Patent Description:
Examples of the present disclosure are related to systems and methods associated with a compressible pouch. More particularly, embodiments relate to a compressible pouch with a flap, rear shell, front shell, and a compressible layer positioned between the rear shell and the front shell, wherein a zipper is configured to apply pressure to towards the front shell to squeeze a compartment within the front shell.

Bags are universal in most cultures due to everyone needing to carry objects, protect items, or carry several things together. As such, a wide variety of bags, as the one disclosed in the document <CIT>, have evolved to meet given standards. When deciding what type of bag to use, most users will be required to use larger bags that can be cumbersome to carry around, but can hold more objects. Unfortunately, many bags take up a considerable amount of space, even if folded. Furthermore, when utilizing a larger bag to store objects within the bag, the objects may move around. This may damage the objects. Accordingly, needs exist for more effective and efficient methods and systems for a compression pouch with an rear shell and a front shell that are coupled together with a compressible layer, wherein the compressible layer is configured to open and close via a zipper.

Embodiments are directed towards a compression pouch with a flap, rear shell, compressible layer, and front shell. The compression pouch may be a small refillable pouch, case, storage container, etc. that is configured to store various objects, such as feminine pads, diapers, liners, cosmetics, wallet and keys, other essentials, etc. The compression pouch may allow for easy access of objects without removing the compressive forces applied against the rear shell and front shell. This may allow for a compartment within the front shell.

The flap has a first end that is configured to be permanently coupled to a proximal surface of the rear shell, and a second end that is configured to be selectively coupled to a distal surface of the front shell. Responsive to decoupling the second end of the flap to the distal surface of the front shell, a compartment within the front shell may be accessed. Further, the compressive zipper may be opened and closed when the second end of the flap is decoupled from the front shell. Responsive to coupling the second end of the flap to the distal surface of the front shell, the compartment may be sealed.

The rear shell may be a piece of fabric that is configured to be a rear sidewall of the compressible pouch. An outer surface of the rear shell may be coupled with the first end of the flap, and an inner surface of the rear shell may be coupled with, and positioned adjacent to, the compression layer.

The compression layer is positioned between the rear shell and the front shell. The compression layer may be formed of, and filled with, compressible material, which is a different material, or the same material with thinner sidewalls, than the rear shell or front shell. The compression layer is configured to apply compressive forces against the front shell to shrink a volume of a compartment within the front shell. The compression layer includes a zipper that is configured to be accessed responsive to decoupling the second end of the flap and the distal surface of the front shell. Responsive to opening the flap, the zipper may be exposed. When the zipper is exposed, the compressive forces may be released by opening the zipper or retained.

The front shell may be positioned adjacent to, and in front of, the compression layer. The front shell may include a coupling mechanism and a compartment. The coupling mechanism may be configured to be coupled with the flap to allow objects to be inserted into and removed from the compartment. Responsive to decoupling the flap from the coupling mechanism the compartment may be exposed. The compartment may be positioned on the outer surface of the front shell, and have an opening on the outer surface and top surface of the outer shell. The compartment may be configured to allow users to remove objects from the compressible pouch without removing the compressive forces against the front shell.

In embodiments, the upper and lower edges of the front shell, compression layer, and/or the rear shell may be compressed of or coated with stronger and/or thicker material that shields components of the compression pouch from the elements.

These, and other, aspects of the invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. The following description, while indicating various embodiments of the invention and numerous specific details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many substitutions, modifications, additions or rearrangements may be made within the scope of the invention, and the invention includes all such substitutions, modifications, additions or rearrangements as long as they fall within the scope of the claims.

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art that the specific detail need not be employed to practice the present embodiments. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present embodiments.

<FIG> depicts one embodiment of a compression pouch <NUM>, according to an embodiment. Compression pouch <NUM> includes a flap <NUM>, rear shell <NUM>, compressible layer <NUM>, and front shell <NUM>.

Flap <NUM> has a first end that is configured to be permanently coupled to a proximal surface of rear shell <NUM>, and a first coupling mechanism <NUM> that is configured to be selectively coupled to a second coupling mechanism <NUM> positioned on front shell <NUM>. First coupling mechanism <NUM> may be any type of coupling mechanism that can selectively couple with second coupling mechanisms <NUM>, such as buttons, hoop and loops, buckles, etc. Responsive to decoupling first coupling mechanism <NUM> and second coupling mechanism <NUM>, a compartment <NUM> positioned on front shell <NUM>. Responsive to coupling first coupling mechanism <NUM> and second coupling mechanism <NUM>, compartment <NUM> may be sealed. In embodiments, flap <NUM> may have a body that is substantially rectangular in shape with a triangular shape end or be rectangular in shape.

Rear shell <NUM> may be a piece of fabric that is configured to be a rear sidewall of compressible pouch <NUM>. An outer surface of rear shell <NUM> may be coupled with the first end of flap <NUM>, and an inner surface of rear shell <NUM> may be coupled with a positioned adjacent with compressible layer <NUM>.

Compressible layer <NUM> is positioned between rear shell <NUM> and front shell <NUM>.

Compressible layer <NUM> may be comprised of a compressible material, such as compressible foam, nylon, rubber, etc. In embodiments, compressible layer <NUM> may be formed of a different material than rear shell <NUM> or front shell <NUM>. Compressible layer <NUM> is configured to apply forces against front shell <NUM> to increase or reduce the volume associated with compartment <NUM>. Compressible layer <NUM> may be formed of a first layer and second layer, which are coupled together in part via a zipper on a zipper track <NUM>. The first layer of compressible layer <NUM> may be positioned adjacent to rear shell <NUM>, and the second layer positioned adjacent to front shell <NUM>. The zipper may be configured to move on zipper track <NUM> to increase or decrease the compression forces created by compressible layer <NUM> against compartment <NUM>. In embodiments, responsive to fully closing zipper on zipper track <NUM> the maximum compression forces may be applied against compartment <NUM>, which may reduce the volume of compartment <NUM>. Responsive to fully opening zipper on zipper track <NUM> minimal compression forces may be applied against compartment <NUM>, which may not reduce the volume of compartment <NUM>. In embodiments, the zipper track <NUM> may be configured to have a first end point <NUM> on an upper surface of compressible layer <NUM>, rotate three hundred sixty degrees and have a second end point <NUM> on a sidewall of compressible layer <NUM>. In embodiments, second end point <NUM> may be vertically positioned below a lower edge of compartment <NUM>. By having the zipper track <NUM> fully circumnavigate the boundary of compressible layer <NUM>, the compression forces generated by compressible layer <NUM> may be maximized and retained. Due to the positioning of zipper track <NUM> behind compartment <NUM> and in front of rear shell <NUM>, compartment <NUM> may be accessed without modifying the zipper placement along track <NUM>. In implementations, first end point <NUM> may be a starting position of the zipper on track <NUM> when the compression layer <NUM> is fully closed, and the zipper moves towards second end point <NUM> to open the compression layer <NUM>. Second end point <NUM> may be a starting position of the zipper on track <NUM> when the compression layer <NUM> is fully opened, and the zipper moves towards first end point <NUM> to close the compression layer. This may enable flap <NUM> to cover the zipper when compression layer <NUM> is closed.

Also, by having the second end point <NUM> of zipper track <NUM> on a sidewall of compression layer <NUM> that is not covered by flap <NUM>, the placement of the zipper and relative compression forces may be adjusted even while flap <NUM> is positioned over compartment <NUM> and the start point <NUM> of the zipper. Additionally, by positioning second end point <NUM> of zipper track <NUM> on a lower portion of the sidewall of compressible layer <NUM>, the compression forces may be angled towards the opening of compartment <NUM>, assisting users remove objects from compartment <NUM>.

Front shell <NUM> may be positioned adjacent to, and in front of compression layer <NUM>. Front shell <NUM> may include compartment <NUM> and second coupling mechanism <NUM>. Compartment <NUM> may have an opening along an upper edge of front shell <NUM> and on an outer face of front shell <NUM>. Compartment <NUM> may be configured to allow users to remove objects from compressible pouch <NUM> without removing the compressive forces against front shell <NUM>. This may enable other objects positioned within compartment <NUM> to be secured in place. Second coupling mechanism <NUM> may be positioned between lower edges of compartment <NUM> and front shell <NUM>, and may be configured to be coupled with first coupling mechanism <NUM>. By positioning second coupling mechanism <NUM> below the lower edge of compartment <NUM>, objects may be secured in place while first coupling mechanism <NUM> is secured to first coupling mechanism <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a rear view of compression pouch <NUM>, according to an embodiment. As depicted in <FIG>, compression pouch <NUM> may include a hem line <NUM>, which extends across an outer surface of rear shell <NUM>.

Further, a second zipper <NUM> may be positioned across the outer surface of rear shell <NUM>. Second zipper <NUM> may be configured to open and closer a second compartment embedded within rear shell <NUM>. The second compartment may be independent from the compartment on the front shell.

<FIG> depicts a front view of compression pouch <NUM> and <FIG> depicts a rear view of compression pouch <NUM>, according to an embodiments. Elements depicted in <FIG> may be described above, and for the sake of brevity these elements may be omitted. As depicted in <FIG>, each face of compression pouch <NUM> may include an independent rear shell, compression layer, and front shell.

As further depicted in <FIG>, a flap layer <NUM> may be configured to be sandwiched between inner surfaces of rear shells 120A and 120B, and extend away from the bodies of rear shells 120A and 120B. A first flap <NUM> may be configured to be positioned on a first end of flap layer <NUM>, and a second flap <NUM> may be positioned on a second end of flap layer <NUM>. First flap <NUM> may have a coupling mechanism <NUM> that is configured to be selectively coupled with a coupling mechanism <NUM> positioned on front shell 140A. Second flap <NUM> may have a second coupling mechanism <NUM> that is configured to be selectively coupled with a coupling mechanism <NUM> positioned on front shell 140B. As such, each face of compression pouch <NUM> may have an independent compartment 142A, 142B that is selectively coupled by an independent flap <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. Further, each side has its own compression layer 130A, 130B that can independently control the compression forces applied to a respective compartment 142A, 142B. <FIG> illustrates a method <NUM> for utilizing a compression pouch, according to an embodiment. The operations of method <NUM> presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, method <NUM> may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of method <NUM> are illustrated in <FIG> and described below is not intended to be limiting.

At operation <NUM>, objects may be inserted into a compartment, wherein the compartment is positioned on a front shell of a compression pouch.

At operation <NUM>, a zipper that circumnavigates a boundary of a compression layer may be closed. Responsive to closing the zipper, the compression layer may apply compression forces against the compartment to minimize a volume of the compartment.

At operation <NUM>, a flap may be closed over top edges of a rear shell, the compression layer, and the front shell. This may secure the objects within the container.

At operation <NUM>, the flap may be opened, exposing the top edges of the rear shell, the compression layer, and the front shell.

At operation <NUM>, objects within the compartment may be removed without opening the zipper. Although the present technology has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the technology is not limited to the disclosed implementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present technology contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any implementation can be combined with one or more features of any other implementation.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "one example" or "an example" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", "one example" or "an example" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, it is appreciated that the figures provided herewith are for explanation purposes to persons ordinarily skilled in the art and that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Claim 1:
A compression pouch (<NUM>) comprising;
a rear shell (<NUM>);
a front shell (<NUM>) with a compartment (<NUM>);
a compression layer (<NUM>) positioned between the front shell and the rear shell, the compression layer being configured to apply compressive forces against the front shell to reduce a volume of the compartment;
a zipper configured to turn three hundred sixty degrees within the compression layer;
a flap (<NUM>) with a first end that is permanently coupled to the rear shell, and a second end
that is configured to be selectively coupled to the front shell.