Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02573875 2007-01-15
TITLE: Sports Garment Bag With Foot Mat
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to luggage and the like used for carrying garments etc.
and in particular relates to a sports garment bag suitable to carry hockey
equipment,
including skates.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Persons participating in sporting events, particularly hockey events,
typically
carry equipment to the event in a garment bag. Such garment bags are equipped
with
various ancillary features allowing for the convenient transportation not only
of
clothing but also of smaller items, such as water bottles, rulebooks,
eyeglasses etc. It
is typical for these ancillary items to be carried in supplementary pockets
formed on
a garment bag, as at one end of the bag. It is also typical for garment bags
to have an
end panel access opening by which smaller items may be inserted easily into
the bag
from one end, either into a pocket or into the main interior of the bag.
In the case of one type of garment bag, a bag of generally elongated, sausage-
like configuration, a longitudinal zipper is provided along the longer face of
the bag
to allow access to the main interior of the bag. Such a bag may also be
provided with
an end opening or end pocket through a panel that is fastened to the fabric of
the bag,
as by a fabric hinge. This exterior end panel or flap typically can be drawn
over the
end of the bag, or over an interior panel defining the actual end of the
interior volume
of the bag, to serve as a flap that defines the exterior of an outside end-of-
bag access
opening or pocket access.
Typically, the flap serving as the closure for such an end opening or pocket
is
held in place by a peripheral zipper. The zipper is divided into two half-
zipper
portions. One half-zipper is formed around the periphery of the flap, and the
other
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half zipper is attached to the end of the bag. More typically, when an end
pocket is
present an exterior pocket wall border may extend outwardly from the end of an
interior panel of the bag and the second half zipper is attached to the
boundary of the
pocket wall border.
While reference is made to a zipper, alternate fasting means may be employed,
including the hook and loop type faster typically sold under the trademark
Velcro.
It is convenient when changing footwear to have a surface upon which a
person can rest their foot other than on the floor. It is also convenient when
skates
are being put-on, to have a pad beneath the skates so the blades of the skates
will not
contact the floor. In the case of skates, contact with the floor may either
mar the
floor, or if the floor is made of concrete, dull the edges of the skates. And
when
ordinary footwear is being changed, it may be desirable to have the footwear
rest
against a surface which will prevent the footwear from slipping.
It would be advantageous to combine a garment bag of the type described
above with a system for providing a surface to assist a person in donning and
removing footwear. This invention addresses that are objective.
The invention in its general form will first be described, and then its
implementation in terms of specific embodiments will be detailed with
reference to
the drawings following hereafter. These embodiments are intended to
demonstrate
the principle of the invention, and the manner of its implementation. The
invention
in its broadest and more specific forms will then be further described, and
defined, in
each of the individual claims which conclude this Specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a sports garment bag
comprising: a) a bottom surface; b) a first end surface adjacent the bottom
surface;
c) a second end surface opposite the first end surface and adjacent the bottom
surface; d) a top surface adjacent the bottom surface, the first end surface
and the
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second end surface, thereby defining a main compartment; e) an opening on at
least
one of the top surface, first end surface and second end surface, the opening
providing direct access to the main compartment; f) a flap for closing the
opening,
the flap: i) being fastened to the sports garment bag along a flap fastening
line that is
adjacent to the opening; and ii) having a peripheral edge with a shape that
complements a shape of the opening; and g) a flexible pad having a footwear-
changing surface, wherein the flexible pad is: i) fastened to the sports
garment bag
along a pad fastening line, ii) stored within the main compartment when the
opening
is closed; and iii) deployable outwardly from the main compartment through the
opening.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable
hockey
bag for carrying hockey equipment, comprising: a) a frame comprising a handle
and
a plurality of wheels; and b) a sports garment bag affixed to the frame,
wherein the
sports garment bag comprises: i) a bottom surface in proximity to the frame;
ii) a
first end surface adjacent the bottom surface; iii) a second end surface
opposite the
first end surface and adjacent the bottom surface, iv) a top surface adjacent
the
bottom surface, the first end surface and the second end surface, v) a first
side
surface adjacent the top surface, the bottom surface, and the first and second
end
surfaces; vi) a second side surface opposite the first side surface, the
second surface
adjacent the top surface, the bottom surface, and the first and second end
surfaces,
where the bottom surface, the first end surface, the second end surface, the
first side
surface, the second side surface and the top surface define a main
compartment; vii)
an opening on the top surface, the opening providing direct access to the main
compartment; viii) a flap for closing the opening, the flap: 1) being fastened
to the
sports garment bag along a flap fastening line that is adjacent to the
opening; and
2)having a peripheral edge with a shape that complements a shape of the
opening;
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and ix) a flexible pad having a skate-changing surface, where the flexible pad
is: 1)
fastened to the sports garment bag along a pad fastening line; 2) stored
within the
main compartment when the opening is closed; and 3) deployable outwardly from
the
main compartment through the opening.
According to the present invention in one aspect, a garment bag is provided
with an openable flap generally located at an end thereof, covering an opening
on the
bag. The bag and flap are preferably made of textile material. The end opening
may
be located either fully at the end of the bag, or may be located towards the
end of the
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bag, extending partially along the upper surface of the bag. The flap is
fastened to the
bag along a flap fastening line that is connected to the bag so that the flap
may be
deployed outwardly to provide a bag with an open end. The periphery of the
flap is
provided with attachment means to hold the flap in a closed position against
the end
opening formed in the garment bag.
The end opening on the bag that receives the flap has a specific shape and
dimension. The flap has a peripheral edge which is complementary to and
corresponds with the boundary of the end opening. The peripheral edge of the
flap is
generally positionable adjacent to the boundary of the end opening when the
flap is
closed.
According to the invention, in addition to and interior to the flap, a
flexible pad
is fastened to the garment bag adjacent the end opening. The pad is fastened
to the
bag along a pad fastening line, preferably located at a position interior to
the flap,
connected so that the pad may be deployed outwardly when the flap is in its
open
configuration to serve as a footwear-changing pad. For this purpose, in one
variant
the pad fastening line is located at or near the bottom surface of the bag,
adjacent to
the plane of the bottom surface supporting the bag when the bag rests
longitudinally
on the floor. This variant permits the flap to be deployed when the bag is
resting
longitudinally on the floor. In another variant, the pad fastening line is
located
upwardly from the bottom surface of the bag, permitting the pad to be folded
outwardly when the bag is partially elevated off the ground as when the bottom
surface of the bag is supported by an upright rack. In either case, the
flexible pad,
when deployed outwardly (as by bending along or proximate to its fastening
line), is
so attached to the bag that, when deployed, the pad will cover a portion of
the floor
adjacent to the end of the bag and serve as a changing mat for a user.
In one embodiment it is a feature of the invention that the pad has a shape
and
dimension around its free periphery which is larger then the shape and
dimension of
the bag opening.
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As indicated above, the body of the bag may either extend horizontally across
the floor on which it rests or extend upwardly as when the bag is carried on a
near
vertically-oriented rack. In either case, when the pad is in its deployed
configuration,
the pad is positioned to serve as a mat or changing surface for persons
putting-on or
removing footwear. In this configuration, this changing pad will protect the
floor
surface and provide a convenient support for footwear being donned by a user.
In either case, according to another embodiment of the invention, it is a
preferred feature of the invention that the pad has a shape and dimension
around its
free periphery such that, when the pad and flap are both outwardly deployed,
the pad
is larger than the flap.
According to a further preferred variant of the invention, the peripheral edge
of
the flap is provided with attachment means for engagement with complementary
attachment means carried around the boundary of the end opening. Such
attachment
means may include a standard zipper faster, a hook and loop fastener or other
equivalent arrangements for affixing the flap in a closed configuration
against the
end of the bag.
According to this further preferred variant of the invention, the pad is of
such a
shape and dimension as to allow the pad, when outwardly deployed, to extend
beyond and overlie the attachment means present around the periphery of the
flap.
This latter feature serves to protect the attachment means on the flap from
damage
that may arise from placing footwear on the pad. In particular, this latter
feature
serves to protect the attachment means from being cut by the edge of skate
blades as
they are being donned by a user using the changing mat.
Pursuant to an additional variant of the invention, the pad may be
approximately twice the length of the flap extending away from the fastening
lines
whereby it may be folded-over on itself for storage, serving as a pad cover to
keep
dirt from the pad from entering the bag interior.
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In any variant, the pad may provide an exposed surface in the form of a rubber
or rubberized mat, preferably textured with ridges and grooves. Alternately,
the
upper surface of the pad may have all or a portion of its surface covered with
carpet
material. In either case, such portions may or may not extend for the full
width and
length of the pad.
The foregoing summarizes the principal features of the invention and some of
its optional aspects. The invention may be further understood by the
description of
the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the drawings, which now follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a garment bag according to the invention
resting
on the floor. The bag has an end opening with an openable flap fastened along
its
boundary and shown as deployed on the floor in Figure 1. Omitted for clarity
from
Figure 1 is a footwear-changing pad or mat according to the invention.
Figure 2 is bag of Figure 1 wherein the flap is shown partially closed using a
zipper-type fastener.
Figure 3 is a pictorial depiction of a variant of the garment bag of Figure 1
which incorporates an end panel within the interior to the bag defining the
interior
surface of a pocket and a peripheral end pocket wall to define, along with the
openable flap, an end pocket for the garment bag.
Figure 4 is a pictorial depiction of the bag of Figure 3 wherein the flexible
pad
with a footwear-supporting surface is fastened to the garment bag adjacent to
the end
opening and partially deployed outwardly towards overlying the adjacent floor
surface and end flap to serve as a changing mat for a user.
Figure 5 is a pictorial depiction of the bag of Figure 4 with the pad and flap
both fully deployed, the pad being of a shape and dimension to cause the pad
to
overlie the attachment means present around the periphery of the flap and
thereby
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serve to protect the attachment means on the flap from damage that may arise
from
placing footwear on the pad.
Figure 6 is a pictorial depiction of the bag of Figure 5 wherein the bag is
supported on an upright frame with the pad and flap both stored within the end
opening on the bag.
Figure 7 is a pictorial depiction of the bag of Figure 6 wherein the pad and
flap
are both deployed in a footwear-changing position on the adjacent floor and
the pad
is longer than the flap so that it can be folded-over on storage to close-off
the pad
surface.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In Figure 1 a garment bag 1 of longitudinal, sausage-like dimensions has a
longitudinal zipper 2 along a top portion 3, closed side portions 4 and a
bottom
portion 5 shown in Figure 1 as resting along the floor 6. An end opening 7
formed
on the bag 1 is covered by an openable flap 8 fastened to the bag 1 along a
flap
fastening line 8A at a location adjacent to the end opening 7.
In Figure 1 the flap 8 is attached to the bag 1 along a flap folding line 10
so
that, with the flap 8 in its open position, the flap 8 may be deployed
outwardly to
cover a portion of the floor 6 adjacent to the end of the bag 1.
While the flap 8 is shown in Figure 1 as being connected to the bag 1 along a
flap fastening line 8A which is located at or near the bottom surface 5 of the
bag 1,
adjacent to the plane of the surface supporting the bag 1 as it rests on the
floor 6, the
flap 8 may have its fastening line 8A located elsewhere around the periphery
of the
end opening 7, including along the top of the end opening 7.
A shown in Figures 1 and 2 the flap 8 has a peripheral edge 11 which is of a
shape and dimension complementary to the boundary 12 of the end opening 7
against
which the peripheral edge 11 of the flap 8 is positionable in order for the
flap 8 to
cover such opening 7 when the flap 8 is closed. The flap 8 has attachment
means,
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depicted as being in the form of a zipper-type faster 13, to hold the flap 8
in a closed
position against the end opening 7 when the flap 8 is in its closed position.
The end opening 7 may open into the interior of the bag 1. Alternately, the
garment bag 1 may incorporate an interior end panel 14 as shown in Figure 3,
located
at a position which is interior to the end opening 7. The interior end panel
14,
together with the flap 8, defines an end pocket 15 for the garment bag 1. As
shown
in Figure 3, the volume of the end pocket 15 may be enlarged by an end pocket
wall
16 connected to the garment bag 1 around the periphery of the interior end
panel 14.
Omitted due for clarity from Figures 1-3 but shown in Figure 4 is a flexible
pad 17 fastened to the garment bag 1 adjacent to the end opening 7 and folded-
up in
Figure 4 for storage within the end opening 7. The flexible pad 17 is
connected to
the bag 1 so that, as shown in Figure 5, the pad 17 may be deployed outwardly
so as
to overlie an adjacent floor 6 surface when the flap 8 is in its open,
deployed,
configuration. The pad 17 has a footwear-supporting surface 18 on the upwardly
directed face that is exposed when the pad 17 is so deployed to serve as a
footwear-
changing mat for a user. This footwear supporting face 18 in Figure 5 is a
layer of
rubber textured with ribs and grooves
While the pad 17 as shown in Figures 4 and 5 is fastened to the garment bag 1
along a pad fastening line 19 that is located at a position interior to the
end opening
7, the pad fastening line 19 may also be located along a portion of the bag 1
exterior
to the end opening 7.
As a preferred feature of the invention, the pad 17 has a shape and dimension
around its free periphery 20 which is larger than the shape and dimension of
the bag
end opening 7 adjacent the pad fastening line 19. This allows the pad 17, as
shown in
Figure 4, to be tucked within the end opening 7 for storage before closing the
flap 8
when the pad 17 not deployed. The pad 17 may be cut to the width of the end
opening 7 just above its fastening line 19 in order to allow the pad 17 to be
folded
outwardly through the end opening 7. Or the fastening line 19 for the pad 17
may be
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located back from the end opening 7 sufficiently to allow the pad 17 to be
folded
through the end opening 7.
As a further preferred feature of the invention depicted in Figure 5, the pad
is
of a shape and dimension to allow the pad 17, when outwardly deployed, to
extend
beyond and overlie the peripheral edge 11 of the flap 8.
Where the peripheral edge 11 of the flap 8 is provided with attachment means
such as a zipper 13 for closing the end opening 7, the fact that the pad 17 is
of a
shape and dimension to allow the pad 17, when outwardly deployed, to extend
beyond and overlie the zipper which serves as attachment means 13 present
around
the periphery 11 of the flap 8, serves to protect the attachment means 13 on
the flap 8
from damage that may arise from placing footwear on the pad 17.
In Figure 5, the flap 8 and pad 17 are integrally connected to each other. In
this
case, the pad 17 and flap 8 may share common fastening lines 19, 8A. However,
even though the pad 17 is larger than the flap 8, by reason of the flexible
nature of
the pad 17, when the flap 8 is closed, the pad 17 may be tucked within the end
opening 7 for storage before sealing the end opening 7 with the attachment
means 13
on the flap 8.
As also shown in Figure 5, the footwear-supporting surface 18 is a waterproof
surface such as molded rubber with textured or raised ribs interspersed with
grooves
to accumulate water beneath its upper surface. With or without such a textured
surface, polymeric foam may be provided in the under-layer of the pad 17 to
provide
a cushioning waterproof surface.
While not depicted in Figure 5, the pad 17 that may also be provided with a
footwear-supporting surface made of a carpet material 21, as shown in Figure
7. A
carpeted surface is more resistant to damage that may arise from exposure to
the
sharpened edges of skates. Such carpet material 21 need not necessarily cover
the
entire surface of the pad 17, but preferably will do so.
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In Figure 6 the bag 1 is supported on an upright frame 22 with the pad 17 and
flap 8 both stored within the bag 1 before being deployed in a footwear-
changing
position on the adjacent floor 6. In this case the end opening 7, pocket 15
and
fastening lines 8A, 19 are not formed adjacent to the bottom 5 of the bag 1 as
in the
case of the bag 1 resting longitudinally on the floor 6, but are formed
towards the end
of the bag 1 and extend partly up onto its upper surface 3.
Optionally, and not shown, a deployable pad cover may be fastened to the
garment bag 1 adjacent to the end opening 7 along a pad-cover fastening line
that is
located at a position interior to the pad fastening line 19, the pad cover
being of a size
and dimension and being connected to the bag 1 so that when the pad 17 is
placed in
a stored condition within the end opening 7 of the garment bag 1, the pad
cover will
cover the adjacent surface of the pad 17 limiting the transfer of dirt from
the pad into
the garment bag 1.
Alternately, as shown in Figure 7, the pad 17 may be approximately twice the
length of the flap 8 extending away from the fastening lines 8A, 19 whereby
the
outer portion of the pad 17 may be folded-over on itself for storage,
providing the
same benefits as a pad cover. Again, the pad 17 is at least slightly larger
than the
flap 8 laterally to provide protection for the fastening means 13 along the
edge of the
flap 8.
In Figure 7, the upper surface of the pad 17 is depicted as having a portion
covered with carpet 21. This portion may or may not extend for the full width
and
length of the pad 17 but preferably should do so.
CONCLUSION
The foregoing has constituted a description of specific embodiments showing
how the invention may be applied and put into use. These embodiments are only
exemplary. The invention in its broadest, and more specific aspects is further
described and defined in the claims which now follow.
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These claims, and the language used therein, are to be understood in terms of
the variants of the invention which have been described. They are not to be
restricted
to such variants, but are to be read as covering the full scope of the
invention as is
implicit within the invention and the disclosure that has been provided
herein.
