Patent Application
20200390205
The present invention relates to an umbrella bag bundle that is a stack of umbrella bags for accommodating umbrellas, and the like.
For example, in hotels, shops, and the like, umbrella bags made of a synthetic resin and the like for accommodating wet umbrellas are placed near entrances to the shops and the like on a rainy day to prevent clothes, floors, goods, and the like from getting wet by guests and customers carrying around wet umbrellas.
Since insertion of a long umbrella into an umbrella bag is troublesome, a bag opening device for facilitating the insertion of an umbrella into an umbrella bag is often installed as well (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 9-272519). The bag opening device accommodates a bundle of a plurality of umbrella bags, and can mechanically open the openings of the umbrella bags one by one.
Rainwater accumulates gradually in an umbrella bag accommodating a wet umbrella. If the user walks holding a handle of the umbrella, the umbrella bag naturally falls off the umbrella due to the weight of the rainwater. There is an umbrella bag having a belt-like belt formed in a width direction near its opening to prevent falling. If the umbrella bag starts to fall, the belt autonomously catches on the ends of the umbrella ribs or the rim of the canopy to suppress falling of the umbrella bag (see Japanese Patent No. 4023552).
Umbrellas have diversified in recent years. To withstand a hard rain, umbrellas with a longer shaft and a wider canopy area are increasing. In the case of such a long umbrella, the ends (tips) of the ribs and the vicinity of the outer rim of the canopy can stick out of the opening of an umbrella bag.
As a result, the umbrella bag is likely to naturally fall off the umbrella due to the own weight of the rainwater since the belt for fall prevention formed near the opening of the umbrella bag does not reach the ends of the ribs or the rim of the canopy.
On the other hand, simply changing the size of the umbrella bag to be longer has had a problem that the umbrella bag bundle fails to fit in the accommodation space of an umbrella bag bundle in existing bag opening devices.
The present invention has been achieved in view of such circumstances, and is intended to provide an umbrella bag bundle and the like applicable to various umbrellas without increasing the length of the entire umbrella bag bundle.
To achieve the foregoing object, the present invention provides an umbrella bag bundle including bundled umbrella bags each capable of accommodating an umbrella in a bag structure, wherein when a longitudinal direction of the umbrella accommodated in the bag structure is defined as a vertical direction and a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction is defined as a width direction, the umbrella bag includes: a sheet-like first bag portion; a sheet-like second bag portion that is opposed to the first bag portion and constitutes the bag structure having an opening at a top end in the vertical direction in cooperation with the first bag portion; a sheet-like extension that is extended further upward from a top end of the second bag portion; and an engagement portion that is located on the extension and capable of vertical engagement with the umbrella.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the engagement portion is capable of engagement with a side surface of the umbrella inserted in the bag structure via the opening, the side surface facing to the extension.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that: a hole for allowing the umbrella bag to be suspended is formed in the extension; and the engagement portion is located on the extension 30 within a range of ¾ downward from a top edge of the hole.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the engagement portion is located on the extension 30 within a range of ⅔ downward from the top edge of the hole.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the engagement portion is located on the extension 30 within a range of ½ downward from the top edge of the hole.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the engagement portion is located on the extension 30 within a range of ¾ downward from a top end of the extension.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the engagement portion is located on the extension 30 within a range of ⅔ downward from the top end of the extension.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the engagement portion is located on the extension 30 within a range of ½ downward from the top end of the extension.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that: the umbrella bag is installed on a bag opening device that inserts an opening plate into the opening and opens the opening; and the extension secures a slide area for an end of the bag opening plate to abut against and to slide over up to the opening, the slide area being located between the opening and the engagement portion.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the engagement portion is located on the extension at a position 10 mm or more above and away from a bottom end of the extension.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the engagement portion is located on the extension at a position 20 mm or more above and away from the bottom end of the extension.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the engagement portion is located on the extension at a position 30 mm or more above and away from the bottom end of the extension.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that: the extension includes a recess that is recessed inward in the width direction from an end in the width direction; and the engagement portion is located on the extension at a position off the recess upward or to a possible side.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that: a hole for allowing the umbrella bag to be suspended is formed in the extension; and the engagement portion is located on the extension below the hole.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that: a separation line for separating the umbrella bag is formed in the extension, the separation line extending in the width direction; and the engagement portion is located on the extension below the separation line.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the engagement portion includes an engagement edge extending in the width direction of the extension.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the engagement portion is a belt-like member extending in the width direction of the extension.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the belt-like member has a belt width of 20 mm or less.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the belt-like member has a belt width of 10 mm or less.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the engagement portion is a slit or an opening extending in the width direction of the extension.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized by including a lower engagement portion that is located below and at a distance from the engagement portion and is capable of vertical engagement with the umbrella.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the lower engagement portion is located near the opening of the bag structure.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the lower engagement portion is located inside the bag structure.
The foregoing umbrella bag is characterized in that the lower engagement portion is a belt-like member extending in the width direction.
To achieve the foregoing object, the present invention provides a holding structure for the umbrella bag bundle according to any one of the foregoing paragraphs, the holding structure including a holding plate capable of abutting against a flat surface of the extension on a side closer to the first bag portion, wherein the holding plate is located above the opening and covers the engagement portion.
To achieve the foregoing object, the present invention provides a bag opening device configured to open the opening of the umbrella bag in the umbrella bag bundle according to any one of the foregoing paragraphs, the bag opening device including a holding structure configured to hold the umbrella bag bundle, an opening plate that is to be inserted into the opening to open the opening, and a moving mechanism configured to bring an end of the bag opening plate into contact with the extension above the opening and below the engagement portion and slide the end of the bag opening plate up to the opening.
According to the foregoing means, an umbrella bag applicable to various umbrellas can be obtained without increasing the length of the entire umbrella bag bundle. Moreover, the holding structure for an umbrella bag bundle can suppress accommodation failures in accommodating an umbrella into an umbrella bag. Furthermore, the bag opening device according to the present means can appropriately open the opening of an umbrella bag having a fall prevention function.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Overall Configuration
An overall configuration of an umbrella bag 1 constituting an umbrella bag bundle according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
First Bag Portion
The first bag portion 10 constitutes a front-side surface of a bag structure configured to accommodate an umbrella in the umbrella bag 1. For example, the first bag portion 10 is made of a rectangular, or more specifically, vertically extending belt-like soft sheet. Examples of the material of the soft sheet include a thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene. However, this is not restrictive, and other synthetic resins may be used. The description of the soft sheet also applies to the following.
Second Bag Portion
The second bag portion 20 constitutes a rear-side surface of the bag structure of the umbrella bag 1. For example, the second bag portion 20 is made of a rectangular, or more specifically, belt-like soft sheet having substantially the same shape and substantially the same size as those of the first bag portion 10.
Bag Structure
The edges of the first bag portion 10 and the second bag portion 20 at both ends in the width direction or vicinities thereof are joined to each other. The bottom edges of the first bag portion 10 and the second bag portion 20 or vicinities thereof are also joined to each other. As a result, the first bag portion 10 and the second bag portion 20 constitute a bag structure. The top edges of the first bag portion 10 and the second bag portion 20 are not joined to each other and form an opening 15 of the bag structure. The opening 15 extends across both ends of the first bag portion 10 and the second bag portion 20 in the width direction, whereby position of the opening 15 in the vertical direction is uniquely determined.
In a cutting operation by a cutter that defines the outline of the first bag portion 10 and the second bag portion 20, the peripheries of the first bag portion 10 and the second bag portion 20 are welded (fused) to each other by applying heat to the cutter at the same time. However, the manufacturing technique is not limited thereto, and the first bag portion 10 and the second bag portion 20 may be joined by other methods such as adhesive bonding. The edges of the first bag portion 10 and the second bag portion 20 at both ends in the width direction or the vicinities thereof, and the bottom edges or the vicinities thereof, may be joined to each other at least in part. In view of preventing leakage of rainwater, the entire edges are desirably joined.
Extension
The extension 30 is extended further upward from the top edge of the second bag portion 20. For example, the extension 30 is made of a rectangular soft sheet having substantially the same length in the width direction as that of the second bag portion 20 and a length smaller in the vertical direction than that of the second bag portion 20. The extension 30 and the second bag portion 20 may be made of a single soft sheet or formed by joining respective separate soft sheets. The length in the vertical direction of the extension 30 is preferably 70 mm or more and 150 mm or less, and is desirably set to 80 mm to 100 mm. In the present embodiment, the length in the vertical direction is 90 mm.
A separation line 30A extending in the width direction is formed in the middle of the extension 30 in the vertical direction. With the separation line 30A as a border, the extension 30 is separated into a near side extension 30B closer to the opening 15 of the bag structure and a far side extension 30C farther from the opening 15. For example, such a separation line 30A is formed by a perforated cutting line. The near side extension 30B is continuous with the top end of the second bag portion 20 in the vertical direction of the extension 30. The far side extension 30C is continuous with the top end of the near side extension 30B.
The far side extension 30C has engagement holes 13D. For example, engagement bars of a bag holding structure for umbrella bags to be suspended and held on (not illustrated) are inserted into the engagement holes 13D, whereby the umbrella bag 1 is held in a suspended manner. In the present embodiment, the engagement holes 13D are formed across the border (separation line 30A) between the far side extension 30C and the near side extension 30B.
A pair of recesses 32 recessed inward in the width direction from both ends in the width direction are formed in the extension 30. The recesses 32 are shaped like so-called semi-arc cutouts. Since the pair of recesses 32 are formed at the same position in the vertical direction, the extension 30 has a minimum width near the pair of recesses 32. Base portions 32A of the recesses 32 are set above the bottom end (opening 15) of the extension 30. With such a configuration, stress concentrates on the base portions 32A when tension in the vertical direction acts on the umbrella bag 1. In other words, the extension 30 and the first and second bag portions 10 and 20 are positively prevented from stress concentration on other locations than the recesses 32. In particular, if stress concentrates on both ends of the opening 15, the opening 15 is likely to tear so that the top ends of the first bag portion 10 and the second bag portion 20 get away from each other. The recesses 32 play the role of suppressing a tear of the opening 15.
First Engagement Portion (Upper Engagement Portion)
A first engagement portion 40 capable of vertical engagement with an umbrella is formed on the extension 30. The first engagement portion 40 includes a belt-like member 42 extending in the width direction. The first engagement portion 40 is characterized in that, as illustrated in
The bottom edge of the belt-like member 42 forms a first engagement edge 40A extending in the width direction. As will be described later, this engagement edge 40A serves as an edge to be engaged with an umbrella and prevent falling when the umbrella bag 1 starts to naturally fall off the umbrella.
The belt-like member 42 preferably has a belt width (length in the vertical direction) of 20 mm or less, more desirably 10 mm or less. In the present embodiment, the belt width is 5 mm. The smaller the belt width of the belt-like member 42 is, the softer the belt-like member 42 itself is and the more likely the belt-like member 42 is to get away (be protruded) from the extension 30 except both ends that are the junctions. Meanwhile, the belt width is set to 2 mm or more. The reason is that too thin a belt-like member 42 is easy to break due to insufficient strength. If the belt-like member 42 has too large a belt width, the belt-like member 42 electrostatically adheres to the extension 30, or is less likely to get away from the extension 30 due to increased rigidity.
For the purpose of engagement with a long umbrella, the first engagement portion 40 is desirably located at as high a position on the umbrella bag 1 as possible. The belt-like member 42 of the first engagement portion 40 is thus preferably located within the range of an area T1 that is ¾ of the extension 30 downward from the top end. The first engagement portion 40 is more desirably located within the range of an area T2 that is ⅔ downward from the top end. The first engagement portion 40 is even more desirably located within the range of an area T3 that is ½ downward from the top end. In the present embodiment, the first engagement portion 40 is formed within the range of the range T3. In terms of specific dimensions, the belt-like member 42 of the first engagement portion 40 is preferably located within the range of 30 mm to 70 mm downward from the top end of the extension 30. The first engagement portion 40 is more desirably located within the range of 40 mm to 55 mm downward from the top end.
Similarly, for the purpose of engagement with a long umbrella, the first engagement portion 40 is desirably located at as high a position on the umbrella bag 1 as possible. The belt-like member 42 of the first engagement portion 40 is thus preferably located on the extension 30 within the range of an area Z1 that is ¾ downward from the upper edges of the engagement holes 13D. The first engagement portion 40 is more desirably located within the range of an area Z2 that is ⅔ downward from the upper edges of the engagement holes 13D. The first engagement portion 40 is even more desirably located within the range of an area Z3 that is ½ downward from the upper edges of the engagement holes 13D. In the present embodiment, the first engagement portion 40 is formed within the range of the range Z3. In terms of specific dimensions, the belt-like member 42 of the first engagement portion 40 is preferably located within the range of 15 mm to 55 mm downward from the upper edges of the engagement holes 13D. The first engagement portion 40 is even more desirably located within the range of 25 mm to 40 mm downward from the top ends.
A description will be given from another point of view. The first engagement edge 40A of the belt-like member 42 of the first engagement portion 40 is desirably as much above and away from the bottom end of the extension 30 (i.e., the opening 15) as possible. The first engagement edge 40A of the first engagement portion 40 is thus preferably located at a position 10 mm or more above and away from the opening 15, more desirably at a position 20 mm or more away, even more desirably at a position 30 mm or more away.
Moreover, the first engagement portion 40 is located on the extension 30 below the engagement holes 13D. The reason is that if the first engagement portion 40 overlaps the engagement holes 13D, the belt-like member 42 can interfere with and be broken by the engagement bars inserted through the engagement holes 13D during suspension. To reduce the possibility for the belt-like member 42 to curve and overlap the engagement holes 13D, the upper edge of the belt-like member 42 is preferably located at a position 5 mm or more below and away from the lower edges of the engagement holes 13D. The upper edge is desirably located 10 mm or more away, even more desirably 15 mm or more away.
Furthermore, the first engagement portion 40 is located on the extension 30 below the separation line 30A. The reason is that if the first engagement portion 40 overlaps the separation line 30A, the belt-like member 42 can be broken upon separation. When the umbrella bag 1 is separated at the separation line 30A as illustrated in
In view of setting the umbrella bag 1 into a bag opening device 200 (see
Furthermore, the first engagement portion 40 is located at a position off the pair of recesses 32 of the extension 30 upward or downward. According to the above configuration, when tension in the vertical direction acts on the extension 30, stress is concentrated at both ends of the first engagement portion 40, and the first engagement portion 40 can be prevented from being torn from the extension 30. In the present embodiment, the first engagement portion 40 is located above the recesses 32.
Second Engagement Portion (Lower Engagement Portion)
The second engagement portion 60 capable of vertical engagement with the umbrella is formed below the first engagement portion 40. The first engagement portion 60 includes a belt-like member 62 extending in the width direction. The belt-like member 62 has a length (length in the width direction) substantially the same as the width of the first bag portion 10 and the second bag portion 20. Both longitudinal ends of the belt-like member 62 are welded to or near the edges on both ends in the width direction inside the bag structure formed by the first bag portion 10 and the second bag portion 20.
The lower edge of the belt-like member 62 forms a second engagement edge 60A extending in the width direction. As will be described later, the second engagement edge 60A serves as an edge to be engaged with an umbrella and prevents falling when the umbrella bag 1 starts to naturally fall off the umbrella.
The belt-like member 62 preferably has a belt width (length in the vertical direction) of 20 mm or less, more desirably 10 mm or less, and in the present embodiment, 5 mm. The smaller the belt width of the belt-like member 62 is, the softer the belt-like member 62 itself is and the more likely the belt-like member 62 is to get away from the inner periphery of the bag structure except both ends that are the junctions. Meanwhile, the belt width is set to 2 mm or more. Too thin a belt-like member 62 is easy to break due to insufficient strength. If the belt-like member 62 has too large a belt width, the belt-like member 62 electrostatically adheres to the first or second bag portion 10 or 20, or is less likely to get away from the inner periphery of the bag structure due to increased rigidity.
The second engagement portion 60 is preferably located near the opening 15 of the bag structure. Specifically, the second engagement edge 60A is located within the range of 40 mm downward from the opening 15. As illustrated in
The second engagement portion 60 is located at a position off the recesses 32 downward. According to the above configuration, when tension in the vertical direction acts on the second bag portion 20 and the extension 30, stress is concentrated at both ends of the second engagement portion 60, and the second engagement portion 60 can be prevented from being torn from the bag structure.
Operation of Umbrella Bag
Next, an operation of the umbrella bag 1 will be described with reference to
The first engagement portion 40 located on the extension 30 is positioned on a side closer to the extension 30 than the umbrella K accommodated in the bag structure is. When the bag structure is spread out by the umbrella K, the first bag portion 10 and the second bag portion 20 form a cylindrical shape, and the extension 30 takes a semicylindrical shape as well. The belt-like member 42 (the second engaging portion 60) welded to both ends of the extension 30 in the width direction sags naturally and is thereby protruded forward away from the second engagement portion 60 to approach the shaft of the umbrella K, the ends of the ribs, and the rim of the canopy. This brings the umbrella K and the second engagement portion 60 into a state capable of vertical engagement. In particular, the first engagement portion 40 is located at a position above and away from the opening 15, and is thus likely to be engaged with the vicinity of the ends (tips) of the ribs of the umbrella K. As can be seen, since the first engagement portion 40 preferably bends in front of the extension 30, the first engagement portion 40 is preferably joined to the extension 30 only near both ends in the width direction.
The first engagement unit 40 may be deliberately moved away from the extension 20 so that the umbrella K is inserted into between the first engagement portion 40 and the extension 20. However, such an operation is not implemented in the case discussed here. If the bag opening device 200 to be described later is used, the first engagement portion 40 located above is not easy to be opened simultaneously with the opening 15. In addition, the belt-like member 42 has relatively low strength since the belt width of the belt-like member 42 is reduced to facilitate the forward bend of the belt-like member 42 from the extension 30. The insertion of the umbrella K into between the belt-like member 42 and the first bag portion 10 can thus easily break the belt-like member 42. It will be understood that the belt width may be increased to increase the strength, so that the umbrella K can be inserted into between the first engagement portion 40 and the extension 20.
The first engagement portion 40 located on the extension 30 is positioned closer to the extension 30 than the umbrella K accommodated in the bag structure is, and sags naturally to be protruded forward away from the second engagement portion 60. This brings the first engagement portion 40 into a state capable of vertical engagement with the rim KS of the canopy sticking out above the bag structure. In particular, the first engagement portion 40 is likely to be engaged with the vicinity of the rim KS of the long umbrella K since the first engagement portion 40 is located at a position above and away from the opening 15.
As described above, according to the umbrella bag 1 of the present embodiment, if the umbrella K is a short one, both the first engagement portion 40 and the second engagement portion 60 are vertically engaged with the umbrella K as illustrated in
Holding Structure
Next, a holding structure 100 for umbrella bags 1 and the bag opening device 200 to which the holding structure 100 is applied will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Bag Opening Device
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As the position before opening the opening of the umbrella bag 1, the opening plate 210 is tilted so that a bottom side thereof pivotally supported on the end-side hinge 238 is located above and the end 210A side thereof abutting against the umbrella bag 1 is located below. The end-side torsion spring 239 biases the opening plate 210 clockwise in
Next, the bag opening operation of the bag opening device 200 will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The umbrella bag 1 according to the foregoing embodiment is described to have the belt-like member 42 of the first engagement portion 40 located to overlap the extension 30. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as illustrated in
Moreover, for example, as illustrated in
Furthermore, for example, as illustrated in
Furthermore, the foregoing embodiment has dealt with the case where two engagement holes 30F are formed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. As illustrated in
It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-248896 | Dec 2017 | JP | national |
This application is a U.S. National Phase application of International Application No. PCT/JP2018/047742, filed on Dec. 26, 2018, which claims priority to Japanese Application No. 2017-248896, filed on Dec. 26, 2017. The entire disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2018/047742 | 12/26/2018 | WO | 00 |
