Patent Application
20190231043
The present disclosure relates to a bag, a method of making a plurality of bags, the use of secondary (discarded) textile bed linen, and a system for making the bags. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to how to make a plurality of bags by using secondary textile bed linen. The present disclosure also relates to using the bags in a return system and method.
In recent years attention has been turned to bags that are environmentally friendly. Such bags are widely desired within the industry and for use in daily life. It is however a problem to ensure that the bags are environmentally friendly, recycled, usable, etc.
How to make environmentally friendly bags is a challenge. The choice of material is difficult. Many factors have to be considered. The material must be suitable for making a bag, e.g. sturdy and durable. However, it must also, preferably, be a recycled material. It must in the end result in a bag material that the industry and a private user are prepared to hold in their hands and use daily.
A further problem is how to provide a solution that is practical and can be used in real life. Furthermore, it is a problem how to do this as cost effective and as reliable as possible. The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system for making a plurality of bags. This object can be achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further enhancements are characterized by the dependent claims.
According to one embodiment, a method for making a plurality of bags is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: A) providing secondary textile bed linen; B) cutting the secondary textile bed linen to a plurality of single pieces, each single piece making a bag when stitched together; and C) stitching each single piece together according to a shape of the bag. In step A), the secondary textile bed linen used may be one or more of the following, a duvet cover, a sheet, a pillow case, that can not be used any more as bed linen, e.g. discarded textile bed linen.
According to one embodiment, which can be combined with any embodiment disclosed herein, the textile bed linen is secondary textile bed linen. Secondary bed linen is bed linen that has been used and has been marked by the supplier (hotel chain, washing company, etc) to be discarded. Secondary bed linen is thus old and used bed linen that is going to be thrown away, because the bed linen can not be used any more as bed linen. Secondary bed linen is for example bed linen that has physical damages and/or spots that can not be removed. Secondary bed linen is for example bed linen that has been washed 100 times or more, or 150 times or more, or 200 times or more. Secondary bed linen is discarded bed linen, i.e. bed linen that can not be used as bed linen any more. To use secondary bed linen for making a bag is extremely advantageous for the environment, because the fabric is already made. That is, no new fabric needs to be provided to make the bag. Providing new fabric, instead of using existing fabric, has a negative effect on nature. Preferably, the secondary textile bed linen is a sheet, such as a standard sized bed sheet. Preferably, the secondary bed linen is made of a fabric having a mixture of cotton and polyester, for example, a mixture of 50 percent cotton and 50 percent polyester. A mixture with at least 30 percent polyester and the rest cotton makes for a very strong bag because of the polyester content.
According to one embodiment, the method further comprises using a combined mangle and cutter to moisture, press, feed, and dry, the secondary textile bed linen, and cut the secondary textile bed linen to the plurality of single pieces, each single piece making a bag when stitched together. Preferably, the method is in that order.
According to one embodiment, each single piece is one single continuous (solid) piece cut from the secondary textile bed linen.
According to one embodiment, the method may further comprise in step A) using a standard sized duvet cover or sheet, the standard size duvet cover or sheet having two longer sides and two shorter sides; and wherein the bag is made a bag for being carried by hand by at least in step B) cutting the standard sized duvet cover or sheet three times across the two long sides, the three cuts being parallel to the two short sides; or wherein the bag is made a clothes cover by at least in step B) cutting the standard sized duvet cover or sheet a first cut across the two long sides, the first cut being parallel to the two short sides, and a second cut across the two short sides, the second cut being parallel to the two long sides.
According to one embodiment, the method further comprises reinforcing the bag by using the secondary textile bed linen double to give each side of the bag two layers of the duvet cover. In one embodiment a layer of insulating material may be placed in a secondary textile duvet cover before using any embodiment disclosed herein.
According to one embodiment, the method further comprises attaching handles to the bag; and/or wherein one or both outsides of the bag are decorated or printed; and/or; further comprising making a hole in one or both sides for holding the bag or for a clothes hanger; and/or wherein the bag is made for one or more bottles by providing square or rounds pockets; and/or wherein in step C) the stitching is made along at least a part of the cuttings in step B).
According to one embodiment, a system for making a plurality of bags, independently or according to any one of the preceding method embodiments, is disclosed. This embodiment could be claimed as a method also. The system comprises a combined mangle and cutter configured to moisture secondary textile bed linen; press and feed the secondary textile bed linen; dry the secondary textile bed linen; and cut the secondary textile bed linen to a plurality of single pieces, each single piece making a bag when stitched together. Preferably the system is configured to do it in that order.
According to one embodiment, the system further comprises a sewing machine, the sewing machine being computer controlled or mechanically automated, to stitch the single piece cut from the secondary textile bed linen together for making the bag, by the sewing machine making a plurality of lines of stitching.
According to one embodiment, the sewing machine is configured to make four straight lines of stitching: a first line for stitching the bottom of the bag, second and third lines for stitching two handles together, respectively, and a fourth line for stitching a side of the bag, preferably the fourth line is made, stitched, first. The fourth line may be made first and the first to third lines can be made in any subsequent order.
According to one embodiment, the lines of stitching are straight, the first line stitching the bottom of the bag is longer than the second and third lines stitching two handles together, the first line stitching is at a bottom end and the second and third lines stitching are at a top end of the bag when carrier by the handles, and the fourth line stitching a side of the bag is extended at least partially between the top and bottom ends.
According to one embodiment, the step of drying also comprises applying a print to the secondary textile bed linen. According to one embodiment the combined mangle and cutter is further configured to apply a print to the secondary textile bed linen.
According to one embodiment, a bag comprising secondary textile bed linen and made by the method or system in any one of the embodiments and/or claims herein. The bag may be a bag carried by hand, or a clothes bag, or a bottle bag. According to one embodiment, the bag comprises two handles (115), a front side (110) and a back side (120); the bag comprising one stitching (130) along the bottom of the bag, the stitching (130) forming a straight line and connects the front side (110) and the back side (120) at one end of the bag, the bottom of the bag; the opposite end, the top of the bag, comprising the handles (115) and they comprise one stitching each (131, 132) respectively, the stitching (131, 132) for each handle forming a straight line, and connects the front side (110) and the back side (120) at the other end of the bag, the top of the bag when carried; the front side (110) and the back side (120) being folded along one side (105) and stitched along the other side (133), the fold (105) and the stitching (133) extend from the end of the bag, the bottom of the bag, to where the handles (115) start, where the top centre part (117) of the front side (110) and the back side (120) meets.
According to one embodiment a return method, or system, comprises a textile bag, especially a textile bag according to any one of the previous claims, the method comprising the following steps: X) the textile bag is given by an owner to a user in exchange for an item; Y) after the user has used the textile bag, the textile bag is returned to the owner in exchange for the item; Z) the textile bag is washed and the method loops back to step X).
According to one embodiment, the method comprises that the bag is made a bag to be carried by hand by at least: in step A) using a standard sized duvet cover or sheet, the standard size duvet cover or sheet having two longer sides and two shorter sides; and in step B) cutting the standard sized duvet cover or sheet three times across the two long sides, the three cuts being parallel to the two short sides.
According to one embodiment, the method comprises that the bag is made a clothe cover (a suit or garment cover) by at least: in step A) using a standard sized duvet cover or sheet, the standard size duvet cover or sheet having two longer sides and two shorter sides; and in step B) cutting the standard sized duvet cover or sheet a first cut across the two long sides, the first cut being parallel to the two short sides, and a second cut across the two short sides, the second cut being parallel to the two long sides.
According to one embodiment, the method may further comprise, wherein in step C) the stitching is made along at least a part of the cuttings in step B). According to one embodiment, the method further comprises reinforcing the bag by using the textile bed linen double to give each side of the bag two layers of the textile bed linen. According to one embodiment, the method further comprises attaching handles to the bag. According to one embodiment, the method further comprises that one or both outsides of the bag are decorated or printed. According to one embodiment, the method further comprises making a hole in one or both sides for holding the bag or for a clothes hanger. According to one embodiment, the method further comprises making the bag a bottle bag for one or more bottles by providing square or rounds pockets or tubes.
According to one embodiment, a bag comprising, or consisting of, a part of textile bed linen and stitching is disclosed, the stitching being part stitching of the textile bed linen and part additional stitching.
According to one embodiment, a bag comprising a part of two sides or layers of a duvet cover or a sheet and stitching is disclosed, the stitching being part stitching of the duvet cover or sheet and part additional stitching.
According to one embodiment, the bag may be a carrier bag by hand, where two parts of the textile bed linen are connected at three sides and an opening at the fourth side. According to one embodiment, the bag may a clothes bag, where two parts of the textile bed linen are connected at least at two sides. According to one embodiment, the bag may be a bottle bag comprising square or round pockets or tubes for one or more bottles.
According to one embodiment, the bag may be reinforced by having each side of the bag comprising at least two layers of the textile bed linen. According to one embodiment, the bag may comprise handles.
According to one embodiment, at least one bag according to previous embodiment are disclosed, wherein the textile bed linen is provided with additional stitching and cut in straight lines to form the at least one bag according to any one of the preceding embodiments of the method, the at least one bag being of a rectangular shape.
According to one embodiment, a duvet cover, a sheet, or a pillow case is used for making one or more bags. In one embodiment, the one or more bags are bags carried by hand or clothes bags.
At least one of the above embodiments provides one or more solutions to the problems and disadvantages with the background art. Other technical advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims. Various embodiments of the present application may obtain only a subset of the advantages set forth. No one advantage is critical to the embodiments. Any claimed and/or described embodiment herein may be technically combined with any other claimed and/or described embodiment or embodiments herein.
The accompanying drawings illustrate presently preferred exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain, by way of example, the principles of the disclosure.
A set of bedding, bedclothes, may comprise a flat or fitted bed sheet that covers the mattress; a flat top sheet; either a blanket, quilt, or duvet, sometimes with a duvet cover which can replace or be used in addition to the top sheet; and a number of pillows with pillowcases. Embodiments of the invention use textile bed linen, especially one or more duvet covers, sheets, or pillow cases, for making at least one bag. Preferably used, recycled, second hand, textile bed linen is used.
According to one embodiment that can be combined with any embodiment disclosed herein, the textile bed linen is secondary textile bed linen. Secondary textile bed linen is bed linen that has been used and has been marked by the supplier (hotel chain, washing company, etc) to be discarded. Secondary textile bed linen is thus old and used bed linen that is going to be thrown away, because the bed linen can not be used any more as bed linen. Secondary textile bed linen may be discarded textile bed linen. Secondary textile bed linen is for example bed linen that has physical damages and/or spots that can not be removed. Secondary textile bed linen is for example bed linen that has been washed 100 times or more, or 150 times or more, or 200 times or more. To use secondary textile bed linen for making a bag is extremely advantageous for the environment, because the fabric is already made. That is, no new fabric needs to be provided to make the bag. Providing new fabric, instead of using existing fabric, has a negative effect on nature. Preferably, the secondary textile bed linen is a sheet, such as a standard sized bed sheet. Preferably, the secondary textile bed linen is a textile made up of about 50 percent cotton and 50 percent polyester. A mixture with at least 30 percent polyester and the rest cotton makes for a very strong bag because of the polyester content. Using textile bed linen, such as for example a duvet cover, eliminates at least a plurality of prior art production steps, namely that of finding two material pieces and matching them as the two sides of a bag, and stitching them together. For example, the duvet cover or the pillow case has the two sides of a bag already aligned and only some sides of the bag needs to be stitched to complete the bag. The bag may for example be a gym bag, a bag carried by hand, clothes bag, gift bag, shoe bag, etc. A bag carried by hand may be, for example, a bag for carrying home the groceries. A bag carried by hand may be, for example, a shopping bag. The bags may have a picture or text on them. A clothes bag is a bag for storing clothes in, also sometimes called a suit bag or a garment bag.
According to one embodiment, the method further comprises using a combined mangle and cutter to moisture, press, feed, and dry, the secondary textile bed linen, and cut the secondary textile bed linen to the plurality of single pieces, each single piece making a bag when stitched together.
According to one embodiment, each single piece is one single continuous (solid) piece cut from the secondary textile bed linen.
According to one embodiment, the method may further comprise in step A) using a standard sized duvet cover or sheet, the standard size duvet cover or sheet having two longer sides and two shorter sides; and wherein the bag is made a bag for being carried by hand by at least in step B) cutting the standard sized duvet cover or sheet three times across the two long sides, the three cuts being parallel to the two short sides; or wherein the bag is made a clothes cover by at least in step B) cutting the standard sized duvet cover or sheet a first cut across the two long sides, the first cut being parallel to the two short sides, and a second cut across the two short sides, the second cut being parallel to the two long sides.
According to one embodiment, the method further comprises reinforcing the bag by using the secondary textile bed linen double to give each side of the bag two layers of the duvet cover. In one embodiment a layer of insulating material may be placed in a secondary textile duvet cover before using any embodiment disclosed herein.
According to one embodiment, the method further comprises attaching handles to the bag; and/or wherein one or both outsides of the bag are decorated or printed; and/or; further comprising making a hole in one or both sides for holding the bag or for a clothes hanger; and/or wherein the bag is made for one or more bottles by providing square or rounds pockets; and/or wherein in step C) the stitching is made along at least a part of the cuttings in step B).
According to one embodiment, a method for making a bag is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps, where step B) and C) can be taken in any order: A) providing textile bed linen, such as a duvet cover, a sheet, or a pillow case; C) stitching the textile bed linen according to a shape of the bag; and B) cutting the textile bed linen according to the shape of the bag. Preferably, the textile bed linen are used, second hand, or recycled textile bed linen. Turning to
Turning more specifically to
According to one embodiment, in step B) the stitching 30 is made along at least a part of the cuttings 40, 42, 44 in step B). The stitching 30 can be made in addition to where the original stitching of the duvet cover is to reinforce that stitching. The stitching and the cutting may be made concurrently by the same machine.
According to one embodiment, the bags may be reinforced, by using the textile bed linen double to give each side of the bag two layers of the textile bed linen. The stitching may also be reinforced by stitching several times and by stitching over the original stitching of the textile bed linen. A stitching with the free open side inwards and stitching through four layers thereby making a tube with the free open side inside the tube would create a strong, durable, and reinforced stitching. A technical effect of this reinforcement is that heavier goods may be carried in the bags.
According to one embodiment, handles may be attached to the bag. This allows for carrying the bag by hand or over a shoulder.
According to one embodiment, one or both outsides of the bag is decorated or printed. This may make the bags more acceptable for a user to use.
According to one embodiment, the method further comprises making the bag a bottle bag for one or more bottles by providing square or rounds pockets and/or tubes. The bag may be a bottle bag comprising square or round pockets and/or tubes for one or more bottles. The tubular pockets may be made in the size of a bottle. One bag may comprise one or more pockets or tubes for one or more bottles. Such a bag may be reinforced by using the textile bed linen in double layers.
According to one embodiment, the method may further comprise making a hole in one or both sides of the bags. This allows for holding the bag. This allows for a clothes hanger to protrude.
According to one embodiment, a bag comprises two sheets, the two sheets being a duvet cover. The two sheets may be at least part of a duvet cover. According to one embodiment, a bag consists of two sheets, the two sheets being at least part of a duvet cover.
According to one embodiment, a bag comprises, or consists of, a part of textile bed linen and stitching, the stitching being part stitching of the textile bed linen and part additional stitching. Preferably, the textile bed linen is a duvet cover, a sheet, or a pillow case.
According to one embodiment, a bag comprises a part of two sides of textile bed linen, for example a duvet cover, and stitching, the stitching being part stitching of the textile bed linen, the original stitching of the textile bed linen, and part additional stitching. According to one embodiment, a bag consists of a part of two sides of a duvet cover, or two sheets aligned on top of each other, and stitching, the stitching being part stitching of the duvet cover or sheets, the original stitching of the duvet cover or sheets, and part additional stitching.
According to one embodiment, the bag may be a carrier bag by hand, where two parts of the textile bed linen are connected at three sides and an opening at the fourth side. According to one embodiment, the bag may be a clothes bag, where two parts of the textile bed linen are connected at least at two sides.
According to one embodiment, the bag may be reinforced by having each side of the bag comprising at least two sides of the textile bed linen. By using two layers of the textile bed linen for each side of the bag, the bag becomes stronger and can carry heavier goods. The stitching may also be made stronger. The original stitching of the duvet cover may also be reinforced by additional stitching. In one embodiment, the bag further comprises handles.
According to one embodiment, a mangle presses and transports the textile bed linen to a cutting machine; the cutting machine cuts the textile bed linen; and a subsequent sewing machine. The mangle feeds the fabric, the textile bed linen, to the cutting machine. This allows using used fabrics, for example discarded hotel bed linen, curtains, tablecloth and clothes. By using a mangle together with a cutting machine used fabrics can be handled in the process preceding the sewing of the new product, e.g. a bag. Since used fabric may come in various sizes and may not always be pressed or flat, work with pressing the fabric and laying it out on the cutting table requiring a lot of manual work can be avoided. The combination of a mangle and a cutting machine would ease problems with wrinkled fabric and fabric of various sizes and shapes; stretch out and press the fabric in the mangle process; facilitate transporting and prepare the fabric for the cutting process; facilitate the cutting of the fabric according to the required pattern by the cutting machine. The mangle smoothens and presses the fabric, and together with the cutting machine textile bed linen can be laid out and cut.
According to one embodiment, a system for making a plurality of bags, independently or according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein or according to any claims, is disclosed. The system comprises a combined mangle and cutter configured to: moisture secondary textile bed linen; press and feed the secondary textile bed linen; dry the secondary textile bed linen; cut the secondary textile bed linen to a plurality of single pieces, each single piece making a bag when stitched together.
According to one embodiment, a method for making a plurality of bags, independently or according to any one of the embodiments disclosed herein or according to any claims, is disclosed. The method comprises a combined mangle and cutter configured to: moisture secondary textile bed linen; press and feed the secondary textile bed linen; dry the secondary textile bed linen; cut the secondary textile bed linen to a plurality of single pieces, each single piece making a bag when stitched together.
According to at least one embodiment, the system and/or method comprises a sewing machine, the sewing machine being computer controlled or mechanically automated, to stitch the single piece cut from the secondary textile bed linen together for making the bag, by the sewing machine making a plurality of lines of stitching. In this way the combined mangle and cutter followed by a sewing machine for automatically sewing the bags together, without the help of a worker, produces the bags according to any embodiment disclosed herein.
According to at least one embodiment, the system and/or method comprises that the sewing machine is configured to make four straight lines of stitching: a first line (130) for stitching the bottom of the bag, second and third lines (131, 132) for stitching two handles together, respectively, and a fourth line (133) for stitching a side of the bag, preferably the fourth line (133) is made first. By doing the fourth line first and the first to third lines subsequently in any order, the bag is easy to stitch together and the bag becomes a very strong and durable bag.
According to at least one embodiment, the system and/or method comprises that the lines of stitching are straight, the first line stitching the bottom of the bag is longer than the second and third lines stitching two handles together, the first line stitching is at a bottom end and the second and third lines stitching are at a top end of the bag when carrier by the handles, and the fourth line stitching a side of the bag is extended at least partially between the top and bottom ends.
According to at least one embodiment, the system and/or method comprises that the step of drying also comprises applying a print to the secondary textile bed linen.
According to one embodiment, at least one bag derives from the textile bed linen, e.g. the duvet cover, provided with additional stitching and cut in straight lines to form the at least one bag. The at least one bag may be of a rectangular size. The at least one bag may have rounded corners.
According to one embodiment, a duvet cover, a sheet, two sheets aligned on top of each other, or a pillow case, is used for making one or more bags. In one embodiment, the one or more bags are bags carried by hand or clothes bags, preferably bags according to any one of the preceding embodiments.
According to at least one embodiment, the method of making a bag, and the bag, may provide a good use or recyclable material and provide an economical method of making a bag. An effective use of recycled textile bed linen, such as a duvet cover, two sheets aligned on top of each other, or pillow case is made and the stitching already present in the textile bed linen can also be reused.
According to one embodiment, a textile bag, especially a textile bag according to any one of the embodiments described herein, may be used in a return system. The return system may comprise a recycling system. According to one embodiment, a return method comprises a textile bag, especially a textile bag according to any one of the embodiments described herein, wherein A) the textile bag is given by an owner to a user in exchange for an item, B) after the user has used the textile bag, the textile bag is returned to the owner in exchange for the item, C) the textile bag is washed and the method loops back to A). According to one embodiment, the return system comprises a textile bag, especially a textile bag according to any one of the embodiments described herein; an item, especially an item of some value that represents the value of the textile bag; and a washing machine for washing the textile bag. In this way the return method can be implemented. This return system and method is preferably used with a plurality of textile bags according to any one of the embodiments described herein.
Bags according to this disclosure are very strong and durable. Tests have shown that the bags can lift 14 kg 25000 times. This is a standardised test where 14 kilos are placed in a bag and the bag is lifted up from the ground and put back down 25000 times. After this test the bag was still in god order and could be used. This is far more than a normal textile carrier bag and is instead in the range of what a suitcase can carry. The use of secondary textile bed linen makes the bag very environmental “green”, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture. The described way of cutting and stitching, making, the bag makes the bag very strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture. It also makes the bag suitable for mass manufacturing.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the method, bag, and use of textile bed linen. Especially that one or more of the embodiments disclosed above can be combined with each other. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed method, bag, and use of textile bed linen. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1630247-3 | Oct 2016 | SE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2017/076450 | 10/17/2017 | WO | 00 |
