ECO-FRIENDLY REUSABLE BAG

Abstract

The reusable bag includes a casing having an internal accommodation space and an opening that opens to the accommodation space, a reeling member housed in the accommodation space, a bag element housed in the accommodation space and wound around the reeling member, and a locking element configured to a lateral side of the casing. The bag element is selectively reeled out from the reeling member while the reeling member automatically exerts a force to retract the bag element, and a stopping element is configured at a top edge of the bag element that is exposed outside the casing and blocked at the opening. The locking element is engaged when the bag element is pulled out for a desired length to lock the reeling member so that the bag element is not retracted back into the accommodation space by the reeling member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to shopping bags, and more particular to a reusable bag that may be retracted and stored in a wearable casing when not in use.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

A roll of plastic bags 61, as shown in FIG. 1, is commonly seen in malls and supermarkets. The roll of plastic bags 61 is usually stored in a package 6 and may be pulled out of the package 6 through a slit 60. Adjacent plastic bags 61 are separated by perforations 62 so that each of them may be easily torn from the roll and used. Such plastic bags 61 are designed for single use, which is not environmentally friendly. In addition, these plastic bags 61 are of a fixed length and cannot be enlarged or reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide an eco-friendly reusable bag where its bag element may be reeled out and automatically retracted back by a reeling member, and the length of the pulled-out bag element may be adjusted by a locking element.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an eco-friendly reusable bag that offers repeated usage, takes up minimum space, and is environmentally friendly.

To achieve the above objectives, the eco-friendly reusable bag includes:

• • a casing having an internal accommodation space and an opening along a bottom edge of a lateral side of the casing that opens to the accommodation space;
  • a reeling member housed in the accommodation space;
  • a bag element housed in the accommodation space and wound around the reeling member, where the bag element is selectively reeled out from the reeling member while the reeling member automatically exerts a force to retract the bag element, and a stopping element is configured at a top edge of the bag element that is exposed outside the casing and blocked at the opening; and
  • a locking element configured to a lateral side of the casing, where the locking element locks the reeling member so that the bag element after being pulling out is not retraced back into the accommodation space by the reeling member;
  • wherein the locking element is engaged when the bag element is pulled out for a desired length; once the locking element is engaged to release its lock on the reeling member, the reeling member automatically retracts the bag element back into the accommodation space of the casing for future use.

The bag element may have a mesh tubular shape but is not limited as such.

The eco-friendly reusable bag may further includes a key chain joined to a lateral side of the casing.

Compared to the prior arts, the advantages of the eco-friendly reusable bag lies in its convenient portability, extendable length, and space economy. When not in use, it may be used as a key chain where the bag element is reeled back and hidden in the casing for future use. To use the bag element, its length may be adjusted by applying the locking element. The reusable bag is therefore environmentally friendly and resource-economic.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram showing a roll of conventional plastic bags.

FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram showing an eco-friendly reusable bag according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional diagram showing the eco-friendly reusable bag of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional diagram showing a bag element is pulled from the eco-friendly reusable bag of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram showing the pulled-out bag element of FIG. 4 locked by a locking element.

FIG. 6 is a sectional diagram showing the bag element of FIG. 5 is retracted into the eco-friendly reusable bag.

FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram showing the eco-friendly reusable bag of FIG. 2 with a clip configured.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, an embodiment of the present invention includes a casing 1, a reeling member 2, a bag element 3, and a locking element 4.

The casing 1 has an internal accommodation space 10. An opening 11 is provided along a bottom edge of a lateral side of the casing 1 that opens to the accommodation space 10. A key chain 5 is joined to and extended from another lateral side of the casing 1. Aback side of the casing 1 is configured with a clip 12 for attaching the casing 1 to a belt, a shirt's pocket, a pants pocket, a backpack, or a handbag. However, the present invention is not limited as such.

The reeling member 2 is housed in the accommodation space 10 of the casing 1.

The bag element 3 is housed in the accommodation space 10 and wound around the reeling member 2. The bag element 3 may be reeled out from the reeling member 2 while the reeling member 2 automatically exerts a force to retract the bag element 3. A stopping element 31 is configured at a top edge of the bag element 3 so that, when the bag element 3 is retracted into the accommodation space 10, the stopping element 31 is blocked by the opening 11 and prevents the bag element 3 from being entirely retracted into the accommodation space 10. The bag element 3 has a mesh tubular shape but is not limited as such.

The locking element 4 is configured to a lateral side of the casing 1. The locking element 4 locks the reeling member 2 so that the pulled-out bag element 3 is not retracted back into the accommodation space 10 by the reeling member 2. The locking element 4 may be engaged when the bag element 3 is pulled out for a desired length. Once the locking element 4 is engaged to release its lock on the reeling member 2, the reeling member 2 automatically retracts the bag element 3 back into the accommodation space of the casing 1 for future use.

The advantages of the eco-friendly reusable bag lies in its convenient portability, extendable length, and space economy. When not in use, it may be used as a key chain where the bag element 3 is reeled back and hidden in the casing 1 for future use. To use the bag element 3, its length may be adjusted by applying the locking element 4. The reusable bag is therefore environmentally friendly and resource-economic.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An eco-friendly reusable bag, comprising:

a casing having an internal accommodation space and an opening along a bottom edge of a lateral side of the casing that opens to the accommodation space;

a reeling member housed in the accommodation space;

a bag element housed in the accommodation space and wound around the reeling member, where the bag element is selectively reeled out from the reeling member while the reeling member automatically exerts a force to retract the bag element, and a stopping element is configured at a top edge of the bag element that is exposed outside the casing and blocked at the opening; and

a locking element configured to a lateral side of the casing, where the locking element locks the reeling member so that the bag element after being pulling out is not retraced back into the accommodation space by the reeling member;

wherein the locking element is engaged when the bag element is pulled out for a desired length; once the locking element is engaged to release its lock on the reeling member, the reeling member automatically retracts the bag element back into the accommodation space of the casing for future use.

2. The eco-friendly reusable bag according to claim 1, wherein the bag element has a mesh tubular shape.

3. The eco-friendly reusable bag according to claim 1, further comprising a key chain joined to a lateral side of the casing.

4. The eco-friendly reusable bag according to claim 1, further comprising a clip configured to a back side of the casing.