U.S. patent application number 10/366059 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-11 for bag with easy access identification holder.
Invention is credited to Davis, Robert Philip, Scicluna, Paul.
Application Number | 20040045781 10/366059 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31991076 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040045781 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Scicluna, Paul ; et
al. |
March 11, 2004 |
Bag with easy access identification holder
Abstract
A bag, of tote or briefcase size, includes an identification
holder which is easily accessible. The identification holder, which
may be integrated with a small, convenience storage pouch, is
secured to the interior of a pocket of the bag by means of an
expandable-contractible member which permits the identification
holder/pouch to be readily presented for inspection without being
disconnected from the bag. The pocket is releasably enclosed along
the top and/or side edges thereof by a zipper, and stores the
identification holder/pouch when not in use. The pouch serves as a
convenient storage space for accessory items.
Inventors: |
Scicluna, Paul; (Penndel,
PA) ; Davis, Robert Philip; (Vidalia, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & BOTTS
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK
NY
10112
|
Family ID: |
31991076 |
Appl. No.: |
10/366059 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10366059 |
Feb 13, 2003 |
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10241011 |
Sep 11, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
190/110 ;
190/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 13/42 20130101;
A45C 2003/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/110 ;
190/108 |
International
Class: |
A45C 003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a bag having a body and at least one pocket openable to the
exterior of the bag, the improvement comprising: an identification
holder; and an expandable-contractible member attached at one end
to the interior of the pocket and at the other end to the
identification holder, whereby the identification holder may be
withdrawn from the pocket and displayed for inspection by expanding
the expandable-contractible member.
2. The bag of claim 1, wherein said bag comprises ballistic nylon
fabric.
3. The bag of claim 1, wherein said identification holder comprises
a frame having a transparent window on at least one side thereof
for displaying an identification card.
4. The bag of claim 3, wherein said frame is comprised of leather
material.
5. The bag of claim 3, wherein said frame comprises a transparent
window on both sides thereof for displaying two identification
cards.
6. The bag of claim 5, wherein said transparent window comprises
polyvinyl chloride.
7. The bag of claim 1, wherein said expandable-contractible member
comprises an elastic cord.
8. The bag of claim 3, wherein said frame includes an opening for
the attachment thereto of the other end of the
expandable-contractible member.
9. The bag of claim 5, wherein the frame of said identification
holder comprises a central solid panel and two side frames secured
thereto, each of said side frames having a transparent window
therein and forming with the central panel a pocket for receipt of
an identification card.
10. The bag of claim 1, wherein said identification holder
comprises a pouch having a transparent window structure secured to
a surface thereof for display of an identification card.
11. The bag of claim 10, wherein said pouch further comprises a
zippered opening in one side thereof for access to the interior of
the pouch.
12. The bag of claim 11, further comprising means for releaseably
attaching said other end of said expandable-contractible member to
said pouch, whereby said pouch may be disconnected for said
expandable-contractible member.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.
10/241,011, filed Sep. 11, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to bags, such as luggage,
business cases, carry-on bags, totes and the like, and more
particularly to a bag having incorporated therein a personal
identification holder which is easily accessible for presentation
without being disconnected from the bag. The invention also relates
to a combined convenience pouch and identification holder which is
easily accessible as aforementioned, but which may also be readily
disconnected from the bag when desired.
[0004] 2. The Related Art
[0005] As security measures are heighten all around the world, it
has become common place for individuals to be required to present
personal identification to gain entry into numerous places. For
example, most people in United States major cities are required to
display some type of identification in order to gain entry into
their office building. Even parking garages underneath highly
occupied office buildings often require at least a United States
driver's license for entry. Airports and airlines are even more
stringent in requiring personal identification to acquire
electronic tickets, and board aircraft.
[0006] In addition to having to present personal identification, as
described above, many places also perform random searches or search
everyone's bags prior to entry. This requires individuals to both
open their bags, so that security personnel may ensure that there
are no dangerous items being brought into the building, while
simultaneously requiring the presentation of personal
identification to gain entry. In reality this process can be rather
frustrating, as an individual tries to open his/her bags, while
reaching into his/her wallet or purse to find his/her personal
identification. When the line of people trying to gain entry is
large, this rather quick juggling around can result in the
misplacement or even loss of one's personal identification. It is
also frequently necessary for persons to remove valuable items from
their clothing or bodies, e.g., coins, watches, jewelry, etc., to
pass through metal detection equipment, as, for example, at airport
security stations or certain building entrances. Adequate provision
is not always made at the inspection sites, however, for the safe
transfer of such items through the security station.
[0007] What is needed are better, more orderly ways of dealing with
these problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to fulfill the
foregoing and other needs of the prior art by the provision of a
bag, e.g., of the tote or hand-carried size, having an integral
identification holder which is easily accessible for presentation
without being disconnected from the bag. The identification holder
is preferably stowed in an exterior pocket of the luggage item,
such that by opening the exterior pocket an individual will have
immediate access to the identification holder, where the
identification holder is affixed at one end to the interior of the
pocket by an expandable-contractible member, e.g., an elastic
cord.
[0009] In one embodiment, the identification holder is preferably
made of a resistant material forming a frame capable of holding at
least one, and preferably two, personal identification cards. To
that end, at least one side, and preferably both sides, of the
identification holder have a transparent window for displaying at
least one form, and preferably two forms, of identification without
removing them from the identification holder. The
expandable-contractible member affixes one end of the
identification holder to the interior of the pocket of the bag. In
this way, the identification holder is biased to recoil back to its
place in the exterior pocket after use. This also prevents the
identification holder from being lost or otherwise misplaced.
[0010] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the
identification holder comprises a small convenience pouch that is
connected to the free end of the expandable-contractible member,
with the structure for holding the identification card attached to
a side of the pouch. The identification card may then be readily
presented for inspection by removing the pouch from the bag. The
pouch also preferably includes a zippered opening for the storage
therein of convenience items or items that the user might want to
remove from his/her person during a security inspection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] For a more complete understanding of the present invention
and the advantages thereof, reference may be made to the following
description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a generally schematic perspective view of a bag
having an integral identification holder which is easily accessible
in accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a partial frontal view of the bag item of FIG. 1,
showing an exterior pocket opened and revealing an identification
holder which is easily accessible in accordance with the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a detailed illustration of the identification
holder of FIG. 2, with an expandable-contractible coil in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a convenience pouch bearing
an identification holder on one surface and detachably connected to
an expandable-contractible coil in accordance with the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a bag or luggage item 100, of tote or
briefcase size, which is adapted to be carried by an individual by
means of the handles 102 or shoulder strap 106. Such a bag would
typically include one or more zippered main pockets 104 for papers,
overnight articles, and the like, and one or more sides or exterior
pockets 108, 110 for storage of readily accessible items. In the
usual case, the bag 100 would be carried with a person when
traveling on business or vacation, or simply traveling to the
office. Preferably, the exterior pockets 108, 110 are fastened or
opened by a closure mechanism, such as, for example, a zipper 112
extending along the top 114 and down the side 116 of the pocket
110. The exterior of the bag may be made of any suitable material,
such as the fabric customarily used to cover "soft" briefcases or
the like, e.g., ballistic nylon fabric.
[0017] In accordance with the invention, an identification holder
200 is located in one of the exterior pockets, e.g., the pocket
110. See FIG. 2. The identification holder 200 is secured to the
interior 202 of the pocket 110 by an expandable-contractible member
204, e.g., an elastic cord, biasing the identification holder 200
towards the interior 202 of the pocket 110. In this way, the
identification holder 200 is attached to the interior 202 of the
pocket 110, but may readily be withdrawn therefrom and presented
for inspection without being disconnected from the bag. When not in
use, the identification holder is stored in the pocket 110. The
elastic cord 204 is of a length, when expanded, to permit the
identification folder to be readily presented for inspection. For
example, the expanded length may be on the order of one to two
feet.
[0018] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention
illustrated in FIG. 3, the identification holder 200 comprises a
rectangular frame 302, preferably made of a leather or other
suitably attractive material, which provides the support structure
for the identification holder 200. As shown, the frame 302 includes
a central solid panel 304 having an apertured side member 306 on
either side thereof (only one side member is shown in FIG. 3). Each
side member 306 surrounds a transparent window 308 and is
coextensive in size with the central panel 304 except at the upper
edge 310 (as viewed in FIG. 3). By use of a transparent window 308
on both sides of the central panel 304, two forms of identification
may be displayed without being removed from the identification
holder 200. The transparent windows 308 are preferably clear
polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
[0019] To permit the insertion of personal identification cards
into the frame 302, the side members 306 are not attached to the
central panel 304 along their upper edges 310. The side members 306
are preferably stitched to the central panel 304 along all other
edges, as indicated at 312 in FIG. 3. A personal identification
card may therefore be inserted, in the direction of the arrow 314,
into the pocket formed between the central panel 304 and each
transparent window 308.
[0020] The portion of the central panel 304 extending above the
side members 306 is formed with an opening 316 for the attachment
thereto of one end of the elastic cord 204. The cord 204 may be
looped directly through the opening 316 as shown in FIG. 3, or a
key-ring type attachment may be used. If desired, a reinforcing
grommet may be provided in the opening 316.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
identification holder 200 has a length of four (4) inches and a
width of three (3) inches. The width of the side frame members 306
surrounding the windows 308 may be approximately ten (1O) mm.
[0022] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention
illustrated in FIG. 4, the identification holder 400 takes the form
of a small convenience pouch 402 with the structure for holding the
identification card comprising a rectangular leather frame 403 and
transparent window 404 that are sewn to the side of the pouch 402.
An opening is left at one end or the top of the frame 403 for the
insertion therein of an identification card.
[0023] The pouch 402 may be made of any suitable material, e.g.,
the same material as that of the bag 100, and preferably is
provided in its top 405 with a zippered opening 406 having a zipper
pull 407. A D-buckle 408 or other suitable bracket is secured to
one end of the pouch 402, to which a snap-hook 409 fixed to the
free end of an elastic cord 410 is removably attached. The other
end of the cord 410 is secured to the interior of a pocket of the
bag, as described above in connection with the embodiment of FIG.
2.
[0024] When the user desires to show his/her identification, the
pouch 402 is removed from the bag 100 and extended, while still
connected to the cord 410, for inspection of the identification
card within the holder frame 403. At the same time, the pouch 402
provides a convenient, readily accessible place to store accessory
items or other forms of identification or passage, such as tickets,
that need to be readily at hand. For example, personal items such
as jewelry, watches, coins, etc., that a person does not want to
wear or carry on his/her person when passing through a security
inspection station could conveniently be stored in the pouch 402.
If desired, the pouch 402 could be disconnected from the bag 100 by
means of the snap-hook 408 and carried or passed separately through
the security station.
[0025] Although the invention has been described herein by
reference to an exemplary embodiment thereof, it will be understood
that such embodiment is susceptible of modification and variation
without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed. All such
modifications and variations, therefore, are intended to be
encompassed within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
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