Convertible Satchel

Abstract

A satchel is made convertible for selective carrying by hand, in the manner of a handgrip or valise, or by supporting it on the back and shoulders in the manner of a knapsack. A substantially rigid frame supports the container or bag portion and has a manually engageable handle and a shoulder strap harness attached thereto. A panel or flap in the covering material of the satchel conceals the strap harness when carrying by hand is intended, and this flap or panel rolls up to provide a resilient cushion engageable with the back of the user when shoulder carrying is intended, the cushion serving to space the lower portion of the frame away from the back of the user. The panel is closed by a slide fastener and straps and buckles are provided to keep the panel in its rolled position. The frame may be made integrally with, or attachable to, the container portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a CONVERTIBLE SATCHEL adapted to be carried in the hand in the manner of a conventional suitcase or valise, or carried upon the back in the manner of a knapsack.

Conventional suitcases or valises have a manually engageable carrying handle on their upper edge. This construction is convenient for carrying the bag short distances, because the hand of the user can readily grasp and let go of the carrying handle. However, this mode of use necessarily involves tying up the use of the carrying hand, and the uneven distribution of forces results in the user continually stopping to change the bag from one hand to the other.

In an attempt to overcome the recited problems relating to transportation over a considerable distance, shoulder straps have been provided, by means of which the bag can be carried on the back and shoulders of the user. This solution has not proven to be widely acceptable because of two principle problems. In the first place, the appearance of the bag is not enhanced by the addition of the shoulder straps, and bag is not supported in a comfortable position when worn as a knapsack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a convertible satchel for selective carrying in the hand or on the back of the user and in which the back carrying straps are concealed from view when not in use so as to provide a hand-supported bag of conventional appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convertible satchel which is formed and portioned for support on the shoulders and back of the user in a manner affording maximum comfort and unrestricted freedom of movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a convertible satchel in which the back carrying straps are selectively concealable behind a panel, and in which the panel cooperates with the straps to provide optimum comfort to the user.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the specification progresses and the new and useful features of the convertible satchel will be more fully defined in the claims attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a convertible satchel constructed in accordance with the present invention, the parts of the satchel being shown in operative position for carrying by hand;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but showing the parts in operative position for carrying of the satchel upon the back and shoulder of the user;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the plane of line 3--3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially on the plane of line 4--4 of FIG. 2.

While only the preferred form of the invention is shown, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims attached hereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, the convertible satchel of the present invention basically includes a container bag portion 11 having a manually engageable handle or handles 12, a substantially rigid frame 13 operatively connected to the container bag portion 11, suspension means 14 on the frame 13 formed for supporting the frame and container bag portion across the back and shoulders of a user (not shown), and a panel 16 of resilient flexible material selectively mountable on the satchel in an extended position, in covering relation to the suspension means 14, and a retracted position (best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4) providing a resilient cushion 15 between the frame 13 and the back (not shown) of a person carrying the satchel on his back and shoulders.

The container bag portion 11 may be made from any of a number of suitable materials normally used in the construction of satchels, suitcases, etc. Preferably, the covering material is flexible and may conveniently consist of canvas, fabric or other suitable flexible sheet material. The container bag portion 11 here utilizes a conventional slide fastener closure 17 and is equipped with a pair of manual carrying handles 12. Panel 16 comprises a generally rectangular flap 18 of covering material which may be separated from the surrounding portion of the covering material, on three sides, by a slide fastener or zipper 19.

As may best be seen in FIG. 3 of the drawing, the frame 13 is secured to the bag 11, to lie behind the panel 16 when the latter is closed. The frame 13 is preferably of substantially rigid construction in order to serve both as a mount for the suspension means 14 and as a stiffener for the bag 11. Frame 13 may be made of any suitable material having the required properties of strength, substantial rigidity and light weight, such as the sheet plywood diaphragm illustrated in the drawings. Frame 13 is separated from the interior of the bag 11 by an interposed sheet of fabric 21, see FIG. 3.

The suspension means 14 here includes a pair of adjustable straps 22 and 23 adapted to fit over and around the shoulders of the user (not shown). These straps are preferably formed of webbing and are secured at one end to the frame 13 by reducing the width of such ends, passing them through grommeted apertures 24 and 26 in the frame 13 and releasably securing them in place by means of a buckle 27. The free ends of the straps 22 and 23 are folded back through buckles 28 and 29 to form adjustable loops carrying snap hooks 31 and 32, by means of which the straps may be demountably attached to anchorages formed by spring wire loops 33 and 34 secured in grommeted apertures 36 and 37 in the frame 13. Buckles 28 and 29 permit convenient adjustment of the length of the shoulder straps 22 and 23.

As may be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing, when the case is to be carried in the usual way, e.g., by hand, the frame 13 and suspension means 14 are completely concealed behind the closed panel 16 so that the presence of the frame and suspension means is not noticeable, and the satchel has the appearance of a conventional handbag. However, when the device is to be carried as a knapsack on a person's back, panel 16 is unfastened and rolled down to expose the suspension means 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the rolled panel is secured in rolled form near the bottom of the frame 13 by straps 38 secured at one end to frame 13 and having snap fasteners 39 at their other ends. The straps 22 and 23 are then looped around the shoulders of the person who is to carry the device on his back, and the cushion provided by the rolled panel 16 is interposed between the lower portion of frame 13 and the back of the user to support the case in the most comfortable carrying position. Preferably, panel 16 is provided with a layer 41 of resilient material to increase the bulk and resilient softness of the rolled-up panel 15. The layer 41 may conveniently consist of a resilient and light weight foamed rubber or plastic.

When it is desired to reconvert the device for manual carrying, the lower ends of the straps 38 are unsnapped from the base of the container, and the panel 16 is unrolled and is refastened in its extended position by means of the slide fastener 19.

It should be understood that the convertible satchel of the present invention can be made of unitary construction in the manner illustrated in the drawing and described above, and that the harness arrangement comprising the frame 13 suspension 14 and panel 16 may also be manufactured and sold as a separate unit securable by suitable means, such as a slide fastener, or snap fasteners, to an existing case or other portable container. In the latter event, the fabric sheet 21 is not normally required, since the frame 13 will be secured to the outside surface of the case. The panel 16 may be secured directly to the frame 13 instead of being secured to or formed integrally with the container.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the convertible satchel of the present invention is adapted for ready and rapid conversion for carrying on a person's back or in his hand, the conversion being effected without disturbing the contents of the case. The harness arrangement is light in weight and adds little to the spatial requirements of the bag, and is completely hidden from view when the bag is to be carried by hand.

Claims

I claim:

1. A backpack harness for supporting a satchel on the shoulders and back of a user, comprising:

a substantially rigid frame adapted for connection to the satchel,

means connected to said frame and formed for supporting said frame across the back and shoulders of a user, and

a panel of resilient flexible material connected to said frame and movable between an extended portion in covering relation to said strap means and frame and a retracted position providing a resilient cushion on said frame in position for engagement with the back of the user.

2. A backpack harness as described in claim 1 and wherein retaining devices are provided for releasably securing said panel in said extended position and said retracted position.

3. A backpack harness as described in claim 2 and wherein said retaining devices comprise a slide fastener formed for releasably securing said panel in said extended position, and a strap formed for releasably securing said panel in said retracted position.

4. A backpack harness as described in claim 2 and wherein said panel is rolled up at the lower portion of said frame when in said retracted position to provide said resilient cushion.

5. A convertible satchel comprising

a container bag portion having a manually engageable handle,

a substantially rigid frame connected to said bag portion,

suspension means on said frame formed for supporting said frame and bag portion across the back and shoulders of a user,

a panel of resilient flexible material selectively mountable on the satchel in an extended position in covering relation to said suspension means and a retracted position providing a resilient cushion between said frame and the back of a person carrying said satchel on his back and shoulders.

6. A convertible satchel as described in claim 5 and wherein said satchel has an external covering of flexible material over at least one side thereof, and said panel comprises a flexible layer of resilient material and an outer layer forming a continuation of the flexible material of said external covering.

7. A convertible satchel as described in claim 6 and wherein said outer layer of said panel comprises a flap of said external covering formed for detachable connection to the rest of the external covering when said panel is in said extended position.

8. A convertible satchel as described in claim 7 and wherein slide fastener means is provided on said flap and said covering for releasably securing the free periphery of said flap to said covering.

9. A convertible satchel as described in claim 5 and wherein said suspension means comprises a strap harness adapted to fit over the shoulders of the wearer when said panel is in said retracted position and to be concealed by said panel when the latter is in said extended position.

10. A convertible satchel as described in claim 5 and wherein said panel is formed to be rolled up into said retracted position at the lower portion of said frame when the convertible satchel is supported on the back and shoulders of a user by said suspension means whereby the rolled panel will provide said resilient cushion between the lower portion of said frame and the back of the user, and strap and buckle means is mounted on said frame for releasably securing the rolled panel in the described position.