Abstract:
A portable bag storage apparatus including an elongated bag body constructed with a non-distensible major part and having a first cross section for receiving rolled up articles of a first size and incorporating an expansion strip formed of stretchable material to provide for stretching the bag body from the first cross section to a second cross section for accommodating larger sized rolled up articles. The bag further includes an opening and a fastener device enabling selective insertion of the rolled up articles into the bag body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to document storage devices, and more specifically, to readily transportable protecting casings for storing and transporting oversized printed materials in a rolled up configuration.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    It is often necessary to transport blueprints of many different sizes, oversized engineering drawings, architectural drawings, canvases and other relatively large materials from place to place such as for reference at a job site. Since it preferable to transport the drawings in a rolled up configuration as opposed to folding which might introduce creases, often the drawings are simply rolled up and held in a tightly rolled configuration with a rubber band. The rolled up package is then hand carried to the job site. In the absence of a protective casing, the drawings may degrade due to exposure to environmental hazards or from undesirable impacts. Such degradation often occurs in the form of distorted figures or markings and/or torn edges rendering the drawings unreadable or unusable thus requiring additional drawings to be generated.  
           [0005]    An early proposal for a case used to transport an oversized map is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,293,979 to Hopkins. Such case is constructed of a flexible outer covering formed by two sheets of transparent material for sandwiching a map therebetween. The case includes several reinforcement strips attached around its borders and adapted to, in an unrolled condition hold the map in a rigid, flat configuration for viewing. The strips may be removed and placed along one edge and the casing rolled up with the map on the inside offering some protection for the map.  
           [0006]    Another proposal is the carrier tube found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,917 to Hayashi. Such tube includes a liner having two pouches comprised of a flexible material for providing a backing for a print or document. The print is placed within the pouches of the liner which is then wound around a mandrel to wind the print into a cylindrical shape. A clip may be slid over the end of the mandrel to hold the liner in place. The mandrel with rolled up liner is then inserted into a hollow rigid carrying tube. Ends caps are placed over the ends of the mandrel and a cap is also placed over the open end of the tube to protect the contents therein. There are several drawbacks to this construction. Incorporation of the mandrel limits the number of documents that may be placed therein and adds to the overall weight of the tube. The tube itself is rigid thus occupying considerable space, even when not in use.  
           [0007]    Yet another container is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,424 to Chappars. The Chappars containers includes at least two layers of flexible material forming a pocket for containing relatively flat articles such as newspapers in either a flattened or rolled up configuration. Three rows of spaced apart strips of hook and loop material are disposed on the outer surface of the layers enabling the formation of an open ended tube of two different diameters for accommodating newspapers of two different sizes when the layers are rolled up into a cylinder.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,175 to Wellman discloses another example of a portable document storage device. The Wellman device includes a number of watertight envelopes secured on one end from a backing member. Documents are placed within the envelopes and the entire backing member can be rolled up into a tightly rolled open ended cylindrical configuration.  
           [0009]    A review of these package carriers reveals that it is apparent that selection of multiple containers is often required to transport materials rolled up into different sized packages. This is burdensome as multiple containers must be carried from one site to another and the contents must be labeled to avoid being separated. Additionally, the containers are often sized much larger than their intended contents and thus the contents are free to move within the carrier and incur damage and unravel from their rolled up configuration.  
           [0010]    What is needed and heretofore unavailable is a lightweight, transportable carrier for storing, transporting, and protecting rolled up articles of first and second configurations thereby removing the necessity of transporting multiple containers.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a lightweight, portable bag storage apparatus for storing rolled up sheets of material is provided and includes an elongated tubular bag body having a major part of non-distensible material and having a first cross section for receiving smaller rolled up tubes of material and an expanded cross section for receiving larger rolled up tubes of material. The bag body further includes a longitudinal expansion strip formed of a stretchable material forming an expansion zone which is expandable enabling the bag body to stretch from the first cross section to assume the enlarged second cross section. A longitudinal opening closable by a fastener device is openable for selective insertion of the tubes into the bag body.  
           [0012]    In another feature of the present invention, pockets and carrying straps are attached to the bag body to facilitate additional storage capacity and transportability.  
           [0013]    Yet another feature of the present invention is the incorporation of a plurality of expansion strips wherein the non-distensible part comprises about 80-90% of the transverse circumference of the bag body. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable bag storage apparatus embodying the present invention in an expanded configuration;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bag apparatus depicted in FIG. 1 in a contracted configuration;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bag apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in an open configuration;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is a back perspective view of the bag apparatus shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 is a top view of the bag apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a semi-folded configuration;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the bag apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a folded configuration;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along lines  7 - 7  of FIG. 1; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along lines  8 - 8  of FIG. 2.  
         [0022]    Numerous advantages and aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings which generally provide illustrations of the invention in its presently preferred embodiments. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 4 , a transportable storage apparatus, generally designated  10 , is provided for storing and transporting one or more oversized materials within a protective covering. The portable bag storage apparatus  20  is typically provided for storing, transporting, and protecting a sheet, such as an engineering drawing or blueprint, while in a rolled up configuration, generally designated  21 . In practice multiple sheets may be rolled up into one or more drawing packages and placed inside the bag and transported between a drafting site and a job site or other location. Advantageously, the bag apparatus is formed of flexible materials such that the bag may be folded up and stored in a reduced profile configuration when not in use.  
         [0024]    In general terms, the bag storage apparatus  20  includes a non-distensible first section  22  comprising the majority of the circumference of the bag and an expansible second section  24  cooperating together to form an elongated, tubular bag body  26  generally divisible into an insertion region  23 , a central region  25 , and a closed region  27 . At the outermost portion of the insertion region is an openable end  28  for inserting a drawing package  21  into the bag body  26 . At the opposite end of the bag body  26  in the closed region is a closed end  30  forming the bottom extent of the bag body  26 . As further illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the tubular bag body  26  is constructed to provide a contracted cross sectional area, generally designated  38 , for storing drawing packages  21  up to a predetermined size and further constructed to assume an expanded cross sectional area, generally designated  40 , for storing drawing packages  21  relatively greater in size than the predetermined size. To assume the enlarged cross sectional area  40 , the bag body  26  incorporates expansion strips  42  formed in the second section  24  and projecting longitudinally through all three regions  23 ,  25 , and  27 . Such expansion strips are constructed to increase in width and also stretch outwardly in a radial direction. An opening  44  defined between confronting edges  46  within the insertion region  23  projects longitudinally through the major section  22  and further projects around the openable end  28 . The edges  46  are secured together with a fastener device  48  which draws the opposing edges together and seals the bag contents within the bag body  26 .  
         [0025]    The bag body  26  is formed by sewing or otherwise joining a first panel  50  to a second panel  52  along longitudinal seams. Both panels include a non-distensible material such as canvas sewn on one edge to a longitudinal expansion strip  42  made of stretchable fabric such as a stretchable nylon material or other suitable material. The first and second panels  50  and  52  are arranged so that the expansion strips  42  are positioned between the longitudinal edges of the canvas sections and then sewn together to create a generally tubular shaped sleeve with opposing ends  28  and  30 . Thus, the non-distensible material and expansion strips are formed in a circumferentially alternating arrangement. The canvas and stretchable materials used in the panels are flexible enabling a user to fold the bag  20  when not in use.  
         [0026]    While the bag  20  is primarily designed for the storage and transportation of rolled up materials and thus is preferably constructed to form a cylindrical cross section, other suitable cross sections will be apparent to those of ordinary skill. When in unstretched condition, the expansion strips  42  may be slightly recessed or pressed inwardly from the outer surface of the canvas sections to further protect them from normal wear and tear when not in use. The canvas sections are selected to handle a relatively larger degree of wear and tear and may be provided in a variety of color schemes.  
         [0027]    The outermost extent in the closed region  27  of the bag sleeve is sewn closed forming the closed end  30  while the opposing end  28  of the bag in the insertion region  23  remains open. A slit is introduced starting at periphery of the open end  28  within one of the canvas sections and cut about one-third of the way down the length of the sleeve on one side and about one-quarter of the way on the opposing side cooperating with the open end of the bag body  26  to create the opposing edges  46  with openable flaps  56  within the insertion region  23 . The open end  28  is pinched together and the fastener device  48  is sewn into the opposing edges  46 .  
         [0028]    The fastener device  48  is preferably in the form of a zipper with a set of complementary teeth lining the opposing edges such that the zipper handle  58  may be pulled in one direction so that the flaps  56  (FIG. 3) may be opened for insertion of the sheet package. Pulling the zipper handle in the opposite direction secures the flaps to one another to seal the bag body and protect the contents therein. The zipper is preferably plastic but may be formed of any suitable material such as metal. Other fasteners including hook and pile panels sold under the trademark Velcro® and other suitable fasteners will occur to one of ordinary skill. Advantageously, the longitudinal opening projects onto one end  28  of the bag body  26  in to accommodate those infrequently encountered situations where the length of the drawings in a rolled up configuration exceeds the length of the bag.  
         [0029]    After the panels  50  and  52  are joined together and the ends  28  and  30  are formed, the bag body  26  is preferably 30-36 inches in length and forms a first cross section  38  preferably circular and measuring approximately five inches in diameter when in an unexpanded state (FIGS. 2 and 8). The expansion strips  42  measure approximately two inches in width and project from one end of the bag to the other. The expansion strips are selected to stretch in a radial direction to allow the bag to assume an expanded configuration with a six and one-half inch diameter when in the fully expanded condition  40  (FIGS. 1 and 7). In other words, the overall circumference can stretched about 30 percent. The canvas sections  22  are relatively non-distensible. It will be appreciated that the selection of an expansion strip with a relatively large stretch percentage may be slimmer in width and achieve the same results as a wider expansion strip with a lesser stretch percentage.  
         [0030]    The preferred ratio of canvas material to stretchable nylon material as a percentage of the total diameter of the bag in a relaxed position or unexpanded state is about 8 or 9 to 1. In other words, about 80-90 percent of the circumference of an unstretched bag body  26  is canvas material.  
         [0031]    In the preferred embodiment, two longitudinal expansion strips  42  allowing expansion of the bag in a radial direction are described. However, it will be appreciated that one longitudinal expansion strip may be used and that circumferential expansion bands (not shown) may also be incorporated into the bag to allow expansion in the longitudinal direction as well.  
         [0032]    Transportation of the bag is advantageously facilitated by an elongated handle  60  sewn into the exterior surface of the bag body  26  within the central region  25  and an elongated carrying strap  62  having anchor points  63  sewn in the insertion region  23  and the closed region  27  respectively. Both the carrying strap and handle are preferably made of nylon. The handle  60  is sewn into canvas of the major section  22  of the bag body  26  on either side of its longitudinal midpoint so that, when grasped, the bag body may be balanced in a comfortable manner. The carrying strap  62  is removably attached to the bag body and also straddles the longitudinal midpoint of the bag body  26 . The strap includes a catch  64  at both free ends which are releasably attachable to rings  66  sewn into the bag body on the canvas portion. The strap is preferably adjustable using a sliding buckle  67  and is well known to one of ordinary skill. As the carrying strap  62  is removable, it may be stored inside the bag  20  when not in use.  
         [0033]    Also located on the exterior surface of the bag body  26  within the closed region  27  is a pocket  70  having a closed bottom end  72  and an openable top end  74  with a securing flap  76  including a fastener preferably made from Velcro® with one portion of the hook and loop type fastener located on the outer pocket surface and the other portion of the hook loop type fastener on the inside of the flap  76  such that the pocket remains closed when the flap fastener overlies and abuts the complementary pocket fastener. The pocket is formed with side gussets  78  allowing for the pocket to expand to provide a larger internal compartment for storing pens, pencils, pads of paper, tape measures, and the like. The pocket  70  is formed of the same flexible but durable material comprising the major section of the bag body. When not in use the pocket is constructed to lay flat against the bag body to facilitate folding of the bag into a low profile package.  
         [0034]    Advantageously, the bag body  26  is flexible and may be stored in a folded condition (FIG. 6). In its folded state, the length of the bag may be reduced by about two-thirds of its unfolded length (FIG. 2). Securing the bag in a folded state is an exterior fastener  80  preferably in the form of a snap fastener having complementary mating sections positioned centrally near the open end of the bag and also positioned near the longitudinal midpoint of the bag. The complementary mating sections are aligned such that when one third of the bag is folded over as illustrated in FIG. 5, the snap fastener snaps together and secures the folded insertion region  23  to the central region  25  of the bag body  26 .  
         [0035]    An interior fastener  82  also includes complementary mating portions positioned near the intermeshing teeth of the zipper fastener and also near the closed end  30  of the bag body  26  (FIG.  5 ). The one-third folded bag body may again be folded in half to align the complementary fastener portions and snap them together to secure the bag body in a tri-folded position (FIG. 6). The snap fasteners  80  and  82  are selected to allow a carrier to snap and unsnap the fasteners with a relatively minimal amount of effort. In its final tri-folded position, the pocket  70  is exposed allowing the user easy access to any contents therein. With all its components, the empty bag  20  remains lightweight and only weighs about  8  ounces empty and is preferably waterproof for protecting any contents inserted therein.  
         [0036]    In operation, assuming the bag is an unused tri-folded position as illustrated in FIG. 6, the user would initially unfold the bag into an elongated body by grasping the exposed free end  30  of the bag and pulling it until the snap fastener  82  disengages and assumes the position illustrated in FIG. 5. The user grasps the opposing open end  28  and pulls the end with sufficient force away from the central portion of the bag until the interior snap fastener  80  disengages and the bag may be unfolded into its fully elongated position as illustrated in FIG. 2. To open the bag in preparation for the insertion of one or more sheets of material, the user grasps the zipper handle  5   8  and pulls it along the zipper length to separate the confronting edges  46  along the longitudinal section of the zipper  48  and over the openable end  28  of the bag.  
         [0037]    The drawings or sheets of material are rolled up into a cylindrical configuration and maintained using a rubber band or other suitable fastener for maintaining the sheets in a rolled up configuration forming a drawing package. The flaps  56  are separated in preparation for insertion of the drawing package into the bag  20 . One end of the rolled up drawing package  21  is then inserted into the open end  28  of the bag body  26  and pushed along the length of the bag body until its distal end is positioned against the closed end  30  of the bag. The user then grasps the zipper handle  58  and draws it along its length around the open end  28  and then along the longitudinal section until the zipper abuts the terminus of the zipper. Closing the zipper seals the sheets  21  within the bag body  26  and prevents environmental hazards from damaging the bag contents during transportation. Upon reaching the desired destination, the carrier grasps the bag  26  by its central region or lays the bag on a flat surface and then grasps the zipper handle  58  with a free hand and draws the zipper handle along the zipper teeth to separate the opposing edges  46  and flaps  56  creating an opening in the bag. The closest end of the drawings to the open end of the bag is grasped and the entire drawing package is withdrawn from the bag.  
         [0038]    While the bag body  26  is dimensioned to accommodate a wide variety of drawing lengths and diameters, in certain situations it is desirable to store and transport a larger sheet package  21 . In such cases, the present bag storage apparatus allows for the additional diametrical size requirements. In addition, at times instead of one rolled up sheet package several packages may need to be transported to a job site. To accommodate these occasions, the expansion strips  42  enable the bag to stretch in a radially outward direction to assume an enlarged diameter to receive the larger package size or additional packages. For example, the initial package  21  is rolled up into a cylindrical package having no more than a five inch diameter. Once the carrier is at the job site, additional drawings are added to the initial package creating a second rolled up package of greater than five inches in diameter but not greater than six and on-half inches in diameter. Due to the stretchability of the expansion strips  42 , the bag body  26  may assume an expanded larger cross section  40  configuration to enclosed the larger size drawing package. In practice, after opening the bag as described above, one end of the larger drawing package would be inserted into the open end of the bag  20 . As the ends of the drawing package encounters the interior of the bag body  26  its increased diameter forces both of the expansion strips  42  to stretch radially outwardly in equal amounts to provide a bag body having an enlarged cross sectional area  40  to accommodate the larger size package (FIGS. 1 and 7). In its stretched state, the bag body will encircle and be tautly drawn across the outer surface of the drawing package to maintain the drawing package&#39;s cylindrical shape.  
         [0039]    If desired, the rolled up sheets  21  may be inserted into the bag without an encircling fastener and maintained in a loosely rolled up configuration by the sidewalls of the bag body  26 . This facilitates unrolling the drawings and preventing damage from unrolling a rubber band from the sheet package which on occasion may tear the drawings. In addition, providing the opening across the openable end  30  of the bag  20  allows a carrier to accommodate drawings having a length longer than the length of the bag. In other words, if the drawing package  21  is too long for the selected bag  20 , one end may remain protruding from the openable bag end. Thus, a carrier can protect most of the drawing package  21  until the carrier is able to procure a longer bag  20 .  
         [0040]    While the dimensions recited herein have been found to accommodate a large variety o drawings sheets encountered in the construction, engineering, and architectural, electronic, and software industries, these dimensions are not meant to be limiting and it will be appreciated that one of ordinary skill may incorporate a different set of dimensions and materials suitable for storing and transporting other materials without detracting from the spirit and scope of the invention.