The present invention relates to baggage. More specifically, it relates to an improved an improved stuff sack.
In one aspect, the present invention comprises a compressible stuff sack comprising a first sheet of flexible material having two opposite sides a second sheet of flexible material having two opposite sides. The opposite sides of the first sheet are attached to corresponding opposite sides of the second sheet to form a body portion. Each attachment comprising a first seam adjacent edges of the first and second sheet and a second, spaced apart seem from the first seam. The two seams together create a flat portion that extends outwardly from an outer surface of the sack. The invention further comprises an end portion attached to the body portion to form a cavity therewith. Also, a plurality of cinch straps are attached to the first and second sheets, each cinch strap having a corresponding opposite cinch strap that, when attached, allow the cinch straps to compress the contents of the sack. In another aspect of the present invention, the two sheets are replaced with a single sheet.
While the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered only as an example of the principles of the invention. This disclosure is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the illustrated embodiments. The scope of protection should only be limited by the claims issued in a subsequent utility patent application.
Referring to
Also attached to the main body 2 is a closure portion 18. The closure portion 18 is sewn to the main body 2 and then doubled back upon itself to form a channel 20. Within the channel 20 is a drawcord 22. The ends of the drawcord 22 exit the channel 20 at an opening 28 and are held together by a drawcord retainer 30. Also sewn into the seam of the main body 2 and closure portion 18 is an end strap 24 which may be used for carrying the stuff sack 1. Furthermore, while not illustrated, the end strap 24 may comprise separate portions and a strap slide, as with the previously described cinch straps 6, in order to allow the end to be compressed, as described below. An end strap 26 may also be sewn into the seam attaching the end portion 4 to the main body 2. Again, while not illustrated, the end strap 26 may comprise separate portions and a strap slide, as with the previously described cinch straps 6, in order to allow the end to be compressed, as described below.
In use, the stuff sack 2 may be filled with compressible items such as clothing, a sleeping bag, pillows, etc. The drawcord 22 is then pulled and held with the retainer 30. Next, in order to make the items take less space, the stuff sack 2 is cinched down to compress the items. This is accomplished by pulling the first ends 8 of each of the plurality of cinch straps 6 through the strap slides 16, as shown in
The present invention represents an advancement over the prior art in many ways. One significant enhancement is the flat portion 104 created by the main body 2. The flat portions provide a better means for attaching the cinch straps 6 to prevent their eventual pulling loose from the seams of the bag (in the case of the main body comprising two separate portions) or pulling loose from the bag (in the case of if the cinch straps being merely sewn to the surface of the bag). While the present invention contemplates and prefers the use of two separate portions 100, 102 to comprise the main body 2, the scope of the present invention comprises the main body of a single piece of material sewing doubled over portions of the main body in order to create the flat portions of the present invention (
While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the issued claims.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/402,004 filed Aug. 8, 2002.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20040081373 A1 | Apr 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60402004 | Aug 2002 | US |