FOR SHOPPING

The present invention relates to a carrier bag, particularly a disposable carrier bag intended for shopping.

The novel aspect of the carrier bag according to the invention is the fact that it is provided with straps to allow it to be carried on the back of a user/and that an upper portion of the straps is arranged in such a manner relative to the bag opening that the latter is automatically closed when the straps are tightened upon use of the bag..

Further features of the bag according to the invention appear from the appending patent claims.

Among the advantages achieved by the bag according to the invention the following may be mentioned.

A more convenient way of carrying everyday commodities - leaving the hands free.

One can move freely and without restraint also upon shopping even with a larger commodity volume or weight in a single bag.

Owing to the automatic closing pilfering from the bag will be difficult - even in a dense queue.

By carrying the products on ones back the bag will not be le behind.

In travelling - when shopping in tax free shops - it will be no problem to have an extra bag in addition to the usual suitcase bag or other hand baggage when using the bag according to the invention.

Carrying the commodities on ones back allows unlocking a car door without having to set down the commodities on a dirty or wet pavement. Upset bags are avoided.

Carrying the commodities on ones back facilitates paying or showing punch card or bus card on collective transport means.

By carrying the commodities on ones back the blood circulati in the fingers will not be prevented through carrying by the hand

By carrying the commodities on the back parents are free to lead their children by the hand also after shopping, to be safer in the traffic.

In the long term the public health will be enhanced through most people carrying daily commodities in a more correct manner resulting in less wear and curvature of the spine. For the large proporsion of the adult population that already suffers from back diseases the bag according to the invention will mean an obvious daily relief.

Owing to new regulation prospects for the city traffic with more pedestrian streets most people in the future will have to carry a longer distance in order to reach their car or transport means, and a more correct carrying mode will therefore be importa

The bag according to the invention may also be carried by the hands as a usual bag since it is provided with handles or carrying holes.

The invention is described in greater detail in the followin with reference to the drawings which illustrate eight advantageou embodiments of the bag according to the invention, in figs 1 - 3; 4 and 5; 6 and 7; 8 and 9; 10; 11 and 12; 13 - 15; and 16 - 18 respectively.

Fig. 1 and 2 are respective views of opposite sides of an embodiment of the invention in which a carrying bag 1A, preferabl a disposable bag made e.g. from plastics, paper or other suitable material, and having carrying openings or holes 3, is provided with two straps 2A in the form of separate strips extending through the carrying openings 3 preferably in a crossing relation ship, one end of each strap being attached to the bag near each other below the carrying holes on one side of the bag, e.g. by heat sealing, welding, glueing or sewing depending on the bag material, as indicated by the hatching 4 in fig. 1, the other ends of the straps 2A being spacingly attached to the bag at the bottom part thereof as indicated by the hatchings 5.

Fig. 3 is an illustrative example on how the bag 1A illustra in fig. 1 and 2 may be produced from a punched out, substantially rectangular longitudinal plastics foil blank 6, by securing, e.g. by welding or gluing, end portions of two separate strips 7 along the central portion of the bag blank as shown by hatchings 5, and folding the blank 6 about a center line 8 indicated by broken line in a direction opposite the strips 7, and/or about folding lines 8 ' symmetrically and parallelly located relative to the

center line 8 to form a wider foldable bottom as indicated in the cross sectional view in fig. 3A, and the opposed blank side edges are joined through welding, glueing or the like as indicated by hatchings 9 in fig. 1 and 2. Then the three ends of the strips 7 are moved crosswise through the carrying holes 3 and attached below the carrying hole on the opposite side as explained above to form the straps 2A. However, the bag 1A may of course be formed in any other convenient manner and provided with carrying straps 2A as shown in fig. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 and 5 are views of opposite sides of a second embodiment of the bag according to _. the invention. This embodimen differs from the preceeding one primarily in that the straps 2B extend above the opening edge of the bag IB rather than through the carrying holes 3, and the upper ends of the straps are secured to the bag wall on either side of the carrying hole.

Fig. 6 and 7 (in which fig. 7 is about twice the scale of fig. 6) show a third embodiment of the invention. Here the bag 1C is punched out of a single longitudinal rectangular blank 10 of plastics foil, for example, or any other suitable material, without any waste of material. As shown in fig. 6, preferably in connection with the punching of the bag blank 10, three cuts or slits 11, 12, 13 are punched a short distance from the upper end edge of the blank: a central cut 12 para ^' llell to the side edges of the blank and two preferably obliquely inwardly extending cuts 12, 13 symmetrical on either side of the central cut 12. The lower half of the blank 10 is folded upward about a fold line 14 indicated with broken line, such that the initially lower edge 15 of the blank 10 are located at the bottom termination of the slits 11, 12, 13 and the thus coinciding side end portions of the blank are joined in a convenient manner, as indicated by hatching 17 in fig. 6 to form an open top bag 1C. Then the two outer blank strips 18, 19 outwardly of the slits 11, 13 are folded downward until their free ends overlap the upper marginal portion 15 of the bag where the ends are secured as indicated by hatching 20, 21 to form carrying handles 22, 23 respectively while the two inner blank strips 24, 25 on either side of the central slit 12 is folded downward until their free end edges coincide with the bottom edge of the bag 10C, where they are secured as indicated

by hatchings 26, 27 to form carrying straps 2C for the bag 1C. The bottom portion of the bag 1C advantageously may be formed similarly to.the fold bottom shown in fig. 3A.

Fig. 8 and 9 show a fourth embodiment of the bag according to the invention. Here the reference numeral ID represents a bag of a suitable material such as plastics, paper or any relatively cheap material, which, in an empty condition as shown in fig. 8 has a substantially rectangular shape and an open top. Along the upper marginal portion of the bag ID there is formed a hem or channel 30 opening in the central hole 31 forming the carrying holes of the bag. A long strip 32.is attached at one of its ends to the bag wall near the button of the bag as indicated by hatching 33, the other end of the strip being lead through the channel 30 via holes 31. When the bag ID has been filled with commodities the free end of the strip 32 is secured by means of a push bottom or other convenient securing means close to the bag bottom spaced from the other end attachment as indicated at 34, to form two carrying straps 2D as shown in fig. 9. When the straps 2D are tightened by carrying the bag on ones back, for example, the bag opening will be closed by constriction of the channel 30 as shown in fig. 9.

The bag 2E according to fig. 10, similar to the embodiment according to fig. 9, is formed with a channel 30 opening into carrying holes 31 and accomodating a strip forming carrying strap parts 2E. Here however, both strap ends are permanently secured to the bag bottom, e.g. by means of knots at the back of ears 36 through which the strap ends extend.

The embodiment according to figs. 11, 12 are similar to the embodiment according to fig. 1, except that the straps 2F of the bag IF have free lower ends provided with releaseable attaching means 38 such as push buttons and are adapted to be thread through the carrying holes and secured to mating attaching means 39 on the opposite side of the bag.

The carrier bag 1G illustrated in figs. 13, 14 is provided with straps 2G in the form of a separate strip 40 (fig. 15) adapted to be attached at the bag bottom by attaching means 41 such as push buttons, at each end of the strip 40, the latter

being thread through carrying holes 42 and above the upper edge of the bag as shown in fig. 14.

In the embodiment illustrated in figs. 16, 17 straps 2H of carrier bag 1H are also in the form of a separate strip 40 (fig. 18) having end attaching means 41 except that here the strip 40 is thread through carrying handles 44 of the bag 1H, as shown in fig. 17.

It should be noted that in all the embodiments of the carrier bag according to the invention disclosed herein the bag opening will automatically close upon tightening of the carrying straps when the carrier bag filled. ith commodities is carried at the back of a user by means of the straps according to the invention, with one strap extending over each shoulder. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiments, the important aspect of the invention being that it generally consists of a top open, preferably disposable carrier bag provided, by any convenient means, with carrying straps to allow it to be carried at the back of a user, the straps acting as closing means for the bag opening when the bag is carried at the back, to provide a self-closing bag.

Although plastics foil, such as polyetylen, for example, is a preferred material for the bag according to the invention including the carrying straps, any suitable, cheap material such as paper or fabric may be used. The carrying straps may be made from the same material as the bag, or any other, preferably stronger material.