Anti-Theft Carrying Bag

• US 20150230577A1
• Filed: 03/06/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Travel Caddy Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Travel Caddy Incorporated
• Inventors: Godshaw, Donald E., Hai, Du, Hickman, Bryce Ryan, Zivanovic, Slobodan S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,854,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/103 Arrangement of zip-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/18 Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/185 of purses, money-bags or wallets
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/20 Chains or bands A45C13/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/30 Straps; Bands
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/026 Inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/306 for attaching auxiliary articles to luggage, e.g. piggyback
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/001 Flexible materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/06 Ladies' handbags
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5187 Wire working

Abstract

In various embodiments, a carry (or carrying) bag is provided that includes an interior, substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly with a matrix of wires secured between or on one or more flexible material layers. Also in various embodiments, the security panel assembly may be positioned intermediate the bag outside wall and a lining of the bag, and in other embodiments, may also take the form of an expansion panel. Second or secondary locking fasteners are also provided to lock first or primary fasteners to or within the carrying bag, to provide security for compartments and pockets. A strap with one or more security cables, and various locking fasteners, may be attached to the carry bag. Methods for forming such security panel assemblies, expansion panels, and carrying straps are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A carrying bag comprising:

a substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly comprising a first flexible material layer having a first side, a wire matrix arranged on the first side of the first flexible material layer, and a second flexible material layer adjacent to the wire matrix and coupled to the first flexible material layer;

an exterior bag having an inside chamber enclosing the security panel assembly, the exterior bag including at least one opening for access to the inside chamber of the exterior bag;

a first fastener coupled to the at least one opening; and

a second fastener removably coupled between the first fastener and the exterior bag, the second fastener having a first spring bias to a closed or locked configuration.

2. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the second fastener is coupled to the first fastener and removably coupled to a ring coupled to the exterior bag, or wherein the second fastener is coupled to the exterior bag and removably coupled to the first fastener.

3. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the wire matrix comprises a plurality of wire crossings forming a plurality of closed wire shapes, each wire crossing comprising at least two sections of wire abutting but uncoupled to each other.

4. The carrying bag of claim 3, wherein the wire matrix is comprised of a single wire arranged in a pattern to form the plurality of wire crossings.

5. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the second flexible material layer is coupled to the first flexible material layer with a plurality of stitches, or with an adhesive, or with both a plurality of stitches and an adhesive.

6. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein adjacent the periphery of the first flexible material layer, the wire matrix is arranged as a plurality of bent or curved portions spaced apart from a periphery of the first flexible material layer.

7. The carrying bag of claim 6, wherein the wire matrix is comprised of a single wire having a first end and a second end which are spaced apart from the periphery further than and closer to a center of the first flexible material layer than the bent or curved portions of the wire matrix.

8. The carrying bag of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one polymeric cap coupled to the first end or to the second end of the single wire or to both the first end and the second end of the single wire.

9. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the wire matrix comprises a woven or knitted fabric having a plurality of substantially cut-resistant polymeric threads, fibers or yarn.

10. The carrying bag of claim 1, further comprising:

an expansion panel.

11. The carrying bag of claim 10, wherein the expansion panel comprises:

a second security panel assembly having a first lateral side and a second wire matrix; and

a third security panel assembly having a first lateral side and a third wire matrix, the first lateral side of the third security panel assembly pivotably or rotatably coupled to the first lateral side of the second security panel assembly to provide an expanded state and an unexpanded state of the security expansion panel.

12. The carrying bag of claim 11, wherein the second security panel assembly further comprises a second flexible material layer having a first side, wherein the second wire matrix is arranged on the first side of the second flexible material layer, the second wire matrix comprising a plurality of second wire crossings forming a plurality of closed wire shapes, each second wire crossing comprising at least two sections of a first wire abutting but uncoupled to each other;

wherein the third security panel assembly further comprises a third flexible material layer having a first side, and wherein the third wire matrix is arranged on the first side of the third flexible material layer, the third wire matrix comprising a plurality of third wire crossings forming a plurality of closed wire shapes, each third wire crossing comprising at least two sections of a second wire abutting but uncoupled to each other.

13. The carrying bag of claim 11, wherein the second wire matrix has a first width and the third wire matrix has a second width smaller than the first width.

14. The carrying bag of claim 13, wherein when the security expansion panel is in the open and expanded state, the second wire matrix overlaps or overlays the first wire matrix.

15. The carrying bag of claim 10, wherein the expansion panel comprises a woven or knitted fabric having a plurality of substantially cut-resistant polymeric threads, fibers or yarn.

16. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the security panel assembly is comprised of a plurality of subpanels, each subpanel having a section of a plurality of sections of the wire matrix, and wherein between at least two adjacent subpanels of the plurality of subpanels, the wire matrix is comprised of a single wire without any closed wire shapes.

17. The carrying bag of claim 16, wherein the security panel assembly is foldable between adjacent subpanels to form a gusseted configuration having a first closed or compressed configuration and a second open or expanded configuration.

18. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the security panel assembly is foldable to form a gusseted configuration having a first closed or compressed configuration and a second open or expanded configuration.

19. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the wire matrix is comprised of a substantially cut-resistant polymeric yarn or fiber.

20. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the security panel assembly further comprises:

at least one tab, flange or panel member for securing the security panel assembly within the inside chamber.

21. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the first or second flexible material layers further comprises a plurality of edges forming a plurality of tabs, flanges or panel members for securing the security panel assembly within the inside chamber.

22. The carrying bag of claim 1, further comprising:

a carry strap coupled to a third fastener, the third fastener removably coupled to the exterior bag, the carry strap comprising a first flexible material and a first substantially cut-resistant cable.

23. The carrying bag of claim 22, wherein the third fastener has a second spring bias to a closed or locked configuration.

24. The carrying bag of claim 22, wherein the first flexible material of the carry strap comprises a first webbing material having its length substantially greater than its width and having a first edge and a second edge along its length, and wherein the carry strap further comprises:

a second webbing material having its length substantially greater than its width and having a first edge and a second edge along its length, the second webbing material coupled to the first webbing material; and

wherein the first substantially cut-resistant cable is longitudinally coupled to the first edge of the first webbing material and to the first edge of the second webbing material.

25. The carrying bag of claim 22, wherein the carry strap further comprises:

a second substantially cut-resistant cable; and

wherein the first flexible material has a length substantially greater than its width, has a central region extending longitudinally, has a first lateral region extending longitudinally along a first side of the central region and laterally wrapping around the first substantially cut-resistant cable to laterally enclose the first substantially cut-resistant cable, and has a second lateral region extending longitudinally along a second side of the central region and laterally wrapping around the second substantially cut-resistant cable to laterally enclose the second substantially cut-resistant cable.

26. The carrying bag of claim 22, wherein the first flexible material of the carry strap has a first length substantially greater than a first width, the first flexible material having a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge along its length, having first and second lateral regions along its length, and having a central region along its length in between the first and second lateral regions;

wherein the first substantially cut-resistant cable is arranged longitudinally on the central region of the first flexible material; and

wherein the carry strap further comprises;

a second flexible material having a second length substantially greater than a second width, the second width smaller than the first width, the second flexible material coupled over the first substantially cut-resistant cable and to the first central region of the first flexible material to secure the substantially cut-resistant cable between the second flexible material and the central region of the first flexible material.

27. The carrying bag of claim 22, wherein the first flexible material of the carry strap comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of:

a woven fabric;

a woven ballistic nylon fabric;

leather;

a nonwoven material;

a woven webbing material having finished lateral edges;

polyester;

polypropylene;

acrylic; and

combinations thereof.

28. The carrying bag of claim 22, wherein the third fastener is a locking carabiner or is a multi-glide locking snap hook fastener.

29. The carrying bag of claim 1, wherein the primary fastener is a zipper, and wherein the secondary fastener is a clasp or a locking carabiner.

30. The carrying bag of claim 1, further comprising a flexible material lining coupled to an interior surface of the security panel assembly.

31. A carrying bag comprising:

a first substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly comprising a first flexible material layer having a first side, a first wire matrix arranged on the first side of the first flexible material layer, and a second flexible material layer adjacent to the first wire matrix and coupled to the first flexible material layer;

an exterior bag having an inside chamber enclosing the security panel assembly, the exterior bag including at least one opening for access to the inside chamber of the exterior bag; and

a flexible security expansion panel coupled to the exterior bag, the security expansion panel comprising an exterior flexible material cover and a second substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly.

32. The carrying bag of claim 31, further comprising:

a first fastener coupled to the at least one opening;

a second fastener removably coupled between the first fastener and the exterior bag, the second fastener having a first spring bias to a closed or locked configuration; and

a carry strap coupled to a third fastener, the third fastener removably coupled to the exterior bag, the third fastener having a second spring bias to a closed or locked configuration, the carry strap comprising a first flexible material and a first substantially cut-resistant cable.

33. The carrying bag of claim 32, wherein the second fastener is coupled to the first fastener and removably coupled to a ring coupled to the exterior bag, or wherein the second fastener is coupled to the exterior bag and removably coupled to the first fastener.

34. The carrying bag of claim 31, wherein the second substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly:

a first security panel subassembly having a first lateral side and a second wire matrix; and

a second security panel subassembly having a first lateral side and a third wire matrix, the first lateral side of the second security panel subassembly pivotably or rotatably coupled to the first lateral side of the first security panel subassembly to provide an expanded state and an unexpanded state of the second substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly.

35. The carrying bag of claim 34, wherein the first security panel subassembly further comprises a second flexible material layer having a first side, wherein the second wire matrix is arranged on the first side of the second flexible material layer, the second wire matrix comprising a plurality of first wire crossings forming a plurality of closed wire shapes, each first wire crossing comprising at least two sections of a first wire abutting but uncoupled to each other;

wherein the second security panel subassembly further comprises a third flexible material layer having a first side, and wherein the third wire matrix is arranged on the first side of the third flexible material layer, the third wire matrix comprising a plurality of second wire crossings forming a plurality of closed wire shapes, each second wire crossing comprising at least two sections of a second wire abutting but uncoupled to each other.

36. The carrying bag of claim 35, wherein the second wire matrix has a first width and the third wire matrix has a second width smaller than the first width.

37. The carrying bag of claim 36, wherein when the security expansion panel is in the open and expanded state, the second wire matrix overlaps or overlays the third wire matrix.

38. The carrying bag of claim 31, wherein the second substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly comprises a woven or knitted fabric having a plurality of substantially cut-resistant polymeric threads, fibers or yarn.

39. The carrying bag of claim 31, wherein the second substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly is comprised of a plurality of subpanels, each subpanel having a section of a plurality of sections of a second wire matrix, and wherein between adjacent subpanels of the plurality of subpanels, the second wire matrix is comprised of a single wire without any closed wire shapes.

40. The carrying bag of claim 39, wherein the second substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly is foldable between adjacent subpanels to form a gusseted configuration having a first closed or compressed configuration and a second open or expanded configuration.

41. The carrying bag of claim 31, wherein the second substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly is foldable to form a gusseted configuration having a first closed or compressed configuration and a second open or expanded configuration.

42. The carrying bag of claim 31, wherein the first wire matrix comprises a woven or knitted fabric having a plurality of substantially edit-resistant polymeric threads, fibers or yarn.

43. The carrying bag of claim 31, wherein the first wire matrix comprises a plurality of wire crossings forming a plurality of closed wire shapes, each wire crossing comprising at least two sections of wire abutting but uncoupled to each other.

44. The carrying bag of claim 43, wherein the first wire matrix is comprised of a single wire arranged in a pattern to form the plurality of wire crossings.

45. The carrying bag of claim 31, wherein adjacent the periphery of the first flexible material layer, the first wire matrix is arranged as a plurality of bent or curved portions spaced apart from a periphery of the first flexible material layer;

wherein the first wire matrix is comprised of a single wire having a first end and a second end which are spaced apart from the periphery further than and closer to a center of the first flexible material layer than the bent or curved portions of the first wire matrix, and at least one polymeric cap coupled to the first end or to the second end of the single wire or to both the first end and the second end of the single wire.

46. The carrying bag of claim 31, wherein the second substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly is foldable to form a gusseted configuration having a first closed or compressed configuration and a second open or expanded configuration.

47. The carrying bag of claim 31, wherein the first substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly further comprises:

at least one tab, flange or panel member for securing the first substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly within the inside chamber.

48. The carrying bag of claim 31, wherein the first or second flexible material layers further comprises a plurality of edges forming a plurality of tabs, flanges or panel members for securing the security panel assembly within the inside chamber.

49. A carrying bag comprising:

a first substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly;

an exterior bag having an inside chamber enclosing the security panel assembly, the exterior bag including at least one opening for access to the inside chamber of the exterior bag;

a flexible security expansion panel coupled to the exterior bag, the security expansion panel comprising an exterior flexible material cover and a second substantially cut-resistant security panel assembly;

a first fastener coupled to the at least one opening;

a second fastener removably coupled between the first fastener and the exterior bag, the second fastener having a first spring bias to a closed or locked configuration; and

a carry strap coupled to a third fastener, the third fastener removably coupled to the exterior bag, the carry strap comprising a first flexible material and a first substantially cut-resistant cable.