Tote bag

Abstract

To provide a tote bag that can efficiently and stably store articles of various sizes or a larger number of articles with good visibility, allows the articles to be found in a short time, prevents dirt or the like from adhering to the articles, and is easy to handle. [Solution] The bag has a bag body 2 whose interior is an item storage space 2A, and the item storage space 2A can be divided into two compartments, an upper storage compartment 21 and a lower storage compartment 22, by a partition member. A bag body 8 is placed in the lower storage compartment 22, and when the partition member is in a reclined position, the item storage space 2A is a single-compartment space, and when the partition member is in an upright position, it is a two-compartment space, consisting of the upper storage compartment 21 and the lower storage compartment 22. When the partition member is placed in an upright position, the bag body 8 can be freely unfolded inside the lower storage compartment 22, and when the partition member is in a reclined position, it can be folded and stored between the partition member and a lid portion 54 or one of the side walls 51.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tote bag that allows for flexible, efficient use of the storage space for items, prevents dirt and other contaminants from leaking out, and is easy to handle. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, tote bags, which are used to store and carry items inside, are carried and used by users by grasping the handles and lifting the bag or by hanging the handles over their shoulders. Such tote bags are frequently used for storing and carrying items such as a personal computer, wallet, lunch box, etc. when commuting to work, as well as for storing and carrying a change of clothes and shoes to use at the gym, etc., and for shopping, etc.

[0003] Tote bags are required to be flexible enough to accommodate the various uses mentioned above, and to be highly convenient and versatile. For this reason, tote bags are required to be easy to store and take out items when storing a large number of different items, and also to be highly visible so that items stored near the bottom wall can be found at a glance, making them easy to handle overall.

[0004] Tote bags are generally designed to be large enough to open on the top side where the handle is attached, taking into consideration the various uses mentioned above and ease of handling in general. Furthermore, in recent years, efforts have been made to improve the ease of handling in general by providing a lid that can be opened and closed on the side of the tote bag, or by dividing the interior vertically into two or more compartments.

[0005] One proposed example of such a tote bag is one that has a shoe storage compartment on the bottom wall, a shoe insertion opening on one side, a shoe storage pouch connected to the shoe insertion opening, and a lid for opening and closing the shoe insertion opening (see, for example, Patent Document 1).The tote bag described in Patent Document 1 is said to be highly convenient for travel because it has a shoe storage compartment on the side, allowing golf shoes or tennis shoes to be stored in the same tote bag along with clothing when playing golf or tennis, etc.

[0006] Furthermore, a bag equipped with a handle for carrying and a shoulder strap has been proposed that includes a partition member that separates the storage compartment of the bag body into an upper and lower section (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The partition member included in the bag described in Patent Document 2 is detachably attached to the inner surface of the storage compartment with a fabric fastener, and is configured so that its position in the vertical direction can be changed. According to the bag described in Patent Document 2, the partition member allows the storage compartment to be divided into two compartments, so that luggage can be stored separately as needed, for example, clothes can be stored in the upper section and shoes in the lower section, and luggage stored in both the upper and lower sections can be easily taken in and out by folding the side sections of the bag body outward. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-112236 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 7-28420 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] According to the tote bag described in Patent Document 1 and the bag described in Patent Document 2, the above-mentioned configuration allows items to be stored in multiple locations while taking into consideration the characteristics of the items and their condition, such as whether they are dirty or not, and since items stored in the lower part can be taken in and out from the side, there is no need to take out items stored in the upper part each time. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which various items are stored together in a single compartment, even items stored in the lower part of the storage space can be easily seen and can be taken out in a short time.

[0009] However, although the tote bag described in Patent Document 1 has the above-mentioned shoe storage section, which allows it to have multiple storage spaces inside, the storage spaces are fixed in structure, which makes it difficult to store large items.

[0010] On the other hand, the bag described in Patent Document 2 has a partition member that can be attached and detached inside the bag body, so that the partition member can be removed to the outside as needed, or the cloth fastener can be peeled off and placed on top of the bottom, thereby securing a large storage space and making it possible to store large items. However, with the bag configuration of Patent Document 2, there is a large gap between the partition member and the bag body, and it is not a completely separated configuration, so if items such as shoes soiled with dirt or a lunch box that easily releases moisture such as juice are stored in the lower part, there is a possibility that dirt will adhere to clothes stored in the upper part.

[0011] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a tote bag that can store items of various sizes or a larger number of items efficiently and stably with good visibility, allows stored items to be found in a short time, prevents dirt and the like from the stored items from adhering to other items, and is easy to handle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, the inventors conducted extensive research. As a result, they first discovered that by providing a partition member that can divide the item storage space into an upper storage chamber and a lower storage chamber, and configuring the item storage space so that it is a single-chamber space when the partition member is in a retracted position and is divided into two spaces, the upper storage chamber and the lower storage chamber, when the partition member is in an upright position, the item storage space can be used flexibly, efficiently, and without waste. They further discovered that by providing a bag body that is connected to the side opening of the bag body and is expandable inside the lower storage chamber, and this bag body is expandable into the lower storage chamber when the partition member is in an upright position and can be folded and stored when the partition member is in a retracted position, it is possible to prevent leakage of dirt and the like from items and to achieve even easier handling, and they have completed the present invention.

[0013] That is, the present invention provides a tote bag having an interior that serves as an item storage space, the tote bag comprising a bag body including a bottom wall, an upper opening end disposed opposite the bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a pair of gusset walls extending from the periphery of the bottom wall toward the upper opening end, and a pair of handles attached to each of the pair of side walls of the bag body, wherein the bag body further includes a partition member that can partition the item storage space into an upper storage chamber on the upper opening end side and a lower storage chamber on the bottom wall side, a side opening that is provided on one of the pair of side walls and opens into the lower storage chamber, a lid that is provided to open and close and cover the side opening, and a bag body that is connected to the periphery of the side opening and is provided inside the lower storage chamber in an expandable manner, The partition member is attached to the inner surface of one of the side walls in a foldable structure with the one of the side walls as a fulcrum, and when the partition member is positioned in a folded position along the one of the side walls, the item storage space becomes a single-compartment space, and when the partition member is positioned in an upright position so as to be stretched between each of the pair of side walls, the item storage space becomes a two-compartment space divided into the upper storage compartment and the lower storage compartment, and when the partition member is positioned in the upright position, the bag body is freely unfoldable inside the lower storage compartment, and when the partition member is positioned in the folded position, it can be folded and stored between the partition member and the lid or one of the side walls.

[0014] In the tote bag of the present invention, in the above-mentioned configuration, the partition member includes a partition plate that can divide the item storage space into the upper storage chamber and the lower storage chamber, and a pair of support plates that extend and bend freely from both ends of the partition plate on the pair of gusset wall sides, and when the partition plate is positioned in the upright position, one end of the pair of support plates opposite the partition plate abuts the bottom wall, making it possible to support the partition plate in the upright position, and it is more preferable to adopt a configuration in which when the partition plate is positioned in the reclined position, the partition plate and the pair of support plates are folded so as to follow one of the side walls.

[0015] In the tote bag of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the bag body may further have one or more small pockets in the item storage space, each of which is capable of storing an item.

[0016] In the tote bag of the present invention, in the above configuration, it is more preferable that the small pocket comprises a transparent resin sheet or a see-through material that allows the inside of the small pocket to be seen from the outside.

[0017] In the tote bag of the present invention, in the above configuration, the bag body may be configured to have one or more tag pockets made of a transparent resin sheet into which a tag can be inserted, at positions corresponding to the small pockets in the item storage space.

[0018] In the tote bag of the present invention, in the above configuration, the bag body may further have one or more small pockets capable of storing items on the outer surface of at least one of the pair of side walls and the pair of gusset walls. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the tote bag of the present invention, as described above, the item storage space is configured as a single space when the partition member is in the retracted position, and is divided into two spaces, an upper storage compartment and a lower storage compartment, when the partition member is in the upright position, thereby allowing the item storage space to be used flexibly, efficiently, and without waste, allowing for efficient storage of items regardless of their size or quantity. Furthermore, the bag body is freely unfolded into the lower storage compartment when the partition member is in the upright position, and can be folded and stored when the partition member is in the retracted position, preventing leakage of dirt and other contaminants from the items and providing better handling. Therefore, it is possible to store items of various sizes or a larger number of items efficiently and stably with good visibility, and the stored items can be found in a short time, and dirt and the like from the stored items can be prevented from adhering to other items, thereby realizing a tote bag that is easy to handle.

[0020] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a tote bag according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of the other side wall, which is the front side of the tote bag, seen obliquely from above. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of the tote bag according to the present invention, and is a perspective view seen from one of the side walls, which is the back side of the tote bag. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a schematic view of one embodiment of the tote bag according to the present invention, in which the item storage space is divided into an upper storage chamber and a lower storage chamber by a partition member, and the bag body is deployed three-dimensionally inside the lower storage chamber with the lid open, as seen from diagonally above the other side wall. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a schematic view of one embodiment of the tote bag according to the present invention, in which the item storage space is divided into an upper storage chamber and a lower storage chamber by a partition member, and the bag body is deployed three-dimensionally inside the lower storage chamber with the lid open, as seen from diagonally forward of the other side wall. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a schematic view of one embodiment of a tote bag according to the present invention, in which the item storage space is divided into an upper storage chamber and a lower storage chamber by a partition member, and the bag body is deployed three-dimensionally inside the lower storage chamber with the lid closed, as viewed from the open upper opening end. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram for schematically explaining one embodiment of the tote bag according to the present invention, and is a plan view showing the state in which the partition member and the bag body are folded and the lid portion is closed, as viewed from the open top opening end side. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of the tote bag according to the present invention, and is an end view taken along the line AA shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of the tote bag according to the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of the tote bag according to the present invention, and is an end view taken along the line CC shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a schematic view of one embodiment of the tote bag according to the present invention, and is an end view showing the end surface indicated by line AA in FIG. 2 with the partition member and bag body folded and the lid portion closed, as shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining one embodiment of the tote bag according to the present invention, and is a DD end view shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the tote bag according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the drawings used in the following description, characteristic portions may be slightly enlarged for the sake of clarity in order to make the features of the tote bag of the present invention easier to understand, and the dimensional proportions of each component may differ from the actual ones. Furthermore, the materials, dimensions, etc. exemplified in the following description are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to them and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope of the present invention.

[0023] <Overall composition of the tote bag> The overall configuration of the tote bag of this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11 as appropriate. Figure 1 is an oblique view of the other side wall 52, which is the front side of the tote bag 1 of this embodiment, viewed from diagonally above, and Figure 2 is an oblique view of one side wall 51, which is the back side of the tote bag 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the other side wall 52, viewed from diagonally above, showing the state in which the item storage space 2A is divided into an upper storage chamber 21 and a lower storage chamber 22 by a partition member 7 (see Figure 5, etc.), the bag body 8 is deployed three-dimensionally inside the lower storage chamber 22, and the lid portion 54 is open. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the other side wall 52, viewed from diagonally forward. Fig. 5 is a plan view from the open upper opening end 4 of the state in which the partition member 7 divides the article storage space 2A into the upper storage chamber 21 and the lower storage chamber 22, the bag body 8 is deployed three-dimensionally inside the lower storage chamber 22, and the lid portion 54 is closed. Fig. 6 is a plan view from the open upper opening end 4 of the state in which the partition member 7 and the bag body 8 are folded and the lid portion 54 is closed. 7 is an end view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, FIG. 8 is an end view taken along line BB in FIG. 5, and FIG. 9 is an end view taken along line CC in FIG. Figure 10 is an end view showing the end surface indicated by line AA in Figure 2 in a state in which the partition member 7 and bag body 8 are folded and the lid portion 54 is closed, as shown in Figure 6, and Figure 11 is a DD end view shown in Figure 6. In the following description, "upward" refers to the direction indicated by the letter "U" in Figures 1 to 4, 8, 9, and 11, and "downward" refers to the direction indicated by the letter "D" in the figures. In other words, the letters "U" and "D" refer to upward and downward directions when the user is holding the tote bag 1 up using the pair of handles 9.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 1 (also see Figs. 2 to 6 as appropriate), the tote bag 1 of this embodiment is generally configured to have a bag body 2 with an interior serving as an item storage space 2A, and a pair of handles 9 attached to a pair of side walls 51, 52 of the bag body 2. The tote bag 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the item storage space 2A can be divided into two compartments, an upper storage compartment 21 and a lower storage compartment 22, by a partition member 7, and a bag body 8 is disposed on the side of the lower storage compartment 22.

[0025] Specifically, when the tote bag 1 is placed in a reclined position with the partition member 7 facing along one of the side walls 51, the item storage space 2A becomes a single-chamber space. On the other hand, when the partition member 7 is placed in an upright position so as to be stretched between each of the pair of side walls 51, 52, the item storage space 2A becomes a two-chamber space divided into an upper storage chamber 21 and a lower storage chamber 22.

[0026] In the tote bag 1 of this embodiment, when the partition member 7 is arranged in the above-mentioned upright position, the bag body 8 is freely unfolded inside the lower storage chamber 22. On the other hand, when the partition member 7 is arranged in the above-mentioned reclined position, the bag body 8 is configured to be folded and stored between the partition member 7 and the lid portion 54 or one of the side walls 51.

[0027] The tote bag 1 of this embodiment allows the user to carry items (not shown) stored in the item storage space 2A of the bag body 2 by grasping the pair of handles 9 with their hands and lifting it, or by hanging it over their shoulder. Furthermore, the tote bag 1 of this embodiment allows items (not shown) to be put in and taken out through the top opening end 4 and a side opening 53 provided in one of the side walls 51.

[0028] The bag body 2 includes an outer shell including a bottom wall 3, an upper opening edge 4 disposed opposite the bottom wall 3, and a pair of side walls 51, 52 and a pair of gusset walls 61, 62 extending from the peripheral edge 3a of the bottom wall 3 toward the upper opening edge 4. The bag body 2 has the above-described structure, ensuring an article storage space 2A with a covered interior. As described above, the handle 9A or the handle 9B constituting the pair of handles 9 is attached to the pair of side walls 51, 52 of the bag body 2, respectively.

[0029] In the example shown in Figures 1 to 4, the bag body 2 has a pair of side walls 51, 52 whose lengths in a plan view are approximately the same, and is configured to be approximately square in a front view.In addition, the area between the bottom wall 3 and the pair of gusset walls 61, 62 is R-shaped, so that the planar shape of the pair of side walls 51, 52 is also R-shaped on the bottom wall 3 side. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the bag body 2 is configured so that the width dimension of the pair of side walls 51, 52 is larger than the depth dimension of the pair of gusset walls 61, 62. This makes the tote bag 1 thick enough for the user to hold the pair of handles 9 in their hands or to carry it over their shoulders.

[0030] The bottom wall 3 is a part of the tote bag 1 that functions as a bottom plate that supports items from below. The bottom wall 3 also serves to stably support the tote bag 1 when the tote bag 1 is placed on a table or floor, for example. From this perspective, it is preferable that the bottom wall 3 be flat, and when considering the stability of the tote bag 1 when placed on the floor, it is more preferable that bottom studs be provided on the outer surface (bottom surface) side.

[0031] The upper opening end 4 functions as an opening for putting items in and taking items out of the tote bag 1, and has a top plate portion 41 that is arranged to cover the item storage space 2A from above, and an upper zipper 42 that is arranged to divide this top plate portion 41 in half along the lengthwise direction.

[0032] The upper fastener 42 connects the top panel portion 41, which is divided into two in the length direction as described above, so that it can be opened and closed freely. The upper fastener 42 closes the upper open end 4 by sequentially engaging and sealing an element 42a, which is made up of a pair of teeth extending so as to bisect the top plate portion 41 along the length direction, with a slider 42b sliding. In the illustrated example, two sliders 42b are attached to the element 42a, and each of the sliders 42b, 42b can be slid along the extension direction of the element 42a.

[0033] On the other hand, when the sliders 42b, 42b are slid in the opposite direction to when the upper fastener 42 is closed, the element 42a consisting of a pair of teeth is released from the meshed state, dividing the top plate portion 41 in two along the length direction and opening the upper opening end 4. This makes it possible to store or remove articles in the article storage space 2A through the opening where the elements 42a are separated.

[0034] The upper zipper 42 is not particularly limited, and may be made of metal or resin, and can be selected appropriately depending on the specifications of the tote bag 1, etc.

[0035] Of the pair of side walls 51, 52, one side wall 51 is provided on the bottom wall 3 side with a side opening 53 that allows articles (not shown) to be put in and taken out of the article storage space 2A. The side opening 53 is positioned so as to open into the lower storage chamber 22 when the article storage space 2A is partitioned by a partition member 7, the details of which will be described later, and in the illustrated example, is configured to be rectangular in plan view.

[0036] Furthermore, a lid portion 54 is disposed at the position of the side opening 53 on the outer surface 51b side of one side wall 51 so as to openably and closably cover the side opening 53. In the illustrated example, the lid portion 54 is configured to be rectangular in plan view so as to correspond to the shape of the side opening 53. The lid portion 54 is attached to the side opening 53 by a side wall fastener 55 so as to be openable and closable, and is configured to be bendable around a portion of one side wall 51 on the bottom wall 3 side where the side wall fastener 55 is not provided. That is, the portion of the lid portion 54 between the peripheral edge 53a of the side opening 53 and the peripheral edge of the lid portion 54, excluding the portion on the bottom wall 3 side, is connected by the side wall fastener 55 so as to be openable and closable.

[0037] 2 to 4, side wall fastener 55 is composed of element 55a consisting of a pair of teeth extending between the periphery of side opening 53 and the periphery of lid portion 54, and two sliders 55b, 55b. By sliding sliders 55b, 55b, side wall fastener 55 sequentially engages elements 55a to seal side opening 53 with lid portion 54, or by disengaging element 55a from the engaged state, lid portion 54 is opened and side opening 53 is opened.

[0038] Like the top zipper 42, the side wall zipper 55 is not particularly limited and may be made of metal or resin, and can be selected appropriately depending on the specifications of the tote bag 1, etc.

[0039] As shown in Figures 9 and 11, the inner surface 52a of the other side wall 52 is provided with a hook-and-loop fastener 75 that can be attached and detached to and from the hook-and-loop fastener 74 at a position corresponding to the hook-and-loop fastener 74 provided at the tip of the partition plate 71 when the partition plate 71 of the partition member 7, details of which will be described later, is in a collapsed position. In addition, the other side wall 52 illustrated in Figure 1 etc. has two small pockets 56, 57 on the outer surface 52b side, which are arranged side by side along the vertical direction of the bag body 2 (see the upward U and downward D directions shown in Figures 1 to 6).

[0040] The small pocket 56 is provided on the other side wall 52 at a position closer to the bottom wall 3, and has pocket openings 56a, 56b that open on both sides close to the pair of gusset walls 61, 62, allowing small items to be put in and taken out of the small pocket 56. The pocket openings 56a, 56b of the small pocket 56 are each configured to be freely opened and closed by a pocket fastener (not shown).

[0041] The small pocket 57 is disposed on the outer surface 52b of the other side wall 52 at a position closer to the upper opening end 4, and above the small pocket 56 described above. The small pocket 57 has a pocket opening 57a that opens upward, i.e., toward the upper opening edge 4, allowing small items to be put in and taken out of the small pocket 57. In the illustrated example, the pocket opening 57a is configured to be freely opened and closed by a pocket fastener 57A. The pocket fastener 57A in the illustrated example is composed of an element 57b consisting of a pair of teeth provided along the pocket opening 57a, and two sliders 57c, 57c. By sliding the sliders 57c, 57c, the pocket fastener 57A sequentially engages the elements 57b to seal the pocket opening 57a, or releases the element 57b from the engaged state to open the pocket opening 57a.

[0042] A small pocket 63 or a small pocket 64 is provided in each of the pair of gusset walls 61, 62. Each of the small pockets 63, 64 is provided with a pocket opening 63a or a pocket opening 64b that opens upward.

[0043] The small pockets 56, 57 and the small pockets 63, 64 may be provided in one or more of the outer surfaces 51b, 52b of the pair of side walls 51, 52 or the outer surfaces 61b, 62b of the pair of gusset walls 61, 62. Alternatively, a simpler appearance may be achieved by not providing small pockets on the outer surface of the bag body 2.

[0044] 3, 9, and 11, a small pocket capable of accommodating articles (not shown) is also provided in the article storage space 2A in the bag body 2. In the illustrated example, a small pocket 23 or a small pocket 24 extending in the width direction is provided on each of the inner surfaces 51a, 52a of the pair of side walls 51, 52.

[0045] The small pocket provided in the article storage space 2A may be one or more, or it is also possible to employ a configuration in which no small pocket is provided in the article storage space 2A. Furthermore, the location at which the small pockets are provided in the item storage space 2A is not limited to the inner surfaces 51a, 52a of the pair of side walls 51, 52 as in the illustrated example, but for example, the pockets may be provided on the inner surfaces 61a, 62a of the pair of gusset walls 61, 62.

[0046] In the tote bag 1 of this embodiment, by adopting a configuration in which various small pockets as described above are provided, for example, small items can be stored separately according to their attributes, and stored items can be found in a short amount of time, making it easier to store and handle.

[0047] There are no particular restrictions on the material of the bag body 2, and it is possible to use any flexible sheet material, such as a resin material commonly used as the main body material of a tote bag, without any restrictions. Examples of such flexible resin materials include sheet materials made of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, etc.

[0048] Moreover, it is preferable that the entire inner wall of the bag body 2 is covered with, for example, a water-repellent (or waterproof) fabric in a manner that does not interfere with opening and closing operations using each fastener.

[0049] Furthermore, when small pockets 23, 24 as described above are provided in the item storage space 2A, it is more preferable from the standpoint of visibility and ease of handling of the items that these small pockets 23, 24 are configured to include, for example, a transparent resin sheet or see-through material that allows the inside to be seen from the outside.

[0050] As described above, the partition member 7 is provided so as to be able to divide the article storage space 2A into an upper storage chamber 21 on the upper open end 4 side and a lower storage chamber 22 on the bottom wall 3 side. The partition member 7 is attached to the inner surface 51a of one of the side walls 51 in a foldable structure with the one of the side walls 51 as a fulcrum, and is connected to the inner surface 51a by, for example, a flexible resin or the like.

[0051] 3, 5, 6, and the end views of 7 to 11, the partition member 7 includes a partition plate 71 that can divide the article storage space 2A into an upper storage chamber 21 and a lower storage chamber 22, and a pair of support plates 72, 73 that extend freely and bendably from both end portions 71a, 71b of the partition plate 71 on the pair of gusset walls 61, 62 sides. In addition, a hook-and-loop fastener 74, which will be described in detail later, is provided on the tip side of the partition plate 71 of the partition member 7.

[0052] The partition member 7 in the illustrated example is configured so that when the partition plate 71 is arranged in the upright position, one ends 72a, 73a of the pair of support plates 72, 73 opposite the partition plate 71 abut against the bottom wall 3, thereby supporting the partition plate 71 in the upright position. In the illustrated example, one ends 72a, 73a of the pair of support plates 72, 73 abut against R-shaped positions that are connection ends of the pair of gusset walls 61, 62 on the bottom wall 3. On the other hand, the partition member 7 is configured so that when the partition plate 71 is placed in the reclined position, the partition plate 71 and the pair of support plates 72 and 73 are folded along one of the side walls 51 .

[0053] The material of the partition member 7 is not particularly limited, and any material having sufficient hardness to maintain its function as a partition plate may be used, for example, a plate-shaped resin material such as polyethylene or polypropylene. Like the bag body 2, the partition member 7 may be covered with a water-repellent (or waterproof) fabric (not shown).

[0054] The bag body 8 is a bag-shaped member connected to the periphery 53a of the side opening 53 in one of the side walls 51 and opening into the side opening 53. As described above, the bag body 8 is provided so as to be freely expandable inside the lower storage chamber 22 side of the article storage space 2A.

[0055] When the partition plate 71 of the partition member 7 is arranged in an upright position, the bag body 8 can be freely unfolded inside the lower storage chamber 22, and when the partition plate 71 is arranged in a reclined position, the bag body 8 can be flexibly folded and stored between the partition member 7 and the lid portion 54 or one of the side walls 51.

[0056] The material of the bag body 8 is not particularly limited, and like the bag main body 2, it is possible to use, without any restrictions, sheet materials made of flexible materials such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, etc.

[0057] As described above, the pair of handles 9 are attached to the pair of side walls 51, 52 of the bag body 2, and in the illustrated example, one handle 9A is attached to one side wall 51, and the other handle 9B is attached to the other side wall 52. The pair of handles 9 are used by the user to carry the tote bag 1 by holding them in their hands or by carrying them over their shoulders.

[0058] The pair of handles 9 are not particularly limited either, and any handles made of various resin materials, leather materials, strings, etc., with a length and thickness that is easy for the user to use can be used without any restrictions.

[0059] According to the tote bag 1 of this embodiment, when the partition plate 71 and the pair of support plates 72, 73 constituting the partition member 7 are arranged in a reclined position along one of the side walls 51, as shown in the plan view of Fig. 6 and the end views of Fig. 10 and 11, the item storage space 2A is a single-chamber space. On the other hand, when the partition plate 71 constituting the partition member 7 is arranged in an upright position so as to be stretched between each of the pair of side walls 51, 52 and supported by the pair of support plates 72, 73, as shown in the plan view of Fig. 5 and the end views of Fig. 7, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, the item storage space 2A is a two-chamber space divided into an upper storage chamber 21 and a lower storage chamber 22.

[0060] When the partition plate 71 constituting the partition member 7 is in the above-described upright position, the hook-and-loop fastener 74 provided on the tip side of the partition plate 71 can be fixed to the hook-and-loop fastener 75 provided on the inner surface 52a of the other side wall 52. This allows the partition plate 71 constituting the partition member 7 to be firmly stretched between the one side wall 51 and the other side wall 52. Therefore, the partition member 7 can reliably support the items stored in the upper storage chamber 21 from the lower side D, and it is possible to prevent the items stored in the lower storage chamber 22 from being crushed from above.

[0061] On the other hand, when the partition plate 71 and the pair of support plates 72, 73 constituting the partition member 7 are in the above-mentioned collapsed position, the hook-and-loop fastener 74 hangs downward toward the side D. By adopting such a collapsed position, the partition plate 71 and the pair of support plates 72, 73 are folded toward one of the side walls 51, and the bag body 8 is also folded and stored between the partition member 7 and the lid portion 54 or one of the side walls 51.

[0062] It is also possible to employ a configuration in which, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener (not shown) is provided on the inner surface 51a of one of the side walls 51, so that when the partition member 7 is folded in the collapsed position, the bag body 8 is folded and stored while the hook-and-loop fastener 74 is fixed between the hook-and-loop fastener on one of the side walls 51. This makes it possible to prevent the partition member 7 and the bag body 8 from unstably unfolding in the article storage space 2A when the partition member 7 is in the collapsed position, and also improves storage efficiency.

[0063] When the tote bag 1 is configured as a two-compartment space by dividing the item storage space 2A into an upper storage compartment 21 and a lower storage compartment 22 by the partition member 7, it becomes possible to put items in and take items out of the upper storage compartment 21 through the upper opening end 4, and to put items in and take items out of the lower storage compartment 22 through the side opening 53. At this time, the lower storage compartment 22 is airtightly separated from the upper storage compartment 21 by the bag body 8 deployed in the lower storage compartment 22. In this case, clothing such as athletic wear (not shown) can be stored in the upper storage compartment 21, while athletic shoes (not shown) can be stored in the lower storage compartment 22 with the bag body 8 deployed, thereby preventing dirt and other stains on the athletic shoes from adhering to the athletic wear stored in the upper storage compartment 21. Similarly, the upper storage chamber 21 can store, for example, stationery and mobile phones (not shown), while the lower storage chamber 22 with the bag body 8 unfolded can store, for example, a lunch box (not shown). In this way, even if juice or the like spills from the lunch box, it is possible to prevent the juice from getting on the mobile phone or the like stored in the upper storage chamber 21.

[0064] Furthermore, by dividing the item storage space 2A into the upper storage compartment 21 and the lower storage compartment 22, it is possible to avoid problems such as not being able to see items near the bottom wall 3, which can occur when the item storage space 2A is used as a single compartment. This makes it possible to prevent, to the greatest extent possible, situations where, regardless of the characteristics of the user of the tote bag 1, the desired item is hidden in the shadows inside the tote bag and is difficult for the user to see, resulting in a very long time spent finding the item or the need to remove all the items from the tote bag to search for it.

[0065] On the other hand, when the partition member 7 is folded to make the article storage space 2A into a single-chamber space, it becomes possible to store articles in the article storage space 2A from the upper open end 4. In this case, since the article storage space 2A is made into a single-chamber space, it becomes possible to store, for example, large-sized articles or a larger number of articles. Furthermore, when the article storage space 2A is used as a single-chamber space, the partition member 7 and the bag body 8 are kept in a compactly stored state, thereby further improving the space efficiency of the article storage space 2A. Furthermore, since there is no need to remove the partition member 7 and the bag body 8 and take them outside, problems such as losing these members or damaging them by dropping them can be prevented.

[0066] In this embodiment, as described above, the partition member 7 is provided at one location in the article storage space 2A, dividing the space into two spaces (two compartments), one above the other. However, for example, a configuration in which the article storage space is divided into three or more compartments by providing multiple partition members may be adopted. If such a configuration is adopted, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which multiple side openings as described above are provided in the bag body, one for each storage compartment.

[0067] In addition, in this embodiment, although not shown in each figure, if the above-mentioned small pockets 23, 24 are provided in the item storage space 2A of the bag main body 2, one or more tag pockets made of a transparent resin sheet into which a tag can be inserted may be provided at positions corresponding to each of the small pockets 23, 24.

[0068] By providing a tag pocket as described above and inserting a tag made of paper or the like bearing attribute information of the stored item, it is possible to see at a glance what is stored in the small pocket at that position. This makes it easier to see where the required item is stored when removing an item from the small pocket, making it possible to quickly remove the required item in a short amount of time, resulting in even better ease of handling.

[0069] Furthermore, the shape of the bag body 2 is not limited to the illustrated example in which the pair of side walls 51, 52 are generally square. The shape of the pair of side walls 51, 52 of the bag body 2 may be determined taking into consideration the posture when opening and closing fasteners, putting in and taking out items, ease of handling, and storage capacity, and may be configured, for example, to be generally vertically or horizontally elongated.

[0070] <How to use the tote bag (procedure)> Below, we will explain in more detail examples of both methods (procedures) of using the tote bag 1 of this embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 11: when the partition member 7 divides the item storage space 2A into two compartments, and when the partition member 7 is folded and the item storage space 2A is used as a single compartment.

[0071] When using the tote bag 1 with the partition member 7 dividing the item storage space 2A into two compartments, first, the two sliders 42b, 42b shown in Figures 2 to 4 are operated and moved to both ends of the upper zipper 42 (element 42a), respectively. This separates the top panel 41 so that it is divided in half along the length direction, and the upper opening edge 4 is open.

[0072] Next, the partition plate 71 and the pair of support plates 72, 73 that constitute the partition member 7 are unfolded, and one end 72a, 73a of the pair of support plates 72, 73 opposite the partition plate 71 is abutted against the bottom wall 3, thereby supporting the partition plate 71 in an upright position. Next, the hook-and-loop fastener 74 provided on the tip side of the partition plate 71 is fixed to the hook-and-loop fastener 75 provided on the inner surface 52a of the other side wall 52, thereby firmly stretching the partition plate 71 between one side wall 51 and the other side wall 52.

[0073] As described above, by dividing the article storage space 2A with the partition member 7, the article storage space 2A is divided into two compartments consisting of the upper storage compartment 21 and the lower storage compartment 22. Here, when dividing the article storage space 2A into two compartments, for example, the bag body 8 can be deployed in advance in the lower part of the article storage space 2A before the partitioning by the partition member 7. Alternatively, for example, after dividing the article storage space 2A into two compartments by the partition member 7, the bag body 8 can be deployed into the lower storage chamber 22 by operating it through the side opening 53 provided in one of the side walls 51.

[0074] As described above, by dividing the article storage space 2A into two compartments, first, it becomes possible to put articles in and take them out of the upper storage compartment 21 through the upper open end 4. At the same time, by operating the sliders 55b, 55b of the side wall zipper 55 to move the lid portion 54 away from the side opening 53 and leaving the side opening 53 open, it becomes possible to put items in and take them out of the bag body 8 deployed in the lower storage chamber 22 through the side opening 53.

[0075] Next, when using the tote bag 1 as a single-room space by folding the partition member 7, first, as described above, operate the two sliders 42b, 42 and move them to both ends of the element 42a, thereby opening the upper opening end 4.

[0076] Next, the partition plate 71 and the pair of support plates 72, 73 constituting the partition member 7 are folded in a fallen position along one of the side walls 51, with the hook-and-loop fasteners 74 hanging down toward the downward direction D. At this time, the partition member 7 is in the fallen position as described above, and the bag body 8 is folded and stored between the partition member 7 and the lid portion 54 or one of the side walls 51.

[0077] As described above, by folding the partition member 7, the item storage space 2A becomes a single-room space with improved space efficiency, and it becomes possible to take in and out, for example, large items through the upper opening end 4.

[0078] As described above, whether the item storage space 2A is a single-compartment space or a two-compartment space, by closing each zipper, the tote bag 1 can be transported without items leaking out of the bag main body 2.

[0079] <Action and effect> As described above, according to the tote bag 1 of this embodiment, the item storage space 2A is configured as a single-compartment space when the partition member 7 is in the retracted position, and as a two-compartment space, the upper storage compartment 21 and the lower storage compartment 22, when the partition member 7 is in the upright position, thereby allowing the item storage space 2A to be used flexibly, efficiently, and without waste, allowing for efficient storage of items regardless of their size or quantity. Furthermore, the bag body 8 is freely unfoldable into the lower storage compartment 22 when the partition member 7 is in the upright position, and can be folded and stored when the partition member 7 is in the retracted position, preventing leakage of dirt and other contaminants from the items and providing better handling.

[0080] That is, unlike conventional configurations in which a simple partition member is used to separate the space into upper and lower compartments, the tote bag 1 of this embodiment has a two-compartment structure for storing item storage space 2A. This allows for efficient use of the space in upper storage compartment 21, which is located at the top, while allowing for the storage of items with dirt or other contaminants in lower storage compartment 22, which is airtightly separated from upper storage compartment 21. On the other hand, if item storage space 2A is a single-compartment structure, it can accommodate large items or a large number of items. This provides the tote bag 1 with excellent storage capacity and ease of handling.

[0081] Furthermore, when the item storage space 2A is configured as a two-compartment space as described above, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of not being able to see items near the bottom wall 3, which occurs when using a case with a single compartment. This makes it possible to prevent, to the greatest extent possible, situations where, for example, the desired item is difficult to see inside the tote bag, it takes a long time to find it, or it becomes necessary to remove all the items from the tote bag to search for it, regardless of the characteristics of the user of the tote bag.

[0082] Therefore, it is possible to store items of various sizes or a larger number of items efficiently and stably with good visibility, and the stored items can be found in a short time, and dirt and the like from the stored items can be prevented from adhering to other items, realizing a tote bag 1 that is easy to handle. [Industrial Applicability]

[0083] The tote bag of the present invention can efficiently and stably store items of various sizes with good visibility, allowing stored items to be found in a short time, and is easy to handle as it prevents the items from becoming soiled. Therefore, the tote bag of the present invention is very suitable for storing and transporting various items, for example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1. Tote bag 2...Bag body 2A: Storage space 21...Upper storage room 22...Lower storage compartment 23,24...Small pocket 3…Bottom wall 3a...periphery 4…Top opening end 41...Top plate 42...Top zipper 42a...Element 42b...Slider 51, 52...A pair of side walls (one side wall, the other side wall) 51a, 52a...Inner surface 51b,52b…External surface 53...Side opening 53a...periphery 54...Lid part 55...Sidewall zipper 55a...Element 55b...Slider 56,57...Small pocket 57a...Pocket opening 57A...Pocket zipper 57b...Element 57c...Slider 61, 62... A pair of gusset walls (one gusset wall, the other gusset wall) 61a, 62a...Inner surface 61b,62b…External surface 63,64...Small pocket 63a, 64b...Pocket opening 7...Partition member 71...Partition board 71a, 71b...both ends 72, 73...Pair of support plates 72a, 73a...one end 74,75…Velcro 8...Bag body 81...Open end 9 (9A, 9B)... Pair of handles (handles)

Claims

1. A tote bag having an interior serving as an article storage space, the tote bag comprising a bag body including a bottom wall, an upper opening edge disposed opposite the bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a pair of gusset walls extending from the periphery of the bottom wall toward the upper opening edge, and a pair of handles attached to the pair of side walls of the bag body, respectively, The bag body further includes: a partition member that can divide the article storage space into an upper storage chamber on the upper opening end side and a lower storage chamber on the bottom wall side; a side opening provided in one of the pair of side walls and opening into the lower storage chamber; a cover portion provided to cover the side opening portion in an openable and closable manner; a bag body connected to the periphery of the side opening and provided in the lower storage chamber so as to be freely expandable, The partition member is attached to the inner surface of the one of the side walls in a foldable structure with the one of the side walls as a fulcrum, and when the partition member is arranged in a folded position along the one of the side walls, the item storage space becomes a single-chamber space, and when the partition member is arranged in an upright position so as to be stretched between each of the pair of side walls, the item storage space becomes a two-chamber space divided into the upper storage chamber and the lower storage chamber, When the partition member is disposed in the upright position, the bag body is freely unfolded inside the lower storage chamber, and when the partition member is disposed in the reclined position, the bag body is folded and can be stored between the partition member and the lid portion or one of the side walls, Furthermore, the partition member includes a partition plate capable of dividing the article storage space into the upper storage chamber and the lower storage chamber, and a pair of support plates extending freely bendably from both end portions of the partition plate on the pair of gusset wall sides, When the partition plate is disposed in the raised position, one end of each of the pair of support plates opposite to the partition plate abuts against the bottom wall, thereby supporting the partition plate in the raised position, When the partition plate is placed in the reclined position, the partition plate and the pair of support plates are folded so as to be aligned with the one of the side walls.

2. 2. The tote bag according to claim 1, wherein the bag body further has one or more small pockets in the storage space for storing items.

3. 3. The tote bag according to claim 2, wherein the small pocket comprises a transparent resin sheet or a see-through material that allows the inside of the small pocket to be seen from the outside.

4. 3. The tote bag according to claim 2, wherein the bag body has one or more tag pockets made of a transparent resin sheet into which a tag can be inserted, at positions corresponding to the small pockets in the item storage space.

5. The tote bag according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bag body further has one or more small pockets capable of holding items on the outer surface of at least one of the pair of side walls and the pair of gusset walls.

Images