Customizable Pack and System and Method for Constructing and Using Same

Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to a pack, such as a backpack or daypack, that is customizable in size, functionality and features, and appearance. The pack has two physically separate portions, the front of the pack and the back of the pack, that are releasably connected together to form the pack and an accessible space therein. An optional middle portion or expandable panel can be added between the front and back portions to further expand the size of the accessible space. The pack can be customized through the selection of material and design of the material, shoulder straps, a waist belt, a pull handle or cart and wheels, and detachable pockets of different sizes and shapes. The pack can also be personalized through the addition of various design elements. A pack system is also provided that allows complete customization of a pack and its features.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pack, comprising:
 a front portion comprising a front inner surface of a pack and a front connection perimeter; and   a back portion comprising a back inner surface of said pack and a back connection perimeter;   wherein said front portion and said back portion are configured to be connected by a releasable connection disposed along a connection perimeter formed by alignment of said front connection perimeter and said back connection perimeter and to define an accessible enclosed space of said pack that extends from said front inner surface to said back inner surface.   
     
     
         2 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein said accessible enclosed space is a main compartment of a backpack. 
     
     
         3 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein said front portion further comprises a front panel that extends about a perimeter of, and away from, said front inner surface and said front connection perimeter extends about a perimeter of said front panel; and wherein said back portion further comprises a back panel that extends about a perimeter of, and away from, said back inner surface and said back connection perimeter extends about a perimeter of said back panel. 
     
     
         4 . The pack of  claim 3 , wherein said releasable connection is formed between said front panel and said back panel. 
     
     
         5 . The pack of  claim 3 , wherein said front panel comprises a front panel edge that extends about said perimeter of said front panel and said back panel comprises a back panel edge that extends about said perimeter of said back panel, and wherein said releasable connection is formed between said front panel edge and said back panel edge. 
     
     
         6 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein said releasable connection comprises a first connector portion disposed on said front portion along said front connection perimeter and a second connector portion disposed on said back portion along said back connection perimeter, and wherein said first connector portion and said second connector portion cooperate to form said releasable connection. 
     
     
         7 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein said releasable connection extends continuously about said connection perimeter. 
     
     
         8 . The pack of  claim 7 , wherein said releasable connection comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         9 . The pack of  claim 7 , wherein said releasable connection comprises a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         10 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein said releasable connection comprises a plurality of discrete sections of hook and loop fasteners disposed about said connection perimeter. 
     
     
         11 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein said front portion comprises a flat front outer surface in a first plane and said back portion comprises a flat back outer surface in a second plane parallel to said first plane, and wherein said releasable connection is formed in a third plane between and parallel to said first and said second planes. 
     
     
         12 . The pack of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one connector portion disposed on said pack and configured to releasably connect to a cooperating connector portion disposed on a separate compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The pack of  claim 12 , further comprising at least one separate compartment releasably connected to said pack. 
     
     
         14 . The pack of  claim 1 , further comprising a middle portion disposed between, and releasably connected to, said front portion and said back portion, thereby increasing a volume of said accessible enclosed space. 
     
     
         15 . The pack of  claim 1 , further comprising a pull handle and a pair of wheels. 
     
     
         16 . A pack, comprising:
 a front portion comprising a front surface of a pack and a front connector portion disposed about a perimeter of said front portion; and   a back portion comprising a back surface of said pack and a back connector portion disposed about a perimeter of said back portion;   wherein said front portion and said back portion are configured to be connected by a releasable connection formed between said front connector portion and said back connector portion to define an accessible enclosed space of said pack that extends from said front surface to said back surface.   
     
     
         17 . The pack of  claim 16 , further comprising a middle portion disposed between, and releasably connected to, said front portion and said back portion, thereby increasing a volume of said accessible enclosed space. 
     
     
         18 . The pack of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one separate compartment releasably connected to said pack. 
     
     
         19 . A system for a pack, comprising:
 a front portion selected from a plurality of front portions, each comprising a front connector portion and constructed from a front material selected from a plurality of materials;   a back portion selected from a plurality of back portions, each comprising a back connector portion compatible with said front connector portion to allow a releasable connection to be formed by connecting the front connector portion and the back connector portion, and each constructed from a back material selected from said plurality of materials; and   at least one pocket configured to be attached to either said front portion or said back portion selected from a plurality of pockets each configured for attachment to either said front portion or said back portion.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising a middle portion selected from a plurality of middle portions, each having a first side configured to form a releasable connection with said front connector portion of said front portion and a second side configured to form a releasable connection with said back connector portion of said back portion to thereby increase a volume of said accessible enclosed space, and each constructed from a middle material selected from said plurality of materials.