Abstract:
A dual compartment, dual open mouth tool bag is fabricated from flexible material forming the side and top panels of the bag and the dual access openings. Each of the separate open mouth openings provides separate access to an individual compartment within the bag. The compartments may, in an alternative embodiment, be connected one to the other.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a utility application based upon and incorporating by reference an earlier filed provisional application Ser. No. 60/450,207 filed Feb. 25, 2003 and entitled “Dual Compartment Tool Bag” for which priority is claimed. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the principal aspect the present invention relates to a tool bag and, more particularly, to a tool bag, which includes first and second generally parallel access openings in the top thereof. 
   Historically, tool bags have been limited to a single hinge top opening for access to a single interior compartment. The hinge opening, sometimes termed a “Gatemouth” opening, provides wide-open access to the contents of the bag. This style of bag construction has also been used for travel bags, medical bags, tool bags, legal and accounting document bags and handbags. 
   While such single mouth or single top entry bags are exceedingly useful, often their utility is diminished since the person using such a bag will not need to place all of their tools or items in a single compartment. Rather, it will be more convenient to have side-by-side, separated dual compartments. Thus, there has need for a dual compartment double-hinged opening case or bag. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, the invention relates to a soft sided bag having first and second generally parallel flexible open mouth access openings in the top of the bag wherein each of the separate openings connect to a separate compartment within the bag and further wherein the separate compartments may be joined or connected to expose the entire contents of the bag. Further, the invention contemplates the pattern of the material utilized to create the double, open mouth bag in that the configuration of various panels is disclosed as well as the manner in which the panels are connected either permanently or temporarily by means of a hook and loop fastener, for example. The bag has a generally rectangular rigid base whereas the sides of the bag are generally flexible and soft sided so that the dual open mouth construction of the bag is facilitated by the folding of the side panels and the joining thereof by a fastener mechanism such as a zipper or snap fasteners. 
   Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved dual, open mouth bag construction which may be utilized as a tool bag, for example, wherein first and second adjacent compartments are provided within the bag each compartment accessible through its own individual, flexible, open mouth construction. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, yet rugged and durable open mouth bag construction. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a pattern for a dual open mouth bag construction wherein the pattern may be utilized to provide for a bag having permanently separated dual compartments or dual compartments which may be integrated one with the other in an easy and efficient manner. 
   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 side view of a bag or case of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric end view of the bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric end view similar to  FIG. 2  wherein, the two compartment openings for the bag are in the open position; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded isometric view of the component parts forming the bag or case of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the bag of  FIG. 4  in the assembled condition; and 
       FIG. 6  is a pattern for the flexible fabric material forming the side and internal panels of the bag. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The dual opening, two-compartment bag of the present invention has a multiplicity of potential uses. It may be used, for example, as a tool bag, a travel bag, a medical bag or a handbag. The design of the bag thus facilitates multiple potential uses. 
   Referring to the figures, the bag is a generally soft sided bag having a rigid planar flat bottom panel  10  as depicted in  FIG. 4 . The bag further includes first and second parallel opposite, spaced, end sides  12  and  14  and third and fourth parallel, opposite spaced lateral sides  16  and  18 . The first, second, third and fourth sides are  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  are typically soft sided although each may be partially re-enforced or made from a rigid or semi rigid material in their lower half joined to the bottom panel  10 . The sides  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18 , as well as a mid-panel  20  referenced hereinafter, are all fabricated or sewn together from a canvas material or similar material prior to attachment to the generally rectangular, flat planar, bottom panel or side  10 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 4  all of the component side parts of the bag are prefabricated separate and apart from the bottom panel  10 . The bottom panel  10  is then sewn or attached to the sides  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  to form the bag as depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
   A feature of the invention is a dual layer, mid-panel, which is depicted in phantom as mid-panel  20  in  FIG. 4 . Mid-panel  20  is comprised of two layers or panels  21  and  23  of flexible fabric or material which respectively are opposed to one of the lateral side panels  16  and  18 . The mid-panel layers  21  and  23  are sewn or attached together along seams which join lateral end edges  25  and  27 . The mid-panel layers  21  and  23  which form the mid panel  20  join to end walls  12  and  14  and define a bridge or connecting sections  22 A and  22 B respectively therebetween. Thus, each mid-panel layer  21  and  23  provides a flexible flap sector  31  and  33  opposed respectively to the flexible top sector of lateral sides  18  and  16 . 
   In practice, the pattern forming for the end panels  12  and  14  and side panels  16 ,  18 , as well as mid panel  20  (i.e. layers  21 ,  23 ) is depicted in  FIG. 6  wherein seam line  24  is indicated by edges  24 A,  25 A,  25 B and  24 B associated respectively with panel parts  14 A,  22 B and  14 B. Side panel  18  is then sewn to panel sections  12 A,  14 A along seam line edges  12 C/ 18 C and  14 C/ 18 B. The mid panel  20  may be a separate panel piece or integral with sides  12  and  14  as depicted in  FIG. 6 . 
   Thus, connecting segment  22  ( 22 A,  22 B) joins the mid section of the first and third wall  12  and  14  and further includes a center seam  24  ( 24 A, 24 B) which is sewn or connected to the mid-panel  20  (i.e. layers  21 ,  23 ). The sidewalls  16  and  18  flexible side walls and are connected to the connecting segment  22 A or  22 C by means of zipper construction  30  and  32  respectively. As will be noted in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6  the connecting segment  22  comprises an extension of the first and third sidewalls  12  and  14 . The zipper connection  30  joins the flexible sidewalls  16  and first and third end walls  12  and  14  with the connecting segment  22  to enclose a first compartment  40 . In a similar manner, the zipper  32  joins the connecting section  22  with the first and third end walls  12  and  14  and the fourth sidewall  18  to form a compartment  42 . The compartments  40  and  42  are separated one from the other by means of the mid-panel  20  (layers  21 ,  23 ) as depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
   The mid-panel  20  may be connectable to the bottom panel  10  and the end panels  12  and  14  respectably by releasable fasteners (e.g.,  90 , 92  in  FIG.4 ) and more particularly by a loop type fastener such as known by the trade name Velcro. In this manner, the mid-panel  20  may be disengaged to from the bottom wall panel  10 , and the first and third end walls  12  and  14  to provide access to a connected set of compartments  40  and  42  defining a single compartment. Thus, the separate compartments  40  and  42  will be joined together to form a single compartment. Alternatively, the mid-panel  20  could be sewn in place as described previously to provide first and second separate compartments  40  and  42  for the bag. 
   Carry handle straps  50  and  52  are attached to the side panels  16  and  18 . A shoulder strap  54  is provided and includes fabric and loops  56  and  58  each having eyelets  60  and  62  respectably. A carabineer  64  is provided through eyelet  60  for attachment to a fabric loop  66  sewn into the seam  24 . Similarly, a carabineer  68  is provided to the eyelet  62  for engagement with a fabric loop  70  sewn in the seam  24  at the opposite end of the bag. The shoulder strap arrangement described provides significant adjustment for the strap to facilitate carrying of the bag. 
   Variations of the described bag may be provided as within in the scope of the invention. The invention therefore is limited only by the following claims and equivalents.