Abstract:
A collapsible and selectively compartmentalized bag is an apparatus that can be used to store a number of items and has collapsible compartments for enhanced organization. The apparatus includes a left collapsible dual compartment and a right collapsible dual compartment which both further include a lateral panel, a first pleated section, a second pleated section, and a divider section. The collapsible dual compartments are located opposite each other. The first and second pleated sections are hingedly and adjacently attached opposite to each other at the lateral panel. The first and second pleated sections are also hingedly attached to each other, opposite the lateral panel. The divider section is hingedly and adjacently connected to the central fold of the lateral panel and the hinged connection between the first and second pleated sections.

Description:
[0001]    The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/900,485 filed on Nov. 6, 2013. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a bagging apparatus. More specifically, the present invention is a durable eco-friendly bagging apparatus with collapsible bottle inserts. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    After extensive research, Jute bags are discovered to be more durable than other kind of bag, and this material is not as easy to tear like plastic and paper. The Jute material is also good for the ecosystem and follows specific farming practices. Jute grows only in Bangladesh during the monsoon season, which translates to no extra water. The crop needed to manufacture Jute material requires very little/low pesticide and fertilizer. In addition, every ton of Jute produced absorbs 2.4 tons of CO2. Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to be made out of a durable Jute material. 
         [0004]    A major benefit to the present invention being derived from the Jute fibre material is that it is recyclable and 100% biodegradable. Other benefits include a longer lifespan and amount of usage for the bagging device (typically more than five years). Jute bags are also stronger in that they are able to carry 30 to 75 pounds of weight (depending on size). The preferred Jute material can also provide protection from heat. Jute offers some ultraviolet protection and more insulation for cold items that would further benefit the user bagging groceries. Jute fiber is also more sanitary and naturally anti-bacterial, which is a major concern with plastic reusable bags. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the collapsible receptacle opened with both of the dual compartments in the expanded configuration. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the collapsible receptacle with a portion of the front panel removed to show the inside of the collapsible receptacle as depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the collapsible receptacle opened with both of the dual compartments in the expanded configuration. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the collapsible receptacle opened with both of the dual compartments in the collapsed configuration. 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the collapsible receptacle opened with a portion of the front panel removed to show the inside of the collapsible receptacle as depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the collapsible receptacle in the fully folded and closed position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the collapsible receptacle with a portion of the front panel removed to show the inside of the collapsible receptacle as depicted in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of either the front handle or the rear handle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0014]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the present invention is a collapsible and selectively compartmentalized bag that is typically used to carry groceries or other shopping items. The present invention allows a user to selectively sectionalize its internal volume so that bottled shopping items can be held in an upright position. The present invention mainly comprises a collapsible receptacle  1 , which is used carry and sectionalize different shopping items. The collapsible receptacle  1  comprises a left collapsible dual compartment  4  and a right collapsible dual compartment  5 , which can expand to hold bottled shopping items in the upright position or can collapse to create more room for other kinds of shopping items. 
         [0015]    The left collapsible dual compartment  4  and the right collapsible dual compartment  5  are designed to easily convert from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration and vice versa. The left collapsible dual compartment  4  and the right collapsible dual compartment  5  each comprise a lateral panel  6 , a first pleated section  8 , a second pleated section  9 , and a divider section  10 . The lateral panel  6  is used to form the left and right sides of the collapsible receptacle  1  and is used to form a portion of the walls for both compartments. The first pleated section  8  is a folded piece of material that is used to form the walls for one compartment. The second pleated section  9  is also a folded piece of material that is used to form the walls of the other compartment. The divider section  10  is a piece of material that is used to separate the first pleated section  8  and the second pleated section  9  from each other. 
         [0016]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the following series of component connections allows the lateral panel  6 , the first pleated section  8 , the second pleated section  9 , and the divider section  10  to move between the expanded configuration and the collapsed configuration. The first pleated section  8  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the lateral panel  6 . The second pleated section  9  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the lateral panel  6 , opposite to the first pleated section  8 . The first pleated section  8  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the second pleated section  9 , opposite to the lateral panel  6 . The arrangement of the lateral section, the first pleated section  8 , and the second pleated section  9  form the outer confines of the dual compartment. The divider section  10  is used to separate the internal volume of those outer confines. Consequently, the divider section  10  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the hinged connection between the first pleated section  8  and the second pleated section  9 . A central fold  7  of the lateral panel  6  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the divider section  10 , opposite to the hinged connection between the first pleated section  8  and the second pleated section  9 . The central fold  7  of the lateral panel  6  is not used to collapse the left collapsible dual compartment  4  or the right collapsible dual compartment  5  but is used to collapse the collapsible receptacle  1  itself. 
         [0017]    The expanded configuration for either the left collapsible dual compartment  4  or the right collapsible dual compartment  5  positions the lateral panel  6 , the first pleated section  8 , the second pleated section  9 , and divider section  10  in order to form the confines of each compartment, which is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The first pleated section  8  and the second pleated section  9  are each in a right-angle configuration so that the two flaps of each pleated section are at a right angle. The lateral panel  6  is in a straight configuration so that the opposing halves of the lateral panel  6  are parallel to each other. Finally, the divider section  10  is positioned perpendicular to the lateral panel  6  and is positioned in between the first pleated section  8  and the section pleated section. When the lateral panel  6 , the first pleated section  8 , the second pleated section  9 , and divider section  10  are arranged into the expanded configuration, the left collapsible dual compartment  4  and the right collapsible dual compartment  5  forms two pairs of rectangular tubes such that these two pairs of rectangular tubes are positioned opposite from each other within the internal volume of the collapsible receptacle  1 . 
         [0018]    The collapsed configuration for either the left collapsible dual compartment  4  or the right collapsible dual compartment  5  positions the lateral panel  6 , the first pleated section  8 , the second pleated section  9 , and divider section  10  in order to fatten the confines of each compartment, which is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The lateral panel  6  and the first pleated section  8  are each in the straight configuration, which allows the first pleated section  8  to be positioned adjacent and parallel to the lateral section. Consequently, the divider section  10  is positioned in between the first pleated section  8  and the lateral panel  6 . The second pleated section  9  is in a folded configuration so that the two flaps of the second pleated section  9  are folded upon each other, which allows the second pleated section  9  to be positioned adjacent to the first pleated section  8 , opposite to the lateral panel  6 . When the lateral panel  6 , the first pleated section  8 , the second pleated section  9 , and divider section  10  are arranged into the collapsed configuration, the left collapsible dual compartment  4  and the right collapsible dual compartment  5  are flattened against the sides of the collapsible receptacle  1 , which allows the entire internal volume of the collapsible receptacle  1  to be used for carrying non-bottled shopping items. 
         [0019]    The other sides of the collapsible receptacle  1  are arranged in a manner that allows the collapsible receptacle  1  to collapse into itself. The collapsible receptacle  1  further comprises a front panel  2 , a rear panel  3 , a foldable bottom panel, a left gusset  11 , and a right gusset  12 . The front panel  2  is used to form the front side of the collapsible receptacle  1  and prevents the contents of from falling out of the front of the collapsible receptacle  1 . The hinged connection between the lateral panel  6  and the first pleated section  8  for the left collapsible dual compartment  4  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the front panel  2 . In addition, the hinged connection between the lateral panel  6  and the first pleated section  8  for the right collapsible dual compartment  5  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the front panel  2 , opposite to the left collapsible dual compartment  4 . The connections between the front panel  2  and both the left collapsible dual compartment  4  and the right collapsible dual compartment  5  allow the front panel  2  to move inwards as the collapsible receptacle  1  is being collapsed by the user. Similarly, the rear panel  3  is used to form the rear side of the collapsible receptacle  1  and prevents the contents of from falling out of the rear of the collapsible receptacle  1 . The hinged connection between the lateral panel  6  and the second pleated section  9  for the left collapsible dual compartment  4  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the rear panel  3 . In addition, the hinged connection between the lateral panel  6  and the second pleated section  9  for the right collapsible dual compartment  5  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the rear panel  3 , opposite to the left collapsible dual compartment  4 . The connections between the rear panel  3  and both the left collapsible dual compartment  4  and the right collapsible dual compartment  5  allow the rear panel  3  to move inwards as the collapsible receptacle  1  is being collapsed by the user. 
         [0020]    The bottom foldable panel  13  is used to form the bottom side of the collapsible receptacle  1  and prevents the contents of from falling out of the bottom of the collapsible receptacle  1 . The front panel  2  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the bottom panel, and the rear panel  3  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the bottom panel opposite to the front panel  2 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the connections amongst the front panel  2 , the rear panel  3 , and the bottom foldable panel  13  allow the front panel  2  and the rear panel  3  to move towards each other and the bottom foldable panel  13  to fold in half as the collapsible receptacle  1  is being collapsed by the user. 
         [0021]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the left gusset  11  is used as an expansion piece that allows both the lateral panel  6  of the left collapsible dual compartment  4  and the bottom foldable panel  13  to simultaneously fold in half. Consequently, the left gusset  11  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the bottom panel in the between the front panel  2  and the rear panel  3 . This positioning allows the left gusset  11 , the front panel  2 , the rear panel  3 , and the bottom foldable panel  13  to be hingedly and perimetrically connected around the lateral panel  6  of the left collapsible dual compartment  4 . 
         [0022]    Likewise, the right gusset  12  is used as an expansion piece that allows both the lateral panel  6  of the right collapsible dual compartment  5  and the bottom foldable panel  13  to simultaneously fold in half. Consequently, the right gusset  12  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the bottom panel in the between the front panel  2  and the rear panel  3 , opposite to the left gusset  11 . This positioning allows the right gusset  12 , the front panel  2 , the rear panel  3 , and the bottom foldable panel  13  to be hingedly and perimetrically connected around the lateral panel  6  of the right collapsible dual compartment  5 . 
         [0023]    The present invention further comprises a front handle  15  and a rear handle  16 , which assist the user in carrying the present invention. The front handle  15  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the front panel  2 , opposite to the bottom foldable panel  13 , and the rear handle  16  is hingedly and adjacently connected to the rear panel  3 , opposite to the bottom foldable panel  13 , so that the user can easily grasp the present invention from the top. The front handle  15  and the rear handle  16  each comprise an outer sleeve  17  and a braided cord  18 . The braided cord  18  is the internal structure of each handle. The braided cord  18  is encircled by the outer sleeve  17  so that the user can grasp the outer sleeve  17  instead of the tensioned braided cord  17 . 
         [0024]    The present invention further contains a waterproof lining  14  which is superimposed onto the inside surface of the collapsible receptacle  1 . The waterproof lining  14  acts as a barrier which prevents spills from staining the bag or leaking through it. In the preferred embodiment, the waterproof lining  14  is made from plastic, but may also be a foil, hydrophobic spray coating, or any other suitable material. In the preferred embodiment, the collapsible receptacle  1  is made from a jute fabric; however, any other suitable material may be used. 
         [0025]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.