Abstract:
One embodiment of an improved flexible bag that easily displays decorations placed beneath its outer sheer layer ( 110   a ) by inserting the decorations in a bag that is a slip cover for another bag or by inserting them through a gap ( 118 ) in the fabric or in the adhesive-agent ( 116 ). The aesthetic of the bag varies widely, as a broad range of materials are able to be sourced to make the bag fabric ( 110   a - d   , 710   a - b ), handles ( 112   a - b   , 1010   a - b , and  1410   a - d ), and adhesive agent ( 116 ). The layers of the bag may be embellished by decoration, such as trim, various fabrics, and a closure device. Depending on the material used, an embodiment is easily compressed and carried for reuse and carries loads upward of 10 kgs. over and over, thereby conserving resources.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit in part of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/769,451, filed Feb. 26, 2013 by the present inventor. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Prior Art 
       [0002]    The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant: 
       U.S. Patents 
       [0003]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Kind 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Patent No. 
                 Code 
                 Issue Date 
                 Patentee 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 9,355 
                   
                 Oct. 26, 1852 
                 Francis Wolle 
                 Machine for Making 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Bags of Paper 
               
               
                 3,180,557 
                 A 
                 Apr. 27, 1965 
                 Gustaf Thulin 
                 Bag with Handle of 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Sten 
                 Weldable Plastic 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Material 
               
               
                 3,322,176 
                 A 
                 May 30, 1967 
                 Helen Geller 
                 Expandable 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Shopping Bag 
               
               
                 5,046,860 
                 A 
                 Sep. 10, 1991 
                 Timothy P. 
                 Reusable Shopping 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Brennan 
                 Bag Assembly 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Nonpatent Literature Documents 
       [0000]    
       
         Jeffrey Ball,  The Wall Street Journal , “Paper or Plastic? A New Look at the Bag Scourge” (Jun. 12, 2009) 
         Ellen Gamerman,  Wall Street Journal , “An Inconvenient Bag” (Sep. 26, 2008) 
       
     
         [0006]    Bags come in scores of shapes and sizes, some disposable, some reusable. Bags are so common, many of us do not consider the wide range of benefits derived from, nor possible improvements to be made to, this long-used ubiquitous tool. 
         [0007]    Oddly enough, the reusable bag craze is somewhat of a throw-back to a time before the manufactured disposable bag was brought to market. Barely over 150 years ago, paper bags were invented by Francis Wolle, as a by-product of the paper bag making machine, U.S. Pat. No. 9,355 (1852). Paper bags were, and still are, a value add to stores and their customers by providing a tool for customers to carry and, yes, buy more goods. Currently, however, paper bags are under scrutiny for the amount of natural resources required to keep their up their production. (See article by Ellen Gamerman cited above.) 
         [0008]    Paper bags have been also used by consumers for decades, albeit in the smaller size, for packing their children&#39;s lunches. However, consumers are limited by time and resources for a way to label their child&#39;s bag to differentiate it from the lunch bags of others, or perhaps to personalize their child&#39;s bag with a special token of affection. 
         [0009]    Plastic bags are also well known and useful. Invented in 1965 by Gustaf Thulin Sten for the Swedish company Celloplast Ab, U.S. Pat. No. 3,180,557 A, they were a product of the mid-century&#39;s fascination with plastics, and were touted as tree savers. Like their paper counterparts, plastic bags come in small sizes, too. Despite their tree-saving benefit, Jeffrey Ball of the Wall Street Journal observed in 2009 that “[plastic bags] caught on so well that hundreds of billions are dispensed each year, creating a modern menace that often winds up nestled in trees, stuck in sewers, and drifting in oceans.” 
         [0010]    Current times now see a resurgence in reusable bags with astounding variations from a simple mesh bag (U.S. Pat. No. 3,322,176 A (1967) Geller) to an entire systems of bags (U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,860 (1991) Brennan). They are all designed to be supremely functional, but are also bulky and lacking in grace and elegance. 
         [0011]    One thing paper, plastic and reusable bags have in common is the tradition of being decorated. For example, retailers print their bags with motifs, but once a brand has changed or a special is over, unused bags are no longer relevant and the retailer tosses them out. Then the retailer spends considerable money on another round of bags to reflect what is current. 
         [0012]    Consumers often adorn paper, plastic, and reusable bags by simply writing on their surface or possibly adhering various decorations, for example, to distinguish their child&#39;s lunch from another&#39;s, or to personalize as gift wrap. On the one hand a decoration like a child&#39;s name may not take too much time, but it doesn&#39;t lend itself to any unique art quality either. Or if someone does decorate a bag with a complex design, like for a birthday, it is of a permanent nature, and the bag is frozen in that motif, unable to be stripped and reused by the end-user as a gift that keeps on giving by its ability to be redecorated. Unfortunately, no bag in the market, whether paper, plastic, or reusable, is made for retailers and consumers alike to easily personalize and re-personalize. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0013]    In accordance with one embodiment, a flexible bag that comprised so that it is decoratable and re-decoratable, as the decoration is inserted beneath and viewed through a sheer outer layer. 
       Advantages 
       [0014]    Accordingly, several advantages of one or more aspects are as follows: to provide a bag that is easily decoratable and re-decoratable. A bag can be made in a vast array of styles, such as varying in color, handle type, shape, and closure type Other advantages of one or more aspects will be apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing description. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a bag with four sheer layers of fabric. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows placement of adhesive-agent to the top of the bag. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  shows placement of adhesive-agent to handles. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  shows an isometric view of an insertable-decoration poised for placement between the two front layers of the bag. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  shows frontal view of an insertable-decoration poised for placement. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  shows the bag displaying the insertable-decoration. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  shows an isometric view of a bag with sheer outer layers and opaque inner layers of fabric with an insertable decoration poised for placement. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  shows the bag with an insertable-decoration poised for placement. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  shows the bag displaying the insertable-decoration. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  shows a single-layer bag with two handles. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  shows a other bag and insertable decoration poised for insertion into the single-layer bag. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  shows the handle of the other bag slipping through the handle of the single-layer bag. 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  shows the single-layer bag displaying the other bag with printing and the insertable-decoration. 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  shows a single-layer bag and four handles. 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  shows a bag and insertable decoration poised for insertion into the single-layer bag. 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  shows two front handles of the single-layer bag tying around the front handle of the other bag. 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  shows the single-layer bag displaying them other bag and the insertable-decoration. 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  shows a view of a five-sided freely-standing bag. 
           [0033]      FIG. 19  shows a close up view of a corner of the bag with a support about to be inserted. 
           [0034]      FIG. 20  shows an insertable-decoration poised for insertion. 
           [0035]      FIG. 21  shows the bag displaying the insertable-decoration. 
           [0036]      FIG. 22  shows the placement of folds in a single piece of fabric to make a bag. 
           [0037]      FIG. 23  shows a bag made comprised of the single piece of fabric with an insertable-decoration poised for placement. 
           [0038]      FIG. 24  shows a bag with a single handle. 
           [0039]      FIG. 25  shows a bag with a cinch handle. 
           [0040]      FIG. 26  shows a bag with an integrated handle. 
           [0041]      FIG. 27  shows a bag without handles. 
           [0042]      FIG. 28  shows a bag with backpack straps. 
           [0043]      FIG. 29  shows a bag with handles that wrap around the lower part of the bag. 
           [0044]      FIG. 30  shows a bag with trim. 
           [0045]      FIG. 31  shows a bag with patterned fabric beneath the sheer outer layer. 
           [0046]      FIG. 32  shows a star-shaped bag. 
           [0047]      FIG. 33  shows a circular-shaped bag. 
           [0048]      FIG. 34  shows a five-sided bag. 
           [0049]      FIG. 35  shows a bag with adhesive-agent applied to guide the displaying of the insertable-decoration 
           [0050]      FIG. 36  shows a bag with multiple compartments for displaying various insertable-decorations. 
           [0051]      FIG. 37  shows the top of a bag with two gaps in the adhesive-agent. 
           [0052]      FIG. 38  shows a bag with a closure device whereby an elastic cord wraps over a round button-like knob 
           [0053]      FIG. 39  shows the top of a bag with a zipper. 
           [0054]      FIG. 40  shows a bag with a small decoration adhered at a corner of the bag beneath the sheer outer layer. 
           [0055]      FIG. 41  shows the first of three steps to folding a bag into a bow shape. 
           [0056]      FIG. 42  shows the second of three steps to folding a bag into a bow shape. 
           [0057]      FIG. 43  shows the third of three steps to folding a bag into a bow shape. 
           [0058]      FIG. 44  shows the bow shape. 
           [0059]      FIG. 45  shows a bag able to carry upwards of 10 kilograms. 
       
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0060]    In the drawings, closely related components have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 110 
                 a - d. sheer fabric sheets 
                  112 
                 a - b. handles 
               
               
                 114 
                 a - c. compartments 
                  116 
                 adhesive-agent 
               
               
                 118 
                 gap 
                  410 
                 insertable-decoration 
               
               
                 710 
                 a - b. inner opaque fabric 
                  720 
                 print on opaque fabric 
               
               
                 1010 
                 a - b. short handles 
                 
                   1110 
                 
                 opaque bag with printing 
               
               
                 1112 
                 opaque bag front handle 
                 
                   1114 
                 
                 sheer short bag with handles 
               
               
                 1214 
                 short handled two-layered 
                 1410 
                 a - d. straight handles 
               
               
                   
                 sheer bag 
               
               
                 1510 
                 straight handled two-layer 
                 1810 
                 a - 1. supports 
               
               
                   
                 sheer bag 
               
               
                 2210 
                 a - c. folds in fabric 
                 2410 
                 single handle 
               
               
                 2610 
                 cinch handle 
                 2610 
                 integrated handle 
               
               
                 2810 
                 a - b. backpack straps 
                 2910 
                 wrap around handle 
               
               
                 3010 
                 trim 
                 3110 
                 patterned fabric 
               
               
                 3810 
                 elastic band 
                 3820 
                 button-shaped knob 
               
               
                 3910 
                 zipper 
                 4010 
                 decorative-tag 
               
               
                 4110 
                 bag with decorative-tag 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  3 —First Embodiment 
       [0061]    One embodiment of the bag is illustrated in  FIG. 1  (isometric view),  FIG. 2  (top view), and  FIG. 3  (front view). The bag has four layers of sheer fabric,  110   a  to  110   d , handles  112   a  and  112   b , three compartments  114   a  to  114   c , adhesive-agent  116 , and a gap  118  in adhesive-agent  116 . 
         [0062]    Various materials can be used to make the bag. The sheer fabric can be made of materials derived from animals, plants or man-made sources, having common names including, but not limited to, mesh, tulle, voile, chiffon, batiste, muslin, vellum, gauze, webbing, netting, and cheesecloth. The handles can be made of the materials derived from animals, plants or man-made sources having common names including, but not limited to, folded fabric, buckles, buckles, cord, wire, strapping, rawhide, twine, rope, trim, laces, string, yarn, zip-ties, metal, fasteners, tape, belt, and tubing. Adhering the layers of fabric are by methods including, but not limited to, sewing, gluing, melting, attaching, riveting, sealing, stapling, and latching. The adhesive-agent is made of materials derived from animals, plants or man-made sources, having common names including, but not limited to, tape, thread, upholstery thread, studs, tacks, snaps, buttons, rivets, cord, strapping, wire, mesh, folded fabric, buckles, buckles, strips of fabric, twine, and rawhide. 
         [0063]    Compartments  114   a  to  114   b  allow the insertion of items, in addition compartment  114   b  is for the placement goods. 
         [0064]      FIG. 2  shows adhesive-agent  116  applied to secure handles  112   a - 112   b  and four layers of fabric  110   a - 110   d , leaving gap  118 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 3  shows the front of the bag and adhesive-agent  116  further applied to secure front handle  112   a . The back handle is secured in the same manner. 
         [0066]    The size of the bag and handles vary depending on particular needs. Even the number of handles can vary, or not exist, as will be shown in other embodiments. 
         [0067]    In addition, gap  116  could be incised in the sheer fabric. 
       Operation—FIGS. 4,  5 ,  6   
       [0068]    The manner of using the embodiment to display a decoration or plurality of decorations is unique among bags in present use. 
         [0069]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show the first embodiment about to be decorated by the placement of insertable-decoration  410  through gap  118 . One needs only to reach in and remove the decoration in order to clear the bag for re-decoration. An alternative means for placing a decoration is to incise the fabric to create an opening for inserting decorations. 
         [0070]      FIG. 6  shows the embodiment displaying insertable decoration  410  through sheer outer layer  110   a.    
         [0071]    The ramification of this embodiment and subsequent embodiments is that a decoratable and re-decoratable bag is assembled to be able to easily display a decoration or plurality of decorations, take them out, and re-decorate the bag. 
       FIGS.  7  to  45   
     Additional Embodiments 
       [0072]    There are various possibilities with regard to an embodiment&#39;s inner layers of fabric being made of an opaque material, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 7  shows a bag with inner layers of opaque fabric  710   a  and  710   b  (the front one has printing  720 ) and insertable-decoration  410  poised for insertion. 
         [0074]    Opaque fabric can be made of materials derived from animals, plants or man-made sources, having common material names including, but not limited to, canvas, parachute, linen, silk, acetate, woven, paper, rubber, plastic, and sack cloth. Opaque fabric decoration can be created by various methods including, but not limited to, silkscreening, weaving, attaching a decoration by an adhesive-agent, embroidery, and writing. 
         [0075]      FIG. 8  shows insertable-decoration  410  poised for placement through gap  118 . 
         [0076]      FIG. 9  shows the embodiment displaying insertable-decoration  410 . 
         [0077]    There are various possibilities of handle types on a bag made to enclose another bag. An alternative embodiment of the bag is illustrated in  FIG. 10 , comprising two layers of sheer fabric  110   a  and  110   b , handles  1010   a  and  1010   b , and adhesive-agent  116  applied to four sides. 
         [0078]      FIG. 11  shows a bag with printing  1110  (also its front handle  1112 ) and insertable-decoration  410  poised for placement into present embodiment  1114 . 
         [0079]      FIG. 12  shows a close-up of how the front handle of bag  1112  slips through the front handle  1010   a  of present embodiment  1114 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 13  shows present embodiment  1114  enclosing bag  1110 , with insertable-decoration  410  in place. 
         [0081]    Another of many possibilities for handles of a bag made to enclose another bag follows in  FIGS. 14 to 17 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 14  shows an embodiment comprising sheer fabric  110   a  and  110   b , handles  1410   a  to  1410   d , and adhesive-agent  116  applied to four sides. 
         [0083]      FIG. 15  shows frontal view of a bag with printing  1110  (with its front handle  1112 ) and insertable-decoration  410  ready for placement into present embodiment  1510 . 
         [0084]      FIG. 16  shows a close-up of the front handles  1410   a  and  1410   c  of present embodiment  1510  tying around the front handle of bag  1212 . 
         [0085]      FIG. 17  shows present embodiment  1510  enclosing bag  1110 , with insertable-decoration  410  in place. 
         [0086]    There are various possibilities with regard to a bag being made to stand freely as seen in  FIGS. 18 to 21 . 
         [0087]      FIG. 18  shows an assembled embodiment with five sides having supports  1810   a  to  1810   l  inserted into channels at the seams of the bag to make the bag free standing, as further explored in a close up of  1810   m.    
         [0088]    Supports can be made of materials derived from animals, plants or man-made sources, having common material names including, but not limited to, metal, wood, plastic, and carbon fiber. 
         [0089]    Alternatively, rectangle frames could be adhered into place to make a free standing bag. For example if supports  1810   d ,  1810   e ,  1810   g , and  1810   l  were attached at their ends to compose a rectangle and adhered into place. Another rectangle would be formed by supports  1810   b ,  1810   f ,  1810   h , and  1810   j  and adhered into place, then horizontal supports would be inserted in seams along the sides of the bag. A further alternative would be the insertion of metal that would compress, similar to pop-open laundry hampers. 
         [0090]      FIG. 19  is a close up of a corner of the bag  1810   m  shows supports  1810   a  and  1810   d  inserted. Support  1810   e  is poised to be inserted into a channel created by adhesive-agent  116 . 
         [0091]      FIG. 20  shows insertable-decoration  410  poised for placement. 
         [0092]      FIG. 21  shows the embodiment with insertable-decoration  410  in place. 
         [0093]    There are various possibilities with regard to how the layers of a bag may be assembled; some examples are shown in  FIGS. 22 to 23 .  FIG. 22  shows folds  2210   a  to  2210   c  in a single sheet of fabric.  FIG. 23  is an oblique view of an embodiment comprised of the one sheet of fabric folded three times  2210   a  to  2210   c , adhesive-agent  116 , and gap  118 , through which insertable decoration  410  is about to be placed. Once assembled, this embodiment looks like the first embodiment in  FIG. 7 . If adhesive agent were applied to the left side of the bag only, a bigger outer compartment wraps around the bag to the right, allow for a broader piece of insertable decoration to be placed. 
         [0094]    There are various possibilities with regard to a bag having different handle configurations; some examples are seen in  FIGS. 24 to 29 .  FIG. 24  shows an alternative embodiment with one handle  2410 .  FIG. 25  shows an alternative embodiment with cinch handle  2510 .  FIG. 26  shows an alternative embodiment with integrated handle  2610 .  FIG. 27  shows an alternative embodiment without handles.  FIG. 28  shows a backside view of an alternative embodiment with backpack straps  2810   a  and  2810   b  adhered to the left and right edges in relation to the back-side (blank side) of insertable-decoration  410 .  FIG. 29  shows the front view of an alternative embodiment fully assembled with handles extended around the bag  2910 . 
         [0095]    There are various possibilities with regard to embellishment inherent in the composition of a bag; some examples follow in  FIGS. 30 to 31 .  FIG. 30  shows an alternative embodiment with trim  3010 .  FIG. 31  shows an alternative embodiment with patterned fabric  3110  seen throughout the sheer outer layer  110   a.    
         [0096]    There are various possibilities with regard to the shape of bag; some examples follow in  FIGS. 32 and 33 .  FIG. 32  shows a star-shaped embodiment.  FIG. 33  shows a circular-shaped embodiment.  FIG. 34  shows a five-sided embodiment. 
         [0097]    There are various possibilities with regard to placement of an adhesive-agent; some examples follow in  FIGS. 35 to 37 .  FIG. 35  shows an alternative embodiment with adhesive-agent  116  applied to secure placement of insertable-decoration  410 .  FIG. 36  shows multiple placements of adhesive agent  116  leaving gap  118 , to create a plurality of compartments for insertable-decoration  410  to be displayed.  FIG. 37  shows the top view of an alternative embodiment with gap  118  in adhesive-agent  116  on the front and back of the bag. 
         [0098]    There are various possibilities with regard to closure at the top of the bag, whether closing gaps in the adhesive or leaving the gaps open.  FIG. 38  shows an alternative embodiment with an elastic band  3810  wrapping around a button-like knob  3820 . This closes the bag and gap  118 .  FIG. 39  shows the top view of an alternative embodiment with zipper  3910  adhered to the inside two layers  110   b  and  110   c , leaving gap  118  open between two front layers  110   a  and  110   b.    
         [0099]    There are various possibilities with regard to placement of an additional piece of decoration.  FIG. 40  shows an alternative embodiment with decorative-tag  4010  adhered beneath the outer sheer layer  110   a  with adhesive-agent  116 . 
         [0100]    There are various possibilities with regard to the compression of a bag.  FIGS. 41 to 44  show embodiment  4110  (with decorative-tag  4010 ) folded in three steps to an easily transportable shape of a bow. 
         [0101]    There are various possibilities with regard to the amount of weight a bag can carry.  FIG. 45  shows an alternative embodiment made with suitable material able to carry weight upwards of 10 kgs., as represented by dumbbell  4410 . 
       Advantages 
       [0102]    From the descriptions above, a number of advantages of some embodiments of my sheer decoratable and re-decoratable bag become evident: 
         [0103]    (a) A business and consumer can decorate a bag with unparalleled ease. 
         [0104]    (b) A bag can be made in myriad of shapes and sizes. 
         [0105]    (c) The color combination possibilities of a bag are vast, thus it can be made of specific color combinations to appeal to the branding needs of a business and aesthetic needs of a consumer. 
         [0106]    (d) Depending on the material used for a bag, it can weigh as little as a few ounces. 
         [0107]    (e) Depending on the material used for a bag, the look can be sheer and elegant, an aesthetic not normally associated with disposable or reusable bags. 
         [0108]    (f) Depending on the material used for a bag, it can be compressed into a small shape making it easy to transport, which encourages reuse. 
         [0109]    (g) If a bag is made of a lightweight easy to compress material, consumers will be more likely to reuse it—benefitting society at large by:
       (1) Saving consumers money by not having to purchase bags where local law mandates charging for disposable bags.   (2) Saving consumers money by decreasing their refuse costs, as they will not be throwing out as many disposable bags.   (3) Saving the environment by not requiring as many disposable bags to be manufactured and put into landfill after their usefulness has terminated.       
 
         [0113]    (h) If a bag is made to be strong enough to carry upwards of 10 kg., consumers will be more likely to reuse it—benefitting society at large as discussed above (saving money and the environment). 
         [0114]    (i) If a bag is made to be carried over the shoulder, thereby freeing the hands, consumers will be more likely to reuse it—benefitting society at large as discussed above (saving money and the environment). 
         [0115]    (j) A consumer with artistic talent may decorate the bag in unique ways and sell them, thereby infusing the market with new business. 
         [0116]    (k) A bag can be made to accommodate bags. 
         [0117]    (l) There are several benefits to a retailer who chooses to use the is bag:
       (1) Decreased cost of promotional printing, as the bag will remain, but the inserts, which are less costly to print, will change.   (2) Free advertising, as the retailer who chooses to use this revolutionary bag will spark intrigue amongst those who are exposed to the bag, causing a conversation about the retailer.   (3) The retailer will benefit from the use of specific color combination that aligns with their brand because of:
           a) Continued presence of a brand as the consumer will reuse it and be reminded of the brand at each reuse.   b) Free advertising as the brand will be showcased with the consumer&#39;s continued use of the bag, so that viewers will be reminded of the brand as well.   
               
 
       CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
       [0123]    Accordingly the reader will see that, according to one embodiment, I have provided a bag that is easy to decorate and re-decorate, benefitting society by enlivening artistic expression, energizing the economy, cutting waste, decreasing consumer expenses, retailer expenses, and saving natural resources. 
         [0124]    Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any embodiment, but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. Varying widely, for example, are the design of a compartment or plurality of compartments, the shape and size of the bag, handles style and length, and fabric used, especially considering layering sheer layers and shear over opaque fabric with graphics. 
         [0125]    Thus the scope should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.