CONTAINER WITH A PLURALITY OF INNER COMPARTMENTS

Abstract

A container for storing supplies includes a flexible outer shell, a liner and a fastener. The outer shell has at least one bottom wall integrally connected with at least one side wall. There is an open upper end defining a chamber in which supplies can be stored. The liner is connected with an inner upper end of the side wall with a free end extending into the container with a length substantially less than the length of the flexible outer shell. To securely close the container, the liner free end is pulled out and tightly folded about itself, an upper edge of the integral side wall is tightly folded about itself, and a fastener secures the closed end. Within the outer shell chamber, at least two parallel spaced divider walls are provided which extend vertically from the bottom wall toward the outer shell open upper end creating sub-chambers.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to containers for carrying supplies and more specifically to a light-weight waterproof container for carrying supplies during outdoor expeditions, for instance for use by an armed forces soldier.

For most outdoor expeditions, travelers tend to carry containers in which supplies such as clothes, food, and tools can be carried easily from place to place. One such container is a backpack, typically configured with two straps for carrying across one's back, which often includes zippered compartments for holding materials needed for a trip. Another is simply a single-compartment container, known as a “stuff sack”, which is also used to carry supplies but has a single strap for carrying over one's shoulder and/or across one's chest.

Stuff sacks are elongated bags, often of cylindrical configuration though many shapes are conceivable, that include a single opening arranged at the top of the bag which provides access to an inner chamber of the bag that is used to carry supplies. Stuff sacks are simple, convenient bags that are useful for camping trips or other excursions in which one is hiking for a lengthy period of time, therefore requiring a smaller, simpler device that can carry essentials. These bags are often made of a flexible material, for instance canvas or nylon, and can include materials with water-resistance properties.

Though these bags can be used to simply store and carry items, they have drawbacks. The single inner chamber makes sorting and locating materials difficult. If something is needed in a hurry, for instance a flash light, and someone reaches into the bag's inner chamber to find a stored flash light, that person might need to dig through clothing and other supplies before finding the device, sometimes requiring that all of the contents be removed from the bag to more easily locate the device.

Further, to see into a stuff sack at night, one needs a flashlight or headlamp, which could be stored in the bag or in another carrier. If the light is stored in the inner chamber of the bag it can be a challenge to find in the dark, as noted above, and if not in the bag, then more carriers are needed to store the flashlight in a convenient location. For some users, for instance those in the armed forces, a flashlight might not be an option because of the attention drawn from such a light, which might compromise the position of an individual or unit. Thus, there is a need for a stuff sack that is easier to organize and search without the need for light.

Further, the stuff sacks known in the art are often water-resistant, but are not waterproof. If immersed in a body of water or carried through heavy rainfall, the inner contents of these stuff sacks will be wet throughout. In addition, the single inner chamber prevents any sorting of wet and dry materials.

The current state of the art for stuff sacks such as those detailed above is in need of improvement so that the stuff sack can perform its main function of providing a light, versatile bag that can be used in all environments and weather, and one in which a user can quickly stuff items and access items in a moment's notice. While the stuff sacks currently known in the art are suitable for quickly stuffing with materials, allowing someone to immediately pack up and move from one location to another, they are not adequate for accessing those materials once they have been placed in the bag and need to be retrieved, nor do they provide for proper waterproofing for items within the sack.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Accordingly, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a container, such as a stuff sack, for storing supplies. The container includes a flexible outer shell, a liner and a fastener. The outer shell has a length greater than its width and at least one bottom wall integrally connected with at least one side wall. The container has an open upper end providing entry to a chamber in which supplies can be stored. The liner is integrally connected with an inner upper end of the side wall and has a free end extending into the container. The length of the liner is substantially less than the length of the flexible outer shell. The fastener is preferably a strap and buckle arranged at an upper edge of the side wall.

To securely close the container upper end, the liner free end is pulled out and through the open upper end and is tightly folded about itself to create a seal. Then, an upper edge of the integral side wall is tightly folded about itself to close the open upper end and further support the seal. Lastly, the fastener includes a male end which is connected with a female end to secure the closed opening and to reinforce the airtight seal, thus preventing water or air from entering or exiting the container. Preferably, the liner is attached to the side wall via an ultrasonic weld which provides an airtight seal between the two. It is also preferable for the walls of the flexible outer shell to provide an airtight seal via a single, integrally formed shell that does not include seams or that is sealed with an ultrasonic weld, to name two options.

In a preferred embodiment, the container further includes at least one air valve that is integral with the flexible outer shell of the container. The air valve can be a one- or two-way valve. In one embodiment, both a one-way and two-way valve are included.

In another embodiment, the liner includes a thermoplastic polyurethane or similar material. When the thermoplastic polyurethane is folded over itself the material provides an airtight seal.

In yet another embodiment, the container further includes at least one divider wall having top, bottom and side edges and a generally rectangular configuration. The divider wall side edges are connected with an inner surface of the side wall and extend vertically from the bottom wall toward the open upper end to define sub-chambers within the chamber. Preferably, the divider wall bottom and side edges are integrally connected with the bottom wall and side wall, respectively, to form a watertight seal along the bottom and side edges. The divider wall is preferably integral with the bottom and side wall through a seamless connection, for instance with glue or an ultrasonic weld. In a preferred embodiment, there are two parallel spaced divider walls arranged to define three sub-chambers of substantially equal dimensions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other objects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an individual carrying a container according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an individual using the container of FIG. 1 as a floatation device;

FIGS. 3-5 are rear, front and side views, respectively, of a container according to the present disclosure;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the inner chamber of a container according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a container according to the present disclosure.

FIGS. 9-11 are perspective views of the stages, respectively, for forming a seal for a container according to the present disclosure;

FIGS. 12-14 are perspective views of the stages, respectively, for folding the container about itself according to the present disclosure;

FIGS. 15-17 are perspective views of the stages, respectively, for securing the closed upper end of the container of FIGS. 9-14;

FIG. 18-19 are perspective views of a first and second air valves, respectively, for a container according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the container according to the present disclosure;

FIGS. 21 and 22 are front and top perspective views, respectively, of another embodiment of the container according to the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 23 and 24 are front and perspective views, respectively, of divider walls of a container according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a container for carrying supplies in adverse conditions, for instance when on a mission as a member of the armed forces, with outdoor survival, or simply when on an excursion. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the container 2 as it is intended to be used. Once the container has been filled with materials and the upper end is closed, a person carries the container on his or her back via a pair of carrying straps 4. The container 2 is waterproof and can form an airtight seal, as explained in detail below. As shown in FIG. 2, because it is waterproof and airtight, the container 2 can be used as a flotation device. As shown in FIG. 2, an individual inflates the container through a one-way air valve (described in detail below) and then uses the container as a floatation device to float in water. Preferably, the outer shell is made of a synthetic resin or similar material which is used for improved structural integrity and for providing a waterproofing qualities.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-8, a preferred embodiment of the container 2 is shown. The container includes a flexible outer shell 6, a liner 8 and a fastener 10. The outer shell 6 has a length greater than its width and three bottom walls 12 integrally connected with side walls 14. For this container 2, there are multiple side walls and bottom walls connected via ultrasonic welds. It will be understood by those with skill in the art, that other embodiments of the container may include one or multiple sidewalls and/or one or multiple bottom walls.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is a pair of adjustable straps 4 on one side of the container. Arranged near the straps is an air valve assembly 16 for allowing air to enter and exit the container 2 when it is sealed. The air valve assembly is described in further detail below.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, an open upper end 18 leads to an inner chamber 20 in which supplies can be stored. The liner 8 includes a first end 22 that is integrally connected with an upper portion of the side wall 14 and a free end 24 extending into the container chamber 20. The liner 8 has a length substantially less than the length of the flexible outer shell. The fastener 10 is preferably a strap 26 and buckle 28 arranged at an upper edge 30 of the side wall.

As shown in FIG. 7, the inner chamber 20 of the container 2 includes divider walls 32 which extend from the bottom wall 12 toward the open upper end 18. The liner 8 extends approximately to top edges of the divider walls. Preferably, these divider walls are integral with the bottom wall 12 and side walls 14 such that they provide waterproof sub-chambers that prevent water in one sub-chamber from moving to another sub-chamber. As with other portions of the container 2, the divider walls are integrally connected with the side walls 14 and bottom walls 12 via an ultrasonic weld, glue or similar process.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-11, the steps for sealing the upper end 18 of the container is via the liner 8 is shown. First, the liner free end 24 is pulled out of the inner chamber 20 (FIG. 6) and tightly pulled upward and outward from the upper edge 30 of the outer shell 6. The opposing sidewalls of the liner 8 are pressed flush against one another to create a seal. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the liner 8 is then folded about itself, rolling it over numerous times until the entire length of the liner has been tightly folded and placed into the upper end 18 of the container 2, following which the seal is secured. Preferably, each fold is one inch in length and is repeated until the liner can no longer be folded. The liner shown in FIGS. 9-11 is a thermoplastic polyurethane that when folded about itself provides an airtight seal. The liner first end 22 is connected with an upper portion of the side wall 14 via stitching and an ultrasonic weld, which provides an airtight seal.

Following sealing, a second folding process is completed as shown in FIGS. 12-14 to further secure the seal of the container 2. First, the opposing sides of the container upper edge 30 are pressed together, with the liner placed within the upper end 18, and folded about itself multiple times in a direction away from the carrying straps 4. This will ultimately result in the fastener 10 facing outward away from a user when the container is being worn, as shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, the upper edge 30 is folded over at least three times to provide a secure closure.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 15-17, the fastener strap 26 is connected with the fastener buckle 28 and pulled tight to secure the second folding process and to ensure the upper end 18 of the container 2 remains closed. The fastener 10 of this embodiment is a friction buckle. It will be understood by those of skill in the art that similar fasteners could be used without deviating from the purpose of the fastener.

Once the container 2 has been sealed and buckled, it becomes waterproof and prevents any air from entering or exiting the inner chamber. The container can then be carried through adverse conditions, including fully submerging it in water or carrying it through a heavy rain, without the inner contents of the container being exposed to the elements.

At times, there might be a need for decreasing or increasing the amount of air in the inner chamber 18 of the container 2, in order to reduce the size of the container or to create a flotation device. It would be cumbersome and ineffective to undo the fastener 10, unroll the container upper edge 30 and unseal the liner 8 to then adjust the level of air within the inner chamber 20. Doing so would also be ineffective.

To provide an easier method for adjusting the amount of air within the inner chamber 20, an air valve assembly 16, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, is provided on a side wall 14 of the outer shell 6. The assembly provides both a one-way valve 34 and two-way valve 36. The one-way valve 34 allows for air to enter but not exit the inner chamber 20 of the container 2, whereas the two-way valve creates an opening that allows air or any fluid to enter or exit the inner chamber 2. The air valves of this embodiment extend outwardly from a side wall 14. It will be understood by those of skill in the art that the air valve assembly could be flush with the side wall 14 rather than protruding out from it. It will also be understood that multiple air valve assemblies 16 could be provided, rather than the single assembly shown in the figures.

One example of the benefits of the one-way valve 34 is in an instance where the container 2 needs to be used as a floatation device. When a person is stranded in a body of water and will need to float for an extended period of time, the one-way valve 34 allows for air to be blown into the inner chamber 20 of the container 2 to inflate the container, while also preventing any air from escaping. This provides a more efficient way to inflate the container 2 than with a two-way valve. In a separate instance, when traveling through water, it might be easier for a user to float the bag on top of the water and pull or push it across the river, rather than carry it. To do so, the user can open the one-way valve 34, inflate the inner chamber 20 to the extent needed for the container 2 to become buoyant, and then close the valve. The user will then be able to more easily cross the river.

There are times, however, where a two-way valve 36 is useful. For instance, once the container has been sealed, as shown in FIGS. 9-17 and described above, an opening that allows the free flow of air might be needed to quickly expel all excess air within the container 2, reducing its size. The two-way valve 36 can be opened and the container compressed to expel as much air as desired. The two-way valve 36 is then closed and the container once again has an airtight seal.

Referring to FIG. 20, once the container 2 is sealed and the fastener 10 is tightened, an excess length of the strap 26 is secured with a retainer web 38 that is arranged on a side wall 14 of the outer shell 6.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show another embodiment of the container 102. The container 102 includes a flexible outer shell 106 having a length L greater than its width W and having a bottom wall 112, an integral side wall 114, and an open upper end 118 defining an inner chamber 120. It will be understood by those of skill in the art that there could be more than one side wall, each side wall connected via stitching, glue or an ultrasonic weld, or other known methods. One or more parallel spaced divider walls 132 are connected with an inner surface of the side wall 114 and extend vertically from the bottom wall 112 toward the open upper end 118 to define sub-chambers within the chamber. If desired, the divider walls may also be integrally connected with an inner surface of the bottom wall to provide a watertight seal.

The benefit of the divider walls 132 is that a user of the container can organize the materials placed therein. For instance, one of the sub-chambers could hold a sleeping bag and clean clothes, the second sub-chamber could hold food and/or tools, and the third sub-chamber could hold dirty, wet clothes.

The container 102 also includes a mechanism 140 connected with the outer shell 106 for closing the open upper end 118 to secure the supplies stored within the chamber. As shown in FIG. 1, the mechanism 140 could be a drawstring arranged within a seam of the outer shell 106 located near the upper end of the container.

Referring now to FIGS. 23 and 24, there is shown a preferred embodiment of one divider wall 140 of the present disclosure. The wall has top 142, bottom 144 and side edges 146 and a generally rectangular configuration, although other shapes are conceivable so long as they conform with the shape of the container 102. The wall bottom edges 144 are connected with an inner surface of the container bottom wall 112, and the wall side edges 146 are connected with an inner surface of the side wall 114. FIGS. 21 and 22 show the divider walls 132 extending from the bottom wall 112 to the open upper end 118. In this instance they are sealed such that water cannot pass between sub-chambers. In another embodiment, the divider walls do not extend the entire length of the container but may extend from a portion near the bottom wall up to a portion near the open upper end.

At least one compartment 148 is attached to a divider wall 132. As shown in FIG. 23, there are two parallel spaced compartments 148, and as shown in FIG. 24, there is one, wider compartment 148. The compartments are connected with a divider wall and are configured to have an open upper end to define a chamber therein. The compartments provide additional storage for smaller supplies, such as tools or food. These containers, as with the divider walls, provide more opportunities for a user of the container to organize his or her supplies, making it easier to locate the supplies when needed.

Loops 150 are connected with an upper portion of the divider wall 132. Any number of loops can be provided. They are used for further organization and ease of retrieval of certain items. For instance, as shown in FIG. 24, a small light fob is connected with the loop 150. This provides ease of searching through the container at night when a larger light is not available or otherwise cannot be used.

Although the above description includes references to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present disclosure. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised and employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A container for storing supplies, comprising: (a) a flexible outer shell having a length greater than its width and having at least one bottom wall integrally connected with at least one side wall, and an open upper end defining a chamber therein;(b) a liner having one end integrally connected with an inner upper end of said at least one side wall and a free end, said liner having a length substantially less than the length of said flexible outer shell; and(c) a fastener having two connectors arranged at an upper edge of said at least one side wall, whereby when said liner free end is pulled out and through said open upper end and is tightly folded about itself, an upper edge of said at least one integral side wall is tightly folded about itself, and said fastener connectors are connected, the container is closed to form an airtight seal.

2. A container for storing supplies as defined in claim 1, and further comprising at least one air valve integrally connected with said flexible outer shell to supply air to said chamber.

3. A container for storing supplies as defined in claim 2, wherein said at least one air valve includes one of a one-way and two-way valve.

4. A container for storing supplies as defined in claim 1, wherein said liner is integrally connected with said at least one side wall via an ultrasonic weld.

5. A container for storing supplies as defined in claim 1, wherein said liner comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane.

6. A container for storing supplies as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a pair of adjustable carrying straps connected with said flexible outer shell.

7. A container for storing supplies as defined in claim 1, and further comprising at least one divider wall having top, bottom and side edges and a generally rectangular configuration, said divider wall side edges being connected with an inner surface of said at least one side wall and extending vertically from said bottom wall toward said open upper end to define sub-chambers within said chamber.

8. A container for storing supplies as defined in claim 7, wherein said at least one divider wall bottom and side edges are integrally connected with said at least one bottom wall and said at least one side wall, respectively, to form a watertight seal along said bottom and side edges.

9. A container for storing supplies as defined in claim 8, wherein said at least one divider wall is connected with said at least one side wall via an ultrasonic weld.

10. A container for storing supplies as defined in claim 7, wherein said at least one divider wall includes two parallel spaced divider walls arranged to define three sub-chambers of substantially equal dimensions.

11. A container for storing supplies as defined in claim 1, wherein said fastener includes a strap and buckle.

12. A container for storing supplies as defined in claim 11, and further comprising a retainer web connected with said at least one side wall for securing an excess length of said strap.