GB2268157A

GB2268157A - Container for plastics carrier bags

Info

Publication number: GB2268157A
Application number: GB9222208A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Iris Marjorie Brialey; Aimee Lillian Matthews
Original assignee: BISHOP DAVID RICHARD
Current assignee: BISHOP DAVID RICHARD
Priority date: 1992-10-22
Filing date: 1992-10-22
Publication date: 1994-01-05
Also published as: GB9222208D0

Abstract

A device for storing plastics carrier bags comprises a tubular bag 2 of flexible material closed at one end by being drawn together by resilient means e.g. elastic cord 4, and provided at the other end with a draw string closure. In use the device is hung up, used carrier bags screwed into balls being inserted by loosening the draw strings, and withdrawn when required by inserting fingers through the elasticated lower opening. <IMAGE>

Description

CONTAINER This invention relates to containers.

The background to the invention will be explained in relation to a problem relating to one particular article. It will be readily understood that the invention is applicable to other articles.

It is common for groceries, super markets, green groceries, liquor stores and so on to give their customers a plastics carrier bag with which to carry their purchases away. If these are not thrown away, this practice soon leads a consumer to accumulate the carrier bags in significant numbers. They are difficult to store once used since they do not readily lie flat and are often screwed up in a ball and forced into a drawer in the consumer's kitchen. This is a most inappropriate sue of the drawer. In desperation, others immediately throw the bags away which is wasteful. Still other, less tidy souls, leave the bags lying around being unable bring themselves to throw them out but not having the space or, perhaps, the inclination to stuff a drawer.

Against this background, in accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a container for a plurality of articles, said container comprising a tube of flexible material having first and second ends, the first end being drawn together by resilient means, so that an article may be drawn therethrough from the container.

Especially in a preferred embodiment in which the second end of the tube has a draw string by which it may be opened and closed, the container may be hung up in the kitchen, say, and when the shopping has been emptied from a carrier bag, the bag may be screwed up into a ball and stuffed into the second end of the container. If the container is hanging by the preferred draw string, the second end would be at the top.

When a bag is required for use, the user can withdraw it through the first end of the container. Surprisingly, we find that the carrier bags quite naturally come out one at a time.

In a preferred example where the resilient means is an elastic cord, this need not be overly tight since the carrier bags will not weigh much, so the user can easily insert her or his fingers and thumb through the elasticated opening to retrieve a bag.

A suitable size for storing carrier bags is provided in a preferred container in which the circumference of the tube is approximately 16 inches.

Another aspect of the invention also extends to method of storing and retrieving articles, comprising placing articles in a container as claimed in any preceding claim through the second end of the tube; and withdrawing articles through the first end.

In a preferred example the articles are plastics bags, more preferably plastics carrier bags.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a container embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a detailed section of the top of the container of Figure 1; and Figure 2 is a detailed section of the bottom of thecontainer of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the container comprises a tube 2 made of a flexible material in the form of cloth, which may be printed with any desired design (not shown) for example advertisements.

At its lower end, shown in section in Figure 3, the tube is turned over a ring of elastic cord 4 and secured by stitching 6. At the upper end, shown in Figure 2, the tube is turned over a draw string 8 and secured by stitching 10.

The draw string 8 emerges as a loop 12 from holes 14.

The container may thus be hung from a hook, for example, in the user's kitchen. When a plastics carrier bag has been emptied of shopping, the bag may be screwed into a ball and stuffed into the top end of the container by loosing the draw string a little. To retrieve a bag from the container, the user inserts one or more fingers and a thumb through the elasticated lower opening to grasp and withdraw a bag. Since the weight of the bags is not great, the tension in the elastic ring 8 need not be great so there is little difficulty in inserting the finger(s) and thumb. Surprisingly, only one bag will be retrieved at a time.

Although the container has been designed primarily for storing plastics carrier bags, other uses will doubtless occur to the reader. It is helpful to retrieval of articles therefrom, if the diameter of the tube, determined by the amount of material used in its manufacture and thus by its circumference, is such that a stack of the articles is formed in the container so. that only one article at a time is presented to the elasticated opening. Thus in the present example of plastics carrier bags a circumference of about 16 inches is suitable.

Claims

1. A container for a plurality of articles, said container comprising a tube of flexible material having first and second ends, the first end being end drawn together by resilient means, so that an article may be drawn therethrough from the container.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second end of the tube has a draw string by which it may be opened and closed.

3. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the resilient means is an elastic cord.

4. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the circumference of the tube is approximately 16 inches.

5. A method of storing and retrieving articles, comprising placing articles in a container as claimed in any preceding claim through the second end of the tube; and withdrawing articles through the first end.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the articles are plastics bags.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the articles are plastics carrier bags.