U.S. patent application number 09/805834 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-19 for soft-sided bag with collapsible support member.
Invention is credited to Schwartz, Seymour.
Application Number | 20020130005 09/805834 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25192630 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020130005 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schwartz, Seymour |
September 19, 2002 |
Soft-sided bag with collapsible support member
Abstract
A soft-sided bag is provided having a collapsible support member
and/or locking panel which imparts shape to the bag, yet is
partially collapsible to allow for overall reduction in size of the
bag for storage. Additionally, a handle assembly is provided which
is solely mounted to the bag through limited connection points.
Inventors: |
Schwartz, Seymour;
(Oceanside, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STROOCK & STROOCK & LAVAN LLP
180 Maiden Lane
New York
NY
10038-4982
US
|
Family ID: |
25192630 |
Appl. No.: |
09/805834 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
190/107 ;
190/115; 190/127; 190/18A |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 7/0036 20130101;
A45C 5/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/107 ;
190/18.00A; 190/115; 190/127 |
International
Class: |
A45C 007/00; A45C
005/14; A45C 013/26; A45C 013/36 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A soft-sided bag comprising: first, second and third soft walls
generally defining an enclosed volume, wherein said first wall
extends between, and connects, said second and third walls; first
and second support sections, said first and second support sections
being rigidly connected to a first portion of said first wall such
that said second support section is rotatable relative to said
first support section; and, a locking panel formed to selectively
engage said support sections, wherein said locking panel overlaps
at least portions of both said first and second support sections
with said locking panel engaging therewith, wherein said locking
panel is hingedly connected to said first support section.
2. A bag as in claim 1, wherein said support sections are rigidly
connected to an interior side of said first wall, said interior
side facing said enclosed volume.
3. A bag as in claim 1 further comprising a stiffening member
rigidly mounted to a second portion of said first wall, said second
portion facing said first portion.
4. A bag as in claim 3, wherein said stiffening member being solely
mounted to the bag through mounting to said second portion.
5. A bag as in claim 3, wherein said second portion is collapsible
by folding said stiffening member into said enclosed volume.
6. A bag as in claim 1, wherein said first wall is partially
collapsible, said first wall partially collapsing upon rotating
said second support section about said first support section.
7. A bag as in claim 1 further comprising rotatable wheels being at
least partially mounted to said first portion.
8. A bag as in claim 7 further comprising at least one foot mounted
to said first portion.
9. A bag as in claim 8, wherein said wheels and said foot
collectively form a coplanar locus of support points for the
bag.
10. A bag as in claim 1, wherein said first and second support
sections are interposed between said locking panel and said first
portion with said locking panel engaging said first and second
support sections.
11. A bag as in claim 1, wherein said first and second support
sections wholly overlap said first portion.
12. A bag as in claim 1, wherein said first and second support
sections are generally coplanar with said locking panel engaging
said first and second support sections.
13. A bag as in claim 1, further comprising a handle assembly
having an extendable handle and housings, said extendable handle
having posts formed to telescopically slide within said housings,
wherein said handle assembly is only mounted to the bag with each
end of each of said housings being rigidly secured to at least one
of said walls.
14. A bag as in claim 1, wherein said first and second support
sections are hingedly connected to define a composite support
member.
15. A bag as in claim 14, wherein said hinged connection between
said first and second support sections is wholly spaced from said
locking panel.
16. A bag as in claim 1, wherein said first support section is
immovably fixed relative to the bag.
17. A soft-sided bag comprising: a plurality of soft walls
generally defining an enclosed volume; and, a handle assembly
having an extendable handle and housings, said extendable handle
having posts formed to telescopically slide within said housings,
wherein said handle assembly is only mounted to the bag with each
end of each of said housings being rigidly secured to at least one
of said walls.
18. A soft-sided bag comprising: a plurality of soft walls defining
an enclosed volume; and, a locking panel rigidly secured to a first
portion of one of said walls, said locking panel having a first
region, wherein said locking panel is selectively rotatable so that
said first region selectively engages said first portion, said
first portion being at least partially collapsible with said first
region being disengaged from said first portion.
19. A bag as in claim 18, wherein said locking panel is rotatable
about a rotation axis, said locking panel having a first edge which
becomes spaced from said first portion upon disengagement of said
first region from said first portion, and wherein said first region
is located between said rotation axis and said first edge.
20. A bag as in claim 19, wherein said first edge is generally
parallel to said rotation axis.
21. A bag as in claim 18, wherein said locking panel is rigidly
connected to an interior side of said side wall, said interior side
facing said enclosed volume.
22. A bag as in claim 18, wherein, with said first region engaging
said first portion, said locking panel generally overlaps in
abutting contact said first portion.
23. A bag is in claim 18 further comprising at least one foot to
support said bag in an upright position, wherein said foot is
rigidly connected to an exterior side of said first portion.
24. A bag as in claim 18 further comprising a locking bar rigidly
connected to said first portion.
25. A bag as in claim 24 further comprising cooperating locking
elements mounted to said locking panel and mounted to said locking
bar, said locking elements cooperating to allow said locking panel
to detachably lock to said locking bar.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to soft-sided bags and, more
particularly, to collapsible soft-sided bags.
[0002] It is desired to provide luggage which has sufficient volume
to accommodate a person's belongings, yet allows for easy storage
by occupying a minimal amount of volume. In the prior art,
collapsible soft-sided luggage is well known. (As used herein,
"soft-sided luggage" and "soft-sided bag" refer to bags (in the
singular and plural) having fabric and/or leather (either material
being synthetic, natural, or a blend thereof sides.) With the
ability to collapse, soft-sided luggage can be folded, or otherwise
reduced in volume, into a smaller storage size.
[0003] Typically, support members, of varying rigidity, are
provided on soft-sided luggage to impart shape to the luggage. For
example, sheet-like panel stiffeners are used. The support members,
however, hinder the ability to collapse the luggage, thereby
preventing maximum reduction in size of the luggage.
[0004] It is an object of the subject invention to provide a
soft-sided bag having a collapsible support member which minimally
hinders the overall collapsing of the bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The aforementioned object is met by a soft-sided bag having
a collapsible, composite support member which can be disposed in a
flat position to provide support to the bag, and folded to allow
the bag to be collapsed. The bag generally is formed with a
plurality of soft walls, including a front wall, a rear wall, and a
side wall extending between, and connecting, the front and rear
walls. The side wall of the bag includes a plurality of panels with
the collapsible, composite support member being mounted to a panel
of the side wall.
[0006] The composite support member is formed with two support
sections, the sections being rotatable relative to each other.
Preferably, the sections are connected by a hinge. Any form of
hinge known to those skilled in the art may be used, such as for
example, the two support sections of the composite support member
may be ensheathed by a tight, forgiving jacket. The jacket provides
sufficient support to maintain the two sections in proximity, yet
allows the sections to be rotated one relative to the other in
defining a living hinge. Alternatively, the support sections are
not directly hingedly connected, but, rather rigidly mounted to the
bag in parallel and close side-by-side fashion. As such, upon
rotation, the material of the side wall essentially acts as a hinge
and allows relative rotation between the support sections.
[0007] Preferably, a first of the support sections is rigidly
connected to the bag such that the section does not move relative
to the remainder of the bag. The second of the support sections is
rotatable relative to the first support section so that the
rotation of the second support section relative to the first
support section results in the folding of the composite support
member.
[0008] A locking panel is connected by a hinge to the first support
section to allow the locking panel to selectively engage the
composite support member. The locking panel is formed to overlap at
least portions of both support sections of the composite support
member when engaging the composite support member. It is preferred
that the locking panel and the composite support member be provided
with cooperating locking elements which allow for detachable
locking of the locking panel to the composite support member. The
locking elements may be of any type known to those skilled in the
art, such as snaps and/or hook and loop fasteners (e.g. VELCRO
brand). With the locking panel engaging the composite support
member, the support sections are generally coplanar and movement of
the support sections is limited.
[0009] A stiffening member may also be mounted to one of the panels
of the side wall. The stiffening member is preferably not mounted
to other portions of the bag.
[0010] With the locking panel being disengaged from the composite
support member, the second support section may be folded inwardly
into the bag. In addition, the stiffening member may be folded
inwardly into the bag. Consequently, the overall bag can be
collapsed to allow for the volume of the bag to be reduced.
[0011] In a second embodiment, the locking panel may be directly
mounted to the side wall, without the use of the support sections
(or composite support member). In this fashion, the locking panel
may be selectively rotated so that a first region of the locking
panel can selectively engage the side wall. With the first region
of the locking panel disengaged from the side wall, the side wall,
and thus, the entire bag, may be collapsed.
[0012] As a second feature, a handle assembly is provided having an
inverted-U shaped, extendable handle. The extendable handle
includes two posts which terminate in a transverse handle. The
posts are telescopically disposed within housings, with each end of
the housings being rigidly secured to the bag. Accordingly,
movement of the housings, and thus the handle assembly, relative to
the bag is limited.
[0013] These and other features will be better understood through a
study of the following detailed description and accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the soft-sided bag of the
subject invention;
[0015] FIG.2 is a partial elevational view of the soft-sided bag
showing a wheel and a foot thereof;
[0016] FIG. 3 is perspective view of a composite support member for
use with the soft-sided bag;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a front plan view of a stiffening member mounted
to the interior of a top panel the soft-sided bag;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the soft-sided bag
showing the handle assembly thereof;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line
6-6 of FIG. 5 which shows a locking panel in alternate positions in
and out of engagement with the composite support member;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the soft-sided
bag showing the bag in a collapsed state;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view which shows the
second embodiment of the soft-sided bag with a locking panel in an
engaged state; and,
[0022] FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the second
embodiment of the soft-sided bag showing the bag in a collapsed
state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Referring to the FIGS., a soft-sided bag 10 is depicted for
storing and transporting clothes and other items. The bag 10
includes a plurality of walls, namely, a front wall 12, a rear wall
14, and a side wall 16. The side wall 16 bounds both the front wall
12 and the rear wall 14 and forms a connection therebetween. Thus,
the front wall 12, the rear wall 14, and the side wall 16
collectively define a generally parallelepiped, enclosed volume 18.
Pockets can be sewn into any of the walls 12, 14, 16, such as
pocket 20 sewn into the front wall 12. A zipper 22 is provided to
selectively close the pocket 20.
[0024] Piping 24 is preferably sewn in at the connecting seams of
the front wall 12 and the side wall 16, as well as, at the
connecting seams of the rear wall 14 and the side wall 16. In
addition, any of the walls can be double-plied in regions of heavy
wear, such as, for example, the bottom panel of the side wall 16,
described below.
[0025] The side wall 16 is formed with various panels about the
enclosed volume 18, including a top panel 26, side panels 28A, 28B
and a bottom panel 30. With the front wall 12 and the rear wall 14
having rounded corners 32, the panels 26, 28A-B, 30 of the side
wall 16 are joined by rounded junctures. As is readily apparent,
other shapes of the comers 32 would result in other shapes of the
junctures between the panels 26, 28A-B, 30 (e.g. right comers would
result in right junctures).
[0026] A zipper 34 is sewn into the side wall 16 to provide
selective access into the bag 10. The zipper 34 extends into a
lower portion 36 of the side panel 28A, throughout the bottom panel
30, throughout the side panel 28B, throughout the top panel 26, and
into an upper portion 38 of the side panel 28A (the zipper 34 is
shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1 where hidden from view). With this
arrangement, a portion 40 of the side panel 28A located between the
lower and upper portions 36, 38 acts as a hinge for the front wall
12; as such, with the zipper 34 being unlocked, the front wall 12
may be rotated about the side panel 28A and the enclosed volume 18
exposed.
[0027] The bag 10 is preferably an upright bag having wheels 42 and
feet 44 formed to support the bag in a standing, vertical position.
Preferably, two of the wheels 42 are provided and spaced apart
along the bottom panel 30 sufficiently to provide stability to the
bag 10. Each of the wheels 42 is rotatably mounted onto an axle 46.
The axles 46 are supported by a unitary, plastic base portion 48
which is preferably mounted to the bottom panel 30 using any
technique known to those skilled in the art, such as for example,
by rivets 50 (FIG. 6). Alternatively, the unitary, plastic base
portion 48 may be mounted to the side wall 16 and/or the rear wall
14, in lieu of or in addition to the bottom panel 30. It is
preferred that the axles 46 be generally vertically aligned with
the plane of the rear wall 14. In this manner, with the bag 10
being pivoted and pulled in rolling fashion, all portions of the
bag 10, especially the comer defined between the bottom panel 30
and the rear wall 14, have maximum clearance from the ground.
[0028] Preferably, two of the feet 44 are provided on the bottom
panel 30, also spaced apart sufficiently to provide stability to
the bag 10. In a preferred embodiment, the two feet 44 are joined
by a cross-member 54 (FIG. 6) with the feet 44 and the cross-member
54 being a unitary piece, preferably formed of plastic. Any
technique may be used to mount the cross-member 54 to the bottom
panel 30, such as with rivets 56. The wheels 42 and the feet 44
collectively form a coplanar locus of support points which defines
a stable, flat resting plane R for the bag 10.
[0029] With reference to FIG. 6, a composite support member 58 is
rigidly mounted to the interior of the bottom panel 30. As more
clearly shown in FIG. 3, the composite support member 58 includes
first and second support sections 60 and 62 that are preferably
hingedly connected so that the second support section 62 may be
rotated about the first support section 60. The support sections
60, 62 are preferably equal sized and each is a unitary
plate-shaped member formed of stiff backing material. The support
sections 60, 62 must collectively have sufficient strength to
support any contents of the bag 10 in an upright position. Any
hinge known to those skilled in the art may be used to connect the
support sections 60, 62. For example, the first and second support
sections 60, 62 may be ensheathed within a tight, forgiving jacket
64 which defines a living hinge. The jacket 64 provides sufficient
support to maintain the two support sections 60, 62 in proximity,
yet allows the support sections 60, 62 to be rotated one relative
to the other so that rotation of the second support section 62
relative to the first support section 60 results in the folding of
the composite support member 58. It is preferred that the composite
support member 58 be coextensive with the bottom panel 30.
Alternatively, the first and second support sections are not
hingedly connected. Rather, the material of the bottom panel 30 may
serve as a hinge for the two support sections 60, 62. Where there
is no direct hinge connection between the support sections 60, 62,
it is preferred that the support sections 60, 62 be mounted to the
bottom panel 30 in parallel and close side-by-side fashion.
Accordingly, there may be relative rotation between the support
sections 60, 62 with the bottom panel 30 holding the sections 60,
62 in fixed relationship.
[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the composite support member 58
is mounted to the bottom panel 30 using the rivets 50, 56. Also, it
is preferred that the wheels 42 be mounted to the first support
section 60, albeit via the base portion 48, and the feet 44 be
mounted to the second support section 62, albeit via the
cross-member 54. The rivets 50, 56 can extend through the
respective first and second support sections 60, 62, such that the
rivets 50, 56 cause the bottom panel 30 to be "sandwiched" between
the support sections 60, 62 and the base portion 48 and the
cross-member 54/feet 44. Because the base portion 48 is secured to
both the first support section 60 and a handle assembly, as
described below, the movement of the first support section 60
relative to the bag 10 is restricted and, thus, the first support
section 60 is immovably fixed relative to the bag 10.
[0031] In addition, a plate-shaped locking panel 66 is provided
that is, preferably, hingedly connected to the first support
section 60 of the support member 58 so that the locking panel 66
may rotate about the first support section 60 and selectively
engage the support member 58. The hinge connection between the
locking panel 66 and the first support section 60 may be of any
type known to those skilled in the art. For example, the jacket 64
may also ensheath the locking panel 66 to form the hinge. It is
preferred that the locking panel 66 be wholly spaced from the hinge
connection between the first and second support sections 60, 62.
The locking panel 66 is formed to overlap at least portions of both
the first support section 60 and the second support section 62 when
engaging the composite support member 58. With the locking panel 66
being in an engaged state, the composite support member 58 is
generally flat with the support sections 60, 62 being generally
coplanar.
[0032] Cooperating locking elements 68, such as snaps, are disposed
on the locking panel 66 and the composite support member 58 to
allow the locking panel 66 to detachably lock to the composite
support member 58 while being engaged thereto. It is preferred that
the locking elements 68 be located on the second support section
62, rather than the first support section 60. Although not shown,
other cooperating locking elements 68 may be used, such as hook and
loop fasteners (e.g. "VELCRO" brand).
[0033] It is also preferred that a handle 70 be mounted to the top
panel 26. The handle 70 is mounted on the top panel 26 since the
bag 10 is envisioned as being an upright bag. Additional handles on
other panels of the side wall 16 may also be provided. Any
techniques known to those skilled in the art may be used to mount
the handle 70 to the top panel 26, such as using rivets 72 (FIG.
7). It is further preferred that a plate-shaped stiffening member
74 be mounted to the interior of the top panel 26 which is
generally coextensive therewith. The rivets 72 may be extended to
pass through the top panel 26 and the stiffening member 74 as shown
in FIG. 4. Preferably, the stiffening member 74 is not mounted to
any other wall or panel of the bag 10 other than the top panel 26.
The composite support member 58 and the stiffening member 74 impart
a generally parallelepiped shape to the bag 10, even with the bag
10 having no contents therein.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 7, when readying the bag 10 for storage,
the locking panel 66 is disengaged from the support member 58 and
rotated away therefrom. Thereafter, the second support section 62
of the composite support member 58 is rotated about the first
support section 60 and folded into the enclosed volume 18 to
partially collapse the bottom panel 30. The side wall 16 is then
collapsed, with the top panel 26 being collapsed by folding the
stiffening member 74 inwardly into the enclosed volume 18. The
front wall 12 may be pressed into contact with the feet 44 which
are directed upwardly with the second support section 62 being
inwardly folded. It should be noted that the rear wall 14, the top
panel 26 and the bottom panel 30 are imparted with at least some
rigidity provided by an attached member (i.e. these bag portions
are not fully collapsible). In contrast, the front wall 12 and the
side panels 28A-B are not imparted with rigidity and can be fully
collapsed (this, of course, ignores any rigidity imparted by the
piping 24.) With the second section 62 and the stiffening member 74
folded inwardly, the overall volume of the bag 10 is reduced. It
should also be noted that although the locking panel 66 is only
shown as being oriented to rotate towards the rear wall 14, this is
a preferred arrangement, and, the locking panel 66 may be oriented
to rotate towards other portions of the bag 10, such as either of
the side panels 28A or 28B, or the front wall 12 (although not
preferred).
[0035] In a second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, a locking panel
166 is rigidly mounted directly to the interior of the bottom panel
30. The locking panel 166 is a unitary plate-shaped panel formed of
stiff backing material having sufficient strength to support any
contents of the bag 10 in an upright position and is formed with a
first region 177 and a first edge 175. It is preferred that the
locking panel 166 be shaped and formed to overlap the bottom panel
30. As shown in the FIGS., with the bottom panel 30 being
rectangular, the locking panel 166 is rectangular.
[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the locking panel 166 is mounted
to the bottom panel 30 using any technique known to those skilled
in the art, such as using rivets 168. Also, it is preferred that
the cross-member 54 be mounted to the exterior of the bottom panel
30 using the rivets 168, thereby causing a portion of the bottom
panel 30 to be interposed between the locking panel 166 and the
cross-member 54. The portion of the bottom panel 30 interposed
between the locking panel 166 and the cross-member 54 will move in
unison with the locking panel 166 and will not be disengageable
from direct contact with the locking panel 166.
[0037] An elongated locking bar 104 is preferably mounted to the
interior side 123 of the bottom panel 30 in proximity to the base
portion 48 using any technique known to those skilled in the art,
such as using the rivets 50. Cooperating locking elements 102, such
as hook and loop fasteners (e.g. "VELCRO" brand), are disposed on
the locking bar 104 and on the locking panel 166 to allow the first
region 177 of the locking panel 166 to detachably lock to the
locking bar 104 while being engaged thereto. Although not shown,
other cooperating locking elements 102 may be used, such as snaps;
also, the locking bar 104 need not be used, with the cooperating
locking elements 102 being directly mounted onto the bottom panel
30.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 9, in use, the first region 177 of the
locking panel 166 is disengaged from the locking bar 104 by
separating the cooperating locking elements 102. Thereafter, the
locking panel 166 is rotated about a rotational axis 122 into the
enclosed volume 18 to partially collapse the bottom panel 30. The
rotational axis 122 is disposed perpendicular to the plane of FIG.
9, and, preferably, the rotational axis 122 is generally parallel
to the cross member 54 and is generally parallel to the edge 175.
In a disengaged state, the edge 175 is spaced from the bottom panel
30. With the locking panel 166 folded into the volume 18, the front
wall 12 may be pressed into contact with the locking panel 166
which is angled downwardly. With the locking panel 166 folded into
the volume 18, and with the bottom panel 30 collapsed, the overall
volume of the bag 10 is reduced.
[0039] As a further feature of the bag 10, with reference to FIG.
5, a handle assembly 76 may be provided having an extendable handle
78. The extendable handle 78 is shaped as an inverted "U" and
includes two posts 80 terminating in a transverse handle 82. The
posts 80 are slidably telescoped within housings 84. The
interaction of the posts 80 and the housings 84 is known in the
prior art.
[0040] The handle assembly 76 is mounted to the bag 10 by a holding
member 86 that extends between, and is connected to, upper ends of
the housings 84. The holding member 86 is preferably plastic and is
mounted to the rear wall 14 using any technique to those skilled in
the art. For example, the holding member 86 is mounted using rivets
88. In addition, the housings 84 are seated in sockets 90 formed in
the base portion 48. Accordingly, the handle assembly 76 is solely,
and securely, mounted to the bag 10 at both ends of each of the
housings 84. In this manner, movement of the housings 84, and thus
the entire handle assembly 76, relative to the bag 10 is greatly
limited, and even altogether eliminated.
[0041] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among
those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently
attained and, since certain changes may be made in carrying out the
above construction without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the
above description and as shown in the accompanying drawings shall
be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
[0042] It is also to be understood that the following claims are
intended to cover all the generic and specific structures of the
invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the
invention which, as a matter of language might be said to fall
therebetween.
* * * * *