Patent Application
20050224305
The present disclosure relates generally to bags for storing and transporting items and, more particularly, to a transportable hair accessories bag.
Cosmetic bags and other types of containers for storing or moving beautification products are generally known in the art. Such bags or containers come in a great variety of shapes and sizes and include different features.
In one example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,826 discloses a curling iron travel case which is flexible and readily disposed for placement into luggage while the curling iron remains hot. The travel case is particularly disposed to store one or more curling irons and a number of hair care accessories that a user may desire to carry along with the curling iron. The travel case is constructed of a first sheet of material, at least one row of pockets formed on one side of the first sheet, and a second sheet of material secured to the other side of the first sheet. The first sheet of material and each of the pockets are formed of a noncombustible heat resistant fabric, and the second sheet of material is a quilted fabric which provides additional insulation. One of the pockets in each of the rows is sufficiently deep to completely receive the heatable member of a curling iron. Adjacent pockets are disposed to receive the electrical cord and other hair care accessories. The travel case is provided with hook and loop type fasteners for releasably securing the travel case in a closed position.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,172 discloses a wheeled cosmetic carrying case having a handle and wheel assembly for transporting a trunk-like box with a front closure member fastened as by a zipper over an open top of the box. The closure member carries external compartments which are unzipped to open outwardly for displaying auxiliary material, thus augmenting the space provided by the compartmentalized interior. The method includes the step of securing the closure member over the trunk-like box by closing a zipper for positioning externally accessible compartments as well as complementary compartments for carrying cosmetics within the box.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,936 discloses a cosmetic and utility kit including a container formed with a back side, bottom side, front side and opposite lateral side and further includes an extension flap extending from the back side that folds over the bottom side, front side and top side to enclose contents within the container.
In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a hair accessories bag is disclosed. The hair accessories bag includes a substantially rigid body, a handle, at least one removable compartment, and an at least partially detachable flap. The substantially rigid body includes an interior surface that defines a first storage area, an exterior surface, and an opening. The at least one removable compartment is disposed in the first storage area, and is demountably attached to the interior surface of the body. The flap is disposed near a front of the body and is adapted to cover the opening, thereby closing the opening in the body.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a hair accessories bag is disclosed. The hair accessories bag includes a substantially rigid body, a handle, a second storage area, and an at least partially detachable flap. The substantially rigid body includes an interior surface that defines a first storage area, an exterior surface, and an opening. The second storage area is disposed on the exterior surface of the body. At least an interior of the second storage area is constructed from a thermally-resistant material. The handle is disposed on the exterior surface of the body, and the flap is disposed near a front of the body and is adapted to cover the opening, thereby closing the opening in the body.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a hair accessories bag is disclosed. The hair accessories bag includes a substantially rigid body, a handle, a second storage area, a plurality of translucent removable compartments, and a flap. The substantially rigid body includes an interior surface that defines a first storage area, an exterior surface, and an opening. The second storage area is disposed on the exterior surface of the body, and is constructed such that at least an interior of the second storage area is a thermally-resistant material. The plurality of translucent removable compartments is vertically stacked in the first storage area, and at least one of the pluralities of compartment is attached to the interior surface of the body. The handle is disposed on the exterior surface of the body, and the flap is disposed on the exterior of the body adapted to cover the opening, thereby closing the opening in the body.
While the method and device described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to
The body 22, as illustrated in
The interior storage area 24 may be defined by the body 22 and, more specifically, may be defined by the interior surface 46 of the body 22. The interior storage area 24 may be divided into one or more sections by one or more dividers 48 and, as in this embodiment, the interior storage area 24 may be divided into a first and a second vertical section 50, 52 having the divider 48 therebetween. The interior storage area 24 may further include a first part 53a of a fastening mechanism 53, which may be one or more Velcro® strips or areas to engage and retain the compartments 25 in the interior storage area 24 in a manner discussed in more detail below.
The one or more removable compartments 25 may have a generally box-like shape, and may be disposed in the interior storage area 24. More specifically, as seen in
The plurality of exterior storage areas 26 may be pocket-like storage areas, and may be disposed on the exterior surface 44 of the body 22 (
The handle 28, as seen in
The hair accessories bag 20 may further include one or more wheels 104 disposed on or near the body 22. For example, as seen in
The cover 30 may be a flap, or the like, and may be attached to the body 22, and more specifically may be attached near a lower front edge of the front and bottom 36, 34 of the body 22, as seen in
The above exemplary embodiment may include many variations thereof to achieve and/or create additional or alternative features. For example, the body 22, the interior storage area 24, the one or more removable compartments 25, the plurality of exterior storage areas 26, the handle 28, and the cover 30, may be constructed from materials other than those illustrated herein, including but not limited to, plastics, metals, fabrics, composites, and/or a combination thereof. The compartments 25 may also be disposed elsewhere in of the body 22, and may have other shapes and sizes complimentary to the interior 24 of the body 22. For example, the compartments 25 may be triangular, square, rectangular, round, oval, odd shaped, or a combination thereof, and may be constructed from an opaque material. The compartments 25 may also be constructed from a rigid or semi-rigid material.
The fastening systems referenced throughout may also include variations and/or additions. For example, the fastening systems may include zippers, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, such as Velcro®, button and hole fasteners, or any other type of fasteners adapted to close the opening 78 of the body 22 with the cover 30, close the opening 66 of the exterior storage areas 26, close the compartments 25, and/or demountably attach the compartment 25 to the body 22.
The plurality of exterior storage areas 26 may also vary in number, placement, and/or size and shape. For example, there may only be one exterior storage area 26, and it may be located anywhere on the body 22 and/or on the cover 30. In another exemplary embodiment, the one or more exterior storage areas 26 may be disposed inside the body 22 and/or be disposed within the interior storage area 24, and as such may be referred to as the heat resistant storage area 26.
The hair accessories bag 20 may further include one or more pockets, slits, pouches, chambers, receptacles, etc. disposed on or about the body 22 for storing general and/or specific items. For example, as seen in
Foam and/or foam padding, may also be present in various areas of the hair accessories bag 20, and in various forms. For example, the divider 48 may be constructed from a rigid foam material, such that a rigid cushion is provided between the first and the second sections 50, 52 of the interior storage area 24. Similarly, the front 36 of the body 22, and more specifically, a front panel 102 disposed near a lower portion of the front 36 of the body 22 may be constructed from a rigid foam material, such that padding is provided for the interior storage area 24 and/or the body 22. Foam padding, rigid or otherwise, may also be provided in various parts of the exterior storage areas 26, such as for example, near or on surfaces or areas disposed away from the body 22, such that padding provided for the exterior storage areas 26 and/or the body 22.
In operation, the hair accessories bag 20 may be utilized to store and/or transport various type of articles, and more specifically, may be utilized to store and/or transport hair accessories, such as rollers, curling irons, hair dryers, hair straighteners, barrettes, hair gel, hair spray, hair coloring accessories, scissors, shears, clippers, etc.
The user may place the various items into the hair accessories bag 20, including but not limited to such storage areas as the interior storage area 24, the compartments 25, the exterior storage areas 26, and/or the pockets 90, 98, 100. The user may place items into the translucent compartments 25, such that it is easily ascertainable as to what items are in which compartment 25. As such, the compartments 25 may be placed and/or stacked in the interior storage area 24, all the while it being visually apparent which items are in which compartment 25. More specifically, the compartments 25 may be removed from the body 22 by disengaging the fastening system that connects the compartments 25 to the interior surface 46, such as for example, by pulling apart the Velcro® connection. The compartments 25 may then be filled with rollers and/or other items and, with the lid 60 in a close position, the compartments 25 may be reconnected to the body 22 via the Velcro® while being stacked.
Items which may be hot, or which may have the potential of becoming hot, may be placed in the exterior storage areas 26. For example, curling irons, hair dryers, hair straighteners, etc., such that the heat or potential heat from the items is retained or limited to the exterior storage areas 26 due to the heat resistant material. Additionally, other items such as combs, shears, scissors etc., may be placed into and/or out of the various other pockets 90, 98, and/or 100.
For transportation and/or storage of the items, the various parts of the hair accessories bag 20 may be opened and/or closed. For example, the fastening system of the cover 30 may be utilized to open and/or close the opening 78 of the body 22. Similarly, the fastening system of the exterior storage areas 26 may be utilized to open and/or close the opening 66 of the exterior storage areas 26.
When transporting the hair accessories bag 20, the user may extend the base 68 of the handle 28 toward the user, such that the user may easily reach the handle 28. The user may tilt the hair accessories bag 20 toward the user and roll the hair accessories bag 20 on the wheels 104.
While the present invention has been described with reference to specific examples, which are intended to be illustrative only and not to be limiting of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that changes, additions or deletions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
