GB2474044A

GB2474044A - A foldable bag with a reinforced template

Info

Publication number: GB2474044A
Application number: GB0917276A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Keith Lacy; Robin Matthews
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-10-02
Filing date: 2009-10-02
Publication date: 2011-04-06
Also published as: EP2305060A1; GB0917276D0

Abstract

A bag (10, fig.1) is formed from two side panels 16 and 17, attached at the sides and the bottom, but not at the top. A stiffened template 13 is inserted, preferably at a bottom corner, during manufacture. It is secured to the bag. A further stiffened template 14 may also be inserted, e.g. at the top right hand corner. A base 24 may be formed by pushing the sheets 16, 17 in at the bottom, creating a W-shaped cross-section, before stitching up the sides. The bag can be laid flat and then folded about fold lines 27, 28 defined by templates 13, 14. A tie strap 29 holds the folded bag together.

Description

BAGS

The invention relates to bags and more particularly to bags that can be folded for easy transport.

GB-A-2450547 discloses a foldable bag in which the bag is formed from four side members and a rectangular base member. The bag can be folded using one or more reinforcing members provided on the base.

It is a problem with such a bag that the five-sided geometry and volume of material used to make the bag is such that it is difficult to fold the bag into a shape sufficiently compact that, for example, the folded bag can be put into a pocket in a garment.

According to the invention there is provided a bag comprising two side panels connected directly along respective opposed side edges and along a respective base edges extending between the side edges, with respective top edges unconnected to from an opening, so that, in a collapsed state, the panels overlie one another in register, one panel carrying a generally rectangular template about which the panels may be folded.

By the construction of the bag and the location of the template, a bag is produced that can be folded to a small size suitable for a trouser pocket and for convenient carrying without the expectation of imminent need.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bag, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a sheet of material in a first stage in the formation of the bag of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2 but showing a second stage in the formation of the bag of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a view of the bag of Figure 1 laid flat for folding, Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4 showing handles of the bag folded over and a first fold about a longitudinal fold line using first and second templates.

Figure 6 shows the bag of Figures 1 to 5 folded about longitudinal fold lines and with a first fold about a lateral fold line.

Figuce 7 is a similar view to Figure 6 showing two final folds about lateral fold lines, and Figure 8 shows the folded bag of Figures 1 to 7 secured by a tie strap.

Referring first to Figure 1, the body 10 of the bag is formed from a single piece of foldable material with handles 11, 12, first and second templates 13, 14 and a tie strap 29. The foldable material 10 may be of a natural material such as cotton or a man-made material such as a plastics material or a combination of both. Preferably, the foldable material is a material resistant to tears, to light and to fluids such as a rip-stop polyamide and preferably it is of a material that in creasing makes visible its prior folded pattern when in an unfolded state.

The first and second templates 13, 14 are rectangular in shape and are formed from a material that is stiffer than the material of the body 10 of the bag. A suitable material may be a plastics material.

The templates 13, 14 define a folding pattern for the bag and thus the fmal size of the folded bag. The size of the templates 13, 14 is thus chosen to match a required final size of the folded bag. The templates 13, 14 may, for this reason, be the size of a credit card (about 85mm x 55mm).

Referring next to Figures 2 and 3, the foldable material is formed into the body of the bag in the following way. A rectangular sheet of the material having parallel longer side edges 30a, 30b inter-connected by shorter parallel end edges 31a, 31b is S folded so that the end edges 31 a, 31 b are in register and each side edge is folded over on itself (as seen in Figure 2). One side edge 30a is then folded over itself to form a hem and stitched along the hem along stitch line 32.

The other side edge 30b and the end edges 31 a, 31 b are then sewn together along a stitch line 33 just inwardly of these edges (see Figure 2). Next the part-formed bag body 10 is turned inside-out (see Figure 3). The sewn seams formed by the stitch line 33 are thus now on the interior of the part-formed body 10. The connected side edges of the sheet are then pushed into the body 10 to form a base 24 having a W-shaped cross-section. The first template 13 is then inserted in the fold forming the base 24 at a corner of the body 10 and the body 10 is stitched along the ends of the W-shaped fold through the four layers of material along stitch lines 34a, 34b. At one end, this stitching passes through the first template 13 to hold the first template in position. The second template 14 is then positioned on the same side of the body but at an upper corner and stitched in position.

This forms the body 10 of the bag as seen in Figure 1 with first and second side panels 16, 17, first and second straight side edges 18, 19, first and second straight top edges 20,2 1, first and second straight base edges 22, 23, with the indented fold forming a base 24 between the base edges 23, 24. The top edges 20, 21 define an opening into the bag. As seen in Figure 2, forming the bag in this way allows the bag to be laid flat with the side panels 16, 17 overlying one another and the base 24 folded between the side panels 16, 17.

The first template 13 thus is mounted on the first panel 16 and located at a corner between the first side edge 18 of the bag and the first base edge 22 with the edges of the first template 13 aligned with these edges. The second template 14 thus is mounted on the first panel 16 and located at a corner between the first side edge 18 of the bag and the first top edge 20 of the bag with the edges of the second template 14 aligned with these edges.The first and second handles 11, 12 are formed from respective lengths of suitable material. The ends of the first handle 11 are connected to the first panel 16 at spaced positions adjacent the first top edge 20 and the ends of the second handle 12 are connected to the second panel 17 at spaced positions adjacent the second top edge 21. The handles 11, 12 are of such a length and dimension that they can be used to carry the bag by hand or over a shoulder.

The edges of the first and second templates 13, 14 define fold lines for the bag, as seen in Figure 2. The dimension of the side edges 25a, 25b of the first and second templates 13, 14 is substantially a multiple of the length of the first side edge 18 of the bag (and thus also of the second side edge 19). The dimension of the end edges 26a, 26b of the first and second templates is substantially a multiple of the length of the first base edge 22 (and thus also of the second base edge 23 and the first and second top edges 20, 21).

This guides the bag in a folding pattern seen in Figure 2 by defining a plurality of longitudinal fold lines 27 parallel to the side edges 18, 19 and spaced by the dimension of the end edges 26a, 26b of the first and second templates 13, 14 and a plurality of lateral fold lines 28 parallel to the top edges 20, 21 and the base edges 22, 23 and spaced by the dimension of the side edges 25a, 25b of the first and second templates.

Preferably. the depth of the fold forming the base 24 is generally equal to the spacing of the lateral fold lines 28.

Referring also to Figure 3, the folding sequence for the bag, starting from the flat disposition of the bag shown in Figure 2, is as follows. First the handles 11, 12 are folded over the side panels 16, 17. Then, the bag is folded successively about the longitudinal fold lines 27 starting from the first side edge 18 with the templates 13, 14 maintaining the fold width (see Figure 3). This allows air within the bag to be expelled as the bag is folded. When this folding has been completed, the bag is folded about the lateral fold lines 28 starting from the base edges 22, 23. The first template 13 maintains the fold width (see Figure 4). The folded base 24, since it has a depth equal to the spacing of the lateral fold lines 28, folds easily with the panels 16. 17.

The folding about the lateral fold lines 28 is halted two fold lines from the top edges 21, 22, as seen in Figure 5. The second template 14 is then folded about these lateral fold lines 28 (see also Figure 5) to complete the folding process. This leaves a tidy edge without handles protruding.

The tie strap 29 is provided on a part of the second side panel 17 that is exposed in the bag. The strap 29 has free ends that pass around the folded bag and connect together (by, for example, the use of VELCRO (TM)) to hold the folded bag together.

This strap 29 may include a ioop to which can be attached a lanyard, split ring or the like to allow the folded bag to be attached to, for example, another bag, clothing or a key ring. The folded bag is of a size that can be fitted into a pocket. This is determined by the size of the templates 13, 14. the relatively small volume of material required to form the bag, the expelation of air during folding and the construction from flat panels and folds without three dimensional corners.

For use, the strap 29 is unfastened, the bag unfolded and the handles 11, 12 deployed. Items put into the bag expand the side panels 16, 17 and the base 24 unfolds to accommodate increased volumes of items. The bag can be re-folded quickly as described above.

There are a number of variations that may be made to the bag described above with reference to the drawings.

First, although two templates 13, 14 are provided, it would be possible to use a single template. For example, the second template 14 could be omitted. The template or templates 13. 14 are preferably located at a side edge 18, 19, but this is not essential. The template or templates 13, 14 may be located inwardly of a side edge 18, 19.

Although the side edges 18, 19, the top edges 20, 21 and the base edges 22, 23 are described and shown as straight, they need not be straight. If they are not straight, there will be a first fold line inwardly of these edges that is straight and the first fold will produce a straight edge. The template or templates 13, 14 will be located inwardly of such a fold line.

The body of the bag is described above as made from a single piece of material.

This is a simple and inexpensive way of forming the bag. The bag could, however, be formed from separately formed connected pieces. For example the side panels could be formed by a loop of material flattened to form the side edges 16, 17, with the one edge of the loop forming the top edges 20, 21 and the other edge forming the base edges 22, 23. A separate base 24 is then connected to the loop.

Alternatively, the bag could be formed as follows.

A rectangular sheet of the material having parallel longer side edges interconnected by shorter parallel end edges is folded so that the end edges are in register and each side edge is folded over on itself. The end fold is then indented between the two overlying portions of the sheet to form a base having a W-shaped cross-section. The registering side edges are then stitched together along both sides and this stitches also the indented portions of the sides.

The bag is described above as being folded first about the longitudinal fold lines 28 and then the lateral fold lines 29. The bag could be folded first about the lateral lines 29 and then about the longitudinal fold lines.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bag comprising two side panels connected directly along respective opposed side edges and along a respective base edges extending between the side edges, with respective top edges unconnected to from an opening, so that, in a collapsed state, the panels overlie one another in register, one panel carrying a generally rectangular template about which the panels may be folded.
2. A bag according to claim 1 wherein the panels include a plurality of parallel spaced longitudinal fold lines extending from the top edge to the base edges about which the bag may be folded, the template extending to one side of a longitudinal fold line and having a length substantially equal to the spacing of the longitudinal fold lines so that when the bag is folded successively about said fold lines, the template extends across the width of the folded bag.
3. A bag according to claim 2 wherein the side edges of the panels are straight, the template extending between a side edge and the longitudinal fold line adjacent said edge.
4. A bag according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the panels include a plurality of parallel spaced lateral fold lines extending from one side edge to the other side edge, about which the bag may be folded, the template extending to one side of a lateral fold line and having a width substantially equal to the spacing of the lateral fold lines so that when the bag is folded successively about the fold lines, the template extends across the depth of the folded bag.
5. A bag according to claim 4 wherein the base edges are straight, the template extending between a base edge and the lateral fold line adjacent said base edge.
6. A bag according to claim 4 or claim 5 when dependent on claim 2 wherein the bag is foldable first about the longitudinal fold lines and then about the lateral fold lines.
7. A bag according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein there is provided a second generally rectangular template of the same shape as the first template and carried by a panel, the panels being foldable also about the second template.
8. A bag according to claim 5 when dependent on claim 2 wherein the second template is located to one side of a longitudinal fold line and has a length substantially equal to the spacing of the longitudinal fold lines so that when the bag is folded successively about said longitudinal fold lines the second template extends across the width of the folded bag.
9. A bag according to claim 8 wherein the side edges of the panels are straight, the second template extending between a side edge and a longitudinal fold line adjacent the side edge.
10. A bag according to claim 8 or claim 9 when dependent on claim 4 wherein the second template extends to one side of a lateral fold line and has a width substantially equal to the spacing of the lateral fold lines so that when the bag is folded successively about the fold lines, the second template extends across the depth of the folded bag.
11. A bag according to claim 10 wherein the top edges are straight and parallel to the lateral fold lines, the template extending between a top edge and the lateral fold line adjacent said base edge.
12. A bag according to claim 11 wherein the first template and the second template are adjacent the same straight side edge, the first template being adjacent a straight base edge and the second template being adjacent a straight top edge.
13. A bag according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein a panel carries a tie usable to hold the bag in a folded configuration.
14. A bag according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and provided with at least one handle.
15. A bag according to any one of claims ito 14 and formed from a single length of foldable material having longer side edges interconnected by shorter end edges, the material being folded about a lateral line so that each longer side edge is folded over on itself to form two side panels, the folded over parts of one side edge being connected together and the end edges being connected together to form a bag with side panels, the folded over parts of the other side edge defining an opening for the bag and the connected folded over parts of said one side edge defining a base for the bag.
16. A bag according to claim 15 wherein the longer side edges are straight and parallel with one another and the shorter end edges are straight and parallel with one another.
17. A bag according to claim 15 or claim 16 wherein, the connected folded over parts of said one side edge are indented between the side panels to form a base of W-shaped cross-section with the fold extending between spaced base edges to form a base of the bag.
18. A bag according to claim 17 wherein the intended base is connected to the side panels at the ends thereof.
19. A bag according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and fonned from a single length of foldable material having longer side edges interconnected by shorter end edges, the material being folded about a lateral line so that each longer side edge is folded over on itself to form two side panels, the folded over parts of each side edges being connected together to form a bag with side panels, the end edges defining an opening for the bag and the fold defining a base for the bag.
20. A bag according to claim 19 wherein the longer side edges are straight and parallel with one another and the shorter end edges are straight and parallel with one another.
21. A bag according to claim 19 or claim 20 wherein, before the side edges are connected, the fold is indented between the side panels to form a base of Wshaped cross-section with the fold extending between spaced base edges to form a base of the bag.
22. A bag according to claim 17 or claim 18 or claim 19 or claim 20 when dependent on claim 4 wherein the depth of the fold is substantially equal to the spacing of the lateral fold lines.
23. A bag substantially as hereinbefofe described with reference to the accompanying drawings.