Backpack with detachable wheels

This invention relates to a backpack provided with wheels for ease of transportation. Backpacks normally containing multiple school books and other school supplies are relatively heavy and difficult for young people to safely carry on their back. The wheels are preferably secured to an assembly which is readily detachably secured to the backpack.

The invention relates to bags and more particularly backpacks having one or more storage areas. The backpacks preferably include straps which can be placed over a person\'s shoulders and allow the backpack to be carried on the person\'s back. The development of luggage for the frequent traveler has resulted in the provision of wheels on the luggage to permit the traveler to wheel the luggage which is too heavy to carry.

Recently there has been an increase of injuries to school age individuals as a result of carrying heavy backpacks on their backs to and from school. Many young people do not know how to properly carry heavy loads and as a result sustain injuries from carrying heavy backpacks. Therefore there exists a need for another type of backpack to transport heavy loads such as books without injury to an individual.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,447 (McDermott) discloses a portable, expandable locker including detachable shoulder straps, wheels, a handle, a detachable compartment and an expandable compartment. The intended purpose of the device is the storage of books and school supplies. A base member 15 is secured to the lower portion of the expandable locker by expandable sleeve and zipper. When additional space is required within the portable locker, the base member is unzipped from the lower portion of the locker and sleeve expands to provide the additional space, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Straps are employed to permit an individual to carry the locker as a backpack. Although the base member can be removably secured to a lower portion of the locker, there is no disclosure that it can be completely detached therefrom and stored in a separate compartment of the locker.

U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2004/0238303 (Hafif) discloses a combination backpack and wheeled frame. Fasteners attach the respectively top and bottom portions of the backpack to the frame. A flap is permanently secured to the backpack at one end thereof and removable secured to the backpack with snaps, etc. at the opposite end. Flap 16 helps to secure the backpack to the frame. The wheels and frame are removable attached to the backpack and can be carried in one of the compartments.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,395 (Lim et al.) discloses a backpack which allows a user to carry the backpack on his/her shoulders or, if desired, to transport the backpack in a wheeled fashion. The backpack includes a base member 12 which has a sliding front portion. A backpack is mounted on the base member. The backpack is compressible and expandable. In a compressed state, the base member and backpack are almost half their expanded size so that the structure may be conveniently stored in compact locations. Actuator mechanisms are conveniently located on the base member to allow a user to quickly and easily release the sliding portion and backpack for expansion. The base member is permanently attached to the backpack. There is no mechanism to readily detach and reattach the base member to the backpack.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,684 (Oh) discloses luggage which can be readily converted from a wheeled suitcase to a backpack. The suitcase includes a base having wheels 100 mounted thereon. A frame is secured to a compartment affixed to a rear portion of the suitcase. An extendable handle is secured to the frame. The handle is used whenever the suitcase is wheeled around. A pair of shoulder straps are secured to the outside of the compartment. The shoulder straps are utilized wherever the suitcase is to be carried as a backpack. A cover is removably secured to the outside of the compartment. The cover secures the shoulder straps when they are not being used. The base and wheels are not readily detachable and attachable from the backpack.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,503 (Wulf et al.) discloses luggage similar to U.S. Pat. No. 6,742,684. A suitcase is provided with wheels on a lower portion thereof. An extendable and retractable handle is secured to a compartment 16 which is secured to the suitcase. The handle 68 is utilized whenever the suitcase is wheeled around. The compartment 16 also includes a pair of shoulder straps. These straps are employed whenever the suitcase is carried as a backpack. The straps are stored in compartment 16 when they are not in use. The base and wheels are not readily detachable and attachable to the suitcase.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,286 (Song) discloses a backpack which is provided with wheels so that the backpack can be readily pulled along whenever it is too heavy to carry on a person. A handle is provided to assist in pulling the wheeled backpack. A base member is attached to a lower portion of the backpack. The base member includes means to mount wheels thereon. However, the base member and wheels are not readily detachable and attachable to the backpack.

U.S. Published Patent Application No. 2004/0195791 (Brooks-Inglis) discloses a wheeled backpack particularly for use by small children at school and other educational facilities. The backpack includes a front side, an opposing rear side, a bottom surface, two opposing sides, and an inner compartment within which items may be carried. Shoulder straps are attached to the bag\'s rear side. A handle is secured to the rear side of the backpack and used when the backpack is pulled along on the wheels. The wheel assembly includes a pair of detachable wheels mounted on an axel. The axel is secured to the backpack at a lower portion thereof. While the wheels are detachable from the backpack the axel and base on which the axel is mounted is not removable from the backpack.

The present invention relates to backpacks, particularly for use by children and young adults. The backpacks are normally used to transport books and other educational materials to and from educational facilities, such as schools. A plurality of wheels are secured to the bottom or lower portion of the backpack. In a preferred embodiment, the wheels are attached to a frame which is attachable to and removable from the backpack. The wheels and frame are stored on the backpack when not in use, such as when the child is in school. The wheels permit the backpack to be rolled behind a user rather than be carried by the user on their back. Rolling of the backpack avoids physical injuries resulting from carrying the backpacks on the user\'s back.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the instant invention to provide a backpack that can be readily transported by rolling along a surface or the ground rather than being carried on a user\'s back.

It is a further objective of the instant invention to provide a backpack including a plurality of wheels to facilitate transportation of the backpack.

It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide a backpack which includes a plurality of readily removable and attachable wheels. The wheels can be readily removed and attached by young children.

It is yet a further objective of the invention to provide a backpack including a plurality of readily removable wheels and a storage device for the wheels on the backpack.

It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a backpack with a handle to facilitate rolling of the backpack along a surface.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.