Patent Publication Number: US-6213304-B1

Title: Infant care tote bag

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to luggage for holding infant care supplies and more particularly pertains to a new infant care tote bag for holding infant care supplies therein. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of luggage for holding infant care supplies is known in the prior art. More specifically, luggage for holding infant care supplies heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U. S. Pat. No. 5,062,557; U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,522; U.S. Pat. No. 3,696,850; U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,649; U.S. Pat. No. 2,326,452; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 289,106. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new infant care tote bag. The inventive device includes a pair of body portions pivotally coupled together. An elongate shoulder strap is provided having a pair of opposite V-shaped ends which are detachably attached to the body portions. 
     In these respects, the infant care tote bag according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of holding infant care supplies therein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of luggage for holding infant care supplies now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new infant care tote bag construction wherein the same can be utilized for holding infant care supplies therein. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new infant care tote bag apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the luggage for holding infant care supplies mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new infant care tote bag which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art luggage for holding infant care supplies, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a pair of body portions pivotally coupled together. An elongate shoulder strap is provided having a pair of opposite V-shaped ends which are detachably attached to the body portions. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new infant care tote bag apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the luggage for holding infant care supplies mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new infant care tote bag which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art luggage for holding infant care supplies, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new infant care tote bag which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new infant care tote bag which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new infant care tote bag which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such infant care tote bag economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new infant care tote bag which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new infant care tote bag for holding infant care supplies therein. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new infant care tote bag which includes a pair of body portions pivotally coupled together. An elongate shoulder strap is provided having a pair of opposite V-shaped ends which are detachably attached to the body portions. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new infant care tote bag that keeps wet and dry infant supplies separate. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new infant care tote bag that is preferably insulated to keep foodstuffs held therein either cool or warm. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic front perspective view of a new infant care tote bag in a closed position according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention in an open position revealing the compartment of the second body portion. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention in the open position with the divider panel pivoted downwards to reveal the insert. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic bottom perspective view of the present invention in the closed position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new infant care tote bag embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the infant care tote bag generally comprises a pair of body portions pivotally coupled together. An elongate shoulder strap is provided having a pair of opposite V-shaped ends which are detachably attached to the body portions. 
     In closer detail, the tote bag comprises an exterior body comprising a pair of body portions  10 , 11  each defining a compartment and each having a generally rectangular face panel  12 , and a perimeter wall  13  extending around an outer perimeter of the face panel of the respective body portion. The perimeter wall of each body portion has a free edge  14  and comprises top and bottom portions  15 , 16 , and a pair of opposite end portions  17 , 18  extending between the top and bottom portions of the respective perimeter wall. The free edge of the perimeter wall of each body portion defines an opening into the compartment of the respective body portion. 
     The free edges of the body portions are pivotally coupled together along the bottom portions of the perimeter walls of the body portions to permit pivoting of the body portions between open and closed positions. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, the free edges of the body portions are positioned adjacent one another such that the openings of the body portions face one another when the body portions are positioned in the closed position. In the closed position, the top portions of the perimeter walls generally lie in a common plane with one another, the bottom portions of the perimeter walls generally lie in a common plane with one another, a first of the end portions of each perimeter wall generally lie in a common plane with one another, and a second of the end portions of each perimeter wall generally lie in a common plane with one another. 
     With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the openings of the body portions are spaced apart from one another when the body portions are positioned in the open position to permit user access into the compartments of the body portions. 
     The exterior body has at least one zipper fastener  19  extending along the free edges of the perimeter walls to detachably attach the body portions together. 
     The top portions of the perimeter walls of the body portions each have a preferably flexible carry handle  20  coupled thereto. Ideally, a connecting strap  21  is wrapped around the carrying handles and coupled to one of the carrying handles for providing more comfort to a user&#39;s hand when carrying the tote bag with the carry handles. 
     An elongate shoulder strap  22  with an adjustable length buckle  23  has a pair of opposite ends  24 , 25  detachably attached to the body portions when the body portions are positioned in the closed position. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, each of the ends of the of the shoulder strap is generally V-shaped and has a pair of arms  26 , 27 . When the body portions are positioned in the closed position, a first of the arms of a first of the ends  24  of the shoulder strap is coupled to the first end portion of a first of the body portions  10  and a second of the arms of the first end of the shoulder strap is coupled to the first end portion of a second of the body portions  11 . Similarly, a first of the arms of a second of the ends  25  of the shoulder strap is coupled to the second end portion of the first body portion and a second of the arms of the second end of the shoulder strap is coupled to the second end portion of a second of the body portions when the body portions are positioned in the closed position. Preferably, the arms are detachably coupled to the associated end portions of the body portions. Ideally, snap fasteners  28   a ,  28   b  detachably couple each arm to the associated end portion of the body portions. 
     With reference to FIG. 3, a generally rectangular block-shaped insert  29  is disposed in the compartment of a first of the body portions. The insert preferably comprises resiliently deformable material, and ideally, a foamed material. The insert has a generally rectangular exposed face  30  facing in an outwardly direction from the opening defined by the free edge of the perimeter wall of the first body portion. The exposed face of the insert has a plurality various shaped receptacles  31  therein each designed for holding infant supplies. 
     In an ideal embodiment, at least one baby bottle  32  for holding liquid sustenance therein is inserted into at least one of the receptacles of the insert. A baby bib or a container of baby wipes  33  is inserted into one of the receptacles of the insert. At least one feeding utensil  34  such as a spoon is inserted into at least one of the receptacles of the insert. At least one food container  35  for holding baby food therein is inserted into at least one of the receptacles of the insert. 
     Preferably, the first body portion also has a generally rectangular dividing panel  36  substantially covering the exposed face of the insert and is pivotally coupled to the bottom portion of the perimeter wall of the first body portion adjacent the free edge of the perimeter wall of the first body portion. A flexible holding strap  37  is extended from the top portion of the perimeter wall of the first body portion into the compartment of the first body portion. Ideally, the holding strap is detachably attached to the divider panel preferably by a hook and loop fastener  38 . In use, the divider panel is designed for preventing the items inserted into the receptacles of the insert from falling out. 
     Ideally, the divider panel comprises an insulating material for resisting the passage of heat therethrough to help maintain a constant temperature for the food and liquid items. In this ideal embodiment, the face panel and perimeter wall of the first body portion also preferably comprise an insulating material to resist passage of heat therethrough. 
     Preferably, an expandable pouch  39  for holding items therein is coupled to the face panel of a second of the body portions. The pouch has a  40  slit providing an opening into the pouch and a zipper fastener  41  along the slit for closing the opening into the pouch. 
     In an ideal embodiment, at least one diaper  42 , and at least one storage container  43  is disposed in the compartment of the second body portion. 
     In an ideal illustrative embodiment, the tote bag has a length of about 14 inches, a height of about  10  inches, and a depth of about 8½ inches. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.