U.S. patent application number 12/174847 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-21 for foldable shopping bag and carrying case.
Invention is credited to Mary Jane Deck.
Application Number | 20100014785 12/174847 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41530369 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100014785 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Deck; Mary Jane |
January 21, 2010 |
Foldable shopping bag and carrying case
Abstract
A reusable, foldable shopping bag having a body (1) of a
predetermined shape, preferably rectangular, at least one handle
(7) and a storage pocket (8) located on the external surface of the
body (1). The body (1) and handles (7) are foldable/rollable so
that they may be tucked inside the storage pocket (8) for easy
storage. A carrying case (9) is also provided which may be used to
store multiple foldable shopping bags. The carrying case may be
sealed using a hook and loop fastener or other fastening means such
as snaps, buttons, zippers or the like so as to permit a user to
close the carrying case (9). Thus, a user may easily store the
carrying case (9) housing the foldable shopping bags in a glove
compartment, purse, pocket, etc. In the alternative, because the
foldable shopping bag is tucked or folded into storage pocket (8),
a single foldable shopping bag may be easily carried when
folded.
Inventors: |
Deck; Mary Jane; (Naples,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EDWARD M. LIVINGSTON, PA
963 TRAIL TERRACE DRIVE
NAPLES
FL
34103
US
|
Family ID: |
41530369 |
Appl. No.: |
12/174847 |
Filed: |
July 17, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/12 ; 383/117;
383/37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 7/0077 20130101;
A45C 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/12 ; 383/37;
383/117 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/06 20060101
B65D033/06; B65D 30/00 20060101 B65D030/00; B65D 30/04 20060101
B65D030/04 |
Claims
1. A foldable shopping bag comprising: a body having a bottom, a
front side, a back side, a right side and a left side; at least one
handle connected to the body; and at least one storage pocket
located on the body for storing the foldable shopping bag in the
folded position.
2. The foldable shopping bag of claim 1 wherein: the storage pocket
is located on the external surface of the body.
3. The foldable shopping bag of claim 1 wherein: a handle is
connected to the front side of the body; and a handle is connected
to the back side of the body.
4. The foldable shopping bag of claim 1 wherein: the foldable
shopping bag is made of nylon.
5. The foldable shopping bag of claim 1 wherein: the foldable
shopping bag is made of canvas.
6. The foldable shopping bag of claim 1 wherein: the foldable
shopping bag is made of cloth.
7. A carrying case comprising: a pouch; and a flap extending upward
from the top of the pouch.
8. The carrying case of claim 7 wherein: a fastening means for
fastening the flap to the pouch when the flap is folded down over
the outside of the pouch.
9. The carrying case of claim 8 wherein: the fastening means is a
hook and loop fastenor.
10. The carrying case of claim 7 wherein: the carrying case is made
of nylon.
11. The carrying case of claim 7 wherein: the carrying case is made
of canvas.
12. The carrying case of claim 7 wherein: the carrying case is made
of cloth.
13. The carrying case of claim 7 wherein: at least one foldable
shopping bag of claim 1 is stored in the carrying case.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to shopping bags, particularly a
reusable foldable shopping bag which may be collapsed and folded
into a storage pocket located on the external surface of the
foldable shopping bag for easy storage and then placed in a
carrying case so that the user may conveniently store and carry
multiple foldable shopping bags.
[0002] With the ever-increasing need and desire to be
environmentally-friendly, grocery stores, department stores and the
like are now offering canvas or other fabric bags for use in lieu
of paper or plastic bags. However, these reusable bags are often
too small for practical use and/or inconvenient to store and carry.
Oftentimes customers simply forget to bring the reusable bags with
them to the store or decide to leave the reusable bags at home,
opting to use the more convenient paper or plastic bags provided by
the store. This poses a problem not only because of the
environmental concerns brought about by the use of disposable
plastic bags but also because many towns and cities have started to
limit or altogether ban the use of disposable plastic bags.
[0003] Thus, a need exists for a foldable reusable shopping bag
which may be easily stored and carried while not in use thereby
promoting its use over paper or plastic bags.
[0004] The relevant prior art includes the following
references:
TABLE-US-00001 Patent No. (U.S. unless Issue/Publication stated
otherwise) Inventor Date 1. 2,532,778 Mintzes N/A Dec. 05, 1950 2.
4,085,873 Schweitzer N/A Apr. 25, 1978 3. 5,009,516 Geeck N/A Apr.
23, 1991 4. 5,131,513 Gossage N/A Jul. 21, 1992 5. 5,152,612
Shoemaker N/A Oct. 06, 1992 6. 5,399,020 Cheng H.T.P. International
Mar. 21, 1995 Co., Ltd. 7. D358,024 Wilson N/A May 09, 1995 8.
5,472,280 Rittmaster Lasker Harris Dec. 05, 1995 9. D383,903 Kopel
Koltov, Inc. Sep. 23, 1997 10. 2007/0108240 Berger N/A May 17,
2007
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The primary objects of the present invention is to provide a
foldable reusable shopping bag which: [0006] has enough storage
room to carry large amounts of items; [0007] is convenient to carry
when in use; [0008] may be easily folded into its folded position;
[0009] is compact when folded into the collapsed position; [0010]
is convenient to store when not in use; and [0011] may be stored
and carried with other foldable shopping bags in a carrying
case.
[0012] The present invention accomplishes these and other
objectives by providing a reusable foldable shopping bag having a
body of a predetermined shape, preferably rectangular, handles and
a storage pocket located on the external surface of the body. The
body and handles are foldable so that they may be tucked inside the
storage pocket for easy storage. A carrying case is also provided
which may be used to store multiple foldable shopping bags. The
carrying case may be sealed using a hook and loop fastening means
such as Velcro or other fastening means such as snaps, buttons,
zippers or the like so as to permit a user to close the carrying
case. Thus, a user may easily store and transport the carrying case
housing the foldable shopping bags in a glove compartment, purse,
pocket, etc. making the foldable shopping bags conveniently
available for use. In the alternative, because the foldable
shopping bag is tucked or folded into the exterior pocket, a single
bag may be easily carried when folded. In addition to housing the
foldable shopping bag in its folded position, the exterior pocket
may be used to house receipts when using the bag. Additional
storage pockets may also be located on the interior or exterior
surfaces of the foldable shopping bag for extra storage. The
foldable shopping bag and carrying case may be made of nylon,
canvas or any other fabric.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In the following detailed description, reference will be
made to the attached drawings in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of the foldable shopping
bag;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective back view of the foldable shopping
bag;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective left side view of the foldable
shopping bag;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective right side view of the foldable
shopping bag;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the foldable shopping
bag in the folded and stored position; and
[0019] FIG. 6 is a front view of the carrying case.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the
terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the
drawings is as follows: [0021] 1. body, in general [0022] 2. bottom
[0023] 3. front side [0024] 4. back side [0025] 5. right side
[0026] 6. left side [0027] 7. handle [0028] 8. storage pocket
[0029] 9. carrying case [0030] 10. pouch [0031] 11. flap [0032] 12.
fastener
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the preferred embodiment of
the present invention is a foldable shopping bag comprising a body
1 having a bottom 2, a front side 3, a back side 4, a right side 5
and a left side 6. Handles 7 used for carrying the the foldable
shopping bag while in use are attached to the body 1 on the front
side 3 and the back side 4. A storage pocket 8 is located on the
external surface of the front side of the body.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 5, when the foldable shopping bag is not in
use, the user may fold it into the folded position store it in the
storage pocket 8 thereby making the foldable shopping bag compact
and easy to carry while not in use and in its folded position.
[0035] Alternatively, when a user needs to carry or store multiple
foldable storage bags he/she may use a carrying case 9, as shown in
FIG. 7. The carrying case 9 comprises a pouch 10 and a flap 11
extending upward from the pouch. The flap 11 may be folded over the
top of the pouch 10 so as to close the carrying case 9. A fastener
12 such as a hook and loop fastener or other fastening means such
as snaps, buttons, zippers, etc. may be used in conjunction with
the flap 11 to seal the carrying case 9.
[0036] It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of
the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the
specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention and the invention is not be considered limited to what is
shown and described in the specification and drawings.
* * * * *