Claims
- 1. An apparatus comprising:
- a main body having a front portion, a rear portion opposite the front portion, a first side margin and a second side margin opposite the first side margin;
- at least one carrying strap attached to the main body, the carrying strap being configured such that the apparatus is selectively worn by an individual with the front portion of the main body oriented closest to the individual;
- a first retention strap having a first fixed edge attached to the rear portion of the main body at a point proximate the first side margin, and a first free edge at least partially spaced from the first fixed edge, the first retention flap being movable between an open position in which the first free edge projects outward from the rear portion of the main body such that the apparatus selectively receives an article, and a closed position in which the first retention flap is positioned generally close to the rear portion, the first free edge having at least one first fastener;
- a second retention flap having a second fixed edge attached to the rear portion of the main body at a point proximate the second side margin, and a second free edge at least partially spaced from the second fixed edge, the second retention flap being movable between an open position in which the second free edge projects outward from the rear portion of the body such that the apparatus selectively receives the article, and a closed position in which the free edge of the second retention strap is displaced toward the first side margin with respect to the open position and the second retention flap is positioned generally close to the rear portion, the free edge of the second retention flap having at least one second fastener complementary to the first fastener to releasably engage the first fastener on the first retention flap when the first and second retention flaps are in the closed positions, the first and second retention flaps forming a sleeve between the rear portion of the main body and the first and second retention flaps when the first and second retention straps are in the closed position, the sleeve being configured to releasably retain the article to the apparatus;
- a connector having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the second retention flap at a point proximate the second free edge; and
- a guide coupled to the main body at a point near the second margin, the guide having an opening therethrough for receiving the connector and directing a portion of the connector from the second retention flap toward the second margin such that a force exerted on the second end of the connector causes the second retention flap to be urged at least partially toward the second margin and to be separated from the first retention flap, and releases the article from the sleeve.
- 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a grip near the second end of the connector.
- 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one terminal end of the carrying strap engages the upper end of the main body and the opposing terminal end of the carrying strap engages the lower end of the main body.
- 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the carrying strap further comprises an elongated first webbing strip being fixed at one terminal end to the main body, an elongated second webbing strip being fixed at one terminal end to the main body, and a buckling means whereby the free end of the first webbing strip is adjustably engageable with the free end of the second webbing strip.
- 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first fixed edge of the first retention flap is spaced apart from the second fixed edge of the second retention flap.
- 6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the first fixed edge and the second fixed edge are separated by a distance slightly greater than a width of the article.
- 7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the first fixed edge and the second fixed edge are parallel.
- 8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first fastener comprises a plurality of hooks proximate the first free edge, and the second fastener comprises a complementary plurality of loops proximate the second free edge such that the first free edge is releasably engageable with the second free edge when the first and second retention straps are in the closed position.
- 9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first fastener comprises a plurality of loops proximate the first free edge, and the second fastener comprises a complementary plurality of hooks proximate the second free edge such that the first free edge is releasably engageable with the second free edge when the first and second retention flaps are in the closed position.
- 10. An apparatus for releasably retaining an article, the apparatus comprising:
- a body having a front portion, a rear portion generally opposite the front portion, a first side margin and a second side margin generally opposite the first side margin the front portion being configured to be worn by an individual;
- at least one carrying strap attached to the body, the carrying strap being configured such that the apparatus is selectively worn by an individual with the front portion of the body oriented closest to the individual;
- a first retention flap attached to the body at a point generally proximate the first side margin, the first retention strap having at least one first fastener;
- a second retention flap having a fixed edge attached to the body at a point generally proximate the second side margin, and a free edge at least partially spaced from the fixed edge, the second retention flap being movable between an open position in which the free edge projects outward from the rear portion of the body such that the apparatus selectively receives the article, and a closed position in which the free edge of the second retention flap is displaced toward the first side margin with respect to the open position and the second retention flap is oriented generally close to the rear portion of the body, the second retention flap having at least one second fastener complementary to the first fastener on the first retention flap such that the second retention flap releasably engages the first retention flap when the second retention flap is in the closed position and selectively releasably retains the article to the apparatus;
- a guide coupled to the body at a point generally proximate the second side margin, the guide having an opening therethrough; and
- a connector having a first end coupled to the second retention flap and a second end opposite the first end, the length of the connector being extendible through the opening in the guide such that a force exerted on the second end of the connector urges at least a portion of the second retention flap toward the second side margin and separates the second fastener from the first fastener to release the article from the backpack.
- 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first retention flap is spaced apart from the fixed edge of the second retention flap.
- 12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first retention flap is a spaced apart from the fixed edge of the second retention flap by a distance slightly greater than a width of the article.
- 13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the article has a first edge and an opposing second edge , the first retaining flap is configured to overlap a portion of the first edge of the article, and the second retaining flap is configured to overlap a portion of the second edge of the article.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first retention flap has a first fixed edge attached to the rear portion of the body at a point proximate the first side margin, and a first free edge at least partially spaced from the first fixed edge, the first retention flap, being movable between an open position in which the first free edge projects outward from the rear portion of the body such that the apparatus selectively receives an article, and a closed position in which the first retention flap is positioned generally close to the rear portion.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/020,075, filed Feb. 6, 1998 which has matured into U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,533.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
612489 A1 |
Aug 1994 |
EPX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
Shorty's Inc., the Packs--Skate (catalog), visited on Apr. 9, 1998, <http://shortysinc.com/skatepacks.html>. |
Shorty's, Inc., the Packs--Snowboard (catalog), visited on Apr. 9, 1998, <http://shortysinc.com/snowpacks.html>. |
Earnshaw's Infants Girls/Boys Wear, vol. 72, Jan.-Jun. 1988, p. 169. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
020075 |
Feb 1998 |
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