GB2574034A

GB2574034A - A bag holder for a storage compartment within a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2574034A
Application number: GB1808490.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kennard Gary
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-05-23
Filing date: 2018-05-23
Publication date: 2019-11-27
Also published as: GB201808490D0

Abstract

A shopping bag holder 100 comprising a tray 110 with a base 11, and a frame 120 connected to the tray 110. The tray 110 may be rectangular and have a wall 130 along its perimeter 111a. The frame 120 may be U-shaped and have two parallel arms 121, 122 which are connected by a bridge 123 which may comprise at least one hook 123a, 123b, 123c, 123d from which shopping bags 101 can be hung such that they remain upright. The arms 121, 122 may be connected to the tray 110, possibly via pivotal connections to tray wall sections 131, 132 respectively. The frame 120 folds between an upright position perpendicular to the tray 110 and a position where it extends along the tray 110. There may be a lock 140 that locks the frame 120 in either of the upright or folded positions.

Description

A bag holder for a storage compartment within a vehicle

The invention relates generally to bag holders. More specifically, the invention relates to a shopping bag holder for a storage compartment within a vehicle.

Stores in which shopping is done are often not located within a walking distance from the residential areas. It is therefore not uncommon for people to drive their cars in order to get to the stores, which also enables buying and transporting more goods thanks to the capacity of the car.

Purchased goods are typically carried in shopping bags which can be single-use disposable products, or reusable textile bags, for example. Such bags typically comprise at least one handle which may be gripped in order to lift and transport the bag.

The shopping bags with the purchased goods are conventionally placed in a rear storage compartment of a car. Such placement of the bags provides support from the bottom only, as usually there are no suitable means to prevent horizontal movement of the bags. In such a case, when the car is moving, the goods from the bag may be forced out due to inertial effects, which may damage the purchased items, contaminate the interior surfaces of the car or at least require subsequent gathering and placing the goods back in the bags.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a technical solution to the issues outlined above.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bag holder for a storage compartment within a vehicle, the holder comprising: a tray having a base for receiving at least one bag; a frame coupled with the tray; the frame being reconfigurable between a supporting configuration and storage configuration, wherein in the supporting configuration the frame is retained in a position substantially perpendicular to the base of the tray for supporting the at least one bag in an upright position, and in the storage configuration, the frame is folded substantially along the base of the tray.

In an embodiment, the base comprises substantially rectangular shape and further comprises a periphery from which an upstanding wall projects.

In an embodiment, the frame comprises a U-shape and has a first and second arm positioned substantially parallel to each other, wherein a proximal end of the first arm and a proximal end of the second arm are connected by a bridge, and a distal end of the first arm and distal end of the second arm are coupled with the tray.

In an embodiment, the bridge extends substantially parallel to the base of the tray.

In an embodiment, the wall comprises a first and second opposite wall section and the distal end of the first and second arm is pivotably coupled with the respective section of the wall.

In an embodiment, in the storage configuration, the frame is pivoted inside the tray so that the first arm and second arm extend substantially along the respective wall sections of the wall of the tray.

In an embodiment, the bridge comprises at least one bag support element, which is adapted to receive a portion of the at least one bag for supporting the at least one bag in an upright position.

In an embodiment, the at least one bag support element comprises a hook.

In an embodiment, the holder comprises a frame securing means adapted to lock the frame in the supporting configuration or storage configuration.

In an embodiment, the frame securing means comprise at least one protrusion and at least one indent for receiving the protrusion, the indent and protrusion being separately disposed within mutually-facing sides of the coupled first or second arm and the respective first or second wall section.

In an embodiment, the frame securing means comprises biasing means for biasing the protrusion into or away from the indent.

In an embodiment, the tray further comprises at least one abutment attached to the base of the tray for supporting a bottom of the at least one bag.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of features set out above or in the following description. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mention of the particular feature. Thus, the invention extends to such specific combinations not already described.

The invention may be performed in various ways, and, by way of example only, embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a holder in a supporting configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a holder of figure 1 in a storage configuration.

Figure 3a shows a frame securing means in a supporting configuration of the holder.

Figure 3b shows a frame securing means in a storage configuration of the holder.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a shopping bag holder 100 for a storage compartment within a vehicle. The holder 100 comprises a tray 110 having a base 111 for receiving at least one shopping bag 101. The holder further comprises a frame 120 coupled with the tray 110. The frame 120 is reconfigurable between a supporting configuration (figure 1) and storage configuration (figure 2), wherein in the supporting configuration the frame 120 is retained in a position substantially perpendicular to the base 111 of the tray 110 for supporting the at least one bag 101 in an upright position, and in the storage configuration, the frame 120 is pivoted substantially along the base 111 of the tray 110.

The base 111 may comprise substantially rectangular shape and a periphery Illa from which an upstanding wall 130 projects. The tray 110 may comprise rigid and lightweight material, such as plastics, MDF board or thin metal, for example.

The frame 120 may be U-shaped and may have a first and second arm 121, 122 positioned substantially parallel to each other, wherein a proximal end 121a of the first arm 121 and a proximal end 122a of the second arm 122 are connected by a bridge 123, and a distal end 121b of the first arm 121 and distal end 122b of the second arm 122 are coupled with the tray 110. The bridge 123 may extend substantially parallel to the base 111 of the tray 110. The bridge 123 may comprise a lath or beam and may further comprise at least one bag support element 123a, 123b, 123c, 123d attached to the bridge 123, which is adapted to receive a portion, such as a handle, of the at least one bag 101 for supporting the at least one bag 101 in an upright position (figure 1). In particular, the support element may comprise a hook 123a, 123b, 123c, 123d. The hooks may be spaced from each other by a distance allowing the shopping bags to be hanged on the respective hooks 123a,

123b, 123c, 123d, and screwed into the bridge 123 and extending transversely therefrom or upwardly away from the base 111, for example. Alternatively, the at least one bag support element may comprise a plurality of knobs extending upwardly away from the bridge 123. The wall 130 may comprise a first and second opposite wall section 131, 132 and the distal end 121b, 122b of the first and second arm 121, 122 may be pivotably coupled with the respective section 131, 132 of the wall 130 of the tray 110. In particular, the distal end 121b, 122b may be coupled with the respective wall sections 131, 132 at points which substantially bisect the length and width of the inner rectangular side of the respective wall section 131, 132.

In the storage configuration, the frame 120 may be pivoted inside the tray 110 so that the first arm 121 and second arm 122 extend substantially along the respective wall sections 131, 132 of the wall 130 of the tray 110.

The holder 100 may further comprise a frame securing means 140 adapted to lock the frame 120 in the supporting configuration or storage configuration. In particular, the frame securing means 140 may comprise at least one protrusion 141, 142 and at least one indent 143 for receiving the protrusion 141, 142, the indent 143 and protrusion 141, 142 being separately disposed within mutually-facing sides of the coupled first or second arm 121, 122 and the respective first or second wall section 131, 132. For example, the frame securing means 140 may comprise a first protrusion 141 disposed within an inner side of the first wall section 131, radially away from the distal end 121a of the arm 121 coupled with the first wall section 131, wherein the first protrusion 141 and the distal end 121a of the arm 121 are aligned on an axis substantially perpendicular to the base 111 of the tray 110, and wherein an indent 143 may be disposed within an outwardly-facing side of the first arm 121 and radially away from the distal end 121a of the arm 121, such that in the supporting configuration, the indent 143 can receive the first protrusion 141 (see figure 3a) so that the frame 120 becomes locked in an upstanding state. A similar arrangement of the protrusion and indent may be provided in respect of the second arm 122 and second wall section 132.

The frame securing means 140 may also comprise a second protrusion 142 disposed within the inner side of the first wall section 131, radially away from the distal end 121a of the arm 121 coupled with the first wall section 131, wherein the second protrusion 142 and the distal end 121a are aligned on an axis substantially parallel to the base 111 of the tray 110, such that in the storage configuration the indent 143 can receive the second protrusion 142 (see figure 3b) so that the frame 120 becomes locked in a folded state. A similar arrangement of the protrusion and indent may be provided in respect of the second arm 122 and second wall section 132.

The frame securing means 140 may further comprise biasing means (not shown) for biasing the first or second protrusion 141, 142 into or away from the indent 143. This may be realised be a springbiased shaft transversely protruding through the first or second wall section 131, 132 in the location of the first or second protrusions 141, 142.The shaft may comprise a handle extending outwardly away from the outer side of the first or second wall sections 131,132.

The tray may also comprise at least one abutment (not shown) attached to the base 111 of the tray 110 for an additional support of the bottom of the at least one shopping bag 101.

The holder 100 may be operated according to the following example. A user places the holder 100 in the storage compartment within a vehicle. If the holder 100 is in a storage configuration as illustrated in figure 2, then the user may pivot the frame 120 into the supporting configuration by biasing the handles of the biasing means outwardly away from the wall sections 131, 132 so that the second protrusion 142 leaves the indent 143 thereby unlocking the frame 120. When the frame 120 is pivoted into the supporting configuration as illustrated in the figure 1, the frame 120 becomes locked as soon as the first protrusion 141 is received in the indent 143, which may also be assisted by respective biasing means. The user may then position the shopping bags 101 with the goods in the holder and hang them on hooks 123a, 123b, 123c, 123d by the respective handles of the shopping bags 101. Once all the bags 101 are securely positioned within the holder 100, the user may safely drive the car back home, where the bags may be removed from the storage compartment. When no longer required, the frame 120 of the holder 100 may be pivoted back into the storage position so as to facilitate storage and reduce space taken by the holder 100.

Claims

1. A bag holder for a storage compartment within a vehicle, the holder comprising:

a tray having a base for receiving at least one bag;

a frame coupled with the tray;

the frame being reconfigurable between a supporting configuration and storage configuration, wherein in the supporting configuration the frame is retained in a position substantially perpendicular to the base of the tray for supporting the at least one bag in an upright position, and in the storage configuration, the frame is folded substantially along the base of the tray.

2. A holder according to claim 1, wherein the base comprises substantially rectangular shape and further comprises a periphery from which an upstanding wall projects.

3. A holder according to claim 2, wherein the frame comprises a U-shape and has a first and second arm positioned substantially parallel to each other, wherein a proximal end of the first arm and a proximal end of the second arm are connected by a bridge, and a distal end of the first arm and distal end of the second arm are coupled with the tray.

4. A holder according to claim 3, wherein the bridge extends substantially parallel to the base of the tray.

5. A holder according to any of the claims 3 to 4, wherein the wall comprises a first and second opposite wall section and the distal end of the first and second arm is pivotably coupled with the respective section of the wall.

6. A holder according to claim 5, wherein, in the storage configuration, the frame is pivoted inside the tray so that the first arm and second arm extend substantially along the respective wall sections of the wall of the tray.

7. A holder according to any of the claims 3 to 6, wherein the bridge comprises at least one bag support element, which is adapted to receive a portion of the at least one bag for supporting the at least one bag in an upright position.

8. A holder according to claim 7, wherein the at least one bag support element comprises a hook.

9. A holder according to any preceding claims 5 to 8 wherein the holder comprises a frame securing means adapted to lock the frame in the supporting configuration or storage configuration.

10. A holder according to claim 9, wherein the frame securing means comprise at least one protrusion and at least one indent for receiving the protrusion, the indent and protrusion being separately disposed within mutually-facing sides of the coupled first or second arm and the respective first or second wall section.

11. A holder according to claim 10, wherein the frame securing means comprises biasing means for biasing the protrusion into or away from the indent.

12. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the tray further comprises at least one abutment attached to the base of the tray for supporting a bottom of the at least one bag.