Hard Bottom Tote

Abstract

A hard bottom tote incorporates a substantially rigid, water proof and impact resistant base joined to a fabric body extending upward from the base. The fabric body incorporates stiffening members supporting the body in an upright and open position to facilitate loading the tote when empty. Stiffeners surround the mouth of the tote so that the mouth of the bag remains open. The disclosed tote has a tapered body configuration with a mouth of the tote larger than the base to facilitate nesting of multiple totes for storage when empty. A pair of handles extend above the mouth of the tote, supported by webbing sleeves incorporating stiffeners.

Description

BACKGROUND

The disclosure relates generally to products that allow humans to carry, organize, and store items and more specifically to a heavy-duty self-supporting tote.

Many tasks and occupations require devices that permit a person to carry a large number of relatively small items. A wide variety of carrying devices are well known, including buckets, bags, boxes, plastic storage bins, hard and soft toolboxes and the like. Rigid carrying devices can be advantageous in that they provide some protection from impact and the environment including water or other liquids to items stored therein. However rigid carrying devices cannot conform to an available space and may occupy valuable storage volume even when empty. Soft carrying devices such as bags can be advantageous in that they can be stored very compactly when not in use, they conform to an available space even when filled, and may be constructed from a variety of materials depending upon the intended use. Soft carrying devices and bags tend not to be very protective of the items stored within in terms of impact and moisture resistance. Soft carrying devices also tend to collapse when empty, and often require the use of one hand or another person to hold the soft device open when it is being filled.

There is a need for a carrying device that incorporates some of the advantageous features of rigid and soft carrying devices.

There is also a need for a heavy-duty carrying device for use by outdoor enthusiasts, as well as in the construction, fishing, mining, and agriculture industries.

SUMMARY

A hard bottom tote according to aspects of the disclosure has a generally tub-shaped base formed from self-supporting, water proof, abrasion and impact resistant material. Base materials such as plastic and rubber and construction methods such as molding or thermoforming are compatible with the disclosed hard bottom tote, with the material of the base being less flexible than the material of the body of the tote. The disclosed hard bottom tote incorporates a substantially rigid plastic base which defines a support surface and resists penetration from both inside and outside the tote. “Substantially rigid”, as used in this application is intended to encompass base materials and configurations where the base is less flexible than the tote body and meets the criteria of being self-supporting, water proof, impact and abrasion resistant.

A flexible tote body extends upward from the base and includes a pair of handles arranged for carrying the tote. The flexible tote body is constructed from materials selected for strength, resistance to abrasion, cutting and common chemicals. The tote body is constructed so that it will be substantially self-supporting when the tote is empty. The tote body may define a plurality of elongated pockets for receiving stiffening members that increase the stiffness of the tote body so that it will stand on its own. The stiffening members themselves are not rigid and the resulting tote body remains flexible enough to conform to the shape of its contents, conform to the available storage space when partially filled, and be folded or collapsed when not in use. The disclosed hard bottom tote may incorporate stiffening members around the mouth of the tote, to provide stiffness at this location that will tend to hold the mouth of the tote open during use. The base may take the form of a concave tub, protecting the contents from liquids or contaminants present on surfaces upon which the hard bottom tote is placed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a hard bottom tote according to aspects of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the hard bottom tote of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left end view of the hard bottom tote of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view looking down into the hard bottom tote of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial sectional view through one end of the hard bottom tote, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partial sectional view through the hard bottom tote of FIG. 4, taken along line 6-6 thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of a hard bottom tote according to aspects of the disclosure will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-6 and will generally be referred to by the reference numeral 10. Various materials, methods of construction, methods of manufacture, and methods of fastening will be discussed in the context of the disclosed embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize known substitutes for the materials, manufacturing methods, and fastening methods, all of which are contemplated as compatible with the disclosed embodiments and are intended to be encompassed by the appended claims.

One object of the disclosed hard bottom tote is to provide a carrying device with some of the the advantages of a fabric bag (conforms to the shape of its cargo and available space, folds for storage when empty) and some of the advantages of rigid containers (protects contents from the environment, stands upright on its own). Over time and with use, fabric bags tend to break in and become very flexible, even limp. Broken in fabric bags will not stand on their own and frequently require a person to hold the bag upright and open while a second person places objects in the bag. The disclosed hard bottom tote incorporates components selected and assembled to provide the body of the tote with added stiffness, e.g., resistance to bending that will permit the tote to stand upright and hold itself open, even after long use when the body of the tote is broken in.

The disclosed embodiment of a hard bottom tote 10 includes a supported fabric bag body 12 secured to a concave, substantially rigid base 14. The disclosed embodiments employ a molded plastic base 14, but other materials and methods of manufacture are compatible with the disclosed hard bottom tote 10. The base 14 includes a downward projecting foot 16, which defines a generally planar base surface 18 configured to support the tote 10 in an upright position. The disclosed base 14 defines a concave tub approximately 2 to 3 inches in depth, although the depth of the base 14 may vary according to the dimensions and intended use of the tote 10. The upper extremity of the base 14 includes an outwardly projecting rib 20 and an upwardly projecting lip 22. The bag body 12 is configured to overlap with the lip 22 and is secured to the base 14 by a plurality of stainless steel rivets 24. A variety of methods and fasteners may be employed to form the connection between the bag body 12 and the base 14, which is not limited to the disclosed stainless steel rivets 24.

The disclosed bag body 12 is constructed from various fabric and webbing components secured to each other by stitching and fasteners such as rivets. In the disclosed embodiments, the bag body 12 is generally symmetrical, with the appearance of the front of the bag generally resembling that of the rear of the bag, and the right and left ends generally resembling each other. A symmetrical configuration is not required and the bag body 12 may have one or more asymmetrical features depending upon the intended use. In the disclosed embodiments, the bag body 12 includes two primary panels 26 of 1800 denier polyester fabric that may be coated or treated for moisture resistance. The fabric and webbing components of the bag body 12 are generally secured to each other by stitching with nylon thread, though other high-strength thread may also be employed. Stitched connections may be reinforced with rivets as needed for strength or for decorative purposes. The material for the bag body 12 will be selected depending upon the intended use of the tote 10 and is not limited to any particular material. Generally speaking, the bag body 12 should be durable, with good resistance to abrasion, common chemicals and the like. The bag body 12 is intended to be flexible and have the properties of a soft carrying device, which permits the resulting tote 10 to conform to the shape of its contents and be collapsed for compact storage when empty. Woven, non-woven, sheet plastic or laminated materials may be employed to construct the body of the disclosed hard bottom tote.

The bag body 12 is not limited to the disclosed number of panels 26 or other components, which may vary according to design preference. The upper end or mouth 28 of the bag body 12 has a greater circumference than the bottom end 30. This configuration is achieved by configuring the primary panels 26 in the shape of a trapezoid, with the shorter side of the trapezoid at the bottom 30 of the bag body 12. The result is a tapered tote 10 that is larger at its mouth 28 than at its base 14. This tapered construction facilitates nesting of multiple totes 10 with the mouth 28 of each tote 10 large enough to receive the base 14 of the same size tote 10 nested within. A number of empty totes 10 may be stored or transported compactly according to this feature of the disclosed embodiments.

Strips of nylon material 32 are folded over the upper and lower ends 28, 30 of the bag body 12 for protection and to provide a finished appearance. The folded nylon material 32 also reinforces the lower end 30 of the bag body 12 where the rivets 24 secure the bag body 12 to the base 14. Folded nylon material 32 is also used for protection and finishing at the upper edges of the pockets 34 and along the edges of the primary panels 26 which are exposed inside the tote 10. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a variety of techniques may be employed to finish the edges of fabric assemblies such as that of the bag body 12. For example, the material of the bag body panels 26 might be folded over one or more times and stitched to provide a reinforced finished edge.

The front and rear of the bag body 12 include webbing assemblies 36 that extend from the lower end 30 of the bag body 12 to handles 38 projecting above the mouth 28 of the bag body 12. In the disclosed embodiments, each webbing assembly 36 includes two polypropylene webbing strips sewn together at their longitudinal edges to form a sleeve open at both ends. While this sleeve is flat and empty, a rectangle if durable, flexible material that will form the handle is stitched to the longitudinal edges of the sleeve, which is then folded and the long edges of the rectangle of material are sewed to form a handle 38 as shown in FIG. 3. In the disclosed embodiments, the handle material is leather and the handle is reinforced by rivets at either end. The handle 38 may include a rod or tube of flexible material (not shown) inside the folded sleeve to expand the volume of the handle 38 for improved ergonomics. In one embodiment, a ¼ inch diameter flexible round plastic piping is used for this purpose, but other materials and sectional shapes may be used.

The webbing assemblies 36 on the front and rear of the tote 10 include an internal stiffener 40 extending from either end of the handles 38 to the bottom end 30 of the bag body 12. In the disclosed embodiments, the internal stiffener 40 is a 1 mm thick strip of polyethylene (PE) plastic sheet, though other materials are compatible for use as a stiffener within a webbing assembly. The thickness of the stiffener will be selected depending upon the desired properties of the tote, with thicker material generally resulting in a webbing assembly 36 that is less flexible. The stiffener 40 is cut to a width that allows it to be inserted into the sleeve formed by the webbing assembly 36. The upper end of each stiffener 40 may be pointed or tapered to fit into the triangular space formed where the webbing is folded to form the handle 38. The resulting webbing assembly 36 is flexible, but has a stiffness that supports the front and rear sides of the tote 10. The stiffness of the webbing assemblies also supports the handles 38 for grasping by the user. The webbing assemblies 36 are stitched and riveted to the front and rear primary body panels 26. The bottom ends of the webbing assemblies 36 are covered by the folded trim strip 32. As shown in FIG. 6, when the bag body 12 is riveted to the lip 22 of the base 14, one of the fasteners 24 may pass through the bag body panel 26, webbing assembly 36, and trim strip 32, forming a robust structural connection between the webbing assemblies 36 and the base 14. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a flap 42 may be provided to cover the lip 22 which would otherwise be exposed on the inside of the tote 10. The flap 42 may be penetrated by the rivets 24 or may cover the rivets 24.

Pockets 34 may be provided on the front and rear of the tote 10 between the descending legs of the webbing assemblies 36. The pockets 34 may be of various configurations from a single, open pocket to smaller, separated pockets according to need and design preference. Layers of fabric material may be employed to form a tiered or nested arrangement of pockets, as desired. In the disclosed embodiments, a horizontal reinforcement 44 is arranged across the bottom edge of the pocket 34. The reinforcement is to prevent holes or cuts from forming at the bottom of the pocket from parts and tools with points or sharp edges inserted into the pockets 34. In the disclosed embodiments, the horizontal reinforcement 44 is a strip of polypropylene webbing stitched to the outside of the pocket material at the bottom margin of the pocket 34 and finished with a folded trim strip 32. Other arrangements of pockets at the corners and/or ends on the outside and on the inside of the tote 10 are contemplated in alternative embodiments of the disclosed tote 10.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, each end of the bag body 12 includes an end webbing assembly 46 extending from the bottom 30 to the top 28 of the bag body 12. The end webbing assembly 46 includes a webbing sleeve 50 surrounding a stiffener 40. The longitudinal edges of two strips of webbing material are sewn together to define a sleeve 50 into which a strip of 1 mm thick PE sheet is inserted. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, another narrower strip of web material 52 is sewn to the outside web of the webbing sleeve 50 and is turned back on itself at an upper end to capture a D ring 54. A second D ring 56 is captured by a webbing strip 48 that is inserted behind the flap formed by the turned down upper end of web material 52. The layers of web material capturing the D rings 54, 56 are stitched and riveted together, providing strong attachment points for shoulder straps (not shown) or for hanging tools such as a hammer.

The completed end webbing assemblies 46 are sewn to the finished edges of the bag body panels 26 to form the tapered bag body 12. Finally, trim strips 32 are folded over the top and bottom ends 30, 28 of the bag body 12 to provide a finished appearance to the bag body while adding strength and abrasion resistance. Each body panel 26 includes a stiffener 40 captured beneath a fabric strip 58 sewn to the top edge of the panel 26. In the disclosed embodiments, the fabric strip 58 is folded over the top edge of the panel 26 and stitched in place to form a horizontal pocket 60 surrounded by the fabric strip 58. The longitudinal edges of the fabric strip 58 are folded under to present a finished appearance to the installed fabric strip 58. The stiffener 40 at the top end 28 of the bag body 12 is a strip of 1 mm thick PE sheet sized to be inserted to the pocket 60 defined by the fabric strip 58.

The stiffener 40 at the upper end 28 of the bag body 12 extends between the end webbing assemblies 46, but does not overlap with the end webbing assemblies 46. The connection between completed body panels 26 and the end webbing assemblies 46 is a fabric connection which functions as a hinge, allowing the mouth defined at the upper end 28 of the bag body 12 to collapse in a front to back direction when the bag is not full. However, the stiffener 40 adjacent the upper end 28 of the bag body 12 does provide some structure to the bag body 12 and in combination with the webbing assemblies 36 and handles 38, tends to hold the bag body 12 open and in an upright position that is very helpful when the tote 10 is being used. It will be noted that the vertical legs of the webbing assemblies 36 overlap with and are stitched and riveted to the horizontal fabric strip 58 and stiffener 40 at the upper end 28 of the bag body 12. The rivets 24 pass through all the layers of the webbing assembly 36, the fabric strip 58, body panel 26, and stiffener 40, tying the vertical stiffener 40 within the webbing assembly 36 to the horizontal stiffener 40 at the upper end 28 of the bag body 12. When the handles 38 are positioned outside the footprint of the tote 10, the weight of the handles tends to hold the mouth of the bag body 12 open, making the tote 10 easy and convenient to use.

Embodiments of a hard bottom tote have been described for purposes of illustration and should not be interpreted as limiting the disclosed hard bottom tote to the specifics of the disclosure. The disclosed embodiments have been described in terms of particular materials, construction methods, proportions and functionality. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the advantages of the hard bottom tote as described could be achieved with alternative materials, construction methods and proportions without departing from the scope of the disclosure. All such alternatives are intended to be encompassed by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hard bottom tote comprising:

a substantially rigid base defining a support surface and a peripheral lip;

a bag body extending from a lower end secured to said peripheral lip to an upper end defining a mouth, said bag body constructed of flexible material and including support sufficient to hold the bag body in an upright position projecting above said base;

at least one handle secured to said bag body.

2. The hard bottom tote of claim 1, wherein said bag body is primarily constructed of fabric and includes a stiffening member.

3. The hard bottom tote of claim 2, wherein said stiffening member comprises a plurality of non-fabric stiffening members captured in pockets defined by the bag body.

4. The hard bottom tote of claim 3, wherein said stiffening members are elongated along a longitudinal axis, at least one of said stiffening members is positioned with its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said support surface and at least one other of said stiffening members is positioned with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel with said support surface.

5. The hard bottom tote of claim 3, wherein said stiffening members are elongated along a longitudinal axis and at least one of said stiffening members has an orientation substantially perpendicular to said support surface.

6. The hard bottom tote of claim 1, comprising a plurality of elongated stiffening members secured to said bag body at a plurality of spaced apart locations.

7. The hard bottom tote of claim 1, wherein said bag body includes at least one web assembly comprising:

first and second webbing strips each having a length and a pair of longitudinal edges, said longitudinal edges joined to define an elongated pocket between said webbing strips; and

an elongated stiffening member in said pocket,

wherein said first and second webbing strips have a first bending resistance and said web assembly has a second bending resistance greater than said first bending resistance.

8. The hard bottom tote of claim 7, wherein said stiffening member is a strip of plastic having dimensions selected to permit the strip to be inserted into said elongated pocket.

9. The hard bottom tote of claim 1, wherein said bag body includes an elongated pocket defined adjacent said upper end and an elongated stiffening member within said elongated pocket to increase the stiffness of said bag body.

10. The hard bottom tote of claim 1, wherein said elongated stiffening member is interrupted.

11. A hard bottom tote comprising:

a concave substantially rigid base including a support surface, a peripheral wall extending upwardly from said support surface and terminating in an upstanding lip;

a bag body joined to said upstanding lip and extending away from said base to an upper end defining a mouth, said bag body defining at least one elongated pocket;

at least one elongated stiffening member received in said at least one elongated pocket,

wherein said bag body is supported by said at least one elongated stiffening member so that said bag body extends in an upright position above said base, when said tote is resting upon said support surface.

12. The hard bottom tote of claim 11, wherein said at least one elongated pocket includes a plurality of elongated pockets distributed about the bag body and said at least one elongated stiffening member includes a plurality of elongated stiffening members received in said plurality of elongated pockets.

13. The hard bottom tote of claim 12, wherein at least one of said plurality of elongated pockets has a longitudinal orientation generally parallel with said support surface and at least one of said plurality of elongated pockets has an orientation generally perpendicular to said support surface.

14. The hard bottom tote of claim 11, wherein said bag body comprises at least one handle.

15. The hard bottom tote of claim 11, wherein said at least one elongated pocket is defined between webbing strips joined along their elongated longitudinal edges.

16. The hard bottom tote of claim 11, wherein said bag body is tapered, having a larger opening at said mouth than at said base.

17. The hard bottom tote of claim 11, wherein said at least one elongated pocket includes a plurality of elongated pockets having a longitudinal orientation substantially perpendicular to said support surface, said plurality of elongated pockets being arranged in spaced apart relationship about a circumference of said bag body.