U.S. patent application number 14/598307 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-23 for hard bottom tote.
The applicant listed for this patent is Veto Pro Pac, LLC. Invention is credited to Roger Brouard.
Application Number | 20150201722 14/598307 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53543458 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150201722 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brouard; Roger |
July 23, 2015 |
Hard Bottom Tote
Abstract
A hard bottom tote incorporates a substantially rigid, water
proof and impact resistant base joined to a fabric body extending
upward from the base. The fabric body incorporates stiffening
members supporting the body in an upright and open position to
facilitate loading the tote when empty. Stiffeners surround the
mouth of the tote so that the mouth of the bag remains open. The
disclosed tote has a tapered body configuration with a mouth of the
tote larger than the base to facilitate nesting of multiple totes
for storage when empty. A pair of handles extend above the mouth of
the tote, supported by webbing sleeves incorporating
stiffeners.
Inventors: |
Brouard; Roger; (Norwalk,
CT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Veto Pro Pac, LLC |
Norwalk |
CT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53543458 |
Appl. No.: |
14/598307 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61928817 |
Jan 17, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
150/107 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 3/001 20130101;
A45C 1/02 20130101; A45C 13/36 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45C 1/02 20060101
A45C001/02 |
Claims
1. A hard bottom tote comprising: a substantially rigid base
defining a support surface and a peripheral lip; a bag body
extending from a lower end secured to said peripheral lip to an
upper end defining a mouth, said bag body constructed of flexible
material and including support sufficient to hold the bag body in
an upright position projecting above said base; at least one handle
secured to said bag body.
2. The hard bottom tote of claim 1, wherein said bag body is
primarily constructed of fabric and includes a stiffening
member.
3. The hard bottom tote of claim 2, wherein said stiffening member
comprises a plurality of non-fabric stiffening members captured in
pockets defined by the bag body.
4. The hard bottom tote of claim 3, wherein said stiffening members
are elongated along a longitudinal axis, at least one of said
stiffening members is positioned with its longitudinal axis
substantially perpendicular to said support surface and at least
one other of said stiffening members is positioned with its
longitudinal axis substantially parallel with said support
surface.
5. The hard bottom tote of claim 3, wherein said stiffening members
are elongated along a longitudinal axis and at least one of said
stiffening members has an orientation substantially perpendicular
to said support surface.
6. The hard bottom tote of claim 1, comprising a plurality of
elongated stiffening members secured to said bag body at a
plurality of spaced apart locations.
7. The hard bottom tote of claim 1, wherein said bag body includes
at least one web assembly comprising: first and second webbing
strips each having a length and a pair of longitudinal edges, said
longitudinal edges joined to define an elongated pocket between
said webbing strips; and an elongated stiffening member in said
pocket, wherein said first and second webbing strips have a first
bending resistance and said web assembly has a second bending
resistance greater than said first bending resistance.
8. The hard bottom tote of claim 7, wherein said stiffening member
is a strip of plastic having dimensions selected to permit the
strip to be inserted into said elongated pocket.
9. The hard bottom tote of claim 1, wherein said bag body includes
an elongated pocket defined adjacent said upper end and an
elongated stiffening member within said elongated pocket to
increase the stiffness of said bag body.
10. The hard bottom tote of claim 1, wherein said elongated
stiffening member is interrupted.
11. A hard bottom tote comprising: a concave substantially rigid
base including a support surface, a peripheral wall extending
upwardly from said support surface and terminating in an upstanding
lip; a bag body joined to said upstanding lip and extending away
from said base to an upper end defining a mouth, said bag body
defining at least one elongated pocket; at least one elongated
stiffening member received in said at least one elongated pocket,
wherein said bag body is supported by said at least one elongated
stiffening member so that said bag body extends in an upright
position above said base, when said tote is resting upon said
support surface.
12. The hard bottom tote of claim 11, wherein said at least one
elongated pocket includes a plurality of elongated pockets
distributed about the bag body and said at least one elongated
stiffening member includes a plurality of elongated stiffening
members received in said plurality of elongated pockets.
13. The hard bottom tote of claim 12, wherein at least one of said
plurality of elongated pockets has a longitudinal orientation
generally parallel with said support surface and at least one of
said plurality of elongated pockets has an orientation generally
perpendicular to said support surface.
14. The hard bottom tote of claim 11, wherein said bag body
comprises at least one handle.
15. The hard bottom tote of claim 11, wherein said at least one
elongated pocket is defined between webbing strips joined along
their elongated longitudinal edges.
16. The hard bottom tote of claim 11, wherein said bag body is
tapered, having a larger opening at said mouth than at said
base.
17. The hard bottom tote of claim 11, wherein said at least one
elongated pocket includes a plurality of elongated pockets having a
longitudinal orientation substantially perpendicular to said
support surface, said plurality of elongated pockets being arranged
in spaced apart relationship about a circumference of said bag
body.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The disclosure relates generally to products that allow
humans to carry, organize, and store items and more specifically to
a heavy-duty self-supporting tote.
[0002] Many tasks and occupations require devices that permit a
person to carry a large number of relatively small items. A wide
variety of carrying devices are well known, including buckets,
bags, boxes, plastic storage bins, hard and soft toolboxes and the
like. Rigid carrying devices can be advantageous in that they
provide some protection from impact and the environment including
water or other liquids to items stored therein. However rigid
carrying devices cannot conform to an available space and may
occupy valuable storage volume even when empty. Soft carrying
devices such as bags can be advantageous in that they can be stored
very compactly when not in use, they conform to an available space
even when filled, and may be constructed from a variety of
materials depending upon the intended use. Soft carrying devices
and bags tend not to be very protective of the items stored within
in terms of impact and moisture resistance. Soft carrying devices
also tend to collapse when empty, and often require the use of one
hand or another person to hold the soft device open when it is
being filled.
[0003] There is a need for a carrying device that incorporates some
of the advantageous features of rigid and soft carrying
devices.
[0004] There is also a need for a heavy-duty carrying device for
use by outdoor enthusiasts, as well as in the construction,
fishing, mining, and agriculture industries.
SUMMARY
[0005] A hard bottom tote according to aspects of the disclosure
has a generally tub-shaped base formed from self-supporting, water
proof, abrasion and impact resistant material. Base materials such
as plastic and rubber and construction methods such as molding or
thermoforming are compatible with the disclosed hard bottom tote,
with the material of the base being less flexible than the material
of the body of the tote. The disclosed hard bottom tote
incorporates a substantially rigid plastic base which defines a
support surface and resists penetration from both inside and
outside the tote. "Substantially rigid", as used in this
application is intended to encompass base materials and
configurations where the base is less flexible than the tote body
and meets the criteria of being self-supporting, water proof,
impact and abrasion resistant.
[0006] A flexible tote body extends upward from the base and
includes a pair of handles arranged for carrying the tote. The
flexible tote body is constructed from materials selected for
strength, resistance to abrasion, cutting and common chemicals. The
tote body is constructed so that it will be substantially
self-supporting when the tote is empty. The tote body may define a
plurality of elongated pockets for receiving stiffening members
that increase the stiffness of the tote body so that it will stand
on its own. The stiffening members themselves are not rigid and the
resulting tote body remains flexible enough to conform to the shape
of its contents, conform to the available storage space when
partially filled, and be folded or collapsed when not in use. The
disclosed hard bottom tote may incorporate stiffening members
around the mouth of the tote, to provide stiffness at this location
that will tend to hold the mouth of the tote open during use. The
base may take the form of a concave tub, protecting the contents
from liquids or contaminants present on surfaces upon which the
hard bottom tote is placed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a
hard bottom tote according to aspects of the present
disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the hard bottom tote of
FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a left end view of the hard bottom tote of FIG.
1;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a top view looking down into the hard bottom tote
of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial sectional view through one
end of the hard bottom tote, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;
and
[0012] FIG. 6 is an enlarged, partial sectional view through the
hard bottom tote of FIG. 4, taken along line 6-6 thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Embodiments of a hard bottom tote according to aspects of
the disclosure will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-6
and will generally be referred to by the reference numeral 10.
Various materials, methods of construction, methods of manufacture,
and methods of fastening will be discussed in the context of the
disclosed embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize
known substitutes for the materials, manufacturing methods, and
fastening methods, all of which are contemplated as compatible with
the disclosed embodiments and are intended to be encompassed by the
appended claims.
[0014] One object of the disclosed hard bottom tote is to provide a
carrying device with some of the the advantages of a fabric bag
(conforms to the shape of its cargo and available space, folds for
storage when empty) and some of the advantages of rigid containers
(protects contents from the environment, stands upright on its
own). Over time and with use, fabric bags tend to break in and
become very flexible, even limp. Broken in fabric bags will not
stand on their own and frequently require a person to hold the bag
upright and open while a second person places objects in the bag.
The disclosed hard bottom tote incorporates components selected and
assembled to provide the body of the tote with added stiffness,
e.g., resistance to bending that will permit the tote to stand
upright and hold itself open, even after long use when the body of
the tote is broken in.
[0015] The disclosed embodiment of a hard bottom tote 10 includes a
supported fabric bag body 12 secured to a concave, substantially
rigid base 14. The disclosed embodiments employ a molded plastic
base 14, but other materials and methods of manufacture are
compatible with the disclosed hard bottom tote 10. The base 14
includes a downward projecting foot 16, which defines a generally
planar base surface 18 configured to support the tote 10 in an
upright position. The disclosed base 14 defines a concave tub
approximately 2 to 3 inches in depth, although the depth of the
base 14 may vary according to the dimensions and intended use of
the tote 10. The upper extremity of the base 14 includes an
outwardly projecting rib 20 and an upwardly projecting lip 22. The
bag body 12 is configured to overlap with the lip 22 and is secured
to the base 14 by a plurality of stainless steel rivets 24. A
variety of methods and fasteners may be employed to form the
connection between the bag body 12 and the base 14, which is not
limited to the disclosed stainless steel rivets 24.
[0016] The disclosed bag body 12 is constructed from various fabric
and webbing components secured to each other by stitching and
fasteners such as rivets. In the disclosed embodiments, the bag
body 12 is generally symmetrical, with the appearance of the front
of the bag generally resembling that of the rear of the bag, and
the right and left ends generally resembling each other. A
symmetrical configuration is not required and the bag body 12 may
have one or more asymmetrical features depending upon the intended
use. In the disclosed embodiments, the bag body 12 includes two
primary panels 26 of 1800 denier polyester fabric that may be
coated or treated for moisture resistance. The fabric and webbing
components of the bag body 12 are generally secured to each other
by stitching with nylon thread, though other high-strength thread
may also be employed. Stitched connections may be reinforced with
rivets as needed for strength or for decorative purposes. The
material for the bag body 12 will be selected depending upon the
intended use of the tote 10 and is not limited to any particular
material. Generally speaking, the bag body 12 should be durable,
with good resistance to abrasion, common chemicals and the like.
The bag body 12 is intended to be flexible and have the properties
of a soft carrying device, which permits the resulting tote 10 to
conform to the shape of its contents and be collapsed for compact
storage when empty. Woven, non-woven, sheet plastic or laminated
materials may be employed to construct the body of the disclosed
hard bottom tote.
[0017] The bag body 12 is not limited to the disclosed number of
panels 26 or other components, which may vary according to design
preference. The upper end or mouth 28 of the bag body 12 has a
greater circumference than the bottom end 30. This configuration is
achieved by configuring the primary panels 26 in the shape of a
trapezoid, with the shorter side of the trapezoid at the bottom 30
of the bag body 12. The result is a tapered tote 10 that is larger
at its mouth 28 than at its base 14. This tapered construction
facilitates nesting of multiple totes 10 with the mouth 28 of each
tote 10 large enough to receive the base 14 of the same size tote
10 nested within. A number of empty totes 10 may be stored or
transported compactly according to this feature of the disclosed
embodiments.
[0018] Strips of nylon material 32 are folded over the upper and
lower ends 28, 30 of the bag body 12 for protection and to provide
a finished appearance. The folded nylon material 32 also reinforces
the lower end 30 of the bag body 12 where the rivets 24 secure the
bag body 12 to the base 14. Folded nylon material 32 is also used
for protection and finishing at the upper edges of the pockets 34
and along the edges of the primary panels 26 which are exposed
inside the tote 10. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a
variety of techniques may be employed to finish the edges of fabric
assemblies such as that of the bag body 12. For example, the
material of the bag body panels 26 might be folded over one or more
times and stitched to provide a reinforced finished edge.
[0019] The front and rear of the bag body 12 include webbing
assemblies 36 that extend from the lower end 30 of the bag body 12
to handles 38 projecting above the mouth 28 of the bag body 12. In
the disclosed embodiments, each webbing assembly 36 includes two
polypropylene webbing strips sewn together at their longitudinal
edges to form a sleeve open at both ends. While this sleeve is flat
and empty, a rectangle if durable, flexible material that will form
the handle is stitched to the longitudinal edges of the sleeve,
which is then folded and the long edges of the rectangle of
material are sewed to form a handle 38 as shown in FIG. 3. In the
disclosed embodiments, the handle material is leather and the
handle is reinforced by rivets at either end. The handle 38 may
include a rod or tube of flexible material (not shown) inside the
folded sleeve to expand the volume of the handle 38 for improved
ergonomics. In one embodiment, a 1/4 inch diameter flexible round
plastic piping is used for this purpose, but other materials and
sectional shapes may be used.
[0020] The webbing assemblies 36 on the front and rear of the tote
10 include an internal stiffener 40 extending from either end of
the handles 38 to the bottom end 30 of the bag body 12. In the
disclosed embodiments, the internal stiffener 40 is a 1 mm thick
strip of polyethylene (PE) plastic sheet, though other materials
are compatible for use as a stiffener within a webbing assembly.
The thickness of the stiffener will be selected depending upon the
desired properties of the tote, with thicker material generally
resulting in a webbing assembly 36 that is less flexible. The
stiffener 40 is cut to a width that allows it to be inserted into
the sleeve formed by the webbing assembly 36. The upper end of each
stiffener 40 may be pointed or tapered to fit into the triangular
space formed where the webbing is folded to form the handle 38. The
resulting webbing assembly 36 is flexible, but has a stiffness that
supports the front and rear sides of the tote 10. The stiffness of
the webbing assemblies also supports the handles 38 for grasping by
the user. The webbing assemblies 36 are stitched and riveted to the
front and rear primary body panels 26. The bottom ends of the
webbing assemblies 36 are covered by the folded trim strip 32. As
shown in FIG. 6, when the bag body 12 is riveted to the lip 22 of
the base 14, one of the fasteners 24 may pass through the bag body
panel 26, webbing assembly 36, and trim strip 32, forming a robust
structural connection between the webbing assemblies 36 and the
base 14. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a flap 42
may be provided to cover the lip 22 which would otherwise be
exposed on the inside of the tote 10. The flap 42 may be penetrated
by the rivets 24 or may cover the rivets 24.
[0021] Pockets 34 may be provided on the front and rear of the tote
10 between the descending legs of the webbing assemblies 36. The
pockets 34 may be of various configurations from a single, open
pocket to smaller, separated pockets according to need and design
preference. Layers of fabric material may be employed to form a
tiered or nested arrangement of pockets, as desired. In the
disclosed embodiments, a horizontal reinforcement 44 is arranged
across the bottom edge of the pocket 34. The reinforcement is to
prevent holes or cuts from forming at the bottom of the pocket from
parts and tools with points or sharp edges inserted into the
pockets 34. In the disclosed embodiments, the horizontal
reinforcement 44 is a strip of polypropylene webbing stitched to
the outside of the pocket material at the bottom margin of the
pocket 34 and finished with a folded trim strip 32. Other
arrangements of pockets at the corners and/or ends on the outside
and on the inside of the tote 10 are contemplated in alternative
embodiments of the disclosed tote 10.
[0022] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, each end of the bag body 12
includes an end webbing assembly 46 extending from the bottom 30 to
the top 28 of the bag body 12. The end webbing assembly 46 includes
a webbing sleeve 50 surrounding a stiffener 40. The longitudinal
edges of two strips of webbing material are sewn together to define
a sleeve 50 into which a strip of 1 mm thick PE sheet is inserted.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, another narrower strip of web material
52 is sewn to the outside web of the webbing sleeve 50 and is
turned back on itself at an upper end to capture a D ring 54. A
second D ring 56 is captured by a webbing strip 48 that is inserted
behind the flap formed by the turned down upper end of web material
52. The layers of web material capturing the D rings 54, 56 are
stitched and riveted together, providing strong attachment points
for shoulder straps (not shown) or for hanging tools such as a
hammer.
[0023] The completed end webbing assemblies 46 are sewn to the
finished edges of the bag body panels 26 to form the tapered bag
body 12. Finally, trim strips 32 are folded over the top and bottom
ends 30, 28 of the bag body 12 to provide a finished appearance to
the bag body while adding strength and abrasion resistance. Each
body panel 26 includes a stiffener 40 captured beneath a fabric
strip 58 sewn to the top edge of the panel 26. In the disclosed
embodiments, the fabric strip 58 is folded over the top edge of the
panel 26 and stitched in place to form a horizontal pocket 60
surrounded by the fabric strip 58. The longitudinal edges of the
fabric strip 58 are folded under to present a finished appearance
to the installed fabric strip 58. The stiffener 40 at the top end
28 of the bag body 12 is a strip of 1 mm thick PE sheet sized to be
inserted to the pocket 60 defined by the fabric strip 58.
[0024] The stiffener 40 at the upper end 28 of the bag body 12
extends between the end webbing assemblies 46, but does not overlap
with the end webbing assemblies 46. The connection between
completed body panels 26 and the end webbing assemblies 46 is a
fabric connection which functions as a hinge, allowing the mouth
defined at the upper end 28 of the bag body 12 to collapse in a
front to back direction when the bag is not full. However, the
stiffener 40 adjacent the upper end 28 of the bag body 12 does
provide some structure to the bag body 12 and in combination with
the webbing assemblies 36 and handles 38, tends to hold the bag
body 12 open and in an upright position that is very helpful when
the tote 10 is being used. It will be noted that the vertical legs
of the webbing assemblies 36 overlap with and are stitched and
riveted to the horizontal fabric strip 58 and stiffener 40 at the
upper end 28 of the bag body 12. The rivets 24 pass through all the
layers of the webbing assembly 36, the fabric strip 58, body panel
26, and stiffener 40, tying the vertical stiffener 40 within the
webbing assembly 36 to the horizontal stiffener 40 at the upper end
28 of the bag body 12. When the handles 38 are positioned outside
the footprint of the tote 10, the weight of the handles tends to
hold the mouth of the bag body 12 open, making the tote 10 easy and
convenient to use.
[0025] Embodiments of a hard bottom tote have been described for
purposes of illustration and should not be interpreted as limiting
the disclosed hard bottom tote to the specifics of the disclosure.
The disclosed embodiments have been described in terms of
particular materials, construction methods, proportions and
functionality. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the
advantages of the hard bottom tote as described could be achieved
with alternative materials, construction methods and proportions
without departing from the scope of the disclosure. All such
alternatives are intended to be encompassed by the appended
claims.
* * * * *