EP2631358A1

EP2631358A1 - Multi compartment bag

Info

Publication number: EP2631358A1
Application number: EP13156214.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johnny Agaton Jeppesen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-02-25
Filing date: 2013-02-21
Publication date: 2013-08-28

Abstract

A bag (100) for storing items, comprising a plurality of compartments (106-115) and an opening / closing mechanism (101, 102, 151, 152) for opening / closing each of the plurality of compartments. The opening / closing mechanism is a zipper comprising two sliders (101, 102) whereby each of the plurality of compartments can be accessed individually without opening neighbouring compartments. Consequently, by allowing the compartments to be accessed individually without risking items stored in the other compartment falling out, a bag that is easier to operate is provided.

Description

The invention relates to a bag for storing items, comprising a plurality of compartments.
A traditional multi compartment bag comprises a plurality of compartments wherein each compartment may store one or more items. Such multi compartment bags are useful for storing and organizing items.
Multi compartment bags may further be used as washing bags to protect cloth items during a laundry process. By using a multi compartment bag, the process of sorting cloth items after the laundry process may be simplified.
DE102009010386 discloses a multi compartment washing bag comprising two columns of compartments, wherein each column is provided with a zipper.
US3036616 discloses another multi compartment washing bag comprising two columns of compartments, wherein each column is provided with a zipper.
It is, however, a problem with the prior art bags that they may be difficult to operate.
Thus, it remains a problem to provide a multi compartment bag that is easier to operate.
According to a first aspect the invention relates to a bag for storing items, comprising a plurality of compartments and an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing each of said plurality of compartments characterized in that said opening / closing mechanism is a zipper comprising two sliders whereby each of the plurality of compartments can be accessed individually without opening neighbouring compartments.
Consequently, by allowing the compartments to be accessed individually without risking items stored in the other compartment falling out, a bag that is easier to operate is provided.
In some embodiments, said bag is a washing bag for storing cloth items during a laundry process.
The bag may store a number of different types of items positioned in different compartments. Example of items may be underwear, re-usable elastic bandages, and baby toys.
In some embodiments, said bag is made from a meshed material.
In some embodiments, said bag comprises a first compartment column and a second compartment column, said first compartment column and said second compartment column each comprising a plurality of compartments, wherein said opening / closing mechanism is configured to allow said two sliders to open each of the compartments of the said first compartment column and said second compartment column.
Consequently, a single zipper may be used for two columns of compartments while still allowing the compartments of one of the rows to be accessed without having to open the compartments of the other row.
In some embodiments, said first compartment column abuts said second compartment column, and wherein the opening / closing mechanism is arranged at the periphery of the bag.
In some embodiments, the opening / closing mechanism is arranged along two sides and a bottom of the bag, wherein the bottom connects the two sides.
In some embodiments, the compartments positioned at the bottom of the bag is permanently closed at least along a part of the bottom, whereby items stored in the bottom compartments are prevented from falling out through the closed part of the bottom even when the zipper is completely opened.
Consequently, items stored in the bottom compartments are protected from falling out unintentionally. This may be especially useful when the bag is hanging and used for storing items.
In some embodiments, the compartments positioned at the bottom of the bag are permanently closed along at least 80% of the width of the bottom, whereby items stored in the bottom compartments are prevented from falling out through the closed part of the bottom even when the zipper is completely opened.
In some embodiments, said bag at a first end comprises rounded corners.
Consequently, the two sliders of the zipper may become easier to move past the corners.
In some embodiments, said bag at a second end comprises a first opening for hanging the bag on a hook.
In some embodiments, said bag at said second end comprises a second opening for hanging the bag on a hook.
This allows the bag, when used as a washing bag, to be hung up on a hook directly, allowing the stored cloth items to dry.
It may also be beneficial to hang the bag, when the bag is used to store and organize items.
The above and / or additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be further elucidated by the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 shows a bag according to an embodiment of the present invention with the zipper completely closed.
Fig. 2 shows a bag according to an embodiment of the present invention with the zipper completely opened.
Fig. 3 shows bag according to an embodiment of the present invention with the sliders at different positions.
Fig. 4 shows bag according to an embodiment of the present invention with the zipper partly opened providing access to a single compartment.

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying figures, which show by way of illustration how the invention may be practiced.
Fig. 1 shows a front view of bag according to an embodiment of the present invention. The bag 100 comprises a plurality of compartments 106-115 and an opening / closing mechanism 101 102 151 152 for opening / closing each of said plurality of compartments 106-115. Each compartment 106-115 may be used to store one or more items. The opening / closing mechanism 101 102 151 152 is a zipper comprising a first slider 101 and a second slider 102, and two rows of protruding teeth 151 152. The two sliders 101 102 enable a user to access each of the plurality of compartments 106-115 individually, without opening neighbouring compartments. The compartments are arranged in a first compartment column 111-115 and a second compartment column 106-110, wherein the first compartment column 111-115 abuts the second compartment column 106-110. The zipper 101 102 151 152 is configured to allow the two sliders 101 102 to open each of the compartments 106-115 of the first compartment column 111-115 and the second compartment column 106-110. The zipper 101 102 151 152 is arranged at the periphery of the bag 100 along a first side of the bag 120, a second side of the bag 140, and a bottom of the bag 130, wherein the bottom 130 connects the two sides 120 140. The bag 100 is provided at its top with two openings 116 117 for allowing the bag 100 to be hung on a hook. The compartments positioned at the bottom 110 115 may be permanently closed at least along a part of the bottom 130, whereby items stored in the bottom compartments 110 115 are prevented from falling out through the closed part of the bottom, even when the zipper is completely opened. This may be achieved by providing the bottom compartments 110 115 with an interior bottom, whereby the zipper will open into the interior bottom if the two sliders 101 102 are moved apart at the bottom of the bag 130.
This may be especially useful when the bag is hanging and used for storing items. Thus, the two bottom compartments 110 115 may only be accessed from the sides of the bag 120 140.
The bag 100 further comprises rounded corners 104 105 making the movement of the two sliders 101 102 easier.
Fig. 2 shows a bag 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention with the zipper 201 202 250 251 completely opened. The first row of protruding teeth 250 and the second row of protruding teeth 251 can be seen.
Fig. 3 shows a bag 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention with the sliders 301 302 at different positions. When the first slider 301 and the second slider 302 are positioned as shown, access is provided to compartment 307, while all other compartments are closed. 301' illustrates an alternative position of the first slider 301, and 302' and 302" illustrate two alternative positions of the second slider 302. When the first slider is position at 301 and the second slider is positioned at 302' all compartments are closed. This is a typical start position of the sliders when access to a single compartment is wanted. When the first slider is positioned at 301' and the second slider is positioned at 302" access is provided to compartment 310, while all other compartments are closed. Finally, when the first slider is positioned at 301' and the second slider is positioned at 302 access is provided simultaneously to compartments 307-310 while the other compartments are closed.
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a bag 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention with the zipper 401 402 partly opened providing access to a single compartment 450.
Although some embodiments have been described and shown in detail, the invention is not restricted to them, but may also be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the following claims. In particular, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilised and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In device claims enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims or described in different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
It should be emphasized that the term "comprises / comprising" when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

A bag for storing items, comprising a plurality of compartments and an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing each of said plurality of compartments characterized in that said opening / closing mechanism is a zipper comprising two sliders whereby each of the plurality of compartments can be accessed individually without opening neighbouring compartments.
A bag according to claim 1, wherein said bag is a washing bag for storing cloth items during a laundry process.
A bag according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein said bag is made from a meshed material.
A bag according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said bag comprises a first compartment column and a second compartment column, said first compartment column and said second compartment column each comprising a plurality of compartments, wherein said opening / closing mechanism is configured to allow said two sliders to open each of the compartments of the said first compartment column and said second compartment column.
A bag according to claim 4, wherein said first compartment column abuts said second compartment column, and wherein the opening / closing mechanism is arranged at the periphery of the bag.
A bag according to claim 5, wherein the opening / closing mechanism is arranged along two sides and a bottom of the bag, wherein the bottom connects the two sides.
A bag according to claim 6, wherein the compartments positioned at the bottom of the bag is permanently closed at least along a part of the bottom, whereby items stored in the bottom compartments are prevented from falling out through the closed part of the bottom even when the zipper is completely opened.
A bag according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said bag at a first end comprises rounded corners.
A bag according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said bag at a second end comprises a first opening for hanging the bag on a hook.
A bag according to claim 9, wherein said bag at said second end comprises at second opening for hanging the bag on a hook.