Backpack having a suspended inner pouch

Abstract

A backpack for carrying a load comprises a shoulder strap assembly, an exterior shell and a pouch for storing the load. The exterior shell has an opening and is attached to the shoulder strap. The pouch is located inside the shell and attached to it and comprises a stretchable portion. This stretchable portion is made of a material having an elastic modulus allowing it to stretch and retract when the load is placed inside the pouch so that the pouch moves down and up relative to the shell with a gait of a wearer of the backpack.

1 . A backpack for carrying a load, the backpack comprising:
 a shoulder strap assembly;   an exterior shell having an opening, said shell being attached to said shoulder strap; and   a pouch for storing the load, said pouch having a stretchable portion, said pouch being located inside said shell and attached to said shell,   
     wherein said stretchable portion is made of a material having an elastic modulus permitting the stretchable portion to stretch and retract when the load is placed inside said pouch so that said pouch moves down and up relative to said shell with a gait of a wearer of said backpack. 
   
   
       2 . The backpack of  claim 1  wherein said pouch opens onto said opening so that the load may be inserted directly through said opening into said pouch. 
   
   
       3 . The backpack of  claim 2  wherein said pouch is completely made of a stretchable material. 
   
   
       4 . The backpack of  claim 3  wherein said stretchable portion has an elastic modulus that is less than 0.1 GPa. 
   
   
       5 . The backpack of  claim 3  wherein said stretchable material contains spandex. 
   
   
       6 . The backpack of  claim 5  wherein said stretchable material contains approximately 14% of spandex. 
   
   
       7 . The backpack of  claim 3  further comprising a guiding mechanism for restraining said pouch from moving substantially from a back to a front of said backpack. 
   
   
       8 . The backpack of  claim 7  wherein said guiding mechanism is a divider inside said shell and proximate said pouch, said pouch moving up and down along said divider with a gait of a wearer of said backpack. 
   
   
       9 . The backpack of  claim 3  wherein said pouch is attached to said shell around said opening. 
   
   
       10 . The backpack of  claim 9  wherein said shell is rigid. 
   
   
       11 . The backpack of  claim 9  wherein said shell is made of a fabric.