WO2017026941A1

WO2017026941A1 - Collapsible bag for camera or the like

Info

Publication number: WO2017026941A1
Application number: PCT/SG2015/050258
Authority: WO
Inventors: Zchung Yong WONG
Original assignee: Futurix Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2015-08-13
Filing date: 2015-08-13
Publication date: 2017-02-16
Also published as: CN106659275A

Abstract

A foldable bag (10) for camera or the like is disclosed. The bag (10) comprises: (a) a foldable sheet material (12) forming into an upper section (30) and a lower section (40), having a T-shaped contour with a plurality of valley folds (20-26) formed thereon, said sheet material (12) having an inner side (40) and an outer side (50), wherein the inner side is provided with a plurality of pockets made; (b) a plurality of zippers (52,54) formed along the perimeter of the sheet material (12) allowing the foldable sheet (12) be zipped along the edge; (c) a left curving flap (32) and curving flap (34) being formed along the upper section of the foldable sheet material (12); and (d) a holding means (70) for holding the bag (10) while the bag (10) is being unfolded to contain camera and the accessories thereof.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: COLLAPSIBLE BAG FOR CAMERA OR THE LIKE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to collapsible bags and a method for forming a lightweight bag which can stand alone without other support. More particularly, the present invention relates to collapsible bags which are capable of being folded or unfolded to form a bag with larger capacity to hold camera and/or camera accessories.

2. Description of the Related Art

Bags capable of standing substantially upright are generally known in the art. For example, US Patent No. 4,934,255 to Boots discloses flexible containers made of plastic film comprising a tubular outer envelope and an inner member affixed to the outer envelope. The inner member, which is at least 30% of the height of the outer envelope, provides outer spaces between the inner member and the outer envelope that are in open communication with an interior space within the inner member. As a result, material deposited in the containers described in the Boots patent fills the inner and outer spaces. This construction enables the inner and outer spaces to function like columns so that the bags stand substantially upright when filled.

US Patent No. 4,403,638 discloses a combination camera bag comprising twin single system camera bags that can readily be attached side by side for field use with two camera systems or, when detached or separated from one another, that can be used individually in the field with only one camera and its particular accessories.

US Patent No. 8,961 ,013 discloses a self-supporting, rigid, and collapsible reusable bag made from flexible material and having a bottom, two first sidewalls, two second sidewalls, a top opening, and rigid insert. A rigid full-wall board is embedded in each of the two first sidewalls. A rigid insert comprised of at least one pair of sidewalls and bottom with substantially similar dimensions to the second sidewalls and bottom of the bag are placed in the interior and in frictional contact with the second sidewalls and bottom of the bag.

It has been a long time to prove a bag which is made from flexible material and provides a rigid support structure to be self-supporting. However, conventional foldable bags generally do not have a good support when open and they collapse onto the contents of the bag therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, and in accordance with the purposes of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a collapsible bag for camera by opening up a folded bag, an extended bag as shown is obtained, and it functions as any kind of bags to contains camera accessories. When the bag is being collapsed, it can be stacked on another bag. Thus, a smaller space is required to keep the bags.

A main object of the present invention is to provide a foldable bag (10) for camera or the like comprising: a foldable sheet material (12) forming into an upper section (30) and a lower section (40), having a T-shaped contour with a plurality of valley folds (20-26) formed thereon, the sheet material (12) having an inner side (40) and an outer side (50), wherein the inner side (40) is provided with a plurality of pockets (60); a plurality of zippers (52,54) formed along the perimeter of the sheet material (12) allowing the foldable sheet material (12) be zipped along the edge thereof; a left curving flap (32) and curving flap (34) being formed along an upper section (30) of the foldable sheet material (12); and a holding means (70), a handle or the like, for holding the bag (10) while the bag (10) is being unfolded to contain camera and the accessories thereof.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a rigid bag (10) from a folded bag comprising the steps of : (a) unzipping the folded bag along the edge of the bag to form a foldable sheet material (12); (b) folding inwardly a left curving flap (32) and a right curving flap (34) along valley folds (20) and (22) respectively, and folding the upper section (30) of the sheet material (12) along the valley fold (50) to form a box like structure with an open top and side; wherein the folding material bounded by the valley folds (24) and (26) form a base for the bag (10); (c) enclosing the opened side of the bag (10) by folding the lower section of the folding material (10) along the valley fold (26) to be sealed with the edges of the left and right flaps (32, 34); and (d) zipping the edge of the lower section (40) of the foldable material (40) with the zippers (50, 52) to form a bag.

Yet still a further object of the present invention is to provide a foldable bag (10) for camera, wherein a plurality of valley folds (20-26) are formed across the lower section (40) of the sheet material (12) and across the upper section (30) of the sheet material (12).

Still a further object of the present invention to provide a foldable bag (10) for camera, wherein a plurality of the valley folds (20-26) are formed allowing the lower section (40) and the upper section (30) to be folded to form into a bag.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable bag (10) for camera, wherein the zippers (50, 52) are formed along the edge of the foldable sheet material (12). Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable bag (10) for camera , wherein the zippers (50, 52) zip up the lower section (40) to the upper section (30) to form a bag for containing camera and/or accessories.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a rigid bag (10) from a folded bag, wherein the foldable sheet material includes soft sponge which is strong to be in upright position.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a method of forming a rigid bag (10) from a folded bag, wherein a handle (70) is provided at the outer side to allow the lifting of the bag. Still and yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of forming a rigid bag (10) from a folded bag, wherein the material sheet is provided with a layer of sponge to ensure a buffering effect to the camera and the accessories therein.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a foldable bag (10) for camera, wherein the bag, when not in use, being normally folded along the valley folds and held, as folded.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable bag (10) for camera, wherein the bag, when unfolded, being adapted to use as a bag to contain camera and the accessories thereof.

Yet still a further object of the present invention is to provide a foldable bag (10) for camera, wherein the foldable material sheet has a flexible base and flexible side wall forming a closed surface defining the bag (10).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible bag for camera according to the present invention in its closed condition. FIG. 2 is a top view of the collapsible bag according to the present invention in its folded condition.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the collapsible bag according to the present invention in its partially opened position.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the collapsible bag according to the present invention in its fully opened position. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the collapsible bag according to the present invention in its substantially fully opened condition and formed into a bag with a side wall yet to be closed.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the collapsible bag being formed into a bag for containing camera and its accessories thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments of the present invention are best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein.

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention.

The collapsible bag 10 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 is respectively illustrated in the completely folded condition and opened erected condition in accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the bag 10 has a substantially square or rectangular configuration. The bag 10 is formed from a foldable sheet material 12 shown in FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of the collapsible bag 10 for camera according to the present invention in its closed condition. After the bag 10 is fully unfolded, it is a foldable sheet material 12 being T-shaped configuration and shown in FIG. 4. The sheet material 12 having an upper section 30 and a lower section 40 includes a left curving flap 32 and a right curving flap 34 disposed on opposite sides of the upper section 30. The lower section 40 of the sheet material 12 is a rectangular configuration which is secured to the upper section 30. The upper section 30 and the lower section 40 are a continuation of the foldable sheet material 12. The bag 10, as shown in FIG. 1 , when folded, is substantially a rectangular flat configuration. On the outer surface 50 of the bag 10, a handle 70 can be formed at one end thereof, being formed above a recess on the bag 10. FIG. 2 is a top view of the collapsible bag according to the present invention in its folded condition. On the outer surface 50 of the bag 10, the handle 70 is at a position which is convenient for the user to carry the bag 10 along. A plurality of zippers 52, 54 are mounted along the edge of the bag 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, there is shown the bag 10 being unfolded to reveal the left and right curving flaps 32, 34 and a valley fold 26 on the lower section 40 of the foldable sheet material 12. The left and right flaps 32, 34 are folded inwardly onto the upper section 30 of the foldable sheet material 12. The zippers 52, 54 are being mounted along the edge of the sheet material 12, and can be zipped to form a bag 10 in accordance with the present invention. A plurality of pockets 60 (only one has been shown) are provided on the inner surface of the bag 10 such that the pockets 60 can be used to hold smaller items and are within the bag 10. Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a top view of the collapsible bag 10 according to the present invention in its fully opened position. The foldable bag 10 for camera or the like comprises (a) a foldable sheet material 12 forming into an upper section (30) and a lower section (40), having a T-shaped contour with a plurality of valley folds (20-26) formed thereon, wherein the sheet material (12) has an inner surface (42) and an outer surface (50), and the inner side 42 is provided with a plurality of pockets 60; (b) a plurality of zippers 52, 54 formed along the perimeter or the edge of the sheet material 12 allowing the foldable sheet 12 be zipped along the edge thereof; (c) a left curving flap (32) and a right curving flap (34) being formed along the upper section 30 of the foldable sheet material (12); and (d) a holding means or handle 70 for holding the bag 10 while the bag 10 is being unfolded to contain camera and the accessories thereof. The bag 10 can be held in an erecting position as shown in FIG. 6. A plurality of valley folds 20, 22, 24, 26 are formed on the inner side 42 of the sheet material 12. There are a plurality of valley folds (20-26) being formed across the lower section (40) of the sheet material (12) and across the upper section (30) of the sheet material (12). The plurality of the valley folds (20-26) are formed on the sheet material 12, allowing the lower section (40) and the upper section (30) to be folded to form into the bag 10 of the present invention.

In accordance to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the zippers (50, 52) are formed along the edge of the foldable sheet material (12), and that the unzipping of a folded bag (10) and unzipping after the unfolding can erect to form the bag (10). The zippers (50, 52) zip up the lower section (40) to the upper section (30) to form a bag for containing camera and/or accessories. The plurality of pockets (60) are formed on the inner side (42) of the sheet material (12), and the pockets 60 are formed on the upper section (30) of the sheet material (12). The bag 10 has an opening to facilitate placing the camera and the accessories before the bag is being closed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the collapsible bag according to the present invention in its substantially fully opened condition and formed into a bag with a side wall yet to be closed, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the collapsible bag being formed into a bag for containing camera and its accessories thereof. As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet material 12 is now being erected to form a bag 10. The foldable bag (10) for camera is provided with the left and right curving flaps (32, 34) being substantially identical. In accordance with the present invention, the bag, when not in use, being normally folded along the valley folds and held, as folded. The bag, when unfolded, being adapted to use as a bag to contain camera and the accessories thereof. The foldable material sheet 12 has a flexible base and flexible side wall forming a closed surface defining the bag 10. The two flaps 32 and 34 have a curving contour to provide the bag 10 to have a smooth closing wall to the bag (10). FIG. 6 shows the bag 10 after the perimeter is zipped together in accordance with the present invention.

In the present preferred embodiment, a method of forming a rigid bag (10) from a folded bag is disclosed and is comprising the steps of : (a) unzipping the folded bag along the edge of the bag to form a foldable sheet material (12); (b) folding inwardly the left curving flap (32) and the right curving flap (34) along the valley fold (20) and (22) respectively, and folding the upper section (30) of the sheet material (12) along the valley fold (50) to form a box like structure with an open top and side; wherein folding material bounded by the valley fold (24) and (26) form a base for the bag (10);(c) enclosing the opened side of the bag (10) by folding the lower section of the folding material (10) along the valley fold (26) to be sealed with the edges of the left and right flaps (32, 34); and (d) zipping the edge of the lower section of the foldable material (40) with the zippers (50, 52) to form a bag.

While it has been illustrated and described the best form of embodiment of this invention now known, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form or size of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of the invention may be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A foldable bag (10) for camera or the like comprising:

(a) a foldable sheet material (12) forming into an upper section (30) and a lower section (40), having a T-shaped contour with a plurality of valley folds (20-26) formed thereon, said sheet material (12) having an inner side (40) and an outer side (50), wherein the inner side is provided with a plurality of pockets made;

(b) a plurality of zippers formed along the perimeter of the sheet material allowing the foldable sheet be zipped along the edge;

(c) a left curving flap (32) and curving flap (34) being formed along the upper section of the foldable sheet material (12); and

(d) a holding means for holding the bag (10) while the bag is being unfolded to contain camera and the accessories thereof.

2. The foldable bag (10) for camera as set forth in Claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valley folds (20-26) are formed across the lower section (40) of the sheet material (12) and across the upper section (30) of the sheet material (12).

3. The foldable bag (10) for camera as set forth in Claim 2, wherein the plurality of the valley folds (20-26) are formed allowing the lower section (40) and the upper section (30) to be folded to form into a bag.

4. The foldable bag (10) for camera as set forth in Claim 1 , wherein the zippers (50, 52) are formed along the edge of the foldable sheet material (12).

5. The foldable bag (10) for camera as set forth in Claim 4, wherein the zippers (50, 52) zip up the lower section (40) to the upper section (30) to form a bag for containing camera and/or accessories.

6. The foldable bag (10) for camera as set forth in Claim 1 , wherein a plurality of pockets (60) are formed on the inner side (42) of the sheet material (12).

7. The foldable bag (10) for camera as set forth in Claim 6, wherein the pockets are formed on the upper section (30) of the sheet material (12).

8. The foldable bag (10) for camera as set forth in Claim 1 , wherein the bag has an opening to facilitate placing the camera and the accessories before the bag is being zipped.

9. A method of forming a rigid bag (10) from a folded bag as set forth in Claim 1 comprising the steps of :

(a) unzipping the folded bag along the edge of the bag to form a foldable sheet material (12);

(b) folding inwardly the left curving flap (32) and the right curving flap (34) along the valley fold (20) and (22) respectively, and folding the upper section (30) of the sheet material (12) along the valley fold (50) to form a box like structure with an open top and side; wherein folding material bounded by the valley fold (24) and (26) form a base for the bag (10);

(c) enclosing the opened side of the bag (10) by folding the lower section of the folding material (10) along the valley fold (26) to be sealed with the edges of the left and right flaps

(32, 34); and

(d) zipping the edge of the lower section of the foldable material (40) with the zippers (54, 52) to form a bag.

10. The method as set forth in Claim 9, wherein the foldable sheet material includes soft sponge which is strong to be in upright position.

1 1 . The method as set forth in Claim 9, wherein a handle (70) is provided at the outer side to allow the lifting of the bag (10).

12. The method as set forth in Claim 9, wherein the material sheet is provided with a layer of sponge to ensure a buffering effect to the camera and the accessories therein.

13. The method as forth in Claim 12, wherein the material used for the bag is lightweight.

14. The foldable bag (10) for camera as set forth in Claim 1 , wherein the left and right curving flaps (32, 34) are substantially identical.

15. The foldable bag (10) for camera as set forth in Claim 1 , wherein the bag, when not in use, is being normally folded along the valley folds and held, as folded.

16. The foldable bag (10) for camera as set forth in Claim 1 , wherein the bag (10), when unfolded, is being adapted to use as a bag (10) to contain camera and the accessories thereof.

17. The foldable bag (10) for camera as set forth in Claim 1 , wherein the foldable material sheet (12) has a flexible base and flexible side wall forming a closed surface defining the bag