Assembly for convertible carrying bag

Abstract

An assembly for a convertible carrying bag includes a frame that defines a periphery and an interior compartment and a covering that is disposed about the frame. The assembly further includes a plurality of frame brackets secured at various predetermined locations on the carrying bag. Each frame bracket includes an inner frame bracket and an outer frame bracket that are secured together with the frame and the covering disposed there between. At least one of the frame brackets defines a connector piece for receiving an accessory component, such as a handle, one or more straps, and/or an extensible handle, to allow a user to create a customized convertible carrying bag. In one embodiment, the inner frame bracket includes a latch biased by a spring and the outer frame bracket includes an outwardly depending prong that engages with the latch to secure the inner frame bracket and the out frame bracket together.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly for a convertible carrying bag, comprising:
 a frame defining a periphery and an interior compartment within the periphery;   a covering disposed about the frame; and   a plurality of frame brackets removably secured on the carrying bag, each frame bracket comprising an inner frame bracket and an outer frame bracket that are secured together with the frame and the covering disposed between the inner frame bracket and the outer frame bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the frame brackets defines at least one connector piece for receiving an accessory component. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the accessory component comprises at least one of a handle, a strap, an extendible handle, a wheel and a roller. 
     
     
         4 . A frame assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame defines a continuous periphery comprising a top, a bottom, and a pair of opposite sides that join the ends of the top and the bottom together. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the top, the bottom and the pair of opposite sides has a plurality of openings formed therethrough that are configured for cooperating with at least one of the plurality of frame brackets. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the covering comprises a top panel, a bottom panel and a pair of opposite side panels, and wherein at least one of the top panel, the bottom panel and the pair of opposite side panels has a plurality of openings formed therethrough that correspond to the plurality of openings formed through the at least one of the top, the bottom and the pair of opposite sides of the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the covering defines a continuous first pattern comprising a top panel, a bottom panel and a pair of opposite side panels that correspond to the top, the bottom and the pair of opposite sides of the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the top panel of the first pattern is disposed about the top of the frame, the bottom panel of the first pattern is disposed about the bottom of the frame, and each of the pair of opposite side panels of the first pattern is disposed about a corresponding one of the pair of opposite sides of the frame. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the top, the bottom, and the pair of opposite sides of the frame has a plurality of openings formed therethrough, and wherein at least one of the top panel, the bottom panel and the pair of opposite side panels of the first pattern has a plurality of openings formed therethrough that correspond to the plurality of openings of the frame and are configured for cooperating with at least one of the plurality of frame brackets. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the covering defines a continuous second pattern that comprises a bottom panel and an inner panel, and wherein the bottom panel of the second pattern is attached to the bottom panel of the first pattern. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the bottom panel of the second pattern is disposed about the bottom of the frame, and wherein the bottom panel of the second pattern has a plurality of openings formed therethrough that correspond to the openings formed through the bottom of the frame and are configured for cooperating with at least one of the plurality of frame brackets. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the frame further comprises a top rear flange and at least one bottom rear flange, and wherein the top rear flange and the at least one bottom rear flange each has a plurality of openings formed therethrough that are configured for cooperating with at least one of the plurality of frame brackets. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the covering further comprises a rear panel, and wherein the rear panel has a plurality of openings formed therethrough that correspond to the openings formed through the top rear flange and the at least one bottom rear flange and are configured for cooperating with at least one of the plurality of frame brackets. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the inner frame bracket and the outer frame bracket comprises a biased latch and the other of the inner frame bracket and the outer frame bracket comprises at least one prong configured for engaging with the latch to secure the inner frame bracket and the outer frame bracket together. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the latch is biased outwardly by a linear spring, and wherein the latch is configured to be depressed against the spring and thereby release the prong from the latch to separate the inner frame bracket and the outer frame bracket. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein an inner surface of the inner frame bracket and an outer surface of the outer frame bracket are each generally smooth and continuous. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly for a convertible carrying bag, comprising:
 a frame defining a continuous periphery and an interior compartment, the frame having a plurality of openings formed therethrough;   a covering disposed about the frame such that the frame is encased within the covering, the covering having a plurality of openings formed therethrough that correspond to the plurality of openings formed through the frame; and   a plurality of frame brackets positioned at a plurality of predetermined locations on the frame, each of the frame brackets comprising an inner frame bracket and an outer frame bracket that are configured to be secured together through the openings of the frame and the openings of the covering with the frame and the covering disposed between the inner frame bracket and the outer frame bracket.   
     
     
         18 . The assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein the frame comprises a top, a bottom and a pair of opposite sides that extend between and join together the ends of the top and the bottom, and wherein the covering comprises a top panel that is disposed about the top of the frame, a bottom panel that is disposed about the bottom of the frame and a pair of opposite side panels that are disposed about the opposite sides of the frame. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein one of the inner frame bracket and the outer frame bracket comprises a biased latch and the other of the inner frame bracket and the outer frame bracket comprises a prong that engages with the latch to thereby secure the inner frame bracket and the outer frame bracket together. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein the latch is biased outwardly by a linear spring disposed between the latch and a mechanical stop, and wherein the latch is depressed to thereby release the prong and separate the inner frame bracket and the outer frame bracket.