Hunter's backpack

Abstract

A hunter's backpack comprises a pack bag having a forward-facing side positioned to face an individual's back when said backpack is worn. A rigid frame extends substantially the full width and height of the pack bag. The rigid frame is removably fixed to the pack bag adjacent the forward-facing side so that it serves as a backpack support frame for maintaining the shape of the backpack and transferring the load of articles stored therein. The rigid frame includes axle attachment means for removable attachment of a pair of axles to the frame, the axles being stored in the backpack. A pair of wheels is also stored in the backpack. The wheels are removably attachable to the axles and rotatable thereon. Thus, the rigid frame, when removed from the pack bag, can be assembled with the axles and wheels, to form a game cart.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hunter's backpack comprising:
 a pack bag formed of fabric and having a forward facing side positioned to face an individual's back when said backpack is worn by said individual;   a rigid frame extending substantially the full width and height of said pack bag and being removably fixed to said pack bag adjacent said forward facing side, whereby said rigid frame serves as a backpack support frame for maintaining the shape of said backpack and transferring the load of articles stored therein;   axle-attachment means for removable attachment of a pair of axles to said frame;   a pair of axles stored in said backpack and removably attachable to said frame by means of said axle-attachment means; and   a pair of wheels also stored in said backpack, said wheels being respectively removably attachable to said axles and rotatable thereon when attached to said axles;   whereby said rigid frame, when removed from said pack bag, can be assembled with said axles and said wheels, to form a cart.   
     
     
         2 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 1 , in which said rigid frame comprises a plate extending substantially the full width and height of said pack bag. 
     
     
         3 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 1 , in which said rigid frame comprises a plate composed of synthetic resin and extending substantially the full width and height of said pack bag. 
     
     
         4 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 1 , in which said rigid frame comprises a plate composed of synthetic resin and extending substantially the full width and height of said pack bag, said plate having right and left edges, a forward facing side and a rearward facing side, and a pair of metal reinforcing plates fastened respectively to said forward facing and rearward facing sides of the synthetic resin plate and extending from a location adjacent the right edge of said synthetic resin plate to said left edge of said synthetic resin plate, said metal reinforcing plates being secured to each other by fasteners extending through holes in said synthetic resin plate, and in which said axle-attachment means are fixed directly to one of said reinforcing plates. 
     
     
         5 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 1 , in which said rigid frame comprises a plate composed of synthetic resin and extending substantially the full width and height of said pack bag, said plate having right and left edges, a forward facing side and a rearward facing side, and a pair of metal reinforcing plates fastened respectively to said forward facing and rearward facing sides of the synthetic resin plate and extending from a location adjacent the right edge of said synthetic resin plate to said left edge of said synthetic resin plate, said metal reinforcing plates being secured to each other by fasteners extending through holes in said synthetic resin plate, and in which said axle attachment means are welded to one of said reinforcing plates. 
     
     
         6 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 1 , in which said pack bag includes two compartments each having one of said wheels stored removably therein. 
     
     
         7 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 1 , in which said pack bag includes two compartments each having one of said axles stored removably therein. 
     
     
         8 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 1 , in which said axle attachment means comprise a pair of sockets each for removably receiving one of said axles. 
     
     
         9 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 1 , in which said rigid frame comprises a pair of side members extending in spaced relationship to each other, a top member and a bottom member, each extending from one of said side members to the other of said side members, plurality of intermediate reinforcing struts extending from one of said side members to the other of said side members, and a plate having opposite ends and extending from one of said side members to the other, said axle-attachment means comprising a first axle-receiving tube connected to said plate adjacent one of said opposite ends thereof and a second axle-receiving tube connected to said plate adjacent the other of said opposite ends thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A hunter's backpack comprising:
 a pack bag formed of fabric and defining a compartment for storage of articles, said compartment having at least one access opening, said pack bag having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a forward facing side and a rearward facing side, and including a panel located on forward facing side, said panel being formed of said fabric and having an inner side facing the interior of said compartment and an outer side positioned to face an individual's back when said backpack is worn by said individual, and extending from a location adjacent said top of the backpack to a location adjacent said bottom, and from a location adjacent said right side of the backpack to a location adjacent said left side;   an additional fabric layer overlying said panel and located on one of said inner and outer sides of the panel, said additional fabric layer forming a pocket having a height extending from said location adjacent said top of the backpack to said location adjacent said bottom, and a width extending from said location adjacent said right side of the backpack to said location adjacent said left side, said pocket having an opening, extending along one of said top, said right side, said left side and said bottom, for removably receiving a rigid frame,   a rigid frame located in said pocket, said frame extending substantially the full width and height of said pocket, and having right and left edges respectively located in said pocket adjacent the right and left sides of the backpack;   first axle attachment means adjacent the right edge of the frame and a second axle attachment means adjacent the left edge of the frame, said axle attachment means being located at an intermediate location between the top and bottom of the backpack;   a pair of axles stored in said backpack and removably attachable to said axle attachment means; and   a pair of wheels also stored in said backpack, said wheels being respectively removably attachable to said axles and rotatable thereon when attached to said axles;   whereby, said rigid frame, when in said pocket, serves as a backpack support frame for maintaining the shape of said backpack and transferring the load of articles stored therein, and when removed from said pocket, can be assembled with said axles and said wheels, to form a cart.   
     
     
         11 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 10 , in which said additional fabric layer is located on said inner side of said panel. 
     
     
         12 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 10 , in which said additional fabric layer is located on said outer side of said panel. 
     
     
         13 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 10 , in which said axles comprise cylindrical rods having the same diameter, in which each of said first and second axle attachment means comprises a tube fixed to said rigid frame and having a cylindrical interior space with an axis extending perpendicular to said right and left sides of the pack bag and having a cylindrical interior wall having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of said cylindrical rods and capable of receiving one of said cylindrical rods, and in which the axes of said cylindrical interior spaces of the tubes are aligned with each other. 
     
     
         14 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 10 , in which said rigid frame comprises a plate extending substantially the full width and height of said pocket. 
     
     
         15 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 10 , in which said rigid frame comprises a plate composed of synthetic resin and extending substantially the full width and height of said pocket. 
     
     
         16 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 10 , in which said rigid frame comprises a plate composed of synthetic resin and extending substantially the full width and height of said pocket, said plate having right and left edges, a forward facing side and a rearward facing side, and a pair of metal reinforcing plates fastened respectively to said forward facing and rearward facing sides of the synthetic resin plate and extending from a location adjacent the right edge of said synthetic resin plate to said left edge of said synthetic resin plate, said metal reinforcing plates being secured to each other by fasteners extending through holes in said synthetic resin plate, and in which said first and second axle attachment means are fixed directly to one of said reinforcing plates. 
     
     
         17 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 10 , in which said rigid frame comprises a plate composed of synthetic resin and extending substantially the full width and height of said pocket, said plate having right and left edges, a forward facing side and a rearward facing side, and a pair of metal reinforcing plates fastened respectively to said forward facing and rearward facing sides of the synthetic resin plate and extending from a location adjacent the right edge of said synthetic resin plate to said left edge of said synthetic resin plate, said metal reinforcing plates being secured to each other by fasteners extending through holes in said synthetic resin plate, in which said first and second axle attachment means comprises a pair of tubes fixed directly to one of said reinforcing plates, each of said tubes having a cylindrical interior space with an axis extending perpendicular to said right and left sides of the pack bag and having a cylindrical interior wall having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of said cylindrical rods and capable of receiving one of said cylindrical rods, and in which the axes of said cylindrical interior spaces of the tubes are aligned with each other. 
     
     
         18 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 10 , in which said rigid frame comprises a plate composed of synthetic resin and extending substantially the full width and height of said pocket, said plate having right and left edges, a forward facing side and a rearward facing side, and a pair of metal reinforcing plates fastened respectively to said forward facing and rearward facing sides of the synthetic resin plate and extending from a location adjacent the right edge of said synthetic resin plate to said left edge of said synthetic resin plate, said metal reinforcing plates being secured to each other by fasteners extending through holes in said synthetic resin plate, in which said first and second axle attachment means comprises a pair of tubes welded to one of said reinforcing plates, each of said tubes having a cylindrical interior space with an axis extending perpendicular to said right and left sides of the pack bag and having a cylindrical interior wall having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of said cylindrical rods and capable of receiving one of said cylindrical rods, and in which the axes of said cylindrical interior spaces of the tubes are aligned with each other. 
     
     
         19 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 10 , in which said pack bag includes two compartments each having one of said wheels stored removably therein. 
     
     
         20 . A hunter's backpack according to  claim 10 , in which said pack bag includes two compartments each having one of said axles stored removably therein.