Convertible bag

Abstract

A multi-purpose carrier is provided for carrying one or more loose articles. The carrier comprises a sack and one or more carrying features for carrying the sack. The sack is convertible into different configurations for carrying items. In one embodiment, the sack may be configured for use as a tall shopping bag or a smaller shoulder bag. The sack may also have a drawstring operable to close the bag and for carrying the bag as a tote bag.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A multi-purpose carrier for loose articles comprising a tubular sack of flexible sheet material being permanently closed at one end of the sack to form a closed bottom and being open at the other end, said open end having a closure element operable to effect closure of said open other end, said tubular sack having a circumferential fold line dividing said sack into an upper segment and a lower segment, said lower segment having an axial length greater than the upper segment, said lower segment having straps secured to said sack on the outside adjacent said fold line, said upper segment operable to be folded inside the lower section along said fold line by everting said upper segment into said lower segment.  
     
     
         2 . A carrier according to  claim 1  including a pocket formed on the outside of said lower segment adjacent said straps, said pocket including a flap operable to close said pocket.  
     
     
         3 . A carrier according to  claim 1  wherein said bottom closure of the tubular sack is in the form of a substantially flat rectangular bottom having a length greater than its width.  
     
     
         4 . A carrier according to  claim 1  wherein said straps comprise a first pair of strap sections secured to said lower segment at points which are spaced apart a distance less than the length of said rectangular bottom, said bottom being positioned underlying said pair of straps.  
     
     
         5 . A carrier according to  claim 4 , wherein said first pair of strap sections are interconnected remotely from points of securement to said tubular sack to provide a loop for serving as a shoulder strap.  
     
     
         6 . A carrier according to  claim 4 , wherein said tubular sack is provided with a second pair of strap sections forming a loop on the outside of said tubular sack on the opposite side from the first pair of strap sections.  
     
     
         7 . A carrier according to  claim 3 , wherein said substantially rectangular bottom is formed by providing one or more seams in the flexible sheet material adjacent the bottom of the tubular sack, said seams causing the material of the sack to be formed into a generally rectangular bottom.  
     
     
         8 . A carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein said open end of said tubular sack is provided with a peripheral hem, and said closure element comprises a draw string slidably engaged in said hem.  
     
     
         9 . A carrier according to  claim 3 , wherein said flat rectangular bottom forms said tubular sack into a tube of generally rectangular cross section corresponding in dimension to said flat bottom.  
     
     
         10 . An article for carrying items comprising: 
 a sack;    a first carrying feature; and    a top edge on the sack adjustable to allow different methods for carrying the sack.    
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10  wherein the top edge is displaceable into a first position and a second position.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 11  wherein the first carrying feature is usable as a handle when the top edge is displaced into the first position and as a shoulder strap when the top edge is displaced into the second position.  
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12  further comprising a second carrying feature.  
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 13  wherein the top edge is further displaceable into a third position to allow the sack to be carried by the second carrying feature.  
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14  wherein the top edge is extended upwardly in the first position, folded downwardly in the second position, and contracted inwardly in the third position.  
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 10  wherein the first carrying feature is one of a strap, a rope or a cable.  
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 13  wherein the second carrying feature is a drawstring fed through the top edge and operable to open and close the sack.  
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 10  wherein the sack comprises a substantially flat rectangular bottom side.  
     
     
         19 . A method for converting a carrying bag, comprising the steps of; 
 providing a tubular bag having an open top end and an open bottom end, wherein the bag has an upper portion having a height and a lower portion having a height separated by a fold line;    substantially permanently closing the second end of the bag to form the bottom of the bag;    providing a pair of handles having terminal ends;    attaching the terminal ends of the handles to the bag on opposing sides of the bag adjacent the fold line; and    everting the upper portion of the bag into the lower portion of the bag.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of everting comprises the step of everting substantially the entire upper portion of the bag into the lower portion of the bag.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the step of providing a bag comprises providing a bag such that the upper portion has a height and the lower portion has a height that is greater than the height of the upper portion.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the height of the upper portion is at least approximately ¼ the height of height of the lower portion.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the height of the upper portion is at least approximately ½ the height of the lower portion.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  comprising the step of pulling the upper portion out of the lower portion and extending the upper portion upwardly above the lower portion.