Backpack with leveling structure

Abstract

A backpack includes a main body including a front side and a rear side, a pair of shoulder straps, each shoulder strap extending from a first fixed end at an upper portion of the rear side to a second free end, and a shoulder strap leveling structure coupled with each of the shoulder straps. Each shoulder strap leveling structure is coupled with a corresponding shoulder strap and includes a slip lock member disposed along a portion of the corresponding shoulder strap, and a bulk strap including a first end coupled with the rear side of the backpack and a second free end that is moved through a slot of the slip lock member. Each bulk strap also includes a plurality of markings arranged along a length dimension of the bulk strap that are visible through a window of the slip lock member.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A backpack comprising:
 a main body including a front side and a rear side;   a shoulder strap extending from a first fixed end at an upper portion of the rear side to a second free end; and   a shoulder strap structure coupled with the shoulder strap and comprising a slip lock member disposed along a portion of the shoulder strap, wherein the slip lock member includes a first flat portion extending to a second flat portion, the first flat portion including a window with a crossbar extending across the window that separates the window into a first slot and a second slot such that the crossbar and each of the first slot and the second slot are disposed within the first flat portion, and the second flat portion extending at an angle of less than 45° outward and away from the first flat portion.   
     
     
         3 . The backpack of  claim 2 , wherein the slip lock member is at least partially embedded within a portion of the shoulder strap. 
     
     
         4 . The backpack of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a bulk strap that extends from behind the shoulder strap and through the first slot, over the crossbar and through the second slot of the slip lock member of the shoulder strap;   wherein the bulk strap includes a plurality of markings arranged along a portion of the bulk strap, and the window of the slip lock member exposes a portion of the bulk strap that extends through the first slot, over the crossbar and through the second slot of the slip lock member such that a single marking of the plurality of markings is visible at the window when the bulk strap of the shoulder strap is moved to different positions in relation to the slip lock member.   
     
     
         5 . The backpack of  claim 4 , wherein the bulk strap is adjustable to adjust an alignment of the backpack in relation to shoulders of a user when the backpack is worn by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The backpack of  claim 4 , wherein the markings comprise a series of sequential numbers spaced from each other along the length dimension of each bulk strap. 
     
     
         7 . The backpack of  claim 4 , further comprising an anchor pad extending from the rear side and/or another side of the main portion, wherein the bulk strap includes:
 a first end that extends through the first slot, over the crossbar and through the second slot of the slip lock member; and   a second end that secures to the anchor pad.   
     
     
         8 . The backpack of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a side support strap, the side support strap comprising a first end connected to the rear side and an upper portion of the backpack and a second end coupled with the anchor pad; and   an anchor structure disposed within a pocket defined at the front side of the backpack;   wherein a portion of the side support strap located between the first end and the second end couples with the anchor structure within the pocket at the front side of the backpack.   
     
     
         9 . The backpack of  claim 8 , wherein the second end of the side support strap couples with the anchor pad via a locking clip that facilitates an adjustable and cinching connection of the support strap with the anchor pad. 
     
     
         10 . The backpack of  claim 9 , wherein the bulk strap and the side support strap are independently and selectively adjustable to tighten and pull the front side toward the rear side of the main portion when the backpack is worn by a user. 
     
     
         11 . A method of leveling a backpack in relation to shoulders of a user wearing the backpack, the backpack comprising a main body and a pair of shoulder straps, the main body including a front side and a rear side, the method comprising:
 facilitating placement of each shoulder strap over a corresponding shoulder of the user, each shoulder strap extending from a first fixed end at an upper portion of the rear side to a second free end; and   adjusting a shoulder strap leveling structure coupled with each of the shoulder straps, the shoulder strap leveling structure comprising a first bulk strap and a corresponding first slip lock member secured at a portion of one of the shoulder straps and a second bulk strap and a corresponding second slip lock member secured at a portion of the other of the shoulder straps, wherein the adjusting comprises:
 adjusting the first bulk strap in relation to the first slip lock member such that a free end of the first bulk strap extending beyond the first slip lock member changes with the adjusting; and 
 adjusting the second bulk strap in relation to the second slip lock member such that a free end of the second bulk strap extending beyond the second slip lock member changes with the adjusting; 
   wherein:
 each of the first and second bulk straps includes a plurality of markings arranged along a length dimension of the bulk strap; 
 each of the first and second slip lock members includes a first flat portion extending to a second flat portion, the first flat portion including a window with a crossbar extending across the window that separates the window into a first slot and a second slot such that the crossbar and each of the first slot and the second slot are disposed within the first flat portion, and the second flat portion extending at an angle of less than 45° outward and away from the first flat portion; and 
 each of the first bulk strap and the second bulk strap is adjusted with the first slip lock member or the second slip lock member by moving a portion of the first bulk strap or the second bulk strap through the first slot, over the crossbar and through the second slot of the first slip lock member or the second slip lock member such that a single marking of the first bulk strap visible at the window of the first slip lock member is a same single marking of the second bulk strap visible at the window of the second slip lock member. 
   
     
     
         12 . A backpack comprising:
 a main body including a front side and a rear side;   a shoulder strap extending from a first fixed end at an upper portion of the rear side to a second free end; and   a slip lock member coupled with the shoulder strap, wherein the slip lock member includes a front side facing away from the main body, a rear side facing toward the main member, and a window with a crossbar extending across the window that separates the window into a first slot and a second slot; and   a bulk strap including a plurality of indicia markings arranged along a portion of the bulk strap, wherein the bulk strap extends from behind the shoulder strap and through the first slot, over the crossbar and through the second slot of the slip lock member of the shoulder strap such that a portion of the bulk strap including a single indicia marking of the plurality of indicia markings is disposed over the crossbar and the single indicia marking is visible at the window when the bulk strap is moved to different positions in relation to the slip lock member.   
     
     
         13 . The backpack of  claim 12 , wherein the crossbar includes a pair of walls that extend toward the main member and taper toward each other to define an edge of the crossbar. 
     
     
         14 . The backpack of  claim 12 , wherein the slip lock member further includes a second crossbar disposed on the rear side of the slip lock member, the second crossbar providing a coupling engagement with a portion of the shoulder strap. 
     
     
         15 . The backpack of  claim 12 , wherein the slip lock member further includes a plurality of grooves disposed on the rear side of the slip lock member and extending in a lengthwise dimension of the slip lock member. 
     
     
         16 . The backpack of  claim 12 , wherein the slip lock member includes a first portion and a second portion extending at an angle from the first portion. 
     
     
         17 . The backpack of  claim 16 , wherein the first portion includes the window and the crossbar, and the second portion includes a plurality of grooves disposed on the rear side of the slip lock member and extending in a lengthwise dimension of the slip lock member. 
     
     
         18 . The backpack of  claim 16 , wherein the slip lock member is at least partially embedded within the shoulder strap, and the second flat portion extends at an angle of less than 45° outward and away from the first portion. 
     
     
         19 . The backpack of  claim 18 , wherein the first portion includes the window and the crossbar.