GB2328146A - Rucksack with adjustable legs - Google Patents

Abstract

A rucksack comprises a frame 12 serving to prevent the walls of the rucksack from collapsing when the rucksack is empty, and legs 40 projecting from the frame 12 for supporting the rucksack on the ground. At least one of the legs 40 is adjustable in length to permit the rucksack to rest in a stable manner on uneven ground. The frame is preferably an external rectangular hollow tubular structure, and the legs 40, which are preferably telescopically collapsible, may be slidably received and secured within the hollow tubes of the frames. Since the rucksack can be arranged to sit level on uneven ground a tray (34, figures 2,3), which is preferably detachable, may be provided to rest on top of the frame 12, so that the rucksack can act as a side table.

Description

Rucksack Field of the invention The present invention relates to a rucksack and is concerned in particular with a rucksack for use by anglers.

Background of the invention Anglers commonly use large rucksacks to carry their equipment to a swim, such as the bank of a river or a lake.

On arrival at the swim, the rucksack is laid down on the ground. As the rucksack has canvas and the ground on which it rests is often wet, the contents of the rucksack would become wet, were it to be laid down with its base in contact with the ground.

For this reason, rucksacks used by anglers are known with legs that support the base of the rucksack off the ground. The known legs may form part of an internal frame that serves the additional purpose of holding the sides of the rucksack apart when the rucksack is empty, to allow easier access to its interior. A frame also makes the rucksack easier to carry.

A problem is encountered however with conventional rucksacks when they are laid down on uneven ground because the rucksack is not supported by its legs in a stable vertical position and it tends to topple over.

Object of the invention Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide a rucksack that can be supported in a stable manner on the ground, even when the ground is uneven.

Summary of the invention According to the present invention, there is provided a rucksack having a frame serving to prevent the walls of the rucksack from collapsing when the rucksack is empty and legs projecting from the frame for supporting the rucksack on the ground, wherein at least one of the legs is adjustable in length to permit the rucksack to rest in a stable manner on uneven ground.

An external tubular frame is preferred as it remains accessible for adjustment of the length of the legs even when the rucksack is full. It also allows the use of telescopically collapsible legs slidably received within the hollow tubes of the frames.

Advantageously, the frame is a rectangular frame resting on the ground on four legs, each of the legs being adjustable in length. The adjustment may be by the use of retractable pins that project from the adjustable legs into holes in the tubes of the frame.

Because the frame of the rucksack can be supported in a stable vertical position even on uneven ground, it is possible to provide a tray to rest on the top of the frame, so as to enable the rucksack to serve as a side table.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a rucksack of the invention, Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the rucksack of Figure 1 with the top bag unclipped to allow the rucksack to be used as a side table, Figure 3 is a rear view of the rucksack with the tray removed to allow access to the interior of the main compartment of the rucksack, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rucksack from below showing the adjustable legs more clearly.

Detailed description of the drawings The rucksack 10 shown in the drawings comprises external tubular aluminium frame 12 engaged in four pairs of sleeves 14 made from the material of the rucksack. Each pair of sleeves 14 is arranged on one side of a rectangular main compartment 16 that opens like a duffel bag, as shown in Figure 3.

In addition to the main compartment the rucksack includes a top bag 18, two side bags 20 and 22 and a front bag 24 each of which may be opened and closed separately.

The rucksack can be carried on the back by means of straps 26.

The tubular frame 12 has a horizontal sheet metal base 12a, vertical tubes 12b curved handle portions 12c each connecting the tops of the vertical tubes 12b on one side of the rucksack and two transverse supports 12d connected respectively to the tops of the vertical tubes 12b at the front and the rear of the rucksack.

The top bag 18 is detachably connected to main compartment 16 by a zip fastener along its rear edge and is held in its carrying position shown in Figure 1 by straps 30 having releasable buckles 32. Once the buckles 32 have been released, the top bag 18 may be moved into the position shown in Figure 2 in which the top of the frame 12 is exposed.

A detachable tray 34 rests on the transverse support tubes 12d to allow the frame to act as a side table. When the tray 34 is removed from the frame 12, as shown in Figure 3, the main compartment can be accessed from the top of the frame 12. Because the material, or canvas, of the rucksack is supported by the frame 12, the interior of the main compartment 16 remains accessible even if it is empty and the side and front bags are full.

Four adjustable telescopically collapsible legs 40 are received in the upright tubes 12a of the frame 12. Each leg has a retractable spring biased pin that engages in one of several holes in its associated tube 12a. Once the pin has been manually depressed, the leg 40 can be extended and retracted, thereby allowing its length to be adjusted. Thus the legs in Figure 4 can be seen to be of different length from each other. The adjustment of the length of the legs 40 allows the rucksack to stand vertically, even when the ground is not level or uneven, and it is because the frame can stand upright on uneven ground that it can support the tray 34 and double as a side table.

It will be clear that various modifications may be made to the described rucksack without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims. For example, it is not essential that the frame be an external frame and it may instead be an internal frame received within the main compartment and having projecting adjustable legs. The adjustment of the legs need not effected by the described arrangement of a retractable pin but may use other means, for example any alternative design used to adjust the length of the legs of camera tripods, for clamping the legs in their desired extended positions.

It is also not essential that the tray 34 be entirely detachable from the frame and it may alternatively be pivotably mounted on one of the support tubes 12d of the frame 12. A catch or Velcro fastener may be used to hold the tray against the frame when the main compartment is full.

Claims (8)

1. A rucksack having a frame serving to prevent the walls of the rucksack from collapsing when the rucksack is empty and legs projecting from the frame for supporting the rucksack on the ground, wherein at least one of the legs is adjustable in length to permit the rucksack to rest in a stable manner on uneven ground.

2. A rucksack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame is a hollow tubular external frame.

3. A rucksack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the adjustable legs are telescopically collapsible legs slidably received within the hollow tubes of the frames.

4. A rucksack as claimed in claim 3, wherein the legs have retractable pins that project from the legs into holes in the tubes of the frame.

5. A rucksack as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame is a rectangular frame resting on four legs on the ground and each of the legs is adjustable in length.

6. A rucksack as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a tray is provided to rest on the top of the frame, so as to enable the rucksack to serve as a side table.

7. A rucksack as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tray is detachable from the frame.

8. A rucksack constructed substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.