Abstract:
A bag or pack for transporting material, which may include air tank bottles, rope, and/or other firefighting gear. The bag may be used in multiple different ways, but may be especially configured to rest on top of a primary air tank worn by the user and to avoid falling between that tank and the user&#39;s back. Pockets in the bag may allow the user to install bottles in an upright or inverted configuration, which may aid the user in quickly determining which bottles are usable. Bag may free up the user&#39;s hands, allowing him to carry extra gear and requiring further trips from a supply source to a staging area, which may be several floors up, e.g., in the case of a high rise environment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a storage device, such as a bag, for transporting equipment from one location to another. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Previous methods for transporting gear, including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) bottles, involved using webbing wrapped around the bottle tops, hauling a rope with the bottles attached to one or more rings, or manually carrying the bottles. The latter two methods can be cumbersome for the user, who often may be firefighting personnel. They also may require the use of the user&#39;s hands, which may prevent the user from carrying additional equipment, performing additional manual tasks, or doing something as simple as holding a handrail for support while climbing stairs. 
         [0005]    In addition, while the first method may result in an apparatus that the user can carry without the use of hands, e.g., over a shoulder, it too has disadvantages. For example, the webbing may become tangled, requiring that the user spend time straightening it out instead of moving gear. Additionally, the webbing may become caught on the wearer&#39;s equipment, making it more difficult for the user to shed it if needed, or one some other structure such as a door handle, which may impede the user&#39;s progress, cause the user to lose his balance, or otherwise create a hazard for the user. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a carrying apparatus that overcomes the drawbacks described above. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In one embodiment, a bag may comprise: a plurality of pockets at opposing ends of a strap portion, the strap portion comprising a generally constant width portion having a first end and a second end, and a flared portion at each of the first and second ends; each of the pockets having an opening proximate a respective flared portion; wherein each pocket is at least about 6 inches in diameter and between about 12 inches and about 24 inches deep. The bag also may include at least one secondary pocket disposed alongside one of the plurality of pockets. At one end, at least one of the pockets may include a cinch closure, while at an opposite end, the pocket may include a grommeted opening. 
         [0008]    The strap portion of the bag may include an enhanced thickness padding portion. The padding may be disposed within the generally constant width portion and may be about ¼″ thick. The bag also may include a handle extending upward from the strap portion. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a bag configured to carry one or more spare air bottles may comprise a strap portion extending from one end of the bag to another end, the strap portion joining a plurality of pockets and forming a portion of each of the pockets. The strap portion also may include an increased thickness portion disposed proximate a midpoint of the strap portion, the increased thickness portion including a compressible padding disposed within the strap portion. The bag also may include a handle disposed proximate a midpoint of the strap portion and a bendable strip coupled to each end of the handle, the strip disposed within the strap portion. In addition, the bag may include at least one opening in a bottom of at least one pocket. Moreover, the trap portion may include a generally constant width portion spanning a centerline of the bag, and a flared portion proximate an opening into at least one of the pockets. 
         [0010]    The bag further may include at least one secondary pocket, where one of the primary pockets forms a portion of a wall of the secondary pocket. Additionally, the bag may include at least one grommet disposed between the plurality of pockets, which may allow the user to couple carabineers to the bag to carry additional equipment. The bag also may include reflective material disposed at various locations, e.g., on at least one of the strap portion and the plurality of pockets. 
         [0011]    These and other features and advantages are evident from the following description of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bag for transporting equipment, shown in one method of use. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a bottom, perspective view of one side of the bag of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a centrally offset section view through an upper portion of the bag of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a bag for transporting equipment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    A bag or pack  10  for transporting SCBA air bottles  2  and other equipment. Bag may be particularly well-suited for use by firefighting personnel, e.g., in transporting bottles to and from an upper floor staging area in the event of a high rise fire. 
         [0017]    Bag  10  may include at least one pouch or pocket  12  at an end  14 , extending along outwardly facing side  16 , with pocket opening  22  pointed upward or toward a center  20  of bag  10 . Bag  10  may be substantially symmetrical, including having a plurality of pockets  12 , which may include a pocket at each end  14 ,  15 . In one embodiment, pockets  12  may be differently shaped or configured to receive different objects. Alternatively, however, pockets  12  may be similarly shaped. 
         [0018]    Pockets  12  may be configured to store and transport various-sized air bottles. Typically, bottles are sized according to the amount of air they can hold, e.g., 30 minute, 45 minute, and 60 minute bottles. Bottles 2 may be generally cylindrical, and longer-lasting bottles may have larger diameters than shorter-lasting bottles. Additionally or alternatively, longer-lasting bottles may be taller than shorter-lasting alternatives. As such, pockets for longer-lasting bottles may be wider and/or deeper than pockets for bottles with smaller air capacities. Preferably, pockets  12  may have diameters proximate openings  22  slightly larger than the diameter of the largest bottle that each pocket  12  is designed to carry. Pockets  12  also preferably have a depth smaller than a height of the bottle stored within the pocket, allowing bottle  2  to protrude outward from a pocket opening  22 . 
         [0019]    As discussed above, pockets  12  may vary in width and/or depth depending on the size of the bottles designed to fit within pockets  12 . For example, a pocket designed to hold a 30 minute bottle may be about 9 inches in diameter and about 16 inches deep. A pocket designed to hold a 45 minute bottle may be about 10½ inches in diameter and about 16 inches deep. And a pocket designed to hold a 60 minute bottle may be about 10½ in diameter and about 19 inches deep. In general pockets may be at least about 6 inches in diameter and between about 12 inches and about 24 inches deep. 
         [0020]    In contrast to harness or strap-type carriers, configuration of pockets  12  permits a user to place and store a bottle  2  in either an upright or inverted configuration. This flexibility may allow the user to store full bottles in one configuration and empty bottles in another configuration, e.g., full cylinders may have their valves pointed upwards while empty cylinders may be upside-down. As such, bag  10  provides a rapid, visual method of determining which bottles are usable and which are not and the ability to quickly insert or remove bottles. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, opening  22  into pocket  12  may be unimpeded, i.e., there may be no cover or closure to pocket  12 . As such, it may be easier to insert and/or remove bottles  2 . Due to sizing of pocket diameter proximate opening  22 , bottles  2 , therefore may be securely stowed inside pockets while being substantially prevented from moving around within pockets. In another embodiment, one or more pockets  12  may include a cinch-type closure  24  proximate opening  22 . Cinch closure  24  may assist in securing bottles that are significantly smaller than opening  22 , thereby maintaining secure engagement of the bottle within pocket  12 . Alternatively, cinch closure may permit the user to close opening  22  less than completely. This configuration may allow the user to use the pocket to store and disperse rope 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, one or more of pockets  12  may have a substantially constant cross-section along a substantial majority of its length, i.e., neither significantly flaring nor tapering with the exception of areas proximate opening  22  or base  26 . In another embodiment, one or more of pockets  12  may have an expanding cross-section along its length, have a larger diameter at its base  26  than at its opening  22 . 
         [0023]    Pockets  12  further may include one or more openings  28 , preferably disposed within base  26 . Openings  28  may be surrounded by grommets  30  and may permit for drainage of water or other liquids that may enter pockets. 
         [0024]    Bag  10  may include additional pockets  50 , which may extend outward from pockets  12 . Pockets  50  preferably are shallower than pockets  12 , e.g., between about ¼ and about ¾, and in one embodiment about ½ as tall as pockets  12 . 
         [0025]    Pockets  50  may include some type of sealing or closing structure  52 , e.g., cover flaps, zippers, cinch closures, etc. Flaps also may use couplers such as Velcro, buttons, etc., to assist in keeping flaps closed. As seen in  FIG. 1 , closing structure  52  may be a flap that extends over at least a part of an opening  54  to pocket  50 . This configuration may allow for storage of objects within pockets  50  while permitting longer objects to extend beyond pocket opening  54 . 
         [0026]    As with pockets  12 , secondary pockets  50  also may include one or more openings  56  at bottoms of pockets  50 . Openings  56  may be surrounded by grommets  58 , and may permit drainage of pockets  50 . 
         [0027]    Strap portion  32  may extend between pockets  12  or, alternatively, may extend from one end of the bag to the other, and may form an inward portion of pockets  12 . Strap portion  32  may include a first portion  34  having a generally constant width that expands to one or more second or flared portions  36 , each flared portion  36  disposed proximate pockets  12 . 
         [0028]    First portion  34  may have a width between about 3″ and about 6″, and in one embodiment, about 4½″. Width of first portion  34  may be selected to provide sufficient surface area and frictional engagement between inwardly facing side  18  and a wearer&#39;s primary air tank during use so that pack  10  may remain in a desired position until removed at a desired location. 
         [0029]    A typical user may wear pack  10  when climbing stairs, e.g., in a high rise or other building fire where access to elevators has been shut down and where it may be necessary to have spare air bottles readily and quickly available. This user may be carrying a substantial amount of gear and may be wearing a harness to carry a primary air tank on the middle of the user&#39;s back. The location of the primary tank on the user&#39;s back may prevent the user from wearing another harness or standard backpack. 
         [0030]    In addition, the primary tank typically is inverted and has a rounded bottom pointing upwards, which may pose several problems to the user attempting to carry additional gear. For example, the rounded bottom may not be conducive to storing items on top of the tank, as they may have a tendency to slide along the rounded surface and off of the tank. Additionally, a gap may exist between this tank bottom and the user&#39;s back, which may become a valley into which objects may fall. This problem may be exacerbated by the user&#39;s body positioning during use, e.g., a user climbing stairs may lean forward, making it easier for objects to fall into that valley. Because the user may be faced with the need to act quickly and decisively at a moment&#39;s notice, it may be desirable to avoid objects falling into this valley, which then may become more difficult and/or time consuming to remove. 
         [0031]    As such, first portion  34  also may include additional padding  38  as compared to a remainder of strap portion  32 . Padding may be external, but preferably is disposed within first portion  34 . Padding may be between about ⅛″ and about 1″ thick, preferably between about ⅛″ and about ½″ thick, and in one embodiment, about ¼″ thick. 
         [0032]    Compression of padding  38  may increase frictional engagement with the primary tank and may prevent the strap  14  from sliding between the wearer and the primary tank. Padding  38  further may be useful in the event that pack  10  is carried over a user&#39;s shoulder and/or neck. 
         [0033]    In addition, first portion  34  further may include a handle  40 , preferably generally equally spaced from each pocket  12 . Handle  40  may be used to lift bag  10  off the wearer, e.g., by pulling away from the wearer when first portion  34  rests on top of the primary tank or by elevating the first portion  34  above and away from the primary tank, should the first portion  34  fall between the tank and the user. Handle  40  further may be useful to lift bag  10  into place on the user, to drag bag  10 , or to serve as an additional means for carrying bag  10 . 
         [0034]    Bag  10  further may include reinforcing material such as a strip  41  to assist in securing handle  40  to strap portion  32 . Strip  41  may extend underneath a surface of first portion  34  at one or more locations where handle  40  couples to first portion  34  and may provide an additional surface to which handle  40  may be coupled, e.g., via stitching, rivets, or some other type of fastening. 
         [0035]    As such, bag  10  may be removed quickly and easily when the wearer reaches a desired location or if the wearer quickly needs to shed the extra equipment. 
         [0036]    Strap portion  32  additionally may include at least one, and preferably a plurality, of openings  42 . Openings  42  may be surrounded by grommets  44  and may be sized to accommodate carabineers, clamps, hooks, or other types of coupling devices, which may be used to couple additional tools or equipment to pack  10 . Openings may be disposed along first portion  34 , proximate a transition to flared portions  36 , which may allow for passage of carabineers through openings  42  while minimizing or avoiding interference with storage and retrieval of bottles in pockets  12 . 
         [0037]    Pack  10  may include reflective material  60  to enhance visibility. In this context, retroreflective materials also should be considered to be reflective materials. Reflective material  60  may be positioned at one or more locations on pack, e.g., along strap portion  32 , pockets  12 , pockets  50 , and/or covers  52 . In particular, reflective material proximate opening  22  into pocket  12  may assist the user in locating opening  22 , which may be beneficial if the user needs to insert or remove a bottle in conditions with decreased visibility. Reflective material on pockets  50  and covers  52  may serve a similarly beneficial purpose for locating and using pockets  50 . Similarly, reflective material on strap portion  32  may assist the user in locating handle  40 . Reflective materials also may beneficial in helping other people locate the wearer of pack  12 . 
         [0038]    Back  10  may be between about 40 inches and about 90 inches long, preferably between about 50 inches and about 75 inches long, and in one embodiment, about 65 inches long. 
         [0039]    Second pockets  50  may be between about  4  inches and about  12  inches deep, preferably about  9  inches deep. 
         [0040]    Bag  10  may be made of a vinyl- or canvas-type material, preferably fire resistant and/or fire retardant, although other materials also are possible. 
         [0041]    While the foregoing written description enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific exemplary embodiments and methods herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments and methods, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.