Patent Publication Number: US-8528867-B1

Title: Multi-use bag, bag stand, and multi-use bag and bag stand accessories

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to multi-use bags, bag stands, multi-use bag and bag stand accessories that enable ease of using, storing and filling multi-use bags. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus comprising: 
     a bag comprising: 
     a first panel; 
     a second panel; 
     a first fastener located on the first panel; and 
     a second fastener located on the second panel; 
     wherein the bag is able to move between an open position and a closed position; in the closed position, the first fastener is releasably secured to the second fastener; and in the open position, the first fastener is not in contact with the second fastener. 
     The bag further comprises a third fastener and a fourth fastener; the first panel comprises a first interior surface and a first exterior surface; the second panel comprises a second interior surface and a second exterior surface; first fastener is located on the first interior surface, the third fastener is located on the first exterior surface; the second fastener is located on the second interior surface; and the fourth fastener is located on the second exterior surface. 
     The first panel comprises a first interior surface and a first exterior surface; the second panel comprises a second interior surface and a second exterior surface; and the first fastener extends from the first interior surface to the first exterior surface, and the second fastener extends from the second interior surface to the second exterior surface. 
     The apparatus further comprising a catch; and the catch comprises a fastener section that is releasably connected to either the third fastener or the fourth fastener. 
     The apparatus further comprising a catch; and the catch comprises a fastener section that is releasably connected to either the first fastener or the second fastener. 
     The apparatus further comprising a bag stand comprising a hook; and the catch defines a though hole, and the hook is located in the through hole. 
     The apparatus further comprising a bag stand and a catch; the bag stand comprises a hook; the catch comprises a fastening section, that is releasably connected to either the third fastener or the fourth fastener, and defines a through hole in which the hook is engaged; and the catch is able to rotate in relation to the hook such that the hook is able to disengage from the through hole, but the catch will still be attached to the bag stand. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a bag and a bag stand; 
         FIG. 2 . shows an embodiment with many bags; 
         FIG. 3 . shows an interaction between an embodiment of the bag and the bag stand; 
         FIGS. 4 and 5 . shows an embodiment of the fasteners and a catch; 
         FIG. 6  shows and embodiment of a catch; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  show an embodiment of the fasteners; 
         FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of the fasteners; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a bag  1  is attached to a bag stand  3 . The bag  1  comprises of a first panel  11 , a second panel  12 , a handle  13 , a first fastener  14  and a second fastener  15 . The first panel  11  has a first interior surface  110  and a first exterior surface  111 . The second panel  12  has a second interior surface  120  and a second exterior surface  121 . Also shown is a catch  2  having a through hole  21  and a fastening section  22 . A bag stand  3  comprises a hook  31 , and the hook  31  is shown being received in the through hole  21 . 
     When the bag  1  is in a closed position, the first fastener  14  and the second fastener  15  are releasably secured to each other and will hold the bag  1  closed. When the first fastener  14  and the second fastener  15  are separated, the bag  1  is placed in an open position. In some embodiments (as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), the first fastener  14  extends from the first interior surface  110  to the first exterior surface  111 , and the second fastener  15  extends from the second interior surface  120  to the second exterior surface  121 . 
     The fastener section of the catch  2  can be secured to the first fastener  14 . The through hole  21  of the catch  2  can be hooked on the hook  31  of the bag stand  3 . A user is able to separate the first fastener  14  and the second fastener  15  and position the bag  1  in the open position. The first panel  11  will stay attached to the bag stand  3 , while the second panel  12  is moved away from the first panel  11 . Thus the bag  1  will be conveniently open, but it will also be stable so that the bag  1  can be easily filled with items. Once the bag  1  is filled, the first fastener  14  can be disconnected from the fastening section  22  of the catch  2  or the catch  2  can be unhooked and remain in contact with the first fastener  14 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , multiple bags  1 , forming a stack, can be employed. When secured to the bag stand  3 , one of the bags  1  will be attached to the fastening section  22 , while all the successive bags  1  will be attached to the adjacent bags  1 . For example, the first fastener  14  of one bag  1  will be attached to the second fastener  15  of an adjacent bag  1 . As discussed in reference to one bag  1 , the outer most bag&#39;s first fastener  14  is separated from the second fastener  15  and placed in the open position. The bag  1  is then filled and removed from the stack. The next bag  1  then can be placed in a open position and filled. This can be done until the last bag  1  is filled or until there are no more items to be bagged. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in some embodiments, there are also a third fastener  141  and a fourth fastener  151 . In embodiments with the third fastener  141  and the fourth fastener  151 , the first fastener  14  is located on the first interior surface  110 ; the second fastener  15  is located on the second interior surface  120 ; the third fastener  141  is located on the first exterior surface  111 ; and the fourth fastener  151  is located on the second exterior surface  121 . Additionally, the first fastener  14  and the second fastener  15 , as well as the third fastener  141  and the fourth fastener  151  of adjacent bags  1 , will be aligned. The operation of the bag(s)  1  is the same as discussed above. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, an attached catch  25  is attached to the bag stand  3  by means that is separate from the hook  31 . The attached catch  25  comprises of a fastening section  22  and is able to be folded over the top portion  33  of the bag stand  3 . In some embodiments, the attached catch  25  has a though hole  21  and can slide over the hook  31 . The attached catch  25  can be integral with the bag stand  3  or can be removably attached to the bag stand  3 . 
     In some embodiments, the first fastener  14 , the second fastener  15 , the third fastener  141  (if present) and the fourth fastener  151  (if present) are integral with the bag  1  (as seen in  FIG. 9 ). However in other embodiments, they are applied by means of an adhesive to the panels. An example of which is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The fasteners can be magnets, buttons, snaps, DUAL LOCK® fasteners, and hook and loop fasteners. In embodiments employing the hook and loop fasteners, the first fasteners  14  and the second fasteners  15 , likewise the third fasteners and the fourth fasteners if used, must be the one or the other in order to be properly mated. In some embodiments, the fasteners that are hooks are one color and/or pattern, and the fasteners that are loops are of a different color and/or patterns. In other embodiments, the first exterior surfaces and the second exterior surface  121  have different colors and/or patterns. The different color and/or pattern helps the user properly align the bags  1  so that they will be easily attached to each other to form a stack. It will also assist aligning the proper end of the stack to attach to the catch  2  or the attached catch  25 . The same can be said for if magnets are employed. If DUAL LOCK® fasteners is employed for the fasteners, the alignment of the bag(s)  1  in a certain orientation is not a concern, as DUAL LOCK® fasteners can be used on a mirror of itself. 
     The fasteners and or catches  2  can be sold separately to modify common reusable bags  1 . Likewise, attached catches  25  can be sold separately to retailers that use bag stands  3 . It is also understood that retailers may purchase bag stands  3  with attached catches  25 , permanently or semi-permanently, and sell reusable bags  1  having the fasteners (two or four). 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 6 , one of the advantages of the bag  1 , catch  2 , and/or attached catch  25  is that it allows the bag stand  3  to still be used to hold regular plastic bags. Thus when a user comes with a bag  1  or a stack, the person bagging can use a catch  2  and place the hook  31  in the through hole  21 , or flip the attached catch  25  over and place the hook  31  though the through hole  21 , and easily use the bags  1 . The use of this system will decrease the time required to pack reusable bags, decrease labor cost and lines. 
     Another advantage of the system is that it allows a simple way for the consumer to store their bags  1 . The stack of bags  1  shown in  FIG. 2 , can be used to keep the bags  1  together when not being employed. This will allow the consumer to easily stow the bags  1 , such as in the car, without the fear that they will spread all over the trunk. 
     It is to be understood that the above-described embodiment is intended to illustrate rather than limit the disclosure. Variations may be made to the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the disclosure as claimed. The above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the scope of the disclosure and not restricted to the scope of the disclosure.