EP2311745B1

EP2311745B1 - Folding collapsible bag

Info

Publication number: EP2311745B1
Application number: EP09172964A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wen-Tsan Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-10-14
Filing date: 2009-10-14
Publication date: 2012-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 2029-10-14
Also published as: ATE549259T1; EP2311745A1

Abstract

A folding collapsible bag includes a soft collapsible bag body (3), a first base member (1A) and a second base member (1B) bilaterally and separately set in and affixed to the bag body for stretching the bottom side of the bag body into a planar shape, a first supporting element (2A) and a second supporting element (2B) respectively made by bending a resilient wire rod into shape and bilaterally obliquely set in and affixed to the bag body to support the periphery of the bag body in shape, and a set of matching fastening members fastenable to each other to hold the bag body in a collapsed condition when the first base member and the second base member are respectively upwardly biased toward the first supporting element and the second supporting element.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to bags for holding things and more particularly, to a folding collapsible bag, which can be conveniently collapsed into a flat condition when not in use.

2. Description of the Related Art:

People may use different simple storage baskets and cases in the limited house space to keep clothes, books, magazines and some other personal items. These simple storage baskets and cases are commonly made of plastics for the advantages of light weight and low cost. However, these simple storage baskets and cases have a fixed shape and are not collapsible. When empty or not in use, these simple storage baskets and cases require a big space for storage. Further, for keeping a big number of different items in a sorted manner, a big amount of storage baskets or cases should be used.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide storage means, which can be conveniently collapsed into a flat condition when not in use, saving storage space.
A typical collapsible basket having a rectangular rod structure to support a fabric material forming the basket body is for instance disclosed in document US 2,042,977 .
US 1,420,542 discloses a different rectangular foldable basket which comprises a foldable wire structure including springs causing the basket to unfold when the wire structure is not held in the folded position by fastening means attached to the foldable basket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a folding collapsible bag, which has a simple structure and can be conveniently collapsed into a flat condition when not in use.
To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a folding collapsible bag comprises a bag body made from a soft collapsible sheet material and having a top open side, a first base member and a second base member bilaterally and separately set in and affixed to the bag body for stretching the bottom side of the bag body into a planar shape, a first supporting element and a second supporting element bilaterally obliquely set in and affixed to the bag body to support the periphery of the bag body in shape, first fastening means and second fastening means mounted inside said bag body and fastenable to each other to hold the bag body in a collapsed condition. When not in use, the first base member and the second base member are respectively upwardly biased toward the first supporting element and the second supporting element to collapse the bag body.
Further, the first base member and the second base member can be flat plate members. Alternatively, the first base member and the second base member can be respectively prepared from a resilient wire rod and bent into a predetermined shape.
The folding collapsible bag further comprises a third supporting element vertically set in and affixed to the bag body between the first supporting element and the second supporting element.
Further, the third supporting element has a board member fixedly mounted thereon for dividing the inside, space of the bag body into two compartments. Further, the first fastening means comprises two first fastening members affixed to the bag body on the inside at two opposite locations, and the second fastening means comprises two second fastening members respectively fixedly located on two opposite sides of the board member for the fastening of said two first fastening members.
Further, the third supporting element has a cord handle fixedly provided at the top side thereof.
Further, the first fastening means and the second fastening means can be prepared from hook and loop materials. Alternatively, the first fastening means and the second fastening means can be reversely arranged magnets.
In an alternate form of the present invention, a third supporting element and a fourth supporting element are vertically set in and affixed to the bag body between the first supporting element and the second supporting element in a parallel manner. Further, two board members are respectively affixed to the third supporting element and the fourth supporting element for dividing the inside space of said bag body into three compartments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a support frame structure for folding collapsible bag in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates an alternate form of the support frame structure according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a folding collapsible bag in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 1, showing the support frame structure arranged in the collapsed status.
FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 3, showing the folding collapsible bag collapsed.
FIG. 6 illustrates another alternate form of the support frame structure according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate form of the folding collapsible bag in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 7, showing the collapsing operation of the folding collapsible bag.
FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 8, showing the folding collapsible bag collapsed.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another alternate form of the folding collapsible bag in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a folding collapsible bag in accordance with the present invention comprises a support frame structure, which comprises a first base member 1A, a second base member 1B, a first supporting element 2A and a second supporting element 2B.
The first base member 1A and the second base member 1B are flat plate members made from a tough and hard material. The first base member 1A and the second base member 1B are horizontally arranged on the bottom side and kept apart for supporting the bottom side of the folding collapsible bag in shape. The first supporting element 2A and the second supporting element 2B are respectively prepared from a resilient wire rod and bent into a substantially arched shape. Further, the first supporting element 2A and the second supporting element 2B are respectively arranged above the first base member 1A and the second base member 1B.
FIG. 2 illustrates an alternate form of the support frame, in which the first base member 1C and the second base member 1D are respectively prepared from a resilient wire rod and bent into a substantially arched shape.
Referring to FIG. 3, the folding collapsible bag further comprises a bag body 3 made from a soft fabric or any suitable flexible sheet material. The bag body 3 can be configured subject to any desired shape, having an opening on the top side. The first base member 1A or 1C and the second base member 1B or 1D are set in and affixed to the bag body 3 to stretch the bottom panel of the bag body 3 into a planar shape. The first supporting element 2A and the second supporting element 2B are bilaterally obliquely set in and affixed to the bag body 3 to stretch the periphery of the bag body 3 into shape, keeping the top open side of the bag body 3 opened. When turning the first base member 1A or 1C toward the first supporting element 2A and the second base member 1B or 1D toward the second supporting element 2B, the folding collapsible bag is collapsed into a flat condition (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Further, a first fastening member 3A and a second fastening member 3B are fixedly mounted in the bag body 3 at two opposite sides. When the folding collapsible bag is collapsed, the first fastening member 3A and the second fastening member 3B are fastened together to hold the folding collapsible bag in the collapsed shape. Further, the first fastening member 3A can be a strip of hook material (or a strip of loop material), and the second fastening member 3B can be a strip of loop material (or a strip of hook material) fastenable to the first fastening member 3A. Alternatively, the first fastening member 3A and the second fastening member 3B can be made fastenable to each other by means of magnetic attraction.
FIG. 6 illustrates another alternate form of the support frame, in which an extra supporting element, i.e., the third supporting element 2C is set in between the first supporting element 2A and the second supporting element 2B. Similar to the first supporting element 2A and the second supporting element 2B, the third supporting element 2C is prepared from a resilient wire rod and bent into a substantially arched shape. According to this alternate form, the first base member 1A and the second base member 1B are flat plate members made from a tough and hard material, however the first base member 1C and the second base member 1D that are respectively prepared from a resilient wire rod and bent into a substantially arched shape, as shown in FIG. 2, can be used as substitutes.
Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 6 again, the first base member 1A or 1C and the second base member 1B or 1D are set in the bag body 3 to stretch the bottom panel of the bag body 3 into a planar shape; the first supporting element 2A and the second supporting element 2B are bilaterally obliquely set in the bag body 3 to stretch the periphery of the bag body 3 into shape, keeping the top open side of the bag body 3 opened; the third supporting element 2C is vertically set in the baby body 3 on the middle between the first supporting element 2A and the second supporting element 2B to stretch the middle part of the bag body 3 into shape. Further, a board member 32 can be affixed to the third supporting element 2C to divide the inside space of the bag body 3 into two compartments. Further, two first fastening members 3A are affixed to the inside of the bag body 3 at two opposite sides, and two second fastening member 3B are respectively fixedly provided at two opposite sides of the board member 32. When not in use, turn the first base member 1A or 1C toward the first supporting element 2A and the second base member 1B or 1D toward the second supporting element 2B, and then turn the first supporting element 2A and the second supporting element 2B toward the third supporting element 2C, thus the folding collapsible bag is collapsed into a flat condition (see FIGS. 8 and 9). When the folding collapsible bag is collapsed, the first fastening members 3A and the second fastening members 3B are respectively fastened together to hold the folding collapsible bag in the collapsed shape. Further, a cord handle 31 is provided at the top side of the third supporting element 2C so that the user can lift the cord handle 31 and then collapse the bag conveniently.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another alternate form of the folding collapsible bag in accordance with the present invention. According to this embodiment, the support frame structure further comprises a third supporting element 2C and a fourth supporting element 2D set in between the first supporting element 2A and the second supporting element 2B in a parallel manner. Further, the third supporting element 2C and the fourth supporting element 2D are respectively mounted with a board member 32 so that these two board members 32 divide the inside space of the bag body 3 into three compartments. Further, two first fastening members 3A are respectively affixed to the inside of the bag body 3 at two opposite sides, and two second fastening members 3B are respectively affixed to the board members 32 at the third supporting element 2C and fourth supporting element 2D for the fastening of the two first fastening members 3A respectively to secure the folding collapsible bag in the collapsed status.
Although particular embodiment of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

A folding collapsible bag, comprising:
a bag body (3) made from a soft collapsible sheet material, said bag body having a top open side;

a first base member (1A, 1C) and a second base member (1B, 1D) bilaterally and separately set in and affixed to said bag body at a bottom side for stretching a bottom side of said bag body into a planar shape;

a first supporting element (2A) and a second supporting element (2B) bilaterally obliquely set in and affixed to said bag body (3) to support the periphery of said bag body in shape;

wherein said first base member (1A, 1C) and said second base member (1B, 1D) are respectively upwardly turnable toward said first supporting element (2A) and said second supporting element (2B) to collapse said bag body (3);

characterized in that the folding collapsible bag further comprises

first fastening means (3A) and second fastening means (3B) mounted inside said bag body (3) and fastenable to each other to hold said bag body in a collapsed condition and

wherein the first supporting element (2A) and the second supporting element (2B) are respectively prepared from a resilient wire rod and bent into an arched shape.
The folding collapsible bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first base member (1A, 1C) and said second base member (1B, 1D) are flat plate members.
The folding collapsible bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first base member (1C) and said second base member (1D) are respectively prepared from a resilient wire rod and bent into an arched shape.
The folding collapsible bag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third supporting element (2C) vertically set in and affixed to said bag body (3) between said first supporting element (2A) and said second supporting element (2B).
The folding collapsible bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein said third supporting element (2C) has a board member fixedly mounted thereon for dividing the inside space of said bag body into two compartments.
The folding collapsible bag as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first fastening means (3A) comprises two first fastening members (3A) affixed to said bag body (3) on the inside at two opposite locations; said second fastening means (3B) comprises two second fastening members (3B) respectively fixedly located on two opposite sides of said board member (32) for the fastening of said two first fastening members.
The folding collapsible bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein said third supporting element has a cord handle (31) fixedly provided at a top side thereof.
The folding collapsible bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first fastening means (3A) is prepared from a hook material, and said second fastening means (3B) is prepared from a loop material fastenable to said hook material.
The folding collapsible bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first fastening means (3A) and said second fastening means (3B) are reversely arranged magnets.
The folding collapsible bag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third supporting element (2C) and a fourth supporting element (2D) vertically set in and affixed to said bag body between said first supporting element (2A) and said second supporting element (2B) in a parallel manner.
The folding collapsible bag as claimed in claim 10, wherein said third supporting element (2C) and said fourth supporting element (2D) each have a board member (32) fixedly mounted thereon for dividing the inside space of said bag body into three compartments.
The folding collapsible bag as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first fastening means (3A) comprises two first fastening members (3A) affixed to said bag body on the inside at two opposite locations; said second fastening means (3B) comprises two second fastening members (3B) respectively fixedly located on the board members at said third supporting element (2C) and said fourth supporting element (2D) for the fastening of said two first fastening members (3A).