EP3987976A1

EP3987976A1 - Multifunctional transportable container

Info

Publication number: EP3987976A1
Application number: EP21204583.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Emanuele BELLI
Original assignee: Nuove Iniziative Bresciane Srl
Current assignee: Nuove Iniziative Bresciane Srl
Priority date: 2020-10-26
Filing date: 2021-10-25
Publication date: 2022-04-27
Also published as: IT202000025330A1

Abstract

Object of the invention is a multifunctional transportable container (10), such as a backpack, which comprises an upper wall (150), a lower wall (152) and side walls (40, 41, 44) and wherein two or more of the walls of the transportable container (10) are connected to each other by means of reversible closures (30, 31, 34), preferably zippers, to configure the aforesaid transportable container (10) such as to define, in a first configuration, a compartment fit to contain objects, and wherein the reversible closures (30, 31, 34) can be opened such as to separate two or more of the upper (150), lower (152) and side walls (40, 41, 44) from each other, such as to make the container (10) assume a second configuration which provides a support for resting the body, such as a bed, preferably with an incorporated extensible sunshade awning, and wherein it is possible to switch from the second configuration to the first configuration by folding the walls of the container (10) and by reconnecting them to each other by means of the reversible closures (30, 31, 34) to re-create the compartment fit to contain obj ects.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a backpack or other individually transportable multifunctional container.

KNOWN PRIOR ART

As known, the hiking activities practiced by people of all ages during the holiday periods or for sports, or the like, are increasingly more common.
During such hiking activities, the hiker generally equips himself with a backpack for containing the most useful objects in such context, such as for example waterproof jackets, fleece garments, water bottles, provisions, multipurpose knives, topographic maps, spare linen, gloves or the like.
Moreover, hiking activities are generally physically demanding and hikers thus also wish to spend moments and occasions of rest or to take breaks in contact with nature.
In order to be better organized during such moments of rest, it can be useful to be equipped with a transportable bed, or a deckchair or a small foldable armchair, or anyhow with a support which can be leaned on the ground for rest or resting the body. In combination with the support which can be leaned on the ground, it can also be useful to be equipped with a sun umbrella or awning such as to find protection from the sun during the hottest hours.
Moreover, whenever the hiking activity occurs in a seaside location, it can be useful to have a bed, or a mat or a further support which can be leaned on the ground for resting the body, to be placed on the seashore, for example on a sandy shore or on a beach, such as to allow to sunbathe and relax; on the beach, it can also be useful to have a sun umbrella or a sunshade awning combined with the support for resting the body.
A bed, provided with a tilting head portion which can be transported on the shoulders when appropriately folded, is known from the document US 34778 .
Document ES 1070666 describes a bed, in particular for beach use, further provided with an awning to protect the head of the user from the sun and which can be folded such as to be able to be carried on the shoulders by the user himself.
Document US2004155077A1 teaches how to make a beach mat which can be rolled-up into a transportable shoulder bag.
The prior patent US 5,785,219 describes a backpack containing a mat which is constrained to the inner compartment of the backpack and which can be extracted and stretched out to allow the body of the user to rest.
The French patent FR 2561506 A describes a container inside which a bed, constituted by a plurality of elements constrained to each other and foldable inside the container itself, is de facto exclusively housed. The container of FR 2561506 A is not in fact adapted to contain elements other than those constituting such bed.
The French patent FR 772.321 concerns a transportable container which is transformed into a support for spacing a mat, preferably inflatable, from the ground for the user to rest. Such mat must be contained inside the container of FR 772.321 , which is thus hardly able to transport other objects. Moreover, the walls of such container do not constitute, in their nature, any support for the body of the user.
It is thus clear that according to the known art, the hiker must consider at least two distinct objects, i.e. a backpack, or a shoulder bag or a bag or, in general, an individually transportable container equipped with a compartment for containing the objects he needs and a bed, seat or mat or, in general, a ground support, also transportable, for resting the body. Whenever the hiker should also wish to protect himself from the sun, he should equip himself with a further separate object, such as a sun umbrella or an extensible sunshade awning to protect himself from the heat.
In particular, whenever the hiker must transport bulky personal belongings, such as water bottles, provisions, protective garments or the like, he must necessarily transport a mat, or other type of ground support, for resting the body, he must thus equip himself with a separate transportable container for such personal belongings. Whenever wishing to protect himself from the sun, the hiker must also transport the aforesaid sun umbrella or sunshade awning.
An object of the present invention is to provide an individually transportable container, the aforesaid container being defined as multifunctional, such as for example a multifunctional backpack, which, in the context of a single object, allows to benefit of the use of at least two different functions currently considered completely separate, i.e. the first function being that of containing objects to be transported, typical of backpacks or another transportable container, and the second function being that of a bed usable while resting, or anyhow of a support - which can be leaned on the ground - for resting the body. The sun protection function, by means of, for example, an extensible sunshade awning, can be added to this.
A further object of the invention is to provide a simple to make solution with low manufacturing costs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention thus aims to achieve the objects described above by means of a multifunctional transportable container, wherein the aforesaid transportable container comprises an upper wall, a lower wall and side walls and wherein two or more of the aforesaid walls of the multifunctional transportable container are connected to each other by means of reversible closures, such as for example zippers, to configure the aforesaid multifunctional transportable container such as to define, in a first configuration of the aforesaid multifunctional transportable container, a compartment fit to contain objects and characterized in that the aforesaid reversible closures can be opened such as to separate two or more of the aforesaid upper, lower and side walls from each other, such as to make the aforesaid multifunctional transportable container assume a second configuration which provides a support - which can be leaned on the ground - for resting the body, and wherein it is possible to switch from the aforesaid second configuration to the aforesaid first configuration by folding the aforesaid walls of the multifunctional transportable container and by reconnecting them to each other by means of the aforesaid reversible closures to re-create the aforesaid compartment fit to contain objects.
It should be noted that the expression "transportable container" intends, here and hereunder, any individually transportable container such as a backpack, a bag, a shoulder bag or other container provided with a compartment intended to contain objects.
The expression "reversible closures" used herein denotes constraining means between the walls which can at least alternatively or reversibly assume at least one closed state and at least one opened state and which can, for example and preferably, consist of zippers or other reversible connection means, such as for example reversible fastening straps and tapes made of fabric also known as Velcro strips.
Still, it should be noted that the expression "support for resting the body" intends any element which can be leaned on the ground and which is shaped to allow the support of at least one human body for its rest, resting, such as a bed, a mat, a deckchair, a chair, a small armchair or even the like.
This way, although reference will be made to a backpack as a transportable container, and to a bed as a support for resting the body, hereunder, in the context of the present invention, the Reader will have no difficulty understanding that such objects can respectively assume alternative forms such as a bag, a shoulder bag, etc. and a deckchair, a small armchair, a chair, etc.
Similarly, although reference will be made to zippers as the preferred type of reversible closure, the Reader will have no difficulty considering that it is possible to use clips (i.e. snap buttons), loops and strings, straps and clasps, Velcro strips or even the like, in alternative to such zippers (i.e. zips).
Finally, it should be noted that the "upper," "lower," and "side" attributes referring to the walls of the multifunctional transportable container must not be intended as indicative of the fact that such walls are necessarily separate and/or separable from each other. Indeed, such attributes refer to the walls of the transportable container only depending on the geometric arrangement they assume while using the container in its configuration fit to define a compartment for containing objects. This way, a container having the upper, one or more side and/or the lower walls constituted by a single and distinct appropriately shaped body which, while using the multifunctional transportable container for containing objects, is arranged according to upper, lower and side walls at least visibly distinct from each other, also falls within such definition.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, at least one of the upper, lower and side walls, and preferably all walls, of the transportable container becomes/become, when the transportable container is in its aforesaid second configuration, elements which as a whole form a surface fit to support at least the legs of the user in a seated or lying down position and preferably, but not necessarily, also at least the chest and/or head of the user.
According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the transportable container comprises at least one element, preferably a wall which, in the aforesaid second configuration wherein the multifunctional transportable container is transformed into a support for resting the body, constitutes a backrest which is preferably an element that can be extracted from within the compartment of the transportable container during the opening step thereof, or which is one of the upper, lower or side walls of the transportable container itself.
Such element which constitutes a backrest can be provided with a shoulder rest and/or a headrest and the transportable container can be provided with a backrest stop element (i.e. with an element for supporting the backrest with respect to the ground).
According to a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the transportable container provides a further element which, in said second configuration wherein the multifunctional transportable container is transformed into a support for resting the body, constitutes a sunshade which preferably has an adjustable inclination and which preferably is supported by said element which constitutes a backrest.
Preferably, the aforesaid sunshade can be extended thanks to the presence of a roll-up sunshade curtain which is combined with said sunshade or which constitutes such sunshade.
Further characteristics of the invention can be deduced from the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

figures 1-5 show successive opening steps of the multifunctional backpack according to the present invention such as to achieve a bed, where such steps can also be carried out inversely to fold the bed and transform it into the multifunctional backpack of the invention;
figure 6 shows the bed of the invention in a complete configuration;
figure 7 shows a detail of figure 6;
figure 8 shows the bed of the invention in the complete configuration with an alternative for fastening the extensible sunshade awning which allows more space in the underlying part thereof; and
figures 9a and 9b show two alternative possibilities for coupling two beds of the invention such as to achieve a two-people or anyhow coupled configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention will now be described with initial reference to figure 1, wherein a multifunctional transportable container according to the invention, in the preferred embodiment of a multifunctional backpack, is shown in a fully equipped configuration such as to provide the user with a bed, or other support, for resting the body, all generally denoted by the numerical reference 10.
Firstly, it should be noted that the multifunctional backpack 10 comprises a plurality of reversible closures 31, 34 (of which only some are depicted in the figures in a symbolic way) placed on the sides of the walls 150, 152, 40, 41, 44 constituting it, where the aforesaid reversible closures 31, 34 are preferably made in the form of zipper, also named zips, to keep the portions of the bed joined to each other when the latter is completely folded to form a backpack 10 comprising at least one upper wall 150, one lower wall 152 and side walls 40, 41, 44 which define at least one compartment fit to contain objects.
The multifunctional backpack 10 is thus able, by opening or closing the zippers 31, 34, to reversibly switch from a first configuration in the form of transportable container to a second configuration in the form of a bed, and vice-versa.
It should be noted that in the embodiment shown herein, the zippers 31, 34 (shown partially only by way of example), which can however be replaced by similar reversible closures such as straps and clasps or clips or Velcro strips or even the like, are arranged such as to allow the separation of the upper wall 150 and the lower wall 152 from the side walls 40, 41, 44 and to allow the extended opening of the side walls 40, 41, 44.
Naturally, it is possible to imagine further embodiments of this backpack 10, wherein the zippers, or other reversible closures, separate two or more of the walls of the backpack itself 10 from each other during its opening step, i.e. during its step of switching to the bed-like configuration.
It is likewise easy to imagine further embodiments of this backpack 10, wherein the backpack 10 switches from a first configuration, wherein the respective walls 150, 152, 40, 41, 44 form a compartment fit to contain objects, to a second configuration which generically achieves a support for resting the body, not necessarily in the form of a bed but also for example in the form of a deckchair, chair, chaise longue, etc.
In the (second) configuration wherein the multifunctional backpack is transformed into a bed, a plurality of cushions 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 is identifiable, which cushions are preferably made of waterproof and/or insulated micro-cellular padded fabric and which as a whole form a surface fit to support at least the legs of the user in a seated position, or more in general, parts of the human body in a resting position, i.e. prone, supine or anyhow lying down or seated.
More in general, the backpack 10 comprises an upper wall 150, a lower wall 152 and side walls 40, 41, 44, at least the latter are suitable to form at least part of the surface fit to support the legs of the user in a seated position, or anyhow parts of the human body in a seated, or supine or prone, or anyhow lying down position, since said walls incorporate cushions preferably made of waterproof micro-cellular padded fabric.
In the embodiment of the backpack 10 shown herein, the backpack further comprises walls 42, 43 which are joined with other walls 41, 44 of the backpack and which, when the backpack is in its container configuration, are folded inside the compartment of such backpack 10 intended to contain objects, whereas, when the backpack 10 is in its bed-like configuration, such walls are extended to preferably form cushions for supporting the legs or other parts of the human body.
In general, the walls of the backpack 10 intended to support parts of the human body for the respective comfort are constituted by soft and insulated bodies, i.e. which are able to comfortably support such parts of the human body and to separate and/or isolate such parts of the human body from the ground. Preferably, one or more of such walls of the backpack 10 are, or anyhow incorporate and/or comprise, padded cushions, preferably with a micro-cellular padding.
Still more preferably, all the walls of the backpack 10 can de facto be padded cushions or anyhow soft mattress patches which have the function of comfortably supporting parts of the human body when the backpack 10 is in its "bed-like" configuration and simultaneously constitute, due to their anyhow reduced thickness, the walls of a container able to contain personal belongings when the multifunctional backpack 10 is actually more in its "backpack" configuration.
Alternatively, it should be noted that it is possible to implement padded cushions 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 by means of any other synthetic or natural padding contained in any casing instead of such micro-cellular padding, i.e. padding with micro-cells generally of polymer or vegetable origin and of reduced thickness, which is contained within a waterproof and/or insulating fabric. Still alternatively, such padded cushions 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 can be made by means of any padding, in particular of polymeric type, which can itself form the leaning surface of the same cushions, such as for example a closed-cell foam rubber of reduced thickness.
The aforesaid parts of the backpack 10 are connected to each other by means of zippers 31, 34 such as to configure the aforesaid backpack 10 and such as to define, in a first configuration of the aforesaid multifunctional backpack 10, the compartment fit to contain objects.
However, as mentioned previously, the zippers 31, 34 can be opened such as to separate the upper wall 150 and the lower wall 152 from the side walls 40, 41, 44 in order to make the backpack 10 assume a second configuration which achieves a bed.
In such bed-like configuration, the upper wall 150 and the lower wall 152 assume the function of side cushions 150, 152 for leaning the elbows and can also be provided with storage pockets.
Moreover, in the invention, it is possible to switch from the second bed-like configuration to a storage backpack by folding the walls of the backpack 10 and by reconnecting them to each other by means of the zippers 31, 34 to re-create the compartment fit to contain objects.
It should be noted that, although a multifunctional backpack 10 able to be transformed into a bed with side cushions 150, 152 is shown herein, any other form of bed which allows to support parts of the human body in seated or lying down position for resting the body is anyhow possible and falls within the scope of the present invention.
Always in the bed-like configuration, according to a preferred, although non essential, aspect of the invention, a backrest 50, preferably made with a metal tube frame, filled with sponge and provided with a preferably insulating and/or waterproof outer fabric, is identifiable.
The segment (element) constituting the backrest 50 is preferably placed inside the multifunctional backpack 10 and in particular, in the embodiment shown herein, it is folded and joined, thanks to for example said zippers, with the padded cushion 40 inside the compartment fit to contain objects, when such backpack 10 is in its transportable configuration and can be extracted from within such compartment of the backpack 10 during the opening step thereof (figure 3). In further embodiments of the backpack 10 or, in general, in other embodiments of the multifunctional transportable container of the present invention, the element constituting the backrest 50 can coincide with one of the upper, lower, side walls 150, 152, 40, 41, 44 defining the backpack itself 10 or generically defining the multifunctional transportable container of the present invention.
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, a shoulder rest 60 (see figure 6) provided with preferably micro-cellular padding, and a headrest 70 (figures 4, 5 and 6) also made with a metal tube frame and a padded cushion, for example with micro-cellular padding, are also provided in proximity of the upper part of the backrest 50.
As will become clearer to the Reader, in the embodiments not shown herein, it will be possible to provide for the presence of such shoulder rest 60 and/or such headrest 70 or further accessories for the comfort of the user, which are connected, combined or connectable with the walls of the backpack 10 or which are incorporated into one or more of such walls of the walls of the backpack 10.
In its back part, the bed preferably ends with a backrest stop 80, i.e. a supporting frame which, when in use, acts as a strut for the backrest 50, also preferably made with a metal tube and provided with a filling fabric, and which can also be extracted from within the compartment of the backpack 10 during the opening step thereof (figure 3).
The backrest 50 is also connected to the backrest stop 80 by means of a locking strap 160 which provides a plurality of hooks 165, or locking clasps, which act as elements for adjusting the inclination of the backrest itself 50. By essentially arranging the strap 160 like a loop and by increasing or reducing its respective "diameter," thanks to the engagement with the hooks 165, as can be understood for example by figure 4 it is possible to increase or decrease the angle present between the backrest stop 80 and the backrest 50, thus adjusting the inclination of such backrest 50 with respect to the ground.
It is naturally possible to lean the backrest 50 on the ground to substantially achieve a mat on which to lie down.
The bed can further be provided with a sunshade 90 which, in the embodiment shown herein, assumes the shape of an extensible sunshade awning, or tent, which is initially rolled-up on a respective frame and which preferably has an adjustable inclination thanks to frictional joints 95, or friction joints, placed on as many supporting bars 97 in turn connected with frictional joints 99 to the backrest stop 80.
The sunshade 90 can be supported by the element constituting the backrest 50 or can be supported by any other suitable element, i.e. for example one of the respective walls of the backpack 10.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sunshade 90 can be prolonged (extended) thanks to the presence of a roll-up sunshade curtain 100, in particular preferably made of light polyester fabric, which roll-up sunshade curtain can be fixed to the front part of the bed by means of elastic cords 110 provided in their end portion with steel hooks 120 fixed each to a respective elastic cord 110, and wherein said steel hooks 120 are configured to be engaged with respective steel rings 130 fixed to an end portion of the bed (also see figure 7 which shows a detail of figure 6).
In a folded position, the roll-up sunshade curtain 100 is conveniently contained inside a pocket 190 provided with a zipper, the aforesaid pocket 190 being able to be arranged on the sunshade 90 itself.
The bed further provides a plurality of male 170 and female 172 hooks or other reversible fastening means such as Velcro, straps and rings or even the like, which can allow to join two beds side by side such as to allow a two-people version of the bed itself.
In order to better understand the operation and structure of the invention, reference will now be made to figures 1-5 which show the opening steps of the multifunctional backpack 10 for achieving a bed.
Such steps can also be carried out inversely to fold the bed and transform it into the multifunctional backpack 10.
In particular the backpack 10, configured such as to define a compartment fit to contain objects, where said compartment is provided with an upper wall 150, a lower wall and side walls 40, 41, 44, is shown in figure 1.
The walls of the backpack 10 are connected to each other by means of zippers 31, 34 which can be opened, for example opened manually by the hiker, such as to open the aforesaid backpack to achieve a bed.
The backpack 10 further provides a couple of straps 20 which are used to wear the backpack itself on the shoulders.
A first opening step of the multifunctional backpack 10, where some zippers 31, 34 were opened to allow a first step of unrolling the elements constituting the backpack itself, is shown in figure 2.
In such step, two or more of the aforesaid upper 150, lower 152 and side 40, 41, 44 walls are separated from each other.
A second opening step of the multifunctional backpack 10, where the portion of the backpack intended to support at least the legs of the user is shown almost fully opened, is shown in figure 3, said portion being formed by a plurality of cushions 41-44.
A third opening step of the multifunctional backpack 10, wherein the portion of the backpack intended to support at least the legs of the user is shown fully opened, is visible in figure 4, and the backrest 50 is show in the opening step.
A fourth opening step of the multifunctional backpack 10, where the backrest 50 of the bed is shown, is shown in figure 5, said backrest 50 being connected to the backrest stop 80 by means of the strap 160.
The system for mounting the headrest 70, a system which relies on two supports 72 that can be slipped into special seats provided in an upper portion of the backrest 50, is also shown in figure 5.
Finally, the complete opening step of the multifunctional backpack 10 transformed into a bed is shown in figure 6.
The bed of the invention in the complete configuration with an alternative for fastening the sunshade awning, or sunshade curtain, which allows more space in the underlying part thereof, is shown in figure 8.
In particular, such fastening alternative can consist in the use of pegs 200 fixable on the ground and hookable respectively to an elastic cord 110 by means of a respective ring 210, each of the aforesaid elastic cords 110 being connected to the aforesaid sunshade curtain 110.
This way, the aforesaid roll-up sunshade curtain 100 can be secured in position by using the pegs 200 fixable to the ground.
Finally, figures 9a and 9b show two alternative possibilities for coupling two beds of the invention such as to achieve a two-people or anyhow coupled configuration.
In particular, in figure 9a the beds are arranged such as the individuals can sit opposite each other, whereas in figure 9b the beds are arranged side by side.
Obviously, modifications or improvements prescribed by contingent or particular motivations can be made to the invention as described without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Multifunctional transportable container (10) of the type comprising an upper wall (150), a lower wall (152) and side walls (40, 41, 44) and wherein two or more of the aforesaid walls of the multifunctional transportable container (10) are connected to each other by means of reversible closures (31, 34) to configure the aforesaid multifunctional transportable container (10) such as to define, in a first configuration of the aforesaid multifunctional transportable container (10), a compartment fit to contain objects, characterized in that the aforesaid reversible closures (31, 34) can be opened such as to separate two or more of the aforesaid upper (150), lower (152) and side walls (40, 41, 44) from each other, such as to make the aforesaid multifunctional transportable container (10) assume a second configuration which provides a support for resting the body, and wherein it is possible to switch from the aforesaid second configuration to the aforesaid first configuration by folding the aforesaid walls of the multifunctional transportable container (10) and by reconnecting them to each other by means of the aforesaid reversible closures (31, 34) to re-create the aforesaid compartment fit to contain objects.
Transportable container according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the aforesaid side walls (40, 41, 44) and/or of the upper and lower walls (150, 152) incorporate or comprise padded cushions and form a plurality of elements, in the configuration wherein the multifunctional transportable container is transformed into a support for resting the body, which elements as a whole form a surface fit to support at least the legs of the user in a seated or lying down position.
Transportable container according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the aforesaid upper wall (150) and the aforesaid lower wall (152), in said second configuration wherein the multifunctional transportable container is transformed into a support for resting the body, act as side cushions (150, 152) for resting the elbows and can be provided with storage pockets.
Transportable container according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an element which, in the configuration wherein the multifunction transportable container is transformed into a support for resting the body, makes up a backrest (50) which, in the opening step thereof, can be extracted from within the compartment of the multifunctional transportable container (10) or which is coincident with, or made inside, at least one of the walls of said multifunctional transportable container (10).
Transportable container according to claim 4, wherein a shoulder rest (60) and/or a headrest (70) are/is provided in the proximity of the upper part of the backrest (50).
Transportable container according to claim 4 or 5 wherein, in the configuration wherein the multifunctional container is transformed into a support for resting the body, an element which constitutes a backrest stop (80) is provided.
Transportable container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the configuration wherein the multifunctional transportable container is transformed into a support for resting the body, an element which constitutes a sunshade (90) is provided.
Transportable container according to claim 7, wherein said sunshade (90) provides an adjustable inclination.
Transportable container according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the aforesaid sunshade (90) can be extended thanks to the presence of a roll-up sunshade curtain (100) which is combined with said sunshade (90) or which constitutes said sunshade (90).
Transportable container according to claim 9, wherein the aforesaid roll-up sunshade curtain (100) can be secured in position by using pegs (200), which can be fixed to the ground and hooked, by means of a respective ring (210), to a respective elastic cord (110), each of the aforesaid elastic cords (110) being connected to the aforesaid sunshade curtain (110).
Transportable container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of male (170) and female (172) hooks, or of other reversible fastening means, is provided to allow to join two supports for resting the body side by side, such as to create a two-people version.
Multifunctional transportable container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it is selected between a backpack, a shoulder bag, a bag.
Multifunctional transportable container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aforesaid reversible closures comprise at least one zipper.
Multifunctional transportable container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the aforesaid support for resting the body is selected between a bed, a small armchair, a chair and a deckchair.