Technical Field

The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of cases for bags and/or garments.

Background Art

Bag cases, so-called “rain-covers”, and garment cases, usually referred to as “garment covers” are well known, substantially consisting of a pouch made of waterproof material which can be fitted around a bag and/or garment for the purpose of protecting them from rain, from the other weather conditions and, more generally, of preventing them from being ruined in any way.

The cases covered by this invention are preferably intended for use in the luxury market, such as e.g. within bag and/or clothing stores of high-fashion brands, so- called luxury boutiques.

Such cases are usually provided with a pouch having an open bottom allowing it to be fitted over the bag and/or garment to be protected. At the top of the pouch, there is also a smaller opening adapted to make, in the case of bags, the handles or the shoulder strap protrude, and in the case of garments, the hanger, allowing the user to grasp the bag or garment in the traditional way even when the case is attached.

Such cases are usually made entirely of a polymeric material so that effectively waterproof cases can be easily produced.

However, cases must now be subject to specific technical standards and limits of use to meet the ever-increasing demands of environmental protection.

As is well known, synthetic polymeric materials, which are obtained by polymerization reactions starting from petroleum-derived materials, are subjected to production processes having high environmental impact. Therefore, the use of such synthetic polymeric materials has several drawbacks, among which is the fact that they are not biodegradable, and therefore their disposal not only has significant management and execution costs in addition to being environmentally harmful. To remedy at least part of the above drawback, materials made from recycled plastics are currently being used. However, even the aforementioned materials are not without their drawbacks. Recycling plastics, in fact, is highly costly for government institutions, thus causing the accumulation of large quantities of plastics to be recycled in landfills, an economically convenient alternative, but not an environmentally feasible one.

Therefore, the aspect of environmental pollution becomes increasingly important; in this regard, the European Union has issued specific regulations in this regard (EN 13432:2002) and which material manufacturers are required to comply with. Added to this is the fact that in many areas of industrial and commercial activities, there is a special need to renew products and to constantly search for new ones in order to distinguish them more from those of competitors.

The Applicant thus thought to overcome at least some of these problems by manufacturing a case for bags and/or garments by using paper material.

Nowadays, the production of cases using paper involves joining two sheets of paper together by making at least one edge of a sheet adhere with an end portion of the other sheet. That end portion has a protruding flap which is folded over and glued onto the edge of the other sheet so as to close the case.

This known manufacturing method, however, has several problems related in particular to the fact that the resulting cases are aesthetically unappealing. Indeed, the type of production described above leads to the production of cases with little aesthetic value to the eye. Therefore, the cases thus produced are unsuitable for use in the luxury market, where highly refined and elegant finishes are usually required.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a manufacturing method of cases for bags and/or garments which allows obtaining environmentally sustainable cases with high aesthetic value.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a manufacturing method of cases for bags and/or garments which allows obtaining cases that are of fine workmanship and have a reduced environmental impact. A further object of the present invention is to devise a manufacturing method of cases for bags and/or garments which allows cases to be produced quickly, rapidly and accurately.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a manufacturing method of cases for bags and/or garments which allows the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome within the framework of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as affordable solution.

The above objects are achieved by the present manufacturing method of cases for bags and/or garments having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a manufacturing method of cases for bags and/or garments, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example, in the accompanying tables of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of some steps of the manufacturing method in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the method in Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are perspective views of the case obtained by means of the method according to the invention applied to a bag and to a garment, respectively. Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a case for bags and/or garments produced by means of the method according to the invention. Specifically, the case 1 according to the invention is intended, in use, to be fitted on a bag (as shown in Figure 3) and/or on a garment A (as shown in Figure 4).

Preferably, the bag B has two gripping handles, but alternative solutions cannot be ruled out wherein there is only one gripping handle, such as e.g. a shoulder strap, or where there is no gripping handle at all, e.g. of the “clutch” type. Preferably, the garment A is held up by a hanger G.

The method comprises a step of supplying at least one first and one second sheet 2, 3 made of a papermaking material 4 and provided with respective perimeter edges 5a, 5b. Specifically, each sheet 2, 3 is provided with at least one respective perimeter edge 5a, 5b intended to be joined to the perimeter edge 5a, 5b of the other sheet 2, 3.

The method then comprises a step of applying, where at least one of the perimeter edges 5a, 5b is located, an adhesive 6 to obtain at least one adhesive perimeter edge 5 a, 5b.

Next, the method comprises a step of joining the sheets 2, 3 by making the perimeter edges 5a, 5b adhere to each other to glue them together and obtain at least one case 1. Specifically, the adhesive 6 is configured to make the adhesive perimeter edge 5a, 5b adhere to the other perimeter edge 5a, 5b in a substantially permanent maimer. The placement of the adhesive 6, together with the conformation of the sheets 2, 3, allows the final conformation of the case 1 to be determined.

By means of such steps, it is thus possible to join the edges 5a, 5b of the sheets 2, 3 with the utmost precision by means of a simple and effective solution, with the possibility of making extremely detailed finishing in order to achieve a fine aesthetic look.

Advantageously, the papermaking material 4 is made at least partly of water- repellent material. This allows to be able to protect the bag B and/or the garment A from rain, from other weather conditions and, in general, from possible contact with substances that could damage the bag B and/or the garment A.

For this purpose, the papermaking material 4 comprises a water-repellent cellulose mixture and/or is treated by means of a waterproofing process. The waterproofing treatment involves the application of a special wax and/or of an adhesion-promoting primer. This expedient allows the holes in the papermaking material to be closed, thereby increasing the water repellency thereof.

Conveniently, the papermaking material 4 is at least partly transparent, so that the bag B and/or the garment A can be seen when the case 1 is in use.

As visible from Figure 1, each sheet 2, 3 comprises a plurality of perimeter edges 5a, 5b, 8. Specifically, each sheet 2, 3 has a main body 7 which is bounded by the respective perimeter edges 5a, 5b, 8. In the present case, each sheet 2, 3 comprises at least one pair of side edges 5b opposite each other. Moreover, each sheet 2, 3 has a bottom edge 5a placed between the side edges 5b. Again, each sheet 2, 3 comprises a free edge 8 opposite the bottom edge 5a. The free edge 8 is also placed between the pair of side edges 5b.

The side edges 5b of one of the sheets 2, 3 are intended to be joined to the side edges 5b of the other sheet 2, 3. Similarly, the bottom edge 5a of one sheet 2, 3 is intended to be joined to the bottom edge 5a of the other sheet 2, 3. Once the edges have been joined, the sheets 2, 3 make a covering body 12 having a predefined volume within which the bag B and/or the garment A can be at least partly arranged.

Instead, the free edges 8 are separated from each other so as to define one opening 15 adapted to allow the bag B and/or the garment A to be fitted inside the case 1. Preferably, each sheet 2, 3 has a substantially rectangular or square shape. It cannot, however, be ruled out that the sheets 2, 3 may have a different conformation in order to make cases 1 of different shapes.

Each sheet 2, 3 extends by length between the bottom edge 5a and the free edge 8 and by width between the pair of side edges 5b. The length and the width of the sheets 2, 3 are selected depending on the desired dimensions for the case 1 and/or on the production requirements.

As visible from Figure 1, the step of supplying involves a phase of having a first and a second reel 9, 10 on each of which the papermaking material 4 is wound. Specifically, the papermaking material 4 intended to make the first sheet 2 is wound on the first reel 9. On the other hand, the papermaking material 4 intended to make the second sheet 3 is wound on the second reel 10.

Preferably, each reel 9, 10 has a core, not shown in the figure, on which the papermaking material 4 is wound. The core has a substantially cylindrical shape. Preferably, the wound papermaking material 4 has a length such that a plurality of sheets 2, 3, and consequently a plurality of cases 1 can be made.

The step of supplying then involves a phase of unrolling from the first and the second reels 9, 10 a respective portion of papermaking material 4 which defines at least the first and the second sheets 2, 3, respectively. These sheets 2, 3 have a predefined length depending on the length of the case 1. This length is dictated by the production requirements and by the intended use of the case 1.

Specifically, the phase of unrolling involves stretching from the first and the second reels 10 at least one portion of papermaking material 4 which is longer or equal to the length of the first and of the second sheet 3. In this way it is possible to separate, e.g. by means of cuts, the portion intended to make the sheet 2, 3 from the remaining portion of papermaking material 4.

The unrolling of the papermaking material 4 is preferably carried out using an unwinding device. Specifically, the unwinding device is configured to stretch each reel in order to position one portion of papermaking material 4 where a joining area is located within which the joining operations of the sheets 2, 3 are carried out.

Preferably, the unwinding device is of the automatic type.

The unwinding device comprises one or more rollers on which the papermaking material 4 is wound. The rollers are moved in rotation to allow the papermaking material to be unwound.

It cannot, however, be ruled out that the phase of unwinding can be carried out by means of a different type of unwinding device or manually by one or more operators.

The method also comprises a step of detaching the sheets 2, 3 from their respective reels 9, 10. Preferably, such a step of detaching is carried out subsequently to the step of joining. In actual facts, the sheets 2, 3 are first joined together to make the case 1 and then they are detached from their respective reels 9, 10, thus obtaining the case 1.

It cannot, however, be ruled out that the step of detaching may be taken prior to the step of joining.

Preferably, the step of detaching is carried out by cutting the papermaking material 4 at the stretch separating the portion of papermaking material 4 used to make the sheets 2, 3 from the remaining portion. This cut is made transversely to the papermaking material 4, that is, substantially in the direction of width. As we shall see in detail later in the description, the method allows a pair of cases 1 to be made continuous with each other by means of a single step of joining. In such a case, the step of detaching involves separating the sheets 2, 3 of the case 1 connected to the portion of the papermaking material wound on the reels 9, 10 at its free edges 8. On the other hand, in the event of the method making only one case 1 at a time, the step of detaching involves separating the sheets 2, 3 where the bottom edge 5 a is located.

The method also involves a step of arranging the sheets 2, 3 parallel to each other. This step of arranging is carried out prior to the step of joining. This expedient allows simplifying the operations of the phase of joining, by arranging the sheets 2, 3 in a mirroring maimer with each other.

For this purpose, the method comprises a step of supplying one or more guide rollers 11 around which the papermaking material 4 is unwound to convey it to the joining area. In such a joining area, the sheets are arranged substantially parallel to each other and then moved closer and joined together.

Appropriately, the step of applying involves applying the adhesive 6 where the side edges 5b and the bottom edge 5a of at least one of the sheets 2, 3 are located to obtain at least one pair of adhesive side edges 5b and one adhesive bottom edge 5a. In other words, the step of applying involves applying the adhesive 6 to one of the side edges 5b of at least one of the sheets 2, 3, to the other of the side edges 5b of at least one of the sheets 2, 3 and to the bottom edge 5 a of at least one of the sheets 2, 3. In actual facts, the adhesive 6 is applied to one or both the sheets 2, 3 so as to make at least one pair of adhesive side edges 5b and at least one adhesive bottom edge 5a.

Preferably, the adhesive is applied onto the side edges 5b and onto the bottom edge 5a of both sheets 2, 3 in order to increase the effectiveness of the adhesive 6.

Preferably, the adhesive 6 is a glue or an adhesive material. In this case, the adhesive 6 is a glue-based primer.

Even more preferably, the adhesive 6 is of the type of a glue which can be activated by means of heat and/or melting. The step of applying is carried out where an application area is located between the area wherein the reels 9, 10 are arranged and the joining area.

Preferably, this step of applying is carried out by means of an applicator device configured to spread the adhesive 6 where the edges 5a, 5b to be made adhesive are located.

Conveniently, the adhesive 6 is deposited on the perimeter edge along a perimeter strip. This perimeter strip has a predefined width depending on the size of the case 1 and/or on the shaping of the case 1. The size of the strip determines the bonded portions of the two sheets and thus the useful portion to perform edge shaping. In fact, the greater the width of the deposited strip, the greater the possibility of carrying out complex shaping, thus ensuring that the edges remain joined together.

The step of joining comprises a phase of arranging the perimeter edges 5a, 5b in adhesion. Specifically, the phase of arranging in adhesion involves making the side edges 5b and the bottom edge 5a of one sheet 2, 3 adhere to the side edges 5b and the bottom edge 5a of the other sheet 2, 3, respectively. Since at least one of the two edges 5a, 5b is arranged in adhesive-type adhesion, this phase allows the adhesive 6 applied onto the adhesive edge 5a, 5b to also spread itself on the other edge 5a, 5b so that the edges 5a, 5b are glued together and the sheets 2, 3 with them.

Next, the step of joining involves a phase of activating the adhesive 6 by heating it. Particularly, such phase of activating involves heating the sheets at least where the adhesive edges 5a, 5b are located so that the adhesive 6 can adhere substantially permanently to the edges 5a, 5b of both sheets 2, 3. Specifically, such phase of activating involves heating the sheets to a temperature between 50°C and 400°C.

Preferably, the phase of activating involves the activation of the adhesive 6 by welding.

Preferably, welding involves exerting pressure on at least the edges 5 a, 5b of the sheets 2, 3 arranged in adhesion to promote the adhesion of the adhesive 6 to both edges 5a, 5b. As already mentioned above, the step of joining allows the side edges 5b and the bottom edge 5a of one of sheets 2, 3 to be joined with the side edges 5b and the bottom edge 5a of the other sheet 2, 3 respectively, defining the covering body 12. The central portions of the sheets 2, 3 are free so as to define a volume in which the bag B and/or the garment A can be inserted. The free edges 8 are separated from each other to define one opening 15 adapted to allow the bag B and/or the garment A to be inserted into the case 1.

In actual facts, as visible from Figures 3 and 4, the case 1 obtained defines at least one upper portion 13 where the bottom edges 5a are located, and at least one lower portion 14 where the free edges 8 are located. The free edges 8 define one opening 15 adapted to allow the introduction of the bag B and/or of the garment A inside the case 1.

Appropriately, the sheets 2, 3 have a shaping such that, when joined together to make the covering body 12, the latter has a conformation such that it can be fitted on top of the bag B and/or of the garment A. More specifically, the covering body 12 has a pouch-like conformation with an open bottom, defined by the opening

15.

Conveniently, the method comprises a step of making, where the lower portion 14 is located, at least one closing flap 16 extending from one of the free edges 8 and being joinable, by means of the joining means 17, to the other of the free edges 8 to close the opening 15. Preferably, in order to make such a closing flap

16, one of the sheets 2, 3 has greater length than the other sheet 2, 3 so that, when overlapped with each other, a portion of papermaking material 4 defining the closing flap 16 extends from the free edge 8 of the other sheet 2, 3.

It cannot, however, be ruled out that the closing flap 16 can be made by connecting one portion of papermaking material 4 to one of the free edges 8 in order to define the closing flap 16.

Conveniently, such step of making comprises a phase of applying joining means to the closing flap 16. Preferably, the joining means 17 are of the removable type and, therefore, allow the opening 15 to be closed and opened several times and the case 1 to be reused on a variety of occasions. In one embodiment, the joining means 17 of the removable type comprise a weak glue layer, i.e., an adhesive material that, after bonding, allows the bonded surfaces to be easily detached without the application of special stress. The weak glue layer is associated with at least one of either the closing flap 16 or the free edge 8 of the other sheet 2, 3.

In one embodiment, the joining means 17 of the removable type comprise one or more snap buttons arranged on the closing flap 16 and on the free edge 8 of the other sheet 2, 3.

In one embodiment, the joining means 17 of the removable type comprise a “hook and loop” type system, wherein one of either the closing flap 16 or the free edge 8 of the other sheet 2, 3 is provided with one portion of “hook”-type material and the other of the closing flap 16 or the free edge 8 of the other sheet 2, 3 is provided with one portion of “loop”-type material.

In addition, other embodiments cannot be ruled out wherein the joining means 17 are of the permanent type and allow the opening 15 to be closed only once. In this case, the case 1 is disposable because the walls of the covering body 12 and/or the joining means 17 are tom off upon reopening to extract the bag B and/or the garment A. Such joining means 17 of the permanent type may consist, e.g., of a layer of strong glue, which allows the closing flap 16 to adhere stably to the free edge 8 of the other sheet 2, 3.

Preferably, the method comprises a step of making, where the bottom edge 5a is located, a top opening 20 adapted to allow the passage of the gripping handle of the bag B and/or of the hanger G supporting the garment A. It is thus possible for the handle and/or the hanger G to escape through the top opening 20 thus allowing a user to grip the bag B and/or the garment A.

Conveniently, the method comprises a step of making breathable micro-holes 18 on at least one of the sheets 2, 3. This characteristic allows making the papermaking material breathable while maintaining waterproof characteristics. In fact, the breathable micro-holes 18 are sized in such a way as to allow the passage of air while preventing the passage of water.

Preferably, the papermaking material 4 comprises at least one antistatic additive. This ensures that the papermaking material cannot build up an electrical charge on its surface, thus reducing the electrostatic force which would keep the sheets 2, 3 attached to other surfaces, e.g., to the surface of the bag B and/or of the garment A.

Preferably, the papermaking material 4 comprises at least one UV-screening additive. This characteristic enables the papermaking material to prevent the passage of UV rays.

In addition, the papermaking material 4 is at least partly transparent so that the bag B and/or the garment A can be seen when the case 1 is in use.

Conveniently, the method comprises one step of making ventilation holes on at least one of the sheets 2, 3. Such characteristic improves the ability of the case 1 to make air recirculate, thus preventing the formation of moisture inside the case

1, e.g., as a result of condensation. The aeration holes, in particular, make the case 1 particularly suitable for protecting bags and/or garments during transportation, both because they protect the surface of the bag B and/or of the garments from bumping and rubbing and because they prevent moisture from forming inside the case itself.

Advantageously, the manufacturing method of the cases 1 according to this invention allows making a pair of consecutive cases 1, thus speeding up the process of mass production of a plurality of cases 1.

To this end, conveniently, the phase of supplying involves supplying at least one pair of first consecutive sheets 2, 3 and at least one pair of second consecutive sheets 2, 3. The consecutive sheets 2, 3 are joined together where their respective bottom edges 5a are located. One of such sheets 2, 3 is then joined to the remaining portion of papermaking material 4 where the free edge 8 is located.

Specifically, the phase of unrolling involves unrolling from the first and from the second reels 9, 10 a portion of papermaking material 4 having a length such as to define at least the pair of first consecutive sheets 2 and at least the pair of second consecutive sheets 3, respectively. The pair of consecutive sheets 2, 3 has a front sheet 2, 3 and a back sheet 2, 3, the latter being positioned between the front sheet

2, 3 and the remaining portion of papermaking material 4. The back sheet is joined to the remaining portion of papermaking material 4 where the free edge 8 is located.

Appropriately, the step of joining involves joining each first sheet 2 with a respective second sheet 3 to obtain a pair of cases 1 joined together where the bottom edges 5a are located. Preferably, the first front sheet 2 is joined to the second front sheet 3, while the first back sheet 2 is joined to the second back sheet 3.

The sheets 2, 3 are joined substantially in the same way as described above.

Conveniently, the adhesive 6 is deposited along a perimeter strip where the bottom edges 5a are located of the consecutive sheets of one of the pair of first sheets 2 or the pair of second sheets 3. This perimeter strip has a predefined width such that it covers both bottom edges 5a. This ensures that both bottom edges 5a are joined with the bottom edges 5a of the other pair of sheets.

The joined pairs of sheets 2, 3 thus make a joined pair of cases 1. At this point, the method comprises a step of separating the joined cases 1 to obtain a pair of cases 1 which can be used separately.

This step involves separating the pair of cases 1 where their respective bottom edges 5a are located. In actual facts, the step of separating involves making a cut where the bottom edges 5a are located.

In such a case, the previously described step of detaching involves separating the pair of first sheets and the pair of second sheets from the reels 9, 10. Such a step is preferably carried out subsequently to the step of joining. In addition, such step is preferably carried out prior to the step of separating the joined cases.

It cannot, however, be ruled out that such a step may be taken at different times, e.g. prior to the step of joining or subsequently to the step of separating.

As already anticipated, the case 1 is specifically intended to be fitted onto a bag B and/or onto a garment A.

For this purpose, the method involves a step of shaping the bottom edge 5a so as to fit one portion of the bag B and/or of the garment A on which the bottom edge 5a is to rest.

In the case of a bag B, the bottom edge 5a is shaped with a substantially linear shape, as seen in Figure 3.

In the case of a garment A, on the other hand, the bottom edge 5 a is shaped with a substantially “V” or “U” shape in order to obtain a case 1 for garments, as visible in Figure 4. Preferably, such a step of shaping is taken subsequently to the step of joining.

It cannot, however, be ruled out that such a step may be taken prior to the step of joining.

It has, in practice, been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects, and in particular the fact is emphasized that by means of the above-described method, it is possible to make environmentally sustainable cases with high aesthetic value.