WO2024074512A1

WO2024074512A1 - Bag provided for transporting fragile items and equipped with inflatable bladders for protecting the items from impacts

Info

Publication number: WO2024074512A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/077360
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benoit JAGOT
Original assignee: Jagot Benoit
Priority date: 2022-10-06
Filing date: 2023-10-03
Publication date: 2024-04-11
Also published as: FR3140523A1

Abstract

The transport bag comprises a flexible envelope (2) which delimits a volume for receiving at least one item (4) and which has a covering wall (6b) mounted so as to tilt on the envelope (2) between a position giving access to the inner volume of the envelope (2) and a folded-down position for closing the envelope (2). The interior of the envelope (2) is provided with inflatable bladders (11a, 11b) which serve to protect the item (4) and which at least partially line the inner faces of the walls (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) of the envelope (2). The bladders (11a, 11b) in the inflated state collectively form members for gripping the item (4) and members for overall stiffening of the envelope (2), by antagonistic bearing of the bladders (11a, 11b) against said at least one item (4) and against the walls (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) of the envelope (2).

Description

TRANSPORT BAG FOR FRAGILE ITEMS, EQUIPPED WITH INFLATABLE BLADDERS TO PROTECT THE ITEMS AGAINST IMPACT

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of transport bags for fragile items, such as for example musical instruments or sports equipment. More specifically, the invention relates to such a transport bag equipped with inflatable bladders for the protection of more or less bulky items.

PRIOR ART

Items to be transported may be particularly fragile - such as musical instruments or sports equipment. Such articles can be of various specific conformations, being more or less bulky and/or elongated in conformation.

This is why for their transport, such fragile articles of any more or less bulky conformation are commonly installed inside a receptacle which is provided with at least one handle or straps allowing an individual to carry the receptacle comfortably. The receptacle is then arranged to protect the articles against shocks and/or impacts that they are likely to suffer, particularly during transport.

For example concerning musical instruments - such as string instruments or wind instruments for example - these are commonly installed in a rigid protective case for their transport. Such a case commonly includes a flexible interior covering, which provides a recess of a specific shape matching the conformation of the musical instrument to be protected.

For example again concerning sports equipment - such as for example golf clubs or wakeboards - these are transported inside a bag or a container, which are specifically arranged to receive them according to their configuration and/or the number of sports equipment to be transported.

A general problem posed is that even superficial damage to more or less bulky fragile items risks compromising their integrity and consequently their reliability and performance. It is therefore appropriate to protect them effectively against shocks, jolts or impacts that they are likely to suffer, particularly during transport.

This is why it has been proposed to equip transport receptacles for fragile sports equipment with inflatable bladders to protect them from impacts that they are likely to suffer during transport. In this regard, we can refer for example to document US5421454 (CHERN, CHOU-MING) - which concerns the transport of golf clubs - or to document US2009283436 (CARCAMO JOSEPH et al.), which concerns the transport of a board nautical. According to document US5421454, a golf bag has at its base a base receiving the lower end of the handles of a set of golf clubs, and at its other end vertical spacers providing compartments for introducing the golf clubs into inside the bag. The spacers are supported by inflatable blades which are mounted on ducts arranged in a cross connected together at their crossing node by a common cross aeraulic connection. The blades are thus supplied with air from the ducts which are themselves supplied with air by an external pump.

According to document US2009283436, a transport cover for a wakeboard comprises an envelope integrating a plurality of longitudinal inflatable tubes which are distributed along the transverse extension on the cover to protect the wakeboard. The longitudinal tubes are inflated from peripheral tubes which extend along the edge of the cover. The inflatable tubes thus provide protection for the wakeboard during transport, against external shocks that the cover is likely to suffer.

However, such transport bags using inflatable bladders to protect the fragile items they contain are not suitable for receiving any fragile items of various shapes depending on their use, and which may be more or less bulky.

Solutions must therefore be sought, including in particular on a non-restrictive basis with regard to the following problems posed and/or difficulties to be overcome:

-) the effectiveness of protection of any fragile items to be protected, which may be more or less bulky and/or numerous, by installing them inside a transport bag to protect them from others only external shocks borne by the transport bag but also with regard to shocks and/or vibrations to which the articles are likely to be subjected inside the bag during their transport, and which can be a source of 'impacts between various articles collectively installed inside the bag,

-) ergonomics of the transport bag which makes it possible to easily install and effectively protect any differentiated fragile items to be protected - and this individually or in packs - and/or also concerning the methods of inflating and/or emptying the bladders, and this by making reliable and optimizing the protection obtained from fragile items installed inside the bag,

-) provide satisfactory protection for fragile items, including in the event of a possible failure of at least one of the inflatable bladders to be maintained in an inflated state,

-) allow installation inside the transport bag of various fragile articles of different shapes, arrangements and/or volumes, masses and/or dimensions - both individually and collectively per package - without affecting efficiency of their individual or collective protection,

-) make it possible to easily adapt the ability of the transport bag to protect articles according to their number and/or their specific configuration. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On the basis of the observation of the problems to be solved and/or the difficulties to be overcome which have just been presented - and on which the invention is based - the subject of the invention is a transport bag which is equipped with a device protection - via inflatable bladders - of at least one more or less bulky fragile item that it contains against shocks and/or jolts that they are likely to experience, particularly during transport.

The aim of the invention is at least to resolve the problems and overcome the difficulties previously exposed. It is particularly aimed at effectively protecting fragile articles of different shapes and/or volumes inside a transport bag, as non-restrictive examples:

-) sports equipment - such as golf clubs and/or one or more wakeboards for example - or any other sports equipment(s) sensitive to shocks and/or impacts which must be protected inside a carrying bag, or

-) musical instruments - such as instruments comprising a stringed body or wind instruments for example, or

-) more generally, any particularly fragile items depending on their use, which may be transported individually or collectively under protection from shocks that they are likely to suffer, both during transport and stored inside the transport bag in the waiting for their use.

To do this overall, a transport bag relating to the invention is arranged for the transport of fragile articles with respect to shocks, impacts, jolts and/or vibrations to which the transport bag and/or the article(s) it contains are likely to be submitted. The articles to be protected may have different shapes, volumes, masses and/or dimensions, and be installed individually or collectively in more or less large numbers inside the transport bag, potentially being previously stored inside a container for at least some of them.

In this context, the transport bag is chosen from a type of common transport or travel bag, which comprises a flexible envelope provided with at least one gripping member by an individual. The envelope extends in particular mainly longitudinally, being either shaped like a cylinder or a polyhedron such as a parallelepiped shape. The gripping member is for example formed of a pair of handles and/or at least one handle provided at one of the longitudinal ends of the envelope and which can alternatively cooperate with rollers installed at the other of the longitudinal ends of the envelope.

The chosen transport bag is more specifically of the type according to which the envelope provides a bottom wall of the bag which is overhung by a cover wall providing an access passage to the interior volume of the envelope. There cover wall and the bottom wall of the envelope are interconnected by side walls of the envelope of vertical extensions. The transport bag is provided with an easily reversible closing and/or opening member of the cover wall - such as for example a zipper - which extends over a major part of the perimeter of the cover wall by optimizing the dimensions of an access passage to the interior volume of the envelope.

The cover wall is thus foldable towards the outside of the transport bag to provide a wide access passage to the interior volume of the envelope, or conversely is foldable and fixable at its periphery to the envelope overhanging the wall of bottom of the transport bag by closing said passage. This allows the user to facilitate the introduction of the item(s) inside the transport bag and/or conversely their removal from the transport bag, and to partially release the inflatable tubes fitted to the envelope, as intended. further away.

The choice of such a transport bag makes it possible to optimize a usable reception volume inside the envelope of one or more articles which may be identical or differentiated according to their various uses, and/or according to their conformations and their own volumes or dimensions, including for the same use. The articles can be easily installed inside the envelope both individually and potentially in packages as covered by the invention.

A specific arrangement of such a transport bag is therefore necessary to achieve the objectives targeted by the invention. Inflatable bladders are used for this purpose according to specific methods explained below.

Depending on their cross section, the bladders are successively distributed inside the bag at least against the side walls - or in other words the longitudinal and transverse walls of vertical extension of the envelope - preferably in juxtaposition or nearby depending on their section transversal.

First bladders distributed against the longitudinal walls of the envelope are shaped into blind tubes, or in other words tubes closed at each of their ends. The tubes have an elongated extension which is at least equivalent to the overall interior extension of the periphery of the interior cross section of the envelope.

Second bladders respectively arranged against the longitudinal end walls of the envelope are either shaped into blind tubes or cushions, being generally of dimensions equivalent to those of the side walls of the longitudinal ends of the envelope.

In other words, concerning an advantageous arrangement of the bladders inside the envelope, it is proposed to arrange them so that the interior surface of the envelope at the bag closing station is lined in whole or in part by the bladders, in particular in the swollen state. According to their own dimension transversely, the bladders extend successively inside the envelope, preferably substantially in juxtaposition. The bladders cover at least partly the interior faces of the side walls of the envelope, longitudinal and transverse walls. First bladders arranged in blind tubes are successively installed - according to their own cross section - inside the envelope following its longitudinal extension. Cushions or blind tubes are arranged along the transverse extension of the envelope at each of the longitudinal ends of the envelope.

Depending on their own longitudinal dimension, the blind tubes distributed along the longitudinal extension of the envelope have an elongated extension corresponding to the extension of the periphery of the interior faces of all of the longitudinal extension walls of the envelope. In the position of closing the envelope by the cover wall, the tubes distributed along the longitudinal extension of the envelope are thus arranged successively longitudinally inside the envelope, each extending transversely along the interior periphery of the cross section of the envelope.

It appears that at the envelope closing station - the cover wall closing said passage - the bladders are configured as a cover member for the interior faces of the walls of the envelope. In the inflated state of the bladders, this provides effective protection for the item(s) installed inside the bag which are held and protected by the bladders which surround them.

In particular, the following technical results obtained should be noted:

-) The bladders in the inflated state collectively form a cover inside the bag which closely surrounds the item(s) installed inside the envelope, more or less depending on an inflation target air pressure bladders previously chosen by a user, as referred to below.

-) The tubes installed along the longitudinal walls of the envelope tightly surround the item(s). The bladders which are respectively installed against the transverse walls of the envelope - arranged in tubes or preferably in cushions - longitudinally compress the item(s) contained inside the envelope between its longitudinal ends, depending on their size.

-) The bladders in the inflated state stiffen the envelope and hold the item(s) to be protected between them. An air shell between the bladders and the stiffened envelope - more or less non-deformable depending on said target air pressure for inflation of the bladders chosen by the user of the transport bag - is provided around the item(s) by providing their protection sought.

-) The bladders can be connected successively in series by the aeraulic connectors with which they are equipped, hereinafter called bladder connectors. The bladders in the deflated state can easily be connected to each other directly via the bladder connectors, or via distant connection conduits between two said bladder connectors fitted to the respective bladders which can be spaced apart from each other, in particular to be able to easily adapt the interior lining of the envelope provided by the bladders according to the article(s) to be protected and/or following a possible failure of one of between them which may present an air leak, as detailed below.

-) The installation and fixing of the bladders in the deflated state inside the envelope, and conversely their removal outside the envelope, are facilitated by the wide access passage provided by the cover wall folding.

-) As referred to below, it is also provided the advantageous possibility of using easily reversible fixing members to individually hold the bladders against at least one of the walls of the envelope, and/or vice versa to allow a user to easily remove them in whole or in part from the carrying bag depending on the protection to be provided for various differentiated items;

-) The shaping of the bladders in the inflated state at said set air pressure around the article(s) varies spontaneously depending on their configurations and/or their number, both with regard to a differentiation of their use, a variation in intrinsic shape of the article(s), an individual immobilization of one or more articles and/or articles held collectively by package, and/or the simultaneous installation inside the envelope of several articles individually or in packages by potentially being collected inside a container.

The methods of use of the transport bag are more specifically specified below, highlighting more particularly such technical results obtained. When the item(s) are installed inside the envelope, they rest on the portion of the tubes in the deflated state extending against the bottom wall of the envelope. The article(s) are also laterally bordered - more or less at a distance depending on their dimensions and/or conformation - by the bladders placed at the longitudinal ends of the envelope.

The cover wall being folded towards the outside of the envelope, said passage for introducing and/or removing the item(s) inside and/or out of the transport bag is largely clear. At least one of the longitudinal ends of each of the tubes fitted to the longitudinal walls of the envelope can then be folded towards the outside of the envelope by a user, thus freeing access to said introduction passage inside. of the envelope and/or removal from the envelope, of the item(s) by the user.

The article(s) being installed inside the envelope, said at least one longitudinal end(s) of each of the tubes fitted to the longitudinal walls of the envelope, are folded inversely by the user towards the inside the envelope on the cover of the item(s).

The envelope is then closed by the user by fixing the cover wall to the envelope in the closing position of the envelope, via said easily reversible closing and/or opening member with which it is provided. Then the bladders are inflated by being placed under stress at a set pressure chosen by the user according to the article(s) to be protected. All of the bladders in the inflated state to the set pressure then closely surround the item(s), conforming to their shape, whatever their number and/or their specific configurations. The bladders in the inflated state are thus compressed on the one hand between the walls of the envelope and on the other hand the article(s) to be protected which are installed inside the envelope, filling the interior space of the envelope which is unoccupied by the item(s) it contains.

The tubes in the inflated state which are arranged along the longitudinal walls of the envelope, therefore each form a belt for enclosing any article of any conformation, or several articles in plurality held individually and/or by package inside the carrying bag. The item(s) are thus immobilized inside the envelope at their periphery - where appropriate individually or collectively as a whole - generally by belting via the tubes fitted to the longitudinal walls of the envelope and, potentially depending on their size, by longitudinal compression between the bladders fitted to the side walls of the longitudinal ends of the envelope.

Items installed inside the envelope can be held individually and/or collectively in packages, including during the same loading of the transport bag. The articles installed in packages can in this case possibly be gathered inside a container, being isolated from at least one other article installed inside the envelope.

The bladders in the inflated state at said set pressure can individually vary in volume depending on, on the one hand, the location of the bladders inside the envelope and, on the other hand, the location, the conformation, the volume , the overall size and/or the number of item(s) installed inside the envelope.

The bladders in the inflated state thus prevent mobility of the item(s) inside the transport bag by adapting the individual shaping of the bladders which are each inflated to the set pressure, regardless of their conformation. and/or their number, and/or whatever their individual installations and/or per package inside the envelope.

The interior space of the envelope unoccupied by the item(s) is thus completely filled by pressurized air contained inside the bladders which are individually maintained inflated to the set pressure. Such space filling has the effect of stiffening the envelope against its natural hold in the flexible state - or in other words continuously along its entire surface - to immobilize the item(s) installed in the inside the envelope, to absorb the vibrations and/or internal shocks supported by the bag of transport and to cushion the shocks to which the transport bag is likely to be subjected from the outside.

Thus, in the inflated state of the bladders, a shell of air is formed around the item(s) installed inside the envelope, on the one hand from the stiffening of the flexible envelope subjected against its interior surface to a thrust exerted against it by the bladders, and on the other hand to a reverse thrust exerted by the bladders against the article(s) which they collectively envelop tightly. It should be noted that such an air shell is obtained around the item(s) to be protected, whatever their fragility, their number, their conformation and/or their dimensions, their masses and/or their bulk inside. of the envelope, without risk of causing any alteration to the item(s) installed inside the envelope.

The protection provided by the transport bag is thus versatile and modular for various items to be protected - individually or collectively - and this without affecting their immobilization inside the envelope nor the overall stiffening of the envelope - which are obtained at a force threshold controlled by the user when inflating the bladders according to the protection to be provided to the item(s) depending on their fragility, and consequently without affecting optimized protection of the item(s) to be inside the carrying bag.

Such organization of the carry bag is not subject to receipt of one or more specific items, without affecting their desired protection. It will also be noted that a useful volume of the envelope unoccupied by the item(s) can be used notwithstanding the presence of the bladders - in particular prior to their inflation - to accommodate any packaged subsidiary accessory of the item(s) and/or not deleterious to the item(s) to be protected, such as for example sports clothing and/or various accessories specific to the item(s) installed inside the transport bag, such as a bow of a stringed instrument or at least one mouthpiece of a wind instrument for example.

Furthermore, as previously referred to, the bladders are individually fixed to the interior faces of at least one of the walls of the envelope via easily reversible fixing members. It is understood by easily reversible fasteners to be fasteners whose implementation can be quickly carried out manually by an individual without requiring the use of a tool. Such easily reversible fasteners are preferably of the type with cooperating strips respectively with loops and claws (commonly referred to as "VELCRO" strips). Such strips are respectively fixed on the one hand to at least one of the interior faces of the walls of the envelope, and on the other hand to at least one corresponding exterior face of the bladders.

This allows the user of the transport bag:

-) to easily install the bladders inside the envelope and/or remove them outside the envelope, and this is individually for at least one of them they by adapting the overall configuration of said cover according to the configuration and/or the size inside the transport bag of the item to be protected, or collectively in a whole generally forming said cover. Overall removal of the cover allows the transport bag to be used for another purpose, in particular common use as a travel bag.

-) to facilitate a possible quick and easy replacement to be carried out by a user of one or more bladders which are defective, in particular with regard to their tightness as referred to below.

Concerning the methods of inflating and/or emptying the bladders, the transport bag is equipped for this purpose with one or more specific aeraulic circuit(s), organized according to different embodiments described further below.

It is recalled that the bladders make up a whole forming the protective cover for the item(s) installed inside the transport bag, being in serial air communication successively two by two. In general, the air circuit equipping the transport bag is organized by providing air circulation successively through the bladders for their inflation and/or emptying.

Furthermore, the transport bag is equipped with at least one aeraulic circuit via which a user can selectively operate either a collective inflation of the bladders or their emptying, from at least one of the bladders placed in an aeraulic junction - via a aeraulic connection with which it is equipped - with a main aeraulic connection hereinafter referred to as a main connection.

More precisely, each of the bladders is equipped with two aeraulic connectors, hereinafter referred to as bladder connector(s). The bladders are placed in aeraulic junction in series successively with each other, via the bladder connectors with which they are equipped, by watertight junction of the bladder connectors successively with each other providing the aeraulic junction in series of the bladders with each other. The watertight junction between the bladder connectors is carried out by the user either directly by nesting the bladder connectors or via a watertight connection conduit between two bladder connectors spaced apart from each other, in particular following the removal of the bladder connector. at least one of the bladders by the user as detailed below.

Such a series aeraulic junction of the bladders allows a user of the transport bag to operate on inflation and conversely on emptying - or in other words deflation - of all the bladders from at least one of the bladders which is connected - via one of the bladder connectors with which it is equipped - to a said main connector.

The main connector is mounted on the envelope of the transport bag, being accessible by the user from outside the envelope to allow him to easily inflate to said set pressure and collectively empty the bladders. . It is therefore obviously understood that the aeraulic circuit includes at least:

-) said bladder connections via which the bladders are successively placed in aeraulic junction, and

-) at least one said main connection to which one of the bladders assigned to it is in aeraulic junction, via which said at least one main connection the bladders are successively inflated or conversely emptied collectively.

In the context of the choice of an aeraulic connection successively in series of the bladders via the bladder connections with which they are equipped, directly or via a conduit such as previously mentioned, it is also aimed at and provided both freedom of arrangement of the or main connections, freedom of installation according to various locations on the envelope of the main connection(s), and freedom of arrangement of the modalities of inflation and/or deflation collectively of the bladders.

According to various embodiments of at least one aeraulic circuit equipping the transport bag:

-) a main connection comprises an aeraulic channel - hereinafter referred to as a single channel - via which the bladders connected successively in series are collectively and alternately either supplied with air for their inflation, or drained of the air which they contain for their deflation, and/or

-) a main connection comprises an air channel - hereinafter referred to as an air inlet channel - via which the bladders connected successively in series are collectively supplied with air for their inflation, and/or

-) a main connection comprises an air channel - hereinafter referred to as an air outlet channel - via which the bladders connected successively in series are collectively drained of the air they contain for their deflation, and/or

-) a main connection comprises both a said air inlet path and a said air outlet path.

Thus various possibilities can be exploited according to various alternative forms of realization of the aeraulic circuit(s) equipping the transport bag - detailed below - concerning the modalities:

-) collective air supply to the bladders from one of the bladders,

-) collective emptying of the bladders from one of the bladders,

-) feeding and emptying the bladders from the same bladder,

-) installation on the walls of the envelope of at least one said main connection, and

-) arrangement of said at least one main connection to provide a said air inlet path towards the bladders and/or vice versa to provide a said air outlet path out of the bladders towards the outside of the envelope. In other words, synthetically - the bladders being connected in series successively to each other - their air supply and their emptying via said at least one main connection, can be respectively operated from any at least one of the bladders, including:

-) or any bladders which are differentiated by respectively providing a bladder - hereinafter called air inlet bladder - and a bladder - hereinafter called air outlet,

-) or a bladder - hereinafter called head bladder - forming both a so-called air inlet bladder and a said air outlet bladder.

Said at least one main connection can:

-) either be segregated into two main connections, including a main connection - hereinafter referred to as the main air inlet connection - and another main connection - hereinafter referred to as the main air outlet connection - which can be installed on the envelope, either individually on any different walls of the envelope which are respectively assigned to them, or collectively on the same wall of the envelope,

-) either be a single main connection which has a single channel to which the said head bladder is connected, via which the bladders are collectively supplied with air or conversely drained.

The wall(s) of the envelope on which at least one said main connection - main air inlet connection, main air outlet connection or single-way main connection - can be either individually or collectively installed, are in particular one or more side walls of the envelope. This facilitates their access by the user and their implementation from outside the envelope. Said at least one main connection is in particular installed crossing on the side wall(s) of the envelope assigned to it, to allow air circulation towards the bladders or conversely out of the bladders towards the outside of the transport bag.

It is thus proposed different variants of arrangement of the aeraulic circuit equipping the transport bag, which can be made available to a user depending on the dimensions of the transport bag and/or according to the interest that these different embodiment variants arouse. to users of the transport bag, particularly with regard to its ergonomics and/or depending on the item(s) they wish to protect.

According to a first embodiment of the aeraulic circuit, a single-way main connection is used which is mounted on any one of the side walls of the envelope and which comprises a single way forming at the same time a said entry way air and a so-called air outlet path. The main connection is connected to a so-called head bladder, and is equipped with two closure caps of said single channel which are successively mounted one on top of the other.

Said caps include: -) a ventilation plug which is removably mounted on the wall of the envelope and which is accessible from outside the envelope. The aeraulic plug is in aeraulic communication with said single channel via which the bladders are alternately inflated or drained via the main single channel connection, and

-) a blind plug which is removable mounted on the aeraulic plug which is accessible from outside the envelope. Said blind plug thus prevents an escape of air from the head bladder - via the aeraulic plug - towards the outside of the envelope.

The aeraulic plug is a plug provided with an air passage channel via which the bladders can be successively inflated from the head bladder. An air supply to the head bladder can be carried out by means of removable equipment for inflating the bladders to a set pressure which is installed in place of the blind plug previously removed from the aeraulic plug, as more precisely described below. far.

According to a second embodiment of the aeraulic circuit, the case is taken into account in which the user wishes to remove from the envelope one or more bladders which are unnecessary to provide satisfactory protection of the article(s) to be protected:

-) either due to, for example, the bulk of the item(s) which would be moderate, or for example also depending on the configuration and possibly a fragility of the item(s) which would be located on the item to be protected, and/or,

-) either due to a failure of one of the bladders which presents an air leak, which would be noted by the user prior to collective inflation of the bladders.

In this case, the user can connect together - via a conduit - two successive bladders of the chaining of the aeraulic junction successively in series of the bladders after removal of the unnecessary bladder(s), and this without hindering the formation of cohesion of said cover composed of bladders assembled successively to each other. It is obviously understood that the ends of the conduit are each equipped with an aeraulic connection cooperating with those included in the bladders connected via such a conduit.

To obviate the above-mentioned problem of a failure of a bladder which would present an air leak not noticed by the user prior to inflation of the bladders and/or occurring after inflation of the bladders, it is proposed to circulate the air through the bladders following the same direction of air circulation, both during their inflation from the air inlet bladder and during their emptying from the air outlet bladder.

To do this, it is more particularly proposed:

-) to equip a downstream bladder connection with a non-return valve which equips each of the bladders installed inside the envelope. According to the meaning of circulation of air through the bladders, the non-return valve is oriented preventing a reflux of air from a downstream bladder towards an upstream bladder to which it is immediately connected, being understood by direct junction or via a conduit connecting between them a downstream bladder connection with which the upstream bladder is equipped and an upstream bladder connection with which the downstream bladder is equipped,

-) to have an air inlet bladder and an air outlet bladder at the respective ends of the series connection chain of the bladders, and to connect them respectively to the air inlet channel and to the air outlet path provided either by the same main connection or respectively by two main connections.

If necessary, it is clarified that the notions upstream and downstream are relative notions which are commonly identified in an aeraulic circuit following the direction of air circulation through the aeraulic circuit.

It is also specified if necessary that in this case, the air inlet route and the air outlet route can be provided:

-) or by a said main connection which is common to them and which includes an air inlet path and an air outlet path which are segregated.

-) or be provided respectively by a said main air inlet connection comprising the air inlet path and by a said main air outlet connection comprising the air outlet path.

The ends of the air inlet path and the air outlet path opening towards the outside of the envelope are each closed by a shutter.

Removal of the shutter fitted to the air inlet channel allows the reversible installation of said bladder inflation equipment by the user, then installation by the user of the shutter at the outlet of the channel air inlet prevents air from being evacuated from the bladders.

Maintaining the shutter fitted to the air outlet route makes it possible to prevent collective emptying of the bladders during or after inflation, and conversely its removal by the user makes it possible to collectively empty the bladders.

It appears from these provisions that the fitting of a non-return valve to said downstream bladder connection does not constitute an obstacle:

-) the inflation of the bladders located downstream of the defective bladder which has a moderate leak which is insufficient to prevent inflation to the set pressure of the bladders which are located downstream of the defective bladder,

-) the inflation and emptying of all the bladders, which are carried out in the same direction of air circulation through the bladders, from the air inlet bladder towards the air outlet bladder during inflation of the bladders, and vice versa from the air outlet bladder to the air inlet bladder when emptying the bladders. Furthermore, said removable apparatus for inflating the bladders at least includes an air source. The set air pressure can be adjusted as judged when inflating the bladders depending on the item(s) to be protected. Furthermore, the pressure of the air delivered by the air source can also be calibrated to a maximum pressure threshold prohibiting inflation of the bladders to a set air pressure which would be excessive.

According to another embodiment, the air source is potentially equipped with a pressure regulator, via which the individual can control the pressure of the air delivered inside the bladders. Various arrangements of said removable bladder inflation apparatus are proposed as non-restrictive examples:

-) only an air source is used which is advantageously formed of a manually operated or preferably motorized air pump,

-) said air source is potentially calibrated at a maximum pressure threshold,

-) the removable inflation device comprises a so-called air source and a pressure gauge allowing the user to adjust the target air pressure for inflating the bladders.

Such arrangements of the removable bladder inflation apparatus have the advantages of being structurally simple and inexpensive. Such equipment can also be advantageously stored inside an exterior pocket of the transport bag or in an additional receptacle which may be bulky.

According to another embodiment of the bladder inflation equipment, the air source can also be formed of an air compressor equipped with a pressure regulator controllable by the user at the inflation target pressure. bladders depending on the item(s) to be protected. Such an arrangement of the removable apparatus for inflating the bladders has the disadvantage of being heavy and bulky, but provides the advantage of obtaining rapid inflation of the bladders at a self-regulated and reliable set pressure.

Furthermore, alternatively, an extensible and removable textile layer can be interposed between the inflatable bladders and said at least one article to be protected inside the transport bag. Said textile layer is preferably equipped with an easily reversible fixing member to the inflatable bladders - such as for example of the type with cooperating strips respectively with loops and claws - and with openings for passage of the bladder connectors equipping the one or more bladders connected to said at least one main connection.

The textile layer is potentially formed from a single monobloc textile piece or - and preferably - be subdivided into several textile pieces respectively assigned to games of at least one inflatable bladder which are predefined according to the respective locations of the inflation bladders at the inside the envelope. Such a textile layer allows: -) to protect the inflatable bladders from potential deterioration by equipment included in the transport bag, and thus protect them from a potential puncture which would be caused by such equipment, and/or

-) to improve the aesthetic character of the interior of the transport bag, by masking the inflatable bladders interposed between the interior face of the envelope and the interior volume of the envelope dedicated to receiving the item(s) to be protected.

For example :

-) at least one textile part is interposed between inflation bladders placed near said at least one main aeraulic connection, and/or

-) at least one textile part is installed in the area of the gripping member of the transport bag, and where applicable each of its components, and/or -) where applicable close to the location on the transport bag for ground rolling members fitted to the transport bag.

More precisely, by way of example, the textile layer can be subdivided:

-) in a first textile piece for protecting the inflatable bladders placed at one of the longitudinal end walls of the envelope, in particular in the case of the presence of the gripping member, of said at least one main connection and/or of said rolling members,

-) in a second textile piece generally protecting the inflatable bladders formed from said blind tubes,

-) in a third textile piece for protecting the inflatable bladders placed at the other of the longitudinal end walls of the envelope, in particular in the case of the presence of the gripping member, of said at least one main connection and/or of said rolling members.

As for the above, the subject of the invention is a transport bag for at least one fragile article of any conformation and more or less bulky, being understood to be capable of being introduced inside the transport bag.

The transport bag comprises a flexible envelope which delimits a volume for receiving said at least one article and which is provided with at least one gripping member by an individual. The envelope comprises a cover wall which is fixed to the envelope via a first fixing member which is easily reversible by an individual, in particular a user of the transport bag. The cover wall is tiltably mounted on the envelope between a position for releasing an access passage to the interior volume of the envelope and a folded position for closing said access passage confining the interior volume of the envelope.

In the context of the choice of such a transport bag, the invention is mainly recognizable in that the envelope is provided in its interior volume with inflatable bladders for protection of said at least one article installed inside the envelope . The bladders line at least partly the interior faces of the walls of the envelope. It is understood that the bladders are capable of lining all of the interior faces of the walls of the envelope, or of being partly locally installed by a user inside the envelope depending on the article to be protected.

Subsequent to the installation of said at least one article inside the envelope, the bladders placed in the inflated state collectively - or in other words jointly - form enclosing members of said at least one article installed inside of the envelope and members for stiffening the envelope by taking antagonistic supports of the bladders on the one hand against said at least one article and on the other hand against the walls of the envelope.

It is understood here that a transport bag according to the invention is structurally recognizable whatever the state of the deflated or inflated bladders, by the arrangement and arrangement of the bladders inside the envelope at the deflated state and/or by the enclosing of the article(s) present inside the envelope in the inflated state of the bladders.

Other remarkable particular arrangements and/or arrangements of a connection device according to the invention are proposed below.

First bladders are arranged in blind tubes arranged along their own transverse extension successively along a longitudinal extension of the envelope. The tubes constituting the first bladders have an elongated extension which is at least equivalent to the dimension of the interior periphery of the envelope according to its cross section. The first bladders line at least partially all of the longitudinal walls of the envelope, each providing in the inflated state a belt for enclosing the articles installed inside the envelope.

Second bladders are each arranged either in at least one blind tube or preferably in a cushion. The second bladders respectively line at least one of the longitudinal ends of the envelope, providing, in the inflated state, longitudinal thrust members against the articles installed inside the envelope.

Depending on the elongated extension of the tubes constituting the first bladders, any at least one end section of all the tubes constituting the first bladders in the deflated state, are - due to their flexibility in the deflated state - structurally foldable through said passage selectively on the one hand towards the outside of the envelope and on the other hand inversely towards the interior volume of the envelope.

In other words, the first bladders in the deflated state free access to the interior volume of the envelope for the introduction of the article - by flapping at least one of their end sections, then at the inflated state provides a belt for enclosing the article.

The bladders are individually fixed to the interior face of at least one of the walls of the envelope assigned to them, via at least a second easily reversible fixing member. Thus, the bladders can selectively be individually either installed or removed from the envelope, in particular to allow the removal of a potential defective bladder and/or to select bladders which may be sufficient to protect said at least one article depending on their number and/or or their bulk.

Preferably, at least the folding end sections of the first bladders are fixed to the interior face of the cover wall and a middle section of the first bladders extending between the end sections of the first bladders is fixed to the wall of bottom of the envelope.

This makes it possible to maintain the first bladders in position inside the envelope via their said middle sections and to collectively place the end sections of the first bladders by tilting the cover wall:

-) either in the flap position towards the outside of the interior volume of the envelope,

-) either in the covering position of the article to be protected previously installed on the middle sections of the first bladders.

Furthermore, the bladders are in reversible mechanical connection successively between them by collectively composing a cohesive protective cover for said at least one article inside the envelope.

It will be noted that with regard to the preceding provisions, the removal of one or more bladders from the transport bag does not prevent the formation of said cover, by exploiting aeraulic connections cooperating by reversible interlocking with which the bladders are equipped - as referred to below - to provide their mechanical assembly between them two by two either directly or via a conduit. In the event of removal of at least one of the bladders, bladders that have become distant from each other can be easily connected to each other via a conduit also connecting them mechanically via at least one of the aeraulic connectors with which they are equipped without affecting the cohesion of said cover that they compose.

Furthermore, in the aforementioned advantageous case according to which the bladders are mechanically connected to each other and each provided with said at least one second easily reversible fixing member, said cover is generally mounted removable inside the envelope.

This allows a user to selectively either install the cover inside the envelope to protect said at least one item, or to remove the cover from the envelope and thus make the transport bag available - then configured in a ordinary travel bag - to accommodate inside the envelope any items which would not need to be protected against shocks that the transport bag would be likely to suffer.

Depending on their own cross section, the bladders are successively placed close to each other inside the envelope, being reversibly connectable mechanically and in aeraulic junction successively in series with each other two by two via bladder connections with which they are each equipped.

The transport bag is equipped with at least one air circuit via which the bladders:

-) either are collectively supplied with air from outside the envelope,

-) or are collectively drained of the air they contain towards the outside of the envelope.

More particularly, the bladders are mounted on an aeraulic circuit fitted to the transport bag, which comprises at least one main aeraulic connection mounted through on any of the side walls of the envelope. Said at least one main connection provides at least one air passageway between the exterior of the envelope and one of the bladders. The outlet of the passageway opened towards the interior of the envelope and the bladder assigned to it are reversibly in reversible mechanical junction and in aeraulic junction via cooperating aeraulic connections with which they are respectively equipped.

Several embodiments and/or variant embodiments are proposed below by way of examples.

According to a first embodiment, the aeraulic circuit comprises at least:

-) a said main connection which is mounted on any of the side walls of the envelope, the main connection comprising a single air passageway forming at the same time an air inlet path from the outside from the envelope towards a head bladder participating in the bladders fitted to the transport bag, and an air outlet path from the head bladder towards the outside of the envelope, and

-) said head bladder, which is placed in reversible mechanical junction and in aeraulic junction with said single channel and with an adjacent bladder participating in the bladders fitted to the transport bag.

The main connection comprises at least two removable plugs for closing said single channel at its open outlet towards the outside of the envelope. Said two plugs are successively mounted one on top of the other and comprise:

-) an aeraulic plug which is mounted on the main connection and which comprises an aeraulic communication channel with the head bladder, the aeraulic plug being equipped with a non-return valve for air from the head bladder to the outside of the envelope via said single channel, and

-) a blind plug which is removable mounted on said aeraulic plug.

Removal of the blind plug authorizes the installation on the aeraulic plug of a removable device for collective inflation of the bladders to a set pressure via said single route from the head bladder. A withdrawal joint with the aeraulic plug on which the blind plug is mounted, conversely authorizes collective emptying of the bladders via said single route from the head bladder.

According to a second embodiment, the potential case is taken into account in which at least one of the bladders is defective by presenting an air leak. In this case, an arrangement of the aeraulic circuit is proposed according to which the aeraulic circuit comprises at least one main connection mounted on any one of the side walls of the envelope.

Said at least one main connection provides two air circulation paths, including an air inlet path in aeraulic junction with an air inlet bladder and including an air outlet path in aeraulic junction with an air outlet. air outlet bladder. The air inlet bladder and the air outlet bladder are part of the bladders fitted to the transport bag, being respectively placed at the ends of the successive connection chain in series of the bladders.

Said at least one main connection is equipped with a non-return valve placed on the air inlet path preventing a return of air from the air inlet bladder towards the outside of the envelope via the air inlet path. Said at least one main connection is equipped with removable shutters which are respectively assigned to the upstream outlet of the air inlet path and the downstream outlet of the air outlet path open to the outside of the transport bag.

Removing the shutter from the upstream outlet of the air inlet path allows the installation at the upstream outlet of the air inlet path of a removable device for collective inflation of the bladders to a set pressure from the air inlet bladder. Removal of the shutter from the downstream outlet of the air outlet channel allowing collective emptying of the bladders from the air outlet bladder, the air from inflation of the bladders and conversely the air from emptying the bladders circulating through the bladders following the same direction of air circulation.

According to a first variant of the second embodiment of the aeraulic circuit, the main connection is subdivided into a main air inlet connection comprising the air inlet path and a main air outlet connection comprising the path air outlet. The main air inlet connection and the main air outlet connection are placed on the envelope at a distance from each other, being mounted either on the same side wall of the envelope or respectively on different side walls of the envelope.

According to a second variant of the second embodiment of the aeraulic circuit, the main connection integrates both the air inlet path and the air outlet path. The main connection is mounted on any of the side walls of the envelope.

It finally emerges that a transport bag in accordance with the invention is adaptable by being able to be easily fitted out and/or chosen by any user according to his needs for protection of one or more fragile articles to be transported inside a transport bag, and/or according to the intrinsic characteristics of one or more fragile articles to be protected inside of the carrying bag.

In fact, from the arrangement of a carrying bag in accordance with the invention, the carrying bag provides the user with ergonomic comfort personalized according to their needs and/or according to the modalities which are most comfortable for them. to connect the bladders together and/or the choice of the main connection(s) he wishes to use. The user can:

-) arrange the configuration of the cover itself for each use of the transport bag according to its needs and in particular according to the number, configuration and/or bulk inside the envelope of the item(s) that it is carrying. he wants to protect. To this end, the user can select the number and respective locations of the bladders he wishes to use, depending on the number and/or intrinsic characteristics of the item(s) he wishes to protect inside the transport bag. As previously referred to, such intrinsic characteristics of the article(s) to be protected relate in particular to their size and/or their specific conformation;

-) can remove the cover made up of the bladders from the transport bag, in order to use the transport bag as any travel bag;

-) can choose a transport bag from among different transport bags conforming to the invention, in particular depending on the specificity of the aeraulic circuit with which it is equipped. The main connection(s) equipping the different aeraulic circuits previously described can be installed in isolation on different transport bags conforming to the invention. The user can then choose a transport bag they wish to use based on the advantages it specifically provides. Several main connections equipping the different air circuits previously described can be installed on the envelope of a transport bag in accordance with at least two different air circuits.

The user can then choose a transport bag according to one of the different air circuits that they wish to temporarily use. Whatever the choice(s) initially made by the user meeting their needs, an initial choice may evolve into another choice according to the evolution of their needs, and this without affecting the protection of the item(s) they wish to protect. .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be better understood on reading the non-limiting description which follows, written with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a transport bag according to the invention. The transport bag is equipped on one of its side faces with a main aeraulic connection according to a first form of realization. In Figure 1, the transport bag is illustrated in the closed position and free of contents.

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective representation of the carrying bag illustrated in Figure 1. In Figure 2, the carrying bag is free of contents and is illustrated in the open position, by flap towards the outside of the carrying bag. transport of a cover wall which it comprises and which is fixed to an envelope of the transport bag via an easily reversible fixing member.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation in top view of a transport bag according to the invention which is illustrated in the open position. Protective bladders for one or more items are installed in the deflated state inside the transport bag.

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the carrying bag shown in Figure 3, illustrated in the open position. The transport bag is shown in section along a sectional plane of longitudinal and vertical extension, said bladders being in the deflated state.

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the carrying bag shown in Figures 3 and 4, illustrated in the open position. The transport bag is shown in section following a section plane of transverse and vertical extension. In Figure 5, said bladders are illustrated in the deflated state.

Figure 6 is a schematic representation of the transport bag shown in Figures 3 to 5 illustrated in the closed position. The transport bag is shown in section along a sectional plane of transverse and vertical extension, said bladders being illustrated in the deflated state. A fragile item, such as a golf bag in the example shown, is installed inside the carrying bag.

Figure 7 is a schematic representation of the carrying bag shown in Figures 3 to 6, illustrated in the closed position. The transport bag is shown in section following a section plane of transverse and vertical extension. In Figure 7, said bladders are illustrated in the inflated state to protect the fragile article shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a schematic representation of the transport bag shown in Figures 3 to 7, the transport bag being illustrated in the closed position along a sectional plane of longitudinal and vertical extension. In Figure 8, said bladders are illustrated in the inflated state to protect the fragile article shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 9 is a partial schematic representation of an aeraulic circuit fitted to the transport bag shown in Figures 1 to 8. The aeraulic circuit is illustrated in the closed state on itself, via the main aeraulic connection fitted to the transport bag. transport shown in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 9, the bladders are either in the deflated state or vice versa or in the inflated state. Figure 10 is a partial schematic representation of the aeraulic circuit illustrated in Figure 9. The aeraulic circuit is illustrated as an inflation station for the bladders illustrated in Figures 3 to 8 following a first direction of air circulation successively through the bladders.

Figure 11 is a partial schematic representation of the aeraulic circuit illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. The aeraulic circuit is illustrated as an emptying station - or in other words deflation - of the bladders which are illustrated in Figures 3 to 8 - via the connection main equipping the transport bag shown in Figures 1 and 2 - in a second direction opposite to said first direction of air circulation successively through the bladders.

Figure 12 is a schematic perspective representation of a transport bag according to the invention which is equipped on one of its side faces with two main aeraulic connections according to a second embodiment. Carrying bag is shown in closed position and free of contents.

Figure 13 is a schematic perspective representation of a transport bag according to the invention, which is equipped with two main aeraulic connections according to a third embodiment, which are respectively installed on different side walls of the transport bag illustrated in the closed position and free of contents.

Figure 14 is a partial schematic representation of an aeraulic circuit equipping a transport bag of the type shown in Figures 12 and 13. The aeraulic circuit is illustrated in the closed state on itself, via the main aeraulic connections equipping the carrying bags. In Figure 9, the bladders are either in the drained state, or in other words in the deflated state, or conversely in the inflated state.

Figure 15 is a partial schematic representation of the aeraulic circuit illustrated in Figure 14. The aeraulic circuit is illustrated as an inflation station for the bladders illustrated in Figures 3 to 8 in a third direction of air circulation successively through the bladders.

Figure 16 is a partial schematic representation of the aeraulic circuit illustrated in Figures 14 and 15. The aeraulic circuit is illustrated in a station for emptying the bladders illustrated in Figures 3 to 8 following said third direction of air circulation successively through the bladders.

Figure 17 is a schematic perspective representation of a transport bag according to the invention according to a third embodiment. The carry bag is equipped with a main two-way air connection which is installed on one of the side walls of the carry bag.

Figure 18 is a partial schematic representation of a ventilation circuit fitted to the transport bag shown in Figure 17. The ventilation circuit is illustrated in the closed state on itself, via the main connection fitted to the transport bag. In Figure 18, the bladders are either in the deflated state or conversely in the inflated state. Figure 19 is a partial schematic representation of the aeraulic circuit illustrated in Figure 18. The aeraulic circuit is illustrated in the inflation station of the bladders illustrated in Figures 3 to 8, following said third direction of air circulation through the bladders.

Figure 20 is a partial schematic representation of the aeraulic circuit illustrated in Figures 18 and 19. The aeraulic circuit is illustrated in the emptying station of the bladders illustrated in Figures 3 to 8, following said third direction of air circulation through the bladders.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The figures and their detailed, non-limiting descriptions set out the invention in particular ways which are not restrictive as to the scope of the invention. The figures and their detailed descriptions of an exemplary embodiment of the invention can be used to better define it, if necessary in relation to the general description which has just been made. Furthermore, to avoid overloading the figures and thus facilitate their reading, the reference numbers assigned to the terms and/or concepts used to describe the invention and indicated in any of the figures, are potentially included in the description of any other figure without implying their presence on all the figures.

In Figures 1-2, 12-13 and 17, a transport bag respectively 1a-1d is of the common type used to transport any more or less bulky content. The transport bag 1a-1d is designed to contain one or more fragile items 4 - such as, for example, a golf bag as illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 - by protecting them against shocks as the transport bag 1a-1d is likely to suffer from the outside, and/or impacts or shocks to which the articles 4 may be subjected inside the transport bag 1a-1d.

In Figures 1-2, 12-13 and 17, the transport bag 1a-1d is of the common type comprising a flexible envelope 2 provided with a gripping member 3 by an individual, such as for example a pair of handles .

The envelope 2 extends in the three directions of an orthonormal reference - indicated in Figures 1-2, 12, 13 and 17 - including along a longitudinal extension L, a transverse extension T and a vertical extension V. envelope 2 delimits a volume for receiving said at least one article 4, and in particular has an elongated conformation extending mainly in its longitudinal direction L.

The envelope 2 comprises side walls 5a, 5b of longitudinal extension L and vertical V, including two longitudinal walls 5a which are interconnected at their longitudinal ends by transverse walls 5b. The envelope 2 also includes walls of longitudinal extension L and transverse T, including a bottom wall 6a which is overlooked by a cover wall 6b.

The bottom wall 6a and the cover wall 6b are connected to each other via the side walls 5a, 5b of the envelope 2. All of the walls 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b of the envelope 2 delimit between them the interior volume of the envelope 2, which is substantial in extending widely along its three dimensions L, T, V of extension.

The cover wall 6b is fixed on the envelope 2 via a first fixing member 8a which is easily reversible by a user, such as in particular a zipper. The cover wall 6b is thus tiltably mounted on the envelope 2 by being foldable between a position of clearance of a wide passage 7 for comfortable access to the interior volume of the envelope 2 - as illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 - and a folded position closing said passage 7 in which the cover wall 6b confines the interior volume of the envelope 2, as illustrated in Figures 1, 6-8, 12-13, and 17.

Such a carrying bag 1 a-1 d allows a user to be able to contain one or more items 4 which may be more or less bulky. The folding cover wall 6b allows the user alternatively:

-) or to close the interior volume of the envelope 2 as illustrated in Figures 1, 12-13, and 17, in particular when storing or transporting one or more articles 4 inside the transport bag 1 a-1 d,

-) or to fold down the cover wall 6b by tilting B1 towards the outside of the envelope 2, as illustrated in Figures 2 to 5. The user can thus access via said passage 7 to the interior volume of the envelope 2 , to comfortably install inside or remove from the envelope 2 the article(s) 4 and/or - as described below - a removable inflatable cover composed of inflatable bladders 11 a, 11 b assembled together which are provided by the invention to protect one or more articles 4 installed inside the transport bag 1 a-1 d.

In this general context, we will now note in Figures 1 -2, 12-13, and 17, according to specific arrangements of a transport bag 1 a-1 d proposed by the invention, the presence of at minus one aeraulic connection, hereinafter referred to as main connection 9a-9d.

The main connector(s) 9a-9d are mounted through at least one of the side walls 5a, 5b of the envelope 2, being accessible by a user from outside the transport bag 1a-1d. Said at least one main connection 9a-9d participates in an aeraulic circuit 10a-10c equipping the transport bag 1 a-1 d, as described below in relation to Figures 9-11, Figures 14-16 and Figures 18-20.

In Figures 3 to 8, it is proposed by the invention to equip the transport bag 1 a-1 d, with a removable protective cover for at least one fragile item 4 which is installed inside the envelope 2. The cover is installed inside the envelope 2 being composed of a plurality of inflatable bladders 11 a, 11 b assembled and connected together two by two, to allow the passage of a air flow F1-F6 successively through the bladders 11 a, 11 b as shown in Figures 10-11, 15-16 and 19-20. The bladders 11 a, 11 b can be alternately inflated or deflated via an aeraulic circuit 10a-10c from at least one main connection 9a-9d which the envelope 2 comprises, as illustrated in Figures 10-11, 14- 16 or 18-20 according to various embodiments of aeraulic circuit 10a-10c proposed by the invention.

As more recognizable in Figures 5 to 7, said bladders 11 a, 11 b include:

-) first bladders 11 each arranged in a blind tube closed at each of its ends, and

-) second bladders 11 b each arranged in at least one blind tube closed at each of its ends or - as according to the illustrated embodiment - each arranged in a cushion.

The bladders 11 a, 11 b line at least partly the walls 5a-6b of the envelope 2. The tubes constituting the first bladders 11 a have an elongated extension which is at least equivalent to the dimension of the interior periphery of the envelope 2 according to its cross section, as more visible in Figure 6. The tubes constituting the first bladders 11 a in the deflated state, surround an article 4 installed inside the envelope 2, as for example - on Figures 6 to 8 - a golf bag inside which a plurality of golf clubs are stored.

The bladders 11a, 11b are successively arranged close to each other according to their cross section T inside the envelope 2. Two adjacent bladders 11a, 11b are placed at a short distance from each other in the deflated state - as more particularly visible in Figures 3 and 4 - to provide satisfactory individual inflation of each of the bladders 11 a, 11 b, and to facilitate their aeraulic junction between them in the deflated state by a user, via air connections 12a, 12b as described below.

The tubes constituting the first bladders 11a line the longitudinal extension walls 5a, 6a, 6b of the envelope 2 - including the longitudinal walls 5a of vertical extension V, the bottom wall 6a and the cover wall 6b - as more particularly visible in Figures 5 to 7. The cushions constituting the second bladders 11 b respectively line the transverse walls 5b of longitudinal ends L of the envelope 2, being of a dimension substantially equivalent to these transverse walls 5b as more particularly visible in Figures 3 to 7. It appears that all of the bladders 11a, 11 b collectively cover the interior faces of the walls 5a-6b delimiting the interior volume of the envelope 2.

The bladders 11a, 11b are individually fixed to the interior faces of at least one of the walls 5a-6b of the envelope 2 assigned to them, via at least a second easily reversible fixing member 8b. According to the example illustrated, the second easily reversible fixing members 8b are each of the type with cooperating strips respectively with loops and claws. The bladders 11 a, 11 b are further successively connected in series to each other via aeraulic connections - hereinafter designated by bladder connections 12a, 12b - as illustrated and referenced in Figures 9-11, 14-16 and 18-20. The bladder connections 12a, 12b cooperate two by two by reversible interlocking and provide a mechanical assembly and a series aeraulic junction of the bladders 11a, 11b successively with each other.

The bladders 11 a, 11 b thus connected together in series successively two by two compose said cover, which is fixed inside the envelope 2 in a whole in a reversible manner via the second easily reversible fixing members 8b equipping individually each of the bladders 11 a, 11 b.

Furthermore, each of the bladders 11 a, 11 b being individually fixed via the second reversible fixing members 8b to at least one of the walls of the envelope 2, one or more bladders 11 a, 11 b can be individually removed according to the user needs. Such needs are determined in particular according to the configuration, the number and/or the size of the article(s) 4 to be protected inside the envelope 2 as a function of their volume.

It appears from these provisions that:

-) the cover as a whole is installed removable inside the envelope 2, via the second easily reversible fixing members 8b with which the bladders 11 a, 11 b are each equipped. The envelope 2 as a whole can either be installed inside or conversely be removed from the envelope 2. Depending on the needs for use of the transport bag 1 a-1 d, such a cover can be selectively installed inside the envelope 2 for the protection of the fragile article(s) 4, or be removed from the envelope 2 to allow use of the transport bag 1 a-1 d - then free of bladders 11 a, 11 b - as a travel bag commonly used for transporting any items.

-) The bladders 11 a, 11 b can selectively be individually installed inside or conversely be removed outside the envelope 2. This makes it possible to adapt the number and/or location of the bladders 11 a, 11 b used for the protection of at least one article 4 inside the transport bag 1 a-1 d, in particular depending on their number, their mass, their conformation and/or their volume. Despite the removal of one or more bladders 11 a, 11 b from the envelope 2, bladders 11 a, 11 b then distant from each other can be connected in series via a conduit, without obstructing to the formation into a whole of the cover composed of the bladders held inside the envelope 2.

In Figures 3 to 6, the bladders 11a, 11b are in the deflated state. The process of installation by an individual of the golf bag 4 inside the envelope 2 is successively illustrated in these figures. The tubes constituting the first bladders 11a are each installed on the longitudinal walls 5a of vertical extension of the envelope 2 by being successively folded along four sections 16a-16d, according to methods more particularly visible in Figures 5 and 6. In Figures 3 to 5, the cover wall 6b is folded B1 towards the outside of the envelope 2, which is then placed in the open position, thus freeing the passage 7 for access to its interior volume. A first end section 16a of each of the tubes constituting the first bladders 11a is fixed via a second reversible fixing member 8b to the interior face of the cover wall 6b. As a result of the flap B1 of the cover wall 6b towards the outside of the envelope 2, the first end sections 16a of the tubes constituting the first bladders 11a are thus collectively also folded towards the outside of the envelope 2, by releasing passage 7 for access to the interior volume of envelope 2.

More particularly visible in Figures 5 and 6 and for each of the tubes 11a following their elongated extension, the first end sections 16a of the tubes constituting the first bladders 11a are extended by a first median section 16b which is placed against the first side walls 5a of longitudinal extension of the envelope 2.

The first middle section 16b is extended by a second middle section 16c which is fixed to the bottom wall 6a of the envelope 2 via a said second reversible fixing member 8b. The second middle section 16c is extended by a second end section 16d of the tubes constituting the first bladders 11a, which is applied against the other second side wall 5a of longitudinal extension of the envelope 2.

Then as illustrated in Figure 6 - in the deflated state of the bladders - an individual can install inside the envelope 2 at least one article 4 - such as the golf bag 4 illustrated - at rest on the second section median 16c of all the tubes constituting the first bladders 11a. Then the individual closes the envelope 2 by flap of the cover wall 6b and maintains it in the closing position of the interior volume of the envelope 2 via the first easily reversible fixing member 8a. The first end sections 16a of the tubes constituting the first bladders 11a are then - as a result of the flap of the cover wall 6b - folded collectively to cover the article 4 previously installed inside the envelope 2.

Then as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the bladders 11 a, 11 b are inflated by being supplied with air under pressure at a set air pressure as detailed below in relation to Figures 10, 15 and 19. bladders 11 a, 11 b in the inflated state surround the golf bag 4 more or less tightly depending on the set air pressure chosen by the user. In the inflated state, the tubes constituting the first bladders 11a each provide a belt for enclosing the golf bag 4 and the cushions 11 b constituting the second bladders 11b provide antagonistic longitudinal thrust members against the golf bag 4.

The bladders 11 a, 11 b in the inflated state - whatever their number and/or their location - each exert antagonistic forces on the one hand against the article 4 to be protected - like the golf bag 4 illustrated for example - and on the other hand against all of the walls 5a-6b of the envelope 2, with the effect on the one hand of immobilizing the article 4 to protect inside the envelope 2 and on the other hand to stiffen the envelope 2.

A more or less non-deformable air shell - depending on the set air pressure of the air admitted by the user inside the bladders 11 a, 11 b - is thus formed around the golf bag 4 by the bladders 11a, 11b in the inflated state, which extend interposed between the walls 5a-6b of the envelope 2 and the golf bag 4.

It is now specified here that - in Figures 9 to 11, 14 to 16 and 18 to 19 - the chaining of the aeraulic connection in series of the bladders 11a, 11 b between them is partially represented, only a few bladders 11 a, 11 b making up the cover being partially illustrated. This is to avoid making these figures unnecessarily complex and to make them easier to read and understand.

Furthermore, on the different examples of organization of the air circuits 10a, 10b, 10c represented respectively in Figures 9-11, 14-16 and 18-19, the air circuits 10a-10c equipping the transport bag 1a-1d comprise at less :

-) said bladder connections 12a, 12b equipping each of the bladders 11 a, 11 b, for their mechanical connection and their aeraulic junction in series successively with each other,

-) at least one said main connection 9a-9d equipping any at least one of the side walls 5a, 5b of the envelope 2.

In Figures 9 to 11, it is illustrated the methods of inflation and conversely deflation of the bladders 11 a, 11 b equipping the transport bag 1a illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. For this purpose, the cover composed of the bladders 11 a , 11 b is equipped with an aeraulic circuit 10a for air circulation through the bladders 11 a, 11 b - which are connected together in series via the bladder connections 12a, 12b - from the main connection 9a equipping the envelope 2 as previously mentioned and illustrated in the example of arrangement of the transport bag 1a shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The main connection 9a is an air connection which is mounted through on the longitudinal wall 5a of the envelope 2 and which has a single path 9a1 for air circulation through it.

The main connection 9a provides - via said single path 9a1 - both an air inlet path during inflation of the bladders 11 a, 11 b - as illustrated in Figure 10 - and an air outlet path when emptying the bladders 11a, 11b as illustrated in Figure 11. Said single track 9a1:

-) is placed - via its outlet oriented towards the inside of the envelope 2 - in aeraulic junction with any one of the bladders 11a, 11 b installed inside the envelope 2, then designated by head bladder 11th, and. -) is closed - at its other outlet oriented towards the outside of the envelope 2 - by two plugs 17a, 17b removably mounted successively one 17a on the other 17b.

An aeraulic plug 17a comprises a channel 18 (FIG. 11) in aeraulic communication with the head bladder 11e. The aeraulic plug 17a is equipped with a non-return valve which prevents a return of air from the head bladder 11e towards the outside of the envelope 2 via said single channel 9a1. The end of the aeraulic plug 17a oriented towards the outside of the casing 2, is provided with a blind plug 17b which is mounted on the aeraulic plug 17a by closing the end of the channel 18 oriented towards the outside of the envelope 2, as illustrated in Figure 9.

In Figure 10, the methods of collective inflation of the bladders 11 a, 11 b from the head bladder 11 e are illustrated. To do this, the user removes the blind plug 17b to free access to the channel 18 which includes the airflow plug 17a. Then the user installs on the aeraulic plug 17a - in place of the removed blind plug 17b - a device 14 for inflating the bladders 11a, 11b to a set pressure from the head bladder 11e.

The bladders 11a, 11b being inflated to the set pressure, the user removes said equipment 14 and replaces the blind plug 17b at the outlet of the aeraulic plug 17a, as illustrated in Figure 9. It will be noted that during removal of said equipment 14, the non-return valve with which the air plug 17a is equipped prevents a return of air towards the main connection 9a from the head bladder 11e, to avoid deflation of the bladders 11a, 11b.

In Figure 11, the methods of collective emptying of the bladders 11 a, 11 b from the head bladder 11 e are illustrated. To do this, the user removes from the main connection 9a all of the plugs 17a, 17b, that is to say removes the aeraulic plug 17a on which the blind plug 17b is mounted. As a result, the single track 9a1 provided by the main connection 9a is cleared. All of the bladders 11a, 11b are thus collectively drained, the air contained inside the bladders 11a, 11b escaping via the head bladder 11e towards the outside of the envelope 2.

However, such a solution can be improved, by making improvements taking into account the case where at least one of the bladders 11 a, 11 b is defective by presenting an air leak. Such an air leak can gradually cause an emptying of all of the bladders 11 a, 11 b and consequently render them ineffective in protecting the article 4 installed inside the envelope 2.

To obviate this drawback, it is proposed to force air circulation through the bladders 11a, 11 b in a single direction S1 of air circulation F3-F6, whether during inflation F3, F5 of the bladders 11 a, 11 b as illustrated in Figure 15 and/or Figure 19, or during emptying F4, F6 of the bladders 11 a, 11 b as illustrated in Figure 16 and/or Figure 20. To do this in Figures 12-16 and/or in Figures 17-20, it is proposed to use at least one main connection 9b, 9c (Figures 12-16) and/or 9d (Figures 17-20), which provides an air inlet path 9c1 (figures 14-16) or 9d1 (figures 18-20) and an air outlet path 9b1 (figures 14-16) or 9d2 (figures 18-20). The air inlet path 9c1, 9d1 is connected to an air inlet bladder 11c and the air outlet path 9b1, 9d2 is connected to an air outlet bladder 11d. The air inlet bladder 11c and the air outlet bladder 11d are placed at the respective ends of the series air connection chain of the bladders 11a, 11b. The main connection 9c and/or 9d comprising the air inlet path 9c1 and/or 9d1, is equipped with a non-return valve preventing a reflux of air from the air inlet bladder 11c towards the air inlet route 9c1 and/or 9d1.

Furthermore, the bladders 11a, 11 b - being understood to include the air inlet bladder 11c and the air outlet bladder 11 d - are equipped in said only direction S1 of air circulation through the bladders 11 a, 11 b of said bladder connectors 12a, 12b, including a downstream bladder connector 12a and an upstream bladder connector 12b. The downstream bladder connection 12a is equipped with a check valve which prevents backflow of air from upstream to downstream through the bladders 11a, 11b.

Consequently, air circulation through the aeraulic circuit 10b and/or 10c in the same direction S1 of air circulation F3-F4 and/or F5-F6 is forced at the same time.

-) when supplying air to the bladders 11a, 11b from the air inlet path 9c1 and/or 9d1 to the bladders 11a, 11b via the air inlet bladder 11c, up to the air outlet path 9b1 and/or 9d2 via the air outlet bladder 11d, as illustrated in Figures 15 and 19, and

-) when emptying the bladders 11a, 11 b via the air outlet route 9b1 and/or 9d2 towards the outside of the envelope 2, from the air outlet bladder 11d until emptying of the air inlet bladder 11c, as illustrated in Figures 16 and 20.

To alternately allow the inflation of the bladders 11a, 11 b and/or conversely the emptying of the bladders 11 a, 11 b, said at least one main connection 9b, 9c, 9d is equipped with removable shutters 13a, 13b which are arranged at the exterior face of the envelope 2. Said shutters 13a, 13b are respectively assigned to closing and/or clearing the outlets towards the outside of the air inlet path 9c1, 9d 1 and the outlet path d air 9b1,9d2.

More particularly, said shutters 13a, 13b allow the user:

-) or to close the air inlet path 9c1, 9d1 and the air outlet path 9b1, 9d2 to close the aeraulic circuit 10b, 10c at each of its ends, whether in the inflated state or /or in the emptied state of the bladders 11 a, 11 b, as illustrated in Figure 14 and in Figure 18,

-) or to remove the shutter 13b assigned to the air inlet path 9c1, 9d1 while maintaining the shutter 13a assigned to the air outlet path 9b1, 9d2 in the closed position, to replace the shutter 13b previously withdrawn by a said apparatus 14 for inflating the bladders 11 a, 11 b to a set pressure via the air inlet path 9c1, 9d 1, as illustrated in Figures 15 and 19, and/or

-) or conversely to remove the shutter 13a assigned to the air outlet path 9c1, 9d1 and the shutter 13b assigned to the air inlet path 9c1, 9d1, to collectively drain the bladders 11a-11 b and evacuate the air via the air outlet path 9b1, 9d2 from the air outlet bladder 11d to the outside of the casing 2, as illustrated in Figures 16 and 20.

Furthermore, alternatively, for example in Figures 9-11, the bladders 11a, 11 b are potentially each equipped with a removable additional plug 15a, for closing an air purge orifice 15b that the bladders 11 a, 11 b include. . If necessary, removing the annex plug 15a allows the user to individually drain the bladders 11a-11b via the orifice 15b.

Claims

1. Transport bag (1 a-1 d) of at least one fragile article (4) of any conformation and more or less bulky, the transport bag (1a-1 d) comprising a flexible envelope (2) which delimits a volume for receiving said at least one article (4) and which is provided with at least one gripping member (3) by an individual, the envelope (2) comprising a cover wall (6b) which is fixed on the the envelope (2) via a first fixing member (8a) easily reversible by an individual, the cover wall (6b) being tiltably mounted on the envelope (2) between a position of clearance of a passage (7) of access to the interior volume of the envelope (2) and a folded position for closing said access passage (7) confining the interior volume of the envelope (2), characterized: in that the envelope (2) is provided in its interior volume with inflatable bladders (11 a, 11 b) for protection of said at least one article (4) installed inside the envelope (2), which line at least partly the interior faces of the walls ( 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) of the envelope (2), first bladders (11 a) being arranged along their transverse extension successively along a longitudinal extension (L) of the envelope (2), being of a elongated extension which is at least equivalent to the dimension of the internal periphery of the envelope (2) according to its cross section (T), the first bladders (11 a) at least partially lining all of the longitudinal walls (5a, 6a, 6b) of the envelope (2) by providing each in the inflated state a belt for enclosing the articles (4) installed inside the envelope (2), and in that after the installation of said at least one article (4) inside the envelope (2), the bladders (11 a, 11 b) placed in the inflated state collectively form enclosing members of said at least one article (4) installed inside the envelope (2) and the members for stiffening the envelope (2) by taking antagonistic supports of the bladders (11 a, 11 b) on the one hand against said at least one article (4 ) and on the other hand against the walls (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) of the envelope (2).

2. Transport bag (1 a-1 d) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bladders (11 a, 11 b) in the inflated state, assembled successively to each other in reversible mechanical junction, collectively compose a cohesive protective cover for the item(s) (4) installed inside the envelope (2), which is provided inside the bag (1 a-1d) and which closely surrounds the item(s) (4) installed inside the envelope (2).

3. Transport bag (1a-1 d) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the first bladders (11a) are arranged in blind tubes, and in that second bladders (11 b) are each arranged indifferently either in at least one blind tube or in a cushion, the second bladders (11 b) respectively lining at least one of the longitudinal ends (L) of the envelope (2) while providing, in the inflated state, organs of longitudinal thrusts (L) against the articles (4) installed inside the envelope (2).

4. Transport bag (1a-1d) according to claim 3, characterized in that following the elongated extension of the tubes constituting the first bladders (11a), at least one of the end sections (16a, 16d) of all the tubes constituting the first bladders (11a) in the deflated state, are structurally foldable through said passage (7) selectively on the one hand towards the outside of the envelope (2) and on the other hand vice versa towards the interior volume of the envelope (2).

5. Transport bag (1a-1d) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bladders (11 a, 11 b) are individually fixed to the interior face of at least one of the walls of the envelope (2) which is assigned to them via at least a second easily reversible fixing member (8b).

6. Transport bag (1a-1d) according to claim 5, characterized in that at least the folding end sections of the first bladders (11a) are fixed to the interior face of the cover wall (6b) and a middle section of the first bladders (11a) extending between the end sections of the first bladders (11a) is fixed to the bottom wall (6a) of the envelope (2).

7. Transport bag (1a-1d) according to any one of claims 1 to

6, characterized in that according to their own cross section, the bladders (11a, 11 b) are successively placed close to each other inside the envelope (2) being reversibly mechanically connectable and in aeraulic junction successively in series with each other two by two via cooperating bladder connections (12a, 12b) with which they are each equipped.

8. Transport bag (1a-1d) according to any one of claims 1 to

7, characterized in that the bladders (11a, 11 b) are mounted on an aeraulic circuit (10a, 10b, 10c) equipping the transport bag (1a, 1 b, 1c), which comprises at least one main connection (9a -9d) aeraulic mounted through on any of the side walls (5a, 5b) of the envelope (2), said at least one main connection (9a-9d) providing at least one air passageway between the outside of the envelope (2) and one of the bladders (11 a, 11 b), the outlet of the passageway open towards the inside of the envelope (2) and the bladder assigned to it being reversibly in mechanical connection and in aeraulic junction via aeraulic connections with which they are respectively equipped.

9. Transport bag (1a) according to claim 8, characterized: in that the aeraulic circuit (10a) comprises at least: -) a said main connector (9a) which is mounted on any one of the side walls (5a, 5b) of the envelope (2), the main connector (9a) comprising a single channel (9a1) for passage of air forming at the same time an air entry path from the outside of the envelope (2) towards a head bladder (11 e) participating in the bladders (11 a, 11 b) equipping the transport bag (1 a), and an air outlet path from the head bladder (11e) to the outside of the envelope (2), and

-) said head bladder (11 e), which is placed in reversible mechanical junction and in aeraulic junction with said single channel (9a1) and with an adjacent bladder participating in the bladders (11 a, 11 b) equipping the transport bag (1 a), and in that the main connection (9a) comprises at least two removable plugs (17a, 17b) for closing said single channel (9a1) at its open outlet towards the outside of the envelope (2) , said two plugs (17a, 17b) being successively mounted one on the other and comprising on the one hand an aeraulic plug (17a) which is mounted on the main connection (9a) and which comprises a channel (18) of aeraulic communication with the head bladder (11e), the aeraulic plug (17a) being equipped with a non-return valve for air from the head bladder (11e) towards the outside of the envelope (2) via said single channel (9a1), and on the other hand a blind plug (17b) which is removably mounted on said aeraulic plug (17a), removal of the blind plug (17b) authorizing installation on the aeraulic plug (17a) a removable device (14) for collective inflation of the bladders (11 a, 11 b) to a set pressure via said single channel (9a1) from the head bladder (11 e), and a joint removal of the aeraulic plug ( 17a) on which the blind plug (17b) is mounted, conversely authorizing collective emptying of the bladders (11 a, 11 b) via said single route (9a1) from the head bladder (11 e).

10. Transport bag (1 b-1 d) according to claim 8, characterized: in that the aeraulic circuit (10b, 10c) comprises at least one main connection (9b, 9c, 9d) mounted on any one of the side walls (5a, 5b) of the envelope (2), said at least one main connection (9b, 9c, 9d) providing two air circulation paths, including an air inlet path (9c1, 9d1 ) in aeraulic junction with an air inlet bladder (11 c) and including an air outlet path (9b1, 9d2) in aeraulic junction with an air outlet bladder (11 d), the bladder d the air inlet (11c) and the air outlet bladder (11 d) being part of the bladders (11 a, 11 b) equipping the transport bag (1 b, 1 c, 1d) being respectively placed at the ends of the successive connection chain in series of the bladders (11 a, 11 b), in that said at least one main connection (9b, 9c, 9d) is equipped with a non-return valve placed on the inlet path of air (9c1, 9d1) by obstructing a return of air from the air inlet bladder (11 c) to the outside of the envelope (2) via the air inlet path (9c1, 9d 1), in that said at least one main connection (9b, 9c, 9d) is equipped with removable shutters (13a, 13b) which are respectively assigned to the upstream outlet of the air inlet path (9c1, 9d1) and to the downstream outlet of the air outlet channel (9b1, 9d2) open towards the outside of the transport bag (1 b, 1c, 1 d), removal of the shutter (13b) from the upstream outlet of the channel d the air inlet (9c1, 9d1) authorizing the installation at the upstream outlet of the air inlet path (9c1, 9d1) of a removable device (14) for collective inflation of the bladders (11 a, 11 b) at a set pressure from the air inlet bladder (11 c), and a removal of the shutter (13a) from the downstream outlet of the air outlet path (9b1, 9d2) authorizing a collective emptying of the bladders (11 a, 11 b) from the air outlet bladder (11d), the inflation air of the bladders (11 a, 11 b) and conversely the air for emptying the circulating bladders through the bladders (11 a, 11 b) in the same direction (S1) of air circulation.

11. Transport bag (1 b-1c) according to claim 10, characterized in that the main connection (9b, 9c) is subdivided into a main air inlet connection (9c) comprising the inlet path d air (9c1, 9d1) and a main air outlet connection (9b) comprising the air outlet path (9b1, 9d2), the main air inlet connection (9c) and the main connection ( 9b) air outlet being placed on the envelope (2) at a distance from each other by being mounted either on the same side wall (5a, 5b) of the envelope (2) or respectively on side walls (5a, 5b) different from the envelope (2).

12. Transport bag (1 d) according to claim 10, characterized in that the main connection (9d) integrates both the air inlet path (9c1, 9d1) and the air outlet path ( 9b1, 9d2), the main connection (9d) being mounted on any one of the side walls (5a, 5b) of the envelope (2).