A bag cover device

Abstract

A bag cover 99 with a waterproof cover 1 forming a base 2 with feet 21, a sidewall 18, and an opening A opposite the base 2; and a means 13 for at least partially closing the opening A. The base 2 can be rigid, rectangular, and formed of parts, each with more than two feet 21, that are connected to each other by a hinge 22. A portion of the cover 1 above the base 2 can be elasticated; and a cover flap with one send sewn proximate the opening A. The closure means 13 may be a drawstring and toggle 12; and the cover 1 may have a pocket 11 at either end of the base 2. At least one end of the cover 1 can have a side opening, covered by a flap, to allow access to the handles of an enclosed bag.

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bag cover device, in particular a device for covering and protecting a bag; more particularly but not exclusively a duffle bag. Background In many societies across the world there is an increasingly variable weather pattern. This causes a grat deal of issues for many people. In particular unpredictable and / or heavy rainfall may be a particular problem for many. Many people may choose their bags for aesthetic, branding or style purposes, rather than seeking a waterproof bag or material. This can be an issue, when rainfall occurs. Prior Art KR10 2014 0106 218 (CHOI) discloses a cover to enclose a backpack having a rubber band formed on an edge portion thereof; and a pocket bag to accommodate the cover, wherein the edge portion of the cover is overlapped with both surfaces of an edge portion of the pocket bag so that the pocket bag can be used as a bag for storing an article by inverting the pocket bag and storing the cover when the pocket bag is stored or wrapping the bag pack with the cover, i CA 2 440 921 (GRAVEL et al) discloses a cover, made of light and impermeable fabric which is put on a backpack and which serves at the same time as covers bag against the rain, of cover of protection during transport, fixed at the backpack by straps and a lace to the bottom of the bag, closed using a zipper or closing it using a standard lock. US 2016 0 360 845 (SOMERS) discloses a backpack cover device comprising: a sleeve having a closed bottom end and a peripheral wall extending from said closed bottom end defining an interior space, said peripheral wall defining an opening into said interior space; a pair of spaced parallel slots extending through a back section of said peripheral wall wherein each of said slots is configured for receiving a respective strap of a backpack therethrough when the backpack is positioned in said interior space; a pocket coupled to an exterior surface of said peripheral wall; a flap coupled to and extending from said peripheral wall, said flap being positionable to extend over and cover said opening into said interior space; a closure coupled to said sleeve, said closure securing said flap to said peripheral wall in a closed position extending over said opening into said interior space; and a slit extending through said flap wherein said slit is configured for receiving a handle of the backpack therethrough when the backpack is positioned in said interior space and said flap is extended over said opening into said interior space. Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a bag cover device comprising a waterproof cover and a cover closure means, the cover arranged to describe a base, a sidewall, and an open top face opposing the base and comprising an opening, the closure means arranged to close the opening at least in part, and the base comprising a plurality of feet. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a rigid base, which supports the feet and ensures that the feet act to elevate the base from a floor, thereby limiting passage of moisture and / or accommodating uneven floors. In other embodiments the base may be semi-rigid and / or comprise one or more living hinges. In some embodiments of the device the base is rectangular, so as to provide a well-defined and useful storage space internally for the bag in use, in particular a duffle bag or similar. In some embodiments of the device the base comprises more than one part, which parts may be separated by a hinge in some embodiments. In this way the base may be capable of being folded or otherwise minimised, so as to minimise the whole device in use, for storage or transport. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises more than two feet on each of such parts, so as to ensure the parts are independently supported and elevated from the floor, thereby limiting passage of moisture and / or accommodating uneven floors. In some embodiments of the device the closure means comprises a drawstring and toggle, providing an intuitive, easy to operate means of progressively closing the opening, such that the toggle may be drawn to hold the opening closed in use. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises one or more pockets, so as to provide additional storage to the bag itself. In some embodiments of the device for example the device comprises two pockets, one at either end of the base. The pockets may comprise a zipper closure, and / or elasticated mouth. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a connected bag adapted to accept the device, which bag may be envisaged to be sewn into or onto the cover or base, so as to be inverted to accept the cover and / or base for transport or storage. Such bag may be envisaged to be waterproof. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a carabiner and / or lanyard attachment point, allowing the device to be hung when in use or not, and / or items to be secured to the device. In some embodiments of the device the device comprises a cover flap sewn at one end proximate the opening, which may be envisaged to be used to close over the opening to prevent moisture entering if the opening is not fully closed. The flap may be provided with a connection means for its loose end, for example a ferromagnetic connection means or hook and loop material such as Velcro (RTM). According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a bag cover device substantially as described herein around a bag. Still further embodiments may be comprised by a separate cover and base, which may be attached in use to each or a bag. In this way the device of the present invention enables a user to put their own bag into the device for it to be advantageously protected from the ground, mud, wind and rain. It may be envisaged that in some embodiments the cover may be transparent or translucent allowing a user to showcase their bag whilst protecting it. The cover may additionally or alternatively provide a fluorescent or retroreflective material. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which: Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an end view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a view from below of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows an internal plan view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1; and Figure 6 shows a side view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, in an intermediate stage of folding. Detailed Description of Figures With reference to the figures there is shown embodiments of a bag cover device 99 comprising a cover 1 and a cover closure means 13, the cover arranged to describe a base 2, a sidewall 18, and an open top face A opposing the base 2, the closure means arranged to close the top face at least in part, and the base comprising a plurality of feet 21. In particular reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the embodiment comprises a substantially rigid base 2 formed by a sheet of a rigid plastic material, which is provided in a rectangular format. The base has a living hinge 22 across its longitudinal middle, so as to form two smaller rectangles, which is helped to hinge in the pictured embodiment by two metallic or polycarbonate hinges 34 spaced either side of a lateral centreline. Further embodiments may be envisaged to have living hinges exclusively and / or in addition. The embodiment comprises plastic feet, which may be envisaged to be acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or similar. The pictured embodiment comprises four feet 21 on each part of the base. Other embodiments may comprise three feet on each part of the base. In the pictured embodiment the feet are attached to the base. It may be envisaged that in further embodiments the feet may be moulded as a part with the base. Extending upwards from the perimetric edge of the base is the cover 1, which is formed of a flexible waterproof material such as polyester, which may be gathered at the open top face so by the closure means 13. It may be envisaged that the bottom part of the cover just above the base will be elasticated to fit around the bag in use to create a snug fit on the bag. It may be envisaged that side openings may be provided at both ends of the cover in relation to the bag, to allow the user access to the bag handles and allow the cover to stay in place over the bag. The side openings may have a flap to cover the opening having Velcro (RTM) strips to secure closed and / or around the handles when open with handles passing through. The cover is formed of two narrow panels 15, at the ends, and two wider panels 18, which form the sides of the embodiment. The top edge of the cover comprises a drawstring, running in a seamed hem, which has two free ends each with a plastic toggle 12, such that the opening may be gathered to close it. It may be envisaged that the opening may in further embodiments comprise a tab or flap, which may be secured to the cover within or without the cover, on an interior or exterior surface of the cover, and which may be used to cover the opening when gathered, to ensure no entrance of moisture. The cover comprises an external pocket 11 on either end. These pockets are open at its top edge, and comprised by mesh netting. The pockets are sewn to the comer seams of the end panels and have seamed top edges for durability. It may be envisaged that one or both of the pockets may comprise an elasticated entrance. In one of the pockets or internal to the cover there is a bag 3, which is sewn into the cover inside the opening. In this way, once the device is not in use it may be stored away into the bag, by folding the base in half, and using the bag to pull out and over the folded device in order to store it away conveniently and cleanly, with any exterior dirt or moisture within the bag in use. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A bag cover device comprising a waterproof cover and a cover closure means, the cover arranged to describe a base, a sidewall, and an open top face opposing the base and comprising an opening, the closure means arranged to close the opening at least in part, and the base comprising a plurality of feet.

2. A bag cover device according to claim 1 comprising a rigid base.

3. A bag cover device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the base is rectangular.

4. A bag cover device according to any preceding claim wherein the base comprises more than one part.

5. A bag cover device according to claim 4 wherein the parts are separated by a hinge.

6. A bag cover device according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the device comprises more than two feet on each part.

7. A bag cover device according to any preceding claim wherein the closure means comprises a drawstring and toggle.

8. A bag cover device according to any preceding claim comprising one or more pockets.

9. A bag cover device according to claim 8 comprising two pockets, one at either end of the base.

10. A bag cover device according to any preceding claim comprising a connected bag adapted to accept the device.

11. A bag cover device according to any preceding claim comprising a lanyard attachment point.

12. A bag cover device according to any preceding claim comprising a carabiner.

13. A bag cover device according to any preceding claim comprising a cover flap sewn at one end proximate the opening.

14. A bag cover device according to any preceding claim comprising a bottom part of the cover above the base which is elasticated.5 15. A bag cover device according to any preceding claim comprising side openingsat one or more ends of the cover in relation to the bag, to allow the user access to the bag handles and allow the cover to stay in place over the bag.

16. A bag cover device according to claim 15 wherein the side openings have a 10 flap to cover the side openings.

17. A bag cover device according to any preceding claim comprising a bag.

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