Survival backpack that converts to a personal flotation device

Abstract

Luggage, such as suitcases and backpacks, converts into personal flotation devices by incorporating flotation elements into their structure. Backpacks can also be converted to rescue harnesses by the incorporation of a reinforcing strap and rescue ring. Significantly, such multi-purpose items of luggage offer users access to safety devices unavailable to users of ordinary luggage, enabling such users to have access to lifesaving equipment without requiring the user to carry a dedicated PFD or rescue harness. In one embodiment a backpack includes an emergency lower opening that can be used to remove heavy items while the user is still wearing the backpack, to increase the buoyancy of the survival backpack by eliminating ballast. In another embodiment, a backpack includes a peripheral zipper that separates the backpack into first and second portions, one portion to be worn over the chest and the other portion to be worn over the back.

1 . A survival backpack comprising:
 (a) flotation material sufficient to provide buoyancy to enable a user to float in water, the flotation material being inherently buoyant, rather than requiring inflation while in the survival backpack to achieve buoyancy;   (b) a user accessible internal volume for containing items; and   (c) a pair of shoulder straps enabling the survival backpack to be worn by the user.   
     
     
         2 . The survival backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the internal volume is large enough to accommodate a ream of letter sized paper. 
     
     
         3 . The survival backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising a torso harness for releasably securing the survival backpack to the user's torso. 
     
     
         4 . The survival backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower opening enabling a user to remove the contents of the internal volume in an emergency while wearing the survival backpack. 
     
     
         5 . The survival backpack of  claim 4 , wherein the lower opening is accessible via at least one of a zipper and a quick release buckle. 
     
     
         6 . The survival backpack of  claim 1 , wherein at the flotation material is incorporated into at least one of the following elements:
 (a) the shoulder straps;   (b) a front panel that partially defines the internal volume; and   (c) a rear panel that partially defines the internal volume.   
     
     
         7 . The survival backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising a rescue ring enabling the survival backpack to be coupled to a rescue line in an emergency. 
     
     
         8 . The survival backpack of  claim 7 , further comprising a reinforcing strap enabling the survival backpack to withstand an increased load associated with using the survival backpack as a rescue harness, and wherein the rescue ring and reinforcing strap are configured such that the user can use the survival backpack as a seat while being moved out of an emergency situation via a rescue line coupled to the rescue ring. 
     
     
         9 . The survival backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising a central zipper, the central zipper separating the survival backpack into a first portion to be worn over the user's chest, and a second portion to be worn over the user's back, wherein the central zipper extends about an entire circumference of a main body of the survival backpack. 
     
     
         10 . The survival backpack of  claim 9 , wherein the central zipper provides access to the internal volume, such that when the user separates the survival backpack into the front and rear portions, the contents of the internal volume are emptied. 
     
     
         11 . The survival backpack of  claim 9 , further comprising first and second straps securing the first portion to the second portion when the central zipper is in an open position and the first and second portions are separated, the first and second straps being configured to rest on the user's shoulders when the survival backpack is used as a personal flotation device. 
     
     
         12 . The survival backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the flotation material comprises at least one ergonomically shaped panel configured to conform to a user's body. 
     
     
         13 . A survival backpack that can be used as a rescue harness in an emergency, the survival backpack comprising:
 (a) an internal volume in which a user can store items;   (b) a pair of shoulder straps enabling the survival backpack to be worn by the user; and   (c) a rescue ring enabling the survival backpack to be coupled to a rescue line in an emergency.   
     
     
         14 . The survival backpack of  claim 13 , further comprising a reinforcing strap enabling the survival backpack to withstand an increased load associated with using the survival backpack as a rescue harness, and wherein the rescue ring and reinforcing strap are configured such that the user can use the survival backpack as a seat while being moved out of an emergency situation via a rescue line coupled to the rescue ring. 
     
     
         15 . The survival backpack of  claim 13 , further comprising flotation material sufficient to provide buoyancy to enable a user to float in water, to enable the survival backpack to serve as a personal floatation device, the flotation material being inherently buoyant, rather than requiring inflation while in the survival backpack to achieve buoyancy. 
     
     
         16 . The survival backpack of  claim 13 , further comprising a bottom opening enabling access to the internal volume, the bottom opening being secured in a closed position by a set of reinforcing outer elements disposed perpendicularly over the bottom opening to provide support, the bottom opening enabling the internal volume to be emptied during an emergency. 
     
     
         17 . An item of luggage defining a user accessible internal storage volume, comprising:
 (a) flotation material sufficient to enable the item of luggage to float in water when an infant or small child is disposed in the internal storage volume, the flotation material being integrated into the item of luggage, the flotation material being inherently buoyant, rather than requiring inflation while in the item of luggage to achieve buoyancy; and   (b) a harness disposed in the internal storage volume to enable the infant or small child to be secured in the internal storage volume.   
     
     
         18 . The item of luggage of  claim 17 , wherein the flotation material is enclosed in a waterproof layer to prevent the flotation material from being saturated with water when the item of luggage is used as a flotation aid. 
     
     
         19 . The item of luggage of  claim 17 , further comprising a rescue ring enabling the item of luggage to be coupled to a rescue line in an emergency. 
     
     
         20 . The item of luggage of  claim 17 , wherein the internal storage volume is defined by:
 (a) a back portion containing flotation materials enclosed in a waterproof layer;   (b) four side walls attached to the back portion, each side wall containing flotation materials enclosed in a waterproof layer; and   (c) a top portion fixedly attached to at least one side wall, the top portion securing items disposed in the internal storage volume when in a closed position, and allowing access to the internal storage volume when in an open position.