by providing a workout backpack for training and a detachable backpack bag with attaches to the workout backpack for carrying items when hiking, a hiker is provided the same “feel” whether training or hiking, thereby aiding a hiker to optimize building strength and endurance when training. In addition, by providing weight storage compartments and standard weighted weights which are correspondingly sized, the weights are restrained and inhibited from shifting when training. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a combination workout backpack and detachable backpack bag according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is front elevational view of the workout backpack shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the weight storage compartments; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the workout backpack and detachable backpack bag, shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the attachment of the workout backpack to the detachable backpack bag; and 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the workout backpack shown in FIG. 1 having liquid containers disposed in each of the side-by-side weight storage compartments. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a combination workout backpack and detachable backpack bag according to the present invention which is generally designated as reference number  10  and which is readily attachable to and worn on the back of a hiker. As described in greater detail below, a workout backpack  20  (and standard weights not shown in FIG. 1) is designed to be used for training, i.e., building strength and endurance, for hiking. In addition, a detachable backpack bag  100  is releasably attachable to workout backpack  20  so that the combination thereof (without the standard weights) is designed for use as a conventional backpack for carrying various items when hiking. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, exemplary workout backpack  20  includes a pair of vertically-extending, side-by-side, weight storage compartments  30 , a pair of adjustable shoulder carrying straps  22  (FIG.  1 ), and an adjustable waist strap  24  which enables workout backpack  20  to be worn on a person&#39;s back like a conventional backpack. Desirably, the portion of workout backpack  20  which faces the back of the hiker is padded. 
     A plurality of standard weighted flexible weight bags  12  are readily placed in and fit within weight storage compartments  30 . Desirably, weight bags  12  are symmetrically balanced in the weight storage compartments which are sized so that the weight bags are restrained from horizontal movement (as well as vertical movement as described below) during training. The standard weight bags may include a flexible outer shell containing therein a plurality of stainless steel or lead shot or pellets  14  (FIG.  3 ). The standard weight bags are desirably sized in five or ten pound increments or weight measures. Desirably, each weight storage compartment  30  is sized to receive four five-pound weight bags so that the workout backpack is operable to carry forty pounds of weight. As described in greater detail below, the weight storage compartments are adjustably conformable in size to one or more of the standard weight bags placed in the weight storage compartments. 
     Each weight storage compartment  30  includes a rear wall  32 , and a first front web material  34  and a second front web material  36  which define between edge portions thereof an opening  40  to weight storage compartment  30 . Desirably, edge portions of front web materials  34  and  36  overlap each other to close opening  40 . 
     As best shown in FIG. 3, weight storage compartment  30  is conformable around a plurality of weight bags  12  placed and vertically stacked in-line therein. Advantageously, the conformable weight storage compartment is collapsible to maintain the position of the stacked standard weight and inhibit weight bags  12  from moving or shifting (horizontally and vertically) when the workout backpack is used by a hiker for exercising or training. 
     In this exemplary workout backpack, weight storage compartments  30  desirably have a width and a depth sized and corresponding to a width and a depth of the standard weighted weight bag to ensure that the standard weighted weight bags may be stacked one on top of another. In addition, attaching means are provided for releasably attaching rear wall  32  to first front web material  34 , and first front web material  34  to second web material  36 . For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a first releasably interlocking mechanical fastener  50  releasably attaches rear wall  32  to first front web material  34 , and a second releasably interlocking mechanical fastener  60  releasably attaches first front web material  34  to second front web material  36 . Such releasably interlocking mechanical fasteners may include VELCRO® brand fasteners or the like. 
     In addition, a plurality of releasably attachable safety straps  70  may be provided which extend across openings  40  of weight storage compartments  30  to aid in maintaining openings  40  of weight storage compartments  30  in a closed position. As explained below, safety straps  70  are also operable for attaching detachable backpack bag  100  (FIG. 1) to workout backpack  20 . Desirably, the safety straps attach to the central portion of workout backpack  20  and to the front lateral side portions of workout backpack  20 . Desirably, releasable clasps or buckles, for example, a male buckle clasp  72  and a female buckle clasp  74  of straps  70 , releasably attach to one another. 
     With reference again to FIG. 2, workout backpack  20  may further include a horizontally-extending liquid storage compartment  80  sized for receiving a rigid liquid container  200  suitable for carrying water or other liquids when training. Desirably, a drinking tube  210  is attached at one end to liquid container  200  so that a hiker is able to drink from liquid container  200  while working out. From the present invention, instead of a liquid container, other items can be carried in storage compartment  80  when working out, such as a portable tape or compact disc player, or a medical bag. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, detachable backpack bag  100  is provided with a plurality of female buckle clasps  76  (three on each lateral side of detachable backpack bag  100 ) which releasably and securely attach to male buckle clasps  72  of safety straps  70  (FIG. 2) of workout backpack  20 . A plurality of male buckle clasps  78  is disposed along a central portion of detachable backpack bag  100 , which attach to female buckle clasps  74  disposed along the central portion of workout backpack  20 . Side straps allow the detachable backpack bag  100  to be pulled closely and tightly to workout backpack  20 . Desirably, the top of workout backpack  20  and detachable backpack bag  100  are also provided with a pair of releasably interlocking buckles or clasps, for example, a male buckle clasp  73  and a female buckle clasp  77  which matingly engage each other. 
     With the standard weighted weights  12  and liquid container  80  removed from workout backpack  20 , the plurality of straps allows detachable backpack bag  100  to be securely attach to workout backpack  20  so that the workout backpack and the detachable backpack bag in effect become an integral unit similar to a conventional backpack. Desirably, detachable backpack bag  100  comprises various compartments for storing and carrying items similar to a conventional backpack. 
     With reference to FIG. 5, workout backpack  20  may also include a pair of rigid liquid containers  300  (only one of which is shown in FIG. 5) each being receivable in a respective one of weight storage compartments  30  prior to attaching workout backpack  20  to detachable backpack bag  100 . Desirably, liquid containers  300  are fabricated from a rigid plastic so that when workout backpack  20  is attached to detachable backpack bags  100 , the liquid contained within the liquid container is not compressed and forced out a drinking tube  310 . 
     The workout backpack and detachable backpack bag may be formed from any convenient durable material such as plastic, vinyl, canvas, nylon, or leather. Preferably, the workout backpack and the detachable backpack bag are formed from a water resistant material such as a heavy reinforced CORDURA or similar fabric. 
     From the present description, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that more than two weight storage compartments may be provided in the workout backpack. It will also be appreciated that smaller sized liquid containers may be provided which fit in the weight storage compartments on top of the weight bags. 
     Thus, while various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.