U.S. patent application number 09/879268 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-12 for expandable bag with folding struts.
Invention is credited to Chang, Ying, Sax, Elliot.
Application Number | 20020185350 09/879268 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25373781 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020185350 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang, Ying ; et
al. |
December 12, 2002 |
Expandable bag with folding struts
Abstract
An expandable bag has a base portion and an expandable portion.
The expandable portion is connected to the base portion by flexible
connection sidewalls. The base portion and the expandable portion
are connected to one another by a plurality of folding struts which
allow the expandable portion to be alternatively moved between an
expanded position and a non-expanded position. The bag further also
has a retaining mechanism for retaining the bag in the non-expanded
position.
Inventors: |
Chang, Ying; (Row Land
Height, CA) ; Sax, Elliot; (Pasadena, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHELDON & MAK
9th Floor
225 South Lake Avenue
Pasadena
CA
91101
US
|
Family ID: |
25373781 |
Appl. No.: |
09/879268 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
190/105 ;
190/107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 5/14 20130101; A45C
7/0027 20130101; A45C 13/02 20130101; A45C 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/105 ;
190/107 |
International
Class: |
A45C 007/00 |
Claims
What is Claimed is:
1. An expandable bag comprising: (a) a base portion having a bottom
wall and one or more base portion side walls, each of the one or
more base portion side walls being attached to the bottom wall; (b)
an expandable portion having a top wall and one or more expandable
portion side walls being attached to the top wall; and (c) the
expandable portion being connected to the base portion by one or
more flexible connection side walls, the base portion, the
expandable portion and the one or more connection side walls
cooperating to form an encloseable bag compartment; wherein, the
base portion side walls and the expandable portion side walls are
attached to one another by a plurality of folding struts such that
the expandable portion is alternatively movable with respect to the
base portion between a non-expanded position wherein the expandable
portion is rigidly retained proximate to the base portion and an
expanded position wherein the expandable portion is rigidly
retained distal to the base portion; and wherein the bag further
comprises a retaining mechanism for alternatively retaining the
expandable portion in the non-expanded position and releasing the
expandable portion so that it can be moved to the expanded
position.
2. The expandable bag of claim 1 wherein the plurality of folding
struts consists of four folding struts.
3. The expandable bag of claim 1 wherein the base portion has an
interior perimeter and wherein the bag further comprises at least
one removable pocket, the at least one removable pocket having an
upper edge which is removably attachable to the interior perimeter
of the base portion, such that, when the upper edge of the
removable pocket is attached to the interior perimeter of the base
portion, the removable pocket drapes downwardly to hide at least
one of the folding struts.
4. The expandable bag of claim 3 wherein the bag comprises a
plurality of removable pockets capable of hiding some or all of the
folding struts.
5. The expandable bag of claim 3 wherein the at least one removable
pocket is attached to the interior perimeter of the base portion by
hook and loop fasteners.
6. The expandable bag of claim 1 wherein the retaining mechanism
comprises a retaining mechanism zipper having opposed sides, a
first side connected to the base portion and a second side
connection to the expandable portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to carrying bags such as
suitcases and the like, and, more specifically, to carrying bags
having expansion capability.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Carrying bags, such as suitcases and other forms of luggage
bags, have been known for a very long time. Recently, a new form of
carrying bag, one having the ability to alternatively expand and
contract in volume, has become quite popular. Unfortunately, none
of the presently known methods of providing an expandable bag are
wholly satisfactory. Either they are unduly expensive, unduly
complicated or time-consuming to operate or they provide
insufficient structural rigidity.
[0003] Accordingly, there is a need for an expandable bag which
avoids the aforementioned problems in the prior art.
SUMMARY
[0004] The invention satisfies this need. The invention is an
expandable bag comprising (a) a base portion having a bottom wall
and one or more base portion side walls, each of the one or more
base portion side walls being attached to the bottom wall, (b) an
expandable portion having a top wall and one or more expandable
portion side walls being attached to the top wall, and (c) the
expandable portion being connected to the base portion by one or
more flexible connection side walls, the base portion, the
expandable portion and the one or more connection side walls
cooperating to form an encloseable bag compartment; In the
invention, the base portion side walls and the expandable portion
side walls are attached to one another by a plurality of folding
struts such that the expandable portion is alternatively movable
with respect to the base portion between a non-expanded position
wherein the expandable portion is rigidly retained proximate to the
base portion and an expanded position wherein the expandable
portion is rigidly retained distal to the base portion. A retaining
mechanism is provided for retaining the expandable portion in the
non-expanded position and releasing the expandable portion so that
it can be moved to the expanded position.
DRAWINGS
[0005] These features, aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims and accompanying figures
where:
[0006] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an expandable bag having
features of the invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a second isometric view of the expandable bag
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the expandable bag
illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the use of folding struts to expand
the bag to a fully expanded position;
[0009] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the expandable bag
illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the folding of the folding
struts;
[0010] FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the expandable bag
illustrated in FIG. 1 showing the interior of the bag with the
folding struts covered by removable pockets; and
[0011] FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the expandable bag
illustrated in FIG. 1 in partial cross-section to illustrate
interior features of the bag.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment
of the invention and several variations of that embodiment. This
discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the
invention to those particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in
the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well.
[0013] The invention is an expandable bag 10 comprising a base
portion 12 and an expandable portion 14.
[0014] The base portion 12 comprises a bottom wall 16 and one or
more base portion sidewalls 18. In the embodiment illustrated in
the drawings, the base portion 12 has four rectangular base portion
sidewalls 18, each disposed perpendicular to the bottom wall 16.
The four base portion sidewalls 18 cooperate to form a base portion
compartment 20 having a rectangular cross-section.
[0015] Each of the one or more base portion sidewalls 18 has a base
portion frame 22. In a typical embodiment, the base portion frame
22 of each of the four base portion sidewalls 18 are attached to
one another to form a rectangular band which circumscribes the base
portion compartment 20. In the embodiment illustrated in the
drawings, each of the base portion frames 22 is covered on both
sides of the frame by sturdy fabric material 24. In a typical
embodiment, the material 24 covering the exterior portion of the
base portion frame 22 is a strong, lightweight woven material, such
as nylon, polyester, vinyl, other plastic materials and
leather.
[0016] In other embodiments of the invention, the base portion side
walls 18 can be made from a rigid material, such as from a metal,
rigid plastic or stiff leather.
[0017] In a typical embodiment, such as in the embodiment
illustrated in the drawings, the bottom wall 16 is provided by a
flexible material. In other embodiments, the bottom wall 16 can be
made from a rigid material or from a composite of rigid and/or
flexible materials.
[0018] In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the base
portion 12 further comprises a rear frame 26. The rear frame 26
comprises a collapsible pulling handle 28. The rear frame 26 also
comprises a pair of wheels 30 disposed at the bottom of the rear
frame 26 for allowing the bag 10 to be easily translated across a
smooth surface.
[0019] In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the base
portion 12 further comprises a pair of lifting handles 32 to allow
the user to lift the bag 10, either from the top 34 of the bag 10
or from one of the sides 36 of the bag 10.
[0020] The expandable portion 14 is disposed proximate to the base
portion 12 to form an encloseable bag compartment 38. The
expandable portion 14 comprises a top wall 40 and one or more
expandable portion sidewalls 42. In the embodiment illustrated in
the drawings, the expandable portion 14 has four rectangular
expandable portion sidewalls 42, each disposed perpendicular to the
top wall 40. The four expandable portion sidewalls 42 cooperate to
form an expandable portion compartment 44 having a rectangular
cross-section.
[0021] Each of the one or more expandable portion sidewalls 42 has
an expandable portion frame 46. In a typical embodiment, the
expandable portion frames 46 of each of the four expandable portion
sidewalls 42 are attached to one another to form a rectangular band
which circumscribes the expandable portion compartment 44. In the
embodiment illustrated in the drawings, each of the expandable
portion frames 46 is covered on both sides of the frame by sturdy
fabric material 48. In a typical embodiment, the material 48
covering the exterior portion of the expandable portion frame 46 is
a strong, lightweight woven material, such as nylon, polyester,
vinyl, other plastic material or leather.
[0022] In other embodiments of the invention, the expandable
portion side walls 42 can be made from a rigid material, such as
from a metal, rigid plastic or stiff leather.
[0023] In a typical embodiment of the invention, such as in the
embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the top wall 40 is provided
by a flexible material. In other embodiments, the top wall 40 can
be made from a rigid material or from a composite of rigid and/or
flexible materials.
[0024] In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the top wall
40 is connected in part to the expandable portion sidewalls 42 by a
top wall zipper 50 which circumscribes three of the expandable
portion sidewalls 42 to provide an access opening to allow the user
access to the encloseable bag compartment 38.
[0025] In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the
expandable portion 14 further comprises three top wall exterior
pockets 54 to allow the user to conveniently store items on the
exterior of the bag 10.
[0026] The expandable portion 14 is connected to the base portion
12 by one or more flexible connection sidewalls 56. In a typical
embodiment, the flexible connection sidewalls 56 are made from a
lightweight material, such as nylon, polyester, vinyl, other
plastic materials or leather.
[0027] The base portion 12, the expandable portion 14 and the
flexible connection sidewalls 56 cooperate to form the enclosed bag
compartment 38.
[0028] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base portion side walls
18 and the expandable portion side walls 42 are attached to one
another by a plurality of folding struts 58. In the embodiment
illustrated in the drawings, each of the folding struts 58 is of
the type commonly used for bracing the legs of a folding card
table. In this type of folding strut 58, each strut 58 comprises a
pair of rigid members 60 pivotally connected to one another by an
axis pin 62. The ends of the two rigid members 60 are adapted to
cooperate with one another when the rigid members 60 are disposed
coaxially to resist pivoting about the central axis pin 62. That is
to say, the two rigid members 60 "snap" into coaxial relationship
and "snap" out of coaxial relationship by a small amount of
required force, such as by the pushing force provided by the finger
of a user. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the rigid
members 60 are caused to snap into coaxial relationship by pressing
upon one or both of the rigid members 60 at a location proximate to
the central axis pin 62. A folding preventor 64 is preferably
affixed to one of the rigid members 60 to allow the pair of rigid
members 60 to snap into coaxial relationship from only one
direction and to allow the pair of rigid members 60 to snap out of
coaxial relationship in only the opposition direction.
[0029] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of folding struts 58
is appended to one side of the expandable bag compartment 52. In
this embodiment, an opposed second pair of folding struts 58 (not
shown) is disposed on the opposite side of the encloseable bag
compartment 52. In FIG. 3, the two rigid members 60 of each
foldable strut 58 are disposed in the coaxial position. In FIG. 4,
the two rigid members 60 of each foldable strut 58 are disposed in
a partially folded position.
[0030] The base portion side walls 18 and the expandable portion
side walls 46 are attached to one another by the plurality of
folding struts 58 such that the expandable portion 14 is
alternatively moveable with respect to the base portion 12 between
a non-expanded position wherein the expandable portion 14 is
retained proximate to the base portion 12 (as illustrated in FIGS.
1 and 4) and an expanded position wherein the expandable portion 14
is rigidly retained distal to the base portion 12 (as illustrated
in FIGS. 2 and 3).
[0031] A retaining mechanism 66 is provided for alternatively
retaining the expandable portion 14 in the non-expanded position
and releasing the expandable portion 14 so that it can be moved to
the expanded position. In the embodiment illustrated in the
drawings, the retaining mechanism 66 is provided by a retaining
mechanism zipper 68 which circumscribes the encloseable bag
compartment 38. As can be seen from FIG. 1, when the retaining
mechanism zipper 68 is closed, the expandable portion 14 is rigidly
retained in the non-expanded position. As can be seen in FIG. 2,
when the retaining mechanism zipper 68 is opened, the expandable
portion 14 is released to allow it to move to the expanded
position.
[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the folding struts 58 can be
aesthetically hidden by a pair of oppositely disposed removable
pockets 70. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, each
removable pocket 70 is attached to the interior perimeter 72 of the
base portion compartment 20 along an upper edge of each removable
pocket 70. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, each removable pocket
70 can be conveniently attached to the interior perimeter 72 of the
base portion compartment 20 by hook and loop fasteners 74.
[0033] As also illustrated in FIG. 5, the pair of removable pockets
70 can be used to provide a smooth, snag-free and attractive bag
compartment 38.
[0034] In operation, the expandable bag 10 of the invention,
initially disposed in a non-expanded configuration (such as
illustrated in FIG. 1), can be transformed into an expanded
configuration (as illustrated in FIG. 2) by unzipping the retaining
mechanism zipper 68 and moving the expandable portion 14 from the
non-expanded position to the expanded position (as illustrated in
FIG. 3). In the expanded position, the two rigid members 60 of each
folding strut 58 are snapped into coaxial relationship (as
illustrated in FIG. 3). After the rigidly members 60 are so snapped
into coaxial relationship, the expandable position 14 is rigidly
retained in the expanded position.
[0035] When the user wishes to return the bag 10 to the
non-expanded configuration, the user merely folds each of the
folding struts 54 by applying finger pressure to one of the sides
of one of the rigid members 60 in each of the folding struts 58 so
as to partially fold each of the folding struts 58 (as illustrated
in FIG. 4). Once each of the folding struts 58 is placed into a
partially folded position (as illustrated in FIG. 4), the
expandable portion 14 can be easily moved to the non-expanded
position. In the non-expanded position, the expandable portion 14
can be firmly retained to the base portion 12 by re-zipping the
retaining mechanism zipper 68.
[0036] Thus, the invention provides a very effective expandable bag
which is easy and inexpensive to make and which is easy and
uncomplicated to use.
[0037] Having thus described the invention, it should be apparent
that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be
resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of
the instant invention as set forth hereinabove and as described
hereinbelow by the claims.
* * * * *