Bags and bag assemblies

Abstract

A bag comprising a body; a shell; a leg assembly comprising a first leg pivotably coupled to a first portion of the shell, a second leg pivotably coupled to a second portion of the shell, and a cross member extending between the first leg and the second leg; and a handle assembly comprising a first member pivotably coupled to a third portion of the shell, wherein the first member comprises a handle with a button; a latch mechanism operatively coupled to the button, wherein the latch mechanism comprises an engagement feature that is operable by actuating the button; and a second member connecting the first member to the cross member, wherein the second member is configured to receive the engagement feature in order to lock the leg assembly in an extended position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bag comprising:
 a body;   a shell coupled to the body, wherein the shell comprises a central recessed region and a plurality of recessed regions disposed along the central recessed region;   a leg assembly comprising (i) a plurality of legs comprising a first leg pivotably coupled to a first portion of the shell and a second leg pivotably coupled to a second portion of the shell and (ii) a cross member extending between the first leg and the second leg, wherein the plurality of legs are pivotable between (1) a retracted position in which the plurality of legs are positioned entirely within the plurality of recessed regions and (2) an extended position in which one or more end portions of the plurality of legs are positioned outside of the plurality of recessed regions;   a handle assembly configured to pivot between (1) a first position in which the handle assembly is disposed entirely within the central recessed region and (2) a second position in which the handle assembly is positioned outside of the central recessed region, wherein the handle assembly comprises:   a first member pivotably coupled to a third portion of the shell, wherein the first member comprises a handle with a button;   a latch mechanism operatively coupled to the button, wherein the latch mechanism comprises an engagement feature that is operable by actuating the button; and   a second member connecting the first member to the cross member, wherein the second member is configured to receive the engagement feature in order to lock the plurality of legs in the extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the latch mechanism comprises one or more arms that are angled upwards. 
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein a distal end of the one or more arms is configured to disengage one or more locking pins from one or more slots formed along or through a surface or a sidewall of the central recessed region when the button is actuated. 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 3 , wherein the handle assembly is pivotable about the third portion of the shell when the one or more locking pins are disengaged from the one or more slots. 
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 3 , wherein the latch mechanism is configured to release the locking pins when the button is released so that the locking pins reengage the one or more slots. 
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 5 , wherein the handle assembly is fixed in place within the central recessed region when the one or more locking pins reengage the one or more slots. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly comprises a connector piece configured to operatively couple the button to the latch mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first member comprises a recessed region configured to receive the second member. 
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 8 , wherein the first member and the second member are pivotably coupled along an axis extending through the recessed region. 
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 8 , wherein the recessed region comprises a bottom surface, a left side wall, a right side wall, and a sloped front wall. 
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 10 , wherein the recessed region comprises an aperture or a window extending through the bottom surface and the sloped front wall. 
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 11 , wherein a portion of the second member is configured to extend or pivot through the aperture or the window. 
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the second member comprises a first end pivotably coupled to the first member and a second end pivotably coupled to the cross member. 
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 13 , wherein the second member comprises a projection with a plurality of slots or notches. 
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 14 , wherein the projection is configured to extend or pivot through a portion or a section of the first member. 
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of slots or notches comprise a first slot or notch configured to receive the engagement feature when the plurality of legs are in the retracted position. 
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of slots or notches comprise a second slot or notch configured to receive the engagement feature when the plurality of legs are in the extended position. 
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a leg locking mechanism disposed along a different side of the shell than the handle assembly and the leg assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 18 , wherein the leg locking mechanism comprises one or more movable locking elements configured to selectively engage or disengage the plurality of legs when the button is actuated or released. 
     
     
         20 . The bag of  claim 19 , wherein the leg locking mechanism comprises one or more wires operatively coupling the handle to the one or more movable locking elements.