Patent Publication Number: US-2018042347-A1

Title: Multifunctional bag with wear resistant surface

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to a bag that has a wear resistant surface and that can function both as a backpack or a duffle bag. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Oftentimes, people need to carry items with them from place to place. Backpacks and duffle bags are often used to do this. Backpacks generally work by being positioned around the user&#39;s shoulders such that the carried weight is distributed over the user&#39;s back. Duffle bags generally have one or two straps which the user holds to support the bag and its contents. These bags are often subjected to abuses that impart wear to the bags, particularly on the surface that is placed on the ground. 
     SUMMARY 
     The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described therein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim. 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a bag that can function as a backpack or a duffle bag depending on the positioning of the straps. The bag includes a wear resistant surface that aids in limiting wear on the body of the bag. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a bag according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the bag of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the bag of  FIG. 1  with optional straps shown in exploded view. 
         FIG. 4  is a detail view of the straps positioned on an embodiment of the bag for use as a duffle bag. 
         FIG. 5  is a detail view of hooks for detachable straps for use as a backpack. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to a multifunctional bag  10  that can be used as a duffle bag or as a backpack. The bag  10  has a body that can take the shape of any number of different objects, including but not limited to a shoe (such as a running shoe, see  FIG. 1 ), a half of a basketball, a half of a soccer ball, a half of a football, a half of a baseball, a half of a volleyball, a half of a golf ball, a half of a tennis ball, a hockey puck, etc. As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the body is formed of two portions—the upper portion  11  and the lower portion  12 . The upper portion  11  of the body has an underside and forms the interior storage compartment of the bag  10 , and the lower portion  12  of the body forms a wear resistant surface that will rest against the floor or the wearers back when worn. 
     The upper portion  11  of the body is preferably made from a flexible, durable material such as canvas or leather. The upper portion  11  may include a skeleton provided on the inside or outside of the bag that enables the bag to retain the desired bag shape. The internal skeleton can be made of wiring, piping, plastic tubing, or any other suitable material. The upper portion  11  of the body can also be made of any material suitable for the intended use of the bag  10 , including more rigid materials (e.g., rigid polymeric materials) that inherently retain the desired bag shape. 
     An opening  17  (or multiple openings) may be provided on the upper portion  11  of the body to permit the user access to the interior compartment of the body. The opening(s)  17  may be provided at any location on the upper portion  11 . The opening(s)  17  can be securely closed by any mechanical fastening means, such as, but not limited to, a zipper  14 , a hook and loop fastener, a shoe lace  16 , a magnet, a drawstring, a strap, a latch, etc. The bag  10  may also have any number of compartments or pockets  13  located on the exterior or interior of the bag. 
     The lower portion  12  of the body is provided on the bag below the upper portion and forms a wear resistant surface  15 . In some embodiments, the lower portion  12  is formed of a durable material that resists wear (e.g., scratches, scuffing, etc.) and environmental conditions (e.g., rain). Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, rubber, foam, etc. Provision of a durable lower portion  12  on the bag  10  enables the bag to be made from softer, more flexible materials that inherently are not able to resist wear and environmental conditions. 
     The lower portion  12  may be formed separately from the upper portion  11  and subsequently attached to the underside of the upper portion  11 , such as via adhesive, stitching, etc. In such instances, the lower portion  12  may be permanently attached to the underside of the upper portion  11 , or, alternatively, the lower portion  12  may be removable from the underside of the upper portion  11  such that different upper portions  11  and lower portions  12  may be mixed and matched together. In an alternative embodiment, the lower portion  12  can be formed directly on the underside of the upper portion  11 , such as by coating the lower portion  12  onto the underside of the upper portion  11 . Regardless, the lower portion  12  forms a protective liner or wear resistant surface on the bottom of the bag  10 . 
     In some embodiments, the wear resistant surface  15  of the lower portion  12  is a relatively flat surface so that the bag  10  can rest flat on a surface or against the wearer&#39;s back. The wear resistant surface  15  of the lower portion  12  can be smooth  18 , can bear one or more textures or patterns (such as a treaded pattern  19  akin to that of a running shoe), or can have a combined smooth and patterned surface. 
     Any number of straps  20  may be attached to the bag  10  to allow the bag  10  to be used as a duffle bag or as a backpack. See  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The straps  20  may be permanently attached to the bag  10  via adhesive, stitching, etc. or they may be detachable so the user can move them to various locations on the bag  10 . 
     In one embodiment, the bag  10  includes any number of attachment features, and the straps  20  include engagement features that engage the attachment features to secure the straps  20  on the bag  10 . By way only of example, the bag  10  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  includes a number of hooks  23  and the ends of the straps  20  include clips  21  that engage the hooks  23  to retain the straps  20  on the bag  10 . In this way, the straps  20  may be removed from the bag  10  and secured at different locations on the bag  10 . The hooks  23  may be made of any material such as metal or plastic. 
     In one illustrated embodiment (see  FIGS. 3 and 5 ), the hooks  23  are D-hooks provided on the wear resistant surface  15  of the lower portion  12  of the bag  10 . Four hooks  23  are provided, but any number could be provided. Once hooked to the lower portion  12 , the straps  20  may be placed around the user&#39;s shoulder for use as a backpack, with the lower wear surface  15  of the lower portion  12  adjacent the wearer&#39;s back. 
     While straps attached to hooks  23  provided on the lower portion  12  could be used to carry the bag  10  as a duffle bag, hooks or other attachment features could be provided at different or other locations on the bag  10 , for example on the upper portion  11  of the bag  10 . To use the bag  10  as a duffle bag, the straps  20  are extended upwardly from the bag  10 . A fastening device  22  that wraps around the straps to hold the straps together may also be provided. For example, the device  22  may be detachably secured to itself (such as via a hook and loop fastener) to hold the straps together and also permit their separation from each other. 
     While two straps are shown, any number of straps may be used. Moreover, the straps may be stored within the bag  10  or within a pocket  13  provided on the bag, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     Having the lower portion  12  be formed of a durable material provides multiple beneficial features. It protects the bag  10  from environmental conditions and potential wear, such as water or scratches, while still allowing the material of the bag  10  to maintain a level of flexibility. 
     The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Further modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and subcombinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depicted in the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.