GB2350101A

GB2350101A - Bag convertible to apparel

Info

Publication number: GB2350101A
Application number: GB9911703A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Toomey
Original assignee: British Polythene Ltd; British Polythene Industries PLC
Current assignee: British Polythene Ltd; British Polythene Industries PLC
Priority date: 1999-05-21
Filing date: 1999-05-21
Publication date: 2000-11-22
Also published as: GB9911703D0

Abstract

A bag 1 has directions on a surface eg. cut out lines 3, 4 to guide conversion of the bag to an item of apparel by tearing or cutting eg. to be worn by a child as a play-thing. The directions, which may be printed on the exterior of the bag, may comprise lines indicating the position to make an aperture 3 (5, fig.2; 13, fig.4) for the head, and apertures 4 (6, fig.2) for the arms of a person. The direction may also comprise wording or symbols. The formed apparel may be of the wrap-around type having a slit (7, fig.2) formed vertically which may be worn down the back of the person. Alternatively, the formed apparel may be of the over-the-head type (figs.4-6) in which arms pass through vertical slits formed in either side of the bag (14, 15 fig.4; 16, 17 fig.5) which vertical slits may also allow formation of at least one strip at a peripheral bag edge, or two such strips for tying around the body of a person to secure the apparel. The bag may be made of plastic such as high density polyethylene. A handle may be formed of a cut in the bag material (12, fig.4), which may also indicate the position of a head hole (13, fig.4), or a loop of material, heat-sealed to or integral with the bag.

Description

2350101 A BAG FOR CONTAINING OBJECTS The present invention relates to a

bag, for example a shopping bag, for containing objects.

In the past, shops have attempted to encourage their customers to use "disposable" shopping bags more than once, for example by the shops giving some form of monetary refund or discount for re-use of a bag.

The present invention provides a bag for containing objects and having directions on a surface to convert it to clothing by tearing or cutting of the material forming the bag.

In this way, the shopping bag may be subsequently used for a second, different purpose being play clothes for a child, thereby encouraging creative activities by the child.

In a preferred embodiment, the directions comprise a line indicating the position to make an aperture for the head of a person, and/or a line or lines indicating the position to make an aperture for one or two arms of a person. The directions may also comprise wording and/or symbols.

The directions may be printed, stencilled, painted, drawn, perforated and/or otherwise appropriately applied to the surface; the surface may form at least part of the exterior of the bag, or the surface may form at least part of the interior of the bag.

The clothing may have exterior markings and/or colourings to simulate a uniform (eg a doctor's uniform or a fireman's uniform); the simulated uniform may include representations of objects (eg 1 stethoscopes, pens) in addition to the clothing and clothing accessories (eg buttons, medals). The markings/colourings may be on the same surface of the bag as are the directions, and/or the markings/colourings may be on another surface of the bag.

The bag may be formed of plastics material (eg low, medium or VO high density polythene r any polymeric material) typically with a thickness in the range of 20 to 250 micron, preferably 50 to 75 micron. Alternatively, the bag may be formed of paper, cardboard or a wood pulp material; or the bag may be formed of a cloth material.

In a preferred embodiment, the clothing comprises a wrap-around design including an opening extending generally vertically down the body (preferably at the back) of a person wearing the clothing. Additionally or alternatively, the clothing comprises an over-the-head design including an opening to accommodate the head of a person wearing the clothing.

The directions may refer to forming at least one strip, for tieing the clothing to the body of the person wearing the cloth; preferably, two such strips are formed such that they can be tied together and restrain the clothing against the body of the person wearing the clothing.

The bag may be sealed or folded along two or three of its edges; the bag can be folded with a side gusset or a bottom gusset. The bag may 2:5 have handles formed by a cut-out of the material comprising the bag; in an alternative, the bag has handles formed by loops attached to the bag, for example by heat-sealing.

An advantage of the present invention is that the provision of a design with printed instructions on the bag enables the bag to be used for 2 creative purposes in the play activities of children. Thus the bag gives added value to the goods from the shop and may attract additional customers.

In order that the invention may more readily be understood, a description is now given, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a view of one major side of a shopping bag according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a view of the other major side of the bag of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of the clothing converted from the bag of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view of one major side of a shopping bag according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a view of the other side of the bag of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a view of the clothing converted from the bag of Figure 4.

Figures 1 and 2 shows a shopping bag (of height 450 nim, width 400min) of high density polytheneúnaterial with a thickness in the range of 20 to 250 micron (preferably 50 to 70 micron) and having two loops 2 (only one being shown) of the same material and heat-sealed to the interior surface of bag 1 to constitute handles.

On that side of bag 1 as shown in Figure 1, the bag has broken lines 3, 4 forming three semi-circles (one of radius 75min, two of radius 45 mm), while on the other side of bag 1 there are three broken lines 5, 6 and 7 forming, in addition to the semi-circles as before, a straight line as shown in Figure 2. These broken lines give instructions as to what cuts to make in the bag in order to convert it to a child's play 3 clothing which simulates a uniform (for example a fireman or a doctor) or a character; the clothing is the other way up, when worn, to that shown in Figure 1. Cutting along the lines 3 and 5 on both sides of the bag produces a hole in bag 1 to accommodate a child's head, while cutting along the lines 4 and 6 produce holes for the arm of the child and line 5 produces an opening (whether at the front or at the back). The handles may be retained or may be cut off when making the play clothing.

The broken lines are printed on bag 1; alternatively they may be stencilled, painted, drawn or otherwise appropriately applied to the material. Perforations may represent or form the broken lines. The directions to achieve conversion to the play clothing may also comprise wording, and or symbols and/or icons in addition to the broken lines.

Bag 1 has, on its exterior, markings and/or colourings to simulate a uniform (eg doctor's uniform or a fireman's uniform), including clothing accessories (eg buttons, medals); the simulated uniform may include representations of objects (eg stethoscopes, pens) in addition to the clothing and accessories. In a variation, the markinglcolourings are provided on the inner surface of bag 1, and conversion to play clothing includes turning bag 1 inside out.

As one example of play clothing which can be produced from bag 1, Figure 3A and B show the front and back of a doctor's uniform having an ID badge 8, a stethoscope 9 and numerous pens 10. One of the handles 2 has been retained but cut so as to form two ties at the back.

Figures 4 and 5 show a bag 11 of the same external dimensions and of the same material as bag 1 and it may have the same, similar or equivalent features of bag 1 except where specific provision otherwise has 4 been made. Bag 11 has two handles each produced by an arcuate cut 12 in the material of the bag. That side of bag 11 which is shown in Figure 4 has a broken line 13, with existing cut 12, forming a circle of radius 75 nini, and two broken lines 14 and 15, all printed (or otherwise applied as before) on it. The other side of bag 11, namely that shown in Figure 5, has two broken lines 16 and 17. Each of the lines 14, 15, 16 and 17 starts at an upper edge of the bag and extends vertically (according to bag 11) downwards towards, but terminating at a distance (typically between 10 and 40 min) before, the lower edge of bag 11; typically, these lines are in the range of 10 to 30 mm (preferably 20 mm) in from the adjacent side edge of bag 11.

When converting bag 11 to play clothing, cutting along line 13 provides an aperture for the child's head, while cutting along lines 14 and 17 provides one "apron string", and cutting along lines 15 and 16 provides the second "apron string", for tying together at the back of the child.

In this way, bag 11 is transposed into an apron style, over-the-head design including an opening to accommodate the head of a person and with two ties to restrain the clothing against the body of the person wearing the clothing.

The clothing may have markings and colourings in similar manner to bag 1 and including clothing accessories and representations of objects.

As one example of play clothing which can be produced from bag 11, Figure 6 shows the front of a fireman's uniform having a badge 18, numerous buttons 19, a belt 20 with buckle 21, and pockets 22.

5 In a variant to either embodiment, the bag is formed of a (QXA low density or medium density polytheneLmaterial or any polymeric material. Alternatively, the bag is formed of paper, cardboard or a wood pulp material; or the bag is formed of a cloth material.

Each bag 1 and 11 may have side and/or bottom gussets as appropriate.

6

Claims

1. A bag for containing objects and having directions on a surface to convert it to clothing by tearing or cutting of the material forming the bag.

2. A bag according to claim 1, wherein the directions comprise a line indicating the position to make an aperture for the head of a person.

3. A bag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the directions comprise a line indicating the position to make one or two aperture for an arm or arms of a person.

4. A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the directions are on the exterior of the bag.

5. A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the directions comprise wording.

6. A bag according to any preceding claim wherein the directions comprise symbols.

7. A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the directions are printed on a surface of the bag.

8. A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the clothing comprises a wrap-around design including an opening extending generally vertically down the body (preferably at the back) of a person wearing the clothing.

7

9. A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the clothing comprises an over-the-head design including an opening to accommodate the head of a person wearing the clothing.

10. A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the clothing has exterior markings and/or colourings to simulate a uniform.

11. A bag according to claim 10, wherein the simulated uniform includes representations of clothing accessories.

12. A bag according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the simulated uniform includes representations of objects.

13. A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the bag is formed of plastics material.

14. A bag accordag to claim 7, wherein the bag is formed of high density polythen.

15. A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the directions refer to forming at least one strip, for tying the clothing to the body of the person wearing the cloth.

16. A bag according to claim 15, wherein the directions refer to forming two such strips such that they can be held together and restrain the clothing against the body of the person wearing the clothing.

17. A bag according to any preceding claim comprising at least one handle formed by a cut in the material.

8

18. A bag according to claim 17, wherein a line indicating the position for an aperture extends from the cut in the material.

19. A bag according to any preceding claim, comprising at least one 5 handle formed by a loop of material attached to the material of the bag.

20. A bag according to claim 19, wherein the loop comprises material of the same type as that of the bag.

21. A bag according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the loop of material is heat-sealed to the bag.

22. A bag according to any preceding claim, wherein the bag comprises at least one gusset.

23. A bag for containing objects substantially as herein before described with reference to and/or as illustrated in any one or more of the Figures of the accompanying drawings.

24. A sheet of material in a shape to form a shopping bag according to any preceding claim and having directions on a surface to- convert the bag to clothing by tearing and/or cutting of the material.

9