초록 ▼

Soft sided bags having a flexible frame system are disclosed and described herein. A plurality of structure forming frame members engage guides in the bag body to provide the soft sided bag with a resilient structure, and to further provide content protection and accessibility. Soft sided bag may us

Soft sided bags having a flexible frame system are disclosed and described herein. A plurality of structure forming frame members engage guides in the bag body to provide the soft sided bag with a resilient structure, and to further provide content protection and accessibility. Soft sided bag may use structure forming frame members with varying levels of stiffness to provide a desired structure to the soft sided bag. A unique structure forming frame member is disclosed which includes an outer sheath and inner rod that gives the bag body structure, durability, flexibility, resiliency, and differing degrees of restorative force along one continuous member. Various non-limiting configurations are disclosed that provide the soft sided bag with a desired shape as well as the ability to collapse to smaller configurations.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A bag comprising: a first structure forming frame member having a length and comprising: an outer sheath made of a first material, extending the length of the first structure forming frame member, and having an aperture disposed therein having an inner diameter;a plurality of inner rods made of a

1. A bag comprising: a first structure forming frame member having a length and comprising: an outer sheath made of a first material, extending the length of the first structure forming frame member, and having an aperture disposed therein having an inner diameter;a plurality of inner rods made of a second material having an outer diameter concentrically disposed within the inner diameter of the sheath aperture, wherein a number of inner rods within the outer sheath varies along the length of the first structure forming frame member;the first structure forming frame member having a variable flexibility along the length thereof;a second structure forming frame member having a length and comprising: an outer sheath made of a first material, extending the length of the second structure forming frame member, and having an aperture disposed therein having an inner diameter;a plurality of inner rods made of a second material having an outer diameter concentrically disposed within the inner diameter of the sheath aperture, wherein a number of inner rods within the outer sheath varies along the length of the second structure forming frame member;the second structure forming frame member having a variable flexibility along the length thereof; anda guide disposed about a bag body and sized to connect with the first structure forming frame member, wherein the first structure forming frame member engages the guide to provide the bag with a desired structural form, wherein the first structure forming frame member and the second structure forming frame member cross at an end of the bag, and wherein the first structure forming frame member and the second structure forming frame member may be manipulated to allow the bag to collapse into a less-voluminous configuration. 2. The bag of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of guides. 3. The bag of claim 1, wherein the bag body is made at least in part of a generally pliable material. 4. The bag of claim 3, further comprising bag bottom side and a bag top side joined by bag lateral sides and said end, defining and enclosing an interior cavity. 5. The bag of claim 4, wherein the bag body comprises a durable material that is sufficiently flexible to allow the bag to be substantially collapsed to minimize a volume of the bag for storage. 6. The bag of claim 1, wherein the first structure-forming frame member and the second structure-forming frame member have lengths of increased flexibility proximate the end of the bag where the first structure forming frame member and the second structure forming frame member cross. 7. The bag of claim 1, further comprising an access port providing access to a compartment. 8. The bag of claim 1, wherein said first and second structure forming frame members may be manipulated to allow the bag to collapse to a less-voluminous configuration. 9. The bag of claim 1, further comprising the use of more than one inner rod along a segment of the length of each structure forming frame member to create various shapes. 10. The bag of claim 9, wherein a terminal portion of each structure forming frame member comprises a smaller number of inner rods than a medial portion thereof to allow the terminal portion of each structure forming frame member to possess increased flexibility to allow for additional curvature at desired locations. 11. The bag of claim 10, the medial portion of each structure forming frame member being structured to pass along a bag top side, wherein the medial portion of the structure forming frame member comprises the use of more than one inner rod, effectively providing for a structure forming frame member which possess decreased flexibility along the length of the medial portion of the structure forming frame member. 12. The bag of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each structure forming frame member tracks the pattern of an access port, wherein each structure forming frame member portion is capable of biasing the access port into a position selected from the group consisting of an open and a closed position. 13. The bag of claim 1, wherein each structure forming frame member is configured to include one or more endless loops. 14. A soft sided bag comprising: a bag body made at least in part of a generally pliable material, comprising a bag bottom, and a bag top side joined by bag lateral sides, defining and enclosing an interior cavity, wherein the bag body comprises a durable material that is sufficiently flexible to allow the soft sided bag to be substantially collapsed to minimize a volume of the soft sided bag for storage;a structure forming frame member having a length and comprising an outer sheath extending the length of the structure forming frame member, the structure forming frame member having a variable flexibility along the length thereof, wherein a limited segment of the structure forming frame member comprises a selected number of inner rods to allow the limited segment of the structure forming frame member to possess one of increased flexibility and decreased flexibility to allow for one of additional curvature and decreased curvature at desired locations; anda plurality of guides disposed about the bag body and sized to connect with at least a portion of the structure forming frame member, wherein the structure forming frame member engages the plurality of guides, thereby providing the bag with a desired structural form, wherein the structure forming frame member may be manipulated to allow the soft sided bag to collapse into a less-voluminous configuration. 15. The soft sided bag of claim 14, wherein a plurality of structure forming frame members are disposed about the bag body, sized to engage with the plurality of guides, connect to some number of said guides, and wherein one or more structure forming frame members may be manipulated to allow the soft sided bag to collapse to a less-voluminous configuration. 16. The soft sided bag of claim 14, wherein the outer sheath has a first outer diameter and is made of a first material, the outer sheath having an aperture disposed therein having an inner diameter; and one or more inner rods made of a second material having a second outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the outer sheath aperture. 17. The soft sided bag of claim 14, wherein the structure forming frame member comprises a segment that generally tracks the pattern of access port, wherein the structure forming frame is structured to bias the access port in one of an open and closed position. 18. The soft sided bag of claim 14, further comprising the use of more than one inner rods along a segment of the length of the structure forming frame member to create various shapes. 19. The soft sided bag of claim 14, comprising a limited segment of the structure forming frame member, wherein the limited segment of the structure forming frame member comprises the use of more than one inner rod, effectively providing for a structure forming frame member which possess decreased flexibility along the length of the limited segment of the structure forming frame member. 20. The soft sided bag of claim 14, wherein the sheath is made of a first material and has an aperture disposed therein having an inner diameter, and wherein the structure forming frame member comprises at least one inner rod made of a second material having a second outer diameter concentrically disposed within the inner diameter of the sheath aperture. 21. The soft sided bag of claim 20, further comprising a number of inner rods selected from the group consisting of two inner rods, three inner rods, four inner rods, five inner rods, six inner rods, seven inner rods, eight inner rods and nine inner rods. 22. The soft sided bag of claim 20, further comprising the use of more than one inner rod along a segment of the length of the structure forming frame member to create various shapes. 23. The soft sided bag of claim 20, wherein a terminal portion of the structure forming frame member comprises a smaller number of inner rods than a medial portion thereof to allow the terminal end of the structure forming frame member to possess increased flexibility to allow for additional curvature at desired locations. 24. The soft sided bag of claim 23, the medial portion of the structure forming frame member being structured to pass along the bag top side, wherein the medial portion of the structure forming frame member comprises the use of more than one inner rod, effectively providing for a structure forming frame member which possess decreased flexibility along the length of the medial portion of the structure. 25. A structure forming frame member having a variable flexibility along a length thereof for structure forming applications, comprising: an outer sheath extending substantially an entire length of the structure forming frame member; anda plurality of inner rods disposed in the outer sheath, wherein a first length of the structure forming frame member has fewer inner rods disposed therein than a second length of the structure forming frame member, such that the first length has increased flexibility compared to the second length, and wherein a limited segment of the structure forming frame member comprises a selected number of inner rods to allow the limited segment of the structure forming frame member to possess one of increased flexibility and decreased flexibility to allow for one of additional curvature and decreased curvature at desired locations. 26. The structure forming frame member of claim 25, wherein one or more inner rods are contained within a non-hollow outer sheath. 27. The structure forming frame member of claim 25, wherein one or more inner rods are inserted into a hollow portion of an outer sheath. 28. The structure forming frame member of claim 25, further comprising a number of inner rods selected from the group consisting of two inner rods, three inner rods, four inner rods, five inner rods, six inner rods, seven inner rods, eight inner rods and nine inner rods. 29. The structure forming frame member of claim 25, further comprising the use of more than one inner rod along a segment of the length of the structure forming frame member to create various shapes. 30. The structure forming frame member of claim 25, wherein a first inner rod of the plurality of inner rods extends unbroken substantially the entire length of the structure forming frame member, and wherein a second inner rod of the plurality of inner rods extends alongside the first inner rod and within the sheath a length less than the entire length of the structure forming frame member.