Abstract:
This invention relates to a light-weight foldable tote that can fold into a smaller bag without creating excessive wrinkles when the bag is eventually returned to the larger size and folds up as small as possible when folded in conjunction in accordance with the form, structure and design of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is made of waterproof material.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 61/651,091 filed May 24, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This present invention relates to the field of designer tote bags. More particularly, the present invention relates to a light-weight foldable tote that can fold into a smaller bag contained within itself without creating excessive wrinkles when the bag is eventually returned to the larger size. In the field of tote bags it is often desirable to have a larger bag that can be folded up into a smaller bag when the user has less things to carry and so that it can be easily stored within another bag. Alternatively it is often desirable to have a small bag that can be expanded to a full size tote if the user has a need for more carrying space without the bag having excessive wrinkles caused by having been folded. Further, it is also sometimes desirable to have a bag made of waterproof material, such that when it rains, the contents are protected from the elements. 
         [0003]    In the field of tote bags, there exist a number of foldable bags. A Longchamp style bag provides a tote bag that can be folded into a smaller bag with the original handles extended. However, this bag is almost never used in its folded form because it is inconvenient to fold and the folded-form is not sufficiently small to pack within another bag. Also available on the market are Reusable, low end folding bags, for example, Baggu bags. These bags fold to a very small size, but are not stylish, do not contain a method of closing the bag, are neither durable nor waterproof. Finally, there was a designer plastic bag used as a cover for finer bags that could fold into a pocket on the outside of the bag. These bags were not durable enough to be used as their own bag, however, and could only be used as a cover for existing bags. As it was only a cover bag to protect the actual bag from rain, the question of wrinkles on the expanded version was not addressed, allowing the bags to remain wrinkled. 
         [0004]    The present invention provides an easily foldable tote bag that allows for the reduction of wrinkles caused by the folding process and material without compromising the style, durability or functionality of the tote. The present invention also provides for maximum compaction of the bag. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is a light-weight tote with a folding pattern incorporated into the design of the bag and an inner pocket for the bag to fold into. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the bag contains snaps on the bottom to assist with the folding, as well as snaps on the side on which the straps fold onto and attach. 
         [0006]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bag is made from a light-weight waterproof material, preferably a 140 Denier heavy weave ripstop with an 1.5 oz urethane coating, such as gore-tex, ultrex and/or a nylon material. The straps of bag are made from similar waterproof materials, preferably a three part system of densely woven fabric, micro-porous polyurethane coating and a durable water repellent finish. The structure strap and/or handle straps are also made of a light-weight waterproof material and preferably are made of a tough durable fabric with a polyurethane coating that remains flexible, abrasion resistant, lightweight, and waterproof. 
         [0007]    The combination of the invention&#39;s thin material and design allows for the body of the bag within the pouch in its folded form to form two pocket-like sections of the bag that could hold a small phone, credit card, money, and/or keys. The invention also provides an optional strap that can be connected in different ways to increase the ability of the bag to be carried continently on the shoulder or across the body. In one embodiment of the invention, the strap can be attached to D-Rings on the sides of the main body opening to function as a shoulder strap. The strap can also be run through the luggage strap on the back to allow the bag to be carried as a backpack. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a depiction of an embodiment of the invention in its unfolded/expanded form. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a depiction of the invention in its completely folded/compacted form. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a depiction of the invention in the preliminary folding stages, showing the directions and points of folding. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a depiction of the invention in mid-folding, showing elements of the invention not visible in either the completely unfolded or folded states. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4(   a ) is a depiction of the invention in a latter mid folding, showing elements of the invention not visible in either the completely unfolded or folded states. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a depiction of the invention in the final folding stages. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a depiction of the back of the invention, including elements for alternate embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, a collapsible, waterproof tote bag  1  is show in  FIG. 1  with main body  10  comprising front wall  10   a  and rear wall  10   a ′ which form interior space  9  that can be closed at the top using zipper  6 . The main body  10 , in a preferred embodiment, is comprised of a waterproof fabric. Handle strap  7  runs from a starting point about the halfway point from the center to the left side of the bottom of the front of main body  1 , under structure strap  17  and above zipper  6  where it forms a handle  2  and reconnects below the zipper and runs through to point  8 , midway point from the center to the right side of the bottom of front wall  10   a.  Handle strap  7 ′ and  8 ′ and handle  2 ′ are exactly parallel to handle straps  7  and  8  and handle  2 , except that they are on rear wall  10   a ′. Snap  3  is located on the top of handle strap  8  near where it forms handle  2  and matching snap portion  3   a  is on handle strap  8  approximately ⅓ of the way from the bottom of main body  10  to the zipper  6 . Snap portions  4 ,  4   a,    3 ′,  3   a ′,  4 ′ and  4   a ′ are on the matching positions on handle straps  7 ,  8 ′ and  7 ′ respectively. Snap portions  3 ,  3   a,    4 ,  4   a,    3 ′,  3   a ′,  4 ′ and  4   a ′ are spaced so that when fastened, handles lay flat against front walls  10   a  and  10   a ′ without excess slack. Snap portions  3 ′,  3   a ′,  4 ′ and  4   a ′ can be seen in  FIG. 6 . Snap  18  is located in the center of handle  2  and snap  18 ′ is located on the top center of handle  2 ′. Snaps  18  and  18 ′ can be connected to join handles  2  and  2 ′ to allow them to function as a single strap, 
         [0016]    Structure strap  17  runs all the way around the main body  10  below zipper  6 , crossing over handle straps  7 ,  8 ,  7 ′ and  8 ′. Interior pouch  5  is designed to rest in the inner space  9  of main body  10  between handle straps  7 ′ and  8 ′, just below zipper  6 . Handle straps  7 ,  7 ′,  8  and  8 ′, handles  2  and  2 ′, structure strap  17 , interior pouch  5 ′ and flap  12 , in a preferred embodiment, are all made of waterproof material. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows the tote bag  1  of the invention folded into interior pouch  5 . Interior pouch  5  can be closed by attaching the fastener  11  on pouch closure flap  12  to the fastener loop  11   a  on the bottom of pouch  5 . After the tote bag is folded into interior pouch  5 , handle  13  is exposed. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows tote bag  1  during the initial stages of the folding process. Handle straps  7 ,  7 ′,  8  and  8 ′ are designed to be folded such that snap portion  3  connects to snap portion  3   a,  snap portion  4  connects to snap portion  4   a,  snap portion  3 ′ connects to snap portion  3   a ′ and snap portion  4 ′ connects to snap portion  4   a ′. Handle strap  7  is connected to handle strap  7 ′ by bottom strap  7   b,  and handle strap  8  is connected to handle strap  8 ′ by bottom strap  8   b  across bottom  14 . Snap portions  16  and  16   a  are equally placed along strap  7   b,  while strap portions  15  and  15   a  are equally placed along strap portion  8   b.  Bottom  14  can fold such that snap portions  15  and  16  connect to snap portions  15   a  and  16   a  respectively. 
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows tote bag  1  during the secondary stage of folding. Front wall  10   a  and rear wall  10   a ′ are designed such that main body  10  can be folded such that zipper  6  has been folded outward over structure strap  17 . Main body  10  is also constructed such that rear wall rear wall  10   a ′ can be folded inwards along handle strap  7 ′ and  8 ′, making main body  10  the width of internal panel  18 , and narrower than internal pouch  5 . ( FIG. 4 ). The stitching  21  connecting the internal pouch  5  to the body  10  stops an equal length, preferably a half inch from each end of internal pouch  5  for ease of rolling body  10  into internal pouch  5 . Pouch closure flap  12  rests behind internal pouch  5  when tote bag  1  is fully expanded and is connected to fastener  11  on the top of pouch closure flap  12 , which connects to fastener loop  11   a  in compacted form. Fastener loop  11   a  is on the bottom of internal pouch  5 . ( FIG. 4   a ). Fastener  11  also connects to closure panel  11   b  found on an interior pocket on the inner space  9  of main body  10 .  FIG. 5  shows main body  10  being rolled up into internal pouch  5  through internal pouch opening  25 . Fastener  11  is shown on the top of pouch closure flap  12 . Fastener loop  11   a  is shown on the bottom of internal pouch  5 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 6  shows the back of tote bag  1 . Luggage strap  20  is a section of structure strap  17  not connected to rear wall  10   a ′ between handle straps  7 ′ and  8 ′. Snaps  3   a ′ and  4   a ′ appear on rear wall  10   a ′ below luggage strap  20 . Snaps  3 ′ and  4 ′ on handle straps  8 ′ and  7 ′ can connect to snaps  3   a ′ and  4   a ′ providing a second securing point for the connection of tote bag  1  to a luggage handle that is passed between luggage strap  20  and rear wall  10   a ′ or a primary securing point for a luggage handle wider than luggage strap  20 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 6  also shows an embodiment of the tote bag  1  containing D-Rings  19  and  19   a,  on side of main body  10  by the ends of zipper  6 . Optional cross-shoulder strap  24  can be attached to D-Rings  19  and  19   a  to function as an adjustable shoulder strap. Cross-shoulder strap  24  can also be attached on one end to D-ring  19 , and then connected under and through luggage strap  20  and attached on the other end to D-ring  19   a  to form loops that allow the tote bag to be worn as a backpack. 
         [0022]    The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, providing users with the ability to fold and unfold the bag easily without creating excessive wrinkles on the unfolded bag and for maximum compaction and portability. The invention can be used as a rain guard for another bag, such as a bag that carries the invention when in its compacted version. Further, in its expanded state, the invention can easily attach to luggage via the luggage strap and the snaps on the handles. Additionally, the flap that closes the bag in its compressed state also functions as a closure for an internal pocket when the bag is in its expanded state. 
         [0023]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method and examples herein. The invention should not be limited by the above described embodiment, method and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.