Bags

Abstract

 A bag includes a front part (1), a bottom part (2), a back part (3) and gusset parts (6). The front part (1), the bottom part (2) and the back part (3) are unified to be a bag body. Both sides of the bag body are provided with one sides of slide fasteners (5) on hem portions which connect with the gusset parts (6). The gusset parts (6) are provided with the other sides of the slide fasteners (7) on hem portions thereof. The fasteners (5, 7) are disengaged to release each part to open and spread the bag and engaged to make it up. With the bag being opened and spread substantially flat, objects may be readily received in and taken out of the bag regardless of the size and shape.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a bag in which objects are easily received and from which the objects are easily taken out.

[0002] A known bag includes a front part, a back part, a bottom part and a gusset part which connects the front, back and bottom parts and these parts are sewed up three dimensionally to provide receiving space therein. The receiving space has an opening through which objects are taken in and out.

[0003] The opening of this kind of bag, however, has a limited size so that objects of relatively large size or special shape and the like may not be easily taken in or out.

[0004] It is hence a primary object of the present invention to provide a bag in which objects are easily received and from which the objects are easily taken out.

[0005] A bag of the present invention includes a front part, a bottom part, a back part, and a pair of gusset parts. The first three parts make up a bag body. Each gusset part has one side of each slide fastener along its hem, and hem portions of both sides of the bag body which make a connection with the hems of the gusset parts are provided with the other sides of the slide fasteners. Here in the description one of one side or the other side of a slide fastener includes teeth (or coil) and a slide and the other includes teeth (or coil), and the foregoing one side and other side make up a fastener. Opening or releasing the slide fasteners of the gusset parts and the bag body enables to open and spread the bag substantially flat, while closing or engaging the slide fasteners makes up the three-dimensional bag.

[0006] The bag body and the gusset parts may be partially fixed together, or they may be detachable from each other so that the gussets may be exchanged for another pair.

[0007] When a relatively large size object is to be put into the bag of the present invention, the slide fasteners of the bag body and the pair of the gussets are disengaged to release each part. At this point, the bag is opened or spread to be flat. The relatively large size object may be received on the flat-opened bag and then the slide fasteners of the bag body and gussets are closed. Consequently, the objects is received in the three-dimensional bag.

[0008] Since objects are received in the bag or taken out of it when the bag is opened or spread flat, sizes of objects to be received therein are not limited to the size of the inherent opening of the bag.

[0009] In addition, when the pair of gussets are designed to be detachable from the bag body and exchangeable for another pair, exchanging gussets allows to change the type and design of the bag depending on purposes.

[0010] Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Fig. 1 is an exploded plan view of an embodiment of the bag according to the present invention.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bag in Fig. 1, in which one of the gussets is released from the bag body and opened flat.

[0013] Fig. 3 is an exploded bottom view of another embodiment of the bag of the present invention.

[0014] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bag of Fig. 3.

[0015] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portable kimono carrying case.

[0016] Some of the embodiments according to the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] A first embodiment of the bag of the present invention possesses a front part 1, a bottom part 2 and a back part 3. They are unified and make up a bag body, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The bag also has a pair of gusset parts 6. The front part 1 and the back part 3 are provided with respective handles 4. The hem portions of the bag body which connect with gusset parts 6 are provided with one sides of slide fasteners or zippers 5. On the other hand, the pair of gusset parts 6, both of which are U-shaped, are provided with the other sides of the slide fasteners or zippers 7 on the U-shaped outsides. The gussets of this embodiment has a relatively large width. The shape of gusset parts 6, however, may be diversified according to the nature, shape or size of objects to be received in the bag.

[0018] Opening and closing the fasteners 5, 7 of the bag body and gussets parts 6 allows the bag to be entirely opened and spread flat as shown in Fig. 1 and to be made up as shown in Fig. 2. The gusset parts 6 of this embodiment are partially fixed to the bag body into one single unit. And one of the gusset parts 6 has a pocket 8.

[0019] The bag body includes an inner material 11 which spreads substantially the entire inside area of the bag body and divides the inside space of the bag into two to protect the object under the inner material 11 and separate it from other various stuff in the bag. Under the inner material 11, for instance, a portable kimono (Japanese traditional clothes) carrying case, which is shown in Fig. 5, may be inserted. The inner material 11 has a slide fastener 12 in the middle part so as to be opened and facilitate reception of an object to be received. Four pockets 14 are also provided inside on the front and back parts 1, 3, so that small objects may be kept therein separately and easily taken out through the opening 13 (shown in Fig. 2) of the bag.

[0020] Referring to Fig. 5, the portable kimono carrying case 21 has a rectangular flexible synthetic resin plate 22, which functions as a kimono-supporting pad. Folded kimono 23 is placed on the plate 22 and received thereon. Ends of the plate 22 have respective binders 24 which hold the end parts of the folded kimono. The carrying case 21 has covering material sheets 25, which are respectively fixed on both sides of the plates 22 so as to be opened in opposite directions and cover the kimono from the both sides Respective hems of the material sheets 25 not to be fixed to the plate 22 have a slide fastener 26 which connects the covering material sheets 25 together in the center area to close the case. Furthermore, longitudinal ends of the plate 22 are also provided with another covering material sheets 27 to additionally cover the kimono 23.

[0021] Now referring back to Figs. 1 and 2, closing the slide fasteners 5, 7 of the bag body and the gusset parts 6 makes the bag three-dimensional to provide receiving space inside. At this time, the opening 13 on the top of the bag is still open. In this embodiment, the opening 13, which is defined by the hems of the front and back parts 1, 3, also has a slide fastener 15 provided on the hems of the front and back parts 1, 3. Therefore, when the slide fastener 15 is closed, the bag is completely closed. When the fastener 15 is opened, various objects may be taken in or out from the bag through the opening 13.

[0022] When a relatively large size object, for instance, the portable kimono carrying case 21, is to be received in the bag, the fasteners 5, 7 of the bag body and the pair of gussets 6 are released so that the bag is entirely opened. At this point, the slide fasteners are released and the bag is opened and spread flat as shown in Fig. 1. Subsequently, the fastener 12 of the inner material 11 is opened, and the object to be received, or the portable kimono carrying case 21, is put under the inner material 11. The slide fastener 12 is closed, and then the slide fasteners 5, 7 of the bag body and the gusset parts 6 are closed together. The object to be received is not necessarily put under the inner material 11. The portable kimono carrying case, however, would be preferable to be put under the inner material 11 so as to prevent kimonos from moving about during the carrying.

[0023] Objects may be received in and taken out from the bag with the bag being spread flat. This allows objects of various sizes and shapes to be easily taken in and out from the bag in spite of the size of the inherent opening 13 of the bag. This is the benefit of the present invention which any known bag does not have.

[0024] It is very difficult to carry objects like kimonos, which should not be crinkled, by known bags. Kimonos, being folded beforehand, must be put in receiving space of bags through openings thereof. This usually gives crinkles to the kimonos and carrying them in these conditions makes it worse. In the present invention, as stated above, a kimono is received in the bag without causing crinkles. Moreover the gasset parts 6 of this embodiment have a relatively large width, and the kimono is relatively gently bent along from the front part 1 to the bottom part 2 and from the bottom part 2 to the back part 3. Therefore the kimono can be carried with no or much less crinkles. This is the other benefit of the present invention.

[0025] The kimono placed in the portable kimono carrying case 21 stated above is just one example. A suit (a jacket and trousers) may be also received in the bag of the present invention. If a suit is to be received in the bag, the bag is opened and spread substantially flat, the slide fastener 12 of the inner material 11 is released to provide clothes receiving space under the inner material 11. The inner material 11 keeps the clothes thereunder separately from other stuff in the bag. A suit is hang on a plastic hanger generally available in the market. The hanger, on which the trousers are hang being folded at the longitudinal middle part and the jacket is thereon, is put into the opened clothes receiving space with the hook of the hanger being hooked on the hook receiver 16. Then the slide fastener 12 of the inner material 11 is closed. Consequently, the suit is received between the inside face of the bag body and the inner material 11 and kept separately from other stuff in the bag and not easily movable about. This prevents crinkles of the suit and reserves separate space for other objects. Thanks to this benefit, the bag is especially suitable for trip carrying a suit and the like.

[0026] A second embodiment of the bag of the present invention is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The bag has a bag body and a pair of gusset parts 6, 6a which are detachable from the bag body and exchangeable for another pair. Here, different from the first embodiment, one sides of slide fasteners 7 are provided along the entire outer hems of the gusset parts 6, 6a, even along the hem portions which connect with the bottom portion of the bag. On the other hand, the other sides of slide fasteners 5 are provided along the entire length of the both side hems of the bag. The length of the row of teeth of the one side of the slide fasteners 7 equals to that of the other side of the slide fasteners 5. A pair of gusset parts 6 may be exchangeable for another pair as long as they has one sides of the slide fasteners 7 which may engage with the other sides of the slide fasteners 5 on the bag body.

[0027] Depending on purposes, times, places and occasions, either wide gussets 6 or narrow gussets 6a (shown in Figs. 3 and 4) or other desired gussets (not shown) may be exchangeably used, which beneficially changes the type and design of the bag.

[0028] Giving cushiony material such as urethane in the bag body and/or gusset parts adds more ways of use. For instance, if the bag body is detached from the gusset parts 6, they may be respectively used as cushiony seats when watching baseball games, soccer games and the like at play grounds, sports grounds, or stadiums. Not only food and tools for cheering may be carried in the bag, but also the bag itself can be used as a handy seat outside. Furthermore if a hood part or a sleeve part is added to the bag body, the bag may be used as a rain-coat or an outfit or coat for cold weather. Such a hood part and a sleeve part may be folded in when the bag is used as a regular bag. Thus designed bag comes in handy outside at a time of a sudden rain or unexpected cold weather.

[0029] A third embodiment of the bag of the present invention is designed to be entirely opened and spread flat like the foregoing embodiments. The difference of the third embodiment from the other embodiments is to have plural transparent pockets inside. If promotional gifts or free samples are neatly put in the transparent pockets, it is beneficially possible to readily open the bag and display them at parties or in front of customers instantly. Since the bag is entirely opened and spread flat and all of promotional gifts or free samples in the transparent pockets are easily seen, this way of display may produce good results.

[0030] The bag designed as above has the following advantages. Objects are easily taken in and out from the bag regardless of the size and shape of the objects. This bag may be used as a garment bag or a portable kimono carrying bag, so that kimonos or suits on which crinkles should not be given may be preferably carried therein. It is possible to change the design or type of the bag depending on purposes, times, places, and occasions. Even more, it may be used as a display bag for showing promotional items and the like or instantly be a seat or a coat.

[0031] The present invention, therefore, provides a bag in which objects are easily received and from which they are easily taken out, and further which comes in handy in various ways.

Claims

1. A bag having a front part (1), a bottom part (2), a back part (3) and gusset parts (6), the front part (1), the bottom part (2) and the back part (3) being unified to be a bag body, both sides of the bag body having one sides (5) of slide fasteners on hem portions which connect with the gusset parts (6), the gusset parts (6) having the other sides (7) of the slide fasteners on hem portions thereof, wherein the fasteners (5, 7) are disengaged to release each part to open and spread the bag and engaged to make up the bag.

2. A bag according to Claim 1, wherein the bag body and the gusset parts (6) are partially fixed together.

3. A bag according to Claim 1, wherein the gusset parts (6) are detachable from the bag body and exchangeable for other gussets (6a).

Drawing