Checkpoint-friendly bag for a laptop computer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9314077-B2
Application number	US-38199709-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2009
Priority date	Mar 18, 2009
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

A checkpoint-friendly bag for allowing a laptop computer stored in a dedicated portion thereof to provide a clear, unobstructed, and distinct image thereof when X-ray screened at an inspection station without having to remove the laptop computer from the dedicated portion. The bag includes a dedicated compartment and a non-dedicated compartment. The non-dedicated compartment stores items other than the laptop computer. The dedicated compartment stores only the laptop computer itself, is hingedly attached to the non-dedicated compartment at a common edge, is free of metallic snaps, zippers, and buckles, is free of pockets, and has a non-screening mode where it is replaceably fastened in side-by-side relationship to the non-dedicated compartment at discrete and spaced-apart points so as to facilitate unfastening the dedicated compartment from the non-dedicated compartment, and a screening mode where it is unfastened from the non-dedicated compartment and unfolded therefrom to lie unobstructed, flat, and coplanar with the non-dedicated compartment on the inspection station so as to allow the laptop computer stored in the dedicated compartment to provide the clear, unobstructed, and distinct image thereof when X-ray screened at the inspection station without having to remove the laptop computer from the dedicated compartment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A checkpoint-friendly bag for allowing a laptop computer to be stored therein when X-ray screened at an inspection station, without having to remove the laptop computer therefrom the bag comprising:
a dedicated compartment for storing the laptop computer, the dedicated compartment consisting of a single closeable pocket sized and arranged for storing only a laptop computer and a single non-metallic zipper for accessing the single closeable pocket, the dedicated compartment devoid of any additional pockets, zippers, or pouches anywhere thereon, the dedicated compartment defined by four sidewalls, a first planar wall and a second planar wall, the single non-metallic zipper positioned along at least one of the sidewalls;
a non-dedicated compartment, the non-dedicated compartment comprising, a first planar wall, a second planar wall, a plurality of pockets and/or pouches in the first planar wall for storing removable articles, the non-dedicated compartment being further defined by four sidewalls, and a second non-metallic zipper positioned along at least one sidewall of the sidewalls of the non-dedicated compartment for accessing the non-dedicated compartment;
a common edge between the at least one sidewall of the dedicated compartment and the at least one sidewall of the non-dedicated compartment forming a single living hinge so that the single non-metallic zipper of the dedicated compartment faces the second non-metallic zipper of the non-dedicated compartment in a screening mode of the bag wherein the second planar wall of the dedicated compartment and the second planar wall of the non-dedicated compartment are substantially in a same plane;
an exterior portion of the at least one sidewall of the dedicated compartment with the single non-metallic zipper and an exterior portion of the at least one sidewall of the non-dedicated compartment with the second non-metallic zipper, adjacent the common edge, forming a substantially parallel planar surface when the bag is in a non-screening mode wherein the bag is folded so that the second planar wall of the dedicated compartment is adjacent the second planar wall of the non-dedicated compartment;
and a flap hingedly attached adjacent the common edge, the flap configured to overly the first planar wall of the non-dedicated compartment when the bag is in the screening mode wherein the second planar wall of the dedicated compartment and the second planar wall of the non-dedicated compartment are substantially in the same plane, the flap configured to overly the first planar surface of dedicated compartment when the bag is folded so that the second planar surface of the dedicated compartment is adjacent the second planar surface of the non-dedicated compartment so as to be in the non-screening mode.

2. The bag of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first pair of quick release buckles for closing the bag when the bag is in the non-screening mode;
wherein a portion of each first quick release buckle is disposed on adjacent side walls of the dedicated compartment and the non-dedicated compartment when the bag is in the non-screening mode, respectively, so as to facilitate unfastening the dedicated compartment from the non-dedicated compartment when obtaining the screening mode is desired.

3. The bag of claim 2 , further comprising a handle disposed on a first planar side of the flap and near the common edge.

4. The bag of claim 3 , further comprising a second pair of quick release buckles having a portion of the quick release buckles disposed on a second planar side of the flap for facilitating fastening of the flap and the dedicated compartment to the non-dedicated compartment to provide the non-screening mode and for facilitating unfastening the flap from the non-dedicated compartment to provide the screening mode.

5. The bag of claim 4 , wherein each second quick release buckle comprises a male portion and a female portion that are disposed on the first planar wall of the non-dedicated compartment and on the second planar side of the flap, respectively.

6. The bag of claim 4 , further comprising a shoulder strap.

7. The bag of claim 6 , wherein the shoulder strap is attached to the dedicated compartment at an attachment point of two of the sidewalls of the dedicated compartment.

8. The bag of claim 2 , wherein each first quick release buckle comprises a male portion and a female portion that are disposed on the adjacent side walls of the dedicated compartment and the non-dedicated compartment.

9. The bag of claim 1 , wherein the single non-metallic zipper is disposed in a top side wall of the dedicated compartment when the bag is in the non-screening mode, and the single closeable pocket is accessible for the laptop computer via the single non-metallic zipper.

10. The bag of claim 1 , wherein the non-dedicated compartment comprises a closeable pocket that is accessible for articles other than the laptop computer via the second non-metallic zipper, which is disposed in a top side wall of non-dedicated compartment when the bag is in the non-screening mode.

11. The bag of claim 10 , wherein the non-dedicated compartment further comprises a third non-metallic zipper disposed in at least a portion of three of the side walls other than the sidewall comprising the second non-metallic zipper of the non-dedicated compartment, so that the closeable pocket of the non-dedicated compartment is expandable via the third non-metallic zipper.

12. The bag of claim 1 , wherein the non-dedicated compartment comprises a pair of flat, expandable, side gusset pockets disposed on the first planar wall of the non-dedicated compartment.

13. The bag of claim 12 , wherein the non-dedicated compartment further comprises a fourth non-metallic zipper and a fifth non-metallic zipper disposed in the first planar wall of the non-dedicated compartment, so that the pair of flat, expandable, side gusset pockets of the non-dedicated compartment are accessible via the fourth non-metallic zipper and the fifth non-metallic zipper, respectively.

Assignees

• Scicluna Paul V
• Tumi Inc

Inventors

• Scicluna Paul V

Classifications

• A45C11/003

  for storing portable computing devices, e.g. laptops, tablets or calculators · CPC title

• A45C2003/005

  Bags having two volumes connected at upper ends, e.g. saddle bags · CPC title

• A45C13/103

  Arrangement of zip-fasteners · CPC title

• G01N2223/611

  patterned objects; electronic devices · CPC title

• A45C7/0095

  comprising a plurality of hinged panels to be unfolded in one plane for access purposes · CPC title