Backpack or other wearable object with deployable appendages

Abstract

A backpack or other wearable object is comprised of a body, shoulder straps attached in a conventional manner to the rear of the body, deployable/stowable appendages or wings, and deploy/stow mechanism. In operation, the wings may be deployed and stowed via the user operated deploy/stow mechanism.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an apparatus body having a front and a back;   at least one strap mounted to the back of the apparatus body;   first and second movable appendages, wherein the first and second appendages are movable between a stowed position wherein the appendages are located inside or along side the apparatus body and a deployed position wherein the appendages extend outwardly of the apparatus body; and   a deploy/stow mechanism including an actuating device mounted to the strap and a transmission member interfaced with the movable appendages and the actuating device, wherein the appendages are automatically moved from the stowed position to the deployed position upon actuation of the actuating device.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission member is a flexible tension transmission member. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible tension transmission member is selected from a group consisting of a cord, a chain, a cable, and a string. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the appendages are wings. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the appendages include primary and secondary appendage members and a wing panel disposed therebetween. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the actuating device includes a depressible button that is movable between a depressed position wherein the flexible tension transmission member is permitted to translate in a first direction and a non-depressed position, wherein the flexible tension transmission member is prohibited from moving in the first direction. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a frame plate to which the first and second movable appendages are pivotably mounted, an appendage actuator that is operatively mounted to the frame plate and movable along a path of travel and connected to the flexible tension transmission member, wherein movement of the appendage actuator along the path of travel causes the appendages to move from the stowed position to the deployed position. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the appendages are biased to the deployed position. 
   
   
       9 . A backpack, comprising:
 a backpack body having a front and a back;   at least one shoulder strap mounted to the back of the apparatus body;   a pair of wings operatively associated with the backpack body, wherein the pair of wings are movable between stowed and deployed positions;   a tension transmission member that interfaces with the pair of wings for effecting movement of the wings between the stowed and deployed positions; and   a deploy/stow device mounted on the shoulder strap, the actuation of which automatically moves the wings from the stowed position to the deployed position.   
   
   
       10 . The backpack of  claim 9 , wherein the wings are biased to the deployed position. 
   
   
       11 . The backpack of  claim 9 , wherein the tension transmission member is selected from a group consisting of a cord, a chain, a cable, and a string. 
   
   
       12 . The backpack of  claim 9 , wherein the wings are moved from the deployed position to the stowed position by translation of the tension transmission member. 
   
   
       13 . The backpack of  claim 9 , further comprising a frame member to which the wings are hingedly mounted.