Duffle Bag with Flexible Frame
An article of luggage includes a resiliently-bendable reinforcing member extending substantially along the length of a top panel, being attached to the interior of a back panel, and being indirectly attached to the sling strap; resiliently-bendable reinforcing members extending substantially along the length of end panels and being attached to the end panels; and divider panels secured to a base, the divider panels being structured and arranged to provide rigidity to the base. The resiliently-bendable reinforcing member attached to the back panel is structured and arranged to disperse the weight of a load on the article of luggage when loaded with the load; to retain a rectangular parallelepiped shape of the article of luggage; and to minimize strain on an operator selecting mechanism defining an openable and closable access opening to the interior of the article of luggage.
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The present disclosure relates to soft-sided luggage. More particularly, the disclosure relates to soft-side luggage (such as duffel bags) for carrying articles such as sporting equipment. Specifically, the disclosure relates to a duffel bag that has a flexible internal support.
BACKGROUNDAthletic equipment bags are becoming increasingly popular in numerous sports because of their functionality and attractiveness to athletes. Known athletic equipment bags are becoming more lightweight and flexible to provide easier transport of the bags and easier transport of the athlete's equipment, clothing, and other gear. In many sports, known athletic equipment bags typically include several compartments, that is, for the sports equipment and for the player's uniform and gear.
Sports bags can be made from soft material (such as cloth or leather), or from a rigid material. A rigid sports bag effectively protects the storage items against impact. Moreover such sport bags can have an outer substantially rigid cover structure to provide support to prevent items within the sport luggage from being damaged by compression.
In recent years, soft-sided luggage has gained popularity and is in many cases replacing traditional hard-sided luggage. The lighter weight and lower cost of such soft-sided luggage have contributed to this popularity, and one of the most common types of such luggage is the duffel bag.
SUMMARYIn some general aspects, a rectangular parallelepiped shaped article of luggage includes a base; a left side end panel connected to the base; a right side end panel connected to the base, a front panel connected to all of the base, the left side end panel and the right side end panel; a back panel connected to the base, to the left side end panel and to the right side end panel; a top panel connected to the front panel, to the back panel, to the left side end panel and to the right side end panel; the top panel including a lid formed therein, the lid including an operator selecting mechanism that is structured and arranged to provide openable and closable access opening to the interior of the article of luggage; a back handle secured to the back panel; a front handle secured to the front panel; and an attached sling strap; all of the panels being of a deformable material; the improvement comprising (i) a resiliently-bendable reinforcing member extending substantially along the length of the top, the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member being attached to the interior of the back panel and which is indirectly attached to the sling strap, (ii) resiliently-bendable reinforcing members extending substantially along the length of the end panels, the resiliently-bendable reinforcing members being attached to the end panels, and (iii) divider panels secured to the base, the divider panels being structured and arranged to provide rigidity to the base; whereby the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member attached to the back panel: a) is structured and arranged to disperse the weight of the load on the article of luggage when loaded; b) is structured and arranged to retain the rectangular parallelepiped shape of the article of luggage and c) is structured and arranged to reduce or minimize strain on the access opening.
Implementations can include one or more of the following features. For example, the article of luggage can be in the form of a duffel bag.
The article of luggage can include an openable and closable lid that extends substantially over the entire top panel and extends partially abutting the front panel. The lid can be integrally and foldably connected to the back panel.
The operator selecting mechanism can be a zipper.
The resiliently-bendable reinforcing members attached to the back panel and the end panels can be fibreglass rods.
The resiliently-bendable reinforcing member attached to the back panel can be one that extends substantially along the length of the interior of the back panel.
The article of luggage can include a support structure such as a spine that is formed of fibreglass.
The resiliently-bendable reinforcing members attached to the end panels can extend substantially along the length of the end panels.
The fabric of the panels can be nylon.
The article of luggage described herein is not rigid, and is not heavy or bulky or difficult to transport. The article of luggage described herein thus reduces costs for transportation and delivery. The article of luggage described herein is more versatile for transportation in a confined space because it is flexible.
Duffel bags ordinarily do not have frames and can be collapsed without significant resistance. The duffel bag is capable of being collapsed when not in use, thereby reducing or minimizing the amount of storage space required. In addition, the soft sides of the duffel bag enable it to be readily manipulated to change the shape thereof and squeeze the duffel bag into tight confined spaces. It is usually flexible, so that it can be can be stuffed into the trunk of an automobile and so that can be carried over the shoulder of an individual.
The “classic” duffel bag can pack a large number of items. Sports equipment may tend to be quite bulky and difficult to transport. For example, a hockey player may require at least one stick, a pair of skates, a helmet, gloves, shoulder and shin pads, elbow pads, pants, shirt, an undershirt, long underwear, and athletic support. Goalies need even more equipment with large goalie pads added to the mix. A soccer player may carry at least one ball, shin guards, water bottle, warm-up pants, shirt, jacket and shoes. Typically, and if at all possible, all of this equipment will be carried in a large nylon or canvas carry bag.
The duffel bag described herein enables the user to easily find a particular piece of equipment within this large carry bag without requiring the user to rummage through all of the equipment and without requiring the user to remove the equipment from the bag while a search is made for the desired article.
The duffel bag described herein has a geometric structure to it, and this geometric structure is more easily maintained by the reinforcing members, and so the internal equipment is not as easily dis-organized. The duffel bag described herein is easier to pack because it retains a fixed geometric form.
The duffel bag described herein includes soft sides that do not continually cave in when a person is trying to pack articles into the bag or remove articles from the bag. This is due to the fact that there is support for the side walls of the bag. This reduces frustration and avoids “stuffing” articles into the duffel bag rather than neatly packing them into place. This design therefore promotes orderly packing or unpacking since one hand is not required to be used to hold the bag open, and a person can use both hands to manipulate the articles.
In the accompanying drawings:
As seen in
The left side end panel 14 and right side end panel 18 each include two diagonally-placed reinforcing straps 116, which are stitched thereon.
The back panel 24 includes two longitudinally-spaced apart openings 38, 40 through which extend connecting straps 42, 44 each terminating with a fastening ring 46, 48. A sling strap 50 is provided with terminal fastening clips 52, 54. The back panel 24 can also be provided with an envelope 56 within which can be placed an ID tag (not shown).
The front panel 22 includes two spaced-apart longitudinally-extending reinforcing straps 58, 60, which are stitched thereon, and to the upper reinforcing strap 58 is secured, as by rivets 62, a carry strap 64, which is provided with a hand grip 66. Similarly, the back panel 24 includes two spaced-apart longitudinally-extending reinforcing straps 68, 70, which are stitched thereon. To the upper reinforcing strap 68 is secured, as by rivets 72, a carry strap 74, which is provided with a hand grip 76.
The lid 30 can include a top pocket 124, which is stitched thereon. The top pocket 124 includes an operator selecting mechanism (for example, a zipper 32), which is structured and arranged to provide an openable and closable access opening to the interior of the top pocket 124.
The base 10 and the end panels 14, 18 are preferably formed of suitable mesh material, for example, 600 Denier Nylon or polyester. The front panel 22, the back panel 24, the top panel 26, and the lid 30 are preferably formed of suitable material, for example, 600 Denier Nylon, polyester, polyester backed with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), canvas, or leather. The straps, namely upper carrying handles 16, 20, the carry straps 64, 74, and the sling strap 50 are preferably formed of suitable material, for example, 600 Denier Nylon, polyester, canvas, or leather.
As seen in
As seen in
Also seen in
The resiliently-bendable reinforcing member 84 is secured to the interior of the back panel 24 at the ends 86, 88 thereof with enveloping enclosures 90, 92 and along its intermediate length by one or more spaced-apart clips 94. Also seen in
By providing a resiliently-bendable reinforcing member extending substantially along the length of the back panel or the top panel, the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member being attached to the interior of the back panel and indirectly attached to the sling strap, and by providing resiliently-bendable reinforcing members in the end panels, and by providing divider panels secured to the base, the divider panels being structured and arranged to provide rigidity to the base, the following advantages are provided. Since the resiliently-bendable reinforcing rod is so structured and arranged, it disperses the weight of the load on the duffel bag when loaded; it retains the rectangular parallelepiped shape of the duffel bag; and it reduces or minimizes strain on the zipper.
Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the article of luggage can lack wheels and a rigid handle that would permit the article to be transported by rolling. In this way, the article of luggage is picked up and transported by the one or more straps being held by a user.
Claims
1. An article of luggage comprising:
- a base;
- a left side end panel connected to the base;
- a right side end panel connected to the base;
- a front panel connected to the base, the left side end panel, and the right side end panel;
- a back panel connected to the base, the left side end panel, and the right side end panel;
- a top panel connected to the front panel, the back panel, the left side end panel, and the right side end panel;
- the top panel including a lid formed therein;
- the lid including an operator selecting mechanism that is structured and arranged to define an openable and closable access opening to the interior of the article of luggage;
- a back handle secured to the back panel;
- a front handle secured to the front panel;
- a strap attached to at least one of the panels;
- all of the panels being of a deformable material;
- a resiliently-bendable reinforcing member attached to the interior of the back panel to extend along at least a length of the back panel, the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member being attached to the strap, whereby the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member: a. is structured and arranged to disperse the weight of the load on the article of luggage when loaded; b. is structured and arranged to retain a geometric shape of the article of luggage; and c. is structured and arranged to reduce strain on the access opening;
- resiliently-bendable reinforcing members extending along a length of the end panels, the resiliently-bendable reinforcing members being attached to the end panels; and
- divider panels secured to the base, the divider panels being structured and arranged to provide rigidity to the base.
2. The article of luggage of claim 1 in the form of a duffel bag.
3. The article of luggage of claim 1, wherein the openable and closable lid extends substantially over the entire top panel and extends partially abutting the front panel.
4. The article of luggage of claim 1, wherein the resiliently-bendable reinforcing members comprise fibreglass rods.
5. The article of luggage of claim 1, wherein the operator selecting mechanism comprises a zipper.
6. The article of luggage of claim 1, wherein the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member attached to the back panel extends substantially along the length of the interior of the back panel.
7. The article of luggage of claim 1, wherein the lid is integrally and foldably connected to the back panel.
8. The article of luggage of claim 1, wherein support structure comprises a spine that is formed of fibreglass.
9. The article of luggage of claim 1, wherein the resiliently-bendable reinforcing members attached to the end panels extend substantially along the length of the end panels.
10. The article of luggage of claim 1, wherein the fabric of the outer bag is a nylon outer shell.
11. The article of luggage of claim 1, wherein the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member attached to the interior of the back panel is indirectly attached to the strap.
12. An article of luggage comprising:
- a base;
- a left side end panel connected to the base;
- a right side end panel connected to the base;
- a front panel connected to the base, the left side end panel, and the right side end panel;
- a back panel connected to the base, the left side end panel, and the right side end panel;
- a top panel connected to the front panel, the back panel, the left side end panel, and the right side end panel;
- the top panel including a lid formed therein;
- the lid including an operator selecting mechanism that is structured and arranged to define an openable and closable access opening to the interior of the article of luggage;
- a back handle secured to the back panel;
- a front handle secured to the front panel;
- a strap attached to at least one of the panels;
- all of the panels being of a deformable material;
- a resiliently-bendable reinforcing member attached to the interior of the back panel to extend along a direction that extends from the side end panels and at least 75% of the entire length of the back panel, the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member being attached to the strap, the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member being displaced by a distance from the interior of the back panel such that a load can fit between the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member and the interior of the back panel; and
- resiliently-bendable reinforcing members extending along at least some of the length of the end panels, the resiliently-bendable reinforcing members being attached to the end panels.
13. The article of luggage of claim 12, wherein the resiliently-bendable reinforcing members extending along the end panels are arranged along a diagonal direction.
14. The article of luggage of claim 12, wherein the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member attached to the back panel interior is indirectly attached to the strap.
15. The article of luggage of claim 12, wherein a pulling force applied to the strap is transferred to the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member attached to the back panel.
16. The article of luggage of claim 15, wherein more pulling force is transferred to the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member attached to the back panel than is transferred to the back panel.
17. The article of luggage of claim 15, further comprising rigid divider panels secured to the base and extending upward from a plane of the base.
18. An article of luggage comprising:
- a base;
- a left side end panel connected to the base;
- a right side end panel connected to the base;
- a front panel connected to the base, the left side end panel, and the right side end panel;
- a back panel connected to the base, the left side end panel, and the right side end panel;
- a top panel connected to the front panel, the back panel, the left side end panel, and the right side end panel;
- a strap attached to at least one of the panels;
- all of the panels being of a deformable material; and
- a resiliently-bendable reinforcing member attached to the interior of the back panel to extend along a direction that extends from the right and left side end panels and at least some of the entire length of the back panel, the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member being attached to the strap, the resiliently-bendable reinforcing member defining a space between an interior side of the back panel and the reinforcing member.
19. The article of luggage of claim 18, further comprising resiliently-bendable reinforcing members extending along at least some of the length of the end panels, the resiliently-bendable reinforcing members being attached to the end panels.
20. The article of luggage of claim 18, wherein the strap is attached to one or more of the front panel, the back panel, the left side end panel, and the right side end panel.
International Classification: A45C 3/00 (20060101);