GB2221834A - Covering for carrier straps of rucksacks - Google Patents

Description

ni- r, 18 3. 4 LB140889 2 /- TRANSPORT COVERING FOR CARRIER STRAPS OF

RUCKSACKS The invention relates to a strap covering for rucksacks for covering the carrier straps while they are not functionally required, e.g. during transport on specialised transport means along with other luggage.

Rucksacks serve for short and long-distance travellers to accommodate travel utensils. When long distances have to be covered by private or public transport means, the backstraps, buckles, etc., present on the rucksacks are very inconvenient, as they form a bulky piece of luggage, which can very easily hook into other luggage items. Thus, during loading or unloading this can lead to damage, and often additional transport charges have to be paid.

In DE-OS 36 10 013 a rucksack has been described, which is provided with upper and lateral attachment loops. By means of these attachment loops, the rucksack can be made fast for transport on racks or guide bars of twowheeled vehicles. However, these measures solve only a part of the transport problems associated with rucksacks, and these means are not suitable for use on other types of transport. DE-OS 35 00 612 further discloses a device by means of which the back straps are releasably linked to the rucksack. In this, a problem LB140889 2 - is caused by the stowing of the straps.

An object of the present invention is to provide a covering for the back straps of rucksacks, which covering needs to be small, light and variable and attachable by simple means to any commercially available rucksack.

This is achieved by a cover sheet which has on its lateral and transverse edges means for attachment to a rucksack. Thus, a strap covering is provided by means of which the often very bulky backstraps can be covered for transport in vehicles, so that a smooth, non-bulky piece of luggage is formed.

Since rucksacks have different dimensions, it is most convenient to have attachment means in the form of tie cords which are variable in length and can be fixed into position by means of toggles. In this way, the covering can easily be adapted to the varying sizes.

One example of the strap covering of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will now be described in more detail. In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the exemplary strap covering with small lateral loops and cords, LB140889 Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating a rucksack with attached strap covering as shown in Figure 1.

The strap covering 10 shown in Figure 1 essentially consists of a cover sheet 11, which is seamed along its edges 25 and is made of a durable, preferably waterproof material. The cover sheet may be substantially rectangular or - as in the embodiment shown here - have a doubletrapezoidal shape, in which the longer base lines coincide. With this shape it has two opposing, longer upper lateral edges 12, which link via the widest point 13 into shorter lateral-edges 12a.

The lateral edges 12, which are located at the top when applied in the prescribed manner of use, are two to four times as long as the lower lateral edges 12a. The upper lateral edges 12 are provided with a plurality of eyelets 18. Tie cords 19 are drawn through the eyelets 18 in such a manner that in the tightened position alternating upper and lower attachment loops 23 are formed.

The laterial tie cords 19 are fitted at their free ends with knots or toggles 20, so that they cannot slip through the eyelets 18. If the lateral length of the cover sheet is to be shortened, then the tie cords 19, which are either tied to each other or are arranged 1 LB140889 separately in pairs on the opposing lateral edges 12, can be pulled tight and can be fixed into any desired position by means of the toggles 20.

A similar longitudinal adjustment is possible at the lower transverse side 15 of the cover sheet 11. Here again a tie cord 21 is provided, which runs through eyelets 18 and can be adjusted in length by means of a toggle 22. This transversely extending tie cord 21 forms lower attachment loops 24.

On the lower lateral edges 12a, in the zone of the transversely extending tie cord 21, lateral fastening straps 17 are provided, integral with the cover sheet 11. On the upper transverse edge 14 upper fastening straps 16 are provided, which are likewise integral with the cover sheet 11. The upper fastening straps 16 extend substantially in extension of the longitudinal sides and they are offset inwards from the lateral edges 12 of the sheet 10. The lateral fastening straps 17 extend substantially parallel to the lower transverse side 15 in an imagined extension and are likewise offset inwards from said lower side 15.

For fastening the cover sheet 11 to a rucksack, as shown in Figure 21, the fastening straps 16 and 17 are drawn through rear-side buckles 27. Such buckles are 1 LB140889 present on practically all commercially available rucksacks 26. The rucksacks 26 further have lateral buckles 27, which can be drawn through the attachment loops 23, which are formed by the lateral tie cords 19.

Straps are also present in the zone of the underside of a rucksack 26, behind which the attachment loops 24 of the lower, transversely extending tie cord 21 can be drawn. With a cover sheet 11 of this type the back straps 28 of practically every rucksack 26 can be covered, so that damage or hooking into other luggage is effectively avoided.

1 LB140889

Claims (9)

1. A strap covering for rucksacks, for covering the carrier straps while these are not required functionally, comprises a sheet provided on its lateral edges and on its transverse edges with means for attachment to the rucksack.

2. A strap covering as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the lateral edges of the cover sheet are provided with a plurality of attachment loops.

3. A strap covering as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the attachment loops are formed by tie cords extending along the lateral edges.

4. A strap covering as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the tie cords are variable in length and securable into position by means of toggles.

5. A strap covering as claimed in Claim 3 or 4 wherein the tie cords are drawn through eyelets and are freely slidable therein.

6. A strap covering as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein fastening belts arranged in pairs are integrally connected to the lateral edges and the upper trans- k 1 1 LB140889 verse edge.

7. A strap covering as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the lower transverse edge is also provided with a plurality of attachment loops.

8. A strap covering as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the attachment loops on the lower transverse edge are formed by a throughgoing tie cord.

9. A strap covering for rucksacks substantially as hereinbefore describedwith reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.

Published 1990 at The Patent Office.State House. 6671 High Holborn. London WC1R4TP. Further copies maybe obtainedfrom ThePatent0MceSales Branch. St Mary Cray. Orpingtor. Kei.t BR5 ZIP.D. Prirned by Tvlj'.:. jplex techniques Rgi. St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. l!87