Easy-access bag

Abstract

An easy-access bag includes three compartments that are hinged together so as to be foldable between a closed position, in which all three compartments form a compact, integral bag for carrying or towing, and an open position, in which all three compartments lie in side-by-side relation to each other and are all simultaneously accessible for packing or unpacking or for security inspections.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bag, comprising: 
 a first compartment comprising an outer wall and four sidewalls extending inwardly therefrom and surrounding a first storage area therein, the inner edges of said sidewalls lying substantially in the same plane;    a second compartment comprising four sidewalls surrounding a second storage area therein substantially coextensive with said first storage area and having first and second sidewall edges lying substantially in first and second planes respectively, the first edge of one sidewall of the second compartment being hinged to the inner edge of a corresponding sidewall of the first compartment so that the second compartment is foldable between (1) a first position in which it overlies the first compartment with said first sidewall edges in juxtaposition to the inner sidewall edges of the first compartment and (2) a second position in which the second compartment lies beside the first compartment with said one sidewall of the second compartment and said corresponding sidewall of the first compartment in side-by-side juxtaposition;    a third compartment defining a third storage area therein, said third compartment comprising an inner wall substantially coextensive with said second storage area, said inner wall being hinged to the second sidewall edge of the second compartment located diagonally opposite of the first sidewall edge of the second compartment that is hinged to the first compartment, so that the third compartment is foldable between (1) a first position in which said inner wall overlies the second compartment in juxtaposition to the second sidewall edges thereof and (2) a second position in which the third compartment lies beside the second compartment with said inner wall in substantially the plane of the second sidewall edges of the second compartment; and    the third compartment being openable from the outside to permit access to said third storage area, whereby access to said first, second and the third storage areas is simultaneously available when said second and third compartments are folded to the respective second positions thereof.    
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the corresponding non-hinged edges of the first and second compartments and the corresponding non-hinged edges of the second compartment and the inner wall of the third compartment and releasably attachable by peripheral closure members.  
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein said peripheral closure members comprise zippers.  
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the second compartment comprises an openable wall covering the second storage area at least on the side thereof adjacent said first sidewall edges.  
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the openable wall of said second compartment comprises an open mesh material.  
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 5 , wherein the openable wall of said second compartment is removably attachable to the second compartment along three sides thereof by a zipper.  
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the second compartment comprises an openable wall covering the second storage area on each side thereof adjacent each of said first and second sidewall edges.  
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 7 , wherein each openable wall of said second compartment comprises an open mesh material.  
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 8 , wherein each openable wall of said second compartment is removably attached to the second compartment along three sides thereof by a zipper.  
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the third compartment includes a fold-out panel having means for holding at least one suit thereon.  
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 10 , wherein said fold-out panel is at least in part removably attached to the third compartment.  
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein said first, second and third compartments comprise the bottom, middle and top compartments, respectively, of the bag.  
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second and third compartments comprise the back, middle and front compartments, respectively, of the bag.  
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein at least the first and second compartments are generally rectangular in plan, with the hinged sidewalls thereof comprising longer ones of the sidewalls of the compartments.  
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 14 , wherein the sidewalls of the first and second compartments are of substantially the same height, whereby the first sidewall edges of the second compartment lie substantially in the plane of the inner sidewall edges of the first compartment when the second compartment is in said second position.  
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 at least one wheel mounted on one shorter side of the first compartment; and    a towing handle mounted on the first compartment so as to be accessible from the other shorter side thereof.    
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 16 , wherein said towing handle comprises a telescopic handle selectively movable between a retracted storage position and an extended use position.  
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 16 , further comprising a pair of support feet mounted on the shorter side of the second compartment which is adjacent to said one short side of the first compartment, whereby the bag may stand upright on said at least one wheel and said support feet.  
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls of at least the first compartment comprise stiff frame members.  
     
     
         20 . The bag of  claim 18 , wherein the sidewalls of at least the second compartment also comprise stiff frame members.  
     
     
         21 . The bag of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more carry handles mounted on at least one of the first, second and third compartments.