Multiple purpose travel bags, travel bag systems, and related methods

A multipurpose travel bag system that is convertible between a smaller travel bag and a larger travel bag configured to carry a golf bag comprising:

• a travel bag configured to be convertible between a larger travel bag and a smaller travel bag comprising:
• a top receptacle portion having a top wall, sidewalls, and an openable floor configured to be opened during use as the larger travel bag to provide access into the top receptacle, the top wall and the side walls each comprise multiple, separable layers;
• a base having an open base cavity therein that faces upward;
• and
• a collapsible chassis attached to the top receptacle portion and the base, the collapsible chassis having a front side wall, a first side wall, a second side wall opposite the first side wall, and a rear side wall, such that the collapsible chassis is extendable and retractable between an extended position and a retracted position such that the collapsible chassis fits into the cavity of the base when the collapsible chassis is collapsed into the retracted position;
• the front side wall, the rear side wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall of the collapsible chassis each comprising a single layer and a height that does not extend past a height of a golf bag to be placed within the travel bag when the collapsible chassis is in the extended position and the openable floor of the top receptacle portion being opened, the front side wall of the collapsible chassis having an opening therein that extends vertically between the top receptacle portion and the base with handles attached to the single layered front side wall on either side of the opening in the single layered front side wall and a zipper secured to the front side wall at edges of the opening in the single layer front side wall to open and close the opening in the front side wall of the collapsible chassis;
• and
• the top receptacle portion being attachable to the base with the collapsible chassis in the base cavity to form a smaller travel bag when the collapsible chassis is in the retracted position in the base cavity and the top receptacle portion being detachable from the base so that the collapsible chassis is extendable to the extended position to form a larger travel bag, the floor within the top receptacle is opened when the collapsible chassis is in the extended position to form an enlarged storage cavity configured to hold golf bag with golf clubs therein, so that, when the golf bag with clubs therein is placed in the larger travel bag, the golf bag resides in the collapsible chassis with the single layered front side wall, rear side wall, first side wall, and second side wall and heads of the clubs reside in the top receptacle portion with multiple, separable layered top wall and side walls;
• and
• a stiffening rod configured to extend within the enlarged storage cavity to separate the receptacle portion and the base and extend the side walls of the collapsible chassis to provide space and protection for carrying the golf bag with golf clubs therein within the enlarged storage cavity.

A method of converting a multipurpose travel bag between a smaller travel bag and a larger travel bag with an enlarged storage cavity, the method comprising:

• providing a travel bag comprising:
• a top receptacle portion having a top wall, sidewalls, and an openable floor configured to be opened during use as the larger travel bag to provide access into the top receptacle, the top wall and the side walls each comprise multiple layers;
• a base having an open base cavity therein that faces upward;
• and
• a collapsible chassis attached to the top receptacle portion and the base, the collapsible chassis having a front side wall, a first side wall, a second side wall opposite the first side wall, and a rear side wall, such that the collapsible chassis is extendable and collapsible between an extended position and a retracted position;
• the front side wall, the rear side wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall of the collapsible chassis each comprising a single layer and a height that does not extend past a height of a golf bag to be placed within the travel bag when the collapsible chassis is in the extended position and the openable floor of the top receptacle portion being opened, the front side wall of the collapsible chassis having an opening therein that extends vertically between the top receptacle portion and the base with handles attached to the single layered front side wall on either side of the opening in the single layered front side wall and a zipper secured to the front side wall at edges of the opening in the single layer front side wall to open and close the opening in the front side wall of the collapsible chassis;
• and
• detaching the top receptacle portion from the base;
• and
• extending the collapsible chassis to the extended position to form a larger travel bag so that when the golf bag with clubs therein is placed in the larger travel bag, the golf bag resides in the collapsible chassis with the single layered front side wall, rear side wall, first side wall, and second side wall and heads of the clubs reside in the top receptacle portion with multiple, separable layered top wall and side walls.