EP3566609B1

EP3566609B1 - Upgraded case for bags

Info

Publication number: EP3566609B1
Application number: EP19173897.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Simona BASILIOTTI; Marco BASILIOTTI
Original assignee: Basiliotti Srl
Current assignee: Basiliotti Srl
Priority date: 2018-05-11
Filing date: 2019-05-10
Publication date: 2021-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-10
Also published as: IT201800005308A1; EP3566609A1

Description

The present patent relates to an upgraded case for bags.
Cases for bags are known, so-called "rain-covers", which substantially consist of a sack made of waterproof material that can be fitted around a bag to protect it from rain and other weathering agents and/or, more generally, to prevent it from being stained or damaged in any way.
The case of traditional "rain-covers" usually has an open bottom and is fitted over the bag by sliding it from the top to the bottom of the bag.
At the top of the sack, there is also a smaller opening that is adapted to allow the handles or the shoulder strap of the bag to protrude, allowing the user to grasp the bag in the traditional way even when the case is applied.
Known cases are not without their drawbacks.
In this regard, it should be noticed that, although they are able to cover the top and sides of the bag, the cases of known type do not provide any protection at the bottom of the bag and, therefore, limit the user in using it, not allowing, for example, to put the bag on wet, damp and/or dirty surfaces.
In addition, traditional cases do not always fit perfectly over the bag and often have an overall unattractive appearance.
The patent document no. 0000282107 filed in Italy on 22 September 2014 illustrates a case for bags that partly solves the aforementioned drawbacks.
The case described above, however, has some drawbacks linked to the type of material used.
Being entirely made of polymeric material of synthetic origin, the known case for bags has a significant impact on the environment.
Moreover, the waterproof and transparent characteristics of the case described above do not allow the leather bags to be contained for an extended period of time without running the risk of damaging the bags themselves.
Synthetic plastic, in fact, does not guarantee sufficient breathability, thus compromising the bag preservation state.
At the same time, transparent plastic allows the passage of sunlight, not ensuring a protective effect against UV rays.
It should also be noticed that known cases, when closed, are subject to the formation of condensation inside the cases, with the risk of damaging the bags contained therein.
Other bags are known from WO2018/013001 , WO2008/091700 , WO2011/085374 , EP0878407 , US2004/068058 .
The main aim of the present invention is to devise an upgraded case for bags which can reduce the impact on the environment and improve the preservation state of the bag kept inside the case.
One object of the present invention is to devise an upgraded case for bags which, when applied, allows the bag to be fully protected and allows the user to handle it without any risk of damaging it.
Another object of the present invention is to devise an upgraded case for bags which allows, in a practical, easy and functional way, to obtain an innovative and original product, as well as of valuable workmanship.
Another object of the present invention is to devise an upgraded case for bags which allows overcoming the mentioned drawbacks of the prior art in the context of a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and low cost solution.
The aforementioned objects are achieved by the present upgraded case for bags having the characteristics of claim 1.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more evident from the description of the following preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of an upgraded case for bags, illustrated by way of an indicative, but non-limiting example, in the attached tables of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a first embodiment of the case according to the invention;
Figure 2 is an axonometric view, from another angle, of a first embodiment of the case according to the invention;
Figure 3 is an axonometric view of a second embodiment of the case according to the invention;
Figure 4 is an axonometric view, from another angle, of a second embodiment of the case according to the invention;
Figure 5 is an axonometric view of a third embodiment of the case according to the invention.

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a case for bags.
The case 1 is intended, in use, to cover a bag 2.
In a first embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bag 2 has two grip handles 3, but alternative embodiments cannot be ruled out wherein the grip handle is only one, such as e.g. of the shoulder strap type, or wherein there is no grip handle, such as e.g. the "clutch" type.
The case 1 comprises a covering body 4, 5 obtained starting from a sheet material that is flexible and foldable.
Advantageously, the sheet material comprises transpiring micro-holes 13.
This characteristic makes the sheet material transpiring, while maintaining waterproofing characteristics.
The transpiring micro-holes 13 in fact are sized so as to allow air to pass through, but prevent water from passing through.
Preferably, the sheet material comprises at least one antistatic additive.
This way, the sheet material does not accumulate electrical charge on its surface, reducing the electrostatic force that would hold the sheet material attached to other surfaces, e.g. to the surface of the bag 2.
The sheet material usefully comprises at least one shielding additive for UV rays.
This characteristic allows the sheet material to prevent the passage of UV rays. In addition, the sheet material is at least partly transparent, so as to allow seeing the bag 2 when the case 1 is in use.
The covering body 4, 5 is shaped so as to be fitted over the bag 2.
The covering body 4, 5, in particular, comprises at least one upper portion 4 and at least one lower portion 5.
The lower portion 5 is provided with a bottom opening 7 adapted to allow the introduction of the bag 2 inside the covering body 4, 5. The bottom opening 7 is provided with a first edge 8 and with a second edge 9 substantially opposite each other.
According to the invention, the covering body 4, 5 comprises bioplastics.
The covering body 4, 5 is preferably entirely made of bioplastics.
This characteristic makes it possible to significantly reduce the impact on the environment.
According to the invention, the covering body 4, 5 comprises transpiring micro-holes 13. This characteristic makes the case 1 transpiring, while maintaining waterproof characteristics, making it suitable for protecting various types of bags, including leather bags.
The covering body 4, 5 usefully comprises at least one antistatic additive.
This way electrical charge is prevented from being accumulated on the surface of the covering body 4, 5 and the case 1 will not attach to the surface of the bag 2.
The covering body 4, 5 preferably comprises at least one shielding additive for UV rays.
This way, UV rays do not penetrate through the covering body 4, 5 and the bag 2 is protected.
More in detail, the covering body 4, 5 is shaped like a sack with an open bottom to be fitted over the bag 2 by making it slide from top to bottom.
The lower portion 5 comprises at least one closing flap 10 extending from the first edge 8 and can be joined, by means of the joining means 11, to the second edge 9 for the closure of the bottom opening 7.
The joining means 11 are preferably of the removable type and, therefore, they allow closing and opening the bottom opening 7 several times and to reuse the case 1 on several occasions.
The joining means 11 of the removable type consist, e.g., of a layer of weak glue 12, that is an adhesive material which, after gluing, allows the glued surfaces to be easily detached without particular efforts.
The layer of weak glue 12 is associated with at least one of the closing flap 10 and the second edge 9.
In the embodiment shown in the illustrations, the layer of weak glue 12 is shaped in a strip fashion and extends along the closing flap 10.
As an alternative to the layer of weak glue 12, the joining means 11 of the removable type may consist of one or more snap fasteners arranged on the closing flap 10 and on the second edge 9.
In another alternative embodiment, the joining means 11 of the removable type may consist of a "hook and loop" type system, wherein one of the closing flap 10 and the second edge 9 is provided with a portion of hook-type material and the other of the closing flap 10 and the second edge 9 is provided with a portion of loop-type material.
In addition, other embodiments cannot be ruled out wherein the joining means 11 are of the permanent type and allow the bottom opening 7 to be closed only once.
In this case, the case 1 is of the disposable type, because the walls of the covering body 4, 5 and/or the joining means 11 are torn off when the case is reopened to remove the bag 2.
The joining means of the permanent type may consist, e.g., of a layer of strong glue, which allows the closing flap 10 to adhere firmly to the second edge 9. The operation of the case 1 according to the invention is as follows.
The case 1 is fitted over the bag 2 by making the latter pass through the bottom opening 7.
Once the bag 2 is introduced in the case 1, the bottom opening 7 is closed.
For this purpose simply fold the closing flap 10 around the first edge 8 so as to arrange the closing flap 10 to close the bottom opening 7.
The locking of the closing flap 10 in the closing configuration is carried out by means of the joining means 11.
In this regard, it should be noticed that the special feature of providing a layer of weak glue 12 that extends along the closing flap 10 allows closing the case 1 so that the covering body 4, 5 fits perfectly (i.e. without leaving large gaps inside) around the bag 2, whether it is full or empty.
In addition, by taking advantage of the flexibility of the sheet material, the second edge 9 can be folded in order to bring it closer to the first edge 8 and to the closing flap 10; this way, when applying the case 1 to the bag 2, the joining means 11 remain hidden below the bag 2 and are not visible, thus giving the case 1 in use a high aesthetic value.
A second embodiment, shown in Figures 3 and 4, is entirely similar to the first embodiment and differs in the fact that the sheet material is preferably waterproof, so as to protect the bag 2 from rain and other weathering agents.
In addition, the sheet material is usefully transparent, so as to allow seeing the bag 2 when the case 1 is in use.
In the second embodiment, the covering body 4, 5 has an upper portion 4 provided with a top opening 6 adapted to allow the passage of the grip handle 3. The lower portion 5 is provided with a bottom opening 7 with a larger extension than the top opening 6.
The operation of the case 1 in the second embodiment is completely similar to the operation of the case 1 as described in the first embodiment.
In this second embodiment the handle 3 comes out through the top opening 6 allowing a user to grasp the bag 2.
A third embodiment of the case 1, shown in Figure 5, is completely similar to the previous embodiments shown and differs in the fact that the case 1 comprises aeration holes 14 formed on the covering body 4, 5.
This feature improves the ability of the case 1 to make air re-circulate.
This prevents the increase in humidity generating inside the case 1, e.g. as a result of condensation.
The aeration holes 14, in particular, make the case 1 particularly adapted to protect the bags during transport, both because they protect the surface of the bag 2 from shocks and frictions, and because they prevent the formation of moisture inside the case itself.
The operation of the case 1 in the third embodiment is completely similar to the operation of the case 1 illustrated in the previously described embodiments.

Claims

Case (1) for bags, comprising a covering body (4, 5) obtained starting from a sheet material and shaped to be fitted over a bag (2), said covering body (4, 5) comprising:
- at least an upper portion (4); and

- at least a lower portion (5) provided with a bottom opening (7) which is adapted to allow the introduction of said bag (2) inside said covering body (4, 5), said lower portion (5) comprising at least one closing flap (10) extending from a first edge (8) of said bottom opening (7) and can be joined, by means of joining means (11), to a second edge (9) of said bottom opening (7) for the closure of said bottom opening (7);
wherein said covering body (4, 5) comprises bioplastics, characterized by the fact that said covering body (4, 5) comprises transpiring micro-holes (13).
Case (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said covering body (4, 5) is entirely made of bioplastics.
Case (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said covering body (4, 5) comprises at least one antistatic additive.
Case (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said covering body (4, 5) comprises at least one shielding additive for UV rays.
Case (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises aeration holes (14) formed on said covering body (4, 5).
Case (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said joining means (11) are of the removable type.
Case (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said joining means (11) of the removable type comprise a layer of weak glue (12) associated with at least one of said closing flap (10) and said second edge (9).
Case (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said layer of weak glue (12) is shaped in a strip fashion and extends along said closing flap (10).
Case (1) according to one or more preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said upper portion (4) is provided with a top opening (6) which is adapted to allow the passage of a grip handle (3) of said bag (2).