Backpack with closure mechanisms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9642443-B2
Application number	US-201514669647-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2015
Priority date	Mar 26, 2015
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

A bag, such as a backpack, is provided having first and second closure mechanisms. The backpack includes an opening at the top end of the bag, with the first and the second closure mechanisms configured to selectively secure and close the opening. The first closure mechanism is configured to couple a front side and a back side of the backpack at the top end to partially close the opening and form a first slot and a second slot. The second closure mechanism is configured to partially or completely secure the opening by securing a first edge of the opening to a second edge of the opening to close each slot. The second closure mechanism includes a first and a second releasable fastener which may be zippers. The first and second slots are alignable with one or more interior sections to form first and second equipment storage compartments within the backpack.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A backpack comprising:
a main compartment having a set of walls that define a storage space, the main compartment having a top end and a bottom end, a first side and a second side, and a front side and a back side,
wherein the top end includes an opening that provides access to the storage space, the opening comprising a first top edge and a second top edge that at least partially circumscribe the opening, and
wherein the storage space includes a width between the first side and the second side, a depth between the top end and the bottom end, and

a length between the front side and the back side;
a first closure mechanism coupled to the main compartment, the first closure mechanism comprising an elongated member having a first end secured to the back side and a second end that is releasably securable to the top end between the back side and the front side to bridge the opening into a first slot and a second slot located on opposite sides of the first closure mechanism;
a first zipper closure mechanism that releasably fastens the first top edge to the second top edge along a first-side portion of the opening;
a second zipper closure mechanism that releasably fastens the first top edge to the second top edge along a second-side portion of the opening, the first and second zipper closure mechanisms configured to close the opening by sliding towards and abutting one another along the first top edge and the second top edge;
a divider positioned in the storage space and between the front side and the back side, the divider separating at least a portion of the main compartment into a first interior section and a second interior section, the divider positioned such that the divider is enclosed within the storage space when the first and second zipper closure mechanisms are slid towards one another,
wherein the first slot and the first interior section are alignable to form a first equipment-storage compartment and the second slot and the second interior section are alignable to form a second equipment-storage compartment; and
one or more shoulder straps coupled to the back side of the main compartment.

2. The backpack of claim 1 , wherein the backpack further includes an exterior pocket positioned proximate to the front side of the main compartment, and wherein, when the second end of the elongated member is releasably secured to the top end, an opening to the exterior pocket remains uncovered by the first closure mechanism.

3. The backpack of claim 2 , wherein the second end includes a first part of a hook-and-loop fastening system.

4. The backpack of claim 2 , wherein the second end includes a first part of a male/female connector system.

5. The backpack of claim 2 , wherein the first end is fixedly attached near an approximate mid-point between the first side and the second side, such that the first slot and the second slot include respective sizes that are approximately equal.

6. The backpack of claim 1 , wherein the divider includes a first dividing panel having a first-panel rearward surface and a first-panel forward surface, and wherein the first-panel rearward surface faces towards the back side of the main compartment and the first-panel forward surface faces towards the front side of the main compartment, the first interior section being at least partially between the first-panel rearward surface and the back side and the second interior section being at least partially between the first-panel forward surface and the front side.

7. The backpack of claim 6 , wherein the divider includes a second dividing panel having a second-panel rearward surface and a second-panel forward surface, the second dividing panel being coupled between the first-panel forward surface and the front side, such that the second-panel rearward surface faces towards the first-panel forward surface and the second interior section extends at least partially between the second panel rearward surface and the first panel forward surface.

8. The backpack of claim 7 , wherein the first dividing panel and the second dividing panel are coupled to a first divider side panel and a second divider side panel, which extend generally perpendicular to the first dividing panel and the second dividing panel and are connected to the back side of the main compartment.

9. The backpack of claim 8 , wherein the first and second dividing panels include a respective padding element between respective rearward surfaces and respective forward surfaces and extend across substantially the width of the main compartment.

10. The backpack of claim 9 , wherein the first and second dividing panels extend from the bottom end to a position at least half of the depth of the main compartment.

11. The backpack of claim 1 , wherein, when the first closure mechanism is secured, a size of the first slot is adjustable by sliding the first zipper closure mechanism towards the first closure mechanism and a size of the second slot is adjustable by sliding the second zipper closure mechanism towards the first closure mechanism.

12. The backpack of claim 1 , wherein the storage space includes a padding element.

13. The backpack of claim 1 , wherein the divider further comprises first and second dividing panels.

14. A backpack comprising:
a main compartment having a set of walls that define a storage space, the main compartment having a top end and a bottom end, a first side and a second side, and a front side and a back side,
wherein the top end includes an opening that provides access to the storage space, the opening comprising a first top edge and a second top edge that at least partially circumscribe the opening, and
wherein the storage space includes a width between the first side and the second side, a depth between the top end and the bottom end, and a length between the front side and the back side;

a first closure mechanism coupled to the top end of the main compartment, the first closure mechanism comprising an elongated member having a first end secured to the back side and a second end that is releasably securable to the top end between the back side and the front side to bridge the opening into a first slot and a second slot located on opposite sides of the first closure mechanism, the first slot providing an access opening into the main compartment oriented toward the first side of the main compartment, the second slot providing an access opening into the main compartment oriented toward the second side of the main compartment;
a divider positioned in the storage space and between the front side and the back side, the divider separating at least a portion of the main compartment into a first interior section and a second interior section, the first slot providing a first opening to the first interior section and the second slot providing a second opening to the second interior section, wherein the first slot and the first interior section are alignable to form a first storage compartment and the second slot and the second interior section are alignable to form a second storage compartment;
a first zipper closure mechanism that releasably fastens the first top edge to the second top edge along a first-side portion of the opening;
a second zipper closure mechanism that releasably fastens the first top edge to the second top edge along a second-side portion of the opening, the first and second zipper closure mechanisms configured to close the opening by sliding towards and abutting one another along the first top edge and the second top edge,
wherein the divider is positioned such that the divider is enclosed within the storage space when the first and second zippe

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Amago Justin

Classifications

• A45F2003/002

  Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of a single strap passing around the neck · CPC title

• A45F3/02

  Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of one strap passing over the shoulder · CPC title

• A45C2013/1015

  of hook and loop type · CPC title

• A45F3/04 Primary

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

• A45F3/005

  Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of a single strap around the waist · CPC title