Yoga mat carrying bag assembly

Abstract

A dual position yoga mat bag has a longitudinal axis. A rolled-up yoga mat can be placed in an interior chamber for vertical carrying such that a longitudinal axis of the rolled-up yoga mat is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. The rolled-up yoga mat can optionally be held by the container outside of the interior chamber such that the longitudinal axis of the rolled-up yoga mat is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dual position yoga mat bag comprising:
 a. a container having a top end and a bottom end and a longitudinal axis, the container having an interior chamber such that a rolled-up yoga mat can be placed in the interior chamber for vertical carrying such that a longitudinal axis of the rolled-up yoga mat is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container when the rolled-up yoga mat is placed in the interior chamber and wherein the rolled-up yoga mat can be held by the container outside of the interior chamber when the rolled-up yoga mat is placed on the container for horizontal carrying such that the longitudinal axis of the rolled-up yoga mat is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container and the top portion and bottom portion of the container are positioned adjacent each other with the rolled-up yoga mat positioned between portions of the container; and   b. a strap configured to selectively connect to different portions of the container for vertical carrying or for horizontal carrying.   
     
     
         2 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the strap is a shoulder strap configured to selectively connect to two portions of the container for vertical carrying or to four portions of the container for horizontal carrying. 
     
     
         3 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the container has four connection points in corresponding first, second, third and fourth corners thereof, such that the shoulder strap can be selectively connected to one or connection points. 
     
     
         4 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the shoulder strap has first and second selective connectors on opposing ends thereof, such that each of the connectors on the shoulder strap can be selectively connected to the container at one or more connection points. 
     
     
         5 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a side opening of the bag formed in the horizontal carry position is about the same size as a top opening in the bag. 
     
     
         6 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bag has a rectangular configuration with the width thereof being approximately half the size of the length thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the yoga mat bag has an elongate rectangular configuration such that the bag is balanced in a horizontal position, such that in the horizontal position, a rolled up yoga mat carried in the horizontal position is approximately parallel to the ground, such that the rolled up yoga mat does not fall out of the bag. 
     
     
         8 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bag includes a scannable code on the container configured to communicate with a computer network in order to generate a message to a user of the yoga mat bag. 
     
     
         9 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bag is substantially flat and is comprised of a flaccid, fabric material, such that the bag conveniently folds into the folded, horizontal carrying position. 
     
     
         10 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the length of the elongate rectangular container is approximately twice the width of the elongate rectangular container, such that when the container is folded into the horizontal carrying position, the container substantially has the shape of a square for conveniently, stably carrying the mat in the horizontal carrying position. 
     
     
         11 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the yoga mat bag container is an elongate, rectangular shaped container, the container having four corners, each of the corners having a connection point, the connection point being configured to connect with a corresponding selective connection member on the strap that can be selectively connected or disconnected to one or more connection points on the container. 
     
     
         12 . A yoga mat bag assembly comprising:
 a. an elongate, flaccid, foldable, rectangular container having a top end and a bottom end and a longitudinal axis, the container having an interior chamber such that a rolled-up yoga mat can be placed in the interior chamber for vertical carrying and such that a longitudinal axis of the rolled-up yoga mat is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container when the rolled-up yoga mat is placed in the interior chamber and wherein the rolled-up yoga mat can be held by the container outside of the interior chamber when the rolled-up yoga mat is placed on the container for horizontal carrying such that the longitudinal axis of the rolled-up yoga mat is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container and the top portion and bottom portion of the container are positioned adjacent each other with the rolled-up yoga mat positioned between portions of the container;   b. a shoulder strap configured to selectively connect to two portions of the container for vertical carrying or to four portions of the container for horizontal carrying; and   c. a yoga mat configured to be selectively carried within the interior chamber in the vertical carry position or to be carried between adjacent top and bottom portions of the container in the horizontal carry position.   
     
     
         13 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 12 , wherein a side opening of the bag in the horizontal carry position is about the same size as a top opening in the bag. 
     
     
         14 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the bag has a rectangular configuration with the width thereof being approximately half the size of the length thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using a yoga mat bag, comprising:
 (i) providing a yoga mat bag comprising an elongate, flaccid rectangular shaped bag having a top opening that opens into an internal chamber for receiving a rolled up yoga mat in a vertical carry position and that can be folded so as to carry the rolled up yoga mat in a horizontal position, the bag having four connection points for selectively connecting to selective connectors on a shoulder strap, such that the yoga mat bag can be used in a vertical position or a horizontal position as selectively selected by a user;   (ii) positioning the bag in a vertical carry position with the bag in an elongate position with one shoulder strap connector at a top end and another shoulder strap connector at a top end or a bottom end of the bag;   (ii) placing a rolled up yoga mat in the internal chamber within the bag so as to carry mat in a vertical position;   (iii) removing the rolled up yoga mat from the internal chamber;   (iv) placing the yoga mat onto the yoga bag outside of the internal chamber; and   (v) placing the yoga mat bag in a horizontal carry position with connectors of the shoulder strap connected to four connection points of the yoga mat bag in a horizontal carry position with the corners of the bag adjacent to each other so as to carry the rolled up yoga mat in the horizontal position.   
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein a side opening of the bag in the horizontal carry position is about the same size as a top opening in the bag. 
     
     
         17 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the length of the elongate rectangular container is approximately twice the width of the elongate rectangular container, such that when the container is folded into the horizontal carrying position, the container substantially has the shape of a square for conveniently, stably carrying the mat in the horizontal carrying position. 
     
     
         18 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the yoga mat is placed onto the yoga bag for horizontal carrying after a yoga workout. 
     
     
         19 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the yoga mat is placed into the yoga bag for vertical carrying before a yoga workout. 
     
     
         20 . A yoga mat bag as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the yoga bag is folded from the vertical carry position into the horizontal carry position and wherein the mat is placed onto the yoga bag substantially perpendicularly with respect to the yoga mat bag.