Abstract:
A cosmetic and utility kit includes a container formed with a back side, bottom side, front side and opposite lateral side and further includes an extension flap extending from the back side that folds over the bottom side, front side and top side to enclose contents within the container.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a utility application based upon Ser. No. 60/225,247 filed Aug. 15, 2000 for which priority is claimed. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a luggage item typically referred to as a cosmetic or utility kit. 
     Travelers often desire to have available a smaller item of luggage, often termed a kit, to carry personal items, toiletries and the like. Such a luggage item is typically larger than a woman&#39;s handbag, but small enough to be conveniently carried and stored under the seat of an airliner or in the overhead compartment of an airliner. It is desirable, however, that such a kit or bag include various compartments, pouches, and pockets for storing items separately in a safe and secure manner. Further, it is desirable to provide a mirror in such kits that can be conveniently accessed without interference with the contents of the kit, yet will be incorporated in a manner which enables the mirror to be protected from breaking. 
     Another desire in such a kit, or luggage item, is to provide means whereby the item can be conveniently hung from a hanger or the like without spilling the contents while enabling ease of access to the contents and use of the kit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly, the present invention comprises a cosmetic and utility kit, or item of luggage, which includes a generally rectangular container having an open top and which further includes an extension panel that wraps around the bottom and front side of the kit and fits over the open top of the kit where the extension panel is retained by means of a zipper or other fastening mechanism to enclose the contents of the kit. A top flap then folds over and covers the flexible extension panel. Hanging straps are attached to the top flap or to the backside of the kit, or to both the top flap and backside of the kit, to enable the kit to be hung in a convenient manner with the extension flap open to expose the contents of the kit. A mirror and tray are incorporated in the extension flap which folds over the top side of the kit. Separate end pouches are provided at the opposite ends or sides of the kit. 
     Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a cosmetic and utility kit which includes multiple pockets for separately storing various items in a protected manner. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a cosmetic and utility kit which includes a container formed by a bottom side, back side, front side and opposite, lateral side panels defining an open top and further including an extension panel which folds over the bottom, front and top sides to provide an enclosure for storage of items. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a utility and cosmetic kit which incorporates a tray and mirror to enable use of the kit when partially opened. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a utility and cosmetic kit which is easily transported, lightweight, made from flexible fabric or material and which further includes zipper accessible pouches. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the kit viewed from the front side of the kit; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the kit of FIG. 1 in the open position; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the kit of FIG. 2 in a partially opened position; and 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the kit of FIG. 2 wherein the interior of the kit is open and exposed for viewing. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The cosmetic and utility kit of the present invention comprises a generally rectangular parallelepiped package, or container, which includes a back side  10 , a front side  12  spaced from the back side  10 , a first end panel  14 , and a second end panel  16  parallel to and spaced from the first end panel  14 . The first and second end panels  14  and  16  are connected to the back side  10  and to a bottom side  18 . The bottom side  18  is connected to and forms an extension of the back side  10  connecting with the front side  12 . The various sides  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  form an enclosure with an open top side. The back side  10  is fabricated in combination with an overlay bottom extension  11 , front panel extension  13  and top pocket extension  15  that define an elongate flexible extension panel  19  connected to lower edge  22  of the back side  10 . In this fashion, the extension  19  comprising the panels  11  and  13  and a pocket  15  form a flap  19  which is foldable over the bottom side  18  and the front side  12  so that the pocket  15  fits over or into the open top of the defined by back side  10 , front side  12 , bottom side  18  and end sides or panels  14 ,  16 . This elongate flap  19  comprising panels  11 ,  13  and pocket  15  may be attached to the formed container by a single zipper  26 . Thus, the extension flap  19  may be held in position and attached to the container formed by the back side  10 , bottom side  18 , front side  12 , and end panels  14  and  16 . 
     Various flexible mesh panels, such as mesh panel  30 , may be provided to define pockets accessible through a zipper, for example, zipper  32  in the front panel  12 . Similarly, mesh panel  40  on the inside of front covering panel extension  13  is accessed through a zipper opening  42  defining a pocket in the flap extension. The extension end or pocket  15  includes a zippered pouch  44  on the inside of the extension panel accessible through a zippered opening  46 . The zippered pouch  44  may, when folded back into the interior of the enclosure, include a mirror  48  on the outside face thereof, or may be contoured to form a tray  49 , such as depicted in FIG.  3 . 
     A top cover flap  56  hinged to back side  10  and may be folded over the portion of extension  19  defined by the panel  13  and pocket  15 . Flap  56  is attached to panel  13  by means of a strap or buckle  58  as shown in FIG.  1 . The inside of the flap  56  includes a mesh pocket  60  with a zipper opening  62  for storage of additional items. 
     Pockets or pouches are also formed in association with each of the end panels  14  and  16 . Thus, a pouch  66  is formed in combination with end panel  14  and access thereto is provided by a zipper  68 . A pouch  70  accessible by a zipper  72  is associated with the end panel  16 . 
     The interior of the enclosure defined by the sides or panels  10 ,  12  and  18  may include elastic restraining straps  74 , for example, which will hold items, such as cosmetic items, within the enclosure. A mesh pocket formed by a mesh panel  76  may be provided within the pocket, such as pocket  66 . 
     The kit further includes a hanging strap  80  which is attached to the back panel  10  at the juncture with the flap  56 . Alternatively, the buckle  58  may comprise a hanging strap  81 . Thus, both strap  80  and buckle  58  may be used or function to support or attach the kit to a hanger for easy access when traveling, by way of example. 
     One of the advantages of the kit is its utility in various circumstances. For example, as shown in the Figures, the zippers holding the extension flap or panel  19  may be fully opened and the kit may then be hung by the top flap  56  as shown in FIG.  2 . In this manner, all of the contents of the kit may be easily accessed. 
     The construction of the kit as described enables maintaining back side  10  and extension  19  as well as flap  56  flat against a wall or door or thereby permitting ease of access to the contents of the kit. 
     However, if an individual is sitting, for example, in an airline seat and wishes to utilize the kit, for example, to apply make-up, the kit may be partially opened as depicted in FIG.  3 . That is, the top flap  56  may be lifted and disengaged from its buckle. A mirror  48  can then be utilized and the tray  49  also can be utilized to retain items on the top of the kit. The items will thus be placed at the edges of the mirror  48  so that the mirror  48  may be utilized while the tray  49  retains the items conveniently so that they will not be dropped or lost. The tray  49  may be a premolded item which is shallow and serves as the inside panel of the pocket item  15 . The support strap  80  in FIG. 1 may be utilized to hold the kit or container attached to the back of the chair or the seat while the kit is in the partially opened condition, as illustrated in FIG. 3 again, enabling use of the kit by virtue of partial opening of the top flap  56 . 
     Various modifications may be made to the kit or luggage item. The pockets may be formed of mesh or fabric material. Zippers may be included or excluded. The end pouches may be included or excluded. The shape and form of the tray may be adjusted or amended. A mirror may be incorporated on the inside of the flap  56  and protected by padding, for example. Thus, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.