U.S. patent application number 13/722859 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-18 for side rain flaps for shoulder bags.
This patent application is currently assigned to FAIRHAVEN GROUP, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Fairhaven Group, Inc.. Invention is credited to Gary Ashley.
Application Number | 20130180636 13/722859 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48779157 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130180636 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ashley; Gary |
July 18, 2013 |
SIDE RAIN FLAPS FOR SHOULDER BAGS
Abstract
A side flap for covering a gap in a bag is provided for reducing
or eliminating environmental elements from entering the bag through
the gap between a cover and a mouth of the bag, and for containing
contents within the bag. The side flap includes an attachment
device that automatically attaches to a corresponding attachment
device on the bag when the cover is moved from an open position to
a closed position. The attachment device automatically detaches
from the corresponding attachment device when the cover is moved
from the closed position to the open position.
Inventors: |
Ashley; Gary; (Seattle,
WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Fairhaven Group, Inc.; |
Seattle |
WA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
FAIRHAVEN GROUP, INC.
Seattle
WA
|
Family ID: |
48779157 |
Appl. No.: |
13/722859 |
Filed: |
December 20, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61586416 |
Jan 13, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
150/118 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 13/00 20130101;
A45C 13/002 20130101; A45C 3/00 20130101; A45C 13/1069 20130101;
A45F 3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
150/118 |
International
Class: |
A45C 13/00 20060101
A45C013/00 |
Claims
1. A bag comprising: a bag body having a mouth; a first attachment
device coupled to the bag body proximate the mouth; a cover having
a first end secured to the bag body and a second end removably
attached to the bag body when in a closed position such that the
cover extends across the mouth of the bag; at least one side flap
projecting transversely from an edge of the cover and adapted to
substantially cover a gap between the cover and the bag body when
the cover is in the closed position; and a second attachment device
coupled to the at least one side flap, the second attachment device
being adapted to automatically attach to the first attachment
device when the cover is moved from an open position to the closed
position, and the second attachment device being adapted to
automatically detach from the first attachment device when the
cover is moved from the closed position to the open position.
2. The bag of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first attachment
device and the second attachment device comprises at least one
magnet, and the other of the first attachment device and the second
attachment device comprises at least one magnetically attractive
element.
3. The bag of claim 1 wherein the at least one side flap
automatically moves to a closed position when the cover is moved
from the open position to the closed position.
4. The bag of claim 1 wherein the at least one side flap comprises
a first side flap positioned on a first end of the bag and a second
side flap positioned on a second end of the bag.
5. A cover attached to a bag having a mouth and operable between an
open position exposing the mouth and a closed position covering a
top of the mouth, the cover comprising: a flap having a first end
attached to the bag, and an opposing second end removably
attachable to the bag when in the closed position; and at least one
side flap projecting transversely from the cover and adapted to
substantially cover a gap between the cover and the mouth when the
cover is in the closed position, the at least one side flap being
automatically attachable to the bag when the cover is moved from
the open position to the closed position, the at least one side
flap being automatically detachable from the bag when the cover is
moved from the closed position to the open position.
6. The cover of claim 5 further comprising an attachment device
coupled to the at least one side flap.
7. The cover of claim 6 wherein the attachment device is at least
one of a magnet and magnetically attractive elements, and wherein a
complementary attachment device is coupled to the bag to attract
the attachment device coupled to the at least one side flap when
the cover is moved from the open position to the closed
position.
8. The cover of claim 5 wherein the at least one side flap
comprises a first side flap positioned on a first end of the cover
and a second side flap positioned at a second end of the cover.
9. The cover of claim 5 wherein the at least one side flap
comprises a panel defined by a first side portion, a second side
portion, and a third side portion, the panel covering at least a
portion of the gap when in the closed position.
10. The cover of claim 9 wherein the first side portion is secured
to the cover, and wherein an attachment device is positioned
adjacent to the second side portion.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure is directed toward flaps attached to
a bag to reduce or eliminate rain or the like from passing through
gaps in the bag.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Bags held by wearers are often subjected to elements of a
particular environment, such as rain, snow, and dirt. Oftentimes,
such elements can enter a bag through holes or gaps that exist in
the bag, thereby damaging or destroying things contained in the
bag. Additionally, things contained in the bag itself, such as a
wallet, keys, a phone, and the like, may fall out through such
holes or gaps in the bag, which may result in loss or destruction
of such contents. Furthermore, it is desirable for wearers of bags
to be able to quickly open and close the bag with minimal steps and
with one hand, for example.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0005] The present disclosure is directed toward flaps attached to
bags, purses, pouches, and other items (hereinafter a "bag") to
reduce or eliminate contents from passing through gaps in the bag.
Generally, a bag may comprise a bag body that defines a bag cavity
for holding contents therein. In some embodiments, the bag body may
comprise a front panel, a rear panel, left and right side panels, a
cover, and a mouth. A messenger bag is one example. The cover may
be similar to a traditional flap-type cover of a messenger bag such
that the cover substantially covers and extends across the mouth of
the bag when the bag is in a closed position. While in the closed
position, the bag may have at least one gap between the cover and
the bag body through which water or items could pass between the
bag cavity and the external environment, such as a pair of gaps on
opposing ends of a messenger bag. At least one side flap is secured
or removably attached to the bag and projects transversely from an
edge of the cover such that the at least one side flap
substantially covers or completely covers the at least one gap in
the bag when the cover and the side flap are in respective closed
positions. Thus, the at least one side flap may reduce or eliminate
the passing of contents through the at least one gap in the
bag.
[0006] In some embodiments, the at least one side flap includes a
first attachment device and the bag body includes a second
attachment device. When the cover of the bag is moved from the open
position to the closed position, the first attachment device of the
side flap may be automatically attached to the second attachment
device of the bag. Conversely, the first attachment device of the
side flap may be automatically detached from the second attachment
device when the cover is moved from the closed position to the open
position. Such functionality allows a wearer to gain access to the
bag without being required to manually attach or detach the side
flap from the bag during use because such operations are automatic
by virtue of opening and closing the cover of the bag.
[0007] In some embodiments, the first attachment device and the
second attachment device may each comprise at least one magnet and
at least one magnetically attractive element. It will be
appreciated that other attachment devices could be used to
automatically attach and detach the at least one side flap from the
bag when moving between the open and closed positions, such as a
combination of snaps, buttons, hook and loop fasteners, magnets,
and magnetically attractive elements.
[0008] In some embodiments, the side flap and the bag body may each
be comprised of a pair of liners sewn to each other to contain the
respective at least one magnet or other attachment device such that
the attachment devices are hidden from view. The liners of the side
flap may be comprised of waterproof material to eliminate or reduce
the amount of moisture from entering the bag.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a side flap and a bag in
closed positions according to one embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the side flap
and bag of FIG. 1 in open positions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a bag 10 in a closed position A, according to
one embodiment. The bag 10 comprises a bag body 14 having a
plurality of panels, including a front panel 16, a bottom panel 18,
a rear panel 20, a left panel 22, and a right panel 24. The bag 10
further includes a cover 26 having a first end 28 secured to the
rear panel 20 and a second end 30 removably attached to the front
panel 16 when in the closed position, such that the cover 26
substantially covers a mouth 32 (FIG. 2) of the bag body 14 when in
the closed position A. The second end 30 of the cover 26 may be
attached to the front panel 16 by a clasp or other suitable
attachment device. The bag body 14 and the cover 26 may each define
or may collectively define a gap 34 when in the closed position
A.
[0012] In one embodiment, a side flap 36 is coupled to the cover 26
on one end of the bag 10. The side flap 36 is sized to cover the
gap 34 when in the closed position A to reduce or eliminate water
or contents from passing through the gap 34 when the cover 26 is in
the closed position A. Another side flap 37 (having similar
features of side flap 36) may be secured to an opposing end of the
bag 10 to cover a similar gap that may exist in the bag 10.
[0013] In some embodiments, a pair of attachment devices 38 are
coupled to the side flap 36, which may be magnets or magnetically
attractive elements positioned between fabric panels of the side
flap 36, and which may be hidden from view. The pair of attachment
devices 38 assists to achieve the automatic attachment and
detachment functionality discussed above and further below.
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a portion of the bag body 14 in which the cover
26 and the side flap 36 of the bag 10 are collectively in an open
position B. The side flap 36 may be a panel defined by a first side
portion 42, a second side portion 44, and a third side portion 46.
The first side portion 42 is attached or sewn to the cover 26, and
the pair of attachment devices 38 is positioned adjacent to the
second side portion 44. In some embodiments, a pair of
corresponding attachment devices 40 are coupled to the left panel
22 of the bag body 14, which may also be magnets or magnetically
attractive elements positioned between fabric panels of the left
panel 22, and which may be hidden from view. The pair of
corresponding attachment devices 40 are positioned such that they
self align with the pair of attachment devices 38 when the bag 10
is in the closed position (FIG. 1). Thus, when a wearer moves the
cover 26 of the bag 10 from the closed position A to the open
position B, the pair of attachment devices 38 automatically detach
from the pair of corresponding attachment devices 40, thereby
obviating the need for the wearer to manually detach the side flap
36 from the bag body 14 when opening the cover 26. Similarly, when
the wearer moves the cover 26 of the bag 10 from the open position
B to the closed position A, the pair of attachment devices 38
automatically attach to the pair of corresponding attachment
devices 40, thereby obviating the need for the wearer to manually
attach the side flap 36 (and the other side flap 37) to the bag
body 14 when closing the cover 26. In some embodiments, the bag 10
may have a strap 48 for carrying the bag 10 and a zipper 50 on the
cover 26 for gaining access to contents in the bag 10.
[0015] The various embodiments described above can be combined to
provide further embodiments. The U.S. patent application referred
to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data
Sheet is incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety. Aspects
of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts
of the incorporated application to provide yet further
embodiments.
[0016] These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in
light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the
following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit
the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the
specification and the claims, but should be construed to include
all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents
to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not
limited by the disclosure.
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