This invention relates to totes. More specifically, this invention relates to a tote bag convertible to a compressed transport configuration.
Tote bags are often made of plastic or flexible fabrics. Tote bags have an interior compartment for receiving articles and typically have a set of handles. Some tote bags have handles affixed to the body of the bag, for example, by stitching or sewing. Some tote bags have handles that are integral with the body. Tote bags may be somewhat large and unwieldly, making them inconvenient to carry when empty.
Because tote bags are generally inconvenient to transport when not in use, many retailers offer disposable or single use bags to shoppers, generating otherwise avoidable waste. In addition to the environmental burden associated with single use bags, there is a financial cost as well which is often passed to the consumer by inflating the retail price of products. In an increasingly popular trend, some retailers, such as grocery stores, are directly charging consumers for any bags required at checkout. Accordingly, consumers are seeking reusable bags that are convenient to carry when not in use. Further, consumers are swayed by the aesthetic appeal of such reusable bags when determining what bags they are willing to carry with them.
A compact reusable tote in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure includes a sac and a closure flap. The sac is configured to transition between an open carry configuration and a compressed storage configuration. The sac includes a front panel affixed to a back panel. The front and back panels may be generally symmetrical. Each panel may have a generally rectangular lower portion and an upper portion including a strap. The front and back panels define an interior compartment. The closure flap may have a generally rectangular shape including opposing top and bottom margins, and opposing left and right edges. The bottom margin may be affixed to the sac. The bottom margin of the closure flap may have a first fastener portion which cooperates with a second fastener portion. The second fastener portion may be affixed along the top margin. In the storage configuration the first and second fastener portions are mated to one another such that no portion of the sac extends beyond the left and right edges of the closure flap.
In some embodiments, a gusset panel may be disposed between the front and back panels. In some embodiments, the interior compartment in the open carry configuration has a volume between 600 and 1200 cubic inches. In some embodiments, the interior compartment in the compressed storage configuration has a volume less than 50 cubic inches. In some embodiments, a width of the front panel is between 4 and 4.5 times a width of the closure flap. In some embodiments, a length of the front panel is between 2 and 2.5 times a length of the closure flap.
According to an embodiment, a method of transitioning a compact reusable tote having a sac affixed to a bottom margin of a closure flap from an open carry configuration to a compressed storage configuration includes the steps of laying the sac flat such that a front panel lays atop a back panel with outside edges of the panels being substantially aligned and a pair of straps extend upwardly; folding the pair of straps downwardly such that the sac has a clearly defined rectangular shape with a left, right, bottom, and top edges; arranging the closure flap to project upwardly from the top edge of the sac such a left and a right edge of the flap are generally parallel to the left and right edges of the sac; folding a right edge of the sac over the front panel at a first crease, the first crease being axially aligned with the right edge of the closure flap; folding and/or rolling a left edge of the sac over the front panel; folding and/or rolling the bottom edge of the sac upwardly towards the closure flap until the rolled up sac reaches the closure flap; rolling the closure flap around the rolled up sac until the bottom margin of the closure flap reaches a top margin of the closure flap; and fastening the bottom margin of the closure flap to a top margin of the closure flap.
According to embodiments, a collapsible tote includes a rectangular closure flap and a sac. The rectangular closure flap has a top margin configured to fasten to a bottom margin. The sac includes symmetrical front and back panels, the front and back panels are affixed along left, right, and bottom edges and defines an interior compartment therebetween. The bottom margin of the rectangular closure flap is affixed to a top edge of the sac back panel at a midpoint between the left and panel edges. The sac is configured to roll into a bundle and may be secured in place when the top flap margin is secured to the bottom flap margin. In some embodiments, the sac is configured to transition between an open carry configuration and a compressed storage configuration. In some embodiments, the sac is confined within a left margin and a right margin of the rectangular closure flap in the compressed storage configuration. In some embodiments, the sac is made from a water resistant material. In some embodiments, the water resistant material is nylon. In some embodiments, the rectangular closure flap is synthetic leather.
While embodiments of the disclosure are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
Referring to
Referring to
The front and back panels 112, 114 have a width 218 as measured along the bottom edge 202, 208. In some embodiments, the width 218 may be between 10 and 20 inches. In some embodiments, the width 218 may be between 6 and 16 inches. In some embodiments, the width 218 may be about 14 inches. In some embodiments, the width 218 may be about 17 inches. The front and back panels 112, 114 have a height 220 as measured along the right edges 206, 212 or left edges 204, 210. In some embodiments, the height 220 may be between 10 and 20 inches. In some embodiments, the height 220 may be between 8 and 18 inches. In some embodiments, the height 220 may be about 15 inches. In some embodiments, the height 220 may be about 14 inches. The tear drop shaped handle opening 214 may have a width 222 and a height 224 at the widest points of the opening 214. In some embodiments, the opening width 222 may be between 3 and 10 inches. In some embodiments, the opening width 222 may be about 6 inches. In some embodiments, the opening height 224 may be between 6 and 12 inches. In some embodiments, the opening height 224 may be about 9 inches. In some embodiments, the opening height 224 may be about 50 percent larger than the opening width 222.
In some embodiments, corresponding edges of the front and back panels 112, 114 may be stitched to one another thereby forming the sac portion. Referring to
The gusset panel 116 may be disposed between the front and back panels 112, 114. For example, the gusset panel 116 may be affixed along a first lengthwise edge 306 to front panel 112 and along an opposing lengthwise edge 308 to back panel 114. The gusset panel 116 may be affixed to the front and back panels 112, 114, for example, by stitching, sewing, or the like. The gusset panel 116 may have a width 402. In some embodiment, the gusset panel 116 width 402 is between 2 and 8 inches. In some embodiments, the width 402 is about 4 inches. Accordingly, the interior compartment 110 has a volume, the tote is an open and uncompressed state, defined by the length 220 and width 218 of the front or back panels 112, 114 and the width 402 of the gusset panels. In some embodiments, the volume of the interior compartment 110 is between 600 and 1200 cubic inches. In some embodiments, the volume of the interior compartment is between 900 and 1000 cubic inches. In some embodiments, the volume of the interior compartment is about 950 cubic inches. As will be discussed in more detail below, in some embodiments, the tote 100 is folded or rolled into a compressed configuration. In the compressed storage configuration, the interior compartment 110 may have a volume approaching zero. In some embodiments, the interior compart 110 has a volume of less than 50 cubic inches in the compressed storage configuration. In some embodiments, additional gussets may be affixed between the front and back panels form a wider tote having an interior compartment with an increased volume. In embodiments, the handles 104, 106 have a width 404 as can be seen in
In some embodiments, the front, back, and gusset panels 112, 114, 116 are formed of the same or similar materials. In some embodiments, the panels are formed of a spun fabric such as yarn. In some embodiments, the panels are formed of synthetic polymers. In some embodiments the panels are nylon. For example, the panels may be formed nylon. In some embodiments, the nylon is ripstop nylon. In some embodiments the panels are waterproof or water-resistant. In some embodiments, the panel fabric has a weight of 105 GSM. In some embodiments, the tote has a carrying capacity of up to 50 pounds.
Referring to
The top panel 508 may extend across a top margin of the closure flap 108. In some embodiments, on the rearward facing surface 504, the top panel 508 may appear as a solid bar. In some embodiments, the top panel 508 may be shaped to conform to fasteners 510 on the forward facing surface 502. Referring to
In embodiments, the closure flap 118 may include additional hardware 506 such as a keychain 118. The keychain 118 may be any sort of hook, loop, carabiner, or the like. The keychain 118 may be affixed along a side margin of the closure flap 108. In some embodiments, there may be an intermediary attachment 518 such as a loop or the like, connecting the keychain 118 to an attachment point on the closure flap 108. In some embodiments, a swivel 520 may allow the keychain 118 and closure flap 108 to rotate with respect to one another. In some embodiments, the swivel 520 may be incorporated into the intermediary attachment 518, the keychain 118, the closure flap 118, or portions of the swivel may be incorporated into various components of the elements. In some embodiments, the keychain 118 may include an operable arm 522 mounted on a biased pivot point, allowing the keychain 118 to easily attach to other devices. The keychain 118 provides the added benefit, particularly in the compressed storage configuration, of being able to secure the tote 100 to a purse, belt or belt loop, other bag, or the like. Accordingly, the tote 100 may be transported hands free. This feature adds additional convenience to transport the tote 100 in the compressed configuration and have it readily available when needed for opening up the tote 100 and adding items to the internal compartment 110.
In some embodiments, the hardware 506 may be metallic, formed of metals, metal alloys, or the like. In some embodiments, the hardware 506 may be formed of durable polymers such as plastics. In some embodiments, each component of the hardware 506 may be formed of the same material. In some embodiments, each component of the hardware 506 may be formed of different materials. For example, the fasteners 510 may be formed of metal and the keychain 118 may be formed of plastic. In some embodiments, the hardware 506 may be tarnish resistant. In some embodiments, the hardware 506 may be plated, for example, with precious or semi-precious metals such as gold, silver, nickel, bronze, or the like. The hardware 506 may have further features to enhance aesthetic appeal such inclusion of gems, etching, coatings, or the like. For example, the hardware 506 may be matte finished, brushed, polished, aged, powder coated, or the like.
In embodiments, the closure flap has a width 524 between 2 to 6 inches and a length 526 between 4 to 8 inches. In embodiments, the closure flap has a width 524 of about 3.5 inches and a length 526 of about 6.5 inches. In embodiments, a width 218 of the front panel 112 is between 4 and 4.5 times a width 524 of the closure flap 108. In some embodiments a length 220 of the front panel 112 is between 2 and 2.5 times a length 526 of the closure flap 118.
As discussed throughout, a feature of the reusable tote bag 100 is that it transitions from an open configuration to a compressed storage configuration.
As shown in
Each feature disclosed in this specification (including references incorporated by reference, any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any incorporated by reference references, any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. The above references in all sections of this application are herein incorporated by references in their entirety for all purposes.
Although specific examples have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose could be substituted for the specific examples shown. This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be defined by the attached claims and their legal equivalents, as well as the following illustrative aspects. The above described aspects embodiments of the invention are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. Further modifications of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/484,495, filed Feb. 11, 2023, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63484495 | Feb 2023 | US |