Air frames for outdoor goods

Abstract

A backpack ( 160 ) with an air frame ( 162 ). The backpack includes a storage compartment, an air frame ( 162 ), and at least one strap ( 168 ) for securing the bag to a person. The air frame ( 162 ) includes an air bladder, which stiffens as it is inflated. The air frame ( 162 ) may include portions that are individually inflatable, and a pump ( 26 ) may be included for inflating the air frame ( 162 ). The backpack ( 160 ) may include inflatable portions ( 22 ) designed to provide support to specific portions of a user's body.

1 . A backpack comprising:
 a storage compartment having a back portion;   an air frame in or on the back portion; and   at least one strap for securing the backpack to the body of a person.   
   
   
       2 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the back portion has a lumbar region, and the air frame is located at the lumbar region; and
 further comprising a second air frame located on the back portion above the lumbar region.   
   
   
       3 . The backpack of  claim 2 , further comprising a valve connected to the air frame, the valve configured to receive air into the air frame. 
   
   
       4 . The backpack of  claim 2 , further comprising a built-in pump installed on the backpack and for inflating the air frame, the pump being fluidly connected to the air frame. 
   
   
       5 . The backpack of  claim 2 , wherein the air frame and the second air frame are fluidly separate from one another. 
   
   
       6 . The backpack of  claim 2 , wherein the air frame and second air frame are fluidly connected to one another. 
   
   
       7 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the air frame comprises:
 an outer ring; and   at least one rib extending across the outer ring.   
   
   
       8 . The backpack of  claim 7 , wherein the back portion has a lumbar region, and wherein said at least one rib extends horizontally across the lumbar region. 
   
   
       9 . The backpack of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one rib extending across the outer ring extends vertically across the outer ring. 
   
   
       10 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the air frame includes at least one inflatable stay. 
   
   
       11 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the air frame includes two inflatable stays extending along sides of the back portion. 
   
   
       12 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the air frame includes an opening extending vertically throughout a portion of the air frame. 
   
   
       13 . The backpack of  claim 12 , wherein the opening extends along a spine region of the backpack. 
   
   
       14 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the air frame is shaped such that, when the air frame is inflated, the back portion comprises a curved surface matching the thoracic region of a person's spine. 
   
   
       15 . The backpack of  claim 9 , wherein the air frame includes a plurality of horizontal ribs aligning with vertebrae of the thoracic and lumbar regions of the person's back. 
   
   
       16 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the air frame is shaped such that, when the air frame is inflated, the back portion comprises a curved surface matching the thoracic and lumbar regions of the person's spine. 
   
   
       17 . The backpack of  claim 16 , wherein the air frame includes a plurality of diagonal ribs extending from a spinal region of the back portion outward toward sides of the back portion. 
   
   
       18 . The backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising a built-in pump installed on the backpack and for inflating the air frame, the pump being fluidly connected to the air frame. 
   
   
       19 . The backpack of  claim 18 , wherein a control for the pump is located on the strap. 
   
   
       20 . The backpack of  claim 18 , wherein the pump extends from a bottom portion of the backpack. 
   
   
       21 . The backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first pump installed on the backpack and for inflating the air frame;   a second pump;   wherein the air frame comprises:
 a lumbar region fluidly connected to the first pump; and 
 a second region fluidly separated from the lumbar region and fluidly connected to the second pump. 
   
   
   
       22 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the air frame is hermetically sealed. 
   
   
       23 . The backpack of  claim 22 , wherein the air frame comprises:
 a plurality of ribs that, when the air frame is against a person's back, align with vertebrae of the thoracic and lumbar regions of the person's back; and   a lumbar support that, when the air frame is against a person's back, aligns with the lumbar portion of the person's spine.   
   
   
       24 . The backpack of  claim 1 , the air frame further comprising:
 a plurality of individual chambers.   
   
   
       25 . The backpack of  claim 24 , wherein the individual chambers are fluidly separated. 
   
   
       26 . The backpack of  claim 24 , wherein each of the individual air chambers is inflatably adjustable. 
   
   
       27 . The backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a belt configured to wrap around a person's hips wherein the belt includes an air chamber, the air chamber extending along at least a portion of the belt.   
   
   
       28 . The backpack of  claim 1 , the air frame comprising:
 a plurality of inflatable segments;   a plurality of non-inflatable segments; and   wherein there is at least one non-inflatable segment between a pair of inflatable segments.   
   
   
       29 . The backpack of  claim 28 , wherein non-inflatable segments and inflatable segments are alternated so as to form a sequence of at least three pairs, each pair having an inflatable segment and a non-inflatable segment. 
   
   
       30 . The backpack of  claim 28 , wherein the inflatable segments are collectively inflatable. 
   
   
       31 . The backpack of  claim 28 , wherein the inflatable segments are individually inflatable. 
   
   
       32 . The backpack of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a belt configured to wrap around a person's hips;   the air frame comprising a plurality of inflatably adjustable air chambers; and   the belt comprising a plurality of inflatably adjustable air chambers.   
   
   
       33 . The backpack of  claim 32 , the strap comprising a plurality of inflatably adjustable air chambers. 
   
   
       34 . A shelter, comprising:
 a plurality of rigid legs; and   an inflatable top including, for each of the rigid legs, a sleeve for receiving the leg.   
   
   
       35 . The shelter of  claim 34 , the inflatable top comprising a plurality of ribs extending parallel to one another. 
   
   
       36 . A shelter, comprising:
 an air frame; and   a covering supported by the air frame.   
   
   
       37 . The shelter of  claim 30 , wherein the air frame includes two braces intersecting at a crossing at or near the top of the air frame. 
   
   
       38 . The shelter of  claim 31 , wherein a portion of the covering extends under the crossing. 
   
   
       39 . The shelter of  claim 30 , wherein the air frame comprises a plurality of legs. 
   
   
       40 . The shelter of  claim 30 , wherein the shelter includes a plurality of sides, wherein the air frame comprises a plurality of arches configured along the sides, and wherein arches on consecutive sides are connected at their bottom portions. 
   
   
       41 . The shelter of  claim 30 , wherein the air frame includes a plurality of air channels forming a crossed pattern for supporting the covering. 
   
   
       42 . The shelter of  claim 35 , wherein the covering includes a door. 
   
   
       43 . The shelter of  claim 30 , wherein the air frame comprises:
 a plurality of arches;   a central rib; and   wherein the central rib connects the arches together at or near the top of the arches.   
   
   
       44 . The shelter of  claim 30 , wherein the covering includes an openable structure hingedly attached to the shelter, the openable structure having a shape, and the openable structure comprising an openable structure air frame for maintaining the shape. 
   
   
       45 . The shelter of  claim 30 , the air frame including a pair of arches, each arch extending along opposing sides of the shelter from a low point to a high point, wherein the high points of the arches are located on or near the same side of the shelter. 
   
   
       46 . The shelter of  claim 30 , wherein the shelter includes two opposing sides, and wherein the air frame includes an L-shaped portion extending along each side. 
   
   
       47 . The shelter of  claim 40 , wherein the air frame includes a cross bar extending between the L-shaped portions. 
   
   
       48 . A love seat, comprising:
 a seating surface having a first air bladder;   a seat back connected edgewise to the seating surface and having a second air bladder; and   the first bladder being in fluid communication with the second bladder.   
   
   
       49 . An airbed, comprising:
 a puncture resistant cover having at least one chamber; and   at least one air bladder removably located inside each chamber.   
   
   
       50 . The airbed of  claim 49 , wherein the puncture resistant cover comprises a plurality of said chambers. 
   
   
       51 . The airbed of  claim 44 , wherein an air bladder is located inside each chamber. 
   
   
       52 . A sleeping bag, comprising:
 a bag comprising fabric; and   an airbed attached to a portion of the bag.   
   
   
       53 . The sleeping bag of  claim 45 , wherein the airbed is removably attached to the bag by at least one of the set of hooks, snaps, hook and loop closures, or clasps.