GB2337197A - Rucksack - Google Patents

Abstract

A rucksack for use whilst angling comprises a frame 3 provided with a folding chair 4, projections 20 to hang equipment from and at least one storage container 2, 50. The chair is provided with articulated joints and is braced by pivotable struts 56 and connected to horizontal member 36 of the frame 3 by sleeves. To retain the chair in the storage configuration a resiliently held pin 18 is provided which engages horizontal member 35. In this position two pads (40, 42, figure 4) cushion the users back from frame members 34, 36. The frame is provided with a horizontal stand 32 to aid the stability of the chair and the container 50, which is pivotally connected to upper storage container 2, may comprise a removable cooler box (44, figure 5) and removable tackle compartment (46, figure 5). The pockets and boxes may be provided with a protective plastics layer to prevent puncture by knives and hooks.

Description

1 2337197 RUCKSACK The present invention relates to a rucksack. The

rucksack is for use particularly, though not 5 exclusively, by anglers.

Anglers typically require a lot of gear for their sport. A sea angler may struggle along shingle beaches carrying seat boxes, rods, lamps, chairs, buckets, reels, and many other impedimenta. A conventional rucksack can be used to store some of these items, but many must be carried separately.

I have now devised a rucksack which reduces the above problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a rucksack comprising at least one storage container mounted on a frame for carrying on a person's back, the frame being provided with a chair which has articulated joints so that it can be arranged in a deployed configuration in which it provides a seat for a user to sit on, and in a storage configuration in which it is substantially flat for carrying on the user's back, and the frame having a plurality of projections or hooks on which a user can hang fishing rod bags or other items of equipment.

The invention enables an angler, or other walker, to carry fishing rod bags whilst keeping his arms free, and to take a seat without having to carry around a separate chair.

The invention is particularly for use by anglers, and in preferred embodiments it includes storage features 1 1 for particular use in storing and carrying items for angling.

when in the storage configuration, the chair is preferably disposed behind one or more back pads which will be in contact with the user's back when the rucksack is being carried. The chair may be retained in the storage position by suitable retaining means, for example a pin which engages with part of the structure of the chair. Additionally, or alternatively, the joints of the chair may be provided with elements which tend to resist turn, for example friction washers. This enables the elements of the chair to be retained in a desired configuration until force is used by the user to change the configuration.

It is preferred that the chair is unencumbered by any storage container, so that it can readily be arranged from the deployed configuration to the storage configuration and vice versa.

There are preferably at least four projections or hooks from the frame, and they may be used for hanging fishing rod bags, buckets, or other items of angling gear. The hooks are preferably located at the top of the frame when the rucksack is in use. one or more tie members, for example, lengths of cord or elastic, may optionally be provided at the bottom of the frame to secure a rod bag to the frame and stop it swinging about when being carried on the frame.

It is preferred that the storage container includes a cooler box for keeping bait fresh. The cooler box is preferably removable so that it can be kept beside an angler when fishing.

1 other specialised storage compartments are preferably provided for items such as tackle, fishing knives, bait needles, and reels. The provision of these storage compartments can permit an angler to go angling with all essential items of equipment carried on his back, leaving both hands free.

In a preferred embodiment, the cooler box and at least one tackle box are located in a lower compartment of a rear storage container. The tackle box or boxes are preferably removable so that they can be kept by the angler for use when needed. The lower container may be pivotally connected to an upper storage container.

To enable the chair to remain standing when in the deployed configuration it is preferred that the rucksack is provided with a stand member which engages with the ground when the chair is in the deployed configuration and being sat on, the stand member being disposed on the opposite side of the frame to the deployed chair. The stand member may comprise a horizontally disposed projection from the rear of the frame or it may be part of the frame.

The rucksack may optionally be provided with a scale which functions as a fish measure. The scale may be provided on the stand at the back of the rucksack. The scale may comprise a label which is affixed to the frame, or the scale may be permanently scribed on the frame, for example by etching.

The frame may be constructed from a lightweight alloy, and the containers may be made from a natural or artificial fabric, for example nylon, polypropylene, or canvas.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawing, in which:

is Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a rucksack in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the frame of a rucksack in accordance with the present invention, with the chair in the deployed configuration; Figure 3 is a perspective rear view of the rucksack frame of Figure 2, with the chair in the storage configuration; Figure 4 is a perspective rear view of a frame of a rucksack in accordance with the invention, showing the back pads; Figure 5 is a front view of the rucksack of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a side view of a rucksack in accordance with the present invention; Figure 7 shows a storage container of the rucksack of Figure 1; and Figure 8 shows a clip for use with a rucksack in accordance with the present invention.

The rucksack comprises a frame 3 which is provided with 1 a chair 4. The chair 4 has articulated joints and pivotable struts 56 (fold-away hinges) so that it can be folded from the deployed configuration shown in Figures 1 and 2, to a storage configuration shown in Figure 3. The seat 28 of the chair 4 is pivotally connected to a horizontal member 36 of the frame 3 by sleeves 38. The seat 28 comprises strips of a lightweight canvas or toughened plastics material.

To retain the chair 4 in the storage configuration, a retaining pin 18, mounted in an upper horizontal frame member 34 is engageable with a horizontal member 35 of the chair 4. The pin 18 is provided with a catch 26 biased by a spring 24. For clarity, the pin 18 is shown at twice the scale of the remainder of Figure 2. Other retention mechanisms well known to those skilled in the art may, of course, also be used.

When the chair 4 is folded in the storage configuration, its members are disposed behind a pair of back pads 40, 42, which are mounted on horizontal frame members 34, 36. The pads 40, 42 cushion the user's back from the frame members of the chair 4 when the user is walking with the rucksack on his back.

The chair 4 is unencumbered by any of the items of storage equipment, and can quickly be transformed from the stored configuration to the deployed configuration and back again.

Mounted on the frame 3 are shoulder straps 6 and waist straps 12. At the back of the frame is mounted a lower storage container 50 which comprises a pair of tackle compartments 46 and a removable cooler box 44 for keeping bait or refreshments cool. The cooler box 44 has a refrigerated cooler pack 48 to keep its contents cool. The tackle compartments 46 are made from a tough plastics material to stop wires or hooks sticking through the container and tearing it.

The lower storage container 50 is pivotally mounted to an upper storage container 2 by means of a hinge strap 16, as best shown in Figure 6. The upper storage container may store any suitably-sized items, but it is particularly suited to storing clothing. The upper storage container 2 is provided with a top flap 52 which is preferably elasticated. The upper storage container may carry a storm suit or warm clothing for use by an angler.

A pair of reel bags 8 are provided on either side of the top of the upper storage container 2, preferably with zip fasteners for ease of closure. The reel bags are dimensioned to receive and hold a fishing reel, so that the reel will be kept in good condition. If fishing reels are stored in a conventional rucksack they may be damaged, and they are liable to be difficult to locate among many other items in the rucksack's storage bag.

Beneath the reel bags 8 are side compartments 22 which are particularly suited to carrying fishing knives, bait needles and the like. To enable it to resist sharp blades, each side compartment has a hard, tough bottom member.

At the top of the frame 3 are projections 20. The projections serve as hooks from which can be hung rod bags, buckets or other items. Some rod bags may have a hanging loop which is too small to fit over a projection 20. To enable such rod bags to be carried on the rucksack, an optional rod bag clip 54 may be provided. The clip 54 comprises a loop 56 which is dimensioned to fit over a projection 20, the loop 56 being connected to a hook 58 on which the a rod bag can be hung.

At the rear of the frame 3 is a projection 32 which functions as a stand member when the chair 4 is in the deployed configuration. The stand member 32 is a part of the frame 32 which engages with the ground when the chair is being used, preventing the chair from being pulled over backwards by a load in the upper storage container 22.

The stand member 32 is provided with a measuring scale 14 suitable for measuring fish. An optional stop member 31 is provided on the stand member 32 so that a fish can be butted up against the stop member when a measurement is to be taken. An optional slide measure gauge 30 is also provided on the stand member 32, to aid measuring of a fish's length. The measuring scale 14 and associated elements 30, 31 could also be located elsewhere on the frame 3 is desired.

The features described may be combined in different ways, and other aspects of the invention provide any novel combination of the features herein described.

The invention provides a rucksack which reduces the inconvenience of carrying cumbersome pieces of gear to a fishing site, and provides easy access to equipment or accessories when required. A chair is an important accessory for most angling, and the rucksack provides a chair whenever required.

1

Claims (23)

1. A rucksack comprising at least one storage container mounted on a frame for carrying on a person's back, the frame being provided with a chair which has articulated joints so that it can be arranged in a deployed configuration in which it provides a seat for a user to sit on, and in a storage configuration in which it is substantially flat for carrying on the user's back, and the frame having a plurality of projections or hooks on which a user can hang fishing rod bags or other item of equipment.

2. A rucksack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame is provided with at least one back pad which will be in contact with a user's back when the rucksack is being carried on the user's back, the chair in the storage configuration being disposed behind the or each back pad.

3. A rucksack as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein retaining means are provided to hold the chair in the storage configuration.

4. A rucksack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least four projections are provided on the frame on which can be hung items of equipment.

5. A rucksack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the projections are provided at the top of the frame when the rucksack is being carried on a user's back.

6. A rucksack as claimed in claim 5, wherein the 35 rucksack is provided with at least one tie member for securing an item of equipment hung from a projection.

7. A rucksack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chair does not carry any storage container. 5

8. A rucksack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage container includes a cooler box for keeping bait fresh.

9. A rucksack as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cooler box is removable.

10. A rucksack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage container includes at least one tackle box for storing fishing tackle.

11. A rucksack as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tackle box is removable.

12. A rucksack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is provided with at least one external pocket adapted to store a fishing reel.

13. A rucksack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is provided with at least one external pocket for storing fishing knives or bait needles.

14. A rucksack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external pocket for storing fishing knives or bait needles is provided with a hard bottom so that it resists cutting by a blade or bait needle.

15. A rucksack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including a stand member which engages with the 1 i ground when the chair is in the deployed configuration and being sat on, the stand member being disposed on the opposite side of the frame to the deployed chair.

16. A rucksack as claimed in claim 15, wherein the stand member is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane when in use.

17. A rucksack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein part of the frame is provided with a measuring scale.

18. A rucksack as claimed in claim 17, wherein the measuring scale is etched or scribed on the frame.

19. A rucksack as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the part of the frame which carries the measuring scale is the stand member.

20. A rucksack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is provided with a separate rod bag clip comprising a loop dimensioned to fit over a projection on the frame and a hook which is connected to the loop.

21. A rucksack as claimed in claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the cooler box and at least one tackle box are located in a lower compartment of a rear storage container.

22. A rucksack as claimed in claim 21, wherein the lower storage container is pivotally connected to an upper storage container.

23. A rucksack substantially as herein described with 35 reference to or as shown in the drawing.