Bag with slot for removing particulate matter

Abstract

A bag having a closable slot for removing debris and other particulate matter. In one aspect, the invention can be a bag comprising: a floor having a perimeter; a wall extending upward from the perimeter of the floor so as to form an internal cavity; a slot formed between a bottom edge of the wall and a portion of the perimeter of the floor; the floor comprising a flange extending from the portion of the perimeter of the floor that is adjustable between a closed position that closes the slot and an open position; a partition located within the internal cavity so as to separate the internal cavity into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the partition having a plurality of apertures enabling particulate matter to pass from the upper chamber to the lower chamber; the slot forming a passageway from the lower chamber to outside of the bag.

1 . A bag comprising:
 a floor having a perimeter comprising a first perimetric portion and a second perimetric portion, the floor being formed of a material for containing particulate matter;   a wall extending upward from the first and second perimetric portions of the floor so as to form an internal cavity, the wall and floor formed of a material for containing particulate matter, the wall connected to the floor along the first perimetric portion in a manner that contains particulate matter, and wherein the wall is not connected to the second perimetric portion of the floor so that a slot is formed between a bottom edge of the wall and the second perimetric portion of the floor;   the floor comprising a flange extending from the second perimetric portion, the flange adjustable between (1) a closed position in which the flange extends upwardly along the wall, thereby substantially closing the slot, and (2) an open position in which the slot is substantially unobstructed by the flange;   a partition located within the internal cavity that separates the internal cavity into an upper chamber located above the partition for holding articles and a lower chamber located below the partition, wherein the partition has a plurality of apertures for allowing particulate matter to pass through the partition from the upper chamber to the lower chamber; and   wherein the slot defines a passageway between the lower chamber and an exterior of the bag to facilitate removal of particulate matter from the lower chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1  further comprising a floor panel and a wall panel, the floor panel forming the entirety of the floor and a lower portion of the wall, the wall panel extending upwardly from the floor panel and forming an upper portion of the wall. 
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 1  wherein the slot is formed by a notch formed in the bottom edge of the wall. 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 1  wherein the flange is substantially co-planar with the floor in the open position. 
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 1  wherein the partition is formed of a meshed material. 
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 1  further comprising a primary opening at a top portion of the wall to facilitate placing articles in the upper chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 6  further comprising means for closing the primary opening. 
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 1  wherein the perimeter of the floor is substantially rectangular comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and first and second side portions connecting the front and rear portions, wherein the first and second side portions have a first length and the front and rear portions have a second length that is less than the first length, the front portion comprising the second perimetric portion, and the first perimetric portion comprising the rear portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion. 
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a first strap coupled to a portion of the wall that extends upward from the first side portion of the perimeter of the floor; and 
 a second strap coupled to a portion of the wall that extends upward from the second side portion of the perimeter of the floor. 
 
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 9  wherein each of the first and second straps are loop straps connected to the wall at two locations. 
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 1  further comprising means for removably securing the flange in the closed position. 
     
     
         12 . A bag comprising:
 a tubular wall forming an internal cavity about a longitudinal axis;   a floor coupled to a bottom end of the tubular wall, the floor comprising a flange extending radially beyond the tubular wall, the floor and the tubular wall formed of a material for containing particulate matter within the internal cavity;   a slot formed between a bottom edge of the tubular wall and a top surface of the floor adjacent the flange;   the flange adjustable between (1) a closed position in which the flange extends upwardly along the tubular wall, thereby substantially closing the slot, and (2) an open position in which the slot is substantially unobstructed by the flange;   a partition located within the internal cavity at a distance above the floor so as to separate the internal cavity into an upper chamber above the partition for holding articles and a lower chamber below the partition, wherein the partition has a plurality of apertures for allowing particulate matter to pass through the partition from the upper chamber to the lower chamber; and   wherein the slot forms a passageway from the lower chamber to outside of the bag when the flange is in the open position.   
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 12  wherein the flange is triangular in shape. 
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 13  further comprising means for removably securing the flange in the closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 12  wherein the partition is formed of a meshed material. 
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 12  wherein the tubular wall has a substantially rectangular transverse cross-sectional profile, the tubular wall comprising a front wall portion, a rear wall portion, and first and second side wall portions connecting the front and rear wall portions, wherein the first and second side wall portions have a first length and the front and rear wall portions have a second length that is greater than the first length, the front wall portion comprising the bottom edge, and the rear wall portion, the first side wall portion, and the second side wall portion coupled to the floor in a manner that contains particulate matter within the internal cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 16  wherein the slot is formed by a notch formed in the bottom edge of the wall. 
     
     
         18 . A bag comprising:
 a floor panel forming a floor having a perimeter and a lower portion of a wall extending upward from the floor;   a wall panel forming an upper portion of the wall extending upward from the lower portion, the wall and the floor forming an internal cavity;   a notch formed in a bottom edge of the wall;   the floor panel comprising a flange extending beyond the wall, the flange adjustable between (1) a closed position in which the flange extends upwardly along the wall, thereby substantially closing the notch, and (2) an open position in which the flange is substantially co-planar with the floor;   a separator panel disposed within the internal cavity and coupled to the wall at a distance above the floor so as to separate the internal cavity into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, wherein the separator panel is constructed of a porous material for allowing particulate matter to pass through the separator panel from the upper chamber to the lower chamber; and   wherein the notch forms a passageway from the lower chamber to outside of the bag when the flange is in the Open position.   
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 18  wherein the flange is removably secured to the wall panel when the flange is in the closed position. 
     
     
         20 . The bag of  claim 18  wherein the separator panel is formed of a meshed material.