Abstract:
A combination backpack with detachable wheeled frame, the backpack attaching to the frame by joining an attachment on the upper and lower portion of the frame to a mate on the upper and lower portion of the backpack, and having a flap which can be wrapped around the wheeled frame and fastened to the backpack to secure the backpack to the wheeled frame.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a backpack having a detachable wheeled frame, and more particularly to a wheeled backpack and frame combination wherein the backpack and the frame include a mechanism to attach the backpack to the frame.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    An increase in awareness of injuries resulting from carrying heavy loads and a need for convertible luggage to meet traveler and commuter demands have led to the development of backpacks with wheels so that users may wheel their backpack behind them when it is too heavy or inconvenient to carry on their backs.  
           [0003]    For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,749,503 and Des. 375,402 relate to luggage that may be converted and used as a wheeled-suitcase, a backpack or a hand-carried bag. In addition, U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2002/0162716 (“&#39;716 application”) shows a backpack that may be attached to a collapsible carrier. According to the &#39;716 application, the backpack or the carrier may have wheels.  
           [0004]    Backpacks with wheels and a built in frame tend to be rather uncomfortable for the wearer. One object of the present invention allows the owner to remove the frame when wearing the backpack.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The objects of the invention can be attained and the disadvantages of the prior wheeled backpack combinations can be overcome by providing a backpack attachable to a wheeled frame, comprising in combination, a backpack having a main compartment and a wheeled removable frame. The backpack may also have a secondary compartment for carrying the wheeled frame when not in use. The backpack may further include a flap extending from one side of the rear wall to the other side thereof. The flap is releasably secured to the backpack on the other side using one or more fasteners. A wheeled detachable frame carries the backpack, and has a base portion on which the backpack sits, at least one vertical support bar, a handle, and a pair of wheels. The frame includes a pair of fasteners for attaching the backpack to the wheeled frame. The first fastener is located on an upper portion of the frame, and attaches to an upper position of the backpack. The second fastener is located on a lower portion of the frame, and attaches to the lower portion of the backpack. The flap holds the frame against the backpack using snaps or similar fasteners and conceals the frame when attached to the backpack. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the wheeled backpack and frame combination of the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the wheeled backpack and frame combination of the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a rear view of the backpack and frame combination of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the wheeled backpack and frame combination of the present invention with the flap and straps released;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a side view of the wheeled frame and backpack combination of the present invention showing removal of the backpack from the frame; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a front view of another embodiment of the frame for use in the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]    As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the backpack and collapsible frame combination  8  of the present invention includes a backpack  10  releasably mounted on a collapsible wheeled frame  20 . The backpack  10  includes a handle  11 , a main compartment  12 , a front compartment  13 , shoulder straps  14  with clips  15 , and a flap  16  with snaps  17  or other closures, such as a zipper, Velcro, clips, buttons, and the like. The flap  16  covers a portion of the frame  20  when the backpack  10  is attached thereto, for esthetic enhancement, but the flap  16  may also be padded to improve comfort for the wearer. In addition, the flap  16  helps to secure the backpack  10  to the frame  20 . The backpack  10  may be made of nylon or some other durable fabric or material, and can include several compartments and pockets that close with zippers or flaps, to hold books, writing instruments, calculators, cell phones, snacks and the like. The main compartment includes front  50  and rear  52  walls, two side walls,  54 ,  56  and top  58  and bottom  60  walls. The clips  15  and the snap closures  17  may be any suitable fastening devices, such as hooks, clips, snaps, Velcro or the like. The clips  15  and snaps  17  may be made from plastic, metal or any suitable material, such as spring steel or brass.  
         [0014]    As shown in FIGS. 4-5, the wheeled frame  20  includes a base  21 , vertical support bars  22 , horizontal support bars  23 , a retractable handle  24 , an axle  25 , wheels  26 , fenders  27 , a pivoting attachment  28  with one or more fasteners  29 , and stabilizing feet  31 . The wheeled frame  20  and its components may be made from any suitable lightweight material or combination of materials, for example, aluminum, plastic or the like, or a combination thereof such that the frame  20  can support the weight of a full backpack  10 , while remaining lightweight enough to be handled by a school-age child. The wheels  26  may be conventional solid plastic or rubber wheels, or ball bearing and plastic wheels, such as may be found on in-line skates.  
         [0015]    Referring to FIGS. 3-5, when attached to the wheeled frame  20 , the backpack  10  sits on the base  21 . The rear wall  52  of the backpack  10  rests against the front side of the vertical  22  and horizontal  23  support bars. The backpack  10  is secured to the wheeled frame  20  by securing the pivoting attachment  28  to the backpack  10  with closures, such as snaps  29 , that mate with closures on the backpack  10 . Preferably, there are two such attachments, one on the upper portion of the frame  20 , adjacent the handle  24  on the frame  20 , the other adjacent or included in the base  21 . The upper attachment  28  may be hinged or pivoted, and the fasteners  29  attached thereto may be snaps or other fastening devices, such as hooks, clips, Velcro or the like.  
         [0016]    In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, the upper attachment may be a strip of Velcro or snaps  34  placed directly on a horizontal cross-piece or brace  23 , as shown in FIG. 6. Velcro, a well-known and readily available material, widely used in the luggage industry, usually includes two opposed gripping pieces, often in the form of a tape or ribbon, one side having hooks, and one side having loops. Either side  34  can be attached to the horizontal cross-piece  23 , provided its mate gets attached to an adjacent portion of the backpack  10 , to help to hold the backpack  10  against the frame  20 . The lower horizontal support  23  and the base  21  may also include a Velcro attachment  34 . As mentioned above, other attachments may be used, including snaps  29 .  
         [0017]    The snaps  29  may be made from durable plastic or any suitable metal, such as steel, brass or the like. Preferably, the pivoting attachment  28  will include the male or female portion of a snap  29 , while the backpack  10  will have the male portion  29  of the snap or Velcro (for example) in position to join with the one on the attachment  28  to secure the upper portion of the backpack  10  to the frame  20 .  
         [0018]    Likewise, the frame  20  has an attachment  28  to secure the lower portion of the backpack  10  to the lower portion of the frame  20 , or to the base  21  itself. As with the upper attachment  28 , the lower attachment  28  includes one side of a snap or Velcro pair  34 , while the backpack  10  has the other side, to provide a secure attachment to the lower portion of the frame  20 . Together, the upper and lower attachments  28  releasably secure the backpack to the frame  20 , providing for easy removal by the user.  
         [0019]    The optional flap  16  on the backpack  10  is wrapped around the back side of the vertical  22  and horizontal  23  support bars, and is secured to the backpack with snaps  17 , Velcro, or other suitable fastening devices. The backpack  10  is also secured to the wheeled frame  20  by wrapping the shoulder straps  14  around the upper horizontal support bar  23  and the vertical support bars  22 , and then fastening the clips  15  on the lower portion of the backpack  10 .  
         [0020]    Still referring to FIGS. 4-5, the backpack  10  is detached from the wheeled frame  20  by releasing the snaps  17  from flap  16  of the backpack  10 , so that the flap  16  can be opened, and by releasing the snaps  29  so that the pivoting attachment  28  can be hinged upward. The clips  15  are also released to unwrap the shoulder straps  14  from around the vertical support bars  22 . Once the backpack  10  is removed from the wheeled frame  20 , the flap  16  is refastened to the backpack  10  by snapping together the snaps  17  on each portion. The clips  15  are also refastened to reattach the shoulder straps  14 .  
         [0021]    When not in use, the wheeled frame  20  may be collapsed by retracting the handle  24  as low as possible into the vertical support bars  22 . The base portion  21  may be hinged or pivoted so that it folds upward to become parallel with the vertical support bars  22 . Similarly, the stabilizing feet  31  may also be pivoted to fold away into the base  21 . The size of the wheeled frame  20  may be further reduced by providing removable wheels  26  and fenders  27 .  
         [0022]    The folded wheeled frame  20  and its removable parts may be placed in one of the compartments in the interior of the backpack  10  for easy carrying and concealment when not in use, or it may be attached to the backpack  10  using optional Velcro or elastic straps  32 . The detached wheeled frame  20  is preferably attached to the backpack  10  on a portion away from the back of a user to avoid discomfort, such as the front or side of the backpack  10 .  
         [0023]    While this invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, this invention, including this disclosure and appended claims, is intended to be construed in accordance with the full spirit and scope of the invention, including alternatives, modifications, and equivalents apparent to those of skill in the art.