Reconfigurable Storage Device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016120280-A1
Application number	US-201514932141-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 4, 2015
Priority date	Nov 4, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A storage device including a body having an inner compartment, wherein the body has first and second outer portions and a middle portion positioned therebetween. The storage device further includes a strap attachable to the body in a first configuration wherein the strap is coupled to the body at or adjacent to the first and second outer portions and extends therebetween and is not coupled to the middle portion such that the strap is wearable over a shoulder of a user in a manner of a courier-type bag, and a second configuration wherein the strap is coupled to the body at or adjacent to the first and second outer portions and releasably slidably attached to the middle portion to thereby define a pair of loops. Each loop is shaped and configured to receive an arm of a user therethrough such that the storage device is wearable on a back of the user in the manner of a backpack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A storage device comprising:
a body having an inner compartment, wherein said body has first and second outer portions and a middle portion positioned therebetween; and a strap attachable to said body in a first configuration wherein said strap is coupled to said body at or adjacent to said first and second outer portions and extends therebetween and is not coupled to said middle portion such that said strap is wearable over a shoulder of a user in a manner of a courier-type bag, and a second configuration wherein said strap is coupled to said body at or adjacent to said first and second outer portions and releasably slidably attached to said middle portion to thereby define a pair of loops, each loop being shaped and configured to receive an arm of a user therethrough such that said storage device is wearable on a back of the user in the manner of a backpack.

2 . The storage device of claim 1 further comprising a strap securing device that is slidably coupled to said strap and releasably attachable to said body to releasably slidably attach said strap to said body.

3 . The storage device of claim 1 further comprising a body securing device that is slidably coupled to said body and releasably attachable to said strap to releasably slidably attach said strap to said body.

4 . The storage device of claim 1 wherein said body includes a carrying handle, and wherein said strap is releasably slidably attachable to said handle.

5 . The storage device of claim 1 wherein said strap is attached to said body only at or adjacent to said first and second outer portions when said strap is in said first configuration.

6 . The storage device of claim 1 wherein said body is generally rectangular in front view, and wherein first and outer portions are left and right portions, respectively, of said body in front view.

7 . The storage device of claim 1 wherein said body is generally rectangular in front view and has a length along which said strap extends when said strap is in said first configuration, and wherein said first and second outer portions each extend only over an outer 25% of said body in said length direction, and wherein said strap is configured to be coupled to said body at said first and second outer portions when in said first configuration.

8 . The storage device of claim 1 wherein said body is generally shaped as a rectangular prism.

9 . The storage device of claim 1 wherein said strap is positioned entirely externally of said inner compartment when in said first configuration and when in said second configuration.

10 . The storage device of claim 1 wherein said strap does not at least partially define said pair of loops when said strap is in said first configuration.

11 . The storage device of claim 1 wherein when in said first configuration said strap extends continuously between said first and second outer portions.

12 . The storage device of claim 1 wherein each loop is defined at least partially by the associated strap and at least partially by said body.

13 . The storage device of claim 1 wherein said strap is a single, continuous strap is and not separable into separate strap portions.

14 . The storage device of claim 1 wherein said storage device is configured such that when said strap is in said first configuration said strap extends along a length dimension of said body, and said strap is coupled to said first outer portion at a first attachment location, is coupled to said second outer portion at a second attachment location, and is coupled to said middle portion at a third attachment location, and wherein said first, second and third attachment locations are all in an upper portion of a height of said body, wherein said height extends perpendicular to said length.

15 . The storage device of claim 1 wherein said storage device is configured such that when said strap is in said second configuration said strap is coupled to said body at said middle portion at a center of said body with respect to a length dimension thereof.

16 . The storage device of claim 1 wherein said body includes a first cover and a second cover pivotally coupled to said first cover, and wherein said body includes a binding mechanism positioned in said inner compartment.

17 . A storage device comprising:
a body having an inner compartment; and a strap attachable to said body in a first configuration wherein said strap is coupled to said body only at two spaced apart outer portions of said body, and a second configuration wherein said strap is coupled to said body at said outer portions and is also attached to a middle portion of said body positioned between said outer portions to thereby define a pair of loops, wherein when in said second configuration said strap is at least one of slidably releasably attached to said middle portion, or attached to said outer portions of said body along or adjacent to an upper edge thereof and attached to said middle portion at a position spaced away from said upper edge thereof.

18 . The storage device of claim 17 wherein said strap is configured such that when said strap is in said second configuration said strap is slidably releasably attached to said middle portion.

19 . The storage device of claim 18 further comprising a securing device that is slidable along one of said strap or said body and that is releasably attachable to said the other one of said strap or said body to slidably releasably attach said strap to said body.

20 . The storage device of claim 17 wherein said strap is configured such that when said strap is in said second configuration said strap is attached to said outer portions of said body along or adjacent to an upper edge thereof and attached to said middle portion at said position spaced away from said upper edge thereof.

21 . The storage device of claim 20 wherein said strap is configured such that when said strap is in said second configuration strap is attached to said middle portion along or adjacent to a lower edge of said body positioned opposite said upper edge.

22 . The storage device of claim 17 wherein said strap is configured such that when said strap is in said first configuration said strap is wearable over a shoulder of a user in a manner of a courier-type bag, and when in said second configuration each loop is shaped and configured to receive an arm of a user therethrough such that said storage device is wearable on a back of the user in the manner of a backpack.

23 . A storage device comprising:
a body having an inner compartment; a strap configured to be coupled to said body, said strap including first and second strap segments, said strap being movable between a first configuration wherein said first and second strap segments are releasably coupled together to form a continuous strap that is wearable over a shoulder of a user in the manner of a courier-type bag, and a second configuration wherein each strap segment is directly releasably coupled to said body such that each strap segment at least partially defines a loop, each loop being shaped and configured to receive an arm of a user therethrough such that said storage device is wearable on a back of the user in the manner of a backpack; and a pair of body securing devices coupled to said body, wherein each body securing device is configured to be coupled to one of said strap segments and is configured to not be coupleable to the other one of said strap segments.

Assignees

• Acco Brands Corp

Inventors

• Dingler Noah E
• Nolan Patrick B
• Toth Andrew

Classifications

• A45C3/02 Primary

  Briefcases or the like · CPC title

• A45F4/00

  Travelling or camp articles which may be converted into {other} articles {or into objects} for other use; Sacks or packs carried on the body and convertible into other articles {or into objects for other use} · CPC title

• A45C2009/007

  into other hand or travelling articles · CPC title

• A45F3/02

  Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of one strap passing over the shoulder · CPC title

• A45F3/04

  Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders · CPC title