Reinforcing core for a bag handle and bag handle containing such a core

Abstract

The invention relates to a reinforcing core (1) for a bag handle intended to be sheathed between at least one upper covering strip (3) and at least one lower covering strip (4), comprising: - a support strip (2) having an upper face (5) and a lower face (6); and - a stiffening insert (14) having an upper portion disposed above the upper face (5) of the support strip (2), the stiffening insert (14) having a connecting portion (19) which connects the upper portion and the lower portion through an opening passing through the support strip. Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Reinforcing core for a bag handle and bag handle containing such a core technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of leather goods, such as bags and the like.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a reinforcing core for a bag handle, a bag handle containing such a reinforcing core and a bag equipped with such a handle. Technological background

[0003] In the prior art, it is known to equip bag handles with a reinforcing core intended to give said handles more rigidity, strength and resistance.

[0004] Reinforcing cores intended to be sandwiched between an upper and a lower covering strip are particularly known. These reinforcing cores comprise a backing strip, for example made of leather, which is intended to be positioned between the upper and lower covering strips and onto which said covering strips are intended to be sewn. An upper stiffening insert and a lower stiffening insert are respectively bonded to the upper and lower faces of the backing strip by means of a double-sided adhesive. The upper and lower stiffening inserts are machined.

[0005] Such cores are not entirely satisfactory, particularly because their manufacturing process is too long and complex: it notably requires operators to glue the inserts and perform machining operations. Summary of the invention

[0006] One idea behind the invention is to propose a core for a bag handle that is simpler and faster to manufacture.

[0007] According to a first aspect, the invention provides a reinforcing core for a bag handle intended to be sheathed between at least one upper coating strip and at least one lower coating strip comprising: - a backing strip onto which the upper and lower covering strips are intended to be sewn, the backing strip having an upper face intended to be covered by the upper covering strip and a lower face intended to be covered by the lower covering strip, the backing strip having at least one opening through the strip support; and - a stiffening insert having an upper portion disposed above the upper face of the support strip and intended to be positioned between the support strip and the upper coating strip and a lower portion disposed below the lower face of the support strip and intended to be positioned between the support strip and the lower coating strip, the stiffening insert having a connecting portion which links the upper portion and the lower portion through said opening and holds them respectively against the upper and lower faces of the support strip.

[0008] Thus, it is no longer necessary to glue the stiffening insert to the support strip since said stiffening insert is held securely to the support strip by the connecting portion that passes through the support strip. The manufacturing operations for such a reinforcing core are therefore simpler and faster.

[0009] For the purposes of this application, "bag" means any container intended to hold and transport objects, such as a handbag, satchel, luggage, suitcase or the like.

[0010] According to embodiments, such a reinforcing core may include one or more of the following characteristics.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the stiffening insert is formed as a single piece, and at least one of its upper and lower portions is configured to pass through the opening in the support strip, elastically deforming said support strip. Thus, since the stiffening insert is formed as a single piece, it is simple to manufacture. Furthermore, such an arrangement allows the stiffening insert to be easily attached to the support strip.

[0012] According to one embodiment, said upper or lower portion, which is configured to pass through the opening in the support strip, has a cross-section that is flared towards the connecting portion. This facilitates the placement of the stiffening insert through the opening in the support strip.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the opening is a slot extending along a longitudinal direction of the support strip.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the connecting portion has a shape complementary to that of the opening made in the support strip.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the slot has two notches extending transversely on either side of the slot, and the connecting portion has two transverse projections that fit into one or the other of the two notches in the slot. This ensures precise relative positioning of the stiffening insert with respect to the support strip.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the support strip has two lugs which protrude transversely on either side of the support strip and each has a hole intended to receive a positioning pin for said sewing equipment.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the connecting portion forms a groove between the upper and lower portions, the support strip having zones bordering the opening and housed within said groove. This ensures reliable attachment of the stiffening insert to the support strip.

[0018] According to another embodiment, the stiffening insert is formed of a first and a second separate part, each comprising an upper and a lower portion respectively. The first part also includes the connecting portion that passes through the opening, said connecting portion being fixed to the second part. This arrangement makes it possible to secure the stiffening insert to the support strip without risk of deforming the support strip by inserting a portion of the stiffening insert through the opening in the support strip, as in the other embodiment.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the support strip has a plurality of openings and the connecting portion has a plurality of pins, each passing through one of the openings.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the pawns are clipped into housings provided in the second piece.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the support strip is made of a material chosen from natural or synthetic leathers, fabrics, polymers and cellulose-based materials.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the stiffening insert is made of a polymer material.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the stiffening insert is obtained by injecting a polymer material. This allows the stiffening insert to be manufactured simply, quickly, and in series.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the stiffening insert has a Young's modulus between 0.01 and 0.1 GPa. This confers the appropriate stiffness to said reinforcing core.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the stiffening insert is bent along the longitudinal direction of said reinforcing core.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the stiffening insert has two tapered ends.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the stiffening insert is overmolded onto the support strip.

[0028] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a bag handle comprising: - a reinforcing core of the aforementioned type, - at least one top covering strip that covers the upper portion of the stiffening insert and the upper face of the support strip and is sewn to the support strip, and - at least one lower covering strip which covers the lower portion of the stiffening insert and the underside of the support strip and is sewn to the support strip.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the upper and lower covering strips are each sewn onto the support strip by means of two lines of stitching extending respectively along a first and a second longitudinal edge of the support strip.

[0030] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a bag comprising a bag handle of the aforementioned type. Brief description of the figures

[0031] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a reinforcing core for a bag handle according to a first embodiment.

[0033] Fig. 2 is a top perspective view of the reinforcing core according to the first embodiment.

[0034] Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the reinforcing core according to the first embodiment.

[0035] Fig. 4 is a side view of the reinforcing core according to the first embodiment.

[0036] Fig. 5 is a side view representing the stiffening insert of the reinforcing core according to the first embodiment.

[0037] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along plane AA of the stiffening insert of Fig. 5.

[0038] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a handle equipped with the reinforcing core according to the first embodiment.

[0039] Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a reinforcing core for a bag handle according to a second embodiment.

[0040] Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a reinforcing core for a bag handle according to a third embodiment. Description of the implementation methods

[0041] In relation to figures 1 to 7, a reinforcing core 1 is described according to a first embodiment.

[0042] The reinforcing core 1 includes a support strip 2. The support strip 2 is made of a flexible material chosen from natural or synthetic leathers, fabrics, polymers and any material, such as cardboard, based on cellulose (from wood, flax, cotton, hemp). The support strip 2 is intended to be sheathed between two upper covering strips 3 and lower covering strips 4 which will be described later in relation to [Fig.7].

[0043] The support strip 2 has an opening, visible in [Fig.1], which passes through the support strip 2 from its upper face 5 to its lower face 6. In the first embodiment, the opening is a slot 7, visible in [Fig.1], extending along the longitudinal direction of the support strip 2. The slot 7 also has two notches 8, 9 which project transversely on either side of the slot 7 from a median portion of the slot 7.

[0044] The support strip 2 has two tabs 10, 11 intended to position the reinforcing core 1 on a sewing device during the sewing operations of the upper 3 and lower 4 covering strips onto said support strip 2. In the embodiment shown, each of the two tabs 10, 11 has a hole for receiving a positioning pin for said sewing device. The two tabs 10, 11 project transversely on either side of the support strip 2 from a mid-portion of the support strip 2. The tabs 10, 11 are intended to be cut off after the sewing operations of the upper 3 and lower 4 covering strips to the support strip 2.

[0045] The support strip 2 also has notches 12, 13 along its edges to facilitate folding the ends of the handle in the areas intended to receive fastening loops.

[0046] The reinforcing core 1 also includes a stiffening insert 14 that provides the handle with its rigidity, strength, and durability. The stiffening insert 14 has a curved shape along its longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis of the stiffening insert 14 also corresponds to that of the support strip 2. In the embodiment shown, the stiffening insert 14 has two tapered ends 15, 16. In other words, the transverse dimension of the stiffening insert 14 is greatest at its center and decreases towards each of the two tapered ends 15, 16.

[0047] The stiffening insert 14 is advantageously made of a polymer material and preferably of an elastomer material. The stiffening insert 14 is made of a material having, for example, a Young's modulus between 0.01 and 0.1 GPa.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the stiffening insert 14 is produced using a plastic injection process.

[0049] In the first embodiment, the stiffening insert 14 is formed in one piece. It comprises an upper portion 17, visible in Figures 1, 2 and 4 to 6, a lower portion 18, visible in Figures 3 to 6, and a connecting portion 19 visible in Figures 5, 6 and 7. The connecting portion 19 passes through the slot 7 and connects the upper portion 17 to the lower portion 18.

[0050] The connecting portion 19 also has a shape complementary to that of the slot 7. In particular, it has two transverse projections, one of which is referenced 20 on [Fig.5], which correspond respectively to one and the other of the two notches 8, 9 of the slot 7. This makes it possible to ensure a precise relative positioning of the stiffening insert 14 with respect to the support strip 2.

[0051] The connecting portion 19 has a transverse dimension less than that of the upper portion 17 and lower portion 18 so as to provide, between the upper portion 17 and the lower portion 18, a peripheral groove 21 which extends all around the stiffening insert 14, except in the central areas having the aforementioned transverse projections 20.

[0052] Furthermore, one of the upper portions 17 and lower portion 18, here the lower portion 18, is able to be inserted through the slot 7 by elastically deforming said slot 7.

[0053] When the lower portion 18 has been inserted through the slot, the areas of the support strip 2, positioned at the edge of the slot 7, fit into the peripheral groove 21, which makes it possible to secure the stiffening insert 14 to the support strip 2.

[0054] In order to allow the lower portion 18 to pass through the slot 7, the dimensions of the lower portion 18 are greater than those of the slot 7 while allowing it to pass through said slot 7 by deformation of the support strip 2 in its elastic range, that is to say without deforming it irreversibly.

[0055] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the lower portion 18 has a V-shaped cross-section, i.e., one that flares out from bottom to top. This facilitates the insertion of said lower portion 18 through the slot 7.

[0056] According to an optional embodiment, the reinforcing core 1 also includes reinforcing strips 22, 23, illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, which are bonded to the underside 6 of the support strip 2. The reinforcing strips 22, 23 are, for example, made of plastic. In the embodiment shown, each is bonded between one of the tapered ends 15, 16 of the lower portion 18 of the stiffening insert 14 and the underside 6 of the support strip 2. These reinforcing strips 22, 23 thus prevent punctures or deformation of the strip. support 2 under the effect of a point action of the tapered ends 15, 16 of the lower portion 18 of the stiffening insert 14, under the effect of the weight of the bag, in particular when the handle is taken in hand by the user.

[0057] As illustrated in [Fig. 7], which shows a cross-sectional view of the handle 24, when the reinforcing core 1 has been sheathed between at least the upper covering strip 3 and the lower covering strip 4, the upper portion 17 of the stiffening insert 14 is positioned between the upper face 5 of the support strip 2 and the upper covering strip 3, while the lower portion 18 of the stiffening insert 14 is positioned between the lower face 6 of the support strip 2 and the lower covering strip 4. The upper covering strips 3 and lower covering strips 4 are furthermore each sewn onto the support strip 2 by means of two lines of stitching 25, 26 extending longitudinally along each of the two longitudinal edges of the stiffening insert 14. The upper covering strips 3 and lower covering strips 4 may, in particular, be made of natural or synthetic leather or fabric.

[0058] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the edge of the support strip 2 can be covered with a layer of dye corresponding to the color of the upper coating strips 3 and lower coating strips 4.

[0059] Figure 8 is an exploded view of a reinforcing core 1 according to a second embodiment. This second embodiment differs in particular from the first embodiment, described in relation to Figures 1 to 7, in that the stiffening insert 14 is formed of two parts 27, 28 which are respectively positioned on either side of the support strip 2 and which are fixed to each other through openings 29, 30, 31 provided in the support strip 2, for example by clipping.

[0060] In the embodiment shown, the support strip 2 has several openings 29, 30, 31, here three in number, which are distributed along the longitudinal axis of the support strip 2. One of the parts, here part 28, has pins 32, 33, 34 which form the connecting portion 19 between the upper portion 17 and the lower portion 18 of the stiffening insert 14. Each pin 32, 33, 34 is inserted into one of the openings 29, 30, 31 of the support strip 2 and fits into an additional housing, not shown, provided in the other part 27. The pins 32, 33, 34 are, for example, clipped into the housings, that is to say, they fit into the housings by elastic deformation.

[0061] Figure 9 represents a reinforcing core 1 according to a third embodiment. This third embodiment differs in particular from those described above in that the stiffening insert 14 is overmolded onto the support strip 2. To produce such a reinforcing core 1, the support strip 2 is placed in a mold and then molten metal is injected plastic in said mold so as to overmold the stiffening insert 14 onto the support strip 2. In order to ensure the cohesion of the overmolded stiffening insert 14, the support strip 2 has a plurality of openings 35 which are each crossed by a connecting portion of the stiffening insert 14 which links the upper portion to the lower portion of said stiffening insert 14.

[0062] Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is clearly evident that it is by no means limited to them and that it includes all technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

[0063] The use of the verb "comprise", "comprendre" or "include" and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those stated in a claim.

[0064] In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses shall not be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

Demands

1. Reinforcing core (1) for a bag handle, intended to be sheathed between at least one upper covering strip (3) and at least one lower covering strip (4) comprising: - a support strip (2) onto which the upper covering strip (3) and the lower covering strip (4) are intended to be sewn, the support strip (2) having an upper face (5) intended to be covered by the upper covering strip (3) and an lower face (6) intended to be covered by the lower covering strip (4), the support strip (2) having at least one opening (7, 29, 30, 31) passing through the support strip (2);and - a stiffening insert (14) having an upper portion (17) disposed above the upper face (5) of the support strip (2) and intended to be positioned between the support strip (2) and the upper coating strip (3) and a lower portion (18) disposed below the lower face (6) of the support strip (2) and intended to be positioned between the support strip (2) and the lower coating strip (4), the stiffening insert (14) having a connecting portion (19) which connects the upper portion (17) and the lower portion (18) through said opening (7, 29, 30, 31) and holds them respectively against the upper face (5) and the lower face (6) of the support strip (2).

2. Reinforcing core (1) according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening insert (14) is formed in one piece and at least one of the upper (17) and lower (18) portions is configured to pass through the opening (7) of the support strip (2) by elastically deforming said support strip (2).

3. Reinforcing core (1) according to claim 2, wherein said upper portion (17) or lower portion (18) which is configured to pass through the opening (7) of the support strip (2) has a cross section which is flared in the direction of the connecting portion (19).

4. Reinforcing core (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the opening (7) is a slot extending along a longitudinal direction of the support strip (2).

5. Reinforcing core (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the connecting portion (19) provides a groove (21) between the upper portion (17) and the lower portion (18), the support strip (2) having areas, bordering the opening (7), and housed in said groove (21).

6. Reinforcing core (1) according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening insert (14) is formed of a first and a second part (27, 28), separate, which respectively comprise each of the upper (17) and lower (18) portions, the first part (28) further comprising the connecting portion (19) which passes through the opening (29, 30, 31), said connecting portion being fixed to the second part (27).

7. Reinforcing core (1) according to claim 6, wherein the support strip (2) has a plurality of openings (29, 30, 31) and wherein the connecting portion (19) has a plurality of pins (32, 33, 34) each passing through one of the openings (29, 30, 31).

8. Reinforcing core (1) according to claim 7, wherein the pins (32, 33, 34) are clipped into housings provided in the second piece (27).

9. Reinforcing core (1) according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening insert (14) is overmolded onto the support strip (2).

10. Reinforcing core (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the support strip (2) is made of a material selected from natural or synthetic leathers, fabrics, polymers and cellulose-based materials.

11. Reinforcing core (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the stiffening insert (14) is made of a polymer material.

12. Reinforcing core (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the stiffening insert (14) is obtained by injection of a polymer material.

13. Reinforcing core (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the stiffening insert (14) has a Young's modulus between 0.01 and 0.1 GPa.

14. Bag handle comprising: - a reinforcing core (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, - at least one upper covering strip (3) which covers the upper portion of the stiffening insert (14) and the upper face (5) of the support strip (2) and is sewn to the support strip (2), and - at least one lower covering strip (4) which covers the lower portion of the stiffening insert (14) and the lower face (5) of the support strip (2) and is sewn to the support strip (2).

15. Bag having a handle according to claim 14.

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