Anti-Theft Carrying Bags and Security Panel Assemblies

Abstract

In various embodiments, a carrying bag is disclosed which includes a one or more security panel assemblies comprising a first flexible material layer and a polymeric fiber matrix, such as a polymer fiber-based cut-resistant fabric, matrix or mesh. Various carrying straps are disclosed which include a first flexible fabric or webbing; and a second flexible fabric or webbing comprising a polymeric fiber matrix. Additional polymeric fibers, filaments, cables, threads or yarns may be included in the security panel assemblies and straps, such as cut-resistant monofilament and multifilament fibers comprised of a polyethylene such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE), or High Performance Polyethylene (HPPE), for example.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A security panel assembly comprising:
 first flexible material layer having a first side and a plurality of edges; and   a polymeric fiber matrix arranged on the first side of the first flexible material layer, the polymeric fiber matrix comprising at least one polymeric fiber arranged as a plurality of polymeric fiber intersections or crossings, each fiber intersection or crossing comprising at least two sections of the at least one polymeric fiber abutting each other, the at least one polymeric fiber comprising at least one polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn.   
     
     
         2 . The security panel assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second flexible material layer arranged adjacent to the polymeric fiber matrix and coupled to the first side of the first flexible material layer.   
     
     
         3 . The security panel assembly of  claim 2 , 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. 
     
     
         4 . The security panel assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the security panel assembly has a cut-resistance level to withstand an applied cutting force up to 500 grams applied over 20 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The security panel assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the security panel assembly has a cut-resistance level to withstand an applied cutting force up to 3,000 grams applied over 20 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The security panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one or more portions of the polymeric fiber matrix are not coupled to the first flexible material layer and extend beyond one or more the edges of the first flexible material layer or outside the periphery or circumference of the first flexible material layer. 
     
     
         7 . The security panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymeric fiber is a multifilament fiber, cable, thread or yarn. 
     
     
         8 . The security panel assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the multifilament fiber, cable, thread or yarn comprises at least one polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn and either or both at least one carbon fiber or at least one metallic wire, fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn. 
     
     
         9 . The security panel assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the multifilament fiber, cable, thread or yarn comprises a combination of at least one first type of cut-resistant, polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn and at least one second, different type of polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn. 
     
     
         10 . The security panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: aramid; liquid crystal polymer; polyethylene; ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”) having a molecular mass between 3.5 and 7.5 million Daltons; high-modulus polyethylene (“HMPE”); High Performance Polyethylene (“HPPE”); glass; nylon; polyester; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The security panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix is comprised of a plurality of knitted or woven fibers, filaments, cables, threads, or yarns to form the plurality of fiber intersections or crossings. 
     
     
         12 . The security panel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix has an area smaller than first flexible material layer to provide at least one tab or peripheral seam region of the first flexible material layer. 
     
     
         13 . The security panel assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix is coupled to a plurality of strips of first flexible material layers, the plurality of strips of first flexible material layers extending beyond one or more edges of the polymeric fiber matrix to form a plurality of tabs or seam regions. 
     
     
         14 . The security panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix comprises a mesh or netting having a plurality of bonded or coupled polymeric fiber intersections or crossings. 
     
     
         15 . The security panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix comprises a plurality of polymeric fibers, filaments, cables, threads or yarns arranged in a crossing or quilting pattern on the first side of the first flexible material layer and extending on a second side of the first flexible material layer or an intervening flexible material layer. 
     
     
         16 . The security panel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix 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. 
     
     
         17 . A carrying bag comprising:
 an exterior bag having at least one opening for access to an interior of the exterior bag; and   a plurality of security panel assemblies arranged within the interior or coupled to the exterior bag, each security panel assembly of the plurality of security panel assemblies comprising a polymeric fiber matrix, wherein a first security panel assembly and a second security panel assembly of the plurality of security panel assemblies are coupled to each other through at least one seam comprising one or more stitches through each of the respective polymeric fiber matrices.   
     
     
         18 . The carrying bag of  claim 17 , wherein each security panel assembly of the plurality of security panel assemblies has a cut-resistance level to withstand an applied cutting force up to 500 grams applied over 20 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The carrying bag of  claim 17 , wherein each security panel assembly of the plurality of security panel assemblies has a cut-resistance level to withstand an applied cutting force up to 3,000 grams applied over 20 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The carrying bag of  claim 17 , wherein each security panel assembly of the to plurality of security panel assemblies further comprises:
 a first flexible material layer having a first side and a plurality of edges;   wherein the polymeric fiber matrix is arranged on the first side of the first flexible material layer, the polymeric fiber matrix comprising at least one polymeric fiber arranged as a plurality of polymeric fiber intersections or crossings, each fiber intersection or crossing comprising at least two sections of the at least one polymeric fiber abutting each other, the at least one polymeric fiber comprising at least one polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn.   
     
     
         21 . The carrying bag of  claim 20 , wherein each security panel assembly of the plurality of security panel assemblies further comprises:
 a second flexible material layer arranged adjacent to the polymeric fiber matrix and coupled to the first side of the first flexible material layer.   
     
     
         22 . The carrying bag of  claim 21 , 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. 
     
     
         23 . The carrying bag of  claim 20 , wherein one or more portions of the polymeric fiber matrix are not coupled to the first flexible material layer and extend beyond one or more the edges of the first flexible material layer or outside the periphery or circumference of the first flexible material layer. 
     
     
         24 . The carrying bag of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one polymeric fiber is a multifilament fiber, cable, thread or yarn. 
     
     
         25 . The carrying bag of  claim 24 , wherein the multifilament fiber, cable, thread or yarn comprises at least one polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn and either or both at least one carbon fiber or at least one metallic wire, fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn. to  26 . The carrying bag of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one polymeric fiber, filament, cable, thread or yarn comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: aramid; liquid crystal polymer; polyethylene; ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (“UHMWPE”) having a molecular mass between 3.5 and 7.5 million Daltons; high-modulus polyethylene (“HMPE”); High Performance Polyethylene (“HPPE”); glass; nylon; polyester; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The carrying bag of  claim 20 , wherein at least one polymeric fiber matrix of at least one security panel assembly of the plurality of security panel assemblies is comprised of a plurality of knitted or woven fibers, filaments, cables, threads, or yarns to form the plurality of fiber intersections or crossings. 
     
     
         28 . The carrying bag of  claim 27 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix has an area smaller than first flexible material layer to provide at least one tab or peripheral seam region of the first flexible material layer. 
     
     
         29 . The carrying bag of  claim 27 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix is coupled to a plurality of strips of first flexible material layers, the plurality of strips of first flexible material layers extending beyond one or more edges of the polymeric fiber matrix to form a plurality of tabs or seam regions. 
     
     
         30 . The carrying bag of  claim 20 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix comprises a mesh or netting having a plurality of bonded or coupled polymeric fiber intersections. 
     
     
         31 . The carrying bag of  claim 20 , wherein the polymeric fiber matrix comprises a plurality of polymeric fibers, filaments, cables, threads or yarns arranged in a crossing or quilting pattern on the first side of the first flexible material layer and extending on a second side of the first flexible material layer or an intervening flexible material layer. 
     
     
         32 . The carrying bag of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a carrying strap having a cut-resistance level to withstand an applied cutting force up to 3,000 grams applied over 20 mm laterally across the carrying strap, the carrying strap comprising:   a first flexible fabric or webbing; and   a second flexible fabric or webbing coupled to the first flexible fabric or webbing, the second flexible fabric or webbing comprising a second polymeric fiber matrix.   
     
     
         33 . A carrying bag comprising:
 an exterior bag having at least one opening for access to an interior of the exterior bag and having a plurality of panels;   a plurality of security panel assemblies arranged within the interior or coupled to the exterior bag, each security panel assembly of the plurality of security panel assemblies coupled to a panel of the plurality of panels and comprising a polymeric fiber matrix comprising at least one polymeric fiber arranged as a plurality of polymeric fiber intersections or crossings, wherein a first panel coupled to a first security panel assembly of the plurality of security panel assemblies and a second panel coupled to a second security panel assembly of the plurality of security panel assemblies are coupled to each other through at least one seam comprising one or more stitches through each of the respective polymeric fiber matrices.