AU641660B2 - Soft bag and expander - Google Patents

Description

641 Re 133133 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Name and Address of Applicant: Address for Service: Sidney Diamond 3800 North Lake Shore Drive Apartment '1-B Chicago Illinois 60613 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia r 6 0 0 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Soft Bag and Expander 0 The following statement is a full description best method of performing it known to me/us of this invention, including the 01 5504 A 01

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ABSTRACT

SOFT BAG AND EXPANDER An expander for insertion into and expansion of a soft bag (202, 302) comprising a device (200, 250, 300, 350) which is folded or collapsed to a flat state or spread apart to an expanded state. The soft bag is collapsed to a compact form in the flat state for shipment. In the expanded position, the bag is expanded to give the appearance that it is filled. A resilient member (230, 280, 281, 330, 380) is used to automatically urge the device from a flat position to its expanded position when compressive forces are removed from the bag. To provide for a greater extent of expansion in relation to the length of the device in the flat position, four sequentially arranged sections (211-214, 261-264, 311-314, 361-364), each of which is articulatable with respect to each adjacent section is provided. Expansion of a cylindrical bag (302) is facilitated by a generally rigid insert (333, 334, 382) in certain embodiments that is articulatable to better conform to the curved shape of the side portions.

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5.5 -1A- SOFT BAG AND EXPANDER This invention relates to an apparatus which is inserted in a soft bag, back-pack, or the like to either automatically or manually expand the bag to give an impression that the bag is filled for point of sale display.

For convenience of expression in this application, the term "soft bags" is used to describe all suitable devices, such as suitcases, tote bags, sports bags, back-packs, barrel bags and the like, of all sizes and types. These soft bags are presently manufactured throughout the world and transported from the manufacturer to the destination of sale in a flatly packed or nested state so as to take up minimal shipping space because the costs involved in shipping stuffed bags are prohibitive. Freight charges from the point of manufacture to the destination of the bags are usually based on the amount of space that the bags occupy. For example, twelve back-packs nested and shipped flat occupy the same amount of space (approximately one cubic foot) that is occupied by one stuffed back-pack.

Since most retailers prefer to display these soft bags in an expanded condition, a retailer often arranges for the bags to be stuffed and repacked at an S. ancillary stuffing facility located near the final 'destination or in some instances at the point of sale.

S. The bags are removed from their original shipping cartons at the stuffing facility where the stuffing, is 30 done manually with such materials as crumpled paper, stiff cardboard pieces or inflated vinyl shapes. The original shipping cartons are then disposed of and replaced by larger cartons that will hold the fully •stuffed bags.

-2- Such ancillary stuffing takes time, space, and additional personnel, which increases costs, causes inconvenience and sometimes delays delivery of the product to the point of sale. Additionally, the original shipping cartons are not reusable or recyclable and, therefore, must be discarded often requiring cartage companies, which charge a fee for waste removal and disposal at dump sites. Moreover, additional costs for the new larger cartons and additional freight charges are incurred for shipping the new cartons containing the stuffed bags to the retailer after the stuffing process is completed. In addition, such ancillary stuffing may cause storage problems for the retailer since the stuffed bags take up much more space than unstuffed bags. Accordingly, the retailer may be inclined to order limited quantities of soft bags because of storage restrictions for fully expanded bags.

Thus, there is a risk of a rapidly depleting inventory so that the retailer may be unable to reorder in time to fill the demand.

As a result of the problems associated with such ancillary stuffing of soft bags, some retailers have opted to display their bags while they are still flat and to include a picture of the bag as it appears 25 when it is expanded. This method, however, is also costly and precludes the consumer from viewing the actual expanded bag. Other retailers have contemplated having bags stuffed at the manufacturing point, but this is uneconomical because it requires more shipping space 30 so that less bags can be shipped per container causing greatly increased shipping costs.

Zoland United States Patents 4,077,451; 4,141,399; and 4,142t564 issued March 7, 1978; February 27, 1979; and March 6, 1979, respectively, show prior 3 art attempts to provide an insertable apparatus that S 1J permits a soft bag to be retained in a flattened state -3until expansion is desired. However, the coil spring of Zoland United States Patents 4,077,451 and 4,141,399 presents safety concerns, particularly with respect to soft bags that are sold for use by children. In addition, use of the coil spring incurs the significant expense not only of the spring itself but of sufficiently heavyweight cards on either side of the spring to preclude the spring pushing through the sides of the soft bag. The expandable cardboard insert of Zoland United States Patent 4,142,564 requires the user to pull a string in order to effect expansion and is restricted to such manual operation. Moreover, the insert is a relatively complex and expensive structure.

The invention provides a bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag comprising: a pair of opposed portions partially forming the bag; means connecting the portion and, together with the portions, defining a compartment expandable to a predetermined shape; one or more of the means and the portions being soft and flexible so that the compartment may be readily collapsed into a substantially flattened state or expanded into a substantially stuffed state in which So: the portions are spaced apart from each other to to substantially the full extent permitted by the to to 25 predetermined shape of the expanded compartment; the S.i expanding device including an expantable piece having at least four sections; each of the sections of the 0expandable piece being foldably attached to each of two 0 adjacent ones of the sections for articulation relative e 30 to each other; two or more adjacent ones of the sections forming a first set of sections; two or more adjacent to ones of the sections, not forming the first set of sections, forming a second set of sections; the expandable piece being articulatable between an initial 5 collapsed position in which the two or more adjacent -"ones of the sections forming the first set of sections are in a substantially flat coplanar position and at -4least partially overlap the two or more adjacent ones of the sections forming the second set of sections which are also in a substantially flat coplanar position and a fully expanded position in which sections of the first set are in a substantially parallel relation to each other and sections of the second set are in a substantially parallel relation to each other; the expanding device further including a member attached to at least one of the sections; the expandable piece being inserted into the compartment in the initial collapsed position between the opposed portions; and tension on the ;t-'L.-ieaf maember urging each set of two or more adjacent ones of the sections from its respective, substantially flat coplanar position to an intermediate position in which the sections of each set are at an angle to each other and are restrained by the predetermined shape of the expanded compartment.

In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the invention in a collapsed, substantially flattened state; FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the expanding device in an initial, substantially flat *overlapping coplanar position prior to insertion into e! 25 the soft bag; FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same combination as is shown in FIG. 1 except that'the 9990 expanding device has been urged to an expanded position until restrained by the predetermined shape of the 30 expanded bag compartment; 0 FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an another embodiment cf the invention in a collapsed, WC, substantially flattened state; FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the expanding device in an initial, substantially flat overlapping coplanar position prior to insertion into the soft bag; FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a generally rigid insert for use in combination with the expandable device shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the same combination shown in FIG. 4 but with the expanding device urged to an expanded position and restrained by the predetermined shape of the expanded bag compartment; FIG. 8 is perspective view of a yt another embodiment of the invention showing a soft bag expanded into a substantially stuffed state in which it has a generally cylindrical predetermined shape; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 with the soft bag collapsed into a substantially flattened state; o FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken generally 20 along line 10-10 of FIG. 9; ee e FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 11-11 of FIG. 8; FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken generally along line 12-12 of FIG. 11; 0 25 FIG. 13 is a top plan view of an expandable 6* piece as an unfolded, unarticulated blank;

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O• LA FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the expandable Spiece illustrated in FIG. 13 after it has been folded -6and articulated into the initial collapsed position in which two two adjacent sections that form a first set are in a substantially flat coplanar position and overlap the two sections forming a second set which are also in a substantially flat coplanar position; FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the generally rigid insert illustrated in FIGS, 10, 11 and 12 in a substantially planar position as an unarticulated blank; and FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a still another embodiment of the invention showing an expanding device outside of the soft bag with the expandable piece in an intermediate position.

FIGS. 1-16 show embodiments of the present invention in which the expandable piece of the expanding device has at least four sections with each section foldably attached to each of two adjacent sections such that the expandable piece can be articulated from an initial position in which two adjacent sections forming 20 a first set of sections are in a substantially flat coplanar position and overlap the other two sections forming a second set of sections which are also in a o substantially flat coplanar position through a series of intenrediate diamond or rhomboid positions to a fully 66* Sc06.. 25 expanded position in which the sections of the first set S i" are in a substantially parallel relation to each substantially parallel relation to each other. It will be appreciated from the drawings and the descriptions of these embodiments that the expandable piece of these embodiments in effect form a pair of gables that are inverted with respect to each other. Accordingly, this expandable device permits, for any given angular relation between two sections forming a set of sections, Sexpansion to an extent, in a direction substantially transverse to the substantially flat planes in which the sections forming each set are in when the expandable piece is in the initial position, that is generally twice as great as the extent of expansion obtainable from a single gable expandable piece for the same length of the expandable piece when it is in the initial position.

In FIG. 1 a bag expanding device 200 is shown in combination with a soft bag 202. Soft bag 202 has a pair of opposed side portions 203 and 204 with end panels 205 and 206 connecting side portions 203 and 204, and together with thie side portions defiiiing a compartment 208 that is expandable to the predetermined shape illustrated in FIG. 3. Side portions 203 and 204, as well as end panels 205 and 206, are made of a soft flexible or supple material such as nylon, vinyl, denim or the like so that bag 202, together with inserted expanding device 200, may be readily collapsed into a substantially flattened state somewhat like that illustrated in FIG. 1 or expanded into a substantially stuffed state as illustrated in FIG. 3. In the substantially stuffed state, side :::portions 203 and 204 are spaced apart from each *other to substantially the full extent permitted by end panels 205 and 206 so that the defined predetermined shape of expanded compartment 208 0 restrains expanding device 200.

~.expanableIncluded in expanding device 200 is an exadal piece 210 which is shown in top plan view- in 30 FIG. 2. Expandable piece 210 is formed of a single :piece of material into four sequentially arranged sections 211, 212, 213 and 214 plus an end flap 215.

000. Adjacent sections 211 and 212 are separated by a A p foldline 218, adjacent sections 212 and 213 are N 13 separated by a foldline 219, adjacent sections 213 and L 214 are separated by a foldline 220 while section 214 -8and adjacent flap 215 are separated by a foldline 221.

As is best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the outer surface of flap 215 overlaps part of the inside surface of section 211. Flap 215 and the portion of section 211 that overlaps are secured together by a suitable adhesive to form a continuous multi-section structure.

With flap 215 adhesively secured to section 211, sections 211 and 214 effectively become adjacent sections that are articulatable about foldline 221.

Expandable piece 210 may be constructed of corrugated board, cardboard, plastic or any other suitable material. Of course, if a plastic is used it would have to be one having properties similar to polypropelene which permits the use of a living hinge for the foldlines.

It will be appreciated, particularly from FIG. 1 that expandable piece 210 is articulatable from an initial collapsed position in which adjacent sections 212 and 213, which form a first set of sections, are in a substantially flat coplanar position and overlap adjacent sections 211 and 214 which form a second set of sections and are also in a substantially flat coplanar position to a fully expanded position in which adjacent sections 212 and 213 of the first set are in a substantially parallel relation to each other and 'adjacent sections 211 and 214 of the second set are also in a substantially parallel relation to each other.

Pulling or pushing the adjacent sections forming either set, such as sections 212 and 213, toward each other 30 will articulate expandable piece 210 between the initial collapsed position in which its elongated direction is a generally horizontal one as viewed in FIG. 1 to a generally vertical one in the fully expanded position.

During the course of such articulation from the :'.ALI 5 substantially flat horizontal position to the 4' 9 substantially vertical position, expandable piece 210 U can assume an almost infinite number of intermediate -9positions in which it is in the shape of a diamond or rhomboid such as the one illustrated in FIG. 3.

Each of sections 212 and 213 have a respective cut-out 222 and 223 leaving a respective ear 224 and 225. Attached about each of ears 224 and 225 is a resilient member 230 in the form of an elastic loop which is under tension when expandable piece 210 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1. Accordingly, in the absence of a compressive force on expandable piece 210 that overcomes the force of resilient member 230, the resilient member urges the expandable piece out of the initial collapsed position that is approximately illustrated in FIG. 1 toward the fully expanded position until articulation of expandable piece 210 is restrained in an intermediate position by the predetermined shape of expanded compartment 208 with each of adjacent sections 212 and 213 at an angle to each other and adjacent sections 211 and 214 at essentially the same angle to each other as illustrated in FIG. 3. In this intermediate position resilient member 230 is still in tension.

To assist in uniform expansion of soft bag 202 and for a smooth appearance of the bag in the "substantially stuffed state, generally rigid inserts 233 o. 25 and 234 are provided. The generally rigid inserts may, like expandable piece 210, be constructed of corrugated board, cardboard, plastic or any other suitable material. one of each of the generally rigid inserts is inserted inside compartment 208 adjacent to a respective 30 one of the side portions and spaced from the other 0: generally rigid insert with the expandable piece between them. Thus, generally rigid insert 233 is inserted adjacent to side portion 203 while generally rigid insert 234 is inserted adjacent to side portion 204 and expandable piece 210 is sandwiched between inserts 233 and 234. The outline of each of the generally rigid inserts substantially conforms to the outline of the portion to which it is adjacent. Thus, in the case of a back-pack or another soft bag having a generally rectangular solid appearance in the substantially stuffed state, each of the generally rigid inserts would be generally planar and have a rectangular shape or outline conforming to the portion to which it is adjacent.

Sections 212 and 214, as is best illustrated iil FIGS. 2 and 3, are each formed with a respective diecut, punch-out tabs 242 and 244 (tabs 242 and 244 have been omitted from FIG. 1 for ease of illustration).

Tab 242 articulates about foldline 219 while tab 244 articulates about foldline 221. With die-cut tabs 242 and 244 punched or pushed out of the plane of their respective sections to the general positions illustrated in FIG. 3, each of tabs 242 and 244 engage a generally rigid insert 233 and 234, respectively. Hence, the tabs provide greater frictional engagement between expandable piece 210 and generally rigid inserts 233 and 234 to help maintain expandable piece 210 in a particular relation to the outline of the generally rigid inserts.

e Prior to shipment by the manufacture to a o 25 customer, expanding device 200 is inserted into soft bag ee oo 202 in a collapsed, substantially flattened state similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1 altho_ jh in actual use it would be even more collapsed and flattened, in FIG. 1 expanding device 200 has been illustrated irr a slightly expanded state for ease of illustration. A number of soft bags 202 with expanding inserts 200 are S: placed in a sealed container or master carton in the collapsed, substantially flattened state to maximize 4; p shipping space. The compressive forces resulting from such packing maintains the soft bags and expanding inserts in the collapsed, substantially flattened -11state. However, when a soft bag 202 is removed from the master carton, resilient member 230 will urge sections 212 and 213 toward each other, and will simultaneously urge sections 211 and 214 toward each other, until restrained by the predetermined shape of the expanded compartment 208 defined by soft flexible material side portions 203 and 204 plus end panels 205 and 206.

FIGS. 4-7 show another embodiment of the present invention that has .dditional features not present in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3. In FIG.

4, a bag expanding device 250 is shown in combination with a soft bag 252 that has a pair of opposed side portions 253 and 254. A pair of end panels 255 and 256 'connect the side portions and, together with the side portions, define a compartment 258 that is expandable to the predetermined shape illustrated in FIG. 7. A soft flexible material is used for side portions 253 and 254 as well as for end panels 255 and 256 so that bag 252, together with inserted expanding device 250, may be readily collapsed into a substantially flattened state approximately like that illustrated in FIG. 4 or oo expanded into a substantially stuffed state as illustrated in FIG. 7. In actual use, both expanding 25 device 250 and soft bag 252 nay be collapsed into a flatter state that is illustrated in FIG. 4 in which expanding device 250 is shown in a slightly expanded t state for ease of illustration of its various components. In the substantially stuffed state, side 30 portions 253 and 254 are spaced apart from each othe to oo substantially the full extent permitted by end panels 255 and 256 so that the defined predetermined shape of expanded compartment 258 restrains expanding device 250.

y O^ Included in expanding device 250 is n--4 3 an expanding piece 260 which is shown in top plan view in FIG. 5. Expandable piece 260 is formed of a single -12piece of material, such as corrugated board, cardboard, a plastic or any other suitable material, into four sequentially arranged sections 261, 262, 263 and 264 plus an end flap 265. Adjacent sections 261 and 262 are separated by a foldline 268, adjacent sections 262 and 263 are separated by a foldline 269, adjacent sections 263 and 264 are separated by a foldline 270 while section 264 and adjacent flap 265 are separated by a foldline 271. Flap 265 and the portion of section 261 that it overlaps are seci:ed together' by a suitable adhesive resulting in sections 261 and 264 effectively becoming adjacent sections that are articulatable about jfoldline 271. Accordingly, expandable piece 250 forms a continuous multi-section structure that may be articulated from an initial collapsed position in which one set of adjacent sections are in a substantially flat coplanar position and overlap another set of adjacent sections that are also in a substantially flat coplanar position to a fully expanded position in which adjacent sections 262 and 263 of the first set are in a substantially parallel relation to each other and adjacent sections 261 and 264 of the second set are also in a substantially parallel relation to each other.

Pulling or pushing adjacent sections forming Of 0* a set toward each other will articulate expandable piece S260 between the initial collapsed position in which its S. elongated direction is a generally horizontal one as viewed in FIG. 4 to a generally vertical one in the S fully expanded position. During the course of such 30 articulation from the substantially flat horizontal position to the substantially vertical position, expandable piece 260 can assume an almost infinite number of intermediate positions in which it is in the shape of a diamond or rhomboid, such as the one AAI, 35 illustrated in FIG. 7.

Each of sections 262 and 263 have a -13respective cut-out portion 272 and 273 leaving a respective ear 274 and 275. Attached about each of ears 274 and 275 is a resilient member 280 in the form of an elastic loop which is under tension when expandable piece 260 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 4.

Similarly, each of sections 261 and 264 have respective cut-outs and ears (not shown) about which a second resilient member 281 is attached. Like resilient member 280, the second resilient member 281 is also in the form of an elastic loop which is under tension when expandable piece 260 is in the initial collapsed position. Accordingly, both resilient members 280 and 281, by exerting force on the respective sections to which they are attached, urge expandable piece 260 out of the initial collapsed position toward the fully expanded position until articulation of expandable piece 260 is restrained in an intermediate position by the predetermined shape of expanded compartment 258.

When expandable piece 260 is restrained by the predetermined shape of expanded compartment 258, as is illustrated in FIG. 7, each of adjacent sections 262 and 263 are at an angle to each other and adjacent sections 261 and 264 are essentially at the same angle to each other. In this intermediate position both 25 resilient members 280 and 281 are still in tension.

For more uniform expansion of soft bag 252 and to provide for a smooth appearance of the expanded bag, generally rigid inserts 283 and 284 are provided.

The generally rigid inserts may be constructed of the 30 same material as expandable piece 260. Preferably, each of the generally rigid inserts has an outline that substantially conforms to the outline of the side portion that it will be adjacent to when it is insarted into compartment 258. As illustrated in FIG. 6, generally rigid insert 283 has a generally rectangular outline that would conform to a portion of a generally rectangular bag or a back-pack. Generally rigid xoy 0*

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*5S5 -14insert 283 is inserted into compartment 258 of soft bag 252 adjacent to side portion 253 while generally rigid insert 284 is inserted adjacent to side portion 254 with the generally rigid inserts spaced from each other by expandable piece 260. Insert 283 is privided with a generally centrally disposed slot 285 and generally rigid insert 284 is provided with a similar slot 286.

Each of sections 262 and 264 are formed with a respective die-cut, push-out tab 292 and 294. As is best illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the tabs has outwardly extending barbed sides 295. When pushed out of the plane of their respective section, each of the tabs articulate about a foldline. Thus, tab 292 'articulates about foldline 269 while tab 294 articulates about foldline 271. Each tab engages a respective slot of a gjenerally rigid insert to maintain expandable piece 260 In a particular side-to-side and end-to-end relation between the expandable piece and the generally rigid insert. Barbed ends 295 help keep the tab from pulling out of the slot once it is inserted into the slot. The engagement of tabs 292 and 294 with their respective slots 285 and 286 facilitate putting the expandable piece together with the generally rigid inserts as a subassembly prior to insertion into the compartment of the soft bag.

As with the other embodiments, soft bag 252 S with expanding device 250 inserted into compartment 258 is maintained in the coll.apsed, substantially flattened $fee state during shipment by the compressive forces *Sresulting from packaging of a number similarl-t collapsed, substantially flattened soft bags with inserted expanding devices within a sealed master A~lcarton. Upon opening of the seal.ed container and A'removal of the collapsed, substantially ilattened soft bags, resilient members 280 and 281 will urge expandable piece 260 from its initial collapsed position.

Expandable piece 260 will in turn push the generally rigid inserts further apart against their respective side portions until the expansion of the expanding device is restrained by the predetermined shape of the expanded compartment with the expandable piece in an intermediate position in the shape of a diamond or a rhomboid.

FIGS. 8-16 illustrate further embodiments of the invention which are somewhat similar to those in FIGS. 1-7 but with some further changes and modifications for adaptation of the expanding device for use in combination with a generally cylindrical soft bag of the type sometimes referred to as a barrel bag. An expanding device 300 is contained within a soft barrel bag 302 which is shown in its expanded, substantially stuffed state in FIG. 8 and in a collapsed, substantially flattened state in FIG. 9.

Barrel bag 302 has opposed side portions 303 20 and 304 which may be constructed of a single piece of soft flexible material to also form the bottom of the barrel bag. A pair of end panels 305 and 306 connect side portions 303 and 304 which may be secured together :..along their respective top edges by a zipper 307. End 25 panels 305 and 306, together with side portions 303 and 304 define a compartment 308 that is expandable to a ~predetermined generally cylindrical shape as is best illustrated in FIGS. 8, 11 and 12. To facilitate carrying of barrel bag 302, a handle 309 is attached to 30 each side portion. The same soft flexible material may be used to construct end panels 305 and 306 as is used for the piece or pieces forming side portions 303 and 304. However, a more rigid material may be used for the NUA end panels with soft bag 302 still being collapsible into a substantially flattened state when folded as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. In the substantially -16stuffed state, side portions 303 and 304 are spaced apart from each other to the full extent permitted by end panels 305 and 306 so that the defined predetermined shape of expanded compartment 308 restrains expanding device 300.

Included in expandable device 300 is an expandable piece 310 which is shown in FIG. 13 in top plan view as an unfolded, unarticulated blank and in FIG. 14, again in top plan view, after it has been folded and articulated into the initial collapsed position. Expandable piece 310 is formed of a single piece of corrugated board, cardboard, plastic 'r any other suitable material into four sequentially arranged sections 311, 312, 313, and 314 plus an end flap 315.

Adjacent sections 311 and 312 are separated by a foldline 318, adjacent sections 312 and 313 are separated by a foldline 319, adjacent sections 313 and 314 are separated by a foldline 320 while sections 314 and adjacent flap 315 are separated by a foldline 321.

A pair of spaced apart slots 316 extend through end flap 315 along a line generally parallel to foldline 321.

Extending outwardly from the free edge of section 311 that is parallel to foldline 318 are a pair of spaced apart tabs 317 that are aligned with slots 316. As is best shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, when expandable piece 310 is folded into a continuous multi-section structure, end flap 315 will overlap part of section 311 and each one of tabs 317 will fit into and through a respective slot 316 to secure expandable piece 310 in the continuous 30 multi-section structure. Thus, the need for an adhesive as used in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 is obviated.

0000 It will be appreciated, that as with the 0 embodiments of FIGS. 1-6, expandable piece 310 is articulatable from an initial collapsed position in which adjacent sections 312 and 313, which form a first set of sections, are in a substantially flat coplanar -17position and overlap adjacent sectionis 311 and 314 which form a second set of sections and are also in a substantially flat coplanar position to a fully expanded position in which adjacent sections 312 and 313 of the first set are in a substantially parallel relation to each other and adjacent sections 311 and 314 of the second set are also in a substantially relation to each other. Pulling or pushing the adjacent sections forming either set, such as sections 312 and 313, toward each other will articulate expandable piece 310 between the initial collapsed position in which its elongated direction is generally parallel to or coincident with the axis of the predetermined cylindrical shae of expanded compartment 308, and is generally horizontal as viewed in FIG. 10, to a generally vertical one in the fully expanded position. During the course of such articulation from the substantially flat horizontal position to the substantially vertical position, expandable piece 310 can assume an almost infinite number of intermediate positions in which it is in the shape of a diamond or rhomboid such as the one illustrated in FIG. 11.

Each of sections 311 and 313 have a respective cut-out 322 and 323 leaving a respective ear 324 and 325. In addition, section 312 has a diecut, push-out tab 328 while section 311 has a similar die-cut, rush- out tab 329. Attached about each of ears 324 and 325 is a resilient member 330 in the form of an elastic loop which is under tension when expandable piece 310 is in the initial collapsed position. Accordingly, in the absence of a compressive force which overcomes the force of resilient member 330, the resilient member urges expandable piece 310 out of the initial collapsed L position that is approximately illustrated in FIG. toward the fully expanded position until the articulation of expandable piece 310 is restrained in an -19- Generally centrally disposed in segment 335 is a slot 345 that extends through the generally rigid insert. A similar slot is provided in generally rigid insert 334. One of each of tabs 328 and 329 fits through the slot of a respective one of generally rigid inserts of 333 and 334 to maintain expandable piece 310 in a particular relation with each of the generally rigid inserts. The use of the tab and slot engagement not only helps prevent shifting of the expandable piece with respect to the generally rigid inserts during expansion of the expanding device in combination with the soft bag but also facilitates insertion of the expanding device as a subassembly into the soft bag prior to shipment.

FIG. 16 shows another embodiment of an expanding device 350 particularly adapted for use with a generally cylindrical or barrel bag such as soft bag 302 shown in FIGS. 8-12. Expanding device 350 includes an expandable piece 360 formed of a single piece of material into four sequentially arranged sections 361, 362, 363, and 364 plus an end flap 365. Sections 361 and 362 cooperate to form a generally semi-circular bottom edge 366 when expandable piece 360 is in the intermediate position shown in FIG. 16. Sections 363 25 and 364 also cooperate to form a similar semi-circular bottom edge (not shown). Adjacent sections 361 and 362 are separated by a foldline 368, adjacent sections 362 S* and 363 are separated by a foldline 369, adjacent sections 363 and 364 are separated by a foldline 370 30 while section 364 and adjacent flap 365 are separated by a foldline 371. End flap 365 overlaps and is secured to a portion of section 361 by a suitable adhesive resulting in sections 361 and 364 effectively becoming adjacent sections that are articulatable with respect to SA, each other about foldline 371. Accordingly, expandable Spiece 360 is articulatable from an initial collapsed A position in which adjacent sections 362 and 363, which form a first set of sections, are in a substantially flat coplanar position and overlap adjacent sections 361 and 364 which form a second set of sections and are also in a substantially flat coplanar position to a fully expanded position in which adjacent sections 362 and 363 of the first set are in a substantially parallel relation to each other and adjacent sections 361 and 364 of the second set are also in a substantially parallel relation to each other.

Each of sections 362 and 363 have a respective cut-out 372 and 373 leaving a respective ear 374 and 375. Section 362 has a die-cut, push-out tab 378 that is articulatable about foldline 369 and section 364 has a die-cut, push-out tab 379 that is articulatable about foldline 371. A resilient member 380 in the form of an elastic loop which is under tension when expandable piece 360 is in the initial collapsed position is attached about each of ears 374 and 375.

20 To assist the uniform expansion of a soft cylindrical oZ barrel bag and for a smoother appearance of the bag in a substantially stuffed stave. a generally rigid insert 382 is provided. Generally rigid insert 382 is constructed from a single piece of corrugated 25 board cardboard, plastic, or other suitable articulatable material and has a pair of opposed generally elongated rectangular segments 383 and 384 connected to each other by a series of sequentially arranged intermediate segments, Extending toward 30 segment 384 from segment 383 are a sequential series of four, somewhat narrower segments 386. The one segment 386 adjacent segment 383 is separated from segment 383 by a foldline 387 and each of segments 386 are also AL\ separated from each other by similar foldlines 387.

Segment 384 has a sequential series of four somewhat S more narrow segments 388 extending from its inboard -21elongated edge toward segment 383. The one segment 388 adjacent segment 384 is separated from segment 384 by a foldline 389 and each of segments 388 are also separated from each other by similar foldlines 389. A central foldline 390 separates the adjacent ones of segments 386 and 388.

Segments 386 and 388 can be articulated into a generally semi-circular shape generally conforming to and abutting bottom edge 366 as well as the bottom edge formed by sections 363 and 364 of expandable piece 360.

In the initial collapsed position of expanding device 350, generally rigid insert 382 is articulated about central foldline 390 such that segments 383 plus segments 386 lie substantially in one plane and overlap segments 384 plus segments 388 which lie in substantially another plane. Thus as is illustrated in FIG. 16, generally rigid insert 382 is articulatable, as a result of the expansion of expandable piece 360, into a generally semi-circular or U-shaped configuration which generally conforms to the desired rounded appearance of the predetermined cylindrical shape of the expanded compartment of the soft barrel bag.

Segment 383 has a slot 391 through which tab 379 is inserted and segment 384 has a similar slot (not S* 25 shown) through which tab 378 is inse :ted to help maintain the relation between expandable piece 360 and generally rigid insert 382.

**e Expandable pieces 210, 260, 310 and '360 have all been shown and described as having four sides, 30 however, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that more than four sides could be used such that the expandable piece would be in the shape of a pentagon, hexagon, octagon or the like in the intermediate position.

Claims (10)

1. A bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag comprising: a pair of opposed portions partially forming the bag; means connecting the portion and. together with the portions, defining a compartment expandable to a predetermined shape; one or more of the means and the portions being soft and flexible so that the compartment may be readily collapsed into a substantially flattened state or expanded into a substantially stuffed state in which the portions are spaced apart from each other to substantially the full extent permitted by the predetermined shape of the expanded compartment; the expanding device including an expandable piece having at least four sections; each of the sections of the expandable piece 20 being foldably attached to each of two adjacent ones of :o the sections for articulation relative to each other; two or more adjacent ones of the sections forming a first set of sections; two or more adjacent ones of the sections, 25 not forming the first set of sections, forming a second set of sections; tha expandable piece being articulatable Sbetween an initial col-apsed position in which the two or more adjacent ones of the sections forming the first 3 0 set of sections are in a substantially flat coplanar -23- position and at least partially overlap the two or more adjacent ones of the sections forming the second set of sections which are also in a substantially flat coplanar position and a fully expanded position in which sections of the first set are in a substantially parallel relation to each other and sections of the second set are in a substantially parallel relation to each other; the expanding device further including a member attached to at least one of the sections; the expandable piece being inserted into the compartment in the initial collapsed position between the opposed portions; and tension on the Bii-s a member urging each set of two or more adjacent ones of the sections from its respective, substantially flat coplanar position to an intermediate position in which the sections of each set are at an angle to each other and are restrained by the predetermined shape of the expanded compartment. e 20 2. The bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag of Claim 1 in which: the member is resilient and is attached to at least two of the sections; and "the resilient member is in tension when the expandable piece is in the initial collapsed position. 0 The bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag of Claim 2 in which the resilient 4/ I member is in tension when the expandable piece is in S 0 the intermediate position. -24-

4. The bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag of Claim 2 further comprising: a second resilient member attached to at least two other sections; the second resilient member also being in tension when the expandable piece is in the initial collapsed position; and the second resilient member assisting in urging each set of two or more adjacent ones of the sections from its respective substantially flat coplanar relation to an intermediate position in which the sections of each set are at an angle to each other and are restrained by the predetermined shape of the expanded compartment.

5. The bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag of Claim 2 in which: the expanding device also includes a generally rigid insert; and the generally rigid insert is inserted inside 20 the compartment adjacent to one of the portions between the expandable piece and the one portion. S 6. The bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag of Claim 5 further comprising: *S 25 a tab extending outwardly from the expandable piece; ?AL' a slot in the gene'rally rigid insert; and C X. the tab engaging the slot to assist in maintaining the expandable piece in a particular relation to the generally rigid insert.

7. The bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag of Claim 1 in which: the expanding device also includes a generally rigid insert; and the generally rigid insert is inserted inside the compartment adjacent to one of the portions between the expandable piece and the one portion.

8. The bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag of Claim 5 or 7 in which: each of the portions has a respective predetermined outline; and the generally rigid insert substantially conforms in outline to the one portion.

9. The bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag of Claim 8 in which: the soft bag has an elongated direction and has a compartment expandable to an approximately cylindrical predetermined shape; and *0 the generally rigid insert has an elongated 4 direction and a plurality of generally planar segments that are each foldably attached to each adjacent segment along a line generally parallel to the elongated direction to conform to the portions that in part define t/l the approximately cylindrical predetermined shape when the expandable piece is in the intermediate position. -26- The bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag of Claim 7 further comprising: a tab extending outwardly from the expandable piece; a slot in the generally rigid insert; and the tab engaging the slot to assist in maintaining the expandable piece in a particular relation to the generally rigid insert.

11. The bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag of Claim 5 or 7 further comprising: a second generally rigid insert; and the second generally rigid insert being inserted inside the compartment adjacent to the other opposed portion and spaced from the first generally rigid insert with the expandable piece between the two generally rigid inserts.

12. The bag expanding device in 20 combination with a soft bag of Claim 11 in which: each the portions has a respective predetermined outline; the first generally rigid insert substantially conforms in outline to the one portion; and the second generally rigid insert Ll substantially conforms in outline to the other opposed S/ portion. -27-

13. The bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag of Claim 12 in which: the soft bag has an elongated direction and has a compartment expandable to an approximately cylindrical predetermined shape; and both of the generally rigid inserts have an elongated direction and a plurality of generally planar segments that are each foldably attached to each adjacent segment along a line generally parallel to the elongated direction so that each of the generally rigid inserts conforms to one of the portions that in 'part define the approximately cylindrical predetermined shape when the expandable piece is in the intermediate 'position.

14. The bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag of Claim 12 further comprising: a pair of tabs; each of the tabs extending outwardly from a generally opposed part of the expandable piece; a first slot in the first generally rigid insert; a second slot in the second generally rigid insert; and **00, 0« 25 one of the pair of tabs engaging the first :slot and the other of the pair of tabs engaging the [00" second slot to assist in maintaining the expandable piece in a particular relation to the first and second C generally rigid inserts. 28 A bag expanding device in combination with a soft bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawi ngs. DATED this SECOND day of JUNE 1993 Sidney Diamond Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON CO VeC 0*4 setsC 4 r1+ /Aln4l