Field of the Invention

The invention relates to bags with carrying handles.

Background to the Invention

It is known to provide bags such as document wallets, folio cases and laptop cases with shoulder straps. Such shoulder straps may be detachable. When detachable shoulder straps are detached from a bag, they may be stored within the bag. However, that takes up useful space and can be a problem when the bag has a relatively low storage volume, as may be the case with a documents wallet or folio case. Alternatively, detached shoulder straps may stored separately so as not to occupy storage space in the bag. However, there is then the risk that the shoulder strap will be lost or will not be to hand when needed.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a bag as specified in claim 1.

The invention includes a bag carrying handle as specified in claim 8.

The invention also includes a bracelet as specified in claim 12. Brief Description of the Drawings

In the following disclosure, reference will be made to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view showing a bag with a carrying handle;

Figure 2 is an end view of the carrying bag of Figure 1 with the carrying handle omitted;

Figure 3 shows the carrying handle detached from the bag;

Figure 4 shows the bag of Figure 1 with the carrying handle fitted in an alternative condition; and Figure 5 shows the bag of Figure 1 with the carrying handle fitted in another alternative condition. Detailed Description

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a bag 10 has a detachable carrying handle 12. In the illustrated example, the bag 10 is a folio case. The bag 10 comprises two oppositely disposed major side panels 14. The lower ends of the major side panels 14 are interconnected by a gusset 16. The upper ends of the major side panels 14 are connected by a zip fastener system 18. In the illustrated example the zip fastener system 18 comprises two zip fasteners extending side-by-side to define respective closeable openings through which documents and the like can be inserted into, and retrieved from, the bag 10. The bag 10 is provided with three attachments 20, 22, 24 to which the carrying handle 12 can be attached. With reference to the orientation shown in Figure 1, one of the attachments 20 is provided at the left end 26 or right end 28 of the bag 10, while the other two attachments 22, 24 are provided at the upper end of the bag. Each attachment 20, 22, 24 may comprise a circular, or D-shaped, ring 30 secured to the bag 10 by a loop of material 32, that may be the same as the material from which the major side panels 14 are made. The attachments 20, 22, 24 are positioned such that the carrying handle 12 can be attached to the bag 10 using the attachments 20, 22 as shown in Figure 1, or using the attachments 22, 24 as shown in Figure 4. Thus, the three attachments 20, 22, 24 are positioned such as to provide two attachment positions for the carrying handle 12.

The carrying handle 12 comprises a flexible elongate member 34 provided with a fastening device 36, 38 by which the carrying handle can releaseably attached to the attachments 20, 22, 24. The fastening device comprises a first fastening member 36 and a second fastening member 38. The fastening members 36, 38 may be secured to respective ends of the elongate member 34. The fastening members 36, 38 may be secured to the ends of the elongate member 34 by looping an end through an aperture provided in the fastening member and fixing by means of stitching, riveting or the like. The fastening members 36, 38 may be snap hooks. The carrying handle 12 is configured such that it can be fastened about a human arm by the fastening device 36, 38 for wear as a bracelet. In examples in which the fastening members 36, 38 are snap hooks, the snap hooks may be interengaged as shown in Figure 2 so as to secure the carrying handle 12 in a loop configuration to form a bracelet. The snap hooks can be quickly and easily separated when the user wishes to reattach the carrying handle 12 to the bag 10 in one of the positions illustrated by Figures 1 and 4. Figure 5 shows the carrying handle 12 attached to the bag 10 using just the attachment 20. Thus, both fastening members 36, 38 are secured to the same D-shaped ring 30 so that the carrying handle 12 is secured to the end 28 of the bag 10. In this configuration, the bag 10 may, for example, be carried with the carrying handle 12 looped around the wrist leaving both hands free.

It will be understood that by configuring the carrying handle 12 so that it can be worn as a bracelet when not required for use as a handle, the user is provided with a simple way to keep the handle with them while not wasting storage space in the bag 10. Additionally, the user is provided with the possibility of wearing the carrying handle 12 as an item of jewellery. With that in mind, the carrying handle may be ornamented with patterning or the like to make it more attractive.

In the illustrated example, the fastening device 36, 38 is configured for use in attaching the carrying handle 12 to the bag 10. In other examples, a different type of fastening device may be provided for securing the ends of the carrying handle 12 to one another to allow the carrying handle 12 to function as a bracelet together with a separate fastening system, such as a pair of snap hooks, that is configured for attaching the carrying handle to the bag 10. In the illustrated example, there are three attachments that define two attachment positions for the carrying handle 12. It is to be understood that this is not essential and only one attachment position may be provided. In the illustrated example, the bag is provided with a dual zip fastener system 18 that defines two closeable openings. It is to be understood that this is not essential and only one zip may be used instead. It is also to be understood that other fastener systems may be used to allow opening and closing of the bag 10.

In the illustrated example a carrying handle configured for use as a bracelet is used with a bag in the form of a folio case. It is to be understood that such a carrying handle may instead be used with any other desired form of bag. Such a carrying handle may, for example, be used with a hand bag, documents wallet or a laptop case.

In the illustrated example, only one carrying handle is provided. It is to be understood that in other examples, a plurality of carrying handles, for example two, may be provided. In the illustrated example, the carrying handle comprises a single flexible elongate member. In other examples, the flexible elongate member may comprise a plurality of members connected in series. The plurality of members may, for example, comprise chain links.

Although not limited to such materials, the bag and carrying handle may be made of leather, which may be natural or synthetic. In some examples, the carrying handle may be made of an entirely different material to the bag. For example, the carrying handle may be made of metal link or a rope-like material.