Patent Grant
7137493
(1) Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the field of baggage. More particularly, this invention pertains to a pocket fashioned as part of a piece of baggage. The pocket is capable of holding a beverage container on the exterior of the piece of baggage and can be retracted so as to be substantially hidden when not being used. The retractable feature of the pocket provides the piece of baggage with a convenient place for holding a beverage container when desired without detracting from the styling or aesthetic appearance of the piece of baggage when retracted.
(2) Description of the Related Art
It has become increasingly more common for persons to carry beverages while traveling. However, holding a beverage container while also transporting a piece of baggage can become burdensome. Therefore it would be convenient for such persons to have a place for holding the beverage container so as to free one or both of their hands.
Some baggage, such as backpacks and belt pouches, address the above mentioned need by providing pockets conventionally configured to carry various beverage containers. Since it is common for persons to frequently retrieve and return beverage containers from such pockets, the pockets are typically placed on the outside of the baggage. Typically, these pockets are merely a single piece of material sewn or otherwise attached to the baggage and are often configured with an unobstructed opening to facilitate the placement and retrieval of a beverage container therefrom. Some pockets are constructed of mesh or net type material and have an elastic member adjacent their opening. The mesh material allows the pockets to more easily expand to hold various size beverage containers, while the elastic member resiliently returns the pocket to a given opening size and reduces the risk of spillage by elastically retaining a beverage container upright in the pocket. Additionally, the use of mesh material on beverage pockets has the advantage of being breathable, which facilitates evaporation of condensation formed on the exterior of chilled beverage containers. Pockets formed of a material which doesn't breathe as well as mesh can retain moisture and promote mildew and mold.
While the above mentioned pockets are convenient places for travels to hold their beverages, such pockets also have several disadvantages. Because the beverage container pockets are often positioned where they can be easily accessed as described above, the pockets are also exposed where they can easily snag or become hooked on furniture, clothing, or other fixtures. This is especially true since many such pockets hang open for ready access and are often made of mesh material. Another disadvantage of prior art beverage pockets is that many people feel that having such a pocket on a piece of baggage gives the piece of baggage a rustic or outdoorsy appearance. Such an appearance is often undesirable in professional settings. These disadvantages limit the usefulness of beverage pockets as more professional baggage is thought to require a more formal styling.
Despite a lack of specially designed pockets for beverage containers on a given piece of baggage, most traditional pieces of baggage have some form of pocket or compartment where at least a closed beverage container can be stored. However, the use of traditional pockets or compartments to hold beverage containers compromises the benefits associated with easily accessible specialized pockets as described above. Traditional pockets are often less accessible and clumsy for use as beverage holders. Additionally, condensation and spillage can cause damage to the contents of the compartment used to hold the container or even to the piece of baggage itself. This risk of damage is amplified by the fact that a traditional pocket usually doesn't include an elastic strap or other elastic retainer to help support a beverage container in an upright position.
The invention herein disclosed overcomes the disadvantages of prior art pieces of baggage by providing a collapsible pocket on the exterior of a piece of baggage that can be retracted and hidden from view when not being used. When in use, the pocket provides an easily accessible location that is specifically configured for holding a beverage container. However, unlike prior art beverage pockets, the retractable pocket of this invention can also be stored out of the way, thereby lessening the chances of the pocket becoming snagged. Furthermore, when the pocket is retracted, the pocket is concealed behind what may be a zippered closure which is streamlined and stylistic enough for professional settings.
In general, the beverage container pocket of the present invention comprises a collapsible mesh pocket and a closure mechanism, preferably a zippered closure. When expanded, the mesh pocket is flexible enough to at least partially extend outward from the exterior surface of the piece of baggage to readily receive a beverage container. When desired, the mesh pocket can be manually collapsed and the closure mechanism can be closed to hide the pocket and conform the surface of the pocket to the exterior surface of the piece of baggage.
In a first embodiment of the invention, a retractable pocket is attached to an existing piece of baggage without modification of the piece of baggage. When retracted, the pocket is held collapsed against the exterior of the piece of baggage by a shroud that also partially conceals the pocket. In an alternative embodiment, the piece of baggage itself is specifically configured for use with the invention by having an internal cavity in which the pocket can be stored when not being used. Regardless of the particular embodiment, the use of the invention is not limited to any particular type of baggage and various types of baggage such as briefcases, luggage, backpacks, and purses can benefit therefrom.
While the principal advantages and features of the present invention have been described above, a more complete and thorough understanding of the invention may be attained by referring to the drawings and detailed description of the embodiments which follow.
A first embodiment of a retractable pocket in accordance with this invention is shown in an expanded/operable position in
The pocket 18 of the first embodiment 10 is itself comprised of a shroud portion 22 and a mesh portion 24. The shroud portion 22 of the pocket 18 is preferably made from the same material that is used to fashion the exterior of the piece of baggage 14. The shroud 22 is preferably rectangular in shape with a slit 26 extending downward from the approximate center of its upper edge 28. Except for the upper edge 28 of the shroud 22, the perimeter of the shroud is sewn or otherwise fastened to the exterior surface 30 of the piece of baggage 14 such that the shroud will lie substantially flat against the exterior of the piece of baggage 14 when the opposite edges 32 of the slit 26 are brought together.
The mesh portion 24 of this embodiment 10 is preferably a trapezoidal piece of mesh material having two equal length side edges 34 and opposite upper 36 and lower(not shown) edges. The side edges 34 of the mesh portion 24 are preferably slightly longer than the length of the slit 26 in the shroud 22 such that, with the upper edge 36 of the mesh portion aligned with the upper edge 28 of the shroud, the side edges of the mesh portion can be sewn or otherwise attached to the opposite edges 32 of the slit on the backside of the shroud and the lower edge of the mesh can be attached beneath the slit on the backside of the shroud. The mesh portion 24 may also preferably have an elastic member 38 sewn or otherwise attached to its upper edge 36.
The closure mechanism 20 of this embodiment 10 is preferably a zipper 40 that is attached along the opposite edges 32 of the slit 26 where it can be operated to hold the opposite edges 32 together when the slider 42 of the zipper 40 is raised. With the slider 42 of the zipper 40 lowered, the opposite edges 32 of the slit 26 naturally separate to expose the mesh portion 24 for use. In this position as shown in
When not using the pocket 18 to hold a beverage container, the mesh portion 24 of the pocket can be collapsed behind the shroud 22 against the exterior surface 30 of the piece of baggage 14 and the slider 42 of the zipper 40 can then be raised. In this raised or closed position of the closure mechanism as shown in
An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in
Like the first embodiment, the closure mechanism of the embodiment shown in
It is convenient to perhaps think of these two embodiments as being surface mounted as in the first embodiment and flush mounted as in the second embodiment. This perhaps best describes the relationship between the pocket and the exterior surface of the piece of baggage in that, in the first embodiment the pocket extends beyond the silhouette of the exterior surface of the piece of baggage while in the second embodiment the pocket is hidden beneath the exterior surface of the piece of baggage.
It should be understood that, although the invention has been described above in reference to specific embodiments, the invention is not limited to these embodiments and numerous alternative embodiments or changes to these embodiments could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. As an example, the embodiments herein disclosed could be modified by utilizing various suitable materials in place of the materials described above and the shapes of the various components could be altered. Additionally, the zipper could easily be replaced in the above described embodiments by other closure mechanisms such as VELCRO™, buttons, snaps, latches, and magnetic clasps.
In other embodiments, the closure mechanism need not necessarily be a device for attaching things together. For example, an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in
In yet another embodiment, a retractable pocket similar to that of the first embodiment could have the mesh portion attached to the exterior surface of the piece of baggage behind a shroud, rather than being attached to the shroud itself. In such an embodiment, the shroud, although no longer forming a portion of the pocket, would still operate to retract and conceal the pocket. Such an embodiment could also be modified such that the shroud is made without a slit and has only one side edge attached to the piece of baggage such that it can be selectively hinged about the attached edge to reveal a pocket therebehind.
Thus it should be clear that modifications and variations of the invention could be made without departing from the scope of the invention which should be considered as being limited only by the scope of the claims and their equivalents.
This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/883,555, filed Jun. 18, 2001, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,793,051 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/521,702, filed on Mar. 9, 2000, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,146. The entire disclosures of both prior applications are herein incorporated by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20050045441 A1 | Mar 2005 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09883555 | Jun 2001 | US |
| Child | 10912799 | US | |
| Parent | 09521702 | Mar 2000 | US |
| Child | 09883555 | US |
