Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02246185 1998-09-01
A~omey DocketNo.
767/35780 Case 63-Canada
TRAVF,I, BAG
Inventors
Douglas J. Golenz
13684 W. Arnherst Place
Lakewood, Colorado 80228
Thomas J. Melk
860 West Evergreen Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60622
A citizen of the United States of America
Barl~round
The present invention relates generally to travel bags, and relates more
specifically to a novel travel bag having a pluralit:y of compartments.
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TReXLeR, BUSHNeLI" GIANGIORGI & 13LA( KSTONe, LTD
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Some travel bags provide only a single compartment. While this
arrangement provides that all the items placed in the travel bag can be located by
searching in the only compartment, this arrangement does not readily provide that
certain items can be kept separate from others. For example, a travel bag havingonly one compartment typically does not readily provide that food, for example,
can be kept separate from other items carried by the travel bag. It is often
advantageous to keep certain articles such as food articles isolated from other
articles.
While some travel bags provide more than one compartment for placing
items therein, and therefore provide that certain items may be kept separate from
certain other items. Some of the travel bags which provide as such provide a
main compartment and one or more sub-compartments therein. Such an
arrangement provides that one must enter the main compartment to access a sub-
compartment. Hence, one may have to move items in the main compartment out
of the way of an opening into a sub-compartment in order to have access into thesub-compartment. Additionally, it is possible that if an item is dropped as it is
being removed from a sub compartment, the item will drop into the main
compartment. In this man ner, items in the sub-compartment may contact items in
the main compartment.
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The present invention is directed to solving, among others, the problems
described above.
Objects and Summary
A general object of the present invention is to provide a bag having a
plurality of separate compartments for holding items therein.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bag having a
plurality of separate compartments for holding items where the bag is easy to use.
Briefly, and in accordance with the above, the present invention envisions
a bag for holding items. The bag includes a primary compartment and first and
second supplemental compartments separate from and external to the primary
compartment. The primary compartment is defined by a bottom wall, at least
one side wall and a top wall. The side wall is connected to the bottom wall, andthe top wall is connected to the side wall. The top wall, side wall and bottom
wall define the primary compartment. The primary compartment has an opening
formed thereon for providing access thereinto and providing that one or more
items can be placed in the compartment. The supplemental compartments are
connected to an external surface of the side wall of the primary compartment.
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Each of the supplemental c ompartments is defined by at least one side wall, a
bottom wall, and an external surface of a front portion of the side wall of the
primary compartment. The side walls of the supplemental compartments are
connected to the front portion and to the external surface of the side wall of the
primary compartment. The bottom wall of each supplemental compartment is
generally connected at least proximate to the front portion of the side wall of the
primary compartment and to the side wall of each of the supplemental
compartments. At least one of the bottom wall and side wall of each of the
supplemental compartments includes an opening for providing access therein.
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Brief Description of the I)raw;n~
The org~ni~tion and manner ofthe structure and function ofthe
invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be
understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements,
and in which:
Fig. 1 is a top, left side, perspective view of' a bag in accordance
with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top, right side, perspective view of the bag illustrated in
Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the bag illustrated in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the bag illustrated in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a left side elevational view of the bag illustrated in Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is a right side elevational view of the bag illustrated in Fig. 1;
Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the bag illustrated in Fig. 1;
Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the bag illustrated in Fig. 1; and
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Fig. 9 is a top, left side, persepctive view of the bag illustrated in
Fig. 1 showing a front flap displaced to reveal two supplemental compartments
thereof.
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De~cription
While the present invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different
forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, an
embodiment with the understanding that the present description is to be
considered an exemplifical:ion of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein.
Shown in the drawings is a bag l O in accordance with the present
invention. The bag 1() is specifically designed for holding one or more items
therein. The bag 10 includes a primary compartment 12 and a first and
supplemental compartment 14, 16 connected to, but separate from and external
to, the primary compartment 12. This configuration provides that one may access
one compartment without having to enter another and provides that items placed
in one compartment can be easily kept separate from those contained in another.
The primary compartment 12 ofthe bag 10 is defined by a top wall 18
connected to side walls 20. 22, 24 and 26 (side walls 20 and 22 can be seen in
Figs. 1, 5 and 9 while side walls 24 and 26 can be seen in Figs. 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8),
where the side walls 20, 22, 24 and 26 are connected to a bottom wall 28 (bottomwall 28 can be seen in Fig. 8). Side wall 20 is gellerally parallel to and is
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opposite side wall 24. and side wall 22 is general~y parallel to and opposite side
wall 26. Side wall 24 defines a rear portion 30 oJ the bag 10 as well as the rear of
the primary compartnlent 12. Side wall 20 defines a front portion 32 ofthe bag
10 as well as the front of the primary compartment. Preferably, carrying straps 33
S (only a portion of which is shown in the Figures) are provided attached to the side
walls 22 and 26 of the prinnary compartment 12 for facilitating transport of thebag 10. Additionally, preferably the shape and size ofthe side walls 20, 22, 24
and 26 provide that the primary compartment 12 is shaped generally as a
rectanguloid which provides ample space for storlng items therein.
It is also preferred that the primary compartment 12 of the bag 10 be
generally thermally insulated. To this end, it is preferable that the internal surface
of each of the walls defining the primary compartment 12 is formed of a
generally thermal insulating material. It is also preferred that the primary
compartment 12 ofthe bag 10 protect any items placed therein. Therefore, it is
preferred that the internal surfaces of the walls defining the primary compartment
are also shock absorbing to at least some extent. However, it is also preferred
that the bag 10 be compressible such that it can be fit into tight places such as
into a loaded trunk of a car. Therefore, the walls forming the primary
compartment are preferably flexible to allow for the general compression of the
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bag 10. An external surface of the walls defining the primary compartment 12
are preferably formed of a durable material such as a nylon material.
Notwithstanding the preferred structure of the walls defing the primary
compartment 12, the specif1c structure of each of the walls is not imperative tothe present invention. For example, a single wall structure can define the top and
sides of the primary compartment 12. Additionally, the side walls 20, 22, 24 and26 of the primary compartment 12 may be formed of a single wall structure. Of
course, other alternatives are possible, and these would be readily understood by
one having ordinary skill in the art.
Items can be placed into the primary comp;3rtment 12 of the bag 10 via an
opening 34 formed in the top wall 18 and partially down the side walls 22 and 26of the primary compartment 12. Preferably, a zipper 36 or some other means is
provided in association with the opening 34 so that the opening 34 can be closedor sealed, and so accidental re-opening or unsealing of the opening 34 is
prevented.
The external surface of side wall 24, as mentioned above, defines the rear
portion 30 of the bag l O. As shown most clearly ln Fig. 4, preferably on the
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external surface of the side wall 24 is a pocket 38 defined by a panel 40 attached
to the wall 24. Specifically, side edges 42 of the panel 40 are attached to the
intersection of the wall 24 with each of the adjacent walls 22 and 26. A bottom
edge 44 of the panel 40 is attached to the intersection of wall 24 with the bottom
wall 28. A top edge 46 of the panel 40 is unattached to the wall 24 thereby
providing an opening 47 into the pocket 38. Preferably, the panel 40 is formed of
a durable material such as nylon and is attached via stitching or some other
suitable means to the external surface of wall 24.
As mentioned, and as is clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 9, attached to the
front portion 32 of the bag 10 are two supplemental compartments 14 and 16.
More specifically, each supplemental compartment is attached to an external
surfàce of wall 20 of the primary compartment 12. Supplemental compartment
14 is formed of a front wall 48, a top wall 50, a bottom wall 52 and two opposing
side walls 54 and 56. Side wall 54 is attached to the external surface of wall 20
and to the front wall 48. Side wall 56 is also attached to the external surface of
wall 20 and to the front wall 48. Both side walls 54 and 56 as well as the frontwall 48 are attached to the bottom wall 52. The front wall 48 and the side walls54 and 56 are attached to the top wall 50, and the top wall 50 is attached to the
external surface of wall 20.
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As shown most clearly in Figs. 5 and 9, an opening 60 is provided into the
supplemental compartment 14 l'or providing access therein. Items may be placed
through the opening 60 into the supplemental compartment 14. Preferably, a
zipper 62 or some other means is provided in association with the opening 60 so
that the opening 60 can be closed or sealed, and so accidental re-opening or
unsealing of the opening 60 is prevented. Preferably, the opening 60 extends
along the intersection of the top wall 50 and the fi ont wall 48 and extends at an
angle down each side wall 54 and 56. This shape of opening 60 provides that the
zipper 60 is easy to open and close from the front of the bag 10 and that items can
be easily placed in and removed from the supplemental compartment 14.
As shown in Fig. 9, attached to the front wall 48 of the supplemental
compartment 14 is a panel 70 defining a pocket 7~ One edge 74 of the panel 70
is attached to the intersection of the external surfaces of the front wall 48 and side
wall 54 ofthe supplemental compartment 14. Another edge 76 ofthe panel 70 is
attached to the intersection of the external surfaces of the front wall 48 and side
wall 56 of the supplemental compartment 14. A h: ottom edge 78 of the panel 70
is attached to the intersection of the external surfaces of the front wall 48 and
bottom wall 52 of the supplemental compartment 14. A top edge 80 of the panel
70 is not attached and defines an opening 81 into the pocket 72. Preferably, the
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panel 40 is formed of a mesh material thereby providing that one can view the
contents of the pocket 72 through the panel 70. Of course, the panel 70 need not
be provided at all, or some other item retaining means may be provided on the
front wall 48 of the supplemental compartment 14 instead of the panel 70.
s
The other supplemental compartment 16 is also attched to the external
surface of the wall 20 of the primary compartment 12. Supplemental
compartment 16 is formed of opposing side walls 82 and 84, each of which is
attached to the external surface of wall 20. Also attached to the external surface
ofthe wall 20 is a bottom wall 85 ofthe supplemental compartment 16. The
bottom wall 85 is also attached to the side walls 82 and 84 and a front wall 86 of
the supplemental compartment 16. The front wall 86 is also attached to the side
walls 82 and 84.
The side walls 82 and 84, bottom wall 85~ front wall 86 and the external
surface of wall 20 define a cavity 88. Preferably, no top wall or other obstruction
is provided over the cavity 88. As a result, an item such as a water bottle (notshown) can be readily and easily inserted into and removed from the cavity 88
formed in the supplemental compartment 16. To this end, preferably the walls
82, 84, 85 and 86 provide that the cavity 88 is generally cylindrical or can at least
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generally conform to a cylindrically shaped item placed in the cavity 88. A
restrainer 90 may be privided along the top of the side walls 82 and 84 and the
front wall 86 to provide for the retention of the item placed in the cavity 88, such
as a water bottle as mentioned. Preferably, the restrainer 90 is a drawstring with
S a barrel clip or some other structure which can generally conform to the item
placed in the cavity 88 such as the neck of the water bottle.
Like the primary compartment 12, the first and second supplemental
compartments 14 and 16 also generally provide thermal insulation to the contentsthereof and absorb external shock. Therefore, preferably the internal surfaces of
each supplemental compartment 14 and 16 is formed of a generlaly thermally
insulating material, and the external surfaces are ~ormed of a durable material
such as a nylon material.
Much like the structure of the primary compartment 12, the specific
structure of the supplemental compartments 14, 1 ~ is not imperative to the
present invention. For example, side walls 54 and 56, top wall 50 and bottom
wall 52 of supplemental compartment 14 may be essentially formed of a single
wall which extends around the perimeter of the front wall 48. Likewise, side
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walls 82 and 84 and the front wall 86 of supplemental compartment 16 may be
essentially formed of a single wall. One having ordinary skill in the art would be
able to devise still other va~riations.
As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, also attached to the external surface
of wall 20 is a flexible flap 92 such as a flap formed of a nylon material. The flap
92 can be lowered into a position covering the front walls 48 and 86 of the
supplemental compartments 14, 16, respectively, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
and 8. Preferably, securement means 93 is provided between at least one of the
supplemental compartments 14, 16 and the flap 92. For example, a Velcro~ strip
95 can provided on the external surface of front w all 48 and 86 of each
supplemental compartment 14, 16, respectively, for mating with a corresponding
Velcro~ strip 97 on the inside surface 98 ofthe flap 92.
As shown most clea~rly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, on the outside surface 99 of the
flap 92 is preferably an opening 100 such that the inside of the flap 92 can be
accessed therethrough and items placed therein. Preferably, a zipper 102 or someother closure means is provided in association with the opening 100 so that the
opening 100 can be sealed closed. Preferably, the flap 92 is at least partially
formed of a material which generally provides thermal insulation to the items
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placed inside the flap 92 and to the supplemental eompartments 14 and 16 when
the flap is positioned in the down position as shown in Figs. 1-3 and S-8.
When the flap 92 is displaced upward and outward from the supplemental
compartments 14, 16 as shown in Fig. 9, the supplemental compartments 14, 16
and the openings 60 and 8X there into, respectively, can be readily accessed.
The bag 10 described provides a primary cvmpartment 12 and two
supplemental compartmenl;s 14, 16 connected to, but separate from and external
to, the primary compartment 12. This configuration provides that one may access
one compartment without having to enter another. and provides that items placed
in one compartment can be easily kept separate from those contained in another.
One having ordinary skill in the art would recognize still other advantages.
While a preferred ernbodiment of the present invention is shown and
described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various
modifications and equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Therefore, the invention is not intended to be limited by the foregoing
disclosure.
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