Bags and bag assemblies

Abstract

A bag comprising a body; a shell; a leg assembly 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; and a handle assembly comprising a handle and a first member pivotably coupled to a third portion of the shell; an engagement feature that is attached to or integrated with the handle; and a second member connecting the first member to the cross member, wherein the second member is configured to receive the engagement feature in order to lock the plurality of legs in an extended position.

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 assembly comprising a handle and a first member pivotably coupled to a third portion of the shell, wherein the handle assembly is configured to pivot between (1) a first position in which the handle assembly is disposed entirely within the central recessed region and (2) a second position in which the handle assembly is positioned outside of the central recessed region;   an engagement feature attached to or integrated with the handle, wherein the engagement feature comprises a latch mechanism; and   a second member connecting the first member to the cross member, wherein the second member is configured to receive the engagement feature in order to lock the plurality of legs in the extended position.   
     
     
         2 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions of the shell are spaced apart by a distance that is greater than a width of the first member and the second member. 
     
     
         3 . 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. 
     
     
         4 . The bag of  claim 3 , 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. 
     
     
         5 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the handle 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. 
     
     
         6 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is recessed further into the shell than the plurality of legs when the plurality of legs are in the retracted position. 
     
     
         7 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is configured to pivot about the third portion of the shell. 
     
     
         8 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is fixed in place within the central recessed region when the plurality of legs are in the retracted position. 
     
     
         9 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the central recessed region is configured to have 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. 
     
     
         12 . The bag of  claim 11 , wherein an upper edge of the plurality of recessed regions is positioned a second distance from the upper edge of the shell. 
     
     
         13 . The bag of  claim 12 , wherein the first distance is less than the second distance. 
     
     
         14 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the latch mechanism is operable by manipulating the handle. 
     
     
         15 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the latch mechanism is configured to lock the handle assembly in the second position. 
     
     
         16 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member are pivotably coupled together. 
     
     
         17 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the second member comprises a first end pivotably coupled to the first member and a second end pivotably coupled to the cross member. 
     
     
         18 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the second member comprises a slot configured to receive the engagement feature. 
     
     
         19 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is positioned over and/or supported by the cross member when the handle assembly is pivoted to the second position. 
     
     
         20 . The bag of  claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is oriented horizontally and/or substantially parallel to a ground surface under the bag when the plurality of legs are fully extended.