GB2093431A

GB2093431A - Bag

Info

Publication number: GB2093431A
Application number: GB8105453A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BOSMERE PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: BOSMERE PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1981-02-20
Filing date: 1981-02-20
Publication date: 1982-09-02

Abstract

In a bag formed from panels each of which has a rectangular portion 1 and a tapering portion 2, the rectangular portions form sides and the tapering portions a bottom so that the bag is capable of assuming a box- like shape with an open top. Side seams are provided with reinforcement so that they are sufficiently rigid to allow the bag to maintain the box-like shape when it is standing on its bottom. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bag This invention relates to a bag which is foldable but which is also capable when open of standing up by itself.

The present invention provides a bag having sides and a bottom and which is formed from at least three panels each of which has a substantially rectangular portion and a tapering portion, each panel being attached to an adjacent panel by means of a seam along two opposite sides of the rectangular panel and along the sides of the tapering portion so that the rectangular portions of the panels form the sides of the bag and the tapering portions form the bottom of the bag, the bag being capable when standing on its bottom of assuming a box-like shape with an open top and a flat bottom and at least the seams in the side of the bag being provided with reinforcement which is sufficiently rigid to allow the bag to maintain the said box-like shape when it is standing on its bottom.

The invention will be described in more detail with particular reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the bag according to the invention with the bag in a semi-folded form; Figure 2 shows the bag of Figure 1 in an open position; Figure 3 shows the bag of Figure 1 in a closed folded position; and Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the bag according to the invention in an open position.

As shown in Figure 1 the panels forming the bag have a rectangular portion 1 and a tapering portion 2. Opposite sides of the rectangular portions of each panel and the tapering portions of each panel are joined to a adjacent panel by means of seams. Figure 1 shows the bag in a semi-folded position, i.e. two opposite panels are open flat with the other two opposite panels folded inwards along their centre lines. The tapering of the panels means that the seams between panels bend at an obtuse angle when the bag is in the semi-folded position.

As shown in Figure 2 the rectangular portion 1 of one panel is joined to the rectangular portions 3 and 4 of adjacent panels by means of seams 5 and 6. The sides of the tapering portion 2 of one panel are joined to the tapering portions of adjacent panels by means of seams 7 and 8. The bag as a whole is formed of four panels each joined to adjacent panels as described above. When the bag is in the open position shown in Figure 2 the tapering portions of the panels form a substantially flat bottom for the bag with the seams now bending at a right angle and the rectangular portions of the panels form the sides.

The tapering portions of the panels meet at their apexes in the centre of the bottom of the bag.

When open the bag assumes a box-like shape with an open top.

The seams between the panels are formed by two parallel rows of stitching which enclose a wire which provides the reinforcement for the seam which is necessary in order for the bag to maintain its upright position when standing on its bottom.

The wire is, in this case, provided along the whole length of the seam but is sufficiently flexible, at least in the region where the panel starts to taper, to enable it to change from the obtuse angle to the right angle when the bag is transferred from the folded or semi-folded position to the open position.

Figure 3 shows the bag in a closed folded position with all panels folded along their centre lines.

The bag is provided on two opposite panels with handles 9.

Figure 4 shows an alternative design of bag which is formed from two sets of panels of different size although all panels have a rectangular portion (10,12) and a tapering portion (11,13). The tapering portions 11 taper to an apex but the tapering portions 1 3 are truncated. Thus, in the bag, the truncated tapering portions 1 3 meet along a bottom seam 14. In other respects the bag is as described with reference to Figure 2 except that the wire reinforcement for the same is only present along the seams which meet at the apexes of tapering portions 11. No reinforcement is necessary along the bottom seam 14. The tapering portions together form a flat bottom for the bag when it assumes the open box-like shape shown in Figure 4, with the rectangular portion forming the sides.

Preferably the bag according to the invention is manufactured of woven polyethylene which may, if desired, be itself coated in polyethylene. This material provides an advantageous combination of strength and lightness in weight but is also relatively cheap. However, any other suitable may be used. Although the panels which make up the bag are shown in the drawings as single integral panels it is also possible for a panel to be made up of sections which are themselves joined together by seams. Thus, in Figure 2, rectangular portion 1 and tapering portion 2 of the panels could be joined along a seam. Any suitable reinforcement of the side seams may be used which makes the seam sufficiently rigid for the bag to stand up on its own when it assumes its open box-like shape.

The bag according to the invention is particularly suitable for carrying garden refuse (e.g. leaves or lawn mowings) or for carrying laundry, although many other uses are possible.

1. A bag having sides and a bottom and which is formed from at least three panels each of which has a substantially rectangular portion and a tapering portion, each panel being attached to an adjacent panel by means of a seam along two opposite sides of the rectangular portion and along the sides of the tapering portion so that the rectangular portions of the panels form the sides of the bag and the tapering portions form the bottom of the bag, the bag being capable when

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bag This invention relates to a bag which is foldable but which is also capable when open of standing up by itself. The present invention provides a bag having sides and a bottom and which is formed from at least three panels each of which has a substantially rectangular portion and a tapering portion, each panel being attached to an adjacent panel by means of a seam along two opposite sides of the rectangular panel and along the sides of the tapering portion so that the rectangular portions of the panels form the sides of the bag and the tapering portions form the bottom of the bag, the bag being capable when standing on its bottom of assuming a box-like shape with an open top and a flat bottom and at least the seams in the side of the bag being provided with reinforcement which is sufficiently rigid to allow the bag to maintain the said box-like shape when it is standing on its bottom. The invention will be described in more detail with particular reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the bag according to the invention with the bag in a semi-folded form; Figure 2 shows the bag of Figure 1 in an open position; Figure 3 shows the bag of Figure 1 in a closed folded position; and Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the bag according to the invention in an open position. As shown in Figure 1 the panels forming the bag have a rectangular portion 1 and a tapering portion 2. Opposite sides of the rectangular portions of each panel and the tapering portions of each panel are joined to a adjacent panel by means of seams. Figure 1 shows the bag in a semi-folded position, i.e. two opposite panels are open flat with the other two opposite panels folded inwards along their centre lines. The tapering of the panels means that the seams between panels bend at an obtuse angle when the bag is in the semi-folded position. As shown in Figure 2 the rectangular portion 1 of one panel is joined to the rectangular portions 3 and 4 of adjacent panels by means of seams 5 and 6. The sides of the tapering portion 2 of one panel are joined to the tapering portions of adjacent panels by means of seams 7 and 8. The bag as a whole is formed of four panels each joined to adjacent panels as described above. When the bag is in the open position shown in Figure 2 the tapering portions of the panels form a substantially flat bottom for the bag with the seams now bending at a right angle and the rectangular portions of the panels form the sides. The tapering portions of the panels meet at their apexes in the centre of the bottom of the bag. When open the bag assumes a box-like shape with an open top. The seams between the panels are formed by two parallel rows of stitching which enclose a wire which provides the reinforcement for the seam which is necessary in order for the bag to maintain its upright position when standing on its bottom. The wire is, in this case, provided along the whole length of the seam but is sufficiently flexible, at least in the region where the panel starts to taper, to enable it to change from the obtuse angle to the right angle when the bag is transferred from the folded or semi-folded position to the open position. Figure 3 shows the bag in a closed folded position with all panels folded along their centre lines. The bag is provided on two opposite panels with handles 9. Figure 4 shows an alternative design of bag which is formed from two sets of panels of different size although all panels have a rectangular portion (10,12) and a tapering portion (11,13). The tapering portions 11 taper to an apex but the tapering portions 1 3 are truncated. Thus, in the bag, the truncated tapering portions 1 3 meet along a bottom seam 14. In other respects the bag is as described with reference to Figure 2 except that the wire reinforcement for the same is only present along the seams which meet at the apexes of tapering portions 11. No reinforcement is necessary along the bottom seam 14. The tapering portions together form a flat bottom for the bag when it assumes the open box-like shape shown in Figure 4, with the rectangular portion forming the sides. Preferably the bag according to the invention is manufactured of woven polyethylene which may, if desired, be itself coated in polyethylene. This material provides an advantageous combination of strength and lightness in weight but is also relatively cheap. However, any other suitable may be used. Although the panels which make up the bag are shown in the drawings as single integral panels it is also possible for a panel to be made up of sections which are themselves joined together by seams. Thus, in Figure 2, rectangular portion 1 and tapering portion 2 of the panels could be joined along a seam. Any suitable reinforcement of the side seams may be used which makes the seam sufficiently rigid for the bag to stand up on its own when it assumes its open box-like shape. The bag according to the invention is particularly suitable for carrying garden refuse (e.g. leaves or lawn mowings) or for carrying laundry, although many other uses are possible. CLAIMS

1. A bag having sides and a bottom and which is formed from at least three panels each of which has a substantially rectangular portion and a tapering portion, each panel being attached to an adjacent panel by means of a seam along two opposite sides of the rectangular portion and along the sides of the tapering portion so that the rectangular portions of the panels form the sides of the bag and the tapering portions form the bottom of the bag, the bag being capable when standing on its bottom of assuming a box-like shape with an open top and a flat bottom and at least the seams in the side of the bag being provided with reinforcement which is sufficiently rigid to allow the bag to maintain the said box-like shape when it is standing on its bottom.

2. A bag as claimed in Claim 1 constructed of four panels.

3. A bag as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the tapering portions of the four panels all taper to an apex and meet at the said apexes.

4. A bag as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the tapering portions of two opposite panels taper to an apex and the tapering portions of the other two opposite panels are truncated, the truncated portions of the said panels being joined to form a bottom seam.

5. A bag as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 which is made of woven polyethylene.

6. A bag as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the reinforcement for the side seams is provided by wires.

7. A bag substantially as described with particular reference to Figure 2 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.