U.S. patent application number 11/083716 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-21 for bag for carrying a sports ball and other items.
Invention is credited to April Ache Lytle.
Application Number | 20060207900 11/083716 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37009185 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060207900 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lytle; April Ache |
September 21, 2006 |
Bag for carrying a sports ball and other items
Abstract
A carrying bag includes a first outer surface, a first
compartment, and a ball compartment. The ball compartment is
separate from the first compartment and is configured to receive
and hold a sports ball. The ball compartment is adopted to conform
to the shape of the sports ball and to define a first portion of
the first outer surface to have a shape of about a half of the
sports ball.
Inventors: |
Lytle; April Ache; (Oakland,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ferenc Pazmandi;Agent for Applicant
SIDLEY AUSTIN BROWN & WOOD LLP
555 California Street, Suite 2000
San Francisco
CA
94104-1715
US
|
Family ID: |
37009185 |
Appl. No.: |
11/083716 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/315.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 71/0036 20130101;
A63B 2243/007 20130101; A63B 2225/76 20200801; A45C 2003/002
20130101; A63B 2243/0025 20130101; A45C 7/0086 20130101; A63B
2225/687 20130101; A45F 3/02 20130101; A63B 2243/0095 20130101;
A63B 2225/682 20130101; A45C 11/00 20130101; A63B 47/001 20130101;
A63B 71/0045 20130101; A63B 2243/0037 20130101; A63B 2208/12
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/315.9 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A carrying bag, comprising: a first outer surface; a first
compartment; and a ball compartment that is separate from the first
compartment and is configured to receive and hold a sports ball,
the ball compartment adopted to conform to the shape of the sports
ball and to define a first portion of the first outer surface to
have a shape of about a half of the sports ball.
2. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the first compartment is a
main compartment having a linear extent that is larger than a
diameter of the ball compartment.
3. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the first compartment and
the ball compartment are separately accessible.
4. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the first compartment
defines a second portion of the first outer surface of the carrying
bag.
5. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the ball compartment is
adopted to define the first portion of the first outer surface by
exposing a portion of the sports ball.
6. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the ball compartment
includes a cover part configured to cover the sports ball.
7. The carrying bag of claim 6, wherein the cover part is
configured to partially cover the sports ball.
8. The carrying bag of claim 7, wherein the cover part includes a
flexible net.
9. The carrying bag of claim 6, wherein the cover part has an
external pattern that is characteristic to the sports ball.
10. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the ball compartment
includes a securing strap to hold the sports ball.
11. The carrying bag of claim 1, further comprising: a first main
carrier that includes the first compartment; and a ball carrier
that is attached to the first carrier and includes the ball
compartment.
12. The carrying bag of claim 11, wherein the ball carrier is
detachable from the first main carrier.
13. The carrying bag of claim 12, wherein the ball carrier includes
one or more auxiliary straps for carrying the detached ball
carrier.
14. The carrying bag of claim 12, further comprising: a zipper to
attach the ball carrier to the first main carrier.
15. The carrying bag of claim 12, wherein the detached ball carrier
is configured to attach to a second main carrier.
16. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the ball compartment is
configured to receive a sports ball having a diameter larger than
about 6 inches.
17. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the ball compartment is
configured to receive a spherical sports ball.
18. The carrying bag of claim 17, wherein the spherical sports ball
is a soccer ball, a volleyball, or a basketball.
19. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the ball compartment is
configured to receive an oval sports ball.
20. The carrying bag of claim 1, further comprising: a second outer
surface defined by the first compartment opposite to the first
outer surface of the carrying bag; and one or more main straps
attached to the carrying bag at the second outer surface for
carrying the bag.
21. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the first outer surface
has a triangular shape.
22. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the first outer surface
has a rectangular shape.
23. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the first compartment has
a reinforced bottom portion.
24. The carrying bag of claim 23, wherein the reinforced bottom
portion includes one or more wheels.
25. The carrying bag of claim 1, further comprising one or more
additional compartments.
26. The carrying bag of claim 25, wherein one of the additional
compartments is adopted to receive and hold a water bottle.
27. The carrying bag of claim 25, wherein one of the additional
compartments is adopted to receive and hold a sports shoe.
28. A carrying bag, comprising: a first outer surface; a second
outer surface opposite to the first outer surface; a first carrier
means defining the second outer surface; and a ball carrier means
for carrying a sports ball, the ball carrier means being attached
to the first carrier means and including a ball compartment means
for receiving and holding the sports ball, the ball compartment
means adopted to conform to the shape of the sports ball and to
define a first portion of the first outer surface to have a shape
of about a half of the sports ball.
29. The carrying bag of claim 28, further comprising: an attaching
means for attaching the first carrier means to the ball carrier
means such that the ball carrier means is detachable from the first
carrier means.
30. The carrying bag of claim 28, wherein the first carrier means
includes a main compartment having a linear extent that is larger
than a diameter of the ball compartment means.
31. The carrying bag of claim 28, wherein the ball compartment
means is configured to receive a spherical sports ball.
32. The carrying bag of claim 28, wherein the ball compartment
means is configured to receive an oval football.
33. A carrying bag, comprising: a first outer surface; a second
outer surface opposite to the first outer surface; a main carrier
having a main compartment defining the second outer surface; one or
more straps attached to the main carrier at the second outer
surface for carrying the bag; and a ball carrier detachably
attached to the main carrier and configured to carry a sports ball,
the ball carrier including a ball compartment for receiving and
holding the sports ball, the ball compartment including a flexible
cover part adopted to conform to the shape of the sports ball and
to define a first portion of the first outer surface to have a
shape of about a half of the sports ball.
34. The carrying bag of claim 33, wherein the sports ball is a
soccer ball, a volleyball, or a football.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to bags to be carried by
humans.
[0002] Carrying bags are bags that are used by humans to carry
along different objects, such as clothing, books or other personal
items. Examples of carrying bags include handbags, shoulder bags,
and backpacks that are designed to be carried in the humans' hands,
on their shoulders or on their backs. Some carrying bags, such as
some luggage, also have wheels allowing their users to pull or push
such bags easily from one place to another.
[0003] A carrying bag typically includes one or more compartments
that are designed to accommodate objects that the bag's intended
users are most likely to carry. For example, a backpack that is
designed for school children has a compartment large enough to hold
books, and one or more smaller compartments to carry smaller
objects. Or a bag that is designed to carry a bulky basketball has
a compartment that is large enough to receive and safely hold that
ball.
[0004] Some ball carrying bags have an exterior design to indicate
a type of the carried ball. For example, a backpack has been
designed to carry a basketball in a ball compartment whose outer
surface resembles to a basketball hoop. Other ball carrying bags
have ball compartments whose outer surface has a fully spherical
shape and a pattern resembling to the ball they are designed to
hold.
[0005] In addition to bags designed to carry balls, some general
purpose sports bags also have ornamental features that resemble to
sports balls.
SUMMARY
[0006] To carry a sports ball in the same bag but separately from
other items, a bag has a first compartment for the other items, and
a separate ball compartment that is adopted to the shape of the
sports ball such that, while holding the sports ball, the ball
compartment defines a half-ball-like external shape that indicates
the type of the sports ball. Thus, the bag can safely hold the
sports ball and also provide desirable ornamental features.
[0007] In general, in one aspect, the present invention provides a
carrying bag that includes a first outer surface, a first
compartment, and a ball compartment. The ball compartment is
separate from the first compartment and is configured to receive
and hold a sports ball. The ball compartment is adopted to conform
to the shape of the sports ball and to define a first portion of
the first outer surface to have a shape of about a half of the
sports ball.
[0008] Particular implementations can include one or more of the
following features. The first compartment can be a main compartment
having a linear extent that is larger than a diameter of the ball
compartment. The first compartment and the ball compartment can be
separately accessible. The first compartment can define a second
portion of the first outer surface of the carrying bag. The ball
compartment can be adopted to define the first portion of the first
outer surface by exposing a portion of the sports ball. The ball
compartment can include a cover part configured to cover the sports
ball. The cover part can be configured to partially cover the
sports ball. The cover part can include a flexible net, or can have
an external pattern that is characteristic to the sports ball. The
ball compartment can include a securing strap to hold the sports
ball. The carrying bag can also comprise a first carrier that
includes the first compartment, and a ball carrier that is attached
to the first carrier and includes the ball compartment. The ball
carrier can be detachable from the first carrier. The ball carrier
can include one or more auxiliary straps for carrying the detached
ball carrier. The carrying bag can also include a zipper to attach
the ball carrier to the first carrier. The detached ball carrier
can be configured to attach to a second carrier. The ball
compartment can be configured to receive a sports ball having a
diameter larger than about 6 inches. The ball compartment can be
configured to receive a spherical sports ball, such as a soccer
ball, a volleyball, or a basketball. The ball compartment can be
configured to receive an oval sports ball. The carrying bag can
also include a second outer surface defined by the first
compartment opposite to the first outer surface of the carrying
bag, and one or more main straps attached to the carrying bag at
the second outer surface for carrying the bag. The first outer
surface can have a triangular or rectangular shape. The first
compartment can have a reinforced bottom portion. The reinforced
bottom portion can include one or more wheels on which the carrying
bag can roll. The carrying bag can include one or more additional
compartments. One of the additional compartments can be adopted to
receive and hold a water bottle or a sports shoe.
[0009] In general, in another aspect, the present invention
provides a carrying bag that includes a first outer surface, a
second outer surface opposite to the first outer surface, a main
carrier and a ball carrier. The main carrier has a main compartment
that defines the second outer surface. One or more straps are
attached to the main carrier at the second outer surface for
carrying the bag. The ball carrier is detachably attached to the
main carrier and is configured to carry a sports ball. The ball
carrier includes a ball compartment for receiving and holding the
sports ball. The ball compartment includes a flexible cover part
that is adopted to conform to the shape of the sports ball and to
define a first portion of the first outer surface to have a shape
of about a half of the sports ball.
[0010] Particular embodiments can be implemented to realize one or
more of the following advantages. A bag can carry a bulky sports
ball and, at the same time, other bulky items, such as books. Thus,
there is no need for a separate bag for the ball. The single bag
solution can greatly improve the safety of carrying the ball,
especially for children who would easily drop a separately carried
ball and might be tempted to play with the separate ball at
inappropriate or dangerous places such as near car traffic (even if
the ball is in its own bag). The sports ball can be carried and
separately accessed in a ball compartment without interfering with
other items in other compartments of the same bag. For example,
clothes or school books can be carried in one compartment and a
sports ball in the other. Thus, the clothes and books can be
protected from dirt on the ball. The ball compartment can be part
of a ball carrier that is detachable from a main carrier, so the
main carrier of the same bag can be used without the ball carrier
if the sports ball is not required. Or the detached ball carrier
can be used alone if no books are carried along. The same ball
carrier can also be attached to the main carriers of different
bags, so colors or shapes of the bag can be varied by combining
different main and ball carriers. Because the bag's ball
compartment, while holding the ball, defines a half-ball-like
external shape, this external shape indicates the type of the
carried ball, and thus, the structure itself provides a desirable
ornamental feature. The half-ball-like external shape also allows a
close fit to the carried ball, because the ball compartment defines
an internal volume that is adopted to the shape and size of the
sports ball. This feature greatly simplifies the ball compartment's
structure compared to compartments whose external shape is a
basketball hoop shape or any other non-ball-like shape. In the
basketball hoop shaped compartment, for example, the ball's weight
is supported only at a small circular contact area between the ball
and the compartment's wall. To more evenly distribute support for
the ball, the ball compartment needs additional structural elements
(such as "stuffing"). The ball shaped compartment, however, can
safely hold the ball with an evenly distributed support for the
ball's weight without any additional structural elements. The ball
compartment can include an elastic strap or net to safely hold
sports balls of different sizes. The elastic net can also
facilitate placing the ball into and removing the ball from the
ball compartment. The ball compartment can be covered by reflective
material to define a desirable ornamental feature such as a
reflective soccer ball pattern. The reflective material also
increases the bag's visibility, and thus, the safety of the user
carrying the bag.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIGS. 1A-4 are schematic drawings illustrating carrying
bags.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a carrying bag 100
that includes a main carrier 110, a ball carrier 120 having a ball
compartment 125, and shoulder and hand straps 140 and 145. The main
carrier 110 is configured to carry clothes, books or other personal
items, and the ball carrier 120 is configured to carry a sports
ball separate from the items in the main container 110. The ball
compartment 125 is configured to hold the sports ball such that the
bag's outer surface has a half-ball-like portion. The shoulder and
hand straps 140 and 145 are configured to carry the bag 100 on a
shoulder or in a hand of a human user. The carrying bag 100 can be
used to carry a bulky spherical sports ball, such as a soccer ball,
basketball or a volleyball.
[0013] In the particular implementation, the ball carrier 120 can
be detached from the main carrier 110. Thus, the carrying bag 100
includes an attaching zipper 130 that attaches the ball carrier 120
to the main carrier 110, and also allows to detach the ball carrier
120 from the main carrier 110, if required. In alternative
implementations, the main and ball carriers 110 and 120 can be
non-detachable and form a single structure.
[0014] FIGS. 1B and 1C illustrate perspective views of the carrying
bag 100 as the ball carrier 120 is partially and fully detached
from the main carrier 110. In both FIGS. 1B and 1C, the ball
compartment 125 of the ball carrier 120 holds a soccer ball 10. The
ball compartment 125, however, can also hold another spherical
ball, such as a volleyball or a basketball.
[0015] The main carrier 110 has a main compartment defined by a
bottom wall 111, a side wall 113, a front wall 114, and another
side wall and a back wall (not shown) that are opposite to the side
wall 113 and the front wall 114, respectively. The main compartment
is accessible through an opening defined by a zipper 117 along the
edge between the side wall 113 and the back wall. The front wall
114 and the back wall have similar substantially triangular shapes.
The main carrier 110 can be made from fabric, leather or pliable
plastic materials and can include optional reinforcements along the
edges, in the bottom wall 111 or the back wall, for example, at the
points where the shoulder and hand straps 140 and 145 are attached.
The main compartment can receive and hold sports gear, any other
clothing, books or other personal items. Optionally, the main
compartment can include one or more inner pockets for small items.
Or the front wall 114 can include pockets that are revealed when
the ball carrier 120 is detached from the main carrier 110.
[0016] In alternative implementations, the main carrier 110 can
include one or more additional compartments. For example, an
additional compartment can be configured to receive and hold a
water bottle, as discussed below with reference to FIG. 3. Other
compartments can be configured to receive and hold sport shoes,
such as soccer shoes, as discussed below with reference to FIG. 4.
If the ball compartment 125 is configured to hold a non-soccer
ball, the shoe compartment can be configured to receive and hold
another shoe that is used to play with that particular ball.
[0017] In other alternative implementations, the main carrier 110,
or portions of it, can have different shapes. For example, the
front wall 114 and the back wall can have similar rectangular,
oval, or circular shapes. Or the front wall 114 can be attached
directly to the back wall, without the intervening side walls. The
main compartment can also have different or additional openings.
For example, the main compartment can have an opening that can be
closed by a flap. The openings can be closed by any attaching
means, such as different zippers, elastic or leather straps or
Velcro.RTM.. The main carrier 110, or a part of it, can be made of
form-retaining flexible or rigid materials. The bottom wall 111 can
have rubber reinforcements, and include wheels on which the
carrying bag 100 can be pulled or pushed.
[0018] The ball carrier 120 includes the ball compartment 125 and a
base portion 122 that is configured to be attached to the main
carrier 110. The ball carrier 120 can be made from fabric, leather
or pliable plastic materials and can include optional
reinforcements along the edges, for example, between the base
portion 122 and the ball compartment 125.
[0019] The base portion 122 has a shape and a size that are similar
to those of the front wall 114 of the main carrier 110. The base
portion 122 has an attached auxiliary strap 126 (FIG. 1B) that can
be used to carry the ball carrier 120 when it is detached from the
main carrier 110. When the main and ball carriers 110 and 120 are
properly attached, the auxiliary strap 126 can be hidden between
the front wall 114 and the base portion 122. Optionally, the base
portion 122 or the auxiliary strap 126 can include pockets for
smaller items.
[0020] The ball compartment 125 includes a ball receiving part 127,
a cover part 128 and a securing strap 129 that are configured to
receive and hold a spherical sports ball, such as the soccer ball
10. The ball receiving part 127 defines a half-spherical concave
surface, a hollow, having a size of about a half of the soccer ball
10. The cover part 128 includes a flexible net that partially
covers the soccer ball 10. Due to its flexibility, the cover part
128 adopts to the shape and size of the soccer ball 10. Thus, the
ball compartment 125 can receive and hold balls of different sizes,
such as soccer balls for juniors or adults. The flexibility of the
cover part 128 also facilitates putting the ball 10 into the ball
compartment 125. After the soccer ball 10 is put in the ball
receiving part 127 and is partially covered by the cover part 128,
the securing strap 129 can be used to secure the soccer ball 10 in
a safe, tight position. To provide a tight holding, the securing
strap 129 has an adjustable length.
[0021] The ball receiving and cover parts 127 and 128 together are
configured to define an internal volume that fits to the shape and
size of the soccer ball 10. Thus, the soccer ball's weight is
evenly supported by a relatively large inner surface of the
receiving and cover parts 127 and 128. Accordingly, the soccer ball
10 puts smaller mechanical tension on the supporting portions and
causes less tearing of the materials of the ball compartment
125.
[0022] The ball carrier 120 defines an outer surface 150 of the
carrying bag 100 opposite to the bag's outer surface defined by the
back wall of the main carrier 110. In particular, the base portion
122 of the ball carrier 120 defines a substantially flat portion of
the outer surface 150, and the ball compartment 125 is configured
to define a substantially convex portion of the outer surface 150
while the ball 10 is held in the compartment 125. The convex
surface portion has a substantially half-ball-like shape that is
defined, in one part, by the surface of the cover part 128 and, in
another part, by a surface portion of the soccer ball 10. Thus, the
ball compartment 125 exposes the pattern of the ball 10 directly
where the ball is not covered, and also partly through the flexible
net of the cover part 128. The half-ball-like shape and the exposed
pattern provide desirable ornamental features and help to identify
the type of the ball held in the compartment 125.
[0023] In alternative implementations, the ball carrier 120 can be
configured to carry a non-spherical sports ball, such as an oval
football (or a rugby ball). Accordingly, the ball compartment 125
can define a half oval football shape for the convex portion of the
outer surface 150 of the bag 100. Furthermore, the ball
compartment's cover part 128 can be non-flexible, or can fully
cover the ball in the compartment 125. The cover part 128 can have
an external pattern that corresponds to that of the ball for which
the compartment 125 is designed. The external pattern can also
include highly reflective portions. Instead of the adjustable
securing strap 129, the ball 10 can be secured in the compartment
125 using a leather strap, a flexible strap, a zipper or a
Velcro.COPYRGT.. The securing strap 129 can also be omitted or
replaced by a flap.
[0024] In other alternative implementations, the ball carrier's
base portion 122 can be smaller than the size of the front wall 114
of the main carrier 110. Or the base portion 122 can have a shape
that is different from that of the front wall 114. For example, the
base portion 122 can have a shape, such as a circular or oval
shape, that corresponds to the shape of the carried sports ball. If
the base portion is smaller or has a different shape, the front
wall 114 can define a portion of the outer surface 150 of the
carrying bag 100. One or more portions of the ball carrier 120 can
also be made from form-retaining flexible or rigid materials.
[0025] The attaching zipper 130 provides a detachable coupling
between the main and ball carriers 110 and 120 along the perimeters
of the ball carrier's base portion 122 and the main carrier's front
wall 114 (FIG. 1B). The attaching zipper 130 can be configured to
attach the same ball carrier 120 to another main carrier. As
discussed below in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2A-2C, the
main and ball carriers can also be attached around the perimeter of
the ball compartment or elsewhere. Instead of a zipper, the main
and ball carriers can be attached by other attaching means. Or the
ball carrier 120 and the main carrier 110 can form a single
non-detachable structure.
[0026] The shoulder and hand straps 140 and 145 are attached to the
main carrier 110 to carry the bag 100 on a shoulder or in a hand of
a human user. The hand strap 145 is non-adjustable, and can also be
used as a hanger to hang up the bag 100. The shoulder strap 140 is
adjustable to have different lengths as required by the human user.
Optionally, the shoulder strap can include pads to more evenly
distribute the bag's weight, or small pockets to hold small items.
In alternative implementations, the main carrier 110 can have a
rectangular shape and include two shoulder straps 140, similar to a
conventional backpack. Or the bag 100 can include only the hand
strap 145, without the shoulder strap 140.
[0027] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate perspective views of a carrying bag
200 for carrying a soccer ball 20. Alternatively, the bag 200 can
be used to carry a volleyball, a basketball or any other spherical
ball of similar size.
[0028] The carrying bag 200 includes a main carrier 210, a ball
carrier 220, an attaching zipper 230, and shoulder and hand straps
240 and 245. The ball carrier 220 includes a ball compartment 225
configured to hold the soccer ball 20. In the particular
implementation, the ball carrier 220 can be detached from the main
carrier 210 by the zipper 230 along the perimeter of the ball
compartment 225. The main carrier 210 has a main compartment whose
opening is defined by a zipper 217. The ball compartment 225
includes cover parts 228 and 229 defining an opening along a zipper
221 to receive the soccer ball 20. The cover parts 228 and 229
include flexible nets that are adopted to fit to the soccer ball 20
and partially expose the surface pattern on the ball 20. Thus, one
can easily identify the type of the ball that is held in the ball
compartment 225.
[0029] The carrying bag 200 has an outer surface 250 that is
defined by the main carrier 210 and the ball compartment 225. The
outer surface 250 has a substantially triangular shape, and
includes a first surface portion defined by the main carrier 210
and a second surface portion defined by the ball compartment 225.
The second surface portion has a convex, half-ball-like shape while
the ball 20 is held in the ball compartment 225.
[0030] In alternative implementations, the carrying bag 200 can be
implemented with variations similar to those described above with
reference to the carrying bag 100 (FIGS. 1A-1C). For example, the
main and ball carriers 210 and 220 can form a single non-detachable
structure, or can be detachably attached at locations other than
the perimeter of the ball compartment 225. The ball compartment 225
can be fully covered by the cover parts 228 and 229 that can have
external patterns resembling to those of the carried ball. The
external patterns can also include reflective portions to increase
the bag's visibility, and thus, the safety of the bag's user. The
bag 200 can also have different shapes, or include additional
straps, reinforcements or compartments, for example, for water
bottles or sports shoes.
[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a carrying bag 300 including a main
carrier 310 and a ball carrier 320. The main carrier 310 includes
additional compartments 350 and 360 configured to receive and hold
a water bottle 30. In alternative implementations, the additional
compartments 350 and 360 can be detachably attached to the main
carrier 110 using a zipper, Velcro or any other attaching
means.
[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates a carrying bag 400 including a main
carrier 410 and a ball carrier 420 that is configured to receive
and hold a soccer ball. The main carrier 410 includes additional
compartments 450 and 460 configured to receive and hold soccer
shoes 40 and 45. In alternative implementations, the additional
compartments 450 and 460 can be detachably attached to the main
carrier 410 using a zipper or Velcro. If the ball carrier 420 is
configured to hold a non-soccer ball, the shoe compartments 450 and
460 can be configured to receive and hold another type of shoe that
is used to play with that particular ball.
[0033] The invention has been described with reference to
particular implementations. Other implementations that are within
the scope of the following claims can include many variations. For
example, different implementations can use elements with different
shapes or materials, or the carrying bag can include reinforcing
elements or additional detachable or non-detachable
compartments.
* * * * *