The present invention relates to generally to envelope construction, and more particularly to a mailable container such as an envelope, that may be used for several purposes. Such envelopes are known generally from the prior art, for example, return mail envelopes, which often comprise a construction of several parts, some of which may be detachable and mailable as the return envelope.

One example of a multiple function envelope is described in US4462538. This document teaches the use of a mailing envelope for return mail, wherein the envelope is further provided with a detachable carrying handle enabling handheld delivery of the contents held within the envelope, and if necessary or as required, a postal service return of said envelope to the appropriate return addressee, after the handle has been detached.

One of the more noticeable disadvantages associated with this type of envelope is that it requires the user to separate the handle from the envelope, albeit via pre-provided tear lines or perforations on one edge of the envelope, but which nonetheless make the product more difficult to use, and furthermore, more complex to design and more cosdy to manufacture. The tear-off nature of the handle also produces more waste. In addition, the weight of the contents that be transported in-the envelope is very-much dependenron the strength of the tear lines or perforations provided for this very function. In other words, and as results clearly from the above document, it was never intended for the transport of anything heavier or bulkier than a few pieces of paper, such as a letter or an invoice.

As shopping habits have evolved over time, it has now become quite common for people to order items via the internet and have them delivered direcdy to their door in suitably adapted shipping packaging. Most of these packages are generally either sealed plastic bags or cardboard boxes with easy-open tear strips included in them which unfortunately prevent their subsequent re-use. To that end, some internet vendors also include a mailable return bag in the event that the client is not satisfied with the item received for whatever reason, especially for example with items of clothing. However, these bags, if they are included, are not always easy to carry. Additionally, such a system excludes from consideration traditional brick-and-mortar shops as they often only provide a carry-home handheld paper or plastic bag for one’s purchases.

Accordingly, it would, in addition to known multifunctional devices such as that described in US4462538, be useful to have a carrying device like a handheld bag such as those provided in brick-and-mortar stores, that could also be used to mail return the goods acquired to the vendor in the event that the customer is dissatisfied with those goods, for whatever reason.

Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multifunctional mailable handheld bag for transporting objects inserted, introduced or contained therein, and which can also be sent or mailed via the postal service and which overcomes the limitations, disadvantages or problems known from the existing solution. This and other objects of the invention are set out hereafter.

One object of the present invention is therefore a mailable handheld transport bag comprising a first section having a first end, a second section having a second end opposite the first end of said first section, and a third middle section located between the first and second sections, wherein: the first, third and second sections together form the respective side walls of said bag, and define an inner volume adapted in size and dimensions for the insertion and transport of a mailable object; said first section is closed at said first end; said second section comprises an opening located at said second end, the opening being adapted in size and dimensions for the insertion and removal of a mailable object; said first section is closed at said first end by a first flap of material extending from a first side wall of said bag and being folded over, and affixed onto, a second, opposite-facing side wall of said bag adjacent said first end; and said first flap comprises a carrying-handle integrated into said flap.

The term“mailable” as used herein refers to the capability, due to the configuration thereof, that the bag according to the invention has in order to transit via a mail, courier or other package delivery system without damage to the multifunction bag, and more particularly, without the bag getting caught in the handling systems that such delivery systems use and potentially damaged. The term“handheld bag” as used herein refers to the notion that the bag must be carryable by hand, either one-handed or two-handed, but preferably one-handed, in the manner of a traditional paper or plastic shopping or grocery bag provided with carrying handles.

The mailable bag according to the invention thus has a first section having a first end; a second section having a second end opposite the first end of said first section, and a third middle section located between the first and second sections. The term“section” as used herein refers to an identifiable functional zone or area of the bag. The first section, second section and third section together therefore form the respective side walls of said bag, and define an inner volume adapted in size and dimensions for the insertion and transport of a mailable object, such as an item of clothing, a book, or any other appropriate product. Alternatively, seen from the point of view of a usual carrying position of the bag, said bag can be described as having a top, a middle, and a bottom. The first section, second section and third section define a bag with at least two substantially planar and opposite-facing side walls, and at least two expandable and opposite- facing side walls, with the expandable side walls being connected respectively to a

corresponding substantially planar side wall to form a three-dimensional bag shape. Each side wall has a corresponding outer face and inner face.

As has been indicated above, the invention relates to a multipurpose bag, in particular a mailable handheld transport bag. Preferably, this bag is in the shape of, or substantially in the shape of, an envelope. Accordingly, the envelope bag according to the invention, and as described in the previous paragraph, comprises two substantially planar and opposite-facing side walls, and two expandable and opposite-facing side walls. The expandable side walls are for example provided by a concertina-like fold provided in the material of the expandable side walls, in a manner known in the art. Alternatively, the expandable side walls could be configured through any other known means, for example, through the use of elastic or stretchable material or the like.

As indicated above, the first section is closed at said first end. With reference to the carrying position paradigm expressed above, the top of the bag is therefore closed. This is unlike and contrary to most commonly provided grocery or shopping bags provided with handles, which tend to be open at this point in order for the goods to be inserted or introduced to the bag via an opening in the top.

The first section, or top, is closed at said first end by a first flap of material extending from a first side wall of said bag. The flap extends from the first end outwards, or upwards, depending on one’s point of view, and then folds over onto a second, and opposite-facing side wall of said bag adjacent said first end, and is affixed at least in part to an outer surface of the second

substantially planar side wall, thereby closing said first end. The manner in which said flap is affixed to the outer surface of said second substantially planar side wall adjacent said first end will be described hereinafter. Additionally, and preferably, as described below, an inner surface of the first flap is adhered to an inner surface of said first substantially planar side wall. In addition to the above, the second section comprises an opening located at the second end, and the opening is adapted in size and dimensions for the insertion and removal of a mailable object. It can be understood from this explanation that the opening of the bag that is used for insertion and removal of any objects into and from the inner volume is not the traditional provided top end opening. On the contrary, that item introduction opening in the bag according to the present invention is located at the second end, or in the alternative description paradigm, at the bottom of the bag.

One of the noticeable differences with the prior art discussed in the introduction is that the bag has an integrated carrying-handle, as opposed to a separable or detachable carrying-handle, and this integrated carrying handle is included in the first flap.

Although the integrated carrying-handle of the first flap can be made of a material different to the material constituting the side walls of the bag, it is nevertheless preferred that the carrying- handle integrated into said first flap be formed from a flap material that is the same material as that of the side walls of the bag. Such a configuration makes for a simpler and more cost- effective construction of the bag and additionally facilitates recycling of the handheld mailable bag once it can no longer be used.

According to yet another object of the invention, the carrying-handle integrated into said first flap is formed from at least a frangible portion of a flap material. Such a frangible portion of flap material can be obtained by providing appropriate crease, fold and/or perforations in the material of the flap, according to the shape of handle that it is desired to provide on the flap. In some cases, the frangible portion can be defined as a series of straight line perforations with a fold hinge or crease, and in other cases, the perforations can be arcuate or arc-shaped· causing the handle to have curved or rounded edges. The fold hinge enables the carrier or user of the bag to push his or her fingers through the perforations and thereby cause the frangible portion of the flap material to be pushed away from the surface of the flap material and rotate inwardly thereof about the hinge crease. Where a corresponding and opposite-facing frangible portion has been provided in the flap extending from the first substantially planar side wall, such a frangible portion will generally be configured in register with the frangible portion provided in the fold that comes into contact with and is affixed to, the second substantially planar side wall. In this way, the flap will be provided with two mutually opposing frangible portions that can be pushed between fingers and thumb of one hand, and these frangible portions will rotate inwardly about the corresponding respective hinge creases provided in the flap to form the canying-handle. Conversely, when the bag is intended to be used to mail return an item contained within the bag, said handle can be pushed outwards again from its inward position to assume once again a substantially planar configuration in alignment with the substantially planar firsti and/or second side walls. Appropriate means for maintaining the substantially planar configuration of the handles are advantageously provided, for example, adhesive tape can be provided around the cutout or along the frangible lines forming the handles, or alternatively, a portion of the handle and/or frangible line area can be shaped to provide an interlocking surface, so that the handle surface interlocks with a part of the envelope surface along the perforation lines, and as a result, the handles remain in substantially flat alignment with the remainder of the outer surface of the envelope. In this way, the bag will not catch or become damaged by the postal or package delivery system transport or sorting installations. From the preceding description, it will be apparent and understood that the at least frangible portion of flap material is not detachable from said flap.

As mentioned above, the at least one portion of said first flap that is folded over, and affixed either onto said second opposite-facing side wall adjacent the first end, or alternatively and preferably to an inner surface of said first side wall, is affixed thereto by at least one zone of adhesive. Preferably such a zone of adhesive is distributed in a manner prevent the flap from becoming detached, and generally defines at least one, and preferably multiple, points of contact between an inner surface of said flap and an inner surface of said first substantially planar side wall.

According to another object of the invention, at least a portion of said first flap additionally affixed at least in part to itself. This is to be understood as providing one or more zones of adhesive that affix respective inner surfaces of the flap to themselves, or an inner surface of the first flap with an inner surface of the substantially planar wall, such that the flap forms a double thickness of envelope bag material, and is less susceptible to separation of the respective faces of the flap and wall when the bag is in the carrying position and loaded with an item, as otherwise the natural effect of gravity would have a tendency to pull said faces apart from each other, which might induce additional stresses on the integrated handle. When said inner faces of the flap and wall are fixed to each other by said one or more zones of adhesive, this is unlikely to occur, and as a result the whole handle structure is reinforced. Additionally, sealing isolation of the flap with the inner surface of the body wall via the provision of adhesive zones also procures the advantage that none of the contents inserted into the envelope bag can slide around to come into contact with the carrying handles, avoiding any consequent risk of damage to said handles. According to another object of the invention, said opening of said second section is closed by an at least partly re-openable second flap extending from a first Side wall of said bag and being folded over, and affixed onto, a second, opposite-facing side wall of said bag, adjacent said second end. The explanation of the term“partly re-openable” as used herein will be given hereinafter, but generally, this refers to the notion that the second flap has first been brought over and affixed onto an outer surface of said second substantially planar side wall to close the opening of the bag at the second end. This is required in order to be able to transport, using the carrying-handle, any item placed in the bag. At this point in time, the bag is therefore closed. However, in order to be able to retrieve the item from the bag, the second flap is, configured to allow at least a partial re-opening of the opening at the second end in order to remove the item from the bag. If the user then discovers that they are dissatisfied with the item for whatever reason, and needs to send the item back to the vendor by return mail, the bag is further configured to be resealable once again.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second flap is also formed from a flap material that is a same material as the side walls of the bag.

Furthermore, and advantageously, said second flap comprises a frangible portion extending from at least one side wall edge of said second flap towards an opposing side wall edge. As mentioned above, the user needs to be able to gain access to the contents of the bag which is sealed on leaving the store. The frangible portion as described above, for example, in the shape of, for example, a tearable strip of second flap material, enables the user to re-open the bag and retrieve the contents or goods that it has acquired.

As has been mentioned above, the second flap is affixed to an outer surface of said second substantially planar side wall. One way of doing this is to provide at least a first adhesive zone and at least a second adhesive zone, the at least first and second adhesive zones being located respectively either side of the frangible portion and extending substantially in parallel therewith, and on the inner surface of the second flap. In this way, when the bag is first closed by the merchant in store, the flap is brought to bear on an outer surface of the second substantially planar side wall in the area of placement of the first adhesive zone, leaving the frangible portion and the second adhesive zone to form the bottom of the bag, and on which the contents of the bag will rest when the bag is in the carrying position and being carried by the integrated handle. The user removes the contents of the bag by tearing off the frangible portion of the flap. This leaves part of the flap in contact with the outer surface of the second side wall, but also opens the bag, allowing access to its contents. If, for whatever reason, the buyer wishes to return the goods using the envelope via the postal system, it will close the bag once more by folding the flap so that the second adhesive zone comes into contact with either the outer surface of the second side wall, or the part of the flap that is attached thereto via the first adhesive zone. In this manner, the bag is closed once more and can be given over to the mail package delivery system for return to the merchant.

Advantageously, the at least first and at least second adhesive zones of said second flap are protected before any use thereof by a removable protection seal material that covers each of said at least first and at least second adhesive zone. When the bag is closed for the first time, only the protection seal of the first adhesive zone will be removed, and the second protection seal only ever removed if the envelope needs to be closed once again in order to carry out a mail return. Although many different protection seal materials are known, from paper based seal materials to synthetic based seals, it is currently preferred that the removable protection seal material be a silicone material.

Although the description above has been made with regard to the first and second flaps extending from a first, and substantially planar, side wall, it is also to be understood that either or both of the first and second flaps could extend from said second, substantially planar side wall.

According-to-another object-of the-inventionythe side wallsmf the bag are ^_ mademf a ^_ material comprising at least one fibrous substance. Preferably, the side walls are made of a material comprising at least one fibrous substance chosen from natural fibers and synthetic fibers. Even more preferably, the side walls are made of a material comprising at least one natural and/or synthetic fibrous substance natural chosen from the group consisting of cellulose fibers, plant fibers, mineral fibers, plastic fibers, and mixtures thereof. Furthermore, the side walls are even more preferably made of a material comprising at least one fibrous substance and a matrix material in which the fibers are dispersed and/or distributed. Such natural and synthetic fibrous materials and corresponding matrices are known generally to the skilled person.

Brief Description of the Figures

The invention will now be further described with reference to following accompanying figures, given for illustrative and exemplary purposes:

Figure 1 is a schematic two-dimensional representation of a mailable handheld transport bag according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a mailable handheld transport bag according to the invention.

Example

Turning now to Figure 1, a mailable handheld transport bag (1) according to the invention is illustrated. The bag (1) is formed in the general shape of an envelope. The envelope bag has a first section (2), a second section (3), and a third section (4) located between and continuous with the first section (2) and the second section (3) thereby forming the body of the envelope bag. The first section (2) has a first end (5) and the second section (3) has a second end (6). The first end (5) of the first section (2) is closed as will be described hereinafter. The second end (6) of the second section is represented in the open state in Figure 1, with an opening (7) provided at the second end (6). The body of the envelope bag as comprised by the first, second, and third sections (2, 3, 4) has a first substantially planar side wall (8) and an opposite-facing second substantially planar side wall (9). The first and second side walls (8, 9) are connected to each other along respective side wall edges (10, 11) by a first expandable side wall and a second expandable side wall (12, 13). The expandable side walls (12, 13) are able to expand from a substantially flat and planar configuration to an expanded configuration due to the presence of respective fold lines in the material making up the expandable side walls (12, 13), thereby forming respective concertina-like structures. When an object is inserted via the opening (7) into an inner volume defined by the first and second substantially planar side walls (8, 9) and the expandable side walls (12, 13), the latter are deformed via expansion of the concertina-like structure created by the respective fold lines (14, 15) from their substantially planar

configuration to a substantially expanded configuration.

The first end (5) of the first section (2) is closed by a first flap (16). The first flap is an extension of the first substantially planar side wall (8) which extends beyond said first end! (5) and which is folded over, and affixed onto, either an outer surface of the second substantially planar side wall (9), or preferably and advantageously, onto at least part of an inside surface of the substantially planar side wall (8). In this case, the flap (16) is generally affixed onto at least part of the inner surface of the second substantially planar side wall (8) via one or more adhesive zones (29) provided on an inner surface of the first flap (16), the adhesive zones being configured and distributed to seal and isolate the flap (16) from the remaining inner volume of the envelope. Whilst the adhesive zones (29) illustrated in Figure 1 describe a generally‘U’-shaped form, such a shape can be altered as required, for example, distributed as several separate lines of adhesive according to any desired distribution or configuration. The first flap further comprises an integrated carrying-handle (17) formed from at least a frangible portion (18, 19) of a flap material. Such a frangible portion (18, 19) of flap material can be obtained by providing appropriate crease, fold and/or perforations in the material of the flap (16), according to the shape of handle (17) that it is desired to provide on the flap (16). As illustrated in Figure 1, the frangible portion is defined by two arcuate perforations (18a, 18b), connected to each other by a straight line perforation (19) with a fold hinge or crease (20), which gives the handle curved or rounded edges. The fold hinge (20) enables the carrier or user of the envelope bag to push his or her fingers through the perforations (18a, 18b, 19) and thereby cause the frangible portion of the flap material to be pushed away from the surface of the flap material and rotate inwardly thereof about the hinge crease (20). Where a corresponding and opposite-facing frangible portion has been provided in the flap extending from the first substantially planar side wall (8), such a frangible portion will generally be configured in register with the frangible portion (18, 19) provided in the folded part of the flap that comes into contact with and is affixed to, the second substantially planar side wall (9). In this way, the flap (16) will be provided with two mutually opposing frangible portions that can be pushed between fingers and thumb of one hand, and these frangible portions will rotate inwardly about the corresponding respective hinge creases provided in the flap to form the carrying-handle (17).

As illustrated by Figure 1, the envelope bag (1) is provided with a second flap (21) of material which extends from the first side wall (8). The flap (21) is intended to act as a closure for the opening (7). The second flap (21), as will be explained hereinafter, is at least partly re-openable and is folded over, and affixed onto, the second, opposite-facing substantially planar side wall (9) of the envelope bag (1), adjacent the second end (6) and onto an outer surface of said

substantially planar side wall (9). In order to allow said flap, and accordingly, the envelope bag (1) to be re-opened after it has been closed by closure of the second opening (7), the second flap (21) comprises a frangible portion (22) extending from at least one side wall edge of said second flap towards an opposing side wall edge. The frangible portion (22) as illustrated in Figure 1 is a tearable strip of second flap material, and pulling on the strip for example, from one of the flap side wall edges towards the other opposing side wall edge enables the user to re-open the envelope bag (1) and retrieve the contents or goods that it has acquired from the inner volume of the envelope bag (1). As mentioned above, the second flap (21) is affixed to an outer surface of the second substantially planar side wall (9). One way of doing this, and as illustrated in Figure 1 is to provide at least a first adhesive zone (23) and at least a second adhesive zone (24), the at least first and second adhesive zones (23, 24) being located respectively either side of the frangible portion (22) and extending substantially in parallel therewith, and on the inner surface of the second flap (21). In this way, when the bag is first closed by the merchant in store, the second flap (21) is brought to bear on an outer surface of the second substantially planar side wall (9) in the area of placement of the first adhesive zone (23), leaving the frangible portion

(22) and the second adhesive zone (24) to form the bottom of the envelope bag (1), and on which the contents of the envelope bag will rest when the envelope bag is in the carrying position and being carried by the integrated handle (17). The user removes the contents of the bag by tearing off the frangible portion (22) of the flap (21). This leaves part of the flap in contact with the outer surface of the second side wall (9), but also opens the envelope bag, allowing access to its contents. If, for whatever reason, the buyer wishes to return the goods using the envelope bag via the postal system, it will close the envelope bag once more by folding the second flap (21) so that the second adhesive zone (24) comes into contact with either the outer surface of the second side wall (9), or the part of the flap that has remained attached thereto via the first adhesive zone

(23). In this manner, the envelope bag is closed once more and can be given over to the mail package delivery system for return to the merchant.

In order to avoid inadvertent adhesion of the second flap to any other part of the envelope bag, it has been found advantageous to protect the at least first and at least second adhesive zones (23, 24) of the second flap. These adhesive zones are thus protected, for example, by a removable protection seal material that covers each of said at least first and at least second adhesive zones (23, 24). When the bag is closed for the first time, only the protection seal of the: first adhesive zone (23) will be removed, and the second protection seal only ever removed if the envelope needs to be closed once again after a previous opening via the frangible portion, in order to carry out a mail return. Advantageously, the removable protection seal material is a silicone material, which can easily be removed by hand to expose the adhesive zones (23, 24) as and when required.

The material of the envelope bag (1) is generally comprised of a natural or synthetic fibrous substance, for example cellulose such as paper, or cardboard, or other fibers such as plant fibers obtained from from sugar cane or bamboo. Alternatively, suitably resistant envelope bags have also been made from synthetic fibers, optionally embedded or distributed in a matrix material, where such fibers can advantageously be polypropylene or polyethylene fibers, or polyethylene teraphthalate fibers, such as can be obtained from recycled plastic bottles. The fibers can be laid according to known techniques, and can be provided as flocked, woven, non-woven, spun and the like structures. Additionally, the fibers can form part of a multi-layered or laminate structure made from plying several different materials together. For example, the use of Tyvek, a registered trademark by Dupont, refers to a non-woven substance made of polyethylene fibers. This material is particularly suited for use as the envelope bag material as it has suitably appropriate mechanical resistance and allows for printing of various insignia and characters on a surface made therefrom, for example, advertising or branding, or instructions om how to use the envelope bag.

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an envelope bag according to the invention. Like technical features are identified with identical reference numbers. In this illustration, the envelope bag (1) is presented in an inverted position compared to Figure 1, and the envelope bag is also in an expanded, open configuration, in which the expandable side walls (12, 13) have been expanded either side of, and along, the fold lines (14, 15) to show the inner volume (25) of the envelope bag (1). Also shown is an inner surface (26) of the first substantially planar side wall (8). The second opening (7) is clearly visible here at the second end (6). In normal use this would be the configuration of the envelope bag just before an object is inserted or introduced into the inner volume (25) of the envelope bag, and before first closure of the second opening (6) by the second flap (21). The frangible portion (22) of the second flap (21) is represented by two substantially parallel perforation lines (22a, 22b), extending substantially from one edge (27) of the second flap (21) to the opposite edge (28) of said flap (21).