EXPENDABLE BAG

Abstract

An expandable bag having a bag body, at least one expendable member and at least one retractable wheel assembly is provided. The bag body defines an enclosed space of the expandable bag. The at least one expendable member is coupled to the bag body to expand a size of the enclosed space. Further, the at least one retractable wheel assembly is coupled along the at least one expandable member. The at least one retractable wheel assembly is operational to drag the expandable bag thereon, only when the at least one expendable member is expanded to increase the size of expandable bag.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of granted U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/016,456 filed on Sep. 3, 2013 and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/215,610 filed on Jul. 21, 2016. Further, this application is taking additional priority benefit from U.S. provisional application No. 62/445,653 filed on Jan. 12, 2017.

BACKGROUND

Field of Endeavor

The present invention generally relates to, carrying accessories, and, more particularly, expandable bag or luggage to be used as carry-on or slide-on.

Brief Description of the Related Art

Expandable bag is quite popular among travelers to carry extra accessories without having a need to include additional bags or bag for keeping up the extra accessories while travelling. Various types of expandable bag are currently available in the market. Such available bag in the market may be selected by consumers depending upon their respective needs. However, there have been continues on-going research and idea generation to improve the design of the expandable bag and provide consumers with more available options for keeping and carrying their accessories.

Until now there are types of bag that are available in the market that may vertically expand in height to increase the height the overall storages space of the bag. Other bag, such as described in the granted U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/016,456 to which this disclosure is a continuation-in-part, may be expand from one of its side in addition to its expansion from the top side to increase the overall space of the storage space of the bag even further in vertical as well as horizontal directions at the same time.

Going forward, the present disclosure is presented to further improve such expandable bag, and, accordingly generates a need to provide expandable bag that may further improve in terms of carrying such expandable bags or utilizing storage space in such expandable bags in a cost effective and durable manner to add up more options for the consumers in expandable bag space.

SUMMARY

In view of the stated requirement, the present disclosure discloses an expandable bag, which will be presented in the following simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of one or more aspects of the disclosure that are intended to overcome the discussed drawbacks, but to include all advantages thereof, along with providing some additional advantages. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the disclosure, nor to delineate the scope of the present disclosure. Rather, the sole purpose of this summary is to present some concepts of the disclosure, its aspects and advantages in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented hereinafter.

A general object of the present disclosure is to describe an expandable bag that may further be improved from its existing peers available in the market, which may be effective in terms of comfortably carrying such expandable bags during carry-on or slide-on positions of such bags or utilizing storage space in such expandable bags, in a cost effective and durable manner to add up more options for the consumers in expandable bag space. Various other objects and features of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description and claims.

The above noted and other objects, in one aspect, may be achieved an expandable bag having a bag body, at least one expendable member and at least one retractable wheel assembly. The bag body defines an enclosed space of the expandable bag. The at least one expendable member is coupled to the bag body to expand a size of the enclosed space. Further, the at least one retractable wheel assembly is coupled along the at least one expandable member. The at least one retractable wheel assembly is operational to drag the expandable bag thereon, only when the at least one expendable member is expanded to increase the size of expandable bag.

Such bag, in one embodiment, includes the at least one retractable wheel assembly that is coupled along a base portion of the at least one expendable member, and foldably retained within a closure of the bag body along with the at least one expendable member, when the at least one expandable member is not expanded.

In another aspect, an expandable bag includes a bag body, at least one expendable member and at least one retractable wheel assembly. The bag body defines an enclosed space. The at least one expendable member may be coupled to the bag body. Further, at least one retractable wheel assembly is coupled along a base of the at least one expandable member. The expendable member is adapted to expand horizontally outward from the bag body to increase a size of the enclosed space of the bag body to obtain an expanded bag body, and, simultaneously, enables the at least one retractable wheel assembly to engage with a plain to drag the expanded bag body over the plain. Further, the expendable member is adapted to be collapsed to retain an original size of the enclosed space of the bag body, and, simultaneously, enables the at least one retractable wheel assembly to de-engage with a plain to be hangingly carry over.

The expandable bag may further includes a closure along the bag body to foldably retain the at least one retractable wheel assembly along with the at least one expendable member, when the at least one expandable member is collapsed.

The expandable bag may further includes a closable opening configured along the bag body to access the enclosed space, in its both sizes, the original size or the increased size, wherein the closable opening comprises a zipper arrangement to close and open the closable opening.

In one further aspect, an expandable bag includes a bag body, at least one expandable member, at least one retractable wheel assembly, and at least one expending and retracting attachment. The bag body may include opposite sides, an enclosed space defined between the opposite sides, and a closable opening to access the enclosed space. The bag body may be made of flexible recyclable or non-recyclable material. The at least one expendable member may be configured along at least one of the opposite sides of the bag body. The at least one retractable wheel assembly may be coupled along a base of the at least one expandable member. The at least one expending and retracting attachment may be configured along the at least one of the opposite ends of the bag body to define a closure. The expendable member may adapted to be released, via the at least one expending and retracting attachment, to expand horizontally outward from the bag body to increase a size of the bag body to obtain an expanded bag body, and, simultaneously, enables the at least one retractable wheel assembly to engage with a plain to drag the expanded bag body over the plain. Further, the expendable member may adapted to be retracted, via the at least one expending and retracting attachment, to retain an original size of the bag body, and, simultaneously, enables the at least one retractable wheel assembly to de-engage with a plain to be hangingly carry over.

In an example, the closable opening may extend along the expanded bag body, and may include a zipper arrangement to close and open such closable opening.

In one embodiment, the at least one expending and retracting attachment may be a flap cover circumferentially attached along an end portion of the bag body to be zipped and unzipped to release and retract the expendable member.

In further embodiment, the at least one expending and retracting attachment may be configured along a circumference of an upper surface or an inner surface at along the at least one end portion of the bag body in a form of a drawstring attachment. The drawstring may be a non-elastic string or a partially elastic string with substantially less elasticity.

In another embodiment, the at least one expending and retracting attachment may be a Velcro® attachment configured along the at least one of the opposite sides end portion.

In yet another embodiment, the least one expending and retracting attachment may be a belt-buckle attachment configured along the at least one end portion of the opposite sides end portion.

The expandable bag may further include a carrying attachment coupled to at least the bag body and to the expandable member to carry the bag in expanded and collapsed form. In an example, the carrying attachment is one of a loop-strap attachment, a hand-strap attachment, a back-strap attachment, a handle attachment or a wheel-handle attachment.

The expandable bag may further include at least one additional compartment configured on the bag body. The at least one additional compartment may include a zipper coupled thereto.

These together with the other aspects of the present disclosure, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the present disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure, its operating advantages, and its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present disclosure will better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example view of an expendable bag in its original form, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate example perspective views of an expendable bag in its expanded form, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a portion of an expendable bag depicting at least one expending and retracting attachment, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of an expendable bag depicting at least one expending and retracting attachment, in accordance with an another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of an expendable bag depicting at least one expending and retracting attachment, in accordance with one further exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

For a thorough understanding of the present disclosure, reference is to be made to the following detailed description, including the appended claims, in connection with the above-described drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures are shown in block diagrams form only, in order to avoid obscuring the disclosure. Reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “another embodiment,” “various embodiments,” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but may not be of other embodiment's requirement.

Although the following description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations and/or alterations to these details are within the scope of the present disclosure. Similarly, although many of the features of the present disclosure are described in terms of each other, or in conjunction with each other, one skilled in the art will appreciate that many of these features can be provided independently of other features. Accordingly, this description of the present disclosure is set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the present disclosure. Further, the relative terms, such as “top,” “bottom” and the like, herein do not denote any order, elevation or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. Further, the terms “a,” “an,” and “plurality” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

Reference will now be made to the embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings FIGS. 1 to 5. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. An exemplary embodiment of an item of expendable bag of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, and is designated generally throughout by reference numeral 100. Specifically, FIG. 1 depicts an example front view of the expandable bag 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Reference of other FIGS. 2A to 5 will be made herein to describe various arrangements of the expandable bag 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the expandable bag 100 may be used for carrying desired articles there within.

Referring now to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2A-2B, an expandable bag 100 (hereinafter may also be referred to as ‘bag 100’) may include a bag body 110 (hereinafter may be referred to as ‘body 110’). Further, the bag 100 may include at least one expendable member 120 (hereinafter also referred to as ‘expandable member 120’) configured to the body 110. The bag 100 may further include at least one retractable wheel assembly 130 (hereinafter referred to as ‘wheel assembly 130’). The body 110 defines an enclosed space 112 (clearly seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B) and a closable opening 114 (clearly seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B) of the bag 100 to access the enclosed space 112 therefrom. The enclosed space 112 defined by the body 110 may receive desired articles from the closable opening 114 to safely store such article to carry in the bag 100. The expendable member 120 may be coupled to the body 110 to expand a size of the enclosed space 112. Further, the wheel assembly 130 may be coupled along the expandable member 120. The wheel assembly 130 may be operational to drag the bag 100 thereon, only when the expendable member 120 may be expanded to increase the size of bag 100, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The wheel assembly 130 may otherwise be foldably retained, when the expandable member 120 is not expanded, as shown in FIG. 1. Further, the expendable member 120 may be configured along at least one end portion 116a, 116b of the body 110 so that upon the expansion of the expandable member 120 the end portions 116a, 116b get expanded and vice versa.

In one example, the body 110 may be made of flexible recyclable or non-recyclable material. Such material may also be water and dust resistance to obtain the bag 100 which is dust and waterproof. However, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure the bag 100 of the body 110 may be made of any other suitable flexible material capable of meeting the requirement demands.

As seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the wheel assembly 130 may be coupled along a base 122 of the expandable member 120. The expendable member 120 may be adapted to expand horizontally outward from the body 110 to increase the size of the enclosed space 112 of the body 110 to obtain an expanded bag body, such as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The expendable member 120, while being extended, simultaneously, enables the wheel assembly 130 to engage with a plain, such as a floor surface, to drag the expanded bag body over the plain. The expendable member 120 may be adapted to be collapsed to retain an original size of the enclosed space 112 of the body 110, and, simultaneously, enables the wheel assembly 130 to de-engage with the plain to be hangingly carry over.

In one embodiment, the bag 100 may include at least one expending and retracting attachment 140 (hereinafter may be referred to as ‘attachment 140’) configured along the at least one of the opposite ends of the body 110 to define a closure to retain the expandable member 120 therewithin. The expendable member 120 may be adapted to be released, using the attachment 140. The expendable member 120 may be released or retracted, using the attachment 140, to be expanded or retracted.

As shown in FIG. 2A, in an example form, the attachment 140 may be configured along the at least one end portion 116a, 116b of the body 110 to release/expand and retract/collapse the expendable member 120 of the bag 100. In various embodiments, the attachment 140 may be configured at only one end portion 116a of the body 110 or the attachments 140 may be configured respectively along both ends 116a, 116b of the body 110. In specific embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A-2B, the attachments 140 may be configured respectively along both ends 116a, 116b of the body 110. The attachment 140 is adapted to secure the expendable member 120 to expand the bag 100; and adapted to retract the expendable member 120 to collapse the expanded bag 100 to its original size.

In one such embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, the attachment 140 may be a flap cover 142 circumferentially attached along the end portions 116a, 116b of the body 110. The flap cover 142 may be secured to the ends 116a, 116b of the bad 100 using a zipper 116c to be zipped and unzipped to release and retract the expendable member 120. The flap cover 142 when closed using the zipper 116c defines the closure wherein the expandable member 120 is retained.

In one another example embodiment, the attachment 140, as shown by numerals 150, 160 may be configured along a circumference 117 of an upper surface 118a or an inner surface 118b along at the at least one end portions 116a, 116b of the body 110. In one such example, the attachment 150, 160 may be a drawstring attachment, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

As shown in FIG. 3A, in one arrangement of the drawstring attachment, such as, the drawstring attachment 150 includes a circumferential casing 152 and a drawstring 154. The circumferential casing 152 may be configured along the upper surface 118a or the inner surface 118b. The circumferential casing 152 is like a pocket formed using lining and a portion of body 100 across the circumference 117 of the body 100 along the end portions 116a, 116b. The circumferential casing 152 may also include an access cut 156. The drawstring 154 may freely be received within the circumferential casing 152. The drawstring 154 may be adapted to be accessed from the access cut 156 to be pulled to collapse the at least one end portion 116a, 116b, to retract the expendable member 120 of the body 110, or adapted to be released to expand the at least one end portion 116a, 116b to release the expendable member 120 of the body 110.

In another arrangement, as shown in FIG. 3B, the drawstring attachment, such as the drawstring attachment 160, may include a plurality of recesses 162 and a drawstring 164. The plurality of recesses 162 may be configured along the circumference 117 of the body 110 in a spaced apart manner from each other. The drawstring 164 may freely be received within the plurality of recesses 162 in alternating manner such that some portions of the drawstring 164 overlaps the upper surface 118a of the body 110 and other portions of the drawstring 164 passes from within the inner surface 118b of the body 110. The drawstring 164 may be adapted to be pulled to collapse the at least one end portion 116a, 116b to retract the expendable member 120 of the body 110 or adapted to be released to expand the at least one end portion 116a, 116b to release the expendable member 120 of the body 110. In both the embodiments as described with FIGS. 3A and 3B, the drawstring 154 or 164 when pulled, collapses the extendable member 120, thereby defining the closure for the extendable member 120.

In both the above arrangement of the drawstring 150, 160; the drawstrings 154, 164 may be a non-elastic string or a partially elastic string with substantially less elasticity.

In another embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the attachment 140 may be configured along the at least one end portion 116a, 116b to release or retract the expendable member 120 of the body 110. In one such attachment, the attachment 140 may be a Velcro® attachment 170, as shown in FIG. 4. In such embodiment, the attachment 170 may either be configured along across circumference or across selective regions, along the end portions 116a, 116b of the body 100. One another type of attachment, such as the belt-buckle attachment 180, as shown in FIG. 5, may also be configured along the at least one end portion 116a, 116b to release or retract the expendable member 120 of the body 110. The attachment 180 may either be configured along across circumference or across selective regions, along the end portions 116a, 116b of the body 100.

Without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, any other types of retracting attachment, other than flap cover 142, drawstrings 154, 164, Velcro® attachment 170 or belt-buckle attachment 180 as described above, may also be used. Example of such other attachments may be clip attachment, slip-in buckles or the like.

Further, the expandable bag 100, as shown in FIG. 1, 2A or 2B, in one embodiment, may include a carrying attachment 190 coupled to the body to carry the bag 110. The carrying attachment 190 may be one of a loop-strap attachment, a hand-strap attachment, a back-strap attachment, a handle attachment or a wheel-handle attachment. Also, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the expandable member 120 may also include a carrying member, such as carrying member 195. Such carrying member 195 may only be used to carry the bag 100, when the expendable member 120 may be expanded to increase the size of bag 100. The carrying member 195 may otherwise be foldably retained in the closure formed by the attachments 140, when the expandable member 120 is not expanded, as shown in FIG. 1.

The expandable bag 100, in one embodiment, may include at least one additional compartment 200 configured on the body 110. The at least one additional compartment 200 may include a zipper 210 for closing and opening of the additional compartment 200.

The expandable bag 100 may further include various other element and components as available in the art to facilitate the user in desired manner, and are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An expandable bag, comprising:

a bag body defining an enclosed space;

at least one expendable member coupled to the bag body to expand a size of the enclosed space; and

at least one retractable wheel assembly coupled along the at least one expandable member,

wherein the at least one retractable wheel assembly is operational to drag the expandable bag thereon, only when the at least one expendable member is expanded.

2. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one retractable wheel assembly is coupled along a base portion of the at least one expendable member, and foldably retained within a closure of the bag body along with the at least one expendable member, when the at least one expandable member is not expanded.

3. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bag body is made of flexible recyclable or non-recyclable material.

4. An expandable bag, comprising:

a hag body defining an enclosed space;

at least one expendable member coupled to the bag body; and

at least one retractable wheel assembly coupled along a base of the at least one expandable member,

wherein the expendable member is adapted to expand horizontally outward from the bag body to increase a size of the enclosed space of the bag body to obtain an expanded bag body, and, simultaneously, enables the at least one retractable wheel assembly to engage with a plain to drag the expanded bag body over the plain, and

wherein the expendable member is adapted to be collapsed to retain an original size of the enclosed space of the bag body, and, simultaneously, enables the at least one retractable wheel assembly to de-engage with a plain to be hangingly carry over.

5. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a closure along the bag body to foldably retain the at least one retractable wheel assembly along with the at least one expendable member, when the at least one expandable member is collapsed.

6. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a closable opening configured along the bag body to access the enclosed space, in its both sizes, the original size or the increased size, wherein the closable opening comprises a zipper arrangement to close and open the closable opening.

7. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bag body is made of flexible recyclable or non-recyclable material.

8. An expandable bag, comprising:

a bag body having opposite sides, an enclosed space defined between the opposite sides, and a closable opening to access the enclosed space;

at least one expendable member configured along at least one of the opposite sides of the bag body;

at least one retractable wheel assembly coupled along a base of the at least one expandable member; and

at least one expending and retracting attachment configured along the at least one of the opposite ends of the bag body to define a closure,

wherein the expendable member is adapted to be released, via the at least one expending and retracting attachment, to expand horizontally outward from the bag body to increase a size of the bag body to obtain an expanded bag body, and, simultaneously, enables the at least one retractable wheel assembly to engage with a plain to drag the expanded bag body over the plain, and

wherein the expendable member is adapted to be retracted, via the at least one expending and retracting attachment, to retain an original size of the bag body, and, simultaneously, enables the at least one retractable wheel assembly to de-engage with a plain to be hangingly carry over.

9. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one expending and retracting attachment is a flap cover circumferentially attached along an end portion of the bag body to be zipped and unzipped to release and retract the expendable member.

10. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one expending and retracting attachment is configured along a circumference of an upper surface or an inner surface at along the at least one end portion of the bag body in a form of a drawstring attachment.

11. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 10, wherein the drawstring is a non-elastic string or a partially elastic string with substantially less elasticity.

12. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one expending and retracting attachment is a Velcro® attachment configured along the at least one of the opposite sides end portion.

13. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 8, wherein the least one expending and retracting attachment is a belt-buckle attachment configured along the at least one end portion of the opposite sides end portion.

14. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 8, wherein the closable opening extends along the expanded bag body.

15. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 8, wherein the closable opening comprises a zipper arrangement to close and open the closable opening.

16. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a carrying attachment coupled to at least the bag body and to the expandable member to carry the bag in expanded and collapsed form.

17. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 16, wherein the carrying attachment is one of a loop-strap attachment, a hand-strap attachment, a back-strap attachment, a handle attachment or a wheel-handle attachment.

18. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 8 further comprising at least one additional compartment configured on the bag body, wherein the at least one additional compartment comprises a zipper coupled thereto.

19. The expandable bag as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bag body is made of flexible recyclable or non-recyclable material.