Abstract:
A backpack comprises base, back, lateral side, top as well as first and second overlying front panels. The outside one of the front panels is congruent with the back panel. The other, interior front panel has a lesser height than the back panel thereby permitting ingress to the interior of the backpack through both the top as well as the front when the outside panel is released from attachment to the side and top panels.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a backpack for carriage of various items and, more particularly, to a backpack having panels, flaps, and access openings which facilitate convenient use of the backpack.  
           [0002]    Backpacks or knapsacks have become a common form of carriage of items by school children who use them for their books and papers, by hikers who use them for their gear, by business persons who use them for their personal computer, papers and materials, by picnic attendees who use them for their food and service and by others. Backpacks have replaced, in many instances, cases, valises and other types of luggage.  
           [0003]    Typically, a backpack includes panels made from a fabric in the form of a generally rectangular parallelpiped bag with one of the panels being designated as the back panel that has straps attached for support of the backpack. Access to the interior of the backpack is afforded typically by openings with snap or zipper fasteners. Some backpacks include various pockets on sides of the backpack other than the backside. Some backpacks include a front panel which folds outwardly from the backpack to reveal the contents of the backpack. In other backpacks the front panel folds laterally or to one side to reveal the contents of a front storage compartment. Some backpacks have top access openings.  
           [0004]    Though there are many designs for the construction of a backpack, there remains a need to provide unique, new, convenient versions of this very popular item of luggage. Among the needs is a backpack useful for carriage of infant care items including a changing pad. Further, an improved backpack for use by business persons for carriage of their computer and business papers is a desired item. Finally, a backpack for craftsman and laborers to enable them to easily carry their tools and work items is a desired item.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    Briefly, the present invention comprises a backpack having a generally parallelpiped configuration with a back panel having straps affixed thereto and with a supplemental carry or tote handle also attached to the back panel. The backpack further includes a series of panels including a base panel, opposite or first and second lateral side panels, and a first front panel that collectively form an enclosure having the general shape of a parallelpiped with a top opening, although variations of this configuration are possible, including a trapezoidal shape of the assembled configuration. The front panel of the backpack has a reduced size and extends only partially upward from the base panel to define the open top enclosure for items and materials stored and retained within the backpack. A full-size second front panel or flap folds over the first front panel to enclose contents within the backpack. The second front panel provides a foldable cover which may be folded outwardly and downwardly from the backpack to reveal not only the contents retained in the space between the first front panel and the second front panel or flap, but also to provide access through the first front panel to the interior enclosure of the backpack. As a further means for access to the interior enclosure of the backpack, the backpack includes a top side panel or flap with an opening through the top and/or side panels. Alternatively, a removable flap extension of the backside may be provided to fit over or cover the interior enclosure.  
           [0006]    In each embodiment, opening of the second front panel or flap and subsequent folding it downwardly and outwardly enables one to have access to substantially the entire interior of the backpack. Thus various embodiments of the backpack construction are disclosed including an embodiment which is especially useful for infant care and which includes an infant pad. Further, there is disclosed a business person&#39;s backpack as well as a tradesman&#39;s backpack useful for the carriage of tools.  
           [0007]    Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved backpack construction.  
           [0008]    It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved backpack construction having a generally parallelpiped configuration or a generally trapezoidal profile wherein a front panel is foldable outwardly from the backpack to provide access to substantially the entire storage enclosure within the backpack even though the foldable front panel does not define a portion of the primary storage space within the backpack, but rather a first, separate foreshortened front panel, in combination with the other panels of the backpack provide the primary storage enclosure.  
           [0009]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a backpack construction which includes various auxiliary pockets on the front and sides of the backpack and which is designed to permit easy access to all of the storage pockets as well as the interior of the backpack.  
           [0010]    A further object of the invention is to provide a backpack construction which may accommodate multiple uses including infant care, business needs, or transport and storage of tools.  
           [0011]    These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be set forth in the details of the description which follows.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0012]    In the detailed description, which follows reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the backpack of the invention wherein all of the flaps and panels are closed;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a backside isometric view of the backpack of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a back and bottom side isometric view of the backpack of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the backpack of FIG. 1 with the outer or second front panel flap in the open position;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the backpack of FIG. 1 depicting the arrangement for access to the interior of the principal enclosure through the top of the backpack and via the open front panel flap;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the backpack of FIG. 5 including an infant support pad stored in the front flap;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the infant support pad utilized in the backpack of FIG. 6;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the infant support or changing pad depicted in FIG. 7 in the partially opened condition;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the infant changing pad of FIG. 8 in the fully opened position;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is an isometric, cross-sectional view of the pad of FIG. 9 taken along taken along the line  10 - 10 ;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the backpack of the invention adapted for business use and/or storage of a personal computer;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the backpack of FIG. 11 in the open position;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of the invention adapted for use by a tradesman or craftsman for carriage of tools;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 14 is an isometric view of the backpack of FIG. 13 in the open position.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 1 through 10 depict a first embodiment of the invention especially useful for infant care. FIGS. 11 and 12 depict a second embodiment especially designed for use by business persons or students. FIGS. 13 and 14 depict a third embodiment especially designed for use by tradesmen and craftsmen. There are features that are common to all three embodiments as discussed in further detail below. Thus like elements include like designations and numbering in the drawing. The backpack embodiments as depicted are especially useful for the described purposes though other uses and variations of the construction are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0028]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 10 , there is depicted a first embodiment of the invention. The backpack includes a bottom panel or base panel  20 , a first lateral side panel  22 , a second lateral side panel  24  spaced from first side panel  22 , a backside panel  26 , and a first, front-side panel  28 . Panels  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28  define an enclosure space  30  accessible through an open top. In the first preferred embodiment of the invention the lateral side panels  24  and  26  fold over and connect through a top panel  32  defining a closed loop having a zipper opening  34  extending across the top  32  and partially down the side panels  22  and  24  to provide access to the enclosure space  30 . The shape of the knapsack is thus generally a rectangular parallelpiped or alternatively a trapezoidal panel configuration for the back panel  26  and front side panel  28 . Importantly the front panel  28  is not entirely congruent with the back panel  26 . Rather, the front panel  28  includes or comprises a lower portion or section of the enclosure  30  which extends from the base panel  20  upwardly and which is connected to the opposite front edges of side panels  22  and  24 . Front panel  28  extends upwardly less than the full height of the back side  26  thereby defining an upper portion of the back side  26  and a lower portion over layered by the front panel  28 . In this manner, in the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 10 , there is provided an access opening  36  to the interior enclosure  30  through the front panel  28  along the top edge  38  of the front panel  28 . The front panel  28  may include a series of pockets,  40 , sewn or attached thereto as well as a zipper accessible storage pocket  42 .  
         [0029]    A second, foldable front access panel or flap  44  is foldable from its lower edge  46 , where it is attached to the juncture of the base panel  20  and the front panel  28 . The second front panel flap or front panel  44  is generally congruent with the shape of the back panel  26  and thus when folded to a fully closed position, as depicted for example in FIG. 1, from the position depicted in FIG. 4, it will enclose the knapsack and preclude access to the interior  30  and to the opening  36 . Access to enclosure  30  can only then be achieved through the zipper opening  34 . Preferably the second front panel or the second front panel flap  44  folds horizontally outwardly as depicted in FIG. 2, for example, for easy access to the inside of the backpack.  
         [0030]    The inside of the front panel  44  includes various pockets including a retention pocket  48  into which an infant support pad  50  is inserted and positioned by sliding into the pocket  48 . An elastic retaining mesh  52  may assist in positioning pad  50 . Additional storage pockets for flat items such as storage pockets  54  may be provided on the inside face of the second panel or flap  44 .  
         [0031]    The outer edge of the panel or flap  44  has a zipper  56  which enables attachment along the loop defined by lateral side edge of panel  22 , the edge of top panel  32 , and the lateral side edge of the panel  24  to provide for full attachment of the second front panel or second front panel flap  44  on to the backpack. Auxiliary pockets, such as pocket  58 , may be provided and attached to lateral side  22 . A second pocket  60  is attached to the lateral side  24 . All of these pockets are optional.  
         [0032]    The back panel  26  as shown in FIG. 2, has straps  62  and  64  attached thereto. The straps  62  and  64  are adjustable and as depicted in FIG. 3. A cushion  66  is preferably affixed to the back panel  26 . The cushion  66  is concavely contoured to improve comfort during carriage of the backpack by placing the strap  62  and  64  over the shoulder and adjusting the position of the back panel  26  and more particularly the cushion  66  against the small of the back of user.  
         [0033]    A separate carrier handle  68 , is attached to the back panel  26 . The position of the carrier handle  68  may be varied but is preferably attached to back panel  26  near juncture with top panel  32 .  
         [0034]    As depicted in FIG. 5, access to the enclosure  30  may be achieved then through the top panel  32  or through the opening  36  when the flap  44  is in the open position. This becomes especially important when certain uses are made of the knapsack construction. For example, as depicted in FIGS. 6, 7,  8 ,  9 , and  10 , when the knapsack is utilized and adapted for infant care, an infant support pad  50  is positioned in the front panel  44 . That pad  50  may be removed and placed upon the flap  44  or used independently. In such a circumstance, ease of access to the interior  30  through opening  36  is provided since the flap  44  has been moved to the position depicted in FIG. 6 and the pad  50  has been removed for use.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 depicts the construction of the pad  50  in the folded condition. The pad  50  includes a series of panels which may be folded together and retained by in the folded condition by fasteners. A handle  70  is provided for carriage of the folded pad  50 . FIG. 8 depicts the pad  50  in the expanded or unfolded condition. The pad  50  includes a panel  72  for support of the head of an infant and a mid panel section  74  for support of an infant body. An elastic, zippered pocket  76  holds a blanket or other item in place. A fastener strip such as a Velcro fastener strip  78  may be provided along an edge of the pad  52  to hold it in the folded condition. As depicted in FIG. 9, auxiliary storage pockets  80  and  82  may be provided attached to the side edges of the pad  50  and may contain extra diapers that serve as padding since pockets  80 ,  82  slide in to openings in panel section  74 . Importantly the pad  50  includes padding material. Open cell (soft) and closed (more rigid) cell foam  86  may be included in the main panel  74  as well as for the head  72 . Preferably open cell material is provided in the head supporting panel  72 .  
         [0036]    With the embodiment depicted in FIGS.  1 - 10  therefore, all of the items necessary for care of an infant may be included in the backpack. The backpack may be adjustably carried on the back of an individual. Baby carriers of known construct may be utilized to carry the infant on the front of an individual. For example, front braces are now popular for carriage of infants on the front side of an individual. The combination of the backpack with such an arrangement facilitates ease of transport and care of an infant.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate an alternative embodiment for carriage of a personal computer and business records, for example. In the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12, the backpack has substantially the same general construction including a second front panel or flap  90  which is congruent with a back panel  26 . The pockets of the front panel  90  are adapted, however, for carriage of items for business purposes. Importantly a first front side panel  28  extends only partially upward from the base panel  20  in the same manner as described with regard to the embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 10 . Again, the front panel  90  may be customized for storage of business items including a cell phone, writing instruments, etc.  
         [0038]    As another important feature of the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12, there are provided retention flaps  92  and  94  extending from panel  28  and top  32  and which are connectable one with the other to facilitate retention of a personal computer  96  for example within the cushioned interior of the backpack. Side panel pockets  98  in the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 can be customized for desired needs such as retention of a water bottle. Access to the interior  30  of the backpack of FIGS. 11 and 12 is achieved via the top panel  32  through a zippered opening  34 . Access to the interior and the contents of the backpack may thus be achieved through the opening  34  as well as through the interior passage  36  through the interior of the backpack when panel  90  is opened. The construct of the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 is otherwise substantially the same as that set forth with respect to FIGS.  1 - 10 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 13 and 14 depict yet a further embodiment of the invention which is especially useful for craftsmen to carry tools and the like. In the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14 a back panel  100  is provided with carriage straps  102  and  104  attached thereto. A first side panel  104  is connected to the back panel  100 . A spaced, second, lateral side panel  106  is also connected to the back panel  104 . The back panel  100  as well as the lateral side panels  104  and  106  have the same height from a base panel. A front side panel  108  extends only partially upward from a base panel and connects to the edges of the lateral side panels  104  and  106  to define an open topped enclosure. A second front flap or panel  110  is provided which is generally congruent with the back panel  100  and which folds upwardly from the bottom to define a secondary enclosure. The principal enclosure is defined by the back panel  100 , the side panels  104  and  106  as well as the front panel  108 . Zippers along the sides  112  and  114  of the second front panel  110  attach that front panel  110  to the lateral side panels  104  and  106 . Opening the front panel  110  is effected by detaching a top side flap  114 , which comprises an extension of the back panel  100 , from the straps  116  and  118  attaching that flap  114  to the second front panel  110 . In this manner ease of access may be provided to the interior of the knapsack. Detaching the zipper connections  112  and  114  permits folding downwardly and outwardly of the front flap  110  for access to tools stored in that flap. Again, side pockets  120  and  122  may be provided for extra storage. Various pockets and retention features may be provided within the interior of the backpack also for tools and other items. Lowering the front panel or second flap  110  provides additional access to the interior of the backpack.  
         [0040]    Various combinations and permutations of the arrangements described and depicted and are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is therefore to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.