Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02689055 2009-12-23
File no. P1316CAOO
MULTIPURPOSE CARRYING BAG
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to the field of multipurpose carrying bags. More
particularly, this invention relates to carrying bags which can be held in the
hands
or be worn over the shoulders by a user. Still more particularly, the present
invention is concerned with a carrying bag of the type which includes one or a
plurality of cases of flexible material which can be fixed together whenever
there is
a need to fill more than one case with various articles. The invention also
relates to
a sheet of flexible material that can be used to provide a carrying bag
according to
the invention.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Several types of bag are provided for carrying electronic devices, such
as
cellular phones, identity documents, pocket books, umbrellas, tools, reusable
shopping bags or other articles of various nature.
[0003] Generally these bags comprise a container portion having given
dimensions
which cannot be extended or reduced. Also, openings into the container are
provided at a given location and these openings cannot be moved.
[0004] There is therefore a need for improved multipurpose carrying bags which
are more versatile and adaptable for any quantity of various articles than the
bags
of the prior art.
SUMMARY
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide multipurpose
carrying bags
that overcome or mitigate at least some of the disadvantages of known bags or
at
least provide a useful alternative.
[0006] In order to overcome disadvantages of the prior, there is provided a
sheet of
flexible material adapted to be folded into a carrying bag that can be used to
contain various articles inserted thereinto through an opening provided
therein. The
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sheet of flexible material comprises a releasable fastening means provided on
one
face thereof along edges thereof so that when folded along a central axis, the
sheet define the above bag, the opening being available when partly spreading
the
folded sheet apart.
[0007] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided
a carrying bag comprising a first case of flexible material adapted to contain
various articles inserted thereinto through an opening provided therein.
Releasably
fastening means are provided along the edges of the first case allowing to
fittingly
fix the first case against a second case substantially similar to the first
case along
the edges thereof. The bag also comprises holding means and means for fixing
the
holding means to the first case, the holding means being adapted to handle
and/or
carry the bag.
[0008] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided
a carrying bag comprising a first case made of flexible material adapted to
contain
various articles inserted thereinto through an opening provided therein. A
second
case of flexible material which is substantially similar to the first case is
provided.
Releasably fastening means are provided along the edges of the first and/or
second case for allowing to fittingly fix the first case against the second
case along
the edges thereof while defining a pouch between the first and second cases.
The
pouch is adapted to contain articles which are added thereto upon releasing a
portion of the fastening means. Holding means and means for fixing the holding
means to the first and/or second case are also provided, the holding means
being
adapted to handle and/or carry the bag.
[0009] The term "Case" is intended to mean a case or a sheet of flexible
material
adapted to be folded and to contain various articles. Two cases may be joined
together to form a carrying bag.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments,
taken in
combination with the appended drawings, in which:
[0011] Fig. la is a view in elevation of a flexible sheet according to the
invention
having a Velcro fastener along all its edges in a fully opened position and
adapted
to form a case;
[0012] Fig. 1 b is a view in elevation similar to that of Fig 1 a wherein a
Velcro type
fastener is provided along part only of the edges;
[0013] Fig. 2a is a view in elevation of the flexible sheet of Fig. la in
closed
position to define a bag;
[0014] Fig. 2b is a view similar to Fig. 2a using the flexible sheet of Fig 1
b to define
another type of bag;
[0015] Fig. 3a is a partial view in elevation of the bag of Fig. 2a, in a
partially
opened position;
[0016] Fig. 3b is a partial view in elevation of the bag of Fig. 2b, in a
partially
opened position;
[0017] Fig. 4 is an elevation view of a carrying bag according to another
embodiment which includes a carrying brace;
[0018] Figs. 5a to 5d are schematic elevation views showing the steps for
longitudinally and transversely folding a flexible sheet having a Velcro type
fastener along its four edges and aprovided with an attaching strip;
[0019] Fig. 6a is a schematic perspective view of two cases ready to be fixed
together to form a carrying bag according another embodiment of the invention;
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[0020] Fig. 6b is a detailed perspective view showing an opening provided in
the
carrying bag of Fig. 6a;
[0021] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a carrying bag according to another
embodiment of the invention comprising two cases assembled together and
including a strap for carrying the bag over the shoulders;
[0022] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a rigid frame to be disposed between
the two
cases of Fig. 6a;
[0023] Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a carrying bag according to
another embodiment of the invention wherein the frame of Fig. 8 is disposed
between two cases to increase the volume of the pouch;
[0024] Fig. 10 is a top view of a flexible frame which can be wrapped around
the
two cases of Fig. 6a;
[0025] Fig. 11 is an exploded view in perspective of the carrying bag of Fig.
6a
according another embodiment of the invention, wherein the flexible frame of
Fig.
is wrapped around the two cases of Fig. 6a; and
[0026] Fig. 12 is a view in elevation of a carrying bag according to another
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, and in the
description which follows, like features are identified by like reference
numerals.
[0028] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. la, there
is
shown a sheet of flexible material 110 in a fully opened position. The sheet
110
may be made of any flexible material such as leather, tissue, woven or non-
woven
fabric, plastic, net, web, tarp or the like. Sheet 110 is symmetrical
according to axis
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114 shown in dotted line in Fig. la. A releasable fastening means, in the
present
case a Velcro type fastener 116 is disposed along the entire edges 118 of
sheet
110. Of course any other releasable fastening means known to those skilled in
the
art could be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0029] A holding tab 120 is fixed to case 110 in known manner and also as
indicated has its free end wrapped around a ring 122. Ring 122 can be adapted
for
a plurality of known uses. In the present case, however it serves to hold a
carabiner clip 124 which is hooked to ring 122. Also a lanyard can be fixed
below
the holding tab 120 to be used as a handle or with the carabiner clip 124 to
be
attached to larger object. Carabiner clip 124 can be hung to a belt loop for
carrying
the bag or can be used for a multiplicity of purposed which are well known to
those
skilled in the art.
[0030] Referring also to Fig. 2a, sheet 110 is shown in closed position to
define a
bag 111. To achieve this, sheet 110 has been folded along axis 114. As
illustrated,
a half portion of fastener 116 faces a symmetrical half portion of the
releasable
fastener 116 and is thereby releasably fixed thereto. In this manner, sheet
110
forms a closed pouch or bag 111 adapted to contain various articles. For
example,
by placing an object on half of sheet 110 before folding it as indicated
above, it is
possible to close case 110 around an object having a protuberance such as a
hammer handle 126 as shown. When fastening the half portions of the fastener
116, an adjustable opening 128 is formed around hammer handle 126.
[0031] Referring now to Fig. 1 b, there is shown a different sheet of flexible
material
112 wherein the fastening means, here fastener 113, extends only part along
the
edges 119 thereof. More particularly, fastener 113 runs along the entire top
edge of
sheet 112, and only part of the lateral edges as shown. It is absent along the
lower
edge and the lower parts of the lateral edges.
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[0032] When folding sheet 112 as shown in Fig 2b, it will be realized that a
different
type of fastener 115, such as glue, sewing, or the like is used, in addition
to
fastener 113 to form bag 117 which is otherwise similar to bag 111.
[0033] Referring to Fig. 3a, the bag 111 formed of folded sheet 110 is shown
in a
partially opened position. To open the bag, the two corner portions 130 and
132 of
fastener 116 are spreaded apart as shown to form an opening 134 allowing to
introduce or remove an article into bag 111. Opening 134 is adjustable
depending
on the article to be inserted in or removed from bag 111
[0034] Fig. 3b illustrates the bag 117 formed by folding sheet 112, which is
substaqntially similar to bag 111 except that the lower edges are glued or
sewed at
115.
[0035] Referring to Fig. 4, there is shown a case 410 according to another
embodiment. Case 410 is similar to case 110 except that it is adapted to be
provided with a holding means, here a strap 412 which allows someone to hold
the
bag for example over the shoulders. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the bag is
somewhat
similar to the one illustrated in Fig. 1 a, however it is in folded position
as illustrated
in Fig 2a. Thus it includes a holding tab 120, a ring 122 and a carabiner 124.
With
respect to the holding strap 412, it will be seen to consist of two portions
412a and
412b as shown. Strap portion 412a has an end 414 removably fastened to
fastener
416, here of Velcro type, as shown, to an upper corner of the bag. Strap
portion
412b on the other hand has end 418 fixed in know manner such as by sewing, to
the opposite lower corner of the bag. The free ends of strap portions 412a and
412b are tied together by means of a buckle 420. Of course any other attaching
means could be used as is well known to those skilled in the art. In this
manner the
bag consisting of a folded case 410 can easily be carried over the shoulder.
[0036] Concurrently referring to Fig. 5a to Fig. 5d, there is illustrated an
embodiment wherein the case referred to here by reference numeral 510, is
folded
into 1/4th of its size. The folding process for case 510 is well illustrated
in Figs. 5a to
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5d. On Fig. 5a, the case 510 is shown with a releasable fastening means, here
a
fastener 512 of the Velcro along the edges 514 of case 510. An attaching
strip
516 is releasably mounted on a portion of fastener 512. For providing a better
fastening of strip 516 to fastener 512, the attaching strip 516 is covered
with a
Velcro type fastener (not shown in Figs. 5a to 5d). Case 510 is folded along
axis
of symmetry 518 to form a pouch shown in Fig. 5b. Each half portion of the
releasable fastener 512 faces a symmetrical half portion of releasable
fastener
512. As illustrated particularly in Figs 5a and 5b, attaching strip 516 has an
available hanging down end '519. After closing case 510 in half, it is again
folded,
this time along axis 520 to form a case folded in 1/4th as shown in Fig. 5c.
Fig. 5d
is a bottom view of case 510 folded as in Fig. 5c taken along line AN. As seen
on
Fig. 5d, folded case 510 now comprises two pouches 522 and 524, each openable
at respective corners 526 and 528 as shown. The available end 519 of attaching
strip 516 has been inserted between corresponding edges of the pouch 524 for
retaining the pouches 522 and 524 together.
[0037] Referring now to Fig. 6a, there are shown two cases 610 and 612 ready
to
be fixed together. Case 610 has a releasable fastener 614 (here a Velcro
fastener) provided along the edges 616 thereof. The releasable fastener 614 is
disposed behind case 610 and is delimited by dash lines as shown. Case 612 on
the other hand has a releasable fastener 620 disposed along the edges 622 of
case 612. The releasable fastener 614 and the releasable fastener 620 face one
another and are ready to be fixed together to form a carrying bag 624 as shown
in
Fig. 6b.
[0038] Referring to Fig. 6b, there is shown a detail of the upper right corner
of the
carrying bag 624. Corner portions 626 of fastener 614 and facing corner
portions
628 of the fastener 620 can be released as shown to form an opening 630
allowing
to introduce or remove one or more articles into or from the carrying bag 624.
The
opening 630 is adjustable depending on the article.
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[0039] Referring to Fig. 7, there is shown a carrying bag 710 according to
another
embodiment. The carrying bag 710 is made up of a first case 712 and a second
case 714 substantially similar to the first case 712. The first case 712 and
the
second case 714 are releasably fixed together by means of a fastener 728 shown
in dotted line. Of course, only one fastener 728 may be provided either with
case
712 or case 714. Preferably however, for better fastening, both cases 712 and
714
are provided with their own fastener 718 a fastening means, not shown, as
previously described.
[0040] The carrying bag 710 also comprises a holding tab 716 similar to
holding tab
120 having an end disposed at a given location, here centrally at the top,
along the
edges of the first and/or second cases 712 and 714 and fixed thereto in known
manner, for example through fasteners 718. The other end of the holding tab
716
is wrapped around a ring 718 as shown. The carrying bag 710 further comprises
a
strap 720 formed of two parts 720a and 720b, each part having an end 722 and
724 fixedly disposed between first case 712 and second case 714, for example,
at
the bottom of bag 710 at both corners thereof or in another configuration as
shown
in Fig. 4. Part 720a extends through the ring 718, and the free ends of the
both
parts 720a and 720b are adjusted and connected together by means of a buckle
726. Such strap 720 permits to wear the carrying bag 710 as a backpack.
[0041] Referring now to Fig. 8, there is shown a rigid or semi-rigid frame 810
which
is adapted to be disposed between two cases as shown in Fig 9, and spacedly
fix
them together. For this purpose, the front face of frame '810 has been
provided with
a Velcro type fastener 814 and the rear of frame 810 is provided with a
Velcro
type fastener 818, which is similar to fastener 814.
[0042] The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 9 comprises a frame 810 which is
adapted to be disposed between cases 910 and 912 as shown. In this manner
there is formed a carrying bag 914 having a inner pouch 916. Frame 810 when
disposed between cases 910 and 912 causes an increase of the volume of the
pouch 916 as compared to the volume of the pouch of a carrying bag which is
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made of cases 910, 912 without frame 810 interposed between them. Optionally,
carrying bag 914 comprises a flap 918 at an open top end thereof, the flap 918
being closable over the open top end and top edges of the first and second
cases
910, 912, to close pouch 916.
[0043] Referring to Fig. 10, there is shown a flexible frame 1000 flatly laid
out. The
frame 1000 has rear fastening means 1010 along the edges 1020 thereof and
front
fastening means 1012 along the front edges 1022, all as shown in Fig. 10.
[0044] Referring now to Fig. 11 for yet another embodiment, there is shown a
carrying bag 1100 wherein cases 1110 and 1114 are assembled together with
frame 1000 shown in Fig. 10. Frame 1000 is fastened at the rear of case 1110.
This is made possible by means of a fastener not illustrated which attaches
wings
1111 to the rear of case 1110 as shown. Case 1114 on the other hand is partly
wrapped by frame 1000 as will now be described. Wing 1012 of frame 1000 is
placed against fastener 1116 provided on the front face of case 1114 and once
assembled, the frame and the two cases define a pouch 1118, which has an
increased volume as compared to the volume of a pouch of a carrying bag which
would be made of cases 1110 and 1114 only without frame 1000. Optionally, the
carrying bag 1100 comprises a flap 1120 at an open top end thereof, the flap
1120
being closable over the open top end and top edges of cases 1110, 1114, to
close
pouch 1118.
[0045] Ending to Fig. 12, there is shown a carrying bag 1200 similar to the
carrying
bag 117 of Fig. 2b on which an additional sheet 1202 of flexible material has
been
partially sewed. A releasable fastening means 1204 is disposed along portions
of
edges 1206 of additional sheet 1202 and on corresponding surfaces of carrying
bag 1200, providing thereby an additional pouch 1208 with an opening 1210.
[0046] A person skilled in the art can easily use many other fastening means
than a
Velcro type fastener such as buttons, zippers, laces or buckles without
departing
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from the scope and spirit of the present invention.can replace a Velcro type
fastener as well.
[0047] It is understood that a person skilled in the art can use many other
holding
means such as a locking clip, a safety pin, a belt, a belt loop or the like.
[0048] While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated
in
the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that
modifications may be made therein without departing from the essence of this
invention. Such modifications are considered as possible variants comprised
within
the scope of the present invention.
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