EP1269102A1

EP1269102A1 - Rucksack with controlled automatic opening

Info

Publication number: EP1269102A1
Application number: EP01921419A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stéphane Etienne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-23
Filing date: 2001-03-23
Publication date: 2003-01-02
Also published as: FR2806597A1; WO2001071270A1; FR2806597B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a rucksack with controlled automatic opening, releasing the rear part (3) of the rucksack which remains secured to the rucksack body via a strap (17) and which is designed to be arranged on the wearer's chest of the and to be fixed thereon by a neck strap (21). The opening system is operated by pulling on the two cables (25) bearing locking pins (26) retaining the loops (31) passing through eyelets (27).

Description

BACKPACK WITH CONTROLLED AND AUTOMATIC OPENING

The present invention relates to a backpack with controlled and automatic opening. More particularly, it relates to a backpack with controlled and automatic opening that can serve as personal protection and containing various attack and defense objects and accessories.

In the area of personal protection, it can be important to ensure both anonymity and the establishment of rapid and effective personal protection. This is why the inventor sought to develop a functional bag, easy to carry and quickly transformable into protective clothing.

Devices are already known which serve both as bags and as personal protection.

US Pat. No. 5,829,653 describes an unmarked bag, of the fanny pack type, which is worn on the belt consisting of two compartments comprising a reinforcement made of a bulletproof material. When the bag is unfolded, a strap keeps it around the neck. It then serves as a bulletproof vest and it contains a holster for a handgun.

Patent EP-B-0097410 describes a portable holster for a firearm made of a material resistant to weapon projectiles. When the case is unfolded, it can be used as bulletproof clothing.

These bags fulfill the dual function of personal protection and holster for weapons, but they do not meet the criteria of discretion and multifunctionality.

The bag which is the subject of the invention is an unmarked backpack containing personal protection, weapons and other objects of defense and rescue, characterized in that it comprises an automatic opening system which releases the rear wall of the bag which serves as personal protection and in that all the elements and objects contained in the bag are fixed to the different walls by fixing systems. When released said rear wall remains integral with the body of the bag and is intended to be placed on the torso of the person carrying the bag, thereby ensuring its protection against weapon projectiles, and to be fixed there by a strap of neck.

The device of the invention is therefore a combination of an opening system and a protection system.

The opening system is an automatic opening system, preferably a system by pulling on a cable of the type used for the opening of the manually controlled parachutes. This type of opening system is for example described in patent application FR 2590542. The backpack comprises, at the upper wall and the side walls, closing flaps provided with a plurality of eyelets and d 'a cable and, at the rear wall of the bag, loops located opposite said eyelets, or on three sides of this rear wall.

The cable is a reinforced plastic cable of the type of single-wire electric cables combining properties of flexibility, rigidity and ease of sliding.

Each loop is retained in a flap eyelet by a locking needle located on said cable and which is made of a material identical to that of the cable. In fact two cables are provided, one of the cables runs along one of the side walls of the bag and the other runs along the top wall and along the other side wall. The two cables meet at the attachment of one of the shoulder straps and they are connected to a single manual opening control of the conventional type. A pull on this control determines the withdrawal of the locking needles, which frees the rear wall of the bag.

The manual control is preferably constituted by a gripping member located at the end of the cables. More particularly, the cables pass through a sheath sewn on one of the shoulder straps of the backpack (straight strap for a right-handed person) and they are terminated by an opening handle provided with a Velcro which allows to fix it on the shoulder strap.

In general, the backpack consists of a bag itself and shoulder straps. The different parts are preferably made of a flexible and very resistant material, such as Cordura.

The bag has a back, two side walls, a bottom, an upper wall and a rear wall. The interior faces of the back and of the rear wall include various means for fixing objects, such as Velcro, elastic bands, locking attachment. The side walls and the top wall have flaps to hide the locking system. These flaps are attached to each other by a system of press studs or by seams.

The bottom of the bag is only sewn on the back of the bag. The sides of the bottom are held on the two side walls of the bag by a Velcro type fastening system. The last side is connected to the back wall of the bag via a strap, which is folded when the bag is closed. This side is also equipped with a Velcro type fastening system so that the bag can be completely closed. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom of the bag has an attached strip of fabric provided with two eyelets which each associated with the lower eyelet of the side walls reinforce the action of the Velcro type fasteners by preventing any external action of opening by someone other than the user.

Said strap is sewn on the one hand on the rear wall of the bag and on the other hand on the bottom of the bag. It has an appropriate length and shape so as to facilitate the passage between the legs of the rear wall subject to this strap and so that the rear wall can protect the torso of the person when placed in front of it. The strap preferably has the shape of a Y, the arms are sewn on the back wall and the leg is sewn in the middle of the bottom. It generally has a length of 20 to 40 centimeters, preferably about 30 centimeters. According to an alternative embodiment, there is provided a part which serves as pelvic protection covering at least partially the strap at the level of the arms of the Y. This part, preferably of trapezoidal shape, is preferably made of a protective material, such as Kevlar or aramid. It is sewn on the back wall of the bag and folds at this seam to facilitate closing the bag. The other end can be sewn on the strap, but preferably it is left free. This provides protection of the lower abdomen while retaining freedom of movement.

The back wall of the backpack is a fabric envelope containing a personal protective device. Preferably, it is a ballistic protection plate made of a material resistant to weapon projectiles. The rear wall has a height of about 50 centimeters to cover the entire torso. The wall is at one of its ends connected to the bag via the strap and at the other end it is provided with a fabric strap which passes around the neck. Thus, the ballistic protection plate is held in place in front of the torso. In order to optimize the protection of the person and to facilitate their movements, preferably the ballistic protection plate has at its upper end, when it is in place, cut sides to be in accordance with one anatomy of the wearer.

Preferably the neck strap is adjustable and it includes a padded element to make wearing more pleasant. According to an alternative embodiment, a neck protection piece is fixed by sewing, on the upper end of the rear wall, such as a protective collar of the type of those with bullet-proof vests. To complete the protection, the back of the bag is preferably made of a protective material, such as Kevlar or aramid, it can also include padding made of Kevlar or aramid. When the bag is open and the plate is in position, the face in contact with the body of the wearer is the outside face of the rear wall of the backpack. The inner face of the rear wall of the bag serves as a support for one or more weapons. It is provided with means for fixing said weapons. Preferably a combat weapon is held on this face by a quick release locking system by pulling on a handle. It is necessary that the fixing of the objects on the said wall is sufficiently solid so that they do not come off during the passage between the legs and the positioning of the ballistic protection plate on the torso.

The backpack is approximately 10 to 15 centimeters thick. To improve the trivialization of the bag, the rear wall of the bag can be provided with one or two pocket (s), preferably these are dummy pockets since these pockets are found during use in direct contact with the torso of the wearer.

The inside of the back of the bag has elastic straps, Velcro strips, pockets or cases necessary to keep the contents in place in the bag when the rear wall is released, for example medicine box, case for weapons or ammunition , transceiver station, wires. The upper part of said face is provided with a slot intended to let pass the wires of the transceiver station connected to the earphones.

According to an alternative embodiment, the outer side walls of the bag are provided with one or more pockets. Preferably, these pockets contain a transceiver station, which when the bag is closed is much easier to access than when this station is located inside the bag. At the level of these external pockets, the side wall of the bag has a slot allowing the wires which connect this transceiver station to the headphones to pass. In certain circumstances, it may be advantageous to use a weapon whose length is such that it exceeds the dimensions of the bag. In this case, provision is made to provide the upper wall of the bag with a central slot making it possible to pass the barrel or the butt of the weapon and, to maintain a certain degree of anonymity, to sew at the level of this slot weapon scabbard which both protects and conceals the weapon. In this variant, the weapon is preferably placed on a bevel fixed on the ballistic plate; in this way, we achieve both objectives, that is to say that the weapon being slightly distant from the rear wall the port of the closed backpack is more comfortable at the neck and when putting in place the neck strap to avoid the shock of the weapon against the face. The accompanying drawings will illustrate the present invention in more detail.

Figure 1 is a view of the interior of a backpack according to the present invention in the fully open position. Figure 2 is a view of the interior face of a side wall of the backpack according to the present invention. Figure 3 is a view of the inner face of a variant of the side wall of the backpack according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a view of the outer face of the rear wall of the backpack of the present invention. Figure 5 is a front view of the front of the backpack of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a view of the interior of the backpack in the open and fully unfolded position. It represents the back (1), the bottom (2) and the rear wall (3) of the bag. The closing flaps (4) and (5) located on the side walls and the closing flap (6) located on the upper wall are fixed together by snaps (7) and (8) or the flap (6) is sewn on the flaps (4) and (5).

On the back (1) are sewn elastic bands, pockets or Velcro allowing to hold in place the various objects or accessories. For example, elastic bands (9) are provided to hold a box (10) of the first aid kit type; an elastic fabric case (11) which contains, for example, grenades; an elastic fabric pocket (12) for placing a communication device, for example a transceiver station; a Velcro strip (13) folded back on itself to hold in place the wires connecting this device to the wearer's ear; an elastic loop (14) to hold the antenna of the transceiver station. The upper part of the back has a slot (15) for passing the wires of the transceiver station.

In Figure 1, there is shown in dotted lines the contours of the ballistic protection plate contained in the rear wall of the backpack. On the bottom (2) are sewn Velcro (16) to close the bag. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom of the bag (2) has an attached fabric strip (39) provided with two eyelets (40), which each associated with the lower eyelet (42) of the side walls avoid any external action d 'opening by a person other than the user. Preferably, these eyelets (40) reinforce the action of the Velcro type fasteners (16), but they can also be used alone.

The strap (17) connects the bottom of the bag (2) to the rear wall (3). In a preferred embodiment, a pelvic protection plate (41) is sewn onto the rear wall (3). This piece has a generally trapezoidal shape.

The inner face of the rear wall (3) has a device for holding a weapon (18). It also includes fixing means (19) for a charger additional (20) intended for the weapon (18). A strap (21) is connected to the rear wall; passed around the neck it allows the rear wall to be positioned in front of the wearer's torso. This strap (21) can be provided with a padding element (22) sliding on this strap. The length of the strap can be adapted to the morphology of the wearer and the conditions of use thanks to an adjustment loop (23).

The variants comprising a neck protection and / or a scabbard are not shown. Figure 2 is a view of the inside of one of the two side walls of the backpack. The side wall (24) has a closure flap (5) which hides the automatic opening system. This system involves a cable (25), carrying locking needles (26), and eyelets (27). The lower part of the side wall has a flap (28) provided on its other face with Velcro which cooperate with the Velcro (16) to close the backpack.

In a preferred embodiment, the eyelet (42) cooperates with the eyelet (40) to obtain a more effective closure of the bag.

Figure 3 is a view of another embodiment of the inner face of one of the two side walls of the backpack. The eyelets (27) are drilled in an attached band (43) fixed by only one of these sides to the backpack at the seam between the side wall (24) and the flap (5) and, behind the band ( 43), a Velcro strip is sewn which cooperates with the Velcro strip (44) sewn on the flap (5) so as to hide the automatic opening system. Preferably, this system is provided on the three flaps (4), (5) and (6) so as to completely hide the automatic opening system.

Figure 4 is a view of the outer face of the rear wall (3) of the backpack. The face may include one or two pocket (s) (29), preferably dummy. On this face are sewn three bands (30), on which are provided loops (31). These loops pass through the eyelets (27) and they are retained by the locking needles (26) when the bag is in the closed position. The loops are placed so that the eyelets, the locking needles and said loops are facing each other.

The flexible band (32) is folded inward when the bag is closed. On this strip is sewn a Velcro (33) which cooperates with the Velcro (34) located on the strap (17) to close the bag.

Figure 5 is a front view of the backpack. The shoulder straps (35) are conventional straps. Preferably, they are padded and wide enough to facilitate carrying. On one of the straps is sewn a sheath (36), in which the cables (25) pass. The cables are terminated by an opening handle (37) fixed to the strap by a Velcro.

The straps are provided with adjustment loops (38) of the conventional type in order to adjust their length to the morphology of the wearer.

The internal upper part of said shoulder straps comprises a Velcro band folded back on itself intended to hold in place the wires of the transceiver station which pass through the slot (15) of the back (1). In a preferred embodiment, a chest strap is provided between the shoulder straps (35), this chest strap is of the type provided in a conventional manner for backpacks.

The backpack can have one or two side pockets (45).

The figures are an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention. The invention is however not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but on the contrary covers all variants. The exemplified bag is a ballistic protection bag but the present invention is not limited to this type of bag, it covers any type of bag comprising an automatic opening system.

Claims

1 - Backpack with controlled and automatic opening characterized in that the opening system is a system by traction on two cables carrying locking needles (26) which retain loops (31) passing through eyelets (27), said system releasing the rear wall (3) of said backpack.

2 - Backpack with controlled and automatic opening according to claim 1, characterized in that one of said cables passes along one of the side walls and the other passes along the upper wall and the other wall side and in that said cables are connected to a manual opening control.

3 - Backpack with controlled and automatic opening according to claim 2, characterized in that the cables pass through a sheath (36) sewn on one of the shoulder straps (35) and in that the manual control is a opening handle (37) fixed to the strap (35) by a Velcro.

4 - Backpack with controlled and automatic opening according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said rear wall (3) of the backpack is connected to the bottom (2) of the backpack by a strap ( 17), of a suitable shape and length so that this rear wall can be passed between the legs.

5. Backpack with controlled and automatic opening according to claim 4, characterized in that said strap (17) has the shape of a Y.

6 - Backpack with controlled and automatic opening according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the rear wall (3) is a fabric envelope containing a personal protection device, preferably a ballistic protection plate of rectangular shape with cut sides, made of a material resistant to projectile weapons and intended for protection of the wearer's chest.

7. Backpack with controlled and automatic opening according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the back (1) of said backpack is made of a protective material, such as Kevlar or aramid, thereby ensuring the protection of the wearer's back.

8. Backpack with controlled and automatic opening according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it further comprises a pelvic protection device (1).

9. Backpack with controlled and automatic opening according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises a neck protection device.

10 - Backpack with controlled and automatic opening according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a strap (21) intended to pass around the neck is connected to the rear wall (3) of the backpack .

11 - Backpack with controlled and automatic opening according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the inner face of the rear wall (3) comprises at least one weapon holding device (18) which can be quickly released once the rear wall (3) has been placed on the wearer's torso.