GB2485605A

GB2485605A - Bag securing stand

Info

Publication number: GB2485605A
Application number: GB1019735.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jill Aston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-22
Filing date: 2010-11-22
Publication date: 2012-05-23
Also published as: GB201019735D0

Abstract

A stand 1 to secure a bag comprises a base 4, a pole 2 connected to the base and a means to securing the bag attached to the pole. The means to secure the bag may comprise at least one supporting means having a pair of clips 10, 11 pivotally secured thereto. The supporting means may comprise a plate (5, 6, Fig 1A) having a pair of outwardly curving arms 20, 21, 22, 23. The plates may be a pair of juxtaposed plates. The clips may be arcuate with a teardrop-like lobe at a first end 50, 51 and a thin lobe at a second end 52, 53. A stop may be positioned between the arms, which acts to prevent the weighted teardrop-like lobe of the clip from reaching its gravitational equilibrium along the clipâ s longitudinal axis. The teardrop-like lobe may rest against the stop, the thin lobe of the clip being juxtaposed to the pole of the stand. The plate, arm, clip and pole may form a space which defines a secure compartment within which the bag may be secured. The stand may comprise a plinth 15 on which a menu, commercial pamphlet or advertising board may be located.

Description

A Stand suitable for Securing a Bag

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a stand useful for a securing a bag. More specifically, the invention relates to a stand for hanging and securing a handbag or any suitable accessory.

Background to the invention

When one carries a handbag the guestion is always what to do with it when one sits down. If one holds it on ones lap, it gets in the way when one eats. If one puts it on the ground, it gathers bacteria and could be stolen. If one puts it on the back of the chair, it most certainly could be stolen and often is. Some people hook the strap on their knee and spend the entire time checking to make sure it is still present, which takes away from the enjoyment of the occasion.

Some people avail of a portable hook that can be removably attached to a table and place the handbag on the hook on the table. On the next occasion, the person may change their handbag and find that they have left the hook in their other bag. Some sit with the handbag on their shoulder for the entire meal. At an average weight of 5.5 pounds (2.5 Kg), the handbag can be an awkward necessity According to research carried out by home insurer Churchill in Great Britain, handbag thefts and losses are costing British women £4.9bn. Thirty-one percent of those questioned have had their handbag stolen on at least one occasion. On average, every time a handbag is stolen women are faced with, on average, a £228 bill to replace the bag and its contents. These include home and car keys, wallets, make-up and even medication. The research shows that each woman will spend six working days getting new keys cut, contacting banks and mobile phone operators and shopping for new contents. Each handbag contains an average of three credit or cash cards and the research shows that one in ten women (12%) have had money taken from their bank account after their bag disappeared. 72% of women admit they live in fear that their bag will be stolen according to Churchill, it is on object of the invention to provide a stand for securing a bag overcome at least some of the above-mentioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a bag stand for securing a bag comprising a base, a pole, which is connected to the base, and a means for securing the bag, for example a securing mechanism such as a lock, wherein the securing means is attached to the pole.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that the securing mechanism is tamper proof. Clips which oomprise a portion of the securing mechanism allow a person to keep their bag at eye level at all times.

Therefore, a meal or social occasion can be enjoyed because the strap on their bag can be seen hanging on the stand beside them. The gives a person peace of mind that their bag is secure, within arm's reach and without having the hassle of supporting what is generally a relatively heavy object to carry around.

A further advantage is that any bag that hangs from the securing mechanism of the stand of the present invention, limits1 if not negates1 the amount of bacteria that can contaminate a bag that sits on the ground. The bag that sits on the ground tends to also end up sitting on the kitchen countertop therefore spreading bacteria onto food preparation surfaces.

in one embodiment, the means for securing the bag may comprise at least one supporting means, for example a plate, having a pair of clips pivotally secured thereto.

The pair of clips may be secured to the plate by a securing means such as a threaded screw. The plate may be secured to the pole by any securing means and further comprises a pair of outwardly curving arms. The arms are generally continuous with the plate and positioned out and away from the pole. The arms may be positioned away from the pole at an angle between about 15° and 75°, preferably between about 35° and 55°, relative to the vertical axis of the pole.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the means for securing the bag may comprise a pair of juxtaposed plates secured together, with the pole generally separating the pair of plates, that is, the plates being either side of the pole.

in one embodiment, the securing means comprise a screw, a bolt, a pin, a ratchet, or any male/female connection system known in the art.

in a preferred embodiment, the clips are arcuate having a shape similar to a stretched and curved teardrop, thereby giving the clip an appearance of a teardrop-Jike lobe at a first end and a thin lobe at a second end. It is preferable that the teardrop-like lobe be weighted. This arrangement provides for an effective securing means and is aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the pair of plates may be further secured together by a stop positioned between the arms. The stop acts to prevent the weighted teardrop-like lobe of the clip from reaching its gravitational (natural) equilibrium along the clip's longitudinal (X)-axis. The presence of the stop may further act to prevent the thin lobe of the clip from reaching its natural gravitational equilibrium along its longitudinal (X)-axis. When the clip is allowed to attain its natural position along its longitudinal X-axis, due to the weighted nature of the teardrop-like lobe, the thin lobe of the clip would open the securing mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the weighted teardrop-like lobe rests against the stop, the thin lobe of the clip may be juxtaposed the pole of the stand. The combination of the plate, the arm, the clip and the pole form a space-defining secure compartment. It is within this space-defining secure compartment that a handbag or any bag may be placed and secured.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the stand may further comprise a plinth secured to the top of the pole, and optionally, a decorative object supported by the plinth. The decorative object may be any object selected from the group comprising an orb, a globe, or any shape desired by the user.

The plinth or decorative object may further have a receiving means attached thereto1 for example a pair of hoops joined together at a point which also acts to secure the receiving means to either the plinth or the decorative object. The receiving means may be secured to the plinth or decorative object by spot welding, or any means deemed appropriate by one skilled in the art. The receiving means may be suitable for aooommodating a menu, an advertising board for advertising goods and/or servioes or other commercial pamphlet via, in this instance, a gap between the pair of hoops. Preferably the receiving means is positioned in view suoh that a person sitting at a table has a clear view of the advertising means. It will be appreciated that the receiving means can be any suitable shape or size.

The height of the pole of the stand of the present invention may be between about 60cm to about 150 cm, preferably between about 80cm to about 130 cm more preferably between about 90 cm to about 115cm, and ideally about 107 cm.

The area of the base of the present invention may be between about 15cm2 to about 32cm4, preferably about 18cm2 to about 27om2, more preferably about 20om2 to about 25 om4, and ideally about 23cm2.

The base of the present invention may take any shape selected from the group comprising a square, a circle, a pentagon, a parallelogram, a hexagon, an octagon, and a decagon. The base may optionally be galvanised with four small protrusions affixed to the underside of the base and manufactured from the group comprising rubber, plastic, metal, heavy cloth, and cork.

The weight of the stand of the present invention may be between about 2.5Kg to about 10.0Kg, preferably between 3.5Kg to about 8.5Kg, more preferably between about 5Kg to about 7Kg, and ideally about 6.63Kg.

The plate of the present invention may be attached at its lowest point to the pole at between about 15cm to about 35cm, preferably between about 20cm to about 30 cm, and ideally about 24 cm from the top of the pole.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the stand is constructed from any metal or heavy plastic selected from the group comprising mud steel, galvanised steel, brass, and, optionally, may be painted. Another advantage of the present invention is that the stand is too heavy to be picked up and stolen but is small enough to conveniently stand next to a table or chair in a café, restaurant, shop, public house, bar, and any other public building. Due to the nature of the securing mechanism, a user may lift the stand by placing their hands under the thin lobe of the clips and lifting the stand. The stop acts to ensure that the weighted end of the clip cannot travel any further, thus allowing the user to safely lift the stand.

The stand of the present invention is also suitable for use in securing other accessories other than a bag, which area also deemed cumbersome by the user in the same manner as a handbag is, as described above.

Brief Descr4ption of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof1 given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figures 1A and B shows a side and elevation view, respectively, of the stand of the present invention.

Figure 2A-C shows a side, elevation and plan view, respectively, of the stand of the present invention.

P!L cription of the PFfl9! When one carries a handbag the question is always what to do with it when one sits down. One can hold it on ones lap; put it on the ground; on the back of the chair; hook the strap on their knee; avail of a portable hook that can be removably attached to a table and placing the handbag on the hook on the table; or sit with the handbag on their shoulder for the entire meal. At an average weight of 5.5 pounds (2.5 Kg), the handbag can be an awkward necessity Referring now to the figures, where Figure 1 illustrates a general embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically, Figures lA and B illustrate a side and elevation view, respectively, of a stand of the present invention, whioh is generally referred to by reference numeral 1. The stand 1 comprises a pole 2 attached at its bottom end 3 to a base 4. A pair of plates 5, 6 are removably secured at a top end T of the pole 2 with sorews 8,9. The stand 1 further comprises a pair of arcuate clips 10,11 pivotally oonneoted between plates 5,6. The top end 7 of the pole 2 further comprises a plinth 15 upon which a spherical or any shaped object 16 is attached.

The plates 5,6 each further comprise a pair cf outwardly curved arms 20,21 and 22, 23, respectively, which are pcsitioned away and cut frcm the top end 7 in the form of a standing arch. The arms 20, 21 and 22, 23 are continuous with plates 5, 6, respectively. The clips 10, 11 are pivotally connected between the arms 20, 22 and 21, 23, by pins 30, 31, as shown in Figure 1A. The pins 30, 31 matingly engage with the clips 10, 11 through a bore in the body of the clips. The clips 10, 11 are free to move pivotaily (or to swivel) around the pins 30, 31 through 360°. However, the clips 10, 11 are weighted heavier at ends 50, 51 than ends 52, 53. As such, the centre of gravity of the clips 10, 11 biases the clips 10, 11 to have a position along a longitudinal axis X. However, this bias would leave ends 52, 53 open.

Therefore, a pair of stops 24, 25 are positioned between arms 20, 22 and 21, 23 to prevent the clips 10, 11 from reaching their biased position. The weighted ends 52, 53 rest against stops 24, 25 which positions ends 52, 53 juxtaposed the top end 7 of the pole 2. The juxtaposition of the ends 52, 53 with the top end 7 of the pole 2 forms a secure compartment 70 into which a bag may be placed.

In Figures 2A-C, there is shown a stand of the present invention as illustrated in Figure 1 with a receiving means 60 attached to the object 16 on plinth 15. The receiving means 60 as shown in the Figure 2 is a pair of hoops 61, 62 joined together at a point 65 which also acts to secure the receiving means 60 to the object 16.

The receiving means 60 is suitable for accommodating a menu, an advertising board or other commercial pamphlet via a gap A between the pair of hoops 61, 62.

In use when securing a bag, (it will be understood here for demonstration purposes that only one clip will be used) the user pushes down on the end 52 of the clip 10 in the direction of arrow B which in turn raises the end in the direction of arrow C. The movement of the clip opens the secure compartment 70 to enable the user to place a handle of the bag into the secure compartment 70.

The handle of the bag is placed on the arm 20 and the user releases the pressure placed on end 52. Due to the weighted nature of end 50, the end 53 of the clip 10 returns to its biased position juxtaposed the pole 2. To remove the bag strap from the arm 20, the user has to first push down on the end 52 of the clip 10 with one hand and with the other hand remove the bag from the secure compartment 70.

In the specification the terms "comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising" or any variation thereof and the terms include, includes, included and including" or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation and vice versa.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described, which may be varied in construction and detail without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

Claims I. A bag stand for securing a bag comprising a base, a pole connected to the base, and a means for securing the bag, wherein the means for securing the bag is attached to the pole.
2. A bag stand according to Claim 1 wherein the means for securing the bag comprises at least one supporting means having a pair of clips pivotally secured thereto.
3. A bag stand according tc Claim 2 wherein the supporting means comprises a plate having a pair of outwardly curving arms.
4. A bag stand according to Claim 3 wherein the arms are positioned away from the pole at an angle between about 15° and 75° relative to the vertical axis of the pole.
5. A bag stand according to any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the means for securing the bag comprises a pair ct juxtaposed plates secured together either side of the pole.
6. A bag stand according to Claims 2 to 5 wherein the clips are arcuate having a teardrop-like lobe at a first end and a thin lobe at a second end.
7. A bag stand according to Claim 6, wherein the teardrop-like lobe is weighted.
8. A bag stand according to Claims 5 to 7, in which the pair of plates are further secured together by a stop positioned between the arms, and wherein the ii stop acts to prevent the weighted teardrop-like lobe of the clip from reaching its gravitational equilibrium along the clip's longitudinal (X)-axis.
9. A bag stand aooording to Claim 8 wherein when the weighted teardrop-like lobe rests against the stop, the thin lobe of the clip is juxtaposed the pole of the stand.
10. A bag stand according to Claims 5 to 9, wherein the combination of the plate, the arm, the olip and the pole form a space-defining secure compartment within which the bag may be secured.
11. A bag stand aooording to any preceding claim, wherein the stand further comprises a plinth secured to the top of the pole.
12. A bag stand aooording to Claim 11, in whioh the plinth has a reoeiving means attached thereto adapted to accommodate a menu, an advertising board for advertising goods and services, or a commercial pamphlet.