GB2298360A - Bag strap - Google Patents

Abstract

In a bag provided with an extendable and retractable strap (19) when retracted the ends of the strap are wound interleaved on a single arbor (14). Biassing means comprising a coiled spring (16) are provided to retract the strap.

Description

BAG STRAP The present invention relates to a strap for a bag. In particular, the present invention relates to an extendable strap for a bag.

Bags and cases are typically fitted with a handle or shoulder strap.

A handle is particularly convenient for lifting the bag or carrying the bag in one's hand. A shoulder strap is convenient for carrying heavy bags or carrying bags whilst keeping one's hands free. Handles and straps are, however, generally not interchangeable and although a bag may be provided with both a handle and a shoulder strap, when the shoulder strap is not in use it will hang free and may catch on doors or other objects.

According to the present invention there is provided a bag provided with an extendable and retractable strap, wherein when retracted, the ends of the strap are wound on a single arbor. Preferably, when retracted, the ends of the strap are wound interleaved on the arbor.

In the present invention, when the strap is being retracted, the ends of the strap are each wound onto the arbor at substantially equal rates. Similarly, when the strap is being extended, the ends of the strap are unwound from the arbor at substantially equal rates.

Preferably, the arbor is provided with biassing means to retract the strap onto the arbor. The biassing means may comprise any suitable means such as a spring, preferably a coil spring, more preferably a clock spring or power spring.

A power spring is a term of the art and refers to a coil spring which is wound back on itself to provide additional torque.

The arbor may be provided with means to lock the strap in a partially extended position. The locking means may, for example, comprise a clamp applicable to the strap or a clamp or bolt applicable to the arbor.

The bag may be provided with a handle. Thus, the bag may be carried by the strap or the handle. Alternatively, the strap and handle may be used simultaneously. When the strap is not in use it is retracted such that it does not inconvenience the user. Preferably, when the strap is retracted, a part of the strap is located in a recess in the handle.

The bag of the present invention may comprise any hard- or soft-sided bag, case or pouch, such as a suitcase, beauty case, brief case, suit-bag, satchel or travelling bag.

The strap will generally comprise a flexible strip of textile, leather or plastics material, but could for example comprise a cord.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of a bag incorporating a strap assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the strap assembly; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the strap assembly; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the strap assembly; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the arbor, spring assembly and assembly cover moulding of the present invention.

Figure 1 illustrates a bag comprising end walls 1 and 2 bottom wall 3, side shells 4 and 5, and strap assembly 6.

The walls may comprise injection moulded plastics material.

End walls 1 and 2 and bottom wall 3 are moulded as a single component. Side shell 5 is mounted at an edge of bottom wall 3 by means of a hinge arrangement 7. When closed, the side shell 5 is fastened at its top edge by latch 8 provided in strap assembly 6. A lock, for example a combination lock 9, may be provided to secure the side shell in a closed position. Side shell 4 will typically be fixed in place but could be hinged and fastened in the same manner as side shell 5. Side walls 4 and 5 may each consist of a single injection moulded component or may comprise an injection moulded frame in which is mounted a thermoplastic foam or thermoplastic ABS panel.

Strap assembly 6 is illustrated in Figures 2 to 5. The assembly comprises a main beam 10 and cover moulding 11.

The main beam 10 is provided with flanges 12, for attachment to end walls 1 and 2. Mounted on beam 10 is a moulded handle 13 for lifting the bag. In the cover moulding 11 is rotatably mounted an arbor 14 comprising a split spindle 15 which engages biassing means comprising coil spring 16 held within a spring casing 17. Arbor 14 is provided with a slot 18 in which are secured both ends of the strap 19.

Arbor 14 is rotatably mounted in cover moulding 11 by means of a projection 23 engaging in a u-shaped groove 24 in the side wall 25 of the cover moulding 11 and spindle 15 engaging in slot 26 in side wall 27 of the cover moulding 11. The spring 16 and spring housing 17 are retained in a side compartment defined by side wall 27 and outer wall 28 of the cover moulding 11. Rotation of the spring housing 17 is prevented by engagement of a projection 29 in a slot 30 at the end of slot 26. The cover moulding 11 is clipped to the main beam 10 be means of clips 31 engaging in corresponding recesses in the main beam 10.

When assembled, the strap passes from arbor 14 over strap guides 20 and over the outer face of handle 13, in which is provided a recess in which the strap rests when retracted.

Location of the strap is a recess prevents the strap from slipping off the outer face of handle 13.

The spring 16 exerts a torsional force on the arbor 14 which tends to coil the strap 19 around the arbor. When coiled around the arbor 14, the ends of the strap, generally indicated at 21 and 22 are coiled so as to be interleaved.

The torsional force applied by the spring 16 also tends to keep the strap 19 taut against the outer face of handle 13.

To extend the strap 19, the strap is pulled away from the handle 13, causing the ends 21 and 22 of the strap to unwind from the arbor 14. When extended, the strap can be used as an extended handle or shoulder strap.

The strap may be locked in an extended position by means of a lock. To retract the strap, the lock is released and the strap 19 is recoiled onto arbor 14 under tension from spring 16.

The arbor 14 may be mounted at any point along the main beam 11 whilst still allowing extension or retraction of the strap 19 from the ends of the beam at a substantially equal rate.

Extension and retraction of the strap 19 from each end of the beam at substantially equal rates is particularly advantageous. In particular, if the strap is held at a point corresponding to half way along the beam, the user's hand, when extending or retracting the strap will describe a substantially linear path. Thus, the bag will remain balanced while the strap is extended or retracted. This is in sharp contrast to a bag having a strap in which only one end is extendable. Such a bag will tend to tip up when the strap is extended or retracted.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the precise rates of extension and retraction of each end of the strap may differ slightly if one end of the strap overlays the other end such that it follows a spiral path of slightly greater radius than the other end, when being wound onto the arbor. Such a difference does not substantially affect the operation of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is described by way of example only and that modifications of detail may be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. A bag provided with an extendable and retractable strap wherein when retracted the ends of the strap are wound on a single arbor.

2. A bag according to claim 1 wherein, when retracted, the ends of the strap are wound interleaved on the arbor.

3. A bag according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the arbor is provided with biassing means to retract the strap.

4. A bag according to claim 3 wherein the biassing means comprises a coiled spring.

5. A bag according to any preceding claim wherein the arbor is provided with means to lock the strap in a partially extended position.

6. A bag according to any preceding claim wherein the bag is also provided with a handle.

7. A bag according to any claim 6 wherein when retracted a part of the strap is located in a recess in the handle.

8. A strap assembly for a bag comprising an extendable and retractable strap and an arbor, wherein when retracted the ends of the strap are wound interleaved on the arbor.

9. A bag substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 5.