Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bag comprising a securing element for preventing undesired removal of contents. Background of the Invention

A problem is known in that bags and bag contents are subject to theft. The loss of personal property can be distressing and bothersome. Items that may be taken from or with a bag include money, credit cards, mobile devices, personal identification, medication and valuable or treasured items that may be difficult to replace. It is therefore desirable for a bag to be provided with a securing element usable to prevent unauthorised removal of the bag and contents.

Summary of the Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a bag, comprising: a body defining a compartment and a compartment opening having a first edge and a second edge, and a compartment closure slider provided with a ring member and arranged to be slidable between: a first open position in which said first and second edges of said compartment opening are open to allow access into the compartment, and a second closed position in which said first and second edges of said compartment opening are closed to inhibit access into the compartment; wherein said bag further comprises a securing cable element having a first end and a second end, and said ring member of said compartment closure slider is receivable onto said securing cable element into an arrangement in which said first and second ends of said securing cable element are securable together around an anchor object to tether said bag to said anchor object and to inhibit said compartment closure slider from being slidable from said second closed position into said first open position. Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a bag comprising a securing element;

Figure 2 illustrates use of features of the bag of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a schematic illustrating use of the bag of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a schematic illustrating use of a bag comprising a securing element according to a second example;

Figure 5 is a schematic illustrating an alternative mode of use of the bag of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a schematic illustrating use of a bag comprising a securing element according to a third example;

Figure 7 illustrates optional features of the bag of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 8 illustrates further optional features of the bag of Figure 1 . Detailed Description of the Embodiments

There will now be described by way of example a specific mode contemplated by the inventor. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the description.

Figure 1

A bag 101 comprising a securing element is shown in Figure 1 . The bag

101 comprises a body 102 defining a compartment 103 and a compartment opening 104 having a first edge 105 and a second edge 106, and a compartment closure slider 107 provided with a ring member 108. The compartment closure slider 107 is arranged to be slidable between a first open position in which the first and second edges 105, 106 of the compartment opening 104 are open to allow access into the compartment 103, and a second closed position in which the first and second edges 105, 106 of the compartment opening 104 are closed to inhibit access into the compartment 103. In this Figure, the compartment closure slider 107 is shown in the second closed position.

The bag 101 may be any of type, including, for example: a handbag, a beach bag, a satchel, a back pack, a laptop bag, a carryall. The fabrication of the body 102 of the bag may include one or more of: a plastics material, a textile material, a metal material, leather.

In this embodiment, the ring member 108 is a slider puller of the compartment closure slider 107. In this embodiment, the compartment closure slider 107 is a standard zipper, with one part of a two-part standard zip being provided on each of the first and second edges 105, 106 of the compartment opening 104. Preferably, and in this embodiment, the compartment closure slider and ring member are each fabricated from a metal material.

The bag 101 further comprises a securing cable element 109 having a first end 110 and a second end 11.

In this embodiment, the first and second ends 110, 111 of the securing cable element 109 each present a securing loop 112, 113 respectively. In this embodiment, the body 102 of the bag 101 comprises a first securing cable element receiving passage 114 that extends substantially parallel to the first edge 105 of the compartment opening 104 and a second securing cable element receiving passage 115 that extends substantially parallel to the second edge 106 of the compartment opening 104. The securing cable element 109 is secured to the body 102 of the bag 101 by use of the first and securing cable element receiving passages 114, 115. In the shown arrangement, the securing cable element 109 extends through the first and securing cable element receiving passages 114, 115 such that the securing cable element 109 extends in a loop and around the compartment opening 104, and the first and second ends 110, 111 of the securing cable element 109 extend from the body 102 of the bag 101. The securing cable element 109 has sufficient flexibility to allow manual movement of the first and second ends 1 0, 11 . The securing cable element 109 also has sufficient strength to resist breakage or severing. In this embodiment, the securing cable element 109 is continuous. Preferably, and in this embodiment, the securing cable element 109 comprises a plastic coated steel wire rope cable.

As will be described in further detail, the ring member 108 of the compartment closure slider 107 is receivable onto the securing cable element 109 into an arrangement in which the first and second ends 1 0, 1 1 of the securing cable element 109 are securable together around an anchor object to tether the bag 101 to the anchor object and to inhibit the compartment closure slider 107 from being slidable from the second closed position into the first open position. The bag 101 is therefore provided with a securing element usable to prevent unauthorised removal of the bag and contents.

Figure 2

Figure 2 illustrates use of the securing cable element 109 of bag 101. In this Figure, the ring member 108 of the compartment closure slider 107 is received onto the securing cable element 109.

In this embodiment, the first and second ends 110, 111 of the securing cable element 109 are insertable through the ring member 108 of the compartment closure slider 107 to locate the ring member 108 upon the securing cable element.

In the scenario of this Figure, the compartment closure slider 107 has been moved to the second closed position and the first and second ends 110, 111 of the securing cable element 109 have been passed through the ring member 108. The first and second ends 110, 111 of the securing cable element 109 may then be located around an anchor object 201 and the securing loops 1 2, 113 locked together with a padlock 202. In an embodiment, the bag 101 is provided with a padlock 202. Preferably, the padlock 202 is a combination lock.

With the compartment closure slider 107 in the second closed position, the ring member 108 received upon the securing cable element 109 and the first and second ends 10, 111 secured together around an anchor object 201 , the bag 101 is tethered to the anchor object 201 and sliding of the compartment closure slider 107 into the first open position is inhibited. In this way, the securing element of the bag may be used to prevent removal of the bag from an anchor object and removal of contents from the tethered bag.

The anchor object 201 may be any object or part of an object suitable for use an anchor to which the bag 101 may be tethered. An anchor object may be a post, a railing, a sun lounger or chair, a parasol body.

Figure 3

Figure 3 is a schematic illustrating use of the securing cable element 109 of bag 101 to tether the bag 101 to an anchor object 201 and to restrict movement of the compartment closure slider 107 from the second closed position, as described with reference to Figure 2.

In the shown arrangement, padlock 202 secures the securing cable element 109 in a closed loop to retain the compartment closure slider 107 on the securing cable element 109.

When in the shown arrangement, movement of the compartment closure slider 107 towards the first open position, in the direction indicated by arrow 301 , is physically restricted by the abutment of the ring member 108 against the shoulders indicated by arrows 302, 303, provided by the body 102 of the bag 101 at the points of exit of the securing cable element 109. In this embodiment, the shoulders 302, 303 are ends of the first and second securing cable element passages 114, 115 respectively. It is thus to be appreciated that the body 102 of the bag 101 provides a physical barrier to obstruct the movement of the ring member 108 of the compartment closure slider 107 in the direction of arrow 301 to prevent opening of the compartment opening 104. . The shoulders 302, 302 of the body 102 of the bag 101 may be reinforced to resist wear.

Therefore, in the shown scenario of Figure 3, both movement of the bag 101 away from anchor object 201 and opening of compartment opening 104 are restrained. In turn, bag contents are protected from being removed either with the bag or from the bag. The owner of the bag may therefore tie the bag to an anchor object to thwart a potential thief of the bag and/or items contained therein. Figure 4

Figure 4 is a schematic illustrating use of a bag comprising a securing element according to a second example. Bag 401 comprises the same features as bag 101 of Figure 1 , with the exception of the arrangement of the compartment closure slider and ring member as will now be described.

In this example, the compartment closure slider 402 has a slider puller 403 to which a ring member 404 is connected. The ring member 404 is shown received onto the securing cable element 109, with both the first and second ends 110, 1 1 1 of the securing cable element 109 having been passed through the first ring member 404.

Figure 5

Figure 5 is a schematic illustrating an alternative mode of use of bag 401 of Figure 4.

The ring member 404 is again shown received onto the securing cable element 109, but with only one of the first and second ends 1 10, 1 1 1 of the securing cable element 109 having been passed through the ring member 404. According to this arrangement, movement of the compartment closure slider 402 in the direction to open the compartment opening 104 is limited by a respective one of the shoulders 302, 302 of the body 102 of the bag 401. In this illustrated example, the first end 1 10 of the securing cable element 109 has been passed through the ring member 404 and thus opening of the compartment opening 104 is restricted by shoulder 303 Figure 6

Figure 6 is a schematic illustrating use of a bag comprising a securing element according to a third embodiment. Bag 601 comprises the same features as bag 101 of Figure 1 , with the exception of the arrangement of the compartment closure slider and ring member as will now be described.

In this example, the compartment closure slider 602 has a slider puller 603 to which a first ring member 604 and a second ring member 605 are connected. In the shown arrangement, both the first and second ring members 604, 605 are received onto the securing cable element 109. In particular, the first end 10 of the securing cable element 109 has been passed through the first ring member 604 and the second end 111 of the securing cable element 109 has been passed through the second ring member 605. In this example, the first and second ring members 604 and 605 are separately connected to the slider puller 603 of the compartment closure slider 602.

In a further alternative example, the compartment closure slider 602 may be provided with a ring member comprising a plurality of ring elements.

Figure 7

Figure 7 illustrates optional features of bag 101 of Figure 1.

As shown, the body 102 of the bag may be provided with a handle 701. The handle 701 may be of any suitable form. As further shown, the securing cable element 109 may be removably receivable by the body 102 of the bag 10 . This would allow for an alternative securing cable element 109 to be used, for example having a different length or physical integrity.

Figure 8

Figure 8 illustrates further optional features of bag 101 of Figure 1.

As shown, the body 102 of the bag 101 may be provided with a carrying strap 801. Preferably, and in this example, the carrying strap is adjustable in length. As further shown, the body 102 of the bag 101 may define at least one additional compartment 802 and additional compartment opening 803.

Preferably, the body 102 of the bag 101 comprises at least one securing cable element receiving storage passage for use in holding the ends 0, 111 of the securing cable element 109 by the body 102 of the bag 101 when the securing cable element 109 is not in use. In this Figure, the body 102 of the bag 101 comprises a first cable element receiving storage passage 804 into which a first end 110 of the securing cable element 109 can be inserted and a second cable element receiving storage passage 805 into which the second end 111 of the securing cable element 109 can be inserted. In an example, the body 102 of the bag 101 comprises at least cable element receiving storage passage on one side and at least cable element receiving storage passage on the bottom.

The bag 101 may have any one or more of the described optional features, and may also have additional features not specifically described.

The bag may have any suitable dimensions, any suitable colouration and may visual indications thereon. The securing cable element may have any suitable length and material characteristics providing sufficient strength and flexibility characteristics, and may have any suitable colouration. Components described herein may be fabricated from any suitable material or combination of materials. Any suitable relative arrangement of the securing cable element and the body of the bag may be utilised. Securing cable element exit points may be located at any suitable positions relative to the compartment opening of the bag.

A bag comprising a securing cable element for use in preventing the unauthorised removal of the bag and contents from a compartment of the bag is described herein, in which the ring member of a compartment closure slider is receivable onto the securing cable element into an arrangement in which the first and second ends of the securing cable element are securable together around an anchor object to tether the bag to the anchor object and to inhibit the compartment closure slider from being used to open the compartment.

It is to be appreciated that a bag comprising a securing element as described herein offers a user a convenient way to protect against loss of the bag and personal property contained within the bag. The bag described herein is provided with a securing element ready for use when desired, and so use of the bag as described and as illustrated provides for peace of mind for the bag owner in circumstances in which the bag owner may be worried about the bag and/or contents being stolen.