Adjustable Bag

Abstract

An adjustable bag for sports equipment includes a plurality of laterally extending folding regions provided on a first area of a surface of the bag adjacent one end A reinforcing panel is provided between each adjacent pair of folding regions such that the bag is more flexible at the folding regions and folds preferentially there.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An adjustable bag for sports equipment, comprising:
 a plurality of laterally extending first folding regions provided on a first area of a surface of the bag adjacent one longitudinal end of the surface; and   a laterally extending reinforcing panel provided between each adjacent pair of first folding regions such that the bag is more flexible at the first folding regions than at a reinforcing panel and folds preferentially along the first folding regions.   
     
     
         19 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 18 , wherein the bag is configured to hold a sports board. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 18 , wherein the bag is configured to hold a surfboard. 
     
     
         21 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 18 , wherein the first folding regions in the first area are spaced an average of 5 cm to 10 cm apart. 
     
     
         22 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 18 , comprising
 a plurality of laterally extending second folding regions provided on a second area of the surface of the bag adjacent the first area; and   a laterally extending reinforcing panel provided between each adjacent pair of second folding regions, wherein   a distance between the second folding regions in the second area is larger than a distance between the first folding regions in the first area.   
     
     
         23 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 22 , wherein the second folding regions in the second area are spaced an average of 20 cm to 40 cm apart. 
     
     
         24 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 23 , wherein the first folding regions in the first area are spaced an average of 5 cm to 10 cm apart. 
     
     
         25 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 18 , wherein the folding regions extend laterally in substantially straight lines extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bag from one lateral side to an opposite lateral side of the bag. 
     
     
         26 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 18 , wherein the bag comprises a closable pocket extending over or under one of the reinforcing panels in the second area. 
     
     
         27 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 18 , wherein the first folding regions comprise seams between pockets containing the reinforcing panels. 
     
     
         28 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 22 , wherein the first folding regions and second folding regions comprise seams between pockets containing the reinforcing panels. 
     
     
         29 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 18 , wherein the first area extends longitudinally from a longitudinal rear end of the bag for approximately 20-25% of the longitudinal length of the bag. 
     
     
         30 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 22 , wherein
 the first area extends longitudinally from a longitudinal rear end of the bag for approximately 20-25% of the longitudinal length of the bag, and   the second area extends longitudinally from an end of the first area to a longitudinal nose end of the bag opposite the rear end.   
     
     
         31 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 18 , wherein the distance between first folding regions increases incrementally in a direction from a longitudinal rear end of the bag to a longitudinal nose end of the bag opposite the rear end. 
     
     
         32 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 22 , wherein the distance between first folding regions and the distance between second folding regions increases incrementally in a direction from a longitudinal rear end of the bag to a longitudinal nose end of the bag opposite the rear end. 
     
     
         33 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 18 , wherein the spacing between adjacent pairs of first folding regions in the first area is constant. 
     
     
         34 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 18 , wherein the bag is fixable in its folded configuration folded along a respective folding region. 
     
     
         35 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 34 , wherein the bag is fixable via fixing means comprising one or more straps extending from the rear end of the bag adjacent the first area and a plurality of fixing points on the surface of the bag, each fixing point being configured for coupling with at least one of the one or more straps to fix the bag in its folded configuration when folded along a respective folding region. 
     
     
         36 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 35 , wherein the fixing points comprise loops and the fixing means comprises a buckle or hook coupled to the one or more straps for fixing to one of the loops. 
     
     
         37 . The adjustable bag according to  claim 35 , wherein the fixing means comprises two straps laterally spaced from each other, and two corresponding sets of fixing points.