AU2022226851A1

AU2022226851A1 - Bag securement apparatus and a method of utilisation thereof

Info

Publication number: AU2022226851A1
Application number: AU2022226851A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Danien Beets
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-02-25
Filing date: 2022-02-24
Publication date: 2023-08-31
Also published as: WO2022178588A1

Abstract

There is provided herein bag securement apparatus for securement of bags (such as handbags, kitbags, beach bags and or the like) having valuables therein, especially in beach sand. The bag securement apparatus comprises an auger ground anchor comprising a shaft, a blade at a distal end thereof and a securement loop engagement and turning handle connection at a proximal end thereof. The apparatus further comprises a turning handle having a proximal end engageable to the turning handle connection. The handle may be connected to the auger ground shaft and used to screw the auger ground shaft into the ground. A securement loop of a bag may then be attached to the securement loop engagement so that the bag cannot be taken.

Description

Bag securement apparatus and a method of utilisation thereof

Field of the Invention

[0001 ] This invention relates generally to apparatus for securing bags comprising valuables therein.

Background

[0002] It is often desirous to secure one’s valuables on the beach whilst away swimming or the like and whereas larger secure container type devices are impractical, such as that which is disclosed in US4436214A (Henderson) 1984-03-13, various auger-type securement apparatus have been envisaged which can be attached to any type of beach bag. For example, US7559218B2 (Soudan) 2009-07- 14 discloses a beach item securing apparatus which has an auger and locking housing attachable thereto to secure a bag chain.

[0003] The present invention seeks to provide a way to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0004] There is provided herein bag securement apparatus for securement of bags (such as handbags, kitbags, beach bags and or the like) having valuables therein. [0005] The bag securement apparatus comprises an auger ground anchor comprising a shaft, a blade at a distal end thereof and a securement loop engagement and turning handle connection at a proximal end thereof. The apparatus further comprises a turning handle having a proximal end engageable to the turning handle connection. [0006] As such, the handle may be connected to the auger ground shaft and used to screw the auger ground shaft into the ground. Blades of various configurations may be suited for beach sand, soil and hardpacked ground.

[0007] A securement loop of a bag may then be attached to the securement loop engagement so that the bag cannot be taken. [0008] The apparatus may comprise a securement loop formed by a fixed piece fixed to a body of the bag and a zipper piece slidable with a zipper thereof relative to the fixed piece which cooperate to form a loop when a zip thereof is closed.

[0009] As such, the zip of the bag may be further held closed by the apparatus so that valuables cannot be taken therefrom.

[0010] The fixed piece may comprise proximal and distal apertures which go around the shaft to collocate with a further distal aperture of the zipper piece so that a padlock or the like can go through all three to form a loop.

[0011 ] The securement loop engagement may comprise a disc having a diameter greater than a maximum opening formed by the loop so that the disc cannot pass therethrough, thereby securing the securement loop to the auger ground anchor. [0012] When the turning handle is removed, it is difficult or impossible to grip the circular disc to unscrew the auger.

[0013] As such, the present arrangement provides a more robust, smaller and simpler configuration as compared to prior art arrangements and which can be quickly and easily deployed and which can be easily stored in a beach bag or the like when disassembled.

[0014] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016] Figure 1 shows bag securement apparatus in accordance with an embodiment;

[0017] Figures 2 - 5 illustrate the utilisation of the apparatus; and

[0018] Figure 6 shows a securement loop in accordance with an embodiment.

Description of Embodiments

[0019] Beach bag securement apparatus 100 comprises an auger ground anchor 101 comprising a shaft 102 and one or more blades 103 at a distal end thereof. The blades 103 may be generally helical for screwing into beach sand. Flowever, in embodiments, the blades 103 may have a smaller diameter and/or pitch than that which is shown to be suited for screwing into soil or hardpacked ground.

[0020] The anchor 101 further comprises a securement loop engagement 104 and a turning handle connection 105 at a proximal end thereof. The apparatus 100 further comprises a turning handle 106 having a proximal end releasably engageable to the turning handle connection 105.

[0021 ] More specifically, the turning handle 106 may comprise a turning handle key portion 107 which keys with a turning handle connection key portion 108 of the anchor 101.

[0022] The turning handle key portion 107 and the turning handle connection key portion 108 may comprise a key profile which is non-standard so that conventional metric or imperial spanners, screwdrivers, Allen keys and or the like cannot be used to connect to the turning handle connection key portion 108 to remove the anchor 105.

[0023] In the embodiment shown, the key profile is star shaped. In embodiments, the key profile may be selected from a set of key profiles. As such, apparatus 100 may be sold with a variety of key profiles so that it is unlikely that users of the apparatus 100 will be able to remove each other’s anchors 101.

[0024] The turning handle key portion 107 may comprise a female portion and the turning handle connection key portion 108 may comprise a male portion. As such, the female portion receives the male portion therein to engage the handle 106 to the anchor 101. The female portion may comprise a proximal disc 109 defining a keyed aperture 110 therein. Furthermore, the male portion may comprise a cross-section corresponding to the keyed aperture 1 10. Furthermore, the male portion may extend along a longitudinal axis of the shaft 102 such that the female portion engages the male portion when the handle 106 is orthogonal with respect to the shaft 102 substantially shown in Figure 1.

[0025] The securement loop engagement 104 may comprise a disc 11 1 having a diameter substantially greater than that of the shaft 102. A securement loop may engage underneath the disc 1 11 in use wherein the securement loop forms a loop having a maximum opening through which the disc 111 cannot pass.

[0026] With reference to Figure 6, there is shown a securement loop 1 12 in accordance with an embodiment. The securement loop 1 12 may comprise a fixed piece 113 which is sewn or otherwise fixed to a body 114 of a beach bag or the like at a proximal end 115 thereof. Furthermore, the securement loop may comprise a zipper piece 116 attach to a zipper 117. As such, the zipper piece 116 slides with the zipper 117 relative to the fixed piece 113. The zipper 117 closes a zip 118 of the bag when the zipper piece 1 16 is adjacent the fixed piece 1 13.

[0027] The fixed piece 1 13 may comprise a proximal aperture 119 and a distal aperture 120. Furthermore, the zipper piece 116 may comprise a distal aperture 121. As such, the fixed piece 1 13 may go around the shaft 1 12 under the disc 1 11 and a securement (such as a combination padlock or the like) may go through the collocating apertures 1 19, 120 and 121 of the securement loop 112 to thereby form a loop having a maximum opening through which the disc 1 12 cannot pass.

[0028] Figures 2 - 5 illustrate the utilisation of the apparatus 100. As shown in Figure 2, the handle 106 is connected to the auger ground anchor 101 by placing the turning handle key portion 107 over the turning handle connection key portion 108.

[0029] The handle 106 is then turned anticlockwise (given the orientation of the blades 103 shown) such that the blades 103 screw into the beach sand 122. The handle 106 may comprise a distal knob 123 to aid leverage of the handle 106. In an alternative preferred form, the blades 103 are configured such that the blades 103 screw into the beach sand 122 when the handle 106 is turned clockwise.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the handle 106 may be pulled from the turning handle connection 108, thereby leaving the securement loop engagement 104 and an upper portion 124 of the shaft 102 exposed above the beach sand 122. The handle 106 may then be placed inside a bag 125. The preferably circular profile of the disc 1 11 makes it difficult or impossible to unscrew the auger ground anchor 101 by hand.

[0031 ] As shown in Figure 4, the bag 125 is brought close to the auger ground anchor 101 so that the fixed piece 1 13 can go around the shaft 102 until the apertures 119, 120 thereof can collocate with the distal aperture 121 of the zipper piece 116 therebetween. As shown in Figure 5, a securement 126 (being a combination padlock in this instance) is secured through the collocating apertures 119, 120 and 121 thereby forming a loop having a maximum opening through which the disc 1 11 cannot pass.

[0032] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

Claims

1 . Bag securement apparatus comprising: an auger ground anchor comprising a shaft, a blade at a distal end thereof and a securement loop engagement and turning handle connection at a proximal end thereof; and a turning handle having a proximal end engageable to the turning handle connection.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the turning handle comprises a turning handle key portion which keys into a turning handle connection key portion of the anchor.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the turning handle key portion and the turning handle connection key portion comprise a non-standardised key profile.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the key profile is star shaped.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the turning handle key portion and the turning handle connection key portion are selected from a set of key profiles.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the turning handle key portion is a female portion, turning handle connection key portion is a male portion and wherein the female portion receives the male portion therein to engage the handle to the anchor.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the female portion comprises a proximal disc defining a keyed aperture therein, the male portion comprises a cross- section corresponding to the keyed aperture, the male portion extending along a longitudinal axis of the shaft and wherein the female portion engages the male portion therein when the handle is orthogonal with respect to the shaft.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the securement loop engagement comprises a disc having a diameter greater than that of the shaft and wherein a securement loop engages the disc in use.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the securement loop and wherein the securement loop forms a loop having a maximum opening through which the disc cannot pass.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the securement loop comprises a fixed piece and a zipper piece slidable with a zipper relative thereto and wherein the fixed piece and a zipper piece cooperate to form a loop.

11 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fixed piece comprises proximal and distal apertures and wherein the zipper piece comprises a distal aperture and wherein the fixed piece goes around the shaft and a securement goes through collocating the apertures of the fixed piece and the zipper piece.

12. A method of securing a bag using the apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , the method comprising connecting the handle to the turning handle connection and turning the handle to turn the shaft of the anchor so that the blade thereof screw into the ground, disengaging the handle from the handle connection and attaching a securement loop of a bag to the securement loop engagement.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising inserting the handle into the bag before attaching the attaching a securement loop.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further comprising sliding the zipper piece along a zip of the bag to the fixed piece to close the bag and connecting the fixed piece and the zipper piece together.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising inserting a securement through collocating proximal and distal apertures of the fixed piece and the distal aperture of the zipper piece.