Soft storage bags with rigidifying wall panels

Abstract

A soft storage bag includes a bottom, end and side walls made of generally soft panels and a top or upper end that can be selectively closed or opened to respectively close the bag or provide access to the interior of the bag and any contents placed into the bag. At least one rigidifying panel is positioned proximate to at least one of the panels. Securing members are provided for selectively securing the rigidifying panels to the soft panels to rigidify or stiffen the soft panels secured to an associated rigidifying panel. Thus, one or more of the soft panels can be stiffened when used to receive tools or the like within the bag while the soft panels can be rendered deformable when not is use by detaching the rigidifying panels to allow the bag to be collapsed for storage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention generally relates to storage and carrying bags and, more specifically, to soft bags with rigidifying wall panels.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]Storage bags or carrying bags are made in essentially to forms. Some bags are made out of soft fabrics or plastic materials, such as a duffel bags, soft luggage bags, etc. Other bags are formed of stiff or rigid materials, such as hard luggage suitcases. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. The soft bags can be collapsed when not in use and require less space for storage. Because the walls of such bags are soft, they can sometimes accommodate larger or irregular objects by deforming the walls of the bag. The hard bags, on the other hand, sometimes provide greater protection for the contents. However, when the hard cases or bags are not in use they require more room to be stored and are more bulky and, therefore, more expensive to ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]It is a further object of the invention to provide soft-walled bags, as in the previous objects, that can be quickly and conveniently modified to selectively stiffen or rigidify at least one soft wall of the bag.

[0010]It is still a further object of the invention to provide a soft-walled bag that is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Problems solved by technology

However, when the hard cases or bags are not in use they require more room to be stored and are more bulky and, therefore, more expensive to ship.

Also, with soft bags, the walls are soft and limp and cannot support loads on the exterior of the walls.

Any weight or forces applied to the walls of such soft bags causes the walls the collapse, particularly if the bag is empty or near empty.

In short, the walls of soft bags do not have the inherent stiffness to provide the walls with any body or load-bearing capacity.

Images