QUICK FORMABLE TOTE BAG

Abstract

A quick formable tote bag includes a retainer and a fabric substrate having a length of between about two feet to six feet and a width between about two feet and six feet, and having a first plurality of grommets spaced apart along a perimeter of a first side of the fabric substrate, a second plurality of grommets spaced apart along a perimeter of a second side the fabric substrate, wherein the first plurality of grommets are removably disposed adjacent one another to receive the retaining member and has a first end disposed therethrough and the second plurality of grommets are removably disposed adjacent one another to receive a second end of the retaining member disposed therethrough, and when so disposed causes the fabric substrate to form a tote bag.

Claims

1. A quick formable tote bag, which includes: a retainer having first end and a second end; and a fabric substrate having a length of between about two feet to six feet and a width between about two feet and six feet, and having a first plurality of grommets spaced apart along a perimeter of a first side of said fabric substrate, a second plurality of grommets spaced apart along a perimeter of a second side the fabric substrate, wherein the first plurality of grommets are removably disposed adjacent one another to receive the retaining member therethrough and have a first end of the retaining member disposed therethrough, and the second plurality of grommets are removably disposed adjacent one another to receive a second end of said retaining member disposed therethrough, and when so disposed causing said fabric substrate to form said tote bag.

2. The quick formable tote bag of claim 1, wherein said retaining member has said first end articulated to said second end such that said ends can be moved from a co-axial oriented position to a non-coaxial oriented position and when inserted through said grommets and in said non-coaxial oriented position serve to positionally retain said grommets within a fixed spaced relation and in turn maintain said tote in a geometric bag shape.

3. The quick formable tote bag of claim 1, wherein said first end has an enlarged portion.

4. The quick formable tote bag of claim 3, wherein said second end as an enlarged portion.

5. The quick formable tote bag of claim 1, wherein said fabric substrate includes one of a woven and non-woven material.

6. The quick formable tote bag of claim 1, wherein said fabric substrate includes a thermoplastic rubber penetrating and encapsulating said one of said woven and non-woven material.

7. The quick formable tote bag of claim 1, wherein said fabric substrate is die sublimated with a graphic image.

8. A quick formable tote bag, which includes: a retainer having first end and a second end; and a fabric substrate having a length of less than about an arm span length and a width of less than about an arm span length, and having a first plurality of grommets spaced apart along a perimeter of a first side of said fabric substrate, a second plurality of grommets spaced apart along a perimeter of a second side the fabric substrate, wherein the first plurality of grommets are removably disposed adjacent one another to receive the retaining member therethrough and have a first end of the retaining member disposed therethrough, and the second plurality of grommets are removably disposed adjacent one another to receive a second end of said retaining member disposed therethrough, and when so disposed causing said fabric substrate to form said tote bag.

9. The quick formable tote bag of claim 8, wherein said retaining member has said first end articulated to said second end such that said ends can be moved from a co-axial oriented position to a non-coaxial oriented position and when inserted through said grommets and in said non-coaxial oriented position serve to positionally retain said grommets within a fixed spaced relation and in turn maintain said tote in a geometric bag shape.

10. The quick formable tote bag of claim 8, wherein said first end has an enlarged portion.

11. The quick formable tote bag of claim 10, wherein said second end as an enlarged portion.

12. The quick formable tote bag of claim 8, wherein said fabric substrate includes one of a woven and non-woven material.

13. The quick formable tote bag of claim 12, wherein said fabric substrate includes a thermoplastic rubber penetrating and encapsulating said one of said woven and non-woven material.

14. The quick formable tote bag of claim 8, wherein said fabric substrate is die sublimated with a graphic image.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a fabric substrate of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a side view of a retainer of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective illustrating a step of the formation of the tote bag.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective illustrating another step of the formation of the tote bag.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective illustrating yet another step of the formation of the tote bag.

[0021] FIG. 6 is perspective of a formed tote bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] Referring now to the drawings, a quick formable tote bag of the invention is generally designated by the numeral 10. The quick formable tote bag 10 includes a fabric substrate 12 having a length L of between about two feet to six feet and preferably within an arms span length, and a width W between about two feet and six feet and preferably within an arms span length. Note, it is envisioned that smaller tote bags can be formed by varying the width and length and accordingly these fall within the arms span length, however, for the exemplary embodiment, the window of about two feet to six feet works well for most applications. The fabric substrate 12 and has a first plurality of grommets 14, 16, and 18 spaced apart along a perimeter of a first side 20 of the fabric substrate 12 and a second plurality of grommets 22, 24 and 26 spaced apart along a perimeter of a second side 28 the fabric substrate 12.

[0023] As can be seen in drawings, the first plurality of grommets 14, 16, and 18 are removably disposed adjacent one another, with grommets 14 and 18 outwardly disposed to grommet 16, to receive a retaining member 30 therethrough and have a first end 32 of the retaining member 30 disposed therethrough. The second plurality of grommets 22, 24 and 26 are removably disposed adjacent one another, similarly with grommets 22 and 26 outwardly disposed to grommet 24, to receive a second end 34 of the retaining member 30 disposed therethrough. When so disposed, this causes the fabric substrate 12 to form tote bag 10.

[0024] The first end 32 of the retaining member 30 is articulated in relation to the second end 34 such that ends 32 and 34 can be moved from a co-axial oriented position to a non-coaxial oriented position and when inserted through the grommets 14, 16, and 18 and 22, 24 and 26 and assume the non-coaxial oriented position serve to positionally retain the grommets 14, 16, and 18 and 22, 24 and 26 within a fixed spaced relation and in turn maintain the tote in a geometric bag shape. An intermediate portion 35 of the retainer 30 can interconnect the first end 32 with the second end 34 by way of a hinge 37, which can include a nut and bolt.

[0025] The first end 32 can be formed with one of a curved and/or an enlarged portion. The second end 34 can be similarly formed so long as the ends 32 and 34 permit the insertion through the grommets 14, 16, and 18 and 22, 24 and 26.

[0026] The fabric substrate 12 can be formed of a woven or non-woven material. The fabric substrate 12 can include a thermoplastic rubber coating 36 penetrating and encapsulating the woven or non-woven material. The fabric substrate 12 can be die sublimated with an optional graphic image. A handle 40 can be connected to each of the sides 20 and 28. The coating 36 may be a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoset and may be hydrophobic. In a preferred embodiment, there is provided an elastomeric exterior laminate material having resolution and image clarity, which includes an underlying ink graphic fabric material which is receptive to a SEBS like material, the underlying ink graphic fabric material layer having an image thereon having a first predetermined width and a first predetermined length and interstitial areas residing in the fabric. A SEBS like transparent polymeric material which is formed as a layer on the fabric substrate 12 and penetrating the interstitial areas in the fabric substrate 12 in a manner to substantially remove all air therefrom, and has a predetermined width substantially commensurate with the width W and a predetermined length substantially commensurate with the first length L which is compressed and consolidated bonded to the ink graphic layer to form a substantially uniform laminate configuration and retain a transparent and elastic cushion characteristic through the exterior polymeric film layer enabling resolution and clarity of the image, wherein the exterior polymeric film layer imparts a nonslip tactile surface to the laminate.

[0027] The above described embodiments are set forth by way of example and are not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the present invention. It will be readily apparent that obvious modifications, derivations and variations can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the configuration, length, width and thickness of the fabric substrate 12, handle configuration, angles of connected retainer 30 and materials used to construct the tote bag 10 can be varied to accomplish the objectives set forth herein and will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto should be read in their full scope including any such modifications, derivations and variations.