1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a customizable, removable organizer system for a tote type carrying bag, and in particular to a modular inner liner system that a person can tailor to his or her personal preferences for various carrying bags including: a briefcase, a handbag, a backpack, a gym bag, a diaper bag and other tote type bags.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of conventional inner liner devices have been previously contemplated. Some of these embodiments disclose a single piece “tool belt” inner liner having expandable pockets for various items, such as: keys, glasses, checkbook, makeup, cell phone, credit cards, pills and/or other personal items. The single piece tool belt sits inside a bag or purse and wraps within a single internal compartment of the purse leaving room in the middle for larger items, such a wallet. These inner liners are made from a predetermined single piece construction and are not modifiable in size and/or shape. When the single piece tool belt inner liner is moved from bag to bag, the entire tool belt is moved from one bag to the next bag. Each bag must be big enough to encase the prefabricated size of the single piece tool belt inner liner.
Other conventional devices include a one piece shell construction unit having a predetermined size that mimics the inner lining of a purse or bag. The one piece construction unit allows the user to put dividers into it to create internal compartments. This entire unit is slid into a handbag or the like. As one single unit, the inner liner is removed from one bag (with all of the contents intact) and dropped into another bag. However, the unit is not modular so the entire unit must fit within the shape of the internal compartment of the bag.
Attempts have been made to create a convenient portable inner liner that can be easily removed from one bag and stored in another bag. However, these conventional inner liners suffer from many disadvantages. For example, none of them anticipate that most carrying bags and purses have internal compartments separated by various partitions. The previous mentioned inner liner systems fail to maximize the internal space within a purse because they are contiguous and can only use one compartment, making the others useless. As such, much of the space in a carrying bag is used inefficiently.
Furthermore, it is not possible to customize each of the internal compartments within the carrying bag to the user's size and preference. To the contrary, the user must make use of the predefined compartments configured into the inner liner by the manufacturer.
An object of the present invention is to provide a customizable, modular removable organizer system for a bag, such as a tote type bag, a suitcase, diaper bag, briefcase, handbag, backpack, and/or other type of carrying compartment (hereafter “carrying bag”).
Another aspect of this invention is to provide a modular organizer system including a first pouch having an opening for securely receiving and positioning an item in a preferred position. A fastener is disposed on the first pouch and is adapted to modularly fasten a second pouch to the first pouch in any preferred orientation about the first pouch. The modular organizer system may be arranged within an open compartment of a carrying bag. The fastening mechanism may be employed by the use of Velcro®, a magnet and the like.
The modular removable organizer system is easy to assemble within a carry bag and the contents thereof can easily be transferred from one carrying bag to another carrying bag.
Another objective of this invention is that the system according to this invention facilitates keeping the interior of the carrying bag in a clean and organized condition. The removable organizer system can be arranged to be molded to the interior shape of any compartment in a carrying bag.
The modular organizer system may be arranged as a plurality of pouches interconnected with each other and configured within any of the open compartments of a carrying bag so that the periphery of the pouches are molded to fit within the open compartments of a carrying bag.
Various features and/or additions may be integrated into the removable organizer system, such as a handle, an illumination source, an elastic band to affix additional items, and rigid dividers used to separate various items within the pouch. The removable organizer system may also include a billfold pouch capable of receiving flat elongated items.
Still another object of the present invention is to integrate an adapter device that may be used as an interconnecting cross-member between the various pouches.
According to another exemplary embodiment, a method for modularly organizing the contents of a carrying bag may be provided. The method may include providing a first pouch for receiving an item to be securely positioned within an open compartment of a carrying bag and modularly fastening at least a second pouch to the first pouch in any preferred orientation for receiving additional items. The items may be securely positioned in a preferred position so that they may be easily accessed from the opening of the carrying bag. The method can be expanded to include the arrangement of a plurality of pouches interconnected with each other and configured within an open compartment of a carrying bag so that the periphery of the pouches together is molded to fit within any open compartment of a carrying bag.
These and other objects, features, and/or advantages may accrue from various aspects of embodiments of the present invention, as described in more detail below.
Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components or steps, with reference to the following figures, wherein:
a is an illustration of a modular removable organizer system according to this invention.
b is an illustration of a modular removable organizer system disposed within a carrying bag according to this invention.
a is a top view of a plurality of pouches according to this invention.
b is a top view of the pouches of the removable organizer system arranged in a staggered configuration according to this invention.
c is a top view of the pouches of the removable organizer system arranged in a side-by-side configuration according to this invention.
Particular embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the figures.
This invention overcomes the conventional problems described above by providing a removable organizer system for a carrying bag. In accordance with this invention, the removable organizer system is modularly adaptable in construction and a user may configure the internal pouches within a carrying bag of any size to fit their user's specific needs.
This removable organizer system enables switching the contents from one carrying bag to another carrying bag conveniently and easy. One advantage is that the user will no longer forget items when the contents are transferred from one carrying bag to the next since all of the contents will be removed together from the first carrying bag and inserted into the second carrying bag as a single unit and not in individual pieces as was conventionally done. In addition, the removable organizer system is configured in the carrying bag so that all of the contents within the carrying bag can be easily seen from the opening of the carrying bag. Thus, it is not as easy to lose or misplace smaller items, such as keys, make-up, and the like within a carrying bag.
a is an exemplary illustration of a modular removable organizer system 10 according to this invention. The removable organizer system 10 shows a variety of pouches 12 removably connected to each other by a system of fasteners 15 which will be described in more detail later. The various pouches 12 are arranged in a compact modular arrangement.
b is an illustration of a modular removable organizer system 10 disposed within a carrying bag 11. According to this embodiment, the carrying bag 11 is a purse. As shown and will be described, the removable organizer system 10 is modular and the pouches 12 that make up the removable organizer system 10 can be arranged within a carry bag in a variety of different modular orientations. In particular,
The removable organizer system 10 is lightweight, durable and may be made of a material that is washable. The removable organizer system 10 may also be used for a variety of different applications and can be configured for any size or shape carrying bag, such as for example: a purse having various partitions, a suitcase, a gym bag, a backpack, a briefcase, a diaper bag, a handbag, a computer bag, a tote, a beach bag, a basket, a satchel, a valise, a sac and the like. This invention is not limited for use in a carrying bag and also may be used for a variety of other applications including in a stow-away, a drawer, a desk organizer or the like.
The pouch 12 of the removable organizer system 10 is configured to keep the contents within the carrying bag 11 standing upward and visible and within plain sight to the user when viewed through the opening of the carrying bag 11 as shown in
The pouch 12 may be made of a substantially rigid and narrow construction. The objective would be to have enough rigidity to position the items within the pouch 12 upright. The rigidity in the pouch 12 also provides additional stability and support for soft-sided carrying bags 11. The pouch 12 may be flexible and individually detachable and cooperatively mold to the inside compartment(s) of the user's carrying bag 11. The removable organizer system 10 is configured to fit within the carrying bag 11 so that all of the various compartments within the carrying bag 11 may be maximized as shown in
The pouches 12 are interlocked to each other via a fastening mechanism. A variety of fastening mechanisms that are currently known or later developed may also be used in accordance with this invention. For example, the fastening mechanism may include Velcro®, snaps, magnets, adhesive, straps, and/or any other method for fastening the series of pouches 12 to each other at an infinitesimal number of positions relative to each other.
Referring back to
The male hook portion 15 and female eye portion 17 may be arranged and disposed anywhere on the pouch 12. As shown in
a, 5b and 5c illustrate the manner in which the various pouches 12 may be modularly arranged relative to each other according to a user's preference.
b shows fastening of the pouches 12 in a staggered configuration and
In assembly, the various pouches 12 of the removable organizer system 10 are paired together so that a male hook portion 15 disposed on a first side of a pouch 12 is meshed, or joined together, with one or more female eye portion 17 disposed on a second side of a second pouch 12. Any number of pouches 12 may be clustered together by the user to mold to the interior space of the carrying bag 11 to maximize the use of the volume within the carrying bag 11.
The pouch 12 may be fabricated from a variety of now known or later developed materials having semi-rigid properties so that when items are placed within the various pouches 12 they are propped upright. Unlike conventional inner liner designs, the contents within the carrying bag 11 of this invention may be secured in a preferred position within each of the pouches 12 according to an arrangement designed specifically by the user. Some of the materials may include for example: a polymer, nylon, a thick gauge vinyl, and any other material now known or later developed in accordance with this invention.
Another aspect of this invention is to construct the pouches 12 from a transparent material. The advantage of using the transparent material is that it is easy to readily see the contents in each of the pouches 12. Thus, it is easy for a user to find any item stored within a pouch 12 of the removable organizer system 10. In the alternative, the pouches 12 may be made of, or externally lined with, an outer layer, such as a material fabric on which an aesthetic pattern or logo may be affixed.
The removable organizer system 10 promotes longer use to the user's carrying bag by protecting the inner lining of a carrying bag. Oftentimes, hi-end designer carrying bags can be very expensive; thus preserving the inner lining of these expensive carrying bags is highly desired. All too frequently various items are broken and/or unintentionally opened within a carrying bag that can destroy the inner lining of the carrying bag, and oftentimes the carrying bag itself. Some of those items that can damage a carrying bag include: melted lipstick, crumbly face powder, ink pens, leaking nail polish, a broken pen, opened snacks, candy or bubble gum, and any other item capable of soiling the carrying bag.
Furthermore, the pouches 12 may be designed to be water resistant to prevent products that soil the internal compartment of a pouch 12 from leaking out onto the inner lining of the carrying bag 11. Thus, the inner lining of a carrying bag 11 employing this invention may be substantially protected from being stained or soiled and/or permanently damaged. As such, the life span and use of the carrying bag 11 will be drastically increased and protected from damage. Another advantage of this invention is that it is easier to clean out the pouches 12 of the modular removable organizer system 10 than it is to clean out the soiled interior compartments of a carrying bag 11.
According to this invention, a variety of pouches 12 may be constructed depending on the purpose for which the particular pouch is intended. For example, where more privacy is desired, a privacy pouch may be used to conceal private contents that the user wishes to keep hidden from others who may glance into their carrying bag 11 when it is opened.
The loop 41 may be an eye-let and/or any other type of quick-release mechanism for receiving and securing keys and/or other items. A key 43 is shown attached to the loop 41 at a corner of the essential pouch 40. The loop 41 may be employed as a magnet and/or any other type of quick-release mechanism that is now known or later developed in accordance with this invention.
The divider 42 may be integrated into the essential pouch 40 in a plurality of different methods. The divider 42 may be attached to a first edge 18a and extend into the essential pouch 40. The divider 42 may be attached to the first edge 18a, such as for example, by being sewn into the essential pouch 40. The divider 42 may include at least one seam 45 that separates a pair of openings 47 disposed to receive items within the essential pouch 40. Various methods for employing the divider 42 may be implemented. For example, the openings 47 of the divider 42 may be individually disposed throughout the essential pouch 40 via an adhesive and/or any other method for fastening. As shown, the dividers 42 may be used to hold lipstick 46 and/or any other type of item upright.
Referring back to
b also illustrates an alternative essential pouch 70 configuration. According to this exemplary embodiment, the alternative essential pouch 70 includes internal space for storing various items including a compact and a cellular phone.
As illustrated, the features and functionality disclosed in the various exemplary features described in each of the pouch embodiments described above may be used interchangeably. For this reason, at least the loop 41, the divider 42, the zipper 22, the elastic band 44 and the closure mechanisms 22, 66 (described later) may be incorporated as part of any of the pouches 12 that make up the removable organizer system 10.
Another advantage of this removable organizer system 10 is that it may be used in a carry bag having a deep compartment where the width of the carrying bag is preferably minimized.
In the alternative, the adapter element 80 may be embodied as a large rigid sheet including a plurality of male hook portions 15 and female eye portions 17 that may be disposed on the rigid sheet in any desired configuration chosen by the user. As such, the user can organize the removable organizer system 10 in a stacked arrangement to accommodate a predetermined compartment size to store various items within a carrying bag 11.
Various component parts can be designed in accordance with the removable organizer system 10. For example, a handle 82 may be integrated for use with various pouches 12 in the removable organizer system 10 as shown in
In particular,
An electrical connection may be made through the strips 98 disposed on the various illumination pouches 90. That is, the strip 98 may be made to include a conductor material. Therefore, when the strip 98 on each of the illumination pouches 90 are connected, they are electrically connected closing a circuit causing each to transfer power from the power source 94 to each of the illumination pouches 90 thereby illuminating all of the contents within each of the illumination pouches 90. Optionally, each illumination pouch 90 may include a separate power source 94.
Alternatively, an electrical connection may be made from a first connector (not shown) in the illumination pouch 90 including the power source 94 to a second receiving connector (not shown) in a second illumination pouch 90.
The power source 94 may be activated by a switching element such that illumination of the fiber optic fiber optic element 92 within the illuminating removable organizer system 100 is activated when the user opens their carrying bag carrying bag 11, or performs some other desired action, such as by depressing a button on the removable organizer system 10. In the alternative, a flashlight may be integrated as part of the removable organizer system 10 to provide the illumination.
The removable organizer system 10 is convenient for a variety of persons including, for example, mothers, fathers, professionals, students, shoppers, sport enthusiast, travelers and men and women alike.
It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is understood therefore that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment which is described, but is intended to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the invention.
This application is a Non-Provisional Application which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/712,285, entitled “Carry Bag Modular Organizer System” filed Aug. 29, 2005, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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