GB2458000A

GB2458000A - Shopping bag including carrier bag dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2458000A
Application number: GB0900238A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Justin Chieffo; Michelle Chieffo
Original assignee: BE ECO UK Ltd
Current assignee: BE ECO UK Ltd
Priority date: 2008-03-07
Filing date: 2009-01-08
Publication date: 2009-09-09
Also published as: GB0804211D0; GB0900238D0; GB2458151A

Abstract

A bag 1 has walls 11-14 defining an internal volume and an open top 15. The bag 1 has a dispenser 16 for storing and dispensing flexible articles. At least one of the walls 11-14 of the bag 1 or the dispenser 16 has an aperture 18 allowing ingress and/ or egress of articles to/ from the dispenser 16. Preferably the articles are plastic carrier bags such as are given in supermarkets. The aperture 18 may be resiliently biased into a contracted state, e.g. by elastic. Preferably the bag 1 is formed from fabric such as canvas. A second aperture 19 may be provided in the wall of the dispenser 16. The bag 1 may have handles.

Description

BAGS

The present invention relates to bags, and particularly, although not exclusively, to bags comprising a dispenser.

There is an increasing public awareness that people should recycle and/or reuse items in order to prevent the waste of potentially useful materials.

Recycling and/or reusing items, e.g. items comprising plastics, metals, glass or electronics, may help to reduce energy consumption and pollution, and therefore help the environment by, for example, lowering greenhouse emissions.

One way to help the environment is to reduce the number of bags, e.g. plastic carrier bags supplied by supermarkets and/or shops, which are disposed of in the general waste.

Plastic carrier bags are typically made from a high percentage of polyethylene, which is non-degradable. Therefore, the disposal of plastic carrier bags in landfill sites is of growing concern, e.g. due to space constraints, etc. To address these problems, supermarkets and/or shops offer incentive schemes to motivate the public to recycle bags such as plastic carrier bags.

Whilst this has a potentially positive impact on the environment, it is often the case that the plastic carrier bags are in a perfectly useable condition and do not need reprocessing into new bags.

Supermarkets and/or shops also offer durable reusable bags intended to be used for more than one shopping trip. These durable bags eventually break and can be recycled.

Alternatively, purpose made bags such as canvas and/or string bags are available. Canvas and/or string bags are intended to have considerably longer lifetimes than plastic and/or reusable durable bags.

It is often the case, however, that the used plastic carrier bags and/or durable reusable bags are forgotten, e.g. left in a drawer at home, when one embarks on a shopping trip.

Moreover, carrier bags and some durable reusable bags have a tendency to expand when placed in an additional bag, e.g. a canvas or string bag, for carriage. Therefore, if a number of carrier bags are contained in a canvas or string bag, the canvas or string bag may become cluttered and/or bulkier than necessary.

In addition, when a number of such bags are stored in a canvas or string bag there is often a tendency for several bags to fall out of the canvas or string bag when the user requires a single bag.

These issues can make returning plastic carrier bags and/or durable reusable bags to a supermarket or shop a stressful and time-consuming process. Therefore, it is often the case that the public will rely on using new carrier bags, such as those supplied by shops and/or supermarkets.

In order to mitigate some of the problems discussed above the current invention has been proposed.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a bag having walls defining an internal volume and an open top, the bag having located therein a dispenser for storing flexible artides and from which such stored flexible articles are dispensable, at least one of the walls having a first aperture to allow ingress and/or egress of the articles into and/or from the dispenser.

Preferably, the dispenser may have an internal volume for storing flexible articles, e.g. plastic bags.

The bag may be formed from fabric such as canvas or other hard wearing fabric, or any other suitable natural or synthetic fabric or plastics material such as cotton, recycled plastics (LDPE) and so on.

The bag may comprise an inner liner.

Preferably, the bag may comprise a second aperture.

Preferably, the second aperture may be located in a wall of the dispenser.

Preferably, the first aperture may provide a passage from the or an internal volume of the dispenser to the exterior of the bag.

Preferably, the second aperture may provide a passage from the open top of the bag to the or an internal volume of the dispenser.

The dispenser may be formed from the same material as the bag or, alternatively, the dispenser may be formed from any of the materials previously discussed.

Preferably, the perimeter of the first aperture and/or the second aperture may have a rest condition wherein the, one or each aperture is in a contracted state and a second condition wherein the, one or each aperture is in an expanded state.

More preferably, the perimeter of the first and/or second aperture may be resiliently biased towards the contracted state, e.g. by sewing an elastic material into the material defining the, one or each aperture.

An advantage of being able to adjust the size of an aperture is that articles may be readily accessible without falling from the dispenser.

Alternatively, cover means may be provided to cover or at least partially cover the first and/or second aperture, e.g. a flap.

The cover means may comprise fixing means such as one of hook-and-eye fixing means, e.g. Velcro�, or other means such as zippers, adhesive, magnets and so on.

Preferably, the bag comprises at least one handle.

io Preferably, the internal volume of the bag may be suitable to store articles, e.g. items of shopping from a supermarket.

A dispenser of the kind as disclosed herein may be retrofitted to an existing bag.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bag having walls defining an internal volume and an open top, the bag comprising a dispenser for storing articles, a wall of the bag and/or a wall of the dispenser comprising at least one aperture to allow ingress and/or egress of the articles into and/or from the dispenser, part of the bag and/or the dispenser further comprising means for adjusting the size of the at least one aperture.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a bag for dispensing flexible articles, e.g. plastic carrier bags, having walls defining an internal volume and an open top, the method comprising forming a first aperture within a wall of the bag, securing a dispenser to the interior of the bag such that the aperture allows ingress and/or egress of the articles into and/or from the internal volume of the dispenser.

Preferably, the method further comprises providing a second aperture within a wall of the dispenser.

The method may also comprise providing a means in the wall of the bag and/or the wall of the dispenser to allow the size of the first aperture and/or the second aperture to be adjusted.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 4 are perspective views of a bag according to the present invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the bag of Figures 1 to 4; and Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the underside of a bag according to the present invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a bag 1 according to the present invention.

The bag 1 is a substantially cubic and is formed from fabric such as canvas or other hard wearing fabric; however, any other suitable natural or synthetic fabric or plastics material may be used, e.g., cotton, recycled plastics (LDPE) and so on.

The bag 1 comprises a rectangular base portion 10. The base portion 10 comprises four edges lOa-d, wherein parallel edges lOa, c are shorter than parallel edges lOb, d.

Upstanding from the edges lOa-d of the base portion 10 are respective side walls 11-14. Side walls 11-14 are of equal height and define, together with base portion 10, an interior volume (V) within the bag 1. Side walls 11-14 have interior lla-14a and exterior llb-14b major faces.

The interior volume (V) can be accessed via an aperture 15 in the "top" facing part of the bag 1.

The side walls 11-14 are secured to respective edges lOa-d of the base portion 10 by securing means, e.g., thread sewn into the fabric. The side walls 11-14 each have two upstanding parallel edges, which parallel edges are secured to the upstanding parallel edges of an adjacent side wall 11-14, e.g., by securing means such as thread sewn into the fabric.

A compartment 16 is located within the interior volume (V) of the bag 1.

The compartment 16 is typically formed from the same material as the bag 1, although it may be formed from any other suitable material, such as those previously discussed.

The compartment 16 is secured to the bag 1 by securing means, e.g. thread.

The compartment 16 is formed from a single piece of material which is secured to the base portion 10 of the bag 1 a distance (X) from the interior face 13a of side wall 13. A seam 17 connects the compartment 16 to the base portion 10. The seam 17 interconnects side wall 12 with side wall 14.

The compartment 16 upstands from the seam 17 and is secured to side wall 12 and side wall 14 by respective seams 22, 23.

The seams may be hand woven or machine woven by using thread, e.g. cotton thread.

Seams 22, 23 upstand from the base portion 10 and have a straight length of approximately 80% of the height of the bag 1. Above this, the seams 22, 23 curve towards the interior face 13a of side wall 13. A seam 24 connects the compartment 16 to the interior face 13a of side wall 13.

The compartment 16 has a major face 16a. The curvature results in the compartment 16 having a substantially flat "top" portion 16b.

The compartment 16 can be accessed through an aperture 18 in the substantially flat portion 16b. The aperture 18 is located inboard of the interior face 13a of side wall 13 and at the midpoint between the side walls 12, 14.

The compartment 16 can also be accessed through a second aperture 19, this time in the exterior face 13b of side wall 13. The aperture 19 is located inboard of the edge lOc of the base portion 10 and at the midpoint between the side walls 12, 14.

The apertures 18, 19 are substantially circular. Apertures 18, 19 are defined by a resiliently biased circumferential portion 18a, 19a of material.

The resiliently biased portions 18a, 19a are formed by, for example, sewing a length of elastic (not shown) into the region of material which defines the apertures 18, 19.

The bag 1 comprises two handles 20, 21. The handles 20, 21 have ends 20a, 20b; 21a, 21b, which ends 20a, 20b; 21a, 21b are secured by securing means, e.g. thread or adhesive, to the interior faces 12a, 14a of side walls 12, 14, respectively. The handles 20, 21 are secured such that the midpoint of each handle 20, 21 is aligned with the midpoint of respective edges lOb, lOd of the base portion 10 such that the bag 1 is balanced when in use (i.e. when being carried by a user).

Turning now to Figure 5, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the bag 1 as shown in Figures 1 to 4. The numbering of the embodiment shown in Figure 5 corresponds with that of the previous embodiment with the addition of a prime ().

The bag 1' of Figure 5 comprises a base portion 10', the base portion 10' having edges lOa'-d'. Upstanding from the edges lOa'-d' of the base portion 10' are side walls 11'-14'. The side walls 11'-14', together with the base portion 10', define an interior volume (V') which can be accessed via an aperture 15' in the "top" facing part of the bag 1'. Side walls 11'-14' have interior lla'-14a' and exterior llb'-14b' major faces.

A compartment 16' is located within the interior volume (V') of the bag 1'.

The compartment 16' is formed by securing a first section of material to the base portion 10' of the bag 1' at a distance (X') from the interior face 13a' of the side wall 13'. A seam 17' connects the compartment 16' to the base portion 10'. The seam 17' extends approximately 75% across from the interior face 12a' of side wall 12' to the interior face 14a' of side wall 14'.

The compartment 16' upstands from the seam 17' and is secured to the interior face 12a' of side wall 12' by seam 22'. The compartment 16' has a major face 16a'.

To the upstanding edge of the compartment 16' opposite from side wall 12' is attached a second section of material (not shown). The second section lies parallel to side wall 14' and defines a minor face (not shown) of the compartment 16'. The major 16a' and minor faces of the compartment 16' are interconnected by seam 23'.

Seams 22', 23' upstand from base portion 10' and curve towards the interior face 13a' of side waIl 13', as described in the previous embodiment.

The curvature results in the compartment 16' having a substantially flat "top" portion 16b'. The compartment 16' is connected to the interior face 13a' of side wall 13' by seam 24'.

Reinforcement means (not shown) is optionally located inside compartment 16' adjacent seam 24' in order to maintain the shape of the compartment 16'.

The compartment 16' can be accessed through an aperture 18' in the substantially flat portion 16b'. The aperture 18' is located inboard of the interior face 13a' of side wall 13' and at the midpoint between the side walls 12' and the minor face of compartment 16'.

The compartment 16' can also be accessed through a second aperture 19' (not shown), this time in the exterior face 13b' of side wall 13'.

Apertures 18', 19' are substantially circular and are defined by material having the elastic properties as discussed in the previous embodiment.

The bag 1' comprises two handles 20', 21' as described in the previous embodiment.

It can be seen that in this embodiment of the invention, the compartment 16' does not interconnect side wall 12' to side wall 14'. This being particularly advantageous when the user wishes to carry an article which does not fit into the bag 1 of the previous embodiment.

Turning now to Figure 6, there is shown an underside view of a bag 1, 1' according to the present invention.

As can be seen, aperture 19, 19' of the bag 1, 1' is clearly accessible.

In use, the user inserts articles (not shown), such as reusable bags, e.g., cotton, string or plastic, preferably plastic, bags into the aperture 18, 18' of the compartment 16, 16'.

A number of such articles can be stored in the compartment 16, 16' due to their deformable nature. The articles are removed from the aperture 19, 19' when required for use, e.g., when the user is purchasing items from a shop.

It will be appreciated that the articles can be inserted and/or removed from either aperture 18, 18'; 19, 19' without departing from the overall scope of the invention.

Due to the resiliently biasing properties of the portions 18a, 19a; 18a', 19a' which define apertures 18, 19; 18', 19', when an article is inserted and/or removed from the compartment 16, 16' the size of the apertures 18, 19; 18', 19' increase when pressure, e.g. from the hand of a user, is applied to the portions 18a, 19a; 18a', 19a'.

On removal of the pressure the apertures 18, 19; 18', 19' return to their original size and shape.

This mechanism allows the articles, e.g. plastic bags, to be stored conveniently and compactly within the compartment 16, 16' and prevents the articles from undesirably falling out of the compartment 16, 16'.

Moreover, when an article is required for use, the mechanism allows for the controlled dispensation of a single article.

It will be appreciated that the invention may differ from that described in the specific embodiment without departing from the overall scope of the invention.

For example, the compartment 16, 16' may be a different shape and/or size to that shown in the drawings. The compartment 16, 16' may be secured to a different wall within the bag 1, 1'. The compartment 16, 16' may be removable, e.g. by Velcro� secured to a wall of the compartment 16, 16'.

The compartment 16, 16' may be secured to the outside of the bag 1, 1'.

In addition, the compartment 16, 16' may have only one aperture for the insertion and removal of articles.

The aperture may be covered by a flap, e.g. a flap removably secured by Velcro�. In this embodiment, the elastic properties of the material defining the aperture may be disposed of.

When made of plastics, the bag seams may be welded, e.g. heat or ultrasonically welded.

It is also to be appreciated that use of the following terminology: top, bottom, above and side is not limiting on the invention. It is merely used in relation to the drawings to aid comprehension thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A bag having walls defining an internal volume and an open top, the bag having located therein a dispenser for storing flexible articles and from which such stored flexible articles are dispensable, at least one of the walls having a first aperture to allow ingress and/or egress of the articles into and/or from the dispenser.
2. A bag as claimed in Claim 1, comprising a second aperture located in a wall of the dispenser.
3. A bag as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the second aperture provides a passage from the open top of the bag to an internal volume of the dispenser.
4. A bag as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the first aperture provides a passage from the or an internal volume of the dispenser to the exterior of the bag.
5. A bag as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the perimeter of the first aperture and/or, if present, the second aperture has a rest condition wherein the, one or each aperture is in a contracted state and a second condition wherein the, one or each aperture is in an expanded state.
6. A bag as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the perimeter of the first aperture and/or, if present, the second aperture is resiliently biased towards a contracted state.
7. A bag as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the bag comprises means to cover or at least partially cover the first aperture and/or, if present, the second aperture.
8. A bag as claimed in Claim 7, wherein one, the or each cover means is a flap.
9. A bag as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the cover means comprises fixing means such as one of hook-and-eye fixing means, zippers, adhesive or magnets.
10. A bag as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the bag comprises at least one handle.
11. A bag as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the bag is formed from fabric such as canvas or other hard wearing fabric, or any other suitable natural or synthetic fabric or plastics material such as cotton or recycled plastics.
12. A bag as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the bag internal volume is suitable to store items, e.g. items of shopping from a supermarket.
13. A bag having walls defining an internal volume and an open top, the bag comprising a dispenser for storing articles, a wall of the bag and/or a wall of the dispenser comprising at least one aperture to allow ingress and/or egress of the articles into and/or from the dispenser, part of the bag and/or the dispenser further comprising means for adjusting the size of the at least one aperture.
14. A method of making a bag for dispensing flexible articles having walls defining an internal volume and an open top, the method comprising forming a first aperture within a wall of the bag, securing a dispenser to the interior of the bag such that the aperture allows ingress and/or egress of the articles into and/or from the internal volume of the dispenser.
15. A method as claimed in Claim 14, further comprising providing a second aperture within the dispenser.
16. A method as claimed in Claim 15, comprising providing a means in the wall of the bag and/or the wall of the dispenser to allow the size of the first aperture and/or the second aperture to be adjusted.
17. A bag as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
18. A method as hereinbefore described.