This application claims priority of application Ser. No. 61/557,373, filed Nov. 8, 2011.
This application relates generally to backpack systems and more particularly to backpack systems including sleeping pads and shelters such as tents.
Backpacks are commonly used to conveniently carry around items in a variety of environments and scenarios such as camping, school, military, etc. Backpacks are typically not large enough or configured to also carry things such as sleeping pads, sleeping bags, pillows and the like. It would be advantageous to have available a backpack capable of supporting sleeping items and items of shelter.
The present invention provides a backpack which in addition to providing the usual functions of a backpack, supports additional functions extending to accommodating sleeping and providing shelter. Shelter is provided by a tent having a skeletal frame and fabric supported on the skeletal frame. A ground pad is also provided.
Elements of the skeletal pad may be manually assembled and disassembled, and contained within the backpack when disassembled. The backpack may incorporate elements to assist in holding the skeletal frame in operable position, and may removably fasten to the ground mat.
The skeletal frame is quite lightweight and minimal in bulk and structure. When assembled, it holds its form against spontaneous collapse by tension, providing a deformable shape for supporting the tent fabric in an elevated condition to define an occupiable space therewithin.
While tents can obviously serve general and civilian purposes, the present combination of backpack and tent is regarded as highly advantageous for military purposes. The tent and ground mat are compact, light weight, and readily contained within the backpack, which may also carry other items. The tent is adjustable as to the degree of exposure of an occupant to the exterior. This characteristic offers versatility in use, such as exposing the interior to a greater or lesser extent for purposes of surveillance, concealment, accommodation of weaponry for sniping purposes, and the like.
It is an object of the invention to provide a light weight, practical tent which may be carried about in an associated backpack.
Another object of the invention is to provide a shelter having minimal weight and bulk.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
The skeletal frame 106 may comprise a first spar 108, a second spar 110, and a third spar 112. Each one of the first spar 108, second spar 110, and third spar 112 may be made from segments which connect serially to one another to form one elongated spar member. As seen in
In summary, the arcuate shape collectively defined by the members of the skeletal frame 106 may be the result of tension forces imposed on the individual of first spar 108, second spar 110, and third spar 112, together with a fastener such as a clamp 114 which gathers the first spar 108, second spar 110, and third spar 112 where the first spar 108, the second spar 110, and the third spar 112 cross one another at a common point at the maximum height of each. The outer first spar 108 may be coupled to a frame 116, such as by fixing the end of the first spar 108 at a corner 118 of the frame 116 in any suitable way. The spar 110 occupies a plane which generally intersects the longitudinal axis of the ground mat 104 when the spar 110 is in its operative position fixed to the receptacle at its first end and its second end. By contrast, the spars 108, 112 are connected at their respective first end and second end at corners of the ground mat 104.
Each spar 108, 110, or 112 may comprise a first end and a second end and forms an arc when the first end and the second end of the spar are fixed to the receptacle or to the ground mat 104. Each of the first end and the second end of each spar 108, 110, 112 is engageable with the one of the connectors of the backpack so as to hold the spars 108, 110, 112 in an erect position projecting above the ground mat 104 when the ground mat 104 lies on flat ground.
To this end, a plurality of connectors is disposed on the receptacle or the ground mat 104, as may be appropriate. These connectors may take a female form such as a hole or eye, or pocket, for accepting insertion of one end of one of the spars. Alternatively, the connectors may take a male form, such as a stud. Either a hole or a stud may be threaded if desired, although other arrangements are possible. Successful engagement of a connector may rely on friction fit, clips, snap hooks, hook and loop material, or may take other forms. Although threaded fasteners (not shown) may be employed if desired, it would also be possible to rely on resilience of the first spar 108, which may display a tendency to assume a straight configuration if not confined by attachment to the frame 116, corresponding structure of the backpack system 100 at the opposite end thereof, and to the clamp 114. If resiliency is relied upon, the first spar 108 may terminate in small fingers (not shown) at either end, which are caused to penetrate corresponding close fitting holes formed in the frame 116 and corresponding structure at the opposite end.
Once the backpack system 100 is disassembled and the spars 108, 110, 112 are separated from the ground mat 104 and from one another, all of the spars 108, 110, 112 fit within the receptacle of the backpack for stowage.
The frame 116 may be seen to comprise a cross bar 120 and arms 122, 124 which connect the cross bar 120 to a suitable sturdy member (not shown) at the end of the ground mat 104. Such a sturdy member may be for example another cross bar which is fixed along its length to the fabric or other significant member of the ground mat 104.
A forward arm 126 may project upwardly from the cross bar 120 at an acute angle to the ground. Preferably, apart from the forward arm 126, the frame 116 lies essentially parallel to the plane occupied by the ground mat 104 when the ground mat 104 lies on flat ground. The forward arm 126 may have a hole (for use with spars 110 terminating in small fingers, not visible in
The clamp 114 may be a multipiece device, such as comprising two or three complementing sections which may be joined in any suitable way, such as by threading. For example, the uppermost component of the clamp 114 may comprise a threaded shaft projecting from a circular head, which threads to a threaded hole formed in a lower component of the clamp 114. The lower component of the clamp 114 may have troughs or passages formed therein and adapted to hold the spars 108, 110, 112 in appropriate positions to enable the ends of the spars 108, 110, 112 to align with their respective anchorage points. The separate components of the clamp 114 are not per se critical to the invention and are not specifically shown.
The second spar 110, which in
The head end 144 of the backpack system 100 may be anchored to the ground by a system employing a connector strap 128. The connector strap 128 is shown drawn to enlarged scale in
The ground mat 104 has a distal end located opposite the head end 144 along the length of the ground mat 104. The rigid frame 116 projects from this distal end. The second ends of the spars 108, 110, 112 are all anchored to the rigid frame 116 at three of the connectors when the backpack system 100 is assembled in the second configuration as a tent. The spar 110 may be anchored at its first end to a member of the receptacle such as a flaccid flap 143 by the anchor tab 142. At its second end, the spar 110 may be anchored to the forward arm 126.
The backpack 102 may play various roles in assembly of the backpack system 100. For example, the anchor tab 142 may be part of the backpack 102. Also, the backpack 102 may have a strip 144 bearing snaps 146, which connect to corresponding snaps (not visible) provided on the ground mat 104. In the implementation of the invention of
In
Turning now to
The lower edges of the fabric tent member 180, such as the lower edge 186, may be fastened to the ground mat 104 by snaps (not visible in
While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140124548 A1 | May 2014 | US |