Patent ID: 7575138

Claim:
A backpack apparatus for carrying ski equipment, the backpack apparatus being foldable between a completely unfolded state, a partially folded state, and a folded up and stored state, said backpack apparatus comprising: a bottom section; a top section adjoining said bottom section, wherein said top section is longer and more narrow than said bottom section; a flap attached to said bottom section, the flap and the bottom section forming a pocket having an open end facing toward the top section when the backpack apparatus is configured in a completely unfolded state, the pocket receiving the top section when the backpack apparatus is folded from the completely unfolded state to the partially folded state and the folded up and stored state; a first set of shoulder straps attached to said bottom and top sections for engaging the shoulders of a user when the backpack apparatus is configured in the completely unfolded state; and a second set of shoulder straps attached to the bottom section on an opposite side of the backpack apparatus from the first set of shoulder straps for engaging the shoulders of the user when the backpack apparatus is configured in the partially folded state; wherein skis or a snowboard can be housed entirely in said backpack apparatus when the backpack apparatus is configured in the completely unfolded state and when housed therein rest on said bottom section and extend from said bottom section into said top section.