US20080295929A1

US20080295929A1 - Storage Bag

Info

Publication number: US20080295929A1
Application number: US11/658,489
Authority: US
Inventors: Agnes Barouh
Original assignee: TIC TAC Srl
Current assignee: TIC TAC Srl
Priority date: 2004-07-26
Filing date: 2005-06-28
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Also published as: EP1773153B1; JP2008507370A; WO2006021635A1; HK1105841A1; CN100515261C; AR049728A1; ATE410933T1; CA2573427A1; FR2873271B1; BRPI0513766A; CN1988820A; TNSN06446A1; PT1773153E; EP1773153A1; MA28979B1; DE602005010438D1; FR2873271A1; ES2314703T3

Abstract

The invention concerns a bag (1) for transporting articles (6), for example identity papers, cheque books, train and airplane tickets, characterized in that it comprises a first flap (8) and a second flap (9) assembled together and provided with pockets or recesses, and in that it comprises at least one string (1) forming a handle, said string being adapted to slide through at least one guide means (10) provided on the first flap and connected to the second flap.

Description

The present invention relates to a bag for carrying items, for example identity papers, check books, or train or airplane tickets.
Generally, the bags used to carry such items have the drawback that they do not have sophisticated security systems for reducing, indeed eliminating, the risk of the items being stolen. Specifically, in most bags of this type, access can be gained to the various items simply by opening a zipper (Fermeture Éclairs®—registered trademark) or deactivating a push-button system, for example. An experienced pickpocket could therefore easily empty the contents of the bag without the person carrying it being aware of it.
The aim of the present invention is to overcome this drawback, and to this end it consists of a bag for carrying items, for example identity papers, check books, or train or airplane tickets, characterized in that it comprises a first flap and a second flap joined to one another and having pockets or housings, and in that it comprises at least one tie forming a strap, this tie being, on the one hand, able to slide through at least one guide means belonging to the first flap and, on the other hand, attached to the second flap.
Therefore, when the bag is carried correctly by the user, i.e. when the strap is passed for example around the neck or shoulder of the user, part of the tie inevitably has to slide through the guide means of the first flap when the two flaps are moved apart, causing the bag to rise up the user's body owing to the strap being shortened. The wearer can thus immediately detect any attempt to open the bag by a person up to no good.
Moreover, such a bag is particularly advantageous since it can be used to carry essential travel items, for example identity cards, passports, check books or tickets, while being very compact.
Note that a bag according to the invention could include partitions placed between the first flap and the second flap, these various elements being joined together book-fashion. In this case, all that would be required would be for the various partitions to have eyelets to allow the tie(s) to pass through.
According to a first preferred embodiment, the bag is made from a single flexible panel which is divided into two flaps after folding along a hinge line. If the bag has no side gusset joining the two flaps together, then the position of the hinge line along the panel can vary depending on the size of the items stored in each flap. Such a bag thus has the advantage of having an adjustable storage volume that can be adapted to suit the shapes and sizes of the items carried.
Preferably, the panel is substantially rectangular. In this case, the general shape of each flap, obtained after folding the panel along the hinge line whose position along the panel depends on the items stored, is also rectangular.
According to a second preferred embodiment, the two flaps are joined via a flexible strip forming a hinge region between the two flaps. If the bag has no side gusset joining the two flaps together, then the position of the hinge line along the flexible strip can vary depending on the size of the items stored in each flap.
According to a first preferred embodiment, each tie has two free ends which are each slid through an associated guide means belonging to the first flap.
According to a first preferred alternative embodiment, the two free ends of the tie are fastened to the second flap.
According to a second preferred embodiment, each free end of the tie is slid through a slot or an eyelet made in the second flap. Each free end can therefore advantageously have at least one attachment element projecting from the bag, to which an item can be attached. This item can for example consist of a cell phone, and an important advantage thus lies in the fact that the wearer of the bag does not need to unclip the phone from the attachment means to use it. All he has to do is bring the phone up to his face by sliding the free end to which it is attached through the corresponding slot or eyelet. As a result, the bag is pressed against the wearer's body and rises up the body. This definitively eliminates any risk of the bag being opened unlawfully, even when the wearer's attention is distracted. Moreover, the risk that the cell phone might be stolen is minimized as said cell phone is always attached to the bag.
According to a second preferred embodiment, each tie forms a closed loop passing through, on the one hand, at least one guide means belonging to the first flap and, on the other hand, at least two eyelets made in the second flap.
Advantageously, each guide means belonging to the first flap is made using an eyelet or a loop.
Also advantageously, each of the two corners of the first flap has a guide means, and the tie is connected to the second flap near its two corners.
Preferably, one of the two flaps has at least one strip of fabric that can interact, like Velcro® (registered trademark), with at least one strip of fabric secured to the other flap.
Also preferably, the tie has at least one locking device for preventing said tie from sliding.

The invention will be more clearly understood with the aid of the following detailed description provided with reference to the attached drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag according to the first embodiment of the invention, when open;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the bag shown in FIG. 1, when closed;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, with the addition of a Velcro®-type (registered trademark) closure system;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of another bag according to the first embodiment of the invention, when closed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bag according to the second embodiment of the invention, when closed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another bag according to the invention, when open.

A bag 1 according to the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is obtained from a single rectangular panel 2. This panel 2 is flexible, and is preferably made of leather or plastic.
The panel 2 has an outer face 3 with no storage means, and an inner face 4 on which flexible strips 5 are placed and then attached by welding along the edge of said panel 2 so as to define housings in which items 6 may be stored.
Moreover, the panel 2 can be folded on itself along a hinge line 7 whose position can vary along said panel 2 depending on the shape and size of the items 6 inserted. Once folded, the panel 2 is divided into a first flap 8 and a second flap 9, both rectangular.
The inner face 4 of the first flap 8 has two end corners near which two loops 10 are made each constituting a guide means for a tie 11 forming a strap and having two free ends 12.
The second flap 9 also has two end corners near each of which an eyelet 13 is made for the passage of the two free ends 12 of the tie 11. Each of these ends is then knotted on itself to form a bulge 14 designed to come into abutment against the corresponding eyelet 13.
A person wishing to carry items 6 in the bag 1 proceeds as follows. First, the strap is passed around said person's neck, for example. As the bag 1 is initially closed, moving the two flaps 8, 9 apart causes the tie 11 to slide through loops 10 since the bulges 14 cannot pass through the eyelets 13. This shortens the strap, causing the bag 1 to rise up the person's body as it opens. The wearer of the bag 1 can thus easily detect an unlawful attempt to open the bag.
Note that the two free ends 12 of the tie 11 could be fastened to the second flap 9, for example by welding or adhesive bonding, without the general manner of operation of the bag 1 being thereby affected.
As an alternative, and as shown in FIG. 3, this bag 1 has an additional closure system in the form of a strip of fabric 15 secured to the first flap 8 which can interact, like Velcro® (registered trademark), with at least one strip of fabric 16 attached to the outer face 3 of the second flap 9. The advantage of this system lies in the fact that there is always an area where the strip of fabric 15 and the strip of fabric 16 overlap, wherever the hinge line 7 is positioned along the panel 2.
Another bag 21 according to the invention, as shown in FIG. 4, differs from the bag 1 mainly in that, first of all, each of the two eyelets 13 has been replaced with a slot 22 to facilitate sliding of the tie 11 and, secondly, each of the two ends 12 of the tie 11 has an attachment element 24, such as a clasp, a ring or a cord for example. It is thus possible, in particular, to attach a cell phone or even keys to these attachment elements 24. In the more specific case of a cell phone, an important advantage thus lies in the fact that the wearer of the bag 21 does not need to unclip the phone from the attachment means 24 to use it. All he has to do is bring the phone up to his face by sliding the free end 12 to which it is attached through the corresponding slot 22. As a result, the bag 21 is pressed against the wearer's body and rises up the body. This definitively eliminates any risk of the bag being opened unlawfully, even when the wearer's attention is distracted.
A bag 31 according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 5, differs from the bag 1 mainly in that it has a tie 32 forming a closed loop. A part 33 of this tie 32 thus has to run between the two eyelets 13 of the second flap 9 and serves to press the second flap 9 even more firmly against the first flap 8 when the bag 31 is closed.
This bag 31 advantageously has a locking device 34 for preventing said tie 32 from sliding. This locking device 34 can be temporarily deactivated by pressing on the heads 35, which clears the openings 37 provided for the passage of the tie 32.
Note that such a locking device 34 could be included in any bag according to the present invention.
Lastly, a final embodiment of a bag 41 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 6. This bag 41 differs from the bag 1 mainly in that, first of all, two central eyelets 42, 43 made in the first flap 8 and the second flap 9, respectively, replace the loops 10 and the eyelets 13 and, secondly, the tie 44 has a first end 45 with an attachment means 46 as described above, and a second end 47 fastened for example by adhesive bonding or by welding to the first flap 8. Obviously, from the viewpoint of security, this bag 41 is less advantageous than the bags 1, 21, 31 since the tie 44 does not press the second flap 9 against the first flap 8 as firmly.
Note that, to improve security, a bag according to the invention could comprise several independent ties designed to interact with associated slots or eyelets made in the various flaps of said bag.
Although the invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments, it is obviously not in any way limited thereto and encompasses all technical equivalents of the means described and any combinations thereof that come within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A bag for carrying items, for example identity papers, check books, or train or airplane tickets, said bag comprising:

a first flaps and a second flap joined to one another and having pockets or housings, and

at least one tie forming a strap, this tie being, on the one hand, able to slide through at least one guide means belonging to the first flap and, on the other hand, attached to the second flap.

2. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein it is made from a single flexible panel which is divided into two flaps after folding along a hinge line.

3. The bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the panel is substantially rectangular.

4. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two flaps are joined via a flexible strip forming a hinge region between the two flaps.

5. The bag as claimed in claim 1 4, wherein each tie has two free ends which are each slid through an associated guide means belonging to the first flap.

6. The bag as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two free ends of the tie are fastened to the second flap.

7. The bag as claimed in claim 5, wherein each free end of the tie is slid through a slot or an eyelet made in the second flap.

8. The bag as claimed in claim 6, wherein each free end has at least one attachment element projecting from the bag, to which an item can be attached.

9. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein each tie forms a closed loop passing through, on the one hand, at least one guide means belonging to the first flap and, on the other hand, at least two eyelets made in the second flap.

10. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein each guide means belonging to the first flap is made using an eyelet or a loop.

11. The bag as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the two corners of the first flap has a guide means, and the tie is connected to the second flap near its two corners.

12. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the two flaps has at least one strip of fabric that can interact, like Velcro®, with at least one strip of fabric secured to the other flap.

13. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tie has at least one locking device for preventing said tie from sliding.