Patent Publication Number: US-2017360168-A1

Title: Bag and replaceable panel system

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a bag and replaceable panel system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Consumers often use bags to carry objects from one place to another. Such bags may be used to pack food (e.g., a lunch bag or lunchbox), supplies for a child (e.g., a diaper bag), or personal accessories (e.g., a purse or cosmetics bag). Many bags have a lid, which can be opened or closed, for example via a hinge, to permit the consumer to access the contents of the bag. In many bags, lids are static, meaning they are not intended to be removable or replaceable. 
     The lid of such typical bags may include a pocket or a sleeve, but such elements often cannot be changed to meet the needs of the specific use. For example, if a user wishes to store a drinking bottle in the lid one day and an ice pack in the lid another day, the items must conform the lid pocket-size and there is no opportunity to adapt the lid to the specific packing needs on a day to day or long term basis. 
     Also, bags are often adorned with images, patterns, or characters. Although the bags may still function properly, the bags may no longer be favored by the user due to a pattern that does not match the user&#39;s apparel or provide a seasonally-appropriate message, an image that does not express the user&#39;s preferred mood or environment (e.g. a professional image may be wanted for a work day and fun image wanted for a weekend picnic), or the character does not meet the whims of a child. Further, typical lunch bags and boxes are not customizable, for example, for different members of the same family or different needs on different days. Finally, users may simply enjoy or prefer the opportunity to customize their bag. 
     Clearly, there is a demand for a customizable bag. The present invention satisfies this demand. 
     SUMMARY 
     A bag and replaceable panel system is described. One or more interchangeable panels may be used to close a bag. The user may remove a first panel from the bag and replace it with a second panel. While the examples discussed are configured generally as a lunch bag, the bag of the system may be a container or bag for any purpose. The bag and replaceable panel system includes a bag that may be customized to include different panels depending on the user&#39;s preferred functional features or aesthetic characteristics. Each panel is a lid or cover to close the bag. 
     In one aspect, a bag and replaceable panel system is described. The bag and replaceable panel system includes a bag defining a compartment. A bag zipper extends around a perimeter of the bag. The bag and replaceable panel system further includes a panel. A panel zipper extends around a perimeter of the panel. The panel zipper engages with the bag zipper to connect the panel to the bag. The panel zipper disengages from the bag zipper to completely disconnect the panel from the bag. The panel may be replaced with one or more different panels that engage to the bag zipper of the bag. 
     In another aspect, a bag and replaceable panel system is described. The bag and replaceable panel system includes a generally rectangular bag defining a compartment to hold food, drink containers, and/or personal items. The generally rectangular bag has one or more walls and a bottom wall. One example includes a first wall, a second wall, a third wall, and a fourth wall. The first wall is generally opposite of the third wall. The second wall is generally opposite of the fourth wall. The first and third walls have a longer length than a length of the second and fourth walls. The first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth side wall extend from the bottom wall. The first wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall are integral with or attached to each other to form the outer boundary or sides of the bag. The upper edge of each of the first wall, second wall, third wall, and fourth wall form an upper perimeter of the bag. A bag zipper extends completely around the upper perimeter of the bag. The bag zipper is formed from a single, continuous length of a zipper material. The bag and replaceable panel system includes a panel sized and shaped to cover the compartment, for example, a generally rectangular panel. A panel zipper extends completely around an entire perimeter of the panel. The panel zipper is formed from a single, continuous length of a zipper material. The panel zipper engages with the bag zipper to removably connect and removably disconnect the panel from the bag such that the panel may be completely disconnected from the bag. 
     In another aspect, a bag and replaceable panel system is described. The bag and replaceable panel system includes a generally circular or elliptical bag defining a compartment to hold food, drink containers, and/or personal items. The generally circular bag has one continuous side wall and a bottom wall. The side wall extends up from a bottom wall. The side wall and bottom wall may be integral with each other or may be attached to each other. An upper edge of the side wall forms an upper perimeter of the bag. A bag zipper extends completely around the upper perimeter of the bag. The bag zipper is formed from a single, continuous length of a zipper material. The bag and replaceable panel system includes a panel sized and shaped to cover the compartment, for example, a circular or elliptical panel. A panel zipper extends completely around an entire perimeter of the panel. The panel zipper is formed from a single, continuous length of a zipper material. The panel zipper engages with the bag zipper to removably connect and removably disconnect the panel from the bag such that the panel may be completely disconnected from the bag. 
     In another aspect, a bag and replaceable panel system is described. The bag and replaceable panel system may include a bag and panel connectable via more than one zipper connection. 
     In another aspect, a bag and replaceable panel system is described. The bag and replaceable panel system may include a bag and panel configured to be connected via one or more panel fastener elements and complementary fastener elements positioned on the bag. Examples include complementary zipper teeth components, buttons and complementary button openings, snaps, clips, snap hooks, hooks &amp; eyes, tack, hook &amp; loop complementary components, stud &amp; post, prong &amp; socket, screw &amp; bolt, or other types of complementary fastener pairs known in the art that permit easy removal and replacement of the panel relative to the bag. 
     In another aspect, a bag with an interchangeable panel system is described. The bag with an interchangeable panel system includes a bag defining a compartment. A bag zipper extends around a perimeter of the bag. A first panel is configured to close the compartment. A first panel zipper extends around a perimeter of the first panel. The first panel zipper engages with the bag zipper to connect the first panel to the bag. A second panel is configured to close the compartment after the first panel is disconnected from the bag. A second panel zipper extends around a perimeter of the second panel. The second panel zipper engages with the bag zipper to connect the second panel to the bag. As such, the first panel may be unzipped from the bag and replaced with the second panel. Typically, the second interchangeable panel includes at least one functional or aesthetic feature different than the features of the first interchangeable panel. For example, the first interchangeable panel may include no pocket, while the second panel includes a pocket on the exterior or interior surface, or the first interchangeable panel includes a first pattern on an exterior surface while the second interchangeable panel includes a second pattern on an exterior surface. Other features of one or more panels may include various pocket sizes, pocket shapes, pocket materials, pocket closure types, panel color, panel material, design on exterior surface of the panel, design on interior surface of the panel, panel insulation, or integrated ice element in the panel. 
     All aspects and embodiments of the disclosure can comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of any aspect or embodiment or combination of aspects and embodiments disclosed herein. Other aspects, embodiments, and iterations of the lid are described in more detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example of the bag and replaceable panel system with a first panel connected to the bag. 
         FIG. 2  is top view of an example of the bag and replaceable panel system showing the engagement between the first panel and the bag. 
         FIG. 3  is top view of an example of the bag and replaceable panel system showing the engagement between the second panel and the bag. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an example of the bag and replaceable panel system with the first panel disconnected from the bag. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an example of the second panel showing an interior pocket for holding an ice mat. 
         FIG. 6  is a close up view of an example of a panel zipper. 
         FIG. 7  is a close up view of an example of the panel zipper engaged to the bag zipper. 
         FIG. 8  is a close up view of an example of the panel zipper completely engaged to the bag zipper. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an example of the third panel having integral cooling media. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an example of the fourth panel having the exterior pocket. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a second example of the bag and replaceable panel system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     For purposes of this application, any terms that describe relative position (e.g., “upper”, “middle”, “lower”, “outer”, “inner”, “above”, “below”, “bottom”, “top”, etc.) refer to an embodiment of the invention as illustrated, but those terms do not limit the orientation in which the embodiments can be used. 
     A bag and replaceable panel system  10  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 . The bag and replaceable panel system  10  includes a bag  20  and one or more interchangeable panels  60 . The bag  20  defines a compartment  25  configured to receive items such as food, drink, or other personal items. The one or more interchangeable panels  60  engage to the bag  20  to close off or cover the bag  20  and to maintain the items in the bag  20 . A single bag  20  may be provided with or compatible with one or more of the interchangeable panels  60 A,  60 B,  60 C,  60 D,  60 E or variations thereof. 
     The user may engage any of the interchangeable panels  60 A- 60 E to the bag  20  depending on their preference or needs. For example, each of the interchangeable panels  60  may include different functional features or aesthetic characteristics. One interchangeable panel  60  may have no pockets and be lighter/easier to carry, while another interchangeable panel  60  may have pockets configured for various functions—possibly to hold an ice mat or to hold a drinking container, a sandwich, etc. Other interchangeable panels  60  may be sized and shaped to create a larger or smaller compartment  25  when connected to the bag  20 . 
     Although the interchangeable panels  60  may be connected and disconnected to the bag  20 , the bag and replaceable panel system  10  may still function similarly to typical lunch bags and boxes. For example, to access the compartment  25  of the bag  20 , the user only needs to partially unzip the bag and replaceable panel system  10 , and the remaining zipped portion provides a hinge for the then-connected panel  60  to be lifted to provide access to the compartment  25 . Thus, the user is not required to completely remove the then-connected panel  60  in order to access the compartment  25 . 
     As illustrated, the first interchangeable panel  60 A includes an exterior surface  70 A and an interior surface  71 A. The exterior surface  70 A includes a first design  72 . The second interchangeable panel  60 B includes an exterior surface  70 B with a second design  74 . The first design  72  is different from the second design  74 . This provides the user the ability to customize their bag and replaceable panel system  10  as desired. The user may, for example, interchange the panel  60  etc. on a daily, weekly, etc. basis to suit their preference or needs. All of the panels  60 A,  60 B,  60 C,  60 D,  60 E, etc. may engage to the same bag  20 . As such, a single bag  20  may be used with one or more of the interchangeable panels  60 A- 60 E to provide different aesthetic appearances or different functional characteristics. 
     The interchangeable panels  60  may include any of variety of ornamentation including media characters, athletic teams, pop-stars, branding, etc. The interchangeable panels  60  may include any of variety of decoration or designs, such as color schemes or patterns to complement or match a school back pack, a school uniform, school colors, etc. The interchangeable panels  60  may include any of variety of materials, colors, designs, etc. to match, coordinate, or complement the materials of the user&#39;s briefcases, purses, etc. 
     The bag  20  may include a box-like or bowl-like shape. The bag  20  may include an overall shape that is square, rectangular, circular, elliptical, etc. With reference to  FIG. 4 , the bag  20  is shown with a generally rectangular shape. The bag  20  includes a bottom wall  80 . The bottom wall  80  may include or have adjacent to it a semi-rigid or flexible liner molded from a plastic material. A first wall  82  extends upward from the bottle wall  80 . A second wall  84  extends upward from the bottom wall  80 . A third wall  86  extends upward from the bottom wall  80 . A fourth wall  88  extends upward from the bottom wall  80 . The compartment  25  is formed defined by the interior of the walls  82 ,  84 ,  86 , and  88 . The walls  82 ,  84 ,  86 , and  88  may be formed from layers of fabric materials, plastic materials, food-safe materials, or other materials appropriate for the use. 
     In the aspect of  FIGS. 1-10 , the first wall  82  and the third wall  86  form the longer, lateral sides of the generally rectangular shape. The bag  20  may include rounded corners between the walls  82 ,  84 ,  86 , and  88 . The second wall  84  and the fourth wall  88  form the shorter, end sides of the generally rectangular shape of the bag  20 . The walls  82 ,  84 ,  86 , and  88  are integral with each other or otherwise attached to each other. With reference to  FIG. 4 , the first wall  82  includes a first upper edge  92 . The second wall  84  includes a second upper edge  94 . The third wall  86  includes a third upper edge  96 . The fourth wall  88  includes a fourth upper edge  98 . The upper edges  92 ,  94 ,  96 , and  98  are contiguous to form an upper perimeter  30  of the bag  20 . A bag zipper  120  is positioned around the entire upper perimeter  30  of the bag  20 . 
     The panel zipper  160  engages with the bag zipper  120  to connect the first interchangeable panel  60 A to the bag  20 , and the panel zipper  160  disengages from the bag zipper  120  to completely disconnect the first interchangeable panel  60 A from the bag  20 . 
     The first interchangeable panel  60 A includes a generally rectangular shape to match the generally rectangular shape of the bag  20 . With reference to  FIG. 2 , the first interchangeable panel  60 A includes a first panel edge  102 , a second panel edge  104 , a third panel edge  106 , and a fourth panel edge  108 . The panel edges  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  are contiguous with each other to form a panel perimeter  110 . The panel zipper  160  may extend completely around the entire panel perimeter  110 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6-8 , the bag zipper  120  includes a plurality of bag zipper teeth  122 . A first end  123  of the bag zipper  120  includes a first end zipper connection element such as a zipper insertion pin  166  or a pin box  124 . A second end  125  of the bag zipper  10  includes a bag zipper teeth end  128 . A slider  126  is slideably engaged to the bag zipper  120 . The pin box  124  may be overlapped by a portion of the bag zipper teeth  122  and/or the bag zipper teeth end  128 . The bag zipper  120  may be formed from a single, continuous length of a zipper material. The bag zipper  120  may extend completely around the entire upper perimeter  30  of the bag  20 . 
     The panel zipper  160  includes a plurality of panel zipper teeth  162 . A first end  163  of the panel zipper  160  includes a first end zipper connection element such as a zipper insertion pin  166  or a pin box  124 . The panel zipper  160  includes whichever first end zipper connection element complements or is compatible with the first end zipper connection element of the bag zipper  120 . A second end  165  of the panel zipper  160  includes a panel zipper teeth end  168 . The panel zipper  160  may be formed from a single, continuous length of a zipper material. 
     The pin box  124  of the bag zipper  120  receives and aligns the zipper insertion pin  166  of the panel zipper  160 , to begin the connecting of the bag zipper  120  with the panel zipper  160 . The slider  126  (with optional pull tab  126 A) moves along a length of the bag zipper  120  and the panel zipper  160  to connect the bag zipper  120  with the panel zipper  160 . 
     In the aspect of  FIGS. 1-10 , the panel zipper  160  is joined to the panel  60  via a seam  114 , which extends from the panel perimeter  110 . The seam  114  may vary in width. The seam  114  may be wider proximate the zipper insertion pin  166  at a first end  116  of the seam  114 , while the seam  114  may be narrower proximate the panel zipper teeth end  168  at a second end  118  of the seam  114 . A shown in  FIG. 6 , the seam  114  may extend around the entire panel perimeter  110 . The seam  114  may extend around the entire panel perimeter  110  and also overlap it itself with the second end  118  of the seam  114  slightly over the first end  116  of the seam  114 . The seam  114  may be formed by stitching, adhesive, or any method that would form an appropriate relationship between the panel zipper  160  and the panel  60 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6-8 , the panel zipper  160  may overlap itself, i.e., the panel zipper teeth end  168  may overlap the zipper insertion pin  166 . Similarly, the bag zipper  120  may overlap itself, i.e., the pin box  124  may be behind the bag zipper teeth end  128 . This overlapping provides for almost complete, complete or generally improved closure of the perimeter of the compartment  25  of the bag and replaceable panel system  10 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the slider  126  may pass over the pin box  124  and/or several of the bag zipper teeth  122  at the second end  125  of the bag zipper  120  when the slider  126  is moved a fully closed position (shown in  FIG. 8 ). This provides for a cleaner and more finished appearance. 
     In order to the access the compartment  25  of the bag  20 , the user only needs to partially unzip the bag and replaceable panel system  10 , and the remaining zipped portion provides a hinge for the respective panel  60  to be lifted to provide access to the compartment  25 . For example, the user may only unzip the panel zipper  160  from the bag zipper  120  along the second wall  84 , the third wall  86 , and the fourth wall  88 , thus leaving the panel zipper  160  engaged to the bag zipper  120  along the first wall  82 , which provides a hinge for the respective panel  60  to be lifted to an open position. Thus, the user is not required to completely remove the panels  60  in order to access the compartment  25 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , the bag and replaceable panel system  10  is shown with the panel zipper  160  completely engaged to the bag zipper  120 . In order to disconnect the panel  60 A from the bag  20 , the user moves the slider  124  to the left around the corner between the first side  82  and the second side  84 . The user continues to move the slider  124  in a general clockwise direction along the second side  84 , around the corner between the second side  84  and the third side  86 , along the third side  86 , around the corner between the third side  86  and the fourth side  88 , along the fourth side  88 , around the corner between the fourth side  82  and the first side  82 , along the first side  82 , and finally back to the pin box  124 . Now, the panel  60 A is disconnected from the bag  20 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the interior surface  71 A of the panel  60 A may include an interior pocket  170  to hold a drinking container, a sandwich, snack bags, smaller containers, loose items, etc. Additional pockets, loops, fasteners may be employed to the interior surface  71 A to hold such items. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , the interior surface  71 B of the panel  60 B may include an interior pocket  172  to hold a cooling media, such as an ice mat  176  or other cooling device. Of course, one may use the interior pocket  172  to hold a drinking container, a sandwich, snack bags, smaller containers, loose items, etc. Certain aspects may include more than one interior pocket as well. Each interior pocket may be configured to hold various items, such as a first interior pocket configured to hold a sandwich, a second interior pocket configured to hold a drink container, etc. The interior pocket  172  may be formed from a breathable material or a non-breathable material or an elastic or non-elastic material. The interior pocket  172  may be generally sealable or have an unsealed open top. The interior pocket  172  may include an extendable section configured to extend the volume of the pocket to fit various types of items. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , the interchangeable panel  60 C includes an integral cooling media  180 . A coolant is built into and is not readily removable from the panel  60 C. The interchangeable panel  60 C may be completely removed from the bag  20  and stored in a refrigerator, freezer, or other cooling implement in order to cool or freeze the integral cooling media  180 . After cooling, the interchangeable panel  60 C may be engaged to the bag  20  to provide cooling to any of the items in the compartment  25 . A user may replace the interchangeable panel  60 C with another interchangeable panel  60 C that has been cooled. 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , the interchangeable panel  60 D includes an exterior pocket  190 . For example, items that do not require cooling, such as napkins, chips, utensils, etc. may be stored in the exterior pocket  190 . The exterior pocket  190  may be formed from a breathable material or a non-breathable material. The exterior pocket  190  may be generally sealable or have an unsealed open top. 
     A carrying handle  200  may be engaged to one of the walls  82 ,  84 ,  86 , and  88 . In the aspect of  FIGS. 1-10 , the carrying handle  200  is engaged to the outer surface of the third wall  86 . Additional carrying straps or handles may be engaged to one or more of the walls  82 ,  84 ,  86 , and  88 . 
     The panel zipper  160  and the bag zipper  120  may be formed from plastic and/or metal materials having interlocking teeth, tracks, coils, etc. 
     With reference to  FIG. 11 , a bag and replaceable panel system  11  is illustrated. Compared to the aspects presented in  FIGS. 1 through 10 , the same numbers are applied to the same parts in the bag and replaceable panel system  11 , and descriptions of the same parts thereof are skipped. In this aspect, the bag and replaceable panel system  11  has a vertical orientation with the carrying handle  200  engaged to a shorter side of a bag  21 . A panel  60 E has a design  73  oriented in a vertical direction. 
     It should be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the particular aspects described herein, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this novel concept as defined by the following claims. Further, many other advantages of applicant&#39;s disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above descriptions and the claims below.