Backpack with stowed rain cover

Abstract

A backpack including a body and at least one shoulder strap. A haul strap handle to be grasped and including a hollow interior and a closure so as form a selectively openable rain cover storage compartment. A rain cover configured and sized to cover at least the backpack body, the rain cover having at least a deployed condition in which the rain cover extends from the top portion downwardly to cover over the entire backpack body to protect the backpack body and the articles contained within the backpack body from precipitation while the backpack is worn by the user during precipitation, and the rain cover having at least a stowed condition within the rain cover storage compartment of the haul strap handle to provide padding to the haul strap handle when the hand of the user grasps the haul strap handle to pick-up the backpack.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A backpack comprising:
 a backpack body to be located adjacent to a back of a user of the backpack while the backpack is worn by the user, the backpack body including at least one hollow interior that forms a closable body compartment to receive articles therein;   at least one shoulder strap to be located over a shoulder of the user while the backpack is worn by the user, the at least one shoulder strap being attached to the backpack body at an upper, as defined while the backpack is worn by the user, portion of the backpack and extending down and away from the upper portion;   a haul strap handle to be grasped by a hand of the user to pick-up the backpack, the haul strap handle being located at the upper portion of the backpack and attached to at least one of the backpack body and the at least one shoulder strap, the haul strap handle including a hollow interior and a closure so as form a selectively openable rain cover storage compartment, the rain cover storage compartment being separate from and outside of the body compartment of the backpack body to avoid possible contamination into the body compartment of the backpack body from the rain cover storage compartment; and   a rain cover configured and sized to cover at least the backpack body, the rain cover having at least a deployed condition in which the rain cover extends from the top portion downwardly to cover over the entire backpack body to protect the backpack body and the articles contained within the backpack body from precipitation while the backpack is worn by the user during precipitation, and the rain cover having at least a stowed condition within the rain cover storage compartment of the haul strap handle to provide padding to the haul strap handle when the hand of the user grasps the haul strap handle to pick-up the backpack.   
     
     
         20 . The backpack of  claim 19 , wherein the haul strap handle is attached to the backpack body and is spaced away from the at least one shoulder strap, the closure of the haul strap handle including a zipper that selectively closes an opening located at an upper, as defined while the backpack is worn by the user, portion of the haul strap handle, a lower portion of the haul strap handle being for engagement with the hand of the user when the haul strap handle is grasped by the hand of the user to pick-up the backpack, and the rain cover while in the a stowed condition provide the padding to the haul strap handle. 
     
     
         21 . The backpack of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one shoulder strap, the haul strap handle and the rain cover are configured such that the rain cover is separate from use and operation of the at least one shoulder strap for both the stowed and deployed conditions of the rain cover. 
     
     
         22 . The backpack of  claim 19 , wherein the haul strap handle, and the rain cover storage compartment thereof, and the backpack body are configured such that the hand of the user extends between the haul strap handle and the backpack body to grasp around the haul strap handle, the rain cover storage compartment thereof and the rain cover when the rain cover is in the stowed condition within the rain cover storage compartment. 
     
     
         23 . The backpack of  claim 19 , wherein the haul strap handle, and the rain cover storage compartment thereof, and the backpack body are configured such that the rain cover does not extend into the backpack body when the rain cover is in the stowed condition. 
     
     
         24 . The backpack of  claim 19 , wherein the haul strap handle, and the rain cover storage compartment thereof, and the backpack body are configured such that backpack body is not accessed to actuate the rain cover from the stowed condition to the deployed condition. 
     
     
         25 . The backpack of  claim 19 , wherein the haul strap handle, and the rain cover storage compartment thereof, and the rain cover are configured such that the rain cover, when in the stowed condition, provides no interference to the access and use of the haul strap handle. 
     
     
         26 . The backpack of  claim 19 , further including closure means for securing the rain cover tightly around the backpack body. 
     
     
         27 . The backpack of  claim 26 , wherein the closure means includes at least one of an elastic drawstring closure and a cinch closure with a cord lock. 
     
     
         28 . The backpack of  claim 19 , wherein the rain cover is connected to an interior portion of the storage compartment. 
     
     
         29 . The backpack of  claim 28 , wherein the rain cover remains affixed to the haul strap handle when in the deployed condition. 
     
     
         30 . The backpack of  claim 19 , wherein the rain cover is a combined pack cover and hood. 
     
     
         31 . The backpack of  claim 30 , wherein the rain cover is connected to an interior portion of the storage compartment.