Patent Description:
Today, when using a backpack in colder environments there is a risk of accessories in the backpack, such as mobile phones or for the backpack, such as hydration tubes with a mouth piece, to freeze and stop working. This can be due to the temperature itself being below <NUM> degrees Celsius or the wind pushing the temperature below <NUM> degrees Celsius when e.g. running or driving a motor cross bike.

To deal with the low temperatures there are different solutions to further insulate the accessories such as the hydration tube or the mouth piece by adding covers made from an insulating material around them. For instance, you can get different types of covers for your hydration tube that completely covers the hydration tube depending on a desired temperature use.

This means that you need to buy a specific cover depending on the type of backpack you have or accessory you have and the desired temperature use. Thus, today there is a need for a plurality of specific covers or insulation.

Hence, improvements to backpacks for dealing with colder weather is desirable.

<CIT> discloses a personal hydration systems that include a pack assembly including at least one strap adapted to selectively couple the pack assembly to a pack carrier. The hydration system further includes a fluid reservoir adapted to be selectively received in the pack assembly. The hydration system further includes a downstream assembly adapted to be fluidly coupled to the reservoir at a proximal end thereof. At least one strap of the pack assembly includes a sleeve adapted to selectively receive at least a portion of the downstream assembly, such as at least a mouthpiece or other distal end thereof. The sleeve may include a heating region adapted to heat at least a mouthpiece or other portion of the downstream assembly.

The present invention relates to a backpack as defined in claim <NUM> and to a method for producing such a backpack as defined in claim <NUM>. Preferred features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

Some examples of the disclosure provide for a seal being an oblique end or oblique ends.

Some examples of the disclosure provide for a seal configured to be flexible.

Some examples of the disclosure provide for a seal that will flex towards a user when a body heated compartment is stretched.

Some examples of the disclosure provide for a heat transfer material that allows body heat to pass through.

Some examples of the disclosure provide for a heat transfer material being arranged closer than a wind and heat insulating material to a user, when worn.

Some examples of the disclosure provide for a wind and heat insulating material is connected with a heat transfer material for forming a body heated compartment.

Some examples of the disclosure provide for a wind and heat insulating material being connected with a heat transfer material by being sewn together.

Some examples of the disclosure provide for at least one shoulder strap of a backpack comprising a body heated compartment.

Some examples of the disclosure provide for a body heated compartment comprising an opening.

Some examples of the disclosure provide for an opening is re-closable.

Some examples of the disclosure provide for an opening being arranged at an end of a shoulder strap.

Some examples of the disclosure provide for an opening being arranged at a side of a shoulder strap.

Some examples of the disclosure provide for a backpack further comprising at least two waist straps.

A backpack as discussed throughout this disclosure general fall into one of four categories: frameless, external frame, internal frame, and bodypack. All these backpacks have some common and well-known features such as shoulder straps connected to a bag or sack. Most backpacks are capable of being closed with for example a buckle mechanism or a zipper.

Examples of the invention will now be described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which.

<FIG> is a front view of an example of a backpack <NUM> comprising a wind and heat insulating material <NUM> forming a body heated compartment <NUM>. The backpack <NUM> further comprises a a seal <NUM>. The seal <NUM> is configured to contact a user of the backpack for sealing the body heated compartment <NUM> against the user.

The seal <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG> to partly be arranged along vertical edges of the body heated compartment <NUM>. In some examples the seal <NUM> will be arranged along horizontal edges of the body heated compartment <NUM>. In some examples the seal <NUM> will be arranged to completely enclose the body heated compartment <NUM>. At least partly may in this application mean that the seal <NUM> is at least partly arranged along a circumference of the body heated compartment <NUM>, as discussed above, and/or that the seal <NUM> is at least partly air tight.

The seal <NUM> is illustrated in some of the accompanying figures, e.g. <FIG>, to be directly connected to the wind and heat insulating material <NUM>, however in some examples there are additional materials or other elements arranged between the seal <NUM> and the wind and heat insulating material <NUM>, e.g. <FIG> having a zipper arranged between the seal <NUM> and the wind and heat insulating material <NUM>. In some examples, the seal <NUM> may also comprise several materials, such as a soft and tough outer fabric and internal padding.

The wind and heat insulating material <NUM> combined with the seal <NUM> allows for body heat from the user of the backpack <NUM> to heat the body heated compartment <NUM>. Since the seal <NUM> is configured to contact or maybe even press against the user of the backpack <NUM> and acting as an interface between the body heated compartment <NUM> and the user of the backpack <NUM>, a substantially body heated leakage free body heated compartment <NUM> is formed. Thus, the body heated compartment <NUM> is an open compartment or pocket that is open against the user such that the heat from the user can easily enter into the body heated compartment <NUM> and heat any items in the compartment or pocket.

The wind and heat insulating material <NUM> can also protect an inside of the body heated compartment <NUM> from being cooled by air or wind blowing on the body heated compartment <NUM>. The seal <NUM> can also prevent any wind or air from entering into the body heated compartment <NUM> between the user and the body heated compartment <NUM>.

By allowing body heat to warm up the body heated compartment <NUM> any items in the body heated compartment <NUM> can e.g. be kept above at least a freezing point. Preferably the temperature in the body heated compartment <NUM> can reach at least <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> degrees Celsius.

The wind and heat insulating material <NUM> may comprise any one of and/or a combination of at least a biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate, a metalized biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate, an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, a stretched polytetrafluoroethylene, a neoprene, tarpaulin, a chlorosulfonated polyethylene synthetic rubber, a nylon and/or a polyester.

In an example illustrated in e.g. <FIG>, the seal <NUM> is an oblique end. In some examples, the seal <NUM> is made of a plurality of oblique ends. In the illustrated example, the seal <NUM> is formed by a soft material that is wrapped around an end of the wind and heat insulating material <NUM> and sewn together. The seal <NUM> may a part of an integral and continuing end of the backpack <NUM>, as illustrated in e.g. <FIG>. The seal <NUM> may therefore also be a connection between two sections of the backpack <NUM> as for example illustrated in <FIG>, wherein the seal <NUM> connects a distal section comprising a buckle to a proximal section comprising the bag of the backpack <NUM>.

The seal <NUM> may also be a separate part from the backpack <NUM> or a section of the backpack <NUM>. In an example, the seal <NUM> has an enlarged contact surface that further improves the contact between the user and the body heated compartment <NUM>. In an example, the seal <NUM> may be connected or attached to the body heated compartment <NUM> by gluing, velcro, a zipper or other fastening or temporary fastening mechanisms.

In an example, the seal <NUM> is flexible and is configured to flex towards the user. In an example, the seal <NUM> is flexible and will flex towards the user when the body heated compartment <NUM> is stretched in a direction of extension of the body heated compartment <NUM>. This allows for the seal <NUM> to be pressed with a force against the user for an even better fit to the user and thus directing even more body heat into the body heated compartment <NUM>.

Thus, if the user is e.g. running, the backpack <NUM> will move around and the seal <NUM> will be more or less pressed against the body of the user since the body heated compartment <NUM> will be stretched to various degrees based on the movement of the backpack <NUM>. In an example, the stretching of the body heated compartment <NUM> is in a vertical or horizontal direction relative to an extension of the body heated compartment <NUM>.

In some examples, the backpack <NUM> further comprises a heat transfer material <NUM>, illustrated in e.g. <FIG>. The heat transfer material <NUM> is arranged closer to the user than the wind and heat insulating material <NUM>, when the backpack <NUM> is worn. The heat transfer material <NUM> can be any one of and/or a combination of a polyester, cotton, nylon, natural textiles or materials, textiles or materials that will let heat through.

In an example the heat transfer material <NUM> allows more heat to pass into the body heated compartment <NUM> than the wind and heat insulating material <NUM> lets body heated air out or protects wind from cooling down the body heated compartment <NUM>. In some examples, at least <NUM>%, or at least <NUM>% or at least <NUM>%, or at least <NUM>% of the body heat pass through the heat transfer material <NUM>. In some examples, the wind and heat insulating material <NUM> insulates at least <NUM>%, or at least <NUM>% or at least <NUM>%, or at least <NUM>% of the body heat inside the body heated compartment <NUM>.

The heat transfer material <NUM> and/or wind and heat insulating material <NUM> can be a textile or comprise a majority of textile. The heat transfer material <NUM> and/or wind and heat insulating material <NUM> may be made as a mesh. The heat transfer material <NUM> and/or wind and heat insulating material <NUM> can also be made up by a plurality of textiles.

In some examples the heat transfer material <NUM> is a same material as an outer piece of clothes of a user so that a good heat transfer of the body heat from the user to the body heated compartment <NUM> is achieved. In an example, the heat transfer material <NUM> is of a different material than the outer piece of clothes of the user and the heat transfer material has a better heat transfer, i.e. allows more heat to pass through, than the outer piece of clothes of the user.

Textiles and/or materials may be layered on top of each other for creating the heat transfer material <NUM> and/or wind and heat insulating material <NUM>. For example, the heat transfer material <NUM> may be made from two different layers wherein a first layer is a thin coherent textile and a second layer is a mesh textile. The thin coherent layer will prevent dust or other particles from entering the body heated compartment <NUM> and the mesh textile will provide strength to the heat transfer material <NUM> and/or the body heated compartment <NUM>, as well as allowing body heat to pass through the two layer heat transfer material <NUM>.

The heat transfer material <NUM> may be made as a piece that covers a similar surface as the wind and heat insulating material <NUM>. In some examples, the heat transfer material <NUM> is made as discussed above, as a mesh, thus covering less surface than the wind and heat insulating material <NUM>.

In some examples, the heat transfer material <NUM> is made as a bar(s) or strip(s) that extend between the seal <NUM> for maintaining an open body heat channel into the body heated compartment <NUM>. Hence, the shape of the heat transfer material <NUM> and/or wind and heat insulating material <NUM> can be made in a variety of ways and some may depend on e.g. maintaining a structure of the backpack <NUM>, the design of the backpack <NUM> and so on.

The heat transfer material <NUM> and/or wind and heat insulating material <NUM> may be a same material as other materials of the backpack <NUM>. The heat transfer material <NUM> and/or wind and heat insulating material <NUM> may in some examples be different.

The heat transfer material <NUM> and wind and heat insulating material <NUM> may be connected to each other forming the body heated compartment <NUM>. The heat transfer material <NUM> and wind and heat insulating material <NUM> may be connected to each other by e.g. being glued together, connected by a zipper, connected by an adhesive, velcro tape, sewn together or a combination of the above.

The connection between the heat transfer material <NUM> and wind and heat insulating material <NUM> may also comprise further materials arranged between and/or around ends of the heat transfer material <NUM> and/or the wind and heat insulating material <NUM>, as discussed above. Thus, the body heated compartment <NUM> may be formed by a majority of the heat transfer material <NUM> and wind and heat insulating material <NUM> but also comprise further materials. In some examples, the body heated compartment <NUM> comprises only the heat transfer material <NUM>, the wind and heat insulating material <NUM> and the seal <NUM>.

The body heated compartment <NUM> can be of any size such as a size for holding a mobile phone and/or a hydration bladder. The body heated compartment <NUM> may also be a complete sack of the backpack <NUM>. Waist straps of the backpack <NUM> may comprise the body heated compartment <NUM>. In some examples the size and/or location of the body heated compartment <NUM> is selected based on the anatomy of a user, a prominent heat zone of a user's body or a comfort of the user.

In an example, illustrated in e.g. <FIG>, the body heated compartment <NUM> comprises an opening <NUM>. The opening <NUM> may be of any size. In an example, the opening <NUM> is large enough to receive a mobile phone. In another example, illustrated in <FIG>, the opening <NUM> is large enough to eject a hydration tube <NUM> and a mouth piece <NUM> out from the body heated compartment <NUM> so that the user can drink when de-hydrated.

In an example, the opening <NUM> is arranged at an end of the shoulder strap. This may be at the top of the shoulder strap and the opening <NUM> can then be configured to receive the hydration tube <NUM> at the top of the shoulder strap from e.g. the sack of the backpack <NUM>. Thus, the hydration tube <NUM> may exit the sack of the backpack <NUM>, enter into the opening <NUM> at the top of the shoulder strap and be placed inside the body heated compartment <NUM> to be heated and/or be kept from freezing. The user may then pull out the hydration tube <NUM> and mouth piece <NUM> from the top of the shoulder when drinking.

In another example, the hydration tube <NUM> may also be completely protected from an outside of the backpack <NUM> when it is routed from e.g. the sack of the backpack <NUM> to the body heated compartment <NUM> arranged at the shoulder strap. In this way there may be a first opening <NUM> or channel extending internally in the backpack <NUM> and a second opening <NUM> arranged at the side of the body heated compartment <NUM>, as illustrated in e.g. <FIG>, for the user to drink from when de-hydrated. Hence, the opening <NUM> may also be arranged at a side of the shoulder strap and in some examples the backpack <NUM> comprises a plurality of openings <NUM>.

In some examples, the opening <NUM> is re-closable. The opening <NUM> may be re-closable by use of a zipper mechanism, illustrated e.g. in <FIG>, Hook- and-loop fasteners or other commonly known re-closable mechanisms. In some examples, the opening <NUM> or re-closable opening <NUM> is arranged facing away from the user, when worn, on the wind and heat insulating material <NUM> and/or facing inward towards the user, when worn, on the heat transfer material <NUM>.

The opening <NUM> or re-closable opening <NUM> may also be arranged such that the opening starts on the side of the shoulder strap or body heated compartment <NUM> and then extend over to facing away from the user on the wind and heat insulating material <NUM> or a center of the shoulder strap.

Illustrated in e.g. <FIG> and <FIG>, at least one shoulder strap of the backpack <NUM> comprises the body heated compartment <NUM>. In some examples, both of the shoulder straps comprises body heated compartments <NUM>, illustrated in Fig. 5A.

The body heated compartment <NUM>, can also be arranged on other places of the backpack <NUM> such as on the sack of the backpack <NUM>. For example, the body heated compartment <NUM> can be arranged at a top of the sack, between the shoulders of the user, illustrated in Fig.3B. Such body heated compartment <NUM> may then hold and keep a hydration bladder from freezing.

Illustrated in e.g. <FIG> and 5A and 5B, is examples of the backpack <NUM> further comprising at least two waist straps. The waist straps are connected to the shoulder straps and the waist straps are re-connectable to each other. The backpack may of course have any number of shoulder straps such as one or two as e.g. illustrated in <FIG>.

The backpack may also comprise any number of waist straps and a connection between the waist straps and shoulder straps may of course vary as well such as fixed connected, integrated or re-connectable. A connection between pairs of the shoulder and waist straps may also vary between being connectable or re-connectable by a buckle located at the waist strap or the shoulder strap or in a region in between.

In an example, illustrated in <FIG>, a flowchart of a method <NUM> of producing the backpack <NUM> comprising the body heated compartment <NUM> is disclosed. The method <NUM> comprises forming <NUM> the body heated compartment <NUM> by use of the wind and heat insulating material <NUM>. And, arranging <NUM> the seal <NUM> at the body heated compartment <NUM>, the seal <NUM> is arranged and configured to contact the user of the backpack <NUM> such that at least partly sealing the body heated compartment <NUM> against the user.

In an example, the wind and heat insulating material <NUM> are connected to the seal <NUM> by being sewn together. In an example the wind and heat insulating material and the seal <NUM> are joined together by ultrasonic welding or gluing. The heat transfer material <NUM> may also be connected in a similar fashion to the wind and heat insulating material <NUM> and/or the seal <NUM>.

Production of backpacks <NUM> are well known and will therefore not be discussed in further detail.

Claim 1:
A backpack (<NUM>) comprising:
∘ a wind and heat insulating material (<NUM>), the wind and heat insulating material (<NUM>) forms a body heated compartment (<NUM>), and
∘ a seal (<NUM>), the seal (<NUM>) is connected to the body heated compartment (<NUM>) and the seal (<NUM>) is configured to contact a user of the backpack (<NUM>) for sealing the body heated compartment (<NUM>) against the user,
wherein the wind and heat insulating material (<NUM>) combined with the seal (<NUM>) allows for body heat from the user of the backpack (<NUM>) to heat the body heated compartment (<NUM>).