Carrier bag with multi-function removable panel

Abstract

A hand and/or shoulder carrier bag having a removable panel. The removable panel may be releasably and selectively coupled to the bag using various mechanisms, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, zippers, magnets, clasps, clamps, hooks, buckles, snaps, and buttons. The removable panel has a display side that acts as the front face of the bag when coupled to the bag. The removable panel has a hidden side that, when coupled to the bag, forms a depth-wise flexible blister pocket into which temporary storage items may be placed. The removeable panel may include an access slit through which the blister pocket is accessed. The peripheral edges of the removeable panel include piping that generally aligns with the outer edges of the bag and obscures the fact that the removable panel is not a monolithic part of the bag.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination bag and removeable panel, said combination comprising:
 a bag having at least one inner compartment enclosed on six sides by opposing top and bottom portions and opposing front and back sides and opposing left and right sides, said bag having a height defined by the distance between said top and bottom portions, said bag having a width defined by the distance between said left and right sides, said bag having a depth defined by the distance between said front and back sides, at least one of said top portion and said front and back and left and right sides having a fissure through which said inner compartment is accessed, said fissure being selectively closeable,   a removable panel selectively engageable with and entirely disengageable from said bag, said removeable panel having a hidden side directly facing said front side of said bag, said removeable panel having a display side opposite said hidden side and facing outwardly away from said bag, said removeable panel having opposing top and bottom edges and opposing side edges, said removeable panel having a width between said opposing side edges generally equal to said width of said back side of said bag, said removeable panel having a height between said top and bottom edges,   fastening elements selective interconnecting at least three of said top edge and bottom edge and opposing side edges of said removeable panel to said bag,   wherein a blister pocket is formed between said hidden side of said removable panel and said front side of said bag, said blister pocket being bounded on at least three sides by said fastening elements and flexible in the depth direction between said hidden side of said removeable panel and said front side of said bag.   
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom edge of said removeable panel is aligned with said bottom portion of said bag and said removeable panel completely covers said front side of said bag without covering any portion of said bottom, back, left or right sides of said bag. 
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein said height of said removeable panel is greater than said vertical height of said front side of said bag forming an extension flap at least partially overlaying said top portion of said bag. 
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said bag includes a shoulder strap. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said removeable panel includes an access slit. 
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 5 , wherein said access slit is selectively closeable by a resealable fastening element. 
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 6 , wherein said resealable fastening element comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein said removeable panel includes a piping element extending continuously along said top and bottom and side edges thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A combination bag and removeable panel, said combination comprising:
 a bag having at least one inner compartment enclosed on six sides by opposing top and bottom portions and opposing front and back sides and opposing left and right sides, said bag having a height defined by the distance between said top and bottom portions, said bag having a width defined by the distance between said left and right sides, said bag having a depth defined by the distance between said front and back sides, at least one of said top portion and said front and back and left and right sides having a fissure through which said inner compartment is accessed, said fissure being selectively closeable,   a removable panel selectively engageable with and entirely disengageable from said bag, said removeable panel having a hidden side directly facing said front side of said bag, said removeable panel having a display side opposite said hidden side and facing outwardly away from said bag, said removeable panel having opposing top and bottom edges and opposing side edges, said removeable panel having a width between said opposing side edges generally equal to said width of said back side of said bag, said removeable panel having a height between said top and bottom edges,   fastening elements selective interconnecting at least three of said top edge and bottom edge and opposing side edges of said removeable panel to said bag,   said bottom edge of said removeable panel aligned with said bottom portion of said bag, said removeable panel completely covering said front side of said bag without covering any portion of said bottom, back, left or right sides of said bag, and   wherein said removeable panel includes a piping element extending continuously along said top and bottom and side edges thereof.   
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein said height of said removeable panel is greater than said vertical height of said front side of said bag forming an extension flap at least partially overlaying said top portion of said bag. 
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein said bag includes a shoulder strap. 
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein a blister pocket is formed between said hidden side of said removable panel and said front side of said bag, said blister pocket being bounded on at least three sides by said fastening elements and flexible in the depth direction between said hidden side of said removeable panel and said front side of said bag. 
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein said removeable panel includes an access slit. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein said access slit is selectively closeable by a resealable fastening element. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein said resealable fastening element comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         16 . A combination bag and removeable panel, said combination comprising:
 a bag having at least one inner compartment enclosed on six sides by opposing top and bottom portions and opposing front and back sides and opposing left and right sides, said bag having a height defined by the distance between said top and bottom portions, said bag having a width defined by the distance between said left and right sides, said bag having a depth defined by the distance between said front and back sides, at least one of said top portion and said front and back and left and right sides having a fissure through which said inner compartment is accessed, said fissure being selectively closeable,   a removable panel selectively engageable with and entirely disengageable from said bag, said removeable panel having a hidden side directly facing said front side of said bag, said removeable panel having a display side opposite said hidden side and facing outwardly away from said bag, said removeable panel having opposing top and bottom edges and opposing side edges, said removeable panel having a width between said opposing side edges generally equal to said width of said back side of said bag, said removeable panel having a height between said top and bottom edges,   fastening elements selective interconnecting at least three of said top edge and bottom edge and opposing side edges of said removeable panel to said bag, a blister pocket formed between said hidden side of said removable panel and said front side of said bag, said blister pocket being bounded on at least three sides by said fastening elements and flexible in the depth direction between said hidden side of said removeable panel and said front side of said bag,   said bottom edge of said removeable panel aligned with said bottom portion of said bag, said removeable panel completely covering said front side of said bag without covering any portion of said bottom, back, left or right sides of said bag, and   wherein said removeable panel includes a piping element extending continuously along said top and bottom and side edges thereof.   
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 16 , wherein said height of said removeable panel is greater than said vertical height of said front side of said bag forming an extension flap at least partially overlaying said top portion of said bag. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 16 , wherein said removeable panel includes an access slit. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 18 , wherein said access slit is selectively closeable by a resealable fastening element. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 19 , wherein said resealable fastening element comprises a zipper.