U.S. patent application number 11/903839 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-26 for grocery bag with pockets.
Invention is credited to Setareh Hagen.
Application Number | 20090080808 11/903839 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40471714 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090080808 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hagen; Setareh |
March 26, 2009 |
Grocery bag with pockets
Abstract
Grocery bag with pockets with a first grocery bag and a
plurality of second grocery bags. The bags are rectangular in
shape. The first grocery bag has three vertically stacked, external
pockets attached to one broad side surface. Each pocket is similar
in width to the width of the broad surface of the first bag. Each
the pocket is approximately one third the height of the broad
surface of the first bag. The first and second grocery bags have
sewn on carry handles. The second grocery bags can be folded and
inserted into the first grocery bag pockets. The first grocery bag
capable of being folded into thirds so that the second grocery bags
contained within the pockets of the first grocery bag are also
folded within the first grocery bag causing the first and second
bags become a single, easy to carry unit.
Inventors: |
Hagen; Setareh; (Draper,
VT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Setareh Hagen
12773 S. Moose Hollow Dr.
Draper
VT
84020
US
|
Family ID: |
40471714 |
Appl. No.: |
11/903839 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/12 ; 383/110;
383/121.1; 383/37; 383/38 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 7/0077 20130101;
A45C 5/06 20130101; A45C 3/04 20130101; A45C 7/0086 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/12 ; 383/110;
383/121.1; 383/37; 383/38 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/06 20060101
B65D033/06; B65D 30/00 20060101 B65D030/00; B65D 81/38 20060101
B65D081/38; B65D 30/22 20060101 B65D030/22 |
Claims
1. Grocery bag with pockets comprising: a first grocery bag; a
plurality of second grocery bags; said first and second bags each
being rectangular in shape having a pair of opposing broad side
surfaces and a pair of opposing narrow side surfaces, a flat
rectangular bottom and an integral top cover; said first bag top
cover having an integral flap that can be folded over and
releasably fastened to said broad side surface by standard
attachment means; said first and second grocery bags made from
flexible fabric that can be sewn by standard means; said first and
second grocery bags having rigid bottom plates; said first grocery
bag having three vertically stacked, external pockets attached to
one broad side surface; each said pocket being similar in width to
the width of said broad surface of said first bag; each said pocket
being approximately one third the height of said broad surface of
said first bag; said first and second grocery bags having sewn on
carry handles; said second grocery bags capable of being folded and
inserted into said first grocery bag pockets; said first grocery
bag capable of being folded into thirds so that said second grocery
bags contained within the pockets of said first grocery bag are
also folded within said first grocery bag so that the first and
second bags become a single, easy to carry unit; said folded unit
having its own carry handle. said first bag including a strap that
is centrally attached at one end to the top portion of said broad
side of said first bag; said strap having a fastening means at its
opposite end; said strap fastening means capable of attaching to
said mating attachment means located on said flap of said first bag
thereby enabling said first bag and captured said second bags to
remain folded and compact during transport or storage.
2. Grocery bag with pockets as claimed in claim 1 further
comprising additional smaller pockets that are sewn onto the outer
top surface of said first bag so that when said first bag is folded
into its storage position, said smaller pockets are located on the
outside of the folded bag surface.
3. Grocery bag with pockets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
first and second bags include a standard fastening means to
releasably attach one said bag to another said bag at their
uppermost broad side surfaces so that a plurality of said bags can
be attached to each other while residing in a vehicle thereby
making them less prone to fall over during transport.
4. Grocery bag with pockets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
first bag includes a stiffening member located under said folded
unit carry handle to insure that the fabric under said carry handle
does not buckle during use.
5. Grocery bag with pockets as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
first bag includes an inner flexible layer of thermally insulating
material.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention relates generally to the field of
transportable storage bags and more specifically to a reusable
grocery bag with pockets.
[0005] For many years, the process of grocery shopping involved
going to a market, choosing items and putting them into a basket or
cart, going to a checkout stand and having a person at the checkout
stand place the items into a paper or a plastic grocery bag. The
shopper would then transport the bags home, unpack the bags and
then throw out the bags or possibly use them for another purpose
such as trash receptacles. As the desire to stop wasting the earths
natural resources of trees and oil increase, a current trend in
grocery shopping has developed where shoppers to bring their own
reusable bags to the market to be filled with the goods that they
purchase. Indeed, in the City of San Francisco, the use of
disposable shopping bags has been made illegal by the city
council.
[0006] Due to the need for reusable grocery bags, many
manufacturers now sell sewn bags that are approximately the same
size as a standard paper grocery bag, but are made of durable
fabric that can be used many times and can be cleaned by standard
means. Several reusable grocery bag designs have been patented.
These include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,251,743, 5,297,872, 6,186,662, and
application number 2003/0131447. Although all of the listed patents
discuss foldable grocery or shopping bags, none of them discuss the
idea of a first bag capable of carrying a plurality additional
shopping bags stored in pockets located on the outside of the first
bag. There is a history of travel bags that include side pockets
for storing additional items, however the side pockets in these
travel bags are not specifically designed to store secondary
grocery sized bags. Additionally other bags are not designed to be
folded into thirds and in the process, capture and store secondary
bags making a single compact multi bag holding system.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The primary object of the invention is to provide a grocery
bag that includes side pockets that hold additional grocery
bags.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a grocery bag
that includes additional smaller pockets for holding items such as
a cell phone, keys or a wallet.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a grocery bag
system that allows plurality of bags to be folded together to form
a compact means for carrying reusable grocery bags.
[0010] A further object of the invention is to provide a grocery
bag that is insulated.
[0011] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a grocery
bag system that allows a plurality of bags to be releasably
attached to each other so that the bags are less likely to fall
over when full and being transported in a vehicle.
[0012] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of
illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is
disclosed.
[0013] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
there is disclosed a grocery bag with pockets comprising: a first
grocery bag, a plurality of second grocery bags, said first and
second bags being rectangular in shape having a pair of opposing
broad side surfaces and a pair of opposing narrow side surfaces, a
flat rectangular bottom and an integral top cover, said first bag
top cover having an integral flap that can be folded over and
releasably fastened to said broad side surface by standard
attachment means, said first and second grocery bags made from
flexible fabric that can be sewn by standard means, said first and
second grocery bags having rigid bottom plates, said first grocery
bag having three vertically stacked, external pockets attached to
one broad side surface, each said pocket being similar in width to
the width of said broad surface of said first bag, each said pocket
being approximately one third the height of said broad surface of
said first bag, said first and second grocery bags having sewn on
carry handles, said second grocery bags capable of being folded and
inserted into said first grocery bag pockets, said first grocery
bag capable of being folded into thirds so that said second grocery
bags contained within the pockets of said first grocery bag are
also folded within said first grocery bag so that the first and
second bags form a single, easy to carry unit, said folded unit
having its own carry handle said first bag including a strap that
is centrally attached at one end to the top portion of said broad
side of said first bag, said strap having a fastening means at its
opposite end, said strap fastening means capable of attaching to
said mating attachment means located on said flap of said first bag
thereby enabling said first bag and captured said second bags to
remain folded and compact during transport or storage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The drawings constitute a part of this specification and
include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be
embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some
instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated
or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view a person holding the folded
version of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first grocery bag in the
open position.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side view of the first and second bags in the
folded position.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a person removing a second
bag from a first bag pocket.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a front view of the first bag
[0020] FIG. 6 is a side section view of the first bag.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a side view of the first bag.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the second bag
[0023] FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the second bag
[0024] FIG. 10 is an inside flattened view of the first bag.
[0025] FIG. 11 is an outside flattened view of the first bag.
[0026] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the first and second bags
in an attached position for stable transport.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are
provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present
invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific
details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but
rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for
teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in
virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or
manner.
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of a
person 2 carrying the folded version of the grocery bag system 100
by handle member 26. The user 2 is getting ready to travel to a
grocery store in a vehicle 3. The entire grocery bag system 100
folds into a purse size and is easily transportable. Outer pockets
14, 16, 18 can be used to carry items such as keys, a cell phone or
a wallet.
[0029] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of first bag 50. The bag 50
is rectangular in shape and is the size of a standard grocery bag.
It is comprised of broad panels 60, 61, narrow panels 24, 25,
bottom panel 54 and top cover flap 22. Broad side 60 includes three
pockets 4, 6, 8 that each hold a secondary grocery bag. Handles 10,
12 are sewn 38 onto the narrow side panels 24, 25 in a standard
way. The bag 50 is constructed of flexible fabric. The fabric can
be natural or man made. In the preferred embodiment the primary bag
50 and secondary bags 30, 32, 34 are made of rip stop nylon because
it is flexible, tear resistant, cleanable and can be folded into a
very small size. Top pockets 14, 18, 16 are the same as shown in
the folded view in FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the entire grocery bag system
100. Bag holding pockets 4, 6, 8 as well as the entire bag 50 are
collapsed flat and folded onto each other. The main bag 50 folds
into thirds as defined by secondary bag holding pockets 4, 6, 8.
Strap 20 holds the entire assembly 100 in a closed position by the
application of standard fasteners 28 such as hook and loop
fasteners or snap fasteners. Handle member 26 is reinforced by
rigid member 64 so that when the user 2 carries the assembly 100 by
handle 26, the flexible fabric under the handle does not
buckle.
[0031] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a person pulling a
secondary bag 30 out of pocket 6. In this way, a person can go
grocery shopping and when checking out, fill the primary bag 50
first and then remove secondary bags 30, 32, 34 as needed depending
on the amount of groceries purchased.
[0032] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the primary bag 50. Each pocket
8 is kept closed by a flap 9 that is held closed by a standard
fastener 11 such as hook and loop or a snap fastener. FIG. 6 shows
a side section view of the bag 50 as defined by section line 120
shown in FIG. 5. In this view one can clearly see that secondary
bags 30, 32, 34 are stored in a folded position inside pockets 6,
4, 8. In the preferred embodiment, primary, or first bag 50
includes an insulated lining 42 so that food items that are either
hot or cold can remain so during the time it takes to bring the
food items home. A rigid plate 52 is located at the bottom portion
54 of the bag 50 to help stabilize the bag while being filled and
to help give proper shape to the entire assembly 100 when in the
folded position. FIG. 7 is a side view of the primary bag 50
[0033] FIG. 8 shows a front perspective view of secondary bag 30.
All three secondary bags 30, 32, 34 are similar in construction
however, they each may be made of different colored fabric to help
differentiate the types of items being carried in each bag. For
example, a green bag might carry fresh produce, a blue bag might
carry cleaning supplies and a yellow bag might carry canned, boxed
or bottled items. Each secondary bag includes a rigid floor panel
as shown by dotted line 31. This panel 31 gives the bag 30 the
proper rectangular shape when folded so that it can easily slide
into bag holding pocket 6. This panel 31 also makes it easy for the
user to fold the main bag 50 into thirds when the user is putting
the entire assembly 100 into the stored position. Each bag 50, 30,
32, 34 includes snap type fasteners as shown on bag 30 as
represented by 35, 37 in FIG. 8, 41, 43 in FIG. 9 or as shown on
the rear broad panel 61 of bag 50 as indicated by snaps 70, 72 seen
in FIG. 10. FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of bag 30.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a flattened rear view of bag 50. Side panels 24,
25 are folded inward, Bottom portion 52 is folded onto rear panel
61. Hook and loop fasteners 45A, 45B attach to each other when bag
50 is in the open position and top flap 22 is in place covering the
contents of bag 50. When the bag assembly 100 is in the folded
storage position, Fastening portion 45A interacts with fastening
portion 45C located on closure strap 20 shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 10
clearly shows rigid reinforcing panel 64 which acts to keep the
fabric under the handle portion 26 from buckling. FIG. 11 is a
front view of bag 50 in its flattened state.
[0035] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of both the primary bag 50
and the secondary bags 30, 32, 34 sitting on the back seat of a
vehicle 80. Snap portions as indicated by 43 help hold all the bags
together so that when the vehicle is in motion, the bags tend to
reinforce each other so that they tend to stay in an upright
position.
[0036] While the invention has been described in connection with a
preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the
invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it
is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and
equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *