A backpack with a built-in shield to defend against bear attacks.

Abstract

This invention provides a technique for protecting the back of the head and back of the neck from bear attacks when taking a defensive posture in the event of encountering a bear. [Solution] The backpack 100 mainly comprises a storage compartment 110 having a hollow space for storing contents, a shoulder belt 120, a shield mechanism 130 that functions as a lid covering the storage compartment 110, and a locking mechanism 150 that secures one end of the shield mechanism 130 to the storage compartment 110. When the user is in a defensive posture and the shield mechanism 130 changes from a locked shape to a guard shape, the user's back of the head and back of the neck are covered from above by the shield flap 132 of the shield mechanism 130.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a backpack incorporating a shield for defending against bear attacks.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a bear repellent protective suit that can protect the body and repel bears when attacked by bears. The bear repellent protective suit includes a protective cloth sandwiched between a surface cloth and a back cloth. The protective cloth includes a chemical-containing layer capable of releasing a chemical for repelling bears and a protective layer for physically protecting the body from bear attacks. When a strong force is applied to a person's body by a bear attack, the chemical is released due to physical damage to the chemical-containing layer, so the bear can be dispersed. In addition, since the protective layer alleviates the impact on the human body, it is effective in protecting the human body from bear attacks.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The bear-repellent protective suit described in Patent Document 1 combines the functions of repelling bears and mitigating the impact of bear attacks on the human body to protect it. However, since the bear-repellent protective suit described in Patent Document 1 is intended to be worn as clothing such as a vest or trousers, such protective suits cannot protect the head. When attacking, bears often stand on their hind legs and attack humans with the sharp claws of their forelegs and powerful bites. For example, when an Asiatic black bear assumes such an attacking posture, the human head and face are at the same height as the bear's forelimbs and mouth. Therefore, it is known that in most cases of bear attacks by Asiatic black bears, fatal injuries are sustained to the face or head. Furthermore, from the perspective of animal behavior, large mammals, including bears, tend to instinctively target the face and head, which are vulnerable points of their opponents. In particular, the face contains a concentration of vital organs essential for survival, such as sight, smell, and the respiratory system. Bears instinctively understand that attacking this area will quickly neutralize their opponent's resistance, and it is believed that they intentionally target this area.

[0005] Therefore, if you encounter a bear and are unable to escape, it is recommended to assume a defensive posture by lying face down, protecting your face and abdomen, and reaching your hands behind your neck to protect the back of your head and neck (see Figure 9). However, even in this defensive posture, simply covering the back of your head and neck with both hands is not sufficient to protect these areas, and if the bear continues to attack, you may suffer fatal injuries.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a technology for protecting the back of the head and the back of the neck from bear attacks when taking a defensive posture in the event of encountering a bear. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, a storage compartment having a back surface that contacts the user's back and a front surface opposite to the back surface, and having a hollow space inside, The shoulder strap located on the back of the storage compartment, A shield mechanism configured to be movable between a first position overlapping with the front surface of the housing and a second position where the overlap with the front surface is smaller than that of the first position and protrudes above the upper end of the housing, A locking mechanism that locks the shield mechanism to the housing when the shield is in the first position, The system includes a biasing mechanism that biases the shield mechanism from the first position toward the second position when the lock mechanism is released, A backpack is provided, characterized in that when the user lies face down with the storage unit on their back such that the back of the storage unit abuts against the user's back, and the shield mechanism moves to the second position, the shield mechanism is configured to cover the user's back of the head and back of the neck. The shield has a flexible plate-shaped shield flap, When the shield is in the first position, the shield flap covers the opening of the space in the housing, and when the user lies face down with the housing on their back so that the back of the housing is in contact with the user's back, and the shield moves to the second position, the shield flap is configured to open the opening of the space and cover the user's head. Alternatively, the shield has a plate-shaped shield plate configured to slide relative to the housing, and when the user lies face down with the housing on their back so that the back of the housing is in contact with the user's back, and the shield moves to the second position, the shield plate is configured to cover the user's head. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the above configuration, when the user is lying face down in a defensive posture and the shield mechanism moves from the first position to the second position, the user's head and neck are covered from above by the shield mechanism. As a result, the shield mechanism can function as a shield to protect the back of the head and neck from attacks by a bear's claws or bite when the user is in a defensive posture. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a backpack 100 with a built-in defensive shield is worn. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the backpack 100 as viewed from the rear. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the state in which the shield mechanism 130 is in a guard shape. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the state when the user is in a defensive posture and the shield mechanism 130 is in a guard shape. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the sliding shield mechanism 230. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the state in which the user is in a defensive posture and the shield plate 232 is in the guard position. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a backpack 100 equipped with a speaker 310 as an example of a deterrent component. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a backpack 100 equipped with a spray mechanism 320 as an example of a repellent component. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a defensive posture in which the person lies face down, protecting their face and abdomen, while also protecting the back of their neck by placing their hands behind it. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] A backpack 100 incorporating a defensive shield, according to an embodiment of the present invention, will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the external appearance of the backpack 100.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the backpack 100 mainly comprises a storage compartment 110 having a hollow space for storing contents, a shoulder strap 120, a shield mechanism 130 that functions as a lid covering the storage compartment 110, and a locking mechanism 150 that secures one end of the shield mechanism 130 to the storage compartment 110. In this specification, of the outer surfaces of the storage compartment 110, the side that comes into contact with the user's back when the backpack 100 is worn is called the back 111 (see Figure 2), and the side opposite to the back 111 is called the front 112. Also, as shown in Figure 1, the direction from the front 112 toward the back 111 is defined as the front-to-back direction. Furthermore, the up-and-down direction is defined based on the state in which the backpack 100 is worn.

[0012] The storage part 110 is a rectangular box-shaped member with a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped internal space S (see FIG. 3) formed inside. Various luggage are stored in the internal space S of the storage part 110. For example, when going mountain vegetable picking, luggage such as a bento box, a water bottle, and picked mountain vegetables can be stored in the storage part. As a result, the user does not need to carry the luggage in their hands, so both hands can be free.

[0013] The shoulder belt 120 functions as a shoulder strap for carrying the storage part 110. The shoulder belt 120 is two loop-shaped belts attached to the back surface 111 of the storage part 110.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, the shoulder belt 120 is provided with a chest strap 121 that connects the two belts. The chest strap 121 is provided with a buckle 122. After the user puts on the backpack 100, by closing the buckle 122, the chest strap 121 can fix the two shoulder belts 120 in front of the chest. The chest strap 121 is an auxiliary belt that prevents the shoulder belts 120 of the backpack 100 from spreading too much, and can keep the positions of the shoulder belts 120 of the backpack 100 in a fixed position. As a result, when carrying the backpack 100, the weight can be dispersed, and the fatigue of the user can be reduced. As will be described later, in the present embodiment, the chest strap 121 functions as a safety device for locking so that the shield mechanism 130 does not move to the guard shape (see FIG. 3) when the user is not carrying the backpack 100. Although not shown, a waist belt may be provided instead of the chest strap 121 or in addition to the chest strap 121.

[0015] The shield mechanism 130 is a lid member attached to the front side of the housing portion 110. The shield mechanism 130 can be changed into the lock shape shown in FIG. 1 and the guard shape shown in FIG. 3. The position of the shield mechanism 130 in the lock shape is an example of the first position of the present invention, and the position of the shield mechanism 130 in the guard shape is an example of the second position of the present invention. The shield mechanism 130 includes a shield flap 132 having a substantially rectangular shape, leaf spring portions 134 joined to both the left and right sides of the shield flap 132, and a pair of handles 136 provided on both the left and right sides of the shield flap 132, respectively. As will be described later, the handle 136 functions as a grip. The leaf spring portion 134 is an example of the biasing mechanism of the present invention.

[0016] In the lock shape, the shield flap 132 covers the upper opening of the housing portion 110, and the tip portion of the shield flap 132 is parallel to the front surface 112 (see FIG. 3) of the housing portion 110. On the other hand, in the guard shape, the shield flap 132 springs upward so as to open the upper opening of the housing portion 110, and the tip portion of the shield flap 132 is curved so as to face rearward.

[0017] As described later, the shield flap 132 functions as a shield to protect the back of the head and neck from attacks by a bear's claws or bite when the user takes a defensive posture. The shield flap 132 is preferably made of a material with excellent impact resistance, such as metal or polycarbonate, so that it can function as a shield to protect oneself. The shield flap 132 is preferably flexible because it deforms in accordance with the deformation of the leaf spring portion 134, as described later. The shield flap 132 does not necessarily have to be made of a single plate-shaped member; for example, it may be a curtain-like member made by connecting long, narrow strip-shaped members, or a member like chainmail made by linking together fine chains. The leaf spring portion 134 is preferably a long, rectangular plate made of a shape memory alloy that has the property of returning to its original shape when the force is removed even after being subjected to a large deformation (so-called superelasticity).

[0018] The leaf spring portion 134 is attached to the shield flap 132 so that the shield flap 132 and the leaf spring portion 134 are curved together. When no external force is applied to the leaf spring portion 134, it has a curved shape with its tip pointing backward. Therefore, as will be described later, when the lock mechanism 150 is released, the force on the leaf spring portion 134 disappears, and the leaf spring portion 134 tries to return to its curved shape with its tip pointing backward. Consequently, the shield flap 132 to which the leaf spring portion 134 is attached also changes to a curved shape with its tip pointing backward.

[0019] The locking mechanism 150 is a known solenoid locking mechanism. The lock can be released by pressing a remote control button (not shown). The locking mechanism 150 and the remote control button can be connected by wire or wireless. When the user locks the shielding mechanism 130 with the locking mechanism 150 while the shielding mechanism 130 is in the locked position, one end of the shielding mechanism 130 is fixed to the housing 110. Conversely, when the user releases the lock by the locking mechanism 150 by operating the remote control button, the shielding mechanism 130 changes from the locked position (see Figure 1) to the guard position (see Figure 3).

[0020] Furthermore, a safety device may be provided to prevent, for example, the lock mechanism 150 from unintentionally disengaging when the user is not wearing the backpack 100, causing the shield mechanism 130 to change from a locked shape to a guard shape. For example, a sensor may be attached to the buckle 122 of the chest strap 121 so that the lock can be released by a remote control button only when the buckle 122 is closed. Alternatively, if the backpack 100 is equipped with a waist belt, a similar sensor may be attached to the buckle of the waist belt so that the lock can be released by a remote control button only when the buckle of the waist belt is closed.

[0021] As shown in Figure 4, when the shield mechanism 130 changes from a locked shape to a guard shape while the user is in a defensive posture, the user's head is covered from above by the shield flap 132 of the shield mechanism 130. At this time, the user can prevent the shield flap 132 from separating from the user's head by gripping the handle 136 provided on the shield flap 132. This allows the user to more reliably protect their head with the shield flap 132 while maintaining a defensive posture. In addition, the user's hand gripping the handle 136 can also be protected by the shield flap 132. Although not shown in Figure 4, when the shield mechanism 130 changes from a locked shape to a guard shape, an inner lid may be provided to cover the opening to prevent items stored in the storage section 110 from flying out of the opening.

[0022] Furthermore, if the shield mechanism 130 changes from a locked shape to a guard shape, the side of the shield flap 132 closest to the head may come into contact with the head. Therefore, it is preferable that the side of the shield flap 132 closest to the head be provided with a cushioning material to mitigate the impact when it comes into contact with the head.

[0023] Next, we will explain how to use the Backpack 100 in the event of a bear encounter. When encountering a bear, it is best to avoid provoking the bear and slowly create distance while facing it directly. However, if you unexpectedly encounter a bear at close range, or if you encounter a mother bear with cubs, the excited bear may attack. In such cases, if it is difficult to escape, it is best to assume a defensive posture by lying face down, protecting your face and abdomen, and putting your hands behind your neck for protection.

[0024] A user wearing the backpack 100 immediately unlocks the locking mechanism 150 by pressing a remote control button (not shown) after assuming a defensive posture. As the force on the leaf spring portion 134 is released, the shield mechanism 130 changes to a guard shape as the leaf spring portion 134 attempts to return to its original shape. As a result, the user's head is covered from above by the shield flap 132 of the shield mechanism 130. Furthermore, by gripping the handle 136, the shield flap 132 can be securely placed over the user's head. This protects the user's head (especially the back of the head and back of the neck) with the shield flap 132. The user's hands gripping the handle 136 are also protected by the shield flap 132.

[0025] In this embodiment, the shield flap 132 is made of a material with excellent impact resistance, such as metal or polycarbonate. Therefore, by using the shield flap 132 to protect the back of the head and back of the neck, damage from a bear attack can be significantly reduced compared to simply taking a defensive posture by covering the back of the head and back of the neck with bare hands (see Figure 9).

[0026] <Change form> The embodiments described above are merely illustrative and can be modified as appropriate. For example, in the above embodiment, a leaf spring portion 134 was attached to the shield flap 132. When the lock mechanism 150 was released, the restoring force of the leaf spring portion 134 returning to its original shape was used to deform the shield mechanism 130 from a locked shape to a guard shape. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, although the leaf spring portion 134 was a long rectangular plate, it may be replaced with, for example, a wire-shaped member made of a shape memory alloy. Alternatively, instead of the shield mechanism 130 of the above embodiment, a sliding shield mechanism 230 as shown in Figure 5 may be provided.

[0027] The shielding mechanism 230 comprises a shield plate 232 and a biasing part 234 that applies a biasing force to the shield plate 232. An elastic body such as a spring can be used as the biasing part 234. The shield plate 232 is a plate material having a U-shaped cross-section that covers the front and sides of the housing 110. Rails (not shown) are provided on the sides of the housing 110, and the shield plate 232 slides along the rails on the sides of the housing 110. In detail, the shield plate 232 slides between a locked position that is almost identical to the housing 110 and a shield position that protrudes upward from the housing 110. The shield plate 232 is constantly biased toward the shield position by the biasing part 234, such as a spring. The user can fix the shield plate 232 in the shield position by moving the shield plate 232 to the locked position against the biasing force of the biasing part 234 and then locking it with the locking mechanism 150. In contrast, if the user operates the remote control button to release the lock mechanism 150, the shield plate 232 slides from the guard position to the locked position due to the biasing force of the biasing unit 234.

[0028] Similar to the above embodiment, when the shield plate 232 changes from the locked position to the guard position while the user is in a defensive posture, the user's head is covered from above by the shield plate 232 (see Figure 6). Unlike the shield flap 132 in the above embodiment, the shield plate 232 does not necessarily have to be flexible. Therefore, a very hard material such as a ceramic plate can be used as the shield plate 232, thereby reducing damage from attacks by bears. Similar to the shield mechanism 130, when the shield plate 232 moves from the locked position to the guard position, the side of the shield plate 232 closest to the head may come into contact with the head. Therefore, it is preferable that the side of the shield plate 232 closest to the head be provided with a cushioning material to mitigate the impact when it comes into contact with the head. Also, the shield plate 232 can be provided with a handle 136, similar to the shield flap 132. In this case as well, the user can grip the handle 136 to ensure that the shield plate 232 reliably covers the user's head. Furthermore, the user's hand gripping the handle 136 can also be protected by the shield plate 232.

[0029] In the above embodiment, the backpack 100 was provided with a shield mechanism 130 or a shield mechanism 230 to reduce damage from bear attacks. In addition to these shielding members, a deterrent member may be provided to intimidate bears and make them leave the area. In the following description, the case in which the backpack 100 has a shield mechanism 130 will be used as an example, but it goes without saying that the same applies to the case in which the backpack 100 has a shield mechanism 230.

[0030] As shown in Figure 7, a speaker 310 may be provided in the storage compartment 110 of the backpack 100 as an example of a deterrent. When the shield mechanism 130 changes from a locked shape to a guard shape, the speaker 310 is exposed to the outside. In this state, a loud sound can be emitted from the speaker 310 to intimidate bears. Bears are naturally timid animals, and if they hear a loud noise unexpectedly, they are likely to sense something is wrong and leave the area.

[0031] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 8, a spray mechanism 320 for spraying a repellent may be provided on the front surface 112 of the storage compartment 110 of the backpack 100, as an example of a repellent member. When the shield mechanism 130 changes from a locked shape to a guard shape, the spray mechanism 320 is exposed to the outside. The spray mechanism 320 can spray a liquid that emits a pungent odor that bears dislike (for example, a liquid containing capsaicin or wood vinegar) in a mist form as a repellent. Since bears have a sharper sense of smell than dogs, it is thought that spraying a repellent towards a bear, taking advantage of this keen sense of smell, would be effective in making the bear leave the area.

[0032] In the embodiments and modifications described above, the locking mechanism 150 was a solenoid locking mechanism, but the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. Known locking mechanisms (for example, push locks, locking mechanisms using locking pins, etc.) can be used as appropriate.

[0033] In the embodiments and modifications described above, the locking mechanism 150 was configured to be unlocked by a remote control button connected wirelessly or via a wire. However, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. For example, the backpack 100 may be equipped with various sensors such as an angle sensor and an acceleration sensor so that it can be determined whether the user has assumed a defensive posture. The system may be configured to unlock the backpack when it is determined, based on the signals from the sensors, that the user has assumed a defensive posture.

[0034] Although embodiments and modified versions of the invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described above. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is also clear from the claims that such modified or improved forms may be included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 100 Backpacks 110 Storage Unit 120 Shoulder Strap 130, 230 Shielding mechanism 150 Locking Mechanism

Claims

1. A storage compartment having a back that contacts the user's back and a front opposite to the back, with a hollow space provided inside, The shoulder strap located on the back of the storage compartment, A shield mechanism configured to be movable between a first position overlapping with the front surface of the housing and a second position where the overlap with the front surface is smaller than that of the first position and protrudes above the upper end of the housing, A locking mechanism that locks the shield to the housing when the shield is in the first position, The locking mechanism includes a biasing mechanism that biases the shield from a first position toward a second position when the lock of the locking mechanism is released, When the user lies face down with the storage unit on their back so that the back of the storage unit is in contact with the user's back, and the shield moves to the second position, the shield is configured to cover the back of the user's head and neck. The shield has a flexible plate-shaped shield flap, When the shield is in the first position, the shield flap covers the opening of the space in the housing. A backpack characterized in that, when the user lies face down with the storage unit on their back so that the back of the storage unit is in contact with the user's back, and the shield moves to the second position, the shield flap is configured to open the opening in the space and cover the user's head.

2. A storage compartment having a back surface that contacts the user's back and a front surface opposite to the back surface, and having a hollow space inside, The shoulder strap located on the back of the storage compartment, A shield mechanism configured to be movable between a first position overlapping with the front surface of the housing and a second position where the overlap with the front surface is smaller than that of the first position and protrudes above the upper end of the housing, A locking mechanism that locks the shield to the housing when the shield is in the first position, The locking mechanism includes a biasing mechanism that biases the shield from a first position toward a second position when the lock of the locking mechanism is released, When the user lies face down with the storage unit on their back so that the back of the storage unit is in contact with the user's back, and the shield moves to the second position, the shield is configured to cover the back of the user's head and neck. The shield has a plate-shaped shield plate configured to slide relative to the housing portion, A backpack characterized in that when the user lies face down with the storage unit on their back so that the back of the storage unit is in contact with the user's back, and the shield moves to the second position, the shield plate is configured to cover the user's head.

3. The backpack according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a speaker disposed in the storage compartment.

4. The backpack according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a spray mechanism for spraying a repellent, which is located on the front surface of the storage compartment.

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