Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Fabric for packing
The present invention concerns a fabric for packing objects, according to the
preamble of
patent claim 1.
Background
There are many different objects lacking adapted or suitable packing. It is
especially in
connection with travelling, for instance travelling with plane or another
means of transport
demanding that the luggage is sent separately, that the problem with a
suitable packing
arises. Most objects have a box or similar, protecting the object before
purchase, but this
packing may for instance demand that the object is taken to pieces. Besides,
in most
cases, it is unnecessarily large and bothersome to transport on a journey.
Prams on planes are a well known problem in Scandinavia. It is difficult to
pack the pram
sufficiently to avoid damage during travel. Besides, the pram is a necessity
immediately
when one arrives at the destination, and thus, disassembling is undesirable.
Prams have
different shapes and sizes, prams, strollers, twin prams/strollers etc., and
it would be an
advantage if the same packin.g could be used on all prams. Further, the
packing should
either be disposable or occupy little space, since it must be stored when not
in use, or be
taken along on the travel. Other objects with corresponding problems are back
frames; car
seats; and in part, backpacks.
Today, when travelling on a plane with a pram, in Scandinavia one may get a
disposable
plastic bag to cover the pram. This is handed out when checking in, and the
pram must
thus be packed on the spot, it is not possible, to pack it at home, before
leaving. Further, it
does not protect the pram sufficiently, as the pram,often gets damaged even
with the
plastic bag. Outside of Scandinavia the pram must be delivered without
packing, with the
damage that involves.
STOKKE has developed a travelling bag for their pram, Explory. This bag is
especially
developed for Explory, and can not be used for other prams. The patent
publications JP
51.112.046 and US 2005/0017039 both describe a bag in which a stroller may be
placed.
Patent publications JP 2004305783 and US 5,803,470 describe other solutions
for packing
a wheelchair and a pram, respectively. None of these solutions may be used on
any pram
or other outfits lacking suitable packing. Except for the bags described in JP
51.112.046
and US 2005/0017039 they are also rather space demanding.
Object
The main object of the present invention is to provide a packing to be used to
pack any
object, occupying minimum space when not in use. It is a further object that
it should be
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possible to use the fabric several times, and preferably the fabric should be
of a washable
and rainproof material.
The invention
The object of the invention is met with a fabric for packing according to the
characterizing part of patent claim 1.
By "fabric" it is herein meant a textile material, woven or non-woven. The
textile material
shall be such that it can be folded innumerable, repeated times without danger
of
considerable damage with the risk of rupture. Besides, it should be so
flexible that it can
be folded at a random spot, and that many random spots can be placed very
close, for
instance, in such a way that one long end may be folded together to give a
desired length
without increasing the thickness of the resulting short end more than the sum
of the
thickness of each layer. Thus, the material must be flexible, have limited
thickness and
high rupture strength.
The fabric according to the present invention, is of one flat foldable
material. It is not
sewn to shape, and preferably it has no zippers or similar. When the fabric is
not in use, it
can be folded together easily, and will not occupy much space. Since the
fabric is of such
a material as mentioned above, it may be folded at random places, and the
thickness of
the folded fabric will correspond to the sum of the thickness in each layer.
How thick the
folded fabric is, will thus depend on the area. The lesser the area of the
folded fabric is, the
thicker it will be. On one surface of the unfolded fabric, about the middle,
it is supplied with
at least one strap, preferably with'corresponding buckles in the ends. The
strap(s) may
either be sewn directly to the fabric, or fastened fastening devices for the
straps, such as
loops, may be attached to the fabric. The straps are threaded through the
loops when the
fabric is to be used for packing.
When an object should be packed, the fabric and the straps are unfolded and
placed
flat. If the straps are not fastened directly to the fabric, they must be
placed in the
fastening means first. The surface with the straps is facing downwards, and
the straps are
stretched out. The object is placed on top of the fabric, about the middle,
and the, fabric is
folded around it. When the fabric is folded around all sides of the object,
the buckles in the
ends of the straps should be locked into each other, and the straps should be
tightened in
such a way that the fabric gets close to the object. It is arbitrary in which
way the fabric is
folded around the object. ,
It will be a great advantage if the fabric is of a waterproof and washable
material. For
instance, when travelling by plane, the luggage might be standing outside in
the rain, or
water might splash from a wet runway onto the baggage trolley. It is a further
object of the
invention that the fabric could be used several times, and thus it is an
advantage that the
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material is hard-wearing and washable, because there is always a chance that
the luggage
gets dirty. Suitable materials may for instance be Gortex, t~-111/LoPo being
used in
parachutes, or Ripstop Nylon, wherein Ripstop Nylon is preferred.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the material in the fabric is
self-
inflatable. This means that the material is double, and either by itself, or
by activating a
valve, fills the space between the layers of material with air. In those cases
where such
materials are used in the present invention, the packed object is protected by
a shock
absorbing layer of air.
The straps being fastened to the fabric, may be of any suitable kind. The
straps must
withstand wear and tear and they must be strong. A preferred material is woven
nylon,
corresponding to the material being used in lifting straps.
The corresponding buckles on the straps may be of several types, but are
preferably
detent buckles of plastic. At least one of the buckles must be of such a kind
that it is only
threaded onto the strap, and that the position of the buckle in relation to
the end of the
strap may be adjusted. In those cases wherein the straps are fastened directly
to the
fabric, it is a further advantage if both the devices are.of such kind. In
this way, both ends
of the strap might be tightened wh,en the fabric is folded around the object,
in such a way
that the straps get tight irrespective of the size of the object, and such
that the buckles are
on top of the package. In those cases where the straps are not fastened
directly to the
fabric, but for instance threaded through loops fastened to the fabric, the
position of the
device might be adjusted by adjusting the strap, and thus it is only necessary
that one of
the buckles is of such a kind.
In one embodiment the fabric is provided with a number of extra straps, or
fastening
devices for straps, in addition to the straps being used to tighten the fabric
around the
packed object. These extra straps may for instance, be used for
moving/carrying the
packed object, and/or to fasten extra equipment. One example of such extra
equipment is
a tilting trolley having a telescope handle. In this way, the packed object is
easily fastened
to the tilting trolley and may thus be rolled, transported and treated as a
regular wheeled
suitcase. Other examples of extra equipment which may conveniently be fastened
to the
packed object, are groundsheets, baby care bags, and/or other small bags.
Extra fastening
devices for straps might also. be used=for fastening more straps to the
fabric.
Embodiments/ application areas where it is convenient to use four straps for
tightening,
two sets of two perpendicular to each other, are possible.
In an especially preferred embodiment, the fabric is designed with four tongue
shaped
parts stretching apart, perpendicular to each other. These parts are fastened
to a common,
square shaped inner centre, in such a way that the unfolded fabric has the
shape of a
symmetrical cross. The size of the fabric and the relationship between the
size of the
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square and the protruding parts may vary according to the intended use of the
fabric. In
cases where the fabric is to be used to pack a pram, a fabric having a centre
of 1x1 m, and
each protruding part being about I m, is considered to be appropriate.
When an object should be packed in a fabric having the shape of a symmetrical
cross,
the object is placed in the square centre, and the four tongue shaped parts
are folded and
tightened around the object, one by one. The order is of no importance. When
the last part
is folded over the object, the straps are tightened by fastening the detent
buckle, and by
pulling the ends. If the object is smaller than the square centre between the
tongue shaped
parts, the tongue shaped parts should be folded over the object in such a way
that the
unused parts of the square centre are also folded over.
The fabric is especially suitable for packing relatively large objects having
an irregular
shape. The fabric is, as mentioned, of a textile material being foldable at
random places,
and the order of folding is arbitrary. This means that one part of the fabric
may be used in
full length to enclose the object, while another part might be folded
together, and if
necessary, completely against the square centre, without weakening the packing
in any
way. Since the straps.being used for tightening/fastening the fabric to the
object, are not
fastened to the tongue shaped parts, the object will be just as well packed
irrespectively of
how the fabric is folded around the object.
In one embodiment, the fabric is provided with an opening in, or close to, the
centre.
This opening offers more ranges of application, and,by the right choice of
material and
colour, it may be used as a rain poncho, apron for a pram, and possible cover
for a
backpack when the backpack is in use, in addition to packing. The opening
should be
made in such a way that it, in normal use, meaning use as packing, is closed.
This may
be done in many ways, with and without the use of a zipper, which will be
obvious for a
person skilled in the art.
The fabric is especially described in relation to packing of a pram, car seat
or similar, but
it has a much wider range of use. It may for instance be used to pack several
parts being
used together, but not having a common original package, such as hunting
equipment,
clothing and ammunition. There may also be cases where it would be an
advantage to
pack several small bags or similar together into one unit, without increasing
the resulting
size and weight essentially. It may also be used as a cover, for instance for
packing
around an ordinary suitcase and thereby protecting the suitcase from water and
dirt.
Example
The invention will in the following be described with reference to the
enclosed figures,
where
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Figure 1 shows the fabric unfolded, the side comprising the straps facing
upwards,
Figure 2 shows the fabric partly'folded around an object, and
Figure 3 shows the fabric packed around the object.
5 Figure 1 shows the fabric I unfolded. The fabric is completely flat, and in
the shown
embodiment it is shaped as a symmetrical cross, having four protruding parts
2, 3, 4, 5.
Between these four protruding parts there is a square centre. On the side
facing upwards
in Figure 1, there are fastened a number of loops 6 and two handles 7. Two
straps 8 are
thread through some of the loops 6 being fastened to the square centre. The
straps 8 have
corresponding detent buckles 9, 10 in the ends. One part 10 of the detent
buckle is fixedly
fastened to the strap 8, while the other part 9 is fastened in such a way that
the distance
from the end of the strap to the buckle, is adjustable. In this way the straps
may be
tightened around the object to be packed in the fabric.
Possible loops and handles 7 being placed outside of the square centre, will
in most
cases be on the side of the packed object, and may, respectively, be used for
carrying the
packed object and/or for fastening to, for instance, a tilting trolley.
The fabric as shown,in Figure 1 is =further formed with an opening 11 in the
centre,
whereby it may be used as an apron for a pram or the similar. In the shown
embodiment
the fabric is further provided with an address area 12, so that the packing is
well labelled.
When the fabric according to the present invention should be used as packing,
it is at
first laid unfolded with the side having the straps 8 and loops 6, facing
downwards. Then
the object to be packed, is placed in the square centre of the fabric 1, and
the parts 2, 3, 4,
5 are folded over. Figure 2 shows a situation where two parts 3, 4 are folded
over the
object, and the other parts 2, 5 are still unfolded. When the fabric is folded
over the object,
the straps 8 become visible and the corresponding detent buckles 9, 10 may
easily be
fastened into each other. The straps 8 are tightened and adjusted in such a
way that the
fabric I gets close to the object, and such that the packed object does not
get substantially
larger than the original object.
Figure 3 shows.the object when it is totally packed, and as mentioned, the
handles 7
being fastened outside of the square centre, are on the side of the packing.
If one wishes
to further tighten the fabric, one may easily thread more straps through other
loops, and
thereby tighten the fabric further around the object.
