US20110120893A1 - Air-cushion backpack and laptop sleeve - Google Patents
Air-cushion backpack and laptop sleeve Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20110120893A1 US20110120893A1 US12/622,756 US62275609A US2011120893A1 US 20110120893 A1 US20110120893 A1 US 20110120893A1 US 62275609 A US62275609 A US 62275609A US 2011120893 A1 US2011120893 A1 US 2011120893A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- bladder
- backpack
- cushion
- plate
- pair
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
- A45F3/00—Travelling or camp articles; Sacks or packs carried on the body
- A45F3/04—Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
- A45C13/02—Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
- A45C13/021—Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles inflatable
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C7/00—Collapsible or extensible purses, luggage, bags or the like
- A45C7/0018—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
- A45C7/0036—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage collapsible to a minimal configuration, e.g. for storage purposes
- A45C7/004—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage collapsible to a minimal configuration, e.g. for storage purposes inflatable and deflatable
Abstract
A backpack has a front pocket containing a plate and a pair of shoulder straps for holding the plate against the back of a user. A pressurizable, flexible and elastic bladder covers the plate and has inside surfaces with an embossed pattern for preventing sticking together of facing walls of the bladder to facilitating an initial inflation of the bladder. A pair of tubular extensions extend from the bladder and into the shoulder straps, one of the tubular extensions being for inflating and deflating the bladder. A mouth-inflatable check valve connected to extension is location so as to be accessible to the user for inflating the bladder and a valve cover is detachably connected over the entire mouth engageable perimeter of the check valve for keeping it clear. Semi-rigid liners in the shoulder straps near the bladder form channels for facilitating inflating and deflating of the bladder. A pair of cushion panels in, or separate from the backpack, include pluralities of offset parallel, partially filled air tubes spaced by webs for minimizing volume when there is nothing between the cushion panels.
Description
- The present invention relates in general to article carriers, and in particular to an new and useful backpack and laptop sleeve having air cushion features for increased comfort and for protection of a laptop computer carried by the backpack or sleeve.
- U.S. Patent Application US2007/0215662, published Sep. 20, 2007, on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/377,008, filed Mar. 16, 2006, that shares at least one inventor with the current application and which is incorporated here by reference, teaches a backpack with a generally rigid plate having a front face, a back face and shoulder straps for holding it against a back of a user. An inflatable, non-elastic and smooth surfaced bladder covers generally all of the front face of the plate and has a closable fill opening so that the bladder can be inflated for added comfort and load distribution.
- Although the backpack of the above-identified application has been extremely successful because of its variety of advantages, there are certain areas of improvement which the present application addresses. One of these areas involves the use of vinyl as the material for the bladder which while being flexible was less elastic then was found to be ultimately advantageous and also importantly because it was made to have smooth inner and outer surfaces. After manufacture and in the deflated condition, the inside facing walls tended to stick to each other because of these smooth surfaces. This made it very difficult to inflate the bladder the first time since in addition to over coming the internal pressure to inflate the bladder to a comfortable level, the stuck together walls had to be separated by the blown in air pressure alone. This proved to be very difficult.
- Another perceived difficulty with the prior backpack was that since only one tube extended along the shoulder strap for inflation according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, when the backpack and its one tube were inflated it was perceived to be asymmetric because the other strap was not inflated, or even perhaps defective because of this asymmetry. The present invention overcomes this difficulty as well.
- Another area of improvement addressed by the present application is the presence of a check valve cover that covers the mouth inflatable check valve of the prior backpack and thus improves sanitation and cleanliness of the mouth inflated check valve and its surrounding areas.
- The use of flexible but non-elastic material for the bladder was also found to be less desirable so that bladder material that is both flexible and elastic is now used in the approved backpack.
- Another problem with the prior art is the protection of laptop computers which are small and easily portable but likewise, easily dropped and damaged. Although padded sleeves are known, the need remains for an improved padding arrangement for a laptop sleeve alone, or within a backpack.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide backpack having a first front wall, a second front wall spaced forwardly of the first front wall and defining a front pocket with the first front wall, a generally rigid plate having a front face and a back face, the plate being in the front pocket with the back face of the plate being adjacent the first front wall, a pair of shoulder straps operatively connected to at least one of the front walls for holding the plate against a back of a user with the second front wall being between the plate and the back of the user, load bearing means connected to at least one of the front walls for holding an object, and a pressurizable, flexible and elastic bladder covering generally all of the front face of the plate. The bladder is provided in the front pocket between the front face of the plate and the second front wall and at least the entire inside surfaces of the bladder have a non-smooth texture thereon for preventing sticking together of facing walls of the bladder to facilitating an initial inflation of the bladder. A pair of tubular extensions or tubes extend from the bladder and respectively into each of the shoulder straps, one of the tubular extensions being for inflating and deflating the bladder. A mouth-inflatable, normally closed check valve is connected to the one tubular extension at a location that is spaced from the bladder and positioned so as to be accessible to a user for inflating the bladder by blowing into the check valve while the shoulder strap is on a shoulder of the user, the check valve having a mouth engageable perimeter. A valve cover is detachably connected over the entire mouth engageable perimeter of the check valve for covering the check valve and keeping it clear. A pair of semi-rigid liners are respectively in the shoulder straps near the bladder to form a pair or semi-rigid channels for the tubular extensions near the bladder to facilitate inflating and deflating of the bladder through the one tubular extension.
- A further object of the present invention is to provide, either as part of the backpack, or as a stand-alone item, a laptop sleeve including a pair of cushion panels connected in a rear pocket of the backpack or as a stand-alone sleeve, each cushion panel comprising a plurality of spaced apart, parallel, permanently sealed and partially filled air tubes made of flexible elastic material with webs between the air tubes in each cushion panel, the air tubes of one cushion panel each facing the webs of the other cushion panel for minimizing a volume occupied by the cushion panels when there is nothing in a space between the cushion panels, and for cushioning a laptop computer placed between the cushion panels.
- Another object of the invention includes providing the check valve to have a flapper that is normally closed to prevent air from escaping from the bladder and including a push button on the flapper that is manually depressed to move the flapper and allow air to escape from the bladder to adjust the amount of air in the bladder for improved comfort.
- The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
- In the drawings:
-
FIG. 1 is a side view of a backpack according to the invention with an inside bladder cushion deflated; -
FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1 with a cushioned sleeve or pocket for a laptop computer; -
FIG. 2A is a view likeFIG. 2 but of another embodiment of the invention with an empty laptop sleeve; -
FIG. 2B is a view likeFIG. 2 of the other embodiment of the invention with a laptop in the sleeve; -
FIG. 3 is a view likeFIG. 1 of the backpack with the cushion inflated and the backpack partly cut away to show the laptop sleeve embodiment ofFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 4 is a front view of the backpack ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 5 is a partial front view illustrating the pack ofFIG. 1 on a person; -
FIG. 6 is a view likeFIG. 5 illustrating use of the backpack; -
FIG. 7 is a front view of another bladder according to the invention; -
FIGS. 8 and 9 are front views of a pack employing the bladder ofFIG. 7 in two different positions; -
FIG. 10 is a rear view of the bladder of the pack ofFIGS. 1 to 6 ; -
FIGS. 11 and 12 are sections taken along respective lines 11-11 and 12-12 ofFIG. 10 ; -
FIGS. 13 and 14 are side sectional views of the bladder ofFIG. 10 , in respective deflated and inflated conditions; -
FIG. 15 is a large-scale view of the fitting used at the location indicated at 15 inFIG. 10 ; -
FIG. 16 is a front view of another bladder according to the invention; -
FIGS. 17 and 18 are sections taken along respective lines 17-17 and 18-18 ofFIG. 16 ; -
FIG. 19 is a side sectional view of the bladder ofFIG. 16 ; -
FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of a stand-alone cushioned laptop computer sleeve of the present invention; -
FIG. 21 is a plan view of a pre-assembled sleeve ofFIG. 20 ; -
FIG. 22 is a perceptive view of another embodiment of a laptop sleeve of the invention; and -
FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly steps of another embodiment of the laptop sleeve. - Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to refer to the same or functionally similar elements,
FIG. 1 shows an improvedbackpack 10 of the present invention which overcomes some of the short comings of the prior backpack of the above-identified published patent application by, among other things, providing a texture or embossed pattern on at least the inner surfaces of the bladder to avoid sticking, the use of inflatable shoulder strap tubes in bothshoulder straps 30, along with a mechanism to permit free air flow in those tubes so that the backpack is perceived as being symmetrical and in no way defective, the inclusion of permanently inflated, elastic material tubes shown at 40, 42 and 44 inFIG. 2 , in a main pocket or chamber in the backpack that may be closed by azipper 18, or as a stand alone laptop sleeve ofFIGS. 20 to 23 to protect a laptop computer, the inclusion of acover 35 inFIGS. 5 and 6 , over the air inflatedcheck valve 34, and other advantageous improvements which distinguishes the improved backpack over the prior art in general, and over the above-identified published patent application specifically. - With reference to
FIGS. 1 to 10 , the improvedbackpack 10 of the invention comprises a firstfront wall 20 of heavy duty fabric such a heavy nylon fabric, a secondfront wall 22 of the same or heavier fabric spaced forwardly of the firstfront wall 20 and defining afront pocket 24 with the firstfront wall 20, and a generally rigid, preferablyplastic plate 26 having a front face and a back face, the plate being in thefront pocket 24 with the back face of the plate being adjacent the firstfront wall 20. A pair of theshoulder straps 30 are operatively connected to the body of the backpack, namely to at least one of thefront walls 20 and/or 22 as shown inFIGS. 4 to 6 , for holding the plate against a back of a user with the secondfront wall 22 being between theplate 26 and the back of the user. - Load bearing means, such as a main and additional backpack pockets formed by a
rear wall 12 and aninterior partition wall 14 also of the same fabric as one or the other front walls, and connected to at least one of the front walls, are provided for holding an object or load. A rear pocket betweenwalls further zipper 16. As shown inFIG. 3 , theplate pocket 24 formed ofwalls top zipper 19 for access to the plate pocket. This allows access to the plate pocket for airport security measures that do not permit closed storage volumes that may contain contraband. - As best shown in
FIGS. 2 , 2A, 2B and 10 to 14, a pressurizable, flexible andelastic bladder 28 covers generally all of the front face of theplate 26, the bladder being in thefront pocket 24 between the front face of the plate and the secondfront wall 22. At least the entire inside surface 27 of the bladder has a non-smooth texture or embossedpattern 29 thereon for preventing sticking together of facing walls of thebladder 28 to facilitating an initial inflation of the bladder. The outside surfaces of thebladder 28 may have the same or a different pattern or not pattern and all patterns are made by providing the surfaces of the mold for forming the bladder with a negative image of the pattern. For example, as shown inFIG. 10 the pattern may be an embossed pattern of concentric circles or any other pattern that has the effect of keeping broad smooth surfaces of the flexible plastic material from contacting each other and therefore unavoidably sticking together. - For both flexible and elastic properties it has been found advantageous to form the bladder of plastic like PU (polyurethane) or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) that stretch when impacted thus absorbing energy and not transferring the energy. Flexible but non-elastic vinyl may also be used, however. As will be explained later, cushion panels forming a laptop sleeve that are each made of a plurality of spaced apart, parallel, permanently sealed and partially filled air tubes, are also made of flexible elastic material such as PU or PVC so that they too can stretch when impacted and absorb and transfer energy to protect the laptop computer in the sleeve.
- To make sure that backpack appears perfectly symmetrical, a pair of tubular extensions or
tubes FIG. 10 , extend from thebladder 28 and respectively extend into each of the shoulder straps 30. One of thetubular extensions 32 is for inflating and deflating the bladder as will be explained later, although if desired both can be used for this purpose if both are provided with an inflation valve. In any case, a mouth-inflatable, normally closedcheck valve 34 is connected at least to the onetubular extension 32 at a location that is spaced from thebladder 28 and positioned so as to be accessible, as shown inFIG. 6 , to a user for inflating thebladder 28 by blowing into thecheck valve 34 while theshoulder strap 30 is on a shoulder of the user, the check valve having a mouth engageable perimeter. - A
valve cover 35 having a rim around its perimeter is detachably connected over the entire mouth engageable perimeter of thecheck valve 34 for covering thecheck valve 34 and keeping it clear. To keep the cover from being lost it is permanently held to the valve perimeter by atab 35 a. Thecheck valve 34 has an inwardly pushable flapper that is normally closed around and against the inner surface of the valve perimeter and held in place be internal air pressure in thebladder 28 andtube 32 to prevent air from escaping from the bladder. The flapper includes a central raisedpush button 39 on the flapper that can be manually depressed by the user to move the flapper inwardly away from the valve perimeter and allow some or all of the air to escape from the bladder to adjust the firmness and comfort of the bladder against the user's back. - As shown in
FIGS. 10 and 15 , a pair ofsemi-rigid liners tubular extensions tubular extension 32. Two liners are provide again for symmetry, or in case bothtubes inflatable valve 34. The liner of bothinflation tube 32 andextra tube 33, keep the tubes from collapsing under the load on the shoulder straps, that would otherwise make it impossible to use thetube 32 for inflating or deflating thebladder 28. Theother tube 33 is also automatically inflated by air from thebladder 28 that is allowed to move through the open channel made by atliner 37 so both tubes and both shoulder straps are inflated to the same extent and are therefore symmetrical. - As noted above, the material of the bladder can be of flexible but non-elastic vinyl or other plastic, but is preferably an elastic plastic like PU (polyurethane) or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) that stretch when impacted thus absorbing energy and not transferring the energy.
- As shown in
FIGS. 1 , 3, 4, 8 and 9, at least one front wall, but preferable the secondfront wall 22 against the user's back is made of mesh of better ventilation. The secondfront wall 22 can also or alternatively be of a stretchable textile forming the front pocket for holding thebladder 28. - As shown in
FIGS. 10 to 14 the bladder can be subdivided into a plurality of interconnected compartments, including a relatively large lowerlumbar support compartment 28 a, and a plurality of relatively smallupper compartments FIGS. 2 , 2A and 2B for avoiding direct pressure against the users spine. - The
front pocket 24 can alternatively be downwardly open and the backpack further can comprise a releasable fastener like a hook and loop tape at a lower edge of the front panel as shown inFIG. 8 for access to the plate. - As shown in
FIGS. 2 , 2A, 2B and 3, the backpack may include a laptop computer sleeve in the rear pocket againstwall 20, or a stand-alone laptop sleeve that will be disclosed later in connection withFIGS. 20 to 23 . InFIGS. 2 , 2A, 2B and 3, the sleeve comprises a pair of cushion panels connected in the rear pocket and behind the firstfront wall 20, each cushion panel comprising a plurality of spaced apart, parallel, permanently sealed and partially filledair tubes 40 made of flexible elastic material withwebs 48 between theair tubes 40 in each cushion panel. Theair tubes 40 of one cushion panel each face thewebs 48 of the other cushion panel for minimizing a volume occupied by the cushion panels when there is nothing in a space between the cushion panels as shown inFIG. 2A , and for cushioning alaptop computer 50 placed between the cushion panels as shown inFIG. 2B . - As noted above, the cushion panels are made of an elastic plastic like PU or PVC that stretch when impacted thus absorbing energy and not transferring the energy to the laptop.
- As shown in
FIG. 3 , the sleeve may also have a top permanently sealed and partially filledair tube 46 made of flexible elastic material, withtop web 48 connected between one of the cushion panels, in this case the top of the front panel, and thetop air tube 46 for covering and cushioning the space between the cushion panels, and a pair ofside 42 and a bottom 44 permanently sealed and partially filled air tubes made of the same flexible elastic material connected respectively at the sides and the bottom of the space between the cushion panels for further cushioning the space as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 . - Referring now to
FIGS. 20 to 23 , a stand-alone laptop computer sleeve of the invention comprises a fabric outer covering 52 with a front panel with topzippered pocket 54 and a rear panel with topzippered pocket 56. The front and rear cover panels are connected to each other by agusset 60 extending across the bottom and sides of the pocket panels. Atop gusset 62 with a longitudinalmain zipper 58 closes the perimeter of the cover and provides an access opening for inserting and removing a laptop computer. - Here too a pair of cushion panels each comprise a plurality of spaced apart, parallel, permanently sealed and partially filled
air tubes 40 made of flexible elastic material withwebs 48 between theair tubes 40 in each cushion panel. The front and rear cushion panels are inserted through the top zippers into the respective front andrear cover panels 54 and 55 in the direction of the arrows inFIG. 20 . Theair tubes 40 of one cushion panel each face thewebs 48 of the other cushion panel for minimizing a volume occupied by the cushion panels when there is nothing in a space between the cushion panels. With a laptop in the space, cushioning of the laptop computer occurs between the cushion panels. -
FIG. 21 shows the cover in a disassemble state beforezippered cover panels gussets - As shown in
FIG. 22 , the sleeve also preferably includes a top permanently sealed and partially filledair tube 46 made of flexible elastic material with atop web 48 connected between one of the cushion panels or the cover panel on that side, and thetop air tube 46, for covering and cushioning the space between the cushion panels and any laptop therein. As shown inFIG. 23 , a pair ofside 42 and a bottom 44 permanently sealed and partially filled air tubes made of flexible elastic material are connected respectively at the sides and the bottom of the space between the cushion panels for further cushioning the space. This is done by providing thegusset 60 withfabric side tubes fabric bottom tube 60 b, which each have an access opening for receiving arespective tube FIG. 23 . After thetubes FIG. 23 , the gusset is sewn to the front and rear cover panels to complete the sleeve. Thetubes gusset tubes - It has been found that even with no way to refill the
tubes - The
backpack 10 according to the invention could be used to carry any load in, on or around the bag, such as a musical instrument, pieces of equipment, or virtually anything typically carried on the back. - The
bladder 28 has the lower region 268 a that is substantially thicker than itsupper region 28 b when fully inflated as shown inFIG. 14 to provide a good cushion at the kidney or lumbar level of a wearer of thepack 10. In addition thebladder 28 has the somewhat recessed central area 28 c and raised, vertically elongatedside regions 28 d. - As noted above, to prevent the flexible tubular extensions or
tubes straps 30 are provided internally with U-sectionsemi-rigid liners strap 30 is normally compressed by the weight of thepack 10 thetubes liners - With this system it is therefore possible to inflate the
bladder 28 from the relatively flat and flaccid condition shown inFIG. 13 to the relatively full and even moderately hard condition shown inFIG. 14 . This can be done before the pack is put on, or afterward. Once thebackpack 10 is put on by passing the user's arms through thestraps 30 so that thefront mesh panel 22 overlying thebladder 28 rests against the user's back, thevalve 34 is be actuated, for instance by pressing down in itscenter button 39, to relieve some of the pressure. This causes thebackpack 10 to settle against the user's back and assume a position in effected molded to the user. In this position the weight of the pack and its contents is applied uniformly to the entire back of the user, eliminating any concentrated load that could be injurious or, at the very least, uncomfortable. -
FIGS. 7 to 9 show another arrangement where abladder 28′ is provided in a lower corner with thevalve 34′ and does not have the tubular over-the-shoulder extension 32. Here apocket 24′ is formed by afront panel 22′ that is open downward and that can be closed over the embossedbladder 28′ by securing it via a velcro fastener 23 to the bottom of thepack 10. Such an arrangement also has an unillustratedrigid plate 26. -
FIGS. 16 through 19 show yet another embossedbladder 28″ with a lateralshort extension 32″ provided with avalve 34″. With this arrangement the unillustratedfront panel 22 is formed with an aperture through which theextension 32″ can extend for operation of thevalve 34″. - Use of the backpacks with the embossed
bladders 28′ and 28″ is the same as that with thebladder 28, that is the bladder is blown up hard to start with and then deflated partially for comfortable use. - While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
Claims (21)
1. A backpack comprising:
a first front wall (20);
a second front wall (22) spaced forwardly of the first front wall and defining a front pocket (24) with the first front wall;
a generally rigid plate (26) having a front face and a back face, the plate being in the front pocket (24) with the back face of the plate being adjacent the first front wall (20);
a pair of shoulder straps (30) operatively connected to at least one of the front walls for holding the plate against a back of a user with the second front wall (22) being between the plate and the back of the user;
load bearing means connected to at least one of the front walls for holding an object;
a pressurizable, flexible and elastic bladder (28) covering generally all of the front face of the plate, the bladder being in the front pocket between the front face of the plate and the second front wall, at least the entire inside surfaces of the bladder having a non-smooth texture (29) thereon for preventing sticking together of facing walls of the bladder to facilitating an initial inflation of the bladder;
a pair of tubular extensions (32, 33) extending from the bladder (28) and respectively into each of the shoulder straps (30), one of the tubular extensions being for inflating and deflating the bladder;
a mouth-inflatable, normally closed check valve (34) connected to the one tubular extension at a location that is spaced from the bladder and positioned so as to be accessible to a user for inflating the bladder by blowing into the check valve while the shoulder strap is on a shoulder of the user, the check valve having a mouth engageable perimeter;
a valve cover (35) detachably connected over the entire mouth engageable perimeter of the check valve for covering the check valve (34) and keeping it clear; and
a pair of semi-rigid liners (36, 37) respectively in the shoulder straps (30) near the bladder to form a pair or semi-rigid channels for the tubular extensions (32, 33) near the bladder to facilitate inflating and deflating of the bladder through the one tubular extension (32).
2. The backpack defined in claim 1 wherein the non-smooth texture (29) is an embossed pattern (29) on at least the entire inside surfaces of the bladder.
3. The backpack defined in claim 1 wherein the non-smooth texture (29) is an embossed pattern (29) of concentric circles at least the entire inside surfaces of the bladder.
4. The backpack defined in claim 1 wherein the load bearing means is a bag fixed to at least one of the first and second front walls behind the back face and having an openable closure.
5. The backpack defined in claim 1 wherein the plate is an imperforate semirigid plastic plate.
6. The backpack defined in claim 1 wherein at least one front wall of the front pocket is made of mesh.
7. The backpack defined in claim 1 wherein the check valve (34) has a flapper that is normally closed to prevent air from escaping from the bladder and includes a push button (39) on the flapper that is manually depressed to move the flapper and allow air to escape from the bladder.
8. The backpack defined in claim 1 wherein the second front wall (22) is a stretchable textile front panel forming the front pocket holding the bladder.
9. The backpack defined in claim 8 wherein the load bearing means includes a textile rear panel forming a rear pocket with the first front panel.
10. The backpack defined in claim 9 , further comprising a first slide fastener closing an end of the rear pocket and a second slide fastener closing an end of the front pocket.
11. The backpack defined in claim 10 wherein the second front panel is a mesh.
12. The backpack defined in claim 11 herein the bladder is subdivided into a plurality of interconnected compartments.
13. The backpack defined in claim 1 wherein the bladder is subdivided into a plurality of interconnected compartments and the compartments include a relatively large lower compartment and a plurality of relatively small upper compartments.
14. The backpack defined in claim 8 wherein the front pocket is downwardly open and the backpack further comprises a releasable fastener at a lower edge of the front panel.
15. The backpack defined in claim 1 wherein the bladder is formed with a forwardly open central recess for avoiding pressure on the spine of a user.
16. The backpack defined in claim 1 wherein the load bearing means includes a textile rear panel forming a rear pocket with the first front panel, and including a pair of cushion panels connect in the rear pocket and behind the first front wall (20), each cushion panel comprising a plurality of spaced apart, parallel, permanently sealed and partially filled air tubes made of flexible elastic material with webs between the air tubes in each cushion panel, the air tubes of one cushion panel each facing the webs of the other cushion panel for minimizing a volume occupied by the cushion panels when there is nothing in a space between the cushion panels, and for cushioning a laptop computer placed between the cushion panels.
17. The backpack defined in claim 15 including a top permanently sealed and partially filled air tube made of flexible elastic material with top web connected between one of the cushion panels and the top air tube for covering and cushioning the space between the cushion panels, and a pair of side and a bottom permanently sealed and partially filled air tubes made of flexible elastic material connected respectively at the sides and the bottom of the space between the cushion panels for further cushioning the space.
18. The laptop computer sleeve comprising:
a pair of cushion panels comprising a plurality of spaced apart, parallel permanently sealed and partially filled air tubes made of flexible elastic material with webs between the air tubes in each cushion panel, the air tubes of one cushion panel each facing the webs of the other cushion panel for minimizing a volume occupied by the cushion panels when there is nothing in a space between the cushion panels, and for cushioning a laptop computer placed between the cushion panels.
19. The laptop sleeve defined in claim 18 including a top permanently sealed and partially filled air tube made of flexible elastic material with top web connected between one of the cushion panels and the top air tube for covering and cushioning the space between the cushion panels, and a pair of side and a bottom permanently sealed and partially filled air tubes made of flexible elastic material connected respectively at the sides and the bottom of the space between the cushion panels for further cushioning the space.
20. A backpack comprising:
a first front wall;
a second front wall spaced forwardly of the first front wall and defining a front pocket with the first front wall;
a generally rigid plate having a front face and a back face, the plate being in the front pocket with the back face of the plate being adjacent the first front wall, the plate being an imperforate semirigid plastic plate;
a pair of shoulder straps operatively connected to at least one of the front walls for holding the plate against a back of a user with the second front wall being between the plate and the back of the user;
load bearing means connected to at least one of the front walls for holding an object;
a pressurizable, flexible and elastic bladder covering generally all of the front face of the plate, the bladder being in the front pocket between the front face of the plate and the second front wall, at least the entire inside surfaces of the bladder having a non-smooth texture thereon for preventing sticking together of facing walls of the bladder to facilitating an initial inflation of the bladder, the non-smooth texture being created by an embossed pattern on at least the entire inside surfaces of the bladder;
a pair of tubular extensions extending from the bladder and respectively into each of the shoulder straps, one of the tubular extensions being for inflating and deflating the bladder;
a mouth-inflatable, normally closed check valve connected to the one tubular extension at a location that is spaced from the bladder and positioned so as to be accessible to a user for inflating the bladder by blowing into the check valve while the shoulder strap is on a shoulder of the user, the check valve having a mouth engageable perimeter;
a valve cover detachably connected over the entire mouth engageable perimeter of the check valve for covering the check valve and keeping it clear; and
a pair of semi-rigid liners respectively in the shoulder straps near the bladder to form a pair or semi-rigid channels for the tubular extensions near the bladder to facilitate inflating and deflating of the bladder through the one tubular extension;
the load bearing means being a bag fixed to at least one of the first and second front walls behind the back face and having an openable closure;
the check valve having a flapper that is normally closed to prevent air from escaping from the bladder and includes a push button on the flapper that is manually depressed to move the flapper and allow air to escape from the bladder;
the bladder being subdivided into a plurality of interconnected compartments and the compartments include a relatively large lower compartment and a plurality of relatively small upper compartments;
the load bearing means including a textile rear panel forming a rear pocket with the first front panel; and
a pair of cushion panels connect in the rear pocket and behind the first front wall (20), each cushion panel comprising a plurality of spaced apart, parallel, permanently sealed and partially filled air tubes made of flexible elastic material with webs between the air tubes in each cushion panel, the air tubes of one cushion panel each facing the webs of the other cushion panel for minimizing a volume occupied by the cushion panels when there is nothing in a space between the cushion panels, and for cushioning a laptop computer placed between the cushion panels.
21. The backpack defined in claim 20 including a top permanently sealed and partially filled air tube made of flexible elastic material with top web connected between one of the cushion panels and the top air tube for covering and cushioning the space between the cushion panels, and a pair of side and a bottom permanently sealed and partially filled air tubes made of flexible elastic material connected respectively at the sides and the bottom of the space between the cushion panels for further cushioning the space.
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/622,756 US20110120893A1 (en) | 2009-11-20 | 2009-11-20 | Air-cushion backpack and laptop sleeve |
KR1020100003849A KR101166622B1 (en) | 2009-11-20 | 2010-01-15 | Improved air-cushion backpack and laptop sleeve |
PCT/US2010/027793 WO2011062651A1 (en) | 2009-11-20 | 2010-03-18 | Improved air-cushion backpack and laptop sleeve |
CN2010201825051U CN201814041U (en) | 2009-11-20 | 2010-04-20 | Improved handheld computer sleeve and backpack combined with same |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/622,756 US20110120893A1 (en) | 2009-11-20 | 2009-11-20 | Air-cushion backpack and laptop sleeve |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20110120893A1 true US20110120893A1 (en) | 2011-05-26 |
Family
ID=43912012
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/622,756 Abandoned US20110120893A1 (en) | 2009-11-20 | 2009-11-20 | Air-cushion backpack and laptop sleeve |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20110120893A1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101166622B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN201814041U (en) |
WO (1) | WO2011062651A1 (en) |
Cited By (12)
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US20120018609A1 (en) * | 2010-07-22 | 2012-01-26 | Rowzee Laura Marie | Supporting apparatus for thin electronic product |
US20120085804A1 (en) * | 2010-10-11 | 2012-04-12 | Philip Troy Christy | Backpack |
US20120150051A1 (en) * | 2010-12-09 | 2012-06-14 | Welch Allyn, Inc. | Blood pressure cuff |
CN104305677A (en) * | 2014-10-09 | 2015-01-28 | 平湖市四通箱包有限公司 | Safety type notebook computer bag |
US20150313346A1 (en) * | 2014-05-05 | 2015-11-05 | American Recreation Products, Inc. | Pack having one-piece seamless bodyside liner |
US20160213128A1 (en) * | 2015-01-27 | 2016-07-28 | Argon Technolgies, Inc. dba Klymit | Air frame packs and backpacks |
US20190254397A1 (en) * | 2016-06-14 | 2019-08-22 | Tsun Ho WANG | Bag provided with expansion means |
CN111543773A (en) * | 2020-05-25 | 2020-08-18 | 孟令霄 | Children schoolbag |
US20220125183A1 (en) * | 2020-10-22 | 2022-04-28 | GORUCK Holdings, LLC | Rucking article |
US11452360B1 (en) | 2021-09-21 | 2022-09-27 | Qwasahn A. Cedeno, Sr. | Backpack with inflatable cushions |
USD1007140S1 (en) | 2021-05-06 | 2023-12-12 | GORUCK Holdings, LLC | Backpack for carrying a weighted plate |
USD1013806S1 (en) | 2022-06-14 | 2024-02-06 | GORUCK Holdings, LLC | Weighted plate |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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CN103892553A (en) * | 2014-04-09 | 2014-07-02 | 宫文峰 | High-performance impact-resistant falling-protection computer bag |
FR3042125A1 (en) * | 2015-10-12 | 2017-04-14 | Mounir Berbagui | PUNCHING BAG, AIR BAG |
KR102652973B1 (en) * | 2024-01-29 | 2024-04-01 | 박희경 | Eco-friendly backpack made from recycled PET |
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- 2010-01-15 KR KR1020100003849A patent/KR101166622B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2010-03-18 WO PCT/US2010/027793 patent/WO2011062651A1/en active Application Filing
- 2010-04-20 CN CN2010201825051U patent/CN201814041U/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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US4750654A (en) * | 1984-12-20 | 1988-06-14 | Sacs Millet Sa | Back pack with reinforced front panel |
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Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8657248B2 (en) * | 2010-07-22 | 2014-02-25 | Salero, Llc | Supporting apparatus for thin electronic product |
US20120018609A1 (en) * | 2010-07-22 | 2012-01-26 | Rowzee Laura Marie | Supporting apparatus for thin electronic product |
US20120085804A1 (en) * | 2010-10-11 | 2012-04-12 | Philip Troy Christy | Backpack |
US20120150051A1 (en) * | 2010-12-09 | 2012-06-14 | Welch Allyn, Inc. | Blood pressure cuff |
US9848686B2 (en) * | 2014-05-05 | 2017-12-26 | Exxel Outdoors, Llc | Pack having one-piece seamless bodyside liner |
US20150313346A1 (en) * | 2014-05-05 | 2015-11-05 | American Recreation Products, Inc. | Pack having one-piece seamless bodyside liner |
CN104305677A (en) * | 2014-10-09 | 2015-01-28 | 平湖市四通箱包有限公司 | Safety type notebook computer bag |
US20160213128A1 (en) * | 2015-01-27 | 2016-07-28 | Argon Technolgies, Inc. dba Klymit | Air frame packs and backpacks |
US20190254397A1 (en) * | 2016-06-14 | 2019-08-22 | Tsun Ho WANG | Bag provided with expansion means |
US10750834B2 (en) * | 2016-06-14 | 2020-08-25 | Tsun Ho WANG | Bag provided with expansion means |
CN111543773A (en) * | 2020-05-25 | 2020-08-18 | 孟令霄 | Children schoolbag |
US20220125183A1 (en) * | 2020-10-22 | 2022-04-28 | GORUCK Holdings, LLC | Rucking article |
USD1007140S1 (en) | 2021-05-06 | 2023-12-12 | GORUCK Holdings, LLC | Backpack for carrying a weighted plate |
US11452360B1 (en) | 2021-09-21 | 2022-09-27 | Qwasahn A. Cedeno, Sr. | Backpack with inflatable cushions |
USD1013806S1 (en) | 2022-06-14 | 2024-02-06 | GORUCK Holdings, LLC | Weighted plate |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
KR101166622B1 (en) | 2012-07-18 |
KR20110056191A (en) | 2011-05-26 |
CN201814041U (en) | 2011-05-04 |
WO2011062651A1 (en) | 2011-05-26 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: E. MISHAN & SONS, INC., NEW YORK Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:REKUC, RICHARD J.;ZALINSKY, LAWRENCE W.;REEL/FRAME:023550/0547 Effective date: 20091120 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |