US20070065050A1

US20070065050A1 - Pit stop bag

Info

Publication number: US20070065050A1
Application number: US11/233,235
Authority: US
Inventors: Brett McMillen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-09-22
Filing date: 2005-09-22
Publication date: 2007-03-22
Also published as: CA2560163A1

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment includes a framework of straps designed to substantially enclose a rectangular gasoline can or similar object, and to which bags may be attached to contain tools, accessories for the machine to be powered by the gasoline in the can, or bottles of water and snacks for the user. The straps are secured to each other at generally right angles, and the bags may be removable.

Description

BACKGROUND

One very useful embodiment of the Invention relates to the following field, although the Invention may also relate to other fields. One version of the Invention is a bag which attaches to a gasoline can, and which contains various pockets for holding tools and other articles needed by the user.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

The following examples of related art and its limitations are illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon study of the specification and drawings of this Application. There are numerous tool bags which have appeared over the years including one which acts like a tool belt for holding tools, and it wraps around a 5 gallon bucket used by carpenters. The present Invention is different because it fits on rectangular containers or objects like gas cans, and it has actual pockets that may zipper shut for securely holding tools and other items. Somewhat similar devices are shown at www.toolcanbag.com; however, the structures are different because they are designed for attachment to a different shape of gas can, and are not as secure because fewer straps are used.

SUMMARY

One of the more widely useful embodiments of the present Invention may be summarized as follows. This embodiment is exemplary only. Other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon study of the specification and drawings of this Application. A version of the Invention is a framework, typically made of fabric, and comprising straps and buckles of various kinds. The framework is adapted to attach to a gasoline can of a shape typically used in the United States. The framework also may contain bags with pockets of various sizes and shapes for holding tools, and other articles for the user such as a bottle of water and snacks. The bag pockets may also hold attachments, tools and accessories for a power tool to be powered by the gasoline contained in the can. In addition, the bag pocket may be large enough to hold the power tool itself, or the bag may have straps and buckles capable of attaching a power tool to the framework in addition to the gasoline can.
An important version and use of the Invention relates to off-road motorcycle races. At these races there are periodic pit stops, which can sometimes be in the middle of nowhere and there may not be any actual pit crew or vehicles at the location, but simply a gas can used to top off the tank of the motorcycle before heading out again. Before the race even starts, all riders put a gas can with their race number on it on a big trailer. Volunteers drive the trailer out to the pit stop area, sometimes 30 or so miles away, and arrange the cans in numerical order so that when the motorcycle riders arrive at the pit stop location, they know which gas can belongs to them, and can use the gas in the can to refuel their motorcycles. Sometimes at the stop location, some riders have a drink and a snack. A significant aspect of the Invention is a framework which fits around the gas can with a series of straps and buckles. The attached bags also contain a number of pockets or holders for related accessories such as tools, goggles, additional drinks and snacks.

PURPOSES AND ADVANTAGES

The purposes and advantages of the more widely useful embodiments of the present Invention include, but are not limited to, the following, and may include other purposes and advantages in different fields of use:

1. To provide a device for attaching bags containing tools, accessories, water bottles and snacks to gasoline cans.
2. To provide a device which is made of inexpensive materials and is easy and cheap to make.
3. To provide a device which can be tightened around a can or other object, and securely carried along with the can or object without falling off or spilling the contents of the bags of the device.
4. To provide a device which is light weight and of flexible shape.
5. To provide a device which can easily and securely attach to a water jug used for rafting or camping, or even a smaller food cooler.
6. To provide a device with adjustable straps to fit cans or containers of different sizes and shapes.
7. To provide a device with up to four bags containing different objects.
8. To provide a device with removable bags, so that one may use only the number of bags needed.
9. To provide a framework comprising two pairs of straps around the can, with the pairs intersecting at right angles and providing a secure rectangular framework which will not slip off the can, and to which bags can be securely attached.
10. To provide a device which can be attached to European style gas cans; whereas similar devices for European style gas cans cannot be attached to American rectangular style gas cans.

DRAWING FIGURES

FIGS. 1 through 5 show various plan views of the Invention as attached to a rectangular gasoline can.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

1 gas can
2 gas can handle
3 gas can spout fitting
4 straps
5 strap attachment means
6 bag securement means
7 bag zipper or flap overlap
8 gas can cap
9 strap adjustment buckle
10 bag

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This Brief Description and the Detailed Description cover only some embodiments of the Invention, and other embodiments will be clear to those skilled in the art from the description, drawings, and Alternative and Additional Embodiments. The Drawings are illustrative and not limiting.
FIG. 1 is a side view of the Invention attached to a rectangular gas can.
FIG. 2 is a front end side view of the Invention attached to a rectangular gas can.
FIG. 3 is a back end side view of the Invention attached to a rectangular gas can.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the Invention attached to a rectangular gas can.
FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the Invention attached to a rectangular gas can.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the Invention attached to a rectangular gas can 1, having gas can handle 2, gas can spout fitting 3, and gas can cap 8. A standard gas can spout (not shown) can be attached to gas can spout fitting 3 by removing gas can cap 8. The Figure shows a generally rectangular framework of straps 4, with a pair of straps 4 extending vertically up the side of gas can 1, and another pair of straps 4 extending horizontally across the side of gas can 1. The vertically extending straps 4 continue across the top of gas can 1 (not shown), and down the opposite side of the gas can (not shown), underneath the bottom of gas can 1 (not shown), and again up the side of gas can 1, shown in the Figure. The horizontally extending straps 4 continue around the circumference of the can, thus extending around the front side of the can (not shown), the opposite side of the can to the one shown in FIG. 1 (not shown) and also around the back side of the can (not shown). The vertically extending pair of straps 4 connects to the horizontally extending pair of straps 4 at straps attachment means 5, four of which are shown in FIG. 1. The strap attachment means 5 could be stitching, or for adjustable devices, fabric loops through which the straps pass. Also shown in FIG. 1 is the bag 10 which may contain tools, bottles of water, snacks, or accessories used in connection with the machine fueled by the gas can. In FIG. 1 the four intersecting straps 4 are shown in dotted lines underneath bag 10. Also shown in dotted lines underneath bag 10 are strap attachment means 5 and bag securement means 6. FIG. 1 also shows a bag zipper 7 which may be opened to gain access into bag and to remove its contents. Alternatively, part 7 may represent an overlapping flap on the outside surface of the bag, the flap extending from the top of the bag part way down the side of the bag, and secured to the outside surface of bag 10 by means of Velcro pairs (not shown), buckles, button and button holes, snap button pairs, or similar means known to those skilled in the art as described below.
FIG. 2 is a side view of the front of gas can 1, showing gas can spout fitting 3 and gas can cap 8. Also shown are two horizontal straps 4 and strap adjustment buckles 9. Strap adjustment buckles 9 enable the straps 4 to be properly sized for the circumference of gas can 1. Once the straps 4 are placed around the circumference of gas can 1, the strap adjustment buckles 9 are used to tighten the straps 4 around the circumference of the can. FIG. 3 is a side view of the back of gas can 1. Gas can spout fitting 3 and gas can cap 8 are not shown at the top of the Figure. Two horizontal straps 4 extend across the back and gas can 1, and extend around the entire circumference of gas can 1 (not shown). The bag 10 is shown attached to the two horizontal straps 4 by bag securement means 6. Portions of straps 4 and bags securement means 6 are shown in dotted lines because they are behind bag 10. Bag zipper or flap overlap 7 is shown, and is discussed in the description of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a top view of gas can 1 showing gas can handle 2, gas can spout fitting 3 and gas can cap 8 on the top surface of the can. Two parallel straps 4 are shown extending across the top of can 1; their length and tightness are adjustable by strap adjustment buckles 9. The pair of straps 4 also extend down the two sides of gas can 1 and the bottom of gas can 1 (not shown).
FIG. 5 is a view of the bottom of gas can 1 with a pair of straps 4 extending parallel to each other across the bottom of the can 1. The pair of straps 4 also extends across both sides of can 1 and across the top of can 1 as shown in FIG. 4.

Description—Preferred Embodiment

The strap attachment means 5 could consists of stitching placed in the straps which intersect at right angles in order to secure them to each other. Alternatively, strap attachment means could comprise fabric loops attached to one set of straps, and through which the other straps pass at right angles. The bag securement means 6 may be Velcro pairs, with one Velcro element attached to the bag 10 and the other attached to strap attachment means 5. The bag securement means 6 could also be fabric loops attached to the back of bag 10 so that straps 4 may pass through them and thus secure bag 10 to straps 4. The straps 4 would typically be made of fabric or woven webbing. The bag 10 would typically be made of natural or artificial fiber fabric. The strap adjustment buckle 9 would be well known to those skilled in the art. The strap adjustment buckles 9 may be connected to a male-female strap quick release (not shown) well known to those skilled in the art. Such a strap quick release would enable the framework of straps to be quickly opened to more easily insert or remove the can 1 from the strap framework.

Operation of One Embodiment

The Invention would be attached to gas can 1 by loosening strap adjustment buckles 9 enough so that the can 1 can be inserted either between the pair of straps 4 on the bottom surface of the Invention as shown in FIG. 5, or between the pair of straps 4 on the top of the Invention as shown in FIG. 4. After the can is inserted into the Invention, strap adjustment buckles 9 are tightened so that all of the straps 4 are in secure position around the circumference of gas can 1. There may also be strap adjustment buckles 9 in the pair of straps 4 shown on the top of gas can 1 in FIG. 4. By means of the buckles 9, the straps 4, extending around the perimeter of can 1 from the top surface, across one side surface, under the bottom surface and up the opposite side surface of gas can 1, can be adjusted to fit various size gas cans. The strap adjustment buckles may have male-female quick releases attached to them to facilitate insertion and removal of the can 1 as discussed above.

Tests

The Applicant has built the Invention with fabric bags and straps and buckles and has successfully attached it to a standard rectangular gas can as used in the United States. Bags which comprise part of the Invention contained tools, a water bottle, and snacks for participants in a motorcycle race. The Invention stayed securely attached to the gas can, and the entire assembly was easily transported by grasping the handle of the gas can.

Additional Embodiments

Different materials for the bags 10 could be used. Different ways of adjusting the length of straps 4 could be used. Different bag securement means could be use to secure the bags to the straps. Different strap attachment means could be used as part 5. These different materials, and means, etc. would be well known to those skilled in the art. The Invention could have a different size and shape so as to attach to other objects besides a rectangular gas can. For attachment to some other objects, there may be different number of straps, and the straps may be placed differently around the object. The bags may be closable by zippers, flaps, buttons and button holes, snap button pairs, Velcro pairs, straps and buckles, or other means known to those skilled in the art
A homeowner could use the Invention on the gas can for a mower; those who are active with jet skis and water skis could use it for keeping oil and tools for water ski boats; landscape companies can use it for sparkplugs and tools for weed whackers; and rafters can use the Invention on 5 gallon water jugs for overnight raft trips.

Conclusions, Ramifications and Scope

A number of changes are possible to the parts described above while still remaining within the scope and spirit of the Invention. The specifics about the form of the Invention described in this Application (including the specifics in the Summary, Abstract, Preferred Embodiment, Additional Embodiments, and Alternative Embodiments) are examples and are not intended to be limiting in scope. Those skilled in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions, subtractions and sub-combinations thereof. The scope of the Invention is to be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents, not the examples, purposes, summary, preferred embodiments, alternative or additional embodiments, operation, tests, etc. given above. It is intended that the claims are interpreted to include all such modifications, additions, subtractions, permutations and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.

Claims

1. A flexible framework for attachment to a substantially rectangular object having three perpendicular axes, comprising:

(a) one or more substantially narrow straps extending around the object in a plane perpendicular to one axis of the object,

(b) one or more substantially narrow straps extending around the object in a plane perpendicular to another axis of the object, and

(c) one or more bags attached to the framework by bag securement means, wherein the straps in (a) and (b) intersect each other in two areas on opposite sides of the object, and wherein pairs of straps intersecting each other at substantially right angles are attached to each other in those two areas by permanent or sliding strap attachment means.

2. A flexible framework for attachment to a substantially rectangular object having three perpendicular axes, comprising:

(a) two or more substantially narrow straps, substantially parallel to each other, extending around the object in a plane perpendicular to one axis of the object,

(b) two or more substantially narrow straps, substantially parallel to each other, extending around the object in a plane perpendicular to another axis of the object, and

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising strap adjustment buckles in said straps whereby the length of the straps and snugness around the object may be adjusted.

4. The device of claim 2, further comprising strap adjustment buckles in said straps whereby the length of the straps and snugness around the object may be adjusted.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the bags include a closable flap, zipper, button and buttonhole, snap button pair, or Velcro pair, for opening and closing said bags.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the bags include a closable flap, zipper, button and buttonhole, snap button pair, or Velcro pair, for opening and closing said bags.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the strap attachment means is stitching through a pair of intersecting straps, or is a loop attached to one strap through which the intersecting strap may slide.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the strap attachment means is stitching through a pair of intersecting straps, or is a loop attached to one strap through which the intersecting strap may slide.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising a male-female quick release mechanism in one or more straps, whereby one or more straps may be opened to facilitate entry or exit of the object into or out of the framework.

10. The device of claim 8, further comprising a male-female quick release mechanism in one or more straps, whereby one or more straps may be opened to facilitate entry or exit of the object into or out of the framework.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the bag securement means comprises (a) a Velcro pair wherein one Velcro element is attached to the bag and the other Velcro element is attached to the strap attachment means or strap, or (b) a loop attached to the bags through which straps may pass.

12. The device of claim 2, wherein the bag securement means comprises (a) a Velcro pair wherein one Velcro element is attached to the bag and the other Velcro element is attached to the strap attachment means or strap, or (b) a loop attached to the bags through which a strap may pass.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is sized and shaped to fit around a substantially rectangular hollow container.

14. The device of claim 2, wherein the device is sized and shaped to fit around a substantially rectangular hollow container.

15. The device of claim 3, wherein the device is sized and shaped to fit around a substantially rectangular hollow container.

16. The device of claim 4, wherein the device is sized and shaped to fit around a substantially rectangular hollow container.

17. The device of claim 5, wherein the device is sized and shaped to fit around a substantially rectangular hollow container.

18. The device of claim 6, wherein the device is sized and shaped to fit around a substantially rectangular hollow container.

19. The device of claim 7, wherein the device is sized and shaped to fit around a substantially rectangular hollow container.

20. The device of claim 8, wherein the device is sized and shaped to fit around a substantially rectangular hollow container.

21. The device of claim 11, wherein the device is sized and shaped to fit around a substantially rectangular hollow container.

22. The device of claim 12, wherein the device is sized and shaped to fit around a substantially rectangular hollow container.

23. The device of claim 7, wherein two or more straps are used and can be positioned to pass over the top of the rectangular hollow container.

24. The device of claim 8, wherein two or more straps are used and can be positioned to pass over the top of the rectangular hollow container.