BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Backpacks and duffle bags are the preferred carrier for many people as they are convenient and efficient for carrying personal items. Smelly items such as spoiled food or used gym clothing, when carried in a backpack may result in the backpack releasing unpleasant odors into the surrounding environment. They may also cause the backpack to acquire an unpleasant small which lingers even after the smelly item is removed. An improved backpack is needed to better handle these circumstances. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] In the drawings, the same element number indicates the same element in each of the views.

[0003] Fig. 1 is a see-through perspective view of the present backpack.

[0004] Fig. 2 is a reduced scale view of the backpack of Fig. 1 in an alternative position.

[0005] Fig. 3 is a top view of the panel shown in Figs. 1 -2.

[0006] Fig. 4 is a partial section view taken along line A-A of Fig. 3.

[0007] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative design and showing removal of an absorber.

[0008] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the design of Fig. 5.

[0009] Fig. 7 is a perspective of yet another alternative design. [0010] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a duffle bag having an odor absorbing element.

[0011] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the duffle bag of Fig. 8 with the odor absorbing element removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1 , a backpack 10 includes a shoulder harness 14 with shoulder straps attached to a main bag 12. The main bag 12 may be divided via a divider panel 20 into an upper compartment 22 and a lower compartment 24. An upper compartment zipper 26 may be provided in the main bag to provide access to the upper compartment 22. Similarly, a lower compartment zipper 30 may be provided in the main bag 12 to provide access to the lower compartment 24.

[0013] Referring to Figs. 1-3, the back edge of the divider panel 20 may be attached to the back surface of the main bag 12 via a stitched hinge line 44, or via hinge line zipper 46. The other three edges of the divider panel 20 may be attached to the main bag 12 via a panel zipper 34. If used, the stitched hinge line 44 may be formed by sewing or stitching the back edge of the divider panel 20 to the back of the main bag. In this case the divider panel 20 is not removable from the main bag. If the hinge line zipper 46 is used, then the divider panel 20 may be entirely removed from the main bag 12.

[0014] Fig. 1 shows the divider panel 20 in a deployed position where the panel zipper 34 is zipped closed, and the divider panel 20 is generally horizontal, so that it divides the main bag 12 into the upper and lower compartments. Fig. 2 shows the divider panel in a folded position where the panel zipper 34 is unzipped, so that only the back edge of the divider panel 20 is attached to the main bag 12, and the divider panel is generally near vertical, to provide a single compartment within the main bag 12.

[0015] Turning to Figs. 3 and 4, the divider panel 20 may be rectangular and formed with a top mesh layer 36 joined to a bottom mesh layer 38 at a perimeter on three sides to form a pouch 40. The fourth side of the pouch 40 is open to allow access into the pouch 40. Alternatively, a pouch zipper 50 may be provided on the fourth side of the pouch 40. Fig. 3 shows the pouch zipper 50 and the hinge line zipper 46 adjacent and parallel to each other at the back side of the main bag 12. However, hinge line zipper 46 may optionally be located at the front or the left or right side of the main bag 12, rather than at the back of the main bag as shown. Similarly, the pouch zipper 50, if used, may alternatively be positioned along the front edge, or the left or right edge of the pouch 40.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 4, the divider panel 20 includes an absorber 42 contained between the top mesh 36 and the bottom mesh 38 which form the pouch 40. The absorber 42 may be an activated carbon cloth constructed of activated carbon fibers, alone, or laminated to another fabric, and optionally formed into a rectangular shape. In this case, as shown in Fig. 5, the laminated activated carbon cloth may be attached to a semi-rigid springy plastic screen frame 62 to form an absorber sufficiently rigid to allow it to be easily inserted into and removed from the pouch 40.

[0017] A lightweight stiffening plate 32 may optionally be provided in the pouch 40 to support the absorber 42 and to reduce sagging of the divider panel 20. If used, the stiffening plate 32 may be made of rigid plastic or a honeycomb material. The absorber 42 may alternatively include activated carbon granules within a porous or air permeable envelope.

[0018] In use, the backpack 10 may be provided as shown in Figs. 1-4, with a fresh absorber 42 within the pouch 40 of the divider panel 20. The absorber 42 acts to absorb odors within the main bag 12. After the activated charcoal or other odor absorbing material of the absorber 42 becomes saturated, it may be replaced with a fresh absorber 42 by removing the saturated absorber 42, and inserting a fresh absorber into the pouch 40.

[0019] In designs using a hinge line zipper 46, this replacement may be performed by unzipping and separating the divider panel 20 entirely, and removing it from the main bag 12. In designs where the divider panel 20 is permanently attached to the main bag 12 via the stitched hinge line 44, the absorber 42 may be replaced by unzipping the panel zipper 34 to move the divider panel 20 into the position shown in Fig. 2, unzipping the pouch zipper 50, and then removing and replacing the absorber 42. With typical use the absorber remains effective for up to two or three months before becoming saturated. The saturated absorber 42 may be washable, so that it can be cleaned and reused. Where the backpack is designed so that the panel 20 is removable, the backpack may of course be used as a conventional backpack, without the panel 20 or other odor absorbing element. Alternatively, the panel 20 may be positioned elsewhere in the backpack, where is may act as an odor absorbing element, without necessarily also serving as a divider panel.

[0020] The panel divider 20 may optionally be provided with a pouch 40 having one open side, with no pouch zipper 50. In this case the pouch is permanently open, with the absorber 42 retained within the pouch 40 via gravity and friction. The pouch 40 may also use a fastener such as VELCRO® hook and loop tape, instead of a pouch zipper 50. The top mesh 36 and the bottom mesh 38 may be a synthetic mesh material, such as Nylon or Polyester. Typically the meshes 36 and 38 extend entirely across the width and length of the divider panel 20. However, as shown in Fig. 5, designs having webs 60 or areas of continuous material (without mesh openings) may also be used. Additional pouches holding absorbers may optionally be provided inside if the main bag 12 to provide increased odor absorption capacity. The pouch may optionally be made with only a top mesh and an impermeable bottom layer, so that the absorber absorbs odor only from the upper compartment, and vice versa.

[0021] The backpack 20 may be manufactured using known materials and techniques. For example, the main bag 12 may be Nylon, canvas, or similar materials, with components of the backpack assembled via stitching, fasteners, adhesives, etc. The zippers described above may be replaced by buttons, snaps, VELCRO® hook and loop tape, or other attachment techniques.

[0022] As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the concepts discussed above may also be used in a duffle or gym bag 70. In the example shown in these drawings, the bag 70 may have an inverted L-shaped end panel 72 shown in dotted lines in Figs. 8 and 9, which can be opened and folded down by unzipping an end panel zipper 74. As shown in Fig. 8, an odor absorbing panel 76, similar to the panel 20, may be positioned upright within the bag 70, optionally dividing the bag into sections. The panel 76 may be removed by unzipping a panel zipper 78.