Abstract:
A bag, such as a grocery bag, a gift bag, etc., is formed of bamboo, and other fabric preferably bio-degradable fabric or non-woven material. The bamboo bag is foldable or can be rolled. It includes a continuous panel of bamboo that extends from the top of one side, downwards and then back up to the top of the other side should then form a somewhat U-shape. The bottom of this “U” will form a somewhat semi-rigid bottom that will fold inwards which allows the bag to be rolled up. The space is enclosed by two side panels and the inside of the bag may be covered with a fabric or non-woven material.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to bags, specifically to bags made from bamboo and fabrics or other materials, to be used as grocery or shopping totes, promotional bags, gift bags and/or for other usage, as well as a method of making the same. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In the past, people carried their groceries in plastic bags, and the result is that these plastic bags pile up in the garbage yard, drainage canals, water bodies, parks and almost everywhere. Plastic bags decompose into toxic agents and pose a threat to the environment. 
         [0005]    Paper bags were believed to be a better alternative to plastic bags. The use of paper bags not only depletes our trees that are major absorbers of greenhouse gases, but it also takes about more than four times as much energy to manufacture a paper bag as it does to manufacture a plastic bag. 
         [0006]    By replacing plastic and paper bags with environmentally friendly products like eco-friendly foldable bamboo bags, we not only save the recurring costs of a paper/plastic grocery bags but also contribute to the conservation of environment. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,347 shows a bag which incorporates durable materials and construction and is reusable. The bag accommodates consumer needs by featuring an adjustable shoulder strap, handles and an adjustable girth which permits the pouch to be used in small and large item receiving capacities. As a reusable bag, it overcomes the disadvantages of the disposable shopping bag. Similarly, bamboo bags made from interwoven bamboo fiber can also be reusable. However the complexity of its construction and the materials employed may lead to a higher manufacturing cost. 
         [0008]    The handles on standard plastic bags frequently tear and the bags must be packed lightly if the handles are to endure the weight of groceries and other objects. Bamboo fiber bags with ribbon twill handles also frequently tear. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a bamboo bag and related method of construction that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
         [0010]    A bag according to embodiments of the present invention is formed of bamboo, and other fabric preferably bio-degradable, but can also include other kinds of fabric or non-woven material. A continuous rectangular-shaped pane is made up of bamboo pieces that are woven together. One side of the bamboo panel becomes the outer surface of the foldable bag. The other side becomes the inner side of the bag and is covered with a non-woven like material (but it can also be made of a different kind of material or fabric) in the preferred embodiment. In an alternative embodiment, the inner side is not covered by any material. 
         [0011]    The continuous panel of bamboo forms a somewhat U shape with a semi-rigid bottom. The left and right side of the space inside the “U” is sewn with two side panels, which may be the same material that lines the inside panel of the bamboo or may be a different material, which encloses the sides of the bag. Also, a horizontal or vertical part made of cloth (or other material) can be additionally sewn on top of the continuous panel of bamboo, and/or otherwise that part of bamboo may be removed. 
         [0012]    Bamboo bags made with a panel of bamboo strips is durable and is also made with sturdy handles that allow users to comfortably insert their hands or arm through the openings. 
         [0013]    The cloth handles are located at the top of the bamboo bag. The handle also provides a comfortable handgrip which effectively spreads the pressure applied to the hand by the weight of the contents of the bag. Preferably, the same material used for the handles is also used to line and cover all the visible sides and edges of the bamboo bag. The handles can alternatively be made from bamboo or other woods and fabrics. 
         [0014]    The bamboo bag has a simple structure, which can be constructed in an extremely simple way using a panel of bamboo. The construction allows a user to fold and roll the bag conveniently into a smaller manageable shape. The lightweight and semi-flexible features of the bamboo bag also make it comfortable for the consumer to hold and carry items. 
         [0015]    An additional consideration for the foldable bamboo bag is that unlike many plastic and paper bags, the foldable bamboo bag is also made from other fabric or materials that are preferably bio-degradable, non-toxic, anti-static, non-flammable and anti-microbial. The advantage is that the consumer would have an eco-friendly product that does not deplete our natural resources, fill up our landfills or produce as much greenhouse gases as other bags have. 
         [0016]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the descriptions that follow and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims thereof as well as the appended drawings. 
         [0017]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a bag which is made of bamboo, a renewable resource, and to minimize waste caused by disposable bags. 
         [0018]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bag that is easily held and can carry more than traditional disposable bags and bamboo fibrous bags. 
         [0019]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bag that is easily maintained and constructed. 
         [0020]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a bag which may be folded or rolled into a smaller shape. 
         [0021]    To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides a bag which includes: a main panel made at least partially of parallel strips of bamboo, the main panel forming a front panel, a bottom panel and a back panel of the bag; and two side panels made of flexible materials joined to the front, bottom and back panels. The parallel strips of bamboo may be held together by threads. The side panels may be made of a fabric material. The bag may further include one or more handles attached to the main panel, a flexible material lining at least a part of an inside surface of the main panel, and edge strips covering at least some edges of the main panel. The main panel may be a continuous panel made solely of the parallel strips of bamboo held together with threads, or main panel may include a plurality of sub-panels joined together, including one or more first sub-panels made of the parallel strips of bamboo held together with threads and one or more second sub-panels made of a flexible material. 
         [0022]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a bamboo bag according to an embodiment of the device fully opened. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a front or back view of the bamboo bag of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bamboo bag of  FIG. 1  showing its bottom with only part of the handles showing. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the bamboo bag of  FIG. 1  showing inner parts of the bamboo bag. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a bamboo bag of  FIG. 1  in a partially constructed state. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5   a  is a magnified view of a part of  FIG. 5  showing strips of bamboo tied with thread creating a panel of bamboo. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the bamboo bag of  FIG. 1  with the top folded in and a semi-rigid bottom. 
           [0030]      FIGS. 7-8  are side views of the bamboo bag of  FIG. 1  in a half-flattened and flattened state, respectively. 
           [0031]      FIGS. 9-10  show the bamboo bag of  FIG. 1  in a state where it is partially rolled-up from the bottom. 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a front view of a bamboo bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a front view of a bamboo bag according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0034]    In the drawings like parts are represented by like reference numbers. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that is renewable, durable, and the root system isn&#39;t damaged by harvesting. It is an excellent alternative to tree wood because bamboo can grow faster than any tree and contains natural anti-microbial properties. Because bamboo is a rapid growing grass and not wood, it can be harvested every 5-7 years, unlike 15-100 years for many tree woods. Dependence on dwindling timber resources can be reduced by manufacturing bags made from harvested bamboo. This makes bamboo an environmentally friendly alternative for bag production. 
         [0036]    A bamboo bag according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-10 . The bamboo bag is foldable because it is formed of a continuous panel  1  constructed using parallel strips of bamboo, and two side panels made of a fabric (preferably biodegradable, but can also include other kinds of fabric or non-woven material) which are sewn together with thread or joined together using other methods. 
         [0037]    When the bag is in a partially constructed stage ( FIG. 5 ), the continuous panel  1  of bamboo can be laid flat. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the panel  1  is made up of thin individual bamboo pieces or strips  1   a , which preferably have similar widths (but is not necessary that each dimension of the bamboo strip have exactly the same width). The bamboo strips  1   a  are put parallel next to one another and extend in the width-wise direction of the panel  1  and the bag. The strips of bamboo  1   a  are held together preferably with threads  2  (or other like material), forming the continuous panel  1  of bamboo (see  FIG. 5   a ). It is noted that the bamboo strips  1   a  are not interwoven, as interwoven bamboo strips would tend to form a less flexible structure and often cannot be folded or rolled up easily. The panel  1 , on the other hand, can be rolled into a tight roll. 
         [0038]    In the constructed state, the continuous panel  1  (the main panel) starts from either side and then extends downward and around the bottom of the bag to the other end and upward toward the top of the other side. The continuous panel  1  thus forms the front, bottom and back panels of the bamboo bag ( FIG. 1-3 ). Note that these panels do not necessarily have clear delineations between them. The bottom of the bag is not rigid due to this bamboo panel construction. 
         [0039]    The inside surface of the continuous panel  1 , i.e. the surface facing the interior of the bag, may be lined with a layer of material  8 . The lining material may be a woven or non-woven fabric, or other materials, preferably biodegradable. Two flexible side panels  3  are sewn lengthwise on the left and right sideways (see  FIG. 5 ) along the continuous bamboo panel  1  so that the sides of the bag are closed (see  FIGS. 1 ,  3 ,  4 ). The side panels  3  and the bamboo panel  1  can also be joined together using other means, such as an adhesive, etc. The side panels  3  may be made of woven or non-woven fabric, or other flexible materials including composite of materials. Preferably, bio-degradable materials are used. Since the materials of the panels  1  and  3  are flexible, the bag can be flattened ( FIGS. 6-8 ) or folded inwards ( FIGS. 9-10 ), or of folded in other possible directions. 
         [0040]    Along every edge of the bamboo panel  1 , it is lined with an edge strip made of cloth  4  (or other fabric or other material) that extends along the edge from one end to the other and cover the edges of the panel  1 . The edge strips may have any desired width, such as 0.5 inches on both sides of the edge. The edge strips  4  are sewn to the bamboo panel  1  and the side panels  3  with thread and overlap each other at the corners. At the top of the bamboo bag (see  FIG. 4 ), the two top edges of the bamboo panel  1  are lined with edge strips  4  first and then the top edges of left and right side panels  3  are lined with edge strips  4  afterwards. Then the edge strips  4  along the side edges of the bamboo panel  1  overlap the top strips  4  at the corners. The edge strips  4  may also be attached to the panels  1  and  3  by other means, such as an adhesive, etc. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 6-10 , the bamboo bag is not rigid in the directions perpendicular to the bamboo strips  1   a , and can be folded, rolled, turned, rotated, or moved in any other manner that similarly becomes  FIG. 8-10 . As an example ( FIG. 6 ), the bottom of the bag is bent toward the center, the bag can be flattened inwardly ( FIG. 8 ). The construction of the continuous panel of bamboo makes a semi-rigid bottom that makes it possible for the bag to be flattened ( FIG. 8 ). Then from either side, the bag can be rolled ( FIG. 9-10 ). 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , cloth (or other fabric) handles  5  are located at top of the bag. Each end of the cloth handle  5  can be sewn onto the outside portion of the bamboo bag. Handles may also be joined to the bamboo panel  1  in other manners (not shown). The handles can alternatively be made from bamboo or other woods and/or fabrics. 
         [0043]    The dimensions of the bamboo bag of a preferred embodiment are 16 inch (height), 10 inch (depth), 14 inch (width). The bag may have any desirable dimensions. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show two alternative embodiment of the present invention. In these alternative embodiments, the continuous panel  1  is made of bamboo and one or more other materials such as canvas or other woven or non-woven fabric or other materials. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , the panel  1  includes two sub-panels  7  made of bamboo and a sub-panel  6  made of a fabric or other material, where the sub-panels are arranged side by side in the width-wise direction of the panel and connected together by sewing or other method. In the embodiment of  FIG. 12 , the panel  1  includes two sub-panels  7  made of bamboo and a sub-panel  6  made of a fabric or other material, where the sub-panels are arranged side by side in the length-wise of the panel direction and connected together by sewing or other method. Note that in the embodiment of  FIG. 12 , the back side of the bag not shown here may be formed entirely of bamboo or may have another fabric or non-fabric panel. One advantage of including a non-bamboo, fabric panel  6  in these alternative embodiments is to allow design patterns (logos, etc.) to be printed on the non-bamboo panel  6 . 
         [0045]    As another alternative (not shown), a fabric or non-fabric piece may be sewn onto the outside of the bamboo panel  1  to allow printed patterns to be shown on the bag. 
         [0046]    Although the bag shown in  FIGS. 1-12  has a substantially rectangular box shape, other shapes are also possible. For example, the side panels  3  may have a trapezoidal shape, or curved shape, etc., and the front and back panels may also have trapezoidal or curved shapes. 
         [0047]    Further, a top panel may be provided to close the top of the bag, with a zipper, snaps or other means to open and close the top of the bag. 
         [0048]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modification and variations can be made in the bamboo bag and related construction method of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.