US20090127045A1

US20090127045A1 - Roll-Up hanging toiletry organizer and diaper bag organizer

Info

Publication number: US20090127045A1
Application number: US12/271,906
Authority: US
Inventors: Nicole Nelson Williams; Susan Packer Nelson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-11-15
Filing date: 2008-11-16
Publication date: 2009-05-21

Abstract

A toiletry supplies carrying case including an exterior panel of fabric with multiple interior and/or exterior pockets of varying sizes consisting of fabric or other materials, with or without multiple closures for said pockets. The case lies flat when in an open position, then rolls into a closed position and is held closed by one or more closures consisting of elastic, hook and loop, snaps or other closure. Each pocket can be used to accept toiletries or other small items needed for travel, baby-care or any number of applications which need organization and/or transport and/or storage. There are four sets of interior pockets on one exterior pocket. The first interior pocket is comprised of three smaller sections made to accept very small items such as bandages or other similarly sized items. The second and third interior pockets are sized to accept diapers, wipes cases and other similarly sized items. The fourth interior pocket is suitable for accepting small toiletry bottles or tubes of travel or baby care items. The exterior pocket is sized to accept a cell phone, keys or other similarly sized items. A removable handle is connected to the exterior panel and extends outwardly therefrom so as to allow the case to be suspended from an exterior object.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/003,236, filed 2007 Nov. 15 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

1. Field
The present invention related to devices for the convenient carrying and storage of travel items and/or baby supplies.
2. Background of the Invention
Parents and others responsible for infants and small children need a reliable supply of diapers and wipes, as well as other toiletries and first-aid products at all times. This need has given rise to multiple types of cases and bags made specifically for addressing this issue.
Most commonly used are diaper bags, which can be large and bulky cumbersome for the parent to carry. Another recent carrying case on the market is designed to hold only diapers and wipes, thus being too small to hold other necessary items, and have only one function and a very limited product life span.
It is an object of the present invention to allow for multiple items to be stored and still be compact.
It is a further object of the present invention to operate as a multi-functional bag which can be used for a longer time period, such as going from a diaper bag organizer to a travel toiletry bag for an older child or adult once the child has outgrown diapers.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide for use in multiple applications, such as in the transport other small or fragile items, such as camera equipment i.e. lenses, film, or computer peripherals i.e., data storage devices, discs, hubs, cables, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1—Exterior view of the toiletry bag in its unrolled position.

FIG. 2—Interior view of the toiletry bag in its unrolled position.

FIG. 3—Interior view of toiletry bag in its unrolled position illustrating various articles which can be stored in the multiple pockets.

FIG. 4—Front elevational view of the exterior of the bag in rolled-up, closed position.

FIG. 5—Side elevational view of the bag in the rolled-up, closed position.

DRAWINGS

Reference Numerals


10	exterior surface of bag	11	door hook hanging loop
12	removable strap handle	13	spring hook attachments
14	elastic closure loops	15	decorative trim
16	interior surface	17	small see-through pocket
18	small see-through pocket	19	small see-through pocket
20	closure tab	21	large pocket
22	closure tab	23	large pocket
24	zipper pull	25	large pocket
26	D-ring
27R	permanently attached top
	of elastic loop tab
27L	permanently attached top
	of elastic loop tab
28L	permanently attached bottom
	of elastic loop tab
28R	permanently attached bottom
	of elastic loop tab
110d	diapers	110e	baby wipes or hand wipes
110f	lotions or diaper creams	110c	crayons
110b	individually wrapped
	antiseptic wipes
110a	individually wrapped
	bandages

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A roll-up toiletry bag comprised of an interior side 16 and an exterior side 10. FIGS. 1-2 show the exterior and interior views of the organizer. It is comprised of a rectangular exterior surface 10 sewn to an interior surface 16 of similar dimensions. A hanging loop 11 is at the top of the bag to attach it to a door hook if desired. In this example, the overall length or height of the unit is approximately 25 inches and the width is approximately 10 inches, however these dimensions should not limit variations in length or width.
With continued reference to FIG. 1, a carrying strap 12 is attached to the bag using spring hooks 13 for ease of transport and to attach to other items, such as a stroller handle or a purse strap for hands-free carrying. In this example, elastic loops 14 are attached by being permanently sewn at the top of the loop 27L and 27R and the bottom of the loop 28L and 28R. These straps or elastic loops 14 are used for securing closure in the rolled-up position. In this example, additional decorative straps of ribbon or webbing 15 are added to increase attractiveness of the item when closed.
FIG. 2 shows the interior view 16 of the organizer, showing the hanging loop 11. In this embodiment of the bag, the interior consists of multiple see-through small pockets 17 and 18 and 19 for smaller items which can be readily viewed without opening the pockets. In this example, two larger pockets 21 and 23 below are attached with tabs 20 and 22 respectively, using hook and loop closures. These tabs can also be made from snaps, buttons or other closure devices. The bottom pocket 25 consists of a zipper closure 24 and see-through material for ease of view the items inside. The closure for the bottom pocket 25 could also be hook and loop, snaps or buttons.
FIG. 3. again shows the interior view of the pockets with examples of the personal articles which can be stored and transported, such as bandages 110 a, antisceptic wipes 110 b, crayons 110 c, diapers 110 d, baby or hand wipes 110 e and diaper creams, lotions or other travel-size toiletries 110 f.
FIG. 4. is the exterior view of the bag in the rolled-up and closed position. This view shows in more detail the carrying strap 12, the detachable spring hooks 13, the d-rings used for strap attachment 26 and the elastic tab loops 14 used to secure the bag in the closed position. The elastic tab loops 14 are secured to the bag at the top 27R and 27L and bottom 28R and 28L by permanently sewing or some other means of attaching in a fixed position.

OPERATION

FIRST EMBODIMENT

The bag is closed by rolling from the bottom to the top. As shown in FIG. 4, once closed, the elastic loops 14 are brought from the back of the bag around to the front. This is done by pulling the straps around the side of the rolled-up bag, then laying them flat over the top flap of the unit. The straps then act as closure devices by keeping the bag in the rolled position.
When in the unrolled position, a user can insert various toiletry and baby care items into the multiple pockets. Several of the pockets can be made of see-through material, such as clear vinyl, to allow the user to know what is in the pocket without opening it. The organizer can also be hung on a hook by utilizing the hanging loop 11 located at the top of the unit.
When in the closed, rolled-up position, a user can then transport the bag in various ways. Since it is compact, it can be put inside another bag, purse or stroller basket or it can be attached to another bag or stroller by using the detachable strap 12, by detaching one of the spring hooks 13 from its corresponding d-ring 26 and reattaching to its corresponding d-ring 26 once the strap is secured around another object.

OPERATION

ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENT

Different materials, sizes and closures can be used on all components. In lieu of zippers, pockets can be closed with buttons, snaps, hook and loop fasteners or hook and eye fasteners.

OPERATION

ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENT

Pockets can be made to be removable, stand-alone devices.

OPERATION

ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENT

The roll-up feature of the bag can also be accomplished by using snaps, magnets, hook and loop closures, zippers or buttons.

ADVANTAGES

From the description above, a number of advantages of some embodiment of our roll-up hanging toiletry/diaper bag organizer become evident:
This invention consists of a roll-up toiletry bag that lies flat when unrolled, allows for multiple items to be stored and is still compact. Other hanging toiletry bags on the market are bulky, unattractive and cumbersome and small diaper/wipe holders have only one function.
This invention is able to operate as a multi-functional bag.
This invention is able to be used for a longer time period, such as going from a diaper bag organizer to a travel toiletry bag for an older child or adult once the child has outgrown diapers.
This invention can be used for multiple applications. It can be used to transport small or fragile items, such as camera equipment i.e. lenses, film, or computer peripherals i.e., data storage devices, discs, hubs, cables, etc.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitation on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presently preferred embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. For example, different materials, sizes and closures can be used on all components. In lieu of zippers, pockets can be closed with buttons, snaps, hook and loop fasteners or hook and eye fasteners.
Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.

Claims

1. A roll-up hanging toiletry organizer and diaper bag organizer comprising:

a three-layer flat panel of fabric materials, the inner surface of said panel having multiple fabric

and/or see-through pockets, with or without closure devices, affixed to it, the middle fabric layer providing aesthetics and/or functional texture, the outer fabric surface having affixed to it one or more pockets with or without closure devices, two stretchable bands for securing the rolled-up organizer in a closed position and a detachable strap of fabric or other material, said organizer bag rolls or folds to close and the stretchable bands wrap around the bag to secure it when in the closed position.

2. The organizer of claim 1, said three-layer panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge extending between said top and bottom edges and a second side edge on an opposite side of said panel from said first side edge, said second side edge extending between said top and bottom edge, said component fabrics being stacked one upon the other to make up the three layer panel.

3. The organizer of claim 1, said inner surface of panel having multiple fabric and/or see-through pockets affixed to it, the first said pocket extending from the first side edge to the second side edge of the panel, the bottom edge of the first pocket aligned with the bottom edge of the panel and the top edge of the pocket open and equipped with a zipper, snap(s), button(s), hook-and-loop tape, magnet(s), elastic or other closure device and this first said pocket being of sufficient size to hold a large size folded disposable diaper, a baby wipes case or sundries of comparable size and bulk.

4. The organizer of claim 3, the second said pocket extending from the first side edge to the second side edge of the panel, the bottom edge of the second pocket aligned with the top edge of the first pocket and the top edge of the second pocket open and equipped with a zipper, snap(s), button(s), hook-and-loop tape, magnet(s), elastic or other closure device and this second said pocket being of sufficient size to hold a large size folded disposable diaper, a baby wipes case or sundries of comparable size and bulk.

5. The organizer of claim 3, the third said pocket having a pleat or additional fabric on each side edge for added depth and extending from the first side edge to the second side edge of the panel, the bottom edge of the third pocket aligned with the top edge of the second pocket and the top edge of the third pocket open and equipped with a zipper, snap(s), button(s), hook-and-loop tape, magnet(s), elastic or other closure device and this third said pocket being of sufficient size to hold 3-4 large size folded disposable diapers, or sundries of comparable size and bulk.

6. The organizer of claim 3, the fourth said pocket extending from the first side edge to the second side edge of the panel, the bottom edge of the fourth pocket aligned with the top edge of the third pocket and the top edge of the fourth pocket open and equipped with a zipper, snap(s), button(s), hook-and-loop tape, magnet(s), elastic or other closure device, this fourth said pocket being subdivided into three smaller pockets with two rows of stitching that are parallel to the side edges of the pocket, these smaller pockets being of sufficient size to hold small sundry items.

7. The organizer of claim 1 said outer surface of the panel having affixed to it one or more pockets extending from the first side edge to the second side edge of the panel and

a. sewn or otherwise affixed to the outside surface of the panel and equipped with a zipper, snap(s), button(s), hook-and-loop tape, magnet(s) or other closure device, or

b. sewn or otherwise affixed as a hidden pocket between the outer surface panel and the middle panel layer and opening through the outer surface panel and equipped with a zipper, snap(s), button(s), hook-and-loop tape, magnet(s) or other closure device and

the first of the said pockets being located a distance from the top edge of the organizer that is approximately one fifth the total length of the organizer and any other said pockets being located between the organizer top and the first said pocket and/or being located between the center of the outer surface panel and the bottom of the outer surface panel.

8. The organizer of claim 7 said outer surface of the panel having two bands that wrap around the rolled-up organizer to secure it in a closed position, and each said stretchable band

a. comprised of elastic, the length being nominally one fourth the length of the organizer, one end of the elastic length being sewn or otherwise affixed to the outer surface of the panel just above the top of said first pocket of claim 7 and the bottom of the elastic piece sewn or otherwise affixed to the outer panel surface below the bottom of the pocket, the elastic length being parallel to the side edges of the outer surface panel and located from one side edge a distance of nominally one fourth the total width of the organizer, or

b. comprised of a short length of elastic that is attached to the end of a length of ribbon, fabric, strapping or other material to form a stretchable loop, said stretchable loop being used with a surface-affixed pocket as described in claim 7a, the circumference of said stretchable loop being approximately one half the length of the organizer, one “end” of the elastic portion of said stretchable loop being sewn or otherwise affixed to the outer surface panel under the pocket and just below the top edge of the pocket such that the length of elastic is located under the pocket, the loop above the said affixed elastic “end” extending through an opening between the pocket top and the outer surface of the panel, looping over the exterior surface of the pocket and looping back under the pocket through an opening between the pocket bottom and the outer surface of the panel, the stretchable loop being parallel to the side edges of the outer surface panel and located from one side edge a distance of nominally one fourth the total width of the organizer, or

c. comprised of other narrow fabrics and being secured at each end with a closure, such as hook and loop tape, buttons, snaps, buckles or other similar closure devices.

9. The organizer of claim 1 said outer surface having attached to it a detachable strap of fabric or other material, said strap to function as either a handle for carrying or for temporarily attaching the organizer to or hanging it from another structure or device, said detachable strap ends being attached to the organizer by means of an attachment system such as, but not limited to, latch hooks and D-rings or fabric loops, buttons and buttonholes or loops, snaps, magnets or hook-and-loop tape.