I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to utility bags used to contain a variety of articles, and more particularly to such bags which includes means for holding the bag in an open configuration through the use of stiffening members.
II. Prior Art
Over the years, a wide variety of utility bags have been devised to carry virtually any type of article. Many of those bags are constructed from a flexible material, such as a fabric, cloth, leather or synthetic sheet, and some include means for keeping the bag in an open configuration.
Of those bags which employ means for keeping the bag in an open configuration, this objective is often accomplished by the inclusion of curved rods sewn into the upper rim of the opening. Other such bags may include strips that resiliently bias the sides away from one another, such as the bag disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,525. In that device, the sides are allowed to fold onto themselves when the bag is opened, while a pair of strips of heavier gauge flexile material attached to the inside of the bag act to keep the bag open.
While the aforementioned bag may achieve its stated purpose, there remains a need for a utility bag which can easily and reliably be opened and held open by virtue of its own structure, and through the folding of its sides. Ideally, such a bag would allow folding away of the sides in such a manner as to expose the entire internal surface area of the base of the bag. Furthermore, the bag should allow an upper portion of the sides to conveniently fold parallel to the lower portion of the sides, such that the open configuration of the bag is maintained by the filling of the bag with the desired articles. In this manner, the user has easy access to the entire contents of the bag without having to push away the sides. As will be seen in the descriptions provided herein, such a bag is particularly useful for holding vertically oriented, relatively flat plastic bags, such as those designed to hold plastic worms used by fisherman. However, it will become apparent that the construction of the present invention and its corresponding unique features may also be used in a wide range of situations, such as a cosmetic bag, shaving kit, and other diverse applications.