GB2135870A - Wheeled carriers - Google Patents

Abstract

A bag for a wheeled carrier of the kind comprising a body provided with ground-engaging wheels, comprises a number of walls (6, 8, 10, 12, 14) of flexible sheet material which provide, when the bag is erected, an article-receiving enclosure. Reinforcing means is provided to maintain the bag erected for convenient insertion of articles into the bag, and preferably comprises bracing members 34, 36 pivotable from the inoperative position shown to a position extending between the walls 6, 8 to brace them. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to bags This invention is concerned with improvements relating to bags, particularly but not exclusively for wheeled carriers.

A conventional wheeled carrier (hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified) comprises a body provided with ground engaging wheels and carries a bag or other receptacle (hereinafter referred to generically as a bag) to facilitate to conveyance of articles from place to place.

Wheeled carriers of this kind are usually collapsible for storage and transportation. Numerous constructions have been proposed for folding or collapsing the bodies of the carriers, and certain constructions have been proposed for enabling the bag to be collapsed.

However difficulty has therefore been realised in providing a means for enabling a bag of this kind readily to be moved between an erected condition and a collapsed condition, and one in which, when in its erected condition, is pleasing in its appearance.

In particular, difficulty has been encountered in the provision of reinforcing means for vertical extended bags, particularly of the kind known as "jumbo" carriers.

According to this invention there is provided a bag suitable for use with a wheeled carrier of the kind specified, comprising a number of walls of flexible sheet material which provide, when the bag is erected, an article-receiving enclosure, and reinforcing means for maintaining the bag erected, said reinforcing means comprising two bracing members each mounted for movement between an operative position in which it extends adjacent to one wall between two other, opposed walls to provide bracing means therebetween.

Thus, where it is desired to provide a bag which is capable of collapsing by relative movement of approach between the front and back walls thereof, conveniently each bracing memberwhen in its operative position extends adjacent to a side wall and braces the front and rear walls, restraining said front and rear walls against such movement of approach.

Preferably the bracing members are provided by struts, which may be mounted on the bag directly or indirectly, for movement between said positions, or may be capable of being separated from the side walls.

Most conveniently the bracing members are provided adjacent the top end of the bag, providing easy access for manual movement to and from their operative positions.

Preferably the bracing members are located in pockets at the top end of the bag, such as pockets in the side walls.

Preferably the bracing members are each mounted for pivotal movement adjacent to a point close to one of the front or back walls, whereby in their operative positions the bracing members may be moved to lie adjacent to the plane containing said front or back wall. Advantageously the bracing members each pivotally secured to a supplementary reinforcing member comprising a panel or frame connected to the bag, said supplementary reinforc ing member comprising portions which are capable of relative movement on collapsing of the bag. Thus preferably such supplementary reinforcing mem bers are held in their operative positions by the bracing members and form part of the means to brace the front and rear walls when the bracing members are their operative positions.

Preferable the bag comprises a secondary rein forcing means which in an operative position pro vides additional bracing means between said two other opposed side walls and which in an inopera tive position permits the bag to be collapsed as aforesaid.

Most conveniently said secondary reinforcing means comprises a panel or frame secured to or otherwise lying adjacent to one of the front or back walls, and a panel or frame secured to or otherwise lying adjacent to the base of the bag, such latter panel or frame preferably comprising portions which are capable of relative movement on collapsing of the bag.

Whilst the primary and secondary reinforcing means may be capable of being removed from the bag to permit the bag to be collapsed, advan tageously at least one and preferably both said reinforcing means is secured to the bag and is capable of adopting its inoperative mode whilst so secured to the bag. In this manner the likelihood of component parts of the reinforcing means being lost is minimised.

There wiil now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying draw ings, of a bag which is the preferred embodiment of this invention and which has been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example. In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is perspective view showing the preferred embodiment in a partially collapsed condition; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of part of the bag in its erected condition; Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the bag; and Figure 4 is a plan view of part of the bag.

The bag which is the preferred embodiment of this invention is specifically for use with a wheeled carrier of the kind specified, and comprises front, back left hand side, right hand side and base walls 6,8,10,12 and 14 respectively, of a flexible sheet material such as canvas.

Located within the bag is a reinforcing means 16 comprising a panel of cardboard, said panel com prising a portion 20 of an area similar to that of the rearwall 8, a portion 22 hingedly connected to the portion 20 about a crease line 21, and a portion 24 pivotally connected to the portion 22 about a crease line 23. The portion 20 is secured to the rear wall 8 by fastening means 26, and the portions 22 and 24, when lying flat as shown in Figure 3, occupy an area generally similar to that of the base wall 14 of the bag.

The reinforcing means 16 aiso comprises a rectan gularframe member 28, an upper edge being secured to an upper edge of the front wall 6, whilst a lower edge passes into an under turned lip 25 of the portion 24.

In this manner, the reinforcing means may be used to brace the bag in an erected condition in which it is generally rectangular in outline, orto permit the bag to be collapsed by relative movement of approach between the front and rear wall 6 and 8. Movement of the bag to its collapsed condition involves movement of the crease line 23 in the direction A (Figure 3), the portions 22 and 24, and the frame member 28 moving through the positions shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.

To brace the front and rear walls when the bag is in its erected condition, further reinforcing means are provided, comprising two bracing members 34 and 36, each being mounted for movement between an operative position, as is shown in Figures 2 and 3, in which it extends adjacent to a respective one of the two side walls 10 and 12 to restrain the front and rearwalls 6 and 8 against movement of approach, and in operative positions, as is shown in Figure 1, in which such separative movement is permitted.

Said further reinforcing means comprises two supporting members 38, each comprising portions 40 joined together by a crease line 42, each supporting member being secured to its respective side wall 10 or 12 in a pocket 44 thereof, by fastening means 46. The bracing member 34 or 36 is secured to one of the portions 40 by fastening means 48, said fastening means also providing an axis about which the bracing member may pivot relative to the supporting member. The length of the bracing member is such that, when in its operative position (Figures 2 and 3) it extends close to the upper edge of the front wall, bracing the front wall away fom the rear wall. By movement of the bracing members into the position shown in Figure 1, in the direction B (Figure 3), the front wall 6 is permitted to move in the direction C allowing the bag to moved to a fully collapsed position in which the front and rear walls lie in close proximity.

In this manner the bag may be transported without occupying an undue volume, or may be stored when not desired for use. By moving the portions 22 and 24 into their extended positions, shown in Figure 3, the front and rear walls may readily be separated, aliowing the bracing members to be moved to their operative positions, proving a bag which is both firm and sturdy, and neat in its appearance.

Desirably flaps 50 are provided which may be placed over the pockets 42, to cover the bracing members 34 and 36.

Claims (12)

1. A bag suitable for use with a wheeled carrier of the kind specified, comprising a number of walls of flexible sheet material which provide, when the bag is erected, an article-receiving enclosure, and reinforcing means for maintaining the bag erected, said reinforcing means comprising two bracing members each mounted for movement between an operative position in which it extends adjacent to one wall between two other, opposed walls to provide bracing means therebetween.

2. A bag according to Claim 1 wherein each bracing member when in its operative position extends adjacent to a side wall and braces the front and rear walls, restraining said front and rearwalls against such movement of approach.

3. A bag according to one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the bracing members are provided by struts mounted on the bag directly or indirectly, for movement between said positions or may be capable of being separated from the side walls.

4. A bag according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bracing members are provided adjacent the top end of the bag, providing easy access for manual movement to and from their operative positions.

5. A bag according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bracing members are located in pockets at the top end of the bag, such as pockets in the side walls.

6. A bag according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bracing members are each mounted for pivotal movement adjacent to a point close to one of the front or back walls, whereby in their operative positions the bracing members may be moved to lie adjacent to the plane containing said front or back wall.

7. A bag according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bracing members are each pivotally secured to a supplementary reinforcing member comprising a panel or frame connected to the bag, said supplementary reinforcing member comprising portions which are capable of relative movement on collapsing ofthe bag.

8. A bag according to claim 7 wherein the supplementary reinforcing members are held in their operative positions by the bracing members and form part of the means to brace the front and rear walls when the bracing members are in their operative positions.

8. A bag according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bag comprises a secondary reinforcing means which in an operative position provides additional bracing means between said two other opposed side walls and which in an inoperative position permits the bag to be collapsed as aforesaid.

9. A bag according to Claim 8 wherein said secondary reinforcing means comprises a panel or frame secured to or otherwise lying adjacent to one of the front or back walls, and a panel or frame secured to or otherwise lying adjacent to the base of the bag, such latter panel or frame preferably comprising portions which are capable of relative movement on collapsing of the bag.

10. A bag according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one and preferably both said reinforcing means is secured to the bag and is capable of adopting its inoperative mode whilst so secured to the bag. In this manner the likelihood of component parts of the reinforcing means being lost is minimised.

11.A bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.