Backpack containing pallets that securely hold tools

Abstract

A backpack can include a sheet of flexible material having a common surface defining a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel. Each panel is of substantially equal size with a first foldable hinge joint located between the first panel and the second panel, and a second foldable hinge joint located between the second panel and a third panel. The sheet of flexible material is foldable to define a transport configuration with each panel stacked with respect to one another, and a service configuration with each panel positioned side by side. A first pallet, a second pallet, and a third pallet; each pallet for receiving tools. A first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap attached to the sheet of flexible material for carrying the backpack.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A backpack ( 10 ) for holding equipment wearable on the back of a user comprising:
 a sheet of flexible material ( 20 ) having a common surface ( 21 ) defining a first panel ( 22 ), a second panel ( 24 ), and a third panel ( 26 ), each panel ( 22 ,  24 ,  26 ) of substantially equal size with a first foldable hinge joint ( 34 ) located between the first panel ( 22 ) and the second panel ( 24 ), and a second foldable hinge joint ( 36 ) located between the second panel ( 24 ) and a third panel ( 26 ), the sheet of flexible material ( 20 ) foldable about the first foldable hinge joint ( 34 ) and the second foldable hinge joint ( 36 ) to define a transport configuration with the first panel ( 22 ), the second panel ( 24 ), and the third panel ( 26 ) stacked with respect to one another, and a service configuration with the first panel ( 22 ), second panel ( 24 ), and third panel ( 24 ) positioned side by side with respect to one another;   a first pallet ( 50 ), a second pallet ( 52 ), and a third pallet ( 54 ), each pallet ( 50 ,  52 ,  54 ) for receiving tools, the first pallet ( 50 ) releaseably attached to the first panel ( 22 ), the second pallet ( 52 ) releaseably attached to the second panel ( 22 ), and the third pallet ( 54 ) releaseably attached to the third panel ( 24 ); and   a first shoulder strap ( 40 ) and a second shoulder strap ( 42 ) attached to the sheet of flexible material ( 20 ) for carrying the backpack while folded in the transport configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one pole-receiving sleeve ( 28 ,  29 ) associated with each opposite side of the sheet of flexible material ( 20 ). 
 
     
     
         3 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a first stretcher pole ( 70 ) and a second stretcher pole ( 72 ) received by the at least one pole-receiving sleeve ( 28 ,  29 ) associated with each opposite side of the sheet of flexible material ( 20 ) defining a stretcher configuration with the first panel ( 22 ), second panel ( 24 ), and the third panel ( 26 ) positioned side by side with respect to one another. 
 
     
     
         4 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of flexible material ( 20 ) has an opposite surface ( 23 ) from the common surface ( 21 ) for supporting an injured person with the backpack ( 10 ) in a stretcher configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one flap ( 38 ) extending from at least one of the first panel ( 22 ), second panel ( 24 ), and third panel ( 26 ) for preventing environmental contaminants from entering the backpack ( 10 ) while folded in the transport configuration. 
 
     
     
         6 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pallet ( 50 ,  52 ,  54 ) contains a plurality of biohazard pouches ( 60 ). 
     
     
         7 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one of the panels ( 22 ,  24 ,  26 ) having a supplemental sheet of material ( 100 ) attached to the common surface ( 21 ) with a first zipper portion ( 120 ) extending around a periphery ( 102 ) of the panel and a cover member ( 110 ) having a second complementary zipper portion ( 122 ) extending around the periphery ( 102 ), such that the first and second zipper portions ( 120 ,  122 ) are operably engageable with respect to one another for enclosing a pallet ( 50 ,  52 ,  54 ) therebetween. 
 
     
     
         8 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the first pallet ( 50 ), second pallet ( 52 ), and third pallet ( 54 ) each are defined by a first surface ( 202 ) and a second surface ( 204 ) spaced from one another, each pallet having a plurality of peripheral shapes ( 210 ) formed in the first surface ( 202 ) and connected by side surfaces ( 220 ) to peripheral shapes ( 212 ) of reduced dimensions form in the second surface ( 204 ) creating an increasing narrower periphery for engagement with tools to be held in place. 
     
     
         9 . A backpack ( 10 ) for holding equipment wearable on the back of a user comprising:
 a sheet of flexible material ( 20 ) having a common surface ( 21 ) defining a first panel ( 22 ), a second panel ( 24 ), and a third panel ( 26 ), each panel ( 22 ,  24 ,  26 ) of substantially equal sized with a first foldable hinge joint ( 34 ) located between the first panel ( 22 ) and the second panel ( 24 ), and a second foldable hinge joint ( 36 ) located between the second panel ( 24 ) and a third panel ( 26 ), the sheet of flexible material ( 20 ) foldable about the first foldable hinge joint ( 34 ) and the second foldable hinge joint ( 36 ) to define a transport configuration with the first panel ( 22 ), the second panel ( 24 ), and the third panel ( 26 ) stacked with respect to one another, a service configuration with the first panel ( 22 ), second panel ( 24 ), and third panel ( 24 ) positioned side by side with respect to one another;   a first pallet ( 50 ), a second pallet ( 52 ), and a third pallet ( 54 ) for receiving tools with the first pallet ( 50 ) releaseably attached to the first panel ( 22 ), the second pallet ( 52 ) releaseably attached to the second panel ( 22 ), and the third pallet ( 54 ) releaseably attached to the third panel ( 24 ), wherein one of the first, second and third pallets ( 50 ,  52 ,  54 ) contains a plurality of biohazard pouches ( 60 ); and   a first shoulder strap ( 40 ) and a second shoulder strap ( 42 ) attached to the sheet of flexible material ( 20 ) for carrying the backpack while folded in the transport configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 9  further comprising:
 at least one pole-receiving sleeve ( 28 ,  29 ) associated with each opposite side of the sheet of flexible material ( 20 ). 
 
     
     
         11 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a first stretcher pole ( 70 ) and a second stretcher pole ( 72 ) received by the at least one pole-receiving sleeve ( 28 ,  29 ) associated with each opposite side of the sheet of flexible material ( 20 ) defining a stretcher configuration with the first panel ( 22 ), second panel ( 24 ), and third panel ( 26 ) positioned side by side with respect to one another. 
 
     
     
         12 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the sheet of flexible material ( 20 ) has an opposite surface ( 23 ) from the common surface ( 21 ) for supporting an injured person with the backpack ( 10 ) in the stretcher configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 9  further comprising:
 at least one flap ( 38 ) extending from at least one of the first, second, and third panels ( 22 ,  24 ,  26 ) for preventing environmental contaminants from entering an interior of the backpack ( 10 ) while folded in the transport configuration. 
 
     
     
         14 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 9  further comprising:
 the first pallet ( 50 ), second pallet ( 52 ), and third pallet ( 54 ) each are defined by a first surface ( 202 ) and a second surface ( 204 ) spaced from one another, each pallet having a plurality of peripheral shapes ( 210 ) formed in the first surface ( 202 ) and connected by side surfaces ( 220 ) to peripheral shapes ( 212 ) formed in the second surface ( 204 ) for engagement with tools to be held in place; and 
 a main backer board ( 206 ) associated with at least one of the pallets ( 50 ,  52 ,  54 ), the main backer board ( 206 ) of a substantially similar shape to the second surface ( 204 ) permanently attached to the second surface ( 206 ) to prevent a tool from exiting the foam body through the second surface ( 204 ) and for adding rigidity to the foam body. 
 
     
     
         15 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 9  further comprising:
 at least one of the panels ( 22 ,  24 ,  26 ) having a supplemental sheet of material ( 100 ) attached to the common surface ( 21 ) with a first zipper portion ( 120 ) extending around a periphery ( 102 ) of the panel and a cover member ( 110 ) having a second complementary zipper portion ( 122 ) extending around the periphery ( 102 ), such that the first and second zipper portions ( 120 ,  122 ) are operably engageable with respect to one another for enclosing a pallet ( 50 ,  52 ,  54 ) therebetween. 
 
     
     
         16 . The backpack ( 10 ) of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a pocket ( 900 ) for holding a foldable stretcher ( 902 ) attached to the sheet of flexible material ( 20 ). 
 
     
     
         17 . A pallet ( 50 ,  52 ,  54 ) for a backpack ( 10 ) for securely holding a plurality of medical instruments and medical supplies, each medical instrument and medical supply having a corresponding peripheral shape comprising:
 a foam body having a first surface ( 202 ) and a second surface ( 204 ) spaced from one another with a plurality of peripheral shapes ( 210 ) in the first surface ( 202 ) and connected by tapered side surfaces ( 220 ) to peripheral shapes ( 212 ) of reduced dimensions on the second surface ( 204 ) creating an increasing narrower periphery for engagement with medical instruments and medical supplies to be held in place.   
     
     
         18 . The pallet of  claim 17  further comprising:
 a main backer board ( 206 ) of a substantially similar shape to the second surface ( 204 ) permanently attached to the second surface ( 204 ) to prevent the medical instruments from exiting the foam body through the second surface ( 202 ) and for adding rigidity to the foam body. 
 
     
     
         19 . The pallet of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a supplemental board ( 250 ) smaller in size and dimension than the main backer board ( 206 ) located extending parallel to and between the first surface ( 202 ) and the second surface ( 204 ) for positioning medical instruments and medical supplies closer to the first surface ( 202 ) for easier removal of the medical instruments and medical supplies. 
 
     
     
         20 . The pallet ( 400 ) of  claim 17  further comprising:
 at least one hook-and-loop fastener ( 230 ) connected to the first surface ( 202 ) for retaining the plurality of medical instruments in place.