GB2157552A - Bag - Google Patents

Abstract

A bag includes an inflatable sac 5 which normally occupies little space but can be inflated (via a nozzle 6) when the bag is empty to make it useable as a cushion. The sac may be separate from, or have one wall formed as a part of, the bag. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bag This invention relates to bags and seeks to provide a bag which may be used to carry articles such as shopping, clothes, or sports gear, and which can be inflated so that it may be used as a cushion or pillow. Such a bag can be particularly useful as a beach bag e.g. for carrying a towel, after the removal of which it is inflated to serve as a head rest when sunbathing, or as a floating toy. Another appiication is as a camping bag.

According to the invention a bag for carrying goods comprises an inflatable sac having a nozzle for inflation and deflation. Access to the nozzle is preferably by means of a hole in the bag out of which the nozzle protrudes. The bag preferably has a main compartment for holding the articles to be carried and in which the sac resides. In a preferred embodiment, the sac is removable. The bag can then be used in circumstances in which inflatability is not required, without the sac taking up space.

It is envisaged that the sac will lie fairly loosely in the bag so that articles to be carried may be placed on either side of it. However, the nozzle can be arranged to fit tightly within the hole so that the sac is held close to one side of the bag.

In another type of embodiment, the sac is not separate from the rest of the bag, but is secured thereto or is defined, at least in part, by at least one of the exterior walls of the bag. Thus the bag could have an interior wall which, together with an exterior wall, defines the sac.

A specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a bag embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic section on the line A-A of Fig. 1.

The bag is generally rectangular in side view, and has handles ia a side pocket 2, and a main, inner, compartment 3 which opens at the top 4 where it may have fastening means. Fastening of the compartment 3 and the pocket 2 may be by a zip fastener or by velcro. (Velcro is a Registered Trade Mark.) The material of the bag in this embodiment is towelling lined with plastic to render it waterproof.

An inflatable plastic sac 5 is generally rectangular, and tends to lie flat when deflated. It is disposed within the bag so as to overlie most of one side, and fastened to it only by means of a nozzle 6 which projects out of a hole 7 in that side of the bag. The nozzle 6 is joined to the sac 2 by a plastic weld and is provided with a stopper 8. The hole 7 may have a reinforced border, e.g. a heat-treated plastic seam. It is of a size such that the nozzle together with the stopper will not easily slip through it.

Fig. 2 shows the sac 5 deflated. It may conveniently be inflated by mouth, using the nozzle 6 which is then sealed with the stopper 8 and depressed so that it folds in on itself until the stopper lies flush with the side of the bag. The inflated sac 5 then fills the bag which may be used as a cushion or a pillow.

For use as a carrier bag, articles may be placed in the compartment 3, on either side of the sac 5, which hangs from its nozzle 6. Alternatively, the sac may be removed by pressing the stopper 8 and nozzle through the hole 7 and lifting the sac out of the compartment 3.

1. A bag for carrying goods comprising portions defining a carrying compartment and an inflatable sac having an aperture for inflation and deflation.

2. A bag according to claim 1 wherein the aperture is provided by a nozzle which protrudes through a wall of the carrying compartment, and the sac is located generally within the compartment.

3. A bag according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sac is removable and the compartment is then usable on its own as a bag.

4. A bag according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sac is secured to the compartment or is defined, at least in part, by at least one of the exterior walls thereof.

5. A bag according to any preceding claim wherein the sac when inflated substantially fills the carrying compartment.

6. A bag according to claim 5 whose external surface is provided at least partly by a fabric, the arrangement being such that inflation of the sac when the compartment is empty causes it to resemble a fabric-covered cushion.

7. A bag substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bag This invention relates to bags and seeks to provide a bag which may be used to carry articles such as shopping, clothes, or sports gear, and which can be inflated so that it may be used as a cushion or pillow. Such a bag can be particularly useful as a beach bag e.g. for carrying a towel, after the removal of which it is inflated to serve as a head rest when sunbathing, or as a floating toy. Another appiication is as a camping bag. According to the invention a bag for carrying goods comprises an inflatable sac having a nozzle for inflation and deflation. Access to the nozzle is preferably by means of a hole in the bag out of which the nozzle protrudes. The bag preferably has a main compartment for holding the articles to be carried and in which the sac resides. In a preferred embodiment, the sac is removable. The bag can then be used in circumstances in which inflatability is not required, without the sac taking up space. It is envisaged that the sac will lie fairly loosely in the bag so that articles to be carried may be placed on either side of it. However, the nozzle can be arranged to fit tightly within the hole so that the sac is held close to one side of the bag. In another type of embodiment, the sac is not separate from the rest of the bag, but is secured thereto or is defined, at least in part, by at least one of the exterior walls of the bag. Thus the bag could have an interior wall which, together with an exterior wall, defines the sac. A specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a bag embodying the invention; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic section on the line A-A of Fig. 1. The bag is generally rectangular in side view, and has handles ia a side pocket 2, and a main, inner, compartment 3 which opens at the top 4 where it may have fastening means. Fastening of the compartment 3 and the pocket 2 may be by a zip fastener or by velcro. (Velcro is a Registered Trade Mark.) The material of the bag in this embodiment is towelling lined with plastic to render it waterproof. An inflatable plastic sac 5 is generally rectangular, and tends to lie flat when deflated. It is disposed within the bag so as to overlie most of one side, and fastened to it only by means of a nozzle 6 which projects out of a hole 7 in that side of the bag. The nozzle 6 is joined to the sac 2 by a plastic weld and is provided with a stopper 8. The hole 7 may have a reinforced border, e.g. a heat-treated plastic seam. It is of a size such that the nozzle together with the stopper will not easily slip through it. Fig. 2 shows the sac 5 deflated. It may conveniently be inflated by mouth, using the nozzle 6 which is then sealed with the stopper 8 and depressed so that it folds in on itself until the stopper lies flush with the side of the bag. The inflated sac 5 then fills the bag which may be used as a cushion or a pillow. For use as a carrier bag, articles may be placed in the compartment 3, on either side of the sac 5, which hangs from its nozzle 6. Alternatively, the sac may be removed by pressing the stopper 8 and nozzle through the hole 7 and lifting the sac out of the compartment 3. CLAIMS

1. A bag for carrying goods comprising portions defining a carrying compartment and an inflatable sac having an aperture for inflation and deflation.

2. A bag according to claim 1 wherein the aperture is provided by a nozzle which protrudes through a wall of the carrying compartment, and the sac is located generally within the compartment.

3. A bag according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sac is removable and the compartment is then usable on its own as a bag.

4. A bag according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sac is secured to the compartment or is defined, at least in part, by at least one of the exterior walls thereof.

5. A bag according to any preceding claim wherein the sac when inflated substantially fills the carrying compartment.

6. A bag according to claim 5 whose external surface is provided at least partly by a fabric, the arrangement being such that inflation of the sac when the compartment is empty causes it to resemble a fabric-covered cushion.

7. A bag substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.