REVERSIBLE BACKPACK

Abstract

A reversible backpack having a pair of shoulder straps sewn to an end portion of an upper edge of the rear wall of the backpack in spaced relation. An opening in the top wall of the backpack is closed by wing flaps attachable to the shoulder straps by Velcro fastening strips attached on opposite sides of the shoulder straps and opposite sides of the wing flaps. The wing flaps and shoulder straps are connected together in normal and in inside out or reversed conditions by the pairs of Velcro fastening strips on opposite sides of the straps and wing flaps.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The art of backpack manufacture and assembly includes several proposals for reversible structures in which a backpack having a “normal” outer surface construction is turned inside-out upon itself, not unlike a reversible garment, to provide a “second” or reversed outer surface of what was the lining for the “normal” surface while the “normal” surface is turned into the “lining.”

Thus, a backpack with a first patterned or textured outer surface can be converted into an alternate form with a different patterned and/or textured surface by simply turning the structure inside out.

Several proposals for making such reversible structures have been proposed including those of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,301,849 and 5,361,951. These disclosed structures, while manifesting the desirability of generally providing a reversible backpack structure, do not provide the most efficient and aesthetic manner of securing and reversing the requisite shoulder straps.

It is to a new and improved reversible backpack construction to which the present invention is specifically directed.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The new backpack generally includes, as is the case for all backpacks, reversible or otherwise, an upstanding rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, sidewalls, and a front wall. Advantageously, the backpack includes an integral first pouch on the exterior of the front wall and a similar integral second pouch on the interior of the front wall.

In accordance with the principles of the invention, a pair of padded reversible shoulder straps having an “exterior” surface and an “interior” surface are permanently sewn along the upper edge of the rear wall in slightly spaced relation. Hooked or looped (Velcro) fastening strips are secured on both sides of the straps adjacent the seam. A fabric carrying handle is attached by stitching to the upper edge of the rear wall between the two shoulder straps. The lower ends of these shoulder straps are selectively buckled to D-rings sewn to the bottom corners of the back wall on both the inside and outside surfaces thereof.

The top wall, in accordance with the invention, is sewn along the rear wall only at its extremities, and has a pair of projecting reversible wing flaps with hooked or looped fastening strips on opposite sides thereof. These wing flaps are adapted to connect to the shoulder straps in either the “normal” or “reversed” condition to close off the top of the backpack while also maintaining ready access to the carrying handle between the shoulder straps.

Thus, the new backpack shoulder straps are securely and permanently anchored along the top edge of the rear panel for deployment in a first manner when the backpack is in its “normal” condition, and may be reversed into a second position by unfastening and then refastening the wing flaps after unbuckling and re-buckling the lower ends of the shoulder straps to the D-rings and reversing the orientation of the shoulder straps themselves with respect to the rear wall.

For a better appreciation of the present invention and its attendant advantages, reference should be made to the annexed drawings taken in conjunction with the following detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the new backpack in its “normal” or unreversed condition with the external fabric exposed with the shoulder straps attached to a first set of D-rings;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the new backpack in its “reversed” condition with the “lining” exposed and the shoulder straps reversed and attached to a second set of D-rings;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the backpack in its “normal” condition with the wing flaps secured to the shoulder straps at the top and the shoulder straps buckled to the first set of D-rings adjacent the bottom wall;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view with the wing flaps unfastened from the shoulder straps preparatory to reversing the backpack and the shoulder straps;

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view during backpack reversal showing the shoulder straps being reversed along the top edge after being unbuckled from the outer first set exterior D-rings; and

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view showing the reversed shoulder straps in condition to be buckled to D-rings secured at the bottom of the rear wall inner or “lining” after the backpack is turned inside out to establish the reversed backpack shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The backpack 10 of the invention exists in a first or “normal” condition in which the outer fabric walls of the backpack and an outer pocket are exposed. For the purposes of illustration, the “normal” unreversed outer fabric is solid (FIGS. 1, 3-6) and the inner “lining” fabric to which the backpack may be reversed is patterned (FIG. 2). It will be understood, of course, that there are two different surfaces which may be used, differing by pattern, color, texture and/or other characteristics as may be deemed desirable or advantageous.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the backpack of the invention includes a rear wall 11 (which a solid outer fabric 11a and all inner patterned lining) with a horizontal lower edge 12, generally vertical side edges 13, 14, and an arcuate upper edge 15. Spaced from and parallel to the rear wall is front wall 20 of the same fabric as rear wall 11 and having a horizontal lower edge 21, vertical side edges 22, 23, and arcuate upper edge 24. A continuous bottom panel 30 extends between the edges 12, 21 and is sewn thereto to form a bottom wall 31 and is sewn between edges 22, 14 and 23, 13 to form lower side walls 32, 33, respectively.

Access to the interior space of the backpack 10 is through a zippered top wall 40 which has a front portion 41 and rear portion 42, both extending upwardly from the edges 32a, 33a of the lower side walls 32, 33. The top wall 40 includes a reversible zipper 50 with a pull 51 which selectively joins the front and rear portions 40, 41 of the top wall. The top wall, as is the case for all the walls of the backpack, is lined with patterned fabric as shown.

In accordance with the invention, a pair of padded shoulder straps 60, 61 having a solid exterior fabric 62 and “interior” fabric 63 also shown as a solid (although the interior fabric may be patterned to match the “lining” fabric) is sewn along the upper edge 15 of the rear panel 11. A fabric carrying handle in the form of a loop is sewn to the edge 15 between the straps 60, 61. Hooked or looped Velcro strips 66, 67 are attached by sewing or adhesive to the “interior” shoulder straps (FIG. 3) while similar strips 68, 69 are attached on the opposite “exterior” sides of the straps (FIG. 4).

The rear portion 42 of the top wall 40 includes a pair of wing flaps 71, 72 which have mating hooked or looped Velcro strips 73, 4 on the “interior” surfaces and comparable Velcro strips 75, 76 on the “exterior” wing surfaces. In accordance with the invention, the rear portion 42 of the top wall is sewn along the top edges of the rear wall 11 only at the outer edges leaving an open separation 77 between the top wall and the location of the shoulder strap attachment.

Thus, when the backpack is in its “normal” unreversed condition (FIGS. 1, 3-6), the shoulder straps 60, 61 extend outwardly through the opening 77 and are attached by buckles 90, 91 to D-rings 80, 81 mounted on tabs 82, 83 sewn into the lower edges of the rear wall 11. Comparable D-rings 84, 85 are mounted on tabs 86, 87 sewn into the lower edges of the reverse or inner surface 11a of the rear wall.

As shown in FIG. 4, the Velcro strips 73, 74 on the wing flaps 71, 72 are adhered to the Velcro strips 69, 68, respectively, to provide a closed backpack 10 as shown in FIG. 1.

Advantageously, a utility pocket 100 with a zipped opening 101 is sewn to the front wall 20 as shown in FIG. 1. A comparable “interior” utility pocket 102 with a zippered opening 103 is sewn on the opposite side of the wall 20. When the backpack is reversed, the inner utility pocket 102 will become the outer pocket (FIG. 2) as will be understood.

To reverse the backpack from its FIG. 1 “normal” condition to its FIG. 2 “reversed” condition, it is only necessary to unbuckle the straps 60,61 at their lower ends from the D-lings 80, 81 and to unfasten the wing flaps 71, 72 from the upper ends of the straps 60, 61 by separating the Velcro strips 69, 73 and 68, 64 (FIGS. 4-6).

This enables the backpack to be turned inside out and the shoulder straps to be withdrawn through the opening 77 (FIG. 5) and to be buckled to the D-rings 84, 85 while the Velcro strips 66, 67 are connected to the Velcro strips 73, 74 on the wing flaps. This will establish the completely reversed, closed backpack of FIG. 2.

It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A reversible backpack comprising: (a) a body having a rear wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, short side walls, and a top wall defining a closed storage chamber;(b) the top wall divided into a front portion and rear portion and extending across the full width of the backpack and down the sides to the upper edges of the side walls;(c) a zipper means selectively connecting the front portion and rear portion of the top wall;(d) the rear portion of the top wall connected to the upper edge of the rear wall at end portions only leaving an opening therebetween;(e) a pair of wing flaps integral with and extending from said rear top panel and adapted to traverse and to close off said opening;(f) a pair of shoulder straps sewn along the upper edge of the rear wall at said opening;(g) said shoulder straps having buckle means secured to lower ends thereof;(h) said shoulder straps having first Velcro fastening strips disposed on opposite sides thereof immediately adjacent said rear wall upper edge;(i) said wing flaps having second Velcro fastening strips on opposite sides thereof and adapted to selectively engage said first Velcro fastening strips;(j) first ring means secured in spaced relation to lower portions of said back wall on exterior surfaces thereof;(k) second ring means secured in spaced relation to lower portions of said back wall on interior surfaces thereof;(l) wherefore said shoulder straps may be fastened to said wing flaps and said rings in a first non-reversed condition of said backpack and alternatively upon turning the backpack body inside out the shoulder straps may be fastened to said wing flaps and said rings in a second reversed condition, in both of said conditions the top of the backpack being closed by said wing flaps.

2. The backpack of claim 1, further including (a) a carrying handle sewn to the upper edge of the rear wall between said shoulder straps.

3. The backpack of claim 2, in which (a) said handle is a fabric loop.

4. The backpack of claim 1, in which (a) a first utility pocket is sewn to the exterior surface of said front wall;(b) a second utility pocket is sewn to the interior surface of said front wall.

5. The backpack of claim 1, in which (a) the exterior surfaces and interior surfaces of said backpack body walls have differing characteristics whereby the reversed backpack has a first appearance when unreversed and a second appearance when the backpack is turned inside out.