Patent Application
20210068511
The present invention is directed to novel and improved carrying containers generally of a type used, e.g. for shopping and for carrying goods or other possessions. Exemplary members of this class of container are bags and totes as well as certain types of shoulder- or back-carried packs or bags. Several different names may be applied to this class of container. The present disclosure refers to these as carrying containers, “totes” or “bags” without the intention that such nomenclature should be seen to be limiting of the invention. While a large variety of materials may be used for constructing such containers, such are advantageously comprised of fabric or fabric-like materials. Woven and non-woven natural fabrics are both conventional and cost effective as are materials formed from plastics, especially recycled plastic. Many other materials, both natural and man-made may be also employed.
Prior totes or bags are both popular and ubiquitous. Each of the previously known types of tote or bag, however, exhibits shortcomings and limited function.
One example of prior articles is the tote bag. Such is conventionally of fabric, often canvas, and provides a rectangular body having a bottom and an open end opposite the bottom. One or more handles, conventionally a pair of handles, are disposed near the open end in a way such that the tote bag may be carried thereby. Tote bags are limited in scope in that they must be carried by the handles, encumbering the user's hand. Further, they provide little protection to articles contained within. Such articles are amenable to theft and exposure to the elements. Carrying articles, especially those having significant weight, is awkward, especially over long distances and places stress upon the hands and wrists. Thus, while useful, conventional totes present significant shortcomings.
Another prior article type is the carry bag. Such bags are also generally of fabric and may have rectangular or other cross-sectional shape, such as a circle or triangle. Again, a side wall or walls encloses a storage space in cooperation with a bottom. The whole is generally sewn together. Cinched bags that incorporate a drawstring are a variation on the carry bag, and include the popular sack bag. The cinched bag typically has a cinching arrangement near the open end to allow the fabric forming such end to be gathered together—cinched—into a more-or-less closed arrangement. This is conveniently achieved by providing a cord run within or upon the fabric comprising the bag. The cord run encloses a draw cord, substantially around the entirety of the open end of the bag. The draw cord exits the cord run through one or more draw cord openings. These may preferably communicate with a cord run, sleeve or space upon or within the article near its open end. The draw cord may be cinched by pulling the draw cord out of the draw cord openings, thus reducing the effective area of the open end of the bag. When the open end is thus reduced by pulling the draw cord, it forms a cinched configuration. The draw cord may, but need not, be held in place, thus maintaining the cinched arrangement by tying a knot, such as a half knot, in the draw cord. The cord may alternatively be held in place with a spring or friction loaded cord holder or other device as is conventionally known in the art.
It has also been known in the art to provide tote bags or carry bags with certain other functionality. For example, lines, cords, tapes or other cordage has been added to such bags to facilitate carriage over one or more shoulders of a user in the nature of a backpack or messenger bag. While bags of these kinds have found wide utility and popularity, improved functionality and convenience is still very much desired. For example, “backpack” arrangements, while common and useful are generally inconvenient for many tasks, such as shopping. Further, backpacks or messenger bags cannot practically be used in retail environments while choosing articles for purchase as the nature of a backpack makes them useful only after purchases have been made. Improvements to both tote—type containers and to carry bag—type (e.g. backpack/sack bag/messenger bag)—type containers are principal objects of the some aspects of the present invention.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to novel containers, such as totes and/or having improved functionality and convenience while maintaining cost effectiveness, aesthetic appeal, comfort in use and durability. Further, the containers of the present invention may employ recycled materials and may, in turn, be recycled. The foregoing and other objects can be attained in accordance with one or more aspects of the present invention by providing novel carrying containers having significant improvements over tote bags and carry bags, including backpacks/sack bags/messenger bags. The particular embodiments of the present invention allow users of such articles to enjoy the functionality of tote bags and carry bags, as well as optionally benefitting from the ability to carry the bags and their contents on one or both shoulders without exposing the contents of the bag either to the elements or to theft. Further, the embodiments employing over—the—shoulder or shoulders carrying capability are able to be used in a shopping environment, not just after sales have been consummated. The present articles can feature simple and comfortable hand carrying. When a bag of the invention is filled, a portion of the bag extends to form a cinchable arrangement to close and secure such contents. At least when cinched, the bags of the invention preferably may be either carried in the nature of a cinched carry bag or by suspension over one or both shoulders of a user. No existing carrying container is known which provides the present, desirable functionalities or arrangements of structure.
Aspects of the present invention are better understood from consideration of the drawings.
An exemplary carrying container in accordance with aspects of this invention is presented in
The carrying container in some embodiments is preferably provided with a draw cord 30 or other element for cinching or closing the upper margin 19 substantially closed. Thus, draw cord 30 runs within cord run 32 via draw cord openings 31. In use, the draw cord may be retained in the cinched position if desired by tying a knot in the draw cord, by applying a holding device or by relying upon friction of the draw cord in the cord run. As will be set forth below, the cinching function may be attained through use of strap or straps for carrying the container, such as on one or both shoulders of a user.
The main seam 16 is shown running along all of the sides of the container and this is both preferred and convenient. It may run only along sides having handles, however, should that be desired. The main seam may be seen to divide the length of the sides into upper and lower portions 12 and 14. As will be more fully set forth below, the relationships of the upper and lower portions of the sides can be important. The main seam need neither be continuous nor uniform; it may be elaborated in a large number of ways and may assume diverse forms. Thus, a main seam may be sewn into fabric or non-woven textiles, such as recycled plastic materials. It may also be formed through ultrasonic or other welding and may be include adhesive or other materials. Welting or reinforcement of the main seam may also be attained, such as by including cordage within a sewn seam or by applying cordage, tape or other material with adhesive. Any arrangement which attains some of the preferred functionalities of the main seam may suffice. Thus, it is desired to provide a location which facilitates folding of the upper portion of the upper portion of the sides over the lower portion of the sides in the vicinity of the main seam. Further, a main seam element may, if desired, afford a stiffening force or reinforcement to the carrying containers of embodiments of the invention and may aide in keeping the articles with a generally open top when the upper portion is folded over the lower.
The carrying containers of the invention may be formed from a number of different materials. Any fabric, plastic, or other material which is generally flexible, but reasonably durable may be employed. Woven or nonwoven fabrics are preferred for some uses, especially those formed from recycled materials. Textiles, either natural or synthetic, generally may find use in aspects of the invention so long as they are reasonably priced, able to form the required structures, able to have needed structures formed on or in them and able to withstand the intended use for a reasonable lifetime. Exemplary textiles include cotton, hemp, jute, polypropylene, nylon, polyester, and recycled PET. While textiles are preferred, the present articles may be formed of other materials such as paper or performance fabrics. In some embodiments, it is preferred to employ materials for the present articles which may either have or display decoration, text or other visual embellishments, e.g. advertising.
In one preferred use, the upper portion of the sides 12 may be folded outwardly and downwardly as regards the lower portion 14 generally at the main seam 16. When in this configuration, the handles 26 are easily exposed and grasped such that the carrying container is useful in the same or similar way that a tote is used. For example, articles may be placed in the container and the whole carried by the handles.
When desired, the carrying container or bag 10 may be closed by unfolding the upper portion of the sides 12 from its position over a part of the lower portion 14. The draw cord or other closure may then be tightened to effect a cinching at the upper margin 19, thus closing the bag. In this form, it may be carried either in the nature of a carry bag or, if appropriate strapping is employed, in the nature of a backpack, sack bag, or messenger bag, over one or both shoulders of the user. The draw cord, if used and the strapping, in embodiments employing strapping may be formed of a wide variety of convenient materials. These may be natural or synthetic and are well known per se. Draw cords formed from cordage known as paracord as well as cotton, nylon, or other convenient cordage having either circular or non-circular cross section may be employed for the draw cord and strapping, if used. Any material known for use in forming straps for backpacks and messenger bags may be used here, as may padding and decoration if desired.
It will be appreciated that the main seam 16 of or at the sides divides the sides between the closed bottom 20 of the articles envisioned in this embodiment of the invention and the open top thereof 17 at the upper margin 19. The upper portion of the sides 12 and the lower portion of the sides 14, taken together form substantially the entire length of the sides from bottom to top. So that there is no confusion, it is hereby defined that the upper and lower portions of the sides is measured to the mid-point of the main seam. In accordance with preferred embodiments of this invention, the length of the upper portion of the sides forms less than or about 45% of the total length of the sides from bottom to top. It is preferred that the upper portion of the sides be from about 25% to 45% of such total length, with about 30% to 40% being more preferred for some articles. A roughly two-thirds to one-third ratio of lower portion to upper portion is also convenient. The foregoing relationships are important to allow the articles of the invention to serve their intended functions. Thus, such relative lengths facilitate both the folded, tote aspects of the articles, such as the placement of the handles 26 in the proper location when folded, while allowing the open top 17 to be cinched or closed when items are in the articles, thus forming the carry bag, backpack or messenger bag aspects of the same articles. The handles are resolved to the inside of the articles where they are out of the way and cannot catch upon other objects, thus rendering the articles of the invention both maximally useful and attractive.
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It is to be understood that considerable variability in the configuration of articles in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention may be used without deviating from the spirit of the invention, which is particularly defined by the following claims. The above description explains structural and functional aspects of the present disclosure, as well as improvements, which are referred to above as relating to the present invention. The comments in the specification are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
