U.S. patent application number 10/440230 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-25 for knapsack.
Invention is credited to Shamas, Steven.
Application Number | 20030234269 10/440230 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29721253 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030234269 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shamas, Steven |
December 25, 2003 |
Knapsack
Abstract
A knapsack includes footwear securing arrangements to either
side thereof. The footwear securing arrangements preferably have a
releasable strap arrangement for placement about the footwear and
drawing it into engagement with the knapsack. The preferred
arrangement includes a base strap for engaging and supporting the
sole of the footwear and a releasable side strap for engaging an
upper portion of the footwear and draw it into engagement with the
knapsack.
Inventors: |
Shamas, Steven; (Oakville,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DENNISON ASSOCIATES
133 RICHMOND STREET WEST
SUITE 301
TORONTO
ON
M5H 2L7
CA
|
Family ID: |
29721253 |
Appl. No.: |
10/440230 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/576 ;
224/651 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/0425 20130101;
A45F 3/04 20130101; A45C 3/12 20130101; A45F 2003/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/576 ;
224/651 |
International
Class: |
A45C 015/00; A45F
003/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 21, 2002 |
CA |
2,391,188 |
Claims
The embodiments of the Invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A knapsack comprising a base, a front, a back and two sides
cooperating to define a cavity which is selectively closed by a
front flap; said knapsack further comprising two shoulder straps
for securing of said knapsack; said knapsack further comprising two
footwear securing arrangements located on opposite sides of the
exterior of said knapsack, each footwear securing arrangement
comprising a support member for supporting a base portion of one
footwear and a releasable securing member positioned to engage an
upper portion of the one footwear and draw the footwear into
engagement with the knapsack.
2. A knapsack as claimed in claim 1 wherein each footwear securing
arrangement is formed by straps.
3. A knapsack as claimed in claim 2 wherein said straps cooperate
to form a holster type arrangement receiving a heel portion and a
neck portion of one footwear with a toe portion thereof extending
to the front of the knapsack.
4. A knapsack as claimed in claim 3 wherein said straps of said
footwear support arrangement include a base strap secured to said
base, a releasable upper strap attached at the junction of said
back and one side and intermediate the height of said back.
5. A knapsack as claimed in claim 1 wherein each footwear support
arrangement is sized for supporting a ski boot or snowboard
boot.
6. A knapsack as claimed in claim 5 wherein each footwear support
arrangement is formed by at least two connected straps with one
strap supporting a sole portion of the footwear and one strap
engaging a neck portion of the footwear.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to knapsacks designed for
carrying of footwear to the exterior thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Certain sporting activities and in particular, downhill
skiing and snowboarding, use bulky footwear. This footwear,
together with related equipment is difficult to carry to a chalet
or building at the base of the hill in preparation for the
particular activity. Various bags have been designed for carrying
of boots therein, however, the bag is heavy and is awkward to carry
with the other equipment. To partially solve this problem, it is
known to wear ski boots from the parking lot to the base lodge.
With younger children, the parent or adult typically have to carry
their own equipment plus most of the equipment of the child.
[0003] The present invention provides a unique knapsack structure
which simplifies the carrying of boot type footwear in
particular.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A knapsack according to the present invention comprises a
base, front, back and two sides cooperating to define a cavity
which is selectively closed by a top flap. The knapsack further
includes two shoulder straps for securing of the knapsack and two
footwear securing arrangements located on opposite sides of the
exterior of the knapsack. Each footwear securing arrangement
comprises a support member for supporting a base portion of one
footwear and a releasable securing member positioned to engage an
upper portion of the one footwear and draw the footwear into
engagement of the knapsack.
[0005] In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, the
footwear securing arrangement is designed for engaging a footwear
of a boot design.
[0006] According to a further aspect of the invention, the footwear
securing arrangement is formed by straps attached to the exterior
of the knapsack.
[0007] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the
footwear securing arrangement is formed by straps and the straps
cooperate to form a holster type arrangement for receiving a heel
portion and a neck portion of one footwear with a toe portion
thereof extending to the front of the knapsack.
[0008] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the
straps of the footwear support arrangement include base straps
secured to the base, a releasable upper strap attached at the
junction of the back and one side of the knapsack and intermediate
the height of the back.
[0009] According to a further aspect of the invention, each
footwear support arrangement is sized for supporting a ski boot or
snowboard boot.
[0010] According to a further aspect of the invention, a knapsack
is designed for receiving one footwear of a boot design.
[0011] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, each
footwear support arrangement is formed by at least two connecting
straps with one strap supporting a sole portion of the footwear and
one strap engaging a neck portion of the footwear.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the
drawings, wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the knapsack;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top view of the knapsack of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of the knapsack of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a back view of the knapsack; and
[0017] FIG. 5 is a front view of the knapsack showing supporting a
ski boot to one side of the knapsack and a snowboard boot to the
opposite side of the knapsack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The knapsack 2, as shown in the perspective of FIG. 1, has a
back 4, opposed sides 6, a front 10 and a top flap 8 which is
releasably secured to the front. These components collectively
define a cavity for carrying various user items.
[0019] As with traditional knapsacks, two padded shoulder straps 12
are provided and the knapsack preferably has a waist strap 50 as
shown in FIG. 4. The back of the knapsack adjacent the top flap 8
has a lift handle 14 defined by the strap 16 which passes through
the molded handle 18. The strap 16 is typically stitched to the
back 4 of the knapsack with the stitching of the padded shoulder
straps 12 to this back. In this way, the knapsack can be carried by
the shoulders of the user or the user may prefer to carry the
knapsack by the lift handle 14.
[0020] Each side 6 of the knapsack has secured exterior thereto, a
footwear securing arrangement shown as 30 or 32. Each footwear
securing arrangement includes a base strap 36 secured to the base
of the knapsack and extends from the base of the knapsack near the
back of the knapsack. This base strap joins with and is secured to
the side strap 38. Side strap 38 is secured intermediate the height
of the side of the knapsack and at the junction at the side and
back of the knapsack.
[0021] The side strap provides a vertical support for the base
strap at a position spaced outwardly from the respective sides of
the knapsack. The side strap extends forwardly and is releasably
joined to the front of the knapsack by means of the buckle 40. One
portion of the buckle is secured to the side strap 38 and the other
portion of the buckle is secured to the stub strap 42. The stub
strap 42 is again located at a junction of the side and in this
case, the front of the knapsack. Typically, the stitching is used
to secure the various components to one another and is also used to
secure the straps to the knapsack.
[0022] The footwear securing arrangement 30 or 32 defines a slot
like opening to the side of the knapsack. A ski boot, snowboard
boot, roller blade or other boot type footwear can be positioned in
the slot like opening with the toe of the footwear extending
forwardly and the sole of the footwear approximately at the level
of the base of the knapsack. Basically, a heel portion of the
footwear is located in the slot arrangement and the base strap 36
provides a bottom support. The side strap 38 is placed about the
neck of the boot portion and drawn into engagement with the side 6
of the knapsack.
[0023] FIG. 5 shows the knapsack arrangement with a ski boot
secured on one side of the knapsack and a snowboard boot secured on
the other side of the knapsack.
[0024] With this securing arrangement, it can be seen that the sole
of the footwear in the case of a snowboard boot or ski boot, is
generally adjacent to and at the level of the base of the knapsack.
If the knapsack is placed on a horizontal surface, the ski boot to
a large extent will be self supporting at the side of the knapsack.
The ski boot will not fall over as the side strap 38 secures it to
the knapsack. The knapsack is essentially self supporting and any
force of one ski boot on one side of the knapsack is opposed by an
opposite force on the other side of the knapsack. Thus the knapsack
can be set on its base and the footwear is essentially self
supporting at the side of the knapsack. The releasable buckle 40
can be of various designs and allows the footwear to be easily
inserted or removed from the holster type securing arrangement.
[0025] It is preferable that the base strap 36 extends outwardly
from the base of the knapsack and then extends upwardly to be
joined and secured to the side strap 38. It is preferred that these
two straps be stitched together to maintain the particular
orientation. In this orientation the side strap 38 goes up the
outside of the boot of the footwear and draws the boot into
engagement with the knapsack.
[0026] The footwear securing arrangements 30 and 32 maintain the
footwear generally at the side of the knapsack, thus the knapsack
can be easily worn on the back of the user. Fortunately for young
children, the size of the knapsack can be reduced and the size of
the footwear securing arrangement is similarly reduced due to
smaller size boot. This arrangement makes it quite easy and
convenient for young participants to carry their own footwear
equipment as well as other items for the day's activities.
[0027] Knapsacks of this type are also very convenient for various
children's programs where large groups or clubs are taken to the
ski hill or activity site by bus or motor coach. The knapsack with
the various equipment for the day such as extra mittens, scarves,
goggles, etc. are provided in the knapsack together with a lunch.
The ski boots or snowboard boots are provided to the outside of the
knapsack. The knapsack is carried by the lift handle 18 onto the
bus and the knapsack is worn from the motor coach to the base
lodge. This arrangement leaves the hands of the user free to carry
their skis, ski poles or snowboard, etc.
[0028] It can be appreciated that other arrangements for securing
of the footwear at the sides of the knapsack can be used. It is
preferred that the footwear arrangements define a slot like
arrangement which includes an upper portion for gripping of the
neck or boot portion of the footwear. This knapsack is also
suitable for carrying other footwear such as roller blades, skates,
hiking boots, etc. It is preferred that the head position of the
footwear be located at the back of the knapsack with the rear of
the boot extending upwardly. This provides a large area to reduce
the load exerted by the boot against the user's back. It is also
preferred that the two sides of the knapsack and the back thereof
be reinforced with a stiffening material. This assists in keeping
the knapsack upright when it is taken off and set on the floor with
footwear secured either side thereof.
[0029] Although various preferred embodiments of the present
invention have been described herein in detail, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be
made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or
the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *