AIR FRAMES FOR OUTDOOR GOODS

• US 20090249700A1
• Filed: 04/06/2007
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Lenz, Derrick D., Hrubant, Mark A., Beehn, Tracy A., Barnett, John P., Berdan, David L., Marshall, Duane D., DeBrunner, Daniel D., Daniel, Timothy E., Hinz, Trevor J., Wilgus, Mitchell L., Peterson, Michael Wayne, Hillard, Jake L., Matheus, Gail R., McClintock, Jason T., Michaelis, Susan L.
• Application Number:
  US12/296,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20090249700A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/2.170
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/021 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2003/122 Back cushioning parts or details of backpacks, e.g. with ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2003/127 Dorsal or hip pads for the lumbar back or for the waist
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/08 Carrying-frames; Frames combined with sacks
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/06 Tents at least partially supported by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/20 inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 2015/201 with inflatable tubular framework, with or without tent cover
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 2015/203 supported by a non-inflatable structure or framework

Abstract

A backpack (160) with an air frame (162). The backpack includes a storage compartment, an air frame (162), and at least one strap (168) for securing the bag to a person. The air frame (162) includes an air bladder, which stiffens as it is inflated. The air frame (162) may include portions that are individually inflatable, and a pump (26) may be included for inflating the air frame (162). The backpack (160) may include inflatable portions (22) designed to provide support to specific portions of a user'"'"'s body.

Claims

1. A backpack comprising:

a storage compartment having a back portion;

an air frame in or on the back portion; and

at least one strap for securing the backpack to the body of a person.

2. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the back portion has a lumbar region, and the air frame is located at the lumbar region;

and

further comprising a second air frame located on the back portion above the lumbar region.

3. The backpack of claim 2, further comprising a valve connected to the air frame, the valve configured to receive air into the air frame.

4. The backpack of claim 2, further comprising a built-in pump installed on the backpack and for inflating the air frame, the pump being fluidly connected to the air frame.

5. The backpack of claim 2, wherein the air frame and the second air frame are fluidly separate from one another.

6. The backpack of claim 2, wherein the air frame and second air frame are fluidly connected to one another.

7. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the air frame comprises:

an outer ring; and

at least one rib extending across the outer ring.

8. The backpack of claim 7, wherein the back portion has a lumbar region, and wherein said at least one rib extends horizontally across the lumbar region.

9. The backpack of claim 7, wherein said at least one rib extending across the outer ring extends vertically across the outer ring.

10. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the air frame includes at least one inflatable stay.

11. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the air frame includes two inflatable stays extending along sides of the back portion.

12. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the air frame includes an opening extending vertically throughout a portion of the air frame.

13. The backpack of claim 12, wherein the opening extends along a spine region of the backpack.

14. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the air frame is shaped such that, when the air frame is inflated, the back portion comprises a curved surface matching the thoracic region of a person'"'"'s spine.

15. The backpack of claim 9, wherein the air frame includes a plurality of horizontal ribs aligning with vertebrae of the thoracic and lumbar regions of the person'"'"'s back.

16. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the air frame is shaped such that, when the air frame is inflated, the back portion comprises a curved surface matching the thoracic and lumbar regions of the person'"'"'s spine.

17. The backpack of claim 16, wherein the air frame includes a plurality of diagonal ribs extending from a spinal region of the back portion outward toward sides of the back portion.

18. The backpack of claim 1, further comprising a built-in pump installed on the backpack and for inflating the air frame, the pump being fluidly connected to the air frame.

19. The backpack of claim 18, wherein a control for the pump is located on the strap.

20. The backpack of claim 18, wherein the pump extends from a bottom portion of the backpack.

21. The backpack of claim 1, further comprising:

a first pump installed on the backpack and for inflating the air frame;

a second pump;

wherein the air frame comprises;

a lumbar region fluidly connected to the first pump; and

a second region fluidly separated from the lumbar region and fluidly connected to the second pump.

22. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the air frame is hermetically sealed.

23. The backpack of claim 22, wherein the air frame comprises:

a plurality of ribs that, when the air frame is against a person'"'"'s back, align with vertebrae of the thoracic and lumbar regions of the person'"'"'s back; and

a lumbar support that, when the air frame is against a person'"'"'s back, aligns with the lumbar portion of the person'"'"'s spine.

24. The backpack of claim 1, the air frame further comprising:

a plurality of individual chambers.

25. The backpack of claim 24, wherein the individual chambers are fluidly separated.

26. The backpack of claim 24, wherein each of the individual air chambers is inflatably adjustable.

27. The backpack of claim 1, further comprising:

a belt configured to wrap around a person'"'"'s hips wherein the belt includes an air chamber, the air chamber extending along at least a portion of the belt.

28. The backpack of claim 1, the air frame comprising:

a plurality of inflatable segments;

a plurality of non-inflatable segments; and

wherein there is at least one non-inflatable segment between a pair of inflatable segments.

29. The backpack of claim 28, wherein non-inflatable segments and inflatable segments are alternated so as to form a sequence of at least three pairs, each pair having an inflatable segment and a non-inflatable segment.

30. The backpack of claim 28, wherein the inflatable segments are collectively inflatable.

31. The backpack of claim 28, wherein the inflatable segments are individually inflatable.

32. The backpack of claim 1, further comprising:

a belt configured to wrap around a person'"'"'s hips;

the air frame comprising a plurality of inflatably adjustable air chambers; and

the belt comprising a plurality of inflatably adjustable air chambers.

33. The backpack of claim 32, the strap comprising a plurality of inflatably adjustable air chambers.

37. The shelter of claim 30, wherein the air frame includes two braces intersecting at a crossing at or near the top of the air frame.

38. The shelter of claim 31, wherein a portion of the covering extends under the crossing.

39. The shelter of claim 30, wherein the air frame comprises a plurality of legs.

40. The shelter of claim 30, wherein the shelter includes a plurality of sides, wherein the air frame comprises a plurality of arches configured along the sides, and wherein arches on consecutive sides are connected at their bottom portions.

41. The shelter of claim 30, wherein the air frame includes a plurality of air channels forming a crossed pattern for supporting the covering.

43. The shelter of claim 30, wherein the air frame comprises:

a plurality of arches;

a central rib; and

wherein the central rib connects the arches together at or near the top of the arches.

44. The shelter of claim 30, wherein the covering includes an openable structure hingedly attached to the shelter, the openable structure having a shape, and the openable structure comprising an openable structure air frame for maintaining the shape.

45. The shelter of claim 30, the air frame including a pair of arches, each arch extending along opposing sides of the shelter from a low point to a high point, wherein the high points of the arches are located on or near the same side of the shelter.

46. The shelter of claim 30, wherein the shelter includes two opposing sides, and wherein the air frame includes an L-shaped portion extending along each side.

47. The shelter of claim 40, wherein the air frame includes a cross bar extending between the L-shaped portions.

51. The airbed of claim 44, wherein an air bladder is located inside each chamber.

53. The sleeping bag of claim 45, wherein the airbed is removably attached to the bag by at least one of the set of hooks, snaps, hook and loop closures, or clasps.

34. A shelter, comprising:

a plurality of rigid legs; and

an inflatable top including, for each of the rigid legs, a sleeve for receiving the leg.

35. The shelter of claim 34, the inflatable top comprising a plurality of ribs extending parallel to one another.

42. The shelter of claim 35, wherein the covering includes a door.

36. A shelter, comprising:

an air frame; and

a covering supported by the air frame.

48. A love seat, comprising:

a seating surface having a first air bladder;

a seat back connected edgewise to the seating surface and having a second air bladder; and

the first bladder being in fluid communication with the second bladder.

49. An airbed, comprising:

a puncture resistant cover having at least one chamber; and

at least one air bladder removably located inside each chamber.

50. The airbed of claim 49, wherein the puncture resistant cover comprises a plurality of said chambers.

52. A sleeping bag, comprising:

a bag comprising fabric; and

an airbed attached to a portion of the bag.