Patent Abstract:
Disclosed is a configurable bag having a main bag compartment defined by a foldable bag body configurable between at least a first configuration and a second configuration via a folding of the bag body, the main bag compartment being accessible via a closable opening disposed in the foldable bag body when in the first configuration. The configurable bag further includes a first securing means and a second securing means affixed to the bag body, wherein the first and second securing means are disposed out of position for connection when the bag body is in the first configuration. The first and second securing means are positioned for connection via folding the bag body into the second configuration. The first and second securing means are configured to secure the bag body in the second configuration when the first securing means is secured to the second securing means.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The disclosure relates generally to a configurable bag having multiple configurations such as a backpack, a saddlebag, and a messenger bag and more particularly to a bag having an interchangeable faceplate. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Conventional bags, such as backpacks, often include multiple compartments and pockets for storing items. This configuration is often cumbersome, particularly when a user is not utilizing all or part of the storage space. This configuration can also be inconvenient if a user is riding a bicycle or needs to carry the bag in a manner other than using two straps often associated with backpacks. This arrangement may also be inconvenient if the user needs to quickly access an item in one of the storage compartments, causing the user to remove the backpack to access the internal space of the storage compartments. 
         [0003]    One means of addressing the unused space is to have a collapsible bag. There are a variety of bags that convert from one configuration to another, such as from a backpack to a briefcase, but these bags are often bulky and include unused straps or handles that are bulky or dangerously exposed in the alternative configuration. For example, if the bag is used near a bicycle, the unused straps or handles could come into contact with the bike chain and/or wheels. 
         [0004]    One means of converting conventional bags from a first configuration, such as a backpack, to a second configuration, such as a handbag, includes converting the strap of the bag with a zipper, but not converting the appearance of the storage compartments. This also limits the function of the compartments because the only change is from one strap to two straps by widening the straps and how they are placed on a user without also changing the storage capability of the bag. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a need exists for a configurable bag that can accommodate multiple configurations while using the straps provided and allowing a user to access storage compartments while traveling with the bag. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Disclosed is a configurable bag having a main bag compartment defined by a foldable bag body configurable between at least a first configuration and a second configuration via a folding of the bag body. The main bag compartment is accessible via a closable opening disposed in the foldable bag body when in the first configuration. The first and second securing means are affixed to the bag body, wherein the first and second securing means are disposed out of position for connection when the bag body is in the first configuration. The first and second securing means are positioned for connection via the folding of the bag body into the second configuration. The first and second securing means are configured to the bag body in the second configuration when the first securing means is secured to the second securing means. 
         [0007]    Further disclosed is a configurable bag having a first configuration with a main compartment having a front panel, a back panel, a first side, and a second side. The bag further includes first and second storage compartments adjacent the front panel. A first closure means is disposed around the main compartment. First and second straps are attached to the back panel and extend between a top and a bottom of the back panel. Each of the straps includes first and second ends and is removably connected to the back panel with a first connecting means disposed at the first end of the first strap and a second connecting means disposed at the second end of the second strap. 
         [0008]    Also disclosed is a configurable bag having a first configuration with a main compartment having a front panel, a back panel, a first side, and a second side. The bag further includes a first side panel adjacent the first side and disposed along a longitudinal axis of the main compartment and a second side panel adjacent the second side and disposed along a longitudinal axis of the main compartment, wherein each of the side panels includes an attachment means extending along an exterior surface thereof such that when one of the first and second panels is attached to the other of the first and second panels, the main compartment is compressed therebetween. First and second straps are attached to the back panel and extend between a top and bottom of the back panel. Each of the straps includes first and second ends and is removably connected to the back panel with a first connecting means disposed at the first end of the first strap and a second connecting means disposed at the second end of the second strap. 
         [0009]    Further disclosed is a configurable bag having a first configuration wherein first and second straps attached to the back panel extend between a top and bottom of the back panel; each of the straps has first and second ends and is removably connected to the back panel with a first connecting means disposed at the first end of the first strap and a second connecting means disposed at the second end of the second strap; first side panel is disposed adjacent the first side and second side panel is disposed adjacent the second side, each of the panels being disposed along the longitudinal axis of the main compartment, and at least one of the side panels is configured to engage the other of the side panels. 
         [0010]    Also disclosed is a configurable bag having a second configuration wherein a first side panel engages a second side panel via an attachment means; and a first connecting means disposed at the first end of the first strap engages a second connecting means disposed at the second end of the second strap, each of the storage compartments being disposed on opposite sides of the configurable bag; and a third configuration wherein the configurable bag is attached to a bicycle, wherein the attachment means is disposed around the bicycle such that the first storage compartment and second storage compartment are disposed on first and second sides of a bicycle, respectively. 
         [0011]    Further disclosed is a configurable bag having a belt compartment with first and second ends, a connection means disposed at each of the first and second ends, a front panel and a back panel; first and second straps disposed on the front panel and extending along a length thereof; a first storage compartment connected to the front panel, the first storage compartment having a first attachment means disposed thereon for engaging at least one of the first and second straps; and a second storage compartment adjacent the first storage compartment and connected to the front panel, the second storage compartment having a second attachment means disposed thereon for engaging at least one of the first and second straps. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0012]    The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way. With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numbered alike: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a configurable bag in a first configuration; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the configurable bag in the first configuration; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a rear, exploded view of the configurable bag with the cover removed; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the configurable bag in a second configuration with the side panels disengaged; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the configurable bag in the second configuration with the side panels engaged; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the configurable bag in the second configuration with the first strap attached to the second strap; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of the configurable bag in a third configuration; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of the configurable bag in the first configuration with a belt compartment; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of the configurable bag in the first configuration with the belt compartment and the cover partially removed; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the configurable bag in the first configuration with the belt compartment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view of the configurable bag in the first configuration with the belt compartment and the straps attached; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of the belt compartment with first and second storage compartments attached thereto; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of the belt compartment with first and second storage compartments partially detached therefrom; 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a side perspective view of the belt compartment in a saddle configuration; 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a front perspective view of the configurable bag in the first configuration without first and second storage compartments; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a front perspective view of the configurable bag in the first configuration with first and second storage compartments attached horizontally. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , an exemplary embodiment of a configurable bag  100  in a first configuration is illustrated. In this exemplary embodiment, the bag  100  is a backpack and includes a main compartment  102  with a front panel  104  and a back panel  106 . The bag  100  is made of a collapsible material such that various sections can be compressed and expanded depending on the intended use. The bag  100  is further defined by a first side  108  and an opposing second side  110 , both extending along the longitudinal axis thereof. The front panel  104  includes a first storage compartment  112  attached thereto as well as a second storage compartment  114  attached adjacent the first storage compartment  112 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the storage compartments  112 ,  114  are aligned vertically, and disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bag. Turning to  FIG. 16 , the storage compartments  112 ,  114  can be arranged horizontally, and disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bag, such that the first compartment  112  is disposed above the second storage compartment  114 . The main compartment  102  is secured by a first closure means  116  such as a zipper or related device extending around at least a portion of the exterior surface thereof for securely closing the main compartment  102 . Each of the first and second storage compartments  112 ,  114  is secured by a second closure means  138 , such as a zipper, extending around at least a portion of the exterior surface thereof. 
         [0030]    Turning to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the back panel  106  of the bag includes first strap  118  and second strap  120  attached thereto. The straps  118 ,  120  extend between the top  122  and bottom  124  of the back panel  106 . Preferably, the straps  118 ,  120  include padding or are made from a padded material such as to add comfort to a user when carrying the bag and when the interior components of the compartments  102 ,  112 ,  114  include heavier items that would add pressure to the user&#39;s shoulders. As seen in  FIG. 2 , the first strap  118  includes a first end  126  and a second end  128 . The first end  126  is fixed to the top  122  of the back panel  106  and the second end  128  is adjacent the bottom  124  of the back panel  106 . The second end  128  is further defined by a first connecting means  134 . The connecting means  134 , in this embodiment, is a buckle, but can be any related or suitable device for securing the strap  118 . The second end  128  further includes a first adjustment means  148 . 
         [0031]    The first adjustment means  148  can be in the form of a buckle and a strap or related measure of adjusting the distance between the strap  118  and the back panel  106  to accommodate the user&#39;s comfort. A second adjustment means  158  can also be in the form of a buckle and a strap or related measure of adjusting the distance between the second strap  120  and the back panel  106 . The second adjustment means  158  is fixed to the back panel  106 . The first end  128  of the first strap  118  is configured to mate with the first adjustment means  148 . The second end  132  of the second strap  120  is configured to mate with the second adjustment means  158 . For example, if the connecting means  134  is a buckle, then the adjustment means  148  is received in the buckle  134  and adjusted thereto to accommodate the user&#39;s comfort, increasing or decreasing the distance between the strap  118  and the back panel  106 . 
         [0032]    The configurable bag  100  further includes side panels extending along the longitudinal axis of the main compartment  102 . As seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  4 , and  5 , first side  108  includes first side panel  140  and second side panel  142  adjacent thereto and extending between the top and bottom of the bag. The second side  110  includes third side panel  144  and fourth side panel  146  adjacent thereto and extending between the top and bottom of the bag. The panels  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146  can be made of any material sturdy enough to withstand normal wear and tear, but flexible enough to fold around the bag when the bag is compressed. In this embodiment, the side panels  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146  are substantially rectangular and are permanently attached to the main compartment  102  of the bag  100 . Each of the side panels  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146  includes an attachment means  150 ,  152 ,  154 ,  156 , respectively, extending along an exterior surface thereof. As such, each of the panels can be attached to any one of the other panels. When one of the panels is attached to another panel, the main compartment  102  is compressed therebetween. 
         [0033]    The panels can be used to compress the main compartment  102  between adjacent panels or to convert the bag  102  from the first configuration  100  to the second configuration  184 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , first panel  140  is attached to third panel  144  by connecting attachment means  150  with attachment means  154  and the main compartment  102  is compressed therebetween. Preferably, one of the first and second panels  140 ,  142  is attached to one of the third and fourth panels  144 ,  146  and the main compartment  102  is compressed therebetween to reduce the carrying capacity of the bag  100  and allow for a user to carry the bag in a different configuration. When at least one of the first and second panels  140 ,  142  is attached to one of the third and fourth panels  144 ,  146  such that the main compartment  102  is folded therebetween, the first storage compartment  112  and the second storage compartment  114  are disposed on opposite sides thereof such that the bag resembles the second configuration  184 . 
         [0034]    In the illustrated embodiment, all of the disclosed attachment means  150 ,  152 ,  154 ,  156  are zippers disposed along the exterior surface of the side panels  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 , respectively, for providing a secure and easily accessible connection between the side panels  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 . Other attachment means can be used such as snaps, hook and loop closures, or the like. 
         [0035]    Turning to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the back panel  106  of the bag  100  includes a cover or faceplate  160 . The faceplate  160  preferably extends along at least a portion of the back panel  106  and preferably, along the entire surface of the back panel  106 . The faceplate  160  is removably attached to the back panel  106  with a cover attachment means  162  such as a hook and loop closure as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , the cover attachment means  162  is arranged in a plurality of strips disposed along the perimeter of the back panel  106 . If the hooks are disposed on the back panel  106 , then the corresponding loops are disposed in a similar arrangement on the interior  161  of the faceplate  160 . The cover attachment means  162  could also include a zipper, a plurality of snaps, or the like. In this embodiment, the faceplate  160  is substantially rectangular shaped to extend across the entire back panel  106 . Both the back panel  106  and the faceplate  160  can have alternative shapes so long as the faceplate  160  is removably attached to the back panel  106 . 
         [0036]    Although not illustrated, the faceplate  160  can include a variety of artistic designs displayed thereon. Thus, a user could interchange the faceplate having a first artistic design with a faceplate having an alternative and second artistic design. Thus, the user could interchange the faceplate to reflect their style or design preference. The connection means  162  makes this interchangeability possible because the faceplate  160  can be quickly and securely removed and reattached to the back panel  106 . The interchangeable faceplate would also have a corresponding attachment means such as a plurality of loops arranged on the interior of the faceplate. The material of the faceplate  160  could be similar to that of the back panel  106  or an alternative material to reflect the artistic style and preference of the user. 
         [0037]    To convert the bag  100  from the first configuration to the second configuration, as seen in  FIG. 6 , the first connecting means  134  is detached at the first strap  118  and the second connecting means  136  is detached at the second strap  120 . Each of the straps is rotated around the main compartment  102  and reattached to the opposite strap. In other words, the first end  126  and the second end  128  of the first strap  118  are separated by disengaging the first connecting means  134 . Similarly, the first end  130  and the second end  132  of the second strap  120  are separated by the second connecting means  136 . Preferably, the first end  126  of the first strap  118  is rotated around the main compartment  102  and connected to the second end  128  of the second strap  120  by mating the first connecting means  134  with the second connecting means  136 . The main compartment  102  is compressed therebetween and the side panels are connected. Preferably, as seen in  FIG. 5 , first panel  140  is connected to third panel  144  and secured by connecting attachment means  150  to attachment means  154 . The remaining panels  142 ,  146  will be compressed therebetween. In the second configuration  184 , the first and second storage compartments  112 ,  114  are disposed on opposite sides of the resulting bag  184 . 
         [0038]    To convert the bag from the first or second configuration to the third configuration  186 , as seen in  FIG. 7 , the bag  100  is attached to a bicycle  188 , thus forming a saddle configuration  186 . The first strap  118  and second strap  120  are connected as in the second configuration  184 , but rather than securing the straps  118 ,  120  around a user, the straps  118 ,  120  are wrapped around the bicycle  188 . As seen in  FIG. 7 , first storage compartment  112  and second storage compartment  114  are disposed on opposite sides of the bike  188  for optimal balancing needs and to provide access to the user. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIGS. 8-14 , an optional attachment to the bag  100  is a belt  164  attached to the back panel  106  with a belt attachment means  166 . Preferably, the belt attachment means  166  includes a flap extending towards the bag  100  and having a hook and loop closure such that the first side  170  of the belt  164  includes a plurality of hooks and the second side  172  of the belt  164  includes a plurality of loop closures. With this configuration, the belt  164  would be sandwiched between the faceplate  160  and the back panel  106 . Thus, the hooks on the first side  170  would attach to the underside of the faceplate  160  and the loop closures on the second side  172  would attach to the back panel  106 . The belt attachment means  166  could also be in the form of a zipper, a plurality of snaps, or the like. 
         [0040]    The belt  164  further includes a belt connection means for securing the belt  164  to a user&#39;s waist or to a bicycle  186 . Specifically, the belt connection means  168  is partially disposed at first end  171  and second end  173  to secure the first end  171  to the second end  173 . In the illustrated embodiment, the belt connection means  168  is in the form of a buckle  168 . As such, the first end  171  engages the second end  173  to secure the buckle  168 . 
         [0041]    As seen in  FIGS. 12-14 , the belt  164  may be worn separately from the bag  100  and used similarly by attaching the first and second storage compartments  112 ,  114  thereto. As such, the belt  164  includes a first plurality of straps  175  on the exterior and second side  172  facing the back panel  106 . The plurality of woven straps  175  receives a second plurality of straps  176  disposed on the storage compartments  112 ,  114 . Turning to  FIG. 13 , the storage compartments  112 ,  114  each include straps  176  that are woven through the straps  175  of the belt  164  and secured by an attachment means  174  such as a snap  174  having a mating end on the storage compartments  112 ,  114  and the plurality of straps  174 . The storage compartments  112 ,  114  are secured to the belt  164  accordingly. 
         [0042]    An additional feature of the bag  100  is the ability to arrange the storage compartments  112 ,  114  in a vertical or horizontal orientation. Turning to  FIG. 1 , the storage compartments  112 ,  114  are disposed vertically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bag  100 . As seen in  FIG. 16 , the storage compartments  112 ,  114  are disposed horizontally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bag. This is accomplished with the plurality of straps  176  and the attachment means  174  disposed on the interior surface of the storage compartments  112 ,  114 . The plurality of woven straps  178  on the front panel  104  are preferably arranged in a vertical and horizontal pattern to create a woven or webbed pattern. The straps  176  of the first and second storage compartments  112 ,  114  are then received by and interwoven with the plurality of straps  178  disposed on the front panel  104  of the bag  100 , as seen in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , the bag  100  includes an additional feature for the first configuration. At least one side  108  of the bag includes a pocket  180  towards the bottom of the bag  100  and located between first side panel  140  and second side panel  142 . The pocket  180  has a closed bottom and an open top for receiving an umbrella, or similar object. Above the pocket  180  and disposed towards the first closure means  116 , the bag further includes a strap  182  having a hook and loop configuration, or similar attachment means, towards the end of the strap  182 . Preferably, the user would insert a first side of an umbrella, or similar object, into pocket  180  and secure the second side of the umbrella, or similar object, by wrapping strap  182  around the second side thereof. By engaging attachment means  150 ,  152  of first side panel  140  and second side panel  142 , the umbrella, or similar object, is further secured to the bag  100 . 
         [0044]    While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or substance to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is important that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the apportioned claims. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0