Patent Application
20220110424
This invention relates to the field of portable soft-sided containers or bags.
When travelling, there may not always be the opportunity to hang up personal items. Accordingly, transportable shelving may help. It may also help to be able to compress items of personal clothing to aid in packing in an orderly manner that is economical in its use of space, and it may be helpful to be able to separate them in an organized manner for use in places where there may be limited means for organizing personal, or other, items.
In an aspect of the present invention there is a soft-sided container that is deployable in a first configuration in which the folding container bag defines a first interior volume and a second configuration in which it defines a second interior volume, the second interior volume being reduced relative to the first interior volume, and that has provision for hanging from ether other objects or from soft-sided containers of like nature.
In an aspect of the invention there is a soft-sided containment envelope having a first member, a second member, and a peripheral sidewall extending between the first member and the second member. The first member, second member and peripheral sidewall co-operate to define an internal chamber into which to introduce objects. The soft-sided containment envelope includes a spreader. The first member has a wall movable between a closed position and an open position to govern access to the chamber. There is a first suspender and a second suspender. The first suspender and the second suspender are mounted to the soft-sided containment envelope. The first and second suspenders are opposed on opposite sides of the chamber. The first and second suspenders are movable between respective stored and deployed positions. In the respective deployed positions, the first and second suspenders are co-operable to suspend the soft-sided containment envelope in a hanging position. The soft-sided-containment envelope has at least a first anchor point and a second anchor point at which removably to mount corresponding first and second hangers of respective first and second suspenders of a second such soft-sided container to form a cascade of the soft-sided containers.
In another feature, the peripheral sidewall has an upper margin and a lower margin, and the spreader is a stiffener mounted to the upper margin of the peripheral wall. In a further feature, the spreader is a frame mounted inside the sidewall and extends about the upper margin. In another feature the spreader includes a reinforcement rod extending about the periphery. In still another feature, the container is rectangular in plan view. In a further additional feature, the peripheral side wall has a pair of first and second long sides and a pair of first and second short sides that correspond to the rectangular container in plan view. The first and second suspenders are mounted to the first and second short sides of the peripheral sidewall. In another feature, at least one of the first and second suspenders has splayed connection to the peripheral sidewall. In another feature, at least a first and a second soft-sided container are combined as a set, the second soft-sided container being hangable from the first soft-sided container. In still another feature, at least a first and a second soft-sided container are combined as a set, the second soft-sided container being nestable within the first soft-sided container. In yet another feature, the container is movable between a first mode and a second mode, the first mode being an expanded mode and the second mode being a contracted mode. In another feature, the peripheral sidewall is axially collapsible. In still another feature, the peripheral sidewall has a tracked fastener, the tracked fastener extends peripherally about the sidewall. The tracked fastener is movable from a first position in which the peripheral sidewall is axially fore-shortened, to a second position in which the peripheral sidewall is axially expanded.
In another aspect, there is a soft-sided container. It has a soft-sided containment envelope that has a first panel and a second panel. The first panel is co-operable with the second panel. They are movable between an open position and a closed position relative to each other. There is a first receptacle movably mounted to the first panel. There is a second receptacle movably mounted to the second panel. The first receptacle and the second receptacle are contained between the first panel and the second panel when the first panel and the second panel are in the closed position. There is a suspension that is mounted to the first and second panels and to the first and second receptacles. The suspension has a set of hangers by which to mount the soft-sided to insulated container to structure from which it can hang. When the first and second panels are in the open position, the suspension supports the first receptacle and the second receptacle in spaced apart tiered relationship to each other.
In a feature of that aspect, the first and second panels are co-operable with a closure member to compress the first and second receptacles when the first and second panels are in the closed position. In another feature, at least one of the first and second receptacles includes a spreader operable to urge the respective receptacle to an expanded condition.
In another feature, the first panel and the second panel are joined by a hinge. The hangers of the suspension are mounted to the first panel. The first receptacle is pivotally connected to the first panel. The suspension extends between the first panel and the first receptacle. The suspension limits pivotal movement of the first receptacle relative to the first panel. The second receptacle is pivotally connected to the second panel. The suspension extends between the first receptacle and the second receptacle, and governs spacing between the first and second receptacles. When the container is in the open positon and the hangers have been hung up, the first receptacle and the second receptacle define shelves, one above the other.
In a further feature, the first panel has a distal margin distant from the hinge. The hangers include a first hanger and a second hanger. The first and second hangers are mounted to the distal margin of the first panel. The first receptacle is pivotally connected to the first panel adjacent to the hinge, and has a portion distant from the hinge. The second receptacle is pivotally connected to the second panel at a location of the second panel distant from the hinge. The second receptacle has a portion distant from the second panel when the second receptacle has pivoted away from the second panel. The suspension includes first and second portions, the first and second portions being spaced apart from each other. The first and second members of the suspension are straps that extend from the distal margin of the first panel to the portion of the first receptacle distant from the hinge. The suspension includes third and fourth portions, the third and fourth portions being spaced apart from each other. The third and fourth portions are straps that extend from the distal margin of the first receptacle to the distal portion of the second receptacle. In a further feature, at least one of the first and second receptacles has a releasable securement by which the at least one of the first and second receptacles is secured in a closed position thereof relative to the one of aid first and second panels to which the at least one of the first and second receptacles is mounted. In still another feature, at least one of the first and second panels has a door therein, the door being movable between closed and open positions to yield access to a respective one of the first and second receptacles that is mounted to that one of the first and second panels respectively.
The features of the aspects of the invention may be mixed and matched as appropriate without need for multiplication and repetition of all possible permutations and combinations.
These and other aspects and features of the invention may be more readily understood with the aid of the illustrative Figures below, showing an example, or examples, embodying the various aspects and features of the invention, provided by way of illustration, and in which:
The description that follows, and the embodiments described therein, are provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples, of particular embodiments of the principles of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of the invention. In the description, like parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals.
For the purposes of this description, it may be that a Cartesian frame of reference may be employed. In such a frame of reference, the long, or largest, dimension of an object may be considered to extend in the direction of the x-axis, the base of the article, where substantially planar, may be considered to extend in an x-y plane, and the height of the article may be measured in the vertical, or z-direction. In other contexts, the z-direction may be the through thickness of a substantially planar panel where the major dimensions lie in the x- and y-directions. The largest container panels herein may be designated arbitrarily as either the front and rear sides or top and bottom sides, faces, or portions of the container. Similarly, the closure member, or opening is arbitrarily designated as being at the top, and the base panel is designated as being at the bottom, as these terms may be appropriate for the customary orientation in which the objects may usually be found, sold, or employed, notwithstanding that the objects may be picked up and placed on one side or another from time to time at the user's choice.
The drawings are substantially to scale, except as otherwise noted, as in instances in which proportions may have been exaggerated in order more clearly to depict certain features. In the context of the present description, the x and z dimensions of length and height of the major panels of the containers are approximately in proportion. However, inasmuch as the description refers to webs, layers and skins, that are may be difficult to see when drawn to scale in side view, the through-thickness dimensions in the y-direction may be exaggerated to aid understanding.
Similarly, this description may tend to distinguish hard shell containers from soft-sided containers. In the jargon of the trade, a soft-sided container is one that does not have a largely rigid, high density exoskeleton. An example of a container having a hard exoskeleton is one having a molded external shell, e.g., of ABS or polyethylene, or other common types of molded plastic. Rather, a soft-sided container may tend not to be substantially rigid, but may rather have a skin that is flexible, or crushable, or sometimes foldable. By way of an example, which is not intended to be exhaustive, comprehensive, exclusive or limiting, a soft-sided container may have an outer skin and an internal skin, both the internal and external skins being of some kind of webbing, be it a woven fabric, a nylon sheet, or some other membrane. In some examples, a soft-sided container may still be a soft-sided container where, as described herein, it may include a substantially rigid liner, or may include one or more battens or stiffeners, or puncture resistant members (which may be of a relatively hard plastic) concealed within the soft sided wall structure more generally, but where the outside of the assembly is predominantly of soft-sided panels. The term “soft-sided” is intended to have the ordinary and customary meaning of the term as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art in the industry, and as used herein.
In
Soft-sided container 20 has a first wall 22, which may also be termed the bottom wall; a second wall 24, which may also be termed the top wall; and a third wall 26, which may also be termed the side wall. First wall 22 and second wall 24 may each be substantially planar, and may be a generally planar web or skin. In each case, the planar web or skin has a periphery, or peripheral edge. First wall 22 and second wall 24 do not need to be the same size, and they do not need to be made of the same material. However, it may be convenient that they should be the same size, and they may be of the same material. That material may be a Nylon™, and it may in some instances be a woven Nylon™. First wall 24 and second wall 26 need not be rectangular in plan view, but could be of any suitable shape, whether round, or oval, or polygonal, as may be. However, in the context of suitcases, and of luggage generally, it is convenient for soft-sided container 20 to be rectangular in plan view, with somewhat radiused corners.
Third wall 26 extends between, and joins, first wall 22 and second wall 24 such that first wall 22, second wall 24 and third wall 26 co-operate to form a containment shell having an internal space or volume identified as chamber 40, located therewithin. That is, third wall 26 has a first margin 28 joined to the rectangular peripheral edge of the bottom wall, i.e., first wall 22. Third wall 26 has a second margin 30 that is mated with the peripheral edge of the top wall, i.e., second wall 24. In use, third wall 26 extends upstandingly away from first wall 22, generally upright, approximately or actually perpendicular thereto. Similarly, third wall 26 extends downwardly from second wall 24. Although first wall 22 and second wall 24 need not be parallel, it is convenient that they be parallel, at least nominally. Of course, in use, when filled with clothing or other objects, container 20 may be somewhat lumpy rather than perfectly planar or perpendicular, and so on. In any case, first wall 22 and second wall 24 are nominally spaced apart, planar, and parallel.
Third wall 26 frames a rectangle, as previously discussed. Accordingly it has a pair of spaced apart and mutually opposed first and second long sides 32, 34 and a pair of spaced apart and mutually opposed first and second short sides 36, 38. The respective long and short sides merge at radiused corners. Second wall 24 has corresponding first, second, third and fourth margins or portions 42, 44, 46, and 48 that mate with sides 32, 34, 36 and 38. In the example shown there is a closure 50 in the form of a tracked fastener, e.g., a zipper, 52 that extends around three of the four margin portions, leaving the remaining margin portion to be connected at a hinge, 58. In the example shown the hinge runs along the upper margin of the rear portion of third wall 26, joining side 34 to edge or margin 44. Second wall 24 consequently forms or includes, or is, the lid 54 of container 20, and is movable between open and closed positions to govern entry or egress of objects into and out of internal chamber 40. The closure is secured by closing zipper 52, and opened by releasing zipper 52.
One or other, or both, of the bottom wall, i.e., first wall 22 and the top wall or lid, i.e., second wall 24, may, optionally, include a stiffener 56 to make it less floppy. The stiffener may be in the nature of a thin, relatively flexible sheet of plastic or board stock, or foam. Finally, the open edge of container 20 has first and second handles 68 mounted on the free edges of first wall 22 and second wall 24, distant from the hinge.
Soft-sided container 20 is movable between an extended or deployed position, as in
Soft-sided container 20 has a suspension 70. Suspension 70 may have, and in the embodiment shown does have, the form of a co-operating pair of first and second suspenders 72, 74. Although they need not be the same, and need not have the same hanging altitude, it is convenient that suspenders 72, 74 be the same. Suspenders 72, 74 are mounted on opposite sides of soft-sided container 20.
Each of suspenders 72, 74 may have, and in the embodiment described does have, the form of a hanger 80. Hanger 80 has a first member 76 and a second member 78. First member 76 is a linking member. Second member 78 is an engagement member by which to secure hanger 80 to an object from which soft-sided container 20 hangs. In operation, the object may be, and in the example illustrated is, a hanger rod 94, such as might be found in a hotel closet. Second member 78 may be, and in the embodiment illustrated is, a hook 82. First member 76 forms a link between hook 82 and the body of soft-sided container 20 more generally. It could have the form of a filament such as a cable or strap. Alternatively, and as in the embodiment illustrated, first member 76 may have the form of a load distributer or divider that has a widened base that divides the hanging load carried by hook 82 into distributed portions transmitted to or from the body of container 20. To that end, second member 78 may have the form of a triangular flap having a base sewn to the upstanding side-wall of third member 26, and a connection or eyelet at the altitude at which hook 82 is mounted. In such an arrangement the load is distributed evenly through the base of the flap. In the embodiment illustrated second member 78 has the form of a strap 84 having first and second legs 85, 86. Strap 84 is fed through the bottom eyelet of hook 82. Legs 85, 86 are splayed to separate and reach distantly spaced-apart points on third wall 26. In the embodiment illustrated the spacing exceeds half the length of the side portion of third wall 26 to which the base end of legs 85, 86 are mounted. In the embodiment illustrated the spacing is substantially the same as the length of that side. In the embodiment shown, second member 78 is mounted on the short side of the rectangle.
Soft-sided container 20 has a spreader 90. Spreader 90 may be, and in the embodiment shown is, mounted to the upper margin of third wall 26. Spreader 90 functions to tend to cause soft-sided container 20 to maintain its nominal plan form shape. That is, when used as deployed in the hanging configuration as in
Soft sided container 20 has a set of load transfer interfaces 96, which may have the form of hard-eyes, or rings, or anchors, or loops such as may be identified as retainers 98. Retainers 98 are sized to receive, and matingly to engage, hooks 82 of another container 20 hangingly mounted therefrom. Retainers 98 can be mounted from third wall 26. The sewn-in root of retainer 98 can be anchored to rod 92.
As may be noted, the roots of suspenders 72, 74 are mounted within container 20, such that they are accessible when the lid is open. As might also be noted, when container 20 is being prepared for travel suspenders 72, 74 can be laid across the inside of container 20 to engage each other to function as clothes retainers. As seen in
In
As may also be noted, whereas container 20 is shown with a single keeper, or retainer, 98, container may have a single, central retainer 114, or, alternatively, a pair of spaced apart retainers 116 and 118, or all three of retainers 114, 116 and 118. Hooks 110, 112 may be swivelled, as illustrated. They can be slid along strap 108 to a single location to hang on a single rod, such as rod 94. Alternatively, hooks 110, 112 and hang from a single central retainer 114 of a superior container 100, yielding a triangular suspender as for container 20. In the further alternative, hooks 110, 112 and be separated to engage separate lifting or securement points, which may be retainers 116, 118 of another container 100 that hangs above it. When both suspenders 104, 106 are engaged, it yields a four point suspension, the sliding engagement of the hooks on the strap permitting load equalisation.
In the case of either container 20 or container 100, they may be provided in sets of varying sizes, either for the purpose of fitting within larger luggage or suitcase containers, or for the purpose of being able to nest one-within-another, whether for storage of for other reasons.
Another, perhaps more complex soft-sided container assembly 120 is shown in the series of views of
Main body 122 has a wall structure 132 that defines a containment envelope. Wall structure 132 includes a first panel 134 and a second panel 136. In the general sense, first panel 134 and second panel 136 could be of different shapes and sizes, provided that they co-operate in forming main body 122. As before, first panel 134 and second panel 136 may be considered to be membranes, or webs, such as may be made of a fabric, such as a woven fabric. One or both of them may have, optionally, a stiffener or batten sewn thereto. Alternatively, they may have a spreader 138 attached thereto. In the embodiment shown, spreader 138 is, as above, a resilient rod 92 sewn to, or sewn into, the panel, the space for the rod conforming to the footprint of the respective one of compartment wall structures 124 and 126 that is mountable to that panel, be it first panel 134 or second panel 136. The resiliency of rod 92 tends to cause first panel 134 or second panel 136, as the case may be, to maintain its generally rectangular shape.
While they could be round, hexagonal, octagonal, or some other shape, it is convenient that they be four-sided and either square or rectangular in plan view. In the example shown they are rectangular with radiused corners. Furthermore, although they need not be the same, it is convenient that panels 134 and 136 be the same. The rectangles have a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides. Along respective ones of the long sides there is a hinge 140. Hinge 140 may be referred to as the main hinge of container assembly 120. It may have the form of a fabric hinge, as illustrated. It joins first panel 134 to second panel 136. A tracked closure 142 runs around the periphery of main body 122. Tracked closure 142 may have, and in the embodiment illustrated does have, the form of a zipper having a first set of teeth 144 extending around the peripheral edge of first panel 134 and a second set of zipper teeth 146 running around the peripheral edge of second panel 136. The root of tracked closure 142 is mounted to the outside of the fabric of hinge 140. When tracked closure 142 is open, panels 134 and 136 can be pivoted open on hinge 140 to the position seen in
Either or both of panels 134 and 136 may have an opening 152 that is opened or closed by an external access panel, or flap, such as closure member 150. Closure member 150 is secured to panel 134 (or 136, as may be) at a hinge 154. In the example shown, hinge 154 is located along the most distant margin of panel 134 (or 136) from hinge 140. Closure member 150 is secured or released with a tracked fastener 156 that runs around the remaining three sides of closure member 150. Although it need not be so, closure member 150 may conveniently have a footprint that corresponds to the footprint of first compartment wall structure 124 (or 126). When soft-sided container structure 120 is closed, as seen in
First and second compartment wall structures 124 and 126 do not need to be the same, but it is convenient that they be the same, such that a description of one is a description of the other. First compartment wall structure 124 has a base wall 158 and an upstanding sidewall 160 that extends about the edges of base wall 158. In some instances, base wall 158 may be, or may include, a stiffened panel. Base wall 158 may be made of a continuous membrane, and may be made of a fabric, such as a woven fabric. Upstanding sidewall 160 may be a continuous membrane or web, as shown in the context of first compartment wall structure 124 in
Upstanding sidewall 160 has a first margin attached to base wall 158. Upstanding sidewall 160 has an upper margin that is attached to the underside of panel 150. Upper margin 166 is hingedly attached along one edge and releasably connected along the other three edges. The releasable connection may be in the form of a tracked fastener, identified as zipper 168. By undoing zipper 168, first compartment wall structure 124 can pivot downward relative to panel 134, to the position seen in
The pivoting motion of first and second compartment wall structures 124 and 126 is limited by suspension 130. That is, to hold wall structures 124 and 126 at an orientation in which they can be suitably used as shelves, there is a need for a retainer or support for the distal portions of wall structure that stand away from hinge 170 an hinge 172, as may be. When held as shelves, bottom wall panels 158 need not be perfectly horizontal, and need not be at the same angle relative to horizontal. They could be angled, in a manner similar to inclined store display rack tiers. One could be angled and one could be horizontal, and so on. It is, however, convenient that, when opened and hanging as in
To that end, suspension 130 includes first and second suspension members in the form of first and second hanging straps 174, 176 each of which has a releasable clip 178 to permit mounting to a closet clothes' hanger rod 94. Alternatively, hooks 82 could be attached to straps 174, 176 and used as described above. Although they could be mounted externally, as shown in
Additionally, suspension 130 includes a pair of first and second first upper compartment straps identified as upper stays 180, 182 that are space apart to opposed corners of the front wall, and that have respective first ends sewn inside the lip of the lid defined by panel 150 of first compartment wall structure 124, and second ends that are sewn inside the upper margin of sidewall 160 of wall structure 124. The length of stays 180, 182 is such that the center of lift of straps 174, 176 passes through the same vertical plane as the center of gravity of wall structure 124, which is intended to be perpendicular to base wall 158. In this configuration, panel 150 and stays 180, 182 are oriented at roughly equal and opposite angles relative to the vertical plane.
Also, additionally, suspension 130 includes first and second lower compartment straps identified as lower stays 184, 186. They are spaced apart to the front outside corners of wall structure 124 and 126. The upper ends of lower stay 184, 186 are attached to first compartment wall structure 124. The lower ends of lower stays 184, 186 are attached to second compartment wall structure 126. The attachments can be to the respective front or foremost portions of upstanding sidewalls 160 of compartment wall structures 124 and 126, typically by sewing in double rows of double stiches. The length of lower stays 184, 186 is such that lower panel, i.e., base wall 158 of lower compartment wall structure 126 hangs at the selected orientation relative to upper compartment wall structure 124, e.g., parallel thereto, as seen in in the side elevation view of
In normal use the user hangs soft-sided container assembly 120 in the expanded configuration as seen in
In summary, there is a soft-sided container 120. It has a soft-sided containment envelope in the form of main body 122 that is defined by the co-operation of first panel 134 and second panel 136 such that a chamber is formed therewithin. First panel 134 is co-operable with second panel 136. They are movable between an open position and a closed position relative to each other. There is a first receptacle, namely first compartment wall structure 124 that is movably mounted to first panel 134. There is a second receptacle, namely second compartment wall structure 126, movably mounted to second panel 136. First receptacle 124 and second receptacle 126 are contained in the chamber formed between first panel 134 and second panel 136 when first panel 134 and second panel 136 are in the closed position. Suspension 130 is mounted to first and second panels 134, 136 and to first and second receptacles 124, 126. Suspension 130 has a set of hangers by which to mount soft-sided container 124 to structure from which it can hang, such as closet hanger rod 94. When first and second panels 124, 126 are in the open position, suspension 130 supports first receptacle 134 and second receptacle 136 in spaced apart tiered relationship to each other as shown in
First and second panels 124, 126 are co-operable with a closure member in the form of closure 142, which is a tracked closure, to compress first and second receptacles 134, 136 when first and second panels 124, 126 are in the closed position. First and second receptacles include spreaders 90, operable to urge the respective receptacles to an expanded condition.
First and second panels 124, 126 are joined by hinge 140. Hangers 80 of suspension 130 are mounted to first panel 124. First receptacle 134 is pivotally connected to first panel 124. Suspension 130 extends between first panel 124 and first receptacle 134 and limits pivotal movement of receptacle 134 relative to panel 124. Second receptacle 136 is pivotally connected to second panel 126. Suspension 130 extends between first and second receptacles 134, 136, and governs spacing therebetween when they are in the hanging position of
First panel 134 has a distal margin distant from hinge 142. The hangers include first and second hangers 90 that are spaced apart and mounted to the distal margin of first panel 134. First receptacle 124 is pivotally connected to first panel 134 adjacent to hinge 140, and has a portion distant from hinge 140. Second receptacle 126 is pivotally connected to second panel 136 at a location of second panel 136 distant from hinge 140. Second receptacle 126 has a portion distant from second panel 136 when second receptacle 126 has pivoted away from second panel 136. Suspension 130 includes first and second portions, namely upper stay strap stays 180, 182 that are spaced apart from each other. The first and second members, stays 180, 182 extend from the distal margin of first panel 134 to the portion of first receptacle 124 distant from hinge 140. Suspension 130 includes third and fourth portions in the form of lower stays 184, 186, that are likewise spaced apart from each other. Stays 184, 186 extend from the distal margin of first receptacle 134 to the distal portion of second receptacle 136. Either one or both of first and second receptacles 134, 136 has a releasable securement in the form of zipper 168 by which it is secured in a closed position thereof relative to the respective panel, be it 134 or 136 to which it is mounted. One or both of panels 134, 136 has a door therein, namely closure member 150, that is movable between closed and open positions to yield access to the respective receptacle.
The features of the various embodiments may be mixed and matched as may be appropriate without the need for further description of all possible variations, combinations, and permutations of those features. The principles of the present invention are not limited to these specific examples which are given by way of illustration. It is possible to make other embodiments that employ the principles of the invention and that fall within its spirit and scope of the invention. Since changes in and or additions to the above-described embodiments may be made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of the invention, the invention is not to be limited to those details, but only by a purposive reading of the appended claims.
