WO2022167717A1

WO2022167717A1 - Supplementary part for a bag and method for fastening supplementary part to a bag

Info

Publication number: WO2022167717A1
Application number: PCT/FI2021/050659
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrik Valtanen; Kari Valtanen
Original assignee: Valtanen & Valtanen Oy
Priority date: 2021-02-05
Filing date: 2021-10-06
Publication date: 2022-08-11
Also published as: US20240065401A1; EP4287906A1; CN116709947A; FI129451B; JP2024508085A; FI20215125A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a supplementary part (1) for a bag that can be fastened in connection with an opening (10a) formed in the wall material (10) of the bag. The supplementary part (1) comprises: a base element (2) with a planar raised central portion (2b) and a rim plane (2c) surrounding the central portion, wherein the plane passing through the rim plane (2c) is lower with respect to the plane of the central portion (2b) such that the central portion (2b) can be mounted at the opening (10a). The inner surface (10') of the wall material (10) around the edge of the opening (10a) is supported against the rim plane (2c). The outer surface of the central portion (2b) is coated with a UV printing layer (4) that remains visible. The supplementary part (1) comprises a fastening frame (3) having a shape corresponding to the rim plane (2c) around the supplementary part (1) and being mountable around the raised central portion (2b) on top of the rim plane (2c) and the wall material (10) supported against the rim plane (2c). The base element (2) of the supplementary part (1) and the supplementary part fastening frame (3) can be fastened to each other by means of fastening means (4a, 4b). The invention further relates to a method for fastening the supplementary part (1) for a bag.

Description

Supplementary part for a bag and method for fastening supplementary pa t to a bag

The object of the present invention is a supplementary part for a bag, which supplementary part can be fastened in connection with an opening formed in the wall material of a bag.

Another object of the invention is a method for fastening the supplementary part for a bag in connection with an opening 10a formed in the wall material 10 of a bag.

Bags, particularly smaller handbags or shoulder bags are previously known. Typically, these kinds of bags are design products with visible walls made typically primarily from leather and/or flexible fabric prepared from a natural material or, nowadays, synthetically prepared material, such as plastic. The distinctiveness of the wall materials of such bags is achieved either through the overall design of the bag, patterns of the surface material, which may be joined together as needed by sewing or with individual shaped fasteners, buckles and locks (of metal or fabric), which are either sewn directly onto the surface of the wall material or attached using fastening means penetrating the wall material. However, in order to achieve such visible distinctiveness, it is often required to process the wall material itself in a manner known per se, such as by dyeing (for a pattern), visible perforations and/or seams. The wall material itself thus serves as a platform for creating the desired design or distinctiveness. Such previously known bags are disclosed, for example, in publications US 3214853 A, US 2009108036 Al, CN 208573174 U and WO 2017103695 Al.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a bag to which a distinct visible wall differing from the wall material can be formed as needed, and wherein the distinctiveness of each bag can be changed in a new and inventive way at the manufacturing stage and possibly during its life cycle. In other words, the aim is to provide a new kind of wall that can be integrated to the wall material of a bag, wherein a visible design or distinctive symbol (image, marking) created therein is independent from the previously known wall material. The goal is to provide designers and manufacturers with a completely new kind of tool for designing bags. In order to reach the above-mentioned goal, the supplementary part of the present invention is characterized by the supplementary part comprising: a base element with a planar raised central portion and a rim plane surrounding the central portion, wherein a plane passing through the rim plane is lower with respect to the plane of the central portion such that the central portion is mountable at an opening, whereby the inner surface of the wall material around the edge of the opening can be supported against the above-mentioned rim plane, wherein the outer surface of the central portion is completely or partially coated with a visible UV printing layer, a supplementary part fastening frame having a shape corresponding to the rim plane of the supplementary part and mountable around the raised central portion on top of the rim plane and the wall material supported against the rim plane, fastening means with which the base element of the supplementary part and the supplementary part fastening frame can be fastened to one another.

Furthermore, in order to reach the above-mentioned goal, the method according to the present invention for fastening the supplementary part of a bag is characterized by the method comprising the following consecutive steps of: a) mounting a planar central portion raised with respect to the rim plane of the base element of the supplementary part at an opening, whereby the inner surface of the wall material around the edge of the opening is supported against said rim plane, and wherein the outer surface of the planar central portion, partially or completely coated with a UV printing layer, remains visible, b) mounting a fastening frame having a shape corresponding to the rim plane of the supplementary part mounting element around the raised central portion on top of the rim plane and the wall material supported against the rim plane, and c) fastening the supplementary part mounting element and the supplementary part fastening frame to one another by fastening means.

In a simple manner, the supplementary part of the present invention provides a wall structure for a bag achieving the above-mentioned goals while avoiding the drawbacks presented in relation to the prior art. This is achieved with a supplementary part in which a base element is coated with a distinct UV printing layer and a fastening frame framing it in neatly, whereby the base element and thus the entire supplementary part constitutes a surface connected to the wall material that is distinctive in an inventive way. The structure enables e.g., for the outer surface of the central portion of the base member to be dimensioned such that it is flush with the outer surface of the wall material. Comparable means have not up until this point been available for the use of designers and manufacturers, at least not for the purpose of creating a similar effect in a cost-effective manner.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are presented in the dependent claims.

Next, the invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the supplementary part according to the invention fastened to a wall material and a handbag illustrated by dashed lines,

Fig. 2 is a top view of the base element of the supplementary part shown in Fig. 1 and a wall material on top of it illustrated by dashed lines, and

Fig. 3 is a view along the line from III to III from Fig. 1 of the supplementary part with the parts shown separately from each other.

Fig. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 shows by way of example a wall material 10 and by dashed lines, an example of a bag 20, which herein is a handbag. The purpose of the bag 20 herein is only to illustrate the placement of the supplementary part on the bag. The wall material 10, to which the supplementary part denoted with reference number 1 is fastened, is preferably the front wall of the bag 20 or a closure flap of the bag. The material of the wall material comprises materials typically used in bags, such as leather, artificial leather, plastic, plastic mixtures and/or fabric with flexible properties. Fig. 1 shows the edge of an opening 10a formed in the wall material 10, represented by dashed lines, which edge will be covered by a fastening frame 3 described in more detail hereinafter.

Fig. 2 shows an example of a base element 2 comprised in the supplementary part 1, which, when mounted, is covered by the fastening frame 3 shown in Fig. 1. The base element 2 is herein a rectangular plate-like element. The shape of the base element 2 is not limited to a rectangular shape, but may vary greatly, being, for example, oval, circular or semicircular, square, trapezoidal or triangular. The form is, in principle, unlimited. The base element 2 is preferably a rigid body and the material thereof is metal, an alloy, plastic, a plastic mixture, a composite or a woodbased material.

The base element 2 comprises a planar raised central portion 2b and a rim plane 2c surrounding the central portion. The plane passing through the rim plane 2c is lower with respect to the plane of the central portion 2b. The terms "raised" and "lower" refer to placement when mounted in the material thickness direction of the wall material and are not otherwise intended as a limiting feature. This allows for the central portion 2b to be mounted at the opening 10a formed in the wall material 10 shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3, this mounting step is indicated by the arrow P2. In this case, the inner surface 10' of the wall material 10 around the edge of the opening 10a is supported against the above-mentioned rim plane 2c of the mounting element 2. Therefore, the shape of the edge of the opening 10a is also determined by the shape of the base element 2 (or the supplementary part 1 in general). In this case, the planar central portion 2b protrudes above the plane passing through the outer surface 10" of the wall material 10.

According to the invention, the outer surface of the central portion 2b is completely or partially coated with a visible UV printing layer 4. This UV printing layer 4 thus comprises a distinct image which partially or completely covers the outer surface of the planar central portion 2b. Any uncovered areas 2b' (see Fig. 2) constitute an individual detail of the image. One example is a solution in which the material of the base element 2 is a metal polished such that its outer surface is shiny and mirrorlike. In this case, the uncovered areas 2b' of the outer surface form a surface that reflects light in a distinct manner. The UV printing layer preferably covers between 2% and 90% of the outer surface of the central portion 2b. As UV printing on e.g., metal is nowadays easy and cost-effective, individual supplementary parts may be formed easily and thus even small batches of individual bags can be manufactured.

The shape of the base element 2 also enables the cost-effective and finished fastening of the supplementary part 1 to the opening 10a formed in the wall material 10 of the bag. For this purpose, the supplementary part 1 comprises a supplementary part fastening frame 3, the shape of which corresponds to the rim plane 2c around the base element 2 of the supplementary part 1. The material for the fastening frame can be chosen from the same material options as for the base element 2.

The middle of the fastening frame 3 has herein an opening corresponding to the rectangular shape of the central portion 2b. Thus, the fastening frame 3, when in place, is mounted around the raised central portion 2b and on top of the rim plane 2c and the wall material 10 supported against the rim plane 2c. The base element 2 may be dimensioned such that the outer surface of its central portion 2b remains at a desired level, for example with respect to the outer surface 10" of the wall material or the outer surface 3' of the fastening frame 3. Preferably, the outer surface of the central portion 2b is flush with, for example, the outer surface 10" of the wall material or the outer surface 3' of the fastening frame 3.

In addition, the supplementary part 1 also includes fastening means 4a, 4b by means of which the base element 2 of the supplementary part 1 and the supplementary part fastening frame 3 can be fastened to one other while forming the fastening of the supplementary part 1 in connection with the opening 10a formed in the wall material 10. The fastening means preferably comprise Chicago type screws or another type of screw and nut combination. For this purpose, a plurality of through holes 2d, 3b are formed in the base element 2 of the supplementary part 1 and in the supplementary part fastening frame 3, respectively. When installed, they are distributed in alignment with one another along the entire distance of the rim plane 2c and the fastening frame 3, whereby fastening means 4a, 4b comprised of a screw and nut connection can be inserted thereto. The through holes 2d, 3b form fastening points, the number of which in the supplementary part is between 2 and 20. Herein presented are ten of them.

Chicago type screw and nut combinations are particularly preferred fastening means. With them, the fastening of the supplementary part 1 in connection with the opening 10a formed in the wall material 10 of the bag as shown in Fig. 3 can be implemented. In Fig. 3, particularly the thicknesses of the base element 2, the fastening frame 3 and the wall material are shown in an exaggerated manner in order to better distinguish the features therein. Typically, the material thicknesses for the base element 2 and the fastening frame 3 are from 0.5 to 2 mm, but may differ depending on the material. Sleeve nuts 4a are first inserted into the through holes 2d of the mounting element 2 in the direction of the arrow Pl shown in Fig. 3. Of course, the base element 2 may also be lowered with respect to the sleeve nuts 4a positioned in place such that the sleeve nuts 4a are inserted in the through holes 2d. In this case, the sleeve nuts 4a act as installation guides in the subsequent installation steps. Thereafter, the wall material 10 can be mounted in the direction of the arrow P2 as shown above at the opening 10a formed in the wall material 10 with the sleeve nuts 4a guiding the positioning. For this purpose, it is preferred that through holes 10b are formed next to the edge of the opening 10a in the wall material 10, wherein the through holes 10b are arranged in alignment with the through holes 2d, 3b.

Subsequently, in the next step, a fastening frame 3 fitted with through holes 3b is mounted in the direction of the arrow P3, wherein the shape of the fastening frame 3 (and locations of the through holes 3b) corresponds to the rim plane 2c around the mounting element 2 of the supplementary part 1, around the raised central portion 2b on top of the rim plane 2c and the wall material 10 supported against the rim plane 2c. Thus, the screw members 4b of the fastening means can be brought in connection with the sleeve nuts 4a in the direction of the arrow P4 for final fastening. The end result of the fastening is the wall material 10 of the bag with the supplementary part 1 according to the invention fastened thereto. It is essential that, as described above, the edge area of the opening 10a of the wall material 10 is firmly sandwiched between the rim plane 2c and the fastening frame 3 fastened to each other.

The screw and nut fastening described herein is not the only option for the fastening. The fastening means can be, for example, rivets, welds or glue.

The wall material 10 may already be pre-cut into the shape in which it is further connected to the remainder of the bag, or the wall material may be further modified and shaped after the supplementary part 1 has been fastened before being connected to the remainder of the bag. It is also possible that the supplementary part is fastened to the wall material of a finished bag. Other elements may also be fastened to the supplementary part. For example, if the supplementary part 1 is fastened to the closure part (as mentioned above), the lock or closure closing the bag or a part thereof can be fastened to the surface of the central portion 2b in a manner known per se.

Claims

1. A supplementary part (1) for a bag, which supplementary bag can be fastened in connection with an opening (10a) formed in the wall material (10) of a bag, characterized in that the supplementary part (1) comprises: a base element (2) with a planar raised central portion (2b) and a rim plane (2c) surrounding the central portion, wherein the plane passing through the rim plane (2c) is lower with respect to the plane of the central portion (2b) such that the central portion (2b) can be mounted at the opening (10a), whereby the inner surface (10') of the wall material (10) around the edge of the opening (10a) can be supported against the above- mentioned rim plane (2c), wherein the outer surface of the central portion (2b) is coated completely or partially with a visible UV printing layer (4), a supplementary part fastening frame (3) having a shape corresponding to the rim plane (2c) around the supplementary part (1) and being mountable around the raised central portion (2b) on top of the rim plane (2c) and the wall material (10) supported against the rim plane (2c), fastening means (4a, 4b), by means of which the base element (2) of the supplementary part (1) and the supplementary part fastening frame (3) can be fastened to one another.

2. The supplementary part (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the base element (2) of the supplementary part (1) and the supplementary part fastening frame (3) have a plurality a through holes (2d, 3b) formed therein, distributed in their installed position in alignment with one another along the entire distance of the rim plane (2c) and the fastening frame (3), into which through holes (2d, 3b) the fastening means (4a, 4b) comprised of a screw and nut connection can be inserted.

3. The supplementary part (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that through holes (10b) are formed next to the edge of the opening (10a) of the wall material (10), wherein the through holes (10b) are arranged in the same position as the through holes (2d, 3b).

4. The supplementary part (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fastening means (4a, 4b) are so-called Chicago type screw and nut connectors, the sleeve nut (4a) of which can be led through the through holes (2d, 3b) formed in the base element (2) and the supplementary part fastening frame (3) before the screw part (4b) is fastened.

5. The supplementary part (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the UV printing layer covers between 2% and 90% of the outer surface of the central portion (2b).

6. The supplementary part (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the wall material (10) of the bag forms the front wall of the bag or the closure flap of the bag.

7. The supplementary part (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the base element (2) is a rigid body and the material thereof is metal, an alloy, plastic, a plastic mixture, a composite or a wood-based material.

8. The supplementary part (1) according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the base plate (2) is dimensioned such that the outer surface of its central portion (2b) is upon installation at a predefined level with respect to the outer surface (10") of the wall material or the outer surface (3Q of the fastening frame (3).

9. The supplementary part (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the outer surface of the central portion (2b) is flush with the outer surface (10") of the wall material or the outer surface (3Q of the fastening frame (3).

10. A method for fastening a supplementary part (1) of a bag in connection with an opening (10a) formed in the wall material (10) of a bag, characterized in that the method comprises the following consecutive steps of: a) mounting a planar central portion (2b) raised with respect to a rim plane (2c) of a base element (2) of the supplementary part (1) at the opening (10a), whereby the inner surface (10Q of the wall material (10) around the edge of the opening (10a) is supported against said rim plane (2c), and wherein the outer surface of the planar central portion (2b), partially or completely coated with a UV printing layer (4), remains visible, b) mounting a fastening frame (3), having a shape corresponding to the rim plane (2c) around the mounting element (2) of the supplementary part (1), around the raised central portion (2b) on top of the rim plane (2c) and the wall material (10) supported against the rim plane (2c), and c) fastening the mounting element (2) of the supplementary part (1) and the supplementary part fastening frame (3) to one another with fastening means (4a, 4b).

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the mounting element (2) of the supplementary part (1) and the supplementary part fastening frame (3) have a plurality of through holes (2d, 3b) formed therein, whereby before the step a) of the method, sleeve nuts (4a) of Chicago type screws comprised in the fastening means (4a, 4b) acting as installation guides during step a) and step b) are installed in the through holes (2d) of the mounting element (2) of the supplementary part (1).