US20080237288A1

US20080237288A1 - Safe sack

Info

Publication number: US20080237288A1
Application number: US11/729,704
Authority: US
Inventors: Marissa Hamilton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-29
Filing date: 2007-03-29
Publication date: 2008-10-02

Abstract

A backpack having increased security features is disclosed that helps prevent the theft of objects stored in the interior portion of the backpack and in the external pockets. In particular, the backpack includes a security cover flap that is disposed to prevent access to the closing mechanism of the interior portion of the backpack. The security cover includes a latch portion that is secured to the first surface of the backpack, proximate to the wearer to prevent a criminal from accessing the closing mechanism, opening the backpack and stealing items from the interior. External pockets are provided on the front surface of the backpack, proximate to the wearer's body making them and the objects contained therein inaccessible to other people.

Description

BACKGROUND

This invention is generally directed to backpacks and more specifically directed to backpacks that include one or more utility pockets positioned against the wearer's back.
Backpack usage has become ubiquitous throughout all classes of society. Students use backpacks to carry books back and forth to classes, business people use backpacks in place of attaché cases, travelers use backpacks as carry on luggage for airplanes and for carrying personal effects on small trips, and of course, outdoor enthusiasts use backpacks to carry their equipment. Typically, a backpack has one or more interior pockets that are sized to hold larger and heavier items and one or more exterior pockets that are designed to carry smaller items. In addition, the exterior pockets provide quicker and easier access to objects that may be needed by the wearer without the need to empty the interior pockets.
As such, many people using a backpack will put their identification papers such as a passport or driver's license in an exterior pocket. Billfolds, wallets, or other money holders may be placed in exterior pockets along with credit cards or other valuables such as watches. Often these utility pockets are closed using closing means that are easily accessible. Wearers typically give scant thought to the security aspects of these objects. However, criminals who are looking to steal these objects note carefully where the pockets are located and how they are closed.
Therefore what is needed to overcome the limitations of the prior art is a backpack having security features that deters criminals from attempting to steal the items stored in the interior portion or in the exterior pockets of a backpack.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
A backpack having increased security features is disclosed that helps prevent the theft of objects stored in the interior portion of the backpack and in the external pockets. In particular, the backpack includes a security cover flap that is disposed to prevent access to the closing mechanism of the interior portion of the backpack. The security cover includes a latch portion that is secured to the first surface of the backpack, proximate to the wearer to prevent a criminal from accessing the closing mechanism, opening the backpack and stealing items from the interior. External pockets are provided on the front surface of the backpack, proximate to the wearer's body making them and the objects contained therein inaccessible to other people.
In particular, what is described is a backpack that includes a front side, a rear side, two side portions, and a bottom portion that are formed together to enclose an interior portion. The backpack has a top and bottom and the front side, rear side, and two side portions forming a top opening allowing communication with the interior portion such that a wearer can place items in the backpack for storage and remove them when needed. The backpack further includes at least one shoulder harness connected to the front surface at the top and bottom of said front surface to allow a wearer to insert their arm in to the shoulder harness in order to carry the backpack. The backpack includes a closing mechanism that seals the top opening and prevents objects from falling out of the interior portion or people from seeing or seizing objects contained therein. The closing mechanism can be a zipper, clip, snap fastener, hook and loop fastener, drawstring, or other fastening system.
A security cover flap is provided that prevents another person from accessing the closing mechanism. The security cover flap is attached to the rear surface, is designed to fold upward and cover a portion of the closing mechanism, and is securely closed using a latch portion having a securing portion for securing the security cover flap to the front surface. The securing portion can be secured using hook and loop fasteners, clips, snap fasteners, or other fastening means. The backpack also includes one or more secure utility pockets disposed on the front surface. The secure utility pockets include a secure pocket cover attached to the front surface and forming a secure utility pocket interior. The secure utility pockets also have a pocket-closing portion that is sized and arranged to prevent loss of objects stored in the secure utility pocket. The closing portion can be secured either to the front surface of the backpack or to the secure pocket cover as a flap. The closing portion can be secured using hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners, clips, or other fastening means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed on illustration of principles of the invention. The drawings include the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a right-rear perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be understood by the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the attached drawings. The following detailed description of certain embodiments is by way of example only and is not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 depicts a right-rear perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention that includes a backpack 100. The backpack 100 includes at least one shoulder harness. In one embodiment with a single shoulder harness, a wearer would place one of their arms through with the shoulder harness such that the top part of the shoulder harness rests on the top of the wearer's shoulder and the backpack rests against the wearer's side and back. The embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, includes two shoulder harnesses 102 a and 102 b through which the wearer would place both their arms with the upper portion of the shoulder straps 102 c-102 d resting on the wearer's shoulders. This will position the backpack high upon the wearer's back in a more comfortable and biomechanically efficient position.
The backpack also includes an interior portion (not shown) that may include one or more interior compartments. The interior portion may be accessible via a top opening (not shown). A zipper 103 may be used to close the top opening. The interior compartments are sized and shaped to hold larger and heavier items such as books, papers, or other equipment needed by a wearer. The interior compartments may be subdivided into smaller interior compartments for ease of packing and organization.
The exterior of the backpack has a front side 104 that is proximate to the wearer's body when the wearer has placed their shoulders through the shoulder straps 102 a and 102 b and a rear side 106 that is distal from the wearer's body. The backpack 100 further includes side portions 108 a and 108 b.
The backpack 100 may include one or more pockets on a side portion 108 a, 108 b. As depicted, the backpack 100 includes a side pocket 111 on side portion 108. This may be a mesh pocket, as depicted, that is sized and configured to receive a water bottle or other item. The one or more side pockets may be mesh or may be enclosed depending on the intended use.
The top opening is closed using zipper 103, which makes the interior portion of the backpack 100 vulnerable to criminals who may quickly unzip the top opening, steal what is inside and depart the scene of the crime. In one embodiment of the present invention, a security cover flap 110 may be used to cover and secure the zipper 103. The security flap 110 is attached on the rear side of the backpack 100 and opens in direction a′, away from the wearer. The security cover flap 110 includes a latch portion 112 that is releasably attached to the front surface 104 of the backpack 100. The latch portion 112 may be releasably attached to the front surface 104 using hook and loop fasteners, snaps, clips, or any other fastener means that allows repeated use. In operation, the security cover flap 110 may cover a portion of the zipper 103 or the entire zipper 103 depending upon the desired aesthetics and use of the backpack 100.
As discussed above, the presence of exterior pockets on a backpack provide an easy opportunity for a criminal to steal the items stored therein. In the present invention, one or more secure utility pockets 114 are disposed upon the front surface 102 of the backpack 100. In general, the secure utility pockets 114 are rectangular and may be closed using hook-loop fasteners, snaps, zippers, clips, or other closing means. The secure utility pockets 114 may be sized and disposed in any pattern depending on the desired use. In addition, one or more secure utility pockets 114 may include a clear window 116 so that the contents may be visible, for example for an identification tag. Moreover, one or more secure utility pockets 114 may be sized and configured to hold pens, pencils, or other small objects such as a small flashlight.
In another embodiment, a cover (not shown) may be secured over the front side 102 covering the secure utility pockets 114. The cover may be zippered to the periphery of the front surface and may be made of mesh or opaque material. A wearer would then remove the cover to access the objects held in the utility pockets 114 and would resecure the cover when finished. The cover could prevent other people from visually inspecting the front surface 102 and the secure utility pockets 114 when the backpack 100 is not being worn by the wearer.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Claims

1. A backpack comprising:

a front side, a rear side, two side portions, and a bottom portion configured and arranged to enclose an interior portion, said backpack having a top and bottom;

the front side, rear side, and two side portions forming a top opening allowing communication with the interior portion;

at least one shoulder harness connected to the front surface at the top and bottom of said front surface;

a closing mechanism configured and arranged to close off said top opening and prevent communication between the exterior and the interior portion;

a security cover flap disposed on the rear surface and sized and arranged to cover a portion of the closing mechanism, the security closing flap including a latch portion having a securing portion for securing said security cover flap to said front surface; and

one or more secure utility pockets disposed on said front surface, wherein said secure utility pockets include a secure pocket cover attached to said front surface forming a secure utility pocket interior.

2. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the closing mechanism is a zipper.

3. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the closing mechanism is a drawstring.

4. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the closing mechanism is one or more snaps.

5. The backpack of claim 1 wherein said securing portion are hook and lap fasteners positioned on said latch portion and said front portion respectively.

6. The backpack of claim 1 wherein said securing portion are a clip and clip receiving portion positioned on said latch portion and said front portion respectively.

7. The backpack of claim 1 wherein said securing portion are one or more snap fasteners and snap fastener receiver portions positioned on said latch portion and said front portion respectively.

8. The backpack of claim 1 wherein said securing portion is a zipper having zipper portions disposed on said latch portion and said front portion.

9. The backpack of claim 1 wherein said one or more secure utility pockets include a secure utility pocket having a pocket closing portion and being sized and configured to receive objects.

10. The backpack of claim 8 wherein the pocket closing portion includes hook and loop fasteners disposed on said pocket closing portion and said front surface.

11. The backpack of claim 8 wherein the pocket closing portion includes hook and loop fasteners disposed on said pocket closing portion and said secure pocket cover.

12. The backpack of claim 8 wherein the pocket closing portion includes snap fasteners and snap fastener receiver portions disposed on said pocket closing portion and said front surface.

13. The backpack of claim 8 wherein the pocket closing portion includes snap fastener and snap fastener receiver portions disposed on said pocket closing portion and said secure pocket cover.

14. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the one or more secure utility pockets includes a secure utility pocket having a transparent secure pocket cover.

15. The backpack of claim 1 wherein the at least one shoulder strap includes a pair of shoulder straps.

16. The backpack of claim 1 further comprising a front cover, removeable attached to the front surface and sized and configured to cover a portion of the one or more secure utility pockets.

17. The backpack of claim 16 wherein the front cover is removeably attached to the front cover by a cover fastener about the periphery of a portion of the front side.

18. The backpack of claim 17 wherein the cover fastener is a zipper.

19. The backpack of claim 17 wherein the cover fastener are hook and loop fasteners disposed on the front cover and the front side.