U.S. patent application number 12/497723 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-14 for convertible bag.
Invention is credited to MELANIE JANE TRACY BURNS.
Application Number | 20100006613 12/497723 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41504217 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100006613 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
BURNS; MELANIE JANE TRACY |
January 14, 2010 |
CONVERTIBLE BAG
Abstract
This invention relates to an article of luggage which is
convertible between a backpack configuration and a handbag
configuration by turning the bag inside out, article including a
flexible bag having opposed, rectangular front and back panels;
opposed rectangular side panels; opposed rectangular top and bottom
panels; and a liner which is securable to the inside of the
bag.
Inventors: |
BURNS; MELANIE JANE TRACY;
(Dubai, AE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARRY CHOOBIN
TALEGHANI, BAHARE SHOMALI , #219, SUITE#18
TEHRAN
1563714311
IR
|
Family ID: |
41504217 |
Appl. No.: |
12/497723 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/575 ;
190/108; 190/109; 224/259 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/04 20130101; A45C
3/08 20130101; A45C 13/02 20130101; A45C 3/00 20130101; A45F 4/02
20130101; A45C 15/00 20130101; A45C 3/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/575 ;
224/259; 190/108; 190/109 |
International
Class: |
A45C 15/00 20060101
A45C015/00; A45F 3/04 20060101 A45F003/04; A45C 3/00 20060101
A45C003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 9, 2008 |
AE |
2008/665 |
Claims
1. An article of luggage including a flexible bag having opposed,
rectangular front and back panels; opposed rectangular side panels;
opposed rectangular top and bottom panels; and a liner which is
securable to the inside of the bag.
2. An article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liner is in a
substantially sock shape with an open mouth.
3. An article as claimed in claim 2 wherein the mouth of the liner
is provided with a drawstring.
4. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 which is
convertible between a backpack configuration and a handbag
configuration by turning the bag inside out.
5. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the
bag includes a pair of shoulder straps secured thereto on the one
side thereof and a pair of handbag straps secured to the reverse
side thereof.
6. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 including a
plurality of pockets provided on the panels of the bag on both
sides thereof.
7. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 including
fastening means for securing the liner to the inside of the
bag.
8. An article as claimed in claim 7 wherein the fastening means
comprises a plurality fastening sockets, secured to the bag and a
plurality of complementary fastening studs secured to the liner
near its mouth.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of UAE 2008/665,
filed on Jul. 9, 2008, whose content is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to an item of luggage. More
particularly, this invention relates to an item of luggage, which
is convertible from a backpack configuration into a handbag
configuration.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0003] Applicant has identified a need for an item of luggage which
is convertible between two distinct configurations, specifically
between a backpack configuration and a handbag configuration.
[0004] In this specification and in the appended claims, the term
"backpack" means a general purpose carry bag which may or may not
include shoulder strap; and the term "handbag" means a purse-type
bag for holding personal items of ladies or gentlemen.
[0005] In particular, applicant has found that cyclists, and
particularly lady cyclists, are often required to carry a backpack
for holding, for example gym clothes or shopping items as well as a
handbag separately when cycling. A backpack is for obvious reasons
much better suited for cycling than a handbag and the latter is
very often placed in the backpack for when the cyclist reaches his
or her destination and wants to carry a more presentable or
fashionable carry bag than a backpack. Sometimes the backpack is
small enough to place inside the handbag when the cyclist reaches
his or her destination but very often this is not possible or
feasible.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to
provide an item of luggage which is convertible from a first
configuration into a second configuration. In particular, the
invention relates to an article of luggage which is convertible
between a backpack configuration and a handbag configuration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to the invention, an article of luggage includes a
flexible bag having opposed, rectangular front and back panels;
opposed rectangular side panels; opposed rectangular top and bottom
panels; and a liner which is securable to the inside of the
bag.
[0008] The liner may be in the shape of a sock with an open mouth
and the mouth may, in a preferred form of the invention, be
provided with a drawstring.
[0009] The article may be convertible between a backpack
configuration and a handbag configuration by turning the bag inside
out.
[0010] The article preferably includes a pair of shoulder straps
secured thereto on the one side thereof and a pair of handbag
straps secured to the reverse side thereof.
[0011] The article may include a plurality of pockets provided on
the panels of the bag on both sides thereof.
[0012] The article may further include fastening means for securing
the liner to the inside of the bag.
[0013] The fastening means preferably comprises a plurality of
fastening sockets, secured to the bag and a plurality of
complementary fastening studs secured to the liner near its
mouth.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] This invention will now be described in more detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an article of luggage
according to the invention in its backpack configuration;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic back view of an article of luggage
according to the invention in its backpack configuration;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of an article of luggage
according to the invention in its handbag configuration;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a schematic back view of an article of luggage
according to the invention in its handbag configuration; and
[0019] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of an inner lining used in
the article of luggage in either configuration;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Referring now in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, an article of
luggage according to the invention is shown in a backpack 10
configuration.
[0021] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the backpack 10 describing a rectangular
front panel 12 on which a top pocket 14 and a bottom pocket 16 are
located. Pocket 14 has a zip 18 and pocket 16 features a zip (not
shown) under a Velcro lined flap 20.
[0022] A plurality of outwardly facing fastener sockets 22 are
attached to one side of the panel 12 as shown for fastening a liner
(not shown) when the backpack 10 is in its handbag configuration.
Inwardly facing fastener sockets 24 are used to attach the liner
(not shown) when the backpack 10 is in its backpack configuration
as shown in this drawing.
[0023] The backpack 10 further includes a back panel 13 as well as
two side panels 26.1 and 26.2, a top panel 28.1 and a bottom panel
28.2. Top panel 28.1 and side panel 26.1 include a double sided
zipper 30 for providing access to the inside of the backpack 10.
Applicant has found that a double sided zip 30 with two toggles 31
is necessary, one toggle located at either end of the zip. The
reason for this is that when the article of luggage is in one
configuration with the zip toggle 31 in the correct position, the
zip toggle 31 would be at the wrong end of the zip when the article
is turned inside out into its second configuration.
[0024] A carry handle 29 is provided on the top panel 28.1 as
shown.
[0025] In FIG. 5, a cloth liner 32 is shown. The liner 32 includes
fastener studs 34 which mate with fastener sockets 24 to secure the
liner 32 to the inside of the backpack 10 shown in FIG. 1. A
drawstring 36 is provided to close the liner 32.
[0026] FIG. 2 shows the back end of the backpack 10 of FIG. 1. A
back panel 13 is shown in this drawing to which a pair of
adjustable shoulder straps 40 are secured. Inwardly facing
fastening sockets 24 are provided as shown for the liner of FIG. 5.
Outwardly facing fastening sockets 22 are provided for the liner of
FIG. 5 when the article is in its handbag configuration as
described hereunder.
[0027] A side pocket 42 is provided on side panel 26.2 and an
elasticized mesh pocket 44 is provided on one of the shoulder
straps 40. The shoulder straps 40 each includes an adjustment
buckle 46.
[0028] In use, the backpack 10 can be converted into its handbag
configuration simply by removing the liner 32 of FIG. 5 from the
backpack and by turning the backpack 10 inside out.
[0029] FIG. 3 shows the article of luggage in its handbag 50
configuration. In this configuration the handbag 50 includes a
front panel 52, a back panel 54 side panels 56.1 and 56.2
respectively and top and bottom panels 58.1 and 58.2
respectively.
[0030] The front panel 52 features a first pocket 60 with a clasp
60.1 and an open pocket 62. Side panel 56.1 features a pocket 64
which may be used for a mobile phone (not shown). Handbag straps 66
are attached to the top panel 58.1 and side panels 56.2.
[0031] In this configuration, the zipper 30 is shown in the top
panel 58.1.
[0032] In use, the liner 32 is secured to the inside of the handbag
50 using the fastener sockets as shown on the inside of the
handbag.
[0033] Thus the article of clothing is reversible and useful as
either a backpack or a handbag. The contents (not shown) of the
handbag or the backpack can be removed by removing the liner
32.
[0034] Two types of material may be used in layers to manufacture
the article of luggage. For example, a layer of synthetic
waterproof material and a layer of more fashionable material such
as suede or leather may be used so that when in its backpack
configuration, the waterproof material is visible and when in its
handbag configuration, the leather is visible.
[0035] It will be appreciated that many variations or modifications
of this invention are possible without departing from the scope of
the appended claims.
* * * * *