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EP-4734793-A1 - FRAMELESS BACKPACK WITH ELONGATE SUPPORT MEMBER

EP4734793A1EP 4734793 A1EP4734793 A1EP 4734793A1EP-4734793-A1

Abstract

A frameless backpack can include a shoulder strap and bag walls defining an at least partially enclosed volume. The back walls can include a back wall including: an upper wall portion connectable to the shoulder strap; a lower wall portion opposite the upper wall portion; and a central wall portion positioned between the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion, the central wall portion including at least one of a breathable fabric or an air vent. The frameless backpack can include: a waist connector coupled to one or more of the bag walls; and a support member including a first point of attachment at the upper wall portion and a second point of attachment at the lower wall portion, the support member being unattached to the back wall along the central wall portion between the first point of attachment and the second point of attachment.

Inventors

  • AYERS, SHAUN M.
  • ANGELINI, Michael J.

Assignees

  • KUIU, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241028

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A frameless backpack, comprising: a shoulder strap; bag walls defining an at least partially enclosed volume, the bag walls including a back wall comprising: an upper wall portion connectable to the shoulder strap; a lower wall portion opposite the upper wall portion; and a central wall portion positioned between the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion, the central wall portion comprising at least one of a breathable fabric or an air vent; a waist connector coupled to one or more of the bag walls; and a support member comprising a first point of attachment to the back wall at the upper wall portion and a second point of attachment to the back wall at the lower wall portion, the support member being unattached to the back wall along the central wall portion between the first point of attachment and the second point of attachment.
  2. 2. The frameless backpack of claim 1, wherein the support member is removable.
  3. 3. The frameless backpack of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a first support member and a second support member adjacent to the first support member.
  4. 4. The frameless backpack of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the support member is positioned inside the at least partially enclosed volume. 35 4889-5636-7603U Docket No. P321164.WO.01 (506310-339)
  5. 5. The frameless backpack of claim 1, wherein the back wall comprises a userfacing side configured to be positioned against a user, and the support member is positioned on a side of the back wall opposite the user-facing side.
  6. 6. The frameless backpack of claim 1, wherein the breathable fabric comprises a mesh fabric.
  7. 7. The frameless backpack of claim 1, wherein the at least partially enclosed volume comprises a game bag configured to receive harvested game.
  8. 8. A frameless backpack, comprising: a shoulder strap; a bag portion connectable to the shoulder strap and comprising a back wall; a waist connector coupled to the bag portion adjacent to at least a lower back wall portion of the back wall; and an elongate support positionable along the back wall and extending centrally between the lower back wall portion and an upper back wall portion opposite the lower back wall portion.
  9. 9. The frameless backpack of claim 8, wherein the elongate support comprises a first elongate support member stacked against a second elongate support member.
  10. 10. The frameless backpack of claim 9, wherein the first elongate support member comprises a first set of material properties, and the second elongate support member comprises a second set of material properties that differ from the first set of material properties. 36 4889-5636-7603U Docket No. P321164.WO.01 (506310-339)
  11. 11. The frameless backpack of claim 9, wherein the first elongate support member is more rigid than the second elongate support member.
  12. 12. The frameless backpack of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first elongate support member or the second elongate support member is removable from the back wall.
  13. 13. The frameless backpack of claim 8, wherein the elongate support is configured to be load bearing.
  14. 14. The frameless backpack of claim 8, wherein at least part of the back wall comprises a mesh fabric unattached to the elongate support.
  15. 15. A frameless backpack, comprising: a game bag comprising: a back wall comprising a shoulder strap connection area and an elongate sheath, the elongate sheath extending vertically along the back wall; movable swing arms connected to the back wall, wherein the game bag comprises a collapsed configuration when the movable swing arms are collapsed and a deployed configuration when the movable swing arms are deployed; a waist connector coupled to the game bag adjacent to a bottom portion of the back wall opposite the shoulder strap connection area; a pair of shoulder straps removably connected to the shoulder strap connection area; and a support member positioned inside the elongate sheath. 37 4889-5636-7603U Docket No. P321164.WO.01 (506310-339)
  16. 16. The frameless backpack of claim 15, wherein the pair of shoulder straps comprises an attachment interface comprising a friction engagement surface, the shoulder strap connection area being positionable in intimate contact with the friction engagement surface to join the pair of shoulder straps and the back wall.
  17. 17. The frameless backpack of claim 15, wherein the pair of shoulder straps comprises an attachment interface comprising dual friction engagement surfaces, the shoulder strap connection area being positionable between the dual friction engagement surfaces to join the pair of shoulder straps and the back wall.
  18. 18. The frameless backpack of claim 15, wherein the waist connector comprises respective tracks along which each shoulder strap of the pair of shoulder straps is configured to move.
  19. 19. The frameless backpack of claim 18, wherein each shoulder strap of the pair of shoulder straps is configured to slide forwards and backwards along the tracks to adjust an angle between the shoulder strap and the waist connector.
  20. 20. The frameless backpack of claim 15, wherein the sheath defines an opening and the support member is insertable into and removable from the sheath through the opening. 38 4889-5636-7603U

Description

Docket No. P321164.WO.01 (506310-339) FRAMELESS BACKPACK WITH ELONGATE SUPPORT MEMBER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 18/830,398, filed 10 September 2024, and entitled “FRAMELESS BACKPACK WITH ELONGATE SUPPORT MEMBER,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD [0002] The described embodiments relate generally to a frameless backpack. BACKGROUND [0003] Backpacks are commonly carried by users to transport objects. Some backpacks (e.g., full suspension packs) can include hip belts to help carry the payload. To do so, such backpacks typically implement frames that can disperse a load across the user’s back and/or help transfer weight from the shoulders to the hips of the user. Frames, despite their variety, can limit air ventilation to the user’s back and lend to increased temperatures and (in turn) user perspiration at the back region. [0004] Other existing backpacks, including existing frameless backpacks, are not well equipped for user comfort. In most cases, the backpack is suspended from the user’s shoulders, which almost exclusively bear the weight of the backpack (and its contents). Some frameless backpacks can implement a hip belt (or other torso-type connection), but without a frame, these backpacks are limited in their effectiveness of shifting weight off the user’s shoulders. [0005] In a particular example of frameless backpacks, some vests (e.g., upland game vests) are equipped with a pouch for placing harvested game. The pouch — or bird bag — is typically positioned on the backside of the vest in the mid-back to lower-back region. The 1 4889-5636-7603U Docket No. P321164.WO.01 (506310-339) shoulders of a user, therefore, carry the weight of the game positioned in the vest pouch. Even for vests with hip belts, these vests (like other frameless backpacks) fail to adequately offload weight from a user’s shoulders because they ineffectively transfer load bearing from the shoulders to the hips of the user. Accordingly, vests (particularly upland game vests filled with harvested game) can become tiresome and uncomfortable to wear over extended durations and/or extended distances of travel. Certain vests which include bird boxes (or pouches) can also be difficult to store and/or uncomfortable to wear (especially when laying backwards in a layout blind) due to bulkiness of size and/or rigidity of the bird box. [0006] The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced. SUMMARY [0007] An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a frameless backpack. The frameless backpack can include a shoulder strap and bag walls defining an at least partially enclosed volume. The back walls can include a back wall including: an upper wall portion connectable to the shoulder strap; a lower wall portion opposite the upper wall portion; and a central wall portion positioned between the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion, the central wall portion including at least one of a breathable fabric or an air vent. The frameless backpack can additionally include: a waist connector coupled to one or more of the bag walls; and a support member including a first point of attachment to the back wall at the upper wall portion and a second point of attachment to the back wall at the lower wall portion, the support member being unattached to the back wall along the central wall portion between the first point of attachment and the second point of attachment. 2 4889-5636-7603U Docket No. P321164.WO.01 (506310-339) [0008] In some examples, the support member is removable. In one or more examples, the support member includes a first support member and a second support member adjacent to the first support member. In particular examples, at least a portion of the support member is positioned inside the at least partially enclosed volume. In at least one example, the back wall includes a user-facing side configured to be positioned against a user, and the support member is positioned on a side of the back wall opposite the user-facing side. In certain examples, the breathable fabric includes a mesh fabric. In some examples, the at least partially enclosed volume includes a game bag configured to receive a payload, such as harvested game. [0009] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a frameless backpack that includes: a shoulder strap; a bag portion connectable to the shoulder strap and including a back wall; a waist connector coupled to the bag portion adjacent to at least a lower back wall portion of the back wall; and an elongate support positionable along the back wall and extending centrally between the lower back wall portion and an upper back wa