Backpack having removable, re-positionable carrying straps

Abstract

A backpack that has straps which may be repositioned, removed and replaced is designed to reduce muscle strain when the bag is carried by improving the balance of the load. Re-positioning the straps can enable a person to reposition the load closer to the center of the body to reduce the leverage exerted by an unbalanced load. An additional feature is that removable straps can be interchanged or replaced inexpensively with other straps that have different colors, trademarks, advertisements, or other indicia of support or affiliation. An advantage of the methods and apparatus shown is that the cost of replacing straps is inexpensive compared to the cost of replacing a backpack. The lower cost may make it possible for a business to furnish straps bearing its indicia as promotional items at a cost that is comparable to the cost of baseball-type hats, calendars, and similar items.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A backpack having re-positionable carrying straps comprising: 
 a. a sack having a front portion, a back portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a bottom, and a selectably closeable and openable top,    b. a strap having a first end and a second end,    c. an attachment portion of the sack to which the first end of the strap may be attached,    d. a fastener portion proximate the first end of the strap by which the first end of the strap is attached to the sack,    e. a releasable fastener portion affixed proximate the second end of the strap,    f. a plurality of mating fastener portions affixed to the back of the sack and arranged with at least one mating fastener portion proximate the top of the sack, the mating fastener portion being adapted to selectably engage a releasable fastener portion.    
     
     
         2 . The backpack having re-positionable carrying straps defined in  claim 1  further comprised of at least two carrying straps.  
     
     
         3 . The backpack having re-positionable carrying straps defined in  claim 2  wherein at least two spaced-apart mating fastener portions are affixed to the back of the backpack proximate the top of the backpack.  
     
     
         4 . The backpack having re-positionable carrying straps according to  claim 3  wherein the fastener portion at the first end of the strap is a releasable fastener portion and the attachment point on the sack is a mating fastener portion.  
     
     
         5 . A backpack having removable, re-positionable carrying straps comprising: 
 a. a sack having a front portion, a back portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a bottom, and a selectably closeable and openable top,    b. a strap having a first end and a second end,    c. a releasable fastener portion affixed proximate the first end of the strap,    d. a releasable fastener portion affixed proximate the second end of the strap,    e. a plurality of mating fastener portions affixed to the back of the sack and arranged with at least one mating fastener portion proximate the bottom of the sack and at least one mating fastener portion being affixed to the sack proximate the top, each of the mating fastener portions being adapted to selectably engage a releasable fastener portion.    
     
     
         6 . The backpack described in  claim 5 , being further comprised of a second strap proximate each end of which a releasable fastener portion is affixed.  
     
     
         7 . The backpack described in  claim 6 , being further comprised of a plurality of transversely spaced apart mating fastener portions proximate the top of the sack.  
     
     
         8 . The backpack described in  claim 7 , being further comprised of a plurality of transversely spaced apart mating fastener portions proximate the bottom of the sack.  
     
     
         9 . The backpack described in  claim 8  being further comprised of a closure portion that can cover the opening at the top of the sack.  
     
     
         10 . A backpack having removable, re-positionable carrying straps comprising: 
 a. a sack having a front portion, a back portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a bottom, and a selectably closeable and openable top,    b. two carrying straps, each of which has a first end terminated by a first releasable fastener portion and a second end terminated by a second releasable fastener portion,    c. at least two first mating fastener portions affixed proximate the bottom of the sack, each of the first mating fastener portions being adapted to selectably engage a first releasable fastener portion, and    d. at least two second mating fastener portions affixed proximate the top of the sack, each of the second mating fastener portions being adapted to selectably engage a second releasable fastener portion.    
     
     
         11 . The backpack described in  claim 10  being further comprised of a closure portion that can cover the opening at the top of the sack.  
     
     
         12 . The backpack described in  claim 10  being further comprised of a means for connecting the first ends of two straps together to make a single longer strap.  
     
     
         13 . The backpack described in  claim 11  being further comprised of a means for connecting the first ends of two straps together to make a single longer strap.  
     
     
         14 . The backpack described in  claim 10  being further comprised of means for adjusting the lengths of the straps.  
     
     
         15 . The backpack described in  claim 11  being further comprised of means for adjusting the lengths of the straps.  
     
     
         16 . The backpack described in  claim 12  being further comprised of means for adjusting the lengths of the straps.  
     
     
         17 . The backpack described in  claim 13  being further comprised of means for adjusting the lengths of the straps.  
     
     
         18 . The backpack defined in  claim 17  further comprising at least one mating fastener portion on the first side and at least one mating fastener portion on the second side.  
     
     
         19 . A method for making a backpack having removable, re-positionable carrying straps comprised of the steps of: 
 a. making a sack having a front portion, a back portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a bottom, and a selectably closeable and openable top,    b. affixing at least two first mating fastener portions proximate the bottom of the sack, each of the first mating fastener portions being adapted to selectably engage a first releasable fastener portion,    c. affixing at least two second mating fastener portions proximate the top of the sack, each of the second mating fastener portions being adapted to selectably engage a second releasable fastener portion;    d. making a plurality of carrying straps, each of which has a first end terminated by a first releasable fastener portion and a second end terminated by a second releasable fastener portion, and    e. releasably attaching the straps to the backpack.    
     
     
         20 . A method for displaying indicia comprised of the steps of: 
 a. making a backpack having removable, re-positionable carrying straps by, 
 i. making a sack having a front portion, a back portion, a first side portion, a second side portion, a bottom, and a selectably closeable and openable top,  
 ii. affixing at least two first mating fastener portions proximate the bottom of the sack, each of the first mating fastener portions being adapted to selectably engage a first releasable fastener portion,  
 iii. affixing at least two second mating fastener portions proximate the top of the sack, each of the second mating fastener portions being adapted to selectably engage a second releasable fastener portion;  
   b. making a plurality of carrying straps, each of which has a first end terminated by a first releasable fastener portion and a second end terminated by a second releasable fastener portion,    c. applying indicia to the straps, and    d. releasably attaching the straps to the backpack.                            ELEMENTS WITH DRAWING REFERENCE NUMBERS                           20   prior art backpack     22   prior art straps     24   prior art lower attachment     26   prior art upper attachment     28   strap length adjustment     30   backpack having removable,         repositionable carrying straps     31   person carrying backpack     32   removable straps     34   lower strap attachment point     36   upper strap attachment     38   strap length adjustment     40   mating fastener portion     42   webbing loop     44   releasable fastener portion     46   handle     60   sack     62   front     64   back     66   first side     68   second side     70   bottom     72   top     74   first end of strap     76   second end of strap     78   first alternative embodiment     80   pad     81   hook portion     82   loop portion     83   first side mount mating portion     84   second side mount mating portion     86   second alternative embodiment     88   receiver     90   flanged post     92   adjustment slot     94   locking slot     96   flange pass-through     98   flange     100   post     102   third alternative embodiment     120   buckle     122   buckle anchor     124   snap mating portion     126   snap releasable portion     128   fourth alternative embodiment     130   D-ring     132   spring-action locking hook     140   fifth alternative embodiment     142   in-line fastener mating portion     144   in-line fastener releasable portion     146   sixth alternative embodiment     148   bracket     150   combined strap