PORTABLE BAG WITH COLLAPSIBLE COMPARTMENT
A lightweight, portable bag is provided with one primary compartment and at least one secondary compartment. An internal liner material is provided in each of the primary and secondary compartments. Each of the internal liner materials is flexible and collapsible. Therefore, when an item such as a breast pump is inserted into one of the secondary compartments, the secondary compartment would extend into the primary compartment, thereby reducing the volume of the primary compartment and simultaneously increasing the volume of the secondary compartment.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application 61/796,286 entitled Collapsible Breast Pump Pocket filed on Nov. 7, 2012, and is incorporated herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a portable bag, such as, but not limited to a tote bag or satchel provided with a primary compartment as well as one or more secondary compartments. Access is provided into the secondary compartments through front or side pockets into which various items can be placed, such as, but not limited to breast pumps.
2. Description of the Related Art
Carrying bags, particularly of this soft-sided, lightweight type, have found increasing use in the recent years. The popularity of these bags is partially due to the fact that they may be provided with strategically located separate pockets and other features that allow a user to gain access to the items stored in a primary compartment, as well as secondary compartments. Particularly with respect to airlines increasingly assessing a fee for each checked bag, more and more bags are carried onto the airplane and stored under the passenger's seat or in the overhead carry-on compartments. Consequently, space in the overhead carry-on compartments has become a premium. Therefore, it is important that any carry-on bag is lightweight and capable of storing many items within the bag.
Because of the tendency to store more and diverse articles in these lightweight bags, they have, in some instances become very large and bulky. This is particularly true when items are stored both in a primary interior compartment of the bags, as well as in various pockets allowing access from the outside surface of the bag to secondary compartments.
Since women are encouraged to breast feed their infants, it is important that a woman be able to transport all of the equipment necessary to allow the woman to breast feed, as well as to store the expressed milk in various containers. This is true whether the woman is traveling to work or traveling longer distance by train or by airplane. Particularly when the woman is traveling on an airplane, it is important that the bag have ease of access to the various pockets or compartments allowing the TSA officials to quickly and efficiently review the contents stored within the various compartments of the bag.
Several U.S. patents have issued directed to a backpack or carry-on bag used to carry and store a breast pump, as well as various other items necessary to allow the woman to breastfeed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,167 to Annis shows a backpack used to carry a breast pump in a lower compartment. An upper compartment is used to store breast shields therein. A horizontal shelf is provided in the backpack capable of being removed for access to the breast pump provided in the lower compartment.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,799,638 and 7,150,346 both to Renz et al. discuss systems for the storage of a breast pump in an outer compartment and the storage of bottles and breast shields in an inner compartment.
However, none of these references describe a bag including a primary compartment and a secondary, wherein the primary and secondary compartments are each defined by linings completely independent of one another. Therefore, one an item, such as a breast pump is inserted into the secondary compartment, the volume of the secondary compartment increases as the lining of the secondary compartment expands into the primary compartment. Conversely, when the item is removed from the secondary compartment, the volume of the secondary compartment decreases, and the volume of the primary compartment increases. This is particularly important when the carry-on bag is stored in a confined location, such as the overhead carry-on compartment provided on an airplane.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art by providing a portable bag into which a breast pump plus other equipment utilized by a breastfeeding woman is stored.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable bag provided with a primary compartment defined by an internal liner material, as well as one or more secondary compartments each of the secondary compartments defined by an internal liner material. Access to each secondary compartment is provided by a pocket provided on the exterior surface of the portable bag in which an item, such as a breast pump is stored and separated from items included in a primary compartment of the portable bag.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a portable bag including one or more secondary pockets defined by their respective linings completely independent of the lining defining the primary compartment.
The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a lightweight, portable, carry-on type of bag provided with a primary compartment and at least one secondary compartment. An item such as, but not limited to a breast pump is stored in the secondary compartment having a zipper or other closure devices allowing access from the outside of the bag to the interior of the secondary compartment. The interior of the primary compartment is provided with a washable lining into which various items are stored, such as breast shields, unfilled bottles, or bottles filled with a liquid such as milk. The secondary compartment is also provided with a lightweight, washable lining. The lining within the secondary compartment is completely independent of the lining provided within the primary compartment. When the item, such as the breast pump is inserted into the secondary compartment the volume of the secondary compartment increases and the volume of the primary compartment decreases.
The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.
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In both embodiments, prior to any items being inserted into the primary compartments, each primary compartment exhibits a first initial volume, and each secondary compartment exhibits a second initial volume generally less than the first initial volume of the primary compartment. When an item is placed in the secondary compartment, the second initial volume of the secondary compartment increases to a third volume, and the initial first volume of the primary compartment decreases to a fourth volume.
While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, rather, it is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the present invention was described with respect to a portable toe bag or satchel, other types of bags, such as a backpack can be utilized.
Claims
1. A device for storing items therein, comprising:
- a bag provided with an interior, an exterior, a front section, a back section, side sections, a bottom section and a top section:
- a primary compartment defined by a first liner material included in said interior of said bag, said primary compartment having an inner surface and a first initial volume;
- a first closure allowing or restricting access to said primary compartment;
- a first secondary compartment defined by a second liner material included in said interior of said bag, said first secondary compartment having an inner surface and an initial second volume, said second internal liner material independent of said first liner material;
- a second closure allowing or restricting access to said first secondary compartment;
- wherein, when an item is stored within said first secondary compartment, said second initial volume increases to a third volume and said first initial volume simultaneously decreases to a fourth volume.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first closure is a zipper provided on top section and said second closure is a zipper provided on said front section
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first closure is a zipper provided on said top section and said second closure is a zipper provided on one of said side sections.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 6, 2013
Publication Date: May 8, 2014
Inventors: SHANNAN RUNNER (TIBURON, CA), KELLEY LEHNER (LA SELVA BEACH, CA)
Application Number: 14/073,278
International Classification: A45C 13/02 (20060101);