Automatic opening for a compartment in a pack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016353864-A1
Application number	US-201514731096-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 4, 2015
Priority date	Jun 4, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The inventive subject matter is generally directed to a pack with an automatically opening compartment. The pack has a body that defines a volume for the containment of articles, and a strap system for supporting the pack in a user's body. A section of the pack is hingeably coupled to another body portion of the pack. The hingeable section has a first condition, providing an opening to a compartment in the pack, and a second condition, closing the opening to the compartment. The hingeable section is coupled to a spring system that is (1) unloaded when the hingeable section is in the first condition and (2) relatively loaded when in the second condition, so that the compartment automatically opens when the closure system is released. The pack may include a closure system for locking the hingeable section in the closed condition.

First claim

1 . A pack, comprising:
a body defining a volume for the containment of articles, the body generally having a height, width, and depth; a hingeable section hingeably coupled to a body portion of the pack, the hingeable section having a first condition providing an opening to a compartment in the pack and second condition closing the opening to the compartment; a closure system for locking the hingeable section in the closed condition; and the hingeable section being coupled to a spring system that is unloaded when the hingeable section is in the first condition and relatively loaded when in the second condition, so that the compartment automatically opens when the closure system is released.

2 . The pack of claim 1 wherein the hingeable section comprises a pliable material.

3 . The pack of claim 2 wherein the hingeable section hinges at a joint comprising a flexure bearing or living hinge formable in the pliable material.

4 . The pack of claim 3 wherein the joint is formed of a material that is more flexible or thinner than a body portion of the pack adjacent the joint off of which the hingeable section hinges.

5 . The pack of claim 1 wherein the hingeable section includes a movable frame member that is pivotably connected to the body portion of the pack and coupled to the spring system.

6 . The pack of claim 5 wherein the movable frame member has a generally U-Shape, the closed end of the U-shaped member being coupled to the hingeably section at a top edge and having downwardly extending legs that pivotably couple with opposite sides of a body portion of the pack.

7 . The pack of claim 6 wherein the spring system is pivotably coupled to at least one leg of the frame member.

8 . The pack of claim 1 wherein the spring system comprises a mechanical spring.

9 . The pack of claim 1 wherein the spring system comprises a torsion spring.

10 . The pack of claim 1 wherein the spring system comprises a materials-based spring.

11 . The pack of claim 1 wherein the hingeable section is disposed at an upper front portion of the pack.

12 . The pack of claim 1 wherein the hingeable section is disposed at an upper front portion of the pack and is pivotable relative to a back portion so as to create an opening at the top of the pack.

13 . The pack of claim 5 wherein the hingeable section is disposed at an upper front portion of the pack and is pivotable relative to a back portion so as to create an opening at the top of the pack.

14 . The pack of claim 12 wherein the opening is for a main compartment of the pack.

15 . The pack of claim 13 wherein the opening is for a main compartment of the pack.

16 . The pack of claim 12 wherein the opening is for a compartment of the pack sufficiently sized and shaped to hold a laptop or tablet computer.

17 . The pack of claim 13 wherein the opening is for a compartment of the pack sufficiently sized and shaped to hold a laptop or tablet computer.

18 . The pack of claim 1 wherein the pack comprises a wearable pack having at least one body strap coupled to the body

19 . The pack of claim 18 wherein has two body straps comprising shoulder straps that are coupled to the body of the pack.

20 . A wearable pack, comprising:
a body defining a volume for the containment of articles, the body generally having a height, width, and depth, and at least one body strap coupled to the body; a hingeable section hingeably coupled to a body portion of the pack, the hingeable section having a first condition providing an opening to a compartment in the pack and second condition closing the opening to the compartment; a closure system for locking the hingeable section in the closed condition; the hingeable section being coupled to a spring system that is unloaded when the hingeable section is in the first position and relatively loaded when in the second position, so that the compartment becomes automatically open when the closure system is released; wherein the hingeable section includes a movable frame member that is pivotably connected to the body portion of the pack and coupled to the spring system; and wherein the hingeable section is disposed at an upper front portion of the pack and is pivotable relative to a back portion so as to create an opening at the top of the pack; and wherein the hingeable section hinges along a joint comprising a flexure bearing or living hinge formed in a pliable material.

21 . The wearable pack of claim 20 further comprising a static frame member that supports the compartment of the pack in a desired volumetric form.

22 . A method of making a pack, comprising:
providing a body defining a volume for the containment of articles, the body generally having a height, width, and depth, and at least one body strap coupled to the body; providing the pack with a hingeable section, the hingeable section having a first condition providing an opening to a compartment in the pack and second condition closing the opening to the compartment; providing the pack with a closure system for locking the hingeable section in the closed condition; and providing the pack with a spring system that is coupled to the hingeable section and is unloaded when the hingeable section is in the first position and relatively loaded when in the second position, so that the compartment becomes automatically open when the closure system is released.

Assignees

• North Face Apparel Corp

Inventors

• Paduano Matthew E
• Tagumi Christopher K
• Guthrie Benjamin Kiyoshi
• Nordhauser Hunter Andrew
• Coutant Andrew John

Classifications

• A45C13/007 Primary

  with spring means · CPC title

• A45C2005/037

  with a hard shell, i.e. rigid shell as volume creating element · CPC title

• A45F3/04 Primary

  Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders · CPC title

• A45C13/008

  for making water- or air-tight · CPC title

• A45C13/10

  Arrangement of fasteners · CPC title