GB2196837A

GB2196837A - Wheeled carrier bag

Info

Publication number: GB2196837A
Application number: GB08723798A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Alan Mawby; Michael John Tagg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-10-14
Filing date: 1987-10-09
Publication date: 1988-05-11
Also published as: GB8624584D0; GB8723798D0

Abstract

A wheeled carrier bag device comprises a generally right rectangular beg (12) of flexible material, with strap handles (30) at the top for carrying the bag upright, a rigid base (20) which forms part of the bag or to which it is secured, front and rear wheel pairs (38) mounted to the rigid base, and a towing handle (40) secured to the front of the bag to enable the bag to be pulled along the ground on its wheels. The axles for the wheels may be retained on the bag by portions of strap handles 30 which pass under the base 20. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shopping and like carrier bags This invention relates to a shopping or like carrier bag.

According to the invention, there is provided a carrier bag device which comprises a generally rectangular bag of flexible material, handle means by which the bag may be carried upright, a rigid base which forms part of or to which the bag is secured, two pairs of wheels mounted to the rigid base, and a towing handle by which the bag may be pulled along the ground on its wheels.

A preferred bag is of generally right rectangular form having two side walls of relatively greater area, and a front wall and a rear wall of relatively smaller area. It is preferably closed by a top wall having a central zip-type fastener running front to back and extending a short distance down the front and rear of the bag. The towing handle is preferably provided on the front wall of the bag, conveniently adjacent the end of the top wall fastener.

The bag is preferably of water-proof material, for example a waxed or otherwise treated close-woven nylon material. The preferred bag has a base wall of the same material, and is rigidified by a rigid rectangular sheet or board inserted into the bottom of the bag and possibly secured thereto, as by an adhesive.

The handle means preferably comprises a length of strap, for example made of the same material as the bag, which extends fully down the outside of each side wall at two spaced positions therealong and across the underside of the base from one side wall to the other, and forming a carrier loop at the top of each side wall. The edges of the strap are stitched or welded or otherwise secured to the bag down the side walls from a level at or near the top, and likewise secured across the base of the bag.

With the afore-described arrangement of the carrier means, it is convenient for the wheels to be constituted by front and rear pairs at the opposite ends of two horizontal spindles, each spindle being retained between the base wall of the bag and the strap which forms the carrier means. Insertion of a spindle is readily enabled by forming apertures centrally in the strap between its edge stitchings or edge welds, adjacent the junction of the base wall with the side walls. The wheels, for example having the form of small push-chair wheels, are preferably a snap fit to the spindles or held thereon by snap-fitting retainers.

A principal advantage of the carrier bag in accordance with the invention is that it can be of substantial size, for example having dimensions of about 30 cm by 52 cm by 48 cm high, giving a capacity sufficient to hold a weight of goods too heavy to be conventionally carried with comfort over a substantial distance. However, transport over such a substantial distance is readily enabled by the wheels and towing handle. At the same time, the carrier means enables the bag to be bodily lifted when necessary, for example to negotiate a staircase or kerb and to permit lifting, complete with contents, into or from the boot of a car.

A practical embodiment of carrier bag device in accordance with the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of bag in side elevation; Figure 2 shows the bag in front elevation; Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section through the bottom of the bag, on the line of a wheel spindle; and Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail transverse to a wheel spindle.

The carrier bag device shown in the drawings comprises a generally right rectangular bag 10 of a flexible sheet material such as a water-proofed woven nylon, having side walls 12, 14, front and rear walls 16, 18, base wall 20 and top wall 22. Stitching connecting the walls is omitted except for the top wall 22, which stitching 24 is included to make it clear that said top wall has end portions extending partly down the front and rear of the bag to close with front and rewar walls 16, 18 of reduced height. The top wall 22 opens and closes by a zip-type closure 26 running centrally front to back of the bag.

A rigid sheet or board 28 (see Figure 3) is inserted into the base of the bag to rigidify the base wall 20.

The bag has carrier handles constituted by the loops 30 of a strap 32, conveniently of the same material as the bag, which is edge stitched, as indicated at 34 to extend fully down the side walls at spaced front and rear positions, from a level near the top of the bag. The same strap 32 is similarly edge stitched across the underside of the base wall 20 of the bag, from one side wall to the other, at said front and rear positions.

Holes formed centrally in the strap between its edge stitchings 34, adjacent the junctions of the base and side walls of the bag, enable spindles 36 to be inserted and retained in position, flat against the rigid base, between the base wall 20 and the strap 32, at the respective front and rear positions referred to. Each spindle 36 has a pair of wheels 38 fitted to and retained on its ends. This means of equipping the bag with wheels is shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Secured to the front wall 16 of the bag, conveniently adjacent the end of the zip-type closure of the top wall, is a towing loop 40 by which the bag may be towed along the ground on its wheels.

Typical dimensions for a bag of the above described construction are 30 cm by 52 cm base area, and 48 cm high.

In use, the bag is capable of carrying a substantial weight of goods which can be wheeled over substantial distances, as from a shopping point to a car, whilst at the same time the construction of carrier handles described, which extend around the underside of the rigid base, enables the bag to be lifted in an upright position when necessary, for example to load or unload the bag, including its contents, into or from the boot of a car.

In a modification, an angle-shaped reinforcement member 50, for convenience shown in broken line in Figure 1 only, is provided, externally, along the central part of the bottom of the bag on both sides thereof. These reinforcement members 50, which are held in place by the wheel spindles, prevent possible bulging of the bag into contact with the wheels. A development of this modification is to provide a complete angle section frame around the outside of the bottom of the bag, the frame again being held in place by the wheel spindles, which pass through aligned apertures in opposite vertical limbs of the frame just above the level of the inwardly directed horizontal limbs.

In another modification, the base may be of more substantial construction and have the bag secured thereto forwardly of the rear end of the base. This base is provided with an intermediate wheel pair between the front and rear wheel pairs, the intermediate wheels being smaller and normally not in use. However, when heavy loads are being carried and obstacles such as a pavement kerb have to be negotiated, the intermediate wheels serve to reduce the effort required to pull the rear wheels up over the kerb. It is important, in this connection, that the front of the bag should be forward of the front wheel axle and the rear of the bag level or preferably forward of the rear wheel axle.

Claims

1. A carrier bag device which comprises a generally rectangular bag of flexible material, handle means by which the bag may be carried upright, a rigid base which forms part of or to which the bag is secured, two pairs of wheels mounted to the rigid base, and a towing handle by which the bag may be pulled along the ground on its wheels.

2. A bag according to claim 1, which is of generally right rectangular form having two side walls of relatively greater area, and a front wall and a rear wall of relatively smaller area.

3. A bag according to claim 2, wherein the towing handle is preferably provided on the front wall of the bag, conveniently adjacent the end of the top wall fastener.

4. A bag according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bag is of water-proof material, and includes a base wall of the same material rigidified by a rigid rectangular sheet or board inserted into the bottom of the bag and possibly secured thereto, as by an adhesive.

5. A bag according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the handle means comprises a length of strap which extends fully down the outside of each side wall at two spaced positions therealong and across the underside of the base from one side wall to the other, and forming a carrier loop at the top of each side wall.

6. A bag according to claim 5, wherein the edges of the strap are stitched or welded or otherwise secured to the bag down the side walls from a level at or near the top, and likewise secured across the base of the bag.

7. A bag according to claim 6, wherein the wheels are constituted by front and rear pairs at the opposite ends of two horizontal spindles, each spindle being retained between the base wall of the bag and the strap which forms the carrier means.

8. A bag according to claim 7, wherein insertion of a spindle is enabled by forming apertures centrally in the strap between its edge stitchings or edge welds, adjacent the junction of the base wall with the side walls.

9. A bag according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the wheels are a snap fit to the spindles or held thereon by snap-fitting retainers.

10. A bag according to any of claims 1 to 9, having one or more angle section reinforcement members fitted externally at the bottom of the bag, between the wheels and the bag wall.

11. A carrier bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.