U.S. patent application number 12/653849 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-24 for compact, reusable shopping bag and tote kits.
Invention is credited to Margaret Mary Michailidis.
Application Number | 20100158414 12/653849 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42266234 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100158414 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Michailidis; Margaret Mary |
June 24, 2010 |
Compact, reusable shopping bag and tote kits
Abstract
A system for sorting and carrying a plurality of shopping bags
or totes. The invention also includes collapsible bags or totes
having non-skid features, and truck or SUV organizers for holding
bags during transport.
Inventors: |
Michailidis; Margaret Mary;
(Surprise, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STOUT, UXA, BUYAN & MULLINS LLP
4 VENTURE, SUITE 300
IRVINE
CA
92618
US
|
Family ID: |
42266234 |
Appl. No.: |
12/653849 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61203202 |
Dec 19, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/12 ; 383/117;
383/121; 383/37; 383/64 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 7/02 20130101; A45C
11/00 20130101; A45C 7/0077 20130101; A45C 3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/12 ; 383/37;
383/64; 383/117; 383/121 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/06 20060101
B65D033/06; B65D 30/00 20060101 B65D030/00; B65D 33/16 20060101
B65D033/16; B65D 30/04 20060101 B65D030/04; B65D 30/10 20060101
B65D030/10 |
Claims
1. A system for carrying a plurality of bags or totes comprising: a
clutch comprising: a pocket structured to receive more than one bag
or tote in collapsed form, and one or more bags or totes in
collapsed for contained within the clutch, and a closure for
retaining the collapsed bags or totes within, wherein said one or
more bags or totes comprise three or more panels, each panel
comprising a flexible hoop assembly contained within a fabric
sleeve, said panel defining a top, bottom, and a right and left
side, wherein the right side of each panel is connected to the left
side of an adjacent panel, and wherein the bottom of each panel is
joined to a bottom section comprising panel of fabric, and each
said bag or tote is structured to be foldable into a disc wherein
the flexible hoop assembly comprises the circumference of said
disc.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the clutch is structured to
receive up to two bags or totes in collapsed form.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the clutch is structured to
receive up to four bags or totes in collapsed form.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the clutch is structured to
receive up to ten bags or totes in collapsed form.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the clutch is structured to
receive up to twelve bags or totes in collapsed form.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein all the collapsed bags or totes
are not the same size.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the closure is selected from the
group consisting of a zipper, a zip-lock closure, a hook and
loop-type closure, a latch, and one or more button.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the clutch comprises a fold-over
top.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the fold-over top is held closed
by a closure selected from the group consisting of a zipper, a
zip-lock closure, a hook and loop-type closure, a latch, and one or
more button.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the fold over top is held closed
by a hook and loop-type closure.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the clutch comprises a
handle.
12. The system of claim 11 wherein the handle comprises a loop of
webbing affixed to the spine of the clutch.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein at least, one bag or tote has
four panels.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein said bag or tote comprises a wire
hoop secured within a sleeve and said panel comprises an opaque
material selected from the group consisting of canvas, nylon and
pack cloth.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein the bottom section comprises an
outer skid-resistant surface.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the outer skid-resistant surface
comprises a feature selected from the group consisting of a
rubberized coating, a polyurethane coating, a strip of polymeric
material affixed to the bottom section, and at least a hook portion
or a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener.
17. A collapsible bag or tote comprising three or more panels, each
panel comprising a flexible hoop assembly contained within a fabric
sleeve, said flexible hoop assembly comprising a panel defining a
top, bottom, and a right and left side, wherein the right side of
each panel is connected to the left side of an adjacent panel, and
wherein the bottom of each panel is joined to a bottom section
comprising a panel of material structured to be skid-resistant, and
where said bag or tote is structured to be collapsed into a
disc.
18. The bag or tote of claim 20 in which the flexible hoop assembly
comprises wire.
19. The bag or tote of claim 20 in which the bag or tote has
handles attached to at least two panels.
20. A system for holding a bag or tote in place against a force
exerted on said bag or tote comprising: a frame structured to hold
one or a plurality of bags in an upright position and placable upon
a substantially level surface of a motor vehicle, and frame
separators at least about one inch high to retain said bags or
totes substantially upright within said frame, one or a plurality
of bags or totes contained within said frame, wherein the bottom of
one or more of said bags or totes comprises a skid-resistant
material.
Description
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claimed priority pursuant to 35 USC
.sctn.119(e) of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/203,202,
filed Dec. 19, 2008, which is hereby incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to methods, apparatus, and
kits useful in reducing the number of disposable paper and plastic
bags manufactured and disposed per year. Rather than utilizing
non-renewable resources, the present invention involves the
reduction of paper and plastic bags from landfill and the
environment. Additionally, the present invention is concerning with
conserving non-renewable and limited resources such as fossil fuels
and wood. In particular the present invention involves bags for
shopping, such as grocery bags and bags often used by department
stores, shops, and the like, which are completely recyclable, and
washable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various types of tote bags and shopping bags are known in
the art. For grocery shopping the most common types of bags are the
ubiquitous brown paper bag and thin, lightweight plastic bags
having finger loops for transporting groceries. In shops,
department stores, and the like thicker bags having better quality
paper and/or heavier thicker plastics are sometimes used. However,
all of these bags are essentially "one-use" conveyances. In certain
stores, such as the Apple Store, the plastic bags have been
combined with a drawstring or cord and can serve the dual purposes
of providing an opportunity to close the bag using the drawstring
and covering the drawstring into two "backpack" type straps, thus
permitting repeated use of the bag if the user so desires. However,
these bags are not strictly designed for multiple use and still
involve the use of a large quantity of plastics which are
essentially non-biodegradable.
[0004] In recent years, "green-conscious" grocery stores and other
places of business have offered canvas or other similar bags or
sacks for recyclable transport of purchased goods. While such bags
have enjoyed a modest level of success, these bags tend to be
rather bulky. Additionally, when shopping for groceries it is not
uncommon for a shopper to require from four to twelve bags or more
to transport the goods from the store to, for example, a car,
and/or from the car into the home. Canvas bags become all the more
unwieldy (and even heavy) when a shopper must carry, for example,
eight to twelve of these bags around the store. Heretofore, the
only practical way to carry a large number of canvas bags is to
place the majority of the bags folded or crumpled inside one tote
bag. This results in the tote bag into which the remaining bags
have been placed becoming distended and even more bulky. Because of
this inconvenience, many shoppers have not adopted the use of
canvas bags.
[0005] Another associated problem heretofore associated with the
use of canvas and similar reusable grocery or tote bags is the fact
that storage of these containers when they are not in use is often
inconvenient. These containers may occupy a considerable amount of
space, and even when, for example, unused bags are stored inside
another bag, the resulting bag may be somewhat rigid and stiff and
not easily moldable or accommodating. In order to be conveniently
available when the user wishes to utilize the bags, the containers
are optimally stored in an automobile for future use. However, in a
small automobile storing sufficient of these containers for a
typical amount grocery shopping may require using significant trunk
or passenger space, if available.
[0006] Lightweight garment hampers comprising webbing stretched
between a flexible continuous loop frame are described in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,645,533 to Ziglar. These garment hampers have a top and may
comprise a funnel for gravity-induced filling and unfilling of the
hamper. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,188, to Kellogg et al., a garment
hamper is described made of webbing having a frame forming a
continuous loop. The disclosures of these and all other patents,
patent applications, and publications are hereby incorporated by
reference in their entirety as part of this specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present patent application is directed to and includes
reusable, lightweight and compact grocery bags, and/or totes, kits
containing multiple such bags and/or totes, and methods for the
production and use of such bags, totes and kits. It will be
understood that the term "containers" includes bags and totes in
this application.
[0008] The grocery bags or totes of this invention comprise
lightweight fabric panels comprising three or more (preferably
four) twistable hoops of wire or plastic, each of which has a top,
a bottom, a right side and a left side. The panels are configured
so that the right side of each panel is connected to a left side of
another panel. The panels may be approximately circular in shape;
preferably the panels are approximately oval in shape, wherein the
sides are longer than the top and bottom portions. Each panel is
connected to at least two other panels by stitching, webbing, or
material joining the right side of a first panel with the left side
of a second panel, and the left side of the first panel with the
right side of a third panel.
[0009] Additionally the grocery bag and/or tote has a bottom. The
bottom is preferably a panel of material connecting the bottoms of
the three or more panels comprising the sides of the bag such that
when the hoops within the panels are fully unrestrained the panels
define three or more sides to an open bag or tote. The material
preferably substantially completely covers the portion of the
connected hoops below the midline of the bag or tote. When the
container is in an open configuration the bottom panel also
preferably keeps the hoops substantially symmetrically aligned.
[0010] Importantly, in this aspect of the invention the bags or
totes are capable of being collapsed or otherwise reduced in size
for facile storage. This fact also permits multiple bags or totes
to be packaged together in one or more compact kits that can easily
be carried in a car (such as in a glove compartment), shopping
cart, office, desk, or even in a purse until one or more bag or
tote is needed.
[0011] In one embodiment a kit is made comprising two or more, or
four or more, six or more, or 8 or more bags or totes in collapsed
form, and retained together within a case or clutch. In a
particularly useful form, a kit contains bags or totes of at least
two different sizes, or at least thee different sizes, or at least
four different sizes. In this way, the user can choose a bag or
tote of a size appropriate to the item or items to be carried.
[0012] Preferably, but not invariably, at least one bag or tote has
a size substantially similar to the size of a standard paper
grocery bag. For example, one standard paper bag size is 16''
H.times.12'' W.times.8'' D (volume=1536 cubic inches (ci). A
standard plastic bag has a volume of about 722 cubic inches
(corresponding approximately to dimensions of 14.5H.times.11.5
W.times.4.25 D); this may be the volume and/or dimensions of
another size of the bag or tote of the present invention. The
approximate dimensions of another size of bag or tote used in the
present invention is 14.5' H.times.11.5' W.times.6.5' D
(corresponding to a volume of 1083 cubic inches). It will be
understood that the collapsible bags or totes may have
substantially similar dimensions as plastic or paper bags,
substantially similar volumes, or may have unique dimensions or
volumes; all such embodiments are embraced by the current
specification.
[0013] In a particularly preferred embodiment, a bag or tote of the
present invention has the dimensions 10'' D.times.10'' W.times.12''
H. Of course, the reusable bags and totes of the present invention
can be made in any convenient size or variety of sizes.
[0014] Although the bags and totes of the present invention may
have three or more sides, preferably the bags and totes have four
sides of equal or approximately equal height and width, thus
forming a square footprint. However, as indicated above, the depth
of the bags (representing the width of two opposing panels or
hoops) may be less than the width of the front and back panels or
hoops. In this case the footprint of the open, extended bag or tote
is rectangular rather than exactly square. Either way, such
footprints assist the user in arranging open, extended bags on a
surface, such as within a car trunk, on the back seat of a car, or
in the rear of a station wagon or sports utility vehicle during use
and in maximizing the number of such bags or totes on the
surface.
[0015] An optional, yet particularly desirable and convenient
feature is that two or more panels or hoops of the open, extended
bags or totes of the present invention have an integrated handle
sewn or affixed thereto. In this way the bags or totes may be
easily carried from one location to another, or more than one such
bag or tote may be carried at one time. The integrated handle may
be a simple loop of material (or a more structured handle) affixed
or sewn to opposing sides and/or panels of the bag or tote. Less
preferably, the handle may comprise a reinforced hole in opposing
panels of the bag or tote. In another currently less preferred
embodiment, the handle may comprise one or more strap in which one
end of the strap is sewn or otherwise affixed to one panel or side
of the bag or tote and the other end of the strap is sewn or
otherwise affixed to the opposing pane or side. Such a handle could
be used as either a handle or a shoulder strap if sufficiently
long. A pair of such straps located at the right and left sides of
the opposing panels may comprise a pair of handles for hand
carrying the bag.
[0016] The fabric which comprises the bottom of the bag, the panel
or hoop and/or the sides of the bag or tote can be any suitable
material. However, very preferably the fabric is not a netting, but
is an opaque fabric material. For example, an opaque nylon, rayon,
or other polymeric material may be perfectly suitable. In another
embodiment, the material may be denim or canvas. A particularly
interesting high quality material, both strong and lightweight, is
pack cloth, such as (without limitation) reinforced 400 or 600
denier nylon pack cloth. Such cloth is lightweight, strong, highly
flexible, and low in cost. In certain embodiments the cloth may be
coated on one side, e.g., with polyurethane or another suitable
polymer, for water resistance.
[0017] In many cases it is not important whether the fabric is
waterproof or not. In a preferred embodiment, the fabric is not
waterproof; in another preferred embodiment the fabric may be
waterproof. A leakproof bag or tote may be particularly preferred
when transporting groceries in a vehicle. Additionally, the
material may be of any color or pattern, including tan, black, or
any other solid or patterned color. Preferably, although not
exclusively, the bags or totes of the present invention are tan
with black trim, and are made to generally resemble a paper
bag.
[0018] In certain embodiments the bottom of the bag or tote is made
with a material having a non-slip outside surface. For example, the
bottom fabric may be "rubberized" or treated with a layer of latex
or polyurethane. As another alternative, the bottom of the bag or
tote may be fitted with bottom grip strips made of a non-skid
material, such as rubber, rubberized plastic, or (particularly when
the trunk or back of the vehicle is carpeted) the "hook" portion of
a hook and loop, VELCRO.RTM.-type fastener.
[0019] In certain embodiments of the invention, the bags or totes
may be made with outside pockets (for example, structured to hold
for example, a wallet, keys, or shopping list).
[0020] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the
bags or totes of the invention are provided with an attached
retainer, such as an attached elastic ring for securing the bag in
the collapsed configuration. Such an elastic ring may be, for
example, sewn into the upper inner seam of the tote. Moreover, a
plurality of collapsed bags or totes are contained within a clutch
or container. The clutch may be made from PVC, nylon (including
pack cloth) or any convenient and sufficiently strong and durable
material. The clutch is sized to accommodate, without limitation,
two, or four or six shopping bags or totes, for example as a "2
pack", a "4 pack" or a "6 pack". The clutch also preferably has a
handle or strap for easy carrying while shopping. The clutch is
preferably slim and sized to fit in the glove compartment of a car.
Double-thick clutches are also contemplated, in which the length
and height of the clutch may be identical to those mentioned above,
but wherein the depth of the clutch will accommodate two collapsed
bags or totes. In this case, the capacity of the clutches is
doubled. Thus, a double thick clutch having a length and height
identical to that of a "2 pack" may a "4 pack", which a clutch
having the height and length of a "6 pack" is actually a 12
pack.
[0021] In particular aspects, the clutch to be used for storing
collapsed bags or totes may contain other additional elements, such
as a pen or pencil holder, a pocket for lists, coupons, and the
like. In a preferred embodiment, one or more of the additional
elements are contained on the inside of the clutch.
[0022] In yet another aspect, the invention of the present
application concerns a trunk or SUV organizer for securely holding
shopping bags or totes e.g., in the back of an SUV or station
wagon, or in the truck of a car. These may comprise "bagprints" or
shaped, bordered outlines or frames for placement in the trunk, of
the bottom dimensions of one or a multiple of the bags or totes.
Preferably the shape of the bagprint is rectangular, but the shape
of the bagprint may be triangular or the shape of any other polygon
or geometric form, depending on the dimentions of the bag or
tote.
[0023] The bagprints may lay for example, in the rear of an SUV or
in the trunk of a car. The bagprint may have a raised border of,
for example, up to about 6 inches or about 8 inches or about 10
inches or amount 12 inches or more and permit the placement of one
or more of the unfolded bags or totes of the present invention (or
conventional bags) within them. The raised border may comprise a
cardboard or plastic lip that may optionally be covered with
fabric. In a particular embodiment the bagprint may also comprise a
bottom or floor. The bottom or floor of the bagprint may comprise a
hook or a loop portion of a hook and loop-type fastener; in such a
case the bottom of the bag may comprise the other portion of the
hook and loop type fastener; when in use this feature may prevent
or reduce shifting or tipping of the bags when in use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is drawn to an embodiment of a collapsible bag of the
present invention.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a two-pack clutch of the present invention
containing two collapsed bags or totes.
[0026] FIG. 3A shows an oblique view of a clutch of the present
invention having expandable sides.
[0027] FIG. 3B shows an oblique view of the same clutch when it
contains collapsed bags or totes of the present invention, in which
the sides have expanded.
[0028] FIG. 4A shows a trunk organizer or bagprint arranged in
rectangular sections for holding bags or totes.
[0029] FIG. 4B shows a trunk organizer or bagprint arranged in
triangular sections for holding bags or totes.
[0030] FIG. 5A shows a bottom view of the bottom panel of a bag or
tote with skid-resistant strips attached.
[0031] FIG. 5B shows a skid-resistant strip comprising a hook outer
texture.
[0032] FIG. 5C shows a skid-resistant strip comprising a rubberized
ripple strip for increasing friction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] The following embodiments of the invention are
non-exclusive, and the invention is defined solely by the claims.
The present invention is drawn to reusable, lightweight and
collapsible shopping bags or totes, kits containing such bags and
totes, and apparatus for retaining such bags and totes, both in the
collapsed and the expanded form. Thus, the invention also includes
a case or clutch for storing 2 or less, or 4 or less, or 6 or less,
or 8 or less, or 10 or less, or 12 or less, or greater than 12
collapsed shopping bags or totes. The invention also includes a
bagprint, organizer, or holder or retainer for use in a car, SUV or
other vehicle for bags while they are in use.
[0034] Turning to FIG. 1, pictured is a "cube" tote (10) having
four panels comprising front and back panels (12 and 14) and side
panels (16 and 18) of equal dimensions. These dimensions may be any
convenient size; in the embodiment shown the dimensions of the
panels are 10'' W.times.10'' L.times.12'' H. The bag shown has two
web handles (20) sewn to the side panels. The length of the handles
can be any convenient length. In this case the handles are 18''. It
will be understood that the handles can be made in any convenient
manner. Preferably the handles are not "cut out" spaces in the body
of the bag, as this prevents holding one or more bag in the same
hand. For example, in other embodiments a strap may connect the 2
corners of the bag or tote.
[0035] The cube tote of FIG. 1 has a flexible wire frame sewn
within a sleeve defining the perimeter of each of the four panels
(22). The sleeve at the upper edge of one of the panels has a
retaining elastic band (24) sewn to it for holding the collapsed
bag in a flattened position. In FIG. 1, the loop is made of 3/4
inch wide, non-roll elastic.
[0036] In FIG. 2 is shown a front view of a two-pack clutch (50)
containing two collapsed bags or totes (54). The clutch may be made
of any convenient material, such as canvas, PVC or another polymer,
nylon, or pack cloth. Preferably the material is a heavy-duty,
durable material. The clutch comprises a fold-over top (52) which
optionally can be fastened; possible fasteners include a zipper, a
clasp, one or more buttons, a hook and loop fastener such as a
VELCRO.RTM.-type fastener, or any other suitable fastening system.
The dimensions of the fastener may be, for example and without
limitation, about 7/8'' wide, and 11/2 inches long.
[0037] Within the clutch of FIG. 2 are shown in outline two
collapsed bags or totes (54), each with its retaining elastic band
(24). Not shown is an optional inner pocket, such as an inner mesh
pocket. Preferably the pocket may be located on the top edge of the
clutch flush with the face of the shell. Also not shown is an
optional pen loop for retaining a pen or pencil.
[0038] It will be understood that the four-pack and six-pack
clutches of the present invention will usually resemble the clutch
shown in FIG. 2, except for its size, particularly, although not
exclusively, its length. It will also be understood that the
clutches of the present invention may be structured to fit 2 or
more collapsed shopping bags or totes of various dimensions (or, in
collapsed form, different diameters).
[0039] As shown, the clutch may also contain a strap (56) for easy
carrying. The handle may comprise, for example, web tape (e.g., web
tape having a width of about 1 inch) sewn to the spine of the
clutch.
[0040] In other, less preferred embodiments the clutch may contain
an outer zipper pocket and/or an inner divider or pocket in the
interior of the bag.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, a logo, trademark, or product name may
be embroidered, embossed, silkscreened or otherwise placed on the
outside surface of the clutch. An inner label, woven into the
clutch may also be considered.
[0042] In certain embodiments of the invention the side of the
clutch may be structured to expand when the bags or totes of the
present invention are added to them. In a particular embodiment,
for example, the sides of the clutch are made of flexible
expandable material. In another embodiment the sides of the clutch
are made of an "accordion" or folded panel capable of expanding
when the clutch is filled.
[0043] FIG. 3A is a side perspective of an embodiment of the clutch
of the invention, in which the sides of the clutch are made to be
expandable. As shown in FIG. 3A the clutch is unfilled, the sides
of the clutch are made in an accordion-like manner (102) like an
expanding file. In FIG. 3B the clutch is filled with four collapsed
bags or totes (54) held in place with an elastic band (24) and the
sides of the clutch (102) have expanded to accommodate two rows of
two collapsed bags or totes laying side by side. Thus, the clutch
shown in FIG. 3B is a four-pack clutch having the width of a two
pack clutch.
[0044] FIG. 4A shows a "bagprint" trunk or SUV organizer. As shown,
when the bags have four panels and a rectangular footprint, the
bagprint organizer is arranged to fit each bag or tote snugly
trough a rectangular frame (202) structured to separate the bags
from one another (or to hold a group of bags or totes snugly
together) through the use of horizontal frame separators (204) and
vertical frame separators (206). FIG. 3A only shows four spaces for
the bags or totes to be retained; depending upon the size of the
bags or totes, this number may vary. The frame separators are
generally at least one inch, or at least 2 inches, or at least 4
inches, or at least 6 inches high. They may be made from cardboard
or plastic, and may be covered with material or plastic film. In
one embodiment, the ends of the frame separators may comprise a
fastener means to affixing the frame separators to each other and
to the frame (202). This fastening means may include a series or
grooves on the inside face of the frame; and/or on the faces of the
frame separators themselves, into which the ends of the frame
separators may fit. Alternatively, the inside face of the frame and
the faces of the frame separators may be at least partly covered
with a hook or loop material, and the ends of the frame separators
at least covered with a hook or a loop material so that the frame
separators may be moved and adjusted as the user wishes.
[0045] In FIG. 4B the bagprint trunk organizer is made to
accommodate bags or totes comprising three panels rather than four,
thus forming a triangular footprint. In this case the frame (202)
contains at least one horizontal frame separator (204) and a
plurality of diagonal frame separators (208). In the embodiment
shown (depending on the shape and size of the bags relative to the
frame) one, three or nine bags or totes having an equilateral
footprint may be securely retained within each triangular
footprint. However, if the footprint of the bags or totes is not
equilateral, different combinations, for example, two, four, or
eight bags may be retained within each triangular footprint.
[0046] In one embodiment the frame separators can be moved from a
rectangular to other polygonal shapes by moving
[0047] the frame separators and affixing them to the frame using
the fastening means as described above:
[0048] In FIG. 5A the bottom panel (502) of a four panel bag or
tote of the present invention is shown in a bottom view. In this
embodiment the outside bottom surface of the bag or tote comprises
a plurality of skid resistant pads (504).
[0049] In FIG. 5B a skid-resistant pad is shown having a hook
texture (506) for affixing to a loop texture (not shown) comprised
on, for example, the bottom surface of a trunk organizer or frame
of the present invention, or to the carpeting of, for example, an
automobile trunk or SUV. Alternatively, the surface may comprise
the hook portion and the bottom of the bag or tote the loop portion
of the hook and loop fastener.
[0050] In FIG. 5C a skid-resistant pad is shown having rubberized
ripples designed to increase the frictional coefficient of the bag
when placed on a surface.
[0051] Of course, other skid resistant methods exist, such as
polymer coated bottom panel materials, which do not employ skid
resistant pads, but may also be effective to prevent slippage.
[0052] The examples shown in the figures are non-exclusive, and
illustrate but do not limit the invention. The claims that follow
this specification solely define the invention.
* * * * *