Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PET LEASH MULTI-PURPOSE UTILITY BAG
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of portable flexible receptacles, namely, small
flexible bags which may be conveniently carried by a pet owner when walking a pet.
Background of the Invention
0 Many cities have by-laws requiring dog owners to clean up after their pets. Thus,
in order to avoid possible fines, it is advantageous that a dog owner keep plastic bags to hand.
In the prior art addressing this problem, applicant is aware of United States patent
No. 5,441,017 which issued to Lindsay on August 15, 1995. Lindsay discloses a cylindrical
dispenser for dispensing plastic bags from a roll, the cylinder mountable to a pet leash. The
cylinder may be rigid or may be flexible. Lindsay teaches that the dispenser is flexible, it is likely
that the dispenser would be sewn integrally with the line portion of the leash, apparently to
overcome the stated disadvantage that the bags from the roll of bags held in the dispenser would
not dispense quite as easily from a flexible cylinder and would not provide as good a handle as
2 o a rigid cylinder. The structure of Lindsay is dictated by the cylindrical roll of bags he teaches
vending from the bag dispenser. Thus, the dispenser, if flexible, is integral with the leash in an
attempt to make the dispensing structure semi-rigid.
Summar,v of the Invention
The multi-purpose utility bag of the present invention, for carrying items
advantageously carried while walking a pet, releasably attaches to all types of dog leashes, plus
other pet related obJects one would commonly use when walking a dog, such as a pet collar. The
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utility bag has a primary carrying col,.pa,lment and at least one external separate expandable
pocket, for example, expandable by pleating. Thus the utility bag can carry useful items when
walking a pet, for example, medications, bee sting kits, dog treats, a dog tra;ning collar, plastic
bags (preferably biodegradable), a plastic water bottle, a small dog toy for use in tracking, first aid
supplies, car keys, money, etc. It is an object of the invention that recycled bags, such as plastic
grocery store bags be carried in the primary compartment, rather than having to buy rolls of bags
as contemplated by the Lindsay reference.
The exp~n(l~ble pocket allows carrying of additional small items even when the
0 utility bag primary colllpalllllent is stuffed full. The utility bag attaches to standard inelastic dog
leashes, retractable dog leashes, pet collars, belts, belt loops, purses, other bags, etc. It may be
attached to a leash handgrip. It does not form part of the h~ndgrir, but rather, an unobtrusive,
loosely mounted, convenient accessory.
The fact that the utility bag is flexible, preferably of nylon-like material or the like,
means that the utility bag may be folded and carried in a jacket or pants pocket when not in use.
It also means that the bag will interfere less than a rigid container would with the use of a leash
or be more easily clipped to a collar or belt because the utility bag, even when full, such as full of
plastic bags, may conform or bend as required. The expandable pocket, were it not expandable
2 o by pleating or the like, would not be useful when the primary compartment was full. Thus, it is
an object of the present invention to provide an exp~n(l~ble pocket that may be usefully employed
when the primary colllpa~ lent is full of plastic bags.
In summary, the utility bag of the present invention is an elongate flexible sleeve
2 5 having an upper end and a lower end, and front and back sides extending between the upper and
lower ends. The upper end has a first al)e,lu~e therein for access to a first cavity defined by the
front and back sides and the lower end whereby articles may be placed through the first aperture
into and removed from the first cavity. A flexible releasably securable flap is provided at the first
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end of the sleeve for releasable closure of the first aperture. At least one flexible expandable
pocket is mounted externally to the front side of the sleeve. The expandable pocket is exp~ntl~ble
by pleating or other pocket expansion means, whereby access may be had to a second cavity
within the expandable pocket when the first cavity is full of material being carried and the sleeve
is thereby firmly cylindrical. The first and second cavities provide for storing small articles
therein. The expandable pocket has associated with it a second releasably securable flap for
releasably closing a second aperture for access to the second cavity.
Mounting straps or other mounting means are provided at the upper and lower ends0 of the sleeve for releasable mounting of the utility bag to an elongate member, such as a pet leash.
Brief Description of the Drawin~s
Figure 1 is, in perspective view, the multi-purpose utility bag of the present
invention.
Figure 2 is, in plan view, the multi-purpose utility bag of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is, in bottom plan view, the multi-purpose utility bag of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is, in perspective view, the multi-purpose utility bag of Figure 1 mounted
to a leash.
Figure 5 is, in perspective view, the multi-purpose utility bag of Figure 1 mounted
2 5 to a pet collar.
Figure 6 is, in perspective view, the multi-purpose utility bag of Figure 1 mounted
to a handle of a retractable leash.
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
As illustrated in the accompanying Figures and, in particular, in Figures 1-4, the
multi-purpose utility bag 10 of the present invention has a primary compartment within flexible
sleeve 12. Sleeve 12 forms a large pocket running the full longitudinal length of utility bag 10 and
which is generally cylindrical in shape when full. Sleeve 12 may be constructed by sewing
opposed rectangular sheets 12a and 12b together around their edges. Sheet 12a may be longer
than sheet 12b so as to form a flap 12c at an open end of sleeve 12, the opposite end sewn closed
to complete the pocket. Flap 12c provides for releasable closing of the opening to sleeve 12.
0 Releasable closure of flap 12c may be accomplished by releasable fasteners 13 such as VelcroTM
fasteners, snaps, buttons or the like.
At least one smaller exp~n(l~ble pocket 14 having pleats 14a along its longitudinal
sides, is mounted, as by sewing, over sheet 12b. Pleats 14a may along one edge thereofbe secured
by sewing between or into the seam between sheets 12a and 12b. Pleats 14a allow pocket 14 to
be expandable outwards from sheet 12b on sleeve 12, even when sleeve 12 is full, that is, is
cylindrical in shape. A smaller closure flap 16 is provided for releasable closure of pocket 14 and,
again, may be releasably fastened by VelcroTM fasteners or the like.
2 o Flexible loops 15 are fastened to sleeve 12, for example, by means of sewing the
ends of the loops into the seams between sheets 12a and 12b, at the uppermost end of sleeve 12.
A nylon snap ring 15a is mounted to the free end of one of loops 15 for releasa~le fastening of
snap ring 15a onto nylon ring 15b mounted on the free end of the opposite loop 15, that is, the
loop 15 on the opposite side ofthe uppermost end of sleeve 12.
Nylon snap ring 15a and corresponding nylon ring 15b are provided for releasablefastening of the uppermost end of sleeve 12 to, for example, the handle of a dog leash 19 such as
illustrated in Figure 4. Releasable fastening is accomplished by passing nylon snap ring 15
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through the looped handle 18 of the dog leash 19, and nylon snap ring 15a then clipped onto nylon
ring l5b. Releasable fastening of the upper end of sleeve 12 in this fashion also operates to
releasably fasten the upper end of sleeve 12 to pet collars 20 as seen in Figure 5, to the handle 21
of retractable pet leashes as seen in Figure 6, and to belt loops, belts, h~n~lbag~, etc. (not shown).
Nylon strap 22 is provided at the lower end of sleeve 12, and is mounted across
sheet 12a, for example, by sewing the ends of the nylon strap into the seams between sheets 12a
and 12b, so as to be disposed laterally across the back of utility bag 10. Strap 22 provides a loop
through which dog leash 19, collar 20, a belt, or the like, may be passed to thereby releasably
o secure both upper and corner ends of sleeve 12 of utility bag 10 to a carrying mediumO
In one preferred embodiment, sleeve 12, that is, sheets 12a and 12b, and flap 12c
are formed from one elongate strip of material. Sheets 12a and 12b formed by folding the
elongate over onto itself, leaving enough material protruding from the fold at one free end of the
1 5 elongate strip so as to form flap 12c.
Although the preferred embodiments illustrated and described are of a rectangular
shape, it is within the scope of the invention to provide a sleeve 12 or pocket 14 having other than
a rectangular shape. Sleeve 12 could be of any aesthetically pleasing shape, although preferably
2 o elongate, so long as items such as plastic bags may be stored therein.
As will be a~a~"l to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention
without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to
2 5 be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
