Patent Application
20130136381
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to carriers, and more particularly to a combination bag and carrier that may be useful for carrying a large variety of materials in different fashions.
2. Background and Related Art
Carrying needs may vary from situation to situation. For example, in a camping or backpacking situation, there may be a need to carry such items as tents, clothing, food, firewood, and the like, and various carrying solutions have been provided to address some of these carrying needs. For example, backpacks have been provided and have evolved to carry a variety of items, but do not address all carrying needs.
Implementation of the invention provides a combination bag and carrier having an approximately-rectangular planar panel with a reinforced edge margin extending substantially continuously around an edge of the planar panel and a durable material extending substantially continuously between all portions of the reinforced edge margin, the material being readily-permeable to water and air. A pair of handles is attached to the reinforced edge margin on opposite ends of the planar panel. Means for selectively attaching portions of the reinforced edge margin to itself to form a bag with the handles disposed adjacent each other is provided to the carrier.
Implementation of the invention may be used to conveniently carry a variety of materials and items that are not conveniently carried by other devices. The combination of features provided by combination bag and carrier permits carrying of bulk items such as wood and firewood that may extend beyond the edge margin of the carrier as well as dirty laundry and wet items that may benefit from air flow through the combination bag and carrier. The combination bag and carrier may be carried by the handles and may be attached externally to another carrying device such as a backpack.
The objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
A description of embodiments of the present invention will now be given with reference to the Figures. It is expected that the present invention may take many other forms and shapes, hence the following disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not limiting, and the scope of the invention should be determined by reference to the appended claims.
Embodiments of the invention provide a combination bag and carrier having an approximately-rectangular planar panel with a reinforced edge margin extending substantially continuously around an edge of the planar panel and a durable material extending substantially continuously between all portions of the reinforced edge margin, the material being readily-permeable to water and air. A pair of handles is attached to the reinforced edge margin on opposite ends of the planar panel. Means for selectively attaching portions of the reinforced edge margin to itself to form a bag with the handles disposed adjacent each other is provided to the carrier.
Embodiments of the invention may be used to conveniently carry a variety of materials and items that are not conveniently carried by other devices. The combination of features provided by combination bag and carrier permits carrying of bulk items such as wood and firewood that may extend beyond the edge margin of the carrier as well as dirty laundry and wet items that may benefit from air flow through the combination bag and carrier. The combination bag and carrier may be carried by the handles and may be attached externally to another carrying device such as a backpack.
The durable material 14 extends substantially continuously between all portions of the reinforced edge margin 12. The durable material 14 may be any of a variety of materials that are durable. In addition, the durable material 14 may be chosen so as to be readily-permeable to water and air. This allows items stored in the combination bag and carrier to be exposed to air flow so as to permit airing out or drying of items stored in the combination bag and carrier. This may be useful for items such as dirty or wet laundry or wet shoes to minimize or prevent odors, mold growth, and the like. One example of a suitable material for the durable material 14 is a nylon mesh material. As may be appreciated, materials such as a nylon mesh material are not only durable but are resistant to rot and other types of damage that might eventually weaken the material, but any of a variety of materials may be used.
To facilitate carrying of the combination bag and carrier, a pair of handles 16 may be attached to the reinforced edge margin on opposite ends of the planar panel 10 as shown. The handles 16 may be manufactured of any suitable material, and may be of a material similar to that used to reinforce the reinforced edge margin 12. When the combination bag and carrier is folded approximately in half (as shown in
The combination bag and carrier also includes a means for selectively attaching portions of the edge margin to itself. One such means is shown in
In this configuration, the combination bag and carrier may be used as a carrier for materials including bulk materials such as firewood that may optionally extend beyond the edges of the carrier (as shown in
The bag may be hung from a tree or other item, or may be attached to another carrying device such as a backpack for storage and carrying of the contained items. Additionally, the bag may be used to wash clothing. In this example, dirty laundry is placed in the bag and is immersed in water (such as a lake or stream). Once wet, soap may optionally be added, and the clothing may be agitated in the bag. The bag may then be immersed again and agitated further to rinse. Once the laundry is clean, it may be suspended in the bag for drying, or the clothing may be removed and dried as individual pieces. To further facilitate drying, the cords 20 may be unthreaded from the combination bag and carrier and used to form a clothesline between two trees or other items. The use of the combination bag and carrier thus facilitates washing of clothes in a variety of fashions, such as by preventing loss of clothing by containing the clothing within the bag and by providing a handy clothesline once laundering is complete. The bag may similarly be used to wash items other than clothing.
While one particular means for selectively attaching portions of the edge margin 12 to itself is merely one example of such a means for selective attachment. As another example, a single cord similar to cord 20 may be provided that is used to lace around the entire edge margin 12. Other examples include any of a variety of a plurality of fasteners attached to or embedded in the edge margin 12. Such fasteners may provide features different or similar to those discussed herein. Non-limiting examples of such fasteners include complementary portions of hook-and-loop fastening systems, snaps, buttons and corresponding button holes, hooks and eyelets, buckles, clips, carabiners and grommets, pins, clasps, and safety pins. Another example of a means for selectively attaching portions of the edge margin 12 to itself is one or more zippers.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
