Multi compartment family travel bag

Abstract

An improved soft-sided travel bag with a plurality of compartments opening along the top of the bag can be used to carry, access and organize multiple travelers within one contained bag. A departure from traditional duffle or travel bag design, there is no primary compartment built into the bag. Rather, multiple self-contained compartments unfasten or zip open along the top. This invention offers individuals traveling with children the ability to easily divide and organize items for every child within one bag. The plurality of compartments dividing the internal volume of the bag into multiple independent spaces are sewn forming dividers, end wall to end wall upon one another, as if adjoining multiple independent bags into one contained unit. Said compartments are designed with interior pockets to provide users with maximum organizational utility.

Claims

1. A soft-sided carrying bag comprising: a pliable shell having a base, end walls, side walls and a top portion joined together forming a generally tube-like structure with an exterior and an interior; a plurality of handles attached to the exterior shell for transport of the bag; a plurality of compartments dividing the internal volume of the bag into multiple independent spaces, each of the plurality of compartments including an external access point and closure along each compartment's top wall in a width-wise direction, the plurality of compartments formed by upstanding dividers and the pliable shell joined together to form separate sections within the carrying bag; said plurality of compartments constructed in the bag are formed by equidistantly placed dividers, such that each of the plurality of compartments is approximately equal in size; said closure positioned along the external access point of each said compartment to contain the space therein, wherein two of the plurality of handles extend away from the exterior of the pliable shell to form a loop and extend on the side of the bag having the closure above the closure; wherein the two of the plurality of handles extend over the top portion on the same side as the closures of the plurality of compartments, allowing the bag to be used as a duffle bag; wherein the bag is a single bag; two straps located on and extending over a base of the bag, wherein the two straps are parallel to a length of the bag, allowing the bag to be alternatively used as a backpack; wherein, the base includes an elongated base pocket to house the two straps when the two straps are not in use.

2. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein each closure being the only way to access the corresponding one of the plurality of compartments.

3. The carrying bag of claim 2, wherein the closure is formed as a crescent-shaped zipper.

4. The carrying bag of claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of compartments contain a plurality of interior pockets attached to one of the dividers, wherein a first of the plurality of interior pockets has a zipper closure, and wherein a second of the plurality of interior pockets has an elastic closure.

5. The carrying bag of claim 4 further comprising the webbing surrounding a length and a width of the bag to provide stability to the soft-sided carrying bag, the webbing positioned on the length of the bag directly adjacent to opposite ends of each closure.

6. The carrying bag of claim 5 wherein said dividers are permanently attached around an entire interior edge of the pliable shell, completely and permanently dividing and isolating one of the plurality of compartments from an adjacent of the plurality of compartments.

7. The carrying bag of claim 6 further comprising a carrying strap.

8. The carrying bag of claim 7, wherein the dividers between the compartments comprise materials fastened to the exterior walls of the bag.

9. The carrying bag of claim 8, comprising material color application.

10. The carrying bag of claim 9, wherein the straps include fastening and unfastening components.

11. The carrying bag of claim 10 further comprising wheels attached to one end of the pliable shell base, and a bull handle attached to an opposite end of the pliable shell base.

12. A carrying bag comprising: a shell with a base, end walls, side walls and top portion joined together to forming a hollow structure having an exterior and an interior; a plurality of handles attached to the exterior of the shell; a plurality of compartments dividing the internal volume of the bag into multiple independent spaces, each of the plurality of compartments comprising an external access point and closure means along said compartment's top wall, a plurality of upstanding dividers, and the base joined together to form separate sections within the carrying bag; said plurality of compartments formed by dividers wherein said dividers are permanently sewn around an entire interior edge of the pliable shell, completely and permanently dividing and isolating one of the plurality of compartments from an adjacent of the plurality of compartments-unit and, said closure means positioned along the opening of each said compartment to contain the space therein; wherein each of the plurality of compartments has an approximately equal volume formed by the dividers being spaced equidistantly apart, such that each of the plurality of compartments is approximately equal in size; wherein two of the plurality of handles and carrying strap extend over the top portion of the bag on the same side as the closure means of the plurality of compartments, allowing the bag to be used as a duffle bag; wherein, the closure means of the plurality of compartments are a plurality of crescent-shaped zippers; wherein said shell encloses the plurality of compartments of the bag; two straps located on and extending over the base of the bag, wherein the two straps are parallel to a length of the bag, allowing the bag to be alternatively used as a backpack; wherein, the base includes an elongated base pocket to house the two straps when the two straps are not in use.

13. The carrying bag of claim 12 further comprising a webbing surrounding a length and a width of the bag to provide stability to the carrying bag, the webbing positioned on the length of the bag directly adjacent to opposite ends of each closure means.

14. The carrying bag of claim 13 wherein two of the plurality of handles are connected to the webbing and extend away from the webbing to form a loop and extend upward on the side of the bag having the closure means, above the closure means.

15. The carrying bag of claim 14 wherein compartments contain a plurality of interior pockets and organizers wherein a first of the plurality of interior pockets has a zipper closure, and wherein a second of the plurality of interior pockets has an elastic closure.

16. The carrying bag of claim 15 comprising handles and wherein the straps are able to be fastened and unfastened.

17. A soft-sided carrying bag comprising: a pliable shell that has a base, end panel, side panel and a top panel joined together to form a generally tube-like structure having an exterior and an interior; a plurality of handles and carrying straps attached to the shell for transport of the bag; a plurality of compartments, equilaterally distributed, dividing the internal volume of the bag into multiple independent spaces, each interior compartment including an external access point and closure means along said compartment's top panel, four upstanding adjoining interior panels, and a base joined together to form separate sections within the carrying bag; said plurality of compartments constructed in the bag are formed by dividers wherein said dividers are permanently attached around an entire interior edge of the pliable shell, completely and permanently dividing and isolating one of the plurality of compartments from an adjacent of the plurality of compartments, and, a closure means applied along the opening of each said compartment to contain the space therein; wherein each of the plurality of compartments has an approximately equal volume formed by the dividers being spaced equidistantly apart, such that each of the plurality of compartments is approximately equal in size; a webbing surrounding a length and a width of the bag to provide stability to the carrying bag, the webbing positioned on the length of the bag directly adjacent to opposite ends of each closure means, wherein two of the plurality of handles extend away from the webbing to form a loop and extend upward on the side of the bag having the closure means, above the closure means; wherein, the closure means of the plurality of compartments are a plurality of crescent-shaped zippers; wherein the two of the plurality of handles extend over a top of the bag on the same side as the closure means of the plurality of compartments, allowing the bag to be used as a duffle bag; wherein two backpack straps of the plurality of carrying straps are located on and extending over the base of the bag, wherein the two backpack straps are parallel to a length of the bag, allowing the bag to be alternatively used as a backpack; wherein, the base includes an elongated base pocket to house the two backpack straps when the two backpack straps are not in use.

18. The carrying bag in claim 17 wherein said compartments contain a plurality of internal pockets and organization components wherein a first of the plurality of interior pockets has a zipper closure, and wherein a second of the plurality of interior pockets has an elastic closure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an angled perspective view of a multi-compartment family duffel-type travel bag, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side width view of this invention, showing a direct view of an end cap of one compartment, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a side length view, showing one preferred embodiment of the external construction of this invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a transparent angled schematic perspective view, showing the internal perspective of one preferred embodiment of this invention. This transparent view shows the immovable dividers, zipper access for multiple compartments, and interior organizational components built into the bag.

(5) FIG. 5 is a side cut view, showing one preferred embodiment of the internal compartments housed within one section of the multi compartment bag.

(6) FIG. 6 is a bottom/base view with stowable backpack straps attached to the D rings along the far base perimeter of the bag.

(7) FIG. 7 is a bottom/base view of the bag with stowable backpack straps stowed within the large base pocket of the bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) With reference to the drawings in this preferred embodiment, FIG. 1 shows the duffel 1 as a generally cylindrical, soft sided article of luggage with multiple distinct zippered compartments 11. Each compartment 11 is independently constructed and accessed along the top by a zipper 3 sewn in a crescent shape 13. Permanent, immovable internal panels 15 of fabric separate one compartment 11 from the next, repeatedly through the length of the bag. Compartments 11 are sewn 19 as if stacked end cap 12 to end cap 12 and accessed individually by external zippers. Additional small zippered pockets 7, 10 can also be sewn onto the body 2 and end caps of the bag 1 for easy access to passports, keys or other small personal items.

(9) Surrounding the entire length and width of the bag is a thick band of webbing 5 to add stability and aesthetics to the structure of the bag. With reference to FIG. 2, said webbing can be sewn into a sturdy hand grip 6 on both end caps of the bag. As shown in FIG. 3, webbing can also be sewn, wrapping the body of the bag with stirrups 4 that can loop into a hand grip position. The bag can also include D rings 9 on each end cap, whereupon a long shoulder strap 14 can be fastened to provide the user with multiple carrying options. In its preferred embodiment, the shell and base of the bag are formed of a durable, sturdy material.

(10) Zippered openings 13 to each individual compartment can include two zippers 3, so as to enable users to zip and unzip compartments easily from either direction. The number of multiple compartments 11 is shown on this preferred embodiment as five compartments, each at a width of five inches, but measurements and quantity of compartments can vary. In a transparent schematic view of the bag, as in FIG. 4, the barriers 15 between each compartment are visible. These barriers are permanently sewn 19 around the entire wall of the compartment, completely dividing one space from the next. As shown in the side cut view of FIG. 5, this interior dividing wall 15 can contain further organizational components, such as, but not limited to: bungee pouches 18, 19, zippered pockets 16, 17, and/or other organizational elements built into the lining of each compartment.

(11) Another carrying feature which can be added to the bag is the stowable backpack straps 20 built into an elongated pocket 21 on the base 8 of the bag, as shown in FIG. 6. The elongated base pocket 21 is built specifically to house the backpack straps 20 when they are not in use. In this preferred embodiment, these backpack straps 20 are permanently fastened at the base 8, near one end cap 22 of the bag. When in use, said backpack straps can be removed from the base pocket and clipped with sturdy fasteners to D rings 23 secured near the opposite end cap of the bag, as shown in FIG. 6. When a user is not in need of the backpack carrying option, the action is reversed as straps unclip and tuck into the elongated base pocket, as shown in FIG. 7. Backpack carrying options can enable users with hands-free mobility while carrying the bag. The invention is not limited to the foregoing described embodiments. Many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the primary concepts. Many fabrics, styles, sizes, colors and applications are possible without departing from the main scope of the invention.