Abstract:
A configurable travel bag that accommodates various types of removable discrete organizers. The discrete organizers have different storage configurations that allow a user to customize the interior of the bag based on her desired use of the bag.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/658,834 entitled “Discrete Organizer for a Travel Bag,” filed Mar. 4, 2005, Attorney Docket No. 47636.32.1 (which was filed as U.S. Ser. No. 11,150,987 entitled “Discrete Organizers for a Travel Bag” filed Jun. 13, 2005, Attorney Docket No. 47636.32.3); Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/671,805 entitled “Discrete Organizers for a Travel Bag,” filed Apr. 15, 2005, Attorney Docket No. 47636.32.2; and to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/664,889 entitled “Discrete Organizers for a Purse or Small Travel Bag,” filed Mar. 24, 2005, Attorney Docket No. 47636.33.1 which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Conventional bags come in many varieties. It is known to provide bags, whether they are travel bags or purses, with separate compartments to hold items. Often, many subcompartments are formed in a larger compartment provided by the interior of the bag itself. Oftentimes, it is desirable to separate certain items from other items, such as toiletries and cosmetics. It can be difficult to pack cosmetics and toiletries within a suitcase and have those products readily available to the user. In addition, known designs suffer from the inability to customize the interior of the bag so that it suits the user&#39;s needs. For example, a user may want to customize the bag so that it can carry toiletry items and, at other times, the user may want to customize the bag so that it can be used as a purse. In addition, it is desirable to provide organizers that offer a clear view of items stored therein and neatly organized.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003]     According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a configurable travel accessory that includes a bag and a first and second removable discrete organizer. The bag has an exterior and an interior. The removable first discrete organizer can be coupled to the interior of the bag in a first location and has storage compartments arranged in a first configuration. The removable second discrete organizer can be coupled to the interior of the bag in the first location and has storage compartments arranged in a second configuration different from the first configuration. A user can decide, depending on her desired use of the bag, whether to couple the first or the second discrete organizer to the interior of the bag in the first location.  
         [0004]     According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a configurable travel accessory that includes a bag body and a first and second removable discrete organizer. The bag body includes a three-fold piece and two side pieces, the three-fold piece includes first, second and third folds, the first, second, and third folds and two side pieces each has a first and second outer edge and a top and bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the first fold is coupled to the top edge of the second fold and the bottom edge of the third fold is coupled to the bottom edge of the second fold and the bottom edges of each side piece is coupled to a respective outer edge of the second fold. The outer edges of the first and third folds each has a first zipper and the outer edges of the side pieces are provided with a symmetrical zipper such that by the interactive drawing of the first zipper with the symmetrical zipper, the first and third folds and side pieces form a pouch with the first fold forming the front of the pouch and the third fold forming the rear of the pouch; a closing mechanism at the top edge of the first and third folds. The first removable discrete organizer can be coupled to an interior surface of the first fold and the second removable discrete organizer can be coupled to an interior surface of the third fold.  
         [0005]     According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a configurable travel accessory that includes a bag body and first and second removable discrete organizers. The bag body includes a three-fold piece and two side pieces, the three-fold piece comprises first, second and third folds, the first, second, and third folds and two side pieces each has a first and second outer edge and a top and bottom edge, wherein the bottom edge of the first fold is coupled to the top edge of the second fold and the bottom edge of the third fold is coupled to the bottom edge of the second fold and the bottom edges of each side piece is coupled to a respective outer edge of the second fold; the outer edges of the first and third folds each has a first zipper and the outer edges of the side pieces are provided with a symmetrical zipper such that by the interactive drawing of the first zipper with the symmetrical zipper, the first and third folds and side pieces form a pouch with the first fold forming the front of the pouch and the third fold forming the rear of the pouch; a closing mechanism at the top edge of the first and third folds; a first removable discrete organizer that can be coupled to an interior surface of the first fold; and a second removable discrete organizer that can be coupled to the interior surface of the first fold in place of the first discrete organizer.  
         [0006]     According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a configurable travel bag system including a first travel bag having an exterior and an interior, a second travel bag having an exterior and an interior wherein the interior of the second bag is different than the interior of the first bag, and a removable discrete organizer that can be coupled to the interior of the first bag and can be coupled to the interior of the second bag. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of a closed bag according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the bag shown in  FIG. 1  in its closed state.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the bag shown in  FIG. 1  in its closed state.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the bag shown in  FIG. 1  open to expose the interior of the bag according to a first configuration.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the bag shown in  FIG. 4  with the organizers removed.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective of an organizer according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the bag shown in  FIG. 1  open to expose the interior of the bag according to another embodiment.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective of a closed travel bag according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the travel bag shown in  FIG. 8  open to expose the interior of the bag.  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the travel bag shown in  FIG. 8  open to expose the interior of the bag with the organizers removed.  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the travel bag shown in  FIG. 8  open to expose the interior of the bag with only one of the organizers removed.  
         [0018]      FIG. 12  is a rear perspective of an organizer according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the suitcase shown in  FIG. 8  with only one of the organizers removed according to another embodiment.  
         [0020]      FIG. 14  is a rear perspective of an organizer used in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 15  is a top view of the suitcase shown in  FIG. 8  open to expose the interior of the suitcase according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 16  is a rear perspective view of an organizer used on the embodiment shown in  FIG. 15 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a travel bag shown in an open position according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 18  is a side perspective view of a travel bag according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 19  is a front perspective view of a discrete organizer according to an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 20  is a front perspective view of the travel bag shown in  FIG. 18 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 21  is a front perspective view of a discrete organizer according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of a closed bag  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. The term bag can refer to a purse or a travel bag such as a toiletry bag, suitcase or duffle bag for example. Any type of travel bag may be designed to accommodate the discrete organizers disclosed herein, and none of the embodiments are limited to the type of travel bag shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the bag  10  shown in  FIG. 1  in its closed state.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the bag  10  shown in  FIG. 1  in its closed state.  
         [0031]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the bag  10  shown in  FIG. 1  open to expose the interior  12  of the bag according to a first configuration. The bag body includes a three-fold piece, and two side pieces  20 . The three-fold piece includes a first  16 , second  22  and third  18  fold. Where the first  16 , second  22 , third  18  and side  20  folds each has a first and second outer edge  21 ,  23  and a top and bottom edge  25 ,  27 , respectively. The bottom edge  27  of the first fold  16  is coupled to the top edge  27  of the second fold  22  and the bottom edge  25  of the third fold  18  is coupled to the bottom edge  25  of the second fold  22 . The bottom edges  27  of each side piece  20  is coupled to a respective outer edge  21 ,  23  of the second fold  22 .  
         [0032]     The outer edges  21 ,  23  of the first and third folds  16 ,  18  each has a first zipper  14  and the outer edges  21 ,  23  of the side pieces  20  are provided with a symmetrical zipper  14  such that by the interactive drawing of the first zipper  14  with the symmetrical zipper  14 , the first and third folds  16 ,  18  and side pieces  20  form a pouch with the first fold  16  forming the front of the pouch and the third fold  18  forming the rear of the pouch. A closing mechanism at the top edges  25  of the first and second folds  16 ,  18  allow the pouch to be securely closed. The closing mechanism is preferably a rotatable key and socket assembly as shown.  
         [0033]     The bag has zippers  14  running up its sides that when unzipped as shown in  FIG. 4 , expose each panel of the bag, i.e., the front panel  16 , back panel  18  and side panels  20  as well as a bottom panel  22 . Shown secured to the interior of the bag, in particular, its front, rear, and bottom panels are discrete organizers  24 ,  24 ′,  24 ″. The discrete organizers are pouch-type units that have individual compartments  26  formed therein. The compartments are diverse in size and, preferably, have a closing mechanism so that its contents do not fall out of the compartment. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  the closing mechanism is a zipper  28  although it could also be other types of closing mechanisms such as snaps or Velcro, for example. As will be described hereinafter, the organizers  24 ,  24 ′,  24 ″ are detachable, i.e., removable. The organizers shown on the front and rear panel of the bag are of the same size although they do not have to be and are about double the size of the organizer shown on the bottom panel but it does not necessarily have to be. The side panels  14  of the bag each has a pocket  30  formed thereon although it could also be provided with a detachable discrete organizer appropriately sized.  
         [0034]     The discrete organizers  24  on the first and second folds  16 ,  18  preferably have different storage configurations.  
         [0035]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the bag  10  shown in  FIG. 4  with the organizers removed. The interior surface of the bag is provided with fasteners, in this particular embodiment socket portions  40  of a snap fasteners, although other types of fasteners described herein may be used in any of the embodiments disclosed.  
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective of an organizer  24  according to an embodiment of the invention. It can be seen that the organizer has a flat back panel  42  on which are located stud posts  46  of the snap fasteners that line up with the sockets  40  on the panels of the bag. The organizer  24  is secured to either the front, rear or bottom panel of the bag by lining up the stud posts  46  with the sockets  40  and applying enough pressure so that they snap together, as is well known.  
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the bag  10  shown in  FIG. 1  open to expose the interior of the bag according to another embodiment. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the organizers  24  were preferably made of clear plastic so as to be particularly useful for a toiletry bag. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , organizers  48  are preferably made of a colored nylon, for example, black. When used with such organizers  48 , the bag  10  can be configured to be particularly useful as a purse. In addition, as can be seen from the organizers  48  secured to the front and rear panels of the purse  10 , the configuration of the organizers  48  are altered. For example, the organizer secured to the rear panel has a plurality of slots  50  for credit cards, a holder  52  for a mobile phone and a holder  54  for a writing implement, for example. Of course other configurations may be provided dependent on the use to which the bag is to be put. A user can thus take the same bag and configure it as a toiletry bag, for example, and then change the organizers to configure the bag as a purse. A user can use some or all of the organizers depending on her needs thereby making the bag very adaptable. The traveler can configure the interior of her bag to accommodate her needs as she sees fit. In some instances, she may desire using only some of the organizers or only one of the organizers. In addition, each discrete organizer may be provided with a strap so that a user can wear the discrete organizer on its own, as a purse, for example. Also, the discrete organizer may be provided with fastening mechanisms that allow it to be secured to a fanny pack, for example. For example, the discrete organizer may have a couple of loops at each end to which a handle may be fastened or to which corresponding clips on a fanny pack may be secured.  
         [0038]     Other fastening devices may be used. For example, instead of using snap fasteners, hook and loop pads can be used to secure the organizers in the bag. The organizer would have a flat back panel on which are located one portion of the hook and loop pad that line up with the other cooperating portion of the hook and loop pad on a panel of the bag. In addition, instead of using snap fasteners, a zipper may be used to secure the organizers in the suitcase. The organizer would have located around the periphery of the back panel one half of the zipper, the other half of which is located on a panel of the bag.  
         [0039]     Of course other ways of securing the organizers to the interior of the bag are included.  
         [0040]     While  FIGS. 4, 5  and  7  show the bag  10  with all of the zippers unzipped, the user can still access the interior of the bag by only unzipping one side of the bag. For example the user can unzip the zippers connecting the front panel to the side panels. Alternatively, the user can unzip the zipper coupling the back panel to the side panels.  
         [0041]     The organizers may be made of a clear plastic so that the traveler can see the items contained therein. Additionally, they may be made of a non-transparent material such as black nylon, for example. Preferably the organizers are washable and compliant. In addition, a pouch or compartment may be located on the flat back panel of an organizer to provide additional storage or a hidden compartment for valuables.  
         [0042]      FIG. 8  is a perspective of a closed travel bag  10  according to an embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment, the travel bag is one that is commonly referred to as a Pullman type suitcase that has roller wheels on the bottom and a retractable handle at the top so that the traveler does not have to carry the suitcase but rather rolls it along. Any type of travel bag may be designed to accommodate the discrete organizers disclosed herein, and none of the embodiments are limited to the type of travel bag shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 9  is a top view of the travel bag shown in  FIG. 1  open to expose the interior of the travel bag. As is well known, with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the bag has a lid  12  which is secured to the remainder of the suitcase by a zipper or zippers. When unzippered, the bag opens like a book. Shown secured to the interior surface of the bag and the interior surface of the lid are discrete organizers  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″. The discrete organizers are pouch-type units that have individual compartments  16  formed therein. The compartments are diverse in size and, preferably, have a closing mechanism so that its contents do not fall out of the compartment. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9  the closing mechanism is a zipper  18  although it could also be other types of closing mechanisms such as snaps or hook and loop pads, for example. In addition, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9  one zipper is used in some instances to close multiple compartments, alternatively, each compartment may be provided with its own closing mechanism. The organizers shown on the interior surface of the lid are of the same size although they do not have to be. The organizer shown in the interior of the suitcase is about double the size of the organizers shown in the lid but it does not necessarily have to be. In addition, the larger organizer could be located on the interior surface of the lid as shown in  FIG. 10  and the smaller organizers could be located in the interior of the suitcase as will be discussed hereinafter. Each organizer has loop or loops  20  that allows it be hung when removed from the suitcase.  
         [0044]      FIG. 10  is a top view of the travel bag shown in  FIG. 8  open to expose the interior of the bag with the organizers removed. The interior surface of the lid and the interior of the bag are provided with a socket portion  22  of a snap fastener. As shown, the sockets are symmetrically arranged so that any of the organizers can be used in the lid or interior of the suitcase.  
         [0045]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the bag shown in  FIG. 8  open to expose the interior of the bag with only one of the organizers removed. The traveler can configure the interior of her suitcase to accommodate her needs as she sees fit. In some instances, she may desire using only some of the organizers or only one of the organizers.  
         [0046]      FIG. 12  is a rear perspective of an organizer  14  according to an embodiment of the invention. It can be seen that the organizer has a flat back panel  24  on which are located stud posts  26  of the snap fasteners that line up with the sockets on the interior of the lid or interior of the suitcase. The organizer is secured to either the interior surface of the lid or suitcase by lining up the stud posts with the sockets and applying enough pressure so that they snap together as is well known.  
         [0047]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the suitcase shown in  FIG. 8  with only one of the organizers removed according to another embodiment. Instead of using snap fasteners, hook and loop pads  28  are used to secure the organizers in the suitcase.  FIG. 14  is a rear perspective of an organizer used in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 . It can be seen that the organizer has a flat back panel on which are located one portion of the hook and loop pad  30  that line up with the other cooperating portion of the hook and loop pad  28  on the interior of the lid or interior of the suitcase.  
         [0048]      FIG. 15  is a top view of the suitcase shown in  FIG. 8  open to expose the interior of the suitcase with only one of the organizers removed according to another embodiment. Instead of using snap fasteners, a zipper  32  is used to secure the organizers in the suitcase.  FIG. 16  is a rear perspective of an organizer used in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 15 . It can be seen that the organizer has a flat back panel. Located around the periphery of the back panel is one half of the zipper, the other half of which is located on the interior of the lid or interior of the suitcase.  
         [0049]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a travel bag  100  shown in an open position according to an embodiment of the invention. The travel bag  100  has a telescoping handle  102  shown in its extended position. The travel bag  100  itself is in the shape of a duffel bag and has a main flap  104  that unzips to provide access to the interior of the bag  100 . The flap  104  is shown attached to the handle  102  of the bag by a hook  106 . Located on the interior of the flap  104  is a discrete organizer  108 . A traveler can open the bag  100  by unzipping the flap  104  and attaching its end to the handle  102  by its hook  106  to expose the items contained in the discrete organizer. Preferably the interior surface of the flap  104  is provided with attachments such as the sockets for snap fasteners, hook and loop pads or zippers and the discrete organizer is detachably secured to the interior of the flap  104  in a manner already described.  FIG. 20  is a front perspective view of the travel bag shown in  FIG. 18 .  
         [0050]     In particular, the bag has a bottom panel  200  that is parallel to the plane of the floor on which the bag is placed as shown in  FIG. 18 . The bottom panel has a front edge  202 , a back edge  204 , and a first and second side edge  206 ,  208  coupling the front edge  202  to the back edge  204 . The bag  100  includes a front panel  210  coupled to the front edge  202  of the bottom panel  20 , a back panel  212  coupled to the back edge  204  of the bottom panel  200 . The back panel  212  has a top edge  214 . The bag also includes a first side panel  216  coupled to the first side  206  of the bottom panel  200  and a second side panel  218  coupled to the second side  208  of the bottom panel  200 . The flap  104  has a first edge  219  coupled to the top edge  214  of the back panel  212 . The flap also has side edges  220  and a front edge  222  that detachably couple to the first and second side panels  216 ,  218  and the front panel  210 , respectively. The telescoping handle  102  is coupled to the back panel  212  and can be in an extended position as shown or in a collapsed position. The discrete organizer  108  may have a fastener such as a hook  224  although other fasteners may be used such as ties, for example, at one end that can be attached to the telescoping handle as shown. Alternatively, the flap  103  may have a fastener at its front edge that can be coupled to the handle  102 . Thus, when the handle is in its extended position, the interior surface of the flap  104  and thus the discrete organizer  108  is exposed and the flap  104  is substantially parallel with the back panel  212 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 19  is a front perspective view of a discrete organizer  108  according to an embodiment of the invention. The discrete organizer  108  has a plurality of storage pockets  110  located thereon. It also has a back panel (not shown) on which fasteners are located such as those shown in  FIGS. 12, 14  and  16  that allow the discrete organizer  108  to be detachably coupled to the interior surface of the flap. The discrete organizer  108  has a strap  120  which is shown as attached to the handle of the travel bag but which allows the discrete organizer to be removed from the interior surface of the flap and hung on its own such as form a shower rod, or hook or door handle.  FIG. 21  shows a discrete organizer  108 ′ according to an embodiment of the invention. This discrete organizer  108 ′ is larger than that shown in  FIG. 19 . Located on the front surface of the discrete organizer  108  are fasteners (not shown) that allow the discrete organizer to be configured according to a traveler&#39;s needs. In particular, the smaller discrete organizer  108 ′ is designed to be detachably coupled to the front of the discrete organizer  108  as shown in  FIG. 19 .  
         [0052]     In addition, the discrete organizers may have other configurations. The travel bag  100  shown in  FIG. 18  allows a traveler to display items stored in the discrete organizer in a useful and convenient way. In addition, the traveler can remove the discrete organizer from the interior flap of the bag and hang it on its own. Furthermore, the discrete organizer can be folded as shown in  FIG. 18  and placed in the bag.  
         [0053]     Of course other ways of securing the organizers to the interior of a travel bag are included.  
         [0054]     The organizers may be made of a clear plastic so that the traveler can see the items contained therein. Additionally, they may be made of a nylon netting, for example. The user can this configure the travel bag to her needs by replacing one type of discrete organizer with another. Preferably they are washable and compliant. In addition, a pouch or compartment may be located on the flat back panel of an organizer to provide additional storage or a hidden compartment for valuables.