Repositionable compartment

Abstract

An improved carrying article having a collapsible external compartment 14 is disclosed. The carrying article includes a body 12 defining a main compartment 13, a pocket 16 located at the lower end of an exterior wall 18 of the main compartment, the pocket having a pocket wall 46 and a pocket opening 48. The collapsible external compartment is stored in the pocket and is movable between a first position in which the collapsible external compartment is tucked within the pocket and a second position in which the collapsible external compartment is accessible outside of the pocket. The collapsible external compartment has at least one fastener 63 configured to secure a second end of the collapsible external compartment to an external surface of the carrying article near an upper end of the body such that the collapsible external compartment when secured to the main compartment in the second position provides an external compartment.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A carrying article comprising:
 a body defining a main compartment, the body including a front exterior wall that in part defines the main compartment, the exterior wall having an upper end and a lower end, the main compartment having a first opening in the exterior wall, the first opening being secured by a fastener to allow a user to access the main compartment and to close the main compartment;   a first pocket having a first pocket wall and a first pocket opening; and   a collapsible external compartment having a first end and a second end, the first end of the collapsible external compartment being attached to the first pocket wall and the second end of the collapsible external compartment being free and configured to be tucked inside the first pocket opening, the collapsible external compartment being configured so that the collapsible external compartment is movable between a first position in which the collapsible external compartment is tucked within the first pocket and a second position in which the collapsible external compartment is accessible outside of the first pocket opening; and   at least one fastener configured to secure the second end of the collapsible external compartment to the body of the carrying article such that the collapsible external compartment provides an external compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The carrying article of  claim 1 , wherein the first pocket is located at the lower end of the exterior wall of the main compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The carrying article of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one fastener is configured to secure the second end of the collapsible external compartment to the front exterior wall of the main compartment near the upper end of the main compartment. 
     
     
         4 . The carrying article of any of  claims 1 - 3 , wherein the collapsible external compartment includes a compartment wall and a compartment opening, and wherein in the second position the compartment opening and substantially all of the compartment wall of the collapsible external compartment are positioned outside of the first pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The carrying article of any of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the compartment opening is located near the second end of the collapsible external compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The carrying article of any of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the compartment opening is located between the first end and second end of the collapsible external compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The article of any of  claims 1 - 6 , wherein in the second position the collapsible external compartment is located adjacent the front exterior wall of the main compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The carrying article of any of  claims 1 - 7 , wherein the first opening in the front exterior wall is accessible with the collapsible external compartment located in the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The carrying article of any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the at least one fastener includes a first fastener portion that includes at least one of a button, a bolt, a snap, a clip, and a hook. 
     
     
         10 . The carrying article of any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the at least one fastener includes a first fastener portion that includes at least one toggle button that can be received by a second fastener portion that includes at least one loop on the front exterior wall of the main compartment. 
     
     
         11 . The carrying article of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one toggle button includes two toggle buttons and the at least one loop includes two loops. 
     
     
         12 . The carrying article of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one loop is located on the exterior wall of the main compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The carrying article of any of  claims 1 - 8 , wherein the at least one fastener includes at least one clip that can be secured to a strap on the front exterior wall of the main compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The carrying article of any of  claims 1 - 13 , wherein the first end of the collapsible external compartment is attached to the first pocket wall by stitching along at least a portion of the first end of the collapsible external compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The carrying article of any of  claims 1 - 14 , wherein the first pocket opening is secured by a first pocket fastener that is closeable and that provides access to the first pocket. 
     
     
         16 . The carrying article of  claim 15 , wherein the first pocket opening is secured by a zipper tape arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The carrying article of any of  claims 1 - 16 , further comprising a rain cover that is configured to extend over at least the external compartment when the external compartment is in the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The carrying article of  claim 17 , further comprising a second pocket located towards a lower end of a rear exterior wall of the main compartment, the second pocket having a second pocket wall and a second pocket opening, the rain cover having a first end being attached to the second pocket wall and second end being movable between a first position in which the second end of the rain cover is tucked within the second pocket and a second position in which the second end of the rain cover extends over at least the external compartment. 
     
     
         19 . The carrying article of  claim 18 , wherein the second end of the rain cover is configured to also extend over the main compartment. 
     
     
         20 . The carrying article of any of  claims 18 - 19 , wherein the first end of the rain cover is attached to the second wall of the second pocket by stitching along at least a portion of the first end of the rain cover. 
     
     
         21 . The carrying article of any of  claims 17 - 20 , wherein the rain cover includes a rain cover retention means. 
     
     
         22 . The carrying article of  claim 21 , wherein the rain cover retention means includes an elastically stretchable cord. 
     
     
         23 . The carrying article of any of  claims 17 - 22 , further comprising a strap secured to the rain cover, the strap being configured to be fastened to a loop on an opposite lateral edge of the rain cover so that the strap and loop are adjacent a rear surface of the body of the carrying article to secure the rain cover in the second position. 
     
     
         24 . The carrying article of any of  claims 1 - 23 , wherein the body of the carrying article comprises a first material, and wherein the collapsible external compartment comprises the first material, and wherein the first material comprises one of nylon, canvas, and leather. 
     
     
         25 . The carrying article of any of  claims 1 - 24 , wherein the carrying article is a backpack and further comprises at least one shoulder strap. 
     
     
         26 . The carrying article of any of  claims 1 - 25 , wherein the front exterior wall of the main compartment further comprises at least one additional zippered opening that is not covered by the collapsible external compartment positioned in the first position and that is still accessible when the collapsible external compartment is positioned in the second position, the collapsible external compartment being adjacent the at least one additional zippered opening and extending vertically above the at least one additional zippered opening in the second position. 
     
     
         27 . The carrying article of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one additional zippered opening includes a key leash. 
     
     
         28 . The carrying article of any of  claims 26 - 27 , wherein the at least one additional zippered opening includes webbing configured to include pen loops. 
     
     
         29 . The carrying article of any of  claims 26 - 28 , wherein the at least one additional zippered opening includes at least one additional internal zippered pocket. 
     
     
         30 . The carrying article of any of  claims 25 - 28 , wherein the at least one additional zippered opening includes a tracking device. 
     
     
         31 . The carrying article of  claim 1 , wherein the first pocket is located along a side of the exterior wall of the main compartment. 
     
     
         32 . The carrying article of  claim 31 , wherein each fastener of the at least one fastener includes a first fastener portion at the second end of the collapsible external compartment that is configured to engage a second fastener portion on the front exterior wall of the main compartment to secure the second end of the collapsible external compartment to the front exterior wall of the main compartment near an opposite side of the main compartment.