Backpack and Waist Bag Carrying System

Abstract

A backpack and cooperating waist bag carrying system is provided. The bag portion of the backpack releasably contains the receiver of a waist bag when the belt of the waist bag is secured around the bearer's waist and the backpack is worn on the bearer's back. The receiver of the waist bag can be moved without having to take off the backpack so that the receiver of the waist bag is disposed to the bearer's front and the bearer can gain access to the contents the receiver. The bearer can then move the receiver back to the lower region of the backpack. The combination of the backpack and the waist bag then will appear to be a normal backpack with a waist belt. While moving the receiver, the waist bag remains operatively connected to the backpack.

1 . A backpack and waist bag carrying system comprising:
 a backpack comprising a bag portion defining a first compartment for receiving articles, the bag portion comprising a body contacting wall, and shoulder straps for supporting the bag portion on a bearer's back;   a waist belt operatively connected to the backpack below the bag portion; and   a receiver supported by the waist belt, whereby the bearer may move the receiver about the bearer's waist in order to shift the receiver from below the bag portion to the front of the bearer.   
     
     
         2 . The backpack and waist bag carrying system according to  claim 1  wherein the shoulder straps and the waist belt may cooperate with each other in supporting both the bag portion and the receiver when the receiver is below the bag portion. 
     
     
         3 . The backpack and waist bag carrying system according to  claim 1  further comprising means for detachably securing the receiver to the backpack. 
     
     
         4 . The backpack and waist bag carrying system according to  claim 3  in which the means for detachably securing the receiver may be operated by the bearer when the bearer is bearing the backpack on the bearer's back. 
     
     
         5 . The backpack and waist bag carrying system according to  claim 2  wherein the receiver is connected to the waist belt and the waist belt is rotated around the waist of the bearer in order to shift the receiver from below the bag portion to the front of the bearer. 
     
     
         6 . The backpack and waist bag carrying system according to  claim 5  in which the body-contacting back-contacting wall further comprises a lower portion that extends below the bag portion to a lumbar region of the back of the bearer when the backpack is borne on the back of the bearer. 
     
     
         7 . The backpack and waist bag carrying system according to  claim 6  in which the lower portion of the body-contacting wall extends between the waist belt and the lumbar region of the back of the bearer when the backpack and waist bag carrying system is borne by the bearer. 
     
     
         8 . The backpack and waist bag carrying system according to  claim 6  further comprising a bottom wall attached to the lower portion of the body-contacting wall for supporting the receiver when the receiver is located below the bag portion. 
     
     
         9 . The backpack and waist bag carrying system according to  claim 8  further comprising a non-body contacting wall attached to the bottom wall and extending upwardly to the bag portion, the body-contacting wall, the bottom wall, and the bag portion thereby forming a second compartment sized to accommodate the receiver when the receiver is located below the bag portion and having at least one side open to permit entry and exit of the receiver. 
     
     
         10 . The backpack with waist bag carrying system according to  claim 9  wherein the receiver is sized so as to not substantially protrude from the open-sided compartment when the receiver is contained in the open-sided compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The backpack and waist bag carrying system according to  claim 2  in which the waist belt is operatively connected to the backpack below the bag portion and the receiver is slidably supported by the waist belt so that the bearer may move the receiver longitudinally along the waist belt in order to shift the receiver from below the bag portion to the front of the bearer. 
     
     
         12 . The backpack and waist bag carrying system according to  claim 11  further comprising a strap extending below the bag portion for attachment to the waist belt. 
     
     
         13 . The backpack and waist bag carrying system according to  claim 12  in which the receiver is a first receiver and is mounted on the waist belt on one side of the connection of the waist belt to the backpack and further comprising a second receiver mounted on the waist belt on the other side of the connection of the waist belt to the backpack, whereby the bearer may deploy the first and second receivers longitudinally along right and left sides of the waist belt in order to shift the first and second receivers from below the bag portion to the front of the bearer. 
     
     
         14 . A backpack with integral waist bag, comprising:
 a backpack having shoulder straps and defining a first compartment in an upper portion of the backpack and a second compartment in a lower part of the backpack, the second compartment having openings on right and left sides of the lower part of the backpack; and   a waist bag comprising a receiver attached to a waist belt, wherein the waist belt extends through the second compartment so as to encircle a bearer's waist when the backpack is worn on the bearer's back and wherein the receiver has a cross-sectional size and shape generally matching that of the second compartment and releasably containable therein, whereby the bearer can rotate the waist bag around the bearer's waist, when the backpack is worn on the bearer's back, from a first position in which the receiver is contained in the second compartment and adjacent the bearer's back to a second position in which the receiver is adjacent the front of the bearer.   
     
     
         15 . The backpack with integral waist bag according to  claim 14 , in which the backpack comprises a body contacting wall, a non-body contacting wall, a top wall, a middle wall, and a bottom wall, the body contacting wall and the non-body contacting wall being spaced from and facing each other and joined to the top wall, the middle wall, and the bottom wall whereby the top wall and the bottom wall are spaced from and on either side of the middle wall;
 a bag portion comprising right and left side walls attached to the top wall, the middle wall, and an upper portion of the body contacting wall and an upper portion of the non-body contacting wall, to define the first compartment;   the middle wall, the bottom wall, and a lower portion of the body contacting wall and a lower portion of the non-body contacting wall defining the second compartment that is open to the exterior of the backpack on right and left sides of the backpack; and the shoulder straps being provided on the body contacting wall of the backpack and adapted to be hung over a human bearer's shoulders.   
     
     
         16 . The backpack with integral waist bag according to  claim 15  in which the lower portion of the body contacting wall, the lower portion of the non-body contacting wall, the middle wall, and the bottom wall are substantially rigid so as to maintain the shape of the second compartment. 
     
     
         17 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A backpack and waist bag carrying system comprising:
 a backpack comprising a bag portion defining a first compartment for receiving articles, the bag portion comprising a body contacting wall, and at least one shoulder strap for supporting the bag portion when on a bearer's back;   a waist belt operatively connected to the backpack; and a   receiver supported by the waist belt, wherein the waist belt and the receiver comprise a waist bag and wherein the backpack and the waist bag are adapted to permit the bearer to move the receiver about the bearer's waist in order to shift the receiver from below the bag portion.   
     
     
         27 . The backpack and waist bag carrying system according to  claim 26  wherein the backpack and the waist bag are adapted to permit the bearer to rotate the receiver about the bearer's waist while wearing the backpack on the bearer's back in order to shift the receiver from below the bag portion to the front of the bearer. 
     
     
         28 . The backpack and waist bag carrying system according to  claim 26  wherein the waist belt is operatively connected to the backpack below the bag portion.