Patent Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and systems for a foldable bag that includes a rear wall part having a front side, a back side, and an interior side; a front wall part having a front side, a back side, and an interior side; a middle part having a front side, a back side, and an interior side. The front wall part is engaged to the middle part along a fold line, and the rear wall part is engaged to the middle part along a fold line. The foldable bag is moveable between a first position and a second position.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a bag that can be unfolded into a resting device, and more generally relates to a bag having a first position and a second position, wherein the first position is in the form of a bag with storage compartments and the second position is in an open position allowing the user to rest upon the device. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Unfortunately, there are many tragedies around the world. The victims of these tragedies have undergone a life changing experience and face many hardships. These victims are typically without the basic needs such as food, potable water, and housing. The victims may have to spend countless days and nights in shelters and without housing. These victims need as quickly as can be provided some semblance of normalcy and comfort, during these trying times. The present invention may be given to these victims so that they can carry what personal belongings they have and to provide a comfortable place to rest by providing a substantial barrier or separation between the user and the ground or surface the present invention is placed. 
         [0003]    Luckily, there are brave and driven individuals that are willing to confront these tragedies and aid the individual victims that have been affected by these tragedies. Very often, these relief workers place their life and health on the line to aid others in a time of need and will find relief in the present invention. This invention may also be utilized by these workers who need a place to rest comfortably during the brief time period they may have to rest. The present invention may also be utilized by relief workers who need a place to rest comfortably. The present invention provides a bag that may carry relief supplies and gear, but also converts into an inflatable and/or expandable device, such as a mattress or the like, for allowing the relief worker a safe and comfortable place to rest. 
         [0004]    The present device may also serve a military function. The device may be utilized by soldiers that need a safe and comfortable place to rest, while also carrying supplies or military wares. 
         [0005]    The present device can also be used by others, such as a traveler, a child or the like that needs to have a readily available and comfortable place to rest. For example, the weary airline traveler that experiences a longer than expected layover at the airport or even a flight cancellation, can utilize the present device to both carry items and provide a readily available and deployable device providing a comfortable place to rest. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is a foldable bag that includes a rear wall part having a front side, a back side, and an interior side; a front wall part having a front side, a back side, and an interior side; a middle part having a front side, a back side, and an interior side. The front wall part is engaged to the middle part along a fold line, and the rear wall part is engaged to the middle part along a fold line. The foldable bag is moveable between a first position in which the front side of the front wall part is adjacent the front side of the middle part, the back side of the middle part is adjacent the front side of the rear wall part; and a second position in which the back side of the front wall part, the back side of the middle part, and the back side of the rear wall part are in a substantially planar relationship with the front side of the front wall part, the front side of the middle part, and the front side of the rear wall part. 
         [0007]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag includes a cavity for receiving an inflatable and/or expandable device. 
         [0008]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag includes a portion of the rear wall part that overlaps the front wall part while in the first position. 
         [0009]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag wherein the rear wall part includes a side wall, and the middle part includes a side wall, wherein the side wall of the rear wall part and the side wall of the middle part include an engagement means for engaging the side wall of the rear wall part to the side wall of the middle part. 
         [0010]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag wherein the front wall part includes a side wall and the middle part includes a side wall, wherein the side wall of the front wall part and the side wall of the middle part includes an engagement means for engaging the side wall of the front wall part to the side wall of the middle part. 
         [0011]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag may include other a secondary bag or secondary bags that are engaged to the primary bag, and particularly the rear wall part. 
         [0012]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag includes a raised portion on the interior side of the rear wall part. 
         [0013]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag includes an interior side of the front wall part, an interior side of the middle part, and an interior side of the rear wall part is substantially bisected by a center fold line. 
         [0014]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag includes a rear wall part having a front side, a back side, an interior side, and a side wall part; a front wall part having a front side, a back side, an interior side, and a side wall part; a first middle part having a front side, a back side, an interior side, and a side wall part; a second middle part having a front side, a back side, an interior side, and a side wall part, and a cavity for receiving an inflatable and/or expandable device. The front wall part is engaged to the first middle part along a first fold line, the first middle part is engaged to the second middle part along a second fold line, and the rear wall part is engaged to the second middle part along the third fold line. The foldable bag is moveable between a first position in which the front side of the front wall part is adjacent the front side of the first middle part, the back side of the first middle part is adjacent the back side of the second middle part, and the front side of the second middle part is adjacent the front side of the rear wall part, and the side wall part of the front wall is selectively secured to the side wall part of the first middle part forming a cavity therein, and the side wall part of the second middle part is selectively secured to the side wall part of the rear wall part forming a cavity therein. The foldable bag has a second position in which the back side of the front wall part, the back side of the first middle part, the back side of the second middle part, and the back side of the rear wall part are in a substantially planar relationship with the front side of the front wall part, the front side of the first middle part, the front side of the second middle part, and the front side of the rear wall part. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like method steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the foldable bag in the first position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the foldable bag in an alternative arrangement; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the rear of the foldable bag illustrating straps that may be included on the foldable bag; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the foldable bag illustrating the rear wall part removed from the over top position of the front wall part; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the foldable bag illustrating the rear wall part removed from the over top position of the front wall part exposing the storage cavities of the foldable bag; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is an illustrative view of a user separating an engagement means; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the front wall part separated from the first middle part; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the rear wall part separated from the second middle part; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is an illustrative view of a user transitioning the foldable bag from a first position to a second position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the foldable bag transitioning from a first position to a second position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the top portions of the foldable bag; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a partial perspective view of the storage pockets folded over the rear wall part; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a partial perspective view of the storage pockets folded outward from the rear wall part; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is an illustrative view of a user accessing the inflatable device disposed within the cavity; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the foldable bag in the second position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a side perspective view of the foldable bag in the second position with the inflatable device inflated; 
           [0032]      FIG. 17  is an illustrative view of a user utilizing the foldable bag; 
           [0033]      FIG. 18  is an illustrative view of a suggested arrangement of the foldable bag. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]    Referring now specifically to the drawings, a foldable bag device is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-18  and is shown generally at reference numeral  10 . The device  10  comprises a rear wall part  12 , a front wall part  14 , and a middle part. The middle part may comprise a first middle part  16  and a second middle part  18 . The rear wall part  12  contains a front side  20 , a back side  22 , a first side wall part  24 , a second side wall part  26 , and an end wall part  28 . The front wall part  14  contains a front side  30 , a back side  32 , a first side wall part  34 , a second side wall part  36 , and a top wall part  38 . The first middle part  16  contains a front side  40 , a back side  42 , a first side wall part  44 , and a second side wall part  46 . The second middle part  18  contains a front side  48 , a back side  50 , a first side wall part  52 , and a second side wall part  54 . 
         [0035]    The rear wall part  12 , front wall part  14 , first middle part  16 , and second middle part  18  collectively form a foldable bag  10  in a first position and a resting device in the second position. The rear wall part  12 , front wall part  14 , first middle part  16 , and second middle part  18  have a cavity  56  formed therein. The cavity  56  is formed within the bag  10  and designed to receive an inflatable device  58 . 
         [0036]    As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the front wall part  14  is engaged to the first middle part  16  along a first fold line  60 , the first middle part  16  is engaged to the second middle part  18  along a second fold line  62 , and the rear wall part  12  is engaged to the second middle part  18  along the third fold line  64 . It should be noted that the fold lines ( 60 ,  62 , and  64 ) may be stitched or embedded into the bag  10 , but as illustrated, the fold lines ( 60 ,  62 , and  64 ) are the natural fold lines for folding the bag  10  of the present invention. Preferably, the front sides ( 20 , 30 , 40 , and  48 ) of the front wall part  14 , the rear wall part  12 , the first middle part  16 , and the second middle part  18  is formed from a solid piece of fabric. Alternatively, the front sides ( 20 , 30 , 40 , and  48 ) of the front wall part  14 , the rear wall part  12 , the first middle part  16 , and the second middle part  18  is formed from two or more pieces of fabric, but forming a solitary unit. Preferably, the back sides ( 22 , 32 , 42 , and  50 ) of the front wall part  14 , the rear wall part  12 , the first middle part  16 , and the second middle part  18  are formed from a solid piece of fabric. Alternatively, the back sides ( 22 , 32 , 42 , and  50 ) of the front wall part  14 , the rear wall part  12 , the first middle part  16 , and the second middle part  18  are formed from two or more pieces of fabric, but forming a solitary unit. 
         [0037]    The front wall part  14  has a first interior side  66  and a second interior side  68 . The rear wall part  12  has a first interior side  70  and a second interior side  72 . The first middle part  16  has a first interior side  74  and a second interior side  76 . The second middle part  18  has a first interior side  78  and a second interior side  80 . The first interior sides ( 66 ,  70 ,  74 , and  78 ) are separated from the second interior sides ( 68 ,  72 ,  76 , and  80 ) by a center fold line  82 . In other words, the interior sides ( 66 , 68 , 70 , 72 , 74 , 76 , 78 , and  80 ) are bisected by the center fold line  82 . It should be noted that the center fold line  82  may be stitched or embedded into the bag  10 , but as illustrated, the center fold line  82  is the natural fold line for folding the bag  10  of the present invention in the longitudinal direction. 
         [0038]    The bag  10  has a first position and a second position. In the first position, the front side  20  of the front wall part  14  is adjacent the front side  40  of the first middle part  16 , the back side  42  of the first middle part  16  is adjacent the back side  50  of the second middle part  18 , and the front side  48  of the second middle part  18  is adjacent the front side  20  of the rear wall part  12 . The first position is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . The rear wall part  12  extends overtop the front wall part  14  for forming a selectively secured arrangement. The rear wall part  12 , and preferably the end wall part  28 , contains a retention means  84 . The front wall part  14 , preferably the top wall part  38 , contains a retention means  86  that is intended to engage the retention means  84  of the rear wall part  12  for holding the rear wall part  12  and front wall part  14  in a selectively secured arrangement. The retention means ( 84 ,  86 ) can be any device that will selectively secure one retention means to another retention means. As illustrated, the retention means  84  of the rear wall part  12  may have a male portion and the retention means  86  of the front wall part  14  may have a female portion for receiving the male portion of the retention means  84  of the rear wall part  12  for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the rear wall part  12  and front wall part  14 . Alternatively, the retention means  84  of the rear wall part  12  may have a female portion and the retention means  86  of the front wall part  14  may have a male portion, and the female portion of the retention means  84  of the rear wall part  12  receives the male portion of the front wall part  14  for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the rear wall part  14  and front wall part  12 . 
         [0039]    The second side wall part  26  of the rear wall part  12  and the second side wall part  54  of the second middle part  18  contain an engagement means ( 88 ,  94 ) that selectively secures the second side wall part  26  of the rear wall part  12  and the second side wall part  54  of the second middle part  18  to each other. The engagement means  94  of the second middle part  18  and the engagement means  88  of the rear wall part  12  are engaged to each other forming a selectively secure arrangement. The second side wall part  36  of the front wall part  14  and the second side wall part  46  of the first middle part  16  contain an engagement means ( 90 ,  92 ) that selectively secures the second side wall part  36  of the front wall part  14  and the second side wall part  46  of the first middle part  16  to each other. The engagement means  92  of the first middle part  16  and the engagement means  90  of the front wall part  14  are engaged to each other forming a selectively secure arrangement. 
         [0040]    An additional engagement means may also be disposed on the front side or the rear side of the rear wall part  12 , front wall part  14 , first middle part  16 , and second middle part  18 . This additional engagement means is disposed within close proximity to the center fold line  82 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  10 , and  11 , the rear wall part  12  includes an engagement means  88  disposed in close proximity to the center fold line  82 . The front wall part  14  includes an engagement means  90  disposed in close proximity to the middle fold line  82 . The first middle part  16  includes an engagement means  92  disposed in close proximity to the middle fold line  82 . The second middle part  18  includes an engagement means  94  disposed in close proximity to the middle fold line  82 . The engagement means  88  of the rear wall part  12  disposed in close proximity to the center fold line  82  is engaged to the engagement means  94  of the second middle part  18  disposed in close proximity to the center fold line  82  for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the rear wall part  12  and second middle part  18 . The engagement means  90  of the front wall part  14  disposed in close proximity to the center fold line  82  is engaged to the engagement means  92  of the first middle part  16  disposed in close proximity to the center fold line  82  for forming a selectively secure arrangement between the front wall part  14  and the first middle part  16 . The engagement means ( 88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94 ) as described herein may be a zipper, buttons, snaps, hook and loop fasteners (sold under the trade name Velcro®) or the like. Additionally, the engagement means may have a different color than the opposing engagement means to which it is selectively secured. In other words, the engagement means  88  of the rear wall part  12  may have a different color than the engagement means  94  of the second middle part  18 . Likewise, the engagement means  90  of the front wall part  14  may have a difference color than the engagement means  92  of the first middle part  16 . 
         [0041]    The bag  10  may also contain a handle  96 . The handle  96  may be positioned on the rear wall part  12  and allow a user to carry the bag  10  while in the first position. Alternatively, the handle  96  of the bag  10  may contain a telescoping handle  96  that is raised upwards in the “up” position when transporting the bag  10  and is lowered downward in the “down” position when the bag  10  is not being transported. The bag  10  may also contain wheels that allow the bag  10  to be transported easily. Preferably, the bag  10  contains both wheels and a telescoping handle which allows the user to drag or roll the bag  10  along the ground for easy transport. 
         [0042]    The bag  10  may also contain a bottom retention means  98 . The bottom retention means  98  allows a second bag  100  or other like device or apparatus to be selectively secured to the bag  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the bottom retention means  98  allows a second bag  100  to be selectively secured to the front wall part  14  of the bag  10 , by way of a retention means  102  of the second bag  100 . The bottom retention means  98  can be any device that will selectively secure one retention means  98  to another retention means  102 . As illustrated, the bottom retention means  98  may have a male portion and the retention means  102  of the second bag  100  may have a female portion for receiving the male portion of the bottom retention means  98  of the bag  10  for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the bag  10  and the second bag  100 . Alternatively, the bottom retention means  98  of the bag  10  may have a female portion and the retention means  102  of the second bag  100  may have a male portion, and the female portion of the bottom retention means  98  of the bag  10  receives the male portion of the retention means  102  of the second bag  100  for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the bag  10  and second bag  100 . 
         [0043]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the bag  10  may contain at least one strap  104  disposed on the bag  10  for allowing a user to carry the foldable bag  10 . Preferably, the bag  10  includes two straps  104  disposed on the rear wall part  14  for allowing a user to carry the foldable bag  10 . The straps  104  are adjustable and allow a user to carry the bag  10  on their back. The straps  104  may also contain a padded portion for providing added comfort to the user, while carrying the bag  10 . 
         [0044]    In the process of transitioning the bag  10  from the first position to the second position, the first step is to release the retention means  84  selectively securing the front wall part  14  to the rear wall part  12 . After the retention means  84  has been released, the portion of the rear wall part  12  that is overtop the front wall part  14  is flipped backward along the rear wall part fold line  106 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the selectively secured engagement of the rear wall part  12  to the second middle part  18  forms a storage cavity  108  therein, and the selectively secured engagement of the front wall part  14  to the first middle part  16  forms a storage cavity  110  therein. Additionally, a side retention means  112  is engaged to the rear wall part  12  and the front wall part  14 . The side retention means  112  can be any device that will selectively secure the rear wall part  12  to the front wall part  14 . As illustrated, the side retention means  112  of the rear wall part  12  may have a male portion and the side retention means  112  of the front wall part  14  may have a female portion for receiving the male portion of the side retention means  112  of the rear wall part  12  for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the rear wall part  12  and front wall part  14 . Alternatively, the side retention means  112  of the rear wall part  12  may have a female portion and the side retention means  112  of the front wall part  14  may have a male portion, and the female portion of the retention means  112  of the rear wall part  12  receives the male portion of the side retention means  112  of the front wall part  14  for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the rear wall part  12  and the front wall part  14 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the bag  10  contains two side retention means  112  on each side of the bag  10 , and in other words, the rear wall part  12  has four side retention means  112  and a pair on each side, and the front wall part  14  has four side retention means  112  and a pair on each side. 
         [0045]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the engagement means  90  of the front wall part  14  disposed in close proximity to the center fold line  82  is separated from the engagement means  92  of the first middle wall part  16  that is disposed in close proximity to the center fold line  82 .  FIG. 7  illustrates the engagement means  90  on the second side wall part  36  of the front wall part  14  is separated from the engagement means  92  of the second side wall part  46  of the first middle part  16 .  FIG. 8  illustrates the engagement means  94  of the second middle part  18  that is disposed in close proximity to the center fold line  82  being separated from the engagement means  88  of the rear wall part  12  that is disposed in close proximity to the center fold line  82 .  FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate the engagement means  94  of the second side wall part  54  of the second middle part  18  is separated from the engagement means  88  of the second side wall part  26  of the rear wall part  12 .  FIG. 11  illustrates the bag  10  wherein the rear wall part  12 , front wall part  14 , first middle part  16 , and second middle part  18  are in a planar relationship with one another. As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 ,  11 , and  15 , the interior sides ( 66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 , and  80 ) are bisected by the center fold line  82  with the front sides ( 20 ,  30 ,  40 , and  48 ) facing upwards and the back sides ( 22 ,  32 ,  42 , and  50 ) facing downwards. 
         [0046]    In one embodiment, the bag  10  contains a pair of pockets  114  that are engaged to the rear wall part  12 . Preferably, the pockets  114  are engaged to the first side wall  24  and second side wall  26  of the rear wall part  12 . It should be noted that the bag  10  may contain one or more pockets  114 , or the two pockets  114  as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The pockets  114  have first position, wherein the pockets  114  rest upon the rear wall part  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The pockets  114  have a second position, where the pockets  114  are folded outward from the rear wall part  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 13 . The pockets  114  have a cavity therein for allowing items or devices to be stored therein. The cavity may be secured by a pocket engagement means  116 , such as a zipper, button, snap, hook and loop fastener (sold under the trade name Velcro®) or the like. 
         [0047]    As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the cavity  56  may receive an inflatable and/or expandable device  58 . The inflatable device  58  is any device that can receive a gas or liquid for increasing in size. As illustrated in  FIG. 14 , the inflatable device  58  is an inflatable mattress. The inflatable device  58  may be contain a built in pump, may be inflated with a hand pump, or may be inflated with an electrical pump, may be inflated by a user blowing air into the mattress, or may be inflated by any other means known to one of skill in the art. The expandable device  58  increases in height and may act much like an inflatable device  58 . The purpose of the expandable device  58  is to establish a barrier or separation between the user and the ground or any surface the bag  10  is placed upon. 
         [0048]      FIG. 15  illustrates the bag  10  in the second position wherein the back side  32  of the front wall part  14 , the back side  42  of the first middle part  16 , the back side  50  of the second middle part  18 , and the back side  22  of the rear wall part  12  are in a substantially planar relationship with the front side  30  of the front wall part  14 , the front side  40  of the first middle part  16 , the front side  48  of the second middle part  18 , and the front side  20  of the rear wall part  12 . Additionally, the inner sides ( 66 ,  68 ,  70 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 , and  80 ) are exposed and facing upwards. The first inner side  70  and second inner side  72  of the rear wall part  12  contains a raised portion that may act as a pillow.  FIG. 16  illustrates the bag  10  in the second position with the inflatable device  58  fully inflated.  FIG. 17  illustrates a user utilizing the bag  10  in the second position.  FIG. 18  illustrates the bag  10  in the second position and in a suggested usage. 
         [0049]    Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0