Patent ID: 7073942

Claim:
A vertically expandable bag suitable for carrying on a shoulder of a user, comprising: a shell having a lower margin and an upper margin spaced from the lower margin by a predetermined vertical rise of material, the shell defining an interior space for receiving items; and means for cinching the material of the shell along the predetermined vertical rise thereof, the cinching means consisting of: an enclosed elongate channel defined along the predetermined vertical rise of material of the shell, and an elongated strap having a length which includes a first portion slidably disposed within the channel and sized so as to permit gathering of the material of the shell about the first portion and a second portion exposed from the channel and defining a shoulder carry strap for handling by the a user, the second portion increasing in length at the same rate that the first portion within the channel is shortened, wherein the cinching means operates so as to permit release of any gathers in the shell and at least partial restoration of the predetermined vertical rise as the upper margin is slid along the second portion of the elongated strap; and wherein the shell has an edge folded over onto itself and wherein the channel is formed by a row of stitches inside the folded over edge.