Patent Application
20050286807
The present invention relates generally to storage containers, and more particularly to containers in which merchandise is stored for display and later after use by consumer.
To reduce manufacturer's shipping costs and retail merchant storage costs, often merchandise is packed very efficiency in a container, such as a box or a bag. Often, the ultimate consumer of the merchandise finds it very difficult, if not impossible, to place the merchandise back in the container. This problem is particularly prevalent for flexible, foldable items, such as sleeping bags, airbeds, tents, shelters, inflatable toys, and the like. Users often have to purchase an additional container to store the merchandise after opening the package. Alternatively, the manufacturer may have to supply a different storage bag or container for use after opening, which adds to product expense.
For some items, such as a sleeping bag, when put on display at a store, it is desired that the sleeping bag look large, or fluffy, so that a user will believe that the fill for the sleeping bag is sufficient to keep the user warm and that the sleeping bag is also comfortable. Thus, if possible, the sleeping bag is presented so that it looks rather large. However, for shipping, particularly shipping overseas, it is desired that the sleeping bag be compacted as small as possible so that shipping charges, which often are set by volume, may be minimized per sleeping bag.
These two different goals are hard to meet in a single container. Moreover, because the use of store personnel is expensive, stores do not want their employees to have to re-package items, such as sleeping bags, so that the items may be adequately displayed on a shelf.
The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented below.
The present invention provides an expandable merchandising bag having an expansion section that permits a manufacturer to ship the product in the bag with the bag in a collapsed, smaller state, and a user to enlarge the bag via the expansion section to an expanded state. The expandable merchandising bag in the expanded state provides more ample room for receiving the merchandise after used, thus providing the consumer with a reusable storage bag.
Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the embodiment being described.
Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views,
In accordance with an embodiment, the expandable merchandising bag 20 includes an expandable section 40. This expandable section 40 may be made, for example, of fabric, and may be the same material as the rest of the expandable merchandising bag 20. In accordance with an embodiment, the expandable section 40 is formed of a more flexible or collapsible material.
In the embodiment shown, the expandable section 40 includes a closure in the form of a zipper 42. As can be seen in
In accordance with an embodiment, the expandable merchandising bag 20 is shipped with product in it, such as a sleeping bag, a tent, a shelter, an inflatable product, or an airbed, with the expandable merchandising bag 20 in the configuration shown in
As is known, it is often difficult to fold product back to the size of the product as originally shipped so that the product may fit into an original shipping container. To address this problem, in accordance with an embodiment, the closure, in the embodiment shown in
The expandable merchandising bag 20 provides the benefit of minimal size for shipping and store presentation. That is, the volume of the expandable merchandising bag 20 is minimized. In addition, the expandable merchandising bag 20, in its expanded state, provides a larger volume storage container that is useful for the end user in that the user does not have to fold and re-position the product as shipped by the manufacturer. Thus, the fact that the expandable merchandising bag 20 can expand in volume is useful for providing both compact shipping and reasonable usage by a consumer.
If desired, a retail store may alter the size of the expandable merchandising bag 20 after received by a manufacturer for presentation at point of sale. For example, the expandable merchandising bag 20 may be used to store a sleeping bag. When a sleeping bag is put on display at a store, it is often desirable that the sleeping bag look large, or fluffy, so that a user will believe that the fill for the sleeping bag is sufficient to keep the user warm and comfortable. Thus, if possible, the sleeping bag is presented so that it looks rather large. However, for shipping, particularly shipping overseas, it is desired that the sleeping bag be compacted as small as possible so that shipping charges, which often are set by volume, may be minimized per sleeping bag.
These two different goals are hard to meet by prior art single sleeping bag containers. Moreover, because the use of store personnel is expensive, stores do not want their employees to have to re-package items, such as sleeping bags, so that the items can be placed on a shelf.
In accordance with an embodiment, a tightly rolled sleeping bag is shipped to a store in the tightly rolled arrangement, with the expandable merchandising bag 20 in the smaller, unexpanded state. Upon arrival at the store, a store clerk opens the closure (e.g., the zipper 42) to allow the expandable merchandising bag 20 to expand to the expanded state. By doing so, the expandable merchandising bag 20 expands so that the sleeping bag looks soft and thick, which may be more attractive to consumers.
Although the zipper 42 is disclosed as the closure for the expandable section 40 of the expandable merchandising bag 20, other closures may be used. These closures may be re-attachable, such as the zipper 42, so that the expandable merchandising bag 20 may be moved between the expanded state and the collapsed state after being opened. Alternatively, the closures may be removably attachable, such as a removable tab, so that the expandable merchandising bag 20 remains in the expanded state after the closure is opened by a user. Other examples of closures include, but are not limited to, straps, ties, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, hooks, loops and toggles, tearable strips, tape, and other releasable fasteners.
An example of an alternate embodiment of an expandable merchandising bag 120 is shown in
In the embodiment shown in
A third embodiment of an expandable merchandising bag 220 is shown in
The expandable section 240 may be used as is in the expanded state, or the closure straps 254 may be attached when the expandable section 240 is in the expanded state shown in
Although the various embodiments of the expandable merchandising bags 20, 120, and 220 expand from either the top or bottom, an expandable merchandising bag may expand from both the top and the bottom, or may expand from sides or ends of the expandable merchandising bag, or any combination thereof. Moreover, although the expandable merchandising bags 20, 120, and 220 are shown as generally rectangular elongate bags, an expandable section may be utilized on bags having other shapes including, but not limited to, cylindrical bags, square bags, oblong bags, and tubular bags.
The expandable bag 300 includes a lower zipper 306 that extends along a length of an underside of the expandable bag and up portions of the ends of the expandable bag. The lower zipper 306 includes two sets of zipper teeth 308, 310 (
A gusset 312 is positioned inside the expandable bag 300. The gusset 312 is attached at two locations, in the embodiment shown, one each on opposite sides of the sets of zipper teeth 308, 310. The gusset 312 in an embodiment extends the length of the zipper 306, and the fabric for the gusset 312 is attached only at the two locations along the sets of zipper teeth 308, 310.
In use, the expandable bag 300 is shipped and supplied to a user in the collapsed state shown in
The user may unzip the zipper 306 to provide an expanded configuration of the expandable bag 300. As can be seen in
Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/583,277, filed Jun. 25, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60583277 | Jun 2004 | US |
