U.S. patent application number 11/729704 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-02 for safe sack.
Invention is credited to Marissa Hamilton.
Application Number | 20080237288 11/729704 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39792500 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080237288 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hamilton; Marissa |
October 2, 2008 |
Safe sack
Abstract
A backpack having increased security features is disclosed that
helps prevent the theft of objects stored in the interior portion
of the backpack and in the external pockets. In particular, the
backpack includes a security cover flap that is disposed to prevent
access to the closing mechanism of the interior portion of the
backpack. The security cover includes a latch portion that is
secured to the first surface of the backpack, proximate to the
wearer to prevent a criminal from accessing the closing mechanism,
opening the backpack and stealing items from the interior. External
pockets are provided on the front surface of the backpack,
proximate to the wearer's body making them and the objects
contained therein inaccessible to other people.
Inventors: |
Hamilton; Marissa; (Derry,
NH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THOMAS P. GRODT ATTORNEY AT LAW
4 PEABOY ROAD ANNEX
DERRY
NH
03038
US
|
Family ID: |
39792500 |
Appl. No.: |
11/729704 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/645 ;
224/651; 224/654; 224/656; 224/657; 224/658 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 13/18 20130101;
A45F 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/645 ;
224/651; 224/654; 224/656; 224/657; 224/658 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/04 20060101
A45F003/04 |
Claims
1. A backpack comprising: a front side, a rear side, two side
portions, and a bottom portion configured and arranged to enclose
an interior portion, said backpack having a top and bottom; the
front side, rear side, and two side portions forming a top opening
allowing communication with the interior portion; at least one
shoulder harness connected to the front surface at the top and
bottom of said front surface; a closing mechanism configured and
arranged to close off said top opening and prevent communication
between the exterior and the interior portion; a security cover
flap disposed on the rear surface and sized and arranged to cover a
portion of the closing mechanism, the security closing flap
including a latch portion having a securing portion for securing
said security cover flap to said front surface; and one or more
secure utility pockets disposed on said front surface, wherein said
secure utility pockets include a secure pocket cover attached to
said front surface forming a secure utility pocket interior.
2. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the closing mechanism is a
zipper.
3. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the closing mechanism is a
drawstring.
4. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the closing mechanism is one or
more snaps.
5. The backpack of claim 1 wherein said securing portion are hook
and lap fasteners positioned on said latch portion and said front
portion respectively.
6. The backpack of claim 1 wherein said securing portion are a clip
and clip receiving portion positioned on said latch portion and
said front portion respectively.
7. The backpack of claim 1 wherein said securing portion are one or
more snap fasteners and snap fastener receiver portions positioned
on said latch portion and said front portion respectively.
8. The backpack of claim 1 wherein said securing portion is a
zipper having zipper portions disposed on said latch portion and
said front portion.
9. The backpack of claim 1 wherein said one or more secure utility
pockets include a secure utility pocket having a pocket closing
portion and being sized and configured to receive objects.
10. The backpack of claim 8 wherein the pocket closing portion
includes hook and loop fasteners disposed on said pocket closing
portion and said front surface.
11. The backpack of claim 8 wherein the pocket closing portion
includes hook and loop fasteners disposed on said pocket closing
portion and said secure pocket cover.
12. The backpack of claim 8 wherein the pocket closing portion
includes snap fasteners and snap fastener receiver portions
disposed on said pocket closing portion and said front surface.
13. The backpack of claim 8 wherein the pocket closing portion
includes snap fastener and snap fastener receiver portions disposed
on said pocket closing portion and said secure pocket cover.
14. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the one or more secure utility
pockets includes a secure utility pocket having a transparent
secure pocket cover.
15. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the at least one shoulder strap
includes a pair of shoulder straps.
16. The backpack of claim 1 further comprising a front cover,
removeable attached to the front surface and sized and configured
to cover a portion of the one or more secure utility pockets.
17. The backpack of claim 16 wherein the front cover is removeably
attached to the front cover by a cover fastener about the periphery
of a portion of the front side.
18. The backpack of claim 17 wherein the cover fastener is a
zipper.
19. The backpack of claim 17 wherein the cover fastener are hook
and loop fasteners disposed on the front cover and the front side.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] This invention is generally directed to backpacks and more
specifically directed to backpacks that include one or more utility
pockets positioned against the wearer's back.
[0002] Backpack usage has become ubiquitous throughout all classes
of society. Students use backpacks to carry books back and forth to
classes, business people use backpacks in place of attache cases,
travelers use backpacks as carry on luggage for airplanes and for
carrying personal effects on small trips, and of course, outdoor
enthusiasts use backpacks to carry their equipment. Typically, a
backpack has one or more interior pockets that are sized to hold
larger and heavier items and one or more exterior pockets that are
designed to carry smaller items. In addition, the exterior pockets
provide quicker and easier access to objects that may be needed by
the wearer without the need to empty the interior pockets.
[0003] As such, many people using a backpack will put their
identification papers such as a passport or driver's license in an
exterior pocket. Billfolds, wallets, or other money holders may be
placed in exterior pockets along with credit cards or other
valuables such as watches. Often these utility pockets are closed
using closing means that are easily accessible. Wearers typically
give scant thought to the security aspects of these objects.
However, criminals who are looking to steal these objects note
carefully where the pockets are located and how they are
closed.
[0004] Therefore what is needed to overcome the limitations of the
prior art is a backpack having security features that deters
criminals from attempting to steal the items stored in the interior
portion or in the exterior pockets of a backpack.
SUMMARY
[0005] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention
in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the
invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the
invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical
elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention.
Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a
simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that
is presented later.
[0006] A backpack having increased security features is disclosed
that helps prevent the theft of objects stored in the interior
portion of the backpack and in the external pockets. In particular,
the backpack includes a security cover flap that is disposed to
prevent access to the closing mechanism of the interior portion of
the backpack. The security cover includes a latch portion that is
secured to the first surface of the backpack, proximate to the
wearer to prevent a criminal from accessing the closing mechanism,
opening the backpack and stealing items from the interior. External
pockets are provided on the front surface of the backpack,
proximate to the wearer's body making them and the objects
contained therein inaccessible to other people.
[0007] In particular, what is described is a backpack that includes
a front side, a rear side, two side portions, and a bottom portion
that are formed together to enclose an interior portion. The
backpack has a top and bottom and the front side, rear side, and
two side portions forming a top opening allowing communication with
the interior portion such that a wearer can place items in the
backpack for storage and remove them when needed. The backpack
further includes at least one shoulder harness connected to the
front surface at the top and bottom of said front surface to allow
a wearer to insert their arm in to the shoulder harness in order to
carry the backpack. The backpack includes a closing mechanism that
seals the top opening and prevents objects from falling out of the
interior portion or people from seeing or seizing objects contained
therein. The closing mechanism can be a zipper, clip, snap
fastener, hook and loop fastener, drawstring, or other fastening
system.
[0008] A security cover flap is provided that prevents another
person from accessing the closing mechanism. The security cover
flap is attached to the rear surface, is designed to fold upward
and cover a portion of the closing mechanism, and is securely
closed using a latch portion having a securing portion for securing
the security cover flap to the front surface. The securing portion
can be secured using hook and loop fasteners, clips, snap
fasteners, or other fastening means. The backpack also includes one
or more secure utility pockets disposed on the front surface. The
secure utility pockets include a secure pocket cover attached to
the front surface and forming a secure utility pocket interior. The
secure utility pockets also have a pocket-closing portion that is
sized and arranged to prevent loss of objects stored in the secure
utility pocket. The closing portion can be secured either to the
front surface of the backpack or to the secure pocket cover as a
flap. The closing portion can be secured using hook and loop
fasteners, snap fasteners, clips, or other fastening means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.
The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being
placed on illustration of principles of the invention. The drawings
include the following figures:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a right-rear perspective view of an embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0011] FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention may be understood by the following
detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the
attached drawings. The following detailed description of certain
embodiments is by way of example only and is not meant to limit the
scope of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 1 depicts a right-rear perspective view of an
embodiment of the present invention that includes a backpack 100.
The backpack 100 includes at least one shoulder harness. In one
embodiment with a single shoulder harness, a wearer would place one
of their arms through with the shoulder harness such that the top
part of the shoulder harness rests on the top of the wearer's
shoulder and the backpack rests against the wearer's side and back.
The embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, includes two shoulder harnesses
102a and 102b through which the wearer would place both their arms
with the upper portion of the shoulder straps 102c-102d resting on
the wearer's shoulders. This will position the backpack high upon
the wearer's back in a more comfortable and biomechanically
efficient position.
[0014] The backpack also includes an interior portion (not shown)
that may include one or more interior compartments. The interior
portion may be accessible via a top opening (not shown). A zipper
103 may be used to close the top opening. The interior compartments
are sized and shaped to hold larger and heavier items such as
books, papers, or other equipment needed by a wearer. The interior
compartments may be subdivided into smaller interior compartments
for ease of packing and organization.
[0015] The exterior of the backpack has a front side 104 that is
proximate to the wearer's body when the wearer has placed their
shoulders through the shoulder straps 102a and 102b and a rear side
106 that is distal from the wearer's body. The backpack 100 further
includes side portions 108a and 108b.
[0016] The backpack 100 may include one or more pockets on a side
portion 108a, 108b. As depicted, the backpack 100 includes a side
pocket 111 on side portion 108. This may be a mesh pocket, as
depicted, that is sized and configured to receive a water bottle or
other item. The one or more side pockets may be mesh or may be
enclosed depending on the intended use.
[0017] The top opening is closed using zipper 103, which makes the
interior portion of the backpack 100 vulnerable to criminals who
may quickly unzip the top opening, steal what is inside and depart
the scene of the crime. In one embodiment of the present invention,
a security cover flap 110 may be used to cover and secure the
zipper 103. The security flap 110 is attached on the rear side of
the backpack 100 and opens in direction a', away from the wearer.
The security cover flap 110 includes a latch portion 112 that is
releasably attached to the front surface 104 of the backpack 100.
The latch portion 112 may be releasably attached to the front
surface 104 using hook and loop fasteners, snaps, clips, or any
other fastener means that allows repeated use. In operation, the
security cover flap 110 may cover a portion of the zipper 103 or
the entire zipper 103 depending upon the desired aesthetics and use
of the backpack 100.
[0018] As discussed above, the presence of exterior pockets on a
backpack provide an easy opportunity for a criminal to steal the
items stored therein. In the present invention, one or more secure
utility pockets 114 are disposed upon the front surface 102 of the
backpack 100. In general, the secure utility pockets 114 are
rectangular and may be closed using hook-loop fasteners, snaps,
zippers, clips, or other closing means. The secure utility pockets
114 may be sized and disposed in any pattern depending on the
desired use. In addition, one or more secure utility pockets 114
may include a clear window 116 so that the contents may be visible,
for example for an identification tag. Moreover, one or more secure
utility pockets 114 may be sized and configured to hold pens,
pencils, or other small objects such as a small flashlight.
[0019] In another embodiment, a cover (not shown) may be secured
over the front side 102 covering the secure utility pockets 114.
The cover may be zippered to the periphery of the front surface and
may be made of mesh or opaque material. A wearer would then remove
the cover to access the objects held in the utility pockets 114 and
would resecure the cover when finished. The cover could prevent
other people from visually inspecting the front surface 102 and the
secure utility pockets 114 when the backpack 100 is not being worn
by the wearer.
[0020] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and details may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims. All the features disclosed in this specification, including
any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by
alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar
purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise.
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