REUSABLE BAG
The present invention is generally directed to a reusable bag that may include a flexible container with an open top; at least one pocket disposed on an outside surface of the container configured to receive an additional reusable bag. Other aspects of the invention may include a plurality of pockets disposed such that when the bag is folded or compacted, the pockets intermesh thereby reducing the thickness when the reusable bag is folded or compacted. Still other aspects of the present invention may include a reusable bag assembly, comprising: a primary reusable bag including a plurality of pockets connected or integral to the container disposed such that when the bag is folded or compacted, the pockets intermesh thereby reducing the thickness when the reusable bag is folded or compacted; and one or more secondary reusable bags in a collapsed or folded position and disposed in the pockets.
The present invention is generally directed to a reusable bag comprising individual pockets that store additional reusable bags.
Reusable bags are quickly becoming commonplace, as more states, counties, and cities have begun to ban the sale of plastic shopping bags, due to the environmental impact of such bags. In ocean-bordering states—such as California and Massachusetts—plastic shopping bags account for a large portion of adverse debris. In California alone, over 267 species of animals have been documented to be adversely affected by plastic marine debris.
As awareness of the environmental impact of plastic shopping bags grows, and as people have begun to embrace reusable solutions, reusable shopping bags have been introduced.
Reusable shopping bags come in a variety of formats, from thin collapsible bags to thickly insulated bags. However, the use of each type of bag generally suffers from a similar drawback—inconvenient bulk and prediction of use. Users of reusable bags may be seen lugging large amounts of bags into a grocery store. And often, such users may be seen leaving with carrying either several unused bags, or additional plastic shopping bags (or newly purchased paper or reusable bags). The difficulty lies in predicting the amount of reusable shopping bags that will be needed for a shopping trip. Nearly everyone has had the experience of running into a store for one or two items, only to emerge with several bags of groceries. Alternatively, at times a user may enter a store with the intention of buying multiple items, only to purchase less than expected (often due to availability, prices, and even time constraints in the store).
Accordingly, it is desirable to have a reusable shopping bag that may carry not only purchased items, but a plurality of additional reusable shopping bags that may be withdrawn and used when needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONSome aspects in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention may include a reusable bag, comprising: a container with a top and a bottom, the contain having an opening at the top and comprised of a flexible material; at least one pocket connected or integral to the container, the pocket being disposed on an outside surface of the container, the pocket configured to receive an additional reusable bag.
Some aspects in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention may include a reusable bag, comprising: a container with a top and a bottom, the contain having an opening at the top and comprised of a flexible material; a plurality of pockets connected or integral to the container, the pockets being disposed on an outside surface of the container, the plurality of pockets disposed such that when the bag is folded or compacted, the pockets intermesh thereby reducing the thickness when the reusable bag is folded or compacted; and at least one connection device to maintain the reusable bag in a folded or compacted position.
Some aspects in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention may include a reusable bag assembly, comprising: a primary reusable bag comprising a container with a top and a bottom, the contain having an opening at the top and comprised of a flexible material; one or more handles or straps attached to the container; a plurality of pockets connected or integral to the container, the pockets being disposed on an outside surface of the container, the plurality of pockets disposed such that when the bag is folded or compacted, the pockets intermesh thereby reducing the thickness when the reusable bag is folded or compacted; and at least one connection device to maintain the reusable bag in a folded or compacted position; and one or more secondary reusable bags in a collapsed or folded position and disposed in the pockets.
These and other aspects will become apparent from the following description of the invention taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the invention.
The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference indicators are used to designate like elements. The accompanying figures depict certain illustrative embodiments and may aid in understanding the following detailed description. Before any embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments depicted are to be understood as exemplary and in no way limiting of the overall scope of the invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The detailed description will make reference to the following figures, in which:
Before any embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The matters exemplified in this description are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various exemplary embodiments disclosed with reference to the accompanying figures. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the exemplary embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. Descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness. Moreover, as used herein, the singular may be interpreted in the plural, and alternately, any term in the plural may be interpreted to be in the singular.
As noted above, the use of reusable shopping bags for uses such as but not limited to grocery shopping has become commonplace. However, users often are not sure of aware of the exact number of reusable bags that may be needed during a specific shopping trip. The present invention may allow a user to bring a single reusable bag in to a retailer, merchant, or store. Once that initial bag is filled, a second reusable bag may be removed from a pocket that may be attached to the first reusable bag. Once that bag is filled, a third reusable bag may be removed and filled, and so on. In this manner, not only will a user be prepared with the number of bags needed for a specific shopping trip, but the user will also not need to carry empty and unused bags back from the store, retailer, or merchant.
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Similarly, the bag 500 may be folded along the Y axis, and would similarly nest within itself, with pocket 512 folding into area 513, pocket 514 folding into area 511, and so on. In order to maintain the bag 500 in a folded position (folded either along the X axis, Y axis, or both X and Y), bag 500 may comprise connection devices 531-534. In order to allow folding on both an X and a Y axis, connection devices may be capable of engaging any other device, or devices 534 and 532 may comprise one type of connector (for example, a male end or a hook portion) and devices 531 and 533 may comprise a different type of connector (for example, a female receiver or a loop portion). In this manner, the bag 500 may be folded and maintained in a folded position.
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Note that the reusable bags may be comprised of any number of materials, including but not limited to canvas, pack cloth, nylon, cotton, jute, hemp, nonwoven materials (such as but not limited to polypropylene), polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), silk, and terylene. The outer reusable bag with pockets (the primary reusable bag) may be comprised of a different material than the reusable bags inserted into the pockets (the secondary reusable bags). The primary bag may be comprised of an insulative material, a more rigid material, etc. The secondary reusable bags may be comprised of a material suitable such that the secondary bag may be folded or collapsed into a compact size for insertion into the pockets.
Note that it is contemplated that reusable bags may take any shape and be any size.
It will be understood that the specific embodiments of the present invention shown and described herein are exemplary only. Numerous variations, changes, substitutions and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that all subject matter described herein and shown in the accompanying drawings be regarded as illustrative only, and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. A reusable bag, comprising:
- a container with a top and a bottom, the contain having an opening at the top and comprised of a flexible material;
- at least one pocket connected or integral to the container, the pocket being disposed on an outside surface of the container, the pocket configured to receive an additional reusable bag.
2. The reusable bag of claim 1, further comprising:
- a connection device that connects portions of the reusable bag to itself in order to maintain the reusable bag in a folded or compacted position.
3. The reusable bag of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pockets, wherein the pockets are configured such that when the reusable bag is folded the pockets intermesh with other pockets, thereby reducing the thickness of the reusable bag when folded or compacted.
4. The reusable bag of claim 1, wherein the pockets comprise an additional material attached to the container.
5. The reusable bag of claim 1, wherein the pockets comprise a device to close the pockets.
6. The reusable bag of claim 5, wherein the device to close the pockets comprises a flap that folds over the pocket opening.
7. The reusable bag of claim 6, wherein the flap connects to the pocket.
8. The reusable bag of claim 1, wherein the pockets are formed from at least two overlapping panels that are attached to the container, and wherein the pocket is accessed by separating the at least two panels.
9. The reusable bag of claim 8, wherein the panels are arranged in a substantially horizontal direction.
10. A reusable bag, comprising:
- a container with a top and a bottom, the contain having an opening at the top and comprised of a flexible material;
- a plurality of pockets connected or integral to the container, the pockets being disposed on an outside surface of the container, the plurality of pockets disposed such that when the bag is folded or compacted, the pockets intermesh thereby reducing the thickness when the reusable bag is folded or compacted; and
- at least one connection device to maintain the reusable bag in a folded or compacted position.
11. The reusable bag of claim 10, wherein the connection device is selected from the group consisting of: snaps, ties, hook-and-loop, elastic bands, zippers, magnetic attachments, and mechanical connections.
12. The reusable bag of claim 10, wherein the pockets are formed from at least two overlapping panels that are attached to the container, and wherein the pocket is accessed by separating the at least two panels.
13. The reusable bag of claim 12, where in the panels are disposed in a substantially horizontal direction.
14. The reusable bag of claim 10, further comprising at least one handle or strap.
15. A reusable bag assembly, comprising:
- a primary reusable bag comprising: a container with a top and a bottom, the contain having an opening at the top and comprised of a flexible material; one or more handles or straps attached to the container; a plurality of pockets connected or integral to the container, the pockets being disposed on an outside surface of the container, the plurality of pockets disposed such that when the bag is folded or compacted, the pockets intermesh thereby reducing the thickness when the reusable bag is folded or compacted; and at least one connection device to maintain the reusable bag in a folded or compacted position; and
- one or more secondary reusable bags in a collapsed or folded position and disposed in the pockets.
16. The reusable bag assembly of claim 15, wherein the primary bag is comprised of an insulating material.
17. The reusable bag assembly of claim 15, wherein the secondary reusable bags are comprised of recycled polyethylene terephthalate.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 3, 2015
Publication Date: Oct 6, 2016
Inventor: AmyLea Kathryn Murphy (Glastonbury, CT)
Application Number: 14/678,329