Abstract:
A bag for carrying tools and a multitude of accessories is disclosed. The bag includes an open top, a fabric bottom panel, two spaced, rigid, fabric covered end panels, and two spaced fabric side panels as well as two carrying straps and a handle. At least one tool mat for storing small tools and accessories extends from the bottom of the tool bag and attaches to one of the panels for versatile and organized tool storage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    It is desirable to provide an apparatus to organize, store, and transport as many tools as possible in a versatile, compact, and efficient manner. 
         [0002]    While a simple open-top carrying case enables quick access to larger tools such as drills, it would be desirable if the smaller tools and accessories could be stored in a more organized manner so that they can be efficiently accessed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention generally relates to a bag for carrying objects such as tools and accessories. The present invention provides the benefits of an open-top carrying case and the ability to efficiently store a large quantity of tools and accessories. 
         [0004]    The bag has an open-top configuration with a flexible, fabric bottom panel, two spaced, rigid, fabric covered end panels, and two spaced, flexible, fabric side panels. Two straps are attached to the side panels and can be secured adjacent one another with a handle. Additional storage compartments extend from the bag and are capable of holding a variety of small tools and accessories in an organized manner. The storage compartments can be secured to the side panels of the bag for easy transport and compact storage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is made to the following detailed description of the invention and accompanying drawings. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a tool bag of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the tool bag of  FIG. 1  from the opposite side. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is an elevation view of the tool bag of  FIG. 2  with tool mats in an extended position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the tool bag of  FIG. 1  with tool mats in an extended position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , a tool bag  10  of one embodiment is shown. The bag includes a front tool mat  20  and a back tool mat  30 . The tool bag  10  has a bottom panel  40 , a front side panel  50 , a back side panel  60 , a first end panel  70 , and a second end panel  80 . In this embodiment, the front side panel  50  and the back side panel  60  may each include a rigid support rod  90 . The rigid support rod  90  is fixed to an upper portion of at least one of the front side panel  50  or the back side panel  60 . The rigid support rod  90  may be fixed to each of the front side panel  50  and the back side panel  60 . The rigid support rod  90  may be fixed to the panels  50 ,  60  by sewing or by any other suitable means for fixing the rod  90  to an upper portion of the panels  50 ,  60 . 
         [0011]    For support, at least one of the first end panel  70  and the second end panel  80  may include a generally rigid, generally rectangular piece of plastic  92  that may be covered by fabric. The front and back side panels  50 ,  60  may also be rigid and fabric covered, similar to the first and second end panels  70 ,  80 . The tool bag  10  also includes a front strap  12  and a back strap  14 , each of which defines a closed loop. The straps  12 , 14  may be joined by a handle  16 . 
         [0012]    The bottom panel  40  includes a front side edge  42 , a back side edge  44 , a first end edge  46 , and a second end edge  48 . The bottom panel  40  is generally flexible but it may be rigid. In that instance, the bottom panel  40  may have a rigid insert that is fabric covered. 
         [0013]    The front side panel  50  includes a bottom edge  52 , a first end edge  54 , a second end edge  56  and a top edge  58 . Similarly, the back side panel  60  includes a bottom edge  62 , a first end edge  64 , a second end edge  66  and a top edge  68 . The first end panel  70  includes a bottom edge  72 , a front end edge  74 , a back end edge  76  and a top edge  78 . Similarly, the second end panel  80  includes a bottom edge  82 , a front end edge  84 , a back end edge  86  and a top edge  88 . In one embodiment, the first end panel  70  also includes a first pocket  71 , and the second end panel  80  includes a second pocket  81 . The pocket  71  on the first end panel  70  may be replaced with a tool mat. Similarly, the pocket  81  on the second end panel  80  may be replaced with a tool mat. 
         [0014]    In the tool bag  10  embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , each panel is connected to an adjacent panel. Each panel may be attached by stitching along the common edges. For example, the bottom panel  40  is connected to each of the front side panel  50 , the back side panel  60 , the first end panel  70 , and the second end panel  80  with stitching along the front side edge  42 , the back side edge  44 , the first end edge  46 , and the second end edge  48 , respectively. 
         [0015]    The front strap  12  is connected to a portion of the front side panel  50 . The front strap  12  may have a first end  11  and a second end  13  with each end connected to at least a portion of the front side panel  50  to form a closed loop. Desirably, the first end  11  is spaced from the second end  13 . It is desirable if the front strap  12  is connected in one location near the first end edge  54  and a second location near the second end edge  56  of the front side panel  50 . 
         [0016]    The back strap  14  is connected in a congruent configuration on the back side panel  60 . The back strap  14  may have a first end  15  and a second end  19  with each end connected to at least a portion of the back side panel  60  to form a closed loop. Desirably, the first end  15  is spaced from the second end  19 . It is desirable if the back strap  14  is connected in one location near the first end edge  64  and a second location near the second end edge  66  of the back side panel  60 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , both straps  12 ,  14  are connected to their respective side panels with stitching. 
         [0017]    As noted above, the front and back straps  12 ,  14  can be secured together with the handle  16 . The handle  16  may be attached to one of the front strap  12  or the second strap  14  to secure each of the front strap  12  and the back strap  14  adjacent to each other. The handle  16  may be provided with a securing member  17  to secure one portion of the handle to another portion of the handle. The securing member  17  may be a separated hook and loop material, such as Velcro®, a snap, buttons, or other suitable securing member. The handle  16  as shown in  FIG. 1  is made of durable fabric material so that the handle can wrap around a portion of the loop of the handle. The handle  16  may also be made of rubber or a substantially rigid material. 
         [0018]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a flexible container is provided generally as a front tool mat  20  that can be secured to the front side panel  50 . The front tool mat  20  is flexible so that it can be moved from a first extended position where it is extended from the bag  10  to a second secured position where it is adjacent to the front side panel  50 . The front tool mat  20  has a first end  21  and a second end  23  with the second end  23  connected to one of the front side panel  50  or the bottom panel  40 . The second end  23  of the front tool mat  20  is preferably connected to the rest of the tool bag  10  near the bottom edge  52  of the front side panel  50 , or the front edge  42  of the bottom panel  40 . Accordingly, when the front tool mat  20  is in the extended position, the first end  21  of the front tool mat  20  is spaced from the front side panel  50 . In addition, when the front tool mat  20  is in the secured position, the first end  21  is adjacent the front side panel  50 . The front tool mat  20  has a first side  25  and a second side  26 . The first side  25  has at least one storage member  27  configured for containing or securing one or more tools and/or accessories. The storage member  27  may include one or more of pockets, loops, hook and loop material, flexible straps, or elastic straps. 
         [0019]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , a second flexible container is provided generally as a back tool mat  30  that can be secured to the back side panel  60 . The back tool mat  30  is flexible so that it can be moved from a first extended position where it is extended from the bag  10  to a second secured position where it is adjacent to the back side panel  60 . The back tool mat  30  has a first end  31  and a second end  33  with the second end  33  connected to one of the back side panel  60  or the bottom panel  40 . The second end  33  of the back tool mat  30  is preferably connected to the rest of the tool bag  10  near the bottom edge  62  of the back side panel  60 , or the back edge  44  of the bottom panel  40 . Accordingly, when the back tool mat  30  is in the extended position, the first end  31  of the back tool mat  30  is spaced from the back side panel  60 . In addition, when the back tool mat  30  is in the secured position, the first end  31  is adjacent the back side panel  60 . The back tool mat  30  has a first side  35  and a second side  36 . The first side  35  has at least one storage member  37  configured for containing or securing one or more tools and/or accessories. The storage member  37  may include one or more of pockets, loops, hook and loop material, flexible straps, or elastic straps. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the front tool mat  20  is longer than the back tool mat  30 . The front tool mat  20  can be rolled up and secured to the front side panel  50  with any suitable securing member, such as clips  22 . The back tool mat  30  may be folded up to become substantially parallel to the back side panel  60 . In addition, the back tool mat  30 , when folded, may be substantially flush with the adjacent back side panel  60 . Thus, in this embodiment, the back tool mat  30  is approximately the same length as the height of the back side panel  60 . The back tool mat  30  may be secured in this vertical position with snaps  32 , separated hook and loop material  34 , clips, buttons, or other suitable securing member. 
         [0021]    The back tool mat  30  is designed to be flush against the back side panel to enable the bag carrier to hold the bag at the carrier&#39;s side without additional contact between the bag and the carrier. In other words, in this embodiment, the tool bag is designed such that the bag carrier will carry the bag with the front, rolled-up tool mat  20  facing away from the carrier. 
         [0022]    In an alternative embodiment, both the front tool mat  20  and the back tool mat  30  are folded up to become flush with their adjacent side panels. These folded up tool mats can be secured by a variety of different means such as snaps, separated hook and loop material, clips, buttons or any other suitable securing member. The tool mats may also be secured with a combination of different attachment means.