Patent Publication Number: US-2005133559-A1

Title: Carrying case for architectural drawings and supplies

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/518,967, filed Nov. 10, 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention is directed to carrying cases for architectural drawings and supplies.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Typically, architects, engineers, contractors and developers roll their drawings or plans and either cover them with craft paper for protection or contain them within long mailing tubes. However, there are several disadvantages to these carrying methods. First, wrapping the plans in craft paper alone fails to protect the plans from being creased or folded. Second, the long mailing tubes are often used and re-used such that they become dirty, thereby contaminating the plans contained within them. Also, plans contained within these long mailing tubes are often difficult to remove, resulting in the plans being torn or wrinkled.  
      In addition, architects, engineers, contractors and developers often have standard-sized documents that they must carry along with their plans. Generally, these standard-sized documents are carried separately from the plans in a separate briefcase or other suitable carrying case. This means for carrying plans as well as other standard-sized documents in separate carrying cases is burdensome. Accordingly, a need exists to combine a carrying case for plans and drawings with a carrying case for standard-sized documents.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is drawn to a carrying case for architectural drawings and supplies. In one embodiment, the carrying case comprises a main bag portion, a front pocket portion, an auxiliary pocket and a shoulder strap. In one embodiment, the main bag portion has a rounded bottom and an open top with a tongue to prevent entrance of undesirable elements into the interior of the bag. The main bag portion is preferably fastened shut with a nylon cord and unitary fastening device.  
      The front pocket portion preferably comprises a main pocket for carrying standard-sized documents. The front pocket portion preferably further comprises a plurality of sub-pockets for carrying various materials and supplies. The front pocket portion also preferably comprises a flip-over covering flap fastened at the bottom of the front pocket portion. Additionally, the carrying case preferably comprises an auxiliary pocket for carrying long and slender materials and supplies.  
      The shoulder carrying strap preferably includes a ring and hook for carrying a small bag. In addition, the carrying strap preferably comprises two separate ends connected together such that the strap is manually adjustable. The carrying strap is preferably padded for comfortable carrying.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a main bag portion and a front pocket portion with a flap open according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a main bag portion and a shoulder carrying strap according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of a main bag portion, a front pocket portion with a flap open and an auxiliary pocket according to a second embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a main bag portion, a shoulder carrying strap and an auxiliary pocket according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a main bag portion and a front pocket portion with a flap closed according to one embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a tongue flipped over the back of the top of a main bag portion according to one embodiment of the invention; and  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic view of one embodiment of a shoulder strap according to one embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention comprises a main bag portion  10  of a length sufficient to carry architectural drawings or similarly sized documents. Preferably, the length of the main bag portion  10  is between 32 and 37 inches. The main bag portion  10  has a closed bottom  12  that is generally round in shape. Preferably, the main bag portion  10  has a width of 13 inches when laid flat, and a diameter of about 8 inches. The main bag portion  10  has an open top  14  that can be fastened, e.g., with a nylon cord  16  extending through a channel  18  sewn around the circumference of the uppermost end of the main bag portion  10 . In this embodiment, the two ends of the nylon cord  16  are attached to a unitary fastening device  20 , such as a grommet. To fasten the main bag portion  10 , the two ends of the nylon cord  16  are pulled outwardly from the main bag portion  10  and the grommet  20  is moved inwardly toward the main bag portion  10  to prevent the channel  18  of the main bag portion  10  from loosening once it is fastened. The top of the main bag portion  10  also comprises a round tongue  22 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , resting immediately below the channel  18  containing the nylon cord  16  and capable of extending across the mouth of the bag and covering the contents of the main bag portion  10 . The tongue  22  is attached at one edge to the inside surface of the main bag portion  10  and preferably functions to prevent the entrance of undesirable elements, such as rain, from entering the interior of the main bag portion  10 . The main bag portion  10  optionally further comprises a hanging loop  60  (See  FIG. 2 ) attached near the top of the main bag portion  10  for hanging the carrying bag on a hook or the like.  
      Attached to the main bag portion  10 , is a front pocket portion  24 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The front pocket portion  24  preferably comprises a plurality of sub-pockets and a covering flap  26  attached at the back side of the top of the front pocket portion  24 , that may be flipped over the top of the front pocket portion  24  and removably fastened at the bottom  28  of the front side of the front pocket portion  24 . At the top right and left sides of the covering flap  26 , darts (not shown) may be sewn into the fabric of the covering flap  26 . These darts preferably extend approximately 1.5 inches diagonally toward the middle of the covering flap  26 . These darts allow the covering flap  26  to cover the entire front pocket portion  24  when the front pocket portion  24  contains bulky items. The right and left side of the covering flap  26 , as well as the bottom of the flap  26 , may be hemmed for added protection to the edges of the flap  26 . The covering flap  26  preferably measures 12 inches wide by 12 inches long and is preferably removably fastened at the bottom  28  of the front pocket portion  24  by any means, including, but not limited to Velcro (loop and pile fastener). Snaps could also be used.  
      In one embodiment, the front pocket portion  24  includes a top opening main pocket  30 , preferably 12 inches wide and 12 inches long, that may be used for carrying standard sized documents. The main pocket  30  also comprises a fastening device  32  to fasten the pocket to the sleeve of the front pocket portion  24 . This fastening device  32  may be of any kind, including, but not limited to Velcro or snaps. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the main pocket  30  is covered by an inner flip-over flap  30   a , removably fastened to the outer surface of the main pocket  30  by any means, including but not limited to Velcro or snaps.  
      Mounted on the right side of the sleeve of the main pocket  30  is a first sub-pocket  34 , preferably 6 inches wide and 8 inches long. This first sub-pocket  34  may be used for carrying a personal desktop assistant. The first sub-pocket  34  also comprises a fastening device  36  affixed to the inner lining of the pocket sleeve to fasten the pocket to the sleeve of the main pocket  30 . The fastening device  36  may be of any kind, including, but not limited to Velcro or snaps. Mounted on the sleeve of the first sub-pocket  34  are four sub-pockets  38  that may be used for carrying writing utensils and/or measuring instruments (hereinafter “pen-pockets”). The first of these pen-pockets  38  is positioned atop the right side of the first sub-pocket  34  and preferably measures about 1 and {fraction (3/4)} inches wide and stretches the length of the first sub-pocket  34 . The remaining three pen-pockets  38  are located to the left of the first pen-pocket  38  and each preferably measures about 1 and {fraction (1/4)} inches and stretches the length of the first sub-pocket  34 .  
      Mounted on the left side of the main pocket  30  is a second sub-pocket  40 , preferably 6 inches wide and 9 inches long. Alternatively, the first sub-pocket  34  and second sub-pocket  40  may have the same dimensions. The second sub-pocket  40  may be used for carrying bulky items. Mounted on the bottom-middle section of the sleeve of the second sub-pocket  40  is a transparent pocket  42  preferably measuring about 4 inches wide and approximately 3 inches long. This transparent pocket  42  preferably comprises a clear plastic front  44 , and may be used for carrying business cards. Mounted on the top-right section of the second sub-pocket  40  is a clip  46  that may be used for holding keys or similar goods.  
      As depicted in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , mounted on the side of the main bag portion  10 , behind the main pocket  30  and to the left of the second sub-pocket  40 , is an auxiliary pocket  48 , preferably measuring about 12 inches long and about 1 inch in diameter. The auxiliary pocket  48  is preferably formed as a cylindrical loop of fabric with each side edge attached together along the line of attachment to the bag. It has an open top and a closed bottom. This auxiliary pocket  48  may be used to carry a scale ruler or similarly shaped goods or tools.  
      Alternative arrangements of the front pocket portion  24  and the auxiliary pocket  48  are possible. For instance, the covering flap may not be hemmed or may not contain darts sewn at the top right and left sides. Also, the first sub-pocket  34  may be mounted on the left side of the front pocket portion  24 , and the second sub-pocket  40  may be mounted on the right side of the front pocket portion  24 . Additionally, the transparent pocket  42  may be mounted anywhere on the front pocket portion  24 , including, but not limited to the covering flap, the first sub-pocket  34  and/or the second sub-pocket  40 . The plastic clip  46  may also be mounted anywhere on the front pocket portion  24 , including, but not limited to, the covering flap. Also, the auxiliary pocket  48  may be mounted either to the right or to the left of the front pocket portion  24 .  
      Stretching diagonally across the back of the main bag portion  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ,  6  and  7 , is a shoulder carrying strap  50 . This strap  50  may be in one piece. Preferably, however, as shown in  FIG. 7 , one end of the shoulder strap  50  is attached to the top  14  of the main bag portion  10  approximately 4 inches underneath the channel  18  containing the nylon cord  16 . This end of the strap  50  extends downwardly and diagonally to the middle of the main bag portion  10 , and is preferably about 26 inches long. The top of this end of the strap  50  is preferably about 5.5 inches wide. This width tapers to a width of approximately 4 inches after a length of approximately 7.5 inches. The opposite end of the shoulder strap  50  is preferably attached to the side of the main bag portion  10  approximately 0.5 inch to the left of the seam of the auxiliary pocket  50 . This opposite end of the strap  50  extends upwardly and diagonally to the middle of the bag portion  10 , and is preferably about 19 inches long. The bottom of this end of the strap  50  is preferably about 8.5 inches wide. This width tapers to a width of approximately 4 inches after a length of approximately 10 inches. The ends of the two ends of the strap  50 , meeting in the middle of the main bag portion  10 , are both generally rounded in shape. Both ends of the strap  50  are hemmed on all sides, including the rounded top or bottom. The two ends are attached together in the middle of the main bag portion  10  with a suitable fastening device  51 , such as Velcro or snaps. The end of the strap  50  attached to the top of the main bag portion  10  is attached atop the opposite end of the strap  50 . The fastening device  51  preferably allows the length of the shoulder carrying strap  50  to be manually adjustable. For instance, strips of Velcro may be used. To allow for adjustability, the length of the Velcro strips of the fastening device  51  are preferably about 10 inches. Preferably, the shoulder strap  50  is padded for comfort.  
      Mounted in the middle of the shoulder strap  50  is a plastic ring  52 , onto which one end of a hook  54  may be fastened. The plastic ring  52  may be mounted to the strap  50  by any suitable means. Preferably, the plastic ring  52  is attached to a fabric loop  50   a  sewn underneath a small, slender fabric patch  52   a , sewn horizontally across the width of the strap  50 . This slender patch is preferably about 4 inches wide and about 1 inch long. Fastened to the opposite end of the hook  54  may be a small bag  56  with a flip-over cover  58  that is removably fastened to the main portion of the small bag  56 . The fastening device (not shown) may be of any kind, including, but not limited to, Velcro. The small bag  56  may be used for carrying a cellular telephone.  
      Also mounted in the middle of the shoulder carrying strap  50 , beneath the plastic ring  52 , is a long, slender patch of fabric  51   a  extending upwardly from the bottom of the end of the strap  50  attached to the top of the main bag portion  10 . The patch is preferably about 5 inches long and about 1 inch wide. The patch is preferably sewn to the carrying strap  50  in four separate places: into the bottom hem of the strap  50 , at the top of the patch, at a location approximately 1.5 inches from the top of the patch, and at a location approximately 2 inches from the bottom of the patch. As a result of this sewing pattern, three loops are created in the fabric patch. These loops can be used for any suitable purpose, including but not limited to attaching additional hooks for carrying tools and/or supplies.  
      Alternative embodiments of the carrying strap  50  are possible. For instance, the end of the strap  50  opposite the end connected to the top  14  of the main bag portion  10  may be attached either to the right or the left of the front pocket portion  24 . Additionally, the plastic ring  52  may be made of any suitable alternative material, including, but not limited to metal, and may be located anywhere on the carrying strap  50 . Also, the fabric patch may be made of any suitable length, may contain any number of loops, and may be located anywhere on the carrying strap.  
      All components of this invention may comprise any durable yet lightweight material, such that the bag may preferably carry a load of up to 80 pounds. Preferably, the components comprise 600 D Cordura/Nylon.  
      The preceding description has been presented with reference to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. Workers skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structure may be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principal, spirit and scope of this invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description should not be read as pertaining only to the precise structures described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but rather should be read consistent with and as support for the following claims which are to have their fullest and fairest scope.