Hard Bottom Tote

Abstract

A hard bottom tote incorporates a substantially rigid, water proof and impact resistant base joined to a fabric body extending upward from the base. The fabric body incorporates stiffening members supporting the body in an upright and open position to facilitate loading the tote when empty. Stiffeners surround the mouth of the tote so that the mouth of the bag remains open. The disclosed tote has a tapered body configuration with a mouth of the tote larger than the base to facilitate nesting of multiple totes for storage when empty. A pair of handles extend above the mouth of the tote, supported by webbing sleeves incorporating stiffeners.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A hard bottom tote comprising:
 a substantially rigid base defining a support surface and a peripheral lip;   a bag body extending from a lower end secured to said peripheral lip to an upper end defining a mouth, said bag body constructed of flexible material and including support sufficient to hold the bag body in an upright position projecting above said base;   at least one handle secured to said bag body.   
     
     
         2 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 1 , wherein said bag body is primarily constructed of fabric and includes a stiffening member. 
     
     
         3 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 2 , wherein said stiffening member comprises a plurality of non-fabric stiffening members captured in pockets defined by the bag body. 
     
     
         4 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 3 , wherein said stiffening members are elongated along a longitudinal axis, at least one of said stiffening members is positioned with its longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to said support surface and at least one other of said stiffening members is positioned with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel with said support surface. 
     
     
         5 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 3 , wherein said stiffening members are elongated along a longitudinal axis and at least one of said stiffening members has an orientation substantially perpendicular to said support surface. 
     
     
         6 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of elongated stiffening members secured to said bag body at a plurality of spaced apart locations. 
     
     
         7 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 1 , wherein said bag body includes at least one web assembly comprising:
 first and second webbing strips each having a length and a pair of longitudinal edges, said longitudinal edges joined to define an elongated pocket between said webbing strips; and   an elongated stiffening member in said pocket,   wherein said first and second webbing strips have a first bending resistance and said web assembly has a second bending resistance greater than said first bending resistance.   
     
     
         8 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 7 , wherein said stiffening member is a strip of plastic having dimensions selected to permit the strip to be inserted into said elongated pocket. 
     
     
         9 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 1 , wherein said bag body includes an elongated pocket defined adjacent said upper end and an elongated stiffening member within said elongated pocket to increase the stiffness of said bag body. 
     
     
         10 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated stiffening member is interrupted. 
     
     
         11 . A hard bottom tote comprising:
 a concave substantially rigid base including a support surface, a peripheral wall extending upwardly from said support surface and terminating in an upstanding lip;   a bag body joined to said upstanding lip and extending away from said base to an upper end defining a mouth, said bag body defining at least one elongated pocket;   at least one elongated stiffening member received in said at least one elongated pocket,   wherein said bag body is supported by said at least one elongated stiffening member so that said bag body extends in an upright position above said base, when said tote is resting upon said support surface.   
     
     
         12 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one elongated pocket includes a plurality of elongated pockets distributed about the bag body and said at least one elongated stiffening member includes a plurality of elongated stiffening members received in said plurality of elongated pockets. 
     
     
         13 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said plurality of elongated pockets has a longitudinal orientation generally parallel with said support surface and at least one of said plurality of elongated pockets has an orientation generally perpendicular to said support surface. 
     
     
         14 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 11 , wherein said bag body comprises at least one handle. 
     
     
         15 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one elongated pocket is defined between webbing strips joined along their elongated longitudinal edges. 
     
     
         16 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 11 , wherein said bag body is tapered, having a larger opening at said mouth than at said base. 
     
     
         17 . The hard bottom tote of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one elongated pocket includes a plurality of elongated pockets having a longitudinal orientation substantially perpendicular to said support surface, said plurality of elongated pockets being arranged in spaced apart relationship about a circumference of said bag body.