Patent Abstract:
A holder for consumer products, including an at least substantially rectangular, flat storage portion having a first and a second at least substantially flat wall, the walls defining between them at least one flat compartment provided with an opening for accommodating the consumer products therein, and an at least substantially flat flap portion having an at least substantially rectangular plate-shaped wall element, wherein a first elongate connecting element is provided at the location of a first longitudinal edge of the wall element is designed for being accommodated in a first passage that is provided in the first wall for interconnecting the wall element and the storage portion.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a holder for suitably accommodating consumer products such as a portable computer, for example a tablet computer or a smartphone. 
     The present invention further relates to a flap portion for such a holder and to a combination of a holder and a panel element. 
     A known holder for accommodating consumer products is a so-called “bag” for a portable computer such as a tablet computer, or for stationery such as a writing pad. Said holder has a storage portion which comprises a compartment for accommodating a tablet computer, for example, and a flap portion which can be folded over at least an opening in the storage portion for covering the opening of the storage portion. The present invention in particular relates to such holders. 
     A drawback of the aforesaid known holder is the fact that personalising the holder is relatively laborious or unfavourable for cost reasons, in particular in the case of relatively small numbers. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to make it easier to personalise such a holder. The present invention to that end provides a holder as defined in claim  1 . 
     An advantage of the present invention is that because the flap portion, or at least a wall element thereof, and the storage portion are separately provided, these different parts are easier to personalise and at lower cost. The connecting method, in which use is made of the elongate connecting element, is a simple and robust method. 
     Preferably, the holder comprises a further flap portion, wherein the flap portion is provided between the storage portion and the further flap portion, wherein a second elongate connecting element is provided at the location of a second longitudinal edge of the wall element located opposite the first longitudinal edge, which second elongate connecting element is designed for being accommodated in a second passage provided at the location of a longitudinal edge of the further flap portion for interconnecting the wall element and the further flap portion. Such an embodiment of a holder comprising two flap portions is also called a “wrap”. 
     It is advantageous if the holder comprises a strip-shaped element at the location of two opposite short edges of the wall element that extend transversely to the first longitudinal edge of said wall element, which strip-shaped element extends along the respective short edge and which is oriented perpendicularly to the plane of the wall element. Such a strip-shaped element increases the flexural stiffness of the flap portion and can furthermore function as a protection part or bumper for increasing the robustness of the holder. 
     In an advantageous embodiment, the respective strip-shaped element extends outside the wall element at the location of at least one of the first and the second longitudinal edge of the wall element, wherein the respective projecting parts of the strip-shaped element are designed for connecting a respective connecting element thereto. The strip-shaped elements may be separate from the wall element and be detachably or permanently connected thereto or form an integral part therewith. 
     In a simple embodiment, the projecting parts of the strip-shaped element are provided with a hole, which, in assembled condition, is in line with a recess that is axially provided in a connecting element, wherein a fastening element such as a screw can be inserted into the recess through the hole for interconnecting the connecting element and the strip-shaped element. 
     It is furthermore advantageous if at least the first elongate connecting element has an end part, at the location of the two free ends thereof, which is connected to an elongate central part of the connecting element via an intermediate part that is narrower than the end part, wherein each of the aforesaid projecting parts of the strip-shaped element has a chamber for holding the end part of the connecting element therein, which chamber can be reached via a passage through which the end part can pass, and wherein the chamber is larger than the passage to such an extent that the end part can be retained in the chamber, at least substantially in a form-locking manner, by being manipulated after being moved into the chamber via the passage. 
     The chamber may have a rear wall on a side remote from the passage. The end part is preferably rotationally symmetrical, but alternatively it may also be of oval or triangular cross-section, for example. 
     It is furthermore advantageous if the passage is provided with a recess, at a location along its circumference, which is adapted to the intermediate part of the connecting element, wherein the connecting element can be slid into the recess with its intermediate part after the end part has been moved into the chamber via the passage so as to thus retain the end part in the chamber in an at least substantially form-locking manner. 
     It is also advantageous in this regard if the recess is provided on a side of the circumference of the recess remote from the longitudinal edge of the wall element, wherein the holder comprises a blocking element which at least substantially fills a gap between the longitudinal edge and the central part of the connecting element, at least once the intermediate piece is present in the recess, such that the intermediate part is locked against movement from the recess back into the passage. The blocking element preferably has an elongate, strip-shaped configuration and comprises a flat, strip-shaped web portion which abuts against the wall element, at least in fitted condition. 
     It is furthermore advantageous if the strip-shaped element is provided with a slot in which the short edge of the wall element can be accommodated. 
     It is advantageous if the elongate connecting element extends along at least substantially the entire length of the longitudinal edge of the wall element. 
     Preferably, the wall element has a central through hole, which is enclosed by a frame-shaped edge portion. This saves weight and cost. In addition to that, this makes it possible to attach a panel element (yet to be described in more detail) to the wall element on the inner side of the holder, whilst the panel element is nevertheless visible from outside through the hole. 
     With a view to connecting a panel element to the wall element it is advantageous if one of a hook part or a loop part of a hook-loop connecting element is provided on at least one flat side of the wall element. 
     Preferably, at least the first wall of the storage portion comprises a flexible material, at least at the location of the aforesaid longitudinal edge thereof, wherein the passage in the first wall is formed by a folded-over portion of the first wall. This may for example be a hem in a wall consisting of canvas material. Alternatively, the passage may be formed by one hole or a number of aligned holes in the wall, through which the connecting element can be passed. 
     It is advantageous if the first and the second wall of the rectangular storage portion are interconnected along three of the four circumferential edges thereof, wherein the non-connected edges define the opening of the compartment and wherein the non-connected edge of the first wall forms the aforesaid longitudinal edge of the first wall for connection with the flap portion. 
     In one embodiment, the first elongate connecting element is connected to a further elongate connecting element via two respective coupling pieces at the two ends thereof, which further elongate connecting element is designed for being accommodated in a further passage that is provided in the longitudinal edge of the wall element of the flap portion for thus interconnecting the wall element and the storage portion via the first elongate connecting element. The coupling pieces are preferably strip-shaped, wherein the coupling piece is preferably connected to an end of an elongate connecting element in a manner analogous to the manner in which, as described above, the elongate connecting element is connected to the strip-shaped element, for example via a screwed connection or a form-locking connection, or through the use of a chamber provided with a passage in the strip-shaped element, as described above. 
     In one embodiment, the coupling pieces are straight, wherein preferably the spacing between the two elongate connecting elements is such that the wall material of the respective passages through which the aforesaid connecting elements extend is directly adjacent to each other. In an alternative embodiment, the coupling pieces are curved. The spacing between the elongate connecting element and the further elongate connecting element, viewed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof, preferably corresponds approximately to a height of the storage portion, or, in other words, approximately to the spacing between the first and the second wall of the storage portion, to which optionally the thickness of the flap portion and optionally an additional spacing are added, so that more consumer products can be accommodated in the holder. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the aforesaid spacing amounts to about 125 percent of the aforesaid height of the storage portion. 
     In the case of such curved coupling pieces, the space between the two elongate connecting elements is preferably at least substantially filled by a wall element. An advantage of such a construction with a connecting element that is connected to the flap portion via coupling pieces and a further connecting element is that the flap portion can be connected to the storage portion in a very simple manner, whilst the flap portion, which may be made of cloth material with a hem edge in a simple embodiment, can be personalised in an efficient manner, for example by printing the cloth material. 
     It is furthermore advantageous in this regard if the flap portion, or at least the wall element thereof, is made of a flexible material, wherein the further passage is formed by a folded-over portion, or hem edge, of the flexible material. 
     The invention also relates to a combination of a holder as described above according to the invention and a flat panel element which is configured for being placed on the wall element and preferably covering the wall element at least substantially. 
     The invention also relates to a flap portion for use in a holder according to the invention, wherein the flap portion is at least substantially flat, being designed for closing the holder by being folded over, the flap portion comprising an at least substantially rectangular plate-shaped wall element, wherein a first elongate connecting element is provided at the location of a first longitudinal edge of the wall element, which connecting element is designed for being accommodated in a passage that is provided in the first wall at the location of a longitudinal edge of the first wall of the storage portion, for interconnecting the flap portion and the storage portion. Advantages of the combination and of the flap portion are analogous to the advantages as described above of the holder according to the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will now be explained in more detail by means of a description of an embodiment of a holder according to the present invention with reference to the following figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional view of a preferred embodiment of a front side of a holder according to the invention in unfolded condition; 
         FIG. 2  shows a part of a flap portion for a holder according to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows the detail III-III of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows the detail III-III in perspective view; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the flap portion of the holder of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view of the holder of  FIG. 1  in unfolded condition, in combination with a panel element; 
         FIG. 7  shows the holder of  FIG. 6  in closed condition; 
         FIG. 8  is a three-dimensional view of another preferred embodiment of a holder according to the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the holder of  FIG. 8  in closed condition; 
         FIG. 10  shows the holder of  FIG. 8  placed in a triangular shape; 
         FIG. 11  is a three-dimensional view of a part of the holder of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a three-dimensional view of detail A of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIGS. 13   a - f  are three-dimensional views of an assembly of various parts of the holder of  FIG. 8  in different positions; 
         FIG. 14 a    is a three-dimensional view of yet another preferred embodiment of a holder according to the invention; 
         FIG. 14 b    shows a part of the holder of  FIG. 14 a   ; and 
         FIG. 15  is a three-dimensional view of yet another preferred embodiment of a holder according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The holder  1  shown in  FIG. 1  is a bag, in particular for a notebook computer or a tablet computer, which bag is also referred to as “wrap”. The holder  1  has a storage portion  2 , a flap portion  3  and a further flap portion  4 . The storage portion  2  consists substantially of a front wall  10  and a rear wall  24  (shown in  FIG. 6 , not shown in  FIG. 1 ) which is located under the front wall  10 . The front and the rear wall define a compartment present therebetween, in which a notebook computer and/or stationary, for example, or the like can be accommodated. The front and the rear wall are rectangular in shape, they are connected along three edges, optionally via an intermediate piece, for increasing the height of the compartment, viewed in a direction transversely to the front and rear wall. The aforesaid edges are the side edges  11  and  12  and the bottom edge  13 . The fourth edge  14  of the front wall  10  is free, i.e. it is not connected to the rear wall  24 . In this way an opening of the compartment is defined. Means such as straps or compartments may be provided on the front wall  10  for holding further consumer products such as stationary. At a longitudinal edge of the rear wall  24 , which extends parallel to the front wall  10  at the location of the free edge thereof, the rear wall  24  is connected to the flap portion  3 , optionally via a further intermediate piece comparable to the aforesaid connecting pieces at the location of the side edges  11 ,  12  and the bottom edge  13 . The aforesaid intermediate pieces may also be integral with a wall. The material of the front wall  10  and the rear wall  24  is neoprene, but alternatively it may also be PVC canvas, for example, or tarpaulin (German: “LKW Plane”) or leather or another cloth material. Optionally, the bag may be subdivided into sub-compartments by means of partitions. 
     The flap portion  3  is essentially made up of a wall element  15 . The flap portion  3  is partially shown in  FIG. 2 . Besides the wall element  15 , the flap portion  3  further comprises a first elongate connecting element in the form of a first rod  16 , a second elongate connecting element in the form of a second rod  17  and two strip-shaped elements  18  and  20 . The wall element  15  has a rectangular central recess  21 , so that the wall element  15  actually forms a frame. The recess  21  is not essential. The wall element  15  may be made of a metal, such as aluminium, for example by means of a water jet cutting technique. Alternatively, the wall element  15  may be made of a plastic material. The rods  16  and  17  are provided at longitudinal edges of the wall element  15 . In one embodiment, the aforesaid longitudinal edges may be formed by stiffening strips provided perpendicularly to the plane of the wall element  15 . At the location of short edges of the wall element  15 , strip shaped elements in the form of strips  18  and  20  are provided, which are preferably made of a plastic, such as nylon, or of a combination of plastic and rubber, for example. The strips  18  and  20  are disposed transversely to the plane of the wall element  15 , see in particular  FIG. 4 . This increases the flexural stiffness of the flap portion  3 . At the free ends of the strips  18 ,  20 , which extend to beyond the longitudinal edges of the wall element  15 , the rods  16 ,  17  are connected thereto via a screwed connection with screws  19 . The strips  18 ,  20  may comprise a slot in the side facing the wall element  15 , in which slot the short edges of the wall element  15  fit. The short edges of the wall element  15  may be provided with projections extending perpendicularly to the plane of the wall element  15 , which projections will hook or snap in position in the slot wall upon being inserted into the slot for thus securing the wall element  15  in the slot. Optionally, the strips  18 ,  20  may be permanently connected to the wall element, for example by means of a glued joint. According to another alternative, the wall element  15  and the strips  18 ,  20  form one integral, for example injection-moulded part of plastic material. 
     The wall element  15  may be built up of several layers, for example a non-transparent inner layer, which abuts against the front wall  10  of the storage portion  2  in the folded condition of the flap portion  3 , and a transparent outer layer. If desired, a panel element in the form of an image layer may be placed between the aforesaid layers. Said image layer can be placed by making at least one of the inner layer and the outer layer detachable, for example, or by providing one of the strip-shaped elements  18  or  20  with a slot-shaped passage for sliding the image layer therethrough to a position between the aforesaid inner and outer layer. 
     To realise the connection between the wall element  15  and the storage portion  2 , the rear wall  24  of the storage portion  2  has a folded-over portion, or hem, at the location of the aforesaid longitudinal edge thereof, so that a passage is formed. Through said passage, a rod, such as the rod  16 , can be passed, whereupon the rod  16  can be connected to the wall element  15 , for example by means of the aforesaid screwed connection and via the strips  18 ,  20 . Analogous thereto, the further flap portion  4  also has such a folded-over edge or hem, into which a rod, such as the rod  17 , can be inserted. Thus a robust connection is formed, via the rods  16  and  17 , between the wall element  15  on the one hand and both the storage portion  2  and the further flap portion  4  on the other hand. 
     In one embodiment of the flap portion, the flap portion is formed by the aforesaid assembly of wall element, strips and rods. Alternatively, the flap portion may comprise further material strips, which extend from the storage portion, along the strips, i.e. around the assembly, up to a further flap portion, for example. Said material strips thus form a connection between the storage portion and the further flap portion. The wall element can be connected therebetween, using the aforesaid rods. 
     The wall element is provided on at least one flat side with one of a hook part and a loop part of a hook-loop connecting element (shown in  FIG. 5 , not shown in  FIGS. 2-4 ). A panel element can be connected to the wall element, for example a photo printed on cloth or canvas, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). At the rear side of the panel element, the other of the hook part and the loop part is provided for realising the connection with the wall part  15 . The strips  18 ,  20 , which project above the flat side of the wall element  15 , thus also form a protection of the panel element.  FIG. 6  shows the rear side of the holder, i.e. a rear wall of the storage portion  2 , the flap portion  3  and the further flap portion  4 .  FIG. 7  shows the holder in closed condition, in which the inner wall  22  of the flap portion  4  abuts against the rear wall  24  of the storage portion  2 . 
     The holder can be placed in a triangular shape, analogous to the triangular shape shown in  FIG. 10 , in which a free longitudinal edge of the further flap portion  4  will abut against the bottom edge  13 . Optionally, connecting means may moreover be provided for interconnecting said edges. In the triangular shape, the holder can advantageously function as a support, for example for a tablet computer. 
     If desired, the holder can be hung on a wall by the flap portion or the further flap portion, in which case the panel element may be made up of a mirror, for example. In said compartment, case toiletries may for example be placed. 
     In  FIGS. 8-13  a holder  101  is shown, being a further preferred embodiment of a holder according to the invention. Like the holder  1 , the holder  101  has a storage portion  102 , a flap portion  103  with a wall element  115 , and a further flap portion  104 . The holder  101  shown in  FIG. 8  is shown in closed condition in  FIG. 9 . In  FIG. 10 , the holder  101  is furthermore placed in a triangular shape so as to thus form a support, for example for a tablet computer. Friction-increasing elements  170  may be provided on the rear wall  124  of the storage portion  102  for largely preventing the aforesaid tablet computer, for example, or a holder such as a shell-shaped cover, sliding off the holder in the triangular shape thereof. In  FIG. 11  a strip-shaped element  118  of the preferred embodiment of  FIG. 8  is shown, which strip-shaped element is essentially the same as the strip-shaped element  18  of the holder  1 . The strip-shaped element  118  is formed as an integral part, for example by means of an injection-moulding technique, but alternatively it may be 3D-printed or milled, for example. The strip-shaped element  118  comprises a slot  126  in which a short edge of the wall element  115  is present. The strip-shaped element  118  is provided with a passage  127  enclosed by the wall  128  for realising a connection with a rod  117  as shown in  FIGS. 13 a  and 13 b   , which rod forms a connection between the flap portion  103  and the further flap portion  104 . Said passage  127  enclosed by the wall  128  provides access to the chamber  129  in the strip-shaped element  118 , which chamber  129  is larger than the passage  127 . The passage  127  enclosed by the wall  128  is provided with a recess  135  at a position along the circumference, which recess is circular in shape and which partially overlaps the shape of the likewise circular passage  127 , more specifically slightly less than half the circular shape of the recess  135 . The diameter of the passage  127  is adapted to allow the passage of the end part  132  into the chamber  129  therethrough. 
     The recess  135  has a diameter which substantially corresponds to the external diameter of the intermediate part  130 , with the wall of the recess  135  passing through at least half of a complete circumference for thus holding the intermediate part  130  in position to a certain extent, wherein the material of the element  118  is slightly deformable, so that the intermediate part  130  can pass from the passage  130  into the recess  135 . With this embodiment of the strip-shaped element  118  and the rod  117 , a form-locking connection can be obtained without additional connecting means such as screws being required. The same goes as regards connecting a rod  116  that forms the connection between the storage portion  102  and the flap portion  103 . 
     In one embodiment (not shown) of a strip-shaped element comparable to the strip shaped element  118 , the chamber is formed so that the end part of said element can be retained in the chamber in a form-locking manner. This form-locking connection can be achieved, for example, in that a passage via which the chamber is accessible is not rotationally symmetrical. The end part  132  will in that case have a non-rotationally symmetrical shape, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the rod  116 . As a result, the end part can be rotated in such a manner after being inserted into the chamber that it cannot pass back via the passage. In this way the form-locking (at least to a certain extent) connection can be realised. 
     In  FIG. 13 c    the flap portion  103 , more specifically the wall part  115  thereof, is connected to the further flap portion  104  via the rod  117  (not shown in this figure), in that it extends through a hem  139  in the further flap portion  104 . The same goes for the connection between the flap portion  103  and the storage portion  102 , in that the rod  116  extends through a hem in the storage portion  2 . 
     In order to largely prevent the rod  117  from getting out of the associated chamber  129  in use as a result of the rod  117  moving out of the recess  135 , back into the passage  127 , with its intermediate part  130 , a blocking element  140  is provided, as shown in  FIGS. 13 d - f   . The same goes for the connection by means of the rod  116 , at the location of which a blocking element  140  is likewise provided. The blocking element  140  is an elongate strip with a curled longitudinal edge. As shown in  FIGS. 13 d  and 13 e   , this strip can be passed through the gap  119  between the rod  117 , around which the hem  139  of the further flap portion  104  extends, and the associated longitudinal edge of the wall element  115  of the flap portion  103 , and be placed against the wall element of the flap portion  103  with its flat, strip-shaped web portion, and be attached thereto, for example using a hook-loop connection. By filling the aforesaid gaps with elements  140  it is ensured that the rods  116  and  117  will remain in their position, so that the form-locking position of the end parts thereof in the associated chambers of the strip-shaped elements  118  and  120  is maintained. In addition, the blocking elements  140  impart additional stiffness to the wall element  115  of the flap portion  103 . 
     For personalisation of the holder  101 , a panel element such as an image can be attached to the wall element  115  of the flap portion  103 . An example of such a panel element is a cloth or tarpaulin provided with a print. Attachment to the wall element  115  can effectively be realised via a hook-loop connection. 
     In a holder  201  shown in  FIGS. 14 a - b   , being another embodiment of a holder according to the invention, the holder  201  comprises a storage portion  202  and a flap portion  203 . Both the storage portion  202  and the flap portion  203  comprise passages provided by hem edges  242  of the portions  202 ,  203  in question. At the location of a longitudinal edge of the wall element  215  located on the side of the storage portion  222 , the flap portion  203  has an elongate connecting element in the form of a rod  16 . Said rod  16  is connected to the flap portion  203  via an adjacent further rod  16  that extends through a hem  242  in the flap portion  203 . 
     The storage portion  202  and the flap portion  203  are connected together by connecting the ends of the rod  16  to strip-shaped coupling pieces  218 , see  FIG. 14 b   , with the rod  16 , which does not extend through the hem edge of the flap portion  203 , extending through the hem edge of the storage portion  202 . The rods  16  can be connected to the coupling pieces  218  by means of a screwed connection so as to obtain a connection between the storage portion  202  and the wall element  215  of the flap portion  203 , comparable to the connection between the strip-shaped element  18  and the rod  16  of the holder  1 . Alternatively, it is possible to realise a form-locking connection of the rods and the coupling pieces analogous to the previously described form-locking connection realised by using the strip-shaped element  118  in combination with the rod  116 . 
     The holder  301  shown in  FIG. 15  is a variant of the holder  201  shown in  FIG. 14 , with like parts being indicated by like numerals. In this embodiment, a storage portion  202  is connected to a flap portion  203 . To realise this connection, rods are provided both in a passage in the flap portion  203  and in a passage in the storage portion  202 , analogous to the rods  116  shown in  FIG. 14 b   . The storage portion  202  and the flap portion  203  are connected in that a rod associated with the flap portion  203  extends through the passage in the storage portion  202 . The ends of the rods  116  are connected to coupling pieces  318  as described above. The coupling pieces  318  comprise a slot in which a wall element  303  can be placed for thus bridging the space between the two rods. 
     The flap portion  203  has a wall element that is configured as a shaped part, for example of plastic material, but also as a flexible part made of canvas or cloth. The coupling pieces  318  are partially circular in shape, with the diameter of the circle substantially corresponding to the thickness of the holder  301  in the closed condition. Another shape of the coupling pieces  318 , for example an angular shape, is also possible. It is furthermore possible to connect the rods to the coupling pieces in the above-describe manner, using a screwed connection, for obtaining a connection between the storage portion  202  and the flap portion  203 .

Technology Classification (CPC): 0