Patent ID: 7631792

Claim:
A backpack for relieving stress, weight and pressure from a user's back, comprising: a pack for storing items, having top, forward panel to face the user's back, sides, bottom, and, outer surface; adjustable shoulder straps extending from the top to the bottom of the pack, for enabling the positioning the pack on the user's back and, for carrying the pack over the user's shoulders; a bag joined to the backpack outer surface having a lower portion beneath the pack bottom, and a forward portion part-way up the forward panel; a cushioning, inflatable bladder enclosed within the bag, having a lower part extending across and beneath the bottom of the pack, and, an upper part extending part-way upwardly along the forward panel; the bag and bladder being so constructed and arranged that upon inflation of the bladder, the bladder expands to a generally L-shaped configuration, with the bag lower portion and the bladder lower part expanding beneath the pack and resting upon and generally conforming to the buttocks area of the user, and, upon inflation, with the bag forward panel portion and bladder upper part expanding and continuing from the bag lower portion and the bladder lower part, respectively, extending at an angle part-way up the forward panel, so as to rest part-way up against the user's back and generally conforming to the curvature of the thoracic region of the user's body; and, wherein the backpack bottom includes a solid sheet for preventing expansion into the pack upon bladder inflation.