Sectional, Modular Bag, Variably Conformable Between Flattened And Container Conditions

Abstract

A sectional modular bag, which is variably conformable between a flattened non-use condition, and a container-use condition, comprises at least one containing bag body composed of only two parts (2), which are designed to generally define two main partitions (3a), two side partitions (3b), at least one bottom partition (4) and an opening (20) of said bag body (1).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a sectional, modular bag, which is variably conformable between a flattened smaller-size non-use condition, and a container-use condition of the bag.

PRIOR ART

[0002] In the field of sectional bag production, bags are known to be formed by removable assembly of a number of component parts made of leather, fabric or functionally equivalent materials, in various combinations according to the design of the bag. These parts have plan shapes of various geometries, which are diversified to allow complementary association thereof to form the bag assembly and to ensure the overall intended task of the bag.

[0003] As far as construction is concerned, the sectional nature of the parts of the bags advantageously affords significant construction savings, because the various assembly parts are simply obtained by customized cutting of parts, which will considerably reduce the manufacturing costs that are conventionally associated with the general manufacture of any bag, and particularly of high-value bags.

[0004] Nevertheless, especially due to the diversity of the shapes of the various component parts, the production of these bags involves the need of managing, for each bag model, a non-negligible number of parts to be stored and handled, i.e appropriately managed.

[0005] For consumers, the high diversity and the great number of the component parts, which are undoubtedly useful for the sectional nature of these bags, also involve a loss of advantages, when these parts differ from one another to a considerable extent and/or a great number of parts is provided. Thus, while the bag can be easily disassembled to be stored in a smaller-size state when it is not design to be used, the process of reassembly thereof when required becomes inconvenient and tiresome and is often avoided, which will involve the loss of the initial advantages of the sectional nature of the bag, also due to the need of transferring the bag contents in and out of the bag.

[0006] Sectional bags are already known in the art, in which the assembly of the component parts is obtained by quick-connect means, instead of sewing. This will speed up the manufacturing procedure, but will nonetheless only afford a limited cost reduction, considering that, even without sewing, special labor is required for providing the connection elements and mounting them to the bag.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Therefore, the technical purpose of the present invention is to obviate the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0008] As a part of this purpose, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a sectional bag arrangement that can afford a substantial reduction of the number of parts that form the bag and standardized geometric construction thereof.

[0009] The characteristics of the invention, relative to the above objects are clearly enunciated in the claims appended below.

[0010] The advantages achieved by the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description, referred to the accompanying drawings, which show one embodiment by way of exemplification and without limitation,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In the drawings:

[0012] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of the bag during disassembly, which shows certain internal details thereof;

[0013] FIG. 2 is an axonometric view of an internal part of the bag of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 3 is an axonometric view of the bag, in the assembled configuration;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom-to-top view of the bottom of FIG. 3;

[0016] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C show the aspects of certain component parts of the bag as viewed from the exterior thereof;

[0017] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C show the aspects of the same details of FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, as viewed from the interior.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0018] As shown in the accompanying drawings, in FIGS. 1 to 4 numeral 10 generally designates a sectional bag having a modular composition and variably conformable between a flattened smaller-size non-use condition, and a container-use condition, of the bag 10.

[0019] The bag 10 essentially comprises a bag body, generally referenced 1, composed of two component parts 2 only, which generally define two main partitions 3a, two side partitions 3b, at least one bottom partition 4 and an opening 20 of said bag body 1.

[0020] In the use condition, the main partitions 3a face each other to form the front and rear walls of the bag. Likewise the side partitions 3b also face each other.

[0021] The bag body 1 is advantageously equipped with handles 7 and houses an object-holding core 6 distinct from the bag body 1, as well shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0022] In the preferred exemplary embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, the two component parts have an identical substantially planar shape, represented by a plane figure, preferably divided into three partitions, i.e. a main partition 3a a side partition 3b and a bottom partition 4.

[0023] The partitions 3a, 3b and 4 can be folded relative to one another and assembled, when associating the two component parts 2, to create the shape of a solid figure--in the examples of the figures substantially a parallelepiped--open at its top, having an internal holding cavity and embodying the aforementioned bag body 1.

[0024] The above defined association of the two component parts is obtained by the action of quick and removable interconnection means 5; 5a, 5b, with which the two component parts 2 are preferably equipped.

[0025] These interconnection means have the purpose of affording quick conversion of the bag configuration from the container condition to the flattened condition and vice versa, as needed by the user.

[0026] Preferably, the interconnection means comprise snap-fit members 5a, 5b, such as snap-fit fasteners, which are appropriately placed in the partitions at locations 3a, 3b, 4 that are designed to face each other when forming the bag body 1. This embodiment shall be obviously considered by mere way of example and without limitation, and may be implemented in the form of Velcro parts, parts with magnetic elements, mechanical coupling members, etc.

[0027] The object-holding core 6 may be advantageously housed inside the bag body 1. The presence of this core 6 allows optimized use of the sectional nature and quick conversion properties of the bag body 1, and avoids the need of separately transferring the various objects that the bag user wants to carry.

[0028] The core 6 is also advantageously designed to be mechanically connected to the bag body 1 by means of snap fasteners 6a,6b interposed between the core 6 and the side partitions 3b of the bag body 1 in which it is contained (see FIGS. 2, 6A and 6B).

[0029] FIGS. 1 and 3 clearly shows that the bag 10 is preferably equipped with handles 7, which are designed to be associated with the two three-partition parts 2 that compose the bag body 1. Preferably, this association is of removable and adjustable type and is obtained by association of rigid pins 8--carried in cantilever fashion by flaps 9 of the main partition 3--with eyelets 11 formed with a given pitch in the length of the handles 7.

[0030] The invention entirely fulfills its intended objects and provides important advantages. The sectional nature of a two-part bag body 1 gives the user the opportunity of quickly disassembling and assembling the bag 10 whenever he/she desires, with no risk of losing some component part.

[0031] Also, if the geometric shapes of the two parts are identical, orderly arrangements can be provided in the flattened configuration of the bag, which will avoid any waste of useful storage volume that might be associated with differing shapes of the various components stored in the same storage space.

[0032] The identity of the shapes of the aforementioned two parts will also allow both the final user and the manufacturer to exchange the component parts of two or more bags to create new combinations of colors, materials and exterior appearances, as desired by the user.

[0033] A further advantage of the identical three-partition conformation of the two parts 2 is that the bag body 1 so obtained shall have a two-layer bottom, resulting from the superposition of the two bottom partitions 4. This superposition imparts a considerable useful rigidity to the bag body 1, which advantageously assists its function of supporting the bag contents and ensures stable maintenance of the exterior shape of the bag body 1.

[0034] Yet another advantage, which is provided by the object-holding core 6, consists in avoiding the need of transferring objects, or in the possibility of using the core alone when the bag body 1 is required to be disassembled to be stored in a smaller-size state in a bag or a larger suitcase or in a drawer or a wardrobe, without wasting useful space.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A sectional modular bag variably conformable between a non-use condition and a container-use condition, comprising at least one body composed by a first component part and a second component part, wherein each of the first component part and the second component part are flattened in the non-use condition, wherein the first component part comprises a first main partition, a first side partition and a first bottom partition, wherein the first component part comprises a first interior surface and a first exterior surface, wherein the second component part comprises a second main partition, a second side partition and a second bottom partition, wherein the second component part comprises a second interior surface and a second exterior surface, wherein the first side partition and the first bottom partition are foldable relative to the first main partition of the first component part, wherein the second side partition is foldable relative to the second main partition of the second component part, wherein in the container-use condition the first main partition of the first component part is connected to the second side partition of the second component part and the first side partition of the first component part is connected to the second main partition of the second component part, wherein further the first interior surface of the first main partition of the first component part faces the second interior surface of the second main partition of the second component part, wherein further the first interior surface of the first side partition of the first component part faces the second interior surface of the second side partition of the second component part, wherein in container-use condition the first component part and the second component part define a top opening opposite to the first bottom partition of the first component part and an interior cavity of the at least one body, wherein the interior cavity of the at least one body is defined by the first interior surface of the first main partition and the first side partition of the first component, the second interior surface of the second main partition and the second side partition of the second component and the first interior surface of the first bottom partition of the first component, wherein further said first component part and said second component part have identical shapes, wherein further the first bottom partition of the first component part and the second bottom partition of the second component part at least partially overlap in the container-use condition.

12. The sectional modular bag of claim 11, wherein the first component part and the second component part further comprise a plurality of interconnection devices of removable type for the removable interconnection therebetween and for changing the configuration of the bag between said non-use condition and said container-use condition.

13. The sectional modular bag of claim 12, characterized in that said interconnection devices comprise press-fit members.

14. The sectional modular bag of claim 12, characterized in that said interconnection devices comprise snap-fit fasteners.

15. The sectional modular bag of claim 11 characterized in that it further comprises an object-holding core disposed in the interior cavity of the at least one body, wherein the object-holding core is connected to the first interior surface of the first main partition of the first component, the second interior surface of the second main partition of the second component.

16. The sectional modular bag of claim 15, characterized in that said object-holding core is removably connected to the first interior surface of the first main partition of the first component, the second interior surface of the second main partition of the second component.

17. The sectional modular bag of claim 16, characterized in that the object-holding core comprises a plurality of press-fit fasteners, wherein at least one of the plurality of removable interconnection devices of the first component part comprises at least one press-fit fastener and at least one of the plurality of removable interconnection devices of the second component part comprises at least one press-fit fastener, wherein further the object-holding core is removably connected to the first interior surface of the first main partition of the first component and the second interior surface of the second main partition of the second component by said at least one of the plurality of press-fit fasteners.

18. The sectional modular bag of claim 11, further comprising removable handles attached to the at least one body.