U.S. patent application number 15/705239 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-22 for waterproof carriers.
The applicant listed for this patent is Think Tank Photo, Inc.. Invention is credited to Michael Allen Sturm.
Application Number | 20180078008 15/705239 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61618167 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180078008 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sturm; Michael Allen |
March 22, 2018 |
Waterproof Carriers
Abstract
An interior compartment of waterproof carrier is accessed by an
opening that is closed by a waterproof primary zipper. An external
or secondary zipper reversibly joins flaps attached to the carrier
over the waterproof zipper. The external zipper may be closed when
the primary zipper is open.
Inventors: |
Sturm; Michael Allen;
(Redding, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Think Tank Photo, Inc. |
Santa Rosa |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
61618167 |
Appl. No.: |
15/705239 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62396079 |
Sep 16, 2016 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 3/04 20130101; A45C
13/103 20130101; A44B 19/32 20130101; A45C 13/008 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A44B 19/32 20060101
A44B019/32; A45F 3/04 20060101 A45F003/04 |
Claims
1. A carrier comprising: a receiver having waterproof walls that
are joined to each other in order to define an inner compartment,
an opening defined in one or more of the walls, a waterproof
primary zipper connected to the one or more of the walls at the
opening such that the opening may be closed by sliding a slider
along the waterproof zipper in one direction and opened by sliding
the slider along the waterproof primary zipper in a direction
opposed to the one direction, a flap comprising one or more first
edges attached to one or more of the walls and disposed so as to
move between a first position covering an entirety of the
waterproof primary zipper so as to prevent sand, dirt, or dust from
accessing the waterproof primary zipper and a second position
wherein the flap is displaced from the waterproof primary zipper in
order to permit a user to obtain access to the waterproof primary
zipper and thereby to open the waterproof primary zipper, and a
zipper attached to the flap for reversibly securing the flap in the
first position.
2. A carrier comprising: a receiver having waterproof walls that
are joined to each other and define an inner compartment, an
opening defined in one or more of the walls, a waterproof primary
zipper connected to the one or more of the walls at the opening
such that the opening may be closed by sliding a slider along the
waterproof primary zipper in one direction and opened by sliding
the slider along the waterproof primary zipper in a direction
opposed to the one direction, first and second flaps comprising one
or more first edges attached to the walls of the receiver on either
side of and external from the waterproof zipper, the first and
second flaps each further comprising second edges connectable to
each other wherein the first and second flaps may cover an entirety
of the waterproof primary zipper so as to prevent sand and dust
from accessing the waterproof primary zipper and the second edges
of the first and second flaps may be displaced from each other in
order to permit a user to obtain access to the waterproof primary
zipper and thereby to open the waterproof primary zipper, and an
external secondary zipper attached to the second edges of the first
and second flaps such that the second edges may be connected to
each other by sliding a slider along the external secondary zipper
in one direction and disconnected from each other by sliding the
slider along the external secondary zipper in a direction opposed
to the one direction.
3. The carrier according to claim 2 wherein the external secondary
zipper is a water-resistant zipper.
4. A method of protecting an opening of a receiver having
waterproof walls joined to each other and defining an inner
compartment wherein the walls adjacent the opening are provided
with a waterproof primary zipper and the opening may be closed by
sliding a slider along the waterproof primary zipper in one
direction and opened by sliding the slider along the waterproof
primary zipper in a direction opposed to the one direction,
comprising: providing first and second flaps comprising one or more
first edges attached to the walls of the receiver on either side of
and external from the waterproof zipper, the first and second flaps
each further comprising second edges connectable to each other,
whereby the first and second flaps may cover an entirety of the
waterproof primary zipper and the second edges of the first and
second flaps may be displaced from each other in order to permit a
user to obtain access to the waterproof primary zipper and thereby
to open the waterproof primary zipper, providing an external
secondary zipper for connecting the second edges of the first and
second flaps, and sliding a slider along the external secondary
zipper in one direction to secure the second edges of the first and
second flaps to each other when the waterproof primary zipper is
open so as to prevent sand and dust from accessing the waterproof
primary zipper.
5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the external secondary
zipper is a water-resistant zipper.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional application claims benefit and priority
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 62/396,079, filed on Sep. 16, 2016 and titled
"WATERPROOF CARRIERS," the contents of which are incorporated by
reference for all purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The field of the invention is that of carriers for articles,
and particularly waterproof carriers made of flexible material.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Waterproof carriers or containers are useful for carrying
and storing objects while preventing the objects from coming into
contact with external moisture. Merriam-Webster defines
"waterproof" as "impervious to water; especially: covered or
treated with a material (as a solution of rubber) to prevent
permeation by water."
[0004] "Water" usually means liquid water such as rain and the
water that fills lakes, rivers, and seas. Water vapor, such as the
gaseous water that normally is part of the air, sometimes may not
be excluded by "waterproof" material. as in the case of some
materials that exclude liquid water but not air or water vapor.
Examples of the latter include high-quality tightly-woven long
staple cotton fabrics sold under the trademark Ventile.RTM. and the
Gore-Tex.RTM. stretched polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes
bound to fabrics to prevent the passage of liquid water. Following
the success of Gore-Tex.RTM. membranes, other processes have been
developed to provide a degree of permeable waterproofness to
fabrics. Furthermore, "waterproofness" comes in degrees that vary
according to the environment in which the carrier is placed.
[0005] The IP code, the International Protection marking (IEC
standard 60529), is of interest. It classifies and rates the degree
of protection provided against intrusion (body parts such as hands
and fingers), dust, accidental contact, and water by mechanical
casings and electrical enclosures. The International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) publishes the standard for the IP
code. The IP code currently has two numbers. The first number rates
the degree of protection from intrusion by solid particles and has
seven levels, ranging from 0 (no protection) to 6 (no intrusion by
dust in a vacuum test). The second number rates the degree of
protection from intrusion by liquids and has eleven levels,
including 0 (no protection), 6K (water projected in powerful jets
(6.3 mm nozzle) against the enclosure from any direction, under
elevated pressure, shall have no harmful effects), 8 (no entry of
liquid after indefinite immersion to a depth of more than one
meter), and 9K (protected against four thirty-second close-range
high pressure, high temperature (80 C) water jet sprays, each from
a different angle). A code of IPX5, for example, means that the
device or enclosure is not rated for protection against intrusion
of solid objects (thus the "X") but has rating 5 for protection
(intrusion of water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) against the
enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects).
[0006] ASTM International of West Conshohocken, Pa., established
ASTM D3393-91 ("Standard Specification for Coated
Fabrics--Waterproofness"). This standard is intended to "establish
a recognized criterion for `waterproofness` in terms of a minimum
hydrostatic resistance. The coated fabric to be tested is placed in
a machine that will apply and release a water pressure of 207
kiloPascal (kPa), plus or minus 7.0 kPa (equivalent to 30 pounds
per square inch (psi) plus or minus 1.0 psi) four times within one
minute, followed by maintaining a pressure at 207 kPa, plus or
minus 7.0 kPa for 60 seconds (plus or minus five seconds). The
coated fabric fails the test if the tester observes any penetration
of water through the fabric while the fabric specimen is under
pressure.
[0007] "Waterproofness," as a term used to describe fabrics and
other materials that are meant to be impervious to (at least)
liquid water, depends at least on the pressure of the water against
the material. Another known method of measuring the relative
waterproofness ("waterproof rating") that is less dynamic than the
ASTM standard test is to measure the height in millimeters of a
column of liquid water, having a cross-section of one inch squared
and placed above and against the material to be tested, that will
be sufficient to cause leaking of water through the material. This
is the "static column test." The height of the column in
millimeters corresponds to the static pressure of the water against
the material and measures the imbalance of force on the material
that would tend to drive the water through the material. 704
millimeters corresponds to one pound per square inch (psi) or 68.95
mBar. (One Bar is defined as 100,000 Pascals, equivalent to 14.5038
pounds per square inch (psi) absolute or 0.987 standard atmospheric
pressure (atm).)
[0008] A waterproof rating between 0-5,000 millimeters (0-7.1 psi
or 0-489.7 mBar) gives resistance to leaking ranging from no
resistance to some resistance to moisture. The latter rating is
sufficient for the material to withstand dry snow and even light
rain. Ratings over 5,000 millimeters (7.1 psi) to 10,000
millimeters (14.2 psi or 979.4 mBar) are considered rainproof and
waterproof under light pressure. Higher ratings give more
resistance to greater pressures.
[0009] Waterproof carriers or containers for goods are generally
hard or soft. Hard waterproof containers are made of a rigid
material such as a metal alloy, a thermoplastic, or fiberglass. The
rigid material is usually waterproof as long as it has no weak
points. The opening to the interior compartment usually is the area
of concern because it breaches the rigid material. The opening to
the inner compartment of the container may be accessed by a hatch
or door. The hatch or door usually is closed against a seal located
around the edges of the hatch or door or the edges of the opening
to the interior compartment. The seal is compressed when the hatch
or door closes the opening. Contemporary examples include the
Otterbox.RTM. and Pelican.RTM. lines of waterproof cases. Examples
having an earlier history are the waterproof ammunition boxes or
cans developed for the U.S. military in World War II and still in
use today for storage of ammunition and other items.
[0010] Soft or flexible waterproof carriers or containers are made
of a flexible waterproof material such as waterproofed fabric or a
plastic such as neoprene or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Soft
waterproof containers have advantages over hard waterproof
containers such as less weight, greater storability when not in use
because they can be folded flat or rolled up, adjustability of size
when loaded, and flexibility when loaded because the material of
the carrier may deform to adapt to the space provided for the
carrier.
[0011] Soft waterproof carriers or containers are used in the
outdoor market for backpacks, bags of all types including duffle
bags, shoulder bags, camera bags, stuff bags, and the like. These
carriers protect their contents against rain, dew, and mist and
perhaps being dunked in a stream or lake. A problem facing
waterproof soft carriers is how to seal an opening provided in the
carrier to allow insertion and removal of objects to and from an
interior compartment. Unlike hard waterproof carriers, the carrier
usually is not rigid enough to provide a compression seal against a
port or door, although addition of rigid components could make this
possible at the expense of greater weight and more rigidity.
[0012] One widely-used solution to providing a waterproof closure
is to provide a carrier made of waterproof material having an
opening at the end of a tube long enough that the tube can be
rolled up to close the opening. The rolled-up tube typically is
secured by a two-piece interlocking buckle in which a first piece
of the buckle is attached by a strap to one side of the end of the
tube and the second piece by a second strap to the other side of
the end of the tube. Alternatively, hook-and-loop fabric may be
employed to secure the rolled-up tube. Dry bags used in paddle
sports and other outdoor pursuits often have a rolled-up tube
closure.
[0013] An example of a soft carrier with such an enclosure is one
of the line of Alpha FL backpacks, described by manufacturer
Arc'teryx Equipment (currently a division of Amer Sports Winter
& Outdoor Company) as an "ultra light, durable, highly weather
resistant climbing pack designed for fast and light alpine, ice and
rock routes," with an inner compartment accessed by a "RollTop.TM.
closure."
[0014] Arc'teryx Equipment described its earlier carrier, the Naos
backpack sold in 2005-2006 (see
http://www.usoutdoor.com/arcteryx/arcteryx-naos-55-backpack/, last
accessed on Sep. 16, 2016) and described as being waterproof.
Arc'teryx made the body of the Naos backpack of two pieces of nylon
fabric coated on both sides with urethane and joined with two fully
taped seams. The Naos backpack used a roll-top closure to secure
its waterproof interior compartment in the style of the Alpha FL
"highly weather resistant" backpacks.
[0015] An example of a different closure for a soft carrier from
the same company is one of Arc'teryx Equipment's Carrier Duffle
series of carriers, described as a "light, durable, highly
water-resistant . . . gear duffle" and having an inner compartment
accessed by opening a "WaterTight.TM. main zipper."
[0016] A well-known waterproof and gas-proof zipper is the
TIZIP.RTM. slide zip fastener sold by Titex Vertriebs-GmbH of
Germany. Titex GmbH describes its TIZIP.RTM. Super Seal slide zip
fastener as "gas-tight up to 700 mBar" and being "made from a
strong plastic coil zipper on a high strength fabric. Every coil
half is safely embedded and secured in a plastic profile. When the
TIZIP SuperSeal is closed the sealing lips above and below the
coils are compressed making a perfect seal." A pressure of 700 mBar
corresponds to 7,147 millimeters of water or 10.152 psi. Other
Titex GmbH slide zip fasteners have lesser degrees of
gas-tightness. Titex's MasterSeal series of slide zip fasteners
have teeth rather than a coil zipper.
[0017] Titex GmbH is not the only manufacturer of "waterproof"
zippers. For example, YKK Corp. of Japan sells a variety of
water-resistant and waterproof slide zip fasteners under the
trademarks PROSEAL.RTM., AQUASEAL.RTM., and FLEXSEAL.RTM.. The
PROSEAL.RTM. line offers waterproofness up to one Bar (14.504 psi)
of water pressure and the two other lines offer lower degrees of
protection. For example, FLEXSEAL.RTM. CR25 tape is rated to 0.4
Bar (5.8 psi) whereas FLEXSEAL.RTM. P23 tape is rated to 0.05 Bar
(0.725 psi). Two versions of the AQUASEAL.RTM. zipper are rated as
0.3 Bar and 0.05 Bar, respectively.
[0018] Manufacturers of zippers may refer to the zippers with lower
resistance to passage of water as "water-resistant" and zippers
with high resistance to passage of water as "waterproof."
[0019] All zippers that are designed to resist the passage of water
and/or gas when closed must be completely closed in order to
prevent passage of water or gas. This requires care on the part of
the user. "Waterproof" zippers share another characteristic in
addition to being highly water-resistant when closed. The slides of
these zippers are difficult to move compared to ordinary zippers.
The slides of waterproof zippers offer noticeable resistance to
being moved because the slides are compressing or squeezing sealing
material together when the zipper is closed (or opening such
material when the zipper is opened) on either side of the coiled or
toothed zipper. Accordingly, persons using carriers are less likely
to open and close such zippers because of the necessary exertion
unless the zipper must be opened to allow access to the interior of
the carrier or closed to positively prevent ingress of water.
[0020] This specification will refer to zippers as being
"waterproof" when such zippers are highly water resistant and have
slides that are difficult to move compared to ordinary zippers.
Examples of "waterproof" zippers are the TIZIP.RTM. Super Seal
slide zip fastener and the YKK Corp.'s PROSEAL.RTM. line of slide
zip fastener mentioned above.
[0021] Waterproof zippers also should be kept clean of sand, dust,
and debris in order to be waterproof because the sealing material
will not be able to properly close around the coils or teeth of a
waterproof zipper if sand, dirt, dust, or other debris obstructs
the sealing material. A carrier with an open waterproof zipper
therefore should be kept away from sand, dust, and debris in order
to not degrade the function of the waterproof zipper. The zipper
may need to be cleaned if it is exposed to sand, dust, or
debris.
[0022] A soft waterproof carrier employing a waterproof zipper that
is exposed to field conditions therefore should have its waterproof
zipper closed as much as possible in order to avoid entry of sand,
dust, and debris. The user then will have to open the waterproof
zipper in order to access the interior compartment of the carrier.
As mentioned above, however, opening and then closing the zipper is
no easy task. The user will be tempted to leave the waterproof
zipper open, which means that sand, dust, and debris may
contaminate the waterproof zipper and enter the interior
compartment. Leaving the waterproof zipper open also exposes the
contents of the interior compartment to the weather, such as mist
and rain.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0023] The invention provides a carrier with a waterproof primary
or internal zipper closing an opening in one or more walls that
define an otherwise waterproof interior compartment of the carrier.
The carrier provides a flap connected to the exterior of one or
more of the walls in such a way as to be able to cover and thereby
protect the opened waterproof zipper from sand, dust, or debris.
The flap may be moved from a first position in which the flap
covers and protects the waterproof zipper to a second position away
from the waterproof zipper in order to permit access to waterproof
zipper and the opening to the interior compartment.
[0024] Preferably, two flaps are attached to the one or more walls
on either side of, and exterior to, the waterproof zipper.
Preferably, an external or secondary zipper secures the flaps to
each other to cover the waterproof zipper. The external zipper is
chosen to be easier to close and open than a waterproof zipper and
preferably has a degree of resistance to the passage of water when
closed. The flaps cover the waterproof zipper when the secondary
zipper is closed and prevent sand, dust, debris, and moisture from
reaching the waterproof zipper (and the interior compartment if the
waterproof zipper is open). The invention provides a method of
using the carrier to protect the internal or waterproof zipper and
the interior compartment of the carrier when the waterproof zipper
is open by closing the flaps with the secondary zipper.
[0025] Accordingly, an advantage of the invention is that the
secondary or external zipper may be employed to close the flap or
flaps over the waterproof zipper while the waterproof zipper is
open. Closure of the flap or flaps prevents entry of sand, dust,
debris, moisture, and other contaminants into the inner compartment
and thereby protects the contents of the inner compartment secured
in that compartment. It also keeps the waterproof zipper clean. The
person using the carrier does not have to go to the trouble of
closing the waterproof zipper except in situations that require the
full waterproofness of which the carrier is capable, such as hard
rain or possible immersion in a body of water or being splashed by
a wave.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0026] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present
invention will become more fully apparent from the following
detailed description of preferred embodiments, the appended claims,
and the accompanying drawings in which:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a
carrier according to the invention in the form of a backpack;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the backpack shown
in FIG. 1, in which the external or secondary zipper is shown being
opened.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the backpack shown in FIG. 1
in which the external zipper is fully opened.
[0030] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the backpack shown in FIG. 1
in which both the external zipper and the waterproof or primary
zipper are fully opened.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the receiver of the
backpack shown in FIG. 1 before the external zipper is opened.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the receiver of the
backpack as shown in FIG. 5 wherein the external zipper is opened
to the top of the backpack.
[0033] FIG. 7 is a partial side view of the receiver of the
backpack as shown in FIG. 5 wherein the external zipper is opened
to the other side of the backpack.
[0034] FIG. 8 is a partial side view of the receiver of the
backpack as shown in FIG. 5 wherein the external zipper is
completely opened and the primary zipper is opened to the top of
the backpack.
[0035] FIG. 9 is a partial side view of the receiver of the
backpack as shown in FIG. 5 wherein the external zipper is
completely opened and the primary zipper is completely opened.
[0036] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the receiver of the backpack
as shown in FIG. 5 (wherein the external and the primary zippers
are closed), taken along the plane 10-10,
[0037] FIG. 11 is a partial view of the sectional view of the
receiver of the backpack shown in FIG. 10 within the semi-circle
indicated in FIG. 10.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0038] The following table is a list of the reference numerals used
in the drawings and the objects identified by the reference
numerals:
[0039] 1 waterproof backpack
[0040] 2 receiver
[0041] 3 shoulder straps
[0042] 4 waist belt
[0043] 10 non-body contacting side wall
[0044] 11 body-contacting side wall
[0045] 13 top side wall
[0046] 14 right side wall
[0047] 15 left side wall
[0048] 16 bottom side wall
[0049] 17 secondary compartment
[0050] 18 zipper for accessing secondary compartment
[0051] 20 interior compartment
[0052] 22 opening
[0053] 30 waterproof primary or internal zipper
[0054] 31 first zipper side
[0055] 32 first side zipper element
[0056] 33 second zipper side
[0057] 34 second side zipper element
[0058] 35 slider
[0059] 36 slider pull
[0060] 40 first flap
[0061] 41 longitudinal first edge
[0062] 42 end first edge
[0063] 43 end first edge
[0064] 44 longitudinal second edge
[0065] 45 second flap
[0066] 46 longitudinal first edge
[0067] 47 end first edge
[0068] 48 end first edge
[0069] 49 longitudinal second edge
[0070] 50 secondary or external zipper
[0071] 51 first zipper side
[0072] 52 first zipper element
[0073] 53 second zipper side
[0074] 54 second zipper element
[0075] 55 slider
[0076] 56 zipper pull
[0077] 60 zipper pull handle
[0078] Referring now to FIG. 1 in the drawings, a preferred
embodiment of a waterproof carrier according to the invention is
shown. This is the waterproof backpack 1. The waterproof backpack 1
has a receiver 2 connected to shoulder straps 3 and a waist belt 4.
The receiver 2 has six connected side walls. FIG. 1 shows a
non-body contacting side wall 10 that is opposed to and generally
parallel to a body-contacting side wall 11 (not shown in FIG. 1).
The body-contacting side wall 11 is connected to and supports the
shoulder straps 3 and waist belt 4. Both the non-body contacting
side wall 10 and the body-contacting side wall 11 are connected to
a top side wall 13, a right side wall 14, a left side wall 15, and
a bottom side wall 16 (the left side wall 15 and the bottom side
wall 16 also are not shown in FIG. 1). The right side wall 14 is
connected to the top side wall 13 and the bottom side wall 16. The
left side wall 15 is connected to the top side wall 13 and the
bottom side wall 16.
[0079] The non-body contacting side wall 10, the body-contacting
side wall 11, the top side wall 13, the right side wall 14, the
left side wall 15, and the bottom side wall 16 together define an
interior compartment 20 (not shown in FIG. 1 but shown in FIGS. 4,
9, 10, and 11).
[0080] The non-body contacting side wall 10, the body-contacting
side wall 11, the top side wall 13, the right side wall 14, the
left side wall 15, and the bottom side wall 16 preferably are made
of a waterproof material. The waterproof material could be a fabric
laminated to or coated with a waterproofing material such as
rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), silicone
elastomer, and fluoropolymers. It could be a continuous plastic
material such as PVC, and the like. The waterproof material may be
flexible, semi-rigid, or rigid.
[0081] The non-body contacting side wall 10, the body-contacting
side wall 11, the top side wall 13, the right side wall 14, the
left side wall 15, and the bottom side wall 16 are joined to each
other to form a waterproof barrier around the interior compartment
20. This can be accomplished by sealing sewn seams, welding
(thermal or ultrasonic), or by forming the walls out of continuous
waterproof material.
[0082] The structure of the backpack 1 may be varied in a number of
ways. For example, the backpack 1 is shown in FIG. 1 to have a
secondary compartment 17 is formed in the non-body contacting side
wall 10. The secondary compartment 17 is accessed by a zipper 18
and need not be waterproof because the interior compartment 20 will
be waterproof. The secondary compartment 17 is not essential to the
invention and may be omitted. More than one waterproof interior
compartment 20 might be provided in the backpack 1 but this is
optional and is not shown in the drawings.
[0083] The receiver 2 of the backpack 1 could be formed as a
cylinder with a top and a bottom end. The specific configuration of
the receiver 2 is not important as long as it provides waterproof
walls around at least one interior compartment.
[0084] A waterproof primary or internal zipper 30 will seal an
opening 22 into the interior compartment 20 so the interior
compartment 20 may be made waterproof when the waterproof primary
or internal zipper 30 is shut. The waterproof zipper 30 is shown in
FIGS. 2-4 and 6-11. Commercially available waterproof zippers that
are suitable are made by TIZIP and YKK as explained in the
"background art" section of this specification. Waterproof zippers
include two strips or sides. Each of the sides contains a
lengthwise element that mates with a lengthwise element on the
other side. The elements may be the two mating coils of a coil
zipper or the two lines of teeth that mate with each other in a
toothed zipper, together with sealing material. The elements are
closed or opened using a slider.
[0085] FIG. 2 shows the waterproof zipper 30, its sides 31 and 33
and their corresponding lengthwise elements 32 and 34. The
waterproof zipper 30 is shown to be closed in FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 7, 10,
and 11. The waterproof zipper 30 is shown to be open in FIGS. 4 and
9 and partially open in FIG. 8. FIGS. 3, 6, and 7 show the zipper
30's slider 35 together with a slider pull 36.
[0086] Two flaps or covers 40 and 45 are attached to the receiver 2
and together are adapted to cover the top side wall 13, the right
side wall 14, and the left side wall 15. The first flap 40 is
attached along a longitudinal first edge 41 to the seam or region
where the non-body contacting side wall 10 is connected or joined
to the top side wall 13, the right side wall 14, and the left side
wall 15. The second flap 45 is attached along a longitudinal first
edge 46 to the seam or region where the body contacting side wall
11 is connected or joined to the top side wall 13, the right side
wall 14, and the left side wall 15. The end first edges 42 and 47
of each of the flaps 40 and 45, respectively, are connected to the
seam or in the general region where the right side wall 14 is
connected or joined to the bottom side wall 16 and the end first
edges 43 and 48 (not shown in the drawings), respectively, to the
seam or region where the left side wall 15 is connected or joined
to the bottom side wall 16.
[0087] The first edges 41, 42, and 43 of the first flap 40
therefore are connected to the receiver 2. The first edges 46, 47,
and 48 of the second flap 45 therefore are connected to the
receiver 2. The first flap 40 has a longitudinal second edge 44
that is not connected to the receiver 2 and the second flap 45 has
a longitudinal second edge 49 that is not connected to the receiver
2. A secondary or external zipper 50 connects the longitudinal
second edges 44 and 49, respectively, of the flaps 40 and 45
whereby the flaps 40 and 45 completely cover the waterproof primary
zipper 30.
[0088] The flaps 40 and 45 are made of a flexible material so their
second edges may be moved away from the waterproof primary zipper
30 when the external zipper 50 is opened. The specific location of
the flaps 40 and 45 may be varied from that shown in the drawings
as long as the flaps 40 and 45 cover the waterproof zipper 30 when
the external zipper 50 is closed.
[0089] The external or secondary zipper 50 has a first zipper
element 51 attached to the second edge 44 and a second zipper
element 52 attached to the second edge 49. The first and second
zipper elements 51 and 52 are mounted on strips made of fabric or
plastic that are connected to the second edges 44 and 49 by sewing,
welding, and the like. The first zipper element 51 and the second
zipper element 52 may be connected and disconnected to each other
by moving the slider 55 along these zipper elements 51 and 52.
[0090] The external zipper 50 may be closed by sliding the slider
55 along the first zipper element 51 and the second zipper element
52 in order to cover the waterproof internal zipper 30 with the
flaps 40 and 45. Thus, closing the external zipper 50 will prevent
sand, dust, debris, and moisture from entering the opening 22 and
thus the interior compartment 20 when the waterproof zipper 30 is
open. This also will prevent debris such as sand, dust, and debris
from contaminating the first side zipper element 32 and the second
side zipper element 34 when the waterproof zipper 30 is open and
the first side zipper element 32 and the second side zipper element
34 are separated from each other and are vulnerable to
contamination.
[0091] Preferably, the external zipper 50 is a water-resistant
zipper but not as difficult to open and close as the waterproof
zipper 30. The external zipper should be easily closed and opened
so the user can zip together the flaps 40 and 45 without much
effort and therefore protect both the contents of the compartment
20 and the open waterproof primary zipper 30. An external zipper 50
that is water-resistant will add protection from moisture to
protection from the intrusion of sand and debris.
[0092] The carrier 1 may be used in one of three configurations.
First, both the waterproof zipper 30 and the external zipper 50 are
closed as shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 10, and 11. This configuration will
provide the greatest protection to the contents of the interior
compartment 20 from water, sand, dust, and debris in the
environment.
[0093] In a second configuration the waterproof zipper 30 and the
external zipper 50 are opened by sliding the sliders 35 and 55,
respectively, in order to permit the user to access the contents of
the interior compartment 20, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9. This
configuration will permit water, sand, dust, and debris in the
environment to enter the interior compartment 20 and for the
elements 32 and 34 of the waterproof primary zipper 30 to become
contaminated with sand, dust, or debris.
[0094] In a third configuration (not specifically shown in the
drawings) the waterproof primary or internal zipper 30 is open but
the external zipper 50 is closed. This configuration will keep
moisture such as light rain out of the opening 22. In addition, the
configuration will prevent sand grains and debris such as dirt and
dust from contaminating the first zipper element 32 and the second
zipper element 34 while those two elements are not joined to each
other. Keeping both the first side zipper element 32 and the second
side zipper element 34 clean will help ensure that the waterproof
primary or internal zipper 30 will be waterproof when it is
closed.
[0095] The third configuration is advantageous for a situation in
which the user intends to use the contents of the interior
compartment but does not need the carrier 1 to be waterproof.
Perhaps the weather is not raining or is only lightly raining.
Perhaps the carrier is in no danger of falling into a body of
water. The third configuration allows the user to access to the
contents of the interior compartment 20 as needed by opening the
external zipper 50. The interior compartment 20 and the elements 32
and 43 of the waterproof primary zipper 30 will be quickly
protected from sand, dust, debris, and external moisture by quickly
reclosing the external zipper 50.
[0096] Opening the external zipper 50 is easier than opening the
waterproof internal zipper 30; likewise, closing the external
zipper 50 is easier than closing the waterproof internal zipper 30.
Accordingly, the third configuration has the advantage that the
user is more likely to keep the external zipper 50 closed when
access to the interior compartment 20 is not needed. In addition,
the waterproof zipper 30's elements 32 and 34 are protected from
contamination when the external zipper 50 is closed.
[0097] While the invention has been described in conjunction with
the preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not
intended to limit the invention to this embodiment or its
particular manner of construction, materials or components. For
example, the flaps may be secured to each other by hook-and-loop
material attached to the flaps as another means to reversibly
connect the second edges of the flaps. A single flap might be
provided that can cover the entirety of the waterproof zipper
instead of two flaps meeting each other above the waterproof
zipper. The single flap could have a second or free edge provided
with one side of a zipper that mates with the other side of the
zipper connected to one or more of the walls of the receiver, in
effect eliminating one of the two flaps of the preferred
embodiment. The shape and type of the receiver may be varied as
needed.
[0098] The invention is intended to cover alternatives,
modifications and equivalents that may be included within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *
References