CA1278550C

CA1278550C - Storage bag

Info

Publication number: CA1278550C
Application number: CA 589689
Authority: CA
Inventors: Paul K. O'donoghue; Reginald B. Dickson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: DONOGHUE PAUL K O
Priority date: 1989-01-31
Filing date: 1989-01-31
Publication date: 1991-01-02

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A bag for accommodating and carrying stored articles (such as sports equipment) may be hung up while closed, and may be opened to expose compartments within the bag which hold the stored articles and permit the circulation of air through the compartment while the bag is hung up.

Description

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SPECIFICATION

BACKGROUNI~ OF_TI~E INVENTION
Field of the InvQntion This invention relates to bags of the type used to carry and store sporting equipment such as that 05 worn by players of ice hockey or American football;
and specifically to bags which organize the contents in pouches and can be opened to permit the contents to be dried without removing them from these pouches.
Background Bags constructed from flexible materials (cloth and plastic) are, of course, widely used to carry and store articles. The flexible materials readily adapt to the shape of bulky or odd-shaped articles and also to the shape of the storage environment. Examples of such storage bags are disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,029,852 to Taylor, April 17, 1962 and U.S. Patent 4,738,547 to Brown, April 19, 1988. As well, a storage bag is cùrrently marketed in Canada in association with the trade mark BESTQUIPT.
There are a number of shortcomings in these bags. U.S. Patent 3,029,852 shows a "sportsman's" bag which is made of a rectangular sheet of material. The sides of the bag may be partly overlapped when the bag is transported. Once the sides are overlapped, the rectangular sheet may be folded upon itself to reduce its size. The interior compartments of this sportsman's bag do not facilitate the drying of stored articles as they are of relatively heavy cloth. The bag also does not allow access to any stored articles unless the sheet and the panels are unfolded.
Furthermore, folding the bag for transportation results in a bag with little storage space.
U.S. Patent 4,738,547 shows a "carrying" bag with side panels that are folded over each other during ~;

8~;50 transportation. Stays in the bag keep it rigid.
There is no access to the contents of the bag unless the bag is hung vertically and the panel is unfolded.
This bag does not show the use of interior 05 compartments designed to help dry the contents of the bag.
The BESTQUIPT bag is also a storage bag. This bag may be fully opened to allow access to the contents of the bag and may be closed during transportation. There are pockets on the inside of the bag. The bag has a handle on the outside of the bag to carry the bag and has an eye for hanging the bag. However, the BESTQUIPT bag must be open before it can be hung. As well, the BESTQUIPT bag utilizes a complex, five-part "H"-shaped zipper combination which must be manipulated in order to completely expose the interior of the main compartment of the bag. This zipper configuration renders the opening of the BESTQUIPT bag difficult and increases the risk of damage to the bag due to zipper malfunctioning.
The shortcomings of these bags are of particular importance when the articles to be stored and transported are articles of sporting equipment of the type worn by persons who play ice hockey or American football. These persons may desire ready access to the contents of the bag during transportation. A bag that allows for loose or more loose packing tends to facilitate the drying of the equipment during transportation. As well, since articles of ice hockey and American football equipment may be large and~or odd-shaped, a bag with a large volume capacity for its size is needed. Inner compartments, which facilitate the circulation of air through the compartments would permit equipment to dry. As sporting equipment of the 1;~7855C~

type discussed may be relatively heavy--an adult may wear in excess o 20 pounds of equipment--a bag which may only be hung after opening is more difficult to use than one which may be hung when the bag is in the 05 closed position, while the bag is relatively compact and while the equipment is largely fixed in place.
The invention disclosed utilizes a single resealable opening. In its preferred embodiment, the opening is secured by a standard, heavy-duty zipper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVE~TION
In one aspect, the present invention comprises one or more means, attached to the bag, for detachably mounting the unopened bag on a vertically disposed supporting member. The main body or enclosed volume is constructed from flexible materials, such body having a single resealable opening of configuration such that when closed the two sections of the body are joined in abutting positions, and when opened, the interior of the bag may be exposed, thereby allowing the opened bag to be adapted to assume a planar profile. There are one or more compartments within the bag which may become exposed when the bag is opened, each compartment being suitable for accommodating one or more stored articles in a fixed arrangement, each compartment also being adapted to facilitate the circulation of air through it. There are one or more means, each attached to the bag for detachably mounting the opened bag on a vertically disposed supporting member. Means for carrying the unopened bag are also attached to the bag.
Other objects, advantages and new features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings herein.

1~7~S50 sRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective rendering of an embodiment of an unopened storage bag for accommodating articles of ice hockey equipment, hung 05 vertically on a supporting hook.
Figure 2 is a perspective rendering of the bag of figure 1 hung in the open position.
DETAILED DE:SCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, in particular figure 1, an embodiment of a storage bag for accommodating articles of ice hockey equipment, 1, is shown hung vertically on a supporting hook 2 by exterior annular member 3 which is attached to the bag. The bag is shown in the closed position, with the two sections of main body 4, joined in abutting positions due to the closure of the single vertically disposed zippered opening 5. Two flexible handles 6 and 7 are shown attached to the bag for transporting the bag between storage sites.
Figure 2 shows the bag of figure 1 hung vertically in the open position with side panels 8 and 9 fully extended, thereby giving the bag a substantially planar profile. Interior annular members 10 and 11 attached to the bag are shown connected to supporting hooks 12 and 13. The opened bag exposes a plurality of interior compartments.
Interior compartments 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are stitched on three sides to form pockets while interior compartments 19 and 20 are shown having resealable zippered openings. These zippered compartments are particularly well suited for accommodating one hockey skate each and holding them in a fixed position, thereby preventing damage to the other stored equipment. All interior compartments are shown 5~0 constructed from loosely woven fibers or "mesh", which facilitates the circulation of air in and around the interior compartments.

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Claims

1. A bag for accommodating a plurality of stored articles, comprising:

(a) one or more means, each attached to the bag, for detachably mounting the unopened bag on a vertically disposed supporting member;

(b) a main body or enclosed volume formed from flexible materials and having a single resealable opening of configuration such that when closed the two sections of the body are joined in abutting positions, and when opened the interior of the bag may be exposed thereby allowing the opened bag to be adapted to assume a planar profile;

(c) one or more compartments within the bag, which may become exposed when the bag is opened, each compartment being suitable for accommodating one or more stored articles in a fixed arrangement, each compartment also being adapted to facilitate the circulation of air through it;

(d) one or more means, each attached to the bag, for detachably mounting the opened bag on a vertically disposed supporting member; and (e) means for carrying the unopened bag attached to the bag.

2. The claim as in 1, wherein one or more of the interior compartments are constructed from flexible materials loosely woven into a mesh configuration.

3. A bag for accommodating a plurality of stored articles, comprising:

(a) a rigid annular member attached to the exterior of the bag at one end for hanging the unopened bag on a hook, handle or other fixed projection;

(b) a main body or enclosed volume formed from heavy-duty nylon and having a single zippered opening of configuration such that when closed the two sections of the body are joined in abutting positions, and when opened the interior of the bag may be exposed thereby allowing the bag to be made to assume a planar profile;

(c) a plurality of compartments within the bag, which may become exposed when the bag is opened; each compartment being suitable for accommodating one or more stored articles in a fixed arrangement, each compartment being constructed from flexible materials loosely woven into a mesh configuration;

(d) two rigid annular members, attached to the interior of the bag at the same end as the exterior annular member for hanging the opened bag on hooks, handles or other fixed projections;
and (e) means for carrying the unopened bag attached to the bag.