Abstract:
A computer tote convertible from a hand-carried attache case to a shoulder-carried backpack. As an attache case, the computer tote may be carried by retractable handles and a convertible compartment houses a shoulder harness and a backpack compartment in a small, compact manner. The convertible compartment can be opened so that the harness and backpack compartment can be unfolded. The backpack compartment expands the size of the case so as to allow additional items to be carried therein, and the shoulder harness facilitator carrying the expanded tote on a user&#39;s back. The computer case has numerous other interior and exterior zippered compartments including a computer compartment. The computer compartment is sized for securely containing a portable computer and is lined with padded board for protecting the computer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     (Not applicable) 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     (Not applicable) 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to luggage especially adapted to be used for carrying portable computers. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The prior art has developed a variety of bags, cases or totes for transporting and protecting sensitive electronic items, such as portable computers. See e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,217,119, 5,494,157 and 5,706,992. The disclosure of these publications and of all other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     These patents disclose bags or cases particularly suited to contain and protect portable computers in a relatively small package while providing enough additional storage space for computer related accessories and possibly business or scholastic documents. For example, the cases disclosed in these patents include compartments lined with high density foam to reduce the likelihood of damaging the computer during transit. These patents also disclose portable computer cases resembling traditional attache cases in which the case carried by one hand or suspended over one shoulder as well as cases in the form of a backpack having shoulder straps suitable for securing the case to a user&#39;s back. Moreover, the patents disclose the use of multiple carrying modes for one case, for example, an attache type case having both a handle and a shoulder strap. 
     The prior art also discloses other bags and carrying cases that can be converted from one style having one or more carrying means to another style case having other carrying means. For example, a handbag having a strap handle that can be reconfigured as shoulder straps is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,274 and a wheeled suitcase having a shoulder harness for carrying the suitcase over uneven terrain is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,503. These systems provide a user the option to carrying the case in alternate ways as desired. For example, if the bag is heavily loaded so that it is not easily held by one hand or if one is using one&#39;s hands for other purposes, such as opening a door, the aforementioned bag and suitcase can be carried on one&#39;s back via the shoulder harness. 
     However, this convertability often comes at the price of an aesthetically displeasing bag in which additional handles or strapping are affixed to the bag. Prior art designs provide removable handles and straps, however, typically hooks, rings and other fastening means remain attached to the outside of the bag. Moreover, other prior art designs provide for the concealment of these additional handles and straps by disposing them within a storage compartment or other dedicated pocket within the bag. If the extra strapping or handles are kept in otherwise usable storage space, the user may have to sacrifice carrying additional objects or supplies in order to carry the straps/handles. This is particularly disadvantageous for transporting portable computers, which include a number accessories vital to its operation, such as a power supply, external storage devices and pointing devices. In this case, the user is required to forego the convenience of alternate carrying means or fasten the handles/straps in place even if a different carrying means will be used. 
     Moreover, even if the handles/straps are kept in dedicated pockets so that they are not occupying storage compartments, the total volume of storage space for a given size bag is reduced by the space occupied by the dedicated pocket. In other words, since these dedicated pockets are typically inappropriately sized to be used as item storage compartments, the usable storage space of the bag is not increased when the extra handles/straps are being used. 
     In other prior art designs, rather than stowing additional handles or straps, the same handle/strap is used in all carrying means. Typically, however, the handles/straps of these designs are not optimally sized for each carrying means, due to the differing size requirements of the various carrying means. Consequently, these bags are often clumsy and awkward to carry such that the bags may be mishandled and the contents damaged. This is particularly disadvantageous when carrying delicate, high-priced electronics, such as a portable computer, that may contain highly important information. 
     Accordingly, there is therefore a need for an improved computer tote. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a computer tote that can be converted from an attache case to a backpack. The backpack configuration provides for an expanded storage volume and an attached harness for wearing the tote upon a person&#39;s back and shoulders. 
     Specifically, the invention provides a tote for toting a portable computer having an expandable storage volume defined by a front, a back, opposite sides, a top and a bottom. A computer compartment forming part of the storage volume is sized to contain the portable computer. The computer compartment is accessible through an opening at least at the top having a first closure mechanism for opening and closing the computer compartment. A convertible compartment is connected to the computer compartment and separated therefrom by a partition substantially parallel to the front and back. The convertible compartment has a closure mechanism extending about its periphery for opening and closing the convertible compartment so as to transform the tote between an attache case configuration and a backpack configuration. The tote includes a handle graspable at the top of the tote so as to carry the tote by hand at least when it is in its attache case configuration. The tote also includes a backpack harness having a pair of shoulder straps disposed within and deployable from the convertible compartment such that the tote can be carried on a user&#39;s back when in the backpack configuration. The convertible compartment can be expended outward to define a compartment of increased storage volume, such that the tote storage volume is greater in the backpack configuration than in the attache case configuration. 
     The convertible compartment defines a backpack compartment when in the backpack configuration. The backpack compartment has an opening at least at the top for accessing the backpack compartment as well as a second closure mechanism extending along this opening for opening and closing the backpack compartment. The backpack compartment preferably extends upward past the plane of the top as that the tote resembles a conventional backpack. The backpack compartment includes a rain flap disposed along and covering the second closure mechanism. The flap prevents moisture, such as rain, from entering the inside of the backpack compartment through the second closure mechanism. Additionally, the backpack compartment includes an external loop at its top. The loop can be used to hang the tote by a suitable hook. The loop may also be an alternate means of carrying the tote in the backpack configuration. 
     The shoulder harness straps have a first end and a second end, the first end being fastened at a top portion of the backpack compartment and the second end being fastened to a bottom side portion of the backpack compartment within the perimeter of the peripheral closure mechanism. In this way, the shoulder harness can be completed concealed from view with the convertible compartment is closed. Moreover, each of the shoulder straps are adjustable to define various sized shoulder openings allowing the shoulder straps to be loosened when taking off or putting on the tote as well as to be tightened so as to snugly fit differently sized users. In one arrangement, the shoulder straps are comprised of two straps. Each of the first straps are attached at one end to the top of the backpack compartment and each of the second straps are attached at one end to a bottom side of backpack compartment. The free ends of each set of first and second straps are coupled by a strap buckle. Preferably, the first straps include a padding material. 
     The carrying handle is at least partially retractable into the tote. Specifically, the handle is U-shaped having a pair of longitudinal legs or uprights joined at one end to each end of a cross member. The uprights have a stop member at their free end. The tote also has a pair of retaining openings mounted to a partition wall of the case to define a pair parallel slots sized to permit the handle uprights to slide longitudinally within the retaining openings from proximate the cross member to proximate the stop members. The tote can include a pair of such handles in which the uprights are flexible such that the cross members of both handles can be grasped by one hand. 
     The computer compartment includes cushion material for protecting a computer stored therein. The cushion material is preferably located at front, back, bottom and end sides. 
     In another aspect, the present invention is a tote convertible from an attache case configuration defining a first storage volume to a backpack configuration defining a second storage volume wherein the second storage volume is larger than the first storage volume. The tote has a front side, a back side, opposite end sides, a top side and a bottom side. The tote includes a convertible compartment defined in part by the back side and has a closure member at the periphery of the back side that is used to convert the tote between attache case and backpack configurations. Specifically, when the peripheral closure member is fastened is joins the back side to the top, bottom and end sides to define the attache case configuration and when it unfastened permits the back side to be extended outward at collapsible sides joining the back side to the top side, bottom and end side so as to define the backpack configuration. A handle extends from one of the sides for carrying the tote by hand when in the attache configuration. Also, a shoulder harness is attached within and deployable from the convertible compartment for shoulder carrying the tote when in the backpack configuration. 
     The peripheral closure member is preferably a zipper having first and second fastener halves, with the first fastener half being attached at a rear perimeter formed by the top, bottom and end sides and the second fastener half being attached to the back side perimeter. Preferably, the peripheral closure member is a convention zipper, however alternatively, it may also be a hook and loop fastener. 
     The backpack compartment further includes front and rear upper portions extending upward past the plane of the top side. The rear upper portion extends substantially in the plane of the back side so as to form a back side of increased surface area. The front and rear upper portions give the tote the appearance of a conventional backpack when in it is the backpack configuration. Preferably, the back side and rear upper portion include padding material. The front and rear upper portions can be folded inwardly into the backpack compartment opening for collapsing the backpack compartment. Preferably, the front and rear upper portions are folded at respective parallel front and rear fold axes substantially in the same plane as the top side. 
     The shoulder harness includes first and second shoulder straps each having top and bottom ends attached to the backpack compartment such that when the tote is in the attache case configuration the shoulder harness is not visible. The top ends are fastened to the rear upper portion. The first shoulder strap bottom end is fastened to a first end side of the collapsible sides and the second shoulder strap bottom is fastened to an opposite end side of the collapsible sides. Preferably, the first and second shoulder straps each have a ribbon portion at the bottom end and a padded portion of increased width and thickness at the top end. 
     The shoulder harness also includes strap buckles for adjusting the size of shoulder loops formed by the first and second straps. The ribbon portions have first and second halves. The first halves each have a free end and an opposing fixed end joined to a corresponding padded portion. The second halves each have a free end and an opposing fixed end comprising the strap bottom ends. The ribbon portion free ends of each strap are adjustably joined by the strap buckles. 
     The backpack compartment opening extends down the collapsible end sides so that the first and second strap padded portions can be disposed within the backpack compartment when the upper portions are folded into the backpack compartment opening. 
     Thus, the present invention provides a computer tote that defines an attache case configuration for carrying the tote by hand having a thin profile convertible compartment that can be quickly and easily converted to define a backpack configuration having a shoulder harness for shoulder carrying the tote. The convertible compartment expands into a backpack compartment, increasing the storage volume of the tote and having upper portions that give the tote the aesthetic appeal of a conventional backpack. The backpack compartment can be collapsed to return the tote to the attache case configuration without the shoulder harness being visible from the exterior of the tote. 
     These and still other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description of the preferred embodiments which follow. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the expandable computer tote of the present invention, shown in an attache case form; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the tote of FIG. 1, shown with carrying handles in an extended position; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the tote of FIG. 1, shown with carrying handles in a retracted position; 
     FIG. 4 is a back view of the tote of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the tote of FIG. 1, showing support footings; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the tote of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the retractable handle assembly attached to an inner partition; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the tote of FIG. 1 showing internal pockets of the computer compartment in which padding material is contained; 
     FIGS. 9A-9F depict the expansion/collapse of the tote from/to the attache case configuration to/from the backpack configuration, specifically, 
     FIG. 9A is a right side view of the tote with the convertible compartment opened and partially expanded outward, with the shoulder harness stowed away; 
     FIG. 9B is a right side view of the tote shown with the backpack compartment partially expanded and the shoulder harness deployed; 
     FIG. 9C is a right side view of the tote shown fully expanded in the backpack configuration; 
     FIG. 9D is a right side view of the tote shown with a back top portion folded inward into an opening of the backpack compartment before the shoulder harness straps are stowed; 
     FIG. 9E is a cut-away right side view of the tote with the backpack compartment shown with the back top portion folded inwardly and a padded portion of a shoulder harness strap disposed within the backpack compartment; 
     FIG. 9F is a right side view of the tote with the backpack compartment shown with the front and back top portions folded into the opening of the backpack compartment and the padded portions of shoulder harness shoulder straps disposed within the backpack compartment so it may be compressed and closed by a peripheral closure member; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the tote of FIG. 1, shown with the expanded backpack compartment and shoulder harness; 
     FIG. 11 is a back view of the tote expanded into a backpack as shown in FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of section  12 — 12  of FIG. 9C, showing the backpack compartment closed and its zipper shown in phantom beneath a rain flap; and 
     FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of section  12 — 12  of FIG. 9c, shown with the backpack compartment partially open with a shoulder strap partially contained therein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings in detail, the expandable computer tote of the present invention is referred to generally by reference numeral  20 . Referring to FIGS. 1-6, the computer tote  20  is shown in an attache case configuration having a front side  22 , a back side  24 , end sides  26  and  28 , a top side  30  and a bottom side  32 . Preferably, the sides are made of a suitable high-strength plastic fabric, such as 1050D Ballistic Nylon commercially available from E.I. Du Pont de Nemours, Co. (Du Pont). 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , the tote front  22  includes two gusseted pockets  34  and  36  having zipper closure members  38  and  40 , respectively, extending along a curved path so as to allow increased access to the insides of the pockets. Two small inset pockets (not shown) are disposed within a top portion of the gusseted pockets  34  and  36  and are accessed through horizontal zippers  42  and  44 . Although not shown, preferably one gusseted pocket  34  includes an identification label on the outside surface and a key chain clip, such as a thumb-operated spring clasp, secured on the inside by a flexible strap material. Gusseted sides  46  permit the pockets  34  and  36  to expand as needed to store larger or a greater number of items. While the front  22  is shown with two pockets having two sets of zippers, the present invention is not limited in this regard, as a number of configurations of buckles may be used. Moreover, while preferably the pockets are closed with standard nylon zippers, any other suitable closure mechanism may be used, such as buttons, snaps and hook and loop fasteners. 
     Referring again to FIG. 4, the tote back  24  includes padding material (not shown) secured in place by vertical stitching  48 . The padding material cushions a wearer&#39;s back when the tote is used as a backpack, as described below. Also attached to the back  24  is a strap  50 , preferably made of a suitable polypropylene webbing, stitched only at end segments  52 ,  54  so that an unfastened central portion  56  can be grasped and/or fit over the handle/support bars of common wheeled luggage and luggage carriers (not shown). Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the tote bottom  32  has four feet  58  suitably fastened thereon acting as a bumper and for supporting the tote  20  off the ground. The feet  58  are generally hemispherical and preferably made of a suitable polypropylene material. However, the present invention is not limited in this regard, as other suitable shapes and materials may be used. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, extending upward past the tote top  30  are two handles  60  and  62 . The handles  60  and  62  each have a graspable cross-member  64  extending between top ends  66  of two uprights  68  and  70 . The cross-members  64  are preferably a suitable leather or vinyl material wrapped around a padding material, such as a suitable foam, and the uprights  68  and  70  are preferably the same nylon fabric as the exterior sides of the tote. The flexibility of the fabric and the attachment location of the handles  60  and  62  to the tote  20  allow the cross-members  64  of both handles  60  and  62  to be brought together and grasped by one hand. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, each handle  60  and  62  is restrained to an interior partition  22  (only one being shown). Specifically, bottom ends  74  of the uprights  68  and  70  are inserted through stitched eyelets  76  and capped by stop members  78  sized larger than the eyelets  76 . The eyelets  76  are slightly larger than the width of the uprights  68  and  70 . Although the uprights  68  and  70  are flexible, they are sufficient stiff to slide up and down within the eyelets  76  from an extended  80  to a retracted  82  position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The eyelets  76  for each handle  60  and  62  preferably are located in lateral and longitudinal alignment with each other and that of the other handle  60  and  62  so that both handles  60  and  62  extend and retract uniformly. Referring again to FIG. 7, the stop members  78  are preferably made of a heavy vinyl material that has sufficient rigidity to prevent the uprights  68  and  70  from being pulled through the eyelets  76  when in use. Additionally, a rigid bar  84  (shown in phantom), preferably made of a suitable metal, extends across a top portion of the partitions  72  to increase structural integrity of the partition  72  and help maintain the shape of the tote  20  when it is laden with heavy items and carried by the handles  60  and  62 . 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 6, the sides  22 - 32  define the exterior of the tote  20  as well as the boundaries of three externally accessed compartments, namely, an accessory compartment  86 , a computer compartment  88  and a convertible compartment  90 . These compartments are separated by two interior partitions  72  (one shown in FIG. 7) and include access openings  92 ,  94  and  96 , respectively, having respective zipper closure members  98 ,  100  and  102  extending along at least the top side  30  of the compartments for opening and closing the access openings  92 ,  94  and  96 . Preferably, the zippers  98 ,  100  and  102  also extend along at least a portion of the ends  26  and  28  so that compartments  86 ,  88  and  90  are easily accessible. Also, preferably, the zippers  98  and  100  each include two zipper pull closure devices  104  and  106  such that the access openings  92  and  94  may be closed by sliding each zipper pull inwardly to meet at an intermediate position, rather than from end to end of the zippers  98  and  100 . The convertible compartment  90  zipper  102  preferably has one zipper pull  105  for opening and closing the opening  96 . 
     The accessory compartment  86  has an interior lining (not shown) made of a suitable plastic fabric, such as 240D Nylon offered by Du Pont, preferably having a lesser thickness. Preferably, the accessory compartment  86  includes a number of interior pockets (not shown) particularly suited for containing office supplies, computer accessories, electrical devices and other such items. For example, such interior pockets may have open tops or have flaps (not shown) which can be used to open and close the pockets. Preferably, these flaps are secured closed by a hook and loop fastener, however, any other suitable fastener may be used, such as snaps, zippers, buttons, etc. The accessory compartment  86  itself can be used to store papers, files or other similar items. Moreover, although the accessory compartment  86  is designed to hold office, business and electronic related items, it can be used to store any other suitably sized items. 
     Referring to FIG. 8, adjacent to the accessory compartment  86  is the computer compartment  88  sized to snugly contain a typical portable computer. The interior of the computer compartment is similarly lined with a thin thread nylon material that defines pockets in front (not shown), back (not shown), bottom  108  and ends  110  and  112  for containing a protective board (not shown) having a suitable cushioning material disposed thereon. These pockets may have access openings with suitable closure mechanisms for removing the board in the event items less affected by shock than a computer are to be stored in this compartment. The computer compartment  88  also preferably includes two straps (not shown) each fastened at one end to sides of the compartment and having a mateable fastener at their free ends, such as a hook and loop fastener. These straps act to restrain the computer securely in the computer compartment to further reduce the possibility of the computer being damaged. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  5 ,  6  and  9 , the convertible compartment  90  is adjacent to the computer compartment  88  and bounded by the back side  24 . The convertible compartment  90  has the peripheral opening  96  closed by the zipper  102  beginning at a mated end  118  (see FIG. 9) and extending along the perimeter of the compartment slightly past the mated end  118  to a terminus  107  where the peripheral zipper  102  is sewn back upon itself to the tote material. The zipper  102  is opened and closed by appropriately sliding the zipper pull  105 . When the tote  20  is to be carried by hand, i.e., in an attache configuration, the convertible compartment  90  is zipped closed to define a thin profile backing to the tote  20  (see FIG.  6 ). In this configuration, the convertible compartment  90  is preferably not used for storing or toting items, however, if desired the convertible compartment  90  can be used for carrying suitably sized items. 
     FIGS. 9A-9F illustrate the process of expanding the tote  20  from the attache case configuration to the backpack configuration as well as the process in which the tote is collapsed back to the attache case configuration. Referring now to FIG. 9A, with the convertible compartment  90  unzipped and the mated end  118  of the zipper  102  separated, the back side  24  can be extended outward so as to define a collapsed backpack compartment  122  and reveal a shoulder harness  120 . The backpack compartment  122  is in part defined by the back side  24  but also by expanded sides  124  and  126  and opposing front  128  and back  130  top portions, each preferably made of the same high strength nylon used for other parts of the tote exterior. The front  128  and back  130  top portions are folded inwardly in the attache case configuration and at the beginning of the expansion process, as shown in FIG.  9 A. 
     Referring to FIG. 9B, the top portions  128  and  130  are unfolded when the tote  20  is converted to a backpack, preferably along substantially parallel front  131  and back  133  fold lines or axes generally in or below the plane of the top  30 . When unfolded, the front  128  and back  130  top portions extend upwardly past the plane of the top side  30 . When the backpack compartment  122  is fully extended, it is as shown in FIGS. 9C and 10. In this configuration, the tote resembles a conventional backpack, due in large part to the upwardly extending top portions  128 ,  130 . The back top portion  130  also provides additional surface area to that of the back  24 , making the tote more comfortable to wear on one&#39;s back, much like a conventional backpack. Also, like the back  24 , the back top portion  130  may also include a padding material for increased comfort for the wearer. 
     The expanded sides  124  and  126  and top portions  128  and  130  define an access opening  132  having a zipper  134  extending therealong for opening and closing the backpack compartment  122 . A flap  136  having a free edge  138  extends along this opening  132  to cover the zipper  134  (see FIG. 12) which can be pivoted along a seam edge  140  to access the zipper pulls  142  (see FIGS.  9  and  13 ). The flap  136  acts to prevent water, such as rain, from entering the inside of the backpack compartment  122 . Preferably, the flap  136  is made of the same above described exterior nylon. 
     Further, when the back top portion  130  is unfolded, the shoulder harness  120  is fully deployed to an wearable position, as shown in FIG. 9C, from within the backpack compartment  122 . Referring to FIGS. 9C,  10  and  11 , the shoulder harness  120  is comprised of two shoulder straps  144  and  146  each having a padded portion  148  with a top end  150  attached to the back backpack top portion  130  near its center. Preferably, the padded portions  148  are wider and thicker than conventional strapping providing additional comfort to the wearer. The inner surface  152  of the padded portions  148  have suitable non-skid material, such as polyvinyl chloride, to prevent the tote from sliding down or off the wearer&#39;s shoulders. A bottom end  154  of each padded portion  148  is attached to a reinforced connector  156  to which is attached a strap  158  looped about a plastic or metal slide buckle  160 , as known in the art. Each slide buckle  160  receives a free end  162  of a strap  164  secured at a fixed end  166  to a lower side portion  168  on the backpack compartment  122  and within the peripheral zipper  102 . Each free end  162  is threaded through the corresponding slide buckle,  160  as known in the art, for adjusting the size of the shoulder receiving loops formed between the back side  24  and shoulder straps  144  and  146 . Although the straps are shown permanently fixed to the tote and adjustable, the present invention is not limited in this regard as the straps could be of fixed size without a buckle and removably attached to the tote at suitable strap clasps. Since the shoulder harness  120  is permanently fixed to the tote  20 , once the correct shoulder strap length is set, the shoulder harness  120  is ready to be worn without requiring the wearer to attach the shoulder straps  144  and  146  or make any further adjustment. 
     Also attached to the back top backpack portion  130  at a top edge is a loop  170 , preferably made of vinyl material. The top loop  120  can be used for hanging the tote  20  by a hook or as another means for carrying the tote  20  when in the backpack configuration. The top loop  20  is also concealed when in tote  20  is in the attache configuration. 
     Referring to FIG. 9D, the process of collapsing the backpack compartment  122  to return the tote to the attache case configuration, begins by folding the back top portion  130  inwardly along the back fold line  133 . Referring to FIG. 9E, doing this directs the top of the shoulder harness  120  into the backpack compartment opening  132 . The backpack compartment  132  and the strap  164  of each shoulder strap  144  and  146  are appropriately sized to permit the padded portions  148  to be completely disposed within the backpack compartment  132 . This ensures that the larger padded portions  148  do not interfere in closing the peripheral zipper  102 . Moreover, because the fixed strap ends  166  of the shoulder straps are attached to the interior of the backpack compartment  122  and the top end  150  of the padded portion  148  is attached to a folded in top portion of the backpack compartment  122 , the shoulder harness  120  is not visible when the tote  20  is in the attache case configuration. Referring now to FIG. 9F, the front top portion  128  is folded inwardly along fold line  131  so that it is within the backpack compartment  122 . The back  24  can then be compressed inwardly and the peripheral zipper  102  closed, thus returning the compartment to the thin profile convertible compartment  90  and the tote to the attach case configuration. 
     In either the attache case or backpack configurations, a single-shoulder shoulder strap (not shown) can be attached to retaining rings  172  and  174  extending from the front and top, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. The shoulder strap may be left attached when the tote  20  is carried by hand or on one&#39;s back. Alternatively, the shoulder strap may be removed at spring-biased end clasps (not shown). The shoulder strap may then be stored in a tote compartment or in a home, office or other facility. Moreover, when in the backpack configuration, preferably the handles  60  and  62  are pushed down in the retracted position  82  (shown in FIG. 3) and the single shoulder strap is removed. 
     The present invention may include other aspects not specifically delineated in the aforementioned preferred embodiments. The above in no way is intended to limit the scope of the invention. Accordingly, in order to apprise the public of the full scope of the present invention, reference must be made to the following claims.