TRAVEL BAG

Abstract

A travel bag having a front panel connected to a rear panel to define an interior space therebetween with a top opening. A front flap is secured to the rear panel near the top opening by a flexible connection for pivotal movement relative thereto. The front flap has an inner face and an outer face defining an internal pocket therebetween, with the inner face having an opening into the internal pocket. The front flap is movable to a closed position over the front panel to close the travel bag. The front flap is movable to an open position over the rear panel to open the travel bag and expose the inner face of the front flap and the opening into the internal pocket.

Claims

1. A travel bag comprising: a front panel connected to a rear panel by side connections to define an interior space therebetween with a top opening; a front flap secured to said rear panel near the top opening by a flexible connection for pivotal movement relative thereto; said front flap comprising an inner face and an outer face defining an internal pocket therebetween; the inner face of the front flap having an opening into the internal pocket; wherein the front flap is movable to a closed position over the front panel to close the travel bag and expose the outer face of the front flap, and wherein the front flap is movable to an open position over the rear panel to open the travel bag and expose the inner face of the front flap and the opening into the internal pocket.

2. The travel bag of claim 1 being constructed to fit within a seat pocket in the rear of a passenger seat so that in the open position the front flap is positioned over the seat pocket so that the opening into the internal pocket in the inner face of the front flap can be accessed by a person positioned behind the passenger seat.

3. The travel bag of claim 1 wherein the side connections are flexible.

4. The travel bag of claim 1 wherein the inner face opening into the internal pocket is an elongated slit that is near the flexible connection.

5. The travel bag of claim 1 wherein the inner face opening is a reclosable opening.

6. The travel bag of claim 5 wherein the reclosable opening comprises a snap, a zipper, button, or a hook and loop fastener.

7. The travel bag of claim 1 wherein the opening into the internal pocket is an upward opening when the front flap is in the open position.

8. The travel bag of claim 1 wherein the front panel, rear panel and front flap are formed of flexible material.

9. The travel bag of claim 1 wherein the internal pocket comprises a plurality of compartments.

10. The travel bag of claim 1 further comprising a fastener for removably retaining the front flap in a closed position over the front panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a travel bag, in an embodiment of the present invention, in a closed position with the front flap rotated over the front panel;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the travel bag of FIG. 1, with the front flap rotated upwardly away from the front panel and the back panel;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the travel bag in the closed position of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the travel bag positioned in a seat pocket in a closed position with the rear panel facing outwardly; and

[0018] FIG. 5 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 4 showing the travel bag positioned in the seat pocket in an open position with the front flap extending over the rear panel and positioned outside the seat pocket exposing the opening in the inner face of the front flap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] It should be understood that the following description of the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention is merely representative of many possible embodiments and thus is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, the travel bag of the present invention may be formed of any suitable material such as leather, imitation leather, plastic, fabric or the like. The bag generally comprises a front panel 2 that is connected in any suitable manner to a rear panel 4 on the sides thereof by any suitable flexible connection 6 as shown in FIG. 3 to define an internal space therebetween. The connection 6 may be integral and formed of a material that yields elastically to accommodate large or bulky items stored in the internal space, and may be a fixed or removable connection.

[0021] FIGS. 1 and 3 show the travel bag in a closed position. A front flap 8 comprising an inner face 14 and an outer face 16 is pivotally connected to the rear panel 4 by a suitable flexible connection 10 that may be integral and formed of a suitable material or fabric such that the front flap 8 can be rotated over the front panel 2 to close the bag (FIGS. 1 and 3) or rotated over the rear panel 4 to an open position in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter. In the closed position, the outer face 16 of the front flap 8 is exposed. In an open position, as shown in FIG. 5, the inner face 14 of the front flap 8 is exposed.

[0022] FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 show in broken lines an internal pocket 18 in the front flap 8 with a wide opening 12 located near the flexible connection 10 with the rear panel 4. The wide opening 12 is exposed when the front flap 8 is folded over the rear panel 4 so that the internal pocket 12 in the inner face 14 of front flap 8 can be accessed. The internal pocket may be formed of one or more compartments, as shown in FIG. 1. In an embodiment, the wide opening 12 is near and substantially parallel to the flexible connection 10. In another embodiment, the wide opening 12 may be a reclosable opening incorporating, for example, a zipper, button, or a fastener.

[0023] FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 show the travel bag in the closed position wherein the travel bag can be positioned in a passenger seat pocket P in the rear of an airline or train seat or the like with the rear panel 4 thereof facing outwardly or rearwardly (see, e.g., FIG. 4).

[0024] FIG. 5 shows the travel bag in an open position. In this position, the front flap 8 is rotated over the rear panel 4 to position and support the front flap 8 over the seat pocket P and to expose the inner face 14 and the opening 12 to the internal pocket 18 in the front flap 8 so that it can be accessed by a passenger behind the seat. In this open position, the internal pocket 18 has the opening 12 on top.