Tool carrying and storage case

• US 20050056562A1
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Travel Caddy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Travel Caddy Incorporated
• Inventors: Redzisz, Andrezj M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,991,104 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/373
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/04 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2005/032 semi-rigid, i.e. resistant against deformation and resilient, e.g. with a resilient frame
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2005/035 soft-sided, i.e. with flexible side walls covering a rigid frame
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/06 with outside compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/02 Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of one strap passing over the shoulder
• CPC Class Codes: B25H 3/02 Boxes

Abstract

A storage and carrying case includes semi-rigid spaced end panels and a semi-rigid bottom panel all joined together by means of a fabric over layer and a fabric under layer which are stitched together by a binding which also connects to front and back panels to form an enclosure for tools or the like. A single binding may thus be utilized to join all of the flexible fabric materials which retain the semi-rigid or rigid panels forming the enclosure.

Claims

1. A case for carrying tools or other items comprising, in combination:

planar, generally rigid, fabric covered first end panel having a generally rectangular lower section with a bottom side edge, a front side edge and a back side edge and a generally triangular upper section;

a second, planar, generally rigid, fabric covered end panel having a configuration congruent with the first end panel and parallel to and spaced from the first end panel and with a bottom edge, a front side edge and a back side edge;

a planar, generally rigid, fabric covered, rectangular bottom panel connecting between the first and second panels to form a three sided, generally rigid fabric covered box;

a first, flexible, fabric front panel having a top edge and joined between the front side edges of the first and second panels;

a second, flexible fabric back panel having a top edge and joined between the back side edges of the first and second end panels;

a single continuous, closed loop binding joining the fabric covering the generally rigid panels and the flexible panels, said binding extending over the joined fabric and stitched thereto along the side edges and bottom edges of the end panels and the top edges of the flexible panels.

2. The storage case of claim 1 further including a reinforcing member sewn into the flexible panels intermediate the end panels.

3. The case of claim 1 further including a generally rigid handle member connecting the first and second end panels.

4. The case of claim 3 further including a rubber handle member fitted over the rigid handle member.

5. The case of claim 1 further including rigid reinforcing bridging elements fitted over at least a part of the first end panel and the second end panel.

6. The case of claim 1 wherein the end panels include a truncated triangular upper end configuration and are generally equal in size and shape.

7. The case of claim 1 wherein at least one of the end panels includes a strap along a top edge of said end panel which is affixed at one end to the end panel and attachable to the end panel to retain an item.

17. The case of claim 2 wherein said reinforcing member is sewn generally into the panels generally along the top edge.

8. A case for carrying tools or other items comprising, in combination:

planar, fabric covered first end panel having a generally rectangular, rigid lower section with a bottom side edge, a front side edge and a back side edge and a generally triangular upper section;

a second, planar, fabric covered end panel constructed substantially identical to the first end panel and having a configuration generally congruent with the first end panel and parallel to and spaced from the first end panel and, said second panel also including a bottom edge, a front side edge and a back side edge;

a planar, generally rigid, fabric covered, rectangular perimeter shaped, bottom panel between the first and second panel to form a generally three sided, generally rigid, fabric covered box with the first and second end panels extending upwardly from the bottom panel;

a first, flexible, fabric front panel having a top edge and joined between the front side edges of the first and second panels;

a second, flexible fabric back panel having a top edge and joined between the back side edges of the first and second end panels;

a continuous, closed loop binding joining fabric covering the generally rigid end and bottom panels and the flexible panels, said binding extending over the joined fabric and stitched thereto along the side edges and bottom edges of the end panels and the top edges of the flexible panels.

9. The storage case of claim 8 further including a reinforcing member sewn into the flexible panels intermediate the end panels.

10. The case of claim 8 further including a generally rigid handle member connecting the first and second end panels.

11. The case of claim 10 further including a rubber handle member fitted over the rigid handle member.

12. The case of claim 8 further including rigid reinforcing bridging elements fitted over at least a part of the first end panel and the second end panel.

13. The case of claim 8 wherein the end panel upper sections comprise a truncated triangular upper end configuration and are generally equal in size and shape.

14. The case of claim 8 wherein at least one of the end panels includes a strap along a top edge of said end panel which is affixed at one end to the end panel and attachable to the end panel to retain an item.

16. The case of claim 9 wherein said reinforcing member is sewn generally into the panels generally along the top edge.

18. The case of claim 8 including a handle member connected between the upper sections of the first and second panels.

15. The case 14 wherein the strap is attached at one end to the case and attachable at the opposite end to the case.