Patent Application
20120037675
1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to devices, systems, and methods for outdoor packs and packing equipment.
2. Background and Relevant Art
Outdoor activities, such as biking, hiking, boating, fishing, running, skiing, and snowboarding are becoming increasingly popular. One reason for the increased popularity of outdoor activities is the availability of outdoor products that make outdoor activities more enjoyable. One broad example of an outdoor product that outdoor enthusiasts use to make outdoor activities more enjoyable are outdoor packs, such as backpacks, that carry items that outdoor enthusiasts may want while participating in outdoor activities.
Unfortunately, conventional outdoor packs may have a variety of limitations and disadvantages that may inhibit enjoyment of outdoor activities. For example, conventional outdoor packs designs may include a configuration that is useful for only a single outdoor activity. In particular, an outdoor enthusiast that participates in several different outdoor activities often must purchase several different outdoor packs. Therefore, the outdoor enthusiast may have to store and/or carry several different outdoor packs for a particular outdoor adventure if they plan on doing more than one outdoor activity.
In addition, many conventional outdoor packs are one dimensional in their function. In particular, one popular outdoor pack is a backpack configured to carry a water pouch such that the outdoor enthusiast can have water available to drink while participating in the outdoor activity. However, water pouch backpacks often are very limited in that they only may be configured to carry the water pouch, and thus do not allow the outdoor enthusiast the ability to carry additional items in addition to the water pouch. Therefore, if an outdoor enthusiast wants to have a water pouch, as well as carry additional items, the outdoor enthusiast often has to wear more than one outdoor pack, or simply not carry the additional items.
In addition to being one dimensional, many conventional outdoor packs may not allow access to the storage areas of the outdoor pack while the outdoor enthusiast wears the outdoor pack. Often times, an outdoor enthusiast may need convenient access to portable medial players, wireless phones, or other items when these items are stored in the outdoor pack. However, many conventional outdoor packs rest solely on the back of the outdoor enthusiast and provide limited access to the contents of the outdoor pack while the outdoor enthusiast is wearing the outdoor pack.
Moreover, conventional outdoor packs often interfere with other outdoor equipment needed to participate in particular outdoor activities. For example, many skiers and snowboarders wish to wear an outdoor pack with a water pouch while skiing or snowboarding. However, conventional outdoor packs for water pouches are designed to be worn over a coat. Because the outdoor pack places the water pouch on the outside of the coat, often times the water will freeze, thus frustrating the skier or snowboarder's ability to drink water from the water pouch.
In addition, conventional outdoor packs may not be comfortable to wear while participating in an outdoor activity. One of the biggest comfort problems of conventional outdoor packs is that many outdoor packs are hot to wear due to the fact that conventional outdoor packs rest directly on the outdoor enthusiasts back. This may cause the outdoor enthusiast to sweat where the outdoor pack rests against the outdoor enthusiast's body. After prolonged periods of time, the hot outdoor packs cause the outdoor enthusiast to become uncomfortable, and thus the enjoyment of the outdoor activity decreases.
Accordingly, there are a number of disadvantages in conventional outdoor packs that can be addressed.
Implementations of the present invention provide devices, systems, and methods for packing equipment that provide for a versatile, comfortable, and convenient modular outdoor packing system that increases the enjoyment of outdoor activities. In general, one or more implementations of the present invention include a modular outdoor pack with multiple interchangeable front packs that are interchangeable with a base back pack. Each interchangeable front pack is configured for a particular outdoor activity allowing the modular outdoor pack to transform into multiple different packs depending on the outdoor activity in which the user is participating.
In one implementation, a modular outdoor packing system includes a base back pack configured to be worn on a back area of a user. The modular outdoor packing system can further include a plurality of interchangeable front packs configured to be worn on a chest area of the user. In addition, the modular outdoor packing system includes a plurality of detachable straps that selectively connect the base back pack with the plurality of interchangeable front packs one at a time to form a plurality of modular outdoor packs. The plurality of interchangeable front packs can each have varying configurations and characteristics for varying outdoor activities.
In another example, a modular outdoor pack includes a base back pack that a user wears on the user's back area and a first interchangeable front pack that the user wears on the user's chest area. The modular outdoor pack further includes a plurality of straps that connect the base back pack to the interchangeable front pack to form a modular outdoor pack where the interchangeable front pack is disconnectable from the plurality of straps and can be removed from the modular outdoor pack.
In another example implementation, a modular outdoor pack includes a base back pack that a user wears on the user's back area and an interchangeable fish pack that the user wears on the user's chest area. The interchangeable fish pack includes a foldable front portion having an open position and a closed position and a mounting surface that is revealed when the foldable front portion is in the open position. The modular outdoor pack further includes a plurality of straps that connect the base back pack to the interchangeable fish pack to form the modular outdoor pack, where the interchangeable fish pack is disconnectable from the plurality of straps and removable from the modular outdoor pack.
Additional features and advantages of exemplary implementations of the present invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations. The features and advantages of such implementations may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations as set forth hereinafter.
In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Implementations of the present invention provide devices, systems, and methods for packing equipment that provide for a versatile, comfortable, and convenient modular outdoor packing system that increases the enjoyment of outdoor activities. In general, one or more implementations of the present invention include a modular outdoor pack with multiple interchangeable front packs that are interchangeable with a base back pack. Each interchangeable front pack is configured for a particular outdoor activity allowing the modular outdoor pack to transform into multiple different packs depending on the outdoor activity in which the user is participating. The interchangeable characteristics of the modular outdoor pack allow a user to use the modular outdoor pack for various outdoor activities. For example, a user can interchange various interchangeable front packs with varying design, size, and configuration with the same base back pack to create custom outdoor packs for particular activities. Thus, the outdoor pack provides the user with added flexibility and customization when compared to conventional outdoor packs and reduces the number of different outdoor packs a user needs to carry or store in order to participate in multiple different outdoor activities.
In addition, implementations of the modular outdoor pack provide a base back pack configured to carry a water pouch, while the interchangeable front packs can carry various items needed by the user. Therefore, unlike many conventional water pouch outdoor packs, the modular outdoor pack allows a user to carry both water and other items simultaneously in the same outdoor pack.
Moreover, due to the configuration of the interchangeable front packs, the interchangeable front packs are placed on the user's chest area allowing the user easy access to the contents of the interchangeable front pack. For example, the user can place items such as portable media players, wireless telephones or other items to which the user needs easy access while wearing the modular outdoor pack and participating in an outdoor activity.
Implementations of the modular outdoor pack also provide an outdoor pack that is slim in design and light weight compared to many conventional outdoor packs. Due to the slim design and light weight, the modular outdoor pack does not interfere with other outdoor equipment when participating in various outdoor activities. For example, the modular outdoor pack can be worn over or underneath a coat allowing a user to effectively use the modular outdoor pack when skiing or snowboarding.
Furthermore, implementations of the modular outdoor pack also include various materials that make the modular outdoor pack more comfortable compared to many conventional outdoor packs. In particular, the surface of the outdoor pack that contacts the user's body is made from a nylon air mesh material that comfortably holds the modular outdoor pack away from the user's body allowing for maximum ventilation and cooling between the modular outdoor pack and the user's body.
The above features and characteristics will be described in more detail with reference to the included figures.
As shown in
Although
Likewise, the base back pack 104 can be removed from the modular outdoor pack 100 illustrated in
Just as a user can remove the interchangeable front pack 102 and the base back pack 104 from the modular outdoor pack 100, the user can also exchange the different variations of the interchangeable front pack 102 and the base back pack 104 to customize the modular outdoor pack 100 for a particular outdoor activity. For example,
In particular, a user can utilize the pouch 204 to carry a water pouch (not shown). In one example implementation, the water pouch is positioned within the pouch 204 such that a water hose extends out the top of the pouch 204 and through a ring 206 which holds the water hose in place to allow the user to have access to a bite valve on the end of the water hose. In alternative implementations, the base back pack 104 can have alternate configurations that are designed to carry other items in addition to, or instead of, a water pouch. For example, the base back pack 104 can include various pockets, pouches, hooks, straps, and other features such that the user can store and carry a variety of outdoor equipment.
Just as the configuration of the base back pack 104 can vary from one implementation to the next, so too can the size of the base back pack 104 vary.
In addition to the various sizes of the base back pack 104, the base back pack 104 can be made from a variety of materials. For example, one implementation of the base back pack 104 includes a front portion 200 made from neoprene. Neoprene material is a breathable light-weight material that has elastic properties allowing the pouch 204 to securely hold any items placed within the pouch 204. In alternative implementations, the front portion 200 can be made from nylon, canvas, polyester or other similar fabrics or materials.
Similar to the front portion 200, the back portion 202 can be made from various materials. In one example implementation the back portion 202 is made from an air mesh nylon or polyester material, also known as spacer fabric.
In particular, in one example the air mesh material includes a top and bottom layer of linked nylon or similar material. The top and bottom layer of the linked nylon are coupled together with strands of nylon that are woven through the top and bottom layers of linked nylon such that the strands of nylon actually create a compressible support structure between the top and bottom layer of linked nylon. Thus the air mesh material creates a comparatively large air space between the top and bottom layer of the linked nylon allowing for exceptional ventilation properties, as well as a comfortable cushion surface to rest against a user's body.
The air mesh material can vary from one implementation to the next to create various characteristics of the back portion 202. For example the strands of nylon woven between the top and bottom linked layers can vary in length, cross-sectional dimension, and stiffness, creating varying cushion characteristics as well as ventilation characteristics. In alternative implementations, various other materials such as nylon, polyester, neoprene or any other material can be used to create the back portion 202.
Notwithstanding the various materials in which the base back pack 104 is made, the base back pack 104 includes one or more connectors 210 to connect to the shoulder straps 106a and 106b and side straps 108a and 108b. For example,
Regardless of the type of connector 210, the shoulder straps 106a and 106b, as well as the side straps 108a and 108b, can include various features and characteristics. For example,
The shoulder straps 106a and 106b and side straps 108a and 108b also connect to the interchangeable front pack 102 using similar connectors 210 as described above. Once the shoulder straps 106a and 106b and side straps 108a and 108b are connected to both the interchangeable front pack 102 and the base back pack 104, a fully assembled modular outdoor pack 100 is ready for use. In particular,
As described above, the interchangeable front pack 102 can take various formations and have various characteristics depending on the type of outdoor activity in which the user is wearing the modular outdoor pack 100. In particular,
Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Moreover, the thickness of the interchangeable front pack 302a can vary from one implementation to the next. In general, the thickness of both the interchangeable front pack 302a and the base back pack 104 ranges between about 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches. In particular, example implementations of both the interchangeable front pack 302a and the base back pack 104 have a width of 0.50 inches or less to provide an ultra-slim configuration for the modular packing system 100. The ultra-slim configuration allows a user to wear the modular packing system as a layer that can be worn on top of clothing, or alternatively, underneath clothing.
In addition to various sizes and materials, the interchangeable front pack 302a can include a variety of features and characteristics that provide a user with a wide range of versatility. For example, the interchangeable front pack 302a can include one or more pockets 308. In particular,
For example, in one example implementation, as shown in
In addition to the above mentioned configuration, the pockets 308 can have a custom size and configuration for a particular piece of equipment. For example, one or more pockets 308 can have a configuration and size to hold a particular cell phone, MP3 player, GPS system, identification card, or other item that a user desires to carry while participating in an outdoor activity. Additionally, the pockets 308 can include other features, such as holes, hooks, guides that help guide wires and/or cables out of the pockets 308. For example, the pockets 308 can include a small hole that allows a user to efficiently thread a headphone cable through the pocket 308 to connect to an MP3 player.
As
In one implementation, the pocket flaps 310 can have a length of about three inches to allow a user to fold and tuck the pocket flaps 310 about half-way down the height of the pockets 308, thus securing the pocket flaps 310 into the pockets 308. In particular,
Although
In addition to the various pocket 308 configurations illustrated in
For example, a user can place a ski pass, or similar identification card, into one of the transparent pockets 312 so that the ski pass is visible through the transparent front portion 314. In this way, a skier can securely store the ski pass in the transparent pockets 312, and yet still have easy visible access to the pass when needed. In addition, a user could store a MP3 player or cell phone such that the user could have visible access to the electronic device without having to remove the device from the transparent pockets 312.
As
In addition to the pockets 308, pocket flaps 310 and transparent pockets 312, the interchangeable front packs 302a and 302b can further include a variety of straps, hooks, loops and other fasteners to secure equipment to the interchangeable front packs 302a and 302b. In one implementation, the variety of straps, hooks, loops and other fasteners are removable to allow a user to customize the interchangeable front pack 302a and 302b.
Regardless of the various configurations and features of the interchangeable front pack 302a and 302b,
As illustrated in
Notwithstanding the configurations illustrated in
In addition,
As discussed above, the interchangeable front pack 102 can be configured for a variety of activities. To further illustrate this general principle,
Nevertheless, in reference to the interchangeable fishing pack 502,
While in the closed position,
The nature and configuration of the straps 508 can vary from one implementation to the next. For example,
The ability to open and close the front portion 504 allows a user to easily store fishing equipment and tackle inside the folded front portion 504 while the user is fishing. When the user need access to the fishing equipment, however, the front portion 504 can easily be opened to allow easy access to the fishing equipment. For example,
For example,
In one implementation, the tackle boxes 520 can be removed and carried by the user into a fishing store such that the user can select the flies for a particular fishing trip, place the flies into the tackle box 520, and then mount the tackle box 520 to the mounting surface 518 to use while the user is wearing the modular outdoor pack 100. A user may also wish to label or organize various tackle boxes 520 for particular locations or seasons, thus easily storing and organizing the tackle boxes 520, and then mounting a particular tackle box 520 to the mounting surface 518 of the interchangeable fishing pack 502 based on the location and season of a particular fishing trip.
The tackle boxes 520 can come in a variety of sizes and shapes. In addition, implementations of the invention provide tackle that is sold directly in the tackle boxes 520 so that a user can simply by the tackle in a box that will automatically attach to the mounting surface 518. Moreover, the tackle boxes 520 can include a foam interior, such that hooks and flies can easily be attached to the foam for storage within the tackle box 520.
In addition to carrying various tackle boxes 520, the interchangeable fishing pack 502 can also include one or more eyelets 512. For example,
In particular, the tools 514 can be attached to a chain that is secured within the eyelet 512. In one implementation, the chain is long enough to allow a user to use the tool 514 without having to remove the tool from the chain. In an additional implementation, the tool 514 can be attached to a retractable line that allows the user to pull the tool away from the interchangeable fishing pack 502 to use the tool. After using the tool 514, the retractable line retracts, thus positioning the tool 514 adjacent to the interchangeable fishing pack 502, as illustrated in
Implementations of the interchangeable fishing pack 502 can also be used in conjunction with a modular tackle box 600. For example,
As
For example,
When not in use, the modular tackle box 600 can be configured into a closed position.
Once a user folds or rolls the mounting surface 604, the user can then close the carrying case 602 of the modular tackle box 600 to create an easy and efficient way to transport and/or store the contents therein. For example,
Similarly, implementations of the present invention can include a pack carrying case 702 that a user can use to store and/or carry the various base back packs 102 as well as the various interchangeable front packs 102. For example,
For example, a user may be planning an outdoor adventure trip that involves hiking, fishing, biking and/or various other outdoor activities. In such a situation, the user need only take the carrying case 702 with the various interchangeable front packs 102 and the base back pack 104. Thus, the user can configure the modular outdoor pack 100 to any customized configuration needed for the particular activity. In other words, instead of having to bring several different packs, a user need only bring the modular outdoor pack 100 that is contained in the carrying case 702, and the user will have access to a variety of different pack configurations customized for particular activities.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described implementations are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
