Adjustable Combination Carrying and Closure Strap System for a Bag

Abstract

A way to provide an adjustable strap system for both carrying and closing a bag.

Claims

1. An apparatus, usable as a bag, comprising: a. a sidewall having opposing edges that are operable to be releasably fastened together by first complementary couplers when adjacent, to form an open-ended enclosure, b. opposing endwalls operable to be fastened to the sidewall to form a closed-ended enclosure, wherein the sidewall further has respective bottom flap portions extendable beyond the opposing endwalls, and c. a strap extendable between the respective bottom flap portions such that when the apparatus is suspended from the strap, the strap is operable to draw the respective bottom flap portions taut against the opposing endwalls.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the respective bottom flap portions may be fixed to the adjacent respective endwalls.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the respective bottom flap portions may be fixed proximate their centre portion to the adjacent respective endwalls.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sidewall further has respective top flap portions, proximate the opposing edges, that extend beyond the respective opposing endwalls to provide additional slack at the opposing edges to enable the apparatus to be opened wider than would be otherwise possible.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, a. wherein each of the respective bottom flap portions has a respective eye, and b. further including respective tie-downs that extend between respective ends of adjacent top flap portions and bottom flap portions, passing through respective eyes of respective bottom flap portions, such that when the apparatus is suspended from the strap and the respective bottom flap portions are drawn taut against the respective endwalls, the respective tie-downs are drawn through the respective eyes, thereby drawing the respective top flap portions between the respective opposing endwalls and the respective bottom flap portions.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the respective eyes are affixed to the respective bottom flap portions at a junction where the respective opposing endwalls close the respective ends of the sidewalls.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the respective eyes are affixed by a tether operable to retractably extend through a gap between a centre portion of the respective bottom flap portions and the adjacent endwalls.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, a. wherein each of the respective bottom flap portions has a respective eye, and b. further including respective tie-downs that extend between respective ends of adjacent top flap portions and a portion of the strap adjacent the respective bottom flap portion, passing through respective eyes of respective bottom flap portions, such that when the apparatus is suspended from the strap and the respective bottom flap portions are drawn taut against the respective endwalls, the respective tie-downs are drawn through the respective eyes, thereby drawing the respective top flap portions between the respective opposing endwalls and the respective bottom flap portions.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cover adapted to at least partially cover the first complementary coupler.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cover is permanently fastened to the sidewall proximate to one of the opposing edges and releasably fastened to the sidewall proximate to the other one of the opposing edges with a second complementary coupler.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second complementary coupler has more than one fastening position, to accommodate varying degrees of fullness of the bag apparatus.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strap is formed as two sections.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of the respective two sections of the strap are approximately the length of the apparatus and have a free end and a fixed end affixed to one of the respective bottom flap portions.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the free end of one of the respective two sections of the strap has a receptacle for slidably receiving the free end of the other one of the respective two sections of the strap, which received free end has a termination adapted to resist removal of the received free end from the receptacle, whereby the two respective sections of the strap function as a complete strap from which to suspend the apparatus.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one of the respective two sections of the strap is adapted to be doubled.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the termination is part of a third complementary coupler to secure the other one of the two respective sections of the strap to both of the bottom flap portions, thereby further cinching the apparatus and converting the strap into a reinforced handle configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of one embodiment of a bag having an adjustable combination carrying and closure strap system in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the bag of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the bag of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the bag of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a left elevation view of the bag of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 6 is a right elevation view of the bag of FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 7 is a top, front, right oblique view of the bag of FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 8 is a top, front, left oblique view of the bag of FIG. 1, detailing the left side of the bag;

[0027] FIG. 9 is a top, front, right oblique view of the bag of FIG. 1, with the strap extended;

[0028] FIG. 10 is a top, front, left oblique view of the bag of FIG. 1, detailing the portion of the extended strap where its two sections meet, as illustrated tautly;

[0029] FIG. 11 is a top, front, left oblique view of the bag of FIG. 1, detailing the portion of the extended strap where its two sections meet, as illustrated slackly;

[0030] FIG. 12 is a top, front, right oblique view of the bag of FIG. 1, with the strap extended and a cover opened to reveal a zippered portion of a sidewall;

[0031] FIG. 13 is a top, front, right oblique view of the bag of FIG. 1, with the strap extended, the cover opened, and a the zippered portion of the sidewall opened;

[0032] FIG. 14 is a top, front, right oblique view of the bag of FIG. 1, detailing the right side of the bag with a bottom flap portion held taut by the strap;

[0033] FIG. 15 is a top, front, right oblique view of the bag of FIG. 1, showing the right side of the bag with the bottom flap portion relaxed and a top flap portion held taut by a tie-down;

[0034] FIG. 16 is a top, front, right oblique view of the bag of FIG. 1, detailing the right side of the bag with the bottom flap portion relaxed and the top flap portion held taut by the tie-down;

[0035] FIG. 17 is a top, front, right oblique view of the bag of FIG. 1, detailing the right side of the bag with the bottom flap portion relaxed and the top flap portion relaxed;

[0036] FIG. 18 is a top, front, right oblique view of the bag of FIG. 1 in an open configuration, with the bottom flap portion relaxed and the top flap portion relaxed; and

[0037] FIG. 19 is a top, front, right oblique view of the bag of FIG. 1 in a wide open configuration, with the bottom flap portion relaxed and the top flap portion extended wide open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

(a) Structure of Specific Embodiments

[0038] The figures show a bag 100 according to embodiments of the present invention. The bag 100 may be a soft bag, for example a duffle bag, as illustrated.

TABLE-US-00001 Table of Parts # Name Name # 100 bag bag 100 102 sidewall bottom flap portions 110 104 opposing edges cover 120 106 first complementary couplers endwalls 108 108 endwalls eyes 118 110 bottom flap portions first complementary couplers 106 112 strap handle 132 114 top flap portions opposing edges 104 116 tie-downs receptacle 126 118 eyes second complementary coupler 122 120 cover sections 124 122 second complementary coupler sidewall 102 124 sections strap 112 126 receptacle termination 128 128 terminationn third complementary coupler 130 130 third complementary coupler tie-downs 116 132 handle top flap portions 114

[0039] The bag 100 may have a sidewall 102 formed from one or more panels, having one or more layers. The sidewall 102 may have two opposing edges 104 that when adjacent can be releasably fastened together, for example with a first complementary coupler 106, for example with a zipper, to form an open-ended enclosure. The bag 100 may further have opposing endwalls 108 that may be fastened to the sidewall 102 to form a closed-ended enclosure. The enclosure of the bag 100 may be subdivided or otherwise arranged in various manners.

[0040] As illustrated, respective bottom flap portions 110 of the sidewall 102 may extend beyond the respective endwalls 108. A strap 112 may extend between the respective bottom flap portions 110, such that when the bag 100 is suspended from the strap 112, the strap 112 draws the bottom flap portions 110 taut against the endwalls 108. As illustrated, the bottom flap portions 110 may be further fixed, for example proximate their centre portion, for example by stitching, for example to the adjacent endwalls 108.

[0041] As illustrated, respective top flap portions 114 of the sidewall 102 proximate the edges 104 may extend beyond the respective endwalls 108 to provide additional slack at the opposing edges 104 to enable the bag 100 to be opened wider than would be otherwise possible.

[0042] Respective tie-downs 116 may extend between the ends of adjacent top flap portions 114 and bottom flap portions 110, as illustrated passing through respective eyes 118 affixed, for example, to the bottom flap portions 110, such that when the bag 100 is suspended from the strap 112 and the bottom flap portions 110 are drawn taut against the endwalls 108, the tie-downs 116 are drawn through the eyes 118, thereby drawing the top flap portions 114 between the endwalls 108 and the bottom flap portions 110. The eyes 118 may be affixed to the bottom flap portions 110 at a junction where the respective endwalls 108 close the ends of the respective sidewalls 102. The eyes 118 may be so affixed by tether, and as illustrated, may retractably extend through a gap in the stitching between the centre portion of the respective bottom flap portions 110 and the adjacent endwalls 108.

[0043] Alternatively, one of the tie-downs 116 may extend between one of the top flap portions 114 and a portion of the strap 112 adjacent the respective bottom flap portion 110 (see for example FIGS. 18-19). The tie-downs 116 may extend from the top flap portions 114 from the first complementary couplers 106, as illustrated at the end of the first complementary couplers 106.

[0044] As illustrated, the bag 100 may further include a cover 120 to at least partially cover the first complementary coupler 106. In this regard, the cover 120 may be permanently fastened to the sidewall 102 proximate to one of the opposing edges 104, and releasably fastened to the sidewall 102 proximate to the other one of the opposing edges 104, for example with a second complementary coupler 122. As illustrated, the second complementary coupler 122 may have more than one fastening position, to accommodate varying degrees of fullness of the bag 100. As illustrated, the second complementary coupler may be magnetic.

[0045] The strap 112 may be formed as two sections 124, as illustrated each of the respective sections 124 being approximately the length of the bag 100 and having a free end and a fixed end affixed to one of the respective bottom flap portions 110. The free end of one of the sections 124 may have a receptacle 126 for slidably receiving the free end of the other one of the sections 124, which received free end may have a termination 128 adapted to resist removal of the received free end from the receptacle 126, so that the two sections 124 function as a complete strap 112 from which to suspend the bag 100, for example for carriage or storage. As illustrated, at least one of the sections 124 may be doubled, for example to provide extra strength or adjustability.

[0046] As illustrated, the termination 128 may be part of a third complementary coupler 130 to secure the other one of the sections 124 to both of the bottom flap portions 110, thereby further cinching the bag 100 and converting the strap 112 into a reinforced handle 132 configuration.

(b) Operation of Specific Embodiments

[0047] With reference to figures, the operation of these specific embodiments of the invention will now be described.

[0048] FIGS. 1-9 show the bag 100 in a closed configuration, with: [0049] the first complementary coupler 106 closing opposing edges 104 of the sidewall 102, [0050] the cover 120 covering at least a portion of the first complementary coupler 106 and held in place by the second complementary coupler 122, [0051] the strap 112 cinched tight in handle 132 configuration, with the two sections 124 reinforcing each other, essentially doubled-up, the third complementary coupler 130 securing the other one of the sections 124 to both of the bottom flap portions 110, [0052] the bottom flap portions 110 being drawn against the endwalls 108 by the strap 112, and [0053] the respective top flap portions 114 being drawn between the endwalls 108 and the bottom flap portions 110 by the tie-downs 116.

[0054] So configured, the bag 100 is secure for carriage.

[0055] As best seen in FIGS. 8-11, if the user prefers a shoulder strap 112 to a handle 132, the third complementary coupler 130 can be disengaged and the two sections 124 of the strap 112 allowed to slide with respect to each other until the termination 128 urges against the receptacle 126 to resist separation of the sections 124.

[0056] As best seen in FIGS. 12-19, to open the bag 100, the user may disengage the second complementary coupler 122 and retract the cover 120 to expose the first complementary coupler 106. Releasing tension on the strap 112 will relax the respective bottom flap portions 110, and hence the tie-downs 116 and the respective top flap portions 114, permitting wide access to the bag 100 enclosure when the first complementary coupler 106 is disengaged.

[0057] To load, close and carry or store the bag 100, the user would reverse these steps.

(c) Description Summary

[0058] Thus, it will be seen from the foregoing embodiments and examples that there has been described a way to provide an adjustable strap system for both carrying and closing a bag.

[0059] While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications and substitutions can be made to the foregoing embodiments without departing from the principle and scope of the invention expressed in the claims made herein.