Wayne Mitchell MCDONALD

Colton Sands MCDONALD

Joseph Ridge MCDONALD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a bag that can be unfolded into a resting device, and more generally relates to a bag having a first position and a second position, wherein the first position is in the form of a bag with storage compartments and the second position is in an open position allowing the user to rest upon the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Unfortunately, there are many tragedies around the world. The victims of these tragedies have undergone a life changing experience and face many hardships. These victims are typically without the basic needs such as food, potable water, and housing. The victims may have to spend countless days and nights in shelters and without housing. These victims need as quickly as can be provided some semblance of normalcy and comfort, during these trying times. The present invention may be given to these victims so that they can carry what personal belongings they have and to provide a comfortable place to rest by providing a substantial barrier or separation between the user and the ground or surface the present invention is placed.

[0003] Luckily, there are brave and driven individuals that are willing to confront these tragedies and aid the individual victims that have been affected by these tragedies. Very often, these relief workers place their life and health on the line to aid others in a time of need and will find relief in the present invention. This invention may also be utilized by these workers who need a place to rest comfortably during the brief time period they may have to rest. The present invention may also be utilized by relief workers who need a place to rest comfortably. The present invention provides a bag that may carry relief supplies and gear, but also converts into an inflatable and/or expandable device, such as a mattress or the like, for allowing the relief worker a safe and comfortable place to rest. [0004] The present device may also serve a military function. The device may be utilized by soldiers that need a safe and comfortable place to rest, while also carrying supplies or military wares.

[0005] The present device can also be used by others, such as a traveler, a child or the like that needs to have a readily available and comfortable place to rest. For example, the weary airline traveler that experiences a longer than expected layover at the airport or even a flight cancellation, can utilize the present device to both carry items and provide a readily available and deployable device providing a comfortable place to rest.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is a foldable bag that includes a rear wall part having a front side, a back side, and an interior side; a front wall part having a front side, a back side, and an interior side; a middle part having a front side, a back side, and an interior side. The front wall part is engaged to the middle part along a fold line, and the rear wall part is engaged to the middle part along a fold line. The foldable bag is moveable between a first position in which the front side of the front wall part is adjacent the front side of the middle part, the back side of the middle part is adjacent the front side of the rear wall part; and a second position in which the back side of the front wall part, the back side of the middle part, and the back side of the rear wall part are in a substantially planar relationship with the front side of the front wall part, the front side of the middle part, and the front side of the rear wall part.

[0007] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag includes a cavity for receiving an inflatable and/or expandable device.

[0008] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag includes a portion of the rear wall part that overlaps the front wall part while in the first position.

[0009] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag wherein the rear wall part includes a side wall, and the middle part includes a side wall, wherein the side wall of the rear wall part and the side wall of the middle part include an engagement means for engaging the side wall of the rear wall part to the side wall of the middle part.

[0010] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag wherein the front wall part includes a side wall and the middle part includes a side wall, wherein the side wall of the front wall part and the side wall of the middle part includes an engagement means for engaging the side wall of the front wall part to the side wall of the middle part.

[0011] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag may include other a secondary bag or secondary bags that are engaged to the primary bag, and particularly the rear wall part.

[0012] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag includes a raised portion on the interior side of the rear wall part.

[0013] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag includes an interior side of the front wall part, an interior side of the middle part, and an interior side of the rear wall part is substantially bisected by a center fold line.

[0014] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the foldable bag includes a rear wall part having a front side, a back side, an interior side, and a side wall part; a front wall part having a front side, a back side, an interior side, and a side wall part; a first middle part having a front side, a back side, an interior side, and a side wall part; a second middle part having a front side, a back side, an interior side, and a side wall part, and a cavity for receiving an inflatable and/or expandable device. The front wall part is engaged to the first middle part along a first fold line, the first middle part is engaged to the second middle part along a second fold line, and the rear wall part is engaged to the second middle part along the third fold line. The foldable bag is moveable between a first position in which the front side of the front wall part is adjacent the front side of the first middle part, the back side of the first middle part is adjacent the back side of the second middle part, and the front side of the second middle part is adjacent the front side of the rear wall part, and the side wall part of the front wall is selectively secured to the side wall part of the first middle part forming a cavity therein, and the side wall part of the second middle part is selectively secured to the side wall part of the rear wall part forming a cavity therein. The foldable bag has a second position in which the back side of the front wall part, the back side of the first middle part, the back side of the second middle part, and the back side of the rear wall part are in a substantially planar relationship with the front side of the front wall part, the front side of the first middle part, the front side of the second middle part, and the front side of the rear wall part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like method steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which:

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the foldable bag in the first position;

[0017] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the foldable bag in an alternative arrangement;

[0018] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the rear of the foldable bag illustrating straps that may be included on the foldable bag;

[0019] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the foldable bag illustrating the rear wall part removed from the over top position of the front wall part;

[0020] Figure 5 is a top perspective view of the foldable bag illustrating the rear wall part removed from the over top position of the front wall part exposing the storage cavities of the foldable bag;

[0021] Figure 6 is an illustrative view of a user separating an engagement means;

[0022] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the front wall part separated from the first middle part;

[0023] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the rear wall part separated from the second middle part;

[0024] Figure 9 is an illustrative view of a user transitioning the foldable bag from a first position to a second position;

[0025] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the foldable bag transitioning from a first position to a second position; [0026] Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of the top portions of the foldable bag;

[0027] Figure 12 is a partial perspective view of the storage pockets folded over the rear wall part;

[0028] Figure 13 is a partial perspective view of the storage pockets folded outward from the rear wall part;

[0029] Figure 14 is an illustrative view of a user accessing the inflatabledevice disposed within the cavity;

[0030] Figure 15 is a perspective view of the foldable bag in the second position;

[0031] Figure 16 is a side perspective view of the foldable bag in the second position with the inflatable device inflated;

[0032] Figure 17 is an illustrative view of a user utilizing the foldable bag;

[0033] Figure 18 is an illustrative view of a suggested arrangement of the foldable bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Referring now specifically to the drawings, a foldable bag device is illustrated in Figs. 1-18 and is shown generally at reference numeral 10. The device 10 comprises a rear wall part 12, a front wall part 14, and a middle part. The middle part may comprise a first middle part 16 and a second middle part 18. The rear wall part 12 contains a front side 20, a back side 22, a first side wall part 24, a second side wall part 26, and an end wall part 28. The front wall part 14 contains a front side 30, a back side 32, a first side wall part 34, a second side wall part 36, and a top wall part 38. The first middle part 16 contains a front side 40, a back side 42, a first side wall part 44, and a second side wall part 46. The second middle part 18 contains a front side 48, a back side 50, a first side wall part 52, and a second side wall part 54.

[0035] The rear wall part 12, front wall part 14, first middle part 16, and second middle part 18 collectively form a foldable bag 10 in a first position and a resting device in the second position. The rear wall part 12, front wall part 14, first middle part 16, and second middle part 18 have a cavity 56 formed therein. The cavity 56 is formed within the bag 10 and designed to receive an inflatable device 58.

[0036] As illustrated in Fig. 1 1 , the front wall part 14 is engaged to the first middle part 16 along a first fold line 60, the first middle part 16 is engaged to the second middle part 18 along a second fold line 62, and the rear wall part 12 is engaged to the second middle part 18 along the third fold line 64. It should be noted that the fold lines (60, 62, and 64) may be stitched or embedded into the bag 10, but as illustrated, the fold lines (60, 62, and 64) are the natural fold lines for folding the bag 10 of the present invention. Preferably, the front sides (20,30,40, and 48) of the front wall part 14, the rear wall part 12, the first middle part 16, and the second middle part 18 is formed from a solid piece of fabric. Alternatively, the front sides (20,30,40, and 48) of the front wall part 14, the rear wall part 12, the first middle part 16, and the second middle part 18 is formed from two or more pieces of fabric, but forming a solitary unit. Preferably, the back sides (22,32,42, and 50) of the front wall part 14, the rear wall part 12, the first middle part 16, and the second middle part 18 are formed from a solid piece of fabric. Alternatively, the back sides (22,32,42, and 50) of the front wall part 14, the rear wall part 12, the first middle part 16, and the second middle part 18 are formed from two or more pieces of fabric, but forming a solitary unit.

[0037] The front wall part 14 has a first interior side 66 and a second interior side 68. The rear wall part 12 has a first interior side 70 and a second interior side 72. The first middle part 16 has a first interior side 74 and a second interior side 76. The second middle part 18 has a first interior side 78 and a second interior side 80. The first interior sides (66, 70, 74, and 78) are separated from the second interior sides (68, 72, 76, and 80) by a center fold line 82. In other words, the interior sides (66,68,70,72,74,76,78, and 80) are bisected by the center fold line 82. It should be noted that the center fold line 82 may be stitched or embedded into the bag 10, but as illustrated, the center fold line 82 is the natural fold line for folding the bag 10 of the present invention in the longitudinal direction.

[0038] The bag 10 has a first position and a second position. In the first position, the front side 20 of the front wall part 14 is adjacent the front side 40 of the first middle part 16, the back side 42 of the first middle part 16 is adjacent the back side 50 of the second middle part 18, and the front side 48 of the second middle part 18 is adjacent the front side 20 of the rear wall part 12. The first position is illustrated in Figs. 1 -3. The rear wall part 12 extends overtop the front wall part 14 for forming a selectively secured arrangement. The rear wall part 12, and preferably the end wall part 28, contains a retention means 84. The front wall part 14, preferably the top wall part 38, contains a retention means 86 that is intended to engage the retention means 84 of the rear wall part 12 for holding the rear wall part 12 and front wall part 14 in a selectively secured arrangement. The retention means (84, 86) can be any device that will selectively secure one retention means to another retention means. As illustrated, the retention means 84 of the rear wall part 12 may have a male portion and the retention means 86 of the front wall part 14 may have a female portion for receiving the male portion of the retention means 84 of the rear wall part 12 for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the rear wall part 12 and front wall part 14. Alternatively, the retention means 84 of the rear wall part 12 may have a female portion and the retention means 86 of the front wall part 14 may have a male portion, and the female portion of the retention means 84 of the rear wall part 12 receives the male portion of the front wall part 14 for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the rear wall part 14 and front wall part 12.

[0039] The second side wall part 26 of the rear wall part 12 and the second side wall part 54 of the second middle part 18 contain an engagement means (88, 94) that selectively secures the second side wall part 26 of the rear wall part 12 and the second side wall part 54 of the second middle part 1 8 to each other. The engagement means 94 of the second middle part 18 and the engagement means 88 of the rear wall part 12 are engaged to each other forming a selectively secure arrangement. The second side wall part 36 of the front wall part 14 and the second side wall part 46 of the first middle part 1 6 contain an engagement means (90, 92) that selectively secures the second side wall part 36 of the front wall part 14 and the second side wall part 46 of the first middle part 16 to each other. The engagement means 92 of the first middle part 16 and the engagement means 90 of the front wall part 14 are engaged to each other forming a selectively secure arrangement.

[0040] An additional engagement means may also be disposed on the front side or the rear side of the rear wall part 12, front wall part 14, first middle part 16, and second middle part 18. This additional engagement means is disposed within close proximity to the center fold line 82. As illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 10, and 1 1 , the rear wall part 12 includes an engagement means 88 disposed in close proximity to the center fold line 82. The front wall part 14 includes an engagement means 90 disposed in close proximity to the middle fold line 82. The first middle part 16 includes an engagement means 92 disposed in close proximity to the middle fold line 82. The second middle part 1 8 includes an engagement means 94 disposed in close proximity to the middle fold line 82. The engagement means 88 of the rear wall part 12 disposed in close proximity to the center fold line 82 is engaged to the engagement means 94 of the second middle part 18 disposed in close proximity to the center fold line 82 for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the rear wall part 12 and second middle part 18. The engagement means 90 of the front wall part 14 disposed in close proximity to the center fold line 82 is engaged to the engagement means 92 of the first middle part 16 disposed in close proximity to the center fold line 82 for forming a selectively secure arrangement between the front wall part 14 and the first middle part 16. The engagement means (88, 90, 92, and 94) as described herein may be a zipper, buttons, snaps, hook and loop fasteners (sold under the trade name Velcro®) or the like. Additionally, the engagement means may have a different color than the opposing engagement means to which it is selectively secured. In other words, the engagement means 88 of the rear wall part 12 may have a different color than the engagement means 94 of the second middle part 18. Likewise, the engagement means 90 of the front wall part 14 may have a difference color than the engagement means 92 of the first middle part 16.

[0041] The bag 10 may also contain a handle 96. The handle 96 may be positioned on the rear wall part 12 and allow a user to carry the bag 10 while in the first position. Alternatively, the handle 96 of the bag 10 may contain a telescoping handle 96 that is raised upwards in the "up" position when transporting the bag 10 and is lowered downward in the "down" position when the bag 10 is not being transported. The bag 10 may also contain wheels that allow the bag 10 to be transported easily. Preferably, the bag 10 contains both wheels and a telescoping handle which allows the user to drag or roll the bag 10 along the ground for easy transport.

[0042] The bag 10 may also contain a bottom retention means 98. The bottom retention means 98 allows a second bag 100 or other like device or apparatus to be selectively secured to the bag 10. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the bottom retention means 98 allows a second bag 100 to be selectively secured to the front wall part 14 of the bag 10, by way of a retention means 102 of the second bag 100. The bottom retention means 98 can be any device that will selectively secure one retention means 98 to another retention means 102. As illustrated, the bottom retention means 98 may have a male portion and the retention means 102 of the second bag 100 may have a female portion for receiving the male portion of the bottom retention means 98 of the bag 10 for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the bag 10 and the second bag 100. Alternatively, the bottom retention means 98 of the bag 10 may have a female portion and the retention means 102 of the second bag 100 may have a male portion, and the female portion of the bottom retention means 98 of the bag 10 receives the male portion of the retention means 102 of the second bag 100 for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the bag 10 and second bag 100.

[0043] As illustrated in Figure 3, the bag 10 may contain at least one strap 104 disposed on the bag 10 for allowing a user to carry the foldable bag 10. Preferably, the bag 10 includes two straps 104 disposed on the rear wall part 14 for allowing a user to carry the foldable bag 10. The straps 104 are adjustable and allow a user to carry the bag 10 on their back. The straps 104 may also contain a padded portion for providing added comfort to the user, while carrying the bag 10.

[0044] In the process of transitioning the bag 10 from the first position to the second position, the first step is to release the retention means 84 selectively securing the front wall part 14 to the rear wall part 12. After the retention means 84 has been released, the portion of the rear wall part 12 that is overtop the front wall part 14 is flipped backward along the rear wall part fold line 106, as illustrated in Fig. 4. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the selectively secured engagement of the rear wall part 12 to the second middle part 18 forms a storage cavity 108 therein, and the selectively secured engagement of the front wall part 14 to the first middle part 16 forms a storage cavity 1 10 therein. Additionally, a side retention means 1 12 is engaged to the rear wall part 12 and the front wall part 14. The side retention means 1 12 can be any device that will selectively secure the rear wall part 12 to the front wall part 14. As illustrated, the side retention means 1 12 of the rear wall part 12 may have a male portion and the side retention means 1 12 of the front wall part 14 may have a female portion for receiving the male portion of the side retention means 1 12 of the rear wall part 12 for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the rear wall part 12 and front wall part 14. Alternatively, the side retention means 1 12 of the rear wall part 12 may have a female portion and the side retention means 112 of the front wall part 14 may have a male portion, and the female portion of the retention means 1 12 of the rear wall part 12 receives the male portion of the side retention means 1 12 of the front wall part 14 for forming a selectively secured arrangement between the rear wall part 12 and the front wall part 14. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the bag 10 contains two side retention means 1 12 on each side of the bag 10, and in other words, the rear wall part 12 has four side retention means 112 and a pair on each side, and the front wall part 14 has four side retention means 1 12 and a pair on each side.

[0045] As illustrated in Fig. 6, the engagement means 90 of the front wall part 14 disposed in close proximity to the center fold line 82 is separated from the engagement means 92 of the first middle wall part 16 that is disposed in close proximity to the center fold line 82. Fig. 7 illustrates the engagement means 90 on the second side wall part 36 of the front wall part 14 is separated from the engagement means 92 of the second side wall part 46 of the first middle part 16. Fig. 8 illustrates the engagement means 94 of the second middle part 18 that is disposed in close proximity to the center fold line 82 being separated from the engagement means 88 of the rear wall part 12 that is disposed in close proximity to the center fold line 82. Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate the engagement means 94 of the second side wall part 54 of the second middle part 18 is separated from the engagement means 88 of the second side wall part 26 of the rear wall part 12. Fig. 1 1 illustrates the bag 10 wherein the rear wall part 12, front wall part 14, first middle part 16, and second middle part 1 8 are in a planar relationship with one another. As illustrated in Figs. 9, 1 1, and 15, the interior sides (66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, and 80) are bisected by the center fold line 82 with the front sides (20, 30, 40, and 48) facing upwards and the back sides (22, 32, 42, and 50) facing downwards.

[0046] In one embodiment, the bag 10 contains a pair of pockets 1 14 that are engaged to the rear wall part 12. Preferably, the pockets 1 14 are engaged to the first side wall 24 and second side wall 26 of the rear wall part 12. It should be noted that the bag 10 may contain one or more pockets 1 14, or the two pockets 114 as illustrated in Fig. 12. The pockets 1 14 have first position, wherein the pockets 1 14 rest upon the rear wall part 12 as illustrated in Fig. 12. The pockets 114 have a second position, where the pockets 1 14 are folded outward from the rear wall part 12, as illustrated in Fig. 13. The pockets 1 14 have a cavity therein for allowing items or devices to be stored therein. The cavity may be secured by a pocket engagement means 1 16, such as a zipper, button, snap, hook and loop fastener (sold under the trade name Velcro®) or the like.

[0047] As illustrated in Fig. 14, the cavity 56 may receive an inflatable and/or expandable device 58. The inflatable device 58 is any device that can receive a gas or liquid for increasing in size. As illustrated in Fig. 14, the inflatable device 58 is an inflatable mattress. The inflatable device 58 may be contain a built in pump, may be inflated with a hand pump, or may be inflated with an electrical pump, may be inflated by a user blowing air into the mattress, or may be inflated by any other means known to one of skill in the art. The expandable device 58 increases in height and may act much like an inflatable device 58. The purpose of the expandable device 58 is to establish a barrier or separation between the user and the ground or any surface the bag 10 is placed upon.

[0048] Fig. 15 illustrates the bag 10 in the second position wherein the back side 32 of the front wall part 14, the back side 42 of the first middle part 16, the back side 50 of the second middle part 18, and the back side 22 of the rear wall part 12 are in a substantially planar relationship with the front side 30 of the front wall part 14, the front side 40 of the first middle part 16, the front side 48 of the second middle part 18, and the front side 20 of the rear wall part 12. Additionally, the inner sides (66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, and 80) are exposed and facing upwards. The first inner side 70 and second inner side 72 of the rear wall part 12 contains a raised portion that may act as a pillow. Fig. 16 illustrates the bag 10 in the second position with the inflatable device 58 fully inflated. Fig. 17 illustrates a user utilizing the bag 10 in the second position. Fig. 18 illustrates the bag 10 in the second position and in a suggested usage.

[0049] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.