Collapsible bag for carrying articles

Abstract

A collapsible bag for carrying articles that includes a folding seat mounted on an exterior surface of the bag. The bag includes side frame members and a bottom plate that are individually pivotable relative to a base frame assembly to change the volume of the interior compartment of the bag. The bag is provided with various article retainers on its exterior surface to provide easy access to articles retained therein.

1 . A bag for carrying articles comprising:
 a base frame assembly:   a first side frame member;   a first pivot assembly securing the first side frame member to the base frame assembly, wherein the first side frame member is pivotable between an extended position and a collapsed position, and when in the extended position at least a portion of the first side frame member extends at an angle outwardly and forwardly away from the base frame assembly, and when in the collapsed position the portion of the first side frame member is disposed generally parallel to the base frame assembly;   an exterior wall disposed around the base frame assembly and the first side frame member; and   an interior compartment defined and bounded by the exterior wall; and wherein the compartment is of a first volume when the first side frame member is in the extended position and is of a second volume when the first side frame member is in the collapsed position, and the second volume is smaller than the first volume.   
     
     
         2 . The bag as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a locking member that is selectively engaged to lock the first side frame member against movement between the extended and collapsed positions, and is selectively disengaged to permit movement of the first side frame member between the extended and collapsed positions. 
     
     
         3 . The bag as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the locking member is disposed on one or more of the base frame assembly, first side frame assembly and first pivot assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The bag as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second side frame member;   a second pivot assembly securing the second side frame member to the base frame assembly a spaced distance from the first pivot assembly; and wherein the second side frame member is pivotable between an extended position and a collapsed position, and when in the extended position at least a portion of the second side frame member extends at an angle outwardly and forwardly away from the base frame assembly, and when in the collapsed position the portion of the second side frame member is disposed generally parallel to the base frame assembly; wherein the exterior wall additionally surrounds the second side frame member and the compartment is increased in volume beyond the first volume to a third volume when the second side frame member is in its extended position.   
     
     
         5 . The bag as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the first and second side frame members are rotated outwardly away from each other when moved from their collapsed positions to their extended positions, and are rotated inwardly toward each other when moved from their extended positions to their collapsed positions. 
     
     
         6 . The bag as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising;
 a bottom plate;   a hinge connecting the bottom plate to the base frame assembly a spaced distance away from the first and second pivot assemblies; said hinge permitting the bottom plate to be rotated between an extended position where it extends at an angle outwardly and forwardly away from the base frame assembly, and a collapsed position where it is disposed generally parallel to the base frame assembly; and wherein the exterior wall additionally surrounds the bottom plate and the volume of the compartment is increased beyond the first size when the bottom plate is in its extended position and is decreased when the bottom plate is in its collapsed position.   
     
     
         7 . The bag as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first and second side frame members and the bottom plate are each independently movable between their extended positions and their collapsed positions. 
     
     
         8 . The bag as defined in  claim 6 , wherein one or more of the first side frame member, second side frame member and bottom plate extend outwardly away from the base frame assembly at an angle of around ninety degrees when in the extended position. 
     
     
         9 . The bag as defined in  claim 6 , wherein one or more of the first and second side frame members and bottom plate are pivotable through about ninety degrees between their extended position and collapsed position. 
     
     
         10 . The bag as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the base frame assembly comprises:
 a top frame member;   a back plate member disposed a spaced distance from the top frame member and being substantially aligned therewith; and   a handle frame member extending between the top frame member and back plate member.   
     
     
         11 . The bag as defined in  claim 10 , wherein both of the first side frame member and the second side frame member extend outwardly away from the top frame member and in the same direction toward the back plate member. 
     
     
         12 . The bag as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the first side frame member is pivotable about a first axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the top frame member and the second side frame member is pivotable about a second axis disposed substantially orthogonal to the top frame member and parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         13 . The bag as defined in  claim 4 , wherein each of the first and second side frame members are one of generally D-shaped and generally L-shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The bag as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the first side frame member is only secured to the base frame assembly by the first pivot assembly and the second side frame member is only secured to the base frame assembly by the second pivot assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The bag as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the exterior wall of the bag includes a front panel, and the bag further comprises:
 an opening defined in the front panel, said opening providing access to the interior compartment;   a flap complementary in size and shape to the opening, wherein a portion of the flap is substantially continuous with the front panel and the flap further includes an outer edge;   a first zipper securing the outer edge of the flap to the front panel; said first zipper being movable in a first direction to permit access to the compartment and movable in a second direction to prevent access to the compartment; and   a detachable panel disposed parallel to and adjacent an outer surface of the flap;   a second zipper securing the detachable panel to the outer surface of the flap; said second zipper being movable in a first direction to detach the detachable panel from the flap and movable in a second direction to reattach the detachable panel to the flap.   
     
     
         16 . The bag as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an expandable net that is fixedly secured to a region of the exterior wall of the bag; said expandable net being adapted to retain an article in abutting contact with the exterior wall. 
     
     
         17 . The bag as defined in  claim 1 , comprising a pair of strap members, each strap member being secured at a first end to the exterior wall of the bag and releasably securable at a second end to the other strap member, and wherein the strap members cooperate with each other to retain an article in abutting contact with the exterior wall of the bag. 
     
     
         18 . The bag as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising a seat that is movably secured to a back region of the bag; where the seat is disposed adjacent an exterior surface of the exterior wall; and wherein the seat includes:
 a seat frame movable between a folded position and an unfolded position, and   at least one seat panel mounted on the seat frame; and wherein at least a portion of the seat panel is available for sitting thereon when the seat frame is in the unfolded position, and the portion of the seat frame is not available for sitting thereon when the seat frame is in the folded position.   
     
     
         19 . The bag as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the seat frame includes:
 a first seat frame member;   a second seat frame member;   at least one pivot pin securing the first and second seat frame members together and permitting the seat frame members to be rotated relative to each other to permit the seat to be moved between the folded and unfolded position.   
     
     
         20 . The bag as defined in  claim 19 , further comprising:
 at least one strap member disposed on the back region of the bag and being oriented to extend substantially between a top end and a bottom end of the bag;   a connector securing one of the first and second seat frame members to the at least one strap member in such a manner that the connector moves along the at least one strap member as the seat frame is moved between the folded and unfolded positions.   
     
     
         21 . The bag as defined in  claim 19 , further comprising a first and a second wheel assembly, and said first wheel assembly comprises a first wheel well, a first wheel and a first wheel axle; and the second wheel assembly comprises a second wheel well, a second wheel and a second wheel axle; and wherein the first wheel well is connected to a second end of the first back frame member; and
 the second wheel well is connected to a second end of the second back frame member.   
     
     
         22 . The bag as defined in  claim 21 , wherein a first end of the first seat frame member is secured to the base frame assembly by a first pivot pin disposed adjacent the first wheel well and a second end of the first seat frame member is secured to the base frame assembly by a second pivot pin adjacent the second wheel well. 
     
     
         23 . The bag as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the first wheel axle is mounted in the first wheel well and first wheel is retained within the first wheel well; and the second wheel axle is mounted in the second wheel well and the second wheel is retained within the second wheel well. 
     
     
         24 . The bag as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the first wheel axle is mounted on a first region of the second seat frame member and the first wheel is mounted on the first wheel axle, and the second wheel axle is mounted on a second region of the second seat frame member and the second wheel is mounted on the second wheel axle; and
 wherein the first wheel is received in the first wheel well and the second wheel is received in the second wheel well only when the seat is in the folded position.   
     
     
         25 . The bag as defined in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a first connector extending outwardly away from a portion of the exterior wall of the bag adjacent a first side of the seat frame;   a second connector extending outwardly away from a portion of the exterior wall of the bag adjacent a second side of the seat frame; and wherein the first and second connectors are of a type that are connectable to each other; whereby the bag is adapted to be secured to a second substantially identical bag to form a temporary bench.   
     
     
         26 . The bag as defined in  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a third connector mounted on one of the seat frame and the seat panel in a region thereof where the third connector is releasably engageable with the first connector; and   a fourth connector mounted on one of the seat frame and the seat panel in a region thereof where the fourth connector is releasably engageable with the second connector, wherein the first and third connectors and second and fourth connectors are engaged with each other when the seat frame is in the folded position to retain the seat adjacent the back region of the bag.