Enclosure release for a backpack with an inflatable airbag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9770626-B2
Application number	US-201514860126-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2015
Priority date	Jul 18, 2014
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A backpack including a body including a first enclosure defining a first compartment and an opening, an inflatable balloon positioned within the compartment, a zipper, a balloon inflation system, and an actuator. The first enclosure includes at least a first restricting element. The zipper includes first and second fastener tapes attached to the enclosure at the opening. The zipper includes at least a first targeted zipper separation location aligned with the first restricting element. The balloon inflation system is coupled to the body and the inflatable balloon. The actuator is operably coupled to the balloon inflation system, such that upon actuation of the inflation system with the zipper in a closed position, the first restricting element concentrates a zipper separation force in a direction generally perpendicular to an engagement line of the zipper to separate the first and second fastener tapes of the zipper at the first targeted zipper location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A backpack comprising:
a body including at least a first enclosure defining at least a first compartment and a first opening for accessing the first compartment, the first enclosure including at least a first restricting element;
an inflatable balloon positioned within the first compartment;
a zipper including first and second fastener tapes, each of the first and second fastener tapes being attached to the first enclosure at the first opening, the zipper being positionable between an open position in which the fastener tapes are substantially separated from each other, and a closed position, in which the first and second fastener tapes are substantially engaged to each other along an engagement line, the zipper including at least a first targeted zipper separation location, the first restricting element being positioned in alignment with the first targeted zipper separation location;
a balloon inflation system coupled to the body and the inflatable balloon; and
an actuator operably coupled to the balloon inflation system, such that upon actuation of the balloon inflation system with the zipper in the closed position, the first restricting element concentrates a zipper separation force in a direction generally perpendicular to the engagement line to separate the first and second fastener tapes of the zipper at the first targeted zipper separation location, the zipper separation force being formed by the inflating balloon engaging the first enclosure.

2. The backpack of claim 1 , wherein the at least a first restricting element includes first and second spaced apart restricting elements.

3. The backpack of claim 2 , wherein the at least a first targeted zipper separation location includes first and second targeted zipper separation locations, and wherein the first and second targeted zipper separation locations are aligned with the first and second restricting elements, respectively.

4. The backpack of claim 1 , wherein the at least a first restricting element is selected from the group consisting of a stitching, a sewn dart, a rivet, an adhesive fold and a fastener, and combinations thereof.

5. The backpack of claim 3 , wherein the first and second restricting elements are selected from the group consisting of stitchings, sewn darts, rivets, adhesive folds, fasteners, and combinations thereof.

6. The backpack of claim 1 , wherein the first restricting element is an arrangement of fabric patterning inhibiting expansion of the first enclosure at the first restricting element.

7. The backpack of claim 3 , wherein the zipper includes a burst region positioned between the first and second targeted zipper separation locations.

8. The backpack of claim 7 , wherein the burst region is at least 3 cm in length.

9. The backpack of claim 7 , wherein the burst region has a length of within the range of 7 to 9 centimeters.

10. The backpack of claim 7 , further comprising a releasable flap coupled to the first enclosure, and wherein the flap extends over the burst region of the zipper.

11. The backpack of claim 10 , further comprising a latch releasably retaining the flap and wherein the latch is coupled to the actuator.

12. The backpack of claim 11 , wherein when the flap is latched to the first enclosure, the flap inhibits opening of the first opening.

13. The backpack of claim 1 , wherein the balloon inflation system includes an air movement device and at least one air intake.

14. The backpack of claim 13 , wherein the air movement device is selected from the group consisting of an air blower, a fan, an air pump, and an air compressor.

15. The backpack of claim 1 , wherein the balloon inflation system includes a pressurized gas canister.

16. The backpack of claim 1 , wherein the first restricting element is positioned within 5 cm of the first targeted zipper separation location.

17. The backpack of claim 1 , wherein the first restricting element is positioned within 2 cm of the first targeted zipper separation location.

Assignees

• Amer Sports Canada Inc

Inventors

• Rose Gordon T
• Hill Peter A

Classifications

• A45F2003/045

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• A62B33/00

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• A63B29/02 Primary

  Mountain guy-ropes or accessories, e.g. avalanche ropes; Means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons · CPC title

• A45F4/02

  Sacks or packs convertible into other articles {or into objects for other use} · CPC title

• A45F3/04

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