Pack having improved structural integrity and method for making same

Abstract

Described herein are a pack that has an interior storage compartment and a method for making the pack. The pack includes multiple joined panels inside of which is contained the interior storage compartment. The multiple joined panels include at least first and second panels. A seam joins the first and second panels together. A zipper that is composed of a chain and a slider is also part of the pack. The chain has first and second ends between which the slider is movable. By moving the slider, the zipper can transition between an opened position in which an aperture in the chain allows access to the interior storage compartment and a closed position that prevents access to the interior storage compartment. The zipper is affixed on to the pack such that the slider is movable over the seam without dividing the seam. As the seams of the pack are not divided to facilitate zipper placement, the structural integrity of the pack is improved over conventional packs in which seams are split to facilitate zipper placement.

1 . A pack having an interior storage compartment, the pack comprising:
 (a) a plurality of joined panels containing the interior storage compartment therein, the plurality of joined panels comprising joined first and second panels;   (b) a seam joining the first and second panels together; and   (c) a zipper comprising a chain and a slider and wherein the chain has first and second ends between which the slider is movable such that the zipper can transition between an opened position that creates an aperture in the chain that allows access to the interior storage compartment and a closed position that prevents access to the interior storage compartment,   wherein the zipper is affixed to the pack such that the slider is movable over the seam without dividing the seam and wherein the seam bears load in lieu of the zipper regardless of whether the zipper is in the opened or closed positions.   
     
     
         2 . A pack as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the zipper comprises two sliders and is in the opened position when the distance between the two sliders is sufficiently large to result in the aperture. 
     
     
         3 . A pack as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a strap coupled to the plurality of joined panels such that a person can wear the pack and such that at least one of the joined panels is forced towards the person when the pack is worn. 
     
     
         4 . A pack as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the zipper is in the opened position when the slider is at the first end and in the closed position when the slider is at the second end, the second end located on the at least one of the joined panels that is forced towards the person when the pack is worn. 
     
     
         5 . A pack as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the second end is located against the lower back of the person wearing the pack when the pack is worn. 
     
     
         6 . A pack as claimed in  claim 4  further comprising padding disposed on the joined panel that is forced towards the person when the pack is worn, and wherein the second end is recessed within the padding. 
     
     
         7 . A pack as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the zipper is affixed on to at least one of the joined panels, and wherein the slider is movable over a portion of the at least one of the joined panels without splitting the at least one of the joined panels. 
     
     
         8 . A backpack having an interior storage compartment, the backpack comprising:
 (a) a plurality of joined panels containing the interior storage compartment therein, the plurality of joined panels comprising a back panel that is forced towards the back of a person wearing the backpack and a second panel joined to the back panel;   (b) a strap coupled to the plurality of joined panels such that the person can wear the backpack;   (c) a seam joining the back and second panels together; and   (d) a zipper comprising a chain and a slider movable on the chain, the slider movable between an opened position that creates an aperture in the chain that allows access to the interior storage compartment and a closed position that prevents access to the interior storage compartment,   wherein the zipper is affixed on the backpack such that the slider is movable over the seam without dividing the seam and wherein the seam bears load in lieu of the zipper regardless of whether the zipper is in the opened or closed positions.   
     
     
         9 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the chain has first and second ends between which the slider is movable, the zipper being in the opened position when the slider is at the first end and the closed position when the slider is at the second end, the second end being located on the back panel. 
     
     
         10 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the zipper comprises two sliders and is in the opened position when the distance between the two sliders is sufficiently large to result in the aperture. 
     
     
         11 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the second end is located against the lower back of the person wearing the backpack when the pack is worn. 
     
     
         12 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising padding disposed on the back panel, and wherein the second end is recessed within the padding. 
     
     
         13 . A backpack as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the zipper is affixed on to at least one of the joined panels, and wherein the slider is movable over a portion of the at least one of the joined panels without splitting the at least one of the joined panels. 
     
     
         14 . A method for manufacturing a pack, the method comprising:
 (a) joining together, along a seam, a plurality of panels within which is contained an interior storage compartment; and   (b) affixing a zipper to at least one of the plurality of panels and along a hole in the at least one of the plurality of panels that leads to the interior storage compartment such that when the zipper is in a closed position access to the interior storage compartment is prevented and when the zipper is in an opened position access to the interior storage compartment is allowed,   wherein the zipper is affixed such that the zipper can transition between the opened and closed positions without dividing the seam and wherein the seam bears load in lieu of the zipper regardless of whether the zipper is in the opened or closed positions.   
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the zipper comprises a chain and a slider movable along the chain, and wherein the zipper is affixed on to the exterior of the at least one of the plurality of panels such that the slider is movable over a portion of the at least one of the plurality of panels without splitting the at least one of the plurality of panels.