BAG FOR USE WITH A TRAY TABLE

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a purpose designed tote bag that can hold the personal items of a person confined to a bed or chair or ambulant people who may be unstable when walking. The purpose designed tote bag has a wide strap that has the same width as the width of the side of the tote bag and the strap can be used to suspend the bag from a tray table while allowing a person to easily access the contents held therein.

Claims

1. A bag for positioning over a width of a tray table, said bag comprising a strap portion and a container portion, wherein the width of the strap portion is about the same width as the width of a side panel of the container portion and the length of the strap portion is a length that enables the bag to be placed over the tray table and the container portion be suspended adjacent the tray table without touching the floor thereby to increase stability of the bag and to provide convenient access to the contents of bag when in use.

2. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the strap portion is at least three times the length of the side panel of the container portion.

3. The bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the strap portion is between 50 cm and 140 cm.

4. The bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bag has an insertable stiff plastic base and the bag has a plurality of pockets to hold items of different size.

5. The bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bag has a plurality of pockets and one or more of the pockets have a fastener to securely close the pockets.

6. The bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bag has a container portion with a base of about 33 cm by 15 cm, side panels of about 33 cm by 15 cm, front panels of about 33 cm by 30 cm and a relative long strap portion with a width of about 15 cm and a length of about 140 cm.

7. The bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the strap portion can be lengthened or shortened with an adjustable slider.

8. The bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bag can be supported on a tray table for a nursing or hospital bed, across the handles of a wheelchair or aback of a lounge chair.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In order that the present invention can be more readily understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front view of the preferred embodiment of the invention; and

[0026] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic rear view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0027] With respect to the figures, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention being a tote bag 10. The tote bag 10 has a strap 11 and a container portion 12. The container portion 12 is substantially rectangular in shape with two opposing narrow sides 14 and two opposing elongate sides 15. The strap 11 extends from and between the narrower sides 14. The strap 11 is substantially the same width as each of the narrower sides 14. With the strap 11 having a width that is substantially the same as the narrow sides 14, the strap 11 is able to support heavy items within the container portion 12 and resist twisting of a laden container portion 12. The wide strap 11 provides a stable basis to support the tote bag 10 from a tray table.

[0028] The tote bag 10 has a number of pockets 17 for placing different items. There is a pocket 17 for an emesis bag and a pocket 18 for eye glasses and sun glasses in the strap 11. In the narrow sides 14 there is a pocket 19 for a phone and device charges, and a pocket 20 for purse or wallet. Valuables may be kept in pocket 20 or another pocket within the container portion 12. The elongate sides 15 include larger pockets 21,22 which can hold books, notebooks, documentation and folders, computer tablet. The pockets 21,22 can also have pen and pencil loops. The compartment within container portion 12 can hold larger or bulkier items such as wool, knitting and knitting needles, jumper, shawl, tablets and other medicines, breathing exercise apparatus, physiotherapy and massage devices, toiletries, water bottles, tissues, toilet paper, nurse call and bed adjustment device and snacks. Preferably the compartment has a floor and an insertable stiff plastic base on which the personal items can be placed.

[0029] The preferred embodiment has a strap 11 with a width of approximately 15 cm and length of approximately 140 cm. The strap 11 has no seams and is a single piece of material. The container portion 12 has a base of approximately 33 cm by 15 cm. The narrow sides 14 are approximately 33 cm by 15 cm. The elongate sides 15 are approximately 33 cm by 30 cm.

[0030] The tote bag 10 can be made of any suitable material including cotton, hessian and jute, plastics such as nylon and polypropylene. The tote bag 10 in one embodiment is disposable. The disposable embodiment is particularly useful in hospitals and aged care facilities to minimize the risk of transferring disease causing agents. The tote bags 10 also provide an opportunity for hospitals and businesses to advertise on the outside surfaces of the bags. Advertisements can be placed on the pockets 21 and 22.

[0031] In use the tote bag 10 is laden with the personal items of the patient or owner and the strap 11 is extended over one end of the tray table so that the container portion can safely hold the items without risk of the items from falling out and in a position where the items within and on the bag 10 are easily accessible. In a hospital situation, the person may be confined to a bed and have a mobile tray table that can be moved closer or away. The tote bag 10 can be suspended from the strap 11 where the strap 11 extends across the width of the tray table. With a wheel chair or lounge chair, the strap 11 is preferably spread across the upright support and the container portion 14 moved to a position where the person can easily reach for the items in and on the bag 10.

ADVANTAGES

[0032] The advantages of the preferred embodiment of the present invention include having a purpose designed tote bag that can hold personal items and physiotherapy and hospital equipment, and is easily accessible by a person confined to a bed or chair or ambulant people who may be unstable when walking. The tote bag provides the personal items in safe and easy reach for the confined person. The use of the tote bag is convenient and provides a level of security and safety to the person knowing that their personal items are not moved but maintained in one place. In the situation where there is a mobile tray table that is moved to and from a person confined to a bed, the tote bag allows their personal items to be stored therein rather than be spread out on the tray table and periodically removed when the food tray is delivered and placed thereon.

[0033] The purpose designed tote bag of the preferred embodiment has a wide strap that has the same width as the width of the side of the tote bag and the strap can be used to suspend the bag from a tray table while allowing a person to easily access the contents held therein.

VARIATIONS

[0034] It will of course be realized that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

[0035] Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word comprise and variations of that word such as comprises and comprising, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.