Abstract:
A carrying bag is provided which may enable the content contained therein to be removed from the carrying bag without being damaged. This may be made possible by different parts of the carrying bag, which may be flexibly joint to one another, and by sidewalls having both moving elements as well as special joining means. The carrier bag may be worn over the shoulders by means of straps or the like and may be particularly suited for carrying and/or emptying delicate goods.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     The present application is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/CH2003/000573, filed Aug. 25, 2003, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Switzerland Application No. 1884/02, filed Nov. 11, 2002, incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a carrying bag.  
       TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     According to the prior art, carrying bags are used which serve for gathering or picking-up of fruits. Such carrying bags may be made of deformable material, whereby the content can be damaged from outside. Alternatively, such carrying bags may be made of non-deformable material which may rub at the body of the picker. The emptying of such carrying bags may be carried out by means of laying-out the bag or by opening the bottom of the bag. Thereby, due to danger of damage, the carrying bag cannot be put down when completely filled.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     There may be a need for a carrying bag being convenient in use.  
         [0005]     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a carrying bag is provided, comprising a front plate, a bottom plate, a back plate, flexible side elements, padded elements, and a first fastening element. The bottom plate may be arranged between the front plate and the back plate. The padded elements may be arranged between the bottom plate, the front plate and the back plate on the one hand and the flexible side elements on the other hand. The first fastening element may be arranged at the flexible side elements, and a second fastening element may be arranged at a carrying belt in such a manner that the carrying bag is closable by connecting the first fastening element with the second fastening element.  
         [0006]     According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a carrying bag having the above-mentioned features may be used for receiving picked-up fruits.  
         [0007]     The carrying bag according to an embodiment of the invention may be manufactured in a cheap manner, may be convenient in use and may securely prevent content received in the carrying bag from being damaged. By providing a front plate, a bottom plate and a back plate which may be made from a rigid material and which may be bendable with respect to each other, a rigid and stable base unit may be provided which can be laterally closed by flexible side elements. When a carrying belt allowing a human user to carry the carrying bag (for instance on the shoulders and/or on the neck) is attached to the carrying bag (for instance the back plate), the carrying bag may be closed by laterally lifting up or raising the flexible elements and by fixing a first fastening element provided at the end of the flexible side elements at a second fastening element provided at the carrying belt and provided corresponding to the first fastening element.  
         [0008]     A carrying bag according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention may allow that a filling material can be put in the carrying bag from an above position, and when the carrying bag shall be emptied, this may be performed from one or more lateral sides of the carrying bag, for instance by means of releasing the first fastening element(s) from the second fastening element(s). Thus, filling goods like fruits may be securely prevented from being damaged when being picked-up, when being transported in the carrying bag and when being removed from the carrying bag.  
         [0009]     Further, the carrying bag according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention may be convenient to use by a human being collecting fruits or using the carrying bag for another purpose.  
         [0010]     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a carrying bag is provided which may be stiff at the body side of a user, but may lie against the body of the user without corners or edges. Moreover, the carrying bag may comprise a fixed and rigid bottom plate, and may thus be put down also in a filled state without damaging the content received in the carrying bag.  
         [0011]     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a carrying bag is provided which may comprise moveable side parts, which may laterally support the content of the carrying bag preventing that the content is damaged from outside. By means of an optional separating wall in the carrying bag, items (for instance fruits) of different qualities may be sorted in different chambers of the carrying bag defined by the separating wall(s), so that it may be prevented that the sorted items undesirably come into contact with each other or mix. Through at least one emptying position which may be provided at the side parts of the carrying bag, the content may be emptied gently in a damage preventing manner and in an optically controllable and adjustable manner.  
         [0012]     The carrying bag according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention may be appropriate for delicate or sensitive goods and may allow for a damage preventing or gentle emptying.  
         [0013]     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a carrying bag is provided which may enable the content contained therein to be removed from the carrying bag without being damaged. This may be made possible by different parts of the carrying bag, which may be flexibly joint to one another, and by sidewalls having both moving elements as well as special joining means. The carrier bag may be worn over the shoulders by means of straps or the like and may be particularly suited for carrying and/or emptying delicate goods.  
         [0014]     Referring to the dependent claims, further exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described.  
         [0015]     According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the carrying bag may have rigid elements as the bottom plate, the front plate and/or the back plate. In other words, the bottom plate, the front plate and/or the back plate may be manufactured of undeformable material which may increase the stability of the carrying bag.  
         [0016]     According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the bottom plate, the front plate and the back plate may be manufactured out of a casting mold. This may allow for a cheap manufacture of the carrying bag.  
         [0017]     The front plate and the back plate may be provided bendable with respect to the bottom plate. In other words, a border region between the front plate and the bottom plate, and between the back plate and the bottom plate may be made from a material which may allow to flexibly fold the different plates with respect to each other. For instance, the three plates may be folded to form an essentially U-shaped structure.  
         [0018]     The carrying bag may further comprise a carrying belt which may be fastenable at the back plate or at any other component of the carrying bag. When the carrying belt is fastened at the back plate, the carrying bag may be conveniently worn by a human user just putting the carrying belt above her or his head so that the rest of the carrying bag is arranged in front of the user, for convenient use. The carrying bag may be worn and supported by means of a user&#39;s head, neck and/or shoulders.  
         [0019]     Particularly, the carrying belt may be fastenable at the back plate in a fixed manner or in a movable manner.  
         [0020]     For instance, one or more fixation holes can be provided in the back plate, wherein the carrying belt may be fixed by means of a fixing element corresponding to the fixation holes (see  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0021]     Alternatively, the fixation means on the back plate may be realized as an oblong or elongated hole (optionally in arc shape) in which a fastening element (for instance a pin or the like) may be inserted (see  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0022]     Moreover, the carrying belt may comprise the second fastening element which, in conjunction with the first fastening element arranged at the flexible side element, may form a secure and reliable connection by means of which that the carrying bag may be brought into a closed state.  
         [0023]     According to still another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the flexible side elements and the padded elements may be manufactured of preformed material and may selectively be inserted in or taken out of the carrying bag. Thus, a modular system at a carrying bag is created which is cheap in manufacture and which allow an easy cleaning of the system.  
         [0024]     Furthermore, the carrying bag may comprise a third fastening element arranged at the front plate and a fourth fastening element arranged at the back plate. The third fastening element may be connectable to the fourth fastening element to connect the front plate with the back plate via the padded elements, particularly around at least a part of the circumference of the carrying bag. By taking this measure, the stability of the carrying bag may be increased.  
         [0025]     Particularly, the third fastening element may be arranged at a corner of the front plate, and the fourth fastening element may be arranged at a corner of the back plate. It is also possible to provide a plurality of third fastening elements at different corners of the front plate and to provide a plurality of first fastening elements at different corners of the back plate. This geometrical configuration may allow for a secure closure of the carrying bag.  
         [0026]     Beyond this, the carrying bag may comprise at least one separation wall between the front plate and the back plate to separate a receiving volume of the carrying bag into separated sub-volumes by means of the at least one separation wall. In other words, by using one or more of such separation walls, different portions in which content may be received in the carrying bag may be defined and separated. For instance, fruits of different quality levels may be put in the different receiving sub-volumes so as to prevent that the fruits of different material may mix and have to be sorted again. This allows a separation already during the picking or gathering procedure and may thus decrease the costs. The separation wall may be realized as a panel or may also be realized as two panels which are arranged essentially perpendicular with one another so as to form an “×” or a “+” from a top view. Other shapes, like “∥” or “         ” are possible as well. The separation wall may be provided essentially perpendicular or essentially parallel to the bending parts of the front plate, the bottom plate and the back plate.  
         [0027]     The at least one separation wall may be flexibly adjustable between the front plate and the back plate. In other words, the sizes and/or the shapes of the defined sub-volumes may be adjusted in accordance with a particular application.  
         [0028]     The at least one separation wall may comprise a through hole and a rod guided through the through hole. Furthermore, a hole may be provided in a bottom inner surface of the carrying bag. The at least one separation wall may be fastenable in the carrying bag by inserting a bottom part of the rod in the hole.  
         [0029]     An upper end of the rod may comprise a lever adapted to remove the separation wall from the hole by raising the lever to thereby remove the bottom part of the rod from the hole.  
         [0030]     The carrying bag may further comprise a plurality of engaging elements at an inside surface and/or at an upper surface of the carrying bag, wherein the at least one separation wall may be fastenable to at least a part of the plurality of engaging elements.  
         [0031]     Moreover, the at least one separation wall may comprise protrusions at upper corners, wherein the at least one separation wall may be fastenable by engaging the protrusions with at least a part of the plurality of engaging elements.  
         [0032]     Furthermore, the carrying bag may comprise at least one handle which may be arranged at the front plate and/or at the back plate. Such a handle may allow to transport the carrying bag by means of a user&#39;s hand, similar like a suitcase, in an operation state in which a user has removed the carrying belt from his body.  
         [0033]     Beyond this, the carrying bag may be adapted to empty content received in the carrying bag from a lateral position. By taking this measure, a damage preventing emptying of the carrying bag may be possible. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0034]     In the drawings, carrying bags according to exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described.  
         [0035]      FIG. 1  illustrates a carrying bag according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in an open state.  
         [0036]      FIG. 2  illustrates the carrying bag of  FIG. 1  in a closed state.  
         [0037]      FIG. 3  illustrates a carrying bag according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in a closed state.  
         [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates a carrying bag according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in a closed state.  
         [0039]      FIG. 5  illustrates a separation wall of the carrying bag of  FIG. 4  according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0040]     The illustration in the drawing is schematically. In different drawings, similar or identical elements are provided with the same reference signs.  
         [0041]     In the following, referring to  FIG. 1 , a carrying bag according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described.  
         [0042]     The carrying bag shown in  FIG. 1  comprises a rigid front plate  1   c , a rigid bottom plate  1   b  and a rigid back plate la. The bottom plate  1   b  is arranged between the back plate  1   a  and the front plate  1   c  and can be bended with respect to the front plate  1   c  and with respect to the back plate  1   a  via bending portions  11  and  12 , respectively.  
         [0043]     Furthermore, the carrying bag of  FIG. 1  has flexible side elements  3  and padded or cushioned regions  2 . Furthermore, first fastening elements  7  are provided at the flexible side elements  3  as bands having an eyelet or a loop or the like (not shown in  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0044]     The padded elements  2  are arranged between the bottom plate  1   b , the front plate  1   c  and the back plate  1   a  on the one hand and the flexible side elements  3  on the other hand. Furthermore, the first fastening elements  7  are arranged at the flexible side elements  3 , and second fastening elements  5   a , corresponding to the first fastening elements  7 , are attached to a carrying belt  6 . The second fastening elements  5   a  may be realized as hooks or the like, as can be seen from  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2 .  
         [0045]     The carrying bag which is shown in  FIG. 1  in an open state and in  FIG. 2  in a closed state can be closed by connecting the first fastening elements  7  to the second fastening elements  5   a  after having pulled up the flexible side elements  3 .  
         [0046]     As can further be seen from  FIG. 1 , the fastening belt  6  is fastened at the back plate  1   a  by connecting a pin or the like (not shown) provided at the carrying belt  6  to a corresponding hole  5  provided in the back plate la. Thus, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the carrying belt may be fastened at the back plate la in a fixed manner.  
         [0047]     When the eyelets of the fastening elements  7  are lifted up and connected to the corresponding hooks  5   a , the rigid plate elements  1   a  to  1   c  are bended at the bending portions  11 ,  12  to form a basically U-shaped structure. The sides of this U-shaped structure are closed by the flexible side walls  3  which snugly and flexibly cover the side holes of the U-shaped structure.  
         [0048]     Then, a user may carry the carrying belt  6  around his neck or shoulders and may gather or pick up fruits and put the fruits from above in the carrying bag which is then in the closed state (see  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0049]     The carrying bag shown in  FIG. 1  comprises the undeformable parts  1   a ,  1   b ,  1   c , the cushioned or padded parts  2  and the moveable parts  3 . The moveable parts  3  may be drawn together at the corners and form the carrying bag. The fixed parts  1   a  and  1   c  may be connected to each other at the corners by means of flexible elements  4  in order to prevent a leaking out of the content. The carrying bag is connected to the carrying belt  6  at at least one point  5  in a fixed ( FIG. 1 ) or displaceable ( FIG. 3 ) manner.  
         [0050]     The carrying bag of  FIG. 1  may allow for a damage preventing or gentle emptying of contents like gathered fruits. The element la is provided at the body side of a human being carrying the carrying bag. Furthermore, the carrying bag comprises the bottom plate  1   b  and the front section  1   c . The moveable or bendable elements  3  and the elastically cushioned wall elements  2  are provided, are drawn up by means of connecting sections (to form side parts) and are connected to the carrying belt  6  or are pivoted downwards and fixed. The emptying of the carrying bag may be effected through at least one side wall, which may be brought to the level of the bottom plate  1   b.    
         [0051]      FIG. 1  shows the carrying bag in an outspread state. The carrying bag comprises the undeformable parts  1   a  to  1   c  which may be bent with respect to each other, the cushioned parts  2 , and the moveable parts  3 . An adjustable connection  5  and a connection  7  are connected to the carrying belt  6  and to the fastening element  5   a , respectively. Therefore, the carrying bag is fastened with point  5  and point  7  at the carrying belt  6  and the hooks  5   a.    
         [0052]     In the carrying bag , the body section  1   a , the bottom plate  1   b  and the front section  1   c  may be embodied in a rigid manner and may be connected to each other in a flexible or bendable manner.  
         [0053]     The body section  1   a , by means of the attachment means  5 , may be connected to the carrying belt  6 . The moveable parts  3 , by means of one or more connection elements  7 , may be connected to a carrying belt connection part  5   a.    
         [0054]     The carrying bag may be adapted in such a manner that the body section  1   a  with the bottom plate  1   b  and the front section  1   c  are embodied as out of a casting mold.  
         [0055]     The insertion formed of the moveable elements  3  and of the cushioned elements  2  may be connected to the fixedly embodied parts  1   a  to  1   c  by means of connecting means.  
         [0056]     Elements  1   a  to  1   c  may be realized as firm sections. At the side, flexible elements  3  may be provided with additional material to form an opening.  
         [0057]     The insertion in the form of the moveable elements  3  and of the cushioned elements  2  may be made of preformed material and may selectively be inserted or taken out.  
         [0058]     In order to ensure that the carrying bag remains standing at the ground without emptying of its content, the corner points of elements  1   a  and  1   c  may be connected by means of flexible elements  4 .  
         [0059]     Furthermore, the body section  1   a  may be fixedly connected to the carrier belt  6  by means of the point  5 . However, as may be taken from  FIG. 3 , the body section  1   a  may be connected movably to the carrier belt  6 .  
         [0060]     Between the body section la and the front section  1   c , the carrying bag may be connected by means of a separation wall.  
         [0061]      FIG. 2  shows the carrying bag of  FIG. 1  in a closed state.  
         [0062]     In this operation state, the carrying bag is connected at the corners of the undeformable parts  1   a  and  1   c  by means of flexible elements  4 , wherein the moveable side parts  3  are adjustably mounted to the carrying belt  5   a.    
         [0063]     In the following, referring to  FIG. 3 , a carrying bag in a closed state according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described.  
         [0064]     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the body section  1   a  may be fixedly connected to the carrier belt  6  by means of the point  5 . However, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the body section  1   a  may be connected movably to the carrier belt  6 .  
         [0065]     For this purpose, an oblong and arc-shaped hole  22  is provided in the back plate  1   a . A pin  25  is received in the oblong and arc-shaped hole  22  at an adjustable position so that the fastening between the back plate la and carrying belt  6  can be modified by a user.  
         [0066]     In the following, referring to  FIG. 4 , a carrying bag according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described.  
         [0067]      FIG. 4  shows a three-dimensional view of the carrying bag in a closed state. The carrying bag comprises grips or handles  16   a  and  16   b . Further, a partition wall  15  is provided dividing the filling space of the carrying bag into a first portion  18  and into a second portion  19 . The partition wall  15  may be flexibly adjusted to define the size of the first portion  18  and of the second portion  19 . Thus, a fruit pick basket is provided which allows to separate two different kinds of fruits or two different qualities of fruits. By operating a fastening element  17 , gathered items may be emptied in a lateral manner.  
         [0068]     At the inside and/or at the upper surface of the carrying bag of  FIG. 4 , a plurality of engaging elements  22  are provided. The engaging elements  22  are grouped to form a plurality of pairs of engaging elements  22  which are provided at opposing inner surfaces of the carrying bag. As can be taken from  FIG. 4 , the separation wall  15  is fastened at two of the engaging elements  22  forming a grouped pair. By taking this measure, it is possible to adjust the position at which the separation wall is mounted in the carrying bag. Therefore, the sizes of the sub-volumes defined by the position at which the separation wall is mounted in the carrying bag can be flexibly set in accordance with a particular application.  
         [0069]     In addition to the fastening of the separation wall  15  at two of the engaging elements  22  provided at the inner essentially vertical surfaces of the carrying bag, the separation wall  15  may additionally be fastened at the bottom inner surface of the carrying bag.  
         [0070]     The latter aspect will be described in more detail referring to  FIG. 5  illustrating a detailed view of the separation wall  15  in a state in which it is removed from the carrying bag.  
         [0071]     As can be taken from  FIG. 5 , a through hole is provided in a central portion of the separation wall  15 . Through this through, a connecting rod  24  is guided. A pin  21  at a bottom end of the connecting rod  24  is adapted to be fastenable in a corresponding hole (not shown) which may be provided in the bottom inner surface of the carrying bag. At a top end of the connecting rod  24 , a lever  20  is provided which may be pulled up by a user in order to remove the separation wall  15  from the carrying bag.  
         [0072]     Furthermore, protrusions  23  may be provided at upper corners of the separation wall  15 . These protrusions  23  may support or fasten the separation wall  15  by engaging two of the engaging elements  22 .  
         [0073]     After having picked up two different qualities of fruits collected in the two chambers  18 ,  19 , the fruits of the first quality may be emptied first by operating the fastening element  17 . Subsequently, the separation wall  15  may be removed from the carrying bag. Thereby, the fruits of the second quality may be emptied.  
         [0074]     It should be noted that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps and the “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. Also elements described in association with different embodiments may be combined.  
         [0075]     It should also be noted that reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.