Collapsible bag

Abstract

A collapsible bag that has a use orientation and a collapsed orientation. The bag has an internal frame structure supported by an outer shell. The internal frame structure has a first folding sidewall, a second folding sidewall, a front frame, a rear frame and a bottom member. The outer shell is made of fabric and has a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom wall, which define a cavity, and a bottom retainer member. The internal frame structure is retained within the walls of the outer shell. The bottom retaining member pivots from a collapsed position to a use position, and holds the outer shell in the use orientation when in the use position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible bag that has a use orientation and a collapsed orientation, comprising:
 an internal frame structure supported by an outer shell, wherein the internal frame structure comprises:
 a first folding sidewall, a second folding sidewall, a front frame, a rear frame and a bottom member; 
 wherein the first folding sidewall comprises a first sidewall member and a second sidewall member connected at a hinge, and the second folding sidewall comprises a third sidewall member and a fourth sidewall member connected at a hinge; 
 wherein the front frame comprises a frame having a top member, a bottom bar, a first side bar and a second side bar, and wherein the top member, bottom bar, first side bar and second side bar of the front frame member are connected together; and, 
 wherein the rear frame comprises a frame having a top member, a bottom bar, a first side bar and a second side bar, and wherein the top member, bottom bar, first side bar and second side bar of the rear frame member are connected together; and, 
   
       wherein the outer shell is made of fabric and comprises:
 a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom wall, which define a cavity, and a bottom retainer member in the cavity and adjacent the bottom wall in the use orientation of the collapsible bag, wherein the first folding sidewall is retained within the first sidewall of the outer shell, wherein the second folding sidewall is retained within the second sidewall of the outer shell, wherein the front frame is retained within the front wall of the outer shell, wherein the rear frame is retained within the rear wall of the outer shell, and wherein the bottom member of the internal frame structure is retained within the bottom retainer member of the outer shell, wherein the bottom retaining member pivots from a use position to a collapsed position, and wherein the bottom retaining member holds the outer shell in the use orientation when the bottom retaining member is in the use position. 
 
     
     
         2 . The collapsible bag of  claim 1 , wherein the hinges of the first folding sidewall and the second folding sidewall comprise living hinges. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall member, second sidewall member, third sidewall member, fourth sidewall member and the bottom member are all generally rigid components that are all generally planar. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible bag of  claim 1 , wherein the front frame and rear frame are each made of a rigid material. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible bag of  claim 1 , wherein the rear frame has clips to secure the collapsible bag to another structure. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible bag of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom retainer member is provided within the cavity of the outer shell, and wherein the bottom retainer member is hingedly connected to one of the front wall, rear wall and bottom wall. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall, second sidewall, front wall, and rear wall of the outer shell each have an internal cavity for housing a portion of the internal frame structure therein. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first sidewall, second sidewall, front wall, and rear wall are made of an outer layer and an inner layer to form the cavity for housing a portion of the internal frame structure therein. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible bag of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell has handles to allow a user to carry the collapsible bag. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible bag of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell has at least one retaining member to secure the collapsible bag in the collapsed orientation such that the front wall and the rear wall of the outer shell are adjacent one another. 
     
     
         11 . A collapsible bag that has a use orientation and a collapsed orientation, comprising:
 an internal frame structure supported by an outer shell, wherein the internal frame structure comprises a first folding sidewall, a second folding sidewall, a front frame, a rear frame and a bottom member, wherein the rear frame has clips to secure the collapsible bag to another structure, wherein the outer shell is made of fabric and comprises a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom wall, which define a cavity, and a bottom retainer member in the cavity and adjacent the bottom wall in the use orientation of the collapsible bag, wherein the first folding sidewall is retained within the first sidewall of the outer shell, wherein the second folding sidewall is retained within the second sidewall of the outer shell, wherein the front frame is retained within the front wall of the outer shell, wherein the rear frame is retained within the rear wall of the outer shell, and wherein the bottom member of the internal frame structure is retained within the bottom retainer member of the outer shell, wherein the bottom retaining member pivots from a use position to a collapsed position, and wherein the bottom retaining member holds the outer shell in the use orientation when the bottom retaining member is in the use position.   
     
     
         12 . The collapsible bag of  claim 11 , wherein the first folding sidewall comprises a first sidewall member and a second sidewall member connected at a hinge, and wherein the second folding sidewall comprises a third sidewall member and a fourth sidewall member connected at a hinge. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible bag of  claim 11 , wherein the front frame comprises a frame having a top member, a bottom bar, a first side bar and a second side bar, and wherein the top member, bottom bar, first side bar and second side bar of the front frame member are connected together, and wherein the rear frame comprises a frame having a top member, a bottom bar, a first side bar and a second side bar, and wherein the top member, bottom bar, first side bar and second side bar of the rear frame member are connected together. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible bag of  claim 11 , wherein the first folding sidewall, second folding sidewall, and the bottom member are all generally rigid components that are all generally planar. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible bag of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom retainer member is provided within the cavity of the outer shell, and wherein the bottom retainer member is hingedly connected to one of the front wall, rear wall and bottom wall. 
     
     
         16 . The collapsible bag of  claim 11 , wherein the first sidewall, second sidewall, front wall, and rear wall of the outer shell each have an internal cavity for housing a portion of the internal frame structure therein. 
     
     
         17 . A collapsible bag that has a use orientation and a collapsed orientation, comprising:
 an internal frame structure supported by an outer shell, wherein the internal frame structure comprises a first folding sidewall, a second folding sidewall, a front frame, a rear frame and a bottom member, wherein the first folding sidewall comprises a first sidewall member and a second sidewall member connected at a hinge, wherein the second folding sidewall comprises a third sidewall member and a fourth sidewall member connected at a hinge, wherein the outer shell is made of fabric and comprises a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall and a bottom wall, which define a cavity, and a bottom retainer member in the cavity and adjacent the bottom wall in the use orientation of the collapsible bag, wherein the first folding sidewall is retained within the first sidewall of the outer shell, wherein the second folding sidewall is retained within the second sidewall of the outer shell, wherein the front frame is retained within the front wall of the outer shell, wherein the rear frame is retained within the rear wall of the outer shell, and wherein the bottom member of the internal frame structure is retained within the bottom retainer member of the outer shell, wherein the bottom retaining member pivots from a use position to a collapsed position, and wherein the bottom retaining member holds the outer shell in the use orientation when the bottom retaining member is in the use position.   
     
     
         18 . The collapsible bag of  claim 17 , wherein the rear frame has clips to secure the collapsible bag to another structure, 
     
     
         19 . The collapsible bag of  claim 17 , wherein the bottom retainer member is provided within the cavity of the outer shell, and wherein the bottom retainer member is hingedly connected to one of the front wall, rear wall and bottom wall. 
     
     
         20 . The collapsible bag of  claim 17 , wherein the outer shell has at least one retaining member to secure the collapsible bag in the collapsed orientation such that the front wall and the rear wall of the outer shell are adjacent one another.