Back pack with back cushioning means

Abstract

A backpack is provided with at least one cushioning bladder, the lower part of which extends across and beneath the bottom of the backpack, and an upper part extending part-way upwardly along the forward panel that generally conforms to the shape of the curvature of the thoracic region of the spine. The bladder may be filled with padding material such as a gel, foam, rubber, or fluid. The backpack has a content section, and a bladder section, and wherein the bladder section accommodates at least one bladder. The backpack may be provided with a pumping mechanism to fill the bladder with fluid, such as, air. The backpack may be provided with one or more internal or external pocket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A backpack for relieving stress, weight, and pressure from a user's back, comprising:
 a backpack for storing items, having a top, at least one forward panel to face the user's back, sides, and bottom, and, an outer surface;   at least one adjustable shoulder strap extending from about the top to about the bottom of the backpack, for enabling the positioning of the backpack on the user's back and, for carrying the backpack over the user's shoulders;   said backpack further having at least one first compartment for removable content, and at least one second compartment for at least one cushioning bladder, and wherein at least one rigid layer sheet separates at least a portion of said at least one first compartment from said at least one second compartment;   said at least one second compartment having a substantially upwardly extending portion, and a substantially horizontal extending portion;   said at least one cushioning bladder having a lower part extending across and beneath the bottom of said at least one first compartment, within said at least one second compartment, and,   said at least one cushioning bladder having an upper part extending part-way upwardly along said forward panel along at least a portion of a vertical wall of said first compartment, and within said at least one second compartment; and   wherein said rigid layer sheet inside said backpack bifurcates said backpack into said at least one first compartment for the storing of said removable content, and into said at least one second compartment for the accommodation of said at least one cushioning bladder, and wherein said at least one second compartment has at least one first portion and at least one second portion, and wherein said at least one second compartment is shaped in a generally shaped configuration having said at least one first portion that extends along said upper part extending part-way upwardly along said forward panel, and said at least one second portion that extends along said lower part extending across and beneath the bottom of said backpack, and wherein at least a portion for said cushioning bladder resides in said at least one first portion of said second compartment, and at least a portion of said cushioning bladder resides in said at least one second portion of said second compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein upon expansion of said at least one cushioning bladder said rigid layer forces the expansion of said at least one bladder outwardly and prevents the expansion of said at least one bladder into said content portion of said backpack. 
     
     
         3 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cushioning bladder is so constructed and arranged to a generally L-shaped configuration, with the bladder lower part for resting upon and generally conforming to the buttocks area of the user, and the bladder upper part continuing from the bladder lower part, extending at an angle part-way up the forward panel, such that weight of said backpack is distributed between the user's buttocks and user's shoulders, and while said cushioning bladder acts as a cushion between said backpack and said user's back and user's buttocks. 
     
     
         4 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cushioning bladder contains padding material. 
     
     
         5 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cushioning bladder contains padding material, and wherein the padding material is selected from a group consisting of gel, foam, rubber, and a fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one rigid layer sheet is sewn into and across and forms with the lower part of the backpack material the bottom of the first compartment of said backpack. 
     
     
         7 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one rigid sheet is sewn into and across and forms with the lower part of the backpack material the bottom of the first compartment of said backpack, and wherein the material for said at least one rigid sheet is selected from a group consisting of a plastic, and a composite. 
     
     
         8 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein at least one adjustable waist belt for securement about the user's waist is secured to said backpack. 
     
     
         9 . The backpack of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one cushioning bladder is so constructed and arranged to a generally L-shaped configuration, with the cushioning bladder lower part for resting upon and generally conforming to the buttocks area of the user, and the cushioning bladder upper part continuing from the cushioning bladder lower part, extending at an angle part-way up the forward panel, so as to rest upon the user's back and generally conform to the curvature of the thoracic region of the user's body. 
     
     
         10 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cushioning bladder comprises of at least one padding material, and wherein said at least one padding material is selected from a group consisting of gel, foam, rubber, and a fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein at least one strap is secured to the top of said backpack for hanging said backpack when not being carried by said user. 
     
     
         12 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cushioning bladder is made of a flexible material. 
     
     
         13 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cushioning bladder is made of a flexible material, and wherein said flexible material is selected from a group consisting of rubber material, elastomeric material, and polymeric material. 
     
     
         14 . The backpack of  claim 1 , including at least one bag joined to the backpack outer surface having a lower portion beneath the back bottom, and a forward portion part-way up the forward panel, said at least one bag enclosing said at least one cushioning bladder. 
     
     
         15 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cushioning bladder is enclosed within a zippered bag wrapped around it that is joined to the outer surface of the backpack. 
     
     
         16 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one cushioning bladder can expand up to about four inches in width. 
     
     
         17 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one strap is made ¾ inches thick by 3 inches wide to provide added cushioning. 
     
     
         18 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one rigid layer sheet at the bottom of the backpack prevents the expansion of said at least one cushioning bladder from taking up space in the content portion of said backpack. 
     
     
         19 . A backpack for relieving stress, weight, and pressure from a user's back, comprising:
 a backpack for storing items, having top, forward panel to face the user's back, sides, and bottom, and, an outer surface;   at least one adjustable shoulder strap extending from about the top to about the bottom of the backpack, for enabling the positioning of the backpack on the user's back and, for carrying the backpack over the user's shoulders; and,   at least one cushioning bladder having a lower part extending across and beneath the bottom of the backpack and, an upper part extending part-way upwardly along the forward panel; and   at least one rigid layer sheet inside said backpack bifurcates said backpack into at least one first compartment for storing removable items, and into at least one second compartment for accommodating said at least one cushioning bladder, and wherein said second compartment is shaped in a generally L-shaped configuration having at least one first portion that extends along said upper part extending part-way upwardly along said forward panel, and at least one second portion that extends along said lower part extending across and beneath the bottom of said backpack, and wherein said at least one second portion for said at least one second compartment of said backpack accommodates said at least one cushioning bladder, and wherein at least one pocket is secured to said backpack.   
     
     
         20 . A backpack for relieving stress, weight, and pressure from a user's back, comprising:
 (a) a backpack having at least one first compartment, at least one second compartment, and at least one rigid layer sheet separating at least a portion of said at least one first compartment from at least a portion of said at least one second compartment;   (b) wherein said at least one first compartment is configured for storing removable items;   (c) wherein said at least one second compartment comprises at least one first portion and at least one second portion, wherein said at least one first portion is generally vertical to a plane of said backpack, while said at least one second portion is generally horizontal to a plane of said backpack, such that said at least one first portion and said at east one second portion terming generally an L-shaped configuration;   (d) at least one cushioning bladder secured inside said at least one second compartment such that at least a first portion of said at least one cushioning bladder extends into said at least one first portion of said at least one second compartment, and at least a second portion of said at least one cushioning bladder extends into said at least one second portion of said at least one second compartment, such that said at least one cushioning bladder forms generally an L-shaped configuration, and wherein at least a portion of said at least one cushioning bladder is along at least a portion of a vertical wall of said first compartment, and at least a portion of said at least one cushioning bladder is along at least a portion of a lower horizontal wall of said first compartment, so as to provide cushioning along at least a portion of a vertical wall of said backpack, a lower horizontal wall of said backpack, and a corner portion formed by the intersection of said vertical wall and said lower horizontal wall of said backpack.