WO2024050270A2

WO2024050270A2 - Reconfigurable apparatus forming an external packaging or an internal structure of a backpack

Info

Publication number: WO2024050270A2
Application number: PCT/US2023/072769
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gino Romano; Jonny Yuan; Huw Bush; Peter Duan; Rachel Chan; Joy Fang; Dinh Tran; Ella Leung; Alex De Boer
Original assignee: Targus International Llc
Priority date: 2022-08-31
Filing date: 2023-08-23
Publication date: 2024-03-07
Also published as: WO2024050270A3; US20240067437A1

Abstract

In one aspect, a reconfigurable apparatus includes a first configuration, where the first configuration of the reconfigurable apparatus serves as a packaging box for a backpack. Specifically, the backpack may be folded and inserted inside the reconfigurable apparatus with the first configuration. The reconfigurable apparatus also includes a second configuration, where the second configuration of the reconfigurable apparatus serves as a structure for the backpack. Specifically, the reconfigurable apparatus with the second configuration can be inserted inside the backpack to provide an internal structure for the backpack.

Description

RECONFIGURABLE APPARATUS FORMING AN EXTERNAL PACKAGING OR AN

INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF A BACKPACK

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S .C. § 119(e) of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/374,200 filed August 31, 2022, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for any purpose.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Backpacks are often used by hikers, students, travelers, first responders, soldiers, and other professionals to carry loads and items for various periods of time. Although the design, dimensions, color, material, price, and overall purpose of a backpacks can vary', the backpacks generally fall into three main categories: frameless backpacks, backpacks with at least one internal structural frame, and backpacks with at least one external structural frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1 shows a backpack, which is folded and inserted inside a reconfigurable box, where the reconfigurable box includes a configuration that serves as a packaging box for the backpack, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0004] FIG. 2 shows another reconfigurable box having another configuration, where this other configuration of this other reconfigurable box serves as an internal structure for a backpack, in accordance with examples described herein. [0005] FIG. 3 shows another reconfigurable box that is yet to be configured, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0006] FIG. 4A shows a first configuration of a reconfigurable box, where the first configuration serves as a packaging box of a backpack, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0007] FIG. 4B shows a second configuration of the reconfigurable box of FIG. 4A, where the second configuration serves as an internal structure of the backpack of FIG. 4A, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0008] FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C illustrate a front view, rear view, and side view, respectively, of an example design of a backpack, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0009] FIG. 6 shows additional details of the backpack of FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0010] FIG. 7 illustrates example drawings of a laptop pocket and an internal structure pocket of the backpack, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0011] FIG. 8 illustrates a series of steps for using a reconfigurable box and a backpack, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0012] FIG. 9 illustrates a method for a user to use a reconfigurable box and a backpack, in accordance with one embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 10 illustrates another method for the user to use the reconfigurable box and the backpack, in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Backpack manufacturers strive to design and manufacture better backpacks to satisfy a growing number of consumers. In addition to better backpacks, many consumers desire to purchase and/or utilize environmentally friendly products, including environmentally friendly backpacks. Fortunately, the consumers and the industry have come to appreciate and value the need to be good stewards of our planet and its resources.

[0015] This disclosure describes a backpack with a dual-purpose reconfigurable box, apparatus, and/or structure, where the reconfigurable box may be selectively configured to serve as an external packaging of the backpack or an internal structure of the backpack.

[0016] The described reconfigurable box(es) may be constructed using a variety of durable, lightweight, inexpensive, and/or waterproof (e.g., water-resistant) materials, such as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material. In some embodiments, to reduce the adverse effects of the PET material or any other plastic material may have on the environment (e.g., ocean-bound plastic (OBP)), the reconfigurable box(es) may be constructed using a recycled PET (RPET) material and/or a recyclable PET material. In some embodiments, the thickness of the PET, RPET, or OBP may be, for example, 0.5, 0.75, or 1.0 millimeters (mm) or another thickness that provides adequate sturdiness for the reconfigurable box(es) described herein.

[0017] In some embodiments, a reconfigurable box includes a first configuration, where the first configuration of the reconfigurable box serves as a packaging box (or an external packaging box) for a backpack. The first configuration of the reconfigurable box may be referred to as a packaging configuration for the backpack. Specifically, the backpack may be folded and inserted inside the reconfigurable box having the first configuration.

[0018] In some embodiments, the first configuration of the reconfigurable box may allow a warehouse, semitrailer, and/or retail store to conserve space in storing, transporting, mailing, and/or displaying a greater count of backpacks in a given space. Moreover, since the first configuration of the reconfigurable box may serve as a packaging box of the backpack, a manufacturer, an importer, an exporter, a retailer, a delivery service company and/or entity

(e.g., the United States Postal Service), and/or a transporter may omit any additional packaging. Therefore, the reconfigurable box may reduce waste, preserve resources, meet business needs, and/or meet the customer’s needs.

[0019] In some embodiments, the reconfigurable box also includes a second configuration, where the second configuration of the reconfigurable box serves as a structure for the backpack. The second configuration may be referred to as a structural, an internal structural, a frame, or an internal frame configuration for the backpack. Generally, the reconfigurable box with the second configuration can be inserted inside the backpack to provide a structure for the backpack.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a backpack 100, which is folded and inserted inside a reconfigurable box 102, where the reconfigurable box 102 includes a configuration 108 that serves as a packaging box for the backpack 100, in accordance with examples described herein. In some embodiments, the configuration 108 of the reconfigurable box 102 may be referred to as a packaging configuration.

[0021] In some embodiments, the configuration 108 (e.g., the packaging configuration) of the reconfigurable box 102 may form a hexagonal prism. Specifically, as is illustrated in FIG.

1 , the reconfigurable box 102 includes a base 104, a base 106, and six rectangular sides, where the base 104 and the base 106 are hexagons with the same, or substantially the same, dimensions.

[0022] In some embodiments, the reconfigurable box may form another prism, another polyhedron, and so forth. Therefore, the shape of the configuration of FIG. 1 illustrates one possible volumetric shape of a plurality of volumetric shapes that may be utilized to package a backpack.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a reconfigurable box 200 having a configuration 202, where the configuration 202 of the reconfigurable box 200 serves as an internal structure for a backpack 204, in accordance with examples described herein. For the sake of clarity, the design of the reconfigurable box 102 of FIG. 1 differs from the design of the reconfigurable box 200 of FIG. 2.

[0024] In some embodiments, the configuration 202 of the reconfigurable box 200 may be referred to as a structural, an internal structural, a frame, or an internal frame configuration. As is illustrated in FIG. 2, after a user configures the reconfigurable box 200 to have the configuration 202, the user may insert the reconfigurable box 200 inside the backpack 204.

[0025] In some embodiments, the configuration 202 of the reconfigurable box 200 forms a right rectangular prism. In addition to the configuration 202 of the reconfigurable box 200 serving as an internal structure for the backpack 204, the internal volume created by of the configuration 202 may allow a user to insert one or more items inside the reconfigurable box 200 that may need a considerable degree of protection. To that end, the user may utilize the configuration 202 of the reconfigurable box 200 to store the items and avoid or reduce the possibility of crushing, flattening, mashing, smashing, pressing, breaking, and/or so forth the items stored inside the volume created by the configuration 202 of the reconfigurable box 200.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a reconfigurable box 300 that is yet to be configured, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0027] In some embodiments, the reconfigurable box 300 may include a side 302, a side 304, a side 306, a side 308, a base 310, a base 312, a flap 314, a flap 316, a flap 318, a flap 320, a tab 322, a tab 324, a tab 326, a tab 328, and a tab 330. Nevertheless, the reconfigurable box 300 may include additional, fewer, or different components than what is illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0028] In some embodiments, the reconfigurable box 300 may include printed instructions that help the user configure the reconfigurable box 300 to have a first configuration (e.g., a packaging configuration) or a second configuration (e.g., a structural, an internal structural, a frame, or an internal frame configuration). By printing the configuration instructions onto the reconfigurable box 300, the manufacturer can avoid inserting a separate sheet of instructions inside the reconfigurable box 300. The user can also refer to the instructions that may be printed onto the reconfigurable box 300 without needing to retain or keep track of another sheet of instructions.

[0029] In some embodiments, the side 302, the side 304, the side 306, the side 308, the base 310, and the base 312 can form a right rectangular prism, when the reconfigurable box 300 is configured in a packaging configuration.

[0030] In some embodiments, the dimensions (e.g., width and length) of the side 302, the side 304, the side 306, and the side 308 may be the same (or substantially the same). When the sides 302-308 have the same dimensions, the base 310 and the flap 314 may be square shaped, and the square bases may have the same dimensions. In such a case, the reconfigurable box 300 may be a right square prism.

[0031] In some embodiments, as is illustrated in FIG. 3, the side 302 may be permanently coupled to the side 304, the side 304 may be permanently coupled to the side 306, the side 306 may be permanently coupled to the side 308, and the side 306 may be permanently coupled to the base 310 and the base 312.

[0032] In some embodiments, the flaps 616-320 and/or the tabs 624-330 enable the user to interlock the side 302, the side 304, the side 306, the side 308, the base 310, and/or the base 312 to create a sturdy packaging configuration (e.g., the configuration 402 of FIG. 4A) for the backpack.

[0033] Although not explicitly illustrated in FIG. 3, the second configuration (e.g., a structural, an internal structural, a frame, or an internal frame configuration) may have an internal volume of zero, nearly zero, small, or minimal. For example, the user may fold the bases 310 and 312 inwards. The user may also fold the flaps 314 to 318 inwards. The user may also fold the side 302 flat on top its adjacent side 304. The user may also fold the side

308 flat on top of its adjacent side 306.

[0034] FIG. 4A shows a configuration 402 (or a first configuration) of a reconfigurable box 406, where the configuration 402 serves as a packaging box of a backpack 408; and FIG. 4B shows a configuration 404 (or a second configuration) of the reconfigurable box 406, where the configuration 404 serves as an internal structure of the backpack 408, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0035] In some embodiments, the volume of the configuration 404 of the reconfigurable box 406 is less than the volume of the configuration 402 of the reconfigurable box 406. In some embodiments, the internal volume of the configuration 404 of the reconfigurable box 406 is zero, nearly zero, small, or minimal. This small internal volume may be due to the fact the opposing sides of the reconfigurable box 406 may be touching each other flat, or nearly flat. In some embodiments, this small internal volume created by the configuration 404 of the reconfigurable box 406 lowers the amount of the overall volume of the internal structure of the backpack 408.

[0036] FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C illustrate a front view 500a, a rear view 500b, and a side view 500c, respectively, of an example design of a backpack 502, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0037] In some embodiments, the backpack 502 may include a front pocket 504, a side pocket 506, a side pocket 508, a top zipper pocket 510, a pocket zipper 512, a pocket zipper puller 514, a main compartment 516, a main compartment zipper 518, a main compartment zipper puller 520, a main compartment zipper puller 522, a main body strap 524, a main body strap 526, a shoulder strap 528, a shoulder strap 530, a ladder lock 532, a ladder lock 534, and an integrated handle 536. Nevertheless, the backpack 502 may include additional, fewer, or different components than what is illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C. [0038] In some embodiments, the backpack 502 may include numerous pockets, such as a front pocket 504, a side pocket 506, a side pocket 508, a top zipper pocket 510, and/or other pockets that may not be explicitly illustrated. In some embodiments, the front pocket 504, the side pocket 506, and the side pocket 508 may be separate pockets. Alternatively, the front pocket 504, the side pocket 506, and the side pocket 508 may be integrated into one pocket.

[0039] In some embodiments, the top zipper pocket 510 utilizes a pocket zipper 512 that may be opened or closed using a pocket zipper puller 514. Additionally, or alternatively, the user may utilize a main compartment zipper 518 to open or close a main compartment 516 of the backpack 502. In some embodiments, the main compartment zipper 518 may be a two- way closed-ended zipper that can be closed at both ends of the zipper. To open or close the mam compartment zipper 518, the user may use a mam compartment zipper puller 520 or a main compartment zipper puller 522. Alternatively, the main compartment zipper 518 may be opened or closed using one (instead of two) zipper puller (not illustrated as such in FIG. 5C).

[0040] In some embodiment, the size of the backpack 502 may be adjusted using a main body strap 524 and/or a main body strap 526. For example, when the user fills to full (or near full) capacity' the main compartment 516 of the backpack 502, the user can use the main body strap 524 and/or the main body strap 526 to decrease the overall girth of the backpack 502. By so doing, the user can reduce the overall volume of the backpack 502. The reduced volume of the backpack 502 helps the user store the backpack 502 inside a smaller space (e.g., an overhead compartment inside an airplane, etc.).

[0041] In some embodiments, the backpack 502 may include shoulder straps, such as a shoulder strap 528, a shoulder strap 530, and/or an integrated handle 536 (e.g., an integrated yoke handle). The length of the shoulder strap 528 may be adjusted using the ladder lock 532, and the length of the shoulder strap 530 may be adjusted using the ladder lock 534. In some aspects, the material of the shoulder straps of the backpack 502 may be the same material as the main compartment 516 (or body) of the backpack 502. In other aspects, the material of the shoulder straps of the backpack 502 may be the same material as the main compartment 516 of the backpack 502 and a second material, such as a meshed material (illustrated as a part of the shoulder strap 528 and the shoulder strap 530 in FIG. 5B). In yet other aspects, the material of the shoulder straps of the backpack 502 may be a different material than the main compartment 516 of the backpack 502.

[0042] FIG. 6 shows additional details of the backpack 502 (e.g., the backpack 502 of FIGS. 5 A, 5B, and 5C), in accordance with examples described herein.

[0043] In some embodiments, the front pocket 504, the side pocket 506, and/or the side pocket 506 may not include lining. Alternatively, the front pocket 504, the side pocket 506, and/or the side pocket 508 may include lining.

[0044] In some embodiments, the backpack 502 may include a front panel 600 that divides the front pocket 504, the side pocket 506, and the side pocket 508 from the top zipper pocket 510. In some embodiments, the front panel 600 may not include lining and/or padding. Alternatively, the front panel 600 may include lining and/or padding.

[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates the top zipper pocket 510 to be opened, partly, to expose a liner that serves as a divider between the top zipper pocket 510 and the main compartment (e.g., the main compartment 516 of FIG. 5C) of the backpack 502.

[0046] As is illustrated in FIG. 6, the backpack 502 may include a side gusset 602. In one embodiment, the side gusset 602 may be unlined and unpadded. In another embodiment, the side gusset 602 may be lined but unpadded. In yet another embodiment, the side gusset 602 may be lined and padded.

[0047] In some embodiments, the backpack 502 may include an inside liner 604 with a pocket where the user can insert the reconfigurable box having the structural configuration. In some embodiments, the inside liner 604 of the backpack 502 may also include a laptop compartment. [0048] In some embodiments, the backpack 502 may include a foam panel 606 and a back panel 608. The foam panel 606 may be constructed using an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) material with a thickness of, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5 mm, or another thickness. The back panel 608 may be designed with a plurality of segments (e.g., four segments). The segments of the back panel 608 may be padded to provide a better user experience. The segments of the back panel 608 may enable the user to fold or roll the backpack 502 with ease after the user has extracted the reconfigurable box from the backpack 502. In some embodiments, if the user decides to reconfigure the reconfigurable box in a packaging configuration, the segments of the back panel 608 can guide the user how to fold the backpack 502 in order for the backpack 502 to properly fit inside the reconfigurable box having the packaging configuration.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a mam compartment 700 of a backpack, where the mam compartment 700 includes a laptop pocket 702 and an internal structure pocket 704, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0050] For the sake of clarity, the internal structure pocket 704 is located behind the laptop pocket 702 of the backpack. With the exception of a laptop pocket opening 706, the laptop pocket 702 may be sewn on the top of the internal structure pocket 704. In some embodiments, the laptop pocket 702 may be padded with a padding material, such as an expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam with a thickness of, for example, 3, 4, 5 mm, or another thickness. In some embodiments, the main compartment 700 may include a suspended bottom 708 that further protects the user’s laptop from being damaged when the user places the backpack on a hard surface.

[0051] In some embodiments, the internal structure pocket 704 may include an internal structure pocket opening 710 that may be secured closed with a hook-and-loop flap closure 712 (e.g., Velcro®). For clarity, in FIG. 7, the internal structure pocket 704 is illustrated as being closed. Although not illustrated in FIG. 7, the rear side (or an obscured side) of the internal structure pocket 704 of the backpack may include lining. [0052] FIG. 8 illustrates a series of steps 800 using a reconfigurable box 802 and a backpack 804, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0053] In some embodiments, a configuration 806 of the reconfigurable box 802 forms a packaging for the backpack 804. The user can unpack 808 the backpack 804 from the reconfigurable box 802. The user can then reconfigure 810 the reconfigurable box 802 to create a configuration 812. In some embodiments, the configuration 812 may have a volume of zero, nearly zero, small, or minimal. For example, the configuration 812 may render the reconfigurable box 802 to be substantially flat. The user can then insert 814 the reconfigurable box 802 inside the backpack 804 to create an internal structure for the backpack 804.

[0054] FIG. 9 illustrates a method 900 for a user to use a reconfigurable box and a backpack, in accordance with examples described herein.

[0055] In block 902, the method 900 describes that a user can open a packaging of a backpack, where the packaging has a first shape prior to the user opening the backpack.

[0056] In block 904, method 900 describes that the user can take out the backpack from the packaging.

[0057] In block 906, the method 900 describes that the user can reconfigure the packaging to create a second shape, where the second shape is different from the first shape.

[0058] In block 908, the method 900 describes that the user can insert the packaging having the second shape inside the backpack.

[0059] In block 910, the method 900 describes that responsive to the user inserting the packaging inside the backpack, the reconfigurable box provides an internal structure to the backpack.

[0060] FIG. 10 illustrates a method 1000 for the user to use the reconfigurable box and the backpack, in accordance with examples described herein. [0061] In block 1002, the method 1000 describes that the user can remove a structure of a backpack, wherein the structure comprises a first configuration. The structure may be the reconfigurable box 102 of FIG. 1, the reconfigurable box 200 of FIG. 2, the reconfigurable box 300 of FIG. 3, or the reconfigurable box 406 of FIG. 4. The first configuration of the structure may be an internal structural configuration.

[0062] In block 1004, the method 1000 describes that the user can reconfigure the structure of the backpack to have a second configuration that is different from the first configuration. The second configuration of the structure described in the method 1000 forms a packaging box.

[0063] In block 1006, the method 1000 describes that the user can fold the backpack.

[0064] In block 1008, the method 1000 describes that the user can package the backpack by inserting the folded backpack inside the second configuration of the structure.

[0065] In some embodiments, after the user inserts the backpack inside the packaging box, the user can store, transport, or ship the packaged backpack.

[0066] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of various embodiments of the invention in this regard; no attempt is made to show algorithm details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings and/or examples making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

[0067] The description of embodiments of the disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. While the specific embodiments of, and examples for, the disclosure are described herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize them.

[0068] Specific elements of any foregoing embodiments can be combined or substituted for elements in other embodiments. Moreover, the inclusion of specific elements in at least some of these embodiments may be optional, wherein further embodiments may include one or more embodiments that specifically exclude one or more of these specific elements. Furthermore, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described in the context of these embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A reconfigurable apparatus for a backpack, the reconfigurable apparatus comprises: a first configuration utilized as a packaging box for the backpack, wherein the backpack is folded and inserted inside the reconfigurable apparatus; and a second configuration utilized as a structure for the backpack, wherein the reconfigurable apparatus is inserted inside the backpack.

2. The reconfigurable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first configuration comprises a packaging configuration for the backpack, and the second configuration comprises a structural configuration for the backpack.

3. The reconfigurable apparatus of claim 2, the structural configuration comprises an internal structural configuration of the backpack.

4. The reconfigurable apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first volume of the first configuration is greater than a second volume of the second configuration.

5. The reconfigurable apparatus of claim 4, wherein an internal volume of the second configuration is zero, nearly zero, small, or minimal.

6. The reconfigurable apparatus of claim 4, wherein an internal volume of the second configuration is greater than zero, and the internal volume of the second configuration provides protection for one or more items inserted inside the internal volume of the second configuration.

7. The reconfigurable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reconfigurable apparatus is constructed using a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material, a recycled PET (RPET) material, an ocean-bound plastic (OBP) material, or combinations thereof.

8. The reconfigurable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first configuration of the reconfigurable apparatus is used for storing, transporting, mailing, displaying, or a combination thereof the backpack.

9. The reconfigurable apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the backpack comprises at least a back panel with a plurality of segments.

10. The reconfigurable apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of segments are selectively configurable to fold so that the backpack fits inside the first configuration of the reconfigurable apparatus.

11. A method comprising: opening a packaging of a backpack, wherein the packaging comprises a first shape prior to the opening; taking out the backpack from the packaging; reconfiguring the packaging to create a second shape, wherein the second shape is different from the first shape; inserting the packaging having the second shape inside the backpack; and responsive to the inserting of the packaging inside the backpack, providing an internal structure to the backpack.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first shape of the packaging comprises a right rectangular prism.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first shape of the packaging comprises a right square prism.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein an internal volume of the second shape is zero, nearly zero, small, or minimal.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said inserting the packaging further comprises inserting the packaging having the second shape inside a main compartment of the backpack.

1 . The method of claim 15, wherein said inserting the packaging further comprises inserting the packaging having the second shape inside an internal structure pocket of the main compartment of the backpack.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprises securing the packaging having the second shape inside the internal structure pocket using a hook-and-loop flap closure.

18. A method comprising: removing a structure of a backpack, wherein the structure comprises a first configuration; reconfiguring the structure of the backpack to have a second configuration that is different from the first configuration; folding the backpack; and packaging the backpack by inserting the folded backpack inside the second configuration of the structure.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first configuration of the structure comprises an internal structural configuration of the backpack.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the second configuration of the structure comprises a packaging box for the backpack.