GB2164547A - Bag - Google Patents

Abstract

A bag which fits neatly within a supermarket trolley but is storable in a small volume by rolling it up has a base 12, side walls 14, and end walls 16, all of a flexible material which is stiff enough for the bag to be capable of standing unaided. The side walls 14 are turned over at the top to define tubes housing rods. Beneath these, apertures 28 form hand holds. The bag can be collapsed by bringing together the rods and causing the side walls 14 to overlie each other, the base 12 being squashed downwardly and the end walls 16 inwardly. The flattened bag is then rolled up from the bottom and secured by tapes 30. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Receptacle The present invention relates to a receptacle, e.g. for shopping. It particularly relates to a receptacle that can fit into a supermarket trolley, and which is of large capacity but low weight, and is foldable into a small volume.

In a preferred form, the invention provides a receptacle having the form of a box having an opposed pair of walls with respective struts extending along their top edges, the arrangement being such thatthe bag can be flattened with the struts of the pair of walls brought together, and the flattened bag can then be rolled up around the struts. Preferably there are straps which are then engageableto maintain the bag rolled up.

Preferablythe receptacle hastheform of a box having a base and side walls comprising foldable sheet material, the arrangement being such that the box is self-supporting.

A preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig lisa perspective view of a bag which is a receptacle embodying the invention, in the erected state; Fig 2 is a detail of an end portion during folding; Fig 3 is a side view of the bag folded flat; Fig 4 is a view from above of the bag not quite flat; Fig 5 is a section on V-V in Fig 3, to a largerscale; Fig 6 is a detail of a section similarto Fig 5 but looking the otherway and on a smaller scale; and Fig 7 is a perspective view of the rolled-up bag.

The illustrated bag 10 provides a rectangular box having a base 12 and two long side walls 14formed from a single piece of sheet material, and a pair of end walls 16 each of which is a rectangular portion secured to the base and side walls, e.g. by stitching or welding.

All may be of a plastics material, such as Reedex F (a trade markfor laminated polypropylene), a woven polypropylene, laminated or woven polyethylene (of high orlowdensity) orValeron (trade mark).

The top of each end wall 16may be strengthened by a hem 18. The side walls 14 have larger portions 20 turned over. At the top, these provide tubes 22 for housing wooden dowels 24 each of which extends for thefull length except four perhaps 2cm at either end.

The tubes 22 are defined by lines of stitching 25.

Beneath these, the portions 20 extend for about 4cm and their lower edges are secured by lines of stitching 26. The double layers between the lines 25,26 are penetrated by apertures 28 to create hand holds.

One side wall 14 has straps secured at an intermediate region just below the upper line 25. Inner and outer straps 30 have mutual attachment means such as Velcro (trade mark) pads 32 attheirouter ends.

Between them there is a loop 34.

The base 12 and walls 14, l6havefoldlinesto enablethe bag to be flattened with the side walls overlying one another. An arrangementwhich is preferred (since it makes it easy forthe bag to be erected and to support itself) employs the following creases, whose character is defined as viewed inside the bag.

The base 12 has a central longitudinal line ABBA whereof BB is a valley (concave) fold and the outer portionsAB are mountain (convex) folds. Further valley folds BC extend to the corners C of the base.

Each end wall 16 has a central vertical mountain fold AD.

To initiate folding, the bag may be held bythe centres D of the tops of the end walls. Inward pressure on the bottom centresAcauseseach end wall and associated end portion of the basetofold inwardly, so that at either end BA and AD become collinear mountain folds. The side walls 14 are brought together, and the whole is flattened to the state shown in Fig 3. The folding may require manual assistance to help the creases to fold correctly if thefoid lines are not very well established or if the material is rather floppy. Preferred materials have a certain stiffness, and have good 'memories' for creases.

From the Fig 3 configuration, the bag 10 is rolled up from the bottom,to create a neatcylinder (Fig 7). The straps 30 arethen mutually engaged two keep the bag rolled, and itmaythen be suspended bythe loop 34.

Thus a user may suspend the bag by its loop 34from a supermarket trolley. Then, at the check-out, it is the work of a moment two unroll the bag, shake it out into its box shape, and put it in an emptytrolley (which it is designed to fit exactly). It may then be filled with goods, and carried in thetrolley to a waiting car. The illustrated array of three pairs of hand holds 28 makes it easy for either one ortwo people to lift it up. It is extremely capacious, and also very light and easy to store.

Of course, much variation is possible. A half-size bag might have side walls 14 of half a trolley's length, with a single pair of hand holds 28. A bag might not be fully self-supporting, but might rely on being connected to the walls of a trolley or packed with goods.

1. A receptacle having the form of a box having an opposed pair ofwalls with respective struts extending along theirtop edges, the arrangement being such that the bag can be flattened with the struts of the pair of walls broughttogether, and the flattened bag can then be rolled up around the struts.

2. A receptacle according to claim 1 having straps that are engageableto maintain the receptacle in its rolled up state.

3. A receptacle according to claim 1 or claim 2 which has the form of a box having a base and side walls comprising foldable sheet material, the arrangement being suchthatthe box is self-supporting.

4. A receptacle according to any preceding claim wherein said opposed pair of walls each terminate with a turned-over portion which houses a respective strut which extendsfor substantiallythewhole length.

5. A receptacle according to claim 4 having aperturesto serve as hand holds inthewalls beneath the turned-over portions.

6. A receptacle according to any preceding claim dimensioned to fit closely within a supermarket trolley.

7. A receptacle according to any ofclaims 1-5 dimensioned sothattwo ofthem side by side fit closely within a supermarket trolley.

8. A receptacle substantially as any herein de

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

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Receptacle The present invention relates to a receptacle, e.g. for shopping. It particularly relates to a receptacle that can fit into a supermarket trolley, and which is of large capacity but low weight, and is foldable into a small volume. In a preferred form, the invention provides a receptacle having the form of a box having an opposed pair of walls with respective struts extending along their top edges, the arrangement being such thatthe bag can be flattened with the struts of the pair of walls brought together, and the flattened bag can then be rolled up around the struts. Preferably there are straps which are then engageableto maintain the bag rolled up. Preferablythe receptacle hastheform of a box having a base and side walls comprising foldable sheet material, the arrangement being such that the box is self-supporting. A preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig lisa perspective view of a bag which is a receptacle embodying the invention, in the erected state; Fig 2 is a detail of an end portion during folding; Fig 3 is a side view of the bag folded flat; Fig 4 is a view from above of the bag not quite flat; Fig 5 is a section on V-V in Fig 3, to a largerscale; Fig 6 is a detail of a section similarto Fig 5 but looking the otherway and on a smaller scale; and Fig 7 is a perspective view of the rolled-up bag. The illustrated bag 10 provides a rectangular box having a base 12 and two long side walls 14formed from a single piece of sheet material, and a pair of end walls 16 each of which is a rectangular portion secured to the base and side walls, e.g. by stitching or welding. All may be of a plastics material, such as Reedex F (a trade markfor laminated polypropylene), a woven polypropylene, laminated or woven polyethylene (of high orlowdensity) orValeron (trade mark). The top of each end wall 16may be strengthened by a hem 18. The side walls 14 have larger portions 20 turned over. At the top, these provide tubes 22 for housing wooden dowels 24 each of which extends for thefull length except four perhaps 2cm at either end. The tubes 22 are defined by lines of stitching 25. Beneath these, the portions 20 extend for about 4cm and their lower edges are secured by lines of stitching 26. The double layers between the lines 25,26 are penetrated by apertures 28 to create hand holds. One side wall 14 has straps secured at an intermediate region just below the upper line 25. Inner and outer straps 30 have mutual attachment means such as Velcro (trade mark) pads 32 attheirouter ends. Between them there is a loop 34. The base 12 and walls 14, l6havefoldlinesto enablethe bag to be flattened with the side walls overlying one another. An arrangementwhich is preferred (since it makes it easy forthe bag to be erected and to support itself) employs the following creases, whose character is defined as viewed inside the bag. The base 12 has a central longitudinal line ABBA whereof BB is a valley (concave) fold and the outer portionsAB are mountain (convex) folds. Further valley folds BC extend to the corners C of the base. Each end wall 16 has a central vertical mountain fold AD. To initiate folding, the bag may be held bythe centres D of the tops of the end walls. Inward pressure on the bottom centresAcauseseach end wall and associated end portion of the basetofold inwardly, so that at either end BA and AD become collinear mountain folds. The side walls 14 are brought together, and the whole is flattened to the state shown in Fig 3. The folding may require manual assistance to help the creases to fold correctly if thefoid lines are not very well established or if the material is rather floppy. Preferred materials have a certain stiffness, and have good 'memories' for creases. From the Fig 3 configuration, the bag 10 is rolled up from the bottom,to create a neatcylinder (Fig 7). The straps 30 arethen mutually engaged two keep the bag rolled, and itmaythen be suspended bythe loop 34. Thus a user may suspend the bag by its loop 34from a supermarket trolley. Then, at the check-out, it is the work of a moment two unroll the bag, shake it out into its box shape, and put it in an emptytrolley (which it is designed to fit exactly). It may then be filled with goods, and carried in thetrolley to a waiting car. The illustrated array of three pairs of hand holds 28 makes it easy for either one ortwo people to lift it up. It is extremely capacious, and also very light and easy to store. Of course, much variation is possible. A half-size bag might have side walls 14 of half a trolley's length, with a single pair of hand holds 28. A bag might not be fully self-supporting, but might rely on being connected to the walls of a trolley or packed with goods. CLAIMS

1. A receptacle having the form of a box having an opposed pair ofwalls with respective struts extending along theirtop edges, the arrangement being such that the bag can be flattened with the struts of the pair of walls broughttogether, and the flattened bag can then be rolled up around the struts.

2. A receptacle according to claim 1 having straps that are engageableto maintain the receptacle in its rolled up state.

3. A receptacle according to claim 1 or claim 2 which has the form of a box having a base and side walls comprising foldable sheet material, the arrangement being suchthatthe box is self-supporting.

4. A receptacle according to any preceding claim wherein said opposed pair of walls each terminate with a turned-over portion which houses a respective strut which extendsfor substantiallythewhole length.

5. A receptacle according to claim 4 having aperturesto serve as hand holds inthewalls beneath the turned-over portions.

6. A receptacle according to any preceding claim dimensioned to fit closely within a supermarket trolley.

7. A receptacle according to any ofclaims 1-5 dimensioned sothattwo ofthem side by side fit closely within a supermarket trolley.

8. A receptacle substantially as any herein de scribedwith referenceto or as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings.

9. A supermarketrolley containing a receptacle according toany preceding claim.