GB2468482A

GB2468482A - Bag for use on the beach

Info

Publication number: GB2468482A
Application number: GB0903936A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek John Burgin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-09
Filing date: 2009-03-09
Publication date: 2010-09-15
Also published as: GB0903936D0; WO2010103307A1

Abstract

A bag 10 comprises first and second U-shaped panels 12, 14 with an open mouth 15, closed by a drawstring 22. The drawstring is passed around the bag, which forms a ball in its filled condition, thus preventing the mouth of the bag from opening. The bag may have a retaining tab may be provided at the base of the bag to hold the drawstring in place. In use, the bag may be used to carry items to and from a beach and, when at the beach is filled with sand, pebbles and the like and then used as a weight to hold items such as towels in position.

Description

Title: Sand Bag The present invention relates to a sand bag and particularly to a sand bag for use on the beach.

Background to the Invention

When on the beach, it is often difficult to prevent personal items, including towels, parasols and the like from being blown away by the sea breeze. It is known to provide wind breaks with spaced legs, which can be pushed into the beach in order to try and secure them, but sometimes, these wind breaks can become dislodged themselves and are prone to blowing over. Another problem with a wind break is that it can obscure the path of the sun, preventing effective sun bathing.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sand bag and/or sand bag kit which reduces or substantially obviates the above mentioned problems.

Statement of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a sand bag comprising a first U-shaped fabric panel connected to a second U-shaped fabric panel of similar shape and size, and a drawstring provided partly in a seam around the periphery of an open end of the bag for closing the sand bag, in use, the sand bag taking the shape of a substantially spherical ball when filled to capacity and the drawstring tightened, and the length of free drawstring after tightening being sufficient to wrap around the circumference of the bag.

The sand hag is advantageous because it can be taken to a beach, for example, and filled with sand, pebbles or other loose materials and be used to weigh down a parasol, towel, wind break or the like. At the end of the visit to the beach, the hag can be emptied and taken home for re-use.

Preferably the drawstring forms a continuous loop with a length substantially equal to the circumference of the ball, when the sand bag is filled to capacity and the drawstring tightened.

Preferably a releasable tab is provided on the underside of the bag for retaining the drawstring.

This prevents the drawstring from becoming loose and ensures that the mouth of the bag remains closed in use.

Preferably one end of the releasable tab is stitched to the bag. The other end of the releasable tab may be attached to the bag by means of a press stud or hook and eye fastener.

Preferably the width of each U-shaped fabric panel is approximately 150mm and the length of each U-shaped panel is approximately 220mm. The bag may be made in other sizes, hut in the same proportions.

Preferably the seam around the periphery of the open end of the bag has two opposed apertures therein, one end of the drawstring passing through a first aperture, through the seam and being fixed adjacent the second aperture, the other end of the drawstring passing through the second aperture, through the seam on the other side of the bag and being fixed adjacent the first aperture.

Preferably the first aperture is disposed at a first corner of the bag and the second aperture is disposed at a second corner of the bag, when in the empty condition.

Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an empty sand bag; Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the sand bag of Figure 1 filled with sand; Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the sandbag of Figure 1 being used as a carrier with another folded sand bag; Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a drawstring of the sand bag of Figure 1 being tightened; and Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a plurality of sand bags, similar to that of Figure 1, in a filled condition for use.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a sand bag for the beach is indicated generally at 10. The sand bag 10 includes a first U-shaped fabric panel 12 connected to a second U-shaped fabric panel 14 of similar size and shape. The panels 12, 14 are stitched together around their periphery between points A to B, as indicated, around the curved part of the fabric panels. The upper end of the fabric panels, indicated at 15 is left open, and forms the mouth of the sand bag 10. A continuous seam 16 extends around the upper end of the panels 12, 14 around the mouth 15 and is apertured on either side with respective apertures, 18, 20. A drawstring 22 extends through the internal passage of the seam 16, and forms a loop at the top of the bag 10, which can be used as a handle.

With reference also to Figure 4, one end 24 of the draw string 22, to the right hand side as viewed, passes into the seam 16 through the aperture 20, through the seam along the top of the second panel 14 and is secured adjacent the mouth of the first aperture 18, at B. Similarly, the other end 26 of the drawstring 22 passes through the aperture 18 and along the edge of the first panel 12 through the seam 16 and is secured adjacent the mouth of the aperture 20, at A. When the drawstring 22 is pulled from both ends as indicated in Figure 4, the drawstring gathers in the material at the seam 16 and closes the mouth 15 of the bag. If the bag is filled with sand, or other materials, then when the drawstring 22 is tightened, the sand bag 10 takes the form of a ball, as indicated in Figure 2. As can be seen from Figure 2, the length of the drawstring in the tightened condition is such that the loop is substantially equal to the circumference of the ball. This being the case, if the drawstring is passed around the underside of the sand bag 12, then the drawstring 22 is held relatively tightly, and the gathered seam 16 does not unravel, thus preventing the mouth of the hag from becoming opened. A material tab (not shown) may be provided between the first and second panels 12, 14 at their base, which may be used to retain the drawstring at the base of the ball. The tab may be secured by stitching to one panel, and may be realisably secured to the other panel by a press stud or hook and eye fastener, such as VELCRO (RTM).

Referring now to Figure 3, the sand bag 10 is shown in an open condition, with an article 28 being passed through the mouth of the bag 10 for carriage. A further bag 10 is indicated at the right hand side of the drawing, and is folded. A plurality of bags 10 folded in this manner may be placed within another bag 10 for carriage, for carrying to for example a beach or other area. The width of the panels is approximately 150mm. and the total depth of the bag is approximately 220mm, as indicated.

In use, a sand bag 10 can he used to carry items, for example, to or from a beach and can be filled with sand, pebbles or other loose material and the drawstring tightened and restrained as explained above in order to keep the hag closed. The hag 10 can then be used as a weight to hold down items, for example towels and wind breaks, on a windy beach. It will be appreciated that the sand hag can be used in other applications, such as when picnicking in order to hold a picnic blanket in position on the ground, and a plurality of sand bags as indicated in Figure 5 can be used in combination. If desired, items can be attached to the drawstring or retained between the drawstring and bag body. On leaving the beach or other destination, the sand or pebbles can simply be emptied back onto the beach and the bag folded flat and taken home ready for re-use, as desired.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sand hag comprising a first U-shaped fabric panel connected to a second U-shaped fabric panel of similar shape and size, and a drawstring provided partly in a seam around the periphery of an open end of the bag for closing the sand hag, in use, the sand bag taking the shape of a substantially spherical ball when filled to capacity and the drawstring tightened, and the length of free drawstring after tightening being sufficient to wrap around the circumference of the bag.
2. A sand bag as claimed in claim 1, in which the drawstring forms a continuous loop with a length substantially equal to the circumference of the ball, when the sand bag is filled to capacity and the drawstring tightened.
3. A sand bag as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which a releasable tab is provided on the underside of the bag for retaining the drawstring.
4. A sand bag as claimed in claim 3, in which one end of the releasable tab is stitched to the bag.
5. A sand bag as claimed in claim 4, in which the other end of the releasable tab is attached to the bag by means of a press stud.
6. A sand bag as claimed in claim 4, in which the other end of the releasable tab is attached to the bag by means of hook and eye fastener.
7. A sand bag as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the width of each U-shaped fabric panel is approximately 150mm.
8. A sand bag as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the length of each U-shaped panel is approximately 220mm.
9. A sand bag as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the seam around the periphery of the open end of the bag has two opposed apertures therein, one end of the drawstring passing through a first aperture, through the seam and being fixed adjacent the second aperture, the other end of the drawstring passing through the second aperture, through the seam on the other side of the bag and being fixed adjacent the first aperture.
10. A sand bag as claimed in claim 9, in which the first aperture is disposed at a first corner of the bag and the second aperture is disposed at a second corner of the bag, when in the empty condition.
11. A sand bag substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.