Bags and bag assemblies

Abstract

A bag comprising a body; a shell comprising a central recessed region and a plurality of recessed regions; a leg mechanism comprising a first leg pivotably coupled to a first portion of the shell, a second leg pivotably coupled to a second portion of the shell, and a cross member extending between the first leg and the second leg; a handle mechanism comprising a first handle portion with a first end pivotably coupled to a third portion of the shell and a second handle portion pivotably coupled to a second end of the first handle portion, wherein the second handle portion comprises a first engagement feature that is pivotable relative to the first handle portion; and a linking member connecting the first handle portion to the cross member, wherein the linking member comprises a second engagement feature configured to engage the first engagement feature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bag comprising:
 a body;   a shell coupled to the body, wherein the shell comprises a central recessed region and a plurality of recessed regions disposed along the central recessed region;   a leg mechanism comprising (i) a plurality of legs comprising a first leg pivotably coupled to a first portion of the shell and a second leg pivotably coupled to a second portion of the shell and (ii) a cross member extending between the first leg and the second leg, wherein the plurality of legs are pivotable between (1) a retracted position in which the plurality of legs are positioned entirely within the plurality of recessed regions and (2) an extended position in which one or more end portions of the plurality of legs are positioned outside of the plurality of recessed regions;   a handle mechanism comprising (i) a first handle portion with a first end pivotably coupled to a third portion of the shell and (ii) a second handle portion pivotably coupled to a second end of the first handle portion, wherein the second handle portion comprises a first engagement feature that is pivotable relative to the first handle portion, wherein the handle mechanism is configured to pivot between (1) a first position in which the first handle portion and the second handle portion are disposed entirely within the central recessed region and (2) a second position in which the second handle portion and the second end of the first handle portion are positioned outside of the central recessed region; and   a linking member connecting the first handle portion to the cross member, wherein the linking member comprises a second engagement feature configured to engage the first engagement feature in order to lock the plurality of legs in the extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first handle portion has a first width and the second handle portion has a second width that is equal to the first width. 
     
     
         3 . The bag of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second portions of the shell are spaced apart by a distance that is greater than the first width and the second width. 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the shell are spaced apart from a lateral side and a medial side of the shell by a first distance. 
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 4 , wherein the third portion of the shell is spaced apart from the lateral and medial sides of the shell by a second distance that is greater than the first distance. 
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the first handle portion is disposed above the first portion of the shell and the second portion of the shell when the plurality of legs are in the retracted position. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the second handle portion is disposed above the first and second portions of the shell when the plurality of legs are in the retracted position. 
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the handle mechanism is recessed further into the shell than the plurality of legs when the plurality of legs are in the retracted position. 
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the central recessed region has a different length, width, and/or depth than the plurality of recessed regions. 
     
     
         10 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein an upper edge of the central recessed region is configured to extend along an upper edge of the shell. 
     
     
         11 . The bag of  claim 10 , wherein the upper edge of the central recessed region is positioned a first distance from the upper edge of the shell, and wherein an upper edge of the plurality of recessed regions is positioned a second distance from the upper edge of the shell. 
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 11 , wherein the first distance is less than the second distance. 
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch mechanism configured to engage and lock the handle mechanism in the first position. 
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 13 , wherein the latch mechanism comprises a deflectable member with a notched region configured to engage a distal end of the second handle portion. 
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 13 , wherein the latch mechanism comprises a cantilevered member extending through the central recessed region. 
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 13 , wherein the latch mechanism is disposed entirely within the central recessed region. 
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the linking member is disposed entirely within the central recessed region when the plurality of legs are in the retracted position. 
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the linking member comprises a first end that is pivotably coupled to the first handle portion and a second end that is pivotably coupled to the cross member. 
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the second engagement feature of the linking member comprises one or more protrusions. 
     
     
         20 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the second engagement feature of the linking member comprises a slot or an opening extending through the linking member.