Pocket closure device

• US 20050155882A1
• Filed: 01/15/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ogio International Incorporated (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Ogio International Incorporated (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Christensen, Joseph W., Pratt, Michael James, Warner, Scott Kendrick
• Granted Patent: US 7,111,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/315.500
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/06 with outside compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/04 Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/20 with special receptacles for the balls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 150/90 Means biasing mouth in open or closed configuration

Abstract

A pocket closure device for facilitating retention of and access to items placed in a pocket. Specifically, certain embodiments of the present invention comprise an elongate resilient member disposed along a pocket and attached to a front panel of the pocket and to an outer surface of a bag. The elongate resilient member acts to bias the front panel against the outer surface of the bag such that the panel may be quickly and effectively accessed in a single movement. The biased nature of the front panel of the pocket also enables quick and automatic closure of the pocket to secure pocket contents.

Claims

1. A pocket closure device for a bag, wherein said bag comprises a top end, a bottom end, and an outer surface, said pocket closure device comprising:

a storage receptacle having a front panel, a back panel, side panels, and an interior space, wherein said storage receptacle is coupled to said outer surface of said bag and wherein said storage receptacle further comprises an absence of traditional locking devices; and

biasing means coupled to said front panel and to said outer surface of said bag for substantially sealing said interior space in a first closed position, and for allowing access to said interior space in a second open position.

3. The pocket closure device of claim 1, wherein said storage receptacle further comprises a grip element coupled to an outer surface of said front panel to facilitate leverage and transport of said bag.

4. The pocket closure device of claim 3, wherein said grip element comprises a flap coupled to said outer surface of said front panel to accommodate a hand of a user.

5. The pocket closure device of claim 1, wherein said biasing means further comprises a handle element to facilitate leveraging said biasing means to allow access to said interior space.

6. The pocket closure device of claim 1, wherein said biasing means further comprises a substantially U-shaped resilient member having two open ends and an adjoining bridge portion, wherein said adjoining bridge portion is coupled to said front panel, and wherein each of said two open ends is coupled to an outer surface of said bag beyond said storage receptacle such that said front panel may be selectively biased with respect to said bag.

7. The pocket closure device of claim 1, wherein said biasing means comprises material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, and an elastomeric compound.

2. (canceled)

8. A pocket assembly for facilitating retention of and access to accessories placed therein, said pocket assembly comprising:

an accessory pouch integral to an outer surface of a bag, wherein said accessory pouch is capable of receiving and retaining accessories, and wherein said accessory pouch further comprises an absence of traditional locking devices; and

at least one resilient member laterally disposed along said accessory pouch, said at least one resilient member capable of being selectively actuated to allow access to an interior space defined by said accessory pouch.

9. The pocket assembly of claim 8, wherein said accessory pouch further comprises at least one aperture to facilitate ventilation and moisture release.

10. The pocket assembly of claim 8, wherein said accessory pouch further comprises a grip element coupled to said accessory pouch to facilitate leverage and transport of said bag.

11. The pocket assembly of claim 10, wherein said grip element comprises a flap coupled to said accessory pouch to accommodate a hand of a user.

12. The pocket assembly of claim 8, wherein said accessory pouch further comprises a handle element to facilitate leveraging said at least one resilient member to allow access to said interior space.

13. The pocket assembly of claim 8, wherein said at least one resilient member further comprises a handle element to facilitate leveraging said at least one resilient member to allow access to said interior space.

14. The pocket assembly of claim 8, wherein said at least one resilient member comprises a substantially U-shaped resilient member having two open ends and an adjoining bridge portion, wherein said adjoining bridge portion is coupled to a face of said accessory pouch, and wherein each of said two open ends is coupled to an outer surface of said bag beyond said accessory pouch such that said face of said accessory pouch may be selectively biased with respect to said outer surface of said bag.

15. A bag comprising:

an outer housing for receiving and retaining a plurality of items;

a pocket member biased to said outer housing for receiving and retaining at least one accessory, wherein said pocket member comprises;

a front panel;

a bottom support panel attached to said front panel;

a back panel attached to said bottom support panel, wherein said back panel is retained substantially adjacent said outer housing;

side panels coupled between said front panel and said back panel such that said front panel is retained substantially opposite said back panel; and

at least one biasing element longitudinally disposed along at least one of said side panels and coupled to each of said front panel and said housing such that said pocket member provides selective access to said at least one accessory.

17. The bag of claim 15, further comprising a guard element attached proximate an opening of said pocket member, wherein said guard element extends beyond said opening to protect said at least one accessory retained therein.

18. The bag of claim 17, wherein said guard element is attached to said outer housing.

19. The bag of claim 17, wherein said guard element is attached to said pocket member, wherein said guard element may be selectively positioned to substantially cover said opening.

20. The bag of claim 17, wherein said guard element is removably attached to at least one of said outer housing and said pocket member.

21. The pocket member of claim 15, further comprising apertures within at least one of said front panel, said bottom support panel, and said side panels to permit ventilation and moisture release from said pocket member.

22. The bag of claim 15, further comprising a grip element integrated into at least one of said outer housing and said pocket member to facilitate leverage and transport of said bag, wherein said grip element comprises a flap having dimensions sufficient to accommodate a grip of a user.

23. The bag of claim 15, wherein said pocket member further comprises a handle element to facilitate leveraging said front panel of said pocket member to allow access to said at least one accessory.

24. The bag of claim 15, wherein said at least one biasing element of said pocket member comprises a substantially U-shaped resilient member having two terminal ends and an adjoining bridge portion, wherein said adjoining bridge portion is integrated into said front panel, and wherein each of said terminal ends is coupled to said housing beyond said bottom support panel of said pocket member such that said front panel may be selectively biased with respect to said outer housing.

16. (canceled)

25. A method for facilitating retention of and access to items in a bag, said method comprising:

providing a bag having a pocket member with an opening for receiving and retaining at least one item;

coupling to a front panel of said pocket member a first portion of at least one elongate biasing member;

attaching a second portion of said at least one elongate biasing member to said bag, wherein said at least one elongate biasing member provides selective access to an interior of said pocket member.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said coupling to said front panel further comprises disposing said at least one elongate biasing member substantially adjacent said front panel member and attaching said first portion of said at least one elongate biasing member to an upper portion of said front panel proximate said opening.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said attaching a second portion of said at least one elongate biasing member to said bag further comprises attaching said second portion of said at least one elongate biasing member to a bottom end of said bag substantially beyond said pocket member such that said upper portion of said front panel may be selectively biased with respect to said bag.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising attaching a handle element to said biasing member to facilitate leveraging said pocket member to obtain selective access to said interior of said pocket member.

29. The method of claim 25, further comprising integrating a grip element into said front panel of said pocket member to facilitate leverage and transport of said bag, said grip element having dimensions sufficient to accommodate a grip of a user.

30. The method of claim 25, further comprising coupling to at least one of said bag and said pocket member a guard member proximate an opening to said pocket member, wherein said guard member extends beyond said opening of said pocket member to protect said interior of said pocket member when said pocket member is closed.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing apertures in said pocket member to facilitate at least one of cleaning, ventilating and draining said pocket member.