Patent Grant
11653744
The present invention relates to a backpack, and more specifically, to a bulletproof backpack.
Protecting children from violence, especially gun violence, is a top priority for parents. There are few options where children can have handy, readymade solutions for protecting themselves. While bulletproof devices exist, it is not common for children to always be carrying bulletproof devices that can protect themselves.
There are some backpacks that offer bulletproof features. These include U.S. Pat. Pub. No. US20090014490A1, entitled “Bulletproof Backpack,” to Bradley. Another is U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,132, entitled, “Backpack with Deployable Armor,” to Reed et al. Yet another is U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,245, entitled “Backpack Carrier and Shield,” to Arakaki. Yet another is U.S. Pat. No. 9,801,452, entitled “Backpack with Ballistic Insert,” to Duthoit. All references to U.S. patent applications, publications, and patents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes.
However, there remains a continuing need for improved devices that have bulletproof features.
The present invention provides a backpack that has bulletproof materials built into the backpack and an optional hood that also has bulletproof features.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a bulletproof backpack. The bulletproof backpack includes a body having a front section, a rear section, a base, and a cover section. The front section, the rear section, the base, and the cover section form an interior of the body. The bulletproof backpack includes a first panel connecting the rear section. The bulletproof backpack includes a hood extending from the cover section. The bulletproof backpack includes a second panel connecting the hood. The bulletproof backpack includes shoulder straps connecting the rear section allowing a user to carry the bulletproof backpack. The bulletproof backpack includes strap connectors (i.e. a plurality of strap connectors) extending from the hood. Each of the first panel and the second panel is capable of blocking bullets and explosion fragments for protecting the user's back and head, respectively. The strap connectors connect the shoulder straps to balance the weight of the hood and prevent the hood from falling back.
Further, the shoulder straps include strap panels. The strap panels are capable of blocking bullets and explosion fragments for protecting the user's torso area. The shoulder straps include a connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism helps to distribute the weight of the bulletproof backpack evenly over the shoulders of the user.
In one advantageous feature of the present invention, the bulletproof backpack protects the lives of children/adults in a situation involving gun violence. The bulletproof backpack includes a waterproof backpack with the ability to hold books, laptops, pens, pencils, water bottles, clothing, etc., and a bulletproof panel that will fit inside the backpack in order to protect the back of the child/adult wearing the backpack. The bulletproof backpack further includes a waterproof hood that is attachable thereto via a zipper or any other mechanism located near the neck area.
In another advantageous feature of the present invention, the shoulder straps on the front of the bulletproof backpack are provided with bulletproof panels to protect the vital organs at the front of the child/adult wearing the backpack.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method of providing a bulletproof backpack, said method including the steps of: providing a body including a front section, a rear section, a base, and a cover section, said front section, said rear section, said base, and said cover section forming an interior of said body; providing a hood extending from said cover section; providing a first panel connecting said rear section, and a second panel connecting said hood, said first panel and said second panel capable of blocking bullets and explosion fragments and protecting a user's back and head, respectively; providing shoulder straps connecting said rear section for allowing the user to carry said bulletproof backpack; providing strap connectors extending from said hood; and connecting said strap connectors to said shoulder straps for balancing weight of said hood and preventing said hood from falling back.
The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may however be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, and/or section from another element, component, region, layer, and/or section.
It will be understood that the elements, components, regions, layers and sections depicted in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom,” “upper” or “top,” “left” or “right,” “above” or “below,” “front” or “rear,” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to idealized embodiments of the present invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. The numbers, ratios, percentages, and other values may include those that are ±5%, ±10%, ±25%, ±50%, ±75%, ±100%, ±200%, ±500%, or other ranges that do not detract from the spirit of the invention. The terms about, approximately, or substantially may include values known to those having ordinary skill in the art. If not known in the art, these terms may be considered to be in the range of up to ±5%, ±10%, or other value higher than these ranges commonly accepted by those having ordinary skill in the art for the variable disclosed. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any elements that are not specifically disclosed herein. All patents, patent applications and non-patent literature cited through this application are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Turning to the Figures,
Further, bulletproof backpack 12 includes a hood 30. Hood 30 extends from cover section 24 or at distal end of rear section 22. Hood 30 is made of a durable fabric such as cloth, nylon, canvas, etc. Hood 30 is waterproof and is attachable to rear section 22 or cover section 24 via a zipper (not shown). In one embodiment, hood 30 is sewn in and can be located in a pocket, such as a zippered pocket at rear section 22 or cover section 24. Hood 30 includes a first strap connector 32 and a second strap connector 34. Each of first strap connector 32 and second strap connector 34 indicates a fabric that extends from distal ends of hood 30. Here, each of first strap connector 32 and second strap connector 34 appears like an ear (fluffy ear) extending from the ends of hood 30. First strap connector 32 and strap connector 34 encompasses hook and loops (not shown) at their distal ends for connecting to shoulder straps 15, as shown in
Shoulder straps 15 extend from the top of rear section 22 and connect to base 24 and/or bottom of rear section 22. Shoulder straps 15 encompasses a connecting mechanism 36 such as a buckle mechanism (with a male member extending from one shoulder strap 15 and a female member extending from another shoulder strap 15). Connecting mechanism 36 helps to distribute the weight of bulletproof backpack 12 evenly over shoulders 16 of user 14.
Bulletproof backpack 12 encompasses one or more panels, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The one or more panels indicate protective plates configured to block bullets, explosion fragments, or the like. In one example, the one or more panels are made of a bullet-stopping material, such as Kevlar® and Spectra®. Optionally, the one or more panels are made of bulletproof fabric having layers of anti-ballistic materials (e.g., Kevlar® and Spectra®). The one or more panels can be selected from any material suitable for impeding the path of a projectile. Some suitable materials include ceramic, metal, Kevlar®, Lexan®, carbon fiber and other composite materials, honeycomb materials, polyethylene, and many others. In one example, when the one or more panels come in a metal plate configuration, then the one or more panels are placed in bulletproof backpack 12 in a pocket or compartment (not shown). Alternatively, when the one or more panels come in a fabric configuration, then the one or more panels is sewed to bulletproof backpack 12.
While many types of bulletproof materials may be used, one such material is a bulletproof vest plate called “Mujing PE Bulletproof Board NIJ3A Three-Level Composite” available here, https://www.amazon.com/MUJING-Bulletproof-Three-Level-Composite-Version/dp/B089YF2CFJ. Other materials known to have bulletproof properties and may be incorporated into the present invention and include: ceramic, graphene, fiberglass, Kevlar®, and polycarbonates.
In the present embodiment, the one or more panels includes a first panel 40 and a second panel 42. First panel 40 comes in a substantially flat and rectangular configuration and connects at rear section 22 of body 18 as shown in
In one embodiment, the one or more panels includes a back panel 46 and a top panel 48 connected by a connecting panel 50, as shown in
Optionally, each of first panel 40 and second panel 42 is provided with a first cushion member 51 and a second cushion member 52, respectively as shown in
Optionally, the one or more panels includes a neck panel 54 as shown in
Referring to
When needed, user 14 carries bulletproof backpack 12 over his shoulder 16 and places hood 30 over his head 17 as shown in
When not in use, user 14 folds hood 30 over body 18. Referring to
The presently disclosed bulletproof backpack provides several advantages over the prior art. For instance, the bulletproof backpack protects the life of the user/carrier in dangerous situations such as an open-fire or active shooter situation. The bulletproof backpack protects the back, head and the torso area of the user without requiring separate equipment. The bulletproof backpack allows the user to act freely without inconvenience in dangerous situations. The bulletproof backpack includes strap connectors that extend from the hood. The strap connectors connect to the shoulder straps to balance the weight of the hood and prevent the hood from falling back. When not in use, the strap connectors wrap around the hood and fall back over the body of the bulletproof backpack allowing the user to walk without the hood over his/her head.
While the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the words that have been used are words of description and not of limitation. As is understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, a variety of modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claims, which should be given their fullest, fair scope.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/348,222, filed on Jun. 2, 2022 to Whitfield, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4266297 | Atkins | May 1981 | A |
| 4689831 | Greenberger | Sep 1987 | A |
| 4830245 | Arakaki | May 1989 | A |
| 5149203 | Sacks | Sep 1992 | A |
| 5165111 | Lieberman | Nov 1992 | A |
| 5784719 | Robinson | Jul 1998 | A |
| 6161738 | Norris | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6185738 | Sidebottom | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 6314579 | Marcon | Nov 2001 | B1 |
| 6419132 | Reed et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
| 8776291 | Lewis | Jul 2014 | B1 |
| 9801452 | Duthoit | Oct 2017 | B2 |
| 9820558 | de Geus | Nov 2017 | B1 |
| 10051945 | Pomare | Aug 2018 | B1 |
| 10874199 | James | Dec 2020 | B2 |
| 20090014490 | Bradley | Jan 2009 | A1 |
| 20200263959 | Dieffenbach | Aug 2020 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| WO-2014101245 | Jul 2014 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63348222 | Jun 2022 | US |
