Patent Publication Number: US-2015083537-A1

Title: Flight bag

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 61/880,323 filed Sep. 20, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to flight bags, and more particularly, to flight bags having specialized pockets. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pilots typically carry several items with them when flying an airplane or helicopter. These items may include a handheld radio, paper maps, a GPS unit, pens, pencils, sunglasses, headsets, manuals, etc. To help carry and organize those various items, pilots often carry the items in what is known in the industry as a flight bag. These flight bags will typically have a variety of specific pockets or compartments especially designed to carry those items. For example, most flight bags incorporate a single pocket configured to hold a headset. However, many pilots will carry an extra headset in their flight bag as a backup or for a passenger. Current flight bags, however, do not have additional pockets or compartments for carrying one or more extra headsets conveniently or without intruding on other items being carried in the flight bag. 
     What is needed, therefore, is a flight bag with additional pockets or compartments for carrying one or more extra headsets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one embodiment of the invention, a flight bag includes a main compartment with a front panel, a rear panel, a first end, a second end, a bottom panel, and a top panel, which define an interior volume. The main compartment has a length and a width. The flight bag includes a first pocket affixed to the first end and a second pocket affixed to the second end. A first compartment flap is affixed to the front panel and is selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the first compartment flap exposes an opening through the front panel into the interior volume of the main compartment. The flight bag includes a collapsible pouch affixed to a periphery of the opening and configured to extend across the width of the main compartment to create an interior compartment residing with the main compartment. The flight bag includes a second compartment flap affixed to an interior face of the front panel and disposed opposite the first compartment flap and is selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position independent of position of the first compartment flap. When the first and second compartment flaps are in their open positions an object, such as an aviation headset, may be inserted into the pouch with the pouch extending across the width of the main compartment. When first and second compartment flaps are in their closed positions they form a holding pocket which encloses the pouch between the first and second compartment flaps. 
     This flight bag may include other features such as a central pocket affixed to the front panel adjacent to the first compartment flap, the top panel includes a zipper extending along a portion of the length of the main compartment, the length of the main compartment is greater than its width, and the first pocket and the second pocket do not open into the main compartment. 
     The first compartment flap may have a zipper and the second compartment flap may have a zipper, where each zipper is used to move the respective first and second compartment flaps to closed positions thereby enclosing the pouch therebetween. 
     In another embodiment, this flight bag includes a third compartment flap affixed to the front panel of the main compartment and spaced apart from the first compartment flap and is selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the third compartment flap exposes a second opening through the front panel into the interior volume of the main compartment. A second collapsible pouch is affixed to a periphery of the second opening and configured to extend across the width of the main compartment to create a second interior compartment residing with the main compartment. The flight bag includes a fourth compartment flap affixed to the interior face of the front panel and disposed opposite the third compartment flap and is selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position independent of the third compartment flap. When the third and fourth compartment flaps are in their open positions an object may be inserted into the second pouch with the second pouch extending across the width of the main compartment. When third and fourth compartment flaps are in their closed positions they form a second holding pocket which encloses the second pouch between the third and fourth compartment flaps. 
     This flight bag may include a central pocket affixed to the front panel and being disposed between the first compartment flap and the third compartment flap. 
     In another embodiment a flight bag includes a main compartment with a front panel and rear panel, where the main compartment has a length and a width. A first compartment flap affixed to the front panel of the main compartment, the first compartment flap being selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position, when in the open position the first compartment flap exposes an opening through the front panel into an interior volume of the main compartment. A collapsible pouch is affixed to a periphery of the opening and configured to extend across the width of the main compartment to create an interior compartment residing with the main compartment. The flight bag includes a second compartment flap affixed to an interior face of the front panel and disposed opposite the first compartment flap and is selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position independent of position of the first compartment flap. When the first and second compartment flaps are in their open positions an object, such as an aviation headset, may be inserted into the pouch with the pouch extending across the width of the main compartment. When first and second compartment flaps are in their closed positions they form a holding pocket which encloses the pouch between the first and second compartment flaps. 
     In another embodiment this flight bag includes a third compartment flap affixed to the front panel of the main compartment and spaced apart from the first compartment flap, the third compartment flap being selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position, when in the open position the third compartment flap exposes a second opening through the front panel into the interior volume of the main compartment. A second collapsible pouch is affixed to a periphery of the second opening and configured to extend across the width of the main compartment to create a second interior compartment residing with the main compartment. This flight bag includes a fourth compartment flap affixed to the interior face of the front panel and disposed opposite the third compartment flap and is selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position independent of the third compartment flap. When the third and fourth compartment flaps are in their open positions an object may be inserted into the second pouch with the second pouch extending across the width of the main compartment. When third and fourth compartment flaps are in their closed positions they form a second holding pocket which encloses the second pouch between the third and fourth compartment flaps. 
     This flight bag may include other features such as a central pocket affixed to the front panel and being disposed between the first compartment flap and the third compartment flap. 
     In another embodiment, a flight bag includes a main compartment having a front panel, a rear panel, a first end, a second end, a bottom panel, and a top panel defining an interior volume, where the main compartment having a length and a width. The flight bag includes a first pocket affixed to the first end and a second pocket affixed to the second end. A first compartment flap is affixed to the front panel of the main compartment and is selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position. When in the open position, the first compartment flap defines an opening through the front panel into the interior volume of the main compartment. A collapsible pouch is affixed to a periphery of the opening and configured to extend across the width of the main compartment to create an interior compartment residing with the main compartment. A strap is affixed to an interior face of the front panel disposed opposite the first compartment flap. The strap having a fastener at one end and is selectively moveable between a fastened position and an unfastened position independent of position of the first compartment flap. When the first compartment flap is in its open position and the strap is in its unfastened position an object, such as an aviation headset, may be inserted into the pouch with the pouch extending across the width of the main compartment. When first compartment flap is in its closed position and the strap is in its fastened position the pouch is retained between the first compartment flap and the strap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a flight bag in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic close-up perspective view of the flight bag of  FIG. 1  with an exterior flap open exposing an interior compartment. 
         FIG. 3A  is a partial schematic cross-sectional view taken along line  3 A- 3 A of the flight bag of  FIG. 1  showing the main compartment with the exterior and interior flaps closed. 
         FIG. 3B  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the flight bag of  FIG. 3A  with a headset being inserted in the interior compartment. 
         FIG. 3C  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the flight bag of  FIG. 3A  with a headset inserted in the interior compartment with the exterior flap open. 
         FIG. 3D  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the flight bag of  FIG. 3A  with a headset inserted in the interior compartment with the exterior flap closed. 
         FIG. 4  is a close-up perspective view of another embodiment of a flight bag with an exterior flap open exposing an interior compartment. 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the flight bag of  FIG. 4  with the exterior closed. 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the flight bag of  FIG. 4  with a headset inserted in the interior compartment with the exterior flap closed. 
         FIG. 6  is a close-up perspective view of another embodiment of a flight bag with an exterior flap open exposing an interior compartment. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of flight bag with a closed exterior flap and an interior strap. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     One embodiment of a flight bag  10  of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The general concept of the flight bag  10  is to provide a user-configurable space for a headset, instead of using a permanent, dedicated pocket or compartment. In other words, when the pilot is not carrying a headset in the flight bag  10 , the interior space of the flight bag  10  is not being consumed by a permanent headset pocket or compartment. While the flight bag  10  will be described relative to a pocket for carrying an additional headset, the pocket could also be used for carrying other items such as a video camera systems and the associated mounting hardware, for example. 
     Flight bag  10  has a main compartment  20  flanked on one end by a zippered, padded headset pocket  22  and multiple zippered, accessory pockets  24  on the other end. The headset pocket  22  and the accessory pockets  24  are self-contained and do not open into the main compartment  20 . In other words, there is no internal entryway between headset pocket  22  and the accessory pockets  24  and main compartment  20 . A front panel  25  of the flight bag  10  has centrally located zippered pocket  26 . Zippered pocket  26  is also self-contained and does not open into main compartment  20 . Each of the pockets  22 ,  24 , and  26  are self-contained and do not open into the main compartment. The flight bag  10  further includes open pockets  28  that are shaped to accommodate slender items such as pens, pencils, and flashlights. The flight bag  10  also includes handles  30  and a shoulder strap  32 . The main compartment  20  has a selectively openable flap  34  that is flanked on both sides by zippers  36 . When the flap  34  is unzipped, a user will open access to the interior of main compartment  20 . While the flap  34  is illustrated with two zippers  36 , the flap  34  may also be configured with only one zipper. In addition, other suitable fasteners could be used in place of the zippers  36 , such as hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®), buttons, snaps, clasps, laces, etc. The main compartment has a bottom panel (not shown). 
     The flight bag  10  includes two exterior zippered compartment flaps  40 ,  42 , which are selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position. When compartment flap  40  is opened, it exposes an interior compartment  44  formed by a collapsible pouch  46  ( FIG. 3C ) made of a flexible material. Because the interior compartment (not shown) behind compartment flap  42  is the same as interior compartment  44 , the details of only interior compartment  44  will be discussed. The interior compartment  44  in  FIG. 3C  has a generally square cross-section although different cross-section shapes could be used such as circular, oval, rectangular, D-shape, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3A , there is an interior zippered compartment flap  48  that is shaped similar to compartment flap  40 . Compartment flap  48  is selectively moveable between an open position and a closed position. Compartment flaps  40 ,  48  are sized such that when both are opened a typical aviation headset  50  can pass through the opening and into the interior compartment  44  ( FIGS. 3B and 3C ). The interior compartment  44  formed by the collapsible pouch  46  extends in a direction, i.e., across the width (designated by W in  FIG. 1 ) of the flight bag  10 , generally perpendicular the long dimension, i.e., the length (designated by L) in  FIG. 1 , of the flight bag  10 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3C and 3D , the interior compartment  44  extends almost to a rear panel  52  of the flight bag  10 , i.e., nearly across the entire width of the flight bag  10 . In all, the flight bag  10  could hold at least three separate headsets  50 —one in headset pocket  22  and one each in the interior compartments  44  associated with compartment flaps  40 ,  42 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3A , when there is no headset placed in the interior compartment  44 , the compartment flaps  40 ,  42  can be closed to create a holding pocket  54  that completely encloses or encases the collapsible pouch  46  therebetween. By enclosing or encasing the collapsible pouch  46  in the holding pocket  54 , collapsible pouch  46  do not intrude into the main compartment  20  so that the entire volume of the main compartment  20  is available for holding other items. 
     The compartment flaps  40 ,  42  shown in  FIGS. 1-3D  have zippers  60 ,  62  around their respective peripheries. Other securing devices could be substituted for the zippers  60 ,  62 , such as hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®), buttons, snaps, clasps, laces, etc. 
       FIGS. 4-5B  illustrate another flight bag  70  that generally has all the same features as flight bag  10  and similar numbers are used to identify similar features from flight bag  10 . Flight bag  70  includes an exterior compartment flap  72  that when opened exposes an interior compartment  74  defined by collapsible pouch  76 . The interior compartment  74  extends generally perpendicular to the length of the flight bag  70  and from the front panel  25  to nearly across to the rear panel  52 . The interior compartment  74  has a similar configuration and cross-section as interior compartment  44  to hold a headset  50 . Compartment flap  72  includes a zipper  78  around its periphery and an elongated opening or slot  80 . Unlike like flight bag  10 , flight bag  70  does not include an interior compartment flap like  44  to enclose or encase the collapsible pouch  76 . Instead, and as shown in  FIG. 5A , the collapsible pouch  76  can be stuffed through the elongated opening  80  into a flap pocket  82  in compartment flap  72 . By stuffing the collapsible pouch  76  in the flap pocket  82 , collapsible pouch  76  do not intrude into the main compartment  20  so that the entire volume of the main compartment  20  is available for holding other items. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates another flight bag  90  that generally has the same features as flight bag  70  and similar numbers are used to identify similar features from flight bag  70 . Flight bag  90  includes an exterior compartment flap  92  that includes a zipper  94 . When the zipper  94  is unzipped collapsible pouch  96 , which forms interior compartment  98 , can be stuffed inside the pocket interior to the compartment flap  92 . Thus, the entire volume of main compartment  20  is available for holding other items. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates another flight bag  110  that generally has all the same features as flight bag  10  and similar numbers are used to identify similar features from flight bag  10 . Flight bag  110  includes an exterior compartment flap  112 , but does not have an interior compartment flap  48 . Instead, flight bag  110  includes a strap  114  that extends across the opening covered by compartment flap  112  to retain or secure collapsible pouch  116  against the interior face of compartment flat  112 . One end of the strap  114  includes hook and loop fasteners  118  to readily secure the strap  114  to an interior face  120  of the main compartment  20 . The strap  144  is selectively moveable between a fastened position and an unfastened position. The hook and loop fasteners  118  could be replaced by any suitable fastener such as a button, snaps, clasps, laces, etc. The width of strap  114  would be less than the total height of compartment flap  112  and would more likely be between ¼″ to 5″ and even between 1″ and 3″. 
     While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of one or more embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the general inventive concept.