Flexible and / or foldable shopping bag

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible and / or foldable shopping bag, comprising a flexible outer cover comprising a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall which surrounds the bottom wall so as to define an inner space, open at the top, intended to receive articles to be transported, the open inner space being divided into two adjacent inner spaces, open at the top and separated from each other by an intermediate wall, in particular parallel to the two front and rear walls. The invention is characterised in that a first space of the two inner spaces is defined by one of the two front and rear walls, a first bottom wall in the form of a two-piece bellows and two left and right walls in the form of a two-piece bellows, while a second inner space is defined between the other of the two front and rear walls and the intermediate wall, it being possible for the two upper edges of said other of the two front and rear walls and of the intermediate wall to be removably attached to one another, for example by means of a zip fastening, and the respective faces of said other of the two front and rear walls and of the intermediate wall, facing the second inner space, being made of a thermally insulating material, for example being covered with respective sheets made of a thermally insulating material, in particular made of aluminium.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Soft and / or folding shopping bag

[0001] The present invention relates to a soft and / or folding shopping bag.

[0002] A soft and / or collapsible shopping bag has a flexible outer shell comprising a base and a side perimeter wall that wraps around the base, defining an open interior space at the top for carrying items, including items purchased in supermarkets, such as packaged food or the like. When the bag is empty, the side perimeter wall can be compressed to significantly reduce the volume of the interior space and folded at least partially in on itself to take up less space when carried empty.

[0003] We already know of a soft shopping bag of this kind whose peripheral side wall has a front wall, a back wall and two left and right walls, each of the bottom wall and the two side walls being in the shape of a bellows made up of two respective panels which can be folded against each other to bring the two front and back walls closer together to greatly reduce the volume of the interior space.

[0004] This type of shopping bag allows you to take up little space when empty, and to have a large volume for receiving items for transport.

[0005] From CN207191811 U, a bag of this type is known which, moreover, defines within itself two adjacent interior spaces of identical volume separated by an intermediate wall parallel to the front and rear walls, namely a front interior space defined by the front wall, the intermediate wall, a first bottom wall in the shape of a double-sided bellows, and two first left and right walls in the shape of a double-sided bellows; and a rear interior space defined by the rear wall, the intermediate wall, a second bottom wall in the shape of a double-sided bellows, and two second left and right walls in the shape of a double-sided bellows, with two handles respectively at the front and rear projecting from the edges. upper sections of the front and rear walls to allow for easy handling of the bag when carrying items.

[0006] On the other hand, for the transport of fresh produce, including frozen or deep-frozen items, there is a known flexible bag with thermal insulation capacity having two front and rear walls which are fixed together along their lower edges and their two lateral edges to form an interior space open at the top, the upper edges of the two front and rear walls being able to be fixed to each other in a removable manner, for example by a zipper, to completely close the interior space once the items to be kept at as high a temperature as possible have been received inside, the inner faces of the two front and rear walls being made of a thermal insulation material.

[0007] We would like to have a flexible shopping bag that is easy to use and has a large volume for transporting items, while also allowing the transport of fresh produce that we want to keep at a low temperature during transport from the supermarket to our home, in order to maintain the cold chain as much as possible.

[0008] According to the invention, a flexible and / or folding shopping bag, comprising a flexible outer shell having a bottom wall and a peripheral lateral wall surrounding the bottom wall so as to define an interior space open at the top for receiving items to be transported, the open interior space being divided into two adjacent interior spaces open at the top and separated from each other by an intermediate wall, in particular parallel to two front and rear walls of the peripheral wall, is characterized in that a first interior space of the two interior spaces is defined by the intermediate wall, one of the two front and rear walls, a first bottom wall in the shape of a two-sided bellows and two left and right walls in the shape of a two-sided bellows, while a second interior space is defined between the other of the two front and rear walls and the intermediate wall,the two upper edges of said other of the two front and rear walls and of the intermediate wall being able to be attached to each other in a removable manner, for example by means of a zipper, and the respective faces of said other of the two front and rear walls and of the intermediate wall facing the second interior space being made of a thermally insulating material, for example being covered with, respective sheets made of a thermally insulating material, in particular aluminium.

[0009] Preferably, the front, rear and intermediate walls are the same size.

[0010] Preferably, the other of the two front and rear walls and the intermediate wall are fixed to each other, for example by sewing, welding, gluing or similar, at least along their two left and right edges.

[0011] According to a favorable embodiment, the second interior space comprises a second bottom wall consisting of a two-sided bellows, the edge of the side of the second bottom wall located furthest inside the bag being fixed to the edge of the side of the first bottom wall located furthest inside the bag, in particular by sewing, welding, gluing or the like.

[0012] Preferably the left edges of the two sides of the second bottom wall are fixed to each other, in particular by sewing, welding, gluing or the like, and in particular are each fixed to the two left edges of the said other of the two front and rear walls and of the intermediate wall, and / or the right edges of the two sides of the second bottom wall are fixed to each other, in particular by sewing, welding, gluing or the like, and in particular are each fixed to the two right edges of the said other of the two front and rear walls and of the intermediate wall.

[0013] Preferably, the respective inner faces of the other of the two front and rear walls, of the second bottom wall in the shape of a two-sided bellows and of the intermediate wall facing the second interior space are covered with respective sheets of a thermally insulating material, in particular aluminium.

[0014] Preferably, two handles, front and rear, are attached to the front and rear walls respectively so as to protrude beyond the upper front and rear edges for carrying the bag, particularly when transporting it, with the items to be carried being received in one or both of the interior spaces.

[0015] The assembly of the walls and bellows is advantageously protected if the lateral edges and the bottom edges are reinforced by ribbons covering the edges of the assembled elements and integrated into the means of assembling the edges of the panels, including a seam.

[0016] The present invention will be described in more detail below with the aid of folding shopping bags given solely by way of example and shown in the accompanying drawings in which: [Fig. 1] Perspective view of the folding shopping bag, [Fig. 2A] Side view of the folding shopping bag, [Fig. 2B] Cross-sectional view along plane ll-ll of the folding shopping bag as shown in Figure 1, [Fig. 2C] Cross-section perspective view of the two associated panels, [Fig. 3] View of the bag laid flat, [Fig. 4A] view from below the bag, [Fig. 4B] Top view of the bag.

[0017] Figure 1 shows the folding shopping bag according to the invention, composed of a first panel 1PA and a second panel 2PA connected by overlapping side gussets SFL, and a bottom gusset SFF alongside panels 1PA and 2PA to create a folding shopping bag. When folded, the two panels overlap by compressing the gussets SFL and SFF to reduce the overall size to only the surface area of ​​the overlapping panels. This can be further reduced by folding the bag once or twice, dividing the surface area by 2 or by 2x2.

[0018] In its unfolded and deployed state, the 100 shopping bag delimits a parallelepiped volume between its 1PA, 2PA panels and its SFL side gussets forming the side panels of the bag.

[0019] Bag 100 has an auxiliary PAX panel associated with one of the 1PA, 2PA panels to which it is connected.

[0020] This 1 PA sign will be called the main 1 PA sign to distinguish it from the other PAX sign, without this name implying any difference between the first and second signs.

[0021] The auxiliary PAX panel is connected to the main 1 PA panel by: - its sides joined together, in particular by fixing, for example by sewing, welding, gluing or similar, to the sides of panel 1 PA, and - its upper edge BSX connected, in particular fixed in a removable manner, to the upper edge 1 BS of the panel 1 PA by a closure line LF, for example a zipper, a button closure, in particular a snap, a hook and loop or hook-in-hook self-gripping closure, or the like; - the lower edge of the first panel 1 PA is connected, in particular fixed, for example by sewing, welding, gluing or the like, to the first edge of an auxiliary gusset SFX, forming the first bottom edge 1AF and by the second edge of the auxiliary gusset SFX connected, in particular fixed, for example by sewing, welding, gluing or the like, to the lower edge of the auxiliary panel PAX, thus forming an auxiliary bottom edge AXF, to which is connected, in particular fixed, for example by sewing, welding, gluing or the like, the first edge of the bottom gusset SFF; the other edge of the bottom gusset SFF is connected, in particular fixed, for example by sewing, welding, gluing or the like, to the lower edge of the other panel 2PA, thus forming the second bottom edge 2AF of the bag.

[0022] In this description, two edges of two adjacent panels or sections are joined together when the two edges coincide or overlap, either by the effect of a fold at the boundary between the two adjacent panels or sections, or by the effect of a fastening along the line corresponding to the overlap of the two edges, in particular by fastening, for example by sewing, welding, gluing or the like.

[0023] The folded ends of the auxiliary bellows SFX are integrated, folded respectively, into the two sides of the main panel 1 PA in the two lateral edges 1AL. The auxiliary bellows SFX thus occupies the height H of the folded bellows SFX, in the two lateral edges 1AL of the main panel 1 PA.

[0024] In this embodiment, the edges 1AL delimiting the edges of panel 1PA are reinforced and stiffened by assembly at each of these two lateral edges 1AL: - the two respective pairs of edges of the main panel 1 PA and the auxiliary panel PAX, - the ends of the auxiliary bellows SFX partly in each of the two edges 1AL

[0025] The lower edge of the panel is reinforced by its assembly to the edge of the SFX bellows, which is stiffened among other things by the integration of its two folded ends into the lower part of the lateral edges 1AL.

[0026] The transverse folding of the flattened 100 bag can also be easily done at mid-height by a transverse fold located above the lower part stiffened as described above by the bottom gussets SFF and FSX and the height H stiffened by the lateral edges 1AL.

[0027] At the top, the 1 PA, PAX panels are connected by a closure line LF consisting of a pull tab or micro-claw strips or other separable assembly means such as snap fasteners, a hook and loop or hook-in-hook fastener (e.g., Velcro brand), a zipper (also known as a "zip" closure) or similar.

[0028] The combination of the two panels 1 PA, PAX forms a compartment separate from the rest of the bag's volume, unfolding within the bag's volume defined by the walls comprising the two panels 1 PA, 2PA and the side gussets SFL. The bag 100 thus creates a parallelepiped-shaped volume, easy to carry thanks to its two handles 110, as it does not protrude laterally with bulky or cumbersome protrusions.

[0029] The compartment formed by the 1 PA, PAX panels and the SFX gusset can receive products to be separated or isolated from other products placed in the bag.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the 1PA and PAX panels are made of a thermally insulating material, for example aluminum, at least on the inner face facing the compartment. The same applies to the SFX auxiliary bellows of so that the compartment can receive products to be isolated during the use of bag 100.

[0031] The material of the walls, panels, and gussets is that generally used for such shopping bags, offering a certain level of structure and rigidity, yet allowing for folding and easy maintenance (washable). It may be made of one or more types of plastic, fabric, or a blend, and each panel, wall, and gusset can range in thickness from 1 to 5 mm.

[0032] Figure 1 shows the parallelepiped outline of the unfolded bag with the PSFL, PSFF folding lines of the SFL, SFF bellows and the common edge AXF to the bottom bellows SFX, SFF.

[0033] The side view in Figure 2A shows the external shape of the 100 bag with the side gussets SFL deployed, also outlining the folding of the bottom gusset SFF.

[0034] Comparison of the side view of Figure 2A and the cross-sectional view of Figure 2B, according to the cutting plane ll-ll, (which does not pass through the lateral edges 1AL but in an intermediate position) shows that the bottom of panel 1 PA bulges outwards according to the deployment of the auxiliary bellows SFX while the top of the compartment is closed and panels 1 PA, PAX are brought together, connected by the closure line LF.

[0035] Figure 2C, which is a perspective view cut along the cutting plane (ll-ll) of Figure 1, shows the slightly deployed shape progressively of the auxiliary bellows SFX from its completely crushed, flattened form of its part integrated on its height H in the main lateral edge 1AL.

[0036] Figure 3 shows bag 100 lying flat, with the gussets SFX and SFF clearly visible in the lower part. This view highlights the main bottom edge 1AF and the auxiliary bottom edge AXF, as well as the second main bottom edge 2AF, highlighting the gussets SFF and SFX, their folds PSFF and PSFX, and the three edges 1AF, AXF, and 2AF, showing the lenticular shape of the compartment bottom, delimited by edges 1AF and AXF, since the two ends of the gusset are integrated into the lower part of the two lateral edges 1AL of the first panel 1PA.

[0037] The view from below of bag 100 in figure 4A again shows the main edges 1AF, 2AF of the bottom, the auxiliary bellows SFX slightly open, delimited by the lens-shaped edges 1AF, AXF and the bottom bellows SFF slightly unfolded.

[0038] The top view in Figure 4B shows the bag opening and the LF closure line of the compartment between the first panel 1 PA and the auxiliary panel PAX.

[0039] This view shows the upper edge 1 BS of the first panel 1 PA, the upper edge BSX of the auxiliary panel PAX, the upper edge 2BS of the second panel 2PA and the side edge BLS formed by the two bellows SFL.

[0040] The bag of the invention may have handles of great lengths, for example between 0.75m and 1.25m, or short handles, for example between 0.20m and 0.5m, or long handles and short handles.

[0041] The panels of the bag can have any dimensions, including a height of between 0.50m and 1.5m, a width of between 0.50m and 1.5m, without the invention being limited to these dimensions.

[0042] Similarly, the material of the panels forming the bag can also be cotton, straw, Tyvek, polyester, particularly in the form of fibers, without the invention being limited to these materials. NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS 100 Folding Shopping Bags 110 Handle / grip 1 PA Panel / first panel 1AL Main lateral edge / lateral edge of the first panel 1AF Main edge of the bottom / wall edge of the first panel 1 BS Top edge of the first panel AXF Auxiliary edge of the bottom 2PA Panel / Second Panel 2AL Side edge Z Side edge of the second panel 2AF Bottom edge / Bottom edge of the second panel 2BS Upper edge of the second panel PAX Auxiliary Panel AXF Auxiliary bottom edge / auxiliary panel bottom edge BSX Upper edge of the auxiliary panel SFL Side Bellows PSFL Side bellows fold SFF Bottom Bellows PSFF Bottom bellows fold SFX Auxiliary Bellows PSFX Auxiliary Bellows Fold LF Closing line BLS Upper lateral edge BLI Lower lateral edge H Height of integration of the end of the auxiliary bellows SFX into the lateral edge 1AL

Claims

DEMANDS

1. A flexible and / or folding shopping bag (100) comprising a flexible outer cover having a bottom wall (SFF, SFX) and a peripheral lateral wall (1PA, 2PA, SFL) surrounding the bottom wall so as to define an interior space open at the top for receiving items to be carried, the open interior space being divided into two adjacent interior spaces open at the top and separated from each other by an intermediate wall (PAX), in particular parallel to two front and rear walls, characterized in that a first space of the two interior spaces is defined by one of two walls (1PA) front and rear, a first bottom wall (SFF) in the form of a two-sided bellows, two left and right walls (SFL) in the form of a two-sided bellows and the intermediate wall (PAX), while a second interior space is defined between the other (2PA) of the two front and rear walls and the intermediate wall (PAX),the two upper edges (2BS, BSX) of said other of the two front and rear walls and of the intermediate wall being able to be removably fixed to each other, for example by means of a zipper, and the respective faces of said other of the two front and rear walls and of the intermediate wall facing the second interior space being made of a thermally insulating material, for example being covered with respective sheets of a thermally insulating material, in particular aluminium.

2. Bag according to claim 1, characterized in that the front, rear and intermediate walls are of the same dimension.

3. Bag according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said other of the two front and rear walls and the intermediate wall are fixed to each other, for example by sewing, welding, gluing or the like, at least along their two left and right edges.

4. Bag according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second interior space comprises a second bottom wall consisting of a two-sided gusset, the edge of the side of the second bottom wall located furthest inside the bag being fixed to the edge of the side of the first bottom wall located furthest inside the bag, in particular by sewing, welding, gluing or the like.

5. Bag according to claim 4, characterized in that the left edges of the two panels of the second bottom wall are fixed to each other, in particular by sewing, welding, gluing or the like, and, in particular, are each fixed to the two left edges of said other of the two front and rear walls and of the intermediate wall, and / or the right edges of the two panels of the second bottom wall are fixed to each other, in particular by sewing, welding, gluing or the like, and, in particular, are each fixed to the two right edges of said other of the two front and rear walls and of the intermediate wall.

6. Bag according to claim 5, characterized in that the left edges of the two panels are each fixed to the two left edges of said other of the two front and rear walls and of the intermediate wall, and / or the right edges of the two panels are each fixed to the two right edges of said other of the two front and rear walls and of the intermediate wall

7. Bag according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that the respective inner faces of said other of the two front and rear walls, of the second bottom wall in the form of a two-sided bellows and of the intermediate wall facing the second inner space are covered with respective sheets of a thermally insulating material, in particular of aluminium.

8. Bag according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two handles, front and rear, are fixed to the front and rear walls respectively so as to be able to protrude beyond the upper front and rear edges for gripping the bag, particularly during its transport, the items to be transported being received in one or both of the interior spaces.

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