Patent Application
20060016531
The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for securing bags and, more particularly, to a bag including a lockable handle.
People use several types of bags, handheld bags, handbags or containers for carrying different personal items with them to a store, the beach, the pool and other locations. For example, women use purses to carry cosmetics, wallets, checkbooks and other personal and valuable items with them. Similarly, students use backpacks to carry books, homework and other items to and from school. Travelers carry clothes, passports and other similar items with them when they travel. These bags or containers contain valuable items that the person does not want to lose or have stolen. Therefore, to ensure that the items are not being removed or stolen from the person's bags, the persons must keep the bags with them at all times. In some situations, carrying the bags at all times becomes burdensome and makes some activities almost impossible.
For example, if a person is at a relatively open area such as a pool or beach and the person has a bag such as a beach bag or purse, the person cannot leave their spot at the pool or beach without taking the bag with them for fear that the bag will be stolen or that one or more items from the bag will be stolen or removed by thieves or the like. The person must therefore carry the bag or purse with them to get food, go to the bathroom or to perform other activities such as playing volleyball. In addition, if the person wants to go in the water to swim, the person must have another person such as a spouse watch their bag while they are in the water. Otherwise, the person must place the bag as close to the water as possible to keep an eye on the bag. The additional burdens of watching the bag and carrying the bag makes carrying other items such as food trays or performing functions such as going to the bathroom more difficult.
Thieves operate quickly and discretely. Therefore, a bag that is secured and locked to an object or at least secured and locked in a closed position is a less desirable target for a thief because the thief will have to spend too much time and effort to attempt to remove the bag or to remove the items from the bag. A thief is less likely to want to draw attention to themselves by trying to cut, pry or break into a secured and locked bag to remove the bag or remove the contents of the bag.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have a container such as a handbag or bag which includes a handle that is securable and lockable to the body of the bag to simultaneously enable the bag to be secured and locked to another item or object such as a beach chair and also enable the container or bag to be secured closed so that personal items and valuable items cannot be removed from the bag. This enables the bag owners to temporarily leave the bag in a particular location without allowing thieves to easily take the bag or remove contents from the bag while the bag owner is away. The bag owner can then feel assured that the bag is safe while they perform other functions and activities.
It is therefore desirable to provide a bag or container that enables a user to secure the bag to another item.
It is also desirable to provide a bag having a handle that is securable to an object such as a chair to prevent the bag from being easily removed or stolen.
Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a bag including a handle that enables the bag to be secured and locked in a closed position to prevent unauthorized persons from opening the bag and removing personal items and valuable items from inside the bag.
It is also desirable to provide a bag having a lockable handle that includes several different types of locks.
The present invention provides a securable container such as a bag and method for securing containers such as bags, handbags, purses, luggage, beach bags, duffel bags, back packs and the like. The teachings of the present invention, however, are not dependent upon the handbags or bags being any particular type of bag, container or any other item which is used to carry personal items from one location to another location. The bags described herein are configured to securely hold one or more personal items while preventing the bag and any of the personal and valuable items contained inside the bag from being removed when the bag is secured to an object in a designated location.
In an embodiment, the a bag of the present invention is provided where the bag includes a body defining an interior space and an opening. A closing member is connected to the body, where the closing member is movable to a first position to allow access to the interior space through the opening and to a second position to prevent access to the interior space through the opening. The bag also includes a handle connected to the body, where the handle has a least one removable end. The bag includes a securing member connected to the removable end of the handle and a lockable member connected to the body. The securing member engages the closing member and the lockable member to simultaneously lock the closing member and the securing member to the body when the closing member is in the second position.
In an embodiment, the lockable member defines an opening, where the opening is sized to receive a key which locks and unlocks the lockable member.
In another embodiment, the body includes a front wall, a rear wall side walls and a bottom wall which are connected together.
In an embodiment, at least one cover is attached to at least one of the walls.
In another embodiment, the lockable member includes a suitable combination lock.
In an embodiment, the removable end of the handle includes a plurality of securing members each adapted to be received by the lockable member, where at least one of the securing members is insertable through the closing member to secure and lock the closing member and the removable end of the handle to the lockable member.
In another embodiment, the closing member includes a zipper having a plurality of opposing mating dividers connected to the body and a zipper pull movably connected to each of the plurality of dividers, the zipper pull including a tab, wherein the tab enables the zipper pull to be moved between the first position and the second position.
In an embodiment, at least a portion of at least one of the body and the handle includes a reinforcer.
In another embodiment, at least a portion of the reinforcer includes a metal.
In an embodiment, at least a portion of the reinforcer includes a fabric material.
In an embodiment, a suitable pad lock is attachable to the closing member, removable end and the body.
In an embodiment, the lockable member further includes a removable lock that is attachable to the handle, the closing member and the body.
A bag of another embodiment of the present invention is provided where the bag includes a body defining an interior space and a cover connected to the body. The cover is movable between an open position and a closed position. The open position allows access to the interior space of the body, and the closed position prevents access to the interior space of the body. The bag also includes a handle having at least one removable end and a securing member connected to the removable end of the handle. The bag includes a lock integrally connected to the body, where the securing member is secured to the cover and the lock to simultaneously secure and lock the cover in the closed position.
In an embodiment, the lock defines a keyhole adapted to receive a key.
In another embodiment, the lock includes a suitable combination lock.
In an embodiment, a suitable pad lock is attachable to the closing member, removable end and the body.
In an embodiment, at least a portion of at least one of the cover and the body includes a reinforcer.
In another embodiment, at least a portion of the reinforcer includes a metal.
In an embodiment, at least a portion of the reinforcer includes a fabric material.
In an embodiment, the lock further includes a removable lock that is attachable to the handle, the closing member and the body.
A method of securing and locking a bag is provided where the method includes the steps of providing a body defining an interior space and an opening, where the body includes a handle having two ends and a lockable member. At least one of the ends is removable from the body and the lockable member is adapted to receive the removable end of the handle. The next step includes moving a closing member from an open position to a closed position to prevent access to the interior space through the opening, where the closing member is adapted to receive at least a portion of the removable end of the handle. The next step includes locking the closing member and the removable end of the handle to the lockable member.
In an embodiment, the method includes positioning the removable end of the handle about an object before locking the securing member and the removable end of the handle to the lockable member.
In another embodiment, the method includes attaching a reinforcer to at least a portion of at least one of the handle and the body.
In an embodiment, the method includes locking and unlocking the closing member and the removable end of the handle to and from the lockable member using a key insertable into the lockable member.
In another embodiment, the method includes locking and unlocking the closing member and the removable end of the handle to and from the lockable member using a combination settable on the lockable member.
In a further embodiment, the method includes locking and unlocking the closing member and the removable end of the handle to and from the lockable member using a padlock.
Another embodiment of a method of securing and locking a bag according to the present invention is provided where the method includes the steps of comprising providing a body defining an interior space, where the body includes a handle with at least one removable end and a zipper including a pull which is movable between an open position and a closed position. The pull includes a tab defining an opening adapted to receive the removable end of the handle, where the open position allows access the interior space of the body, and the closed position prevents access the interior space of the body. The next steps include moving the pull to the closed position and inserting a securing member connected to the removable end of the handle through the opening of the tab and into a lockable member attached to the body. The next step includes locking the pull and the securing member to the lockable member.
In an embodiment, the method includes the step of locking the removable end of the handle to the lockable member includes inserting a key into the lockable member and moving the key to and from a designated position to lock and unlock the removable end of the handle to the lockable member.
In another embodiment, the method includes locking the removable end of the handle to the lockable member includes adjusting at least one dial having indicia to a designated position on the lockable member to lock and unlock the removable end of the handle to and from the lockable member.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a container such as a bag which is securable and lockable so that the bag cannot be opened to remove items from the bag.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a bag which is securable and lockable to another object to prevent the bag from being stolen and to prevent items contained in the bag from being stolen.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a bag that is simultaneously securable and lockable in a closed position and to an object so that owner of the bag can temporarily leave the bag without items in the bag or the bag itself being stolen.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the figures.
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for securing different types of containers such as handbags or bags and specifically for securing the handles and/or zippers of such bags. The present invention may be employed to secure a strap, handle or other carrying device of a bag to the body of the bag to prevent the strap or handle from being removed from the bag or to prevent the bag from being opened and/or removed or stolen from a particular location. For example, the strap or handle can be secured to the body of the bag through the zipper or other closing member to prevent the zipper from being opened to gain access to the contents of the bag. It should be appreciated that the present invention may be used to secure any type of handheld bag or other type of bag such as purses, beach bags, tool bags, backpacks, luggage and the like.
The handle or strap may also be attached around and secured and locked to a relatively stationary object such as the arm of a chair or a fence, and then through the zipper pull or tab of a zipper to secure the bag to the chair or fence and also secure the pull in a closed position. This enables the bag's owner to temporarily secure the bag and specifically, the contents of the bag so that the bag owner can temporarily leave the bag at that location. For example, a bag owner may secure the bag to the arm of a beach chair and to leave the beach to go swimming, go to the bathroom, get food or perform some other activity. In another example, the bag can be secured to the handle of a stroller when in a crowded area to prevent thieves from snatching the bag or taking items out of the bag such as the bag owner's wallet or checkbook when the owner is not looking. The present invention therefore enables users to secure their bags to a relatively immovable object such as a chair at a particular location or to movable objects such as strollers or shopping carts so that the user does not have to constantly keep an eye on the bag and so the user can leave the bag temporarily to perform other activities without having the burden of carrying their bag with them at all times.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, one embodiment of a securable and lockable container of the present invention is generally illustrated by handbag or bag 20. Bag 20 includes a body 22 and a strap or handle 24 having two ends 25a and 25b. In an embodiment, the end 25a of the handle 24 is connected to the body 22. The end 25a may be integrally formed with the body 22 or connected using any suitable attachment method. It should appreciated that either end 25a or 25b may be secured or attached to the body 22. In this embodiment, end 25b is removably secured to the body 22 as described in more detail below. Bag 20 also includes a closing member such as a zipper 26 having a zipper pull 28. A tab 30 is connected to the pull 28 as shown in
The end 25b of the handle 24 includes a securing member such as post 34 having a slot 36 which is connected to or integrally formed with end 25b. The slot 36 engages a corresponding surface in a receptacle 37 described below. The post 34 may be any suitable post such as a metal post or a post made out of any other suitable material. Preferably, the post 34 is made of a material which cannot be easily cut, severed, broken or removed from the handle 24. In an embodiment, the post 34 is sized to fit through an opening 32 defined by the handle or tab 30 of the zipper pull 28. Specifically, the zipper pull is pulled along the zipper 26 until the tab 30 is at one end of the bag which is adjacent to where the end 25b of the handle or strap 24 is secured to the body 22. A lockable member or lock 38 is attached to a surface of the body 22 of the bag 20 and includes a receptacle or other opening for receiving the post 34. The post 34 is inserted through the opening 32 of tab 30 and into the receptacle 37 or other opening of the lock 38 to simultaneously secure and lock the tab 30 and the post 34 (which is attached to the removable end of the handle) to the body 22. In an embodiment shown in
As shown in
In an alternative embodiment, the lockable member is connected to the removable end 25b of the handle. The lockable member automatically locks the closing member and post to the body of the bag when the lockable member the post is inserted into a receptacle or similar opening defined by the body of the bag. The removable end of the handle and the closing member are unlocked from the body by unlocking the lockable member as described above. It should be appreciated that the lockable member may be connected to any suitable portion of the body of the bag or the handle or other part of the bag which enables the removable end of the handle and the closing member to be secured and locked to the body.
In one embodiment, the post 34 and closing member are automatically locked to the lockable member or lock when the post is inserted into the lock. In this embodiment, the post and closing member are unlocked using one of the methods described above. By automatically locking the post and closing member to the body when the post is inserted into and secured to the lock, the present invention enables a user to always securely lock their bag before they leave it at a location. This embodiment prevents a user from accidentally or inadvertently forgetting to lock the bag.
In one example, a user takes their bag to a beach. The user wants to go swimming but does not want to leave the bag unattended. Instead of searching for a locker, which could be far away, or worrying about the bag, the user removes the end 25b of the handle 24 from the body of the bag and loops the end 25b around the arm of their beach chair so that ends 25a and 25b are on opposite sides of the arm of the chair. The end 25b is then simultaneously secured and locked to the closing member and the lock connected to the body 22 of the bag the manner described above. This method therefore secures and locks the bag 20 to the chair and also secures the bag in a closed position to prevent the bag from being opened while the bag is secured to the chair. It also prevents the bag from being easily stolen. The user can now leave the bag locked to the chair to go swimming without having to carry the entire bag with them to the water or without having to constantly watch the bag and worry about whether the bag or the contents of the bag will be stolen.
Referring to
Referring now to
In the illustrated embodiment, the bag 50 also includes a reinforcing member or reinforcer such as wire 72 which is positioned within or otherwise connected or attached to at least a portion of the handle 54 and at least a portion of the body 52. The wire 72 is preferably made of a suitable material such as a suitable metal or a strong fiber or fabric material which is difficult to cut, rip, sever or break. This prevents the bag and specifically the secured handle 54 from being cut, broken or severed in any way to remove the bag 50 from the object that it is secured to. The reinforcer 72 thereby makes cutting or otherwise removing the bag away from the object it is secured and locked to much more difficult. This embodiment further prevents a thief from quickly and easily taking the bag or from removing the contents of the bag. It should be appreciated that the reinforcer may include any suitable wire, fabric, or other lining device or material. The reinforcer 72 may be positioned in, manufactured or otherwise connected to a portion or all of the surfaces of the body 52 of bag 50. For example, the reinforcer 72 may be sewn into or otherwise connected to all of the sides or surfaces of the body 52 to prevent the body 52 from being severed or otherwise cut to remove the bag from an object or to gain access to the contents in the bag 50. In another embodiment, a substantial portion of the walls of the body 52 are lined with a suitable reinforcing material to further prevent unauthorized access into the bag. It should be appreciated that any suitable portion of the body 52 or the handle 54 may include the reinforcing member 72 or a reinforcing material.
Referring to
Referring now to
Referring now to
In a further embodiment, the lockable member includes a key-type lock 310 which defines an opening or keyhole 312. The opening or keyhole 312 is formed into a suitable size and shape to receive a key 314. In this embodiment, the handle 306 is secured to the body of the bag by inserting the post into the receptacle. In one aspect of this embodiment, the post is automatically locked to the body when the post is fully inserted into the receptacle. In another aspect of this embodiment, the post is inserted into the receptacle and then the key is turned a designated distance to lock the post to the body of the bag. To release the post from the body, the key 314 is inserted into the opening 312 and turned in one direction or the other. Then, the release tab or lever 316 is moved to release the post from the receptacle defined by the body of the bag.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Once the post 609 is secured in the receptacle 612, the handle can be locked in place by using lock mechanism 614 and/or padlock 620. The lock mechanism 614 is a combination lock including three dials 618a, 618b and 618c. As described above, the dials each include indicia which are set to a designated release or unlocking combination to unlock the post 609. The designated combination may be any suitable combination. Alternatively, the handle 602 can be locked in place by using a suitable detachable lock such as padlock 620 as shown in
Referring now to
To secure and lock the handle to the body, the ring 708 is placed around the securing member 712. The securing member is then pushed or pressed downward through opening 707 defined in tab 706 of zipper 704 and into a receptacle (not shown) defined in the top side of the body and the zipper to secure the securing member, closing member or zipper and handle to the body. An indicator 714 indicates one or more of the indicia on the dial to manually set a combination associated with the lock to unlock and release the securing member 712 from the body 701. Therefore, to unlock the securing member, closing member and handle, a user turns or rotates the dial 710 to indicate the designated combination with indicator 714. Once the designated combination is indicated, the securing member is unlocked and the user pushes or presses release tab 716 to release the securing member, closing member and the handle from the body. It should be appreciated that any suitable combination lock may be used to secure and lock the closing member and the handle to the body of the bag.
It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.
