US20050133558A1

US20050133558A1 - Multiple-use cover with see through carrying article

Info

Publication number: US20050133558A1
Application number: US10/956,917
Authority: US
Inventors: Timothy Toombs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-12-11
Filing date: 2004-10-04
Publication date: 2005-06-23

Abstract

A multiple-use cover with an easy access opening used to cover a see through carrying article such as a backpack, tote bag or diaper bag. The easy access opening on multiple-use cover allows user to gain access to the inside of the carrying article and its pockets through an opening in the multiple-use cover. The easy access opening consists of a zipper or flap opening on multiple-use cover used to gain access to see through carrying article without having to remove the cover. The multiple-use cover is useful when the user is carrying a see through carrying article such as backpack or tote bag and wants to protect the privacy of what they are carrying thus enhancing their own personal safety during their commute. The cover allows a user to spend less time getting through check points in a secure environment by allowing the user to remove the cover for quick examination of the see through carrying article. The multiple-use cover pocket(s) can be made see through with a see through lining which would allow a screener to quickly examine them. The shape of the multiple-use cover can be made to fit any type of see through carrying article with or without wheels and provides great utility in that it allows the user to utilize the shoulder strap(s) and handgrip found on most carrying articles such as backpacks or tote bags. The multiple-use cover can be made to be worn on either side or inside out. When the cover is no longer needed it can be converted into a pouch and stored away inside carrying article or worn as a fanny pack or bag around waist or shoulder.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of provisional patent application No. 06/528,328 filed Dec. 11, 2003 entitled “CONVERTIBLE MULTIPLE-USE BACKPACK COVER”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multiple-use cover that is used to cover a see through carrying article such as a backpack, diaper bag or tote bag. The multiple-use cover is able to convert into a fanny pack or pouch and has an easy access opening for gaining access to the inside of the see through carrying article or its pockets without having to remove the cover. The multiple-use cover can be designed with a inner lining allowing multiple-use cover to be worn inside out or on either side. The present invention helps protect the privacy of the individual user and provides a means for upgrading safety for commuters who carry a variety of clear or see through carrying articles such as backpacks, diaper bags, or tote bags in general. Also, the multiple-use cover helps complement security in public places by encouraging individuals who normally would not carry see through carrying articles due to privacy or safety reasons to carry them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Carrying articles such as backpacks, diaper bags and tote bags have come in many shapes and sizes and have been worn throughout history and are known in prior art. Carrying articles like backpacks, diaper bags and tote bags have been used to transport items from place to place with a sense of privacy and convenience in everyday life. Recently, there have been sweeping changes in security that has caused an increased need for transparent or see through carrying articles in public places due to increased violence in public places and terrorism.
These see through carrying articles increase security measures and tighten security, but inconvenience the see through carrying article user by exposing the contents in their backpack or tote bag during their commute, which raises a safety concern for the user. This inefficiency gives rise to the present invention which provides a cover for see through carrying articles such as tote bags, diaper bags, backpacks and see through carrying articles in general and allow the user through the design of the cover use of the shoulder strap(s) and handgrip found on most carrying articles such as backpacks, diaper bags, garment bags, camera bags, lunch bags and tote bags in general. This invention allows user to have access to the pockets of see through carrying article and access to the inside of see through carrying article through an easy access opening or openings in multiple-use cover without having to remove the cover. Further, this invention allows a user to have a see through and a nontransparent carrying article through use of multiple-use cover. The multiple-use cover can be made with a inner lining that would allow multiple-use cover to be worn on either side allowing the user to have a choice between two designs and colors. The present invention is preferably made of breathable material for security and safety concerns and a way to store cover without placing it in a hidden compartment. In prior art, luggage covers made to shield luggage items from weather exposure covered the entire bag with no opening for shoulder strap(s) or handgrip. These baglike luggage covers are composed of plastic or non-breathable material with a drawstring that tightens around the mouth of luggage cover or made with luggage that allow it to be tucked away in a hidden compartment such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,658 B2. Luggage covers such as this and their components pose a hazard to the personal safety of the user and create a security concern because these covers could be used as a strangling or suffocation device and do not have opening or openings such as the present invention for shoulder strap(s) or handgrip or easy access opening to gain access to carrying article without having to remove entire cover. Further, a loose drawstring poses a potential hazard of getting caught in subway doors, escalator or other types of machinery.
Therefore, the use of luggage covers with drawstrings in prior art to complement security measures would prove to be ineffective in design and material. Also, there are patented see through carrying articles such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,833 issued in Oct. 26, 1993, which is a transparent carrier and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 421,523 issued on Mar. 14, 2000 which is a transparent backpack neither have a cover nor cover fasteners on their exterior. However, the present invention would be effective in complementing the privacy needs of the individual and effective in complementing the security measures of today without itself posing as a potential threat to security or to the safety of the individual. The different attributes and components of the present invention are further described in more detail below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to satisfying the safety and privacy need of the individuals who are required to carry see through carrying articles such as backpacks, diaper bags and tote bags and helping them to meet and satisfy security requirements at the same time, in our quickly changing world. The present invention is quite useful in keeping others from peering into see through carrying article while user is in commute and makes it easier for a potential screener to screen carrying article by simply removing the multiple-use cover. Further, if the user needed to get something from the pockets or the inside of the see through carrying article they can unzip the easy access zipper or open easy access flap opening on the front of the cover to gain access to see through carrying article. The easy access opening can be made to open and close through use of zipper opening or flap opening that uses either zipper, Velcro® or button snaps as fasteners. The easy access flap opening can be used in the place of easy access zipper opening and easy access zipper opening can be used in the place of easy access flap opening. Another attribute is that a potential screener can quickly examine the pockets because the pocket lining on the carrying article cover can be made of see through material such as clear plastic or netting. The present invention gives the user a choice between a transparent or nontransparent carrying article through use of a cover. The cover itself is preferably made of lightweight, durable and water resistant material.
Further, the multiple-use cover can be made attached or unattached to see through carrying article. Also, the multiple-use cover has huge utility because it can be made to fit the structural design of any type see through carrying article such as a backpack, tote bag, diaper bag, camera bag, lunch bag, soft cooler bag, garment bag, fanny pack or duffel bag in general with or without wheels and cover can be made to be worn on either side. Moreover, the multiple-use cover allows the user to have access to shoulder strap(s) and handgrip of see through carrying article through the stretchable mouth opening in back of the multiple-use cover. Also, the stretchable mouth opening of cover can be made with flap(s) (i.e., a portion of cloth that extends from top, bottom, or side(s) of multiple-use cover or mouth opening) that can seal mouth of cover with fastener(s) located on flap(s). The flap(s) can be made detachable through use of zipper, Velcro®, or button snaps. Further, the multiple-use cover can be made with hole openings at bottom of cover for see through carrying articles with wheels and multiple-use cover can be made with some light padding or insulation in lining of cover.
Another use of the multiple-use cover is that it can convert into a pouch or fanny pack by simply flipping or turning pocket or pouch inside out and stuffing multiple-use cover into mouth of pouch or fanny pack. This use comes in handy when user may need to store away cover. The cover can be converted into a small pouch and stored away inside of carrying article or converted to a fanny pack or bag that can be worn around waist or shoulder. The pocket used to make fanny pack can be made with a reversible zipper, Velcro, buttons, button snaps or other fastening device. The same fastening device used to seal pocket is used to seal fanny pack. The straps with fastening device of fanny pack are sewn to the inside of the zipper pocket and are made accessible when pocket is turned into fanny pack. The entire multiple-use cover is engulfed when the zipper pocket is turned inside out and the cover is stuffed inside mouth of fanny pack. Also, the pocket can be made detachable so that fanny pack is able to separate from multiple-use cover.
The present invention can make a see through carrying article such as a backpack or tote bag look like a regular non-transparent backpack or tote bag with pockets, zippers, holders, key rings, webbing, netting, hooks and reflective tape through the design of the multiple-use cover. Further, the see through carrying article can be made to have a detachable shoulder strap or straps that can be detached from see through carrying article and attached to multiple-use cover to form a separate carrying article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of see through carrying article with shoulder straps, handgrip, pockets and cover fasteners.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of multiple-use cover with zippered easy access opening and easy access flap opening, reversible zipper pocket, carrying article fasteners and pouch.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of multiple-use cover with easy access zippered opening unzipped.
FIG. 4 shows reversible zipper pocket unzipped with buckle and strap exposed and pocket lining pulled outward that forms fanny pack.
FIG. 5 shows reversible zipper pocket flipped inside out forming fanny pack and fanny pack engulfing multiple-use cover.
FIG. 6 shows fanny pack fully formed.
FIG. 7 shows pouch engulfing multiple-use cover after being flipped inside out and multiple-use cover being stuffed into mouth of pouch.
FIG. 8 shows multiple-use cover fully engulfed by pouch.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of multiple-use cover covering see through carrying article with cover fasteners and carrying article fasteners engaged to hold cover in place.
FIG. 10 shows back view of see through carrying article covered by multiple-use cover with back flap open exposing see through carrying article.
FIG. 11 shows back flap of multiple-use cover closed and hole openings for wheeled see through carrying articles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of see through carrying article lo with shoulder strap(s) 12, handgrip, pockets 16 and cover fasteners18. The see through carrying article 10 can be a backpack, tote bag, diaper bag, duffel bag, garment bag, camera bag or lunch bag. The see through carrying article 10 can be made with one or two shoulder strap(s) 12, with or without handgrip14, with pockets 16 or without pockets 16 and with or without cover fasteners 18 used to hold multiple-use cover 20 in place by fastening cover fasteners 18 and carrying article fasteners 26 together through use of Velcro® or button snaps. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of multiple-use cover 20 with zippered easy access opening 22 and easy access flap opening 30 used for bag pockets, reversible zipper pocket 24, carrying article fasteners 26 and pouch 28. The multiple-use cover 20 is used to cover see through carrying article 10 to keep valuable and personal items out of view. The multiple-use cover 20 can be sewn in any style or design depending on the design of the see through carrying article 10 and multiple-use cover 20 can be made with a inner lining that would allow multiple-use cover 20 to be worn on either side. FIG. 3 shows easy access zipper opening 22 slightly unzipped and easy access flap opening 30 opened. The easy access opening 22 can be made with Velcro® or zipper to seal incision opening or easy access flap 30 may be used to cover a wider opening in cover such as for pockets on carrying article 10. The easy access zipper opening 22 or easy access flap 30 can be placed anywhere on multiple-use cover 20. The easy access zipper opening 22 and easy access flap opening 30 with Velcro® or button snaps 32 can be made to allow user access to carrying article pockets 16 and carrying article 10 through multiple-use cover 20. FIG. 4 shows reversible zipper pocket 24 unzipped with buckle and strap 36 exposed that form fanny pack 34. The reversible zipper pocket 24 is a pocket with straps and buckle 36 and lining 34 that forms fanny pack 34. The reversible zipper allows same zipper to be used to seal fanny pack 34. FIG. 5 shows fanny pack 34 engulfing multiple-use cover 20. The lining 34 which is the shell of fanny pack 34 is flipped inside out and multiple-use cover 20 is stuffed into mouth of fanny pack 34 to form fanny pack 34. The lining 34 which is the shell of fanny pack 34 can be made of see through material such as netting, clear plastic or mesh. The straps and buckle 36 can be worn around the waist or shoulder. Also, the reversible zipper pocket 24 can be used to hold personal items or converted into fanny pack 34 to hold personal items. FIG. 6 shows fanny pack 34 fully formed. In FIG. 7 the multiple-use cover 20 has a pouch 28 that engulfs the entire multiple-use cover 20 by turning pouch 28 inside out and pushing multiple-use cover 20 into mouth of pouch 28. The pouch 28 can be made of see through material such as clear plastic, netting or mesh. The pouch 28 has an elastic mouth that can be used as a pocket or holder. Once multiple-use cover 20 is engulfed by pouch 28 it can be stored away inside of see through carrying article 10. FIG. 8 shows pouch 28 fully converted and multiple-use cover 20 fully engulfed.
Moreover, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of multiple-use cover 20 covering see through carrying article 10 with cover fasteners 18 used to hold and line up multiple-use cover 20 by attaching to carrying article fasteners 26. FIG. 10 shows back view of see through carrying article 10 covered by multiple-use cover 20 with back flap 38 with fasteners 40 (Velcro®, button snaps or zipper) in open position exposing back of see through carrying article 10 with shoulder strap(s) 12, handgrip 14 and mouth opening 44. Further, in FIG. 10 the multiple-use cover 20 has a stretchable mouth opening 44 that is used to place multiple-use cover 20 over see through carrying article 10 and allows use of shoulder strap(s) 12 and handgrip 14. The mouth of cover 44 can be made with flap(s) 38 (i.e., a portion of cloth that extends from top, bottom, or side(s) of multiple-use cover 20 or mouth opening 44) that cover mouth opening 44. Also, the flap(s) 38 has fasteners 40 that can seal the mouth opening 44. The flap(s) 38 can be made to fit front or back of multiple-use cover 20. The multiple-use cover 20 can be made with or without flap(s) 38 or can be made detachable through use of Velcro®, button snaps or zipper. Further, side flap(s) 38 on the back of multiple-use cover 20 would extend from sides of mouth opening 44 across mouth opening 44 and top flap(s) 38 would extend from top of mouth opening 44 to bottom of mouth opening 44. Also, bottom flap(s) 38 would extend from bottom of mouth opening 44 to the top of mouth opening 44. In FIG. 11 the back flap 38 is closed to cover back of see through carrying article 10. The back flap 38 and multiple-use cover 20 allow enough room between top of mouth opening 44 and back flap 38 for handgrip 14 and shoulder straps 12 to protrude and enough space at bottom between bottom mouth of cover 44 and back flap 38 for lower end of shoulder strap(s) 12 to protrude. Mouth opening 44 can be made of elastic in upper and lower portions of mouth opening 44 when side flap(s) 38 are used or in sides of mouth opening 44 when top or bottom flap(s) 38 are used or elastic can be used around entire mouth opening 44 whether flap(s) 38 are used or not. Further, in FIG. 11 the wheel hole openings 46 at bottom of multiple-use cover 20 are for see through carrying articles 10 with wheels or hole openings may be placed on bottom sides of multiple-use cover 20. It should be understood that the foregoing pertains to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and that numerous changes may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A carrying article assembly comprising:

a see through carrying article with cover fasteners located on the exterior of carrying article, and.

multiple-use cover containing an easy access opening or openings that allow access to the inside of see through carrying article and its pockets without having to remove the cover,

carrying article fasteners that attach to cover fasteners, a reversible zipper pocket that converts to a fanny pack, a pouch, and a stretchable mouth opening in back of multiple-use cover that allows cover to be placed over see through carrying article and cover can be made with hole openings in bottom or sides of cover for wheeled carrying articles.

2. The carrying article assembly of claim 1, where see through carrying article has cover fasteners such as Velcro® or button snaps on its exterior for attaching to carrying article fasteners on cover.

3. The carrying article assembly of claim 1, where see through carrying article is made of clear plastic.

4. The carrying article assembly of claim 1, where see through carrying article is made of netting or mesh.

5. The carrying article assembly of claim 1, where easy access opening on multiple-use cover uses a zipper to close opening to see through carrying article and its pockets.

6. The carrying article assembly of claim 1, where easy access opening in cover uses a flap with Velcro® or button snaps to close opening to see through carrying article and its pockets.

7. The carrying article assembly of claim 1, where easy access opening whether a zipper or flap opening is used can be placed anywhere on exterior of multiple-use cover.

8. The carrying article assembly of claim 1, where multiple-use cover has a stretchable mouth opening in back of cover through which multiple-use cover can be fitted over see through carrying article.

9. The carrying article assembly of claim 8, wherein said stretchable mouth opening has a flap or flaps with fasteners such as Velcro® or button snaps to cover and seal mouth opening.

10. The carrying article assembly in claim 8, wherein said stretchable mouth opening in back of cover is covered by flap or flaps but allow shoulder strap(s) and handgrip to protrude between flap and mouth opening so user can have access to use shoulder strap(s) and hand grip.

11. The carrying article assembly in claim 1, where multiple-use cover can be made with a inner lining that would allow multiple-use cover to be worn on either side or inside out.

12.The carrying article assembly in claim 1, where multiple-use cover flips into a fanny pack through means of a reversible zipper pocket that holds straps and buckle.

13. The carrying article assembly in claim 12, wherein said zipper pocket is flipped inside out forming fanny pack with straps and buckle and multiple-use cover is stuffed into mouth of fanny pack.

14. The carrying article assembly in claim 1, where multiple-use cover flips into pouch by turning pouch inside out and pushing cover into mouth of pouch.

15. The carrying article assembly in claim 1, where multiple-use cover has hole openings at bottom of cover for wheeled carrying articles.

16. The carrying article assembly in claim 1, where see through carrying article with cover fasteners and multiple-use cover is a backpack with or without wheels.

17. The carrying article assembly in claim 1, where see through carrying article with cover fasteners and multiple-use cover is a tote bag with or without wheels.

18. The carrying article assembly in claim 1, where see through carrying article with cover fasteners and multiple-use cover is a diaper bag with or without wheels.

19. The carrying article assembly in claim 1, where see through carrying article with cover fasteners and multiple-use cover is a camera bag.

20. The carrying article assembly in claim 1, where see through carrying article with cover fasteners and multiple-use cover is a luggage item with or without wheels.

21. The carrying article assembly in claim 1, where see through carrying article with cover fasteners and multiple-use cover is a handbag.

22. The carrying article assembly in claim 1, where see through carrying article with cover fasteners and multiple-use cover is a lunch bag.

23. The carrying article assembly in claim 1, where see through carrying article can be made to have a detachable shoulder strap or straps that can detach and attach to multiple-use cover to form a separate carrying article.