Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02726162 2010-11-22
SEALED COMPARTMENT BAG
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Statement of the Technical Field
The inventive arrangements relate to article-carrying bags, and more
particularly to
article-carrying bags comprising at least one foldable sealed compartment.
Description of the Related Art
There are various conventional bags known for carrying articles. These
conventional
bags come in many shapes and sizes. Such conventional bags include, but are
not limited to.
hand carried bags. A significant problem with these conventional bags is that
articles which are
carried in the bags may commingle with one another. Therefore, if an
individual wanted to keep
such articles separate from one another, he would be unable to do so. For
example, an individual
may have soiled sports articles (e.g., shoes and clothes) that he wants to
transport from one place
to another. In such cases, the individual may wish to prevent other items
contained in his bag
from becoming soiled by commingling with the soiled sport articles.
Conventional bags do not
have a means integrated therein to ensure that the soiled sports articles will
not commingle with
other articles contained in the bag. Therefore, these conventional bags are
limited in utility.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments will be described with reference to the following drawing figures,
in which
like numerals represent like items throughout the figures, and in which:
FIGS. IA-1D are schematic illustrations of a hand carried bag comprising at
least one
foldable sealed compartment that is useful for understanding the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention concerns bag assemblies configured for carrying articles. Such
bag
assemblies include. but are not limited to, travel bags, duffle bags and carry-
on bags. The
invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to one
or more
accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are
shown. This
invention, may however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as
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CA 02726162 2010-11-22
limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
Before describing the bag assemblies of the present invention, it will be
helpful in
understanding an exemplary environment in which the invention can be utilized.
In this regard,
it should he understood that the bag assemblies of the present invention can
be utilized in a
variety of different applications where articles are to be carried. Such
applications include, but
are not limited to, traveling applications, sports applications, camping
applications and hiking
applications.
Referring now to FIGS IA-ID, there is provided schematic illustrations of a
bag 100
comprising at least one foldable secondary compartment structure 112 that is
useful for
understanding the present invention. The bag 100 provides a useful article-
carrying bag which is
capable of being placed by a user in multiple article-carrying configurations
which accommodate
different circumstances. FIGS. IA-ID show the multiple article-carrying
configurations into
which the bag 100 may be placed. The multiple article-carrying configurations
include, but are
not limited to, a two compartment configuration 102 and a three compartment
configuration 104.
Embodiments of the present invention are not limited in this regard. For
example, if the bag 100
includes a main compartment and two side compartments, then the multiple
article-carrying
configurations would include a four compartment configuration (not shown),
rather than a two
compartment configuration 102. This multi-compartment configuration will
become more
evident as the discussion progresses.
As shown in FIGS. lA-1D, the bag 100 includes a main compartment structure
110, a
side compartment structure 112 and a foldable secondary compartment structure
114.
Embodiments of the present invention are not limited in this regard. In this
regard, the bag 100
can include more compartment structures than that shown. For example, the bag
100 can include
various compartment structures disposed on the outer surfaces of a front
panel, a back panel and
side panels of the bag 100. Various compartment structures can also be
disposed in the bag 100
so as to be coupled to inner surfaces of the front panel, a back panel and
side panels thereof.
The compartment structures 110, 112, 114 can be formed from any suitable
material.
Such materials include, but are not limited to, non-woven materials, woven
materials, mesh
materials, water-resistant materials, leather, canvas and collapsible fabric
materials. Notably,
each of the compartment structures 110, 112, 114 can be formed from the same
material or
different material(s).
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The main compartment structure 110 may be considered the primary article-
carrying
compartment structure because it provides the largest unrestricted volume for
carrying articles.
The term "unrestricted", as used here, means that the entire volume of the
main compartment
structure 110 can be made available for defining a single, primary carrying
compartment. If only
the main compartment structure 110 is desired to be used, then one would only
need to open the
main compartment structure 110 via a closure element 116. This configuration
is ideal for
carrying articles which are elongate and require the entire volume of the main
compartment
structure 110. Such articles can include, but are not limited to, sports
equipment, retractable
umbrellas, thermoses and portable computers.
The main compartment structure 110 has a top 114 defining a first bag opening
which is
selectively closable via a zipper 116. Embodiments of the present invention
are not limited in
this regard. For example, the main compartment structure 110 may have closure
elements other
than a zipper 116. Such closure elements can include, but are not limited to,
Velcro, loop-and-
pile fasteners, snaps, button/hole pairs and latches.
The main compartment structure 110 also includes a closed bottom 118 and a
central
body 120 which extends between the top 114 and the bottom 118. At least the
bottom 118 can
he formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material suitable to maintain its shape and
structural integrity
during use of the bag 100. Alternatively, the bottom 118 can include a rigid
or semi-rigid insert
or floor panel.
As shown, the top 114, bottom 118 and a central body 120 define a first
interior space
122 sized and shaped to carry various articles. Although the top 114 and
central body 120 are
shown to be separate structures, embodiments of the present invention are not
limited in this
regard. For example, the top 114 and central body 120 can be a single
continuous structure. A
plurality of joinder lines 130a, 130b, 130c directly connect the top 114,
bottom 118 and/or
central body 120 together. Each of the joinder lines 130a, 130b, 130c can be
formed from a sewn
stitching, adhesive bonding and/or heat bonding. If the joinder lines 130a,
130b. 130c include
sewn stitching, then the seams (not shown) formed from coupling the components
114. 118, 120
together can be water-tight and/or air-tight.
Although only one side compartment structure 112 is shown, embodiments of the
present
invention are not limited in this regard. For example, the bag 100 can include
a side
compartment structures 112 disposed on each end of two opposing ends thereof.
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As shown in FIGS. IA-ID, the side compartment structure 112 includes side
walls 124,
132 defining a second bag opening 128. At least a portion of the side wall 124
is attached to the
hang 100 via a U-shaped zipper 126. The U-shaped zipper 126 provide means for
selectively
opening and closing the second bag opening 128. Embodiments of the present
invention are not
limited in this regard. For example, the side wall 124 can be at least
partially attached to the hag
100 via closure elements other than a zipper 126. Such closure elements can
include, but are not
limited to, Velcro, loop-and-pile fasteners, snaps, button/hole pairs and
latches. The side wall
132 is joined to the main compartment structure 110 via at least one joinder
line 134. The
joinder line 134 can be formed from a sewn stitching, adhesive bonding and/or
heat bonding. If
the joinder line 134 includes sewn stitching, then the seams (not shown)
formed from coupling
the side wall 132 to the main compartment structure 110 can be water-tight
and/or air-tight.
As shown in FIGS. IA-ID, the side wall 132 has a flap 158 and a closure
element 136
coupled thereto. The closure element 136 can include, but is not limited to,
Velcro, a U-shaped
zipper (as shown in FIG. 1B), loop-and-pile fasteners (not shown), snaps (not
shown),
button/hole pairs (not shown) and/or latches (not shown). The flap 158 and
closure element 136
collectively facilitate access to the foldable secondary compartment structure
114. The closure
element 136 also facilitates the selective opening and closing of the
secondary compartment
structure 114. Consequently, the secondary compartment structure 114 is
concealed in the bag
100 at least partially by the side compartment structure 112.
Although a single secondary compartment structure 114 is shown, embodiments of
the
present invention are not limited in this regard. For example, the bag 100 can
include a
secondary compartment structure 114 disposed on each end of two opposing ends
thereof.
The secondary compartment structure 114 may be considered the secondary
article-
carrying compartment structure because it provides a smaller volume for
carrying articles as
compared to the main compartment structure 110. If secondary compartment
structure 114 is
desired to he used, then one would need to open it via a closure element 136
of the side
compartment structure 112 and a closure element 156 of the main compartment
structure 110.
This configuration is useful for carrying articles which are not to be
commingled with articles
disposed in the main compartment structure 110, or vice versa. Such articles
include, but are not
limited to, sports cloths, sport shoes, towels, wet cloths, beverage
containers, lotions, liquid
bathing products and other fluid/liquid products.
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As shown in FIG. IA-1D, the secondary compartment structure 114 includes a
carrying
member 138 that can he transitioned from a collapsed position to an extended
position 150.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the carrying member 138
has a generally
bag-like shape. However, embodiments of the present invention are not limited
in this regard.
For example, the carrying member 138 can have any shape that is suitable for
carrying items.
Such shapes include, but are not limited to, cylindrical shapes, rectangular
shapes, accordion
shapes and cone shapes.
The transition between the positions of the carrying member 138 is facilitated
by the
closure elements 136 coupled to the side wall 132 of the side compartment
structure 112 and
closure elements 156 coupled to a side wall 140 disposed in the interior of
the hag 100. The
closure elements 156 can include, but are not limited to, Velcro, a U-shaped
zipper, loop-and-
pile fasteners (not shown), snaps (not shown), button/hole pairs (not shown)
and/or latches (not
shown).
In the collapsed position, the carrying member 138 is folded and housed in a
chamber at
least partially defined by the sidewall 132 of the side compartment structure
112 and the side
wall 140 disposed in the interior of the bag 100. The size and shape of the
chamber can vary
based on the type of material(s) employed for the carrying member 138. In the
extended position
150, the carrying member 138 is unfolded so as to extend into the first
interior space 122 of the
main compartment structure 110. In this regard, it should be understood that
the unfolded
carrying member 138 has a size and shape that fits within the first interior
space 122 of the main
compartment structure 110. The size and shape of the unfolded carrying member
138 can be
selected to permit articles to be carried in the first interior space 122 of
the main compartment
structure 110 and a second interior space 152 of the secondary compartment
structure 114.
The carrying member 138 can be formed from any suitable material. Such
materials
include. but are not limited to, non-woven materials, woven materials, mesh
materials, water-
resistant materials, leather, canvas and collapsible fabric materials.
However, it should be
understood that water-resistant materials provide certain advantages over
other materials. For
example, a carrying member 138 formed of a water-resistant material can
prevent dry/clean
articles disposed in the main compartment structure 110 from becoming
wet/soiled by articles
disposed in the secondary compartment structure 114.
The carrying member 138 can be coupled to the main compartment structure 110
and/or
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the secondary compartment structure 114 via one or more joinder lines. The
joinder lines can be
formed from a sewn stitching adhesive bonding and/or heat bonding. If the
joinder lines include
sewn stitching, then the seams (not shown) formed from coupling the carrying
member 138 to
the structures 110, 114 can be water-tight and/or air-tight. Alternatively,
the carrying member
138 can be coupled to the main compartment structure 110 and/or the secondary
compartment
structure 114 via Velcro or other coupling means that allows the carrying
member 138 to be
coupled and decoupled from the bag 100. In this scenario, the carrying member
138 can be
removed from the bag 100 so that it can be cleaned.
Although not shown in FIGS. 1 A-I D, the bag 100 can include at least one
handle and/or
at least one carrying strap. The handle can be formed from any suitable
material. Such materials
include, but are not limited to, leather, plastic. wood. metal, fabric or a
combination thereof. The
handle is attached to the bag 100 via sewn stitching, an adhesive bond or a
mechanical connector
(e.g., a clip or hook/loop fastener).
The carrying strap(s) (not shown) can be formed from any suitable material.
Such
materials include, but are not limited to, non-woven materials, woven
materials, mesh materials,
water-resistant materials, leather, canvas and collapsible fabric materials.
For example, the
carrying strap(s) (not shown) can be formed of a flat rope. The flat rope can
include, but is not
limited to, a durable polyester braided flat rope and a durable nylon flat
rope. The carrying
strap(s) (not shown) can be attached to the bag 100 by sewing or the like. The
seams (not
shown) formed from coupling the carrying strap(s) to the bag 100 can be water-
tight and/or air-
tight. The carrying strap(s) (not shown) can be formed into carrying loops
(not shown). The
carrying loops (not shown) provide a means for carrying the bag 100 by hand or
over-the-
shoulder.
The carrying strap(s) can have adjustable retaining structures (not shown)
disposed
thereon. The adjustable retaining structures are configured for facilitating
the adjustment of the
length of the carrying strap(s). For example, the adjustable retaining
structures can include, but
is not limited to, clips, buckles and other securing, means.
All of the apparatus, methods and algorithms disclosed and claimed herein can
be made
and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure.
While the
invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be
apparent to those of
skill in the art that variations may be applied to the apparatus, methods and
sequence of steps of
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the method without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the
invention. More
specifically, it will be apparent that certain components may be added to,
combined with, or
substituted for the components described herein while the same or similar
results would be
achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those
skilled in the art are
deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined.
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