Abstract:
A storage bag is disclosed with two embodiments wherein the bag is in the form of a rectangular parallelpiped having overlapping top flaps to form an enclosure. In one embodiment the front and back panels are biased toward one another by elastic incorporated in mesh side panels. In a second embodiment the top flaps are joined by webs of insulating material which function to facilitate the insulating capacity of the storage bag.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a utility application based upon previously filed provisional application Ser. No. 60/240,487 filed Oct. 13, 2000 for a Tackle Box Bag which is incorporated herewith by reference and for which priority is claimed. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a storage bag that is capable of manufacture in various versions including a version which may be used as a tackle box bag as well as a version that may be used as an insulated container or bag. 
     Outdoorsmen, hikers, campers, fisherman and the like require a variety of paraphernalia and materials that will enable them to enjoy their particular hobby, craft, trade, or the like. Fishermen, for example, require a variety of tackle items. Typically fishermen prefer to store such materials in protective plastic containers or boxes. 
     Additionally outdoorsmen often need insulated bags for storage of food, provisions, and the like. Fishermen may need such a bag to carry their catch or store their catch in combination with ice, dry ice, or cooling packs. 
     Preferably such storage bags have a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape so that they will easily accommodate other types of storage containers and so that they may be easily transported as well as stored. Further, it is desirable to have such storage bags made from materials that may be easily compressed or folded so that when not in use, they will take up a minimum of space and additionally will take up a minimum of space when being offered for sale, shipment, or otherwise not in use. Thus, there has developed a need for an improved type of storage bag which may be adapted for multiple uses depending upon features incorporated in or with the bag. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly the present invention comprises a rectangular parallelpiped, storage bag which in a first embodiment includes a back panel, a bottom panel, and a front panel joined by side panels made of mesh and incorporating elastic connecting straps or members. The elastic straps help retain the contents of the bag to be maintained or bound within the bag. An optional, central mesh panel may be provided in the bag so that plastic tackle boxes or containers may be easily positioned in and carried in the bag. One important feature of the bag is inclusion of top flaps that fold one over the other to protect the contents of the bag. Handles are provided attached at the juncture of the top panels with the front and back panels, respectively. In this manner, the contents of the bag may be more easily retained therein. 
     A second embodiment of the invention includes various panels forming the parallelepiped bag made from insulating material. All of the bag panels are flexible. With the insulating panel embodiment, the back side and front side top flaps are connected by a web that folds over the contents of the bag to prevent access into the bag from the opposite ends of the bag and further providing improved insulating characteristics for the bag when the top flaps are folded one over the other. 
     Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an improved rectangular parallelepiped, storage bag which may be adapted for a multiple number of purposes and which provides maximum storage capacity. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a storage bag that may be adapted to easily carry rigid plastic tackle boxes, the storage bag thus being generally modular in size so as to receive and retain such storage boxes. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a storage bag that in one embodiment includes elastic members incorporated in end panels to facilitate retention of items within the bag. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a storage bag wherein the end panels include web extensions connecting overlapping top flaps to facilitate retention of the flaps of the bag when the contents are in the closed position as well as to provide additional insulating benefit. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a design for a rectangular parallelepiped, storage bag that is easily carried by means of handles attached to front and back panels of the bag, which is flexible, which will carry multiple items and which is economical, generally easy to manufacture, attractive, and lightweight. 
     These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be set forth in a detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In the detailed description that follows reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures: 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the invention wherein the storage bag is uniquely useful as a tackle box bag; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the invention wherein the top flaps of the bag are overlapped to enclose the interior of the bag and wherein the bag panels are made from flexible, insulating material to provide an insulated storage bag; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the bag of FIG. 2 wherein the top flaps of the bag are in the fully opened position revealing the web connection between the top flaps and the side panels of the bag; and 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the bag of FIG. 3 wherein the top flaps forming the top of the bag are in a partially closed position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The embodiment of FIG. 1 of the bag of the invention is made from a vinyl, canvas, or other flexible type fabric material. The bag includes a back side panel  10 , a bottom side panel  12  and a front side panel  14 . The sides or panels  10 ,  12  and  14  are joined together or seamed together and arrayed as a continuous U-shaped form defining an enclosure. The back panel  10  further includes a top foldover flap or panel  16  which folds along a folding edge  18 . Similarly, the front panel  14  includes a top foldover flap or panel  20  which folds along an edge  22  of front panel  14 . The flaps  16  and  20  are dimensioned so as to fold over one another. The top flap  20  includes an outside fastening strip  24 , such as a Velcro fastening strip, which cooperates with and engages a fastening strip  26  on the inside of the back flap  16 . In this manner, the flaps  16  and  20  may be folded over one another with the back side flap  16  folded over the front side flap  20  to enclose and retain items within the bag. 
     The back side and the front side  14  are spaced from one another and are generally parallel to one another. The bag, thus, is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. Lateral sides or panels  30 ,  32  of the bag comprise a first mesh panel  30  connected to the side edge of bottom panel  12  and between the side edges of the back side  10  and front side  14 , and a second mesh panel  32  at the opposite end edges of panels  10 ,  12 ,  14  and connecting the back side panel  10  and front side panel  14 . An elastic band  34  connects from the junction of the back side panel  10 , flap  16  and mesh panel  30  to the junction of the front side panel  14 , flap  20  and mesh panel  30 . The elastic band  34  tends to draw the back and front panels  10  and  14  together at their upper end or edge so as to retain the contents of the bag enclosure. In a similar fashion, the second lateral mesh panel  32  includes an elastic band  36  connected between the back panel  10  and front panel  14 . The band  36  has a function substantially the same as the function of the band  34 . 
     Midway between and parallel to the panels  10  and  14  is an intermediate flexible mesh panel  40  connected between the mesh panels  30  and  32 . The mesh panel  40  effects compartmentalization of the interior of the formed bag. The mesh side panel  30  may have a secondary panel  42  overlying the panel side  30  and spaced slightly therefrom for storage of additional materials. The side mesh panel  42  may further include an elastic band  44  along its upper margin. The combination of the bands  34  and  44  effect an elastic force which tends to maintain the contents of the bag in position within the bag by holding back panel  10  and front panel  14 . The bag is designed in a modular fashion so as to retain tackle boxes, such as rigid, transparent plastic tackle boxes  50  and  52  which are shown in partial cutaway view in one of the pockets formed by the back panel  10  and intermediate mesh panel  40  in combination with the end or lateral side panels  30  and  32 . 
     Flexible handles  60  and  62  are affixed to the top edgese of the back panel  10  and front panel  14 , respectively, at the juncture of those panels  10 ,  14  with the flaps  16  and  20 , respectively. Thus, when the flaps  16  and  20  are in the closed position so as to retain tackle boxes  50  and  52  and any additional tackle boxes retained within the enclosure, the handles  60  and  62 , and more particularly, grips  64  and  66  of the handles  60  and  62  may be manually held so as to permit carrying of the bag. 
     Among the unique features of the bag is the modularization of the compartments so that they will hold state of the art tackle boxes  50  and  52 . The tackle boxes  50  and  52  are typically plastic, molded, rigid tackle boxes. The panels  10 ,  12  and  14  act to encapsulate the boxes for carrying and protect the boxes and their contents. Importantly, the elastic bands  34  and  36  provide a retaining force to hold the tackle boxes  50  and  52  and other materials within the bag in place. 
     FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention that has the function of providing an insulated storage bag wherein the panels forming the bag are made from an insulating material or encapsulated insulating material in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped, storage bag enclosure. Referring to those figures, the bag includes a back side or panel  80 , a front side or panel  82 , and a bottom side or panel  84 . The panels  80 ,  82 , and  84  are joined along their side edges by a first end panel  86 . A congruently sized, opposite or second end panel  88  connects the opposite side edges of the front panel  82 , bottom panel  84 , and back panel  80 , thereby forming an enclosure for storage of food items, for example, or fishing bait by way of another example. All of the panels forming the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4 are generally flexible panels made from insulating material. For example, the panels may be comprised of inner and outer layers of a plastic with a low conductivity insulating material encapsulated between the plastic layers. Other materials may be utilized to provide the same functionality. Preferably all of the panels are somewhat flexible so that the entire storage bag may be folded and compressed for packaging and storage and transport from a manufacturing facility to a retail outlet. 
     The front panel  82  extends along a flexible margin  90  to define a first top flap or top panel  92 . In a similar manner, the back panel  80  extends along a margin  94  to define a second top flap  96 . The flaps  92  and  96  are sized so that upon closure they will overlap one with the other in the manner depicted in FIG.  2 . 
     With the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4, the first top panel  92  and the second top panel  96  are connected along their respective edges  98  and  100  at one end by a first web  102 . A second web  104  connects the side edges  106  of top flap panel  92  with side edge  108  of top flap panel  96 . Web panels  102  and  104  have a unique configuration which enables them to be folded over into a flap configuration as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 when the top panels  92  and  96  are folded one over the other. Thus the webs  102  and  104  are as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 have a configuration with the fold lines  110  and  112  that enable the web  102  to extend from the margin or edge  114  over the contents of the bag when the flaps  92  and  96  are in the closed position. Thus the fold line  110  of the web  102  extends from the junction of the side panel  86 , back panel  80 , and the second flap  96  upwardly and inwardly. In a similar fashion a fold line  112  extends from the junction of side panel  86 , front panel  82 , and the first or top flap  92  upwardly and inwardly so that the fold lines  110  and  112  are converging one toward the other. In this manner the web panel  102  protects the contents of the enclosed container particularly when the flaps or panels  92  and  94  are in the closed position. In a similar fashion the web or side panel web  104  includes fold lines having the function and mirror image construction of the panel  102 . The panels  102  and  104  are thus mirror images of one another. 
     As depicted in FIG. 4, hook and eye fasteners (Velcro) are provided in the form of a strip  120  that holds the flaps  92 ,  96  closed at each end of the bag. Hook and eye strips  122 ,  124  are provided along the edges of flaps  92 ,  96  to hold flaps  92 ,  96  in closed relation. Strip  120  is provided on the outside face of web  102  in order to avoid contacting contents of the bag. 
     The storage bag of FIGS. 2-4 further includes carry strap  126  which connects to the respective side panels  86  and  88  so that the bag may be carried. Though not shown, handles may be included with the storage bag of FIGS. 2-4 similar to the handles  66  and  64  of the embodiment of FIG.  1 . Also a front mesh storage pocket  130  may be provided. 
     The construction of the bag may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Important features include the top fold over flaps  92 ,  96  which are oversized so that they overlap one another. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the construction of the elastic side panels is particularly important. In the construction of FIGS. 2-4 the use and design of the end webs  102  and  104  is particularly important. However, various alterations may be made to the storage bag as disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is therefore to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.