Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of, and is related to, Applicant&#39;s following patent applications: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/941,255 titled “BAG WEARABLE IN A PLURALITY OF CONFIGURATIONS BASED ON STRAP CONFIGURATION” filed Sep. 25, 2014, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/513,388 filed Dec. 30, 2014, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. D759,961, both of which are incorporated herein in their respective entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, in general, to a bag apparatus, in particular to an efficient weight distribution bag apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Different bags or bag systems enable the use of a strap over a person&#39;s shoulder. However, because the weight of the bag is generally isolated onto the person&#39;s shoulder, the person would normally experience shoulder pain at the shoulder in questions, especially when the bag being carried has been loaded with items, goods etc. In addition, certain bags, because they are not properly secured to the person (e.g. lady hand bags that are merely slung over the lady&#39;s shoulder), they are targets for thefts whereby the thieves easily lift the bags off the person&#39;s shoulder to effect the theft. As such, there exists a need for a bag that alleviates the stress and pain on a person&#39;s shoulders. There is also a need for a bag, at the same time that could be used securely, thereby thwarting or preventing its theft. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A bag apparatus, which may include a main body bordered by a slightly rounded base portion, a top portion, opposite the base portion, where the top portion may be concave in shape, a first side portion between the base and top portions and a second side portion, opposite the first side portion where both the first and second side portions have oppositely concave shapes, a first curved end, extending away from the main body, where the first curved end may be formed by a first portion of the base portion and a lower portion of the first side portion of the apparatus. 
     The bag apparatus may also include a second curved end, extending away from the main body, where the second curved end may be formed by a second portion of the base portion and a lower portion of the second side portion of the apparatus, a third curved end, extending away from the main body, where the third curved end may be formed by a first portion of the top portion and the upper portion of the first side portion, and a fourth curved end, where the fourth curved end may be formed by a second portion of the top portion and an upper portion of the second side portion, where the fourth curved end extends further away from the main body than any of the first, second or third curved ends. The bag apparatus in another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, may also include a compartment portion, superimposedly attached to the main body (or on top of the main body), where the compartment portion may include compartment(s). The attachment may be permanent or one that may be detachable. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention the ends of the bag apparatus may be convex in shape. In another aspect, the ends may have the shape of flaps. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention the ends of the bag apparatus may rounded in shape. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the bag apparatus may further include a first detachable strap having ends that are attached at the first and second curved ends. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the bag apparatus may further include a second detachable strap include of two sub-straps with the first sub-straps having an end capable of being attached at the third curved end and the second sub-strap having an end capable of being attached to the fourth curved end, where both sub-straps are releasably connected by way of their other respective ends with each other with a connector. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the compartment(s) of the bag apparatus may further include a closing flap. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, each of the compartment(s) of the bag apparatus may further include a closing zipper. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the compartment portion of the bag apparatus may be detachable from the main body. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the compartment(s) may include a releasably detachable section. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the releasably detachable section may be attached within a pouch of the compartment portion. This attachment may be enabled using a number of attachment mechanisms including, without limitation, hooks, mating Velcro strips, click and connect mechanisms, etc. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the bag apparatus may further include a flash light holder. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the second detachable strap of the bag apparatus may be adjustable to enable weight distribution and comfortable placement of the bag apparatus. For instance, upon an appropriate extension of the second detachable strap, the bag apparatus will be able to be located around or slightly above the thigh of the user. At this height/location, the first detachable strap may be fastened around the user&#39;s thighs with the bag apparatus thereby “hugging” the user&#39;s thigh. In locating the bag apparatus at the user&#39;s thigh and by extending the second detachable strap to do so, the weight of the bag apparatus (and its contents, if loaded) is effectively distributed thereby alleviating stress or weight on the user&#39;s shoulders as experienced by users of contemporary bag systems. 
     Additional aspects, objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a bag apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a bag apparatus showing a flap according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 1C-1 and 1C-2  illustrate a bag apparatus showing a flap and different compartments within a compartment portion of the bag apparatus according to aspect of embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1D  illustrates a bag apparatus showing a detachable portion of the compartment portion of the bag apparatus according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 1E-1-1E-10  illustrate a bag apparatus showing exchangeable covers of the compartment portion of the bag apparatus according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1F  illustrates different attachment positions of a strap of the bag apparatus according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 1G-1-1G-3  illustrate a flash light holder of the bag apparatus according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2A-2C-2  illustrate different ways by which the bag apparatus could be carried by a user according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1A through 1G-3 , different parts or elements of bag apparatus  100  are shown according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention. Bag apparatus  100  may include a main body  102  which may be bordered by a base portion  104  and a top portion  106  where base portion  104  and top portion  106  are opposite each other. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, base portion and top portion  106  may be slightly curved. In another aspect they may be concave in shape. In yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, they may both be curved in the same configuration. 
     Bag apparatus  100  may also include a first side portion  108  between base and top portions  104  and  106  and a second side portion  110 , opposite first side portion  108  where both first and second side portions  108  and  110  may, in one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, have oppositely concave shapes. Bag apparatus  100  may also include a first curved end  112 A extending away from main body  102 , where first curved end  112 A may be formed by a first portion  104 A of base portion  104  and a lower portion  108 B of first side portion  108 . 
     Bag apparatus  100  may also include a second curved end  112 B, extending away from main body  102 , where second curved end  112 B may be formed by a second portion  104 B of base portion  104  and a lower portion  110 B of second side portion  110  of apparatus  100 . Bag apparatus  100  may also include a third curved end  112 C, extending away from main body  102 , where third curved end  112 C may be formed by a first portion  106 A of top portion  106  and upper portion  108 A of the first side portion, and a fourth curved end  112 D, where fourth curved end  112 D may be formed by a second portion  106 B of top portion  106  and an upper portion  110 A of second side portion  110 , where fourth curved end  112 D extends further away from main body  102  than any of the first, second or third curved ends  112 A-C. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, curved ends  112 A through D are formed by extensions of the different sides, bases, top portions of bag apparatus  100 . Bag apparatus  100  in another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, may also include compartment portion  114  located over main body  102 . In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the compartment portion  114  may be, superimposedly attached to main body  102  (or on top of main body  102 ), where compartment portion  114  may include compartment(s). This attachment may be permanent or one that may be detachable. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention the curved ends  112 A through D of bag apparatus  100  may be convex in shape. In another aspect, curved ends  112 A through D may have the shape of flaps. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention curved ends  112 A through D of bag apparatus  100  may be rounded in shape. 
     Curved ends  112 A through  112 D, in an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, may include or may have attachment ends or anchors  118 A through  118 D to which straps of bag apparatus  100  may be attached to. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, bag apparatus  100  may further include a first detachable strap  116  having ends that are attached at anchors  118 A and  118 B of first and second curved ends  112 A and  112 B. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, bag apparatus  100  may further include a second detachable strap  120  which, in one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, may itself include two sub-straps with first sub-strap  120 A having an end capable of being attached at anchor  118 C of third curved end  112 C. Strap  120  may also, in another aspect, include second sub-strap  120 B having an end capable of being attached to anchor  118 D of fourth curved end  112 D. In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, both sub-straps  120 A and  120 B may be releasably connected by way of their other respective ends with each other with a connector  120 C. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, bag apparatus  100  may have any one of curved ends  112 A through  112 D extend and form an actual strap the may be buckled with another end thereby forgoing the separate strap embodiment. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the compartment(s) of compartment portion  114  of bag apparatus  100  may further include closing flap  114 A. Flap  114 A may be used to cover different compartment(s) of compartment portion  114 . In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, each of the compartment(s) of bag apparatus  100  may further include a closing zipper  114 B. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the compartment portion  114  of bag apparatus  100  may be detachable from main body  102 . 
     In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the compartment(s) may include a releasably detachable section  114 C. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, releasably detachable section  114 C may be attached within a pouch  114 D of compartment portion  114 . This attachment may be enabled or made possible using a number of attachment mechanisms including, without limitation, hooks, mating Velcro strips, click and connect mechanisms, etc. Releasably detachable section  114 C may, in one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, serve as a compartment or pouch for a user&#39;s passport, credit cards etc. 
     Compartment portion  114  of bag apparatus may also include exchangeable covers  114 E each of which may have either or both aesthetic or functional capabilities. For instance, one exchangeable cover  114 E may be adapted to receive a hunting knife, a firearm, and/or hiking equipment, etc. In another embodiment, exchangeable cover  114 E may just serve to add another aesthetic feature to bag apparatus  100 . Compartment portion  114  may have a number of compartment(s) that are properly organized thereby enabling a user to organize his/her contents. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, exchangeable cover(s)  114 E may be attached to different locations of bag apparatus  100  to serve different functions. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, exchangeable cover(s)  114 E may be folded in half to function as a small wallet. In a further aspect, exchangeable cover(s)  114 E may include a leather attachment piece  114 F that enables its attachment to main body  102 , compartment portion  114  or other attachment points of bag apparatus  100 . 
     First detachable strap  116  may be attached a number of ways depending on the desired application/use as shown in  FIG. 1F . In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, first detachable strap  116  may be stowed away in strap holder  122  which, in one aspect, may be located on the backside of bag apparatus  100 . 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, bag apparatus  100  may further include a flash light holder  124 . The holder  124  may be adapted to tilt and hold a flash light in a certain position to enable a user to point and use the flash light without having to hold it. In one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, flash light holder  124  may have a net design. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2C-2  different ways by which bag apparatus  100  could be carried by a user  200  are shown according to aspects of embodiments of the present invention. As seen, curved ends  112 A through  112 D of bag apparatus  100  enable bag apparatus  100  to hug around the contours of a user  200 &#39;s body. This configuration helps distribute the weight of bag apparatus  100  along with any contents. 
     In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, second detachable strap  120  of bag apparatus  100  may be adjustable to enable weight distribution and comfortable placement of bag apparatus  100 . For instance, upon an appropriate extension of second detachable strap  120 , bag apparatus  100  will be able to be located around or slightly above thigh  202  of user  200 . At this height/location, first detachable strap  116  may be fastened around user  200 &#39;s thigh  202  with bag apparatus  100  thereby “hugging” the user&#39;s thigh. In locating bag apparatus  100  at user  200 &#39;s thigh  202  and by extending second detachable strap  120  to do so, the weight of bag apparatus  100  (and its contents, if loaded) is effectively distributed thereby alleviating stress or weight on the user&#39;s shoulders as experienced by users of contemporary bag systems. In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, bag apparatus  100 , may, by adjusting second detachable strap  120  be carried around user  200 &#39;s shoulder  204 , waist  206 , neck  208 , chest  210  or back  212 .  FIGS. 2C-1 and 2C-2  illustrate the bag apparatus positioned on the back  212  and chest  210  of the user. 
     The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 1