Sandbag

Nov. 4, 1952 _w. Cicero 2,616,467

SANDBAG

Filed Jan. 7, 1949

<img file="US2616467A_D0001.tif" />

Patented Nov. 4, 19S2

2,616,467

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,616,467

SANDBAG

William Cicero, St. Paul, Minn.

Application January 7,1949, Serial No. 69,718

Claim.

My invention relates to an improvement in sand bag wherein it is desired to provide a simple and efficient means of carrying sand in a vehicle for use in an emergency.

During icy and snowy weather cars are often unable to obtain traction when starting from a slippery surface. If the car is travelling upon a slight grade, one or both of the drive wheels of the vehicle will often spin about without moving the vehicle. Often a slight push or start will give the vehicle sufficient impetus to continue motion. However, unless the driver of the vehicle is assisted in some manner, it is often impossible for him to get under way alone.

The object of the present invention lies in the provision of a bag designed to contain a supply of sand. This bag is carried in the rear of the vehicle and is of some assistance in weighting the rear end of the vehicle over the drive wheels. The bag is provided with an opening in one end through which the bag may be filled, and emptied. By removing the bag from the vehicle trunk and sprinkling a small amount of sand on the icy surface forwardly or rearwardly of the drive wheels, it is often possible to start the vehicle: in motion without difficulty. Even a handful of sand will often permit the vehicle to be started, whereas without the sand or without other assistance the driver would be helpless.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of an elongated bag having an opening at one end and having a pair of handles for supporting the bag. One handle is located at the end of the bag opposite the opening, while the other handle is usually positioned at the upper edge of the bag. By supporting the bag to extend at a slight angle to the horizontal sand may be dispensed from the opening at the open end of the bag and may be effectively distributed over the desired area.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of an elongated bag having right angularly arranged handles and an open end which may be normally closed by a draw string or similar means. This draw string may be tightened to close the opening or virtually close the same when the bag is not in use. By slightly opening the draw string the desired amount of sand may be dispensed.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a bag closure provided with a draw string and in providing a flange secured to one side of the closure foldable exteriorly of the bag when not in use and which may be folded over the sand within the bag to more effective(Cl. ISO—1) ly close the bag. This flap acts as an inner seal to prevent the sand from passing through the bag opening.

These and other objects and novel features 5 of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claim.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the ¹⁰ design of the cloth oi' other material used to form the bag.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the bag in readiness for use.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the bag, 15 the position of the section being indicated by the line 3—3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the closed end of the bag, the position of the section being indicated by the line 4—4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the open end of the bag, the position of the section being indicated by the line 5—5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5 showing the open end of the bag in closed po25 sition.

The bag A is preferably elongated in form and is provided with a closed end and an open end. The bag is preferably formed of two side members 10 and I 1 which are identical in form and are shaped substantially as illustrated in ³⁰ Figure 1 of the drawings. The sides i 0 and I i include substantially parallel top and bottom edges 12 and 13. The sides 10 and 11 are tapered as indicated at 14 to connect the parallel sides 12 and 13 with the closed end 15. The parallel ³⁵ sides 12 and 13 are connected by rounded or tapering connecting edges 16 and 17 to the parallel sides 19 and 20 of a substantially straight end portion 21. The edge 22 of the side 10 is at substantially right angles to the parallel bag sides ⁴⁰ 12 and 13.

The sides 10 and 11 of the bag are placed in superimposed relation with the outer surfaces of these sides in contacting relation. The bag sides are stitched together marginally by a row of ⁴⁵ stitching 23 which extends entirely about the periphery of the bag with the exception of across the projecting end 21 of the bag parallel to the square edges 22. Before the stitching 23 is ap₆₀ plied a handle 24 is placed between the bag sides and 11 so that the ends 25 of the handle are substantially flush with the ends 15 of the bag sides 10 and II. Similarly a handle 26 is inserted between the bag sides 10 and 11 with the· ends 27 of the handle substantially flush witli

2,616,467 the edges 12 of the bag sides. The row of stitching 23 extends through the bag sides and through the handle ends inserted therebetween so as to anchor the handle ends in the seam between the bag sides as indicated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings.

A hem is next provided at the open end of the bag so as to provide a passage for accommodation of a draw string 29. The extremities 22 of the bag sides 10 and 11 are folded inwardly and a row of stitching 30 close to and parallel with the side extremities 22 connects the side edges 22 to the body of the bag at a point spaced from the folded edge 31. A rectangular flap 32 is inserted between the side edge 22 of one bag side 10 and the portion of the bag side which the edge overlies and is anchored in place by the stitching 30 as is clearly indicated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. This flap is foldable outwardly of the bag as indicated in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings, or may fold down over the contents of the bag adjacent the opposite side 11 of the bag if desired to assist the closing of the bag.

After the stitching is completed the bag is inverted so that the outer surfaces of the bag sides are outermost and so that the handles 24 and 26 project from the bag seams in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The draw string 29 is inserted in the hem at the open end of the bag as illustrated in Figures 2, 5, and 6 of the drawings, if this draw string is not already in place at the time the hem is formed.

In filling the bag A the flap 32 is preferably pulled out through the open end of the bag while the draw string 29 is untied, the open end of the bag thus being in open position. The sand is then inserted into the bag to a level just below the open bag end as illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. The flap 32 is next tucked into the bag opening so as to overlie the sand 33 within the bag. The flap 32 then extends from the side 10 to which it is secured to lie inwardly of and adjacent the bag side It. When the flap 32 is in this position it is possible that a small amount of sand may roll through the bag opening but there will not be any extensive leakage from the bag under ordinary handling. Obviously the draw string 29 is tightened to close the bag end when the bag is not in use.

When it is desired to use the sand the draw string 29 is released to some extent so that the opening will be of suitable size. The flap 32 is preferably swung out of closing position. By inclining the bag and shaking the same slightly the desired amount of sand will fail from the bag and the direction in which the sand is dropped may be readily controlled by means of the handles 24 and 26.

If desired the draw string 29 may be fastened in a selected position by a draw cord fastener such as that illustrated in Patent No. 1,830,014, so as to eliminate the necessity of tying and untying the draw strings. Such a fastener is indicated in general in Figure 2 of the drawings and is particularly useful on a device of the type in question which is usually used in cold weather where it might otherwise be difficult to tie knots with the fingers.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my sand bag, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claim without departing from the spirit of my invention.