Global Patent Index - EP 0404448 B1

EP 0404448 B1 19940525 - Soft bag and expander.

Title (en)

Soft bag and expander.

Title (de)

Weiche Tasche und Expander.

Title (fr)

Poche souple et extenseur.

Publication

EP 0404448 B1 19940525 (EN)

Application

EP 90306524 A 19900614

Priority

  • US 36775989 A 19890619
  • US 38386389 A 19890721
  • US 52373490 A 19900515

Abstract (en)

[origin: EP0404448A2] An expander for insertion into and expansion of a soft bag (20, 40, 302) comprising a device (10, 11, 13, 15, 136, 137, 200, 250, 300, 350) which is folded or collapsed to a flat state or spread apart to an expanded state. The soft bag is collapsed to a compact form in the flat state for shipment. In the expanded position, the bag is expanded to give the appearance that it is filled. Some embodiments use a resilient member (18, 38, 146, 230, 280, 281, 330, 380) to automatically urge the device from a flat position to its expanded position when compressive forces are removed from the bag. Other forms use a cord (72, 98, 150) for manually moving the expander device into its bag-expanding position. To provide for a greater extent of expansion in relation to the length of the device in the flat position, an expanding device (200, 250, 300, 350) having four sequentially arranged sections (2Il-214, 261-264, 311-314, 361-364), each of which is articulatable with respect to each adjacent section is provided in some embodiments. Expansion of a cylindrical bag (302) is facilitated by a generally rigid insert (333, 334, 382) in certain embodiments that is articulatable to better conform to the curved shape of the side portions.

IPC 1-7

A45C 7/00

IPC 8 full level

A45C 15/00 (2006.01); A45C 13/00 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

A45C 13/004 (2013.01)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

DE ES FR GB IT SE

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 0404448 A2 19901227; EP 0404448 A3 19910206; EP 0404448 B1 19940525; AU 4003393 A 19930819; AU 5759990 A 19901220; AU 641660 B2 19930930; CA 2018782 A1 19901219; CA 2018782 C 20000718; DE 69009106 D1 19940630; DE 69009106 T2 19941110; JP H03103202 A 19910430

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 90306524 A 19900614; AU 4003393 A 19930603; AU 5759990 A 19900618; CA 2018782 A 19900612; DE 69009106 T 19900614; JP 16116290 A 19900619