Insect Protecting Cover and Insect Shielded bag and container

Related Application

5 The present application ciaitrss the benefit of

Provisional Application Serial No. 61/013,160 filed on December 12, 2007.

Technical Field

1.0 The technical field of the present disclosure relates to a cover and/or bag that shields items such as luggage and clothing against bugs such as bedbugs.

Background

15 Bugs, such as bedbugs, are an increasing

^• problem for travelers. ϊf travelers stay at an establishment, such as a hotel, motel, ^" inn, etc. , that has a bug infestation, the travelers' ^" luggage and clothes can become infested with bugs. The infested luggage and 0 clothes, if then brought into other establishments or into the travelers' ^" homes or into contact of the luggage of other travelers, will spread the infestation. Once an area has been infested, the removal, of the infestation can be extremely difficult, particularly in the case of 5 bedbuαs .

It is desirable to protect items from bug infestation and/or, to prevent the spread of bug infestation ,

S Brief Description of the Drawings

The features and advantages of the present invention claimed herein will become more apparent from a detailed consideration of the present disclosure when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: iO Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a bug protecting bag ;

Figure 2 is a view showing details of the bag of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing another !5 embodiment of a bug protecting bag; ana,

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of a bug protecting bag.

Detailed Description 0 A bag 10 is shown in Figure 1 and is arranged to substantially prevent bugs, such as bedbugs, from accessing its interior. Therefore, clothing, luggage, and/or other items stored in the bag 10 by a person visiting or occupying an establishment, such as a home,

hospital, hotel, motel _/ inn, etc., is substantially safe from bug infestation,

A user can carry the bag 10 in a folded state to the establishment. Prior to entering the S establishment or. immediately upon entering the establishment or the user's room in the establishment, the user unfolds the bag 10 from its folded state to the unfolded state shown in Figure 1. The luggage, clothes, or other items can then be inserted into the bag 10. iO Alternatively, luggage, clothes, or the like can be inserted into the bag 10 at any other time.

In its unfolded state, the bag 10 as viewed in Figure 1 has six sides, i.e., a top side 12, a back side 14, a bottom side 16, a front side 18, a right side 20,

!5 ana a left side 22, Thus, the top side 12 and the bottom side 16 are opposite to one another, the back side 14 and the front side 18 are opposite to one another, and the right side 20 and the left side 22 are opposite to one another . 0 The bag IQ, according to one embodiment, has one or more advantageous features. For example, the bag 10 has a substantially bug-proof exterior with little or no bug harborages, e.g., crevices, seams, openings, or pores, in or through which bugs can hide or lay eggs. 5 The sides 12, 14, 16, Iδ, 20, and 22 of the bag 10, for

example, may be fabricated from a suitable wipe-down and/or non-porous material such as Nylon, Polyester, Plastic, Tyvek, or Vinyl, and are, for the most part, smooth, offering few seams or crevices,

S In order to minimize seams and crevices, the top side 12, the back side 14, and the bottom side 16 can be made from a first single continuous sheet of material. Similarly, the front side 1.8, the right side 20, and the left side 22 can be made from a second single continuous iO sheet of material. These first and second continuous sheets of material are suitably joined so that a first seam 24 is formed between the back side 14 and the right side 20, a second seam 26 is formed between the right side 20 and the bottom side 16, a third seam 28 is formed

!5 between the front side 18 and the bottom side 16, a fourth seam {not shown} is formed between the left side 22 and the bottom side 16, and a fifth seam (not shown} is formed between the back side 1.4 and the left side 22. These first and second continuous sheets of material are 0 joined in any suitable manner so as to form the seams and. so as to minimize ingress of bugs. For example, in the case where the sides 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 of the bag IQ are plastic or the like, the above mentioned seams, including the seams 24, 26, and 28, are formed by 5 heat sealinq so as to ioin the first and second

continuous sheets of material together to form the bag

However, the bag 10 may be formed by joining any number of pieces together in any suitable manner. S Also, in the case where the sides 12, 14, 16,

18, 20 _r and 22 of the bag 10 are fabricated from a suitable wipe-down material, the bag 10 can be wiped down with a damp cloth that may, if desired, contain a cleanser. i0 As shown in Figure 1 and in rαore detail in

Figure 2, the bag 10 includes a zipper 30 to permit access to the contents of the bag 10. The zipper 30 includes a first locking strip 32 having the usual interlocking teeth and being suitably attached, such as

!5 by heat sealing, to edges 34, 36, and 38 of the top side 12, The zipper 30 also includes a second locking strip 40 having interlocking teeth and being suitably attached, such as by neat sealing, to an edge 42 of εne right side 20, to an edge 44 of the front side 18, and to an edge 0 (not shown) of the left side 22. The edges 34 and 42 correspond to one another, the edges 36 and 44 correspond to one another, and the edge 38 and the not shown edge of the left, side 22 correspond to one another. The zipper 30 further includes a slider 46 that, when slid, causes 5 the interlocking teeth of the first and second locking

strips 32 and 40 to mesh and unmesh in known fashion so as to close and open the zipper 30.

The zipper 30, for example, rαay foe an off-the- shelf zipper that clasps and shuts the bag 10 so as to S prevent entry/exit of bugs and first stage bug nymph which is smaller than a drop of water. The zipper 30 provides easy access for large objects such as suitcases to be stored and contained with the bag 10.

Ail of the sides 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 may i0 be transparent or opaque. Alternatively, some of the sides 12, 14, 16, 13, 20, and 22 may be transparent while others of the sides 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 may be opaque. Transparency of at some of the sides 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, and 22 of the bag 10 permits the contents of the !5 bag 10 to be more easily identified without having to open the bag 10.

As shown in more detail in Figure 2, at one end of the zipper 30, a lower dust guard or seal member 50 (partially seen through a breakaway 51 in Figure 2} is 0 suitably attached (such as by heat sealing) to the exteriors of the top side 12 and the right side 20 of the bag 10 near the first seam 24. An upper dust guard or seal member 52 is provided over the lower dust guard 50 so that ends 54 and 56 of the corresponding first and 5 second locking strips 32 and 40 are between the lower and

αpper dust gαards 50 and 52. The lower and αpper dust guards 50 and 52 are heat sealed so as to capture arid fiz the ends 54 and 56 of the corresponding first and second locking strips 32 and 40 between the lower and upper dαst S guards 50 and 52. In this manner, the ends 54 and 56 of the corresponding first and second locking strips 32 and 40 of the zipper 30 are fixedly attached to the bag 10.

As seen through the breakaway 51, the lower dust guard 50 has a first end. 50a and a second end (not i0 shown) near the first seam 24. Accordingly, the lower dust guard 50 is longer than the upper dust guard 52 to form an overlapping area 60 and a non-overlap-ping area 62. Moreover, during heat sealing of the lower and upper dust guards 50 and 52, a short pocket 63 is formed

!5 between the lower and upper dust guards 50 and 52 and receives the slider 46, Accordingly, as the slider 46 nears the end of the zipper 30 at which the lower and upper dust guards 50 and 52 are located, the slider 46 rαoves over the portion of the lower dust guard 50 in the 0 non-overlapping area 62 and, at the end of movement., slides into the pocket 64.

Lower and upper dust guards may be similarly provided at the other end of the zipper 30 near the searrs between the left side 22 and the back side 14 of the bag 5 10. Moreover, although only one slider 46 is shown in

connection with the zipper 30, a second slider can also be provided for the zipper 30.

As shown in Figure 1, the bag IQ may be used to cover a suitcase 66 having a pull out handle 68 at one S end arid wheels (not shown) at. the other. The bag 10 shown in Figure 1 does not permit access to the pυii out handle 68 or to the wheels of the suitcase 66. To penrsit access to the pull out handle 68 and the wheels of the suitcase 66 while the suitcase 66 is covered by a bag, a i0 bag 10' shown in Figure 3 can be provided. The bag 10' is substantially similar to the bag IQ, differing only in that a zippered. handle access panel 70 is provided in a right side 20' of the bag 10' to permit access to the pull out handle 68. ft zippered wheel access panel 74 is

!5 provided in a left side 22' of the bag 10' to permit access to the wheels of the suitcase 66.

The zippered handle access panel 70 includes a zipper 72 similar co the zipper 30 of cπe bag 10. Lower and upper dust guards similar to the lower and upper dust 0 guards 50 and 52 may be provided at one or the other end or at both ends of the zipper 72. Similarly, the kippered wheel access panel 74 includes a zipper 76 similar to the zipper 30 of the bag 10. Lower and upper dust guards similar to the lower and upper dust guards 50 5 and 52 may be provided at one or the other end or at both

ends of the zipper 76 of the zippered wheel access panel

Thus, during transit of the suitcase 66 contained -within the bag 10' , the zipper 72 is unzipped, S the zippered handle access panel 70 is open, and the pυii out; handle 68 of the suitcase 66 extends through the open zippered handle access panel 70 to the exterior of the bag 10' . Similarly, the zipper 76 is unzipped, the zippered wheel access panel "4 is open, and the wheels of i0 the suitcase 66 extend through the open kippered wheel access panel 74 to the exterior of the bag 10' . Accordingly, the suitcase 66 can be moved by υse of its pull out handle 68 and its wheels. Once the suitcase 66 arrives at its destination, the pull out handle 68 of the

!5 suitcase 66 is pushed into the suitcase 66, the zipper 72 is operated to close the zippered handle access panel 70, and the zipper 76 is operated to close the zippered wheel access panel 74. A.s a result, the suitcase 66 is now sealed within the bag 10' against bugs. 0 Shown in Figure 4 is a bag 10'' that is configured to store articles within drawers of furniture, under beds, etc. The bag 10'' is likewise arranged to substantially prevent bugs, such as bedbugs, from accessing its interior. In its unfolded state, the bag 5 10'' has a top side 12", a back side 14", a bottom side

it>* ' , ,,. £xoιλ. s _^ do i8' ' , a riohi s.κlo 2?' ^f , ard a left s : de r. ^" ' ' . ThUκ _> , the ^ op s i.o<=> /?' ' λγ.λ rhe 3>">M ^n oirie Ib' ' are orposice to one another, :r.e baok side 14' ' and. the frcr ^1' s_o.e 18' ' ..re opco^Lo 1 C jr _* o a; .outer, , αni ' ho S ^■ " ^■ αh- ¹ - s:df TO' ' Ct' T *he Wit ^iae ?f ' a-e op;>jpii e ^o

O" 5 CiTOt he T.

Iho s _^ dos cf the baq 10' ^f , like ihc sides cf ϊ "e oauo 10 β"J i"' _/ provide a ^xter:cr. The ε ;>p side 12' ' , t ^λ "? r^:k side I '-t' ' , a"d tr. ^ !0 ho tcoπi side 16'' car. be irade £xoiτ a fix si sinqlo cκ>nϊ iuijouo .8" , tr. ^ rigV.r s:.de 20' ', and the ..^t: s:.de 2J' ' can re nad^ flora a

!5 suitably joined at a rirst ≤^aτ 24' ' , a second s-?aτ 2t' ^f , a t. ^λ .i;d sc art 2^' S a fourth scan (not sr.^wn) between the ]«ft oiw 2C ' and .-.ea:r {'-^t shown) beiveen tr.-e ϊ-λ ?k side 14' ' and the "e'f " & oe Z2 ^f ' , Hc wove r, tr.o rag 1C' nay bo forrαcd bv ioir.ir-q ar.v 0 rp;;κ,er of p.ece.-. loose tht-i lκ any sυ ^' .iable ;r jiir.e: .

Tr-? bag 1C" includes a ripper 3ϋ' ' :o perir.it accosϊ to zhz contents of r.hc tao 1C. 'Iho ^ipcor 3C' 1;λC ude^ iock _^ nu _^ i ripe ^ oinil-u to ⁺ he luckii _^ g όt i ip _^ O a ⁵ " α -1C or the "r.pp-er JO. Th.e zirper όC ' aiεo includes a 5 slider 4D' ' tr.at, vuhen ^l ^d, cav.ε^os r.hc ir.t or locking

teeth of the locking strips of the zipper 30'' to mesh and υnmesh in known fashion. Lower and upper dust, guards similar to the lower and upper dust guards 50 and 52 may be provided at one or the other erid or at both ends of S the sicpsr 30' ' .

Jis in the case of the bags 10 and 10', all. of the sides of the bag 10' ' may be transparent or opaque, or some of the sides of the bag IG'' may be transparent while others of the sides of the bag 10'' may be opaque. i0 Transparency of at some of the sides of the bag 10' ' permits the contents of the bag 10'' to be more easily identified without having to open the bag 10'' .

If desired, a cardboard or plastic 3-sided support or possibly spring corner supports can be !5 provided to add rigidity to any of the bags 10, 10', and 10'' in order to create a corresponding box-lil^e CD- sided) structure for easy insertion of items needing bug- protection.

The bags 10, 10% and 10'' may be provided in 0 different sizes depending upon the type and size of luggage or other items to be protected or, in the case of the bag 10' ' , the type and size of the drawer in which the bag IQ' ' is to be used. The bags 10, 10' , and 10' ' may be arranged to contain large, medium, or small

suitcases, dαffle hags, backpacks, briefcases, purses, clothing, laptop computers, briefcases, etc.

The zippers of the bags 10, 10', and 10'' may be locking zippers so that not even baby bags can S penetrate, In an embodiment, the bags 10, 10', and 10'' have no exterior mounted handles or emblems that create harborages. In another embodiment , the zippers are easy- access three-sided zippers for. easy access to and placement of items. The bags 10, 10', and 10'' are i0 durable and can be non-load bearing and tear-resistant.

The bags 10, 10', and IQ" can provide travel- rated, bug-proof luggage encasements for end-to-end use to prevent travel luggage/bags from bug infestation throughout the whole travel, process (i.e., taxi, bus, !5 airplane, train, hotel, cruise) since bugs can enter luggage at an infested buildiiig or also by transfer from close proximity to infested luggage or an infested travel vehicle. The bags 10, 10', and 10'' may be designed to provide single-use or multi-use durability. The user can 0 encase and store any and ail items and travel bags at home .

Multiple smaller versions of the bags 10, 10', and 10' ' can be put into a single larger version of the bags 10, 10', and 10'' . The bags 10, 10', and 10' ' can 5 be used to stored items in closets.

The bags 10, 10', and 10" substantially prevent, the spread of bugs and protects luggage and other items from bedbug infestation. The bags 10, 10' , and 10' ' can be washed and/or -wiped down prior to, during, or S following transport.

Modifications of the present invention have been discussed above. Other modifications will occur to those practicing in the art of the present invention. For example, in addition to the bags described above, a i0 garment bag may be provided with a zipper down the front to permit, garments to be inserted into and removed from the garment bag. α. second zipper can be provided at the top to permit one or more hangers that hold garments within the garment bag to extend from the interior to the !5 exterior of the garment bag so that the garment bag can be hung in a closet by use of the hangers. Alternatively, a hanger can be heat sealed to the top of the garment bag so that the garment bag can be hung in a closet without opening the garment bag and using the 0 hanger s ins ide .

Also, closures other than the zippers described above can be used to open and close the bags . for example, a zip lock type closure could instead or in addition be used. As in the in case of a zipper closure,

a .L lock a;.d lour 'L

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i>od" f " cat" c ¹ " ¹ ^ w^ i ^h d'C w:; ⁿ r. the s ^opo o" ^* th.e aprended rlaia≤. „3 loservcd.