Methods and apparatus for storing items in selectively shaped bags

Abstract

Portable bags for holding items, the bags having at least one dart that permits a person to selectively alternate the dart between a collapsed state and an expanded state. Some bags include a slit compartment that can be selectively opened and closed by means of a dart, a zipper assembly that permits the bags to be completely separated into at least two pieces, and a contoured side that is designed to contour against the body of the person carrying the bag. Some darts allow the bags to completely collapse into a concave shape wherein the bag has minimal interior volume and is thereby easily stacked, stored, and transported. The bags of the present invention include purses and backpacks of varying triangular and square shapes.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a bag for holding items, said bag having a first side; and    a dart on said first side that allows for selectively alternating said dart between a collapsed state and an expanded state.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a slit compartment on said bag, said slit compartment being selectively movable between a collapsed, closed state and an expanded, open state by means of said dart.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second side on said bag, said second side being shaped to contour against the body of a person carrying said bag.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said dart can completely collapse the bag into a concave shape wherein the bag has minimal interior volume.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first side comprises at least three darts.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first side comprises at least four darts.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first side comprises at least two darts.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second side and a zipper assembly for coupling said first side to said second side.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second side that is triangular in shape and comprises two darts at the base corners of the triangular shape of the second side, and wherein said first side is triangular in shape and comprises three darts on the corners of the triangular shape of the first side.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second side that is a parallelogram in lo shape and comprises two darts at the base corners of the parallelogram, and wherein said first side is a parallelogram in shape and comprises four darts on the corners of the parallelogram of the first side.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a second side that is a parallelogram in shape and comprises two darts at the corners of the parallelogram, and wherein said first side is a parallelogram in shape and comprises two darts on the corresponding corners of the parallelogram of the first side.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said bag is a backpack further comprising a second side that is triangular in shape and comprises two darts at the base corners of the triangular shape of the second side, and wherein said first side is triangular in shape and comprises three darts on the corners of the triangular shape of the first side.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a bag for holding items, said bag having a first side;    a dart on said first side that allows for selectively alternating said dart between a collapsed state and an expanded state; and    a slit compartment on said bag, said slit compartment being selectively movable between a collapsed, closed state and an expanded, open state by means of said dart.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a second side on said bag, said second side being shaped to contour against the body of a person carrying said bag.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said dart can completely collapse the bag into a concave shape wherein the bag has minimal interior volume.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said first side comprises three corners and has one of said dart of each of the three corners.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said first side comprises four corners and has one of said dart on each of the four corners.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said first side comprises two corners and has one of said dart on each of the two corners.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a second side and a zipper assembly for coupling said first side to said second side, said zipper assembly permitting said second and first sides to completely detach from each other.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a bag for holding items, said bag comprising semi-stiff material;    means on said bag for selectively flexing said bag between a collapsed state and an expanded state;    a pocket compartment on said bag; and    means on said bag for selectively moving said pocket between a collapsed, closed state and an expanded, open state.    
     
     
         21 . A method comprising: 
 cutting a plurality of darts into a piece of semi-stiff material; and    assembling said semi-stiff material into a portable bag that can selectively alternate between a collapsed state and an expanded state when a person pushes against said plurality of darts.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising providing a slitted compartment on said bag wherein said slitted compartment can selectively move between a collapsed, closed state and an expanded, open state by means of at least one of said plurality of darts.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising providing a zipper assembly on said bag, said zipper assembly permitting said bag to completely split into at least two separate pieces.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising shaping said bag so that it contours against the body of a person who might carry said bag.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising assembling said darts so that said darts can completely collapse the bag into a concave shape wherein the bag has minimal interior volume.