Patent Publication Number: US-2019174891-A1

Title: Item Storage Bag

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/597,531 filed on Dec. 12, 2017. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to portable receptacles. More specifically, present invention relates to a device with flexible openings that contain various items a user might need. The present invention has a shallow side pocket located towards the main opening of the bag for smaller items that prevents these smaller items from mixing and getting lost among larger items. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     On any given day, a person has several items that must be on hand, in addition to items that are useful to have available. Phones, wallets, and keys are crucial items, while other items such as clothing options, laptops, electrical chargers, cosmetic tools and devices, umbrellas, and other items depending on conditions such as weather, temperature, and the requirements of the day. To this end, a wide variety of bags have been created. Several such bags typically have a large pocket for containing items, and a strap for carrying over the shoulder of the user. These bags also typically have patterns or decorations that a user can match with their outfit for the day. 
     However, such bags typically have several restrictions limiting their effectiveness. The use of one large bag means that smaller items typically fall to the bottom of the bag, making them inaccessible. These smaller items, such as lip balms, pencils, pens, and headphones, are difficult to identify and grasp amongst the internal clutter. In order to locate those items, bag users have to dig their hands into the bag past their larger items. In any ordinary bag, the user must at times empty the entire contents of their bag, simply to find a small item that is unseen; therefore, the small item is unattainable without going through the process of inconveniently remove existing contents. This is not only a consistently time-consuming annoyance, but also a safety concern as the users private and valuable items are removed and perhaps placed on another surface which is susceptible to being lost, stolen, or misplaced. This often results in the user removing the wrong items from the bag and the user consequently having to continue digging for items. What is needed is a device that can store small items separately from larger items, for ease of item removal. Further needed is a bag that provides the user with elevated pockets that improve the ability of a user to locate, remove, and store smaller items. 
     The present invention addresses these issues. The present invention is a bag-like receptacle with various designs and a strap that enables the user to carry the present invention between locations, thus enabling the user to transport items from location to location. Pockets are located at the top of the inside of the main opening, as well as outside of the main bag opening, enabling the user to store items conveniently for subsequent usage. The present invention may be made of a variety of materials and may also utilize a variety of designs, thus enabling users to coordinate their bags with their clothing. The present invention may utilize closures including kiss-locks, zippers, and other closure means. The present invention can further be carried as either a traditional arm or shoulder bag, or as a backpack. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front-right perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front-left perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a back perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a right perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a left cross-section of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention is a bag with pockets that is used to store items for later usage. The present invention is configured to contain smaller items separately from larger items, thus facilitating location and subsequent removal of smaller items. The present invention comprises a main receptacle  1 , a first pocket  10 , and a main closure  13 , as seen in  FIG. 1 . The main receptacle  1  is the larger space into which the user may place larger items. The first pocket  10  is a smaller space proximal to the main receptacle  1  that allows for storage of smaller items separately from larger items. The main closure  13  is a fastener that secures the main receptacle  1  and the first pocket  10  in the closed position, thus preventing items from exiting the present invention by accident. The main receptacle  1  comprises a receptacle rim  2  and a receptacle base  3 . The receptacle rim  2  is the section of the main receptacle  1  that wraps around the upper portion of the main receptacle  1 . The receptacle base  3  is the section of the main receptacle  1  that supports the present invention when the present invention is placed upon the ground. The first pocket  10  comprises a pocket rim  11  and a pocket base  12 . The pocket rim  11  is the section of the pocket that allows for input and removal of items. The pocket base  12  is the portion of the first pocket  10  that supports items within the first pocket  10 . The main closure  13  comprises a first main interlocking piece  14  and a second main interlocking piece  15 . The first main interlocking piece  14  is a connector that works in conjunction with the second main interlocking piece  15  to enable the main closure  13  to close both the main receptacle  1  and the first pocket  10 . 
     The general configuration of the aforementioned components allows the present invention to efficiently and effectively store items for later usage. The first pocket  10  is laterally connected to the main receptacle  1 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . Furthermore, the pocket rim  11  is positioned adjacent to the receptacle rim  2 . This arrangement allows for the user to separate items into the proper pockets with improved ease. The pocket base  12  is positioned offset from the receptacle base  3 . In this way, items placed within the first pocket  10  are situated above items placed within the main receptacle  1 . The first main interlocking piece  14  is connected about the receptacle rim  2 , opposite the first pocket  10 . Moreover, the second main interlocking piece  15  is connected about the pocket rim  11 , opposite the main receptacle  1 . The arrangement of the first main interlocking piece  14  and the second main interlocking piece  15  results in the main closure  13  toggling the corresponding openings of the main receptacle  1  and the first pocket  10  between an open position and a closed position. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the first main interlocking piece  14  and the second main interlocking piece  15  are components which allow the user to easily and conveniently open and close the present invention. To this end, the first main interlocking piece  14  is a first kiss-locking bracket. Similarly, the second main interlocking piece  15  is a second kiss-locking bracket. Consequently, spherical portions of the first kiss-locking bracket and the second kiss-locking bracket extend from the receptacle rim  2  and the pocket rim  11  and enable the user to close the present invention using friction between the first main interlocking piece  14  and the second main interlocking piece  15 , as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . In this way, the first main interlocking piece  14  and the second main interlocking piece  15  are able to join to secure the present invention in the closed position. The first kiss-locking bracket and the second kiss-locking bracket are hingedly connected to each other. This arrangement allows the first main interlocking piece  14  and the second main interlocking piece  15  to connect when the user pinches the first main interlocking piece  14  and the second main interlocking piece  15  together. This arrangement also allows the first main interlocking piece  14  and second main interlocking piece  15  to be easily pried apart in order to remove contained items from either the main receptacle  1  or the first pocket  10 . In an alternative embodiment, the first main interlocking piece  14  and the second main interlocking piece  15  are opposing segments of a zipper-controlled closure. 
     The present invention requires a fair amount of internal space for storage of items. To this end, the main receptacle  1  comprises a first widthwise panel  4 , a second widthwise panel  5 , a first lengthwise panel  6 , and a second lengthwise panel  7 . The first widthwise panel  4  and the second widthwise panel  5  are two generally parallel sides of the main receptacle  1  that define the width of the main receptacle  1 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . 
     The first lengthwise panel  6  and the second lengthwise panel  7  are two generally parallel sides of the main receptacle  1  that define the length of the main receptacle  1 . The first lengthwise panel  6  and the second lengthwise panel  7  are positioned opposite each other about the main receptacle  1 . In addition, the first widthwise panel  4  and the second widthwise panel  5  are positioned opposite each other about the main receptacle  1 . This arrangement ensures that the first widthwise panel  4 , second widthwise panel  5 , first lengthwise panel  6 , and second lengthwise panel  7  define the volume contained by the main receptacle  1 . The first widthwise panel  4  and the second widthwise panel  5  are positioned in between the first lengthwise panel  6  and the second lengthwise panel  7 . This arrangement fully encloses the volume defined by the main receptacle  1 . In an exemplary embodiment, the first pocket  10  traverses from the first widthwise panel  4  to the second widthwise panel  5 . This arrangement ensures that the first pocket  10  has an identical width to the main receptacle  1 , which optimizes the containment volume for the first pocket  10 . In another embodiment, the first pocket  10  is connected adjacent to the first lengthwise panel  6  which allows the receptacle rim  2  to delineate the largest possible continuous opening for the main receptacle  1 . In this way, the first pocket  10  is positioned away from the second lengthwise panel  7 . 
     The user further benefits from the ability to place the present invention upon the ground without slippage. To this end, the present invention further comprises a plurality of gripping nubs  16 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . The plurality of gripping nubs  16  is a set of high-friction rubberized extrusions that prevent the present invention from sliding on the ground. The plurality of gripping nubs  16  is externally connected to the receptacle base  3 . This arrangement allows the plurality of gripping nubs  16  to contact various surfaces. The plurality of gripping nubs  16  is distributed across the receptacle base  3 . In this way, the plurality of gripping nubs  16  is adequately dispersed to keep the other components of the present invention from contacting the ground. The plurality of gripping nubs  16  is oriented away from the receptacle rim  2 . This arrangement ensures that the main receptacle  1  is elevated off of the ground. 
     Many users may have a large number of items to contain and may therefore require volume not available from the main receptacle  1  and the first pocket  10 . To this end, the present invention comprises at least one second pocket  17  and at least one second fastener  19 , as seen in  FIG. 1 . The at least one second pocket  17  relates to a set of openings distributed upon the present invention for extra storage. The at least one second fastener  19  relates to a set of closures that cover the at least one second pocket  17 . The at least one second pocket  17  is laterally connected to the main receptacle  1 . In this way, the at least one second pocket  17  provides extra space for items near the main receptacle  1 . The at least one second pocket  17  is positioned adjacent to the receptacle base  3 . In this way, the at least one second pocket  17  provides space for items away from the first pocket  10 . The at least one second fastener  19  mounted adjacent to the at least one second pocket  17 . This arrangement allows the at least one second fastener  19  to cover the at least one second pocket  17 . 
     The at least one second fastener  19  prevents objects from falling out of or otherwise unintentionally entering of exiting the at least one second pocket  17 . In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one second fastener  19  comprises a flap  20  and a clasp  23 , as seen in  FIG. 1 . The flap  20  is a cover that protects the openings of the pockets. The clasp  23  is a fastener that prevents the flap  20  from lifting unexpectedly from its resting position. The flap  20  comprises a fixed edge  21  and a free edge  22 . The fixed edge  21  secures to the present invention to ensure proper coverage of the at least one second pocket  17 . The free edge  22  is the segment of the flap  20  that lifts and falls to readily open or close the at least one second pocket  17 . The fixed edge  21  and the free edge  22  are positioned opposite to each other across the flap  20 . In this way, the flap  20  is able to lift and fall about a fixed position on the present invention. The fixed edge  21  is hingedly connected to the main receptacle  1 , adjacent to an opening  18  of the at least one second pocket  17 . This arrangement allows the free edge  22  to fold over a respective pocket of the at least one second pocket  17 . The clasp  23  is integrated into the at least one second pocket  17 , adjacent to the opening  18  of the at least one second pocket  17 . 
     Further, the fixed edge  21  and the clasp  23  are positioned opposite to each other about the opening  18  of the at least one second pocket  17 . In this way, the clasp  23  is appropriately positioned to secure the flap  20  across the opening  18  of the at least one second pocket  17 . The at least one second pocket  17  is positioned adjacent to the first pocket  10 . This arrangement provides convenient supplemental pocket storage proximal to the first pocket  10 . 
     The user may desire a bag that retains its general shape, as opposed to a bag that conforms to the shape of the items within. To this end, the main receptacle  1  comprises a receptacle lateral wall  8  and at least one semirigid structural layer  9 , as seen in  FIG. 5 . The receptacle lateral wall  8  is the sidewall extending from around the receptacle base  3  to the receptacle rim  2 . The at least one semirigid structural layer  9  is a support that provides structure for the present invention. The at least one semirigid structural layer  9  is integrated through the receptacle base  3  and the receptacle lateral wall  8 . This arrangement allows the at least one semirigid structural layer  9  to support items within the receptacle without compromising the integrity of the at least one semirigid structural layer  9 . 
     The user may further desire to wear the present invention over a shoulder, an arm, or upon both shoulders at once. To this end, the present invention comprises at least one strap  24 . The at least one strap  24  relates to a flexible band that enables the user to conveniently carry the present invention when any or any combination of the main receptacle  1 , the first pocket  10 , and the at least one second pocket  17  are full of items. The at least one strap  24  comprises a first strap end  25  and a second strap end  26 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . The first strap end  25  is a section of the at least one strap  24  opposite the second strap end  26 . The first strap end  25  is laterally connected to the main receptacle  1 , adjacent to the receptacle rim  2 . Similarly, the second strap end  26  is laterally connected to the main receptacle  1 , adjacent to the receptacle rim  2 . In this way, the first strap end  25  and the second strap end  26  allow for adjustable connection of the at least one strap  24  to the main receptacle  1 . The first strap end  25  and the second strap end  26  are positioned offset from each other. This arrangement ensures adequate application and dispersal of forces upon the main receptacle  1 . 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.