Side rain flaps for shoulder bags

Abstract

A side flap for covering a gap in a bag is provided for reducing or eliminating environmental elements from entering the bag through the gap between a cover and a mouth of the bag, and for containing contents within the bag. The side flap includes an attachment device that automatically attaches to a corresponding attachment device on the bag when the cover is moved from an open position to a closed position. The attachment device automatically detaches from the corresponding attachment device when the cover is moved from the closed position to the open position.

1 . A bag comprising:
 a bag body having a mouth;   a first attachment device coupled to the bag body proximate the mouth;   a cover having a first end secured to the bag body and a second end removably attached to the bag body when in a closed position such that the cover extends across the mouth of the bag;   at least one side flap projecting transversely from an edge of the cover and adapted to substantially cover a gap between the cover and the bag body when the cover is in the closed position; and   a second attachment device coupled to the at least one side flap, the second attachment device being adapted to automatically attach to the first attachment device when the cover is moved from an open position to the closed position, and the second attachment device being adapted to automatically detach from the first attachment device when the cover is moved from the closed position to the open position.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first attachment device and the second attachment device comprises at least one magnet, and the other of the first attachment device and the second attachment device comprises at least one magnetically attractive element. 
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 1  wherein the at least one side flap automatically moves to a closed position when the cover is moved from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 1  wherein the at least one side flap comprises a first side flap positioned on a first end of the bag and a second side flap positioned on a second end of the bag. 
     
     
         5 . A cover attached to a bag having a mouth and operable between an open position exposing the mouth and a closed position covering a top of the mouth, the cover comprising:
 a flap having a first end attached to the bag, and an opposing second end removably attachable to the bag when in the closed position; and   at least one side flap projecting transversely from the cover and adapted to substantially cover a gap between the cover and the mouth when the cover is in the closed position, the at least one side flap being automatically attachable to the bag when the cover is moved from the open position to the closed position, the at least one side flap being automatically detachable from the bag when the cover is moved from the closed position to the open position.   
     
     
         6 . The cover of  claim 5  further comprising an attachment device coupled to the at least one side flap. 
     
     
         7 . The cover of  claim 6  wherein the attachment device is at least one of a magnet and magnetically attractive elements, and wherein a complementary attachment device is coupled to the bag to attract the attachment device coupled to the at least one side flap when the cover is moved from the open position to the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The cover of  claim 5  wherein the at least one side flap comprises a first side flap positioned on a first end of the cover and a second side flap positioned at a second end of the cover. 
     
     
         9 . The cover of  claim 5  wherein the at least one side flap comprises a panel defined by a first side portion, a second side portion, and a third side portion, the panel covering at least a portion of the gap when in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The cover of  claim 9  wherein the first side portion is secured to the cover, and wherein an attachment device is positioned adjacent to the second side portion.