GB2118526A - Foldable protective bag for clothing - Google Patents

Abstract

A foldable protective bag for clothing, has at each end a substantially rigid bar 2, 3. The bar 2 at the lower edge carries a first handle portion 4 preferably closed on itself, which, when the bag is folded on itself, may clip with a second preferably open, C-shaped handle portion 12 on the bar 3, to constitute a single combined handle. The bars may also be assembled together by press studs 11, 17 or the like. Supple tabs 19 enable the upper end of the bag to be closed in order to protect the garment from dust. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Foldable protective bag for clothing The present invention relates to a protective bag for clothing.

Known bags of this type are inconvenient to use. It is sometimes difficult to suspend them in unfolded state in a cupboard orthe like.

Bags are also known of which at least one ofthe upper edges is fast with a relatively rigid bar, but in that case it is not easy to fold them not to carrythem in the folded state.

It is an object of the invention to overcome these various drawbacks and to provide a protective bag for universal use which satisfies the various desiderata of the art.

A protective bag forclothing according to the invention has opposed ends which are provided with substantially rigid bars each having a carrier handle portion, the portions being broughttogether by transverse folding ofthe bag to form a carrier handle.

In a preferred embodiment, each of these two carrier or hooking members isfastwith a relatively rigid bar, means being provided forthese two bars to be assembled with each other. The memberfastwith one ofthe upper edges is in the form of a laterally open C to constitute a hook, whilst the other member is closed on itself to form a conventional carrier handle.

Means are further provided for fixing the free upper edge ofthe bag to the barfast with the other upper edge.

The invention wiil be more readily understood on reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. lisa view in perspective of a bag according to the invention in unfolded state, this bag enclosing a garment carried by a hanger hooked inside it, Fig. 2 is a view on a larger scale ofthe lower handle ofthis bag, Fig. 3 is a section along Ill-Ill (Fig. 2), Fig. 4 is a partial view ofthe central part ofthe upper barofthe bag of Fig. 1, Figs. 5 and 6 are sections along V-V and VI-VI (Fig. 4) respectively, Fig. 7 is a partial view in perspective showing the bag of Fig. 1 hooked on a rail.

Fig. 8 shows in partial perspective the upper part of the bag of Fig. 1 afterthe tabs of the upper bar have been folded down.

Fig. 9 is a section in detail on a larger scale along IX-IX (Fig. 8).

Fig. 10 shows in perspective the bag of Fig. 1 in the course of being folded on itself.

Fig. 11 is a view on a larger scale of the central part of the two bars of the bag assembled with each other once the bag has been folded.

Referring nowto the drawings, the protective bag shown in Fig. 1 is constituted by a flat, upwardly open bag made of a sheet of appropriate plastics material.

Its closed lower edge, which is consequently of double thickness, is fast with a first bar 2 made by moulding, whilst a second bar 3 is fixed along one of the two single-thickness edges of its upper open end.

Thefirstbar2 (Figs. 2and 3), which isfixed by welding orthe like to the two thicknesses ofthe bag 1 so as to produce the said closed end, comprises at its centre a handle 4 oftrapezoidal form of which the edges are reinforced by beads 5 and 6, which are interrupted on one of its faces (front face in Fig. 2) for reasons which will be more readily understood later. It its further provided with clipping means 7,8,9 and 10, as will be set forth hereinafter. Apartfrom this central handle 4, the first bar 2 is also fast with projecting tabs 11 (Fig. 1), four in number in the example shown, likewise provided with appropriate clipping means.

The second bar 3, or upper bar, is fixed oniy to one of the edges of the corresponding end of the bag 1 so as to form the opening thereof. Its central part comprises a handle 12 not closed on itself and consequently in the form of a hook. The edges of this handle are reinforced by beads 13which, contrary to those of the handle 4 of the first bar 2, are continuous in this case. The handle 12 isfurther provided with three clipping devices 14,15 and 16. Like the lower bar 2, the upper bar 3 comprises four projecting tabs 17 likewise provided with appropriate clipping means.

However, a fifth projecting tab 18 is also provided opposite the opening of the handle or hook 12, which also comprises such a clipping means. Furthermore, on either side ofthis central handle 12, the bar3 comprises a tab 19 of longer length whose base is in the form of an S ofsmall width, so asto allow easy folding. Each of these S-shaped tabs bears a clipping means, in this case in the form of a stud 20 (Fig. 6).

In the vertical alignment of this stud 20, the bar3 presents a short lug 21 likewise provided with a clipping means 22 complementary of the clipping means 20 mentioned hereinbefore and which may be constituted by a simple perforation.

Finally, in the middle of its length, the bar 3 is fast with a downward extension 23 which bears a sort of ring 24 of rectangular section (cf. Fig. 5) oriented horizontally.

The above-described protective bag is used as follows: When the bag is in the unfolded position of Fig. 1, a garment such as 25 may be introduced therein, mounted on a hanger 26 whose upper hook 27 may engage in the ring 24 acting as suspension ring. It is then possible to suspend the whole on a rail 28 as shown in Fig. 7.

If it is desired to close the bag, the S-shaped tabs 19 are folded down through 180 about a horizontal axis andtheirstuds 20 are engaged by force in the perforations 22 in the tabs 21 ,thus perforating the frontwall 1a (Fig. 1) ofthis bag. The position is then as shown in Figs. 7,8 and 9. The latter Figure clearly shows the fold of a tab 19, rendered possibledueto the S-section according to Fig. 4which eliminates any risk of breakage.

When the garment is to be folded on itself to reduce the total dimensions of the packing, the lower bar 2 is broughtothe level ofthe upper bar3, as indicated in Fig. 10. Underthese conditions,thetabs 11 and 17 are respectively located opposite one another and it is possible to clip them together. The former 1 may comprises studs for example and the latter, corresponding perforations, as is well known in the art.

However,the complete handle 4 has atthe same time been brough opposite the incomplete handle or hook 12. Respective clipping devices 7,8,9 on the one hand and 14,15, 16on the other hand are provided and disposed so as to cooperate with one another. For example, those of the complete handle 4 may be simple perforations, those of the hook 12 being corresponding studs. They may therefore be clipped together to ensure that the bag remains in the folded state. Fig. 11 shows the two handles 4 and 12thus clipped together. It is clearly seen that the incomplete handle 12 is applied on the zones of the rear face of the other handle 4 not comprising the beads 5,6, which therefore do not cause an extra width likely to prove undesirable.

It will be noted that the clipping means borne by the tab 18 ofthe upper baristhen in engagementwith the clipping means 10 of the lower handle 4, which ensures a better fixing of the two bars to each other.

The protective bag thus folded may easily be carried like a carrier bag of reduced dimensions.

When it is desired to hang it in a wardrobe or cupboard, it suffices to unfold it.

It must be understood that the foregoing description has been given only by way of example and that it in no way limits the domain of the invention whose scope would not be exceeded by replacing the details of execution described by any other equivalents. In particular, it will be understood that the foldable bag according to the invention, in addition to being used for initially carrying a garment from the store where it was purchsed, may also be used for example when it is desired to pack it in a suitcase orthe like.

Claims (8)

1. A protective bag for clothing having opposed ends which are provided with substantially rigid bars each having a carrier handle portion, the portions being brought together by transverse folding of the bag to form a carrier handle.

2. A bag as claimed in Claim 1 wherein one said portion forming an upper handle when the bag is unfolded is open so as to form a hook.

3. A bag as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the other said portion forming a lower handle when the bag is unfolded is close so as to form a loop.

4. A bag as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein one barformingthe upper barwhen the bag in unfolded is provided with tabs which are sufficiently flexible to be folded over to close an open upper end of the bag.

5. A bag as claimed in Claim 4wherein the section ofthetabs is S shaped.

6. A bag as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the two handle portions have means for ensuring mutual assemblythereofwhen the bag is in the folded position.

7. A bag as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the bars have mutually opposed connecting means apart from the handle portions for holding the bars together in the folded position.

8. Afoldable protective bag for clothing substantially as described hereinabove and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.