Patent Publication Number: US-2006006036-A1

Title: Multiple pocket storage and travel case

Description:
BACKROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to a multiple pocket storage and/or travel case which is especially useful to sportsmen and hobbyists in that it incorporates rigid containers such as plastic containers, in combination with a soft-sided fabric case and thereby provides capacity for storing and carrying multiple rigid containers which are separately and singly removable from the multiple pockets of the soft-sided carrying case.  
      Hobbyists and sportsmen often desire to store or pack multi-compartmented plastic containers to carry various items or parts associated with their particular hobby or application. Carrying and transporting these containers to a site for practice of the sport or avocation is considered a necessity by many of these enthusiasts. However, carrying multiple such containers and arranging them and sorting them often present a challenging problem of space and transport management. As a consequence, there has developed a need to provide means for carrying multiple containers in an efficient manner which will enable ease of access to the multiple containers. These, among other desirable characteristics for and by such hobbyists and enthusiasts, have led to the development of the storage and travel case construction described hereinafter.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Briefly, the present invention comprises a storage and travel case or bag which utilizes an elongate center panel having opposite ends with one or two pockets affixed to each end. The panel end pockets are joined by a middle connecting section or web which is flexible thereby enabling the end pockets to be folded over one another in various arrays to enable access to the pockets and to containers, especially rigid containers, inserted into the pockets. The containers may have modular sizes so that multiple containers may be inserted into a single pocket. Various fastening members are disclosed for retaining the rigid containers in the generally flexible pockets. A shoulder strap is disclosed which, in combination with attachment thereof to the middle connecting section or web of the elongate panel, enables carrying of the assembly or case in its various configurations.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the center panel includes first and second or dual pockets arrayed on one side at one end thereof and a single pocket on one side of the panel at the opposite end thereof. The single pocket may be folded or arrayed against either side of the other two pockets by folding the center section or web between a first position on one side of the dual pockets to a second position on the opposite side of the dual pockets.  
      Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an inexpensive, yet efficient and reliable construction for carrying of a multiple pocket case having ease of access to the contents of the pockets and which is also convertible to facilitate access to one or more of three pockets incorporated in the carrying case.  
      It is a further object of the invention to provide a carrying case which incorporates at least three pockets that may be accessed singly and wherein at least two pockets may be accessed from the top side of the pockets.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide a carrying case having at least three pockets all accessed from the top side thereof wherein the top side of each of the pockets is oriented in the same direction and wherein at least two of the pockets may be accessed in one array and at least one of the pockets may be accessed in another array.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple pocket storage and travel case construction which may incorporate more than three pockets and which may further incorporate rigid plastic containers, for example, positioned within the pockets for storage of multiple items within the rigid containers.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple pocket storage and travel case which is fashioned to permit ease of removal of various plastic storage cases, by way of example, located within the separate pockets.  
      These and other objects, advantages and features, either collectibly or in combination or singly comprise objects and goals of the invention which singly or in combination may provide benefits not found in prior art case constructions.  
    
    
     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 a first preferred embodiment of the invention as viewed from a front side;  
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the back side or in a back view;  
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  depicting the manner in which the embodiment may be reconfigured in order to provide for access to different containers carried by the case;  
       FIG. 4  is a further isometric view illustrating the method of conversion of the storage case of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  fully converted to a different array or second array enabling access to different containers carried by the case:  
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the invention illustrating various closures for the container pocket;  
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of yet another embodiment of the invention illustrating alternative means for retaining containers within the pockets of the case;  
       FIG. 8  is a further alternative embodiment illustrating the positioning of various stiffening elements in the pockets of the case;  
       FIG. 9  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  depicting the manner in which a rigid plastic container or box is inserted or positioned in the carrying case;  
       FIG. 10  is an isometric view illustrating further positioning of a container in the embodiment of  FIGS. 8 and 9 ;  
       FIG. 11  illustrates the manner of retention of a container within the embodiment of  FIGS. 8, 9  and  10 ; and  
       FIG. 12  is an isometric view illustrating a further alternative embodiment wherein containers of different configuration, size and/or shape may be incorporated in combination with a carrying case that has been customized in order to receive the differently shaped containers.  
    
    
     DESCRITION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       FIGS. 1-5  illustrate a first embodiment of the invention. The remaining figures illustrate various combinations and permutations of elements or features which may be incorporated in alternative embodiments. Referring therefore to  FIG. 1-5 , the carrying case of the invention comprises a soft-sided carry bag or case which is designed to hold plurality of separate containers which are typically rigid containers such as molded, clear plastic containers. Thus, the molded plastic containers may, for example, include a base container section and top lid or closure section. Various compartments may be included within the container section. The containers may find utility by a mechanic, tradesman, hobbyist or sportsman for sorting and separating various items such as fishing lures, tools or the like.  
      The carrying case is comprised of an elongate center panel  20  having a first pocket section  22  at one end of the elongate panel  20  and a second product section  24  at the opposite end thereof. The sections  22  and  24  are joined or connected together by means of a generally flexible web or middle connecting section  26 . Typically, the elongate panel  20  is rectangular in shape and formed from a flexible material such as a fabric or a flexible plastic material. It is preferred that the generally flexible middle connecting section or web include flexible portions enabling the middle section to fold in opposite directions as discussed hereinafter.  
      The first pocket section  20  and the second pocket section  24  may include stiffening members or may be made from a flexible fabric material. The first pocket section  22  preferably includes a flexible, generally parallelepiped pocket  30  affixed to one side thereof. In similar fashion, the second pocket section of the elongate panel  20 ; namely, the second pocket section  24  includes a second pocket  32  affixed to one side thereof and a third pocket  34  affixed to the opposite side thereof. Preferably, the pockets  30 ,  32  and  34  are made from the same flexible material as the elongate center panel  20 . Stiffening members may be included in various portions or parts of the pockets  30 ,  32  or  34  as well as in the elongate panel  20 .  
      The web or generally flexible middle connecting section  26  preferably includes a shoulder strap  40  which is attached, typically connecting opposite lateral sides  42  and  44  of the elongate center panel  20 . Thus, the shoulder strap  40  may be used to lift and carry the carrying case and its contents regardless of the orientation and folded condition of the case and the pocket sections associated with the case. In other words, the shoulder strap  40  is reversible and may be utilized to carry the case regardless of the particular array or configuration of the pockets  30 ,  32  and  34 .  
      In the embodiment shown, each of the pockets  30 ,  32  and  34  are open along top sides thereof so that plastic containers  31 ,  33  and  35 , respectively may be inserted into the pockets  30 ,  32  and  34 , respectively. The containers  31 ,  33  and  35  are fabricated so that they will easily slide into the pockets  30 ,  32  and  34 . Thus, there is compatibility with respect to the sizing of the containers  31 ,  33  and  35  in relation to pockets  30 ,  32 ,  34 . A single container is shown in each instance in  FIG. 1 , for example. However, multiple containers may be inserted into one or more of the pockets  30 ,  32  and  34 . Of course, the size of the pockets  30 ,  32  and  34  may be varied. The particular configuration of the pockets  30 ,  32 ,  34  may also be varied. Generally parallelepiped pockets  30 ,  32 ,  34  are disclosed. However, the pockets may be semi-circular in shape, or arcuate in shape, or assume various other shapes and configurations correlated with or associated with the shape or configuration of a compatible container.  FIG. 12  illustrates such a variation.  
      The web or center connecting section  26  may be folded as depicted in the sequence of  FIGS. 3-5 . Such folding enables positioning of the first pocket  30  against one side or the other of the remaining pockets  34  and  32 . Thus, the first pocket  30  may be positioned against the pocket  34  as illustrated in  FIG. 3  or it may be positioned against the pocket  32  as depicted in  FIG. 5 . This change in arrangement is reflected merely by rotating or moving the first pocket  30  and the associated first pocket section  22  about the web or middle section  26 . In this manner, access to the containers, such as containers  31 ,  33  and  35  may be easily adjusted to accommodate desires of the user of the carrying case.  
      Various means may be used for retaining a container, such as container  35 , within an associated pocket or pouch, for example, pouch or pocket  34 . For example, an elastic cord  50  with a fastener clip  52  may be fitted over a stud  54  associated with the outside of the pocket  34 . The elastic cord  50  is attached to the elongate center panel  20 . The fastener  52  may be detached from the stud  54  in order to permit removal of the container  35 .  
       FIG. 6  illustrates an alternative arrangement for maintaining a container within a pocket. In  FIG. 6 , there is depicted a pocket  60  with a cover flap  62  which flexes about a seam  64  where it is attached to a center panel  66 . Straps or buckles, snaps or hook and loop fastener may be used to hold the flap  62  closed.  
       FIG. 7  illustrates yet a further embodiment wherein a zipper attached flap  68  is attached by means of a zipper  70  to the top edge of a pocket  72 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , there is illustrated in phantom some additional features which may be incorporated in the pockets. A pocket  90  includes a stiffening element  92  sewn into an upper elongate section of the pocket  90 . The stiffening element  92  facilitates opening of the pocket  90  for placement of a container therein. Other stiffening elements may also be included. For example, a stiffening element  94  may be incorporated in the middle connecting section  96  as depicted in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 9  depicts the manner in which a container  98  can then be inserted into a pocket  90 . This is further depicted in  FIG. 10  wherein the container  98  is inserted into the pocket  90  and the stiffening member  92  facilitates maintenance of the pocket  90  in the open condition. A fastening member  99  may then be utilized to retain the container  98  within the pocket.  
       FIG. 12  illustrates that various sizes of containers, such as container  102 , having various shapes may be utilized in combination with compatible pockets such as pocket  104  associated with the embodiment of  FIG. 12 . Additionally, the vertical height of the pockets may be varied, again, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . Thus, pockets  106  and  108  have distinct sizes and configurations including height and/or width. Also depicted in  FIG. 12  is the inclusion of multiple separate containers, such as containers  110  and  112  in a single pocket  108 .  
      Variations of the invention may be practiced. For example, the pocket sections may include more than a single pocket. Thus, the first pocket section  22  may include pockets on both sides thereof. Further, multiple pockets may be incorporated for each pocket section. The multiple pockets of each pocket section may then be folded about the middle section  26 . Thus, it is appropriate and important to size the middle section to permit such folding of the pocket sections  22  over and in opposed relation to the pocket sections  24 . The number and array of pockets associated with each section may be variable without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Other unanticipated or unexpected variations of the invention are also to be included within the scope and meaning of the claims, it being understood that the inventors, though diligently attempting to consider all alternatives within the spirit and scope of the invention, realize that such consideration may not always be totally clairvoyant so as to specifically identify such equivalents. Therefore, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.