They Invented What? (No. 180)

U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,802:  Towable bag.

JW Note:  I’d bet this kid gets beat up at school.

 

The invention claimed is:

1. A towable bag comprising: a body having at least one wheel, a first tow bar comprising a plurality of articulated sections, a first end of the first tow bar being releasably attached to the body of the bag and a second end of the first tow bar being adapted to releasably engage a coupling means being worn by the user; wherein the articulation in the first tow bar is such that two adjacent sections may rotate relative to a vertical axis when the first end of the first tow bar is attached to the body of the bag and the second end of the first tow bar is engaged with the coupling means worn by the user; wherein the joint between any two adjacent sections of the first tow bar includes locking means for locking the two sections of the first tow bar in a fixed position relative to each other. 

2. A towable bag according to claim 1 wherein at the second end of the first tow bar there is a flexible coupling allowing movement in the horizontal and vertical planes when the first end of the first tow bar is attached to the bag and the second end of the first tow bar is engaged with the coupling means worn by the user. 

3. A towable bag according to claim 1 wherein the coupling means is adapted to fit onto a belt worn by the user. 

4. A towable bag according to claim 1 wherein the first end of the first tow bar is connected to the bag using a coupling allowing rotation of the bag relative to the first tow bar. 

5. A towable bag according to claim 1 wherein the articulated sections in the first tow bar allow the bag to be held in close proximity to the user without the need to release the first end of the first tow bar from the coupling means or the second end of the first tow bar from the bag. 

6. A towable bag according to claim 1 wherein the coupling means is magnetic or electromagnetic. 

7. A towable bag according to claim 1 wherein the coupling means is mechanical. 

8. A towable bag according to claim 1 wherein the bag comprises multiple compartments. 

9. A towable bag according to claim 8 wherein at least one said compartment may be separated from the bag. 

10. A towable bag according to claim 1 wherein the body of the bag is provided with at least a first and second means for releasable engagement with a tow bar, wherein the first means is adapted to releasably engage with the first tow bar, and the second means is adapted to releasably engage with a second tow bar for coupling to a second towable bag. 

11. A towable bag comprising a body having at least one wheel, a first tow bar comprising a plurality of articulated sections, a first end of the first tow bar being releasably attached to the body of the bag and a second end of the first tow bar being adapted to releasably engage a coupling means being worn by the user; wherein the body of the bag is provided with a releasable engagement means, the engagement means adapted to releasably engage with a second tow bar attached to a second towable bag whereby two bags may be towed in a train by a single user.