A BAG WHICH IS ABLE TO BE WORN WHEN NOT IN USE

This invention relates to a bag and, more especially, this invention relates to a bag which is able to be worn when not in use.

When a person has to carry one or more items, the person will invariably use a bag. The person may not always wish to carry a bag which is made of a synthetic fabric or leather because the bag will invariably be bulky. The person may alternatively carry a plastic bag but then the bag may not be sufficiently strong for the item or items to be carried. Also the plastic bag will generally be used for a single use, after which the bag will be discarded and this is not good for the environment.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a bag which obviates or reduces the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a bag which is able to be worn when not in use, which bag comprises a body portion for receiving at least one item to be carried, a handle portion by which the bag is carried when the bag is in use, and fastener means, and the bag being such that when it is not in use it is foldable to a strip, the folded bag is wrappable around a part of a person, and the folded bag is securable in position around the part of the person by the fastener means.

Because the bag of the present invention is able to be worn, it is conveniently carried, for example on a part of a person such as an arm, a leg or a torso of a person. The fastener means enables the bag easily to be removed from the part of the person for use. The bag is able to be made of a material which enables the bag to be reusable. The bag in its folded form may be worn as a fashion statement, for example purely for fashion, or as a statement against disposable plastics bags harming the environment.

The bag may be worn on any desired part of the person. Preferably, the bag is worn around a limb of the person, but the bag may also be worn around a torso of the person. By way of example only, it is mentioned that the bag may be worn on a wrist of an arm of the person, or an ankle of a leg of the person. When worn around a wrist, then the wrist may be the opposite wrist to the one which the person wears their watch. Other places on the limb of the person may be employed so that, the bag may be worn around a forearm or bicep part of an arm of the person, or above the knee of a leg of the person.

The bag may be one in which the fastener means comprises first and second parts.

The first and the second parts may be of a type that push together for fastening and that pull apart for unfastening. Such first and second parts preferably comprise a matrix of plastics members. The plastics members are preferably hook and loop plastics members of the type sold under the Registered Trade Mark Velcro. Other constructions to the hook and loop plastics members may alternatively be employed. The first and second parts

of the two-part fastener means may alternatively be the two parts of at least one press-stud, at least one button and button hole, the two parts of at least one buckle, or a hook and eye.

Other types of fastener means may be employed so that, for example, the fastener means may be a metallic band which is embedded in the bag material and which has the ability to curl around the limb and remain in place on the limb, until uncurled by the person for the purpose of removing the bag from the limb.

The bag may be one in which the first and the second parts are longitudinally off set when the bag is not folded and is ready for use, and in which the first and the second parts are aligned when the bag is folded and in use. If desired, the first and the second parts may be longitudinally in line when the bag is not folded and is ready for use.

If desired, the fastener means may be a clip fastener means.

The bag may be one in which the fastener means is mounted at one end portion of a stretchable member, the stretchable member being such that it is stretchable to accommodate for different sizes of the part of the person. The stretchable member may be an elasticated member.

The stretchable member may be of a short length for giving a short amount of the accommodation for different sizes of the part of the person. Alternatively, the stretchable member may be of a medium or long length for giving a medium or large amount of the accommodation for different sizes of the part of the person.

If desired, the bag may include a cover for covering the strip when around the part of the person.

The bag may have fold markings. The fold markings may facilitate folding of the bag into the strip. The width of the folds of the bag may vary for different sizes of bags. Thus, for example, the width of the folds may be larger for larger sized bags than for smaller sized bags.

The fold markings may be fold lines. The fold lines may be creases in the material of the bag. Alternatively, the fold lines may be printed lines on the material of the bag.

Usually, the fold markings will be on the body portion of the bag. The fold markings may or may not extend to the handle portion of the bag, as may be desired.

Usually, the fold markings will extend longitudinally of the bag in a top- to-bottom direction. However, if desired, the fold markings may extend transversely of the bag in a side-to-side direction. The bag may fold to a strip of any suitable and appropriate width. Thus, for example, the bag may fold to a width of 1.5 inches (3.81cm). When worn, the folded form of the bag may appear to look like a sweat band of the type worn by athletes. The bag may fold in any desired way so that for example, the bag may be folded with adjacent parts being folded over each other, or alternatively being folded backwards and forwards to lie adjacent each other in concertina fashion.

The bag may include retainer means for retaining a bottom part of the bag in a covered position when the bag is folded. The use of the retainer means may be advantageous in the event that the bag is used and placed on

ground which is dirty. If the bottom of the bag then becomes dirty, the retainer means may be employed to fold the bag such that the dirty bottom part of the bag is covered and thus does not touch the person when the bag is folded to its strip form and is being worn.

The retainer means may be positioned on the body portion. Generally, the retainer means may be positioned anywhere suitable and appropriate on the bag, for example between opposite ends of the body portion.

Preferably, the retainer means is of the same type of construction as the fastener means. Thus, if the fastener means is the above mentioned matrix of hook and loop plastics members, then the retainer means will also be a matrix of the hook and loop plastics members. If desired however, the retainer means may be of a different type of construction to the fastener means.

The body portion of the bag may advantageously comprise pleated sides. The top and bottom of the bag can then be pulled away from each other to help the bag lay flat for folding purposes.

The bag may have closure means for closing the body portion of the bag. Preferably, the closure means is a zip. Other types of closure means may however be employed so that, for example, the closure means may be Velcro (Registered Trade Mark), press studs or ties. The closure means may be the same attachment means that is used to attach the folded strip around the limb of the person.

The bag may be made of any suitable and appropriate material. Generally, the material should be light, easily able to be folded, and strong.

Thus, for example, the bag may be made of parachute material, kite material, nano material, umbrella material, a polyester, or nylon. If desired, the bag may be made of a material which has a memory so that the memory material will facilitate re-folding of the bag for storage or for wear around the part of the person.

Usually, the bag will be made of solid sheet material. If desired however the bag may be made of net material.

Usually, the bag will be made of waterproof material.

The bag may be decorated for fashion and/or coloured for fashion. Different coloured bags may be employed to go with different coloured garments being worn by the person.

The bag may be made in one piece. In this case, the handle portion will be integrally formed with the body portion of the bag. Alternatively, if desired, the handle portion may be separately made from the body portion, and subsequently attached to the body portion. The handle portion may be long, for example to enable the bag to be carried over the person's shoulder.

Preferably, the bag has no sewing or welding at the bottom of the body portion of the bag. This ensures that the bag is then very strong over this area of the bag and is thus able to withstand the force on it from items inside the bag.

When the bag is folded to a strip, the part of the bag that will come into contact with the limb of the person may be provided with a skin-friendly layer, for example a layer of wristband material to absorb sweat.

The handle portion will usually comprise a pair of handles. Any other suitable and appropriate types of handle portion may be employed.

The bag may be made in any suitable shape and size. Thus, for example, the bag may be made as a small, medium or large bag.

The fastener means and the retainer means may be coded to indicate which parts connect to one another. The parts may be coded by shape and/or by colour.

There may perhaps be an occasion where the bag is not desired to be worn by the person. In this case, the bag can easily be placed in a pocket of clothing of the person.

In one embodiment of the invention, the fastener means is at least partially on the bag.

In another embodiment of the invention, the bag includes a container for containing the bag in its folded condition, and the fastener means is on the container. When the bag is in the container, it may look neater around the part of the person, than when a container is not employed.

Preferably, the container is permanently connected to the bag, but it may be separate from the bag if desired. The container may be permanently connected to the body portion of the bag. The container may be connected to another part of the bag if desired. When the fastener means attaches the container to the part of the body, then the container is naturally closed and houses the bag in a strip form.

The container may have auxiliary closure means for closing the container. The auxiliary closure means will preferably be the same as the

closure means employed for the body portion of the bag, but the auxiliary closure means may be different from the closure means for closing the body portion of the bag if desired.

The container may be in the form of a pouch. The container may be made of any suitable and appropriate material. Advantageously the container is made of a stretchable material or other material that allows the container to expand as the bag is being placed in the container, and that then reduces in size once the stretching force is removed. The stretchable material may be a cotton-based material with a minor amount of a stretchable material, the stretchable material may be an elasticated material. The stretchable material may be Lycra (Registered Trade Mark), elastane or neoprene. The cotton- based material may be, for example 95% cotton and 5% of the Lycra, elastane or neoprene. Materials other than cotton may be employed so that, for example, a polyester may be used instead of the cotton. The material for the container may be a material which is skin-friendly, for example feels soft and/or absorbs perspiration and/or is chosen to give non-allergic skin reactions. The material of the container will usually be different to the material of the bag but it may be the same if desired. The container may be coloured to be the same or different to the bag. Different coloured and/or designed containers may be employed to go with different coloured garments being worn by the person.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bag of the present invention in an unfolded condition;

Figure 2 shows the bag in a folded condition;

Figure 3 shows the bag of Figures 1 and 2 being worn around a part of a person;

Figure 4 is a view like Figure 2 but shows a second bag of the invention;

Figures 5 - 8 show how the bag of the present invention may be of different constructions and shapes; and

Figures 9 - 23 show further bags of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a bag 2 which is able to be worn when not in use. The bag 2 comprises a body portion 4 for receiving at least one item to be carried. The bag 2 also comprises a handle portion 6 by which the bag 2 is carried when the bag 2 is in use. The bag 2 further comprises fastener means 8.

The bag 2 is such that when it is not in use it is foldable to a strip 10 as shown in Figure 2. The strip 10 is wrappable around a limb 12 of a person as shown in Figure 3. The strip 10 is securable in position around the limb 12 of the person by the fastener means 8.

As shown in Figure 1, the fastener means 8 comprises a first part 14 and a second part 16. The first and the second parts 14, 16 are of a type that push together for fastening and that pull apart for unfastening. More specifically, the first and the second parts 14, 16 comprise a matrix of hook

and loop plasties members of the type sold under the Registered Trade Mark Velcro. The part 14 is the harder part of the two parts 14, 16.

As also shown in Figure 1, the first and the second parts 14, 16 are longitudinally off set when the bag 2 is not folded and is ready for use. The first and the second parts 14, 16 are aligned when the bag 2 is folded and not in use, as can be appreciated from Figure 2. In Figure 2, the second part 16 is behind on the bottom part of the bag 2 which is in the form of the strip 10.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the fastener means 8 is mounted at one end portion 18 of an elasticated member 20. The elasticated member is such that it is stretchable to accommodate for different sizes of limb 12, see Figure 3. The elasticated member 20 is of a short length for giving a short amount of accommodation for different sizes of the limb 12. In an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown) the elasticated member 20 may be longer for giving a. longer amount of the accommodation for different sizes of the limb 12. The elasticated member 20 may even form a cover of the folded strip when worn around the limb 12.

Figure 3 shows how the limb 12 is an arm of the person, and how the bag 2 in its strip form 10 is positioned around a wrist 22 of the limb 12.

Figure 4 shows a bag 24 which is like the bag 2 when folded to form the strip 10. Similar parts have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In Figure 4, the first part 14 of the fastener means 8 is secured directly to the bag 24, and without use of the elasticated member 20.

Figure 5 shows a bag 26 which is of a shape like the bag 2 except that the bag 2 has cut-away portions 28. For simplicity of illustration, the fastener means of the bag 26 have not been shown.

Referring now to Figures 6, 7 and 8 there are shown further designs of bags 30, 32 and 34. For simplicity of illustration, the fastener means have not been shown but these fastener means may be the same as the fastener means 8 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In Figure 6, the bag 30 is provided with fold markings in the form of fold lines 36, 38. The fold lines 36, 38 assist in folding of the bag 30 from its illustrated unfolded condition to a folded strip condition. The fold lines 36, 38 may be creases in the material of the bag 30. Alternatively, the fold lines 36, 38 may be printed lines on the material of the bag 30. The fold lines 36, 38 are on the body portion 40 of the bag 30. The fold lines 36 extend longitudinally of the bag in a top-to-bottom direction. The fold lines 38 extend transversely of the bag 30 in a side-to-side direction.

The bags 2, 26 and 30 all have a handle portion formed by a pair of similar looking handles 42, 44.

In Figure 7, it will be seen that the bag 32 has a different pair of handles 46, 48. The handles 42, 44 are integrally formed with their bags so that their bags are one piece bags. The bag 32 is such that the handles 46, 48 are separately formed from a body portion 50 of the bag 32. The handles 46, 48 are then attached to the body portion 50 of the bag 32.

Figure 7 also shows how the bag 32 is provided with pleated sides 52, 54. The bag 32 may be pulled from top to bottom, whereupon the pleated

sides 52, 54 will tend to assume the position shown in Figure 7, which facilitates getting the bag 32 in a flat condition ready for folding.

The bag 34 shown in Figure 8 is of a one piece construction with handles 56, 58 shaped as shown and with pleated sides 60, 62.

In Figures 1 - 8 the fastener means primarily is on the bag. In the following Figures 9 — 23, the fastener means is on a container for the bag.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a bag of the present invention in an unfolded condition. The bag 102, which is able to be worn when not in use, comprises a body portion 104 for receiving at least one item to be carried. The bag 102 also comprises a handle portion 106 by which the bag 102 is carried when the bag 102 is in use. The bag 102 has a handle portion 106 formed by a pair of similar looking handles 142, 144. The bag 102 is provided with pleated sides 152, 154 to facilitate getting the bag 102 in a flat condition ready for folding by pulling it from top to bottom.

Figure 10 shows the bag 102 in a folded condition. The bag 102 is such that when it is not in use it is foldable to a strip 110.

Figure 11 shows a container 101 in a flat unfastened condition. The container 101 may be connected to the bag 102 or it may be separate from the bag102. The connection may be a permanent connection or a releasable connection. The container 101 comprises fastener means 108 which includes a first part 114 and a second part 116. The first and second parts 114, 116 are of the type that push together for fastening and that pull apart for unfastening. More specifically, the first and the second parts 114, 116 comprise a matrix of hook and loop plastics members of the type sold under

the Registered Trade Mark Velcro. The part 114 is the harder part of the two parts 114, 116.

Figure 12 shows the folded bag being worn on the limb 112 of a person in its container 101. The limb 112 is an arm of the person, and the container 101, which contains the bag in its strip form 110, is positioned around a wrist 122 of the limb 112 and is securable in position around the limb 112 of the person by the fastener means 108.

Figure 13 shows the cover type of the container 103 in an unfastened condition. The first part 114 of the fastener means 108 is secured directly to the container 103. The second part 116 is behind on the bottom part of the container 103. The body 117 of the container 103 is made of an elasticated material for giving accommodation for different sizes of the limb 112, see Figure 12. The container 103 comprises flexible and/or elasticated rims 119 along the length on both sides.

Figure 14 shows a cover type of a container 105 in an unfastened condition. It comprises an elasticated member 120 to provide more accommodation for different sizes of limbs. The first part 114 of the fastener means 108 is mounted at one end portion 118 of an elasticated member 120. The elasticated member 120 is such that it is stretchable to accommodate for different sizes of limbs 112, see Figure 12. The container 105 comprises flexible and/or elasticated rims 119 along the length on both sides.

Figure 15 shows the bag 102 in unfolded condition with a skin friendly surface 125 where the bag 102 will come into contact with the limb when it is folded and fastened by the cover type of the container. The bag 102 is

provided with fold markings in the form of fold lines 136, 138. The fold lines 136, 138 assist in folding of the bag 102 from its illustrated unfolded condition to a folded strip condition. The fold lines 136, 138 may be creases in the material of the bag 102. Alternatively, the fold lines 136, 138 may be printed lines on the material of the bag 102. The fold lines 136, 138 are on the body portion of the bag 102. The fold lines 136 extend longitudinally of the bag 102 in a top-to-bottom direction. The fold lines 138 extend transversely of the bag 102 in a side-to-side direction.

Figure 16 shows the cover type of the container 103 or 105 being worn with the elasticated rims 119 covering the edges of the folded strip and therefore preventing the folded strip from falling out of the container and therefore off the limb 112.

Figure 17 shows the envelope/sleeve type of the container 107 with a lengthwise opening 127, in an unfastened condition. The body of the container 107 may be made of an elasticated material for giving accommodation for different sizes of the limb 112, see Figure 12.

Figure 18 shows the envelope/sleeve type of the container 109, with the breadthwise opening 127, in an unfastened condition. It comprises an elasticated member 120 to provide more accommodation for different sizes of limbs. The fastener means 108 is mounted at one end portion 118 of an elasticated member 120. The elasticated member 120 is such that it is stretchable to accommodate for different sizes of limbs 112, see Figure 12. An elasticated member 120 may not be required if the body of the container

109 was made of an elasticated material for giving this accommodation for different sizes of limbs 112.

Figure 19 shows the envelope/sleeve type of the container 107 or 109 being worn with the folded strip 110 securely inside the container 107 or 109 which has folded edges 129.

Figure 20 shows the unfolded bag 115 with corresponding closure means 129 and 131.

Figure 21 shows the unfolded bag 115 with the container 109, as an extra compartment, attached to the inside of the one side of the bag 115. This attachment is made possible by the compatible fastener means 108 of the container with the closure means 129 of the bag 115.

Figure 22 shows the unfolded bag 115 with the container 107, as an extra strap, attached across the opening of the bag 115. This attachment is made possible by the compatible fastener means 108 of the container with the closure means 129 and 131 of the bag 115. The function of this strap is to help contain a fully loaded bag 115 when the bag 115 is full and its normal closure means 129 and 131 cannot connect with each other.

Figure 23 shows two versions of the invention with watch attachments 113 to the containers 111 for keeping time.

The bag and container may be decorated and/or coloured as may be desired, for example for fashion purposes. The bag and container may be provided with logos or advertising material. The bag and container may be provided with functional attachments such as reflective material or watches.

The bag may be provided with closure means such for example as a zip extending across the top of the body portion 104 or alternatively extending around the handle portion 106 and across the body portion 104.

The container, in strip form, may be fastened to another container in strip form, to allow for a longer band. More than two bags, in strip form, may be connected in series. This is made possible by means of compatible fastener means 108.

The container may have an adjustable strap in place of, or integrated with, the elasticated member 120.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, the illustrated bags may be of different shapes than those shown. The bags may be made of any suitable and appropriate material including parachute material, kite material, nano material, umbrella material and memory material. The illustrated bags are shown made of solid sheet material but they may alternatively be made of net material. The bags and/or the containers may be decorated and/or coloured as may be desired, for example for fashion purposes. The bags and/or the container may be provided with fastener means such for example as a zip extending across the top of the body portion or alternatively extending around the handle portion and across the body portion. The bags and/or the containers may be provided with logos or advertising material. The bags and/or the containers may be washed as and when required, for example after periods of re-use.