CA2689055A1

CA2689055A1 - Multipurpose carrying bag

Info

Publication number: CA2689055A1
Application number: CA 2689055
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jean Bouchard; Raymonde Bernier
Original assignee: INVENTIONS A TI-JEAN Inc
Current assignee: INVENTIONS A TI-JEAN Inc
Priority date: 2009-12-23
Filing date: 2009-12-23
Publication date: 2011-06-23

Abstract

There is disclosed a carrying bag which comprises one or more cases of flexible material, each case being adapted to contain various articles. A
fastener is provided along the edges of the cases to allow one case to be fittingly fixed to another similar case. A member such as a strap, a band or the like is fixed to the bag to carry same. The bag may also be provided with a band combination allowing carrying of the bag over the shoulders.

Description

File no. P1316CAOO

MULTIPURPOSE CARRYING BAG
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to the field of multipurpose carrying bags. More particularly, this invention relates to carrying bags which can be held in the hands or be worn over the shoulders by a user. Still more particularly, the present invention is concerned with a carrying bag of the type which includes one or a plurality of cases of flexible material which can be fixed together whenever there is a need to fill more than one case with various articles. The invention also relates to a sheet of flexible material that can be used to provide a carrying bag according to the invention.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Several types of bag are provided for carrying electronic devices, such as cellular phones, identity documents, pocket books, umbrellas, tools, reusable shopping bags or other articles of various nature.

[0003] Generally these bags comprise a container portion having given dimensions which cannot be extended or reduced. Also, openings into the container are provided at a given location and these openings cannot be moved.

[0004] There is therefore a need for improved multipurpose carrying bags which are more versatile and adaptable for any quantity of various articles than the bags of the prior art.

SUMMARY

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide multipurpose carrying bags that overcome or mitigate at least some of the disadvantages of known bags or at least provide a useful alternative.

[0006] In order to overcome disadvantages of the prior, there is provided a sheet of flexible material adapted to be folded into a carrying bag that can be used to contain various articles inserted thereinto through an opening provided therein. The File no. P1316CAOO

sheet of flexible material comprises a releasable fastening means provided on one face thereof along edges thereof so that when folded along a central axis, the sheet define the above bag, the opening being available when partly spreading the folded sheet apart.

[0007] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a carrying bag comprising a first case of flexible material adapted to contain various articles inserted thereinto through an opening provided therein.
Releasably fastening means are provided along the edges of the first case allowing to fittingly fix the first case against a second case substantially similar to the first case along the edges thereof. The bag also comprises holding means and means for fixing the holding means to the first case, the holding means being adapted to handle and/or carry the bag.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a carrying bag comprising a first case made of flexible material adapted to contain various articles inserted thereinto through an opening provided therein. A
second case of flexible material which is substantially similar to the first case is provided.
Releasably fastening means are provided along the edges of the first and/or second case for allowing to fittingly fix the first case against the second case along the edges thereof while defining a pouch between the first and second cases.
The pouch is adapted to contain articles which are added thereto upon releasing a portion of the fastening means. Holding means and means for fixing the holding means to the first and/or second case are also provided, the holding means being adapted to handle and/or carry the bag.

[0009] The term "Case" is intended to mean a case or a sheet of flexible material adapted to be folded and to contain various articles. Two cases may be joined together to form a carrying bag.

File no. P1316CAOO

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

[0011] Fig. la is a view in elevation of a flexible sheet according to the invention having a Velcro fastener along all its edges in a fully opened position and adapted to form a case;

[0012] Fig. 1 b is a view in elevation similar to that of Fig 1 a wherein a Velcro type fastener is provided along part only of the edges;

[0013] Fig. 2a is a view in elevation of the flexible sheet of Fig. la in closed position to define a bag;

[0014] Fig. 2b is a view similar to Fig. 2a using the flexible sheet of Fig 1 b to define another type of bag;

[0015] Fig. 3a is a partial view in elevation of the bag of Fig. 2a, in a partially opened position;

[0016] Fig. 3b is a partial view in elevation of the bag of Fig. 2b, in a partially opened position;

[0017] Fig. 4 is an elevation view of a carrying bag according to another embodiment which includes a carrying brace;

[0018] Figs. 5a to 5d are schematic elevation views showing the steps for longitudinally and transversely folding a flexible sheet having a Velcro type fastener along its four edges and aprovided with an attaching strip;

[0019] Fig. 6a is a schematic perspective view of two cases ready to be fixed together to form a carrying bag according another embodiment of the invention;

File no. P1316CAOO

[0020] Fig. 6b is a detailed perspective view showing an opening provided in the carrying bag of Fig. 6a;

[0021] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a carrying bag according to another embodiment of the invention comprising two cases assembled together and including a strap for carrying the bag over the shoulders;

[0022] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a rigid frame to be disposed between the two cases of Fig. 6a;

[0023] Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a carrying bag according to another embodiment of the invention wherein the frame of Fig. 8 is disposed between two cases to increase the volume of the pouch;

[0024] Fig. 10 is a top view of a flexible frame which can be wrapped around the two cases of Fig. 6a;

[0025] Fig. 11 is an exploded view in perspective of the carrying bag of Fig.
6a according another embodiment of the invention, wherein the flexible frame of Fig.
is wrapped around the two cases of Fig. 6a; and [0026] Fig. 12 is a view in elevation of a carrying bag according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, and in the description which follows, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

[0028] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. la, there is shown a sheet of flexible material 110 in a fully opened position. The sheet may be made of any flexible material such as leather, tissue, woven or non-woven fabric, plastic, net, web, tarp or the like. Sheet 110 is symmetrical according to axis File no. P1316CAOO

114 shown in dotted line in Fig. la. A releasable fastening means, in the present case a Velcro type fastener 116 is disposed along the entire edges 118 of sheet 110. Of course any other releasable fastening means known to those skilled in the art could be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0029] A holding tab 120 is fixed to case 110 in known manner and also as indicated has its free end wrapped around a ring 122. Ring 122 can be adapted for a plurality of known uses. In the present case, however it serves to hold a carabiner clip 124 which is hooked to ring 122. Also a lanyard can be fixed below the holding tab 120 to be used as a handle or with the carabiner clip 124 to be attached to larger object. Carabiner clip 124 can be hung to a belt loop for carrying the bag or can be used for a multiplicity of purposed which are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0030] Referring also to Fig. 2a, sheet 110 is shown in closed position to define a bag 111. To achieve this, sheet 110 has been folded along axis 114. As illustrated, a half portion of fastener 116 faces a symmetrical half portion of the releasable fastener 116 and is thereby releasably fixed thereto. In this manner, sheet forms a closed pouch or bag 111 adapted to contain various articles. For example, by placing an object on half of sheet 110 before folding it as indicated above, it is possible to close case 110 around an object having a protuberance such as a hammer handle 126 as shown. When fastening the half portions of the fastener 116, an adjustable opening 128 is formed around hammer handle 126.

[0031] Referring now to Fig. 1 b, there is shown a different sheet of flexible material 112 wherein the fastening means, here fastener 113, extends only part along the edges 119 thereof. More particularly, fastener 113 runs along the entire top edge of sheet 112, and only part of the lateral edges as shown. It is absent along the lower edge and the lower parts of the lateral edges.

File no. P1316CAOO

[0032] When folding sheet 112 as shown in Fig 2b, it will be realized that a different type of fastener 115, such as glue, sewing, or the like is used, in addition to fastener 113 to form bag 117 which is otherwise similar to bag 111.

[0033] Referring to Fig. 3a, the bag 111 formed of folded sheet 110 is shown in a partially opened position. To open the bag, the two corner portions 130 and 132 of fastener 116 are spreaded apart as shown to form an opening 134 allowing to introduce or remove an article into bag 111. Opening 134 is adjustable depending on the article to be inserted in or removed from bag 111 [0034] Fig. 3b illustrates the bag 117 formed by folding sheet 112, which is substaqntially similar to bag 111 except that the lower edges are glued or sewed at 115.

[0035] Referring to Fig. 4, there is shown a case 410 according to another embodiment. Case 410 is similar to case 110 except that it is adapted to be provided with a holding means, here a strap 412 which allows someone to hold the bag for example over the shoulders. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the bag is somewhat similar to the one illustrated in Fig. 1 a, however it is in folded position as illustrated in Fig 2a. Thus it includes a holding tab 120, a ring 122 and a carabiner 124.
With respect to the holding strap 412, it will be seen to consist of two portions 412a and 412b as shown. Strap portion 412a has an end 414 removably fastened to fastener 416, here of Velcro type, as shown, to an upper corner of the bag. Strap portion 412b on the other hand has end 418 fixed in know manner such as by sewing, to the opposite lower corner of the bag. The free ends of strap portions 412a and 412b are tied together by means of a buckle 420. Of course any other attaching means could be used as is well known to those skilled in the art. In this manner the bag consisting of a folded case 410 can easily be carried over the shoulder.

[0036] Concurrently referring to Fig. 5a to Fig. 5d, there is illustrated an embodiment wherein the case referred to here by reference numeral 510, is folded into 1/4th of its size. The folding process for case 510 is well illustrated in Figs. 5a to File no. P1316CA00 5d. On Fig. 5a, the case 510 is shown with a releasable fastening means, here a fastener 512 of the Velcro along the edges 514 of case 510. An attaching strip 516 is releasably mounted on a portion of fastener 512. For providing a better fastening of strip 516 to fastener 512, the attaching strip 516 is covered with a Velcro type fastener (not shown in Figs. 5a to 5d). Case 510 is folded along axis of symmetry 518 to form a pouch shown in Fig. 5b. Each half portion of the releasable fastener 512 faces a symmetrical half portion of releasable fastener 512. As illustrated particularly in Figs 5a and 5b, attaching strip 516 has an available hanging down end '519. After closing case 510 in half, it is again folded, this time along axis 520 to form a case folded in 1/4th as shown in Fig. 5c.
Fig. 5d is a bottom view of case 510 folded as in Fig. 5c taken along line AN. As seen on Fig. 5d, folded case 510 now comprises two pouches 522 and 524, each openable at respective corners 526 and 528 as shown. The available end 519 of attaching strip 516 has been inserted between corresponding edges of the pouch 524 for retaining the pouches 522 and 524 together.

[0037] Referring now to Fig. 6a, there are shown two cases 610 and 612 ready to be fixed together. Case 610 has a releasable fastener 614 (here a Velcro fastener) provided along the edges 616 thereof. The releasable fastener 614 is disposed behind case 610 and is delimited by dash lines as shown. Case 612 on the other hand has a releasable fastener 620 disposed along the edges 622 of case 612. The releasable fastener 614 and the releasable fastener 620 face one another and are ready to be fixed together to form a carrying bag 624 as shown in Fig. 6b.

[0038] Referring to Fig. 6b, there is shown a detail of the upper right corner of the carrying bag 624. Corner portions 626 of fastener 614 and facing corner portions 628 of the fastener 620 can be released as shown to form an opening 630 allowing to introduce or remove one or more articles into or from the carrying bag 624.
The opening 630 is adjustable depending on the article.

File no. P1316CA00 [0039] Referring to Fig. 7, there is shown a carrying bag 710 according to another embodiment. The carrying bag 710 is made up of a first case 712 and a second case 714 substantially similar to the first case 712. The first case 712 and the second case 714 are releasably fixed together by means of a fastener 728 shown in dotted line. Of course, only one fastener 728 may be provided either with case 712 or case 714. Preferably however, for better fastening, both cases 712 and are provided with their own fastener 718 a fastening means, not shown, as previously described.

[0040] The carrying bag 710 also comprises a holding tab 716 similar to holding tab 120 having an end disposed at a given location, here centrally at the top, along the edges of the first and/or second cases 712 and 714 and fixed thereto in known manner, for example through fasteners 718. The other end of the holding tab is wrapped around a ring 718 as shown. The carrying bag 710 further comprises a strap 720 formed of two parts 720a and 720b, each part having an end 722 and 724 fixedly disposed between first case 712 and second case 714, for example, at the bottom of bag 710 at both corners thereof or in another configuration as shown in Fig. 4. Part 720a extends through the ring 718, and the free ends of the both parts 720a and 720b are adjusted and connected together by means of a buckle 726. Such strap 720 permits to wear the carrying bag 710 as a backpack.

[0041] Referring now to Fig. 8, there is shown a rigid or semi-rigid frame 810 which is adapted to be disposed between two cases as shown in Fig 9, and spacedly fix them together. For this purpose, the front face of frame '810 has been provided with a Velcro type fastener 814 and the rear of frame 810 is provided with a Velcro type fastener 818, which is similar to fastener 814.

[0042] The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 9 comprises a frame 810 which is adapted to be disposed between cases 910 and 912 as shown. In this manner there is formed a carrying bag 914 having a inner pouch 916. Frame 810 when disposed between cases 910 and 912 causes an increase of the volume of the pouch 916 as compared to the volume of the pouch of a carrying bag which is File no. P1316CAOO

made of cases 910, 912 without frame 810 interposed between them. Optionally, carrying bag 914 comprises a flap 918 at an open top end thereof, the flap 918 being closable over the open top end and top edges of the first and second cases 910, 912, to close pouch 916.

[0043] Referring to Fig. 10, there is shown a flexible frame 1000 flatly laid out. The frame 1000 has rear fastening means 1010 along the edges 1020 thereof and front fastening means 1012 along the front edges 1022, all as shown in Fig. 10.

[0044] Referring now to Fig. 11 for yet another embodiment, there is shown a carrying bag 1100 wherein cases 1110 and 1114 are assembled together with frame 1000 shown in Fig. 10. Frame 1000 is fastened at the rear of case 1110.
This is made possible by means of a fastener not illustrated which attaches wings 1111 to the rear of case 1110 as shown. Case 1114 on the other hand is partly wrapped by frame 1000 as will now be described. Wing 1012 of frame 1000 is placed against fastener 1116 provided on the front face of case 1114 and once assembled, the frame and the two cases define a pouch 1118, which has an increased volume as compared to the volume of a pouch of a carrying bag which would be made of cases 1110 and 1114 only without frame 1000. Optionally, the carrying bag 1100 comprises a flap 1120 at an open top end thereof, the flap being closable over the open top end and top edges of cases 1110, 1114, to close pouch 1118.

[0045] Ending to Fig. 12, there is shown a carrying bag 1200 similar to the carrying bag 117 of Fig. 2b on which an additional sheet 1202 of flexible material has been partially sewed. A releasable fastening means 1204 is disposed along portions of edges 1206 of additional sheet 1202 and on corresponding surfaces of carrying bag 1200, providing thereby an additional pouch 1208 with an opening 1210.

[0046] A person skilled in the art can easily use many other fastening means than a Velcro type fastener such as buttons, zippers, laces or buckles without departing File no. P1316CAOO

from the scope and spirit of the present invention.can replace a Velcro type fastener as well.

[0047] It is understood that a person skilled in the art can use many other holding means such as a locking clip, a safety pin, a belt, a belt loop or the like.

[0048] While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made therein without departing from the essence of this invention. Such modifications are considered as possible variants comprised within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sheet of flexible material adapted to be folded into a carrying bag that can be used to contain various articles inserted thereinto through an opening provided therein, said sheet of flexible material comprising releasable fastening means provided on at least one face thereof along edges thereof, said sheet when folded along a symmetrical axis defining said bag, said opening being available when partly spreading said folded sheet apart by releasing at least part of said fastening means.

2. A sheet of flexible material according to claim 1, comprising holding means and means for fixing said holding means to said sheet, said holding means adapted to handle and/or carry said bag.

3. A sheet of flexible material according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said releasable fastening means is provided along part only of said edges, a fastener material distributed along remaining part of said edges being used when folding said sheet into said carrying bag to attach said edges along said remaining part, said opening being formed when releasing said releasable fastening means.

4. A carrying bag comprising :

a first case of flexible material adapted to contain various articles inserted thereinto through an opening provided therein; releasable fastening means provided on at least one face along edges of said first case allowing to fittingly fix said first case against a second case substantially similar to said first case along the edges thereof; and holding means and means for fixing said holding means to said first case, said holding means adapted to handle and/or carry said bag.

5. A carrying bag comprising:

a first case of flexible material adapted to contain various articles inserted thereinto through an opening provided therein;

a second case of flexible material substantially similar to said first case;
releasably fastening means provided along edges of said first and/or second case allowing to fittingly fix said first case against said second case along the edges thereof while defining a pouch between said first and second cases, said pouch to contain articles added thereto upon releasing a portion of said fastening means; and holding means and means for fixing said holding means to said first and/or second case, said holding means adapted to handle and/or carry said bag.

6. The carrying bag according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said releasably fastening means comprise a Velcro®type fastener.

7. The carrying bag according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said holding means comprise at least one holding band.

8 The carrying bag according to claim 7, wherein said holding band comprises a strap.

9 The carrying bag according to claim 8, wherein said strap is fixed to said first and/or second case in a manner to define at least one brace permitting to hold the bag over at least one shoulder.

10. The carrying bag according to claim 4 or claim 5, which comprises a holding tab having an end disposed at a given location along the edges of said first and/or second cases and fixed thereto, the other end of said holding tab holding a ring.

11. The carrying bag according to claim 10, wherein said holding tab is centrally fixed at the top of said bag, said strap being formed of two parts, each part having an end fixedly disposed between said first case and/or said second case at bottom of said bag, one said part extending through said ring, the other ends of said two parts being adjusted and connected together by means of a buckle.

12. The carrying bag according to claim 8, wherein said strap is fixed at one end to a lower corner of said bag and at the other end to an upper opposite corner of said bag.

13. The carrying bag according to claim 10, which comprises a carabiner clip held by said ring.

14 The carrying bag according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said first and second cases are at least partly wrapped around by means of a frame.

15. The carrying bag according to claim 14, wherein said frame is U-shaped in cross-section.

16. The carrying bag according to claim 15 wherein said U-shaped frame comprises a flap at an open top end thereof, said flap closable over open top end of said frame and top edges of said first and second cases, to close said pouch.

17. The carrying bag according to claim 4 or claim 5, which comprises a frame adapted to be disposed between said first and second cases to increase volume of said pouch.

18. The carrying bag according to claim 17, wherein said frame is U-shaped

19. The carrying bag according to claim 5, which comprises attaching strips provided along an edge of said first and/or second cases, said first and/or second cases being foldable longitudinaly and transversely into 1/4th of their size, and fixed together by means of said attaching strips to define a compact bag.