QUICK FORMABLE TOTE BAG

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a variety of hand-tool carrying devices on the market. Some companies offer hard plastic tool boxes that have a hinged top and a small removable tray that lifts out to reveal the inner confines of the box for bulk tool storage. Some have small mounted drawers either in the top or the bottom for smaller tools or loose fasteners.

Other tool bags are made of fabric which is typically fixed to a frame and similarly has a variety of pouches and compartments inside. Bother of these types of tool cases usually end up in a disorganized mess and when at a work site results in difficulty in making selection and accessing the tools required leading to frustration and sometimes injury.

Further the prior structures are made of multiple components which often do not conform to ease of travel situations in real life trade applications. For a tradesman and a handyman, storage in a vehicle is critical and sometimes a specific space for a rectangular hard box or cloth and frame tool bag is not available. Some pick-up trucks have storage space behind the seats that do not lend itself to a rectangular box shape. Additionally, the surface of these tool containers is typically slick and the items will tend slide around.

The fabric tool bags available in different sizes and configurations with a zippered opening providing access to an inside cavity where tools lay horizontally. They have inner and outer pockets typically sewn to receive certain items, but access can be restricted by a full tool load and small tools can get stuck in the pocket and are then difficult and time consuming to remove. These synthetic fabric bags offer an improvement to the plastic boxes as they help protect tools and allow for better and more secure storage of the tools. But the horizontal tool storage layout still presents a problem. Furthermore, the small inaccessible pockets on the inside and small pockets on the outside make these bags somewhat inadequate for hand-tool storage.

While there exist many bag configurations, there remains a need to improve on the prior art in a way which renders ease of use, preparedness and use in the field. Further, there is need to provide a tool with elegant simplicity to further its use and applicability and lends itself to use in the back of a truckbed, SUV or trunk.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to carrying bags. More particularly, the invention relates to a formable bag that in folded condition is intended to function as a convenient tote container, and in its open or unfolded condition is intended to be laid on a horizontal surface to render the contents readily accessible.

The tote bag of the present invention can be used for tools, personal items, sporting items, or consumable items. In the ensuing description of the invention, it is described at times with particular reference to an exemplary use, but obviously this is for illustrative purposes only, and it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto.

As stated, the formable tote bag is intended to be folded for tote purposes, and to be opened by unfolding and to be laid horizontal to render the contents accessible. The quick formable tote bag includes a fabric substrate having a length of between about two feet to six feet and a width between about two feet and six feet. The fabric substrate has a first plurality of grommets spaced apart along a perimeter of a first side of the fabric substrate and a second plurality of grommets spaced apart along a perimeter of a second side the fabric substrate, wherein the first plurality of grommets are removably disposed adjacent one another to receive a retaining member therethrough and have a first end of the retaining member disposed therethrough. The second plurality of grommets are removably disposed adjacent one another to receive a second end of the retaining member disposed therethrough, and when so disposed cause the fabric substrate to form a tote bag.

The retaining member's first end is articulated with respect to the second end such that the ends can be moved from a co-axial oriented position to a non-coaxial oriented position and when inserted through the grommets and into a non-coaxial oriented position serve to positionally retain the grommets within a fixed spaced relation and in turn maintain the tote in a geometric bag shape.

It is contemplated the first and/or second end can have an enlarged or curved portion which can be used to retain the grommets. The fabric substrate can includes a woven and non-woven material. It is also contemplated that the fabric substrate can have a thermoplastic rubber covering penetrating and encapsulating fabric material. The fabric substrate can be die sublimated with a graphic image.

The fabric substrate can be folded to form the tote bag as illustrated in the drawings herewith. It is contemplated that there can be provided a plurality of elongate stiffeners or stays set into fold lines, so that the bag has rigidity in that direction. To facilitate carrying the bag, the opposing side edges of the two sides can include a handle to assist in carrying.

While not necessary for the invention, it could be that the fabric substrate could have one or more pockets designed in size and depth to contain specific tool, instruments or devices, according to the special use for which the bag is intended. When the bag is folded into tote condition, the tools, instruments and devices can be contained within pockets which face inwardly of the bag, and the combination of fabric material and vertical stiffeners or stays can provide portability and protection for the same.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a quick formable tote bag.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a formable tote bag formed of a fabric substrate having a plurality of grommets foldable over each other, which when folded, receive a retaining member therethrough to maintain the fabric in a tote bag shape and when removed, releases the fabric to relax onto a horizontal position rendering all the contents readily visible and accessible.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of a detailed description of one illustrative embodiment of the invention presented herein below. That description is had in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like or corresponding parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a fabric substrate of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a retainer of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustrating a step of the formation of the tote bag.

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustrating another step of the formation of the tote bag.

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustrating yet another step of the formation of the tote bag.

FIG. 6 is perspective of a formed tote bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, a quick formable tote bag of the invention is generally designated by the numeral 10. The quick formable tote bag 10 includes a fabric substrate 12 having a length L of between about two feet to six feet and preferably within an arms span length, and a width W between about two feet and six feet and preferably within an arms span length. Note, it is envisioned that smaller tote bags can be formed by varying the width and length and accordingly these fall within the arms span length, however, for the exemplary embodiment, the window of about two feet to six feet works well for most applications. The fabric substrate 12 and has a first plurality of grommets 14, 16, and 18 spaced apart along a perimeter of a first side 20 of the fabric substrate 12 and a second plurality of grommets 22, 24 and 26 spaced apart along a perimeter of a second side 28 the fabric substrate 12.

As can be seen in drawings, the first plurality of grommets 14, 16, and 18 are removably disposed adjacent one another, with grommets 14 and 18 outwardly disposed to grommet 16, to receive a retaining member 30 therethrough and have a first end 32 of the retaining member 30 disposed therethrough. The second plurality of grommets 22, 24 and 26 are removably disposed adjacent one another, similarly with grommets 22 and 26 outwardly disposed to grommet 24, to receive a second end 34 of the retaining member 30 disposed therethrough. When so disposed, this causes the fabric substrate 12 to form tote bag 10.

The first end 32 of the retaining member 30 is articulated in relation to the second end 34 such that ends 32 and 34 can be moved from a co-axial oriented position to a non-coaxial oriented position and when inserted through the grommets 14, 16, and 18 and 22, 24 and 26 and assume the non-coaxial oriented position serve to positionally retain the grommets 14, 16, and 18 and 22, 24 and 26 within a fixed spaced relation and in turn maintain the tote in a geometric bag shape. An intermediate portion 35 of the retainer 30 can interconnect the first end 32 with the second end 34 by way of a hinge 37, which can include a nut and bolt.

The first end 32 can be formed with one of a curved and/or an enlarged portion. The second end 34 can be similarly formed so long as the ends 32 and 34 permit the insertion through the grommets 14, 16, and 18 and 22, 24 and 26.

The fabric substrate 12 can be formed of a woven or non-woven material. The fabric substrate 12 can include a thermoplastic rubber coating 36 penetrating and encapsulating the woven or non-woven material. The fabric substrate 12 can be die sublimated with an optional graphic image. A handle 40 can be connected to each of the sides 20 and 28. The coating 36 may be a thermoplastic elastomer, a thermoset and may be hydrophobic. In a preferred embodiment, there is provided an elastomeric exterior laminate material having resolution and image clarity, which includes an underlying ink graphic fabric material which is receptive to a SEBS like material, the underlying ink graphic fabric material layer having an image thereon having a first predetermined width and a first predetermined length and interstitial areas residing in the fabric. A SEBS like transparent polymeric material which is formed as a layer on the fabric substrate 12 and penetrating the interstitial areas in the fabric substrate 12 in a manner to substantially remove all air therefrom, and has a predetermined width substantially commensurate with the width W and a predetermined length substantially commensurate with the first length L which is compressed and consolidated bonded to the ink graphic layer to form a substantially uniform laminate configuration and retain a transparent and elastic cushion characteristic through the exterior polymeric film layer enabling resolution and clarity of the image, wherein the exterior polymeric film layer imparts a nonslip tactile surface to the laminate.

The above described embodiments are set forth by way of example and are not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the present invention. It will be readily apparent that obvious modifications, derivations and variations can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the configuration, length, width and thickness of the fabric substrate 12, handle configuration, angles of connected retainer 30 and materials used to construct the tote bag 10 can be varied to accomplish the objectives set forth herein and will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto should be read in their full scope including any such modifications, derivations and variations.