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The present invention relates to a tempered bag.

CN102783784 describes a portable glass bag with a strap for transporting it over the shoulder, which is riveted at the sides of the glass bag.

CN203252098 and CN202218675 describe glass bags with sliding closures.

CN203943203 shows a bag with a glass window.

The aforesaid known bag models are disadvantageous^ fragile: an accidental drop may cause the bag to break.

Moreover, the glass gives the bag a weight which is not compatible with the use thereof, i.e. as a means for transporting objects which in turn weigh down the bag.

Disadvantageously, the glass does not lend itself to be associated with transport belts, closure means or other accessories such as in the aforesaid patents: just scratching the glass may cause the cracks to spread up to the sudden breaking of the bag, which may laterally "explode" in the user's hands.

However, glass is a very aesthetically appealing material, which may take various shapes, is not polluting, is recyclable and easy to clean.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a solid glass bag which is not fragile, is lightweight while being aesthetically appealing and simple to be manufactured.

It is a further object of the present invention to be able to associate metal decorations with the glass bag without altering the properties of the glass while ensuring solidity of the assembly.

According to the invention, such objects are achieved by a glass bag, characterized in that it comprises two glass half-shells, each of which includes an edge adapted to be glued on the inner edge of a metal frame, the assembly formed by each half-shell with the related metal frame defines a half-bag, said metal frames of the two half-shells being associable by means of a hinge at the outer edges of said metal frames so that the two half-bags can rotate relatively to each other, thus causing the opening and closing of the bag, said metal frames coming in contact along respective frontal plane edges in the closing position.

These and other features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, shown by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a half-shell;

figure 2 shows a top plan view of the half-shell;

figure 3 shows a side view of the half-shell;

figure 4 shows a cross-section view of a portion of the half-shell beside a frame;

figure 5 shows a cross-section view of a frame with means for attaching decorations;

figure 6 shows a perspective view of a closed bag with decorations; figure 7 shows a perspective view of an open bag without decorations; figure 8 shows a cross-section view of a half-shell and a frame according to a second embodiment of the invention;

figure 9 shows a side view of two half-bags not assembled.

A bag 1 (figures 1-6) comprises two glass half-shells 2, each of which includes an edge 3 adapted to be glued on an inner edge 4 of a metal frame 5.

The assembly formed by each half-shell 2 with the related metal frame 5 defines a half-bag 8.

The metal frames 5 of the two half-shells 2 are associable by means of a hinge 6 at the outer edges 7 of said frames 5.

Accordingly, the two half-bags 8 may rotate relatively to each other, thus causing the opening and closing of bag 1.

In the closing position, the two frames 5 are in contact along respective frontal plane edges 9.

Each frame 5 has a substantially rectangular cross section, the short sides of the rectangle corresponding to said inner 4 and outer 7 edges (figures 4 and 5).

One of the two long edges corresponds to said frontal edge 9, while the opposite side is a plane edge 10, similar to the frontal plane edge 9, and adapted to support metal decorations 11, as will become more apparent later.

Said frame 5 indeed includes through holes 15 between said edges 9, 10, which are adapted to accommodate screws 12 with which female threads 13 of metal decorations 11 are associated.

The screws 12 are introduced from edge 9 and come out of edge 10 where said ends 13 of the decorations 11 are associated.

Frame 5 laterally projects with respect to the half-shell 2, so that decorations of varying geometry may at least partially cover the external surface of the half-shell 2.

The decorations 11 may touch said external surface of the half-shell 2, which however does not has a supporting function. Therefore, cutting the glass is avoided, which would limit the solidity thereof.

At an outer edge 7 of frame 5, opposite to the outer edge 7, mounting said hinge 6, there is an element 20 adapted to keep the bag closed and to allow the user to open it with a minimum effort.

Advantageously, the frames 5 form a mounting element of bag 1 and are usually made of brass, a precious material which is resistant to twisting and wear over time. Alternatively, said frames 5 may be made of zama, i.e. a family of zinc alloys, the main elements being aluminum, magnesium, antimony and copper.

Known adhesives are used to associate the edge 3 of the half-shell 2 with the inner edge 4 of frame 5, such as for example bi-component adhesives consisting of epoxy resin and amines.

Therefore, the frames 5 serve a triple function: they allow the assembly of the two glass half-shells 2, give solidity to bag 1, and form a base for mounting said decorations 11.

In addition to giving an aesthetical contribution to the bag, the decorations 11 in turn protect the external surface of the half-shells 2 because they cover them, touching them if necessary, without however exerting any supporting action.

The solidity of the attachment of the decorations 11 to frame 5 allows the artist to give various shapes to the decorations 11, without jeopardizing the impact resistance of bag 1.

The decorations 11 are also interchangeable: it is sufficient to have an attachment end with female thread compatible with the screws 12.

The glass of the half-shells 2 is hot formed (at about 800°C) in a mold and cooled down with slight tempering.

It is known that the operation of tempering the glass normally includes a cooling down from 800°C to room temperature in about 3 hours.

Said known tempering allows a very solid but poorly finished glass to be obtained.

In order to obtain a sufficiently solid but aesthetically appealing glass, a lengthy tempering is carried out, i.e. the hot glass formed is left in a muffle furnace for 8-24 hours.

Once the half-shell 2 has cooled down, it is associated with frame 5 by means of an adhesive, as described above.

Figures 7-9 show a second embodiment of bag 1 in which frame 5 does not support any decoration 11.

The cross section is therefore different, no longer rectangular but with a cavity 51 adapted to be coupled with the edge 3 of the half-shell 2 (figure 8). Also in this case, adhesive means are used, as described above.

Observing figure 9, in conjunction with figure 8, it can be noted that frame 5 only slightly projects with respect to the half-shell 2 because it is not required to support any decorations 11. The supporting frontal plane edge 9 remains between the two half-bags 8.