GB2473221A

GB2473221A - Bag closure assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2473221A
Application number: GB0915342A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Beverley Ching Chu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-03
Filing date: 2009-09-03
Publication date: 2011-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 2029-09-03
Also published as: GB2473221B; GB0915342D0

Abstract

The bag 1 has a body which includes front and rear panels 2 and 3 and a bag opening 18 at the tap between the panels. The rear panel has a closure member for extending across the bag opening and engaging a slot 10 in the front panel, so as to restrict the bag opening 19. The closure member may be implemented by a short cord 7 with a tassel 8 suspended at one end for engagement with the slot in a downward direction and stays engaged under the action of weight of the tassel 8. The closure assembly is suitable for use in a handbag or shopping bag.

Description

BAG

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a bag, and in particular a bag with a closure member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A bag is in general a container for objects, which may be made from different materials such as paper, cloth and plastic, etc. Bags are usually used for packaging and/or carrying items. They vary from small ones, like purses to large ones for use in traveling. S... :15 S.. *

**** To meet diversified needs and tastes of people, different *:: types and designs of bags are available. A packaging bag is usually well decorated on the exterior to enhance its overall presentation. In terms of marketing, it encourages *...:2o customers to purchase products contained in the bag. Low-cost disposable paper bags and plastic shopping bags are in abundant use in the retail trade as a convenience for shoppers, and they are often supplied by the shops at no extra cost or a very small fee. Handbags are another major type, which are available in a large variety of designs.

They are usually well decorated and sturdy enough for prolonged use.

Bags may be closed by a zipper or snap fastener, etc., or simply by folding (e.g. in the case of a paper bag).

Sometimes a money bag or travel bag has a lock. Zipper bags are good for preventing unauthorized tempering of the items in the bags. However, a common problem associated with this type of bags is that it is usually not possible to retrieve an item unless the bag is at least partially unzipped. A user may have to squeeze his or her hand into the partially opened bag, and this may cause discomfort especially with metal zippers. Another problem lies in the fact that some . :15 bags require use of both hands to open or close, and this * I can be inconvenient on occasion. *.** * II I. I

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION I... * II I. I

.20 It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of these shortcomings by providing a bag having a closure member that is easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a bag comprising: a body for containing objects, the body having first and second body portions on opposite sides of the body and an upwardly facing bag opening between the first and second body portions; a closure member associated with the first body portion for extending across the bag opening and engagement with the second body portion to thereby restrict the bag opening; and a keeper associated with the second body portion for engagement by the closure member, the keeper having an upper opening via which the closure member is engageable with the I...

:15 keeper in a downward direction and stays engaged under the S... * .

action of weight of the closure member. *.. * S S

Preferably, the closure member has a first part of a relatively larger cross-section than a second part behind ..2O the first part, with which second part the closure member is engageable with the keeper while the first part operatively retains the closure member against withdrawal from the keeper by virtue of its relatively larger cross-section.

More preferably, the second part of the closure znexuber is elongate and pliable, having a substantially uniform cross-sectional size.

It is further preferred that the first part of the closure member comprises gathered threads.

it is further preferred that the first part of the closure member comprises a tassel.

In a preferred embodiment, the keeper comprises a slot in the second body portion, the slot having an upper open end via which the closure member operatively enters and intercepts with the slot for engagement therewith. * * * *. I *** S * S

More preferably, the slot extends downwardly from an upper S...

: edge of the second body portion.

*: More preferably, the slot is substantially straight.

S * . S

* ..20 It is preferred that the slot has a substantially uniform width.

In a preferred embodiment, the bag includes a pair of shoulder straps connected to the first and. second body portions respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bag in accordance with the invention, having an upper bag opening restricted by a closure member in the form of a cord suspending a tassel at the end; * * .1 S. I ** I Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1, showing S..

.. : the string and tassel lifted and undone such that the bag opening is no longer restricted; S... S * *

IS S

..: 20 Figure 3 is a front view of the bag of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the bag of Figure 3, taken along line Ill-Ill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a tote bag 1 embodying the invention, which bag 1 has a first front body panel 2 connected to a second rear body panel 3 on opposite sides via a bottom panel 4 in between and includes a pair of left and right side panels 5 and 6, all being stitched or otherwise jointed together forming a generally flat rectangular bag body. The upper edges of the front and rear body panels 2 and 3 and the two side panels 5 and 6 define an upwardly facing oblong bag opening 18 between the front and rear body panels 2 and 3. A pair of shoulder straps 23 and 24 is attached to the front and rear body panels 2 and 3 respectively, on opposite sides of the bag opening 18. All :15 these panels (portions) 2 to 6 and straps 23 and 24 may be S... * S

** made of fabric, leather, plastic or paper material, and in *** : the present case fabric as an example.

The tote bag 1 incorporates an elongate pliable closure *... 20 member for extending centrally across and restricting the bag opening 18. The closure member is in the form of a cord 7 suspending a tassel 8 at the end. Whilst the cord 7 has a substantially uniform cross-sectional size i.e. thickness, the tassel 8 has a considerably larger cross-section compared to the cord 7. The tassel 8 is formed by a bunch of gathered threads which may be knotted or wrapped around a bead into a ball 9, with their ends dangling loose as a skirt of fringe.

The tassel 8 constitutes a front end of the closure member, and the remote end of the cord 7 a rear end. As to the front end of the closure member, the tassel 8 may be regarded as a first part P1 of the said front end and the part of the cord 7 adjacent or behind the tassel 8 a second part P2.

The cord 7 is attached at its remote or rear end to near the upper edge of the rear body panel 3, about centrally thereof. In use the cord 7 extends right across the bag a. s :15 opening 18 to reach the front body panel 2, where the tassel 8 (i.e. the first part P1) together with the part of the cord 7 leading to the tassel 8 (i.e. the second part P2) engages with a keeper associated with the front panel 2. S...

S

SI S

.2O The keeper is implemented by a slot (or slit) 10 centrally in the upper edge of the front body panel 2, being a substantially straight slot having a substantially uniform width and a substantially vertical central axis.

The slot 10 has an open top end at the bag opening 18 via which the cord 7 may be laterally inserted into the slot 10, intercepting and engaged with the slot 10. The tassel 8 does not enter the slot 10 and remains dangling on the outside of the front panel 2. The tassel 8 is considerably heavier than the cord 7, and it pulls upon the cord 7 downwards under the action of gravity as a suspended weight. By pulling the cord 7 downwards, the tassel 8 draws, or at least imparts a tendency to draw, the rear panel 3 towards the front panel 2. This action results in closing or restricting of the bag opening 18, with the cord 7 of a limited length extending across the bag opening 18. The tassel 8 is more than large enough to hold itself against being pulled back through the slot 10, thereby keeping the cord 7 in place. The cord 7 I.., .. 15 will remain engaged with the slot 10 until the tassel 8 is 0Is o lifted thereby disengaging the cord 7 from the slot 10. S.., * ** S. U

With the cord 7 engaged with the slot 10, the length of the cord 7 (i.e. position of the tassel 8 on the cord 7) *..20 restricts the extent to which the front and rear panels 2 and 3 at the bag opening 18 can be pulled/pushed apart. This is relevant for example when the user wants to retrieve a small item out of the tote bag 1 without unfastenirig the bag 1. The cord 7 is short but its length is determined such that the cord 7 allows the front panel 2 to part from the rear panel 3, as the slot 10 slides out along the cord 7 until it reaches the tassel ball 9. This provides an optimum gap through the bag opening 18, on either side of the cord 7, for retrieving small items without fully opening the tote bag 1.

In use, the tassel 8 is brought over to the front panel 2 with the cord 7 inserted laterally into the slot 10 via the latter's open top end. The weight of the tassel 8 pulls upon the cord 7 downwards, thereby resulting in closing of the front and rear panels 2 and 3 at the top and hence the bag opening 18. The tassel 8 may not be heavy enough or friction may prevail, in which case a slight pull upon the tassel 8 S...

.. 15 will achieve the same result i.e. closing the bag opening * ** * * 18. * S*

S

The cord 7 may be disengaged from the slot 10 by simply 5.0. . . . . .. : lifting or flicking the tassel 8 over to the back i.e. from . 20 the front panel 2 to the rear panel 3, whereby the tassel 8 pulls the cord 7 out of the slot 10.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, the bag is a handbag in the describe embodiment, but it can be a shopping bag, for example of non-woven materal, in a different embodiment.

In the described enibodiment the suspended weight in the closure member is a tassel but it can be of any design or shape, such as a metal badge or a piece of crystal ornament.

Also, the cord in the closure member may be replaced by a strap or flap which is sufficiently wide to cover a middle portion of the bag opening when it is engaged with the front panel of the bag. * * * I. * * * S... * S S S. * S... * SS S. S S. S S 55

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bag comprising: a body for containing objects, the body having first and second body portions on opposite sides of the body and an upwardly facing bag opening between the first and second body portions; a closure member associated with the first body portion for extending across the bag opening and engagement with the second body portion to thereby restrict the bag opening; and a keeper associated with the second body portion for engagement by the closure member, the keeper having an upper opening via which the closure member is engageable with the keeper in a downward direction and stays engaged under the action of weight of the closure member. * S S...
2. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure member has a first part of a relatively larger cross-section than a second part behind the first part, with which second part the closure member is engageable with the keeper while the first part operatively retains the closure member against withdrawal from the keeper by virtue of its relatively larger cross-section.
3. The bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second part of the closure member is elongate and pliable, having a substantially uniform cross-sectional size.
4. The bag as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the first part of the closure member comprises gathered threads.
5. The bag as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the first part of the closure member comprises a tassel.
6. The bag as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the keeper comprises a slot in the second body portion, the slot having an upper open end via which the closure member operatively enters and intercepts with the slot for *: 15 engagement therewith. * S **
7. The bag as claimed in claim 6, wherein the slot extends downwardly from an upper edge of the second body portion. * I * S.
8. The bag as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the slot is substantially straight.
9. The bag as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the slot has a substantially uniform width.
10. The bag as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, including a pair of shoulder straps cnnected t� the first and second body portions respectively.
11. A bag substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. * S S *S S * 55S * S *SSS 5.5 * S S *5 * S... * . . 5. . S. * S * S * S.