Modular backpack

A backpack including a pair of side rails, support members fastened to said side rails, a carry bag fastened to said side rails, shoulder straps including fastening means fastened to at least one of said support members, and waistband members including fastening means for fastening said waistband members to one of said support members, said waistband members also including means for fastening said waistband members around a wearer's waist;

• characterized in that said support members comprise a plurality of separate molded plastic members secured to said side rails, at least part of said plastic members including ports for receiving said fastening means;
• and
• wherein said shoulder straps are fastened to ports in one of said molded plastic members, another of said molded plastic members is fastened to the lower ends of said rails and includes forwardly extending flanges, and adjustable stabilizing straps are connected between said shoulder straps and said flanges.

A backpack including a pair of side rails, support members fastened to said side rails, a carry bag fastened to said side rails, shoulder straps including fastening means fastened to at least one of said support members, and waistband members including fastening means for fastening said waistband members to one of said support members, said waistband members also including means for fastening said waistband members around a wearer's waist;

• characterized in that said support members comprise a plurality of separate molded plastic members secured to said side rails, at least part of said plastic members including ports for receiving said fastening means;
• and
• wherein a separate backpad is included comprising a heavy fabric panel, a plurality of polyfoam pads and a cover of stretch fabric molded together as a unit, and straps are attached at the back of said backpad for connecting said backpad between ports on two separate molded plastic members.

A backpack including a pair of side rails, support members fastened to said side rails, a carry bag fastened to said side rails, shoulder straps including fastening means fastened to at least one of said support members, and waistband members including fastening means for fastening said waistband members to one of said support members, said waistband members also including means for fastening said waistband members around a wearer's waist;

• characterized in that said support members comprise a plurality of separate molded plastic members secured to said side rails, at least part of said plastic members including ports for receiving said fastening means;
• and
• wherein one of said molded plastic members includes a first pair of fasteners fastening said molded plastic member to said rails, a second pair of fasteners fastening said member to said rails significantly below said first pair of fasteners and a flexible downwardly and rearwardly depending panel extending below said second pair of fasteners.

A backpack including a pair of side rails, support members fastened to said side rails, a carry bag fastened to said side rails, shoulder straps including fastening means fastened to at least one of said support members, and waistband members including fastening means for fastening said waistband members to one of said support members, said waistband members also including means for fastening said waistband members around a wearer's waist;

• characterized in that said support members comprise a plurality of separate molded plastic members secured to said side rails, at least part of said plastic members including ports for receiving said fastening means;
• and
• wherein one of said molded plastic members includes a flexible downwardly depending portion which is flexible in both back and forward directions and also in a twisting mode.