Sewn polyolefin and fabric bag and method of making bag
OwnerRonald L. Krenzelinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sewn polyolefin in fabric bag which uses the molded shapes of the polyolefin material to form a shaped enclosure. Enclosure means and a fabric hinge are sewn directly to the polyolefin enclosure means to form the completed bag. The bags formed in this manner have many of the advantages of both soft and hard shelled bags. The polyolefin material is capable of providing a predetermined shape but has a soft exterior surface and is deformable. Sewing can be done using conventional sewing techniques. Polyolefin materials have not previously been usable in this manner because of their inability to bond or weld in reliable manner to other materials.
Claims24
A hand held bag capable of substantially maintaining a predetermined shape while transporting specified items and deformable to provide a soft exterior surface comprising:
- polyolefin enclosure means thermoformed to produce said predetermined shape, said polyolefin enclosure means having at least two individual portions and a thickness and density sufficient to maintain said predetermined shape and allow said polyolefin enclosure means to be sewn with thread;
- fabric hinge means including a fabric strip having opposing edge portions extending along a longitudinal axis, each of said individual portions of said polyolefin enclosure means having interior and exterior surfaces, said fabric strip being positioned with said opposing edge portions respectively adjacent the interior surfaces of said individual portions and respectively sewn with said thread to the individual portions of said polyolefin enclosure means to couple said individual portions and to allow relative movement between said individual portions between opened and closed positions;
- and,
- closure means having fabric portions sewn to said polyolefin enclosure means for selectively joining said individual portions of said polyolefin enclosure means in said closed position with the exterior surfaces of said individual portions facing outwardly of said polyolefin enclosure means and the interior surfaces thereof facing inwardly and with the opposing edge portions of said fabric strip respectively adjacent the interior surfaces of said individual portions and facing inwardly of said polyolefin enclosure means.
A method of forming a hand-held bag capable of substantially maintaining a predetermined shape and providing shock protection for items carried in said bag comprising the steps of:
- thermoforming polyolefin material into at least two individual enclosure portions having predetermined shapes, each of said enclosure portions having interior and exterior surfaces,
- providing fabric hinge means including a fabric strip having opposing edge portions extending along a longitudinal axis, positioning said fabric strip with said opposing edge portions respectively adjacent the interior surfaces of said enclosure portions, and respectively sewing said opposing edge portions of said fabric strip to said enclosure portions to couple said enclosure portions and to allow relative movement between said enclosure portions between opened and closed positions;
- and,
- sewing fabric closure means to said enclosure portions of said polyolefin material to allow said enclosure portions to be selectively joined in said closed position with the exterior surfaces of said enclosure portions facing outwardly of said polyolefin enclosure means and the interior surfaces thereof facing inwardly and with the opposing edge portions of said fabric strip respectively adjacent the interior surfaces of said enclosure portions and facing inwardly of said polyolefin enclosure means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.