Collapsible bag mounting structure and collapsible bag associated therewith

A collapsible bag includes a flexible bag with a first side panel having a bottom edge and a bottom panel connected to the bottom edge to define a juncture between the first side panel and the bottom panel. A bracket is connected to the flexible bag adjacent the juncture and includes a transport wheel assembly. Additionally, a telescoping handle is connected to the bracket and the first side panel and extends from the juncture. A support assembly is movably connected at a proximate end to the bracket and connected at a distal end to the bottom panel such that the bottom panel is selectively movable between an operable orientation defined when the bottom panel is disposed transverse to the telescoping handle and the first side panel and a storage orientation defined when the bottom panel is disposed parallel to the telescoping handle and the first side panel.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure generally relates to a container, e.g., luggage, a suitcase, or a bag, and more particularly to a collapsible bag.

BACKGROUND

Containers such as bags and other similar devices, e.g., suitcases, luggage items, cases, etc., exist to, among other things, help a person easily transport items. For example, travelers often use suitcases to easily transport clothes and other items when traveling to a remote destination. A container that is rigid in nature has an advantage of helping to protect the contents of the container. A disadvantage of many known rigid containers, however, is that they are not easily stored. For example, when not in use, people often store containers, (e.g., suitcases) with nothing in them. In so doing, the containers may take up valuable space with nothing but air inside them. As another disadvantage, it is not economical to ship such containers when empty.

To overcome this disadvantage, one known solution has been to use a collapsible bag rather than a container with a more rigid or semi-rigid structure. Thus, a user may, in one form or another, expand the volume within the container when using the container to carry items and then, when not in use, may collapse the container so as to store the bag in a space-saving mode, i.e., the bag has a space saving shape. For example, containers may be made from a soft, flexible sides that may be folded or otherwise compacted next to the bottom of a bag. As one example, such a container may be a duffel bag, which may have a rigid bottom if desired.

Such solutions, however, are not without their problems. For example, duffel bags may not be appropriate appearance-wise for some situations. Furthermore, flexible containers are often to construct with other advantageous features of containers, such as telescoping handles and wheels to facilitate the ease of transport.

Thus, a need exists for an improved container (e.g., suitcase, bag, luggage item).

SUMMARY

A collapsible bag includes a flexible bag with a first side panel having a bottom edge and a bottom panel connected to the bottom edge to define a juncture between the first side panel and the bottom panel. A bracket is connected to the flexible bag adjacent the juncture and includes a transport wheel assembly. Additionally, a telescoping handle is connected to the bracket and the first side panel and extends from the juncture. A support assembly is movably connected at a proximate end to the bracket and connected at a distal end to the bottom panel such that the bottom panel is selectively movable between an operable orientation defined when the bottom panel is disposed transverse to the telescoping handle and the first side panel and a storage orientation defined when the bottom panel is disposed parallel to the telescoping handle and the first side panel.

In another example, the bottom panel includes a support area adjacent to the juncture and a bottom plate contiguous to the support area, and a pivot mechanism pivots the bottom plate between the operable orientation and the storage orientation. Furthermore, the support assembly, in another example, includes a slidably connected collar to lock the support assembly in the operable orientation when the collar is slid to the proximate end of the support assembly.

In yet another example, the support assembly includes support legs for resting the collapsible bag on the ground.

In yet another example, the transport wheel assembly includes two sets of two transport wheels.

In yet another example, the collapsible bag further includes a second and a third side panel connected to the bottom panel and forming an inside volume. Each side panel includes an inside surface with a first securing means for holding a separator panel attached to first securing means by a second securing means. In one example, the first and second securing means are respectively opposite sides of a hook and loop material.

In yet another example, the bracket may include reinforcement ribs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of promoting and understanding the principles disclosed herein, reference will now be made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It is nevertheless understood that no limitation of the scope of the actual invention is intended by the description of suggested embodiments. Such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device and such further applications of the principles disclosed as illustrated herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure relates.

FIGS. 1-5show various views of a collapsible bag100. Collapsible bag100includes a flexible bag102, a bracket104, a telescoping handle106, and a support assembly108. The flexible bag102has a first side panel110, having a bottom edge112. Flexible bag102also contains bottom panel114, which is connected to the first side panel110to form a juncture116. Juncture116may be formed by any suitable means. For example, the juncture116may be formed by sewing bottom panel114so the first side panel110or that the two may be fastened with snaps, buttons, rivets, or any other suitable fastener. It is further contemplated that the first side panel110and bottom panel114may be formed from one continuous piece of material folded along juncture116. The top surface (not shown) of bottom panel114forms the bottom of collapsible bag100.

The bottom panel114may have a support area118adjacent to the juncture116and a bottom plate120contiguous to the support area118. For example, the support area118and bottom plate120may be made of any suitable material, such as a metal or plastic, although the support area118and bottom plate120could be made of the same material from which the flexible bag102is made. The bottom plate120, among other things, causes the bottom panel110to be very rigid, which allows the collapsible bag100to be more like a traditional suitcase.

Bracket104is connected to flexible bag102adjacent the juncture116. This connection may be made by any suitable connection means124known in the art, such as by rivets. Among other things, the bracket104, in one example, includes reinforcement ribs126. Reinforcement ribs126may be made of the same material as the bracket104, such as a hardened plastic material, or may be formed from any other suitable material. When made of the same material, the reinforcement ribs126may be formed from the same mold as the bracket104.

Bracket104, in one example, further includes a transport wheel assembly128. The transport wheel assembly128, for example, may include two sets of two transport wheels130. Furthermore, the two sets of two transport wheels130may be connected via a common axle132. Although the axle132may force the sets of transport wheels130to rotate together, it is understood that each set of wheels, or even each independent wheel130, may rotate independently, thereby allowing each wheel to rotate at different rates so as to increase the maneuverability of the container100during transport.

It is also contemplated that one example of a collapsible bag100has a telescoping handle106, which is connected to the bracket104and the first side panel110. Thus, telescoping handle106extends from juncture116. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the telescoping handle may be of any suitable form, and serves as a bag support to support first side panel110. In one example, telescoping handle106may be placed in any one of three positions: a fully extended position, a partially extended position, and a stored position. In the stored position, the telescoping handle106is positioned such that it does not extend, or minimally extends, beyond the side panel110. This position allows, among other things, the container100to be more compact to allow easier storage and easier transportation in environments such as planes. The handle may be extended via any suitable means. For example, the telescoping handle106may have extending members (e.g., “buttons”) that extend from an interior part of the handle through one or more holes in the exterior of the telescoping handle106so as to lock the telescoping handle in the desired position, as known in the art. A user may then push a button or other mechanism on the handle portion of the telescoping handle106to cause the locking members to retract, thereby allowing a user to either extend or retract the telescoping handle106, as known in the art.

Collapsible bag100also contains support assembly108, serving as a bag support, which is connected at a proximate end134to the bracket104and connected at a distal end136to the bottom panel114such that the bottom panel is selectively movable between an operable orientation and a storage orientation. In an operable orientation, the bottom panel114is disposed transverse to the telescoping handle106and the first side panel110. In this orientation, the collapsible bag100is expanded to form an inside volume in which items may be placed for transport. For example, collapsible bag100also includes second side panel138and third side panel202connected to the bottom panel114to form the inside volume.

In the storage orientation, as best shown inFIG. 5(although not fully collapsed), the bottom panel114is disposed parallel to the telescoping handle106and the first side panel110. In this collapsed form, the defined inside volume of the collapsible bag100is minimized or even completely removed. As such, the collapsible bag100is in a preferred form for storing the bag when no items are placed within it. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the collapsible bag100in a storage orientation will take up less space, for example, when being stored in a closet by a user or in a box by a retail store before selling to a customer.

As one skilled in the art will readily appreciate, a pivot mechanism140may allow the bottom plate120to pivot between the operable orientation and the storage orientation. The pivot mechanism140may be integral to the bracket104. The pivot mechanism140may be attached to the support area118, for example, by the connection means124. The support area118may have cutout portions119extending along the support arms144, respectively, such that, as shown inFIG. 3, a portion of the support arms144may be inserted into the respective cutout portions119when the support assembly108pivots from the operable orientation to the storage orientation. The support area118may be configured not to move between the operable orientation and the storage orientation when the bottom plate120pivots between the operable orientation and the storage orientation, as shown inFIG. 5. For example, the support assembly108may be hingedly connected to the bracket104such that the two may pivot with respect to each other. In one simple form, the support assembly108may have one or more holes (not shown) through which a pin141mounted to the bracket108may pass. As such, the support assembly108may rotate about the pin141, thereby pivoting between the operable orientation and the storage orientation. One skilled in the art, however, will recognize that any other suitable pivot mechanism may be used.

The collapsible bag100may further include a support bar107located on the bottom panel114to prevent the support assembly108from pivoting downwardly from the operable orientation. The support bar107may be located adjacent to the bracket104and attached to the support area118, for example, by the connection means124. The support bar107may have u-shaped protruded portions107A,107B located corresponding to the support assembly108. For example, the protruded portions107A,107B may be configured to engage the support arms144in order to keep the support assembly108in the operable orientation, as shown inFIG. 1. The support arms144may disengage from the protruded portions107A,107B when the support assembly108moving from the operable orientation to the storage orientation.

In one example, the support assembly108may also include a slidably connected collar142to lock the support assembly108in the operable orientation when the collar142is slid to the proximate end134of the support assembly108. The collar142may slide on the support arms144. As shown inFIG. 2, for example, collar142is locking the collapsible bag100in an operable orientation, and dotted collars204show a position of the collars after they arc slid as indicated by arrows206,208. Collar142may lock the support assembly108into the operable orientation in any suitable way. In one example, each support arm144is smaller than the u-shaped protruded portions107A,107B of the support bar107. The support arms144are thus set within the u-shaped protruded portions107A,107B such that the support arm144appears as an extension of the u-shaped protruded portions107A,107B of the support bar107when in the operable orientation, as shown, for example, inFIG. 1. When in this position, the collar142is just large enough to slide along the support arm144and snugly fit over the u-shaped protruded portions107A,107B of the support bar107, thereby preventing the support arm144from pivoting. It is understood, however, that any suitable locking mechanism may be used.

Other example features of a collapsible bag100will be appreciated by one skilled in the art. For example, the support assembly108may include support legs146for resting the collapsible bag100on the ground. Furthermore, the collapsible bag100may include various pockets on the exterior surfaces of the panels forming the inside volume of the bag. For example,FIG. 1shows side pocket148and front pocket150. Note that a side pocket148is also illustrated in other figures on the side panel opposite the side panel shown inFIG. 1. Pockets148and150may be open or they may be reclosable. In the example embodiment illustrated in the figures, pockets148,150include zippers152,154that allow a user to close pockets148,150so that items within the pockets do not fall out during transport. Zipper156is also shown that allows a user to place items in main, larger inner volume of the collapsible bag100. As shown, for example, zipper156connects the front panel158to side panels138and202. Front panel158also contains a portion160forming a top panel that the zipper156also connects to the first side panel110, in addition to side panels138,202. It is understood that in each example where a zipper is shown, more than one zipper may be used. It is further understood that any suitable connecting means may be used, such as, for example, snaps, buttons a hook and loop material, or ties.

Yet another example feature of a collapsible bag is best shown inFIG. 4. Side panels138and202each have an inside surface with a first securing means404for holding a separator panel406. InFIG. 4, two separator panels are shown, but it is understood that any number of separator panels may be used. Separator panels406, among other things, allow a user to separate items inside collapsible bag100and also allow a user to create a smaller partition/volume in which to place items so that if the volume of the items is less than the inner volume of the collapsible bag100, the items will not loosely move around within the collapsible bag100during transit. One skilled in the art will recognize other advantages. Each separator panel406has a second securing means408for holding the separator panel406to the first securing means404.

Securing means404and the corresponding securing means408on the separator panels406may be any suitable securing means. For example, they may be hook and loop material, snaps, buttons, or ties. In the example shown inFIG. 4, two strips of hook and loop material404are shown on inside surface402of side panel138. One advantage of having a continuous strip of hook and loop material along the inside surfaces402of the side panels138,202is that the separator panels406may easily be moved to various positions within the inside volume of the collapsible bag100.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that although the teachings of the disclosure have been illustrated in connection with certain embodiments, there is no intent to limit the disclosure to such embodiments. On the contrary, the intention of this disclosure is to cover all modifications and embodiments failing fairly within the scope of the teachings of the disclosure. For example, it is understood that a collapsible bag mounting structure may be independent from the collapsible bag itself. In one example, the collapsible bag mounting structure includes a bracket, a telescoping handle with a first bag support to support a first side panel of a collapsible bag, and the telescoping handle is connected to the bracket at a juncture along a first orientation. Furthermore, a transport wheel assembly is also connected to the juncture. The collapsible bag mounting structure also includes a support assembly with a second bag support located between the proximate end and the distal end to support the bottom panel of the collapsible bag. The support assembly is movably connected between an operable orientation, defined when the support assembly is in a second orientation substantially perpendicular to the first orientation of the telescoping handle, and a storage orientation, defined when the support assembly is substantially parallel to the first orientation. Other variations and embodiments will be recognized of being within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.