Rolling tote bag

Abstract

A rolling tote bag including a collapsible container body made of a foldable assembly of fabric panels, including a bottom panel and side panels, that jointly define an inner storage volume when in an expanded state. The rolling tote bag further includes a removable rolling support assembly positioned underneath the bottom panel to provide rolling support for the collapsible container body in the expanded state, the removable rolling support assembly including a support plate and a plurality of caster wheels provided on an underside of the support plate. The collapsible container body further includes a retaining structure formed of one or more fabric panels, which retaining structure is provided underneath the bottom panel and is configured to securely hold the support plate outside of the inner storage volume against an underside of the bottom panel.

1 . A rolling tote bag comprising a collapsible container body made of a foldable assembly of fabric panels, including a bottom panel and side panels, that jointly define an inner storage volume when in an expanded state,
 wherein the rolling tote bag further comprises a removable rolling support assembly positioned underneath the bottom panel to provide rolling support for the collapsible container body in the expanded state, the removable rolling support assembly including a support plate and a plurality of caster wheels provided on an underside of the support plate,   and wherein the collapsible container body further comprises a retaining structure formed of one or more fabric panels, which retaining structure is provided underneath the bottom panel and is configured to securely hold the support plate outside of the inner storage volume against an underside of the bottom panel.   
     
     
         2 . The rolling tote bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining structure includes first and second releasable securing flaps attached to and positioned along opposite lateral ends of the bottom panel,
 and wherein the first and second releasable securing flaps are partially overlapping and releasably attachable to one another to encase the support plate between the bottom panel and the first and second releasable securing flaps.   
     
     
         3 . The rolling tote bag according to  claim 2 , wherein a distal end section of the first releasable securing flap is provided with a first fastening element positioned on an inner side of the first releasable securing flap,
 and wherein a distal end section of the second releasable securing flap is provided with a complementary, second fastening element positioned on an outer side of the second releasable securing flap for releasable cooperation with the first fastening element.   
     
     
         4 . The rolling tote bag according to  claim 3 , wherein the fastening elements consist of hook-and-loop fasteners. 
     
     
         5 . The rolling tote bag according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and second releasable securing flaps are positioned along opposite short ends of the bottom panel. 
     
     
         6 . The rolling tote bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible container body is configured to exhibit rounded corners. 
     
     
         7 . The rolling tote bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the side panels are each made of at least two outer pieces of fabric and an intermediate piece of bubble wrap interposed between the two outer pieces of fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The rolling tote bag according to  claim 7 , wherein the outer pieces of fabric are made of or comprise at least one sheet of woven fabric produced out of strands of synthetic or non-synthetic material, such as polypropylene strands. 
     
     
         9 . The rolling tote bag according to  claim 8 , wherein one or each of the outer pieces of fabric further comprises a laminated film, such as a BOPP film, that is laminated on an outer side of the sheet of woven fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The rolling tote bag according to  claim 1 , wherein opposite short side panels of the collapsible container body are each provided with a gusset fold designed to allow outward folding of the opposite short side panels into flat-folded gusset sections. 
     
     
         11 . The rolling tote bag according to  claim 10 , wherein the collapsible container body is configured to be foldable into a flattened configuration where the opposite short side panels are folded outward along the gusset fold into the flat-folded gusset sections, which flat-folded gusset sections are foldable inward over lateral sections of a first long side panel of the collapsible container body, while a second long side panel of the collapsible container body, opposite the first long side panel, is foldable inward to align the bottom panel and associated rolling support assembly with the second long side panel. 
     
     
         12 . The rolling tote bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of caster wheels includes four caster wheels. 
     
     
         13 . The rolling tote bag according to  claim 1 , further comprising a handle secured to one of the side panels to facilitate rolling of the tote bag in use. 
     
     
         14 . The rolling tote bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the removable rolling support assembly consists exclusively of the support plate and the plurality of caster wheels provided on the underside of the support plate.