GB2505212A

GB2505212A - Backpack with moveable components

Info

Publication number: GB2505212A
Application number: GB201214986A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Wyatt; Nicholas John Warwick Donaldson
Original assignee: China Industries Ltd
Current assignee: China Industries Ltd
Priority date: 2012-08-22
Filing date: 2012-08-22
Publication date: 2014-02-26
Also published as: WO2014030008A1; GB201214986D0; GB2505212A8

Abstract

A backpack 1 comprises a number of moveable features (6a, 6b, 7, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b) and one or more control mechanisms (13, fig.3a) connected to the moveable features. Activating the control mechanisms (13, fig3a) moves the moveable features. The moveable features are preferably located on the external surface of the backpack 1, and their movement may be translational or rotational. The control mechanisms are preferably located on a plate (10a, fig.3) internally of the backpack 1, and may comprise a cord (23a, 23b, fig.3b) mechanically connected to the moveable feature. The activator may comprise a ring (22c, fig.2) attached to the end of the cord (23c, fig. 2) or an electrical switch. The backpack 1 may further comprise a speaker activated by the control mechanism. The amusement and surprise is enhanced by having the means for controlling the moveable components discretely located within the backpack 1 so that they are not immediately obvious to observers.

Description

I Novelty Backpack 3 The present invention relates to the field of bags. In particular a backpack is described 4 wherein animated effects are provided by the incorporation of movable features.

6 The term backpack relates to a portable container or receptacle suitable for carrying 7 articles. Such receptacles normally incorporate one or two shoulder straps so as to allow 8 a user to position the pack over his/her shoulders in a manner that allows for the weight of 9 the pack and the contained articles to be spread over the shoulders and back of the user.

Backpacks are often capable of being closed at the mouth and are known to be made from 11 a variety of materials, including leather, plastic or cloth.

13 It is known in the art to provide bags with fanciful designs so as to make them more 14 attractive for users. In particular, it is common to produce backpacks that incorporate a picture of characters or more general images taken from popular television programmes or 16 feature films in order to make these products more appealing to children.

18 It is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a bag that incorporates 19 moveable features thus rendering the bag more appealing to children.

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2 Summary of Invention

4 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a backpack wherein the backpack comprises one or more moveable features and one or more control 6 mechanisms connected to the one or more moveable features wherein activation of the 7 one or more control mechanisms acts to move one or more of the moveable features.

9 The above arrangement adapts a functional backpack so as to provide it with one or more moveable features which provide the backpack with a degree of user controlled animation.

12 The movement of the one or more movable features may comprise a translational 13 movement of the one or more moveable features. Alternatively, the movement of the one 14 or more movable features comprises a rotational movement of the one or more moveable features.

17 Most preferably one or more of the moveable features are located on an external surface 18 of the backpack. In this embodiment the moveable features are fully visible to an observer 19 prior to the activation of the one or more control mechanisms.

21 Preferably the backpack comprises one or more activators wherein operation of the one or 22 more activators provides a means for activating one or more of the control mechanisms.

24 Most preferably the one or more moveable features are biased in a first position.

26 Preferably activation of the one or more control mechanisms causes one or more of the 27 moveable features to move away from the first position.

29 The one or more control mechanisms may be located on a plate.

31 It is preferable for the one or more control mechanisms to be located internally within the 32 backpack. This is preferable so that an observer will not see when the user induces 33 movement of the one or more moveable features and thus there is no detraction from 34 surprise and amusement induced by the backpack.

I Most preferably the backpack further comprises a speaker. Preferably the activation of the 2 one or more of the control mechanisms induces a sound to be generated from the 3 speaker.

Optionally the one or more control mechanisms comprise a cord mechanically connected 6 to one or more moveable features. In this embodiment, the one or more activators may 7 comprise a ring attached to one end of the cord.

9 Alternatively the one or more control mechanisms may comprise an electrical circuit connected to one or more moveable features. In this embodiment, the one or more 11 activators may comprise an electrical switch.

13 The electrical switch may be located within a remote control. In this embodiment the one 14 or more moveable features may be controlled without the user having to have physical contact with the backpack.

17 The one or more moveable features may comprise a moveable features selected from the 18 set comprising eyes, ears, horns and tongues.

The tongue may be located in a recess and configured to move longitudinally relative to 21 the plate.

23 The recess may comprise a wall having a sloped profile such that the tongue is displaced 24 away from the plate as it moves longitudinally relative to the plate.

26 According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of 27 animating a backpack the method comprising: 28 -providing the backpack with one or more moveable features; 29 -providing the backpack with one or more control mechanisms connected to the one or more moveable features; 31 -activating the one or more control mechanisms so as to induce a movement of one 32 or more of the moveable features.

34 Most preferably the one or more control mechanisms are activated manually.

I The induced movement of the one or more movable features may comprise a translational 2 movement of the one or more moveable features. Alternatively, the induced movement of 3 the one or more movable features comprises a rotational movement of the one or more 4 moveable features.

6 Preferably the method further comprises providing the backpack with one or more 7 activators the operation of which activates one or more of the control mechanisms.

9 Most preferably the activation of the one or more of the control mechanisms acts to induce a sound to accompany the movement of one or more of the moveable features.

12 Embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention may comprise features to 13 implement the preferred or optional features of the first aspect of the invention or vice 14 versa.

16 Brief Description of Drawings

18 Aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the 19 following detailed description and upon reference to the following drawings in which: 21 Figure 1 presents a rear view of a backpack being worn by a user in accordance with an 22 embodiment of the present invention; 24 Figure 2 presents a front view of the backpack of Figure 1 being worn by a user; and 26 Figure 3 presents: 27 (a) a perspective view of a first embodiment of an internal plate for the backpack of 28 Figure 1; and 29 (b) a schematic front view of a second embodiment of an internal plate of the backpack of Figure 1; 32 In the description which follows, like parts are marked throughout the specitication and 33 drawings with the same reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale 34 and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of embodiments of the invention.

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2 Detailed Description

4 Figure 1 presents a representation of a backpack 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The backpack 1 can be seen to be in the form of a monster. The 6 backpack 1 is worn by a user 2 by locating straps 3a and 3b over their shoulders. Located 7 around the flap 4 of the backpack 1 is the monster's head 5 which, in the presently 8 described embodiment, comprises two eyes 6a and 6b; a tongue 7; two ears 8a and 8b; 9 and two horns 9a and 9b one or more of which may function as movable novelty features of the backpack 1.

12 The operation of these moveable features will now be further described with reference to 13 Figures 2 and 3. In particular, Figure 2 presents a front view of the backpack 1 of Figure 1 14 while Figure 3 presents a perspective view and a schematic front view of two embodiments of an internal plate 1 Oa and 1Db of the backpack 1 of Figurel.

17 The internal plates ba and lOb are preferably located within the flap 4 so that their 18 components are hidden from view. They can be seen to comprise a first 11, a second 12 19 and a third manually operated control mechanism 13 which act to control the position of the eyes 6a and 6b and the tongue 7 of the backpack 1, respectively.

22 The first 11 and second 12 manually operated control mechanisms are similar in design 23 and are employed to operate the left 6a and right eyes 6b of the backpack 1, respectfully.

24 Each mechanism 11 and 12 comprises an eyelid control plate 14 having three tab and pin mechanisms 15, 16 and 17, one 15 located to the upper side of the eyelid control plate 14 26 and one 16 and 17 on either side of the eyelid control plate 14. The pins of the three tab 27 and pin mechanisms 15, 16 and 17 are movably located within corresponding slots 18, 19 28 and 20 of the internal plate ba. Each of the slots 18, 19 and 20 are shown to be 29 substantially parallel.

31 Fixed between the internal plate iDa and the tab and pin mechanisms 16 and 17 is a 32 length of elastic 21. The lengths of elastic 21 provide a means for biasing the eyelid 33 control plates 14 such that the eyes 6a and 6b appear to be in a closed position.

I Fixed between the tab and pin mechanisms 15 and movement activators, which in the 2 present embodiment comprise rings 22a and 22b are lengths of cord 23a and 23b. The 3 user 2 can then employ the rings 22a and 22b so as to pull on one of the lengths of cords 4 23a and 23b and thus overcome the tension provided by the corresponding length of elastic 21 so moving the corresponding eye 6a and 6b from the closed position to an open 6 position.

8 It will be readily apparent to the skilled reader that the orientation of the lengths of elastic 9 21 and the lengths of the cords 23a and 23b with respect to the eyelid control plates 14 could be reversed such that one or both of the eyes 6a and 6b are biased in an open 11 position. In this embodiment, when the user 2 activates movement by pulling on the rings 12 22a and 22b the tension provided by the corresponding lengths of elastic 21 is again 13 overcome so moving the corresponding eye 6a and 6b from the open position to a closed 14 position.

16 The third manually operated control mechanism 13, employed to control the position of the 17 tongue 7 of the backpack 1, operates in a similar manner to the previously described with 18 respect to the first 11 and second 12 manually operated control mechanisms. In the 19 embodiment presented in Figure 3(a) the third manually operated control mechanism 13 can be seen to comprise a tongue control plate 24 located within a recess 25 of the 21 internal plate ba. A fixing plate 26 may be employed to help retain the tongue control 22 plate 24 within the recess 25.

24 Two lengths of elastic 21 connected between the tongue control plate 24 and the recess 25 and act to bias the tongue control plate 24 within the recess 25. A length of cord 23c is 26 attached between a movement activator, ring 22c, and the tongue control plate 24 such 27 that when the user 2 employs the ring 22c so as to pull on the length of cord 23c they 28 overcome the tension provided by the corresponding lengths of elastic 21 resulting in the 29 tongue 7 moving longitudinally relative to the internal plate 1 Oa. This provides the monster with the effect that it is sticking its tongue 7 out of its mouth.

32 In the embodiment presented in Figure 3(b) the third manually operated control 33 mechanism 13 can again be seen to comprise a tongue control plate 24 located within the 34 recess 25 of the internal plate lOb. The fixing plate 26 may again be employed to help retain the tongue control plate 24 with the recess 25. However, in this embodiment a I single length of elastic 21 is connected between the tongue control plate 24 and the fixing 2 plate 26 act so as to bias the tongue control plate 24 in an extended position from the 3 iecess 25. The length of cord 23c is again attached between the ling 22c and the tongue 4 control plate 24 such that when the user 2 employs the ring 22c so as to pull on the length of cords 23c they overcome the tension provided by the length of elastic 21 resulting in the 6 tongue 7 moving longitudinally relative to the internal plate lOb and into the recess. This 7 provides the monster with the effect that it is moving its tongue 7 into of its mouth.

9 In yet a further alternative embodiment, the rear surface of the recess 25 may also have a sloped profile so as to also displace the tongue control plate 24 away from the internal 11 plate ba and lOb as it moves longitudinally ielative to the internal plate ba and lOb and 12 out of the recess 25. This provides a more realistic effect to the projection of the tongue 7 13 from the mouth of the monster.

A preferred feature for all of the above described embodiments is to have the lengths of 16 cord 23a, 23b and 23c pass internally from the internal plates ba and lOb and down 17 thiough the stiaps 3a and 3b before exiting the straps 3a and 3b at the tront of the 18 backpack 1. With this aiiangement there is a reduced chance of the lengths of cold 23a, 19 23b and 23c becoming entangled with each other. Further physical protection can be provided for the lengths of cord 23a, 23b and 23c by locating them within recessed 21 channels 27 on the internal plate boa and lOb. Clips 28 may also be employed so as to 22 assist in ietaining the lengths of cord 23a, 23b and 23c within associated recessed 23 channels. Keeping the lengths of cord 23a, 23b and 23c straight and isolated from each 24 other is found to reduce friction and provide good and consistent movement of the lengths of cord 23a, 23b and 23c. This results in a prolonged lifetime for the backpack 1 as well 26 as ease of activation by the user 2.

28 Each length of cord 23a, 23b and 23c may have a label 29a, 29b and 29c associated with 29 it so as to allow a user 2 to easily identify its function e.g. open eye, stick out tongue.

Pieferably these labels 29a, 29b and 29c are attached to the movement activators, namely 31 rings 22a, 22b, and 22c associated with each of the lengths of cord 23a, 23b and 23c.

33 Enclosing the lengths of cord 23a, 23b and 23c within the backpack, as described above, 34 also acts to enhance the impact of the operation of the one or more moveable parts to third party observers. This is because it will not be obvious to these observers when the I user 2 pulls on one of the lengths of cord 23a, 23b and 23c so as to activate one of the 2 moveable features.

4 It will be appreciated from the above description that the internal plates ba and lOb are configured to control the eyes 6a and 6b and the tongue 7 however in alternative 6 embodiments they can be adapted so as to allow for movement of one or more of the ears 7 8a and 8b or horns 9a and 9b of the backpack 1. The movement of one or more of the 8 ears 8a and 8b or horns 9a and 9b may be a rotational movement.

It is preferable that when a cord 23 is pulled so as to activate a movable features of the 11 backpack 1 that it also activates a corresponding sound to be produced by the backpack 1.

12 In the presently described embodiments this is achieved by the movement of the eyelid 13 control plates 14 and or the tongue control plate 24 being detected by a CPU 30. The 14 CPU 30 then selects a corresponding sound from an internal database to be played through a speaker 31 located within the backpack 1 e.g. upon the internal plate 10. The 16 sound may be preselected so as to always correspond to the movement of a particular 17 feature or alternatively may be picked at random from the database of predetermined 18 sounds.

In an alternative embodiment the internal plates may be omitted. In these embodiments 21 the manually operated control mechanism 11, 12 and 13 would simply be fixed into the 22 fabric of the backpack 1.

24 It will be appreciated by the skilled reader that the moveable features in all of the above described embodiments may comprise alternative activation means. By way of example, 26 instead of lengths of cord 23a, 23b and 23c being employed to mechanically control the 27 position of a mechanical feature this may alternatively be achieved through the 28 employment of an electrical circuit 32 the operation of which may be activated by a user 2.

29 For example, operation of the moveable features may be activated by the user 2 employing one or more switches located within the straps 3 of the backpack 1.

31 Alternatively, the operation of the of the moveable features may be activated by the user 2 32 employing a remote control 33 so that they do not require to be in physical contact with the 33 backpack 1 or bag in order activate these features. To allow this embodiment to function 34 correctly the electrical circuit 32 would obviously be required to comprise a suitable receiver.

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2 The above described backpacks comprise a number of moveable components that provide 3 novel animated effects which are controlled by the user of the backpack. The movement 4 of these components may be accompanied by sounds which add to the overall surprise and amusement induced by the bags to surrounding observers. The amusement and 6 surprise is further enhanced by having the means for controlling the moveable 7 components discretely located within the backpack so that they are not immediately 8 obvious to these observers. Locating the control mechanisms within the backpack also 9 provides them with physical protection and assists in preventing them becoming entangled with each other or with other components of the backpack.

12 The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration 13 and description and is not intended to be exhaustive orto limit the invention to the precise 14 form disclosed. The described embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others 16 skilled in the art to best utilise the invention in various embodiments and with various 17 modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Therefore, further 18 modifications or improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of 19 the invention as defined by the appended claims.