Abstract:
A backpack having a main body with a center portion and at least four extending portions. The center portion has an interior cavity which is accessible by at least one opening. First and second extending portions are adjacent to one another and are connected to third and fourth extending portions, which are also adjacent to one another. The length of the first, second, third and fourth extending portions each have a length at least long enough to cross a vertical centerline of a wearer of the backpack.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/848,575, filed Oct. 2, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The backpack is a well know device that is used in a variety of activities and is structured in a variety of different ways. Traditionally, backpacks have been used by those with active lifestyles that require the toting of equipment or personal objects. This equipment can also range in size from, for example, small water bottles or snacks to larger and bulkier camping equipment. Activities where backpacks are often used include hiking, camping, school, military service and even law enforcement. 
         [0003]    Many standard backpacks have the same basic structure, a main outer shell or bag that has attached shoulder straps. These shoulder straps are typically sewn to the bag, creating a flat stitched line creating a hinge between the shoulder strap and the bag. These shoulder straps typically attach to the lower end of the bag behind the vertical centerline of the backpack wearer. This lower attachment point, many times, is located 8-10 inches below the armpit of the backpack wearer. 
         [0004]    Some, often larger, backpacks add a hip belt in order to add stability to the bag as the wearer of the backpack moves around. Generally, these hip belts are fairly large and due to their padding, can become somewhat cumbersome. These larger bags can also be much heavier than many of their smaller counterparts due largely to their size and additional hip belt. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    An exemplary embodiment discloses a backpack. The backpack may include a main body with a center portion and at least four extending portions. The center portion may have an interior cavity accessible by at least one opening. First and second extending portions may be adjacent to one another and adjustable in length. The length of said first and second extending portions may have a length at least long enough to cross a vertical centerline of a wearer of the backpack. Third and fourth extending portions, respectively, may be releasably connected to the first and second extending portions, respectively. These releasable connections may be anchored in front of a wearer of the backpack. The third and fourth extending portions may also have a length at least long enough to cross a vertical centerline of a wearer of the backpack. 
         [0006]    Another exemplary embodiment discloses a backpack. The backpack may include a main body with a center portion and at least four extending portions. The center portion may have an interior cavity accessible by at least one opening. First and second extending portions may be adjacent to one another and the length of said first and second extending portions may have a length at least long enough to cross a vertical centerline of a wearer of the backpack. Third and fourth extending portions may also be adjacent to one another and may be, respectively, releasably connected to the first and second extending portions, respectively. These releasable connections may be anchored in front of a wearer of the backpack. Each of the third and fourth extending portions may have a length at least long enough to cross a vertical centerline of a wearer of the backpack. The third and fourth extending portions may extend from a vertically central location of the center portion. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary back view of a first exemplary embodiment of a small high mobility backpack. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary front view of a first exemplary embodiment of a small high mobility backpack. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary back view showing pocket and strap details of a first exemplary embodiment of a small high mobility backpack. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary side view of a first exemplary embodiment of a small high mobility backpack. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exemplary back view of a second exemplary embodiment of a small high mobility backpack. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an exemplary side view of an exemplary prior art backpack. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an exemplary side view of a third exemplary embodiment of a small high mobility backpack. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description, discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
         [0016]    The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
         [0017]    In the first exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , a small high mobility backpack may include a center portion  103 . The center portion  103  may include multiple extending portions, for example, shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b  and underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b . Underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b  may wrap around the backpack wear&#39;s rib cage as tension is applied to the shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b . As the underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b  tighten around the ribcage of the backpack wearer, the backpack is secured, reducing lateral and vertical movement of the backpack independent of the backpack wearer. 
         [0018]    In an exemplary embodiment, the shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b  and underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b  may be made of one-piece construction with the center portion  103 . In another exemplary embodiment, the shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b  and underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b  may be made of a different material than the center portion and attached to the center portion by, for example, gluing, sewing, fusing or any other attaching mechanism. The material used for the shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b  and underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b  may, for example, be flexible or semi-flexible and may be made of nylon or any other suitable material known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0019]    The shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b  and underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b  may be of varied length, for example, long enough to extend over a vertical center line  401  of a wearer of the backpack. The shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b  and underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b  may also be adjustable or of a fixed length. The underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b  may also have a vertical widths that run from the bottom edge of the center portion  103  to the start of the shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b , or for example, 4 to 24 inches or any other desired vertical width. 
         [0020]    In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the small high mobility backpack may have a main outer shell  201 , which may cover and be attached to the center portion  103 , shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b  and underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b . The attachment of the outer shell to the corresponding center portion  103 , shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b  and underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b  may be accomplished by, for example, gluing, sewing, fusing or any other attaching mechanism. 
         [0021]    The outer shell  201  may have substantially the same shape as the corresponding center portion  103 , shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b  and underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b  and may be made of the same or different material than the center portion  103 , shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b  and underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b . The outer shell  201  may also include an extension panel  202 , which may be used to increase adjustability, and an outer shell for an underarm extension pocket  203 . 
         [0022]    In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the small high mobility backpack may also include a variety of features and pockets for better securing objects within the backpack and securing the backpack to the wearer of the backpack. The backpack may include adjustable interfaces  301   a  and  301   b  that may be located at the terminating ends of shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b . The adjustable interfaces  301   a  and  301   b  may be ladderloc type adjusters or, for example, a side lock, center lock, cam or any other adjustable buckle. 
         [0023]    The adjustable interfaces  301   a  and  301   b  may be used to connect the webbing  302   a  and  302   b  attached to the underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b  with shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b . The adjustable interface  301   a  and  301   b  may be used to adjust the tightness of the shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b  in relation to the wearer of the backpack, creating a more desirable and secure fit between the backpack and the wearer of the backpack. 
         [0024]    The backpack may also include shoulder pockets  307   a  and  307   b , located within shoulder straps  102   a  and  102   b , which may have access interfaces  308   a  and  308   b . These access interfaces may be snap type closures or, for example, zippers, buttons, draw strings, Velcro or any other desirable closure. The shoulder pockets  307   a  and  307   b  may have one or as many access interfaces as desired. 
         [0025]    Additionally, the backpack may also include underarm extension pockets  311   a  and  311   b , located within underarm extensions  101   a  and  101   b , which may have access interfaces  306   a  and  306   b . These access interfaces may be zipper type closures or, for example, snaps, buttons, draw strings, Velcro or any other desirable closure. The underarm extension pockets  311   a  and  311   b  may have one or as many access interfaces as desired. 
         [0026]    The backpack may include a secondary pocket  309  attached to outer shell  201 . This secondary pocket  309  may include an access interface  310  which may be a snap type closure or, for example, zippers, buttons, draw strings, Velcro or any other desirable closure. The secondary pocket  309  may have one or as many access interfaces as desired. The secondary pocket  309  may be attached to the outer shell  201  by, for example, gluing, sewing, fusing or any other attaching mechanism. 
         [0027]    Additionally, the backpack may include a main compartment which is formed between the center portion  103  and the outer shell  201 . This main compartment has an access interface  305 , which may be a zipper type closure or, for example, snaps, buttons, draw strings, Velcro or any other desirable closure. The main compartment may have one or as many access interfaces as desired. 
         [0028]    In the first exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , objects within the main compartment may be compressed and additionally secured by compression straps  303   a    303   b  and  303   c  which are secured to corresponding compression interfaces  304   a ,  304   b  and  304   c . The compression interfaces  304   a ,  304   b  and  304   c  may be ladderloc type adjusters or, for example, side locks, center locks, cams or any other adjustable buckles. In this exemplary embodiment there are three compression straps with three corresponding compression interfaces, but any number of straps or interfaces may be used to add or limit compression on objects within the main compartment. 
         [0029]    In a second exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the backpack may include adjustable interfaces  501   a  and  501   b  that may be located at the terminating ends of the shoulder straps. The adjustable interfaces  501   a  and  501   b  may be a ladderloc type adjuster or, for example, a side lock, center lock, cam or any other adjustable buckle. 
         [0030]    The adjustable interfaces  501   a  and  501   b  may be used to connect the webbing  502   a  and  502   b  attached to the underarm extensions  510   a  and  510   b  with the shoulder straps. The underarm extensions  510   a  and  510   b  may have a tapered shape, having a larger horizontal width on the top portion than at the bottom portion, as seen in  FIG. 5 . This tapered shape may improve the fit between the backpack and the backpack wearer. The underarm extensions  510   a  and  510   b  may also be made of any other geometric configuration that may be employed by one having ordinary skill in the art in order to improve the fit and security of the backpack to the backpack wearer. The adjustable interface  501   a  and  501   b  may be used to adjust the tightness of the shoulder straps in relation to the wearer of the backpack, creating a more desirable and secure fit between the backpack and the wearer of the backpack. 
         [0031]    The backpack may also include shoulder pockets  512   a  and  512   b , located within the shoulder straps, which may have access interfaces  511   a  and  511   b . These access interfaces may be snap type closures or, for example, zippers, buttons, draw strings, Velcro or any other desirable closure. The shoulder pockets  512   a  and  512   b  may have one or as many access interfaces as desired. 
         [0032]    Additionally, the backpack may also include underarm extension pockets with access interfaces  506   a  and  506   b , located within underarm extensions  510   a  and  510   b . These access interfaces  506   a  and  506   b  may be zipper type closures or, for example, snaps, buttons, draw strings, Velcro or any other desirable closure. The underarm extension pockets may have one or as many access interfaces as desired. 
         [0033]    The second exemplary embodiment may include two secondary pockets  509   a  and  509   b  which are attached to the outer shell  515  of the backpack. The secondary pockets  509   a  and  509   b  may attached to the outer shell  515  by, for example, gluing, sewing, fusing or any other attaching mechanism. The secondary pockets  509   a  and  509   b  may have access interfaces  508   a  and  508   b , which may be zipper type closures or, for example, snaps, buttons, draw strings, Velcro or any other desirable closure. Although only two secondary pockets are shown in  FIG. 5 , any number of additional secondary pockets may be added in any desired orientation to the outer shell  515 . 
         [0034]    A second exemplary embodiment may also include multiple access ports to the main compartment. For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the outer shell  515  includes a first access interface  505  and a second access interface  513 . The first access interface  512  may be a zipper type closure or, for example, snaps, buttons, draw strings, Velcro or any other desirable closure. 
         [0035]    The second access interface  513  is a flap  513  which may be secured by strap connection interfaces  507   a  and  507   b  which may be attached to both the flap  513  and the outer shell  515 . This attachment may be made by, for example, gluing, sewing, fusing or any other attaching mechanism. Additionally, the strap connection interfaces may be, for example, side lock buckles, cams cord locks, center release buckles or any other desirable adjustable buckle. 
         [0036]    The second exemplary embodiment may also include deep tool pockets  514   a  and  514   b , which may run parallel to the main compartment. These deep tool pockets  514   a  and  514   b  may be of any desirable depth and width. The deep tool pockets  514   a  and  514   b  may be used to carry, for example, long slender tools or any other objects that a backpack wearer would like to place therein. 
         [0037]    The main compartment may be compressed and additionally secured by compression straps  503   a    503   b ,  503   c  and  503   d  which are secured to corresponding compression interfaces  504   a ,  504   b ,  504   c  and  504   d . The compression interfaces  504   a ,  504   b ,  504   c  and  504   d  may be ladderloc type adjusters or, for example, side locks, center locks, cams or any other adjustable buckles. In this exemplary embodiment there are three compression straps with three corresponding compression interfaces, but any number of strap or interfaces may be used to add or limit compression on objects within the main compartment. 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  shows a conventional backpack being worn by a person. The backpack includes a main body  601 , a shoulder strap  602 , strap adjusting mechanism  603  and shoulder webbing  604 . This conventional backpack  601  does not have an underarm extension portion and has only one main type of strap, which is the shoulder strap  602  with the shoulder webbing  604  being a continuous part of the shoulder strap  602 . 
         [0039]    In a third exemplary embodiment, shown in  FIG. 7 , a small high mobility backpack may include a main body portion  701 , a shoulder portion  702  connected to a shoulder webbing  704  via a strap adjusting mechanism  703 . Additionally, the backpack may include an underarm extension portion  705  connected to the shoulder webbing  704  via a strap adjusting mechanism  706 . The underarm extension portion may be positioned to fit between 1 and 6 inches, or any other desirable position, below the underarm of the backpack wearer. The strap adjusting mechanism  706  may be for example, a ladderloc, cam buckle, squeeze clip or any other adjustable buckle. The strap adjustment buckle can be used to create the desired amount of lateral tension between the backpack and backpack wearer. This tension creates a secure fit for the backpack wearer and improves the mobility and stability of the backpack.