Patent Publication Number: US-2007108240-A1

Title: Utilitarian object collapsible on itself

Description:
This application claims priority to French Patent Application No. 0510949 filed 26 Oct. 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention concerns a utilitarian object or article, which, when not in use, can be stored without occupying much space, without external means of storage, by simply collapsing in on itself.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      In the field of clothing, we have for a long time been familiar with what are known as K-WAY® articles, which are noted for their ability to be folded inside a pocket equipped, on the one hand, with a two-way zipper and, on the other hand, with two pieces of elastic strap terminated by anchoring means. In the position of use, the two elastic sections are found inside the pocket, which is indistinguishable from a conventional pocket. In the storage position, the pocket is turned inside out and the entire article is folded so it can be introduced within said reversed pocket; the pocket is closed by sliding the zipper slider and the user can easily carry the article, stored in said reversed pocket, by attaching it around his or her waist by means of the elastic strap sections and anchoring means.  
      Articles of this type have had and continue to have considerable success. However, to implement this technical concept, it is necessary that the article be equipped with a pocket whose interior volume is sufficient to accommodate the article folded in on itself, generally by compacting it so its volume is as small as possible. Additionally, carrying the article in its stored position around the waist is not always convenient. Moreover, closing the pocket with a zipper can present drawbacks, primarily when the article is insufficiently compacted during storage inside the pocket and the article gets caught in the zipper.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The object of the present invention is a utilitarian object that is capable of being collapsed on itself when stored, in a configuration that occupies little space, while overcoming the above drawbacks and while not being limited to the field of clothing alone.  
      The invention in question is a utilitarian object that has a first part of flexible material and a second part, adjoining the first, notably having at least one utilitarian accessory. Characteristically, the first part is an envelopment zone delimited by a casing, in which casing is arranged a tie, said casing being able to slide on the tie between:  
      a) a first position, corresponding to the object&#39;s uncollapsed position of use, in which the envelopment zone is appreciably flat and  
      b) a second position, corresponding to the compressed storage position of the object, in which the casing is gathered and the envelopment zone forms an envelope in which the second part is folded in its compacted state. Moreover, the object is maintained in its compressed position by locking the casing at the tie.  
      In the field of clothing manufacture, a casing is generally said to be a hem in which a cord passes for tightening or loosening. In the present text, this term is used to refer to any means capable of fulfilling the function of tightening and loosening in cooperation with a tie or cord.  
      Thus, unlike the article known by the K-WAY® name, the object is not stored in a pocket designed for that purpose, but simply in a particular region of its own structure, a region that is of a flexible material and delimited by a casing. It is this particular region that, after folding and compacting the remainder of the object and concomitant tightening of the casing, serves as a storage pouch. Cooperation of the tie and the casing serves, first, to form the storage pocket and, finally, to close it. Closure can occur either simply by knotting, wherein the user realizes a knot that locks the casing in its gathered storage position, or by using a means for locking the tie against said casing in the gathered position.  
      According to a variant embodiment, the casing is a sheath added to the object, on the exterior or possibly the interior, presenting at least one opening for the passage of the tie.  
      The configuration of the envelopment zone must naturally be a function of the structure and configuration of the second part of the object and, particularly, of the utilitarian accessory(ies) that exist(s) in this second part. However, in general, the configuration of the envelopment zone is circular.  
      Said envelopment zone can present a different appearance than that of the second part, notably being covered with a retroreflective coating. Thus, the envelopment zone has a complementary function of safety identification whenever the object, notably a backpack or vestment, is worn by the user, walking along a road, at nightfall. It should be noted that the envelopment zone is not subject to the operation of collapsing on itself, through compacting, so that it presents less risk of wear from use, which is why it is advantageous that the retroreflective coating be applied to this envelopment zone and not to the second part of the object.  
      The envelopment zone can be formed from a different material than that from which the second part of the object is formed, in particular, from a material of greater mechanical resistance, for example, resistance to wear.  
      The present object is most especially applicable to backpacks, the utilitarian accessory being in this case at least one shoulder strap assembly and possibly a belt assembly. In the case of a backpack, the second part, with the exception of the shoulder strap assembly and possibly the belt assembly, is preferably of a flexible and light material, easily collapsible on itself, which can, notably, be the same material as that forming the envelopment zone.  
      Of course, it is understood that the backpack in question cannot be a traditional rigid-frame backpack, but preferably a small-size bag, notably, for a child, which can, for example, be easily stored in a schoolbag or even a handbag. For example, the shoulder strap assembly and possibly the belt assembly consists exclusively of straps and length-adjustment buckles.  
      In the case of a backpack, the envelopment zone is preferably centrally disposed on the front surface of the backpack, that is, the surface that is visible when the backpack is on the user&#39;s back.  
      Preferably, in the case of a backpack having a capacity of about 15 liters, the envelopment zone has a surface of about 350 cm2.  
      Also, in the case of a backpack, the flexible and light material of the first and second parts preferably has a basis weight comprised between 50 and 250 g/cm2.  
      Aside from the backpack, the present invention is applicable to all types of utilitarian objects, for example, for luggage or for clothing, in particular for rainwear, windbreakers, or poncho-type garments.  
      In particular, out of respect for the environment, efforts are being made to limit the consumption of non-biodegradable plastic bags. Customers are advised to return to an older practice, namely that they go shopping in stores with their own reusable bag. It is in this context that the present invention can very usefully be applied to an easily portable bag occupying little space, which the customer unfolds in its position of use when he or she is at the store checkout counter. The second part has, as utilitarian accessories, two carrying handles.  
      In this case, the envelopment zone preferably constitutes, in whole or in part, the bottom of the bag and is formed of a different material from the second part of the bag, an exception possibly being made for the carrying handles. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      A better understanding of the present invention will be obtained by reading the following description of several examples of embodiments of utilitarian objects, including a backpack, a shopping bag, and a poncho-type garment, illustrated by the attached drawing, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a frontal schematic representation of a backpack equipped with an envelopment zone delimited by a casing, in its position of use.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective representation of the backpack of  FIG. 1  in storage position.  
       FIGS. 3, 4 , and  5  are schematic representations illustrating the transition from the position of use to the storage position.  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a shopping bag whose envelopment zone is formed by the bottom of the bag.  
       FIG. 7  is an outline view of a poncho-type garment with a hood. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      In the present text, the term utilitarian object refers to an object that can be of some utility at a given moment and that a person wishes to carry with them in a minimum of space.  
      The examples given below are for illustrative purposes and not limiting in nature.  
      According to the concept of the invention, the utilitarian object consists of two adjoining parts. The first part, called the envelopment zone, is of a flexible material and is delimited by a casing, in which a tie is arranged. The casing is intended to slide over the tie between a first position, corresponding to the unfolded use portion of the object, in which the envelopment zone is appreciably flat, and a second position, corresponding to the compressed storage position of the object, in which the casing is gathered and the envelopment zone forms an envelope in which the second part, in its compacted state, is folded. Maintaining the object in its compressed storage position is obtained by locking the casing at the tie.  
      In the case of backpack  1  of  FIG. 1 , envelopment zone  2 , delimited by casing  3 , has a circular configuration and is arranged on front surface  4  of the backpack, that is, the surface that is turned to the exterior when backpack  1  is on the user&#39;s back.  
      As is typical, backpack  1  consists of pack  5  itself and, in the example shown, shoulder strap assembly  6 , which consists uniquely of two straps  7 , whose extremities are attached by stitching, on each side of pack  5  itself, at the top and at the bottom of said pack. Straps  7  can be equipped with length adjustment buckles  8 .  
      Pack  4  itself is opened by means of zipper  9  arranged transversely on the top part of pack  5 .  
      In  FIG. 1 , envelopment zone  2  is shown in the unfolded position of use of the backpack, appreciably flat; it forms part of front surface  4  of pack  5 . For this purpose, it can be realized of the same light and flexible material as the rest of pack  5 , for example, a fabric that could be around 50 to 250 g/m2.  
      Casing  3  is formed by sheath  10 , which is added exteriorly to front surface  4  and within which is housed tie  11 . Sheath  10  presents two adjacent open extremities  10   a ,  10   b , for passage of tie  11 . In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , the two free extremities of tie  11 , passing through open extremities  10   a ,  10   b  pass through locking device  12 , for example, a device having two parts mounted slidingly with respect to one another by means of a spring and both being pierced with two through holes. When the user puts pressure on the two opposing faces of the device, he or she compresses the spring, enabling the through holes to be aligned. When he or she releases the device, the spring separates the two parts so that tie  11 , passing through the two through holes, is pinched between them. Beyond locking device  12 , the two free extremities of tie  11  are joined, for example, by knot  13 .  
      FIGS.  3  to  5  schematically represent the stages in the transition of backpack  1  from the unfolded position of use shown in  FIG. 1  to the compressed storage position shown in  FIG. 2 .  
      The user grasps tie  11 , which extends beyond the two open extremities  10   a ,  10   b  of casing  10 , and exerts tension on it, bringing about the gradual tightening of casing  10 , in the direction of arrows F in  FIG. 3 . This tightening concomitantly leads to the deformation of envelopment zone  2 , which, from the plane structure it had initially ( FIG. 3 ), assumes a domed configuration ( FIG. 4 ). The user takes advantage of this deformation of envelopment zone  2  to push the second part of the backpack and shoulder strap assembly  6  toward the interior of this zone according to arrows G. The user continues this folding and tightening of casing  10  until the entire second part and the belt assembly are stored in compact position inside the space delimited by envelopment zone  2  and the gathered casing, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . In this way is obtained a kind of pocket whose configuration is a function of the shape of the envelopment zone. When this shape is circular, the pocket obtained has a configuration that is spherical overall, and flattened at least on the side having the casing.  
      In the example shown in  FIG. 3 , casing  3  is formed by sheath  10 , added exteriorly to front surface  4  of pack  5  itself. Of course, this is not exclusive, sheath  10  could be added to the inside of the pack. Moreover, this arrangement would have the advantage of making the tie and its possible locking means  12  invisible. In the case where the tie is accessible from inside the backpack, this arrangement would necessitate turning the pack inside out, starting from the opening delimited by zipper  9 . This drawback does not exist in the applications of a utilitarian object where the envelopment zone is directly accessible, without requiring that the object be turned inside out, this being the case, for example, with a poncho-type garment such as the one described below and shown in  FIG. 7 . It can also be avoided by making the tie pass through two holes through the material, reinforced by two eyelets so that the tie is accessible from the exterior of the backpack, but without the sheath being visible on the exterior.  
      Activating the casing can also be realized by a single extremity of the tie and not by pulling on the two free extremities of the tie as described above. This can be obtained by attaching one of the extremities of the tie to the other extremity of the casing, adjacent to the free extremity of the tie exiting the casing, notably the sheath. In this case, naturally, the transition from the unfolded use position to the compressed storage position requires a manual action of displacing the casing along the tie to obtain the desired gathering.  
      The open extremity(ies) of the sheath can be consolidated with eyelets.  
      The sheath is a form of continuous casing. The casing may have other embodiments, notably discontinuous, for example, consisting of loops added to the exterior or interior along the edge of the envelopment zone or, for example, consisting of a succession of clearance holes, preferably reinforced with eyelets, formed along the edge of the envelopment zone, the tie passing through said holes successively from one surface of the material to the other.  
      In the case of shopping bag  20 , illustrated in  FIG. 6 , envelopment zone  2 l, delimited by casing  22 , occupies the entirety of the bottom of bag  20 , while second part  23  of bag  20  consists of lateral walls  24  as well as by the two carrying handles  25 . Lateral walls  24  are of a flexible and lightweight material that is easy to crumple and compact. The carrying handles can consist of ribbons or straps whose extremities are sewn to the edges of lateral walls  24  by ordinary means.  
      Preferably, the material used for envelopment zone  21  differs from that of lateral walls  24 , notably having a greater basis weight and/or being more mechanically resistant.  
      In the example shown in  FIG. 6 , bag  20  does not have means for locking tie  26 . It is held in storage position, against casing  22  in its gathered state, simply through the formation of a knot.  
      Naturally, the embodiment of bag  20  that has just been described is not exclusive, the envelopment zone also being realizable on one of lateral walls  24  and not on the bottom of the bag.  
      In  FIG. 7  is represented poncho-type garment  30 , which has the particularity of being formed from textile panel  31 , in which opening  32  is provided for passage of the user&#39;s head. To this panel  31  is added, around opening  32 , hood  33 . Envelopment zone  34 , delimited by casing  35 , is formed at any location on panel  31 . If casing  34  is a sheath added to panel  31 , it can be, indifferently, on the exterior surface or the interior surface of the panel.