Modular and customizable photographic equipment packing system

Abstract

An adaptable and transferable backpacking system that is particularly suited for safe and efficient transportation of photographic equipment. The backpacking system is designed to eliminate unneeded weight and bulk, protect equipment when the backpack itself is open, and to prevent equipment from falling from an unzipped backpack. The backpack system generally includes a plurality of light-weight receptacles for the equipment the user needs for a specific trip and a backer board. The backer board is removably mounted and secured within a backpack of the user's choice. The individual receptacles are operably coupled to a backer board and/or each other and arranged to the user's desire by an attachment means, such as a hook and loop system.

1 . A modular and customizable equipment packing and transporting system comprising: 
 a carrier;    a backer board comprising a first side and a second side, wherein at least a portion of the first side comprises a first member of an attachment system, the backer board removably mounted within the carrier by an anchoring system; and    at least one receptacle comprising an equipment-receiving area and a lid, wherein at least a portion of an exterior of the receptacle comprises a second member of the attachment system,    wherein the receptacle is removably and interchangeably affixable to the first side of the backer board by engaging the first and second members of the attachment system.    
   
   
       2 . The transporting system of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of a backpack, a front-access backpack, a suitcase, a bag, a roller case, and a hard case.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second attachment members each comprise the same one of a hook material and a loop material, and wherein the backer board and the receptacle are removably coupled by a double-sided interface member comprising the other of the hook material and the loop material.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment member comprises one of a loop material and a hook material, and wherein the second attachment member comprises the other of the loop material and the hook material, the loop material and the hook material adapted for removable engagement.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring system comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: a lace, a bayonet clip, a penetrating pin assembly, a hook and loop strip, and a parachute cord tie.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: cardboard, composite fabric, plastic, metal, and foam board.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for modular and configurable transport of equipment comprising: 
 a backer board comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein at least a portion of the first surface comprises a first member of an attachment system; and    at least one receptacle comprising an equipment-receiving portion and a lid portion, wherein at least a portion of an exterior of the receptacle comprises a second member of the attachment system,    wherein the receptacle is removably and interchangeably affixable to the first surface of the backer board by engaging the first and second members of the attachment system.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the backer board is removably secured within a carrier by an anchoring system.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the anchoring system comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: at least one lace, a bayonet clip, penetrating pin assembly, hook and loop strip, and parachute cord ties.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the carrier is a front-access backpack.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second attachment members comprise the same one of a hook material and a loop material, and wherein the backer board and the receptacle are removably coupled by a double-sided interface member comprising the other of the hook material and the loop material.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first attachment member comprises one of a loop material and a hook material, and wherein the second attachment member comprises the other of the loop material and the hook material, the loop material and the hook material adapted for removable engagement.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the receptacle comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: cardboard, composite fabric, plastic, and foam board.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the receptacle is adapted for photographic equipment.  
   
   
       15 . A method of transporting equipment comprising: 
 removably securing a backer board within a carrier by an anchoring system, wherein the backer board comprises a first portion of an attachment system;    placing an item within at least one receptacle comprising an equipment-containing area, a lid, and a second portion of the attachment system; and    removably securing the at least one the receptacle to the backer board by engaging the first and second portions of the attachment system.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of removably mounting a backer board within a carrier further comprises securing the backer board to the carrier by an anchoring system comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of: at least one lace, a bayonet clip, penetrating pin assembly, hook and loop strip, and parachute cord ties.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of removably securing the receptacle to at least one other receptacle.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for modular and configurable transport of equipment comprising: 
 a carrier comprises a first attachment member of an attachment system; and    a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle comprising an equipment-receiving area and a lid, wherein at least a portion of an exterior of the receptacle comprises a second attachment member of an attachment system,    wherein each receptacle is removably and interchangeably affixable to at least one other receptacle to form a cluster by engaging corresponding second attachment members, and wherein the cluster is removably securable within the carrier by engaging the first attachment member and the second attachment member.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein each receptacle comprises a plurality of second attachment members.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second attachment members comprise one of a hook material and a loop material, and wherein the receptacles are removably affixable to one another and to the first attachment member by a double-sided interface member comprising the other of the hook material and the loop material.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the second attachment members comprise either of a hook material and a loop material and the first attachment member comprises either of a hook material and a loop material selected to removably engage at least one second attachment member.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of receptacles are removably and interchangeably affixable to a backer board, the backer board comprising a first surface and a second surface, wherein at least a portion of the first surface comprises an attachment member adapted to removably engage the second attachment members, and wherein the carrier is adapted to removable secure the backer board.