AU4417900A - Foldable toiletry bag - Google Patents

Description

WO 00/62639 PCT/GBOO/01432 FOLDABLE TOILETRY BAG The invention relates to an item of luggage and in particular to a bag or case for carrying toiletries and the like which is intended for use in bathrooms, shower cubicles and other wet or humid environments. Toiletry bags are known comprising a pouched bag having a zip in which a person's toiletries are generally kept in a single compartment. In the prior art toiletry bags, the various items are contained in no order and it can be difficult to locate a particular item and it is often necessary to remove some items to gain access to the desired item. Vanity cases and the like are also known, however, these are generally made as superior decorative items not suitable for use in humid environments. It is an object of the present invention to provide an item of luggage for use in various humid environments, which is adapted to receive in an ordered manner the various toiletries and which allows easy access to all the individual items. Accordingly, the present invention provides a storage bag for toiletries and personal grooming items, comprising first and second walls linked by hinge means such that in a closed position the first and second walls are disposed in opposed relationship, and openable in the manner of a book to an open position in which the first and second walls are substantially disposed in the same plane, at least one of said first and second walls having at least one pocket being provided to retain contents when the storage bag is in the closed position, and a pocket support member having at least one pocket, the pocket support member being mountable in at least first and second positions in the bag. The bag according to the invention allows easy access to individual items and prevents items becoming dislodged when the bag is closed. The storage bag may comprise at least one pocket on each of said first and WO 00/62639 PCT/GBOO/01432 2 second walls, wherein the pockets have the same orientation when the bag is in the open position. In this case, when the bag is opened for use and is orientated vertically all of the pockets may face upwards to securely retain their respective items.. The storage bag may comprise a pocket support member mounted to one of said side walls and supporting at least one pocket, wherein the pocket support member is rotatable through at least 180*. Such a configuration allows the pockets on said first and second portions to be aligned in the same orientation whether the bag is in its opened or closed position. The storage bag may comprise a hook extendable from the interior of the bag for suspending the bag in its open position, and the bag comprises a compartment in which the hook is stored when not in use. The storage bag may be made from waterproof and chemically resistant materials. The invention will now be described in more detail and by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the bag according to the invention in an unfolded condition; Figure 2 is a side view of the bag in a folded condition; Figure 3 is a plan view of the bag in an unfolded condition and showing the inside of the bag; Figure 4 is a plan view of the bag in an unfolded condition and showing the other side of the bag; Referring to the drawings, a bag 1 is shown comprising a support member 2 made of a woven plastic or leatherette material. The support member 2 forms side WO 00/62639 PCT/GBOO/01432 3 walls having an external face 3 and an internal face 4. The bag 1 is shown in an open condition. The support member 2 has upper and lower portions 5, 6 that are delimited by a fold line 7. Each portion 5, 6 has a handle part 8, 8' mounted on a distal end thereof. The bag 1 is closed by folding the support member 2 along the fold line 7 to bring the internal side wall 4 of each portion 5, 6 together in an overlapping arrangement. The bag I is shown in its closed condition in figure 2. The handle parts 8, 8' abut to form a U-shaped handle. The bag is sealed by means of a sliding clasp fastener 10 (best shown in figure 3) which extends around the entire perimeter of the bag when laid flat in its open condition. In the present embodiment, two fastener pulls 9, 9' are provided as shown in figure 3 so that the bag can be closed from either side. As shown in figure 2, the perimeter of one portion 5 or 6 of the support member is provided with a lip 11 that covers the fastener 10 when the bag 1 is in the closed condition. The fastener 10 is made from a material which is not susceptible to deterioration due to exposure to water; in this case the fastener is plastic. Turning now to figure 3, the inside of the bag 1 is shown in plan view. Upper portion 5 and lower portion 6 each have a plurality of pockets 12 mounted on their internal face 4. When in use, the bag may be hung up by means of the handle part 8 of the upper portion 5. However, there may not always be a convenient place to hang the bag by the handle portion 8. The bag of the present embodiment is, therefore, provided with a hook 13 attached by a chain 14 to the inside of the bag 1. The hook 13 provides a more convenient means of suspending the bag 1 when in use. When the hook 13 is not being used it can be stored in its own compartment 15 together with the chain 14.

WO 00/62639 PCT/GBOO/01432 4 Each pocket 12 has a netted pocket body 16 and an elasticated opening 17 for securely containing the contents of the pocket. In the present embodiment, the pockets 12 are mounted, by way of stitching or other convenient means, to a pair of stiffened inserts 18 and 19 mounted in their respective portions 5 and 6. The inserts are substantially planar pocket support members. The pockets 12 are orientated such that when the bag is in its open condition as shown in figure 3, each of the pockets 12 opens in the same longitudinal direction of the bag. Thus, the pockets 12 face upwards when the bag 1 is suspended by the handle portion 8 or the hook 13. The contents of the pockets are then easily accessed by the user and are not likely to fall from the bag accidentally. In an alternative embodiment, the insert 18 is dispensed with and the pockets are merely stitched to the internal wall of the portion 5. It is clear that when the bag 1 is in its closed condition and is being carried by the handle formed by handle portions 8, 8' the pockets 12 of the lower portion 6 will be orientated oppositely to the view in figure 3. The openings of the pockets 12 will face vertically downwards. It is a feature of the present embodiment that the insert 19 supporting the pockets 12 of the lower portion 6 is removable. Thus, when the bag is not in use in a shower or other environment, the insert 19 may be removed and reinserted in the opposite orientation such that the pockets 12 when the bag is in its closed condition all face in the same direction. The insert 19, consisting of a hardboard or stiff plastic covered in the same plastic material used for the support member 2, is mounted by means of a press fastening (such as VELCRO RTM) or press studs (not shown).

WO 00/62639 PCT/GBOO/01432 5 In an alternative embodiment the insert 19 may be permanently but rotatably mounted within the bag. In addition to the pockets 12, the bag 1 may have further pockets 20 provided on the internal face 4. Pockets 20 are closed (i.e. their are not made of netted material but of an impermeable material) and have fasteners 21 for sealing their openings. The bag I has a detachable strap 22 having clips at either end so that it can be attached to the bag 1. Figure 4 shows loops 23, 23' located at corners of the upper portion 5 on the external side wall 3 to which the strap 22 is connected. The strap 22 allows the bag to be carried over the shoulder by a user. In figure 3, the strap 22 is shown detached from the bag 1 and stowed conveniently under loops 24 in the space between the inserts 18 and 19. Figure 4 also shows a compartment 24 on the external face 3 of the lower portion 6 for inserting a nametag or other label. All the-materials of constituting exposed parts of the bag are waterproof and resistant to chemicals especially detergents which might be spilt accidentally. Any exposed edges are preferably sealed, for example around the perimeter of the bag which may be face stitched. This is so as to prevent mould formation due to humid environments. Whilst an embodiment of the invention has been described, modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art which may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the sliding clasp fastener may be replaced with a press fastener or any other convenient closure system. The number and arrangement of the pockets may be varied. The number of portions of the bag is not limited to two and further portions may be included whether or not they comprise further pockets.

WO 00/62639 PCT/GBO0/01432 6 Whilst the bag of the embodiment comprises a single folding line or hinge, the bag may be provided with a narrow gusset having a folding line or hinge either side whilst still allowing the first and second portions to be unfolded to lie in a single plane. The gusset may be reinforced with a stiff material so that the bag can be supported upright when closed, using the gusset as a base. In an alternative embodiment both inserts 18 and 19 are removable. In a further embodiment, a first wall has a fixed pocket support member mounted thereon. A second pocket support member is stackable on said first pocket support member and the bag can be closed and sealed with the second pocket support member overlaid on the first pocket support member. When the bag is in use, the bag is opened and the second pocket support member is mounted on the second wall of the bag. In a still further embodiment, a first pocket support member is mounted to a first wall of the bag. A second pocket support member is fixed by hinge means to the first pocket support member. The second pocket support member is movable from a first position in which it overlays the first pocket support member to a second position where the second pocket support member is completely removed from the first pocket support member. In this embodiment it is preferable that the second pocket support member when in the second position lies substantially flat against a second wall of the bag.

Claims (5)

1. A storage bag for toiletries and personal grooming items, comprising first and second walls linked by hinge means such that in a closed position the first and second walls are disposed in opposed relationship, and openable in the manner of a book to an open position in which the first and second walls are substantially disposed in the same plane, at least one of said first and second walls having at least one pocket being provided to retain contents when the storage bag is in the closed position, and a pocket support member having at least one pocket thereon, the pocket support member being mountable in at least first and second positions in the bag.

2. A storage bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pocket support member is mountable to one of said first and second walls.

3. A storage bag s claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said pocket support member is mounted to one of said first and second walls and is rotatable through at least 180*.

4. A storage bag as claimed in any one preceding claim, comprising a hook extendable from the interior of the bag for suspending the bag in its open position, and a compartment in which the hook is stored when not in use.

5. A storage bag as claimed in any one preceding claim, wherein the materials forming the exposed parts of the bag are water proof and chemically resistant materials.