Backpack with retractable seat

Abstract

A backpack with a retractable seat is disclosed having a pouch with a sleeve secured thereto. A seat is selectively positionable within the sleeve and has extension straps secured to a lower portion thereof and retraction straps secured to an upper portion thereof. The lower portion of the seat is wider than the upper portion. The seat is deployed by gripping the extension straps and withdrawing the seat. The seat is then bent to conform to the lower back and hips of a user such that the lower portion is directly beneath the user. The seat is retracted by pulling on the retraction straps. In an alternative embodiment, the seat comprises multiple panels folded over one another when retracted into the sleeve.

1 . A backpack comprising: 
 a pouch;    a sleeve secured to the pouch;    a seat selectively positionable within the sleeve comprising 
 a retraction strap secured to an upper portion of the seat and extending upwardly out of the sleeve;  
 an extension strap secured to a lower portion and extending downwardly out of the sleeve; and  
   one or more carrying straps each having two ends secured to at least one of the pouch and the sleeve.    
   
   
       2 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the seat is substantially wider than the upper portion.  
   
   
       3 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises a cover secured at lateral edges thereof to the pouch, the seat selectively positionable between the cover and the pouch.  
   
   
       4 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the cover secures to the pouch at an upper edge thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The backpack of  claim 4 , further comprising a pad secured to the cover.  
   
   
       6 . The backpack of  claim 5 , wherein the pad extends over a substantial portion of the cover.  
   
   
       7 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the retraction strap is a first retraction strap, the seat further comprising a second retraction strap secured to the upper portion thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising retraction channels secured to the at least one carrying straps, the retraction straps passing through the retraction channels.  
   
   
       9 . The backpack of  claim 8 , wherein the retraction channel is a sheet secured along its edges to the carrying strap, the retraction strap passing through the retraction channel.  
   
   
       10 . The backpack of  claim 8 , further comprising two carrying straps.  
   
   
       11 . The backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising a hip belt secured to at least one of the sleeve and the pouch.  
   
   
       12 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the retraction strap has an end secured to a middle portion of the retraction strap, a portion of the sleeve being encircled by the retraction strap.  
   
   
       13 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the seat comprises multiple panels overlaying one another when the seat is positioned within the sleeve.  
   
   
       14 . A method for using a backpack comprising: 
 providing a pouch;    providing a sleeve secured to the pouch;    providing a seat positioned within the sleeve comprising 
 a retraction strap secured to an upper portion of the seat and extending upwardly out of the sleeve;  
 an extension strap secured to a lower portion and extending downwardly out of the sleeve;  
   providing one or more carrying straps having two ends each secured to at least one of the pouch and the sleeve;    positioning the one or more carrying straps around the body of a user;    pulling on the extension strap to draw the seat out of the sleeve; and    pulling on the retraction strap to draw the seat into the sleeve.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the lower portion of the seat is substantially wider than the upper portion, the method further comprising bending the seat to conform to the user when seated and supporting the lower portion on a support surface and sitting a user on the lower portion.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sleeve comprises a cover secured at lateral edges thereof to the pouch, the seat selectively positionable between the cover and the pouch.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cover secures to the pouch at an upper edge thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising a pad secured to the cover and extending over a substantial portion of the cover.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the retraction strap is a first retraction strap, the seat further comprising a second retraction strap secured to the upper portion thereof.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising a retraction channel secured to the at least one carrying straps, the retraction strap passing through the retraction channel.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising two carrying straps.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the seat comprises multiple panels, the method further comprising: 
 unfolding the multiple panels to deploy the seat;    folding the multiple panels prior to pulling on the retraction strap to draw the seat into the sleeve    
   
   
       23 . A backpack comprising: 
 a pouch;    a cover secured at lateral edges thereof to the pouch;    a seat selectively positionable between the cover and the pouch, the seat comprising 
 first and second retraction straps secured to an upper portion of the seat and extending upwardly therefrom;  
 an extension strap secured to a lower portion and extending downwardly therefrom;  
   first and second carrying straps each having two ends secured to at least one of the pouch and the sleeve; and    a hip belt secured to at least one of the cover and the pouch.