GB2331232A - Travel bag - Google Patents

Abstract

A travel bag comprises a base section 6 attached perpendicular to a back section 9, shoulder straps 4 connected to the back section, a front section 7 hinged to the back section 9 and at least one leaf 8, 10 between the front section 7 and the back section 9 hinged to either the front section 7 or the back section 9, wherein each leaf comprises at least one pocket or compartment 17. The bag is fastened with a first continuous fastening 1 extending around the top and side of the front section 7, and a second continuous fastening 1 extending around the base of the front section 7.

Description

a 2331232 1 Travel Ba A rucksack is a well-known method of carrying

possessions when travelling. A rucksack generally comprises major and minor compartments attached to shoulder-straps to enable them to be carried on the back or front of the person.

However, rucksacks are awkward when attempting to locate and retrieve items quickly, particularly in confined spaces where a number of items would normally have to be unpacked before finding the required item. Also, rucksacks do not allow"personal effects to be held in a readily seen, neat and orderly manner.

According to the present invention a travel bag comprises a base section attached perpendicular to a back section, shoulder straps connected to the back section, a front section hinged to the back section along an edge extending from a first point adjacent to the base section to a second point, the front section being fastened to the back section by a first releasable fastening means extending continuously from the second point to a third point adjacent the base section opposite the first point and fastened to the base section by a second releasable fastening means extending continuously from the first point to the third point, and at least one leaf between the f ront section and the back section hinged to either the front section or the back section, wherein each leaf comprises at least one pocket or compartment.

In the travel bag of the present invention, the leaves may be folded out to display the contents of the bag, so that the contents are more easily accessible. It ús therefore not necessary to unpack the contents of the bag to find a required item.

Preferably, the front and back sections comprise at least one pocket or compartment. Therefore, when the bag is opened, its contents are organised in an orderly manner into the pockets or compartments of the front section, the 111' 1 ---2 2 back section and the leaves. This arrangement also helps to minimise creasing of garments.

The arrangement of fastening means of the bag allows the leaves and the contents of the bag to be completely enclosed within the bag, allowing protection of the contents from rain and giving a generally streamline shape. This is particularly advantageous if the bag is used for air travel, as external straps and compartments may become entangled in baggage conveyors.

Preferably the first and second fastening means comprise zip fasteners. This gives a particularly secure means for fastening and also allows the zip sliders to be padlocked together at the point where they meet. More preferably, the first and second fastening means comprise a zip fastener having a continuous pair of interlocking toothed sections and two sliding actuators.

Advantageously, at least one of the pockets or compartments is seethrough. The pockets may be made of transparent plastic or a loose mesh material. This allows the contents of the pockets to be seen when the bag is unfolded.

Preferably, the base section comprises a compartment. The presence of the base compartment allows the bag to stand upright when the base compartment is packed. This facilitates the opening out of the bag in confined spaces. The base compartment is preferably accessible through a zip fastened opening in the top of the base compartment. In this arrangement, the base compartment is only accessible when the bag is opened, so that the content of the base compartments are secure when the first and second fastening means are fastened.

The front section of the bag may include a compartment or pocket accessible through a zip fastened opening on the front of the front section. This compartment is useful for items which must be readily accessible whilst travelling, such as a nap, or for items which it is desirable to keep separate from the contents of the bag 3 such as a wet raincoat. It is therefore preferable that the pocket is waterproof.

Preferably, the back section comprises compartments or covering flaps which conceal the shoulder straps when not in use. These may be fastened to conceal the straps with velcro, snap poppers or a zip fastening. A handle may be provided on the top of the rucksack to enable it to be carried by the handle when the shoulder straps are not in use.

Advantageously, a handle is provided on the side of the bag to allow the bag to be carried horizontally. when the shoulder straps are concealed and the bag is carried horizontally, it has the appearance of a soft suitcase.

This is useful as the bag can be converted to have a smarter appearance than a rucksack. A shoulder strap can also be provided which is detachable from the bag and which, when attached, allows the bag to be carried horizontally.

Wheels or rollers -may be provided on the base of the rucksack. This enables the bag to be wheeled along as a trolley. A telescopic rigid handle may be provided which may be extended from the top of the bag to enable the bag to be pulled along.

It is also possible to use the bag as a travelling wardrobe, by providing eyelets or hanging loops at the top of the leaves or the front or back sections, such that the bag may be unfolded and hung up by the eyelets or loops to display the contents of the bag.

The bag may comprise a number of external straps which may either be used to attach objects such as walking sticks or camera tripods or may also be used as compression straps to reduce the volume of the bag.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows the bag in a closed position; 1-11 1 4 Figure 2 shows a section of the bag with the shoulder straps concealed; Figure 3 shows the bag in an open position.

Figure 1 shows the bag in a closed position. A base section 6 and a back section 9 are attached perpendicular to each other. A front section 7 is hinged to the back section 9 along one edge and fastened to the base section 6 and the back section 9 by a single zip fastener 1 around the periphery of the front section, extending from the top 3 of the hinged edge to the bottom of the hinged edge at the point of connection of the back and base sections. In the front section is a pocket 18 which is fastened with a zip fastener such that it is accessible from the outside of the bag.

Shoulder straps 4 are attached to the back section 9 to enable the bag to be carried as a rucksack. A top handle 15 is also provided for lifting the bag. As shown in Figure 2, the shoulder straps 4 may be concealed by a compartment or flap 2 which may be fastened by velcro, a zip fastener, or popstuds. When the straps 4 are concealed, the bag may be carried by its top handle 15, or a side handle 19. When carried by its side handle 19, the bag h. as the appearance of a soft suitcase. Alternatively, a detachable shoulder strap 20 may be attached for carrying as a shoulder bag.

Figure 3 shows the bag in an open position. Two leaves 8 and 10 are hinged to the front and back sections respectively at hinge points 11 and 13. The leaves may be hinged at the point 12 where the front section is hinged to the back section, but the arrangement as shown in Figure 3 is preferable as the leaves, front and back sections may be folded out flat. The bag nay then be hung up by eyelets 16 and hanging strap 14 for use as a travelling wardrobe.

The back section 9 is provided with clothes retaining straps 5, whilst the front section 7 and leaves 8, 10 have pockets 17, which may be transparent so that their contents are easily visible. The pockets may be formed f rom a loose mesh material or a transparent plastic. The pockets may have elasticated edges to retain articles. The leaves 8, 10 may have pockets on only one or on both sides.

Figure 3 also shows the base compartment 6. When packed, the base compartment provides a solid base to enable the bag to stand upright whilst open. This may further be facilitated by stiffening of the leaves 8, 10 or back section 9 with composite board. The base compartment is fastened with a zip fastener located inside the rucksack, so that the base compartment is only accessible when the bag is open. The base compartment, like the compartment 18, is useful for containing items which it is desirable to keep away from the contents of the bag, such as dirty shoes or boots.

The base compartment may additionally have straps, loops or anchors for attaching additional straps on the underside formed from a hard composite material so that they act as protective floor studs but may also be used to attach an additional item such as a sleeping bag.

The bag is constructed from a waterproof material, and all the seams and fastenings are waterproof. An additional waterproof covering may be provided separately which can be placed over the bag and held in place with fasteners such as velcro or snap poppers.

6

Claims (16)

1. A travel bag comprising a base section attached perpendicular to a back section, shoulder straps connected to the back section, a front section hinged to the back section along an edge extending from a first point adjacent to the base section to a second point, the front section being fastened to the back section by a first releasable fastening means extending continuously from the second point to a third point adjacent the base section opposite the f irst point and fastened to the base section by a second releasable fastening means extending continuously from the first point to the third point, and at least one leaf between the front section and the back section hinged is to either the front section or the back section, wherein each leaf comprises at least one pocket or compartment.

2. A travel bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front and back sections comprise at least one pocket or compartment.

3. A travel bag as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second fastening means comprise zip fasteners.

4. A travel bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second fastening means comprise a zip fastener having a continuous pair of interlocking toothed sections and two sliding actuators.

5. A travel bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the pockets or compartments is see through.

6. A travel bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base section comprises a compartment.

7 7. A travel bag as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base compartment is accessible through a zip fastened opening in the top of the base compartment.

8. A travel bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front section includes a compartment accessible through a zip fastened opening on the front of the front section.

9. A travel bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the back section comprises compartments or covering flaps which conceal the shoulder straps when not in use.

10. A travel bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a handle is provided on the side of the bag to allow the bag to be carried horizontally.

11. A travel bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a shoulder strap is provided which is detachable from the bag and which, when attached, allows the bag to be carried horizontally.

12. A travel bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein wheels or rollers are provided on the base section.

13. A travel bag as claimed in claim 12, wherein a telescopic rigid handle is provided which may be extended from the top of the bag to enable the bag to be pulled along.

14. A travel bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the leaves may be unfolded such that the leaves, the front section, and the back section are coplanar, and at least two of the leaves, the front section 8 and the back section include an eyelet or loop at its top end.

15. A travel bag as claimed in any one of the preceding L claims wherein the bag comprises a number of external compression straps.

16. A travel bag substantially as herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings.