5-Day Combat Backpack

Abstract

A backpack can be used in many different configurations and is adaptable to support numerous attachments and accessories so as to support, for example, a soldier for up to five days or more. The main pack body includes a large main compartment, and upper and lower sewn-on secondary compartments on the backside of the pack. Two detachable side pouches may be provided, and a detachable bottom compartment. A suspension system includes a waist belt and a shoulder strap system.

1 . A backpack for use by a wearer, comprising:
 a main compartment;   an upper secondary compartment that is permanently connected on a back panel of the main compartment; and   a lower secondary compartment that is permanently connected on a back panel of the main compartment, below the upper secondary compartment;   each one of the upper and lower secondary compartments including a respective slide/zip closure;   each one of the upper and lower secondary compartments including respective cinch straps to enhance their structural capability and to reduce the failure potential of the slide/zip closure.   
     
     
         2 . A backpack as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the lower secondary compartment is spaced downward from the upper secondary compartment by a first distance sufficient to create a rifle channel so that a rifle can be carried transversely on the back of the back pack. 
     
     
         3 . A backpack as set forth in  claim 1  further including two detachable side pouches each having mounting straps that interface with PALS webbing on the main compartment to support the side pouches on the main compartment. 
     
     
         4 . A backpack as set forth in  claim 1  further including a laterally extending waist belt pocket on the main compartment, and a waist belt that is extensible through the waist belt pocket and can be buckled around the waist of the wearer, to help carry the vertical loads of the backpack into the waist belt and thence into the hip area of the wearer. 
     
     
         5 . A backpack as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the waist belt includes internal padding and two diagonally extending reinforcing straps on either side to help carry vertical loads while minimizing twist in the waist belt. 
     
     
         6 . A backpack as set forth in  claim 1  further including a detachable lid that is connectable to the main compartment by lid straps and buckles, the lid also having a hook and loop fastener connection to the main compartment by which the lid can be hingedly connected to the main compartment when the lid straps and buckles are disengaged. 
     
     
         7 . A backpack as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the main compartment includes a spindrift collar that can be shut with a drawstring. 
     
     
         8 . A backpack as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the lid straps are adjustable in length to allow the pack to be cinched down while accommodating different volumes of internal contents for the main compartment 
     
     
         9 . A backpack as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the upper secondary compartment includes rows of PALS webbing on its outer surface, and vertical cinch straps that can be run underneath the rows of PALS webbing to help to reduce entanglement potential. 
     
     
         10 . A backpack as set forth in  claim 1  further including:
 a laterally extending waist belt pocket on the main compartment; 
 a waist belt that is extensible through the waist belt pocket and can be buckled around the waist of the wearer, to help carry the vertical loads of the backpack into the waist belt and thence into the hip area of the wearer; and 
 a shoulder strap system that connects with the waist belt in a force-transmitting manner so that load on the waist belt is transmitted into the shoulder strap system. 
 
     
     
         11 . A backpack for use by a wearer, comprising:
 a main compartment;   an upper secondary compartment that is permanently connected on a back panel of the main compartment; and   a lower secondary compartment that is permanently connected on a back panel of the main compartment, below the upper secondary compartment;   each one of the upper and lower secondary compartments including a respective slide/zip closure;   each one of the upper and lower secondary compartments including respective cinch straps to enhance their structural capability and to reduce the failure potential of the slide/zip closure;   two detachable side pouches each having mounting straps that interface with PALS webbing on the main compartment to support the side pouches on the main compartment; and   a detachable bottom pouch having mounting straps that interface with PALS webbing on the main compartment to bottom pouch on the main compartment.   
     
     
         12 . A backpack as set forth in  claim 11  further including:
 a laterally extending waist belt pocket on the main compartment; 
 a waist belt that is extensible through the waist belt pocket and can be buckled around the waist of the wearer, to help carry the vertical loads of the backpack into the waist belt and thence into the hip area of the wearer; and 
 a shoulder strap system that connects with the waist belt in a force-transmitting manner so that load on the waist belt is transmitted into the shoulder strap system.