Portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals

Abstract

A portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals includes a backpack member from which a pair of flag members are deployable to extend up and out of the backpack member behind a wearer's shoulders to resemble wings of a beast or an animal. The flag members incorporate bright, visually distinct fabrics, to increase the visibility profile of the wearer. An elongate member, reminiscent of a tail, may also be incorporated and deployed to dangle behind the wearer to augment the semblance of a winged beast or animal.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals comprising: a backpack member portable upon a wearer's back, said backpack member having an interior cavity; and a pair of deployable flag members disposed inside of the interior cavity, each of said pair of deployable flag members, disposed endwise upon at least one bendable rod, said at least one bendable rod malleable to be manually positionable between a stowed position and a deployed position without resisting or elastically rebounding to a former position; wherein the pair of deployable flag members is moveable between the stowed position, concealed interior to the interior cavity, and the deployed position, disposed extended out from the back pack extending in a coronal plane relative to the wearer in a position rearwards and diagonally above the wearer's shoulders to increase the wearer's visibility profile.

2. The portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals of claim 1 wherein the bendable rod is anchored medially interior to the backpack member along a lowermost portion of the interior cavity, said bendable rod projecting each end up sides of the interior cavity, wherein the ends of the bendable rod are bent down interior to the interior cavity when the flag members are disposed in the stowed position, and wherein the ends of the bendable rod are straightened out to extend up from the interior cavity, and outside of the backpack member, in a coronal plane relative to the wearer, whereby the flag members are positioned rearwards and diagonally above the wearer's shoulders when disposed in the deployed position.

3. The portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals of claim 2 wherein the backpack member further comprises: a backpack body; a pair of waist straps connectable together to encircle the waist of the wearer, each of said pair of waist straps attached endwise to a front side of the backpack body at a lowermost corner thereof and fastenable together girding the wearer; a pair of shoulder straps, each of said pair of shoulder straps connected endwise at a corresponding top corner of the front side of the backpack body, each of said pair of shoulder straps connected at a lowermost end to the backpack body; a pair of connectable chest straps fastenable together to interconnect the pair of shoulder straps; and a rearmost cover flap disposed to enclose the interior cavity, said rearmost cover flap having an uppermost portion attachable to the backpack body proximal the top corners, said rearmost cover flap positionable between a closed position and an open position; wherein detachment of the uppermost portion of the rearmost cover flap enables rapid deployment of the flag members from within the interior cavity.

4. The portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals of claim 3 wherein the backpack body includes an elongate member deployable rearwardly from the backpack member, said elongate member deployable to further increase the wearer's visibility profile.

5. The portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals of claim 3 wherein the bendable rod is securable to the interior cavity in fabric sleeves disposed upon the backpack body.

6. The portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals of claim 4 wherein the elongate member is disposed upon an interior side of the rearmost cover flap wherein the elongate member is extensible rearwardly and downwardly from the backpack member when the rearmost cover flap is disposed in the open position, whereby the wearer's visibility profile is further increased by projection of the elongate member rearwardly and downwardly from the backpack member.

7. The portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals of claim 4 wherein the elongate member is disposed upon a lowermost portion of the front side of the backpack body whereby the elongate member is deployable dangling behind the wearer even when the rearmost cover flap is closed.

8. The portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals of claim 5 wherein the fabric sleeves are attachable to the backpack body by action of hook and loop fasteners whereby the bendable rod is removable from the interior cavity.

9. The portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals of claim 7 wherein the backpack body further includes a pocket member disposed upon the front side wherein the elongate member is storable.

10. A portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals comprising: a backpack member portable upon a wearer's back, said backpack member including: a backpack body; a pair of waist straps connectable together to encircle the waist of the wearer, each of said pair of waist straps attached endwise to a front side of the backpack body at a lowermost corner thereof and fastenable together girding the wearer; a pair of shoulder straps, each of said pair of shoulder straps connected endwise at a corresponding top corner of the front side of the backpack body, each of said pair of shoulder straps connected at a lowermost end to the backpack body; a pair of connectable chest straps fastenable together to interconnect the pair of shoulder straps; and a rearmost cover flap disposed to enclose the interior cavity, said rearmost cover flap having an uppermost portion attachable to the backpack body proximal the top corners, said rearmost cover flap positionable between a closed position and an open position; an interior cavity; a malleable, bendable rod anchored medially interior to the backpack member along a lowermost portion of the interior cavity, said bendable rod projecting each of a pair of ends up sides of the interior cavity, said bendable rod having a pair of ends positionable between a curled position, curled interior to the interior cavity, and an extended position, extended up and out of the interior cavity above the backpack member when the rearward cover flap is moved to the open position, said bendable rod is lightweight and repeatedly moveable to position and reposition without resisting or elastically rebounding to a former position; a pair of deployable flag members disposed at a corresponding one of the pair of ends of the bendable rod, each of said deployable flag members moveable between a stowed position, concealed interior to the interior cavity, and a deployed position, disposed extended out from the back pack extending in a coronal plane relative to the wearer in a position rearwards and diagonally above the wearer's shoulders; wherein each of the pair of deployable flag members is moveable to the deployed position to increase the wearer's visibility profile.

11. The portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals of claim 10 wherein the rearmost cover flap includes an elongate member, said elongate member disposed upon an interior side of the rearmost cover flap wherein the elongate member is extensible rearwardly and downwardly from the backpack member when the rearmost cover flap is disposed in the open position, whereby the wearer's visibility profile is further increased by projection of the elongate member rearwardly and downwardly from the backpack member.

12. The portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals of claim 11 wherein the elongate member is disposed upon a lowermost portion of the front side of the backpack body whereby the elongate member is deployable dangling behind the wearer even when the rearmost cover flap is closed.

13. The portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals of claim 11 wherein the bendable rod is securable to the interior cavity in fabric sleeves disposed upon the backpack body.

14. The portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals of claim 12 wherein the backpack body further includes a pocket member disposed upon the front side wherein the elongate member is storable.

15. The portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals of claim 13 wherein the fabric sleeves are attachable to the backpack body by action of hook and loop fasteners whereby the bendable rod is removable from the interior cavity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures

(1) FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an example embodiment.

(2) FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of an example embodiment.

(3) FIG. 3 is a rear, raised elevation view of an example embodiment with a rearmost cover flap in an open position.

(4) FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of an example embodiment showing each of the pair of flag members in the deployed position and the elongate member deployed from the interior side of the rearmost cover flap.

(5) FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of an example embodiment with the rearmost cover lap in the open position, but with each of the pair of flag members disposed in the stowed position (the pair of bendable rods in the curled position) and the elongate member is extended.

(6) FIG. 6 is a side elevation view.

(7) FIG. 7 is a side elevation view.

(8) FIG. 8 is a detail view of example embodiments of sleeves supportively maintaining ends of the bendable rod in position interior to the interior cavity of the backpack body.

(9) FIG. 9 is a detail view illustrating attachment and detachment of an example embodiment of a sleeve to the backpack body.

(10) FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view showing the position of the bendable rod within the interior cavity.

(11) FIG. 11 is a rear elevation view of another example embodiment having the pair of wing members disposed in the deployed position, the rearmost cover flap closed, and the elongate member, attached to the lowermost portion of the front side of the backpack body, extended.

(12) FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the other example embodiment showing the pocket member disposed upon the front side of the backpack body, into which pocket member the elongate member may be stowed.

(13) FIG. 13 is a raised elevation view of the other example embodiment detailing stowage and extension of the elongate member from the pocket member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(14) With reference now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 through 13 thereof, example of the instant portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals employing the principles and concepts of the present portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described.

(15) Referring to FIGS. 1 through 13 example embodiments of the present portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals 10 are illustrated.

(16) FIGS. 1 and 2. Illustrate an example embodiment of a backpack member 20 wearable upon a wearer's back in the manner typically seen in the art. The backpack member 20 includes a backpack body 22, a pair of waist straps 24, a pair of shoulder straps 26, and a pair of connectable chest straps 28 rendered to secure the backpack member to the back of the wearer. Since the present portable apparatus with deployable visibility enhancing signals 10 is devised for use out of doors, for example when skiing or snowboarding, or hiking in the wilderness, securement of the backpack member 20 to the wearer is important so that the backpack member does not dislocate from the wearer, during physical activity, when moving fast downslope, of during a fall for example.

(17) As is seen in the art, each of the pair of waist straps 24 is connectable together to encircle the waist of the wearer and secure thereto by action of a releasable clip or buckle. Each of the pair of shoulder straps 26 is devised to support the backpack member 20 upon the wearer's back by engaging against the wearer's shoulders. Each of the pair of chest straps 28 is fastenable together to interconnect the pair of shoulder straps 26 in a position proximal the sternum of the wearer.

(18) An interior cavity 30 of the backpack member is covered and enclosed by a rearmost cover flap 32. The rearmost cover flap 32 is expediently deployable between a closed position and an open position, and is devised for ease of use even for a person wearing gloves or mittens. The rearmost cover flap 32 releasably attaches an uppermost portion to the backpack body 20 proximal the top corners of the backpack body 22. The uppermost portion 34 of the rearmost flap cover 32 is rapidly disconnectable from engagement with the backpack body 22 to enable rapid access to the interior cavity 30 by gently forcing the uppermost portion 34 away from the backpack body 20. When moved to the open position the rearmost cover flap 32 may become inverted to expose an interior side 36 of the uppermost portion 34.

(19) The backpack member 20 may further include lateral pockets 38, disposed upon sides of the backpack body 20, or other pockets disposed upon the rearmost cover flap 32 or even interior to the interior cavity 30. A handle member 40 may be disposed upon a top portion of the backpack body 20 in a position behind the nape of the neck of the wearer to assist in aiding the wearer regaining their feet after falling, for example. Such a handle member 40 may be useful for ski and snowboard instructors, for example, or parents with younger students learning to ski or snowboard.

(20) FIG. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of the backpack member 20 having the rearmost cover flap 32 disposed in the open position. The interior cavity 30 is therefore revealed and the pair of deployable flag members 42 is accessible for deployment to the deployed position. Each of the pair of flag members 42 is disposed upon opposing ends of a bendable rod 44. The bendable rod 44 is devised to be pliable and easily moved from a curled position to an extended position. The bendable rod 44 is medially anchored to a lowermost portion of the interior cavity 30 and projects ends 46 up either side of the interior cavity 30. The bendable rod 44 may be anchored to the backpack body 20 by insertion through fabric sleeves 48. Some or all of these fabric sleeves 48 may be releasably fastenable to sections of the backpack body 20, as by action of hook and loop fasteners, for example (see FIG. 9 for example).

(21) The bendable rod 44 may be grasped by a user wearing gloves or mittens, and readily moved to the extended position. As shown in FIG. 4, the extended position disposes the deployable flag members 42 extended upwardly out of the interior cavity 30 to resemble wings behind the wearer. Motion of the pair of deployable flag members 42 during locomotion, skiing, or movement by the wearer, may enhance the semblance of the flag members 42 to wings.

(22) As also shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments of the present invention 10, the rearmost flap cover 32 may include an elongate member 50 attached and/or attachable to the interior side 36 thereof. The elongate member 50 may therefore be deployed downwardly rearwards of the wearer when the rearmost flap cover 32 is moved to the open position to further increase the visibility profile of the wearer. The elongate member 50 may be devised to resemble a tail, consonant and conformant with the appearance of the backpack member 20 and the pair of deployable flag members 42. The elongate member 50 may therefore employ brightly distinct fabric elements devised to resemble, augment, or contrast with the appearance of the pair of deployable flag members 42. The elongate member 50 may attach to an attachment point 52 on the interior side 36 of the rearmost cover flap 32 by action of hook and loop, for example, or other fastener capable of securing the elongate member 50 in position. Thus the elongate member 50 may be a fungible element devised fro addition to the backpack member 20 to further augment a desired appearance, or as an addition to signal accomplishment, say, attainment of a particular level or proficiency, for example.

(23) The example embodiment shown in FIG. 5 illustrates the elongate member 50 not deployed from the rearmost cover flap 32 when the rearmost cover flap 32 is nonetheless disposed in the open position. FIG. 5 also illustrates the pair of flag members 42 disposed in the stowed position and ends of the bendable rod 44 disposed in the curled position. Once the rearmost cover flap 32 is moved to the open position, a user may easily grasp the bendable rod 44, even when gloved or wearing mittens, to uncurl the ends 46 into the extended position and thereby deploy the pair of deployable flag members 42.

(24) FIG. 6 illustrates an example embodiment from a side view whereby lateral pocket 38 is shown. Attachment members 54 of the uppermost portion 34 of the rearmost cover flap 32 are also shown fastened to corresponding portions of the shoulder straps 26 proximal the uppermost corners 56 of the backpack body 22. FIG. 7 likewise illustrates an example embodiment of the backpack body 22 viewed from the other side.

(25) FIG. 8 illustrates a close up view of an example embodiment of fabric sleeves 48 securing the bendable rod 44 to sides of the backpack body 22. Portion 58 may be disposed to secure each flag member 42 to the bendable rod 44 end 46 by engagement with the associated fabric sleeve 48. Detachment of portion 58 may allow removal of the flag member 42 from the bendable rod 44 to enable interchange of other flag members 42, as may be desired when rendering a group of wearers uniformly for identification upon the slopes, for example, or when the wearer upgrades a skill level such as, for example, becoming an advanced or expert skier capable of skiing black runs versus an intermediate, double blue skier for example. Thus the deployable flag members 42 may be interchanged to serve as a patch or visually distinct indicator of a particular wearer's proficiency or skill level, affiliation, or other marker of progress, ability, membership, origin, or other signal in addition to increasing the said wearer's visibility profile.

(26) FIG. 9 illustrates a detailed view of an example embodiment of the fabric sleeves 48 having engagement to the backpack body 22 by action of hook and loop fasteners. In such embodiments, removal of some or all of the fabric sleeves 48 may be effected to enable removal of the bendable rod 44 expeditiously. Additionally, the flag members 42 may be removable from ends 46 of the bendable rod 44 to facilitate unthreading of the bendable rod 44 through the fabric sleeves 48, or to change out the deployable flag members 42 as a fungible design element (as when, for example, rendering a group or wearers uniform for purposes of grouping or identification).

(27) FIG. 10 illustrates an example embodiment of the position of the bendable rod 44 disposed interior to the interior cavity 30. The bendable rod 44 is medially conformed to the lowermost portion 60 of the interior cavity 30 and extends ends 46 up either side of the interior cavity 30. The pair of flag members 42 is removable from ends 46 of the bendable rod 44 when portion 58 is unfastened.

(28) FIG. 11 illustrates another example embodiment with each of the pair of deployable flag members 42 disposed in the deployed position. In this particular embodiment, the elongate member 50 is disposed attached to a lowermost portion 62 of the front side 64 of the backpack body 22, and is therefore deployable even when the rearmost cover flap 32 is returned to the closed position. The rearmost cover flap 32 may include design elements (such as patterns resembling dragon's scales, for example, or the feathers of a bird) whereby closure of the rearmost cover flap 32 maintains the semblance of a winged beast or animal.

(29) FIG. 12 illustrates this other embodiment as shown in FIG. 11 from the front side. An elastic pocket member 66 is disposed upon the front side 64 of the backpack body 22 wherein the elongate member 50 is storable. The elongate member 50 is thus deployable from a furled or rolled or folded position interior to the pocket member 66 to dangle behind the wearer when in use.

(30) FIG. 13 illustrates the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12 having the elongate member 50 deployed from a furled position interior to the pocket member 66 to an unfurled position, extended from the lowermost portion 62 of the backpack body 22 front side 64 to dangle behind the user in use.