Convertible reusable bag apparatus and methods of manufacture thereof

Abstract

A convertible, reusable bag includes a first bag wall; a first side panel; a second side panel; a second bag wall aligned and joined to the first bag wall by the first side panel and the second side panel at a first heat sealed and/or sewn side edge, a second heat sealed and/or sewn side edge, respectively; a bag bottom comprising a substantially planar, foldable surface, the first and the second bag walls, the first and the second side panels, and the bottom formed of a single sheet and together arranged to form a bag defining an opening at a top thereof; a handle attached to a lower portion of the first wall at a first end, and an upper portion of the second wall at the second end; a transverse panel heat-sealed and/or sewn to the upper portion of the first wall and configured to include a gap in the seal that forms a loop through which the handle is slidable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bag apparatus, comprising:
 a first bag wall;   a first side panel;   a second side panel;   a second bag wall aligned and joined to the first bag wall by the first side panel and the second side panel at a first heat sealed side edge, a second heat sealed side edge, respectively;   a bag bottom comprising a substantially planar, foldable surface, the first and the second bag walls, the first and the second side panels, and the bottom formed of a single sheet and together arranged to form a bag defining an opening at a top thereof;   a handle attached to a lower portion of the first wall at a first end, and an upper portion of the second wall at the second end;   a transverse panel heat-sealed to the upper portion of the first wall and configured to include a gap in the seal that forms a loop through which the handle is slidable.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the handle being a first handle, the apparatus comprising:
 a second handle attached to a lower portion of the first wall at a first end, and an upper portion of the second wall at the second end.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , the loop being a first loop, the apparatus comprising:
 a second loop formed by the transverse panel and the upper portion of the first wall through which the second handle is slidable.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the handles further comprising:
 an elongated strap portion of the handle heat sealed to the first wall, and extending from the upper attachment point to a lower first wall attachment point.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a fastening system configured to secure an open top of the bag in a closed position.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , the fastening system further comprising:
 a snap-fit button comprising a male portion and a female portion attached to the first wall and the second wall, respectively, and configured to engage to one another.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the transverse member further comprising vertical and horizontal heat seals forming the loop. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a woven material forming the bag.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a non-woven material forming the bag.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , the material further comprising a thickness in a range of thicknesses, measured in units of gram weights, of 30 grams per square meter to 150 grams per square meter, and the material comprising polypropylene or polyethylene polyethylene terepthalate. 
     
     
         11 . A system, comprising:
 a convertible backpack bag comprising:
 a first bag wall; 
 a first side panel; 
 a second side panel; 
 a second bag wall aligned and joined to the first bag wall by the first side panel and the second side panel;
 a bag bottom comprising a substantially planar, foldable surface, the first and the second bag walls, the first and the second side panels, and the bottom formed of a single sheet and together arranged to form a bag defining an opening at a top thereof; 
 
 a handle attached to a lower portion of the first wall at a first end, and an upper portion of the second wall at the second end;
 a transverse panel attached to the upper portion of the first wall and configured to include a gap in the seal that forms a loop through which the handle is slidable 
 
 a fastener system configured to join the handle to a second handle. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , the fastener system comprising:
 a loop fastener comprising a first portion interlocking with a second portion, each attachable to separate bag handles; or   a clip for joining separate bag handles.   
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a bag, comprising:
 providing a planar, flexible sheet comprising a material suitable for heat sealing or sewing;   folding the sheet and heat sealing to form an open-ended bag having a front, a back, a first side, a second side, and a bottom, wherein the first side and the second side and the bottom are constructed and arranged to be foldable inward in a configuration that causes the bag to naturally collapse into a folded configuration; and   forming or attaching a plurality of handles connected to an upper portion of the first side and a lower portion of the second side, and slideable through loops formed on the second side.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , the handles further comprising straps. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , forming or attaching further comprising:
 attaching the handles to the upper portion of the first side by heat-sealing or sewing.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , the forming or attaching further comprising:
 attaching the handles to the lower portion of the second side by heat-sealing or sewing.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , the material further comprising polyethylene terepthalate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , the material further comprising polyethylene terepthalate, recycled polyethylene terepthalate, or polypropylene. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , the material being selected from a woven material or a non-woven material, and comprising a thickness in a range of thicknesses, measured in units of gram weights, of 30 grams per square meter to 300 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 attaching a transverse panel to the second side; and   heat-sealing or sewing the transverse member to the second side and defining gaps in the seal to form loops through which the handles extend.