Patent Publication Number: US-2012024850-A1

Title: Zipper configuration and embodiments thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Pending: Application No. 61/368,828 
     Filed: Jul. 29, 2010 
     Title: Zipper configuration and embodiments thereof. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many bags, boxes, cases, or containers that are used for packing, organizing, toting, storing, or displaying items are structured such that they are closed with a zipper and, in all known cases of the prior art, this zipper is included on one (1) edge allowing opening and closing of one end, or three (3) edges allowing opening and closing of one side. All prior art embodies one of these two configurations. These prior configurations do not allow easy access to, or visibility of, items in the lower half of the container. Thus, items must be unpacked or displaced to retrieve those lower items. 
     The claimed zipper configuration is an improvement which allows the container (bag, box, or case) to not only be fully opened on one side, as with any prior lid or opening, but opens a second side simultaneously so the contents are viewable and accessible from both the top and side without unpacking the entire contents of the container. The embodiment of this zipper configuration provides a zippered container closure configuration for improved organizing, packing, storing, toting, and displaying items in a clean, visible, and easily accessible manner. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Prior art for zippered containers (bags, boxes, or cases) comprises a zipper on one (1) or three (3) edges of one surface providing access through one side or top. This invention comprises a zipper configuration implemented on five (5) (or seven (7) edges if slightly offset) to provide access through two (2) sides simultaneously. Likewise, this invention claims any container (bag, box or case) which embodies claimed zipper configuration. 
     This invention provides a zippered closure configuration which can be incorporated in any container to provide for organizing, packing, storing, toting, and displaying items in a neat and organized manner, independent of the larger case, drawer or shelf into or onto which it will be placed, while providing visibility and accessibility to its contents. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the first embodiment of the zipper configuration on a closed, soft sided container with the zipper on five (5) edges. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the first embodiment as described in  FIG. 1 , zipper on five (5) sides, with the zipper in an open configuration and lid rolled back. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the second embodiment of the zipper configuration on a closed, soft sided container with the zipper on seven (7) edges. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the second embodiment of the zipper on a container with edges as described in  FIG. 3 , the container being of significantly different proportions, with optional handles on side and front. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Zipper is applied to the edge of the storage compartment and to the edge of the lid of any container (bag, box or case) with gusseted corners forming a storage area of any depth or dimension. This zipper extends from the rear corner of one side to the rear corner of the alternate side, while traversing three edges of a second side. The zipper follows the contour of the side walls, and at or near the front corner ( FIGS. 1 and 3  respectively), turns perpendicularly or diagonally from top to bottom (again,  FIGS. 1 and 3  respectively), to form a dip in the front wall. This dip in the front wall is the means by which the contents of the container can be accessed from that second side. 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the first embodiment of the zipper configuration on a closed, soft sided container designed with the zipper on five (5) edges: ( 1 ) top left, ( 2 ) perpendicular from top to bottom left, ( 3 ) across at (or near) the bottom, ( 4 ) perpendicular from bottom to top right, and ( 5 ) top right. The zipper configuration on five ( 5 ) edges, providing visibility and accessibility on 2 sides simultaneously, is implemented by zipper traversing:
         from the back left corner of one side, along the left edge of that side moving toward the front ( 1 );   from the front left corner, continuing down, perpendicularly or diagonally, at or near the left edge to the bottom ( 2 );   across, at or near the bottom, to the right, continuing to a point at or near the right corner ( 3 );   from the bottom, perpendicularly or diagonally, to the top at the upper right corner ( 4 ); and   from that front right corner proceeding along that top right edge to the back right corner ( 5 ).       

       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the first embodiment of the zipper configuration on an open, soft sided container, showing the visibility and accessibility through 2 sides simultaneously. The five (5) edges of this configuration are as identified above [ FIG. 1 ]. 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the second embodiment of the zipper configuration on a closed, soft sided container with the zipper on seven (7) edges, being only a slight variance of the 5-sided implementation. Five edges are as in  FIG. 1  with edges ( 2 ) and ( 4 ) now diagonal. The additional edges are ( 6 ) and ( 7 ), perpendicular to edges ( 1 ) and ( 5 ) respectively, traversing a short distance along the top before beginning the diagonal to the bottom edge. The zipper configuration on seven ( 7 ) edges, providing visibility and accessibility on 2 sides simultaneously, is implemented by zipper traversing:
         from the back left corner of one side, along the left edge of that side moving toward the front ( 1 );   from the front left corner, turning perpendicularly from the side, across the front a short distance to a point near the front corner ( 6 );   turning downward, perpendicularly or diagonally, at or near the left edge to the bottom ( 2 );   across, at or near the bottom, to the right, continuing to a point at or near the right corner ( 3 );   from the bottom, perpendicularly or diagonally, to a point on the front, top, near the upper right corner ( 4 );   turning to the right along the top to the top, right corner ( 7 ), and   from that front right corner proceeding along that top right edge to the back right corner ( 5 ).       

     The embodiment of this zipper configuration, or its variation, in any container (bag, box or case) made of any soft or hard material, such as nylon, vinyl, leather, or stiff board, is also a claim of this invention. The zipper may be single- or bi-directional with one or two pull-tab mechanisms. The zipper configuration claimed is independent of the dimensions of the bag, box, case, or container in which it&#39;s embodied, as demonstrated in  FIG. 4 . The application of handles is independent of the zipper configuration of this invention.