PROTECTIVE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE UNDERSIDE OF A CARRYALL

Abstract

A device for protecting the underside of a carryall from a surface is disclosed. The device comprises a base and a wall attached along the perimeter of the base and extending upward. The area bounded by the top edge of the wall can be contracted and expanded. The carryall is placed in the device, resting on the base, and the top edge of the wall is contracted to fit snugly around the carryall. The device creates a barrier between the underside of the carryall and undesirable substances on the surface and also helps preserve the carryall.

Claims

1. A device for protecting a carryall from a surface, the device comprising: a base having a perimeter; a wall attached along the perimeter of the base and extending upward, the wall having a top edge defining an opening; and means for contracting and expanding the opening defined by the top edge of the wall.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the base is a rectangular shape having two long sides and two short sides; each of the two long sides is approximately 8 inches to approximately 17 inches in length; each of the two short sides is approximately 3 inches to approximately 6 inches in length; and the wall is approximately 2 inches to approximately 5 inches in height.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein one or both of the base and the wall are made of a fabric.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the fabric is selected from the group consisting of canvas, cotton, and laminated taffeta.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein one or both of the base and the wall are made of a water-resistant and oil-resistant material.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the water-resistant and oil-resistant material is selected from the group consisting of waxed canvas, oiled canvas, laminated canvas, laminated cotton, coated cotton, coated taffeta, laminated taffeta, leather, coated leather, saffiano leather, waxed leather, oiled leather, coated nylon, laminated nylon, oiled nylon, nylon, polyester, coated polyester, laminated polyester, coated vinyl, laminated vinyl, vinyl, plastic, polyfiber, microfiber, and laminated paper.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein one or both of the base and the wall are made of a disposable material.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the disposable material is selected from the group consisting of plastic, paper, laminated paper, polypropylene, and polypropylene coated with polyethylene.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein one or both of the base and the wall are made of a high-quality material selected from the group consisting of leather, saffiano leather, oiled or coated leather, leatherette, faux leather, coated flannel, coated vinyl, and coated canvass.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for contracting and expanding comprises an elastic material positioned inside some or all of the top edge of the wall; wherein the top edge of the wall is continuous and unbroken.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for contracting and expanding comprises at least one drawstring.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a first strip of material having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first strip adjoins a first portion of the top edge of the wall and the second end of the first strip adjoins an opposing second portion of the top edge of the wall; a second strip of material having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second strip adjoins a third portion of the top edge of the wall at or near the first portion of the top edge of the wall, and the second end of the second strip adjoins an opposing fourth portion of the top edge of the wall at or near the second portion of the top edge of the wall; wherein the first strip and the second strip are of approximately equal length; and wherein the second strip extends approximately parallel to the first strip.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein one or both of the first strip and the second strip are made of a water-resistant and oil-resistant material.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein one or both of the first strip and the second strip are made of a disposable material.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for securing compaction of the device.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pouch for storage attached to the wall.

17. A method for protecting a carryall from a surface, the method comprising the steps of: providing a device; the device having a base having a perimeter; a wall attached along the perimeter of the base and extending upward; the wall having a top edge defining an opening; and means for contracting and expanding the opening defined by the top edge of the wall; expanding the wall of the device; placing the device on the surface; lowering the carryall into the device; and contracting the top edge of the wall of the device until the top edge fits snugly around the carryall.

18. A method of protecting a carryall having handles from a surface, comprising the steps of: providing a device; the device having a base having a perimeter; a wall attached along the perimeter of the base and extending upward; the wall having a top edge defining an opening; and means for contracting and expanding the opening defined by the top edge of the wall; a first strip of material having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first strip adjoins a first portion of the top edge of the wall and the second end of the first strip adjoins an opposing second portion of the top edge of the wall; a second strip of material having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second strip adjoins a third portion of the top edge of the wall at or near the first portion of the top edge of the wall, and the second end of the second strip adjoins an opposing fourth portion of the top edge of the wall at or near the second portion of the top edge of the wall; wherein the first strip and the second strip are of approximately equal length; and wherein the second strip extends approximately parallel to the first strip; placing the device on the surface; lowering the carryall with handles into the device; and pulling the strips up and over the handles of the carryall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict typical or example embodiments of the disclosed technology. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the disclosed technology and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability thereof. It should be noted that, for clarity and ease of illustration, these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for protecting the underside of a carryall, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, with a carryall placed in the device.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, wherein the device is holding a carryall and has two strips (only one shown; the other strip is identically configured on the opposing side) joined to the top edge of the device on opposing portions of the top edge, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIGS. 6A-6E are a perspective views of the device of FIG. 1, showing the device being compacted and secured with a securing means (here, a pouch), in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A shows the device at an initial stage of being compacted. FIG. 6B shows a first portion of the device being folded. FIG. 6C shows a second portion of the device being folded. FIG. 6D shows the device being inserted into a pouch. FIG. 6E shows the device inserted into the pouch.

[0029] The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the invention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and that the disclosed technology is limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] The present invention may reside in a device that protects the underside of a carryall. A “carryall” is a portable bag for carrying one's personal or business possessions, such as a purse, handbag, tote, pocketbook, suitcase, luggage, briefcase, duffel, knapsack, satchel, backpack, wristlet, or clutch, and may include one or more handles or straps, or some other way to aid in carrying it.

[0031] With reference to the drawings, a perspective view of a device 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, a top plan view of the device 10 is shown in FIG. 2, and a bottom plan view of the device is shown in FIG. 3. The device 10 comprises a base 12 and a wall 14 having a perimeter 16. The wall 14 attaches to the base 12 along the perimeter 16 of the base 12, and extends upward from the perimeter 16 of the base 12. The base 12 may be a polygonal shape of three or more sides such as a triangle, square, or rectangle, and the sides may be straight or have some curvature. The base 12 may also be a curved shape such as an oval shape or a circular shape. By modifying the base shape and size, the present invention can accommodate a variety of carryall shapes and sizes.

[0032] In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the base is a rectangular shape having two long sides 18a and 18c and two short sides 18b and 18d. Each of the two long sides 18a and 18c is approximately 8 inches to approximately 17 inches in length. Each of the two short sides 18b and 18d is approximately 3 inches to approximately 6 inches in length. And the wall 14 is approximately 2 inches to approximately 5 inches in height.

[0033] The base 12 or wall 14 or both may be made of a fabric or other pliable and durable material such as canvas, cotton, or laminated taffeta, which may provide an added benefit of permitting the device 10 to be washed in a washing machine without destroying the device 10. The fabric or other pliable and durable material may provide an added benefit of making the device 10 suitable for daily use.

[0034] The base 12 or wall 14 or both may also be made of a water-resistant and oil-resistant material such as waxed canvas, oiled canvas, laminated canvas, laminated cotton, coated cotton, coated taffeta, laminated taffeta, leather, coated leather, saffiano leather, waxed leather, oiled leather, coated nylon, laminated nylon, oiled nylon, nylon, polyester, coated polyester, laminated polyester, coated vinyl, laminated vinyl, vinyl, plastic, polyfiber, microfiber, or laminated paper, which may provide an added benefit of permitting the device 10 to be cleaned with a cloth or wipe without destroying the device 10. The water-resistant and oil-resistant material may provide a further added benefit of making the device 10 suitable for daily use.

[0035] The base 12 or wall 14 or both may be made of a disposable oil-resistant, water-resistant material such as plastic, paper, laminated paper, polypropylene, or polypropylene coated with polyethylene, which provides an added benefit of permitting the user to dispose of the product after each use, thereby promoting hygiene. The disposable material may be an eco-friendly/green material or a recycled material. The disposable material may also provide further added benefits of being lightweight, more compactly packaged, and salable in larger-quantity packages. The disposable material offers the consumer the convenience of on-the-go use.

[0036] The base 12 and wall 14 or both may be made of a high-quality material such as leather, saffiano leather, oiled or coated leather, leatherette, faux leather, coated flannel, coated vinyl, or coated canvass, which provides an added benefit of permitting the device to be manufactured by higher-end manufacturers or sold by higher-end sellers.

[0037] The wall 14 may be made of a single piece of material or a plurality of materials joined together.

[0038] The device 10 comprises a means for contracting and expanding the opening defined by the top edge 20 of the wall 14. In particular embodiments, the wall 14 may be continuous and unbroken all along the top edge 20, wherein the means for contracting and expanding the opening defined by the top edge 20 may be by positioning an elastic material inside some or all of the top edge 20, or any other appropriate means.

[0039] In particular embodiments, the means for contracting and expanding the opening defined by the top edge 20 may be one or more of a fastener 24, such as a drawstring, tie, knot, snap, button, magnet, hook-and-loop fastener (e.g., Velcro), zipper, buckle, toggle, or hook.

[0040] With reference to the drawings, a perspective view of a device 10 with a carryall placed in the device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. The device 10 comprises a base 12 and a wall 14 having a perimeter 16, wherein the wall 14 attaches to the base 12 along the perimeter 16 of the base 12, and extends upward from the perimeter 16 of the base 12.

[0041] In one embodiment, the device further comprises a first strip and a second strip 28, wherein the two strips 28 are of approximately equal length. Each of the first strip 28 and the second strip 28 has a first end 32 and a second end 34, wherein the first end 32 adjoins a first portion 40 of the top edge 20 of the wall 14, while the second end 34 of the first strip 28 adjoins an opposing second portion 42 of the top edge 20 of the wall 14. The second strip 28 extends approximately parallel to the first strip 28.

[0042] One or both of the two strips 28 and 30 may be made from a water-resistant and oil-resistant material. In another aspect, one or both of the two strips 28 and 30 may be made from a disposable material.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, wherein the device is holding a carryall and has two strips (only one shown; the other strip is identically configured on the opposing side) joined to the top edge of the device on opposing portions of the top edge, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] In a particular embodiment, the device 10 may further comprise means 46 for securing the compaction of the device 10. The securing means may comprise any appropriate means, such as a drawstring, tie, knot, snap, button, magnet, hook-and-loop fastener (e.g., Velcro), zipper, buckle, toggle, or hook.

[0045] In one embodiment, the device 10 is compacted by folding the device 10 three times to form a trifold and then securing the device using a securing means 46.

[0046] The device 10 may further comprise a pouch 300 for storage attached to the wall 14.

[0047] The present invention may also be embodied in a method for protecting the underside 102 of a carryall 100 from a surface 200, comprising expanding the wall 14 of the device 10; placing the device 10 on the surface 200; lowering the carryall 100 into the device 10; and contracting the top edge 20 of the wall 14 of the device 10 until the top edge 20 fits snugly around the carryall 100.

[0048] The present invention may also be embodied in a method for protecting the underside 102 of a carryall 100 having handles 104 from a surface 200. In one embodiment, the method comprises expanding the top edge 20 of the wall 14 of the device 10; placing the device 10 on the surface 200; lowering the carryall 100 using the handles 104 into the device 10; and pulling the two strips 28 and 30 up and over the handles 104 of the carryall 100.

[0049] Although the invention has been disclosed with reference only to presently preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications can be made without departing from the invention. The specification and figures are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. As such, the present invention is defined only by the following claims and recited limitations.