Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Article held by receiver
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-31
2001-12-04
Vidovich, Gregory M. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Article held by receiver
C224S153000, C224S630000, C224S631000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325262
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to backpacks for carrying loads, and more particularly to backpacks suitable for use in strenuous activities such as biking, skating, hiking, and skiing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Backpacks, or knapsacks, are essentially pliable, durable bags or cases equipped with shoulder straps that allow the backpack to be worn on the back for carrying equipment, supplies, or other small articles. Backpacks are frequently used for sporting endeavors such as hiking, skating, skiing, hunting, and biking. Backpacks are also commonly used to carry electronic equipment such as radios or computers. A relatively new application for backpacks is the hydration pack, which is designed to carry a fluid, such as water, and typically includes a valve and tube leading from the fluid container to the user, that allows the user to drink while wearing the backpack on his or her back without interrupting whatever activity in which the user is engaged. The hydration pack may include additional compartments to accommodate non-fluid articles.
Because conventional backpacks are carried adjacent the user's back, thereby limiting or completely eliminating air flow thereto, the user's back is prevented or hindered from normal cooling. The backpack can become uncomfortable when worn for an extended period of time, especially if the user is engaged in a strenuous physical activity. In particular, the user's clothing, the backpack, and even the contents of the backpack, can rapidly become saturated with sweat, which does not readily evaporate under the pack. During strenuous activities, the inability of the user to efficiently discard heat may also undesirably limit the duration of the user's activities or even contribute to heat-related ailments such as dehydration or sun stroke. Ironically, when the user is engaged in strenuous activities such as bicycling, skiing, and skating (and to a lesser extent activities such as hiking), the user is generally moving rapidly with respect to the surrounding air, and therefore experiencing significant convective and evaporative cooling over some portion of the user's body. Conventional backpacks, however, block the user's back from the air flow, and prevent the back from such convective and evaporative cooling.
It may also be difficult to keep items in the backpack cool when that is desired, for example, when the backpack is a hydration pack. Significant heat may transfer to the backpack due to the close contact between the backpack and the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a backpack for carrying objects on the back of a user. The backpack includes a compartment and at least one shoulder strap attached to the compartment. The compartment has a back portion that forms a pocket between a porous outer panel located near the back of the user, and an inner panel located near the compartment. A stiffening panel is inserted into the pocket such that the stiffening panel bows outwardly (away from the user's back, in the dorsal direction) to form a cooling channel or gap between the stiffening panel and the user's back. At least one air inlet port is formed in the top end of the compartment that fluidly opens a path to the cooling gap.
In an aspect of the present invention, the motion of the user causes cooling air to flow through the air inlet port and into the cooling gap between the stiffening panel and the user's back. The porous outer panel located near the back of the user permits the air to flow out of the pocket, to cool the user.
In a preferred embodiment, the inlet port includes an inverted U-shaped stiffening member to hold the inlet port open against gravity and aerodynamic forces. The opening to the inlet port is oriented generally perpendicular to the user's direction of motion, so that the user's movement will urge cooling air into the inlet port and through the cooling gap.
In one aspect of the present invention, the stiffening panel is generally X-shaped, having upper wing portions that overlie the U-shaped stiffening member at the air inlet port, whereby an open channel is provided from the air inlet port to the cooling gap.
In another aspect of the present invention, an air outlet port is additionally provided near a bottom portion of the compartment, wherein the air outlet port fluidly connects the cooling gap to the exterior of the pocket, facilitating the outflow of air from the pocket, and thereby encouraging a larger airflow between the compartment and the user's back.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5465885 (1995-11-01), Wyatt
patent: 5632429 (1997-05-01), Cantwell
patent: 5911348 (1999-06-01), Shook
patent: 5979722 (1999-11-01), Gonzales
Brevard Maerena W.
Christensen O'Connor Johnson & Kindness PLLC
K-2 Corporation
Vidovich Gregory M.
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