EP3195756A1 - Anti-theft carrying bag with security and expansion panels and with carrying strap - Google Patents

Anti-theft carrying bag with security and expansion panels and with carrying strap Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3195756A1
EP3195756A1 EP16188195.8A EP16188195A EP3195756A1 EP 3195756 A1 EP3195756 A1 EP 3195756A1 EP 16188195 A EP16188195 A EP 16188195A EP 3195756 A1 EP3195756 A1 EP 3195756A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
security
wire
panel assembly
security panel
bag
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP16188195.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Donald E GODSHAW
Du Hai
Bryce Ryan HICKMAN
Slobodan S. ZIVANOVIC
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Travel Caddy Inc
Original Assignee
Travel Caddy Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US14/559,086 external-priority patent/US9655424B2/en
Priority claimed from US14/641,173 external-priority patent/US10010144B2/en
Priority claimed from US14/641,191 external-priority patent/US9675153B2/en
Priority claimed from US14/641,160 external-priority patent/US9854883B2/en
Priority claimed from US14/641,144 external-priority patent/US9854890B2/en
Priority claimed from US14/641,206 external-priority patent/US9681716B2/en
Application filed by Travel Caddy Inc filed Critical Travel Caddy Inc
Publication of EP3195756A1 publication Critical patent/EP3195756A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C3/00—Flexible luggage; Handbags
    • A45C3/001—Flexible materials therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
    • A45C13/18—Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
    • A45C13/02—Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
    • A45C13/10—Arrangement of fasteners
    • A45C13/1023—Arrangement of fasteners with elongated profiles fastened by sliders
    • A45C13/103—Arrangement of zip-fasteners
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
    • A45C13/10—Arrangement of fasteners
    • A45C13/1076—Arrangement of fasteners with a snap action
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
    • A45C13/18—Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
    • A45C13/185—Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags of purses, money-bags or wallets
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
    • A45C13/18—Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
    • A45C13/20—Chains or bands
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
    • A45C13/18—Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
    • A45C13/22—Detachable handles; Handles foldable into the luggage
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
    • A45C13/30—Straps; Bands
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
    • A45C13/36—Reinforcements for edges, corners, or other parts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C3/00—Flexible luggage; Handbags
    • A45C3/06—Ladies' handbags
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
    • A45C5/02—Materials therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
    • A45C5/14—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage with built-in rolling means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C7/00—Collapsible or extensible purses, luggage, bags or the like
    • A45C7/0018—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
    • A45C7/0022—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage comprising an integrated expansion device
    • A45C7/0027—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage comprising an integrated expansion device with slide fastener strips
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C7/00—Collapsible or extensible purses, luggage, bags or the like
    • A45C7/0059—Flexible luggage; Hand bags
    • A45C7/0063—Flexible luggage; Hand bags comprising an integrated expansion device
    • A45C7/0068—Flexible luggage; Hand bags comprising an integrated expansion device with slide fastener strips
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
    • A45F3/00—Travelling or camp articles; Sacks or packs carried on the body
    • A45F3/14—Carrying-straps; Pack-carrying harnesses
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
    • A45C13/02—Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
    • A45C2013/026—Inserts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
    • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
    • A45C13/30—Straps; Bands
    • A45C2013/306—Straps; Bands for attaching auxiliary articles to luggage, e.g. piggyback
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
    • A45F3/00—Travelling or camp articles; Sacks or packs carried on the body
    • A45F3/14—Carrying-straps; Pack-carrying harnesses
    • A45F2003/142—Carrying-straps

Definitions

  • Such bags are subject to theft or attempted theft.
  • a bag may be hung or supported by the bag carrying (or carry) strap on a chair or a hook or the like.
  • a thief may "snatch" the bag by grabbing the carry strap and departing.
  • Another scheme that has been used by thieves is to use a sharp instrument to cut through the soft sided material comprising the bag, and thereby gain access to the contents which may be lifted through the cut opening in the bag.
  • Yet another scheme that has been used by thieves includes various types of pickpocketing, such as by unzipping a zipper in either a stealth manner or while the bag's owner is distracted, and thereby gaining access to the bag's contents while undetected by the bag's owner.
  • the second flexible material layer is coupled to the first flexible material layer with a plurality of stitches within one or more of the closed wire shapes of the plurality of closed wire shapes and without crossing the wire matrix, such as using a rectangular stitch pattern, a circular stitch pattern, a diamond stitch pattern, a bar tack stitch pattern; and combinations thereof.
  • the central region has a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the first lateral edge region abuts the first side edge of the central region, and wherein the second lateral edge region abuts the second side edge of the central region.
  • the central region may have a first thickness and the first and second lateral regions may have a second thickness, the first thickness equal to or greater than twice the second thickness; alternatively, the central region and the first and second lateral regions may have substantially the same thickness.
  • the first flexible material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: a woven fabric; a woven ballistic nylon fabric; leather; a nonwoven material; a woven webbing material having finished lateral edges; and combinations thereof.
  • first lateral region of the first flexible material may be wrapped around the first substantially cut-resistant cable and first lateral edge of the first flexible material is secured adjacent the first lateral edge of the second flexible material
  • second lateral region of the second flexible material may be wrapped around the second substantially cut-resistant cable and second lateral edge of the second flexible material is secured adjacent the second lateral edge of the first flexible material
  • the second fastener may be coupled to the first fastener and removably coupled to a ring coupled to the exterior bag, or the second fastener may be coupled to the exterior bag and removably coupled to the first fastener.
  • the primary fastener may be a zipper
  • the secondary fastener may be a clasp or a locking carabiner.
  • the wire matrix comprises a plurality of wire crossings forming a plurality of closed wire shapes, each wire crossing comprising at least two sections of wire abutting but uncoupled to each other.
  • the wire matrix may be comprised of a single wire arranged in a pattern to form the plurality of wire crossings.
  • the second flexible material layer may be coupled to the first flexible material layer with a plurality of stitches, or with an adhesive, or with both a plurality of stitches and an adhesive.
  • the wire matrix may be comprised of a metallic wire or cable, or substantially cut-resistant polymeric threads, fibers or yarn, or a woven or knitted fabric having a plurality of substantially cut-resistant polymeric threads, fibers or yarn.
  • a representative carrying bag may further comprise a carry strap coupled to a third fastener, the third fastener removably coupled to the exterior bag, the carry strap comprising a first flexible material and a first substantially cut-resistant cable.
  • the third fastener may have a second spring bias to a closed or locked configuration.
  • the third fastener may be a locking carabiner or a multi-glide locking snap hook fastener.
  • the carry strap further comprises: a second substantially cut-resistant cable; and wherein the first flexible material has a length substantially greater than its width, has a central region extending longitudinally, has a first lateral region extending longitudinally along a first side of the central region and laterally wrapping around the first substantially cut-resistant cable to laterally enclose the first substantially cut-resistant cable, and has a second lateral region extending longitudinally along a second side of the central region and laterally wrapping around the second substantially cut-resistant cable to laterally enclose the second substantially cut-resistant cable.
  • a carrying bag may comprise: a first substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly comprising a first flexible material layer having a first side, a first wire matrix arranged on the first side of the first flexible material layer, and a second flexible material layer adjacent to the first wire matrix and coupled to the first flexible material layer; an exterior bag having an inside chamber enclosing the security panel assembly, the exterior bag including at least one opening for access to the inside chamber of the exterior bag; and a flexible security expansion panel coupled to the exterior bag, the security expansion panel comprising an exterior flexible material cover and a second substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly.
  • an expandable carrying bag may comprise: a main body component configured to form an interior compartment to hold the plurality of contents; a secondary body component at least partially coupled to the main body component on a first side and having one or more second sides removably couplable to the main body component to access and to enclose the interior compartment; and a flexible security expansion panel couplable to the main body component or to the secondary body component, the security expansion panel comprising an exterior flexible material cover and a security panel assembly.
  • the main body component and secondary body component may be comprised of a hard polymeric material or a flexible material.
  • the security panel assembly may be integrated with the exterior flexible material cover.
  • an expandable carrying bag may comprise: a main body component configured to form an interior compartment to hold the plurality of contents; a secondary body component at least partially coupled to the main body component on a first side and having one or more second sides removably couplable to the main body component to access and to enclose the interior compartment; a flexible security expansion panel couplable to the main body component or to the secondary body component, the security expansion panel comprising an exterior flexible material cover and a security panel assembly; a first fastener coupled to the main body component and the secondary body component; a second fastener removably coupled between the first fastener and either or both the main body component and the secondary body component, the second fastener having a first spring bias to a closed or locked configuration; and a carry strap coupled to a third fastener, the third fastener removably coupled to either or both the main body component and the secondary body component, the carry strap comprising a first flexible material and a first substantially cut-resistant cable.
  • a method of making such a security panel assembly comprising: routing a first wire in a first predetermined pattern on a first flexible material layer; routing a second wire in a second predetermined pattern on a second flexible material layer; positioning the second material layer having the second wire in the second predetermined pattern to be substantially orthogonal to the first predetermined pattern; and coupling the positioned second flexible material layer having the second wire to the first flexible material layer having the first wire to form the security panel assembly.
  • a method of making a security panel assembly comprising: routing a single wire in a predetermined pattern above a first, upwardly facing surface of a first material layer to form a wire matrix, the wire having first and second ends, the wire matrix comprising a plurality of wire crossings forming a plurality of closed wire shapes, each wire crossing comprising at least two sections of wire abutting but uncoupled to each other; and coupling a first side of a second material layer to the wire matrix and the first material layer to form the security panel assembly.
  • the step of coupling further comprises applying an adhesive, which may consist of exposing a pre-applied adhesive on the first material layer or the second material layer.
  • the step of coupling may further comprise applying downward pressure on the second material layer.
  • the method may further comprise, prior to routing the wire, mounting the first material layer to a fixture having a plurality of mounting members.
  • the mounting members may comprise a plurality of mounting pegs or needles.
  • the mounting step may further comprise fitting the plurality of mounting members into corresponding openings of the first material layer.
  • the routing step may further comprise routing the wire in the predetermined pattern about the mounting members to form the plurality of wire crossings.
  • the method may further comprise stitching the second flexible material layer to the first flexible material layer with a plurality of stitches having a predetermined pattern, such as a sawtooth pattern.
  • the method may further comprise stitching the second flexible material layer to the first flexible material layer using at least one stitch pattern within one or more of the closed wire shapes of the plurality of closed wire shapes and without crossing the wire matrix, such as using a rectangular stitch pattern, a circular stitch pattern, a diamond stitch pattern, a bar tack stitch pattern; and combinations thereof.
  • the routing step may further comprise: routing the wire to form a plurality of bent or curved portions of the wire matrix adjacent and spaced apart from a periphery of the first flexible material layer; coupling a plurality of stabilizing anchors, each stabilizing anchor coupled to a bent or curved portion of the wire matrix; and/or routing the wire to space the first end and second end apart from the periphery further than and closer to a center of the first flexible material layer than the bent or curved portions of the wire matrix.
  • the method may further comprise coupling at least one polymeric cap to the first end or to the second end of the single wire or to both the first end and the second end of the single wire.
  • the method may further comprise, prior to routing the wire, attaching a tab, flange or panel member on a second side of the first material layer, and/or attaching a tab, flange or panel member on a second side of the second material layer.
  • the method may further comprise, prior to coupling the second material layer, attaching a plurality of pre-stitched flanges or panel members on a second side of the second flexible material layer, in a position that when the security panel assembly is folded into a box shape, each pre-stitched flange or panel member is disposed at a corresponding corner.
  • the method may further comprise folding the security panel assembly into a box shape, and may also include riveting a plurality of sides of the folded security panel assembly to maintain the box shape.
  • the method may comprise: forming or attaching a tab, flange or panel member to a first material layer or to a second material layer; mounting the first material layer to a fixture having a plurality of mounting members; applying an adhesive or exposing a pre-applied adhesive a first, upwardly facing surface of the first material layer; routing a single wire in a predetermined pattern about the mounting members and above the first, upwardly facing surface of the first material layer to form a wire matrix, the wire having first and second ends, the wire matrix comprising a plurality of wire crossings forming a plurality of closed wire shapes, each wire crossing comprising at least two sections of wire abutting but uncoupled to each other; applying downward pressure to couple a first side of the second material layer to the wire matrix and the first material layer to form the security panel assembly; and stitching the second flexible material layer to the first flexible material layer with a plurality of stitches having a predetermined pattern.
  • FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a typical handbag, as a representative carrying bag 20, incorporating various security and anti-theft features associated with the various representative embodiments.
  • FIGs. 37, 39, and 139 - 140 are isometric views of other typical purses or shoulder bags, as a representative carrying bags 20C and 20D, also incorporating various security and anti-theft features associated with the various representative embodiments.
  • FIGs. 71 - 74, 76 and 77 are isometric views of other suitcase-type bags, as a representative carrying bags 20A and 20B, also incorporating various security and anti-theft features associated with the various representative embodiments, including one or more expansion panels as discussed in greater detail below.
  • Carry and “carrying” are used interchangeably herein, to mean and include any and all verb or noun forms for any act or activity of carrying or any object which may be carried, lifted, etc., such as a carry or carrying strap (e.g., 22, 22A, 22B, 22 C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, and/or 22H) for use in carrying a bag 20, for example and without limitation.
  • a carry or carrying strap e.g., 22, 22A, 22B, 22 C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, and/or 22H
  • Carrying bags 20, 20C, 20D, and 20E are illustrated to include a carry (or carrying) strap 22, 22A, 22B, 22 C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, and/or 22H (which also may be included with other carry bags such as 20A and 20B), and are defined by an exterior bag 23, 23A configured, in the examples, as trapezoidal, cuboid, rhomboidal, a parallelepiped, ovoid or ellipsoid, or any and all other shapes, for example and without limitation, having a construction of a generally flexible material such as canvas, leather, suede, nylon, ballistic nylon, flexible plastic or other polymeric material and similar materials, or more generally any type of flexible material, such as a woven or nonwoven material, for example and without limitation.
  • a carry (or carrying) strap 22, 22A, 22B, 22 C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, and/or 22H which also may be included with other carry bags such as 20A and 20B
  • the bag 20, 20A - 20E may have any shape or configuration, of any kind or form.
  • the exterior bag 23, 23A may further include reinforcement features such as ribs or slats that are incorporated therein or PVC sheets that are incorporated on the inside surface or sewn to the inside of the material forming the exterior bag 23, 23A.
  • the exterior bag 23, 23A may include non-flexible components, such as a hard case or hard shell exterior, and further, may include expansion components, such as additional flexible material which may be unzipped to expand the interior size, for either or both flexible and non-flexible exterior bags 23, 23A, illustrated and discussed in greater detail with reference to FIGs. 71 - 74, 76 and 77 .
  • FIGs. 71 - 74, 76 and 77 Additional embodiments and examples of other types of carrying bags, such as a hard-backed, soft-sided travel bag 20A and a hard case (or hard shell) travel bag 20B, are illustrated and discussed with reference to FIGs. 71 - 74, 76 and 77 . Accordingly, any and all references to a bag 20, bag 20A, 20B, and/or bag 20C should be understood to mean and include the others and any and all of the carrying bags described herein, of any type or configuration.
  • the orientation of the clasp or fastener 11, 12 may also be reversed, namely, the clasp or fastener 11, 12 may be coupled to the exterior bag 23 and is releasably couplable to the zipper 24, 26, respectively.
  • loop 31 may be coupled or attached to the loop 30 which is attached to the outer layer 34 forming the exterior bag 23.
  • the catch 28 may then be manually and releasably coupled to the zipper 24, 26, such as via a corresponding opening or hole in the zipper pull, instead of the illustrated loop 31, and again, a manual release operation of a clasp or fastener 11, 12 is required in order to enable operation of zippers 24, 26 to achieve access though zippered openings to the interior of the bag 20.
  • a second embodiment of such a second or secondary fastener 11A is illustrated and discussed below with reference to FIGs. 38 , 38A and 38B .
  • any type or combination of fasteners, clasps or other closure mechanisms requiring at least two different steps to open a compartment or pocket is within the scope of the disclosure, such as a first step of manually releasing a clasp or fastener 11, 11A, 12, followed by a second step of unzipping or otherwise opening the compartment or pocket using a zipper 24, 26, for example and without limitation.
  • This two-step operation, and frequently a two hand operation, to gain access to the contents within a compartment or pocket significantly diminishes the potential for an unauthorized access without being detected by the consumer holding or wearing the bag 20, 20A - 20E, such as when a consumer may be distracted or engaged in another activity in a crowded subway station or compartment, for example and without limitation.
  • FIGs. 37 , 37A , 38 , 38A, 38B, 38C , and 39 for use with any type of a carrying bag 20, illustrated as carrying bag 20C.
  • a front or side pocket 25A which may be covered by a front flap 19 of a bag 20C (illustrated as elevated to reveal the front pocket 25A), also has a zipper slides (or closures) 26A and 26B, each of which includes a pull tab 13.
  • the pull tab 13 includes an opening or hole 14, which may be secured to a second or secondary fastener 11A, which has a moveable gate 15 (rotatable about pin 8), illustrated in an open position in FIGs.
  • Moveable gate 15 typically has a spring (not separately illustrated) bias to maintain the moveable gate 15 in a closed position, illustrated in FIG. 38B . While illustrated for a front or side pocket 25A, those having skill in the art will recognize that the secondary fastener 11A may be utilized for any zippered pocket or compartment, including top or interior pockets or compartments. As illustrated in FIG.
  • the second or secondary fastener 11A has a reversed orientation or configuration, in which the second or secondary fastener 11A is coupled to the zipper slides (or closures) 24, 26, and is removably couplable to a ring 30A, which in turn is coupled to a loop 41A of the bag 20, 20C, 20D.
  • second or secondary fastener 11A has a dual function, namely, both as a zipper pull mechanism (in place of a zipper tab 13) and as an additional fastener for added security as a mechanism to provide a releasably locked configuration for a zipper 24, 26.
  • zipper closure mechanisms 24A, 24B are illustrated as coupled via pull tab 13 to a locking carabiner 44A, which is coupled through the loop 41 to a bag 20C.
  • the locking carabiner 44A may have any shape or configuration, such as ovoid, elliptical (as illustrated in FIG. 37 ), rectangular (e.g., locking carabiner 44B), etc., for example and without limitation.
  • the locking carabiner 44A also has a moveable gate 15A, and is illustrated in an open position in FIG.
  • moveable gate 15A typically has a spring bias to maintain the moveable gate 15A in a closed position.
  • An interiorly threaded, rotatable socket 65 is rotatably and removably coupleable to the threaded end 64, as illustrated.
  • the interiorly threaded, rotatable socket 65 may be rotatably and removably coupleable to a non-threaded end 64, with the threads solely on moveable gate 15A, illustrated as threads 64A in FIG. 140 .
  • Many other carabiner 44 configurations are available, considered equivalent and within the scope of the disclosure.
  • the rotatable socket 65 is maintained threaded onto or otherwise coupled to one the threaded end 64, the gate 15A of the locking carabiner 44A is closed, and the rotatable socket 65 is rotated and tightened onto the threaded end 64.
  • any of the multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501 (illustrated in FIGs. 18B and 44 ), or locking rings 500, 500A, 500B, or other second or secondary fastener (e.g., 11A) may be utilized equivalently to the locking carabiner 44A.
  • a locking carabiner 44B which operates identically to and has the same structure (with a slightly different shape) as the locking carabiner 44, 44A, is utilized to couple a strap 22, 22A - 22H to a bag 20, 20C, such as for the security uses described in greater detail below.
  • FIGs. 138 and 139 show additional views of the use of a locking ring 500, 500A for locking the carrying bag 20D around a fixed support.
  • the zippered openings 21, 21A and 27, 27A may include additional security features.
  • zippered openings 21, 21A and 27, 27A may include two or more rows or tracks of zipper teeth along each side of the zippered opening 27, 27A or zippered opening 21, 21A, such as a double track zipper available from Genmore Zipper Corp. of Taiwan and disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,438,705 , the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • pocket fastener or closure mechanism such as a zipper 24, 26, may be independent from or otherwise uncoupled to the secondary fastener, such as clasp or fastener 11, 12, during ordinary use.
  • a clasp or fastener 11, 12 may be coupled to the exterior 23 of the bag 20, and utilized selectively by the consumer as a second, back up closure for a pocket 25 or top opening 21, such that a two-step operation is also required to gain access to the contents.
  • Another anti-theft, security feature is the carry strap 22, 22A - 22H of bag 20, which includes an elongate, cut-resistant cable 38, which is sewn into or otherwise contained within or as part of the carry strap 22, 22A - 22H, and which extends the entire length of the strap 22, 22A - 22H.
  • the carry strap 22, 22A - 22H cannot be cut readily by a potential thief or mugger, who might otherwise quickly cut a carrying strap and run off with a purse, for example.
  • a cut-resistant cable 38 has been sewn longitudinally along the center or middle of the carry strap 22. Additional representative embodiments of a carry strap 22A - 22H are illustrated and discussed below with reference to FIGs. 45 - 61 .
  • yet another anti-theft, security feature of the representative embodiments is the use of a locking carabiner 44, 44B, or multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501, or hinged, locking (rectangular) ring 500, 500A, 500B to enable securing the bag 20, 20C, via carry strap 22, 22A - 22H to a fixture, such as a chair or post, to diminish the possibility that a potential thief could quickly grab and run off with a purse, for example, when the consumer is seated at a restaurant or café (and might typically hang such a carrying bag on the back of a chair, for example). More particularly, referring to FIGs.
  • a strap 22, 22A - 22H is typically attached to bag 20, 20C at one end (or looped through another buckle 45) and to a buckle 42 at its opposite end.
  • the strap 22, 22A - 22H also fits though buckle 42 and forms a loop 40 though a locking carabiner 44, 44B as illustrated in FIGs. 18 , 37 , 39 , or through a hinged, locking rectangular ring 500, 500A as illustrated in FIG. 18A , or through multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501 as illustrated in FIG. 18B , for example.
  • Strap 22, 22A - 22H thus forms a loop 40 which enables, in combination with a buckle 42, adjustment of the length of the strap 22, 22A - 22H.
  • the strap 22, 22A - 22H may have one end fastened into the interior or the exterior of the bag 20 or as illustrated in FIG. 4 , to a buckle 45 (or alternatively to a carabiner 44, 44B, or hinged, locking (rectangular) ring 500, 500A, 500B, or a multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501) attached to a loop 47, 47A, 47B affixed to bag 20. Any and all of these combinations are within the scope of the disclosure.
  • the opposite end of the strap 22, 22A - 22H is attached to buckle 42 ( e.g., forming a loop through the buckle 42 and then attached back to another part of the strap 22, 22A - 22H.
  • the carabiner 44, 44B is also attached to the bag 20, 20C and, in an exemplary embodiment, may slidably fit within a pocket 46 in the side of the exterior bag 20, and in other exemplary embodiments, may be exposed (similarly to buckle 45) as illustrated in various other Figures. For example, instead of a buckle 45 in FIG.
  • a locking carabiner 44 a multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501, or a hinged, locking rectangular ring 500, 500A, 500B may be utilized, to provide the additional security feature illustrated in FIGs. 17, 18 , 18A and 18B .
  • a rotatable socket 48 In order to release the locking carabiner 44, 44B from loop 40 and open the locking carabiner 44, 44B, a rotatable socket 48 must be manually manipulated by rotating (loosening) it and allowing the pivotal arm (or gate) 50 of the carabiner 44, 44B to be moveable into an open position. Locking is effectively provided by tightening the rotatable socket 48 when the pivotal arm (or gate) 50 of the carabiner 44, 44B is in a closed position.
  • FIG. 17 and 18 This construction is shown in more detail in Figures 17 and 18 wherein the locking carabiner 44, which may slidably fit into the pocket 46 and thus remains generally hidden during use, is released once the socket 48 is rotated (loosened or unthreaded) so that a pivotal arm (or gate) 50 of the carabiner 44 is released and may be manipulated to open the carabiner 44, such that the loop 40 of strap 22, 22A - 22H may be removed from the locking carabiner 44, fitted around a stable object such as a support of a chair or post 52 as depicted in FIG. 17 , and reattached to the locking carabiner 44, to thereby retain the bag securely attached to the illustrated chair.
  • a pivotal arm (or gate) 50 of the carabiner 44 is released and may be manipulated to open the carabiner 44, such that the loop 40 of strap 22, 22A - 22H may be removed from the locking carabiner 44, fitted around a stable object such as a support
  • the rotatable socket 48 may then be rotated around the mating threads of C-shaped portion of the locking carabiner 44, and held in place in a secure or locked position. This procedure is then reversed to release the bag 20 from the stable object. This operation is the same for a locking carabiner 44B.
  • the strap 22, 22A - 22H coupled to the locking carabiner 44, 44B or hinged, locking rectangular ring 500, 500A, 500B is another security feature of the exemplary bag 20, 20C constructions, by enabling the secure placement of the carry strap 22, 22A - 22H around a post or some other object to prevent ease of snatching the bag 20, 20C.
  • FIG. 18A Another variation, using hinged, locking rectangular ring 500, 500A, is illustrated in FIG. 18A .
  • a carry strap 22, 22A - 22H is coupled (via loop 40) to a hinged, locking rectangular ring 500, 500A (or 500B), which in turn is coupled through loop 47A to a bag 20.
  • the loop 47A is constructed similarly to a carry strap 22, 22A - 22H, such as by incorporating a cable 38 or by having other cut-resistant reinforcement, such as a wire matrix (discussed below) or a cut-resistant, semi-rigid but flexible polymer or plastic sheet.
  • Representative hinged, locking rectangular rings 500, 500A, and 500B are illustrated in FIGs. 40 - 44 .
  • FIG. 18B Another variation, using a multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501, is illustrated in FIG. 18B .
  • a carry strap 22, 22A - 22H is coupled (via loop 40) to a multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501, which in turn is coupled to a ring 77 or other fitting (or any shape or kind) coupled through loop 47A to a bag 20.
  • the loop 47A is constructed similarly to a carry strap 22, 22A - 22H, such as by incorporating a cable 38 or by having other cut-resistant reinforcement, such as a wire matrix (discussed below) or a cut-resistant, semi-rigid but flexible polymer or plastic sheet.
  • FIG. 44 A representative multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501 is illustrated in FIG. 44 .
  • a multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501 is described in detail and claimed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/104,717, filed January 17, 2015 , titled “Multi-Glide Locking Snap Hook Fastener", which is commonly assigned herewith, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference with the same full force and effect as if set forth in its entirety herein, and with priority claimed for all commonly disclosed subject matter.
  • FIG. 4A is cross-sectional view (through the A - A' plane illustrated in FIG. 4 ) of a representative first embodiment of a carry strap 22, such as illustrated in FIGs. 1 and 4 .
  • a carry strap 22 generally comprises a first piece of flexible material (or webbing) 51, with a wire or cable 38 disposed longitudinally along the middle or center of the flexible material (or webbing) 51, illustrated as central region 562 located between first and second lateral regions 563, 564.
  • the wire or cable 38 and central region 562 of the first flexible material are covered by a second piece of flexible material (or webbing) 49, also disposed longitudinally along the middle or center of the flexible material (or webbing) 51, and secured to the first piece of flexible material (or webbing) 51, such as through stitching 53, securing the wire or cable 38 in between the second flexible material 49 and the central region 562 of the first flexible material 51.
  • the first piece of flexible material (or webbing) 51 is considerably wider (in the lateral dimension) than the second piece of flexible material (or webbing) 49, although this is not required, and many other variations are illustrated and discussed below. More particularly, as illustrated in FIGs. 4 and 4A (showing a cross-section through the A - A' plane of FIG.
  • a first flexible material 51 (having a first length substantially greater than a first width, as illustrated in FIG. 4 ), also has a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge along its length, has first and second lateral regions 563, 564 along its length, and having a central region 562 along its length in between the first and second lateral regions 563, 564.
  • the carry strap 22 has a substantially cut-resistant cable 38 longitudinally arranged on the central region 562 of the first flexible material 51, and a second flexible material 49 (also having a second length substantially greater than a second width, width the second width smaller than the first width of the first flexible material 51 as illustrated), with the second flexible material 49 coupled over the substantially cut-resistant cable 38 and to the first central region 562 of the first flexible material 51 to secure the substantially cut-resistant cable 38 between the second flexible material 49 and the central region 562 of the first flexible material 51.
  • webbing material has been used as the flexible material 51, 49; as known in the fabric arts, "webbing" material is generally a woven strip of fabric or other flexible material which generally extends longitudinally and has a considerably narrower width (lateral dimension), such as to be suitable to form a strap, and typically has finished lateral edges ( e.g., to avoid unraveling).
  • a hinged, locking rectangular ring 500, 500A comprises two C-shaped arms 502, 504, which are coupled to each other at a first end through a pin 506, such as a rivet or other attachment, forming a hinge or otherwise allowing pivoting or other rotation of one arm 502, 504 relative to the other arm 504, 502.
  • arms 502, 504 are threaded, illustrated as threads 510 and 512, respectively.
  • An interiorly threaded, rotatable socket 508 is rotatably and removably coupleable to the arms 502, 504 at their threaded second ends (510, 512), as illustrated.
  • the rotatable socket 508 is maintained threaded onto or otherwise coupled to one of the threaded second ends 510, 512, the hinged, locking rectangular ring 500, 500A is closed, and the rotatable socket 508 is rotated and tightened onto the other threaded second end 512, 510.
  • the hinged, locking rectangular ring 500, 500A is effectively secured or locked in a closed position, illustrated in FIG. 40 for hinged, locking rectangular ring 500.
  • the arms 502, 504 may be pivoted relative to one another to provide an opening or aperture 520, such that the hinged, locking rectangular ring 500, 500A is in an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 41 for a hinged, locking rectangular ring 500 and FIG. 42 for a hinged, locking rectangular ring 500A.
  • the size of the opening or aperture 520 may be limited by the configuration or shape of the two C-shaped arms 502, 504, as illustrated in FIG. 42 , such as by one or more extensions, stop(s) or detent(s) 514 on or of C-shaped arm 502A for limiting the degree of rotation or pivoting about pin 506, forming hinged, locking rectangular ring 500A as another variation within the scope of the disclosure, and which otherwise operates effectively the same as the hinged, locking rectangular ring 500.
  • the size of the opening or aperture 520 is limited to be narrow and allow only a sliding removal of the carry strap 22, 22A - 22H when it is comparatively flat and not folded or bunched, as another security feature.
  • the threaded ends of the two C-shaped arms 502, 504 may be sized relative to the loop 47A and vice-versa; for example and without limitation, the loop 47A may be sized to allow insertion or removal of an arm 502, 504 only when the rotatable socket 508 is not attached, such that the arm 502, 504 is also secured within the loop 47A when the rotatable socket 508 is coupled to the corresponding threads 510 or 512.
  • the hinged, locking rectangular ring 500, 500A, 500B is provided with an aspect ratio greater than one, having relatively longer arms 502, 504 (as two opposite sides of a rectangle) compared to the first and second ends (as the other two opposite sides of a rectangle), such as to provide a comparatively slender configuration, allowing for a more feminine style for bags 20, 20C such as purses and handbags.
  • the pin 506 is configured to withstand considerable strain, shear and other types of stressful forces, such that the two C-shaped arms 502, 504 are not separated from each other by a typical force which may be exerted by a potential thief under typical circumstances.
  • hinged, locking rectangular ring 500B Another variation of a hinged, locking rectangular ring is illustrated in FIG. 43 as hinged, locking rectangular ring 500B.
  • the hinged, locking rectangular ring 500B is permanently attached to a loop 47A (or loop 40 of strap 22, 22A - 22H) through the opening or aperture 522 in arm 504A, and otherwise operates effectively the same as a hinged, locking rectangular ring 500, 500A.
  • Other variations in the shape of the locking ring 500, 500A, 500B, such as triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, twisted, spiral, etc. locking rings, are considered equivalent and are also within the scope of the disclosure.
  • the hinged, locking (rectangular) ring 500, 500A, 500B may also include other components, such as one or more additional locking mechanisms, springs, or a stop nut to prevent the rotatable socket 508 from being disengaged from one of the arms 502, 504, or to maintain the hinged, locking (rectangular) ring 500, 500A, 500B in a closed position, for example and without limitation.
  • the locking ring 500, 500A, 500B does not typically require a spring bias mechanism to be maintained in a closed position.
  • the opening or aperture 520 is on a (first) side of the locking ring 500, 500A, 500B directly opposite the (second) side having the pin 506, rather than being on the same side (and typically coupled to the carabiner gate), as would be the case with a locking carabiner 44, 44A, 44B.
  • FIG. 44 illustrates a multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501, which as mentioned above is the subject of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/104,717, filed January 17, 2015 , and is incorporated herein by reference with the same full force and effect as if set forth in its entirety herein, and with priority claimed for all commonly disclosed subject matter.
  • the gate 516 of the multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501 is biased (via a spring, not separately illustrated) into a closed position, as shown in FIG.
  • the multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501 may be utilized in any of the embodiments discussed herein, such as to replace any of the locking carabiners 44, 44A, 44B, or the locking ring 500, 500A, 500B, for example and without limitation.
  • FIGs. 45 - 61 constructions or assemblies forming carry straps 22A - 22H are illustrated, as variations of a carry strap 22 within the scope of the disclosure.
  • the cut-resistant cable 38 is enclosed or otherwise provided within edge piping 525, which is sewn or otherwise coupled or attached (via flanges, tabs, anchors or flags 545 of the piping 525) in between the flexible material forming the strap 22A, 22B ( e.g., along the illustrated sewing lines 531, 533), such as fabric webbing, leather, ballistic nylon, fabric, etc., illustrated as flexible (webbing) material sides 527 and 528.
  • edge piping 525 having the embedded cut-resistant cable 38 then abuts one of the respective (second) lateral edges 526A and 526B of the flexible material sides 527 and 528, as illustrated.
  • the cut-resistant cables 38A and 38B are also enclosed within respective edge piping 525A and 525B, which are sewn or otherwise coupled or attached (via flanges, tabs, anchors or flags 545 of the piping 525A, 525B) in between the flexible material forming the strap 22A, 22B ( e.g., along the illustrated sewing lines 531, 533), such as fabric webbing, leather, ballistic nylon, fabric, etc., illustrated as flexible (webbing) material sides 527 and 528.
  • edge piping 525A and 525B having the respective embedded cut-resistant cables 38A and 38B then abuts the respective first lateral edges 524A and 524B and second lateral edges 526A and 526B of the flexible material sides 527 and 528, as illustrated.
  • the flexible material forming the strap (such as flexible webbing material sides 527 and 528) has or have a length (longitudinal dimension) substantially greater than its width (lateral dimension).
  • the flexible material forming the strap may have any of various thicknesses, as discussed in greater detail below, which may be a uniform or non-uniform thickness in the lateral dimension and also in the longitudinal dimension (e.g., thicker regions may be provided for shoulder padding, and so on, in a region of the strap, both in the longitudinal and lateral dimensions for that region of the strap 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, and/or 22H).
  • the flexible material comprising the strap may be comprised of any of the flexible materials disclosed herein and their equivalents, such as leather, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, acrylic, ballistic nylon, etc., for example and without limitation, and that any flexible material may also be utilized in place of any webbing, also for example and without limitation, and also for any of the various straps 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, and/or 22H.
  • the flexible material may be one piece which is folded about its middle to provide the two sides 527 and 528, or may be comprised of two (or more) separate pieces of flexible material, such as two pieces of flexible webbing material having finished edges, for example and without limitation.
  • the edge piping 525 may also provide decoration and/or style to the carry strap 22A, 22B of the bag 20, 20C, 20D, 20E, which may also include decorative piping without a cut-resistant cable 38, for example and without limitation.
  • cut-resistant cable 38 is incorporated within piping 525 along both edges 524, 526, forming a carry strap 22B having symmetrical piping and twice the reinforcement from the two incorporated cut-resistant cables 38.
  • a second, symmetrical piping 525 may also be provided without inclusion of a cut-resistant cable 38, as mentioned above.
  • the security cable 38, piping 525 and flexible material sides 527 and 528 may be assembled in line and fed collectively through a sewing or other machine in one or a few steps, and any and all such variations are considered equivalent and within the scope of the disclosure.
  • an adhesive or laminate may also be utilized to couple any of the various structures and components of any of the various carry straps 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, and/or 22H, such as to couple together flexible material sides 527 and 528, piping 525, etc. Accordingly, any and all means and mechanisms of attachment, such as stitching, adhesive, rivets, snaps, for example and without limitation, are considered equivalent and within the scope of the disclosure.
  • Additional structural and manufacturing advantages are provided by incorporating the cut-resistant cable(s) 38 along the edge(s) of the carry strap 22A, 22B, namely, the capability to fold the end of the cut-resistant cable(s) 38 into the middle or center of the carry strap 22A, 22B in the lateral dimension, illustrated in FIG. 47 .
  • the folding of the cut-resistant cable 38 also eliminates any need for separately capping the end of the cable 38, providing a savings in both manufacturing time and expenses.
  • the ends of the carry strap 22A, 22B are further finished as illustrated in FIGs. 47 and 48 .
  • a first portion of an end of the carry strap 22A, 22B is folded back on itself, as illustrated in FIG. 47 as a first fold 529, and may be optionally secured in place, such as through stitching or other sewing through the illustrated sewing lines 537 and/or 539.
  • the folded end of the carry strap 22A, 22B is folded a second time, as illustrated in FIG.
  • a fastener such as a multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501, a hinged, locking rectangular ring 500, 500A, 500B, a carabiner 44, 44B, and/or to a buckle 42, 45
  • a fastener such as a multi-glide locking snap hook fastener 501, a hinged, locking rectangular ring 500, 500A, 500B, a carabiner 44, 44B, and/or to a buckle 42, 45
  • secured such as through stitching or other sewing, crimping, riveting, adhesive, etc. through the illustrated (sewing) lines 541 and/or 543, which may be in lieu of or in addition to the stitching or other securing through lines 537 and/or 539).
  • the cut-resistant cable 38 is simply maintained in between the flexible material sides 527 and 528, without separately anchoring the cut-resistant cable 38, such as without anchoring the cable 38 along the middle or the edges.
  • the end of the cut-resistant cable 38 may also be folded toward the middle of the carry strap 22, as illustrated, and finished as discussed above for the carry strap 22A, 22B.
  • the carry straps 22A, 22B may also be finished as described below for carry strap 22C, using a substantially flat end cap 544.
  • FIG. 49 is an isometric view illustrating steps in the manufacture of the representative fourth embodiment of a carry strap 22C
  • FIG. 50 is an isometric view illustrating the representative fourth embodiment of a carry strap 22C
  • FIG. 51 is cross-sectional view through the B - B' plane of the representative fourth embodiment of a carry strap 22C
  • FIG. 52 is an isometric view of a representative fourth embodiment of a carry strap 22C with a flat end cap 544.
  • flexible material sides 527 and 528 are implemented using two pieces of flexible webbing material having respective finished first edges 524A and 524B and finished second edges 526A and 526B.
  • the flexible material sides 527 and 528 are offset from each other laterally, i.e., side-to-side, by a predetermined amount, providing respective lateral (or lateral offset) regions 576 and 577, and coupled to each other such as by sewing or other stitching, illustrated as stitching 532A and 532B.
  • a first cable 38A is then placed above the lateral (or lateral offset) region 576 of first material side 527, and another, second cable 38B is placed below the lateral (or lateral offset) region 577 of the second material side 528, and each lateral (or lateral offset) region 576, 577 is then wrapped around the corresponding cable 38A, 38B, as illustrated in FIGs. 50 and 51 .
  • the amount of predetermined offset is selected to provide sufficient flexible (webbing) material to wrap around cables 38A and 38B.
  • the wrapped offset regions 576, 577 of the first and second material sides 527, 528 are then coupled in place, such as by sewing or other stitching, illustrated as stitching 542A and 542B in FIGs. 50 and 51 .
  • Adhesives may also be utilized in addition to or in lieu of stitching.
  • the ends of the cables 38A and 38B may be coupled to each other, such as via a crimp 507, for example and without limitation.
  • a substantially flat end cap 544 having a mating recess or lumen 547 may be slid onto the end of the strap being formed by a sufficient amount to cover the ends of the cables 38A and 38B and secured in place, such as by sewing or other stitching, illustrated as stitching 546 in FIG. 52 (which also secures the ends of the cables 38 and crimp 507), to form a carry strap 22C.
  • a flat end cap 544 may be comprised of any suitable material, typically rubber or a plastic or other polymer, also for example and without limitation.
  • the flat end cap 544 is typically utilized with a strap 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, and/or 22H when the strap is utilized with a backpack or another bag 20 embodiment which will have an exposed and free end of a strap 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, and/or 22H.
  • an end of a strap 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, and/or 22H may be coupled directly to a carrying bag 20, or coupled to any of the various buckles and/or fasteners as mentioned above.
  • the ends of a strap 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, and/or 22H may also be finished as described above with reference to FIGs. 47 and 48 .
  • the ends of the cables 38A and 38B having the crimp 507 have been inserted far enough into the flat end cap 544, past the slot 509, such that the stitching 546 is within a loop formed by the crimped ends of the cables 38A and 38B, securing the flat end cap 544 to the strap 22C.
  • the resulting carry strap 22C is sufficiently flexible and has a sufficiently thin form factor to readily slide through (for length adjustment by the user) and be held in a locked position by a ladder lock-type buckle 548.
  • the ladder lock-type buckle 548 may be secured to the carrying bag 20, 20C (such as a backpack) using another piece or section of a carry strap 22C formed into a loop 549, which is then secured to the carrying bag 20.
  • FIGs. 53 - 61 are isometric and cross-sectional views of representative fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth embodiments of a carry strap, respectively carry straps 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, and 22H.
  • a single piece of flexible material 527 such as webbing material (or any of the various other flexible materials (e.g., flexible material 561) utilized to form a strap 22, 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, and/or 22H) may be described as having a middle (or central) region 562 having any predetermined lateral dimension (width) that is less than the overall width of the flexible material 527, and extending along the length (longitudinal dimension) of the flexible material 527, with the balance of the flexible material 527 being described as respective first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564, also extending along the length (longitudinal dimension) of the flexible material 527.
  • webbing material or any of the various other flexible materials (e.g.,
  • the middle (or central) region 562 and the first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564 may have a wide range of thicknesses, which may be uniform or non-uniform, e.g ., the middle (or central) region 562 may be thicker than the first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564, such as illustrated in FIGs. 54 - 57 and 59 , and as illustrated using dashed lines in FIG. 53 as optional thicker region 499. In other embodiments, the middle (or central) region 562 may have about the same thickness as the first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564, as illustrated in FIGS. 58 and 61 .
  • each of the first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564 may be wrapped around respective cables 38A and 38B laterally (which have been arranged longitudinally along the first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564) and secured in place, such as by sewing or other stitching, illustrated as stitching 565 in FIG. 54 .
  • Each of the respective first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564 may also be described or conceptually divided into three regions extending longitudinally, respectively first and second medial regions 584A and 584B adjacent the central region 562, respectively first and second lateral regions 579A and 579B adjacent the respective edges 524 and 524, and respective middle regions 589A and 589B. As illustrated in FIG.
  • the respective wires or cables 38A, 38B are placed over the respective middle regions 589A and 589B, the respective first and second lateral regions 579A and 579B are folded over the respective wires or cables 38A, 38B, and respectively coupled to the first and second medial regions 584A and 584B to laterally enclose the respective wires or cables 38A, 38B, such as through stitching, illustrated as respective stitching 565A and 565B.
  • FIG. 54 is an isometric view of a representative fifth embodiment of a carry strap 22D.
  • a single piece of webbing 561 is thicker in the middle (or central) region 562, allowing the first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564 to be wrapped around respective cables 38A, 38B and secured in place, as mentioned above, to form a carry strap 22D having a substantially even overall thickness and also generally a substantially thin form factor.
  • FIG. 55 is cross-sectional view through the F - F' plane of a representative fifth embodiment of a carry strap 22D (of FIG. 54 ) having a first configuration and a first thickness arrangement
  • FIG. 56 is cross-sectional view through the C - C' plane of a representative fifth embodiment of a carry strap 22D (of FIG. 54 ) having a second configuration and a second thickness arrangement
  • FIG. 57 is cross-sectional view through the C - C' plane of a representative fifth embodiment of a carry strap 22D (of FIG. 54 ) having a second configuration and a first thickness arrangement.
  • the middle (or central) region 562 of the webbing 561 has a thickness of "B"
  • each of the first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564 has a thickness of "C” (generally symmetrical laterally, although that is not required)
  • each of the wires or cables 38A, 38B has a thickness of "D” (also generally symmetrical, although that also is not required).
  • the placement of each of the wires or cables 38A, 38B is a first predetermined distance from the respective lateral edges 519 of the middle (or central) region 562, e.g. , comparatively close to the edges 519 but generally not quite abutting to allow sufficient space for the stitching 565A, 565B.
  • the thickness "B" of the middle (or central) region 562 is generally greater than two times the thickness "C" of the first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564 by about the thickness "D" of the wires or cables 38, i.e., B ⁇ 2C + D.
  • B ⁇ (1.8 - 2.2)C + D B ⁇ (1.5 - 2.5)C + D
  • B ⁇ (1.0 - 3.0)C + D as maybe necessary or desirable for any given implementation and tolerance level.
  • each of the wires or cables 38 is a second predetermined distance from the respective lateral edges 519 of the middle (or central) region 562 which is greater than the first predetermined distance of FIG. 55 , enough distance to allow each of the first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564 to wrap around the wires or cables 38A, 38B and contact the more medial portions of the respective first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564 as illustrated and as described above, and for the edges 524, 526 to contact (or close to contact) or abut the edges 519 of the middle (or central) region 562.
  • the carry strap 22D has about or substantially a uniform thickness centrally only ( i.
  • the thickness "B" of the middle (or central) region 562 generally about two times the thickness "C" of the first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564, i.e., B ⁇ 2C.
  • B ⁇ (1.8 - 2.2)C, B ⁇ (1.5 - 2.5)C, B ⁇ (1.0 - 3.0)C as may be necessary or desirable for any given implementation and tolerance level.
  • each of the wires or cables 38 is also a second predetermined distance from the respective lateral edges 519 of the middle (or central) region 562, which also is greater than the first predetermined distance of FIG. 55 , enough distance to allow each of the first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564 to wrap around the wires or cables 38A, 38B and contact or touch the more medial portions of the respective first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564 as illustrated and discussed above, and for the edges 524, 526 to contact (or close to contact) or abut the edges 519 of the middle (or central) region 562.
  • the carry strap 22D has a more variable and non-uniform thickness (i.e ., is thinner where the edges 524, 526 meet the edges 519 of the middle (or central) region 562), with the thickness "B" of the middle (or central) region 562 is generally greater than two times the thickness "C" of the first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564 by about the thickness "D" of the wires or cables 38, i.e., B ⁇ 2C + D, and with similar ranges of comparative thickness as previously described.
  • a single piece of webbing material 566 may be folded over a single cable 38 arranged along one of the first or second side or lateral regions 563, 564 and secured, such as by sewing or other stitching, illustrated as stitching 567 and 568, to form a carry strap 22E having a sufficiently even overall thickness (except slightly thicker along the side where the wire or cable 38 is located) and also generally a substantially thin form factor. As illustrated in FIG. 58 , a single piece of webbing material 566 may be folded over a single cable 38 arranged along one of the first or second side or lateral regions 563, 564 and secured, such as by sewing or other stitching, illustrated as stitching 567 and 568, to form a carry strap 22E having a sufficiently even overall thickness (except slightly thicker along the side where the wire or cable 38 is located) and also generally a substantially thin form factor. As illustrated in FIG.
  • a single piece of flexible material (webbing) 561 also is thicker in the middle (or central) region 562, with a second piece of flexible material (webbing) 569 placed over the respective cables 38A, 38B (arranged along the first and second side or lateral regions 563, 564) and secured in place, such as by sewing or other stitching, illustrated as stitching 570A and 570B, to form a carry strap 22F having a substantially even overall thickness and also generally a substantially thin form factor. As illustrated in FIG.
  • a single piece of flexible material (webbing) 572 is thinner in the middle to form a channel 573 for holding or housing a cable 38, with a second piece of webbing 574 placed over the cable 38 and webbing 572 and secured in place, such as by sewing or other stitching, illustrated as stitching 575A and 575B, to form a carry strap 22G having a substantially even overall thickness and also generally a substantially thin form factor. Not separately illustrated in FIGs.
  • any of these carry straps 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G and/or 22H, or any of the other carry straps disclosed herein may also be finished with a substantially flat end cap 544, and also utilized with a ladder lock-type buckle 548, or finished as otherwise described herein, such as illustrated in FIGs. 47 and 48 .
  • a piece of first flexible material 527 having a generally uniform thickness may be folded over two wires or cables 38A, 38B, each arranged along a respective one of the first or second side or lateral regions 563, 564, with the respective lateral edges 524, 526 abutting or spaced closely to each other centrally, as illustrated.
  • a separate piece of second flexible material 581 is also folded over itself as illustrated, with its respective lateral edges 582, 583 abutting or spaced closely to each other centrally and secured over a first side of the folded, first flexible material 527, such as by sewing or other stitching, illustrated as stitching 578A and 578B, to form a carry strap 22H having a sufficiently even overall thickness and also generally a substantially thin form factor. While they may be comprised of webbing material, for this representative carry strap 22H embodiment, the first and second flexible material 527, 581 do not need finished first and second edges 524A, 524B, 526A, 526B, and may be comprised of any of the flexible materials described herein. For embodiments in which webbing material is utilized, the second flexible material 581 is not required to be folded, and may simply have a smaller width than the first flexible material 527.
  • any reference herein to a security panel assembly shall be understood to mean and include any and all of the other various security panel assembly and subassembly embodiments disclosed herein, including without limitation security panel assemblies 62, 206, 300, 400 - 400E, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 - 1100C, 1300 - 1300D, and 1400 - 1400B.
  • any reference to a bag 20 should be understood to mean and include any of the other bag embodiments, including bags 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D and 20E, for example and without limitation.
  • the security panel assembly 62 is fabricated in a manner which enables the bag 20, 20A, 20C, 20D, 20E to remain flexible, yet provides a significant amount of security by preventing cutting though the bag 20, 20A, 20C, 20D, 20E to the interior 60 of the bag 20, 20A, 20C, 20D, 20E for access to its contents.
  • the security panel assembly 62 is comprised of layers of flexible or foldable material which are stitched or otherwise attached together over a matrix of wires or cables of cut-resistant material, which can be synthetic (such as a polymer) or metallic, for example and without limitation.
  • a chamber 60 is formed in the bag 20, and typically the security panel assembly is located or positioned between a lining 29 in that chamber 60 and the exterior fabric material 23 or other material defining the bag 20.
  • a security panel assembly may be provided in other or additional positions or locations, such as between a lining and an exterior part of a bag 20 defining an interior or exterior pocket or an expansion panel (815, 1400 - 1400B), for example and without limitation.
  • a wire, wires or a wire or fiber matrix (or matrices) will be referred to throughout this disclosure, and it should be understood that reference to a wire, fiber or wire matrix means and includes any type of metallic or nonmetallic wire, cable, fiber, thread or yarn.
  • a wire can be an approximately 0.1 mm to an approximately 3.5 mm, or more specifically about 0.7 mm to about 1.5 mm, or more specifically about an approximately 0.6 mm, gauge or diameter cable-type wire comprised of many strands of metallic material to provide the resistance of the security panel assembly against being easily and/or quickly cut through.
  • the cable or wire can also be of any other cut-resistant material, such as a polymer and/or carbon fiber, such as a non-metallic, substantially cut-resistant polymer-based fiber, thread or yarn (individually and collectively referred to as a "fiber"), such as a Kevlar ® aramid fiber, thread or yarn available from DuPont of Wilmington, Delaware US, or a Vectran ® liquid crystal polymer multifilament fiber, thread or yarn available from Kuraray America Inc. of Houston, Texas US.
  • a cut-resistant fiber may be combined with metallic or carbon fibers or threads, metal alloys, or elastic or rubber fibers or threads, in any of various combinations, such as a combination of steel and polymer.
  • each matrix (typically formed using a single length of wire (or fiber)) comprises a plurality of wire crossings or otherwise overlapping intersections which form a plurality of closed wire shapes as described in greater detail below.
  • the sections of wire are directly touching and abutting each other but are otherwise specifically uncoupled to each other, e.g., they are not crimped, soldered, brazed or otherwise connected at these intersections.
  • first and/or second material layers also as discussed in greater detail below.
  • movement of the sections of wire at these wire crossings is much less restricted than in the prior art, allowing for considerable flexibility and deformation capability while concurrently maintaining the desired level of cut-resistant security.
  • a representative interior security panel assembly 62 may have virtually any shape or configuration, to accommodate any shape or configuration of a bag 20 - 20E or to accommodate other purposes, such as to reinforce and render cut-resistant expansion panels of a bag.
  • many of the illustrated representative security panel assemblies are configured for subsequent folding, such as into a box shape, for insertion into the interior of a bag 20 - 20E, which may have any style, shape or configuration.
  • Other illustrated configurations of a security panel assembly provide for additional folding, such as to compress a bag 20, 20A, 20C, 20D, 20E for shipment.
  • Other shapes, styles and configurations are also within the scope of the disclosure.
  • a hard case suitcase e.g., bag 20B
  • a hard case suitcase may have one or more flexible material expansion panels which may be unfolded and opened to provide for expansion between the two hard case sides of the bag, and an interior security panel assembly having a wire matrix or mesh (described below) may be shaped and configured to be incorporated within such flexible material expansion panels, as an additional security feature of a hard case bag.
  • the back side of a carrying bag 20, 20A, 20C, 20D, 20E may either be worn against a consumer's body and not accessible by an intruder or thief, or may be comprised of a shaped, molded material that is substantially cut-resistant.
  • an interior security panel assembly having a wire matrix or mesh also may not require a corresponding back side, for example, and instead may be defined by four sides, namely, front, lateral (or end) and bottom sides.
  • a single wire 200 could be employed that is routed along and across the material layers therebetween, such as by looping of the single wire 200, to avoid having more than two ends 202 and 204 of the wire 200 that need to be addressed or accommodated at an edge of the panel assembly 206.
  • FIG. 2 An exemplary security panel assembly 62 is depicted in greater detail in Figures 3 and 4 .
  • the interior security panel assembly 62 in the embodiment depicted is comprised of a single (and flexible or foldable) panel having a profile that can be described as the profile of the Roman Numeral I or upper-case "I".
  • Other configurations, such as a T or U-shape could also be employed, depending on the configuration of the bag 20 and where the security panel assembly is needed for security or protection, as mentioned above.
  • the security panel assembly 62 is, in this instance, comprised of a single panel which is foldable along fold lines 70, 72, 74 and 76. When so folded, the panel assembly 62 defines generally the shape of a box as depicted in FIG. 3 .
  • a box-like structure is formed having a bottom surface 80, opposite side surfaces 82 and 84 and end panels 86 and 88.
  • This box-like assembly or box-like security panel assembly is formed during the manufacturing operation of the bag 20, 20C, 20D by tacking the security panel assembly 62 to the inside face (interior surface) of the material forming the exterior bag 23. Then a lining 29 may be placed over and within the interior of the folded security panel assembly 62 and the other material forming the exterior bag 23. The layers of lining 29, security panel assembly 62 and exterior bag 23 may then be stitched together to form the bag 20, along with any other desired components.
  • An adhesive or laminate may also be used to facilitate assembly of the security panel assembly and/or bag 20.
  • stitching is used to form and create the bag 20, 20A, 20C, 20D, 20E.
  • Lining 29 fits against the interior surface of the security panel assembly 62 to thereby encapsulate the security panel assembly 62 within the bag 20, 20C, 20D, with a "sandwich" of the lining 29, the security panel assembly 62, and the exterior bag 23 forming the carrying bag 20, 20A, 20C, 20D, 20E.
  • multiple discrete security panels, subpanels, or security panel assemblies 62 may be combined to provide a composite interior security panel assembly.
  • the embodiment depicted provides an easy and representative manner of connecting the security panel assembly 62 to the exterior bag 23.
  • the fold lines for example fold lines 70 and 72, insure that the security of the chamber or interior 60 of the bag 20 is maintained since the wire matrix (as discussed hereinafter) is continuous though the fold lines and the step of forming the bag effectively insures that the security panel assembly 62 fits over essentially all or most of the interior walls of the bag 20, 20A, 20C, 20D, 20E and also lines the chamber 60.
  • a security panel assembly may also be positioned to protect selected portions of a bag 20 - 20E, such as a main compartment, rather than all or most of the bag 20 - 20E.
  • the security panel assembly 300 is used to pivotally connect a lower container base 302 to cover 304.
  • the security panel assembly 300 can form a living hinge-type of connection between the base 302 and cover 304.
  • the panel assembly 300 has a cut-resistant cable or wire 306 that is formed into loops and crosses itself along its length so that only two ends 308 and 310 of the wire 306 are present at an edge of the panel assembly 300.
  • the base 302 can be a metallic frame 312 having an open-top box or other configuration
  • the cover 304 can include a pair of cover members 314 and 316 that cooperate to close the open-top of the box frame 312 when pivoted closed, and to provide access to the bag interior when pivoted open via security panel assemblies 300 extending along either side of the box frame 312 and along the cover members 314 and 316 to form living hinges therebetween.
  • the wire netting 306 (also referred to as a wire matrix) extends and is captured between a pair of inner and outer metal plates 318 and 320 to form each cover member 314 and 316. These plates also can each have a reinforcement wire 321 that extends around their perimeter to provide rigidity thereto.
  • Each wire netting 306 extends down along a corresponding side 322 and 324 of the frame 312 and around the bottom corners of the box frame 312 where it is secured at the bottom 326 of the frame 312.
  • a metal plate 328 and a plastic plate 330 each substantially coextensive with the bottom 326 can be fixed thereto as by riveting to clamp and fix the bottom loops of the wire netting 306 therebetween, as shown in Figs. 25 and 26 .
  • FIG. 5 depicts a first step which is the cutting and formation of a first layer 90 of flexible or foldable material.
  • the shape and configuration of the first material layer 90 may be that of the Roman Numeral I as previously discussed or any desired shape associated with the design of the bag under construction.
  • the layer 90 of material (and any of the other first and/or second material layers described below, and vice-versa) may be a fabric, a plastic sheet, any woven or nonwoven sheet of material, or other foldable or flexible material. The choice of material is not a limiting feature of the invention.
  • Wires 92 are then placed over the surface of the first layer 90 of material. The wires 92 may be retained in place by a glue or adhesive material 94.
  • the wire or wires 92 are secured against shifting relative to the material layer 90 so as not to be captured loosely between the material layers, such that there is no need for extra holding devices such as crimps or the like to secure adjacent runs of the wire(s) to each other.
  • the pattern of the wires 92 in the embodiment depicted is a series of spaced, parallel wires which run diagonally across the surface of the layer 90.
  • Figures 6 and 7 illustrate in further detail the placement of the glue or adhesive 94 on the layer 90 and the positioning of the wires 92 on the layer 90 retained by the adhesive or glue material 94.
  • a second layer 96 substantially identical to the first layer 90, is then prepared with adhered, spaced, parallel wires 98.
  • one of the layers 90 and 96 can be fabric material while the other is a non-woven material.
  • the second layer 96 is rotated 180° ( i.e . , turned or flipped over) relative to the first layer 90 and placed over the first layer 90 as depicted in Figures 8 and 9 .
  • the second layer 96 which includes wires 98
  • the pattern of the wire matrix is not a limiting feature.
  • the chosen matrix in this case is a series of crossed wires which have ends 100 that terminate along a boundary 102, by way of example, of the panel layers 90 and 96.
  • the binding 110 is thus preferably provided about the entire circumference of the interior security panel assembly 62.
  • the security panel assembly 62 has a square configuration rather than that of a Roman numeral 1.
  • the configuration of the interior security panel assembly 62 is not a limiting feature of the invention.
  • the cable member 38 associated with the carry strap 22, 22A - 22H also may be attached to the interior security panel assembly 62, 206 (or the other security panel assemblies disclosed herein) or as discussed above.
  • the shape and configuration of the exterior bag 23 and the interior security panel assembly 62, 206 may be varied in accord with a design consideration.
  • the inclusion of one or more interior security panel assembly 62, 206 within an exterior bag 23 may be adopted.
  • the material layer 406 can have adhesive 422 such as a pressure sensitive adhesive material (422) applied to or exposed thereon on its upwardly facing surface 424.
  • the material layer 406 can include a covering sheet 426 made of a material that allows it to be readily removed from pre-applied adhesive 422 thereunder.
  • FIG. 30 shows the cover sheet 426 being pulled off from the material layer 406 so as to expose the adhesive 422 on the material layer surface 424.
  • the adhesive 422 could be applied directly to the upwardly facing surface 424 of the material layer 406 as it is held on the mounting board 404 by the mounting pegs 410.
  • the cable or wire 428 can also be of any other cut-resistant material, such as a polymer and/or carbon fiber, or other yarn material such as Vectran ® which is a high-performance thermoplastic multifilament yarn spun from a liquid crystal polymer, for example and without limitation.
  • a cut-resistant material such as a polymer and/or carbon fiber, or other yarn material such as Vectran ® which is a high-performance thermoplastic multifilament yarn spun from a liquid crystal polymer, for example and without limitation.
  • the present method allows for use of a single wire 428 so that only two ends 432 and 434 need to be manipulated adjacent to one of the edges 412-418 so as not to be exposed therefrom, such as by projecting beyond any of the edges 412-418 or being too closely adjacent thereto.
  • the wire 428 at the ends 432 and 434 is bent back to extend toward the center of the material layer 406 with the ends 432 and 434 being secured to and on the upwardly facing surface 424 adjacent the end edge 416 of the material layer 406.
  • each matrix (typically formed using a single length of wire (or fiber)) comprises a plurality of wire crossings 453 or otherwise overlapping intersections which form a plurality of closed wire shapes (described in greater detail below).
  • the sections of wire are directly touching and abutting each other but are otherwise specifically uncoupled to each other, e.g ., they are not crimped, soldered, brazed or otherwise connected at these intersections.
  • less deterministic or pseudo-random or even whimsical stitching may also be utilized to secure the wire matrix 451 to a first material layer 406 or between a first material layer 406 and a second material layer 408.
  • a fabricator may use any stitching design of any kind, which does not need to be a predetermined pattern, but may be decided in the moment or even instantaneously, as the fabricator is assembling the wire matrix 451 to a first material layer 406 or between a first material layer 406 and a second material layer 408.
  • the routing of the wire to form the wire matrix 451 may also be less deterministic or pseudo-random, provided adequate or reasonable coverage is provided for the security panel assembly, such as illustrated in FIG. 69 , for example and without limitation.
  • FIGs. 67 - 70 are isometric views illustrating various additional and representative embodiments of security panel assemblies 1100, 1100A - 1100C (thirty first through thirty fourth embodiments), which may be either metallic or nonmetallic, fiber-based security panel assemblies.
  • the fiber matrix 910 may be secured in place, such as by sewing or other stitching, illustrated as stitching 920, without using a second material layer.
  • a second material layer 925 (shown in a cut-away view in FIG. 68 ) is placed over the fiber matrix 910 and also may be secured in place, such as by sewing or other stitching, illustrated as stitching 930.
  • the security panel assemblies 1100, 1100A - 1100C may be utilized in any of the various illustrated embodiments, such as for a security panel assembly within a bag 20, 20A - 20E.
  • the security panel assemblies 1100, 1100A - 1100C are particularly well-suited for use in any of the various expansion panels 815 (or 1400 - 1400B), discussed below.
  • FIGs. 71 and 72 illustrate a wheeled, soft-sided travel bag 20A, as a type of carrying bag, having a solid, hard back 802 typically comprised of a polymer, and including wheel wells 804 for housing wheels 806.
  • the terms back, front, sides, top, and bottom are relative terms here and are descriptive of the travel bag 20A (and 20B) when the travel bag 20A (20B) is in an upright position, as illustrated in FIGs. 71 - 74 .
  • the main body component 801 further comprises an expansion panel 815 (or 1400 - 1400B), which typically takes the form of a gusset, and which extends around the entire perimeter of the travel bag 20A (along top, bottom, and both side walls).
  • the main body component 801 may be joined to the secondary body component 803 by an expansion panel 815 (or 1400 - 1400B).
  • the secondary body component 803 may further comprise an expansion panel 815 (or 1400 - 1400B), which also typically takes the form of a gusset, and which extends around the entire perimeter of the travel bag 20A.
  • the main body component 801A of the travel bag 20B also may include other structural components, not separately illustrated, such as a rigid frame underneath the hard-sided exterior covers 831, 833, 837, a telescoping extendable towing handle, etc.
  • a travel bag 20B also typically includes one or more carry handles 821 and the like.
  • the secondary body component 803A further comprises an expansion panel 815 (or 1400 - 1400B), which typically takes the form of a gusset, and which extends around the entire perimeter of the travel bag 20B (along top, bottom, and both side walls).
  • the main body component 801A may be joined to the secondary body component 803A by an expansion panel 815 (or 1400 - 1400B).
  • the main body component 801A may further comprise an expansion panel 815 (or 1400 - 1400B), which also typically takes the form of a gusset, and which extends around the entire perimeter of the travel bag 20A.
  • FIG. 75 is an enlarged, cut-away view showing the various flexible layers comprising a representative embodiment of an expansion panel 815.
  • the expansion panel 815 is comprised of a flexible material cover 811, 811A or other flexible material exterior layer (such as ballistic nylon, leather, or any of the various other flexible materials discussed herein), a security panel assembly (which may be any of the various security panel assemblies disclosed herein, including without limitation security panel assemblies 62, 206, 300, 400 - 400E, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 - 1100C, 1300 - 1300D, and 1400 - 1400B, and any of their variations), and optionally a lining 29A, which is also typically a flexible material such as a fabric, for example and without limitation.
  • a lining 29A which is also typically a flexible material such as a fabric, for example and without limitation.
  • the security panel assembly portion of the expansion panel 815 is fixed to (as discussed with reference to FIGs. 85 - 89 ) or is separable from and/or removably couplable to the main body component 801, 801A and/or secondary body component 803, 803A, such as for folding and storage when the bag 20A, 20B is in the compact, unexpanded configuration, as described in greater detail below with reference to FIGs. 76 and 77 .
  • the flexible material cover 811, 811A of the expansion panel 815 may always be coupled to the main body component 801, 801A and secondary body component 803, 803A to maintain the structure or structural integrity of the bag 20A, 20B regardless of its expanded or retracted state.
  • the wire matrix of the security panel assembly is comprised of a cut-resistant yarn or fiber, such that the security panel assembly is coupled to, integrated or formed as part of the flexible material cover 811, 811A and is always coupled to or integrated on both sides 822, 824 of the travel bag 20A or, correspondingly, both sides 826, 828 of travel bag 20B.
  • the expansion panel 815 is gusseted for expansion and readily foldable into the interior of the travel bag 20A, 20B when the travel bag 20A, 20B is not expanded.
  • the security panel assembly may be removably couplable to the other side (illustrated as side 824 of the travel bag 20A (or side 828 for bag 20B)), such as via zipper 836 for bag 20B.
  • the security panel assembly may remain fully coupled, or may be unzipped or otherwise uncoupled from one side (824, 828) or both sides of the travel bag 20A, 20B (while the flexible material cover 811, 811A is coupled to both sides), and folded back to lie flat within the interior 838 of the travel bag 20A, 20B, for example and without limitation.
  • the security panel assembly may be unzipped or otherwise uncoupled from both sides (822, 824 or 826, 828), and simply removed and stored within the interior 838 of the travel bag 20A, 20B or elsewhere, also for example and without limitation.
  • the security panel assembly e .
  • each of the first and second security panels 400A 1 , 400A 2 may be described as having a first lateral region 902, illustrated as respective first lateral regions 902A and 902B, and having a second lateral region 904, illustrated as respective second lateral regions 904A and 904B.
  • the respective first lateral regions 902A and 902B are then coupled together, such as through the stitching 906 illustrated in FIGs. 79 - 83 , which also serves as an axis of rotation (or pivot) axis, for the two security panels 400A 1 ,400A 2 to be folded against each other, for a closed, unexpanded configuration, and to be rotated or pivoted apart, moving each of the two second lateral regions 904A and 904B away from each other, for an open, expanded configuration, illustrated in FIGs. 80 and 82 .
  • first lateral regions 902A and 902B are coupled together in such a way that the flange (or edge) area 466B (of the first lateral region 902B) of the second security panel 400A 2 is coupled to the first security panel 400A 1 in that part of the first lateral region 902A of the first security panel 400A 1 which also includes a lateral region (or portion) 914 of the wire matrix 451A of the first security panel 400A 1 , as illustrated.
  • the expansion panel security panel assemblies 1400 and 1400A differ insofar as the orientation of coupling of the second security panel 400A 2 , and otherwise function identically, but with security panel assembly 1400 presenting a more finished appearance (with both flange regions 466 behind the security panel assembly 1400).
  • the expansion panel security panel assemblies 1400 and 1400A may be utilized interchangeably and equivalently, particularly when covered on one side by an exterior covering 811, 811A and on the other side by an interior lining 29A, as previously discussed.
  • the security panel assembly 1400B differs insofar as it includes additional security panels 400A chained or linked for additional lateral expansion, with additional third security panel 400A 3 and fourth security panel 400A 4 , coupled or linked together to provide both expansion and compact folding (and illustrated in FIG. 84 in the open and expanded state of the expansion panel security panel assembly 1400B).
  • variously-shaped expansion panel security panel assemblies 1400 - 1400B may be particularly useful to accommodate corners of bags 20, 20A, 20B.
  • Incorporation of and shapes or configurations of the expansion panel security panel assemblies 1400 - 1400B within an expansion panel 815 are illustrated in FIGs. 85 - 89 for bags 20A, 20B, and 20F, it being understood that such an expansion panel 815 may be included in any of the bags 20 - 20E disclosed herein and their equivalents, any and all of which are within the scope of this disclosure.
  • first and second security panels 400A 1 ,400A 2 are coupled through stitching 906 or rivets or grommets, for example, there are other mechanisms for coupling the first and second security panels 400A 1 ,400A 2 to each other and to bags 20, 20A, 20B, such as by use of one or more hinges or other pivoting mechanisms, any and all of which are considered equivalent and within the scope of the disclosure.
  • the security panel assembly 62, 206, 300, 400 - 400E, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 -1100C, 1300 - 1300D, and 1400 -1400B, used as part of or integrated with an expansion panel 815, may be coupled to the sides, compartments, or other remaining portion of the travel bag 20, 20A - 20E in a wide variety of ways, any and all of which are within the scope of the disclosure.
  • an expansion panel 815 is included in a bag 20, 20A - 20E
  • other security panel assemblies included in the bag 20, 20A - 20E will have different sizes and configurations to accommodate the expansion, such as by having multiple security panel assemblies instead of one larger continuous security panel assembly, e.g ., a first security panel assembly on a first side of a bag 20, 20A - 20E, a second security panel assembly on a second, opposite side of a bag 20, 20A - 20E, and with the expansion panel 815 located in between the first and second security panel assemblies.
  • other security panel assemblies 62, 206, 300, 400 - 400E, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 - 1100C, 1300 - 1300D within the bag 20E are typically shaped to cover the non-expanding portions of the bag, with one or more security panel assemblies 62, 206, 300, 400 - 400E, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 - 1100C, 1300 - 1300D included in the front portion 916 of the bag 20E having the front side and the front part of the sides of the bag 20E, and with one or more separate security panel assemblies 62, 206, 300, 400 - 400E, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 -1100C, 1300 - 1300D included in the back or rear portion 918 of the bag 20E having the back side and the back or rear part of the sides of the bag 20E.
  • the rear or back side of a bag 20, 20C, 20D, 20E that may be worn against a user's body may or may not include one or more security panel assemblies 62, 206, 300, 400 - 400E, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100 -1100C, 1300 - 1300D.
  • Additional embodiments of security panel assemblies are illustrated in the Figures and discussed in greater detail below, including additional folding embodiments that may be particularly suited for use as part of an expansion panel 815.
  • FIGs. 90 - 96 illustrate the manufacture of yet additional variations of security panel assemblies 600, 600A, 600B, and 600C, respectively ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth representative embodiments of a security panel assembly.
  • Security panel assemblies 600, 600A, 600B, and 600C are fabricated similarly to the security panel assemblies previously discussed and, in the interests of brevity, only new or additional features of these security panel assemblies will be discussed.
  • any reference to a wire or wire matrix herein should be understood to mean and include any of the other respective wires or wire matrices disclosed herein (unless specifically specified or excluded or the context otherwise requires), and any reference to a wire end should be understood to mean and include any of the other respective wire ends disclosed herein.
  • a wire or wire matrix of any of the Figures may be metallic or non-metallic (e.g., a flexible polymeric fiber or yarn), or formed having a different configuration or shape, etc. (unless specifically specified or excluded or the context otherwise requires).
  • any reference to a first material layer or a second material layer should be understood to mean and include any of the other respective first and/or second material layers disclosed herein, including composition or material selection, also for example and without limitation.
  • any of the various security panel assemblies may be utilized for incorporation into any carrying bag 20 - 20E or expansion panel 815, 1400 - 1400B, also for example and without limitation, and those having skill in the art will recognize that innumerable combinations, configurations and variations are available, any and all of which are considered equivalent and within the scope of the disclosure.
  • a first material layer 602 is also shaped or configured as an uppercase "I" (or Roman Numeral I), similarly to security panel assembly 62, for subsequent ease of folding a security panel assembly 600 into a box shape.
  • the mounting pegs 410 are not in parallel rows (on opposing sides of a rectangular-shaped first material layer 406 of FIGs. 29 - 34 ), but instead are configured or positioned about or toward the periphery of the I-shaped first material layer 602, as illustrated.
  • a single wire 428 has been routed about the mounting pegs 410 in a second predetermined pattern to also form an I-shaped wire matrix 605 having bent or curved portions 435 adjacent the periphery of the first material layer 602, and further having ends which have been bent, curved or folded away from the periphery and toward the center of the first material layer 602, as illustrated, and capped together using a single cap 601.
  • An adhesive such as adhesive 422 may be applied to the upper surface of first material layer 602 (not separately illustrated), and/or an adhesive (such as adhesive 422A) may be applied to the lower surface of a second material layer 610A, as illustrated in FIG. 92 .
  • Both the first material layer 602 and the second material layer 610, 610A also respectively have edges or borders 607, 608 which will be utilized, as discussed above, to form integral flange or panel members, illustrated in FIG. 95 (for one half of the security panel assembly 600) as flange or panel members 612, 614, 616, 618, and 620 which may also be utilized as bridge connectors to provide assistance for attaching and incorporating the security panel assembly 600 into a carrying bag 20, as illustrated in FIG. 96 .
  • the I-shaped wire matrix 605 may be secured or stabilized as discussed above, using any predetermined or other pattern, such as the triangular or sawtooth pattern 450 to form security panel assembly 600 as illustrated in FIG. 94 , or using a plurality of stitching patterns which do not touch or cross over the wire 428 forming the I-shaped wire matrix 605, as previously discussed.
  • the security panel assembly 600 may then be folded, such as into a box shape illustrated in FIG. 95 , and using flange or panel members 612, 614, 616, 618, and 620, may be incorporated into a bag 20, such as by stitching the flange or panel members 612, 614, 616, 618, and 620 into the bag 20 along the bottom and center seams of the end panels 630, 632, as illustrated by stitch lines 634 and 636 in FIG. 96 . Also illustrated in FIG. 96 are the use of a hinged, rectangular locking ring 500, 500A and the use of any of the various carry straps 22, 22A - 22H, additionally illustrated as having a surface decoration or texture.
  • FIGs. 97 - 102 illustrate the manufacture of another variation of a security panel assembly, security panel assembly 700 as a thirteenth representative embodiment of a security panel assembly.
  • Security panel assembly 700 is fabricated similarly to the security panel assembly 600 previously discussed and, in the interests of brevity, only new or additional features of the security panel assembly 700 will be discussed.
  • the second material layer 610B or 610C (having pre-applied adhesive 422A) has pre-stitched flange or panel members 640, 642, 644 and 646 which are located or positioned such that following adhering the second material layer 610B or 610C over the I-shaped wire matrix 605 (formed by routing a wire 701 as illustrated) and first material layer 602, as illustrated in FIGs. 97 - 100 , when the security panel assembly 700 is folded into a rectangular box shape, the pre-stitched flange or panel members 640, 642, 644 and 646 are each at a respective corner 648, 650, 652, and 654, as illustrated in FIG. 101 .
  • the security panel assembly 700 may be incorporated into a bag 20, such as by stitching the flange or panel members 640, 642, 644 and 646 into the bag 20 along the side edge and bottom seams of the end panels 630, 632, as illustrated by stitch lines 656, 658, and 660 in FIG. 102 .
  • the placement of the pre-stitched flange or panel members 640, 642, 644 and 646 allows closure of the seams of the security panel assembly 700 which are offset from the seams of the exterior 23 and/or lining 29, and further allows some overlapping of the wire 701 at the seams of the security panel assembly 700, for added security. Also illustrated in FIG.
  • the security panel assembly 700 may also have additional stitching, as discussed above, to stabilize or secure the I-shaped wire matrix 605 (illustrated with a dotted line in FIG. 101 ).
  • FIGs. 103 - 111 illustrate the manufacture of another variation of a security panel assembly, security panel assembly 800, as an eleventh representative embodiment of a security panel assembly.
  • Security panel assembly 800 is fabricated similarly to the security panel assemblies previously discussed and, in the interests of brevity, only new or additional features of the security panel assembly 800 will be discussed.
  • a first material layer 670 is configured generally as a rectangle but having cut-outs or notches 680, i.e ., sections removed in advance, such that the resulting security panel assembly 800 will also be foldable into a box shape, as illustrated in FIGs. 108 - 110 .
  • the mounting pegs 410 are arrayed correspondingly to accommodate the cut-outs or notches 680.
  • a single wire 428 has been routed about the mounting pegs 410 in a third predetermined pattern to also form a wire matrix 675 having bent or curved portions 435 adjacent the periphery of the first material layer 670, and further having capped ends 671, 672 which have been bent, curved or folded away from the periphery and toward the center of the first material layer 670, as illustrated.
  • the security panel assembly 800 may be incorporated into a bag 20, such as by stitching the flange or panel members 682, 684, 686 and 688 into the bag 20 along the side edge and bottom seams of the end panels 630, 632, as illustrated by stitch lines 656, 658, and 660 in FIG. 111 . Also illustrated in FIG. 105 are the use of a hinged, rectangular locking ring 500, 500A and the use of any of the various carry straps 22, 22A - 22H.
  • the wire matrix 675 may be secured or stabilized as discussed above, using any predetermined pattern, such as another triangular or sawtooth pattern 622 to form security panel assembly 800 as illustrated in FIG. 107 , or using any of the other stitching patterns described herein.
  • the sides of the folded security panel assembly 800 may be secured to each other, such as by using rivets 702 (or grommets or snaps) and, as another option, a stabilizing bar or panel 704, 706 which may be comprised of any flexible or nonflexible material, such as any of the various woven or nonwoven materials as described above, such as fabric, leather, a polymer, etc., as illustrated in FIGs. 108 and 109 .
  • the stabilizing bar or panel 704, 706 may be located or positioned either (or both) on the exterior of the box (as illustrated in FIGs. 108 and 109 ) or within the interior of the box created by the folded security panel assembly 800.
  • FIGs. 112 - 127 illustrate the manufacture of yet additional variations of a security panel assemblies, as a security panel assembly 900, a twelfth representative embodiment of a security panel assembly.
  • Security panel assembly 900 is fabricated similarly to the security panel assemblies previously discussed and, in the interests of brevity, only new or additional features of this security panel assembly will be discussed.
  • a first pre-stitched flange or panel member 712 is coupled to a first side 714 of a first material layer 710, such as by stitching or using an adhesive.
  • the first material layer 710 is then inverted, such that the first side 714 having the first pre-stitched flange or panel member 712 is or will be the lower (and exterior) side of the first material layer 710. While the first material layer 710 is illustrated as generally rectangular, for this configuration, the mounting pegs 410 are not in parallel rows (on opposing sides of a rectangular-shaped first material layer 406 of FIGs.
  • the wire matrix 720 not only has bent or curved portions 435 adjacent the periphery of the first material layer 710, but also adjacent to the folding regions 722, 724, and 726, so that when folded, there are no ends of the wires or other potentially sharp items which could pierce the first material layer 710 or second material layer 730 in the vicinity of the folding regions 722, 724, and 726.
  • the folding regions 722, 724, and 726 are significantly more bendable, with the result that the security panel assembly 900 is significantly more foldable and compressible, such as for storage or transport, or for use in an expansion panel 815.
  • the folding regions 722, 724, and 726, and the layout or configuration of the wire matrix 720 serve to divide a security panel assembly 900 into a plurality of integrated security subpanels (or sections) 750, 752, 754, and 756, for the illustrated configurations.
  • the number and position of security subpanels and pre-stitched flanges or panel members which are utilized may be varied, and innumerable other configurations of security subpanels and pre-stitched flanges or panel members are available and may also be utilized, with both the number, position and configuration of security subpanels and pre-stitched flanges or panel members typically or generally selected to conform to or match the overall configuration of the bag 20 - 20E into which the security panel assembly 900 will be inserted and to match the selected locations within the bag 20 - 20E for attachment of the pre-stitched flanges or panel members, and any and all such selections and configurations of security subpanels and pre-stitched flanges or panel members are considered equivalent and within the scope of the disclosure.
  • security panel assembly 900 ( FIG. 123 ) is configured to have two security subpanels 752 and 754, while security panel assembly 900 ( FIGs. 125 - 126 ) is configured to have three security subpanels 750, 752 and 754, along with a different placement of the pre-stitched flanges or panel members 732, 734.
  • Second and third pre-stitched flanges or panel members 732, 734 are coupled to a first side 736 of the second material layer 730, such as by stitching or using an adhesive. Also as illustrated, the second, lower side 738 of the second material layer 730 may have pre-applied adhesive 422A, exposed by peeling back a cover sheet 742. Following adhering and attachment of the second material layer 730 over the wire matrix 720 and first material layer 710, the resulting security panel assembly 900 has a first pre-stitched flange or panel member 712 on its lower side, and second and third pre-stitched flanges or panel members 732, 734 on its upper side, as illustrated in FIG.
  • the wire matrix 720 may be secured or stabilized using any predetermined pattern, such as the triangular or sawtooth pattern 760 to form security panel assembly 900 as illustrated in FIG. 117 , or using a plurality of other stitching patterns discussed above.
  • the security panel assembly 900 may then have any of a plurality of configurations, and may be folded into a first configuration and unfolded into second and third configurations, for example and without limitation.
  • a security panel assembly 900 may have a flat, unfolded configuration illustrated in FIG. 118 , which is especially suitable for use in an expanded position of an expansion panel 815 of a travel bag 20A, 20B or other suitcase, for example, or may be folded into many different configurations, such as into a box or rectangular shape illustrated in FIG. 119 (for use when the bag 20 is in an expanded or open configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 122 ) and such as into a "W" shape illustrated in FIG. 120 (for use when the bag 20 is in a closed or compressed configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 121 ).
  • a security panel assembly 900 may be particularly useful for use in an expansion panel 815.
  • another embodiment of a security panel assembly 900 is comprised of two subpanels 752 and 754, with second and third pre-stitched flanges or panel members 732, 734 utilized to couple the security panel assembly 900 within an expansion panel 815 and/or to each side (respectively 822 and 824 or 826 and 828) of a travel bag 20A, 20B, for example and without limitation.
  • security panel assembly 900 has a "V" configuration, such as for a gusset, which can be folded substantially flat ( FIG. 124 ), such as for when a travel bag 20A, 20B is in an unexpanded state, and which can be fully unfolded, such as for when a travel bag 20A, 20B is in an expanded configuration.
  • FIGs. 125 - 127 another embodiment of a security panel assembly 900 is comprised of three subpanels 750, 752 and 754, with a different configuration of the second and third pre-stitched flanges or panel members 732, 734, and also utilized to couple the security panel assembly 900 within an expansion panel 815 and/or to each side (respectively 822 and 824 or 826 and 828) of a travel bag 20A, 20B.
  • security panel assembly 900 has a "U" configuration, such as for a gusset, which can be folded substantially flat ( FIG.
  • any of the expansion panel security panel assemblies 1400 - 1400B may also have any of these configurations.
  • the security panel assembly 900 may be coupled longitudinally, such as by stitching along the length of first pre-stitched flange or panel member 712, to the center 780 of the bottom panel of the bag 20.
  • the second and third pre-stitched flanges or panel members 732, 734 are coupled, such as through an adhesive, to the security subpanels 750 and 756, respectively, to provide support for retaining both the box and "W" configurations.
  • the second and third pre-stitched flanges or panel members 732, 734 are coupled, such as through an adhesive or stitching, to a lining, such as a lining of an expansion panel, also for example and without limitation.
  • a lining such as a lining of an expansion panel, also for example and without limitation.
  • additional security panel assemblies including any of those disclosed herein, may be utilized for the end panels of the bag 20.
  • FIGs. 128 - 129 illustrate the manufacture of yet additional variations of security panel assemblies, security panel assembly 1000, as a thirteenth representative embodiment of a security panel assembly.
  • Security panel assembly 1000 is fabricated similarly to the security panel assemblies previously discussed and, in the interests of brevity, only new or additional features of the security panel assembly 1000 will be discussed.
  • a first material layer 855 is configured generally stellate or an irregular star-shape, i.e., somewhat rectangular but having cut-outs or notches 860 (generally or substantially triangular sections removed in advance), such that the resulting security panel assembly 1000 will also be foldable into a box shape, as previously described for other embodiments.
  • the mounting pegs 410 are arrayed correspondingly to accommodate the cut-outs or notches 860.
  • a single wire 428 has been routed about the mounting pegs 410 in another predetermined pattern to also form a wire matrix 850 having bent or curved portions 435 adjacent the periphery of the first material layer 855, and further having capped ends 851, 852 which have been bent, curved or folded away from the periphery and toward the center of the first material layer 855, as illustrated.
  • stabilizing anchors 865 are utilized for a plurality of predetermined positions of the bent or curved portions 435 which are adjacent the periphery of the first material layer 855.
  • the stabilizing anchors 865 are generally comprised of any flexible or foldable material (discussed above), while in other representative embodiments, the stabilizing anchors 865 may be comprised of a non-flexible or semi-rigid material, such as metal or a semi-rigid, molded plastic, for example and without limitation.
  • the stabilizing anchors 865 may be coupled over the bent or curved portions 435 and the first material layer 855 using an adhesive 422 or a pre-applied adhesive 422A, as previously discussed.
  • the security panel assembly 1000 ( FIG. 129 ) may then be formed using the additional fabrication steps, and also utilized in a bag 20 - 20E, both as previously discussed with reference to other embodiments.
  • FIGs. 130 - 137 are isometric views illustrating various additional and representative metallic embodiments, nonmetallic fiber-based embodiments, and hybrid metallic-nonmetallic embodiments of security panel assemblies 1300, 1300A - 1300D.
  • a first metallic wire or cable 1320 has been routed in a sawtooth or zig-zag pattern over a first material layer 1310 (which may also have an adhesive 422, or which first metallic wire or cable 1320 may have been stabilized, such as through stitching (not separately illustrated), to form a first panel 1324.
  • a second metallic wire or cable 1325 also has been routed in a sawtooth or zig-zag pattern over a second material layer 1315 (which may also have an adhesive 422, or which second metallic wire or cable 1325 may have been stabilized, such as through stitching (not separately illustrated), to form a second panel 1322.
  • the second panel 1322 is then overlaid and adhered to the first panel 1324 as illustrated, such as through sewing or stitching (illustrated stitching lines 1330), to form a security panel assembly 1300 as illustrated in a cut-away view in FIG. 131 .
  • the second panel 1322 is typically fabricated like the first panel 1324, it may then be rotated ninety degrees in the same plane (for the patterned second metallic wire or cable 1325 to be substantially orthogonal or perpendicular to the patterned first metallic wire or cable 1320) as illustrated.
  • first or second panels 1324, 1322 has a wire mesh or wire netting structure, as none of the first metallic wire or cable 1320 and second metallic wire or cable 1325 crosses itself or connects to another wire in the same plane.
  • the first and second panels 1324, 1322 (1326) form an asymmetrical grid pattern having a plurality of closed wire shapes formed in two different planes or layers which also cross each other in the two different planes or layers, thereby forming a wire matrix in combination in the two different planes or layers.
  • any offset or rotation more than about thirty degrees to about forty-five degrees may be sufficient to form a grid pattern that will not allow the cutting instrument to cut any appreciable distance in the security panel assembly 1300 - 1300D, depending upon the selected or desired level of security; as a result, while about a 90° offset or rotation of the first and second panels 1324, 1322 (1326) to each other may be the simplest and possibly most effective orientation depending upon the selected wire pattern, "substantially orthogonal” as used herein should be understood to mean and include any offset of the first and second panels 1324, 1322 (1326) which is equal to or greater than about 30-45°, depending upon the selected wire patterns of the first and second panels 1324, 1322 (1326), and is only required
  • the second panel 1322 is flipped over (also as illustrated), such that the second metallic wire or cable 1325 is on the underside of the second material layer 1315 (and if needed depending on its orientation, also may then be rotated ninety degrees in the same plane (for the patterned second metallic wire or cable 1325 also to be substantially orthogonal or perpendicular to the patterned first metallic wire or cable 1320) as illustrated, and then overlaid and adhered to the first panel 1324, such as through sewing or stitching (illustrated stitching lines 1330), to form a security panel assembly 1300A, such that both the first material layer 1310 and second material layer 1315 respectively form the bottom and top surfaces of the security panel assembly 1300A.
  • a second metallic wire or cable 1325 having the orthogonal configuration described above can also be routed on the underside (or lower surface 1310A) of the first panel 1324 to form a security panel assembly 1300B, such that both sides of a first material layer 1310 include a patterned metallic wire or cable, with a first side 1310B having the first metallic wire or cable 1320 arranged in a sawtooth or zig-zag pattern and secured, and with a second side 1310A having the second metallic wire or cable 1325 arranged in a sawtooth or zig-zag pattern rotated about or substantially ninety degrees, and also secured (stitch lines 1330).
  • a metallic or nonmetallic wire or cable 1320 has been routed in a first sawtooth or zig-zag pattern over a first half (1340A) of a single material layer 1340 (which may also have an adhesive 422, or which first metallic or nonmetallic wire or cable 1320 may have been stabilized, such as through stitching (not separately illustrated), to form a first half-panel 1342, and also has been routed in a second sawtooth or zig-zag pattern over a second half (1340B) of the same material layer 1340, to form a second half-panel 1344.
  • first or second half-panels 1342, 1344 has a wire mesh, but nonetheless will form a wire matrix in combination on the two different planes or layers, as discussed above.
  • the second sawtooth or zig-zag pattern of the metallic or nonmetallic wire or cable 1320 on the second half-panel 1344 is substantially orthogonal or perpendicular to the first sawtooth or zig-zag pattern of the metallic or nonmetallic wire or cable 1320 on the first half-panel 1342 as illustrated.
  • the single material layer 1340 having the patterned wire or cable 1320 is then folded in half in a first direction as illustrated, such that the first half-panel 1342 is overlaid and adhered to the second half-panel 1344, such as through sewing or stitching (illustrated stitching lines 1330), to form a security panel assembly 1300C as illustrated in FIG. 135 and as illustrated in a cut-away view in FIG. 136 .
  • FIG. 137 tabs or flanges 1360 have been added, as described above, to form a security panel assembly 1300D.
  • the single material layer 1340 having the patterned metallic or nonmetallic wire or cable 1320 also can be folded in half in a second direction opposite the first direction, such that the underside of the first half-panel 1342 is adhered to the underside of the second half-panel 1344, thereby adhering the halves of the single material layer 1340, such as through sewing or stitching, with the patterned metallic or nonmetallic wire or cable 1320 on the outer surfaces, to form another security panel assembly having the same configuration as security panel assembly 1300C, but with the first material layer being folded to be two-ply thick.
  • hybrid metal-nonmetal security panel assembly embodiments along with the nonmetal embodiments, are also particularly useful in expansion panel 815 embodiments as the various zig-zag patterns allow for expansion and compression (or folding) of the patterned wire 1320 when arranged in the longitudinal direction of a travel bag 20A or 20B, for example. More specifically, for each side of a travel bag 20A, 20B, the zig-zag arms 1339 of the first panel 1324 should be oriented longitudinally along the length of the expansion panel 815, with sides 1336 and 1338 oriented along the width of the expansion panel 815 and with sides 1332 and 1334 oriented along the length of the expansion panel 815.
  • This arrangement or configuration of the security panel assemblies 1300 - 1300D provides that as the expansion panel 815 is expanded or contracted along its width (as illustrated in the various Figures for closed or expanded configurations), the zig-zag arms 1339 flex or accordion into larger or smaller triangles, respectively.
  • the ends of the various wires 1320, 1325 may also have a polymeric cap, and may also be bent or curved toward the center of the respective first and second panels 1324, 1322.
  • any of the various method steps described above may also be utilized to form these security panel assemblies 1300 - 1300D.
  • each arm 1339 could be rectangular, sinusoidal, or oval, in addition to triangular, and such patterns may be combined in the same panel 1322, 1324, 1326. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure.
  • Coupled means and includes any direct or indirect structural coupling, connection or attachment, or adaptation or capability for such a direct or indirect structural coupling, connection or attachment, including integrally formed components and components which are coupled via or through another component.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)
EP16188195.8A 2014-03-07 2015-03-07 Anti-theft carrying bag with security and expansion panels and with carrying strap Withdrawn EP3195756A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201461949452P 2014-03-07 2014-03-07
US14/559,086 US9655424B2 (en) 2009-03-24 2014-12-03 Cut-proof anti-theft bag construction
US201562104717P 2015-01-17 2015-01-17
US14/641,173 US10010144B2 (en) 2009-03-24 2015-03-06 Anti-theft security panel for a carrying bag
US14/641,191 US9675153B2 (en) 2009-03-24 2015-03-06 Anti-theft expansion panel for a carrying bag
US14/641,160 US9854883B2 (en) 2009-03-24 2015-03-06 Anti-theft carrying bag
US14/641,144 US9854890B2 (en) 2009-03-24 2015-03-06 Anti-theft carrying bag
US14/641,206 US9681716B2 (en) 2009-03-24 2015-03-06 Anti-theft carrying strap
EP15758571.2A EP3113642B1 (en) 2014-03-07 2015-03-07 Anti-theft carrying bag with security and expansion panels and with carrying strap

Related Parent Applications (2)

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EP15758571.2A Division-Into EP3113642B1 (en) 2014-03-07 2015-03-07 Anti-theft carrying bag with security and expansion panels and with carrying strap
EP15758571.2A Division EP3113642B1 (en) 2014-03-07 2015-03-07 Anti-theft carrying bag with security and expansion panels and with carrying strap

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EP3195756A1 true EP3195756A1 (en) 2017-07-26

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EP16188195.8A Withdrawn EP3195756A1 (en) 2014-03-07 2015-03-07 Anti-theft carrying bag with security and expansion panels and with carrying strap
EP16188900.1A Active EP3143898B1 (en) 2014-03-07 2015-03-07 Anti-theft carrying bag with security and expansion panels and with carrying strap
EP15758571.2A Active EP3113642B1 (en) 2014-03-07 2015-03-07 Anti-theft carrying bag with security and expansion panels and with carrying strap

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EP15758571.2A Active EP3113642B1 (en) 2014-03-07 2015-03-07 Anti-theft carrying bag with security and expansion panels and with carrying strap

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EP (3) EP3195756A1 (ko)
JP (1) JP6626453B2 (ko)
KR (1) KR102377579B1 (ko)
CN (2) CN106941776B (ko)
AU (6) AU2015226864A1 (ko)
WO (1) WO2015134956A1 (ko)

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FR3084822B1 (fr) * 2018-08-10 2022-01-07 Vuitton Louis Sa Procede pour realiser un bagage, en particulier un sac de voyage souple ou semi-rigide
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JP2017511730A (ja) 2017-04-27
AU2016228212A1 (en) 2016-09-29
EP3143898A2 (en) 2017-03-22
AU2016228211A1 (en) 2016-09-29
AU2018256661A1 (en) 2018-11-22
KR102377579B1 (ko) 2022-03-24
EP3143898A3 (en) 2017-07-05
CN111820563A (zh) 2020-10-27
JP6626453B2 (ja) 2019-12-25
AU2018267613A1 (en) 2018-12-13
CN106941776B (zh) 2020-07-28
AU2018267614A1 (en) 2018-12-13
WO2015134956A1 (en) 2015-09-11
EP3113642B1 (en) 2018-12-26
CN106941776A (zh) 2017-07-11
EP3113642A1 (en) 2017-01-11
EP3143898B1 (en) 2020-01-01
EP3113642A4 (en) 2017-01-25
AU2015226864A1 (en) 2016-09-29
AU2018256661B2 (en) 2020-11-19
KR20160129878A (ko) 2016-11-09
AU2018267613B2 (en) 2020-11-19
AU2018267614B2 (en) 2020-09-10

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