Bag With Removable Compartment

A bag includes a removable compartment. The removable compartment might be releasably connected to the bag using various mechanisms, and in one aspect, a zipper with overlapping portions attaches the removable compartment to the rest of the bag and provides access to a storage compartment of the bag.

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Description
BRIEF SUMMARY

In brief, at a high level, this disclosure describes, among other things, a bag (e.g., backpack) having a removable compartment. The removable compartment might be releasably connected to the bag using various mechanisms, and in one aspect, a zipper with overlapping portions attaches the removable compartment to the rest of the bag and provides access to a storage compartment of the bag.

In a first aspect of the invention, a backpack is provided having a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment includes a first set of walls that include a back wall, a front wall, side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall. In addition, the first compartment includes an opening that provides access to a first storage space of the first compartment and that is defined by a perimeter lip extending entirely around the opening. The second compartment is defined by a second set of walls and is releasably attachable to the first compartment when received in the opening. The backpack also includes a releasable-attachment mechanism having a first attachment mechanism extending at least partially along the perimeter lip and a second attachment mechanism coupled to, and extending at least partially around, the second compartment. The first attachment mechanism is releasably attachable to the second attachment mechanism to releasably attach the second compartment to the first compartment and to provide selectively openable access to the first storage space.

In a second aspect of the invention, another backpack is provided having a first set of walls that are coupled to one another to form a first compartment. The first compartment includes a storage volume that gradually reduces from a first end to a second end, and the first set of walls includes a first wall that at least partially defines the first end and a second wall that extends from the first end to the second end. The backpack also includes a second set of walls that are coupled to one another to form a second compartment. The first compartment and the second compartment are convertible between a first configuration, in which the first and second compartments are connected and integrated into a backpack, and a second configuration, in which the first and second compartments are entirely decoupled from one another. In the first configuration, the second set of walls attach to the first compartment near one or more edges of the first wall and near one or more edges of the second wall. Further, in the first configuration the first wall forms at least part of a top portion of the backpack, and the second wall forms at least part of a front portion of the backpack.

Another aspect includes a bag having a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment includes an opening defined by a perimeter lip having a perimeter length, and the second compartment is positionable within the perimeter lip to at least partially cover the opening and to at least partially stow the second compartment. The bag also includes a zipper mechanism having a first row of zipper teeth and a second row of zipper teeth. The first row of zipper teeth is coupled near the perimeter lip and includes a first end and a second end. In addition, the first row of zipper teeth includes a first zipper length between the first end and the second end that is greater than the perimeter length, such that the first end overlaps with the second end to form an overlapping zipper portion. The second row of zipper teeth are coupled to an exterior portion of the second compartment and releasably connect with the first row of zipper teeth to releasably attach the second compartment to the first compartment.

This above summary is intended to provide a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in detail herein with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a front elevation view of a backpack in accordance with an aspect hereof;

FIG. 2 depicts the backpack of FIG. 1 in which the removable compartment is open in accordance with an aspect hereof;

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the backpack of FIG. 1 in accordance with an aspect hereof;

FIG. 4 depicts a side elevation view of the backpack of FIG. 1 in accordance with an aspect hereof;

FIG. 5 depicts a rear view of the backpack of FIG. 1 in accordance with an aspect hereof;

FIGS. 6 and 7 depict perspective views of the backpack of FIG. 1 in which the removable compartment is partially decoupled from the backpack in accordance with an aspect hereof;

FIG. 8 depicts another perspective view of the backpack of FIG. 1 in which the removable compartment is decoupled in accordance with an aspect hereof;

FIG. 9 depicts a bottom portion of the backpack of FIG. 1 with an attachment mechanism for attaching the removable compartment in accordance with an aspect hereof; and

FIGS. 10A and 10B depict views of a portion of an attachment mechanism that mates with the mechanism in FIG. 9 in accordance with an aspect hereof.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of aspects of the present invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied or carried out in other ways to include different elements or combinations of elements similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies.

In general, this disclosure describes a bag (e.g., backpack or duffle-style bag) that has a removable compartment. While the removable compartment might be used to store various types of items, a general shape of the compartment might lend to stowing articles of footwear or similarly shaped items. The removable compartment might be releasably connected to the bag using various mechanisms, and in one aspect, a zipper with overlapping portions attaches the removable compartment to the rest of the bag and provides access to a storage compartment of the bag. In addition, portions of the removable compartment might also serve as one or more exterior walls of the bag when the removable compartment is attached to the bag.

Referring now to the various figures, an illustrative bag 10 is depicted as an example of a bag that has features in accordance with an aspect of one or more claims. Generally, the bag 10 includes a removable compartment 110. For example, FIGS. 1-5 illustratively depict the removable compartment 110 as securely coupled to the rest of the bag 110, and FIGS. 6-8 show various stages of the removable compartment 110 being decoupled. FIG. 9 shows a portion of an opening of the bag after the removable compartment has been decoupled, and the opening includes overlapping portions of a zipper mechanism. FIGS. 10A and 10B depict a portion of the removable compartment that has been decoupled and that includes overlapping portions of the zipper mechanism, which mate with the portions depicted in FIG. 9. The zipper mechanism depicted in the figures attaches the removable compartment 110 to the rest of the bag 10 and provides access to a storage space “A” of the bag (e.g., FIG. 7). These and other elements of the bag 10 will be described in greater detail below.

The bag 10 generally has a first set of walls that includes a back wall 12 and a front wall 14 that generally oppose one another. In addition, the bag 10 includes a first side wall 16 and a second side wall 18 that generally oppose one another, and a top wall 20 and a bottom wall 22 that generally oppose one another. The set of walls generally enclose the storage space “A” (FIG. 7) and include an opening that allows access to the storage space and is defined by a perimeter lip 24A-D (FIG. 8). As such, the set of walls 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 form a first compartment 15 (e.g., FIG. 8) of the bag 10 that is detachable from the removable compartment 110.

The bag also includes pockets 26 and 28 coupled to an exterior surface of the side walls, as well as a pair of shoulder straps 30 and 32 that extend across the back wall 12 (e.g., FIG. 5). The bag might include other elements and structures that are not depicted in the drawings, such as various zipper pouches, carrying handles or loops, support straps, and the like.

The removable compartment 110 includes another set of walls that generally enclose another storage space “B” (FIG. 2). The removable-compartment walls include a second front wall 112 and a second top wall 114 (as oriented in the drawings and when coupled to the rest of the bag 10). The term “second” might used to denote walls 112 and 114 so as not to confuse them with the front wall 14 and top wall 20 of the first compartment. In addition, the removable compartment 110 includes a first side 116, a second side 118, and an inclined side 120 that is between the first and second sides and generally opposes the front wall 112 (e.g., FIG. 8). The inclined side 120 is either directly or indirectly coupled to the removable-compartment front wall 112 near a wall junction 122 (FIGS. 10A and 10B).

The removable storage compartment 110 includes an opening that provides access to the storage space B. For example, the figures depict a cut or slit that is constructed into a portion of the removable-compartment top wall 114 and the removable-compartment front wall 112. The shape of the slit creates a concave portion (e.g., U-shaped or C-shaped) that serves as a flap 124, which can be opened and closed to manage access to the storage space B. Although the figures depict the flap as including a portion of the removable-compartment front wall 112 and the removable-compartment top wall 114, in other aspects the flap 124 might be only constructed into the removable-compartment front wall 112 or only constructed into the removable-compartment top wall 114.

In one aspect, the flap is releasably connected to the walls 112 and 114 by a releasable fastener. For instance, FIGS. 1 and 3 show the flap 124 in a closed position, and FIG. 2 depicts the flap 124 in an open position. As such, the releasable fastener can be closed (e.g., FIG. 1) to restrict access to the storage space B and can be opened (e.g., FIG. 2) to allow access to the storage space B. The figures depict the releasable fastener as a zipper mechanism (e.g., reference numeral 125 identifies a zipper pull), but various alternative releasable fasteners might be used, such as hook-and-loop strips, male/female connectors, and the like.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate that the storage space B might gradually reduce in volume from a first end (near the releasable-compartment top wall 114) to a second end (near the junction 122 between the releasable-compartment front wall 112 and the inclined wall 120). In one aspect, the storage space B is generally shaped to correspond to a pair of footwear articles. For example, some articles of footwear include an ankle-support region that is relatively taller than a toe-box region. When the storage space B is larger near the releasable-compartment top wall 114 than the junction 122, then the ankle-support region can be positioned in portion of the storage space B that is proximal to the releasable-compartment top wall 114.

For example, in FIG. 2 the flap 124 has been releasably opened to show an exemplary pair of shoes “C” stowed in the storage space B. The shoes C are oriented such that the ankle-support region is positioned towards the releasable-compartment top wall 114, and the toe-box region is oriented towards the opposite end of the releasable-compartment front wall 112 and near the junction 122. In addition, the bottom of the footwear outsole might face towards the interior surface of the releasable-compartment front wall 112 and the footwear upper might face towards the inclined side 120.

In a further aspect, the releasable-compartment front wall 112 and the releasable-compartment top wall 114 have a set of physical properties that are different than the first 116, second 118, and inclined 120 sides. The different characteristics might result from using different textiles or different variations of the same textile (e.g., thickness, ventilation apertures, chemical treatments, etc.). For example, the releasable-compartment front wall 112 and the releasable-compartment top wall 114 might be more rigid and/or stiffer than the first 116, second 118, and inclined 120 walls, and the first, second, and inclined walls might be more crushable or formable than the releasable-compartment front wall 112 and the releasable-compartment top wall 114.

These exemplary wall and side characteristics of the removable compartment can provide certain utility for the bag 10 and for items that are stored in the bag. For example, if articles of footwear are positioned in the storage space B, then the outsole might be positioned against the interior surface of the releasable-compartment front wall 112, and the heel portion of the footwear might be positioned against the interior surface of the releasable-compartment top wall 114. In this example, the footwear upper would be oriented towards the interior surface of the first, second, and inclined walls. The footwear outsole might be more generally planar than the footwear upper. In addition, the footwear outsole might include relatively hard protruding members (e.g., cleats). As such, a more rigid releasable-compartment front wall 112 can provide a more stable and solid backing against which the outsole of the footwear can be supported. If the outsole includes cleats, then this more rigid wall can impede the protruding members from excessively bulging through the exterior surface of the wall 112. In addition, the releasable-compartment front and top walls 112 and 114 combine with other walls of the bag (e.g., 14 and 20) to form a front portion of the backpack and a top portion of the backpack when the removable compartment is attached to the bag. As such, the more rigid releasable-compartment front and top walls 112 and 114 help to provide overall wall support, structure, and protection for the backpack.

In a further aspect, a less rigid first wall 116, second wall 118, and inclined wall 120 (as compared with the releasable-compartment front and top walls 112 and 114) allow the walls side and inclined walls 116, 118, and 120 to flexibly adjust to the footwear upper, such as when items stored in the storage space A press against (and fill in the spaces around) these walls. Such wall flexibility allows both storage spaces A and B to be maximized without an unnecessarily rigid divider between the spaces. The illustrative shoes C depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 are depicted to include a width that exceeds a width of the releasable-compartment front wall 112, and the relative flexibility of the walls 116, 118, and 120 allows the removable-compartment to fit around the shoes C. In one aspect the front wall 112 and the top wall 114 are constructed of heavier-weight and/or heavier-duty textiles or materials, as compared with the first side 116, second side 118, and inclined side 120.

As previously indicated the set of walls including the back 12, front 14, sides 16 and 18, top 20 and bottom 22 generally enclose the storage space “A” and include an opening that allows access to the storage space. The opening to the storage space A is generally defined by a perimeter lip 24A-D and the edges of the perimeter lip are identified based on a relative proximity as compared with other portions or edges of the perimeter lip. As depicted, the perimeter lip includes a first-side edge 24A that is relatively proximal to, and generally oriented towards, the first side wall 16 (or at least a first side of the front wall 14 that is adjacent to the first side wall 16). The perimeter lip also includes a top-side edge 24B that is relatively proximal to, and generally oriented towards, a top portion of the backpack, and a bottom-side edge 24D that is relatively proximal to, and generally oriented towards a bottom of the backpack. The second-side edge 24C of the perimeter lip is relatively proximal to, and generally oriented towards, the second side wall 18 (or at least a first side of the front wall 14 that is adjacent to the first side wall 16). Thus, the perimeter-lip edges generally form a rectangular configuration that extends across the front 14 and the top 20.

In a further aspect, the bag 10 includes a releasable-attachment mechanism having a first attachment mechanism extending at least partially along the perimeter lip 24A-D and a second attachment mechanism coupled to, and extending at least partially around, the removable compartment 110. Generally, the first attachment mechanism is releasably attachable to the second attachment mechanism to releasably attach the removable compartment to the rest of the bag and to provide selectively openable/closeable access to the storage space A.

The figures depict a first set of zipper teeth 36 coupled around the perimeter 24A-D and a second set of zipper teeth 38 coupled around the removable compartment 110 (e.g., to an exterior surface of the removable compartment 110). In one aspect, the zipper teeth 38 are coupled to the removable compartment 110 near the perimeter edges of the releasable-compartment front wall 112 and the releasable-compartment top wall 114. As such, when the removable compartment 110 is positioned in the opening to the storage space A, the first set of zipper teeth 36 are attachable to the second set of zipper teeth 38 to attach the removable compartment to the rest of the bag 10 and to provide selectively closeable access to the storage space A.

In a further aspect, the first set of zipper teeth 36 includes a first end 40 and a second end 42 and a first zipper length between the first end 40 and the second end 42. As depicted in FIG. 9, the first zipper length might be greater than a distance around the perimeter lip, which defines the opening to the storage space A. As such, the first end 40 overlaps with the second end 42 to form an overlapping portion of zipper teeth 44, which is outlined in broken lines for illustrative purposes.

In addition, the second row of zipper teeth 38 includes a first end 46 (FIG. 10A) and a second end 48 (FIG. 10B) and a second zipper length between the first end 46 and the second end 48. The second zipper length of the second teeth 38 is substantially similar to the first zipper length of the first teeth 36, and in one aspect, the second row of zipper teeth 38 circumscribe a portion of the removable compartment 110. As such, when the first row 36 and the second row 38 are coupled, then the removable compartment 110 substantially covers the opening to the storage space A.

In a further aspect, the second length of the second row of zipper teeth 38 is greater than the distance around the circumscribed portion of the removable compartment, such that the first end 46 and the second end 48 overlap one another. For example, FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate an overlapping portion 50. In one aspect, a length of the overlapping portion 50 of the second row of zipper teeth 38 is substantially similar to a length of the overlapping portion 44 (FIG. 9) of the first row of zipper teeth 38.

In the depicted aspect, the second row of zipper teeth 38 is positioned near the free perimeter edges of the releasable-compartment front wall 112 and the releasable-compartment top wall 114. As such, when the first row of zipper teeth 36 is coupled to the second row of zipper teeth 38, then the releasable-compartment front wall 112 and the front wall 14 form a relatively flat front portion of the bag 10, and the releasable-compartment top wall 114 and the top wall 20 form a relatively flat top portion of the bag. The second row of zipper teeth 38 might not be attached directly to the perimeter edges and, instead, might be attached under the perimeter edges, such that the free perimeters of the releasable-compartment front and top walls 112 and 114 form an eave over the zipper. As such, the eave protects the zipper mechanism (i.e., 36 and 38) when the two rows of teeth are coupled.

In other aspects, the second row of zipper teeth 38 might be positioned around different portions of the removable compartment 110, provided the second row of zipper teeth 38 includes an overall length that is substantially similar to the first row of zipper teeth 36. For example, the second row of zipper teeth 38 might circumscribe a more central region of the removable compartment that is nearer to a midline between the releasable-compartment front wall 112 and the inclined wall 120 than to either the releasable-compartment front wall 112 or the inclined wall 120, which creates an upper portion of the removable compartment between the row of zipper teeth and the front wall and a lower portion of the removable compartment between the row of zipper teeth and the inclined wall. In this aspect, the upper portion would protrude outward and away from the front wall 14 of the bag when the zipper teeth are coupled.

The zipper mechanism includes a first zipper box and a second zipper box, a first zipper slider and a second zipper slider, and a first zipper insertion pin and a second zipper insertion pin. In one aspect, the first zipper box and the second zipper box are both coupled to a same one of the first row of zipper teeth or the second row of zipper teeth, which also includes the first zipper slider and the second zipper slider. As such, the first zipper insertion pin and a second zipper insertion pin are both coupled to the other row of zipper teeth that does not include the first and second zipper boxes and first and second zipper pulls. For example, the figures depict the first zipper box 52 and the second zipper box 54 coupled to the first and second ends 40 and 42 of the first row of zipper teeth 36. As such, the figures also show the first zipper slider 56 and the second zipper slider 58 also coupled toe the first and second ends 40 and 42. The first zipper insertion pin 60 (FIG. 10A) is depicted at the first end 46 of the second row of zipper teeth, and the second zipper insertion pin 62 (FIG. 10B) is depicted at the second end 48.

The overlapping zipper mechanism with two sets of boxes, pulls, and insertion pins provides added security by requiring the disengagement of both ends of the zipper mechanism in order to decouple the removable compartment 110 from the bag 10. In addition, the two-set configuration can make it more difficult to accidentally decouple the removable compartment when accessing the storage space A.

The figures illustrate a generally rectangular depiction of the perimeter lip 24A-B extending across the front 14 and top 20 is exemplary. In addition, FIGS. 7-9 depict an exemplary aspect in which the first row of zipper teeth 36 is positioned on a front portion of the backpack, and FIG. 5 illustrates the first row extending along a top portion of the backpack. In addition, the overlapping zipper portion 44 is also positioned on the front portion of the backpack. In alternative aspects, the perimeter lip 24 might include only two edges (e.g., slit) or three edges (e.g., triangular opening), or the perimeter lip might include more than four edges. In addition, the perimeter lip 24 might extend across only the front wall 14 (and not the top wall 20) or only the top wall (and not the front wall). In further aspects, the perimeter lip 24 might extend across any other of the described walls that form the first compartment. Likewise, the zipper mechanism might include other arrangements that are tailored to fit the opening to the storage space A that is defined by the perimeter lip.

Other exemplary aspects will now be described and when describing these aspects, reference might be made to the various drawings. For example, in one aspect a backpack is provided having a first compartment (e.g., 15) and a second compartment (e.g., 110). The first compartment includes a first set of walls that include a back wall, a front wall, side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall (e.g., 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22). In addition, the first compartment includes an opening that provides access to a first storage space and that is defined by a perimeter lip. The opening might be positioned in one or more of the walls of the first set of walls. For example, in the figures the opening to storage space A of the first compartment 15 is defined by a perimeter lip 24A-D extending through part of the front wall 14 and the top wall 20. In other aspects, the opening might be positioned only in the top wall 20 or only in the front wall 14 or only in one of the other walls. Or the opening might be positioned in some other combination of the walls. The second compartment (e.g., 110) is defined by a second set of walls and is releasably attachable to the first compartment when received in the opening. The backpack also includes a releasable-attachment mechanism having a first attachment mechanism (e.g., 36) extending at least partially along the perimeter lip and a second attachment mechanism (e.g., 38) coupled to, and extending at least partially around, the second compartment. The first attachment mechanism is releasably attachable to the second attachment mechanism to releasably attach the second compartment to the first compartment and to provide selectively openable access to the first storage space.

In a second aspect of the invention, another backpack is provided having a first set of walls that are coupled to one another to form a first compartment. The first compartment (e.g., 110) includes a storage volume that gradually reduces from a first end to a second end (e.g., depicted in FIG. 8), and the first set of walls includes a first wall (e.g., 114) that at least partially defines the first end and a second wall (e.g., 112) that extends from the first end to the second end. One version of a first compartment is depicted in the various drawings, and the first compartment might include various other similar shapes, such as a wedge or other triangular prism or tube. The backpack also includes a second set of walls that are coupled to one another to form a second compartment. For example, the walls 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 form the second compartment 15. In other aspects, the second set of walls might include a fewer number of walls, such as a back wall, bottom wall, and side walls (i.e., no top wall and no bottom wall), or the second set of walls might include more walls in addition to the illustrated walls. The first compartment and the second compartment are convertible between a first configuration (e.g., FIGS. 1-5), in which the first and second compartments are connected and integrated into a backpack, and a second configuration, in which the first and second compartments are entirely decoupled from one another (e.g., FIG. 8). In the first configuration, the second set of walls attach to the first compartment near one or more edges of the first wall (e.g., 114) and near one or more edges of the second wall (e.g., 112). Further, in the first configuration the first wall (e.g., 114) forms at least part of a top portion of the backpack, and the second wall (e.g., 112) forms at least part of a front portion of the backpack.

Another aspect includes a bag having a first compartment (e.g., 15) and a second compartment (e.g., 110). The first compartment includes an opening defined by a perimeter lip (e.g., 24A-D) having a perimeter length, and the second compartment is positionable within the perimeter lip to at least partially cover the opening and to at least partially stow the second compartment. The bag also includes a zipper mechanism having a first row of zipper teeth (e.g., 36) and a second row of zipper teeth (e.g., 38). The first row of zipper teeth is coupled near the perimeter lip and includes a first end (e.g., 40) and a second end (e.g., 42). In addition, the first row of zipper teeth includes a first zipper length between the first end and the second end that is greater than the perimeter length, such that the first end overlaps with the second end to form an overlapping zipper portion (e.g., 44). The second row of zipper teeth (e.g., 38) is coupled to an exterior portion of the second compartment and releasably connects with the first row of zipper teeth to releasably attach the second compartment to the first compartment.

Although some of these elements are depicted as sides, walls, ends, faces, and the like, for illustrative purposes, and although they might be referred to as separate elements, the bag may be formed in such a manner that there are not clear delineations between these elements. For example, a single sheet of material might be used to form one or more of the walls, sides, top, bottom etc. For joining the ends of a single piece or material or joining separate pieces of material together, any suitable joining method may be used, including, without limitation, stitching, heat welding, ultrasonic welding, plasma welding, gluing, and the like, or combinations thereof. In addition, some of the elements might be identified based on a relative orientation to one another and to the viewer or to the wearer. These respective and relative labels are provided for explanatory purposes and should not be interpreted to unduly limit the scope of claimed subject matter. In addition, a wall might be constructed of one panel or might be constructed of more than one panel. For example, a side wall might include a single panel of textile that extends between a front and back and between a top and a bottom. Or a side wall might include a plurality of panels that are affixed end to end or in a layered manner to include a relatively flat side (e.g., planar or two dimensional) or a side that extends or protrudes in multiple planes and has a substantial three-dimensional nature.

Moreover, if there are not distinct sides or walls to the bag (e.g., if two or more sides are continuous, in that they are not clearly delineated by the construction of the bag) the sides are distinguished by respective orientation. For example, the “front” facing side does not sit on the ground when the bag is properly placed on the ground, rather, the bottom or base generally sits on the ground and the front facing side faces towards the viewer. Ambiguous areas in between the sides may be referred to as shoulders, joints, or junctions.

Further, the exemplary bag 10 is illustrated to include a three-dimensional shape having substantially rectangular sides, top, and bottom, and a substantially trapezoidal front and back wall. But the bag might include various other three-dimensional shapes and tubular structures, such as a cylinder, square tube, rectangular tube, box shaped, cuboid shaped, trapezoid shaped, or other prism shape. Other three-dimensional shapes or structures of the bag and its compartments are contemplated to be within the scope of this disclosure, and some further aspects are described herein with regard to the figures.

The bag can be made from a single piece of material, or from two or more pieces of like or different materials joined directly or indirectly to one another. Exemplary materials for forming the bag include, without limitation, polyester, nylon, cotton, elastane, leather, suede, faux-leather, faux-suede, hemp, bamboo, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, and combinations thereof, including layers or laminates of the same or different materials. The material(s) may be in the form of film, cloth, mesh, netting, or combinations thereof. The material or selected materials used in bag may be water-resistant or water-repellant, inherently or by treatment of the material for hydrophobicity. Water-resistance may be particularly helpful near an exterior pocket (e.g., to reduce or prevent water transmission from condensation on a bottle of water or other cold beverage) or on the bottom and/or second side of the bag (e.g., to reduce or prevent water transmission if the bag is set down on a wet surface, as, for example, outdoors or near a shower, sink, or pool). The material or selected materials used in a bag may be air and/or water permeable (e.g., to allow the transmission of humid air out of the bag, or fresh and/or drier air into the bag), and may be air and/or water permeable unidirectionally or both in and out of the bag.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A backpack comprising:

a first compartment defined by a first set of walls including at least: a back wall, wherein one or more shoulder straps of the backpack extend across an exterior surface of the back wall; a first side wall positioned along a first side of the back wall; a second side wall positioned along a second side of the back wall and generally opposing the first side wall; a bottom wall positioned along a bottom of the back wall, wherein the first compartment includes an opening that provides access to a first storage space of the first compartment and that is defined by a perimeter lip extending entirely around the opening;
a second compartment defined by a second set of walls, the second compartment being releasably attachable to the first compartment and being receivable in the opening; and
a releasable-attachment mechanism having a first attachment mechanism extending at least partially along the perimeter lip and a second attachment mechanism coupled to, and extending at least partially around, the second compartment, the first attachment mechanism being releasably attachable to the second attachment mechanism to releasably attach the second compartment to the first compartment and to provide selectively openable access to the first storage space.

2. The backpack of claim 1,

wherein the first set of walls further includes a front wall that generally opposes the back wall and that is positioned between the first side wall and the second side wall, and
wherein the opening includes at least a portion of the front wall, such that the perimeter lip includes a perimeter-lip first edge relatively proximal to the first side wall, a perimeter-lip bottom edge relatively proximal the bottom wall, and a perimeter-lip second edge relatively proximal to the second side wall, the perimeter-lip first, second, and bottom edges at least partially defining the portion of the front wall included in the opening.

3. The backpack of claim 2, wherein the second set of walls includes a wall that combines with the front wall to form a front portion of the backpack when the second compartment is positioned in the opening.

4. The backpack of claim 3, wherein the second set of walls includes a selectively closeable opening that provides access to a second storage space of the second compartment, and wherein the wall includes at least a portion of the selectively closeable opening.

5. The backpack of claim 2,

wherein the first set of walls further comprises a top wall that is positioned between the first side wall and the second side wall and between the back wall and the front wall, and
wherein the perimeter lip further includes a perimeter-lip top edge relatively proximal to the top wall, the opening being entirely defined in the front wall.

6. The backpack of claim 1,

wherein the first set of walls further includes a top wall positioned along a top of the back wall between the first side wall and the second side wall, and
wherein the opening includes at least a portion of the top wall, such that the perimeter lip includes a perimeter-lip first edge relatively proximal to the first side wall, a perimeter-lip back edge relatively proximal to the back wall, and a perimeter-lip second edge relatively proximal to the second side wall, the perimeter-lip first, second, and back edges at least partially defining the portion of the top wall included in the opening.

7. The backpack of claim 6, wherein the second set of walls includes a wall that combines with the top wall to form a top portion of the backpack when the second compartment is positioned in the opening.

8. The backpack of claim 7, wherein the second set of walls includes a selectively closeable opening that provides access to a second storage space of the second compartment, and wherein the wall includes at least a portion of the selectively closeable opening.

9. The backpack of claim 7,

wherein the first set of walls further includes a front wall that generally opposes the back wall and that is positioned between the first side wall and the second side wall and between the bottom wall and the top wall, and
wherein the opening includes at least a portion of the front wall, such that the perimeter lip includes a perimeter-lip bottom edge relatively proximal to the bottom wall, the perimeter-lip bottom edge extending contiguously with the perimeter-lip first edge and the perimeter-lip second edge.

10. The backpack of claim 9, wherein the second set of walls includes another wall that combines with the front wall to form a front portion of the backpack when the second compartment is positioned in the opening.

11. The backpack of claim 10, wherein the second set of walls includes a selectively closeable opening that provides access to a second storage space of the second compartment, and wherein the wall and the other wall both include respective portions of the selectively closeable opening.

12. The backpack of claim 6,

wherein the first set of walls further comprises a front wall that is positioned between the first side wall and the second side wall and between the top wall and the bottom wall, and
wherein the perimeter lip further includes a perimeter-lip front edge relatively proximal to the front wall, the opening being entirely defined in the top wall.

13. A bag comprising:

a first set of walls that are coupled to one another to form a first compartment having a storage volume that gradually reduces from a first end to a second end, the first set of walls including a first wall that at least partially defines the first end and a second wall that extends from the first end to the second end; and
a second set of walls that are coupled to one another to form a second compartment, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are convertible between a first configuration, in which the first and second compartments are connected and integrated into a backpack, and a second configuration, in which the first and second compartments are entirely decoupled from one another, wherein in the first configuration, the second set of walls attach to the first compartment near one or more edges of the first wall and near one or more edges of the second wall; and wherein in the first configuration, the first wall forms at least part of a top portion of the backpack and the second wall forms at least part of a front portion of the backpack.

14. The backpack of claim 13, wherein the first compartment includes a first component of a releasable fastener near the one or more edges of the first wall and near the one or more edges of the second wall, and wherein the second compartment includes the second component of the releasable fastener.

15. The backpack of claim 14, wherein the first component includes a first set of zipper teeth coupled near the one or more edges of the first wall and near the one or more edges of the second wall, and wherein a second set of zipper teeth are coupled around a perimeter lip of an opening that provides access to a storage space of the second compartment, the first set of zipper teeth and the second set of zipper teeth being releasably connectable to attach the first compartment to the second compartment and to manage access to the storage space.

16. A bag comprising:

a first compartment having an opening defined by a perimeter lip having a perimeter length;
a second compartment that is positionable within the perimeter lip to at least partially cover the opening and to at least partially stow the second compartment; and
a zipper mechanism comprising: a first row of zipper teeth that are coupled near the perimeter lip and that includes a first end and a second end, the first row of zipper teeth including a first zipper length between the first end and the second end that is greater than the perimeter length, such that the first end overlaps with the second end to form an overlapping zipper portion, and a second row of zipper teeth that are coupled to an exterior portion of the second compartment and that releasably connect with the first row of zipper teeth to releasably attach the second compartment to the first compartment.

17. The bag of claim 16, wherein the zipper mechanism further includes a first zipper box and a second zipper box, and wherein the first zipper box and the second zipper box are both coupled to a same one of the first row of zipper teeth or the second row of zipper teeth that also includes a first zipper slider and a second zipper slider.

18. The bag of claim 17, wherein the zipper mechanism further includes a first zipper insertion pin and a second zipper insertion pin, both of which are coupled to the other row of zipper teeth that does not include the first and second zipper boxes and first and second zipper pulls.

19. The bag of claim 18, wherein the first row of zipper teeth is positioned on a front portion of a backpack and a top portion of a backpack, and wherein the overlapping zipper portion is positioned on the front portion of the backpack.

20. The bag of claim 19 further comprising, another zipper mechanism that provides zippered access to a storage space of the second compartment.

Patent History
Publication number: 20160213132
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 22, 2015
Publication Date: Jul 28, 2016
Inventors: Timothy J. Ford (Portland, OR), Hrag Nassanian (Portland, OR)
Application Number: 14/602,992
Classifications
International Classification: A45F 4/02 (20060101);