COLLAPSIBLE BAG

Abstract

A collapsible bag that has a use orientation and a collapsed orientation. The bag has an internal frame structure supported by an outer shell. The internal frame structure has a first folding sidewall, a second folding sidewall, a front frame, a rear frame and a bottom member. The outer shell is made of fabric and has a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom wall, which define a cavity, and a bottom retainer member. The internal frame structure is retained within the walls of the outer shell. The bottom retaining member pivots from a collapsed position to a use position, and holds the outer shell in the use orientation when in the use position.

Claims

1. A collapsible bag that has a use orientation and a collapsed orientation, comprising: an internal frame structure supported by an outer shell, wherein the internal frame structure comprises: a first folding sidewall, a second folding sidewall, a front frame, a rear frame and a bottom member; wherein the first folding sidewall comprises a first sidewall member and a second sidewall member connected at a hinge, and the second folding sidewall comprises a third sidewall member and a fourth sidewall member connected at a hinge; wherein the front frame comprises a frame having a top member, a bottom bar, a first side bar and a second side bar, and wherein the top member, bottom bar, first side bar and second side bar of the front frame member are connected together; and, wherein the rear frame comprises a frame having a top member, a bottom bar, a first side bar and a second side bar, and wherein the top member, bottom bar, first side bar and second side bar of the rear frame member are connected together; and, wherein the outer shell is made of fabric and comprises: a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom wall, which define a cavity, and a bottom retainer member in the cavity and adjacent the bottom wall in the use orientation of the collapsible bag, wherein the first folding sidewall is retained within the first sidewall of the outer shell, wherein the second folding sidewall is retained within the second sidewall of the outer shell, wherein the front frame is retained within the front wall of the outer shell, wherein the rear frame is retained within the rear wall of the outer shell, and wherein the bottom member of the internal frame structure is retained within the bottom retainer member of the outer shell, wherein the bottom retaining member pivots from a use position to a collapsed position, and wherein the bottom retaining member holds the outer shell in the use orientation when the bottom retaining member is in the use position.

2. The collapsible bag of claim 1, wherein the hinges of the first folding sidewall and the second folding sidewall comprise living hinges.

3. The collapsible bag of claim 1, wherein the first sidewall member, second sidewall member, third sidewall member, fourth sidewall member and the bottom member are all generally rigid components that are all generally planar.

4. The collapsible bag of claim 1, wherein the front frame and rear frame are each made of a rigid material.

5. The collapsible bag of claim 1, wherein the rear frame has clips to secure the collapsible bag to another structure.

6. The collapsible bag of claim 1, wherein the bottom retainer member is provided within the cavity of the outer shell, and wherein the bottom retainer member is hingedly connected to one of the front wall, rear wall and bottom wall.

7. The collapsible bag of claim 1, wherein the first sidewall, second sidewall, front wall, and rear wall of the outer shell each have an internal cavity for housing a portion of the internal frame structure therein.

8. The collapsible bag of claim 1, wherein the first sidewall, second sidewall, front wall, and rear wall are made of an outer layer and an inner layer to form the cavity for housing a portion of the internal frame structure therein.

9. The collapsible bag of claim 1, wherein the outer shell has handles to allow a user to carry the collapsible bag.

10. The collapsible bag of claim 1, wherein the outer shell has at least one retaining member to secure the collapsible bag in the collapsed orientation such that the front wall and the rear wall of the outer shell are adjacent one another.

11. A collapsible bag that has a use orientation and a collapsed orientation, comprising: an internal frame structure supported by an outer shell, wherein the internal frame structure comprises a first folding sidewall, a second folding sidewall, a front frame, a rear frame and a bottom member, wherein the rear frame has clips to secure the collapsible bag to another structure, wherein the outer shell is made of fabric and comprises a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom wall, which define a cavity, and a bottom retainer member in the cavity and adjacent the bottom wall in the use orientation of the collapsible bag, wherein the first folding sidewall is retained within the first sidewall of the outer shell, wherein the second folding sidewall is retained within the second sidewall of the outer shell, wherein the front frame is retained within the front wall of the outer shell, wherein the rear frame is retained within the rear wall of the outer shell, and wherein the bottom member of the internal frame structure is retained within the bottom retainer member of the outer shell, wherein the bottom retaining member pivots from a use position to a collapsed position, and wherein the bottom retaining member holds the outer shell in the use orientation when the bottom retaining member is in the use position.

12. The collapsible bag of claim 11, wherein the first folding sidewall comprises a first sidewall member and a second sidewall member connected at a hinge, and wherein the second folding sidewall comprises a third sidewall member and a fourth sidewall member connected at a hinge.

13. The collapsible bag of claim 11, wherein the front frame comprises a frame having a top member, a bottom bar, a first side bar and a second side bar, and wherein the top member, bottom bar, first side bar and second side bar of the front frame member are connected together, and wherein the rear frame comprises a frame having a top member, a bottom bar, a first side bar and a second side bar, and wherein the top member, bottom bar, first side bar and second side bar of the rear frame member are connected together.

14. The collapsible bag of claim 11, wherein the first folding sidewall, second folding sidewall, and the bottom member are all generally rigid components that are all generally planar.

15. The collapsible bag of claim 11, wherein the bottom retainer member is provided within the cavity of the outer shell, and wherein the bottom retainer member is hingedly connected to one of the front wall, rear wall and bottom wall.

16. The collapsible bag of claim 11, wherein the first sidewall, second sidewall, front wall, and rear wall of the outer shell each have an internal cavity for housing a portion of the internal frame structure therein.

17. A collapsible bag that has a use orientation and a collapsed orientation, comprising: an internal frame structure supported by an outer shell, wherein the internal frame structure comprises a first folding sidewall, a second folding sidewall, a front frame, a rear frame and a bottom member, wherein the first folding sidewall comprises a first sidewall member and a second sidewall member connected at a hinge, wherein the second folding sidewall comprises a third sidewall member and a fourth sidewall member connected at a hinge, wherein the outer shell is made of fabric and comprises a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom wall, which define a cavity, and a bottom retainer member in the cavity and adjacent the bottom wall in the use orientation of the collapsible bag, wherein the first folding sidewall is retained within the first sidewall of the outer shell, wherein the second folding sidewall is retained within the second sidewall of the outer shell, wherein the front frame is retained within the front wall of the outer shell, wherein the rear frame is retained within the rear wall of the outer shell, and wherein the bottom member of the internal frame structure is retained within the bottom retainer member of the outer shell, wherein the bottom retaining member pivots from a use position to a collapsed position, and wherein the bottom retaining member holds the outer shell in the use orientation when the bottom retaining member is in the use position.

18. The collapsible bag of claim 17, wherein the rear frame has clips to secure the collapsible bag to another structure,

19. The collapsible bag of claim 17, wherein the bottom retainer member is provided within the cavity of the outer shell, and wherein the bottom retainer member is hingedly connected to one of the front wall, rear wall and bottom wall.

20. The collapsible bag of claim 17, wherein the outer shell has at least one retaining member to secure the collapsible bag in the collapsed orientation such that the front wall and the rear wall of the outer shell are adjacent one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] To understand the present disclosure, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which embodiments of the disclosures are illustrated and, together with the descriptions below are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, and serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a front top perspective view of a collapsible bag, in a first or use orientation, according to the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a rear top perspective view of a collapsible bag, in a first or use orientation, according to the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the internal frame structure for a collapsible bag, with the outer shell removed, according to the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a collapsible bag with the outer shell removed, in a first or use orientation, according to the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the collapsible bag of FIG. 4 with the outer shell removed, in a transition state between the use orientation and a collapsed orientation, according to the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the collapsible bag of FIG. 4 with the outer shell removed, in the second or collapsed orientation, according to the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a top front perspective view of the collapsible bag of FIG. 4 with the outer shell included, in the second or collapsed orientation, according to the present disclosure.

[0030] In one or more implementations, not all of the depicted components in each figure may be required, and one or more implementations may include additional components not shown in a figure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure. Additional components, different components, or fewer components may be utilized within the scope of the subject disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] While this disclosure is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the disclosure to the embodiments illustrated. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as one of ordinary skill in the relevant art would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Further, descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the present disclosure. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the present disclosure may be practiced and to further enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law.

[0032] Generally, this disclosure describes several embodiments of collapsible bag that has a use orientation and a collapsed orientation, and which can be secured to a ride on vehicle.

[0033] Referring now to the figures, and initially to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown an embodiment of a collapsible bag 10. The collapsible bag 10 has an outer shell 12 and an internal frame structure 14. In one embodiment, the internal frame structure 14 comprises a first folding sidewall 16, a second folding sidewall 18, a front frame 20, a rear frame 22 and a bottom member 24. In one embodiment the first folding sidewall 16 comprises a first sidewall member 26 and a second sidewall member 28 connected at a hinge 30, and the second folding sidewall 18 comprises a third sidewall member 32 and a fourth sidewall member 34 connected at a hinge 36. In one embodiment, the hinges 30 and 36 are living hinges. Further, in one embodiment the first sidewall member 26, second sidewall member 28, third sidewall member 32, fourth sidewall member 34 and the bottom member 24 are all generally rigid components, and preferably are made of plastic, metal, wood, etc. Further, in a preferred embodiment these members are all generally planar.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, in one embodiment the front frame 20 comprises a rectangular frame having a top member 40, a bottom bar 42, a first side bar 44 and a second side bar 46. Additionally, in one embodiment each of the members 40, 42, 44, 46 of the front frame 20 are connected together. In one embodiment, the front frame 20 is made of metal, such as a bent metal rod or metal wire. In alternate embodiments the front frame 20 is made of plastic or another rigid material. Similarly, in one embodiment the rear frame 22 comprises a rectangular frame having a top member 50, a bottom bar 52, a first side bar 54 and a second side bar 56. Additionally, in one embodiment each of the members 50, 52, 54, 56 of the rear frame 22 are connected together. In one embodiment, the rear frame 22 is made of metal, such as a bent metal rod or metal wire. In alternate embodiments the rear frame 22 is made of plastic or another rigid material. Additionally, in one embodiment the rear frame 22 includes clips 58 to secure the collapsible bag 10 to another structure, such as a ride on toy. For example, the clips 58 may assist in securing the collapsible bag 10 to the frame of a wagon (not shown).

[0035] In one embodiment, the internal frame structure 14 is supported by the outer shell 12. In one embodiment, the outer shell 12 comprises a first sidewall 60, a second sidewall 62, a front wall 64, a rear wall 66 and a bottom wall 68 to form a cavity 70. In one embodiment, the first folding sidewall 16 is retained within the first sidewall 60 of the outer shell 12, the second folding sidewall 18 is retained within the second sidewall 62 of the outer shell 12, the front frame 20 is retained within the front wall 64 of the outer shell 12, and the rear frame 22 is retained within the rear wall 66 of the outer shell 12. The outer shell 12 may also comprise a bottom retainer member 72 to retain the bottom member 24. Further, in one embodiment the bottom retainer member 72 is provided within the cavity 70 of the outer shell 12, and is hingedly connected to one of the front wall 64, rear wall 66 or bottom wall 68. In the use position, the bottom retaining member 72 is positioned adjacent the bottom wall 68 of the outer shell 12.

[0036] In one embodiment, the outer shell 12 is made of a fabric. Further, in one embodiment the first sidewall 60, second sidewall 62, front wall 64, and rear wall 66 each have an internal cavity 74 for housing the respective member of the internal frame structure 14. In different embodiments, the first sidewall 60, second sidewall 62, front wall 64, and rear wall 66 are made of an outer layer 76 and an inner layer 78 to form the cavity 74 for the respective member of the internal frame structure 14. In one embodiment, the outer shell 12 has handles 80 to allow a user to carry the collapsible bag 10. And, in one embodiment, the outer shell 12 may have one or more pockets 82 that may be closed by closure members 84, such as a zipper 84. Additionally, the outer shell 12 may have one or more retaining members 86, such as elastic straps, to secure the collapsible bag 10 in the collapsed orientation. Further, the outer shell 12 may have connectors 88, such as Velcro straps or other connectors to removably secure the collapsible bag 10 to a ride on vehicle.

[0037] In use, the combination of the outer shell 12 and the internal frame structure 14 operate to maintain the collapsible bag 10 in the open use orientation as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the open or use orientation the cavity 70 of the collapsible bag 10 is open. Specifically, the bottom retainer member 72 assists in keeping the front frame 20 spaced from the rear frame 22 such that the side walls are flat and not collapsed and thus the bag 10 is in the open position. The open collapsible bag 10 can be connected to a ride on vehicle in the open orientation via the clips 58 or the connectors 88.

[0038] To close the bag 10 such that it is in the collapsed orientation as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the user first rotates the bottom retaining member 72 containing the bottom member 24 from the lowered position as shown in FIG. 4 to a raised position as shown in FIG. 5 and then further so that the bottom retaining member 72 is adjacent the rear wall 66 of the outer shell 12. When the bottom member 24 is adjacent the rear wall 66, the first folding sidewall 16 and the second folding sidewall 18 can be folded inwardly about their hinges 30 and 36, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. When they are fully folded as shown in FIG. 7, the bag 10 will be in the fully collapsed position. Then, the retaining member 86 that are secured to the rear wall 66 can be wrapped around the front wall 64 to secure the front wall 64 and the rear wall 66 adjacent one another, with the sidewalls 60, 62 therebetween as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. To return the bag 10 from the collapsed position to the open position the user disconnects the retaining members 86 from retaining the front wall 64, opens the bag by pushing the first and second folding sidewalls 16, 18 outwardly so that they go flat instead of being bent or folded, and then the user pivots the bottom member 24 in the bottom retaining member 72 downwardly to be in the lowered position as shown in FIG. 4 to essentially lock the bag 10 in the open position.

[0039] The embodiments detailed hereinabove may be combined in full or in part, with any alternative embodiments described.

[0040] A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one unless specifically stated, but rather one or more. The term some refers to one or more. Underlined and/or italicized headings and subheadings are used for convenience only, do not limit the subject technology, and are not referred to in connection with the interpretation of the description of the subject technology. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various configurations described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description.

[0041] Numerous modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Preferred embodiments of this disclosure are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the disclosure. It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the disclosure.

[0042] Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, the terms first, second, third, and fourth as used herein are intended for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the embodiments in any way. Further, the term plurality as used herein indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. Additionally, the term having as used herein in both the disclosure and claims, is utilized in an open-ended manner.

[0043] As used herein, the phrase at least one of preceding a series of items, with the terms and or or to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than each member of the list (i.e., each item). The phrase at least one of does not require selection of at least one item; rather, the phrase allows a meaning that includes at least one of any one of the items, and/or at least one of any combination of the items, and/or at least one of each of the items. By way of example, the phrases at least one of A, B, and C or at least one of A, B, or C each refer to only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and/or at least one of each of A, B, and C.

[0044] To the extent that the term include, have, or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term comprise as comprise is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Phrases such as an aspect, the aspect, another aspect, some aspects, one or more aspects, an implementation, the implementation, another implementation, some implementations, one or more implementations, an embodiment, the embodiment, another embodiment, some embodiments, one or more embodiments, a configuration, the configuration, another configuration, some configurations, one or more configurations, the subject technology, the disclosure, the present disclosure, other variations thereof and alike are for convenience and do not imply that a disclosure relating to such phrase(s) is essential to the subject technology or that such disclosure applies to all configurations of the subject technology. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A disclosure relating to such phrase(s) may provide one or more examples. A phrase such as an aspect or some aspects may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa, and this applies similarly to other foregoing phrases.

[0045] A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean one and only one unless specifically stated, but rather one or more. The term some refers to one or more. Underlined and/or italicized headings and subheadings are used for convenience only, do not limit the subject technology, and are not referred to in connection with the interpretation of the description of the subject technology. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various configurations described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase means for or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase step for.

[0046] While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of particular implementations of the subject matter. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0047] The title, background, brief description of the drawings, abstract, and drawings are hereby incorporated into the disclosure and are provided as illustrative examples of the disclosure, not as restrictive descriptions. It is submitted with the understanding that they will not be used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the detailed description, it can be seen that the description provides illustrative examples and the various features are grouped together in various implementations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed subject matter requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed configuration or operation. The claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

[0048] It will be understood that the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the Claims are not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the disclosure and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying Claims.

[0049] Further, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects described herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language claims and to encompass all legal equivalents. Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intended to embrace subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirements of the applicable patent law, nor should they be interpreted in such a way.