Backpack with bat sleeves

Abstract

A backpack having sleeves for receiving baseball or softball bats is provided. The bat sleeves are located at the rear of the bag (that abuts the wearer's back when worn) and extend inwardly into the interior of the backpack. The design provides a balanced, compact, and comfortable system for toting bats. A pad or liner may be installed between the bat sleeves and the wearer's back so that any bats secured within the sleeves do not dig into a wearer's back when the backpack is worn.

1 . A backpack for carrying sports equipment, the backpack comprising:
 a rear surface that abuts a back of a wearer when the backpack is donned;   a front surface opposite the rear surface;   one or more vertically-oriented sleeve members located on the rear surface of the backpack that extend downwardly into an interior of the backpack, wherein the one or more sleeve members are sized and shaped to selectively receive at least one of a baseball and a softball bat therein; and   two strap members on the rear surface of the backpack.   
     
     
         2 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sleeve members are separated from one another by a barrier member. 
     
     
         3 . The backpack of  claim 2 , wherein the barrier member is a fabric strip sewn into the backpack. 
     
     
         4 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the rear surface of the backpack includes a pad member to pad the wearer from one or more bats received within the one or more sleeve members. 
     
     
         5 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the backpack includes three sleeve members. 
     
     
         6 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sleeve members extend from an upper portion of the backpack to a lower portion of the backpack. 
     
     
         7 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sleeve members each have a diameter just larger than that of a bat barrel. 
     
     
         8 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the backpack includes a hook member at an upper portion of the backpack. 
     
     
         9 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the backpack includes at least one compartment that is separate from the one or more sleeve members. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A backpack for carrying sports equipment, the backpack comprising:
 a rear surface that abuts a back of a wearer when the backpack is donned;   a front surface opposite the rear surface; and   at least one vertically-oriented sleeve member that extends downwardly into the backpack, wherein the at least one sleeve member is sized and shaped to selectively receive at least one of a baseball and a softball bat therein;   two strap members on the rear surface of the backpack.   
     
     
         12 . The backpack of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sleeve member is separated from an additional sleeve member by a barrier member. 
     
     
         13 . The backpack of  claim 12 , wherein the barrier member is a fabric strip sewn into the backpack. 
     
     
         14 . The backpack of  claim 11 , wherein the rear surface of the backpack includes a pad member to pad the wearer from one or more bats received within the at least one sleeve member. 
     
     
         15 . The backpack of  claim 11 , wherein the backpack includes three sleeve members. 
     
     
         16 . The backpack of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sleeve member extends from an upper portion of the backpack to a lower portion of the backpack. 
     
     
         17 . The backpack of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sleeve member has a diameter just larger than that of a bat barrel. 
     
     
         18 . The backpack of  claim 11 , wherein the backpack includes a hook member at an upper portion of the backpack. 
     
     
         19 . The backpack of  claim 11 , wherein the backpack includes at least one compartment that is separate from the at least one sleeve member. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)