Backpacks and related methods

Abstract

Backpacks for carrying one or more items therein and related methods are provided. The backpack can include an outer shell forming a bottom and a top and front, back and side walls with the outer shell defining an interior space. The backpack also can include a divider extendable between the front wall and the back wall of the outer shell to form a shelf between the top and bottom of the outer shell. When the divider is extended between the front wall and the back wall, a first storage compartment is formed between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf and a second compartment is formed between the shelf and the top of the outer shell. The divider can be detachably secured between the front wall and the back wall so that one or more books are supportable by the shelf formed by the divider.

1 . A backpack configured for carrying items therein on the back of a user, the backpack comprising:
 an outer shell forming a front wall, a back wall, opposing side walls, a bottom and a top, the outer shell defining an interior space; and   a divider extendable between the front wall and the back wall of the outer shell to form a shelf between the top and bottom of the outer shell and a first storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf and a second storage compartment between the shelf and the top of the outer shell, the divider being detachably securable between the front wall and the back wall so that one or more items are supportable by the shelf formed by the divider.   
     
     
         2 . The backpack according to  claim 1 , wherein the divider is fixedly attached to the front wall and the divider is detachably securable to the back wall. 
     
     
         3 . The backpack according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more fasteners, each fastener having a first fastener portion attached to the divider and a second fastener portion attached to at least one of the front wall, the back wall or the opposing side walls, the first fastener portion engagable with the second fastener portion to secure the divider between the front wall and the back wall. 
     
     
         4 . The backpack according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more fasteners comprises a hook and loop fastener with a first portion of the hook and loop fastener attached to the divider extending along at least a portion of a width of the divider and a second portion of the hook and loop fastener attached to the back wall extending along at least a portion of a width of the back wall. 
     
     
         5 . The backpack according to  claim 1 , further comprises straps attached to the outer shell that extend over an exterior of the back wall, each strap capable of forming an opening through which a user can place an arm so that the backpack can be carried on the back of a user. 
     
     
         6 . The backpack according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more fasteners, each fastener having a first fastener portion attached to the divider and a second fastener portion attached to at least one of the opposing side walls, the first fastener portion engagable with the second fastener portion to secure the divider in an extended position between the front wall and the back wall. 
     
     
         7 . The backpack according to  claim 1 , further comprising a closable opening that extends along the top of the outer shell and provides access to the interior space when the opening is in an open position. 
     
     
         8 . The backpack according to  claim 7 , wherein the closable opening extends along an upper portion of the opposing side walls and the top of the outer shell to provide access to the interior space and to the second storage compartment between the shelf formed by the divider and the top of the outer shell when the divider is secured between the front and back walls. 
     
     
         9 . The backpack according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flap formed in at least one of opposing side walls between the top and the bottom of the outer shell, the flap being openable to provide access to the interior space of the outer shell and closable to limit access to the interior space of the outer shell. 
     
     
         10 . The backpack according to  claim 9 , wherein the flap is formed in a lower portion of one of the opposing side walls adjacent the bottom of the outer shell to provide access to the interior space and to the first storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf formed by the divider when the divider is secured between the front and back walls. 
     
     
         11 . The backpack according to  claim 1 , wherein the divider is detachably securable to the front wall and the back wall. 
     
     
         12 . The backpack according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more pockets secured to at least one of the front, back or side walls. 
     
     
         13 . A backpack configured for carrying books therein on the back of a user, the backpack comprising:
 an outer shell forming a front wall, a back wall, opposing side walls, a bottom and a top, the front wall, back wall, opposing side walls, bottom and top defining an interior space;   straps attached to the outer shell and extending over an exterior of the back wall of the outer shell;   a divider extendable between the front wall and the back wall of the outer shell to form a shelf between the top and bottom of the outer shell and a lower storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf and an upper storage compartment between the shelf and the top of the outer shell, the divider being detachably securable between the front wall and the back wall so that one or more books are supportable by the shelf formed by the divider;   a closable opening that extends along the top of outer shell and along an upper portion of the opposing side walls to provide access to the interior space and to the upper storage compartment between the shelf formed by the divider and the top of the outer shell when the divider is secured between the front and back walls; and   a flap formed in a lower portion of one of the opposing side walls adjacent the bottom of the outer shell to provide access to the interior space and to the lower storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf formed by the divider when the divider is secured between the front and back walls.   
     
     
         14 . The backpack according to  claim 13 , wherein the divider is fixedly attached to the front wall and the divider is detachably securable to the back wall. 
     
     
         15 . The backpack according to  claim 14 , further comprising one or more fasteners, each fastener having a first fastener portion attached to the divider and a second fastener portion attached to the back wall, the first fastener portion engagable with the second fastener portion to secure the divider to the back, wall. 
     
     
         16 . The backpack according to  claim 15 , wherein the one or more fasteners comprises a hook and loop fastener with a first portion of the hook and loop fastener attached to the divider extending along at least a portion of a width of the divider and a second portion of the hook and loop fastener attached to the back wall extending along at least a portion of a width of the back wall. 
     
     
         17 . The backpack according to  claim 13 , wherein the divider is detachably securable to the front wall and the back wall. 
     
     
         18 . A method of configuring a backpack for carrying items therein on the back of a user, the method comprising:
 providing a backpack comprising:
 an outer shell forming a front wall, a back wall, opposing side walls, a bottom and a top, the outer shell defining an interior space; and 
 a divider extendable between the front wall and the back wall of the outer shell; and 
   detachably securing the divider between the front wall and the back wall to form a shelf between the top and bottom of the outer shell and a first storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf and a second storage compartment between the shelf and the top of the outer shell.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising forming a closable opening that extends along the top of outer shell and along an upper portion of the opposing side walls to provide access to the interior space and to the upper storage compartment between the shelf formed by the divider and the top of the outer shell when the divider is secured between the front and back walls. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising forming a flap in a lower portion of one of the opposing side walls adjacent the bottom of the outer shell to provide access to the interior space and to the lower storage compartment between the bottom of the outer shell and the shelf formed by the divider when the divider is secured between the front and back walls.