Pack with deployable panel

Abstract

A chestpack or other personal effect is provided having a chest panel that comprises at least one folding panel. The folding panel is hingedly attached to the chest panel, and is operable to be in a secured or deployed position. At least one retention pocket is on the chest panel. At least one tab is on the folding panel, being operable to removably engage the at least one retention pocket and secure the folding panel in the closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pack comprising:
 a chest panel comprising at least one folding panel, wherein the folding panel is hingedly attached to the chest panel, and wherein the folding panel is operable to be in a deployed or a secured position;   at least one retention pocket defined by the chest panel;   at least one tab on the folding panel, the at least one tab operable to removably engage the at least one retention pocket and to secure the folding panel in the secured position.   
     
     
         2 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein a windowed panel is coupled to a posterior side of the folding panel to define a transparent pocket comprising an inlet operable to receive an article, wherein the transparent pocket provides that the article, when placed in the transparent pocket, is visible when the folding panel is in the deployed position. 
     
     
         3 . The pack of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a back panel; 
 a pair of adjustable shoulder straps operably connected to the chest panel and the back panel, wherein the pair of adjustable shoulder straps is operable to secure the pack to a torso of a user when the pack is worn; 
 a pair of adjustable hip belts connected to the chest panel and the back panel, wherein the pair of adjustable hip belts is operable to secure the pack to the torso of the user when the pack is worn. 
 
     
     
         4 . The pack of  claim 3 , wherein the chest panel further comprises:
 a first portion comprising a first anterior surface and a first posterior surface, wherein the first portion is connected to a first shoulder strap of the pair of adjustable shoulder straps, and the first portion is additionally connected to a first hip belt of the pair of adjustable hip belts, wherein the first portion comprises the folding panel hingedly attached to the first anterior surface;   a panel fastener coupled the first portion;   a second portion comprising a second anterior surface and a second posterior surface, wherein the second portion is connected to a second shoulder strap of the pair of adjustable shoulder straps, and the second portion is additionally connected to a second hip belt of the pair of adjustable hip belts;   a complimentary panel fastener coupled to an anterior surface of the second portion, wherein the panel fastener and complimentary panel fastener are operable to couple to each other to couple the first portion to the second portion.   
     
     
         5 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tab comprises a first tab and a second tab, wherein the first and second tabs are operable to removably engage one or more retention pockets. 
     
     
         6 . The pack of  claim 1 , further comprising a tab insert comprising an engagement region further defining the at least one tab, and an attachment region, wherein the attachment region is operable to be coupled to the folding panel. 
     
     
         7 . The pack of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment region comprises a sewable region, and wherein the attachment region is sewn to the folding panel. 
     
     
         8 . The pack of  claim 6 , wherein the engagement region comprises a thickness greater than a thickness of the attachment region. 
     
     
         9 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tab is operable to disengage the at least one retention pocket by providing an outward force to the folding panel from the secured position. 
     
     
         10 . The pack of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tab is operable to engage, from a deployed position, the at least one retention pocket by bending the folding panel such that an engagement angle of the at least one tab, in reference to the at least one retention pocket, is positioned to penetrate an opening of the at least one retention pocket. 
     
     
         11 . The pack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a battery pocket configured to hold a battery;   electroluminescent wire sewn into at least one portion of the pack, wherein the electroluminescent wire connects to the battery, when installed in the battery pocket.   
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a pack comprising:
 forming a chest panel;   hingedly coupling at least one folding panel to the chest panel, wherein the folding panel is operable to be in a deployed or a secured position;   forming at least one retention pocket on the chest panel; and   coupling at least one tab to the folding panel, wherein the at least one tab is operable to removably engage the at least one retention pocket to secure the folding panel in the secured position.   
     
     
         13 . The method of manufacturing a pack of  claim 12 , comprising:
 coupling a windowed panel to a posterior side of the folding panel to define a transparent pocket;   forming an inlet into the transparent pocket, the transparent pocket operable to receive an article, wherein the transparent pocket provides that the article, when placed in the transparent pocket, is visible when the folding panel is in the deployed position.   
     
     
         14 . The method of manufacturing a pack of  claim 12 , comprising:
 forming a back panel;   connecting a pair of adjustable shoulder straps to the chest panel and the back panel, wherein the pair of adjustable shoulder straps is operable to secure the pack to a torso of a user when the pack is worn;   connecting a pair of adjustable hip belts to the chest panel and the back panel, wherein the pair of adjustable hip belts is operable to secure the pack to the torso of the user when the pack is worn.   
     
     
         15 . The method of manufacturing a pack of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the chest panel further comprises a first portion comprising a first anterior surface and a first posterior surface and a second portion comprising a second anterior surface and a second posterior surface;   coupling the first portion to a first shoulder strap of the pair of adjustable shoulder straps;   coupling the first portion to a first hip belt of the pair of adjustable hip belts;   hingedly coupling the folding panel to the first anterior surface of the first portion;   coupling a panel fastener to a first posterior surface of the first portion;   coupling complimentary panel fastener to the second anterior surface of the second portion;   coupling the second portion to a second shoulder strap of the pair of adjustable shoulder straps;   coupling the second portion to a second hip belt of the pair of adjustable hip belts, wherein the panel fastener and complimentary panel fastener are operable to engage each other and couple the first portion to the second portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of manufacturing a pack of  claim 12 , comprising:
 providing a first tab of the at least one tab on the folding panel;   providing a second tab of the at least one tab on the folding panel;   wherein the first tab is operable to removably engage one or more retention pockets.   
     
     
         17 . The method of manufacturing a pack of  claim 12 , comprising:
 forming a tab insert;   defining an engagement region of the tab insert that defines the at least one tab;   defining an attachment region of the tab insert;   coupling the attachment region to the folding panel.   
     
     
         18 . The method of manufacturing a pack of  claim 17 , comprising:
 providing a sewable region of the attachment region;   sewing the attachment region to the folding panel.   
     
     
         19 . The method of manufacturing a pack of  claim 17 , comprising:
 forming the engagement region to comprise a thickness greater than a thickness of the attachment region.   
     
     
         20 . The method of manufacturing a pack of  claim 12 , comprising:
 positioning the at least one tab on the chest panel to be operable to disengage the at least one retention pocket by providing an outward force to the folding panel from the secured position.   
     
     
         21 . The method of manufacturing a pack of  claim 12 , comprising:
 positioning the at least one tab on the chest panel operable to engage, from a deployed position, the at least one retention pocket by bending the folding panel such that an engagement angle of the at least one tab, in reference to the at least one retention pocket, is positioned to penetrate an opening of the at least one retention pocket.   
     
     
         22 . A personal effect comprising:
 at least one folding panel hingedly attached to a chest panel on an exterior of the article of clothing, wherein the folding panel is operable to be in a deployed or a secured position;   at least one retention pocket defined by the chest panel; and   at least one tab on the folding panel, the at least one tab operable to removably engage the at least one retention pocket and to secure the folding panel in the secured position.   
     
     
         23 . The personal effect of  claim 22 , wherein the personal effect comprises a jacket.