Abstract:
The multipurpose bag and method for making the same utilizes three pieces of substantially rectangular material that are cut, folded, and secured together to form a bag having an open top end and a closed bottom end. The bag is preferably formed from cotton, and includes cording material to form drawstrings. Handles for carrying the bag and are attached to the bag near the open top end. The bag is formed to be symmetric about central vertical planes, and a pair of flaps are provided to cover a pair of symmetrical outer pockets. A plurality of inner pockets are defined within the multipurpose bag, with the pockets being symmetrical and equally positioned therein.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/192,232, filed Jun. 12, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to containers, and particularly to a multipurpose bag or purse for women of all ages to be utilized as a shopping bag, an overnight bag or the like, and further to a method of making the bag. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Women often use purses or bags to carry personal items when they go shopping or traveling, for example, or simply for carrying items throughout their day-to-day activities. Bags and purses are well known in the art and come in a wide variety of styles and configurations, including purses and bags having specialized features to facilitate organization and secure storage of the items stored within. 
         [0006]    Typically, such bags include various arrangements of pockets, compartments, closures and the like in order to separate, and thereby organize, items within the bag, and, further, to better secure items within the bag. Although some purses or bags include more than one compartment or pocket to help organize and secure such items, typical bags and purses include a large, central interior region, without further compartments or separation of items. Due to the convenience of this primary region, with its lack of separation of items and additional compartments, and further due to the fact that specialized pockets may not fit a particular item (for example, cellular telephones do not have a standard size, thus a cellular phone compartment in one bag may not be suitable to carry a particular phone), the items in purses, handbags and the like are often tangled and jumbled within the bag. Thus, a multipurpose bag and method for making the same solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The multipurpose bag includes three pieces of rectangular material, which are cut, folded, and then secured together to form a bag having an open top end and a closed bottom. The material is preferably cotton or the like, with cording used as drawstrings for the bag. Handles are attached to the bag adjacent the open top end for ease of carrying. 
         [0008]    The bag is preferably formed, including the folds and stitching, symmetrically about a central axis. A pair of flaps are further provided, with each flap having a relatively long first end, which is attached to the bag adjacent the open top end, and a pointed end, which loosely extends to the closed bottom of the bag in order to protect a pair of symmetrical, outer pockets extending from the top end to the closed bottom. A plurality of inner pockets are formed inside the bag, with the pockets preferably being symmetrically and equidistantly positioned, with respect to one another, within the interior of the bag. Preferably, two pockets are positioned on each side surface of the exterior of the bag as well. 
         [0009]    The method of forming the bag includes the steps of providing a first square material piece and a second square material piece, which preferably has dimensions matching dimensions of the first square material piece. The first square material piece is then peripherally joined to the second square material piece to form a single square material piece. 
         [0010]    A third material piece is then provided and folded twice to form a substantially rectangular material piece having laterally opposed open and folded side edges, and opposed open top and bottom ends. Upper and lower triangular pieces are removed from the third material piece, with the upper triangular piece extending between the top end and an upper portion of the folded side edge, and the lower triangular piece extending between the bottom end and a lower portion of the folded side edge. The third material piece is unfolded once to form upper and lower V-shaped cutout portions. 
         [0011]    A pair of diagonally opposed corners of the single square material piece are folded together such that a substantially square region is formed at the overlap thereof. The third material piece is then stitched to the folded single square material piece such that the third material piece is positioned on an opposite face of the single square material piece from the substantially square region. 
         [0012]    The third material piece is then stitched between vertices of the V-shaped cutout portions to define first and second pairs of interior pockets. The third material piece and the folded single square material piece are folded about a central fold line and side edges of the folded third material piece and the folded single square material piece are stitched together to form the multipurpose bag having an open upper end and a closed lower end. The bag is then turned inside out to hide the stitching and position the pockets in the interior thereof. 
         [0013]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a multipurpose bag according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of first and second square pieces of material, secured together to form a single material piece in order to form the multipurpose bag according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a plan view illustrating the folding of a third piece of material to form the multipurpose bag according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the third piece of material of  FIG. 3 , unfolded with pockets cut from the material, to form the multipurpose bag according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the single material piece of  FIG. 2  being folded to form the multipurpose bag according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the folded material piece of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the folded single material piece of  FIG. 5 , particularly illustrating the third material piece stitched thereto. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the stitched single material piece and the third material piece. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of an interior face of the multipurpose bag according to the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the multipurpose bag according to the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of the multipurpose bag according to the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a section view along lines  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11 . 
       
    
    
       [0026]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]      FIG. 1  shows the multipurpose bag, generally designated as  10  in the drawings, which is formed by a method described in detail hereinafter. The multipurpose bag  10  is preferably symmetric, both on the interior and the exterior, about a longitudinally extending vertical plane (when in the vertical orientation shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0028]    Preferably, the exterior sides, as shown, are substantially square, and the bag has an open top end  11  and a closed bottom end  12 . As best shown in  FIG. 1 , a side flap  14  is provided on the exterior of the bag  10  for covering an external pocket  16 . As noted above, the bag  10  is formed symmetrically, so although only a single side flap  14  is shown on the left side of bag  10  in  FIG. 1 , it should be understood that a similar flap and pocket are formed on the right, hidden side (in  FIG. 1 ) of bag  10 . 
         [0029]    As shown, the side flap  14  preferably is a substantially triangular, with a horizontal side (in the orientation of  FIG. 1 ) or base of the triangular flap  14  being stitched or otherwise secured along top stitch line  18 , covering an opening of the pocket  16 . The side pocket  16  preferably extends the entire longitudinal width of the bag  10 , and the vertex of the triangular flap  14  is positioned (when in the closed position of  FIG. 1 ) adjacent the closed bottom end  12 . Additionally, a pair of handles  20 ,  21 , which may be formed from cloth or any desired fabric or textile material, are stitched or otherwise secured to the bag  10  respectively on either side of the open top end  11 . Preferably, each handle is stitched on and between stitch line  18  and the open top stitch line  22 . As will be described in greater detail below, stitch lines  18 ,  22  form a passage  24  for receiving cording  26 ,  27 . Cording  26 ,  27  is pulled and tightened to close the open top end  11  of bag  10 , similar to conventional drawstrings. As shown, cording  26 ,  27  may have wooden beads  28 ,  29  affixed thereto, or any other desired decorative elements, which also serve to provide a gripping surface for the user. The wooden beads  28 ,  29  have holes formed therethrough for receiving the respective ends of cording  26 ,  27 , which may then be knotted. Beads  28 ,  29  further prevent the cording from accidentally being pulled through the passage  24  (or passage  25 , similarly, which is formed opposite passage  24  on the right side of the bag  10 ). 
         [0030]    Bag  10  may be formed from any desired material, including any desired cloth, fabric or textile, such as, for example, cotton. Cotton may be used for both the exterior of bag  10  as well as the interior lining thereof. Bag  10  may be sized and shaped dependent upon the needs and desires of the user. Exemplary dimensions for bag  10  include side panels (and matching interior linings) having a width of approximately thirty-six inches. The material may have any desired color or pattern, and it should be understood that bags  10  may be manufactured in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, colors, patterns and styles. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , first material piece  30 , which is preferably square (and may have the exemplary dimensions given above, i.e., thirty-six inches along each side), is stitched to a matching second material piece  31  along outer stitch line  32 . Outer stitch line is preferably located approximately one-quarter to one-third of an inch (for the exemplary dimensions given above) from edge  33  of the aligned material pieces  30 ,  31 . The first and second material pieces  30 ,  31  are joined together by stitching or the like to form a single material piece, generally indicated as  34 . 
         [0032]    An opening  35  having a width of between approximately five and six inches (using the exemplary dimensions given above) is formed in order to allow the user to reach inside the material piece  34  and turn the material  34  inside out. This step leaves a single material piece  34  having the stitching  32  and edges  33  visible only on the interior. Following this step, a temperature set iron is used to press the material piece  34 , and the opening  35  is then stitched closed, preferably with the stitching being relatively hidden. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates the preparation of a third piece of material  36 . As will be described in greater detail below, the third piece of material  36  forms the interior of bag  10 , including interior pockets. Using the exemplary dimensions given above for the single material piece  34 , the third piece of material  36  is preferably cut into a rectangular piece, having a width of approximately twenty-four and one-half inches and a length of approximately thirty-four and one-eighth inches. Piece  36  is then folded in half to form a rectangular piece having dimensions of seventeen inches by twenty-four and one-half inches. Piece  36  is folded a second time to form a rectangular piece having dimensions of eight and one-half inches by twelve inches. This twice-folded piece is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0034]    Side edge  38  remains open, and has a continuous length of approximately twelve inches. A measurement of approximately three inches is made from side edge  38  (measured from left to right in  FIG. 3 ), and a similar measurement of five and one-half inches is made from upper edge  39  (from top to bottom in  FIG. 3 ). Corner  41  is then folded down to form a triangular flap  42  (the flap, post-folding, is shown in dashed lines), with corner  41  being positioned three inches to the right (in the orientation of  FIG. 3 ) of edge  38 , and five and one-half inches below edge  39 . The triangular flap  42  is then cut and removed along base  43  to form pockets in the interior of the bag  10 . A similar folding and removal is formed at the bottom. 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 4 , the third piece of material  36  is unfolded, following the cuttings for pockets. As noted above, the material piece  36  was twice folded. In  FIG. 4 , following the cutting, the piece is only unfolded once, thus leaving folded side edge  40  and open side edge  38 . The cutting and removal of flap  42  forms V-shaped cutouts in the top and bottom, as shown, and the folded surfaces are stitched along the V-shaped cutouts (along stitch lines  44 ,  45 , as shown) to form a pair of pockets. As described above with regard to the single material piece  34 , the piece  36  is then turned inside out and pressed. The open side  38  is then machine top stitched shut, preferably approximately a third of an inch from the edge of the open side  38 . 
         [0036]    In  FIG. 5 , the folding of the single material piece  34  (of  FIG. 2 ) is illustrated. Piece  34  is positioned such that corners  46 ,  47  are horizontally opposed and corners  48 ,  49  are vertically opposed. Corner  46  is then folded left to right (in the orientation of  FIG. 5 ), as indicated by arrow  50 , to reach line  52  (which is preferably approximately one-third of the diagonal width of piece  34  from corner  47 ). Corner  47  is similarly folded right to left, as indicated by arrow  51 , to line  53 , which is similarly positioned. Thus, material  34  is folded approximately into thirds. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the folded material  34  forms a square  54  in a central region thereof. This central square region  54  is initially pinned along stitch line  55 . Next, folded material  34  is turned over, so that central square region  54  faces downwardly (this downward face will form the exterior of bag  10 ). 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the piece  34  and the piece  36  are next stitched together. The third piece of material  36  is laid on the upwardly facing side of piece  34  (opposite the pinned square region  54 ). The third piece of material  36  and the folded material  34  are then pinned together, with the third piece of material  36  being positioned to face upward (as shown). This upward face will form the interior of the bag  10 . Next, the pieces  34 ,  36  are pinned together adjacent edges  39 , and the pieces are stitched together along stitch line  56 , extending across the vertices of the V-shaped cutouts. Following this stitching, the square region  54  on the underside is stitched along stitch line  55 , being careful not to sew together the pockets that are forming. 
         [0039]    The upper and lower triangular portions of  FIG. 7  form flaps  14 ,  15 . With regard to  FIG. 8 , the flaps  14 ,  15  are folded to form passages  24 ,  25 , with corners  47 ,  48  pointing toward centerline  57 . Stitch lines  58 ,  59  are then sewn, approximately two and one-half inches from the upper and lower edges, respectively, and then seams  60 ,  61  are sewn approximately one inch from folded edges  62 ,  63 , respectively. This stitching forms passages  24 ,  25 , which may then receive cording  26 ,  27 . 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the material is then folded along centerline  57  so that the flaps  14 ,  15  touch each other and the interior material  36  is exposed. At this point, stitch line  56  divides the pair of pockets  64  and  65 . With the material pieces  34  and  36  folded in half, the left inner side seam  66  is machine sewn, as is the right inner side seam  67 . The bag  10  is inside out at this point in the process, and handles  20 ,  21  are next attached. 
         [0041]    Handles  20 ,  21  are preferably twenty-six inches long and one inch wide each, using the exemplary dimensions given above. Each end of the handles  20 ,  21  is stitched approximately four and one-half inches from the respective seam  66 ,  67 . Additionally, the ends of the handles  20 ,  21  are sewn on the same stitch lines  58 ,  59  and  60 ,  61 , respectively, as the seams for the passages  24 ,  25 . 
         [0042]    Following the stitching, the cording  26 ,  27  can be pulled through the respective passages, and the ends can be inserted through wooden beads  28 ,  29  and knotted. With the handles attached and the stitching completed, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the bag  10  may be turned inside out, as in  FIG. 11 , to form the completed bag  10 .  FIG. 11  shows the other outside pocket  17 , with flap  15  being raised to the handle  21 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 12  illustrates the interior of bag  10 , showing the inner pockets  64 ,  65  and  68 ,  69 . As shown, the inner pockets  64 ,  65  and  68 ,  69 , are formed so that there are two pockets formed on either side. This permits the placing of different items in each pocket, allowing for organization of differing types of items. Outer pockets  16 ,  17  are further formed to provide further organization and retention of personal items, with flaps  14 ,  15  covering the exterior pockets  16 ,  17 . 
         [0044]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.