Closing clip for bag with reinforcing strips

The invention relates to a closing clip for a bag with reinforcing strips, comprising a base and two wings extending from the base approximately perpendicular to and on the same side of the base, the wings being separated from each other, each of the wings having an outer face and an inner face, the inner faces facing each other, the closing clip also comprising two locking wedges, each on the inner face of one of the wings at their free ends.This invention also discloses a bag with reinforcing strips comprising an upper opening, a reinforcing strip fixed on the outer edge of the upper opening and a closing clip according to the invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the technical field of bags, and particularly handbags. More particularly, this invention relates to the technical field of bag closing systems, particularly for handbags.

PRIOR ART

A bag, and particularly a handbag, usually contains a pouch with an upper opening and possibly an opening capable of preventing the contents of the bag from spilling when the bag is accidentally turned upside down or protecting these contents from the keen interest of a ill-intentioned third party. At the present time, there is a variety of closing systems for bags and particularly for handbags, such as:tie systems;button systems (press studs or magnetised);zip fastener systems;snap hook systems;clip systems (with lateral or frontal release);locking systems; andball systems.

Tie systems, being more rudimentary than others, has the drawback to require the upper closing edge to be pleated, which does not enable the opening to have two flat edges which are parallel to each other.

Zip fastening systems, frequently called zip systems, comprise two parts fitted with teeth and a central slider. The teeth of one of the parts are shifted in relation to the teeth of the other part and the central slider, which has two grooves that become coincident, either engages or separates the teeth. However, these teeth can sometimes deform or break, making the system unusable.

Snap hook systems, clip systems and locking systems usually comprise two complementary parts that cooperate to lock the upper opening of the bag. Thus, the two parts have to be aligned every time that it is required to close the bag.

Ball systems also have two metal parts (balls) that are usually symmetric with each other, coupled with a spring element, usually an articulated part with two symmetric portions, each of the portions carrying a metal part. This type of ball system is usually difficult to lock and unlock because it requires greater strength.

Presentation of the Invention

Thus, one of the objectives of this invention is to provide a closing system for a bag with reinforcing strips (in French sac à rehausse) to close the bag.

This objective is achieved by means of a closing clip for a bag with reinforcing strips, comprising a base and two wings extending from the base substantially perpendicular to and on the same side of the base, the wings being separated from each other, each of the wings having an outer face and an inner face, the inner faces facing each other, the closing clip also comprising two locking wedges, each on the inner face of one of the wings at their free ends.

Other optional and non-limiting features of the closing clip are presented below.

The base, the two wings and the locking wedges may all form a single part. In this case, the single part may comprise a first layer of a first material which is flexible, a second layer of a second material which is relatively rigid and deformable, and a third layer made of a third material which is rigid, the first, second and third layers being superposed on each other with the second layer sandwiched between the first and the third layers. Furthermore, the first and third layers independently have a thickness of between 0.7 mm and 1.3.mm. Furthermore, the first and the third layers are preferably made of leather.

The thickness of the second layer may be between 0.8 mm and 1 mm. In this case, the second material is preferably made of metal, for example bendable aluminium.

The single part may have an axis of symmetry, and preferably two axes of symmetry, still preferably an oval shape, for example an oval with two axes of symmetry for example such as an ellipse or an oblong shape.

The first and the third layers may be sewn to each other, the stitches enclosing the second layer.

The closing clip may also comprise a strap.

This invention also provides a closing system comprising the closing clip described above and a reinforcing strip (in French rehausse), in other words a piece of reinforced flexible material to be placed at the opening of a bag, particularly on the outer edge of this opening.

Finally, this invention provides a bag with reinforcing strips comprising an upper opening, a reinforcing strip fixed on the outer edge of the upper opening and a closing clip as described above.

The height of the locking wedges can be approximately equal to or less than the thickness of the reinforcing strip.

The distance between the base and the locking wedges can be approximately equal to or slightly greater than the width of the reinforcing strip.

The reinforcing strip is preferably made of a flexible material such as leather.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A closing system for a bag with reinforcing strips according to the invention is described below with reference toFIGS. 1 to 4.

The closing clip1comprises a base11, two wings12,13spaced from each other and two locking wedges14,15.

Each of the wings12,13extends from the base11on the same side of the base and approximately perpendicular to the base; in other words, the base11has a median plane and each of the wings12,13is at an angle equal to between 85 and 95° with the median plane, and preferably 90°. Each of the wings12,13has an outer face121,131and an inner face122,132, the inner faces122,132facing each other.

Each of the locking wedges14,15is formed on the inner face122,132of one of the wings12,13at its free end123,133, in other words at the part furthest from the base11. Each of the locking wedges14,15may comprise a proximal side141,151and a distal side142,152, relative to the base11. Advantageously, the proximal side141,151of the locking wedge together with the corresponding inner face122,132forms a retaining shoulder143,153. This retaining shoulder143,153enables to lock the closing clip1on the reinforcing strip of the bag. Preferably, this retaining shoulder143,153has a height of between 0.9 mm and 1.1 mm, preferably between 0.9 mm and 1.1 mm. The height at the distal side142,152of the locking wedge14,15is advantageously less than the height of the shoulder143,153, thus positioning of the closing clip1on the reinforcing strip of the bag is facilitated. Preferably, the height at the distal side142,152of the locking wedge14,15is between 0 mm and 0.8 mm, and still preferably 0 mm.

The base11, the two wings12,13and the two locking wedges14,15preferably form a single part2, hereinafter called the single part.

The single part2may have various forms. The preferred various forms of the single part2will be described hereafter considering that the single part2has been flattened, in other words the junction between the base11and the wings12,13is made virtually equal to 180°. The single part2advantageously has a geometric shape with one or possibly two axes of symmetry; the two symmetric parts each representing one wing12,13of the locking clip1, for example a rectangle, a square, a diamond, an oval. If there are two axes of symmetry, they are preferably perpendicular to each other. The shape of the single part2is preferably oval. The term “oval” for the purposes of this presentation includes oblong shapes and ellipses.

The single part2preferably comprises a first layer21made of a first material which is flexible, a second layer22made of a material which is relatively rigid but foldable or deformable and a third layer23made of a third material which is flexible, the first, second and third layers21,22,23being superposed on each other with the second layer22sandwiched between the first and the third layers21,23, and the first layer21forming the outer faces121,131of the closing clip1and the third layer23forming the inner faces122,132of the closing clip1. Throughout this disclosure, the term ‘relatively rigid” means a material that cannot be easily deformed by hand but that can be deformed with a tool.

The face of the second layer22that is facing the third layer23comprises two wedging parts24,25arranged to be facing each other. Once these two wedging parts24,25are covered with the third layer23, they form the locking wedges14,15. Thus, their shapes correspond to the shapes of locking wedges14,15as described above.

Advantageously, the first and third materials are leather. Advantageously, the second material is a bendable or deformable material, preferably aluminium.

Advantageously, the first and third layers21,23independently have a thickness of between 0.7 mm and 1.3 mm. Advantageously, the second layer is between 0.8 mm and 1 mm thick.

The first, second and third layers21,22,23can be assembled in several ways known to the person skilled in the art, but preferably the first and third layers21,23are sewn to each other at their peripheries25so as to enclose the second layer22. Thus, the second layer22is smaller than the first and third layers21,23. The stitching around their peripheries25is preferably made at between 1 mm and 3 mm, and still preferably 2 mm, from the edges of the first and the third layers21,23. The lateral edge of the first and third layers21,23is advantageously finished as is normally done in the leather goods industry, for example using wax or gum. In this case, the single part2is preferably made flat, and then after stitching is deformed to bring it into its final shape, for example by folding by bending along two lines parallel to each other and dividing the single part2into three parts: a central part forming the base11and two lateral parts forming the wings12,13of the closing clip1. In another example, the initially flat single part2is bent about its axis of symmetry or about one of its axes of symmetry (in the latter case, preferably about its axis of symmetry corresponding to its largest dimension). The bending radius is preferably between 2 and 10 mm, preferably between 3 and 8 mm, and preferably about 5 mm. In all cases, the second layer made of a relatively rigid material is a reinforcing layer enabling the closing clip2to keep its final shape.

The closing clip1may also comprise a strap3to attach the closing part1to an element of the bag with reinforcing strips so that it cannot get lost, for example to one handle provided on the bag. This strap3is preferably connected to the base11, and possibly to the middle of the single part2. In this case, the “middle” means the centre of gravity of the shape of the single part2.

The strap3may have a first coupling end31coupling it to the base11and a second coupling end32coupling it to an element of the bag with reinforcing strips. Thus, the first coupling end31is fixed to the base11. In order to fix the first coupling end31to the base11, in the case of a single part2, the first layer21, and preferably also the second layer22, present(s) an orifice211,221at the centre with a diameter corresponding to the circumference of the strap3. The first coupling end31is advantageously inserted inside the orifice211,221through a first face of the corresponding layer, and may also comprise two tabs311,312forced into contact with a second face of the corresponding layer opposite the first face. The second coupling end32preferably comprises a slit321formed along the strap3through which an element of the bag with reinforcing strips can be inserted, for example a handle.

The strap3is advantageously made of a flexible material, for example leather. The strap3may advantageously be a chain, particularly made of metal.

Advantageously, the length of the strap is between 23 cm and 24 cm.

A bag with reinforcing strips according to the invention is described below with reference toFIG. 5. Throughout the remainder of this description, the bag with reinforcing strips will be described as it is normally used. For example, the relative terms “upper” and “lower” refer to this normal position of use and so do the terms “inner” and “outer”.

The bag with reinforcing strips10comprises a main pouch20. The main pouch20comprises an upper opening201that can be closed by two reinforcing strips30, each located on an outer face of part of the top opening201so as to be facing each other. The bag with reinforcing strips10also comprises a closing clip1as described above.

Advantageously, the added thickness of the facing reinforcing strips and the parts of the edge of the upper opening201on which the reinforcing strips are located is approximately equal to the separation distance between the wings12,13of the closing clip1. The parts of the edge of the upper opening201can be slanting, and particularly made of a flexible material such as leather.

The reinforcing strips30are preferably made of a flexible material, preferably the same as the material used for the third layer23of the single part2, for example leather. Each of the reinforcing strips30is preferably composed of two thicknesses of flexible material, each reinforced by a thickness of a reinforcing material. At its base, the reinforcing strip is preferably positioned astride the corresponding part of the edge of the upper opening.

The height of the locking wedges14,15is advantageously less than or equal to the thickness of the reinforcing strip30. The distance between the base21and the locking wedges14,15(particularly at the shoulder141,151) is approximately equal to or is slightly greater than the width of the reinforcing strip30.

The main pouch20may also comprise two main faces203,204facing each other. These two main faces203,204can be sewn to each other at their sides and/or their bottom, their tops forming part of the opening and holding the reinforcing strip30. Furthermore, the main pouch20may comprise one or two lateral gussets206,207, notably sewn at the sides of the main faces203,204. Furthermore, or alternatively, the main pouch20may comprise a base205sewn to the bottoms of the main faces203,204and if need be the bottoms of the lateral gussets206,207. The main pouch20may also comprise reinforcing parts208positioned on the lower corners of the main faces203,204, if need be the lower corners of the gussets206,207, and if need be the corners of the base205. In other words, the pouch having a general shape, these reinforcing parts are advantageously provided at each vertex at the bottom of the general shape. The bag with reinforcing strips10may further comprise one, two or more handles40. Each of the ends of the handles40may be fixed independently of each other to the reinforcing strip30, on a part of a main face203,204not covered by the reinforcing strip30, on part of a gusset206,207which is substantially not deformed when the bag is closed, in other words preferably at a distance from the top of the gusset206,207. As indicated above, the strap3of the closing clip is preferably fixed to one of the handles40, preferably free to move along the handle40. For example, the handle40passes through the slit321in the strap3. Thus, the slit321in the strap3is long enough to enable the handle to pass through without difficulty, making it impossible to lose the closing clip. In another example, the slit321in the strap3is wide enough so that the base and the wings of the closing clip can pass through the slit321. The loop thus formed by the strap3encloses a handle40. Thus, the closing clip1can be removed from the bag, but cannot be lost. Furthermore, fabrication of the closing clip can then be decoupled from fabrication of the bag with reinforcing strips. The slit321does not need to be very large, it is sufficient if the width of the slit321is very slightly more than the width of the wings and the base, particularly along the minor axis of the oval shape. In this case, all that is necessary to pass the base and the two wings through the slit is to pass firstly one wing, then the base and finally the other wing.