GB2255068A - Packaging devices for compressible objects - Google Patents

Abstract

An arrangement of straps (2, 4) and tensioning means such as buckles (20, 22, 24, 26) for the packaging of bulky yet compressible articles such as sleeping bags. In use the straps (2, 4) encircle an article (1) longitudinally and there is a transversely located girth band (8) which can move up and down the straps (2, 4). The free ends of the straps (2, 4) are pulled through their respective buckles (20, 22, 24, 26) so that the straps encircle the article more tightly. Consequently the article (1) is compressed together which reduces its volume. The article may be enclosed in an inner sack (32) which is attached to the straps, has a drawstring (40) for closing its mouth and has an internal partition (34). <IMAGE>

Description

PACKAGING DEVICES The present invention relates to the field of packaging and in particular the packaging and storing of compressible objects in either a compressed or a noncompressed state.

A sleeping bag is a generally bulky item which is conventionally rolled or folded for storage in an appropriately sized sack, closable with a drawstring. Some sleeping bags have a hood piece into which the bag can be inserted after it has been folded or rolled. The hood is either elasticated or there is a drawstring to tighten and thereby enclose the sleeping bag within the hood. Even when rolled tightly or folded neatly into sacks or hoods, sleeping bags still occupy a relatively large bulk volume.

This can be both annoying and disadvantageous to a traveller who only has luggage or a rucksack of limited capacity. On many occasions it becomes necessary with some designs of rucksack to attach a rolled or folded bag to the exterior. If attached to the underside of the rucksack this can cause it to be unstable when placed on the ground.

Attaching the sleeping bag to the outside of the rucksack means that it is more likely to become wet during a rainstorm and more likely to be stolen.

A packaging enclosure for storing and reducing the volume of the sleeping bag so that it takes up less luggage space is already known. The enclosure comprises a conventional nylon sack with drawstring into which a rolled or folded sleeping bag can be placed. The closed base of the sack has four buckles fixed to it. These buckles are actually attached to reinforcing bands of material and webbing which are themselves secured to the base of the nylon sack in order to strengthen it there. There is also a girth band of nylon webbing fixed to and encircling a portion of the top of the sack. Two further straps of nylon webbing are provided and the free end portions of these two straps each locate with respective buckles at the base of the sack. Each strap encircles the sack in a longitudinal direction and a bight is thereby formed in each strap at the top end of the sack.The straps cross over one another more or less at right angles in their bight portions. The straps are guided in the region of the upper portion of the sack by the girth band which passes over them. The stitching of the girth band to the sack is arranged to provide guiding channels through which the straps pass.

In use, a sleeping bag is placed into the sack and the drawstring is tightened. The bights of the two straps are eased over the closed mouth of the sack so that the straps cross one another more or less at right angles. The free ends of each of the two straps are pulled simultaneously in turn through their respective buckles so that the cross over point of the straps and the reinforced base of the sack are drawn closer together. This drawing together compresses the sack and the bag to about two thirds of its starting volume.

We have now appreciated that a disadvantage of the known packing enclosure is that it is only of use when the sack is completely filled with a sleeping bag. The enclosure is dedicated to just compressing the sack filled with a single conventional sleeping bag.

Recent advances in fabric and material technologies have permitted the development of so called modular sleeping bags which can comprise two more modules which can be used separately or in conjunction with each other depending on the environmental conditions which are encountered. For example, a first module can be provided which functions as a sleeping bag in itself under drier and warmer conditions. This first module is generally not waterproof. A second waterproof module or bivvy bag can be provided which may be used over the first module in wetter and colder conditions. Further modules can of course be provided to give the user the opportunity of having better thermal insulation in colder conditions. We have found that the known packing enclosure for holding and compressing conventional sleeping bags displays certain disadvantages when used with the newer modular sleeping bags.

When the sack of the known enclosure is filled, a neat compression of the sack contents takes place just as if there were a single conventional sleeping bag inside.

Problems arise when say all but the sleeping bag module is taken out of the sack and the first module alone is to be packed and compressed. When the sack of the known enclosure is only partially filled, the girth band may no longer surround any of the sack contents and may merely become part of the loose folds of material of the upper portion of the sack. It is unlikely to surround that portion of the sack which is under greatest radial expansion pressure. Drawing the compression straps tight causes the sack and its contents to be squeezed but this is done less evenly and neatly then when the sack is full.

Importantly, it is noticeable that squeezing the ends of the sack together causes the middle portion of the sack to bulge radially outwards somewhat and there is no adequate girth restriction in the known arrangement. The result is both unsatisfactory to the eye and produces an irregular shape because of the lack of any girth restraint. For efficiency of packing it is usually desirable to have a compacted regular shaped object.

The present invention provides a packaging device for compressible objects such as sleeping bags comprising compressing means made up of one or more straps and tensioning means for the strap or straps capable of drawing together generally opposed portions of an object to which in use the device is applied so as to compress that object, and a girth band capable of encircling portions of an object between the opposed portions, wherein the girth band is linked to the said strap or straps but can be moved along said strap or straps between said opposed portions of the object.

Preferably the girth band is linked to the strap or straps by linking means which is slideable longitudinally of a said object along said strap or straps and circumferentially of a said object along said girth band.

The girth band may include tensioning means eg a buckle so that the girth band is adjustable in length. The girth band may be made up of two or more portions linked together by connector members. Tensioning means may also be provided in this arrangement to make the girth band adjustable in length.

The or each strap of the compressing means may take the form of a band for encircling said object which band can be altered in length by the tensioning means.

Preferably the compressing means comprises at least two straps which are arranged so that they cross over one another.

The straps may be held by linking means at the crossover point such that the straps remain free to slide in relation to one another. Thus they may be so held by the linking means that the angles at which they cross is kept constant, eg at 90 , whilst the straps are each slideable on the linking means.

The linking means preferably comprises a member having two pairs of slits, each pair of slits being capable of allowing either a portion of a said strap to pass through them. A similar linking means may be employed to link the girth band to the or each strap at each cross-over thereof.

The linking means member may be a generally flat plate and the two pairs of slits may be arranged with respect to one another so that each slit is arranged transversely to its adjacent slits.

The linking member may be square in shape and may be made of plastics material.

Preferably, the or each said strap of the compressing means comprises first and second portions connected together by connector members to form a band. The two portions may be connected by two said tensioning means.

Alternatively, the two portions may be connected by releasable fastening means separate from the tensioning means.

Preferably there are a pair of said first portions which are relatively short and which are arranged crossing over one another at about their mid points, each with a connector member on each of its ends.

There are preferably two second portions which are relatively long and which are each connected at each end to the ends of a respective one of said first portions.

The tensioning means is or are preferably buckles through which a variable length of the said strap can be pulled.

The straps may be of webbing and may be made from nylon or other synthetic material.

Preferably the enclosure comprises a flexible envelope such as a bag or sack for retaining compressible objects.

The flexible envelope may be attached to the compressing means. Preferably, where there are two said straps each consisting of first and second portions, the two first portions are attached to said envelope.

The envelope may be generally tubular in shape, one of the two ends may be closable with closing means and the other may be closed or closeable with closing means.

An internal transverse wall may be provided in said enclosure to form a septum. This may divide the enclosure up into an upper larger chamber and a lower pocket.

Said other end of the envelope may be closed and the pocket formed between said septum and said closed other end may be provided with an access opening which is closable by closing means.

The closing means of the pocket may consist of male and female fabric micro-hook and loop type sealing strips eg Velcro.

Alternatively, the enclosure may be a sack without a septum and may merely be closed at the base and open at the top, the open top end being closeable by closing means.

The or each envelope end closing means may be a drawstring.

The or each strap may not encircle the envelope as a band but may have end portions attached directly to the flexible envelope.

Preferably the envelope is made of nylon or other synthetic material.

The invention includes a package comprising one or more compressible objects contained within a packaging device according to the invention.

The compressible objects may be conventional sleeping bags, the so-called modular sleeping bags, bedding or clothing.

The invention will be further illustrated by the description of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings in which.

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred packaging device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the packaging enclosure of Figure 1 in use in a non-compressing configuration; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 2 in a compressing configuration.

Figure 1 shows a preferred device 1 comprising compressing straps 2, 4 of webbing. The straps 2, 4 are crossed over one another in respective bight portions. At the cross over point there is linking means in the form of a link plate 6 which holds the straps mutually at right angles yet permits the lengthwise sliding movement of either strap in relation to the other. A girth band 8 is provided which is made of the same material as the compressing straps eg webbing. The girth band 8 is linked to the compressing straps 2, 4 by further linking plates 10, 12, 14, 16 which are preferably the same as link plate 6. The link plates 10 - 16 hold the girth band 8 at right angles to the compressing straps 2, 4. The link plates 10-16 can be moved along the girth band 8 as well as along the compressing straps 2, 4.Examples of suitable link plates are described in US Patent Specification No 4488333 which is incorporated herein by way of reference. They comprise a square plate-like member having first slits therein arranged in a square through which two straps may be slid to cross one another.

The girth band 8 is constructed by taking a strip of webbing and threading four link plates 10 - 16 on to it.

The free end portions of the webbing are stitched together to form a band. Alternatively, one free end portion of the webbing forming the girth band 8 may have an adjusting buckle attached to it for use with the other free end portion of the webbing. In this way a girth band 8 may be formed which is adjustable in size.

An anchoring member 18 is provided which comprises four buckles 20, 22, 24, 26 which are of the type generally used to secure straps or webbing and comprise a buckle frame with two static rods held within the frame. A first pair of buckles 20, 24 are attached to a short strap of webbing 28 as are the remaining buckles 22, 26 which are attached to a similar short piece of webbing 30. The short pieces of webbing 28, 30 are sewn together so that the four buckles 20 - 26 are held equidistant from one other facing radially outwards.

The device 1 also comprises a sack 32 suitable for holding a sleeping bag, an inner sleeping bag and a sleeping bag cover or bivvy bag. The sack has an internal transverse wall 34 which forms a septum dividing the sack into a larger upper chamber 36 and the lower smaller chamber or pocket 38. The mouth of the sack is closable by a drawstring 40. The sack pocket has a small opening closable by male and female fabric micro-hook and loop type sealing strips 42 eg of Velcro. The upper portion 36 is intended for holding the inner and outer sleeping bags, whilst the pocket 38 is intended for holding the waterproof bivvy bag. Preferably, the anchor member 18 is attached to the base of the sack 32 by stitching.

Figure 2 shows the enclosure in use in a storage position. The mouth of the sack 32 is closed by drawstring 40 and the pocket 38 is closed by the male and female sealing strips 42. The end portions of the straps 2, 4 are inserted through the buckles 20 - 26 (only 20, 22 shown) and drawn through them until a degree of resistance can be felt. The girth band 8 can then be moved so that it encircles a central portion of the sack whether the sack is filled or partially filed.

A longitudinally encircling band is produced by the connection together of strap 28 (Figure 1) as a first portion thereof and longer strap 4 as a second portion thereof. A second encircling band is provided by the combination of straps 2 and 30 (Figure 1).

Figure 3 shows the same enclosure holding the sack contents in a compressed state. To achieve this, free end portions of each of the straps 2, 4 are drawn through their respective buckles 20 - 26. This process is repeated with adjustment of the position of the girth band 8 if necessary until the compression straps 2, 4 can no longer be drawn through their respective buckles 20 - 26. The sack and its contents are compressed to about two thirds or less of their original length with a slight increase in girth. The girth band 8 serves to passively restrain any undue increase in girth caused by the compression of the sack contents.

Reversion to a resting or storage state as shown in Figure 2 is achieved by loosening the compression straps 2, 4 and allowing the sack contents to expand.

The sack opening may be closed by means other than a drawstring 40, eg male and female sealing strips such as Velcro, or a zipper. The pocket 38 may be closed by means other than sealing strips 42, eg a drawstring or a zipper.

In the preferred embodiment the sack 32 is stitched to the anchor means 18 which carries the buckles 20 - 26.

However, the buckles may be stitched directly or via individual short linking straps to the base of the sack 32 which would desirably then be strengthened by reinforcing patches in this zone. Alternatively, the sack may be separate from the straps or a may be dispensed with entirely. Devices according to the invention may be used in connection with compressible objects other than sleeping bags and accessories. For instance, pieces of synthetic sponge, foam rubber or clothing such as sweaters and coats could equally be compressed with such a device to reduce bulk volumes when these objects are required to be packed into a small space.

Many modifications and variations of the embodiments as described above are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims (24)

1. A packaging device for compressible objects comprising compressing means made up of one or more straps and tensioning means for the strap or straps, which compressing means is capable of drawing together generally opposed portions of an object to which in use the device is applied so as to compress the object, and a girth band capable of encircling a portion of an object between the opposed portions, wherein the girth band is linked to the said strap or straps but can be moved along said strap or straps between said opposed portions of the object.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the or each strap of - the compressing means takes the form of a band for encircling a said object which band can be altered in length by the tensioning means.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the compressing means comprises at least two straps which are arranged so that they cross over one another.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the said straps are held by linking means where they cross over one another but the straps remain free to slide in relatIon to one another.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the linking means comprises a member having two pairs of slits, each pair of slits being capable of allowing a portion of a respective strap to pass through them.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the linking means member is a generally flat plate and the two pairs of slits are arranged with respect to one another so that each slit is arranged transversely to two adjacent slits.

7. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the girth band has tensioning means and is adjustable in length.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each said strap comprises first and second portions connected together by connector members to form a band.

9. A device as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the said connector members between the first and second portions are the said tensioning means or are a said tensioning means and a releasable fastening means separate from the tensioning means.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein there are two or more straps, the said first portions being shorter than said second portions and the said first portions are arranged to cross-over one another at about their mid points.

11. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 8 to 10, wherein said connector members are attached one to each free end of said first portion or portions.

12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tensioning means is or are buckles.

13. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a flexible envelope for retaining compressible objects.

14. A device as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the flexible envelope is attached to the compressing means.

15. An enclosure as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the envelope is generally tubular in shape, one of the wo ends is closable with closing means, and the other of the two ends is either closed or is closable with closing means.

16. A device as claimed in Clain 15, wherein an internal transverse wall is provided in said enclosure to form a septum.

17. A device as claimed in Claim 16, wherein said other end of the envelope is closed so that a pocket is formed between said closed other end and said septum, and said pocket is provided with an access opening which is closable by closing means.

18. A device as claimed in any one of Claim 12, wherein said pocket closing means consists of male and female fabric micro hook and loop type sealing strips.

19. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 15 to 18, wherein the or each end closing means is a drawstring.

20. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 19, wherein the envelope is a bag or sack.

21. A packing device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

22. A package comprising one or more compressible objects contained within a packing device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 21.

23. A package as claimed in Claim 22, wherein at least one said object is a sleeping bag.

24. A kit of parts for assembly to produce a packing device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 21.