EP3846657A1

EP3846657A1 - Bag with changeable bag cover

Info

Publication number: EP3846657A1
Application number: EP19857464.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carina Svensson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-09-05
Filing date: 2019-09-05
Publication date: 2021-07-14
Also published as: SE1851058A1; SE543562C2; EP3846657A4; US20210330046A1; WO2020050769A1

Abstract

A base bag (10) for changeable bag covers (20), a changeable bag cover, and a bag kit, wherein the base bag comprises: a front wall (11) and a back wall (12) foldably connected to a bottom (13) of the base bag, wherein each of the front wall (11) and back wall (11, 12) are made of magnetic sheet material (40) configured to attract to magnets of a changeable bag cover (20).

Description

BAG WITH CHANGEABLE BAG COVER

Technical Field

The invention relates generally to bags, and mote particularly to a base bag for changeable bag covers, a changeable bag cover, and a bag kit.

Background

Bags, such as e.g. handbags, purses and clutch bags, are often used as accessories. While being useful for carrying necessary items, such as mobile phones, keys, money and make up, it is often a desire of the user to match the bag with clothes or with shoes. As different occasions call for different clothes and shoes, the number of bags required to match the different outfits may be numerous. To reduce the number of bags required to match the different outfits it may be advantageous if the bag can be customized to different outfits by changing an outer cover of the bag.

AEG2011100832 discloses a handbag with changeable covers where the bag can be customized to have different appearances. The bag covers are attached to the handbag by different fastening means, such as snap clips, magnets or hook-and-loop means. The various means for fastening the cover to the base bag are complicated and require a precise fit between the base bag and the cover. Further, the covers are complicated to make and are not readily made by a layman.

EP2163169 also discloses a handbag with changeable covers, where the hand bag is composed of a basic bag and different covers. The covers are attached to the basic bag by means of permanent magnets inside a lining of the basic bag, which attract permanent magnets sewn into the cover. When changing the covers of the bag, the magnets of the new cover must be in the right place, so that they matches the position of the magnets of the basic bag.

KR20110006984 discloses a clutch bag with changeable covers, which is similar to the hand bag of EP2163169. The clutch bag is composed of a basic bag and different covers. The covers are attached to the basic bag by means of permanent magnets on the basic bag which attract permanent magnets sewn into the cover. When changing the covers of the bag, the magnets of the new cover must be in the right place so that they matches the position of the magnets of the basic bag.

The bags with changeable covers of the prior art require bag covers with complicated fastening means, which are difficult and time consuming to attach to the bag. Further, due to the complicated fastening means, prior art bag covers cannot easily be made by the user to suit different occasions.

Summary of the Invention

In view of the above, an object of the teachings herein is to solve or at least reduce the above stated problems.

According to a first aspect, a base bag for changeable bag covers is provided. The base bag comprises a front wall and a back wall foldably connected to a bottom of the base bag. Each of the front and back walls at least partly comprises a magnetic sheet material configured to attract to magnets of a changeable bag cover (20).

Each of the front and back walls may further comprise a rim arranged to meet when the base bag is in a closed position.

Each of the rims may comprise a flange extending essentially perpendicular to the respective rim.

The magnetic sheet material of the base bag may comprise a non-magnetized ferromagnetic material.

The base bag may be configured to be used with the bag cover, such that the bag cover is detachably fastened to the base bag by wrapping the bag cover around the front wall, bottom and back wall, and further folding the bag cover around a top edge of each of the front and back walls of the base bag. When the bag cover has been fastened to the base bag, the magnets of the bag cover may be arranged to cause the base bag to close by means of magnetic force between the magnets of the bag cover and the magnetic material of the opposing front and back walls of the base bag.

The bottom and/or each of the front and back walls may consist of the magnetic sheet material.

The base bag may further comprise a fabric material forming the bottom and/or two short ends of the base bag.

The magnetic sheet material of the base bag may be provided with an outer lining.

The fabric material may be a semi rigid material.

The base bag may comprise a closing mechanism being one of a zipper, a snap fastener or a magnet.

The base bag may further comprise at least one handle or strap.

The base bag may further comprise a pouch, which is configured to be attached to the inner sides of the base bag. The bag may be a clutch bag, a hand bag or a purse.

According to a second aspect, a changeable bag cover is provided. The bag cover comprises a fabric and at least two magnets arranged on the fabric. The fabric is configured to be wrapped around at least part of the base bag, such that the magnets can be detachably fastened to a magnetic sheet material of a base bag via magnetic force.

The fabric of the bag cover may be in the form of a rectangle, the rectangle being sized to be wrapped around a front, bottom and back wall of the base bag, and further folded over each of a respective top edge of the front and back walls of the base bag, the cover may be configured to be detachably fastened to the inside of the base bag.

The magnets may be magnetically attached to a strip of magnetic material, so that the magnets may be moved along the strip.

The bag cover may be configured with a channel along each of two short sides of the bag cover, wherein the channel is open at least in one end for receiving and removing the strip.

According to a third aspect, a bag kit for a bag with changeable bag covers is provided. The bag kit comprises a base bag according to the first aspect and a bag cover according to the second aspect.

The kit may further comprise at least one accessory comprising a magnet.

When the bag cover is attached to the base bag, the accessory is detachably attached to the bag cover via magnetic force between the magnet of the accessory and the magnetic sheet material of the base bag.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims, as well as from the drawings. It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combination of features.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their general meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to“a, an, the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless stated otherwise. As used herein, the term “comprising” and variations of that term are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Brief Description of the Drawings

By way of example, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. l is a perspective view of an embodiment of a base bag;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a base bag;

Fig. 3a is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bag cover;

Fig. 3b is a plan view of an unfolded bag cover as shown in Fig. 3a;

Fig. 4a is a plan view of a part of a bag cover with a strip with magnets;

Fig. 4b is a plan view of the strip with magnets as shown in Fig. 4a.

Fig. 5a is a perspective view of a base bag with a bag cover;

Fig. 5b is a cross sectional view of the base bag and cover of Fig. 5a;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of a base bag and a bag cover;

Fig. 7a illustrates an example of closing mechanism, where the closing mechanism is a zipper;

Fig. 7b illustrates an example of closing mechanism, where the closing mechanism is a zipper

Fig. 8 is a partial view of a base bag having snap clips for fastening a handle or a strap; and

Fig. 9 illustrates a base bag, a bag cover and an outer pocket.

Fig. lOa is a perspective view of an embodiment of a base bag.

Fig. 10b is a perspective view of the base bag of Fig. lOa with a bag cover.

Fig. 1 la is a perspective view of a pouch.

Fig. 1 lb is a schematic partial view of a base bag with the pouch of Fig. 1 la.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a base bag having a strap.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention relates to a bag with changeable covers, comprising a base bag and a bag cover. The bag can be e.g. a handbag, a clutch bag, a purse, etc.

In the following sections, example embodiments of the base bag and the bag cover will be described with reference to the drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Throughout the description, like numbers refer to like elements.

With reference to Fig. 1, an embodiment of the base bag 10 is illustrated. The base bag 10 comprises a front wall 11, a back wall 12 and a bottom 13. The front and back walls 11, 12 are connected to the bottom 13 via a respective bottom edge l4a, l4b. The front wall 11 has a top edge 18 and the back wall 12 has a top edge 19. The front wall 11, the back wall 12 and the bottom 13 are made of a magnetic sheet material 40, for example but not limited to a magnetic metal. In some embodiments, the sheet material is not a permanent magnet. The base bag 10 may be closed by moving the top edges 18, 19 towards each other. Similarly, the bag is opened by moving the top edges 18, 19 away from each other.

Turning now to Fig. 2, another embodiment of the base bag 10 of Fig. 1 is illustrated. In this embodiment the base bag 10 has short ends 16 forming a complete base bag 10 including the front wall 11, the back wall 12, the bottom 13 and the short ends. The short ends 16 may include a fabric material. In variants of this embodiment, the short ends 16 may include the same material as the magnetic sheet material 40. The short ends 16 prevent any items stored in the bag from falling out through the short ends 16 of the base bag 10. Along each of the short ends 16 there is a crease 17 in the fabric material, such that the fabric material can fold along the crease 17 when the top edges 18, 19 of the front 11 and back walls 12 are brought closer to each other.

In variants of the embodiments of Figs 1 and 2, the magnetic sheet material may include a ferromagnetic material. The front and back walls 11, 12 may be partially of the magnetic material and partially of other materials, such as e.g. fabric, leather, plastics, etc. The bottom may be of a material that is not magnetic, e.g. a fabric, leather, plastic, or other flexible material.

The front and back walls 11, 12 may be covered by an outer lining on their outer sides 1 G, 12’. This outer lining may also cover an outer side 13’ of the bottom 13. The outer lining may be of the same material as the material of the short ends 16, if the base bag has short ends 16.

In variants of the embodiment of Fig. 2, the short ends 16 may include a soft and flexible material. In that case, the short ends 16 do not need to have the crease 17, as the flexible material of the short sides easily can be folded without the crease 17. Alternatively, the fabric material may be a semi rigid material. A semi rigid material may be advantageous as the semi rigid material stays in a folded position when the top edges 18, 19 of the front 11 and back walls 12 are brought in contact with each other. Combinations of flexible and semi-rigid material is also plausible within the scope of this disclosure, such that e.g. the short ends 16 comprise a semi rigid material and the outer lining comprises a flexible material, or vice versa. The outer sides 1 G, 12’, 13’ of the base bag 10, or only the parts visible when used with a bag cover, may be covered with a semi-rigid material, such as e.g. leather, suede etc. Alternatively, the outer sides 1 G, 12’, 13’, or parts of them, may be covered by a softer material, such as e.g. velvet.

The interior 15 of the base bag 10 may be covered by an inner lining, such as e.g. a fabric. The inner lining may be of the same material as the lining on the outer sides.

With reference to Figs 3a and 3b, an example of a detachable bag cover 20 will be described. The bag cover 20 can be used with any base bag 10 described herein. The bag cover 20 comprises a fabric material in the shape of a rectangle with two long sides 27, 28 and two short sides 21, 22. In this embodiment the bag cover 20 has four magnets 30, which are positioned two near the short side 21 and two near the short side 22

The bag cover 20 is configured to be attached to the base bag 10 by wrapping the bag cover 20 around the front wall 11, the bottom 13 and the back wall 12 of the base bag 10. Each of the short sides 21, 22 of the bag cover 20 is then folded around a respective one of the top edges 18, 19 of the front and back walls 11, 12 of the base bag 10. The bag cover is folded along a line, so that the magnets 30 are positioned on the inside of the base bag after folding, e.g. along a folding line, as illustrated by dashed lines 25 in Figs 3a and 3b. The bag cover 20 is then fastened to the base bag 10 via a magnetic force between the magnets 30 of the bag cover 20 and the magnetic sheet material 40 of the base bag 10. In other embodiments of the bag cover 20, there may be more than two magnets 30, for example, but not limited to, 3, 4, 5, etc. on each short side 21, 22. The bag cover 20 of the invention also works with only two magnets 30, i.e. one magnet 30 per short side 21, 22. In the case of only two magnets 30, each magnet 30 is preferably elongated, such that it can be used to fasten a large portion of the short side 21, 22 to the base bag 10.

The bag cover 20 of Fig. 3a is configured to be used with a base bag 10 having short ends 16, such as the base bag 10 of Fig 2. The bag cover 20 can then easily be folded around the base bag 10 and attached to and detached from the base bag 10 by way of magnetic force between the magnets 30 and the magnetic sheet material 40 of the base bag 10.

If instead the bag cover is to be used with a base bag 10, which does not have short ends 16, the bag cover 20 may have closed sides, such that content of the bag does not fall out through the sides. In this case the bag cover 20 can be shaped such that, when the bag cover 20 is wrapped around the base bag 10, each long side 27, 28 of the bag cover 20 closes the short ends 16 of the base bag 10. I.e. each long side 27, 28 of the bag cover 20 may, when the bag cover 20 is in a folded state, be partially e.g. sewn, glued or stapled together.

A further effect of a fastening solution with magnets 30 provided in the bag cover 20 and magnetic sheet material 40 in the base bag 10, is that it may be used as an alternative closing mechanism, or as a complement to another closing mechanism.

When the bag cover 20 has been wrapped around and fastened to the base bag 10, the magnets 30 of the cover can cause the base bag 10 to stay in a closed state due to the magnetic force between the magnets 30 of the bag cover 20 and the magnetic sheet material 40 of the opposing wall of the base bag 10. To achieve this effect, the magnets 30 of the opposing sides of the bag cover 20 may need to be positioned asymmetrically.

In this case the magnets 30 attaching the bag cover 20 to the inside of the front wall 11 of the base bag 10 are offset with respect to the magnets 30 attaching the bag cover 20 to the inside of the back wall 12 of the base bag 10. The offset is illustrated in Fig. 3b by way of the distances Dl and D2, where the distance Dl is the distance between the magnets 30 along the short side 21 and D2 is the distance between the magnets 30 along the short side 22. Dl is different from distance D2. Alternatively, or additionally, the magnets 30 may be attached at different distances from the short sides 21, 22 of the bag cover 20 such that, when the bag cover 20 is attached to the base bag 10, the magnets 30 are placed at different distances from the top edges 18, 19 of the front and back walls 11, 12 of the base bag 10.

Alternatively, the magnets 30 may be fastened to the bag cover 20 in a movable manner such that, when the bag is pushed into a closed state by the user, the magnets 30 are configured to be moved by the magnetic repelling force if the opposing magnets 30 are too close to each other. The magnets 30 can e.g. be fastened to the bag cover 20 via a piece of an elastic. Another option for movable magnets 30 in the bag cover 20 is illustrated in Figs 4a and 4b. The magnets 30 are magnetically attached to a strip 31 of magnetic material, for example metal, so that they may be moved along the strip 31. The bag cover 20 is configured with a channel 26 along each of the two short sides 21, 22. The channel 26 is open at least in one end so that the strip 31 can be slid into the channel 26. When the bag cover 20 has open channels 26, the same strip 31 can be re-used with other bag covers 20 which are configured to be used with the same base bag 10. Each of the bag covers 20 may be made from any piece of fabric, or other flexible or at least semi-flexible material, by just cutting an area wide enough to cover the outer sides of the front and back walls 11, 12 and of the bottom 13 of the bag, and long enough to be wrapped around the top edges 18, 19 of the front and back walls 11, 12, as illustrated in Fig. 5 A. Then a channel 26 can be formed in the bag cover 20 by folding near the short sides 21, 22 of the bag cover 20 and attaching the folded parts of the short sides 21, 22 by e.g. sewing, stapling or gluing. The channel 26 is then ready to receive the re-usable strip 31 to be slid into the channel 26. When the bag cover 20 is to be changed for another bag cover 20, the strip 31 can be taken out through the open end of the channel 26, so that the same strip 31 can be used with the other bag cover 20.

Alternatively, the strip 31 with magnets 30 can be sewn onto, or glued to, the bag cover 20. The strip 31 can easily be sewn into closed channels 26 along the short edges of the bag cover 20.

The bag cover 20 may be made from flexible materials other than fabric, such as e.g. thin plastic materials. In one embodiment, the bag cover 20 is made from two parallel layers of thin clear plastic. The bag cover 20 can then be customized by inserting e.g. pieces of paper or pictures between the two layers.

The bag cover 20 may be of other shapes than a rectangle, as long as it is large enough to be wrapped around the front wall 11, bottom 13 and back wall 12 of the base bag 10.

Embodiments of a bag comprising the base bag 10 and the bag cover 20 are described with reference to Figs 5a, 5b, 6a, and 6b.

In the example illustrated in Figs 5a and 5b, the base bag 10 comprises the front wall 11, the back wall 12 and the bottom 13. Each of the front and back walls 11, 12 comprises the magnetic sheet material 40. The magnetic sheet material 40 is magnetic but not magnetized. Therefore, the front and back walls 11, 12 are magnetic but are not themselves so called permanent magnets. Preferably large areas of the front and back walls are of the magnetic material, e.g., but not limited to, 30% - 100. Large areas of magnetic material provide for use of less complicated covers. The areas of magnetic material ensures that a bag cover 20 can be attached to the base bag 10 using magnets 30. Large areas of magnetic material 40 allows for tolerances of the placement of the magnets 30. Thereby, the bag cover 20 can be fastened to the base bag 10 at a variety of positions as long as the positions of the magnets 30 of the bag cover 20 can be matched with positions of the magnetic material 40 of the base bag 10, when the bag cover 20 has been folded about the base bag 10.

In this embodiment the bag cover 20 is made of a rectangular piece of fabric having two long sides 27, 28 and two short sides 21, 22. Along each of the short ends 21, 22 there is a channel 26. In this example the channel 26 has been made by making the bag cover 20 from a rectangle with extra length in the long sides 27, 28. The rectangular piece of fabric is then folded along a line near and parallel with each of the two short sides 21, 22, such that the folded parts form the channels 26 and the outermost part of the folding forms new short sides 2 , 22’, as illustrated in Figs 5a and 5b.

Another option for making the channels 26 is e.g. sewing, stapling or gluing an extra piece of fabric along the short ends.

The bag cover 20 further comprises two magnets 30 on a strip 31, inserted into each of the channels 26. The bag cover 20 is wrapped about the front wall 11, bottom 13 and back wall 12 of the base bag 10, and folded around the top edges 18, 19 of the front and back walls 11, 12, such that the magnets 30 are positioned on the inside 15 of the base bag 10. The bag cover 20 is fastened to the base bag 10 through magnetic force between the magnets 30 of the bag cover 20 and the magnetic sheet material 40 of the base bag 10. The magnetic sheet material 40 of the base bag 10 ensures that a bag cover 20 can be attached to the base bag 10 using the magnets 30 and that the tolerances of the placement of the magnets 30 are very forgiving. Since the front and back walls 11, 12 both comprise the magnetic sheet material 40 over their entire extent, the position of the magnets 30 on the bag cover 20 can be matched with the position of the magnetic sheet material 40 of the base bag 10 anywhere on the front and back walls 11, 12. In some embodiments, the bottom 13 may be made of a non-magnetic material, for example, but not limited to, metal or plastic.

In this example, the strip 31 is a re-useable strip. The two channels 26 are open at both ends, such that the strip 31 of each channel 26 can be taken out and re-used with another bag cover 20.

Preferably the bag cover 20 is sized so that it can be wrapped also around the top edges 18, 19 of the front and back walls 11, 12 of the base bag 10, such that the bag cover 20 can be detachably fastened to the inside of the base bag 10, as described above. Alternatively, the bag cover 20 may have shorter long sides 27, 28 such that the bag cover is not folded over the top edges 18, 19 but instead attached to the base bag 10 on the outer sides 1 G, 12’ of the base bag 11, 12.

Now, turning to the base bag and bag cover of Fig 6. In this embodiment the front and back walls 11, 12 are only partially of magnetic sheet material 40, as illustrated by the bold line. The bag cover 20 is wrapped around the base bag 10 and attached to the inside 15 of the base bag 10 in the same manner as in the previous example disclosed in connection with Figs 5a and 5b. The tolerances of the placement of the magnets 30 are still very forgiving, as long as the position of the magnets 30 on the bag cover 20 can be matched with the position of the magnetic sheet material 40 of the base bag 10, when the bag cover 20 is fastened to the base bag 10. To achieve desired tolerances it is preferable that large areas of the front and back walls have magnetic material, e.g. 30% - 80% of the total area. The tolerances enables use of bag covers 20 that are less complicated to make than the bag covers of the prior art. The length of the long sides 27, 28 of the bag cover 20 can be made within a range of lengths as long as the bag cover 20 can be wrapped around the front wall 11, bottom 13, and back 12 wall of the base bag 10, then folded about the top edges 18, 19 of the base bag 10 and attached to the inner sides 15 of the base bag 10 at a position where the base bag 10 has the magnetic sheet material 40. Although, there is a visual gap in the figures between the base bag 10 and the bag cover 20, this is only for an illustrative purpose. Preferably, the cover 20 is more or less close-fitting around the base bag 10. This may be applicable to all embodiments disclose herein.

An advantage of this embodiment is that the base bag 10 can be made partially in a light weight material 41 such as e.g. plastic, and partially in the sheet magnetic material 40. Thereby, the base bag 10 may be more light weight than when it has the magnetic material 40 in the entire extent of the front and back walls 11, 12.

The fastening means, for fastening the bag cover 20 to the base bag 10, has so far been described as magnetic material 40 in the base bag 10 and magnets 30 in the bag cover 20. An alternative embodiment of the fastening means, which can be combined with the other features of the above embodied base bags 10 and bag covers 20, will now be described. In this example, the magnets 30 have instead been placed on the base bag 10, and the magnetic material 40 has been placed on the bag cover. The front and back walls 11,12 of the base bag 10 may be made of any material and the magnets 30 may be glued or otherwise attached to the front and back walls 11, 12. The bag cover 20 may look like the above embodied bag covers 20 but with the magnets 30 exchanged for pieces of magnetic material 40. The magnetic material 40 may be placed in the channel 26 of the bag cover 20, either in a permanent manner or in a re-useable manner, as described above with reference to the re-useable strip 31. The bag cover 20 is thus fastened to the base bag 10 by means of magnetic force between the magnets 30 of the base bag 10 and the magnetic material 40 of the bag cover 20.

The base bag 10 may have a closing mechanism. The closing mechanism may be e.g. a zipper or a snap fastener. To accommodate room for the fastening of the bag cover 20 to the base bag 10, the closing mechanism may be positioned on the inside 15 of the front and back walls 11, 12 at a distance from the upper edges 18, 19 of the front and back walls 11, 12, below an area for fastening the bag cover 20. This is illustrated in Figs 7a and 7b, in which a zipper z is used in different variants of the closing mechanisms. In Fig. 7a, the zipper z has been sewn onto two pieces of fabric. Each of the two pieces of fabric (hereafter referred to as zipper fabric) is attached to the inside 15 of the front or back walls 11, 12, respectively. Both pieces of zipper fabric are attached to the inside 15 at a distance Dz from the top edges 18, 19 of the front and back walls 11, 12. The distance Dz is chosen so that the bag cover 20 can be folded around the top edges 18, 19 and be attached to inside 15 of the base bag 10 between the attachment point of the pieces of zipper fabric and the top edges 18, 19 of the front and back walls 11, 12. The zipper z runs from one short end 16 to the other short end 16. In Fig. 7b, the pieces of zipper fabric, which the zipper is sewn onto, are attached to the insides of the front and back walls in the same manner as in Fig. 7a, but are formed differently such that they also form part of the short ends 16. The zipper runs from near the bottom of one of the short ends 16, and runs to near the bottom of the other short end 16 in a bent manner. Thereby, the zipper z and the pieces of zipper fabric form the short ends 16.

The base bag 10 of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may further have a handle or strap. The handle or strap may be fixed, such that it is used with any changeable cover. Alternatively, it may be fastened to the base bag 10 in a detachable manner, e.g. with snap clips. Fig. 8 shows a partial view of a base bag 10 with a snap clip 70. A detachable handle or strap is advantageous for customizing the base bag 10 to different bag covers 20. It is also advantageous when the base bag can be used as both handbag, clutch bag and purse. Adding a strap or a handle to the purse, easily changes it into a handbag.

Fig. 9 illustrates a partial view of a bag composed of a base bag 10 and a bag cover 20. The bag cover has an outer pocket 35. In this embodiment, the pocket 35 is detachably fastened to an outer side of the bag cover 20 by means of one or more permanent magnets 30, such that the one or more magnets 30 attaches to the bag cover 20, when wrapped about a base bag 10, through magnetic force between the magnets and the magnetic material 40 of the base bag 10. If large parts or all of the front and/or back walls 11, 12 of the base bag 10 are of the magnetic sheet material 40, the pocket 35 can easily be attached to an outer side of the bag, e.g. on the outer side of the bag cover 20 when the bag cover 20 is attached to the base bag 10. The pocket 35 can then be detached and later attached again at another position. One pocket 35 can be used together with several bag covers 20. In other embodiments, the pocket 35 may be fastened to the bag cover 20 by use of e.g. snap clips, hook-and-loop fasteners etc. The base bag 10 may be equipped with an inner pocket. The inner pocket may be the same as the outer pocket 35, as illustrated in Fig. 9.

Fig. lOa illustrates a further embodiment of the base bag 10 of Fig. 1. Fig lOb illustrates the base bag 10 when used with a bag cover 20. In this embodiment, the uppermost parts of the front and back walls 11, 12 are bent towards each other, such that a rim 50 is formed at the top of each of the front and back walls 11, 12. The respective rims 50 of the front and back walls 11, 12 are formed so that, when the base bag 10 is closed, the rims 50 meet. The rims 50 may be formed such that they meet in the same or essentially the same plane, edge to edge, as illustrated in Figs lOa and lOb. Alternatively, the rims may be formed so that they, when the base bag 10 is closed, are in parallel planes and overlapping each other. Due to the rims 50, the base bag 10 will, when closed, hold a larger volume than it would have without the rims 50. To achieve a desired volume, the width of the rims 50 may be in the range of, but not limited to, 1-4 cm, such as e.g. 1.5, 3.5 and 4.5 cm. The width of the bottom 13 of the base bag 10 may be broadened as well. As shown in Fig. lOa, each of the rims 50 may further be formed with a flange 52, extending essentially perpendicular to the respective rim. The flange 52 can be formed by further bending the edge of the rim 50 downwards, thus forming a rim edge 51 and the flange 52. The width of the flanges 52 is preferably at least 0.3 cm to around 1 cm. Preferably, the rims 50 and the flanges 52 comprises the magnetic sheet material 40. When the base bag 10 is closed, the respective rim edges 51 meet and the flanges 52 are in parallel planes and overlapping or meet against each other. As a locking mechanism, one or both of the flanges 52 may have a magnet. The magnet causes the base bag 10 to stay in a closed position due to the magnetic force between the magnet and the magnetic sheet material of the opposing flange.

The base bag 10 of Fig. lOa can be used with any of the above described embodiments of the bag cover 20. Turning now to Fig. lOb, the base bag 10 with the bag cover 20 is illustrated. The bag cover 20 is wrapped around the base bag 10 in a manner similar to that which was described in relation to Figs 5a-6b, with the difference that the bag cover 20 is now also folded around the rim and around the flange (if any). The bag cover is fastened to the base bag 10 by magnetic force between the magnets 30 of the bag cover 20 and the magnetic material 40 of the rim 50 and/or of the flange 52. An advantage of this embodiment with rims 50 on the base bag 10 is that the bag cover 20 can be folded around the rims 50 and attach to the magnetic sheet material 40 on the inside of the rims 50. This way the rims 50 and/or the flanges 52 protect the short sides 21, 22 of the bag cover 20 from wear during use of the bag. The short edges will be hidden in the channel formed by the rim and flanges. This advantageous effect is achieved with the rims 50 alone. The effect is further enhanced if the base bag 10 also has the flanges 52.

The base bag 10 may further be provided with a pouch 60. The pouch 60 is sized to fit inside the base bag 10, so as to form an inner lining of the base bag 10. Fig.

1 la illustrates an embodiment of the pouch 60, suitable for any base bag 10 disclosed herein. The pouch 60 has a front 61 and a back 62 similar to the front wall 11 and the back wall 12 of the base bag 10. Each of the front 60 and the back 61 has an upper edge 68, 69 corresponding to the top edges 18, 19 of the base bag 10 as seen in e.g. Figs 1 and 2. The pouch 60 is configured with a channel 26 with a strip 31 along each of the two upper edges 68, 69. The channels 26 and the strips 31 are configured in the same manner as the channels 26 and the strips 31 described in relation to the bag cover 20 of e.g. Figs 3a and 3b, 4a and 4b. As described with respect to the bag cover 20, the pouch 60 may have open channels 26 such that the strip 31 can be re-used with other pouches 60, which are configured to be used with the same base bag 10. The pouch 60 is attached to the base bag 10 by first inserting the pouch 60 into the base bag 10. Then the bag cover 20 is wrapped around the base bag 10 and, at least partly overlapping the pouch 60, attached to the inside 15 of the base bag 10 by magnetic force between the magnets 30 of the bag cover 20 and the magnetic sheet material 40 of the base bag 10. This way the bag cover 20 fastens the pouch 60 to the base bag 10. In a preferred embodiment, the pouch 60 is configured such that, when assembled, the magnets 30 of the bag cover 20 overlap the strip 31 of the pouch 60. Thus, the magnets 30 (and optionally, the strips 31) of the bag cover 20 will secure the pouch 60 to the base bag 10

Alternatively, or in addition, the pouch 60 may be configured with magnets 30.

The magnets 30 may be placed adjacent the upper edges 68, 69 of the pouch 60 instead of the channels 26 and the strips 31. Or, the magnets 30 may be placed on the strip 31 to secure the pouch 60 to the base bag 10.

Fig 1 lb illustrates an example of how the pouch 60 may be attached to the base bag 10 of Figs lOa and lOb. For illustrative purposes a partial view of the upper part of the back wall 12 of base bag 10, with the bag cover 20 and the pouch 60 is shown. The same example applies also for attaching the pouch 60 to the front wall 11. As shown, the pouch 60 has been inserted into the base bag 10 such that the channel 26 and the strip 31 of the pouch 60 are underneath and parallel to the rim 50 of the base bag 10. The bag cover 20 has been wrapped around the base bag 10, including around the rim 50 and the flange 52 of the base bag 10. The channel 26, the strip 31 and the magnets 30 have then been placed underneath and parallel to the rim 50 and to the channel 26 and strip 31 of the pouch 60. This way the magnets 30 of the bag cover 20 secures the pouch 60 to the rim 50. The channels 26 and the strips 31 of the pouch 60 and the bag cover 20 may alternatively be placed in the same manner but adjacent to the flange 52, thereby securing the pouch 60 to the flange 52.

Fig. 12 illustrates the base bag 10 of Figs lOa and lOb, when provided with a strap 80. The strap 80 is a loop strap, i.e. the strap 80 does not have open ends. In this embodiment, the strap 80 is attached to the base bag 10 by hanging one of the rims 50 over part of the strap 80. Due to the flange 52, the base bag 10 will not slide of the strap 80. To fasten the strap 80 to the bag, a section of the strap 80 may be placed under the rim 50 and then secured by fastening the bag cover 20 and optionally the pouch 60 to the base bag 10. The bag cover 20 will then keep the strap 80 in place. Alternatively, the strap 80 may be provided with magnets for fastening the strap 80 to the base bag 10. The strap 80 may be e.g. a chain, a leather band or plastic band. In case of a chain forming the strip, the links will keep the chain in position under the rim 50 due to the weight of the base bag.

In one embodiment, the strap 80 is a D-shaped strap 80, such that the straight part of the“D” fits under the rim 50.

The base bag 10 and bag cover 20, as described in relation to the examples of this disclosure, may be provided as a bag kit forming a bag. The bag kit can comprise a base bag 10 and one or more bag covers 20. The bag kit may include a pouch 60. In addition, the bag kit may include a strap or a handle. The bag kit may also include an accessory comprising a magnet. The accessory can be a pocket or an ornament detachably attached to the bag via magnetic force between the magnet and the magnetic material of the base bag 10. The accessory may be purely aesthetic for decorative purposes, or may be an accessory which turns e.g. a purse or a clutch bag into a handbag, such as handles or straps.

The kit may include a reusable strip 31 or a reusable strip with magnets 30, such that the strip can be inserted into a duct or a channel 26 in the cover for fastening the bag cover 20 to the base bag 10, as has been described in relation to Figs 3a and 3b, 4a and 4b. The base bag 10 may be provided with an alternative fastening means. The bag cover may not have any fastening means for fastening it to the base bag 10. The base bag 10, such as the base bag 10 of Figs 1 or 2, may comprise a foldable upper part on each of the top edges 18, 19 of the front and back walls 11, 12. Each of the foldable upper parts comprises the at least one magnet 30. The front and back walls 11, 12 of the base bag 10 is made at least partially of magnetic material 40. When the foldable upper parts are folded onto the inside 15 of the front and back walls 11, 12, the foldable upper parts detachably attach to the magnetic material 40 of the base bag 10. The bag cover 20 can be any bag cover as described above, but without magnets or magnetic material. The bag cover is fastened to the base bag 10 by wrapping the cover around the front, bottom and back walls 11, 13, 12 of the base bag 10. Each of the short sides 21, 22 is then folded around the foldable upper part of the base bag such that it is fastened to the base bag 10 when the foldable upper part attaches to the inner side 15 of the base bag 10. It will be appreciated that the invention has been illustrated with reference to exemplary embodiments, and that the invention may be varied in many different ways within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A base bag (10) for changeable bag covers (20), comprising:

a front wall (11) and a back wall (12) foldably connected to a bottom (13) of the base bag, wherein the front wall (11) and back wall (12) are made of magnetic sheet material (40) configured to attract to magnets of a changeable bag cover (20).

2. The base bag according to claim 1, wherein each of the front and back walls (11, 12) further comprises a rim (50) arranged to meet when the base bag (10) is in a closed position.

3. The base bag according to claim 2, wherein each of the rims comprises a flange (52) extending essentially perpendicular to the respective rim.

4. The base bag according to any previous claim, wherein the magnetic sheet material (40) of the base bag (10) comprises a non-magnetized ferromagnetic material.

5. The base bag according to any previous claim, wherein the base bag (10) is configured to be used with the bag cover (20), such that the bag cover (20) is detachably fastened to the base bag (10) by wrapping the bag cover (20) around the front wall, bottom and back wall (11, 12, 13), and further folding the bag cover (20) around a top edge (18, 19) of each of the front and back walls (11, 12) of the base bag (10).

6. The base bag according to claim 5, wherein, when the bag cover (20) has been fastened to the base bag, the magnets (30) of the bag cover (20) are arranged to cause the base bag (10) to close by means of magnetic force between the magnets (30) of the bag cover (20) and the magnetic material (40) of the opposing front and back walls (11, 12) of the base bag (10).

7. The base bag according to any previous claim, wherein the bottom (13) and/or each of the front and back walls (11, 12) consists of the magnetic sheet material (40).

8. The base bag according to any previous claim, wherein the base bag (10) further comprises a fabric material forming the bottom (13) and/or two short ends (16) of the base bag.

9. The base bag according to any previous claim, wherein the magnetic sheet material (40) of the base bag (10) is provided with an outer lining.

10. The base bag according to claim 8, wherein the fabric material is a semi rigid material.

11. The base bag according to any previous claim, wherein the base bag (10) comprises a closing mechanism being one of a zipper, a snap fastener or a magnet.

12. The base bag according to any previous claim, wherein the base bag (10) further comprises at least one handle or strap.

13. The base bag according to any previous claim, wherein the base bag (10) further comprises a pouch, which is configured to be attached to the inner sides of the base bag (10).

14. The base bag according to any previous claim, wherein the bag is a clutch bag, a hand bag or a purse.

15. A changeable bag cover (20), wherein the bag cover (20) comprises a fabric and at least two magnets (30) arranged on the fabric, and wherein the fabric is configured to be wrapped around at least part of a base bag (10), such that the magnets (30) can be detachably fastened to a magnetic sheet material of a base bag via magnetic force.

16. The bag cover according to claim 15, wherein the fabric of the bag cover (20) is in the form of a rectangle, the rectangle being sized to be wrapped around a front, bottom and back wall (11, 12, 13) of the base bag (10), and further folded over each of a respective top edge (18, 19) of the front and back walls (11, 12) of the base bag (10), and wherein the cover (20) is configured to be detachably fastened to the inside of the base bag (10).

17. The bag cover according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the magnets (30) are magnetically attached to a strip (31) of magnetic material, so that the magnets (30) may be moved along the strip (31).

18. The bag cove according to claim 17, wherein the bag cover (20) is configured with a channel (26) along each of two short sides (21, 22) of the bag cover, wherein the channel (26) is open at least in one end for receiving and removing the strip (31).

19. A bag kit for a bag with changeable bag covers, the bag kit comprising: a base bag (10) according to any of claims 1-14 and a bag cover (20) according to any of claims 15-18.

20. The bag kit according to claim 19, wherein the kit further comprises at least one accessory comprising a magnet, and wherein, when the bag cover (20) is attached to the base bag, the accessory is detachably attached to the bag cover (20) via magnetic force between the magnet of the accessory and the magnetic sheet material (40) of the base bag (10).