Combination camera bag

A combination camera bag of flexible fabric comprises two "twin" camera bags, one the mirror image of the other, which are selectively attachable side by side for individual use when only one camera system is needed for a photographic field trip, or for doubled use when two camera systems are required. Each twin bag has a partitioned and cushioned camera and camera accessory insert which can be removed and used either for storage of a camera system or for replacement by still other inserts, selectively, holding other camera systems in storage.

This invention relates to camera bags or field bags of the type having 
cushioned, removable compartmented inserts for the reception and carrying 
of one or more camera systems. 
Use of soft camera bags having an interior cushioned compartment for 
receiving cameras and other fragile camera accessories such as camera 
lenses, filters, etc. is known. Such camera bags are designed to 
accommodate one photographic system, that is, a camera and the particular 
photographic accessories to be used with that camera. Frequently, however, 
the serious photographer, whether amateur or professional, owns two or 
more camera systems, which would heretofore require either one camera bag 
for each or a very large camera bag capable of carrying two or more 
cameras and their accessories. If only one camera system was needed for 
any particular field trip, such a large camera bag would be inconvenient 
to carry. Even if the un-needed camera and accessories were left behind to 
reduce weight, the bulky size of the large multi-camera bag would be 
inconvenient as compared with the use of a single system camera bag. 
It is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to provide a 
combination camera bag comprising twin single system camera bags that can 
readily be attached side by side for field use with two camera systems or, 
when detached or separated from one another, that can be used individually 
in the field with only one camera and its particular accessories. 
A more particular object of the invention is to provide a combination 
camera bag of the character described the individual twin camera bags of 
which are mirror images of one another and are provided with a common, 
separable slide fastener adapted to secure the two bags in side to side 
relative disposition to provide, when needed, a combination camera bag 
housing two camera systems. 
Another object of the invention is to provide twin camera bags of the 
character described, each of which has a partitioned and cushioned insert 
for separately and safely holding a camera and its accessories. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a combination camera bag of 
the character described wherein the partition walls of the inserts are 
adjustable to accommodate to the size of the camera or camera accessories 
to be contained for carrying. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved 
combination camera bag of the character described which will be simple in 
construction, streamlined in appearance, dependable in its protective 
performance, and durable in use. 
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent 
from the following description when read with reference to the 
accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals 
denote corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 
designates, generally, a combination camera bag embodying the invention, 
the same comprising two substantially identical, individually usable 
camera bags 11a, 11b, separably attached together by a zipper or slide 
fastener assembly 12. Since the individual camera bag assemblies 11a and 
11b are identical to the extent that they are mirror images of one 
another, only the left-hand bag 11a is described herein in detail with 
reference to FIGS. 2 through 7. 
As best illustrated in FIG. 3, the individual camera bag 11a is fabricated 
of a flexible, wear-resistant fabric such as a heavy duty, moisture 
resistant, woven fabric that can readily be sewn for convenience in 
manufacturing. The camera bag 11a comprises a main compartment portion 13 
and an auxiliary compartment 14 sewn together at a common side wall or 
interior divider wall 15. The main compartment portion 13 and auxiliary 
compartment 14 of the individual camera bag 11a are rectangular in shape, 
with the main compartment portion 13 being approximately twice the lateral 
thickness or width of the auxiliary compartment portion 14. A slide 
fastener or zipper 16 extending centrally along the top and partially down 
each side of the auxiliary compartment portion 14 permits opening and 
closing of said compartment portion for the insertion and removal of 
camera supplies such as photographic film. A rectangular top flap 17 sewn 
along the inside at the top of the main compartment portion 13 can be 
removably secured in closing relation with respect thereto by slide 
fastener or a zipper 18. A fabric strap 19 sewn centrally along the 
underside and partially up the ends of the main compartment portion 13 of 
the individual camera bag 11a terminates in metal hook eyes 20, 21 (only 
hook eye 21 visible in FIG. 3) to which the snap hooks of an adjustable 
carrying strap 21a, can be attached for hand or shoulder carrying (see 
FIG. 2). 
Removably receivable within the main compartment portion 13 is a 
rectangular, adjustable, camera and camera accessories container insert 
assembly 22 having cushioning properties. As best illustrated in FIGS. 4, 
6 and 7, the insert assembly 22 comprises a container portion 23 having a 
bottom wall 24, side walls 25, 26, end walls 27, 28, and a top wall or 
closure flap 29, all integrally formed of a semi-rigid central panel 41 of 
cardboard or the like, faced with layers of foam cushion material 42, 
sandwiched together between fabric coverings 30, 31 sewn together at the 
lines of juncture along the bottom wall, the end walls, and the top wall, 
as indicated by the broken line representation thereof in FIG. 6. Such one 
piece fabrication of the container portion 23 permits folding together or 
"setting up" into a rectangular container of such shape and size as to be 
received snugly within main compartment portion 13 of either one of the 
individual camera bags 11a, or 11b. The fabric covering layers 30, 31, at 
the inside and the outside, respectively, of the container portion 23 are 
of a soft, fine, wool-like material to which the miniature hooks or burrs 
of pressure-sensitive VELCRO strips will adhere. Thus, as illustrated in 
FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of VELCRO hook or burr strips 32, 33 secured at one 
end in spaced relation along the free, longitudinal edge of the top wall 
or closure flap 29, serve to releaseably attach said top wall with respect 
to side wall 25. 
Means is provided for dividing the interior of the insert container portion 
23 into a plurality of compartments of adjustable size to snugly 
accommodate cameras and camera accessories, such as lenses of various 
sizes and shapes. To this end, a plurality of separable partition wall 
members 34, 35 (only two illustrated and described herein by way of 
example) are provided, partition wall members being of substantially the 
same height and transverse width as the "set-up" or folded insert assembly 
container portion 23. Partition wall members 34, 35 are preferably 
fabricated of the same materials as those of the container portion 23, so 
as to be somewhat flexible while at the same time having sufficient 
resiliency along the outer surfaces to provide a high degree of cushioning 
for the cameras and camera accessories to be carried within the 
partitioned sub-compartments of container insert assembly 22. As best 
illustrated in FIG. 4, the longitudinal edges of the partition wall 
members 34, 35 have sewn thereto, in spaced relation along each side, 
VELCRO hook or burr strips 36, 37, 38 and 39, which are used to 
releaseably secure said partition wall members at any desired position 
between the inner surfaces of the container portion 23. It will thus be 
apparent that the partition wall members 34, 35, etc. can not only be 
positioned to provide sub-compartments of adjustable size to accommodate 
any particular size of camera or camera accessories suitable for carrying 
in the camera bag, but also serve to retain the side walls 25, 26 of the 
container insert assembly 22 in relatively spaced, parallel disposition, 
or in the "set-up" position for use. 
It is to be further noted that the container insert assembly 22, in 
addition to being usable in association with camera bag 11a or 11b, for 
example, for safely carrying a camera and its accessories, can also be 
used separately as a storage container for a camera and camera 
accessories. This feature is particularly advantageous to professional 
photographers or camera buffs who own several camera, each with its own 
set of accessories, when only one or two camera systems is to be carried 
for field use. 
The versatility of the combination camera bag herein disclosed is further 
enhanced by the provision of the two substantially identical camera bags 
11a, 11b which, as illustrated in FIG. 1, can be zippered together to 
provide a combination bag holding two container insert assemblies 22 for 
carrying two sets of camera equipment or camera systems. With such 
combinative use of the camera bags 11a, 11b, the carrying strap 21a will 
preferably be snap-hooked between opposed hook eyes of the two bags. As is 
commonly provided for, the carrying strap 21a can be adjusted as to length 
carrying either by hand or over the shoulder. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, when requirements are such that only one 
camera with its set of accessories is needed, the camera bags 11a, 11b can 
be separated for individual usage by releasing slide fastener 12. 
While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which my 
invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood 
that this embodiment is presented by way of example only and not in a 
limiting sense. The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and 
modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.