They Invented What? (No. 152)

U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,931:  Halloween backpack.

JMW Note:  Wishing all a Happy and Safe Halloween 2009!

 

What is claimed is:

1. A Halloween backpack for a child comprising:
          a hollow container having an outer surface, said hollow container adapted to be worn as a backpack on the back of a child, 
         means for releasable mounting of said hollow container on said back of said child,
         a hollow chute mounted onto said hollow container, said chute defining a passageway along said chute between a frontal chute opening in said chute and an aperture into said hollow container thereby forming a cooperating passageway between said frontal opening and a holding cavity in said hollow container, said chute opening, said passageway, and said aperture sized to accept Halloween treats said chute being formed of a shape retaining material such that the shape of said frontal chute opening remains constant,
          said chute extending upwardly of said hollow container so as to extend above a shoulder of said child when said child is wearing said hollow container as a backpack,
          said chute shaped to present said frontal chute opening for access from a frontal position facing the front of said child whereby a Halloween treat may be deposited into said hollow chute from said frontal position or by said child.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said passageway forms a curved passageway over said shoulder, said frontal chute opening is generally vertical and adjacent the head of said child, and said means for releasable mounting of said hollow container on said back of said child are straps.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising mounting means for mounting a light source or light reflective device onto said outer surface of said hollow container.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a fanciful cover, mounted onto said outer surface of said hollow container and said chute.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said fanciful cover is, in part, shaped to simulate a head of an animal when mounted over said chute, a mouth of said animal corresponding to said frontal chute opening.

6. A Halloween backpack for a child comprising:

a hollow container having an outer surface, said hollow container adapted to be worn as a backpack on the back of a child,

means for releasable mounting of said hollow container on said back of said child,

a hollow chute formed as part of an upper surface of said hollow container, said chute defining, a passageway alone said chute between a frontal chute opening in said chute and a holding cavity in said hollow container, said chute opening, and said passageway, sized to accept Halloween treats said chute being formed of a shape retaining material such that the shape and size of said frontal chute opening remains constant,

said chute extending upwardly of said hollow container so as to extend above a shoulder of said child when said child is wearing said hollow container as a backpack,

said chute shaped to present said frontal chute opening for access from a frontal position facing the front of said child whereby a Halloween treat may be deposited into said hollow chute from said frontal position or by said child.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said passageway forms a curved passageway over said shoulder, said frontal chute opening is generally vertical and adjacent the head of said child, and said means for releasable mounting of said hollow container on said back of said child are straps.

8. The device of claim 7 further comprising mounting means for mounting a light source or light reflective device onto said outer surface of said hollow container.

9. The device of claim 6 further comprising a fanciful cover, mounted onto said outer surface of said hollow container and said chute.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said fanciful cover is, in part, shaped to simulate a head of an animal when mounted over said chute, a mouth of said animal corresponding to said