EP0997084A2

EP0997084A2 - Custody bag for personal objects, with space for interchangeable graphic publicity, for use basically in supermarkets, self-service shops, and similar

Info

Publication number: EP0997084A2
Application number: EP99203464A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dante Alberto Orce
Original assignee: Strategic Channel SA
Current assignee: Strategic Channel SA
Priority date: 1998-10-27
Filing date: 1999-10-19
Publication date: 2000-05-03
Also published as: EP0997084A3; ES1041567U; BR7902735U; ES1041567Y

Abstract

The bag this Patent refers to, consists of a totally transparent external film and contains sections with overlaid internal opaque laminar sections, forming internal pockets used to carry graphic publicity panels. Both the internal pockets and the opening of the bag are equipped with zips the cursor of which includes a theft-proof lock. At least one section of the side wall of the bag is totally transparent thus providing a view of the objects it contains, even when the bag is closed. The design foresees the inclusion of a smaller pocket on the outside.

Description

This Patent Application refers to a custody bag for personal objects, with space for interchangeable graphic publicity, for use basically in supermarkets, self-service shops, and similar, hereafter known as "businesses", with a series of constructive features that serve to distinguish it and make it highly convenient since it serves to cover two basic needs of the businesses and their clients: service and prevention (security).
The purpose of this bag is to store the belongings that the clients carry with them as they walk around the premises selecting the products that they wish to buy.
Its use eliminates the responsibility the businesses have regarding the safekeeping of said belongings as they have to undertake the responsibility if their things are left in their custody.
This bag allows providing a security service that is beneficial both for the businesses and their clients, using a practical and versatile design thus avoiding the unpleasant check of the clients' belongings by the personnel in order to avoid possible theft. It eliminates the queues the clients form for handing in and recovering their belongings when they are left in custody of the businesses, thereby facilitating the circulation of the clients in the premises.
The use of this bag prevents the possibility of theft of products by unscrupulous clients, hiding them among their own belongings. Consequently, the businesses shall benefit from this by reducing to a minimum their "internal losses" classified as "ant theft".
It also has the additional advantage of having room for interchangeable graphic publicity thus generating additional income for the businesses besides their main activities, or transmitting different types of communications messages to the clients.
The bag for storing personal objects, with room for interchangeable graphic publicity, besides being used by businesses in the above described manner, can also be used in other types of companies (societies, associations, etc.) and activities, always fulfilling the basic ideas it was created for.
As an example and without limitations whatsoever, the bag can be used:
1. By any type of company, business, industry, service, etc., for the safekeeping of their employees' belongings.
2. By any type of association, club, conference hall, show hall, etc., attended by large numbers of individuals, for storing their belongings.
3. As an internal or external mail carrier in any type of company or activity.
Basically, it is a bag that is used for safekeeping and is particularly designed to be an unbreakable resource for storing the individual belongings of the client before he/she enters the commercial premises. The belongings are put inside the bag and can be seen from outside. The bag is then closed using an unbreakable lock and handed to the client so that he/she, the most interested party, may keep custody of it during the time he/she is in the premises. When the client leaves, an employee, for example the cashier, opens the bag easily and swiftly using the device that unlocks it (mechanical or electromechanical deactivator). The client removes his/her belongings and the bag can he used by the business for another service.
This type of custody is necessary when there are many people who come into the business premises carrying wallets, handbags, or even products bought in other places.
The reason of the above stated is that many businesses, as preventive measures against possible theft, do not allow customers to enter the premises carrying their belongings.
Currently, it is most usual to prevent such entry with personal belongings and to offer the client the possibility of leaving them in a safe place of custody, attended by the staff who hands the client a proof (ticket, etc.), or in individual lockers or safes that are grouped together in a specific place, with the client keeping the key.
Based on current facts, it is often evident that both methods are functionally inconvenient, both on a practical and efficient basis, and also regarding costs.
The client might lose the proof or the locker or safe key, thus causing a problem. This problem may worsen if the proof or key should fall into the hands of third parties who could in bad faith get hold of articles that do not belong to them.
It has also been proven that safes are easily accessed to by unscrupulous persons (thieves) who, pretending to be clients, manage to break open the locks and steal the items belonging to the clients. For this reason, many businesses have been obliged to have a surveillance system in these places, thus resulting in additional costs due to maintenance and control caused by a necessary service which cannot be charged to the client.
It is also clear that a large percentage of the clients who enter business premises are reluctant to hand over their belongings that could contain valuables, personal documents, etc.
As an exception, clients are allowed to enter with their wallets and handbags. In such cases, there have also been inconveniences such as the theft of the customers' belongings while their attention was diverted.
The above mentioned solution, the client carrying his/her belongings in a bag duly locked and which cannot be violated as he/she moves around the business selecting the purchased products, practically eliminates the mentioned problems.
The custody bag referred to in this registration stands out because it has a zip lock the cursor of which includes a lock that cannot be opened. Resides, the walls are made of transparent sections that give a clear view from the outside of the contents of the bag.
On the other hand, it contains the necessary internal pockets with zip locks, which cannot be accessed by the clients, with interchangeable plates.
These "publicity areas" are in constant view inside the business premises, thus creating a new form or advertisement which can be called "moving publicity" since the client takes it around by carrying the bag either in their hands, shoulders, or placed on trolleys.
This publicity method provides the businesses with a new way of obtaining an additional income by allowing third parties to advertise proprietary products, brands, etc., or by transmitting communicative messages such as sales, news, special day greetings, etc. which may be of interest.
The design of the bag considers the presence on the outside of smaller pockets that are not necessarily theft proof, and that can be used to store other items such as cell phones, personal calculators, etc. the client may need to use whilst in the premises.
In order to carry the custody bag on the trolley, a set of removable pressure clips is foreseen in its structure.
In order to specify the advantages summarised in this document, to which the users and experts in the matter could add many others, and to facilitate the understanding of the constructive, constitutive and functional features of the custody bag, here is an example that outlines in the attached sheets, without a specific scale, with the express clarification which, as it is an example, does not represent a limitation or exclusion of the protective scope of the present patent application. It merely serves to explain and illustrate the utility design it is based on.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the closed bag.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the open bag.
Figure 3 shows a diagram of a cross section of the same bag shown in the previous illustrations, that comply with the operative conditions covered by this patent application.
It must be pointed out that in all the figures, the same reference numbers correspond to the same or similar items that make up the assembly, according to the example chosen for the current explanation of the custody bag.
As shown on the illustrations, the custody bag referred to in this Patent application belongs to the type made of pieces of fabric sewn together along the perimeter, thus creating a bottom -1-, sides -2 and 3-, with a wide upper opening that is closed using a zip lock -4-, and its cursor -5- that includes the unbreakable lock (not shown).
The bag has side handles -6 and 7- made of flat straps sewn to the sides. A set of studs -8 and 9- is foreseen in order to make them removable and link them to the structure of the trolley the supermarket provides for its clients to carry the products they purchase. In these conditions, the said bag remains visible and in custody of the client during the time he/she is in the premises.
Figures 1 and 2 show that the bag has two external annular flat straps -10 and 11- used to link, by the seams -12 and 13-, the different elements that make up the sides of the bag, both opaque or transparent, as well as the zip lock systems -4- of the upper opening and the other internal pockets shown in figure 3. In the areas shown in these illustrations, the sections 14 and 15 are transparent, while the lower section -16- which continues along the base -1- is opaque. This figure clearly shows that all objects deposited inside the bag are clearly visible from the outside without the need to open it.
The said upper transparent section -14- is a pocket that extends along the front width of the bag and accepts, as a removable element -17-, publicity and advertising. Also, an external pocket -18- with its own lock -19- is attached to the same flat strap -11- thus making it useful to deposit items that do not need to be left in custody, such as a cell phone or a calculator for use during shopping.
The free end of the cursor -5- carries a lock -20-belonging to the type that locks and cannot be violated, and can only be unlocked easily and swiftly using a device such as a mechanical or electromechanical deactivator, held by the business and located in the place where the client would present the selected goods for payment and removal. The client and the employee would open de bag and take out the belongings, ensuring that everything is present and nothing remains inside the bag.
Figure 3 clearly shows how the bag is made. It is clear that side 3 of the same bag, not shown in the previous figures, also includes an upper propaganda and publicity plate -21- located in the internal pocket and defined by the previous transparent section -22-, the opaque back section -23-, and the via lock -24-. Also, the lower section of the same side -3- has a new pocket accepting publicity -25- which is bigger than the others and is covered by a front transparent section -26-, a back opaque section -27-, and a zip lock -28-.
All the internal pockets, like the personal belongings deposited inside the bag, cannot be accessed by the clients since the upper lock -4- prevents it.
Having described and illustrated the nature and main purpose of this patent, as well as the way it can be used, we hereby lay claim to the property and exclusive rights.

Claims

Custody bag for personal objects, with space for interchangeable graphic publicity, for use basically in supermarkets, self-service shops, and similar, adequate for safekeeping the belongings of the clients before they enter the premises. Consisting the bag on a flexible body made of sheets of plastic, canvas, or similar, sewn together to form two main side walls, one base, and one upper opening which gives access to the inside and can be closed by means of a theft-proof lock. Characterized in that it consists of an external piece that runs along both sides and the bottom, and which is totally transparent; two supporting annular flat straps, laminar sections sewn together to form the bag, and internal opaque pieces which extend along the upper and bottom sections and create the base for internal pockets which house publicity panels, the bottom of these pockets is defined by seams linking its laminar sections.
Custody bag for objects according to claim 1, characterized in that the annular pieces are two flat annular straps, one of them placed along the opening of the bag, and the other one in the middle section.
Custody bag for objects according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal pockets extend along the entire width of the bag and have a height inferior to the total height of the bag itself.
Custody bag for objects according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal pockets housing flat panels are equipped with zips.
Custody bag for objects according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the sides of the bag contains an external pocket equipped with a zip.