Foldable bag

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to a bag foldable between a deployed (unfolded) state and a stowed (folded) state. The bag comprises: a plurality of flexible bag walls having a plurality of panels arranged thereon to define one or more sets of hinged panels. Each of the plurality of panels are rigid relative to the bag walls such that adjacent panels are hinged together by hinge portions of the bag walls. Each set of hinged panels includes at least a first row of hinged panels and a second row of hinged panels, the panels on the first row of hinged panels corresponding with the panels on the second row of hinged panels and the first and second rows of hinged panels being hinged together by hinge portions of the bag walls so that: in the stowed state, corresponding ones of the panels on the first and second rows of hinged panels fold together onto one another and, in the deployed state, the panels on the first and second rows of hinged panels unfold apart.

1 . A bag foldable between a deployed state and a stowed state, the bag comprising:
 a plurality of flexible bag walls; and   a plurality of panels arranged on the plurality of bag walls;   wherein each of the plurality of panels is rigid relative to the bag walls such that adjacent ones of the plurality of panels are hinged together by hinge portions of the bag walls;   wherein the plurality of panels are arranged on the bag walls so as to define one or more sets of hinged panels, each set of hinged panels including at least a first row of hinged panels and a second row of hinged panels, and   wherein the panels on the first row of hinged panels correspond to the panels on the second row of hinged panels, and the first and second rows of hinged panels are hinged together by hinge portions of the bag walls so that:   in the stowed state, corresponding ones of the panels on the first and second rows of hinged panels fold together and, in the deployed state, the corresponding panels on the first and second rows of hinged panels unfold apart.   
     
     
         2 . A bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flexible bag walls includes a base wall; a first sidewall; a second sidewall; a first end wall; and a second end wall. 
     
     
         3 . A bag according to  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of panels includes one or more base wall panels arranged on the base wall and, in the stowed state, adjacent ones of the base wall panels fold towards one another to reduce a length of the bag. 
     
     
         4 . A bag according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more base wall panels includes a group of rectangular base wall panels arranged in series on the base wall, the rectangular base wall panels being hinged together by hinge portions of the base wall, wherein the hinged portions of the base wall are disposed in respective gaps between the adjacent rectangular base wall panels. 
     
     
         5 . A bag according to  claim 4 , wherein the gaps between the adjacent rectangular base wall panels are large enough to ensure that the adjacent rectangular base wall panels are able to fold parallel to one another in the stowed state. 
     
     
         6 . A bag according to  claim 5 , wherein successive ones of the gaps between the adjacent rectangular base wall panels alternate between being relatively small and relatively large to ensure that the adjacent rectangular base wall panels are able to fold parallel to one another in the stowed state. 
     
     
         7 . A bag according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second rows of hinged panels includes:
 first and second groups of sidewall panels, each group of sidewall panels being arranged on one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the bag, wherein each group of sidewall panels includes one or more rectangular panels; and   first and second groups of end wall panels, each group of end wall panels being arranged on one of the first end wall and the second end wall of the bag, each group of end wall panels including first and second right-angled triangular panels, wherein the first right-angled triangular panel is arranged with one leg adjacent to the first sidewall and the second right-angled triangular panel is arranged with one leg adjacent to the second sidewall.   
     
     
         8 . A bag according to  claim 7 , wherein each group of sidewall panels includes a plurality of rectangular panels and adjacent ones of the plurality of rectangular panels are hinged together by hinge portions of the sidewalls, the hinge portions of the sidewalls being disposed in gaps between the adjacent rectangular panels. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A bag according to  claim 7 , wherein the gaps between the adjacent rectangular panels are configured to enable the adjacent rectangular panels in each group of sidewall panels to fold together and parallel to one another in the folded state, wherein successive ones of the gaps between the adjacent rectangular panels in each group of sidewall panels alternate between being relatively small and relatively large to ensure that the adjacent rectangular panels are able to fold parallel to one another in the stowed state, wherein successive ones of the gaps between the adjacent rectangular panels in the second row of hinged panels alternate between being relatively small and relatively large compared to the corresponding gaps between the adjacent rectangular panels in the first row of hinged panels so that, in the stowed state, the gaps between the adjacent rectangular panels on each row of hinged panels account for the thickness of material between those adjacent rectangular panels once folded together. 
     
     
         12 . A bag according to  claim 7 , wherein each group of sidewall panels includes a plurality of rectangular panels and adjacent ones of the plurality of rectangular panels are hinged together by hinge portions of the sidewalls, the hinge portions of the sidewalls being disposed in gaps between the adjacent rectangular panels wherein each group of end wall panels further includes an intermediate triangular panel, wherein the first right-angled triangular panel is hinged to the intermediate triangular panel along the hypotenuse of the first right-angled triangular panel and the second right-angled triangular panel is hinged to the intermediate triangular panel along the hypotenuse of the second right-angled triangular panel so that, in the stowed state, the first and second right-angled triangular panels fold towards the intermediate triangular panel. 
     
     
         13 . A bag according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second right-angled triangular panels are hinged to the intermediate triangular panel by respective hinged portion of the end wall disposed in respective gaps between the first right-angled triangular panel, the intermediate triangular panel, and the second right-angled triangular panel, and wherein the gaps between the first right-angled triangular panel, the intermediate triangular panel and the second right-angled triangular panel are large enough to ensure that the first and second right-angled triangular panels are able to fold parallel to the intermediate triangular panel in the stowed state. 
     
     
         14 . A bag according to  claim 13 , wherein each group of sidewall panels includes a plurality of rectangular panels and adjacent ones of the plurality of rectangular panels are hinged together by hinge portions of the sidewalls, the hinge portions of the sidewalls being disposed in gaps between the adjacent rectangular panels, wherein the gap between the first right-angled triangular panel and the intermediate triangular panel, and/or the gap between the second right-angled triangular panel and the intermediate triangular panel, is twice the length of one of the gaps between the adjacent rectangular panels in the group of sidewall panels. 
     
     
         15 . A bag according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the stowed state, an adjacent pair of the plurality of panels fold together to form a pocket therebetween for retaining personal effects, optionally, wherein the personal effects are selected from a phone, a wallet or a purse. 
     
     
         16 . A bag according to  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of flexible bag walls includes a base wall; a first sidewall; a second sidewall; a first end wall; and a second end wall, wherein the plurality of panels includes one or more base wall panels arranged on the base wall and, in the stowed state, adjacent ones of the base wall panels fold towards one another to reduce a length of the bag, wherein the one or more base wall panels includes a group of rectangular base wall panels arranged in series on the base wall, the rectangular base wall panels being hinged together by hinge portions of the base wall, wherein the hinged portions of the base wall are disposed in respective gaps between the adjacent rectangular base wall panels, wherein the size of the gap between one or more of the adjacent rectangular panels in each group of sidewall panels, and/or the size of the gap between one or more of the adjacent rectangular base wall panels, is configured to form the pocket between those adjacent panels when the bag is folded into the stowed state. 
     
     
         17 . A bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels are weighted and configured to bias the bag towards the stowed state. 
     
     
         18 . A bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels are:
 attached to the bag walls; or   integrally formed with the bag walls, and, optionally, the plurality of panels being formed by relatively thick regions of the bag walls.   
     
     
         19 . A bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of panels are arranged on the bag walls so as to define a plurality of sets of hinged panels, wherein the plurality of sets of hinged panels are arranged in rows on the bag, and wherein adjacent sets of hinged panels are hinged together. 
     
     
         20 . An elongate strap for a bag foldable between a deployed state and a stowed state, the strap comprising:
 a first retaining element; and   a complementary second retaining element;   wherein the first retaining element is coupleable to the second retaining element;   wherein the first and second retaining elements are separated by a length of the strap corresponding to one or more loops of the strap around the bag in the stowed state; and wherein the strap is configured to secure the bag in the stowed state by looping the strap around the bag, one or more times, and coupling the first and second retaining elements together.   
     
     
         21 . A strap according to  claim 20 , wherein the strap is configured to form a carry handle of the bag when the bag is in the deployed state. 
     
     
         22 . A bag according to  claim 1 , comprising a strap, the strap including:
 a first retaining element; and   a complementary second retaining element;   wherein the first retaining element is coupleable to the second retaining element;   
       wherein the first and second retaining elements are separated by a length of the strap corresponding to one or more loops of the strap around the bag in the stowed state; and wherein the strap is configured to secure the bag in the stowed state by looping the strap around the bag, one or more times, and coupling the first and second retaining elements together.