Folding Collapsible Bag
This invention relates to a light-weight foldable tote that can fold into a smaller bag without creating excessive wrinkles when the bag is eventually returned to the larger size and folds up as small as possible when folded in conjunction in accordance with the form, structure and design of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is made of waterproof material.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/651,091 filed May 24, 2012.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis present invention relates to the field of designer tote bags. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light-weight foldable tote that can fold into a smaller bag contained within itself without creating excessive wrinkles when the bag is eventually returned to the larger size. In the field of tote bags it is often desirable to have a larger bag that can be folded up into a smaller bag when the user has less things to carry and so that it can be easily stored within another bag. Alternatively it is often desirable to have a small bag that can be expanded to a full size tote if the user has a need for more carrying space without the bag having excessive wrinkles caused by having been folded. Further, it is also sometimes desirable to have a bag made of waterproof material, such that when it rains, the contents are protected from the elements.
In the field of tote bags, there exist a number of foldable bags. A Longchamp style bag provides a tote bag that can be folded into a smaller bag with the original handles extended. However, this bag is almost never used in its folded form because it is inconvenient to fold and the folded-form is not sufficiently small to pack within another bag. Also available on the market are Reusable, low end folding bags, for example, Baggu bags. These bags fold to a very small size, but are not stylish, do not contain a method of closing the bag, are neither durable nor waterproof. Finally, there was a designer plastic bag used as a cover for finer bags that could fold into a pocket on the outside of the bag. These bags were not durable enough to be used as their own bag, however, and could only be used as a cover for existing bags. As it was only a cover bag to protect the actual bag from rain, the question of wrinkles on the expanded version was not addressed, allowing the bags to remain wrinkled.
The present invention provides an easily foldable tote bag that allows for the reduction of wrinkles caused by the folding process and material without compromising the style, durability or functionality of the tote. The present invention also provides for maximum compaction of the bag.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONThe present invention is a light-weight tote with a folding pattern incorporated into the design of the bag and an inner pocket for the bag to fold into. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the bag contains snaps on the bottom to assist with the folding, as well as snaps on the side on which the straps fold onto and attach.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bag is made from a light-weight waterproof material, preferably a 140 Denier heavy weave ripstop with an 1.5 oz urethane coating, such as gore-tex, ultrex and/or a nylon material. The straps of bag are made from similar waterproof materials, preferably a three part system of densely woven fabric, micro-porous polyurethane coating and a durable water repellent finish. The structure strap and/or handle straps are also made of a light-weight waterproof material and preferably are made of a tough durable fabric with a polyurethane coating that remains flexible, abrasion resistant, lightweight, and waterproof.
The combination of the invention's thin material and design allows for the body of the bag within the pouch in its folded form to form two pocket-like sections of the bag that could hold a small phone, credit card, money, and/or keys. The invention also provides an optional strap that can be connected in different ways to increase the ability of the bag to be carried continently on the shoulder or across the body. In one embodiment of the invention, the strap can be attached to D-Rings on the sides of the main body opening to function as a shoulder strap. The strap can also be run through the luggage strap on the back to allow the bag to be carried as a backpack.
Referring now to the invention in more detail, a collapsible, waterproof tote bag 1 is show in
Structure strap 17 runs all the way around the main body 10 below zipper 6, crossing over handle straps 7, 8, 7′ and 8′. Interior pouch 5 is designed to rest in the inner space 9 of main body 10 between handle straps 7′ and 8′, just below zipper 6. Handle straps 7, 7′, 8 and 8′, handles 2 and 2′, structure strap 17, interior pouch 5′ and flap 12, in a preferred embodiment, are all made of waterproof material.
The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, providing users with the ability to fold and unfold the bag easily without creating excessive wrinkles on the unfolded bag and for maximum compaction and portability. The invention can be used as a rain guard for another bag, such as a bag that carries the invention when in its compacted version. Further, in its expanded state, the invention can easily attach to luggage via the luggage strap and the snaps on the handles. Additionally, the flap that closes the bag in its compressed state also functions as a closure for an internal pocket when the bag is in its expanded state.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method and examples herein. The invention should not be limited by the above described embodiment, method and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A tote bag capable of collapsing into a smaller storage configuration, the tote bag comprising:
- a front wall, a bottom wall and and a rear wall forming an interior space with a top opening to store articles; a zipper positioned on the top opening to allow closing of said top opening; a front handle connected to the front wall at a first position halfway from the center to the left side front wall and a second position halfway from the center to the right side of the front wall and extending beyond the top opening; a rear handle connected to the rear wall at a third position halfway from the center to the left side of the rear wall and at a fourth position halfway from the center to the right side of the rear wall and extending beyond the top opening;
- a structure strap connected to the front wall and back wall below the zipper and passing over the front handle and rear handle;
- fastening means located on the center of the front handle and the center of the rear handle to allow the front handle to be connected to the rear handle;
- fastening means located on the portions of the front handle connected to the front wall and the portions extending above the top opening to allow the portions extending above to the top portion to be attached to the portion of the front handle connected to the front wall;
- fastening means located on the portions of the rear handle connected to the rear wall and the portions extending above the top opening to allow the portions extending above to the top portion to be attached to the portion of the rear handle connected to the rear wall fastening means on the bottom wall positioned between the first position and second position and between the third position and fourth position, such that the bottom wall can be folded allowing the front wall and back wall to be fastened together;
- an interior pouch for receiving the collapsed tote bag, said interior pouch attached in the inner space to the rear wall below the zipper between the portions of the rear handle connected to the rear wall; a fastening means attached to the outside bottom of said interior pouch; a closure panel attached to the rear wall behind the connection of the interior pouch to the rear; a fastening means attached to said closure panel;
2. A tote bag of claim 1 where the attachment of the interior pouch to the rear wall does not extend the full width of the interior pouch;
3. A tote bag of claim 1 where the tote bag is made of waterproof materials
4. A tote bag of claim 1 further comprising D-rings attached below the zipper where the front wall and rear wall are connected.
5. A tote bag of claim 1 wherein a section of the structure strap between the two portions of the rear handle is not connected to the rear wall
6. A tote bag of claim 1 wherein the fastening means on the front handle, rear handle and bottom wall are snaps
7. A tote bag of claim 1 wherein the fastening means on the inner pouch is a loop of fabric and the fastening means on the closure panel is a hook.
Type: Application
Filed: May 23, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 4, 2014
Inventor: Andrea Beth Weinberg (New York, NY)
Application Number: 13/901,287
International Classification: B65D 21/08 (20060101); B65D 33/06 (20060101);