MULTI-PURPOSE ARTICLE CARRIER
The present invention provides article carriers such as bags, backpacks, and bags that convert into backpacks. The article carriers can be used as trick-or-treat bags for Halloween and can have a fanciful design in the shape of a monster.
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The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/443,463 filed Feb. 16, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to article carriers such as bags; backpacks; and bags that can convert into backpacks.
BACKGROUNDTrick-or-treating is a popular children's activity during Halloween. Often children use plain plastic bags to collect and carry the treats they receive during trick-or-treating. Other containers that children use are in the shape of common Halloween themed items such as a pumpkin or have two dimensional common Halloween images such as witches or bats. Such bags and containers have top openings.
These trick-or-treat bags are often only used for Halloween and are not used for other purposes.
There is a need for an article carrier, such as a trick-or-treat bag, that serves multiple purposes such as for trick-or-treating activities but also for other functions. There is also a need for more fanciful article carriers for children.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn an embodiment, the present invention provides an article carrier comprising a bag. The bag comprises a body comprising a trunk defining a hollow receptacle and comprising a head. The head comprises a face, the face comprising a mouth having an interior, an exterior, a top portion, and a bottom portion. The mouth is configured to open and close. The mouth is positioned on the front of the face and defines a frontal opening to a passageway, the passageway in communication with the hollow receptacle of the trunk of the body. The frontal opening is at least sized to receive a confectionary item. The body further comprises a pair of arms comprising a left hand and a right hand; and a pair of legs comprising a left foot and a right foot. The bag further comprises at least one strap that connects the left hand to the right hand to form a handle during use.
In another embodiment, the present invention provides an article carrier comprising a backpack. The backpack comprises a body comprising a trunk defining a hollow receptacle and comprising a head. The head comprises a face, the face comprising a mouth having an interior, an exterior, a top portion and a bottom portion. The mouth is configured to open and close. The mouth is positioned on the front of the face and defines a frontal opening to a passageway, the passageway in communication with the hollow receptacle of the trunk of the body. The body further comprises a pair of arms comprising a left hand and a right hand; and a pair of legs comprising a left foot and a right foot. The backpack further comprises a left strap having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the left hand and the second end connected to either of the left foot or the right foot during use. The backpack further comprises a right strap having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the right hand and the second end connected to the other one of the left foot or the right foot during use.
In another embodiment, an article carrier comprises a convertible bag. The convertible bag comprises a body. The body comprises a trunk defining a hollow receptacle and comprises a head. The head comprises a face, the face comprising a mouth having an interior, an exterior, a bottom portion and a top portion. The mouth is configured to open and close. The mouth is positioned on the front of the face and defines a frontal opening to a passageway, the passageway in communication with the hollow receptacle of the trunk of the body. The frontal opening is at least sized to receive a confectionary item. The face faces frontally during a primary use as a bag and faces rearwardly during a secondary use as a backpack. The body further comprises a pair of arms comprising a left hand and a right hand; and a pair of legs comprising a left foot and a right foot. In a primary assembled configuration, a first strap connects the left hand to the right hand and a second strap connects the right hand to the left hand. In a second assembled configuration, the first strap connects the left hand to the either the left foot or the right foot and the second strap connects the right hand to the other one of the left foot or the right foot.
In another embodiment, an article carrier comprises a convertible bag. The convertible bag comprises a body. The body comprises a trunk defining a hollow receptacle and comprises a head. The head comprises a face, the face comprising a mouth having an interior, an exterior, a top portion, and a bottom portion. The mouth is configured to open and close. The mouth is located on the front of the face and defines a frontal opening to a passageway, the passageway in communication with the hollow receptacle of the trunk of the body. The frontal opening is at least sized to receive a confectionary item. The face faces frontally during a primary use as a bag and faces rearwardly during a secondary use as a backpack. The body further comprises a pair of arms comprising a left hand and a right hand, each of the left hand and right hand comprising a fastener; and a pair of legs comprising a left foot and a right foot, each of the left foot and right foot comprising a fastener. The bag further comprises a first strap comprising a fastener and a a second strap comprising a fastener, wherein, in a primary assembled configuration, the first strap connects the left hand to the right hand and the second strap connects the right hand to the left hand. In a secondary assembled configuration, the first strap connects the left hand to the either the left foot or the right foot and the second strap connects the right hand to the other one of the left foot or the right foot.
The present invention relates to article carriers such as bags, backpacks, and bags that convert into backpacks.
Bag 10 can serve as a Halloween trick-or-treat bag that a user uses to collect confectionary items from providers of such treats. When mouth 38 is open as seen in
Referring back to
In terms of being “releasably connected,” hands 22 and 26 can be connected to one another via strap 56 such that strap 56 can be disconnected from hands 22 and 26 without damaging the integrity of bag 10 such that bag 10 can no longer serve its intended purpose. For example, the left and right hands can have respective fasteners, disposed thereon that cooperate with fasteners disposed on the strap to connect the strap to the left and right hands. In particular, the left hand and the right hand can each have a respective female fastener disposed thereon and the first and second ends of the strap can each have respective male fasteners disposed thereon that engage the female fasteners of the left and right hand to connect the hands. Of course, other releasable fasteners could be used such as VELCRO, magnets, snaps, buttons, clips, etc.
Bag 10 can also have a clip 64 positioned on strap 56 that can allow the length of strap 56 to be adjusted. Such clips are well known in the art.
Referring again to
Referring to
Referring back to
As with bag 10 shown in
As described above with respect to bag 10, in terms of releasably connecting the hands and feet right of the body, the hands and feet can have fasteners disposed thereon that cooperate with fasteners disposed on the straps. For example, the left strap can have a fastener disposed thereon and the left and/or right foot can have a cooperating fastener disposed thereon. Similarly the right strap can have a fastener disposed thereon and the left and/or right foot can have a cooperating fastener disposed thereon. Any suitable fastener can be used such as male/female fasteners, VELCRO, snaps, magnets, buttons, clips, etc.
As shown in
Backpack 110 can also serve as a Halloween trick-or-treat bag that a user uses to collect confectionary items from providers of such treats. As with the embodiment of bag 10 described above, when the mouth is open, a provider can deliver a confectionary item through the frontal opening of the mouth of the backpack and the confectionary item travels down the passageway into the receptacle of trunk 114, which can later be emptied. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the frontal opening is at least sized to receive a typical confectionary item distributed during trick-or-treating on Halloween as described above. For example, the angle between the top exterior surface and bottom exterior surface of the mouth can be between about 2 degrees and about 270 degrees when the mouth is in an open configuration. After a provider delivers confectionary items through the frontal opening, the mouth can be closed to prevent the confectionary items from falling out of the mouth.
In certain embodiments, particularly when backpack 110 is also used as a Halloween trick-or-treat bag, backpack 110 can include a third strap that is fixedly or releasably connectable to the left and right hands 122 and 126. For example, the ends of the third strap can have fasteners that cooperate with fasteners in the left and right hands to connect the hands and form a handle. In such an embodiment, the user wears the backpack while traveling from house to house during Halloween and then when approaching a house to receive a Halloween treat, the user removes the backpack and holds the handle with the mouth of the face of the body of the backpack facing the provider of the Halloween treat. If the user desires to use backpack 110 for other purposes, the third strap can be releasably connectable to the hands as described above such that the user can remove the third strap.
Further, similar to the embodiment of bag 10 described above, backpack 110 can have a slot that the user can open or close by manipulating a closure mechanism in communication with the slot, which is shown in
Referring to
Referring back to
Referring again to
As with the other embodiments, in a primary assembled configuration, convertible bag 210 can serve as a Halloween trick-or-treat bag that a user uses to collect confectionary items from providers of such treats. As with the other described embodiments of an article carrier, a provider can deliver a confectionary item through the frontal opening of the mouth of convertible bag 210 and the confectionary item travels down the passageway into the receptacle of trunk 214, which can later be emptied. Therefore, frontal opening is at least sized to receive a typical confectionary item distributed during trick-or-treating on Halloween as described above. After a provider delivers confectionary items through the frontal opening, the mouth can be closed to prevent the confectionary items from falling out of mouth. In a secondary assembled configuration, convertible bag can serve as a backpack and be used for purposes for which a backpack is normally used. In such an embodiment, mouth 238 can be closed so that the items in the backpack do not fall out from frontal opening 252.
As shown in
Further, similar to the embodiment of bag 10 described above, convertible bag 210 can have a slot that the user can open or close by manipulating a closure mechanism in communication with the slot, which is shown in
In certain embodiments, particularly when the article carrier is used as a Halloween trick-or-treat bag, the body of the article carrier is in the shape of a monster. For example, the face of the body can be irregular or distorted compared to a typical human face. Such a distorted face can be seen in the crooked chin 165 and the irregular eyes 170a and 170b of the face depicted in
As described above, the mouth of the article carrier in the embodiments of a bag, backpack and convertible bag is configured to open and close to allow confectionary items to be delivered through the frontal opening into the receptacle and to ensure that such items do not fall out of the frontal opening of the mouth of the article carrier. A mouth in an open configuration is shown in
For example, the inside of the head can contain enough of a soft stuffing material that presses against the interior of the mouth so that the top portion of the mouth is in close proximity to the bottom portion of the mouth, effectively assuming a closed configuration. The stuffing should be soft enough that it can be displaced when force is exerted against it. The top and bottom portions of the mouth need not contact each other so long as the top and bottom portions are in close enough proximity such that a typical confectionary item does not fall out of the frontal opening of the mouth when the mouth is in a closed configuration. For example, in a preferred embodiment, in a closed configuration the angle between the top exterior surface and the bottom exterior surface is less than 2 degrees. In order to open the mouth, a user simply urges his or her hand through the frontal opening of the mouth, compressing the stuffing material and thus opening the mouth. When the user removes his or her hand from the mouth, the stuff material returns to its un-compressed state and the mouth assumes a closed configuration.
Other mechanisms can be used to allow the mouth to open and close. For example, in order to releasably open and close, the mouth can have cooperating fasteners disposed thereon that communicate with each other to close the mouth. For example, as shown in
Referring to
In the embodiment shown in
As described above, in certain embodiments, particularly when the article carrier is used as a Halloween trick-or-treat bag, the body of the article carrier is in the shape of a monster and can have structures associated with the mouth such as fangs and a tongue. For purposes of this disclosure, such structures are part of the mouth of the body of the article carrier. As such, in certain embodiments, the fangs can have fasteners disposed thereon. For example, at least one fang depending from the top exterior surface of the mouth and at least one fang projecting from the bottom exterior of the mouth can be fabricated at least in part of VELCRO and can bind to one another when brought in contact to close the mouth. Of course, more than one fang on each surface can be used for this purpose. Alternatively, a fastener can be disposed on the interior or exterior of the tongue and can communicate with a fastener disposed on the top interior or exterior surface of the top portion of the mouth or any other surface of the face (such as the nose for example) so long as the tongue can reach the cooperating fastener on this other surface.
In certain embodiments, the mouth of the article carrier can have a support structure in the interior of the mouth to assist in defining the mouth and assist in closing and opening the mouth. Referring to
In certain embodiments, the joint comprises fasteners that rotatably couple the two ends of the jaws. Referring to
Referring to
In certain embodiments, in order for the jaw device to remain in a closed configuration, the mouth can have other cooperating releasable fasteners disposed thereon, such as a magnet disposed on the upper jaw and a magnet or metal piece associated with the lower jaw. Of course, other types of suitable fasteners are also possible. When a user desired to open the mouth, the user can pull on the upper part of the head and/or the lower part of the head and to close the mouth, the user can push the upper part of the head and/or the lower part of the head such that the cooperating fasteners engage each other. As such, at least one of the upper and lower jaw moves relative to the other of the upper and lower jaw and preferably both jaws move relative to each other.
In certain embodiments, the jaw device may be triggered to open automatically through use of a spring. In this embodiment, a user would trigger the release of a spring attached to the jaw such that when the spring is released it expands from a compressed position to push the jaw open as it elongates to its equilibrium position. The user can actuate the spring via a button or switch that actuates the spring.
The article carrier can be fabricated from any suitable natural or synthetic material such as cotton or polyester. Preferably, at least the trunk of the article carrier is fabricated from a plush material.
Claims
1. An article carrier comprising a bag, the bag comprising:
- a body comprising: a trunk defining a hollow receptacle; a head comprising a face, the face comprising a mouth having an interior, an exterior, a top portion, and a bottom portion, the mouth configured to open and close, the mouth positioned on the front of the face and defining a frontal opening to a passageway, the passageway in communication with the hollow receptacle of the trunk of the body, the frontal opening at least sized to receive a confectionary item; a pair of arms comprising a left hand and a right hand; and a pair of legs comprising a left foot and a right foot; and
- at least one strap that connects the left hand to the right hand to form a handle during use.
2. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the mouth protrudes outwards away from the trunk of the body.
3. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the mouth has an top exterior surface and a bottom exterior surface, the angle between the top exterior surface and the bottom exterior surface being between about 2 degrees and about 270 degrees.
4. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the body of the bag has a slot that opens and closes by manipulating a closure mechanism in communication with the slot.
5. The article carrier of claim 4, wherein the closure mechanism is a zipper.
6. An article carrier comprising a backpack, the backpack comprising:
- a body comprising: a trunk defining a hollow receptacle; a head comprising a face, the face comprising a mouth having an interior, an exterior, a top portion and a bottom portion, the mouth configured to open and close, the mouth positioned on the front of the face and defining a frontal opening to a passageway, the passageway in communication with the hollow receptacle of the trunk of the body; a pair of arms comprising a left hand and a right hand; and a pair of legs comprising a left foot and a right foot;
- a left strap having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the left hand and the second end connected to either of the left foot or the right foot during use; and;
- a right strap having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the right hand and the second end connected to the other one of the left foot or the right foot during use.
7. The article carrier of claim 6, wherein:
- the first end of the left strap is fixedly connected to the left hand and the second end of the left strap is releasably connected to either of the left foot or the right foot during use; and
- the first end of the right strap is fixedly connected to the right hand and the second end of the right strap is releasably connected to the other of the left foot or the right foot during use.
8. The article carrier of claim 6, wherein:
- each of the left strap and the right strap has a fastener disposed thereon; and
- each of the left foot and the right foot has a cooperating fastener disposed thereon.
9. The article carrier of claim 8, wherein each of the fasteners disposed on the left and right strap is a male fastener and each of the fasteners disposed on the left and right foot is a female fastener.
10. The article carrier of claim 8, wherein each of the left hand, the right hand, the left foot, the right foot, the first strap, and the second strap comprises a fastener.
11. The article carrier of claim 10, wherein the fastener of the left hand, right hand, left foot and right foot is a female fastener and wherein the fastener of the first strap and the second strap is a male fastener.
12. An article carrier comprising a convertible bag, the convertible bag comprising:
- a body comprising: a trunk defining a hollow receptacle; a head comprising a face, the face comprising a mouth having an interior, an exterior, a top portion, and a bottom portion, the mouth configured to open and close, the mouth located on the front of the face and defining a frontal opening to a passageway, the passageway in communication with the hollow receptacle of the trunk of the body, the frontal opening at least sized to receive a confectionary item, wherein the face faces frontally during a primary use as a bag and faces rearwardly during a secondary use as a backpack; a pair of arms comprising a left hand and a right hand, each of the left hand and right hand comprising a fastener; and a pair of legs comprising a left foot and a right foot, each of the left foot and right foot comprising a fastener; and
- a first strap comprising a fastener; and
- a second strap comprising a fastener,
- wherein, in a primary assembled configuration: the first strap connects the left hand to the right hand and the second strap connects the right hand to the left hand,
- further wherein, in a secondary assembled configuration: the first strap connects the left hand to the either the left foot or the right foot and the second strap connects the right hand to the other one of the left foot or the right foot.
13. The article carrier of claim 12, wherein the fastener of the left hand, right hand, left foot and right foot is a female fastener and wherein the fastener of the first strap and the second strap is a male fastener.
14. The article carrier of claim 12, wherein the mouth of the face comprises at least one fastener to close the mouth.
15. The article carrier of claim 14, wherein the at least one fastener is a zipper, Velcro, a magnet or a button.
16. The article carrier of claim 12, wherein the top portion of the mouth has a top interior surface and a top exterior surface; and
- the bottom portion of the mouth has a bottom interior surface and a bottom exterior surface, the top interior surface of the top portion comprising a row of magnets and the bottom interior surface of the bottom portion comprising a row of metal pieces that when attracted to the row of magnets substantially closes the mouth of the bag such that items in the bag do not exit the mouth of the bag.
17. The article carrier of claim 12, wherein at least the trunk of the body is fabricated from a soft, plush material.
18. The article carrier of claim 12 wherein the body is in the form of a monster.
19. The article carrier of claim 12, wherein the passageway does not extend above the shoulders of the user during use.
20. The article carrier of claim 12, further comprising a jaw device disposed within the interior of the mouth.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 26, 2012
Publication Date: Aug 16, 2012
Applicant: SADIA TOYS LLC (Centreville, VA)
Inventors: Zaid MOHAMMAD (Centreville, VA), Zeba ALI (Centreville, VA)
Application Number: 13/358,958
International Classification: A45F 3/04 (20060101);