Containers for reusable shopping bags and methods thereof

Abstract

The invention provides a container system for holding one or more reusable bags that comprises a compartment and permanently affixed upon its exterior surface a first pocket, and either an attachment motif or a holder. The compartment, also having an interior surface, comprises a first fabric and an opening that is dimensioned and for receiving/removing or storing a reusable bag within the interior of the compartment. The first pocket has a transparent portion. The attachment motif is configured to attach the container system to an object and the holder is configured for receiving a pen, a key chain or something the like. The invention further provides methods for using the container system.

1 . A container system for holding one or more reusable bags, the container system comprising:
 (a) a compartment that comprises a first fabric, the compartment having an interior and the compartment having an exterior surface, wherein the compartment further comprises an opening that is dimensioned and configured to have at least a first state and a second state wherein,
 when the opening is in the first state, the compartment is configured for receiving a reusable bag in said interior or removing a reusable bag from said interior, and 
 when the opening is in the second state, the compartment is configured for storing a reusable bag in said interior but is not configured for receiving or removing a reusable bag from said interior; 
   (b) a first pocket having a transparent portion, wherein the first pocket is permanently affixed to a first portion of said exterior surface of said compartment, wherein the first pocket is configured to receive, produce, and store a shopping list comprising a plurality of items and wherein the transparent portion of the first pocket is configured such that, when a shopping list is stored in the first pocket, the shopping list can be read through the transparent portion of the first pocket; and   (c) either
 (i) an attachment motif permanently affixed to a second portion of said exterior surface of said compartment or embedded in said compartment, wherein the attachment motif is configured to attach the container system to an object thereby supporting the container system when the container system is attached to an object, or 
 (ii) a holder permanently affixed to a third portion of said exterior surface of said compartment through which a pen, key chain or key finder may be attached to said compartment. 
   
   
   
       2 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container system comprises said holder. 
   
   
       3 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container system comprises said attachment motif. 
   
   
       4 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container system comprises said holder and said attachment motif. 
   
   
       5 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein said first fabric is a flexible fabric that allows distortion of a shape of said compartment. 
   
   
       6 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein said first fabric comprises an animal textile, a plant textile, a mineral textile, a synthetic textile or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein said first fabric comprises cotton, calico, satin, hessian, polycotton, bamboo, grass, jute, wool, alpaca, cashmere, mohair, modacrylic, viacose, cellulose, cellulose acetate, nylon, casein, flax, hemp, nettle, sisal, soybean protein fiber, Manila hemp, ramie, rayon, cellophane, silk, velvet, taffeta, Pin a (pineapple fiber), Coir (coconut fiber), seaweed, modal, glass fiber, basalt fiber, elastane, carbon fiber, polyester, aramid fiber, acrylic fiber, acrylate, Abaca, olefin fiber, polyolefin, Vicuna fiber, polybenzimidazole (PBI) fiber, polyactide fiber, LUREX®, linen, Lyocell, Kenaf fiber, polyphenylene sulfide, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, or polyurethane. 
   
   
       8 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container system comprises said attachment motif and wherein said attachment motif is permanently affixed to said second portion of said exterior surface of said compartment. 
   
   
       9 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container system comprises said attachment motif and wherein said attachment motif is a magnet embedded in said compartment. 
   
   
       10 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container system comprises said attachment motif and wherein said attachment motif is a closed elongated structure by which the container is suspended from an object. 
   
   
       11 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein said compartment further comprises means of closure through which said opening of said compartment is:
 (i) reversibly switched from the first state to the second state; and   (ii) reversibly switched from the second state to the first state.   
   
   
       12 . The container system of  claim 11 , wherein said means of closure comprises a button, a zipper, a two layer system comprising a hook layer and a loop layer, or a shoe lace system. 
   
   
       13 . The container system of  claim 1 , further comprising a reusable bag inside said compartment, wherein said reusable bag comprises a second fabric. 
   
   
       14 . The container system of  claim 13 , wherein said second fabric comprises a flexible fabric that allows said reusable bag to form a compact shape. 
   
   
       15 . The container system of  claim 13 , wherein said second fabric comprises an animal textile, a plant textile, a mineral textile, a synthetic textile or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       16 . The container system of  claim 13 , wherein said second fabric comprises cotton, calico, satin, hessian, polycotton, bamboo, grass, jute, wool, alpaca, cashmere, mohair, modacrylic, viacose, cellulose, cellulose acetate, nylon, casein, flax, hemp, nettle, sisal, soybean protein fiber, Manila hemp, ramie, rayon, cellophane, silk, velvet, taffeta, Pin a (pineapple fiber), Coir (coconut fiber), seaweed, modal, glass fiber, basalt fiber, elastane, carbon fiber, polyester, aramid fiber, acrylic fiber, acrylate, Abaca, olefin fiber, polyolefin, Vicuna fiber, polybenzimidazole (PBI) fiber, polyactide fiber, LUREX®, linen, Lyocell, Kenaf fiber, polyphenylene sulfide, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, or polyurethane. 
   
   
       17 . The container system of  claim 13 , wherein said first fabric comprises nylon or leather and the second fabric comprises nylon. 
   
   
       18 . The container system of  claim 13 , wherein said reusable bag comprises means for grasping and carrying the reusable bag suspended from a hand. 
   
   
       19 . The container system of  claim 18 , wherein said means for grasping and carrying the reusable bag is a handle or a shoulder strap. 
   
   
       20 . The container system of  claim 1 , wherein said transparent portion of the first pocket comprises a sheer material that is substantially transparent to the human eye. 
   
   
       21 . The container system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second pocket, wherein the second pocket is inside said compartment. 
   
   
       22 . The container system of  claim 1 , further comprising a water repellent coating overlayed on the exterior surface. 
   
   
       23 . The container system of  claim 2 , further comprising two or more holders. 
   
   
       24 . The container system of  claim 23 , wherein said two or more holders are located on one side of said compartment. 
   
   
       25 . The container system of  claim 23 , wherein said two or more holders are located on two or more sides of said compartment. 
   
   
       26 . The container system of  claim 23 , wherein one of said two or more holders holds a pen. 
   
   
       27 . The container system of  claim 23 , wherein one of said two or more holders holds a key locator. 
   
   
       28 . The container system of  claim 23 , wherein one of said two or more holders holds a pen while another of said two or more holders holds a key locator. 
   
   
       29 . A method for utilizing a container system, wherein the container system comprises a compartment that is made of a first fabric, the compartment having an interior, wherein the compartment comprises an opening that is dimensioned and configured to have at least a first state and a second state, and wherein the container system comprises (i) a first pocket permanently attached to an exterior surface of the compartment, the first pocket comprising a transparent portion, and (ii) an attachment motif affixed to or embedded in said compartment, the method comprising:
 (A) setting the compartment to said first state, wherein, when the opening is in the first state, the compartment is configured to receive a reusable bag in said interior;   (B) placing a reusable bag made of a second fabric in said interior of said compartment;   (C) setting the compartment to said second state, wherein, when the opening is in the second state, the compartment is configured to store the reusable bag in said interior but is not configured for receiving or removing the reusable bag from said interior;   (D) placing a shopping list in the first pocket;   (E) attaching the container system to an object using the attachment motif, and   (F) reviewing a shopping list through the transparent portion of the first pocket.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , the method further comprising:
 (G) setting the compartment to said first state; and   (H) removing the reusable bag from the container.   
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the container system further comprises a holder permanently affixed to an exterior surface of the container, the method further comprising:
 (G) inserting a pen, a key chain or a key finer into the holder.