Patent Publication Number: US-2013228408-A1

Title: Coaches keeper bag for securing personal items for a group of individuals

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates to storage and carrying devices. In particular, the present invention relates to bags for organizing, carrying and storing items for at least a plurality of individuals. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Bags for storing and carrying items, such as duffel bags and rolling luggage, are known in the art. In particular, duffel bags have become popular in recent years because they are lightweight and have a flexible construction which provides users with an ability to store large quantities of items. Additionally, duffel bags are typically made from flexible materials which allows the duffel bag to be easily folded or crumpled for storage. However, since duffel bags are formed from flexible materials, it is generally not feasible to stand them on their wheeled end because the sides and lid of the bag tend to sag under the weight of the non-wheeled end which, in turn, can tip the duffel bag over as the weight of the handle assembly cannot uniformly sag with the sides and the lid. 
     Further, rolling luggage has also become increasingly popular in recent years. With rolling luggage, a wheel assembly is used to roll, rather than carry, the luggage. Typically, such rolling luggage configurations are suitcases with a primary opening for storing items. Since those rolling luggage configurations typically have only one such opening for storing items, the items stored inside are often disorganized and thus hard to locate, especially in the case where items belonging to more than one person are stored. 
     This problem is particularly prevalent for coaches of school sports as they now have to store a variety of valuable personal items, such as phones, for every player on the team. Due to the limitations described above, prior luggage configurations make it challenging for the coaches to simultaneously store items for more than one player on the team before the game and then easily retrieve those items and distribute them back to each player after the game. 
     The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a bag and storage system for storing and securely holding items for at least a plurality of individuals. The purpose of the bag and the system is to securely store and keep valuable items in place during group activities. The group activities can include, for example, school sports, plays or recitals. In one embodiment, the bag is configured to provide a way to store valuable items while keeping them organized so that the valuable items may be quickly and easily identified and retrieved. The bag includes an outer casing comprising a cavity which forms a primary storage area which is configured to provide access to a plurality of storage cases. The bag further includes an inner frame that can be assembled inside the cavity and made larger than an opening so that the inner frame does not slide out of the opening. The bag also includes a fastening assembly configured to provide access to the primary storage area and is further configured to allow for locking items inside the bag in order to prevent unauthorized access to the items. 
     This Summary and the Abstract are provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary and the Abstract are not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor are they intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate one embodiment of a bag for storing and securing items. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the bag with a flap in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an inner frame and dividers used for separating the storage compartments from one another. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a divider used to separate one storage compartment from another storage compartment. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an inner frame. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the inner frame in a collapsed position. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the inner frame in an expanded position inside the bag. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates one embodiment of the fastener assembly. 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating steps for assembling the bag. 
         FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating steps for using the bag and the storage system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate one embodiment of a bag and storage system  100  for storing and securely holding valuable items for at least a plurality of individuals involved in a group activity. The group activity can include, for instance, school sports, plays or recitals. Moreover, by way of example, the items for storing inside the bag can include any type of personal items, such as but not limited to keys, jewelry, watches, and also any type of electronic devices, such as but not limited to phones, digital cameras, iPads®, and the like. 
     In one embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2 , the bag  100  has an outer casing  102 , an outer framework  103 , and a fastening assembly  106 . The outer casing  102  comprises a cavity  108 , a flap  122 , a plurality of wheels  110 , a retractable telescoping pull handle assembly  112 , a stationary sewn-in handle  114 , a plurality of exterior pockets  116  and a shoulder strap  118 . The retractable telescoping pull handle assembly  112  can be hidden away by way of a covering. The outer framework  103  has a rigid bottom and sewn-in wire framework to provide support. The fastening assembly  106  is configured to restrict and allow access to a primary storage area  104  (discussed below). In one embodiment, the outer casing  102  is soft sided or partially rigid, and has fixed borders  120  so that the items stored inside the primary storage area  104  are less prone to being deformed. Moreover, in partially rigid embodiments, the rigidity of the outer casing  102  allows the bag  100  to easily be wheeled upright on wheels  110 . 
     Because in some organized events it is a requirement that coaches or others in charge have a medical kit with them at all times, in some exemplary embodiments the storage system/bag  100  includes a screen print or other forms of designation, for example in white or red, of a cross  117  on an exterior pocket  116  to indicate that the bag contains medical supplies. Although not necessarily provided as part of the storage system, the exterior pocket  116  can contain various medical items such as bandages, scissors, bandage wraps, medical creams and ointments, etc. Thus, the storage system provides additional convenience by combining the storage of personal items with storage of a medical kit. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the primary storage area  104  is formed within the cavity  108  of the outer casing  102 . The flap  122  covers the primary storage area  104  and is configured to provide access to a plurality of storage cases  124  (discussed below). The primary storage area  104  houses at least the plurality of storage cases  124 , an inner frame  126  and dividers  128 . As shown, the storage cases  124  are placed into at least a plurality of rows separated by dividers  128  which are removably connected to the inner frame  126 . When in a closed position, the flap  122  covers the storage cases  124  in the primary storage area  104 . Similarly, when in an open position, the flap  122  is moved so as to allow access to the storage cases  124  being stored inside the primary storage area  104 . 
     In one embodiment, a fixed side  130  of the flap  122  is secured to the outer casing  102  via a hinge  132  which allows the flap  122  to swing open and close relative to the outer casing  102 . Remaining sides  134 ,  136 ,  138  of the flap  122  are removably connected to the fastening assembly  106 , which ensures that when the flap  122  is in the closed position, the flap  122  remains in that position in order to prevent access to the items being stored inside the storage cases  124 . In one embodiment, the outer surface  140  of the flap  122  displays the school name and logo. In another embodiment, the outer surface  140  can also display both the school (or other organization or group) name and logo along with the team name and logo. In a further embodiment, the inner surface  142  of the flap  122  can have printing thereon to display section identifiers  144  which are used to easily identify in which one of sections  146 ,  148 ,  150 , the player&#39;s storage case  124  was placed. Although in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  the section identifiers  144  are denoted by numbers, it should be noted that symbols used to identify the section identifiers  144  can include any symbol, such as but not limited to alphabet letters, as long as they help the player remember which one of the sections  146 ,  148 , or  150  contains his or her storage case  124 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the plurality of storage cases  124  are shown as they are placed inside the primary storage area  104 . In an exemplary embodiment, each storage case  124  is approximately 8 inches across and 10½ inches tall. Moreover, in another embodiment, each storage case  124  has an opening  153  for depositing the items the player would like to store for the duration of the game. Opening  153  can be closed with a zipper  155  so that the deposited items do not fall out of the storage case  124  should the bag  100  be tilted in any direction. In one embodiment, each storage case  124  can be personalized with a label  156  where the student can write his or her name. The label  156  can be sewn onto each storage case  124 . In a further embodiment, each storage case  124  comprises a smaller version of the custom-embroidered school logo  158 . In yet a further embodiment, each storage case  124  has a color that matches the school color. In one embodiment, there are a plurality of storage cases  124  (e.g., thirty six) that are split into three rows where each row contains approximately one third of the storage cases  124 . The storage cases  124  can be stored inside the primary storage area  104  for the duration of the group activity. 
       FIGS. 3-5  illustrate the inner frame  126  that is configured to receive the dividers  128  which allow for separating the storage cases  124  into at least the plurality of rows. The inner frame  126  can be assembled inside the cavity  108  and made larger than the opening  152  so that the inner frame  126  does not slide out of the opening  152 . The inner frame  126  includes four at least partially rigid panels  160 . In one embodiment, the inner frame  126  can be made of a flexible material that binds the panels  160 . Panels  160   a,    160   c  have the approximately the same length. Similarly, panels  160   b,    160   d  can also have the same length. In the illustrated embodiment, all of the panels  160   a - d  are connected to adjacent panels via sewn-in seams, except panels  160   a  and  160   d  which are connected to each other via a Velcro (or other hook-and-loop fastener) closure  165 . In alternative embodiments, panels  160   a - d  can be connected by way of any fastening system, such as a Velcro® closure between each panel. It should be noted that the connection between two of the panels should be separable so that inner frame  126  can collapse in order to fit inside the bag. 
     In one embodiment, the dividers  128  are rigid or at least partially rigid panels  168  covered by a durable fabric  170  seamed along the bottom  172  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and sides  176  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) of the dividers  128 . When placed inside the inner frame  126 , the dividers  128  are connected to the longer sides of the inner frame  126  by any suitable fastening system  178 . The fastening system  178  used to secure the dividers  128  in place can comprise a Velcro (or other hook-and-loop fastener) closure  180  where two strips  182 ,  184  made from surfaces configured to grip upon contact are used. As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , both sides  176  of the dividers  128  have the strips  182  and both of panels  160   b  and  160   d  have corresponding strips  184  such that dividers  128  are secured between panels  160   b  and  160   d.  In one embodiment, the strips  184  are Velcro strips and are equally spaced from one another and from the edges of the panels so as to fasten to strips on the dividers. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the inner frame  126  can comprise three equally-spaced interior compartments  166  at the left, the center and the right. These equally-spaced interior compartments  166  can be configured to correspond to the section identifiers  144  which were discussed above in connection with  FIG. 2 . The storage cases  124  can be vertically inserted into one of the interior compartments  166  after the students deposit their valuables in their storage cases  124 . By knowing in which interior compartment  166  the storage case  124  has been inserted, the student can then tell the coach the precise compartment  166 . This, in turn, would speed up the distribution of the storage cases  124  back to the students for faster storage case and items retrieval. 
       FIGS. 8  illustrates one embodiment of the fastening assembly  106  which keeps the outer casing  102  closed and prevents access to the primary storage area  104 . As shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  8 , the fastening assembly  106  includes a zipper  186  having a sliding tab  192  for securing the flap to other portions of the outer casing  102  to close or seal access to the primary storage area  104 . In a further embodiment, the fastening assembly can comprise a plurality of sliding tabs  192 . In still a further embodiment, the fastening assembly also includes a lock  188 , such as a single-dial or multi-dial combination lock. In yet a further embodiment, the fastening assembly includes a ring  194  coupled to an outer edge of the outer casing. The lock can be used to keep the flap  122  in the closed position by securely holding both the ring  194  and the plurality of sliding tabs  192  in place. 
     The bag  100  described above can be sold to schools as a system that includes a plurality of storage cases  124 . A school can purchase the bag system for a minimal price by asking each student to pay a nominal fee to receive one of the storage cases  124 . At the time of the filing of this application, an exemplary nominal fee for the storage case can be, for example, $10.00. If the school is able to sell, for example, all (e.g., thirty six) of the personalized storage cases  124 , and provided the school is charged approximately $375.00 for one system, then the total cost of the system to the school would amount to approximately $15.00, making the system affordable to the school. 
     In one embodiment, the storage cases  124  can be personalized to each student. Specifically, the storage case can include a label  156  where each student can write his or her name with a permanent marker. The label  156  can be sewn onto each storage case  124 . In another embodiment, the storage cases  124  can be imprinted with the school logo below the label. 
     In another embodiment, in addition to the plurality of storage cases  124 , the schools can also be provided with a plurality of complementary matching backpacks which can also be imprinted with the school logo. The complementary matching backpacks can be used by the students to store a storage case  124  and the student&#39;s items before they are transferred to the storage system  100  during an organized school activity. 
       FIG. 9  is a flow chart illustrating steps for assembling the bag. As shown at step  910 , a bag  100  having a lid and an opening is obtained. Then at step  920 , an inner frame  126  of the bag is collapsed so that the inner frame  126  fits into an opening of the bag  100 . Thereafter at step  930 , the inner frame  126  is expanded inside the opening. When in the expanded position, the inner frame  126  is larger than the opening and is adapted so that the inner frame  126  will not come out of the bag  100 . At step  940 , dividers  128  are inserted into the inner frame  126  and a fastening assembly  106  can be used to secure the dividers  128  to the inner frame  126 . 
       FIG. 10  is a flow chart illustrating steps for using the bag and the storage system  100 . As shown in step  950 , a personalized storage case  124  is provided to each student on a team. At step  960 , the student is instructed to write his or her name on a label sewn on to the personalized storage case  124 . Then, at step  970 , the student places his or her valuable items inside the storage case  124 . Thereafter in step  980 , the coach of the team puts the student&#39;s storage case  124  inside the inner frame of the bag. At step  990 , the coach can selectively secure the storage system  100  with a lock  188  so as to prevent unauthorized access to the storage cases  124 . 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.