ZA200300606B

ZA200300606B - A shopping bag.

Info

Publication number: ZA200300606B
Application number: ZA200300606A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Stuart Andrew Chandler
Original assignee: Stuart Andrew Chandler
Priority date: 2002-01-24
Filing date: 2003-01-22
Publication date: 2003-08-22

Description

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THIS INVENTION relates to a shopping bag.

A shopping bag, as referred to herein, is a bag of a type in which items purchased from a retailer may be placed and carried.

It is known that the manufacture and disposal of conventional-type plastics material shopping bags often supplied by retailers contribute significantly to the problem of pollution. Such pollution is the result of the manufacturing process of such bags and of their disposal, after use, as refuse on refuse disposal sites or as litter in public places.

Shopping bags of the type referred to and as supplied by retailers generally have a capacity smaller than that of shopping baskets provided by some such retailers and several times smaller than that of shopping trolleys. Items purchased by a shopper thus often are packed, at a pay point of a retailer, into more than one bag, thus inconveniencing the shopper, who is in many cases required to carry them off.

The current invention aims to alleviate the abovementioned problems.

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Reference will herein be made to a conventional-type rigid shopping container. Any such reference must be interpreted as a reference to a shopping container that includes a rigid operative bottom panel, having four sides, and four rigid operative side panels projecting operatively generally upwardly from the respective sides of the bottom panel, the container thus defining within its panels a space within which items may be placed. A conventional-type rigid shopping container may be in the form of a shopping trolley or a shopping basket.

According to the invention there is provided a shopping bag defining wall portions formed of a flexible sheet material configured to, in an operative erect configuration of the bag, define an outer shape complementary to inner surfaces defined by the panels of a conventional-type rigid shopping container to provide for a substantially snug fit of the bag in the container, the bag defining within its wall portions a space within which items may be placed.

The shopping bag will hereinafter be defined and described generally in its operative erect configuration.

The wall portions of the shopping bag may include a substantially flat flexible sheet material bottom wall portion, having four substantially straight sides, and four substantially flat flexible sheet material side wall portions projecting from the respective sides of the bottom wall portion.

The sheet material may be made of a material such as a plastics material, a natural fibre material, a synthetic fibre material, and the like. The sheet material preferably is of a durable type that renders the bag reusable.

The wall portions of the shopping bag may be sufficiently rigid to substantially maintain the operative erect configuration of the bag whilst being carried or placed on a flat surface when filled with items of a type intended to be carried in the bag.

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The shopping bag may include at least one reinforcement member to enhance its strength and rigidity. The bag may include two elongate reinforcement members attached to opposite side wall portions thereof providing gripping means for gripping the bag for carrying it. As such, at least one hole may be defined through each of the said opposite side wall portions adjacent to the reinforcement member attached thereto to permit a hand of a person to be inserted therethrough to grip around the reinforcement member.

The shopping bag may have at least one flap portion extending from a top edge of a side wall portion thereof. A side wall portion and the flap portion extending therefrom may be configured so that the flap portion may be folded over a top edge of a side panel of a conventional-type rigid shopping container when the bag is fitted into the container, thus assisting in keeping the bag erect. Two such flap portions may be provided to extend from opposite side wall portions of the bag, the flap portions being configured to provide a closure for the bag. The said two flap portions may each have an elongate reinforcement member attached thereto in a configuration in which, when the flap portion is folded vertically upwardly, the reinforcement member provides gripping means for gripping the bag for carrying it. As such, at least one hole may be defined through each flap portion of the bag adjacent to the reinforcement member attached thereto to permit a hand of a person to be inserted therethrough to grip around the reinforcement member.

The shopping bag may have at least one divider wall dividing its internal space into separate compartments, in the operative erect configuration of the bag. As such, items that preferably should be kept separate may be placed in separate compartments, e.g. frozen food items may be placed in one compartment and other items in another.

The wall portions and, where provided, the divider wall and the flap portions may be sufficiently flexible to permit the bag to be collapsed for ease of storage.

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The shopping bag may have at least one trade mark applied to at least one wall portion thereof. Where at least one flap portion is provided, the bag may, additionally or alternatively, have at least one trade mark applied to its flap portion. The bag may thus fulfil an advertising function also.

The invention is described below by way of three examples of embodiments of a shopping bag, in accordance with the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic three-dimensional view of a first embodiment of a shopping bag, in accordance with the invention, in a first operative erect configuration;

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic three-dimensional view of the shopping bag of

Figure 1 in a second operative erect configuration;

Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic side view of the shopping bag of Figure 1 in a third erect operative configuration fitted into a conventional-type shopping container in the form of a shopping trolley;

Figure 4 shows a diagrammatic three-dimensional view of a second embodiment of a shopping bag, in accordance with the invention, in an operative erect configuration; and

Figure 5 shows a diagrammatic three-dimensional view of a third embodiment of a shopping bag, in accordance with the invention, in an operative erect configuration.

In Figures 1 to 3, a first embodiment of a shopping bag, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10.

With reference particularly to Figure 1, the shopping bag 10 is formed of a durable, flexible, woven plastics sheet material 12 that renders it reusable. The sheet material 12 defines a substantially flat bottom wall portion 14 having four straight sides 16 and four substantially flat side wall portions 18, 20, 22, and 24 projecting from the respective sides of the bottom wall portion. The said wall portions are attached to each other by means of stitching. The bag 10 thus defines within its wall portions 14, 18, 20, 22, and 24 a space 26 within which items may be placed.

The bag 10 has two flap portions 28 which extend from top edges 30 and 32 of opposite wall portions 20 and 24, respectively, and which are integrally formed with the said wall portions. The flap portions 28 are configured to provide a closure for the bag 10 when folded towards each other, as is shown in Figure 2.

The flap portions 28 each has an elongate reinforcement member in the form of a tubular member 34 attached to it by folding a portion of the flap portion over the tubular member and attaching the folded over portion to the remainder of the flap portion by means of stitching 36. When the flap portions 28 are folded vertically upwardly as shown, the tubular members 34 are disposed generally horizontally. The flap portions 28 have defined through them at locations adjacent to the tubular members 34 six holes 38 through which persons may insert their hands to grip around the tubular members 34, the tubular members thus providing gripping means for gripping the bag 10 for carrying it. As such, two or more persons may grip around the tubular members 34 and together carry the bag.

The bag 10 has a divider wall 40 which is disposed generally vertically and defines opposite generally vertical sides 42 and 44 that are attached to the side wall portions and 24, respectively, of the bag by means of stitching. The divider wall 40 is made of the same material as the sheet material 12 and divides the internal space 26 in two separate compartments 46 and 48. As such, items that preferably should be kept separate may be placed in the two separate compartments, e.g. frozen food items may be placed in the compartment 48 and other groceries in the compartment 46.

Because the flap portions 28, the divider wall 40, and the wall portions 14, 18, 20, 22, and 24 are made of a flexible sheet material, the bag 10 is collapsible and, as such, may be folded flat and rolled up around the tubular members 34 for ease of storage. The wall portions 14, 18, 20, 22, and 24 are, however, sufficiently rigid to substantially maintain the erect shape of the bag 10 whilst being carried or placed on a flat surface when filled with items of a type intended to be carried in the bag.

In Figure 3, the bag 10 is fitted into a conventional-type shopping container in the form of a shopping trolley 50 (shown in dotted lines). The trolley 50 includes a rigid flat bottom panel 52, having four straight sides, and four rigid flat side panels 54 projecting generally upwardly from the respective sides of the bottom panel, the trolley thus defining within its panels a space within which items may be placed.

The flap portion 28 of the side wall portion 20 is folded over a top edge 56 of a side panel 54 of the trolley 50, thus assisting in keeping the bag 10 erect. The same applies to the flap portion 28 of the opposite side wall portion 24 (not shown here), which is folded over a top edge of the opposite side panel of the trolley 50. The configuration of the wall portions of the bag 10 is such that the outer shape of the bag is complementary to inner surfaces defined by the panels 54 and provides for a substantially snug fit of the bag in the trolley 50.

A typical mode of use of the bag 10 would be to fit it, as shown in Figure 3, into an empty shopping trolley positioned at a point of purchase, such as at a cashier.

Purchased items then may be placed inside the compartments 46 and 48 of the bag 10. The trolley may then be pushed to a desired position from where the bag 10, including its contents, may be lifted from the trolley by one or more persons and placed into a load space of a vehicle, or be carried off to a taxi rank, or the like.

In Figure 4, a second embodiment of a shopping bag, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 60. The bag 60 has many features that are essentially equivalents of corresponding features of the shopping bag 10 of

Figures 1 to 3. Like features, where designated, are thus designated again by the same reference numerals as before and a description of these features may be found in the description above of Figures 1 to 3.

The bag 60 defines within its wall portions 14, 18, 20, 22, and 24 an internal space 26. The said wall portions are configured so that the outer shape of the bag 60 is complementary to inner surfaces defined by the panels of a conventional-type shopping container in the form of a shopping basket (not shown) and provides for a substantially snug fit of the bag in the basket. The bag 60 may be carried by placing the tubular members 34 together and then inserting a single hand through the holes 38 around both tubular members.

The bag 60 has a trade mark in the form of a logo 62 applied to its wall portion 20 by means of printing.

In Figure 5, a third embodiment of a shopping bag, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 64. The bag 64 has many features that are essentially equivalents of corresponding features of the shopping bag 10 of

Figures 1 to 3. Like features, where designated, are thus designated again by the same reference numerals as before and a description of these features may be found in the description above of Figures 1 to 3. As was the case with the bag 10, the bag 64 is configured for use with a shopping trolley.

The bag 64 includes two elongate reinforcement members in the form of tubular members 66 attached to its opposite side wall portions 20 and 24 along operative top edges thereof. The bag 64 may be carried by inserting hands through holes 68 defined through the side wall portions 20 and 24 and so gripping around the tubular members 66.

It is believed that the shopping bag of the invention may at least alleviate the inconvenience of having to carry off a number of shopping bags after shopping at a retailer. By making the bag reusable, also the potential problem of pollution associated with conventional-type shopping bags normally supplied by retailers may be alleviated.

Claims

1. A shopping bag defining wall portions formed of a flexible sheet material configured to, in an operative erect configuration of the bag, define an outer shape complementary to inner surfaces defined by the panels of a conventional- type rigid shopping container, such as a shopping trolley and a shopping basket, to provide for a substantially snug fit of the bag in the container, the bag defining within its wall portions a space within which items may be placed.

2. A shopping bag as claimed in Claim 1, in which the wall portions include a substantially flat operative bottom wall portion, having four substantially straight sides, and four substantially flat operative side wall portions projecting from the respective sides of the operative bottom wall portion.

3. A shopping bag as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, which has at least one trade mark applied to at least one wall portion thereof.

4. A shopping bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sheet material is made of a material such as a plastics material, a natural fibre material, and a synthetic fibre material.

5. A shopping bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sheet material is of a durable type that renders the bag reusable.

6. A shopping bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the wall portions are sufficiently rigid to maintain the operative erect configuration of the bag whilst being carried or placed on a flat surface when filled with items of a type intended to be carried in the bag.

7. A shopping bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes at least one reinforcement member to enhance its strength and rigidity.

8. A shopping bag as claimed in Claim 7, which includes two elongate reinforcement members attached to opposite operative side wall portions thereof providing gripping means for gripping the bag for carrying it.

9. A shopping bag as claimed in Claim 8, in which at least one hole is defined through each of the opposite operative side wall portions adjacent to the reinforcement member attached thereto to permit a hand of a person to be inserted therethrough to grip around the reinforcement member.

10. A shopping bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes at least one flap portion extending from an operative top edge of an operative side wall portion thereof.

11. A shopping bag as claimed in Claim 10, which has at least one trade mark applied to its flap portion.

12. A shopping bag as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, in which the operative side wall portion and the flap portion extending therefrom are configured so that the flap portion may be folded over an operative top edge of an operative side panel of a conventional-type rigid shopping container when the bag is fitted into the container, thus assisting in keeping the bag erect.

13. A shopping bag as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 12, which includes two flap portions, as defined, which extend from opposite operative side wall portions of the bag, the flap portions being configured to provide a closure for the bag.

14. A shopping bag as claimed in Claim 13, in which the flap portions each has an elongate reinforcement member attached thereto in a configuration in which the reinforcement member provides gripping means for gripping the bag for carrying it when the flap portion is folded vertically upwardly.

15. A shopping bag as claimed in Claim 14, in which at least one hole is defined through each of the flap portions adjacent to the reinforcement member attached thereto to permit a hand of a person to be inserted therethrough to grip around the reinforcement member.

16. A shopping bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes at least one divider wall dividing its internal space into separate compartments, in the operative erect configuration of the bag, thereby providing for items that preferably should be kept separate to be placed in separate compartments.

17. A shopping bag as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the wall portions are sufficiently flexible to permit the bag to be collapsed for ease of storage.

18. A shopping bag substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. DATED THIS 2157 DAY OF JANUARY 2003 ADAMS & ADAMS APPLICANTS PATENT ATTORNEYS