Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a carrying case which is made from a flexible fabric material and which includes discrete and separate reinforcing wire frame or rod elements integrated into the carrying case to facilitate maintenance of the shape and form of the case. 
   Often, a generally rectangular parallelepiped carrying case is fabricated from rigid or boardlike panels that are fastened together in some manner so as to insure the structural integrity and the shape and form of the carrying case. Such carrying cases have multiple uses. For example, they may serve as a carrying case for tools, for documents, or for product samples. Generally, such carrying cases are somewhat expensive because of the necessity for utilizing various complex means and mechanisms to fasten the side members of the case together to form the generally parallelepiped shape of the case. Additionally, such cases typically have little flexibility, thus precluding placement of certain items therein. 
   Thus, there has developed the need for a carrying case which will maintain its form and shape yet which will achieve a certain degree of flexibility for the purpose of receiving items of unique shape and further for the purpose of being compactable to some extent for storage and/or shipment when empty. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly, the present invention comprises a rectangular parallelepiped carrying case which is fabricated from a fabric material so that the carrying case is termed a “soft sided” carrying case. The case is constructed, however, in a manner wherein various discrete reinforcing rod members or elements are incorporated in the side panels of the case to maintain the form and configuration of the case thereby enhancing its use. The carrying case includes generally five sides or panels in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. A bottom side, opposite lateral sides, front and back sides form an open top container. Further, a top side that folds over and encloses the open top to the container or bag is provided. All of the sides are formed from a flexible fabric material. However, discrete elongate wire rods or reinforcing elements are incorporated along or near the top edge of the front and lateral side panels. Additionally, an elongate wire rod is incorporated in the fold over top flap. As a result of this construction, the carrying case achieves and maintains a form and shape which facilitates ease of use. 
   Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved, soft sided storage and carrying case incorporating discrete wire frame reinforcing elements. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved soft sided storage and carrying case wherein discrete wire frame members or reinforcing elements are incorporated along three of the four top side edges of the open top of the carrying case. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a carrying case made from a flexible or soft fabric material or other similar material which is flexible. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a storage and carrying case which incorporates a fabric material as well as discrete reinforcing elements and which is economical, easy to utilize, easy to store, and which is rugged and inexpensive. 
   These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 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 exploded isometric view of the component parts forming the carrying case of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the assembled case of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the carrying case of  FIG. 2  wherein the case has been closed with the top flap thereof moved to the closed position; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view illustrating the component parts or panels which are assembled to form the carrying case of  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded isometric view illustrating an alternative embodiment and construction of the carrying case of the invention; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded isometric view as viewed from the backside of an alternative construction for the carrying case of the invention associated with the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of an assembled embodiment of the carrying case of the invention incorporating various carrying straps and handles; and 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view of the carrying case of  FIG. 7  wherein the component parts are partially cut away in section view to illustrate the internal construction of the carrying case. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  as well as  FIG. 4  in combination illustrate an embodiment of the invention incorporating fabric material and discrete reinforcing rods, wires or elements in combination therewith to form a carrying case. Referring to those figures, the carrying case of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1–4  includes a front panel  10 , a first lateral side panel  12 , and a second lateral side panel  14  joined with a back side panel  16  and a bottom side panel  18 . The panels  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  are joined together by sewing techniques inasmuch as each of the panels is fabricated from a fabric material or a polymeric material which is flexible and provides a “soft sided” case. Each of the panels  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and  18  is sized and configured to provide for formation of a rectangular parallelepiped enclosure with an open top. 
   A top cover panel  20  forms an extension of the back side panel  16  and provides a means for enclosing the open top of the parallelepiped enclosure or case. A cover flap or attachment flap  22  is joined to the top cover flap panel  20 . Top cover flap  22  is dimensioned to fit against the front panel  10 . 
   An important aspect of the invention is the utilization of discrete, separate reinforcing rods, wires or rigid elements around or adjacent the top edge or top periphery of the panels forming the enclosure. Thus, a first lateral side wire member  24  is retained along the top edge  26  of the lateral side panel  12  by means of fabric material  28  which is stitched to the panel  12 . The wire or rod member  24  is dimensioned to extend substantially the entire distance between the front panel  10  and the back panel  16  and is positioned along or adjacent the top edge  26  of the lateral side panel  12 . 
   In a similar fashion a wire or rod member  30  is retained and maintained along or adjacent the top edge  32  of lateral side panel  14  by means of a fabric layer  34  which is stitched to or fastened to the lateral side panel  14 . Note that the supplemental retention panel  34  may be placed on the inside or the outside of the lateral side panel  14 . It may comprise a second layer of fabric material which extends over the entire surface of the lateral side panel  14 . Alternatively, it may comprise merely an elongate retention panel of fabric which is sized to enclose the rod element or member  30  by being sewn to the lateral side panel  14 . Thus, the means of maintaining the wire reinforcing rod  30  along the top peripheral edge  32  of the lateral side panel  14  may vary. In a similar fashion the means for maintaining the rod or wire member  24  may be positioned and retained in any of a number of functional ways. A third wire or rod member  36  extends along or adjacent top edge  38  of top panel  10  between lateral side panels  12  and  14  and is retained in a similar fashion by a flexible fabric panel  40 . 
   The top flap panel  20  is flexibly stitched or attached to back panel  16  or comprises an extension of the back panel  16 . A cover flap  22  extension of the top panel  20  may include a wire reinforcing rod  44  retained by a fabric panel  46  stitched to or otherwise attached to the flap  22 . The use of the wire or rod member  44  is optional though it is a preferred embodiment. 
   The combination of the wire rods  24 ,  30 ,  36  and  44  with the flexible side panels  12 ,  14 ,  18 ,  22  as described enables the manufacture of a carrying case which retains its form and shape and thus provides an extremely useful case which is soft sided yet which is analogous to, in terms of function, prior art hard sided panel, parallelepiped cases. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates the construction of the panels described with respect to  FIG. 1  wherein the panels are all assembled and binding  50  is provided for fastening the panel members together.  FIG. 3  illustrates the construction of  FIG. 1  wherein the various panels have been folded together to form a carrying case and wherein a strap member  54  is provided to close the case.  FIG. 4  illustrates the various panel members comprising the carrying case of  FIGS. 1–3 .  FIG. 4  also discloses some alternative features of the invention. That is, front panel  10  may include a cut out section  60 . In that event, a wire rod member  62  will be retained beneath the lowered edge  64  of the cut out  60  by means of an auxiliary retention panel  66 , preferably no more than ⅓ of the height of the bag. This alternative construction is illustrated in further detail in  FIG. 5  wherein it is also illustrates that retention flaps or abbreviated panels  68  and  70  are utilized for retention of wire rods  72  and  74  in lateral sides  12  and  14  of the case as depicted by the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a further alternate feature in the construction of a carrying case of the invention. In  FIG. 6  a top cover flap  80  is joined to a back side panel  82  with a wire rod member  84  incorporated in the seam which joins the top flap  80  and the back side panel  82 . Thus, the preferred embodiment incorporates wire rods in the front panel  10  as well as the lateral side panels  12  and  14 . Additional or alternative wire rod members may be included in the back panel  16  and in the top flap  22 . The basic construction, however, utilizes wire rod members in the front panel  10  and lateral side panels  12  and  14  with variations of that approach being depicted, for example, in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 . In each event, the reinforcing elements, rods or wires extend substantially the entire width of the panel to which they are attached. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates a carrying case of the type depicted in the prior figures which incorporates wire rod members to provide a formed case. 
   The embodiment of  FIGS. 7 and 8  thus incorporates the structural features of the invention. That is, the panels forming the case are made from a fabric or soft material. The wire or rod members incorporated in the embodiment of  FIGS. 7 and 8  are, however, positioned slightly different. Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a lateral side panel  90  includes a wire rod member  92  retained adjacent the top peripheral edge. A front panel  94  includes a wire rod member  96  retained below the front peripheral edge and extends from side to side of the carrying case. The carrying case of  FIGS. 7 and 8  also includes a wire reinforcing rod (not shown) in the opposite lateral or side panel to the panel  90 . The embodiment of  FIGS. 7 and 8  further includes a wire rod  98  at the juncture of a backside panel  100  with a top side panel or flap  102 . Another wire rod  104  is provided at the juncture of the top flap or panel  102  with a front cover panel  106 . In each instance the wire rods  92 ,  96 ,  98  and  104  extend the total distance between the sides of the case thus providing a means for reinforcing the panels from side to side. 
   While there have been set forth a preferred embodiment and embodiments of the invention, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.

Technology Category: 1