Backpack with elastic straps

Abstract

A bag is disclosed herein in the form of a backpack. The backpack comprises a bag portion and at least one shoulder strap coupled to the bag portion. The least one shoulder strap includes an elastic upper broad strap portion connected to an inelastic lower broad strap portion. The upper broad strap portion defines a corrugated structure having a plurality of parallel ridges and furrows. The upper broad strap portion is also configured to stretch between a relaxed position and a stretched lockout position. A lockout webbing is coupled to the upper broad strap portion at a plurality of connection locations along the upper broad strap portion. Loops in the lockout webbing are formed between the connection locations when the upper broad strap portion is in the relaxed position. The lockout webbing is fully extended when the upper broad strap portion is in the stretched lockout position.

What is claimed is 
     
         1 . A backpack comprising:
 a bag;   at least one shoulder strap coupled to the bag, the at least one shoulder strap including an elastic upper broad strap portion connected to an inelastic lower broad strap portion, the upper broad strap portion defining a corrugated structure having a plurality of parallel ridges and furrows, the upper broad strap portion configured to stretch between a relaxed position and a stretched lockout position; and   lockout webbing coupled to the upper broad strap portion at a plurality of connection locations along the upper broad strap portion, wherein loops in the lockout webbing are formed between the connection locations when the upper broad strap portion is in the relaxed position, and wherein the lockout webbing is fully extended when the upper broad strap portion is in the stretched lockout position.   
     
     
         2 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein the upper broad strap portion is auxetic or near auxetic. 
     
     
         3 . The backpack of  claim 2 , wherein the upper broad strap portion extends from a back section to an armpit section of the at least one shoulder strap. 
     
     
         4 . The backpack of  claim 1 , wherein a Poisson's ratio of the upper broad strap portion is less than a Poisson's ratio of the lower broad strap portion. 
     
     
         5 . The backpack of  claim 1 , the at least one shoulder strap further including a webbing strap coupled to the lower broad strap portion via a slip lock buckle. 
     
     
         6 . The backpack of  claim 5  wherein the upper broad strap portion is coupled to a top front side of the bag, and the webbing strap is connected to a lower front side of the bag. 
     
     
         7 . The backpack of  claim 1  further comprising a sternum clip coupled to the lockout webbing. 
     
     
         8 . The backpack of  claim 1  wherein a front side of the bag also defines a corrugated structure having a plurality of parallel ridges and furrows, the corrugated structure configured to stretch between a relaxed position and a stretched position. 
     
     
         9 . A backpack comprising:
 a bag;   at least one shoulder strap coupled to the bag, the at least one shoulder strap including an elastic broad strap portion configured to stretch between a relaxed position and a stretched lockout position, wherein the broad strap portion is auxetic or near auxetic; and   lockout webbing coupled to the broad strap portion at a plurality of connection locations along the broad strap portion, wherein loops in the lockout webbing are formed between the connection locations when the broad strap portion is in the relaxed position, and wherein the lockout webbing is fully extended when the broad strap portion is in the stretched lockout position.   
     
     
         10 . The backpack of  claim 9  wherein the broad strap portion defines a corrugated structure having a plurality of parallel ridges and furrows. 
     
     
         11 . The backpack of  claim 10  wherein the connection locations connect the lockout webbing to the broad strap portion along lengths of the connection locations that extend in a linear manner transversely across the lockout webbing parallel to the ridges and furrows. 
     
     
         12 . The backpack of  claim 11  wherein the broad strap portion extends from a back section to an armpit section of the at least one shoulder strap. 
     
     
         13 . The backpack of  claim 9 , the at least one shoulder strap further including a webbing strap coupled to the broad strap portion via a slip lock buckle, wherein the broad strap portion is coupled to a top front side of the bag, and the webbing strap is connected to a lower front side of the bag. 
     
     
         14 . The backpack of  claim 9  further comprising a sternum clip coupled to the lockout webbing via sternum webbing coupled to at least one loop of the lockout webbing. 
     
     
         15 . The backpack of  claim 9  wherein a front side of the bag also defines a corrugated structure having a plurality of parallel ridges and furrows, the corrugated structure configured to stretch between a relaxed position and a stretched position. 
     
     
         16 . A bag comprising:
 a bag portion configured to retain a load; and   at least one shoulder strap coupled to the bag portion, the at least one shoulder strap including an elastic broad strap portion configured to stretch between a relaxed position and a stretched lockout position, wherein the broad strap portion is auxetic or near auxetic, the broad strap portion defining a corrugated structure having a plurality of parallel ridges and furrows.   
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 16 , further comprising lockout webbing coupled to the broad strap portion at a plurality of connection locations along the broad strap portion. 
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 17 , wherein the connection locations connect the lockout webbing to the broad strap portion along lengths of the connection locations that extend in a linear manner transversely across the lockout webbing parallel to the ridges and furrows. 
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 17 , wherein loops in the lockout webbing are formed between the connection locations when the broad strap portion is in the relaxed position, and wherein the lockout webbing is fully extended when the broad strap portion is in the stretched lockout position. 
     
     
         20 . The bag of  claim 16  wherein the at least one shoulder strap comprises two shoulder straps.