Cover for protecting articles

Abstract

The invention relates to a cover (10) for protecting at least one article, comprising: a flexible enclosure (12), the flexible enclosure (12) being impermeable to liquids and gases; and a closure (14) designed to be moved between an open position, in which the article can be introduced into the flexible enclosure (12), and a closed position, in which the article is enclosed in an air- and watertight manner in an internal space (16) of the flexible enclosure (12), the movement of the closure (14) from the open position to the closed position causing a quantity of air to become trapped in the internal space (16) of the flexible enclosure (12) so as to form a protective pocket of air around the article.

1 . A cover for at least one article comprising:
 a flexible enclosure, the flexible enclosure being impermeable to liquids and gases; and   a closure arranged to be moved between an open position in which the article can be introduced into the flexible enclosure, and a closed position in which the article is enclosed in an air and watertight manner in an internal space of the flexible enclosure, the movement of the closure from the open position to the closed position causing a quantity of air to become trapped in the internal space of the flexible enclosure so as to form a protective pocket of air around the article.   
     
     
         2 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibers are suitable for heat-bonding. 
     
     
         3 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible enclosure includes a front wall and a back wall, the internal space extending between the front wall and the back wall, the front and back walls being bonded by continuous heat-bonding along a periphery of the front and back walls. 
     
     
         4 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure is a sealed zipper extending from an upper end of the flexible enclosure to a lower end of the flexible enclosure, tapes of the zipper being fastened to the flexible enclosure by continuous heat-bonding along the tapes. 
     
     
         5 . The cover according to  claim 4 , wherein the zipper extends substantially centrally on the front wall of the flexible enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a fold line extending along a transverse axis of the cover, the fold line allowing the cover to be folded by rotation about the transverse axis. 
     
     
         7 . The cover according to  claim 6 , wherein the cover comprises a first handle and a second handle fastened to an outer surface of the flexible enclosure by heat-bonding, the first and second handles being symmetrical with respect to the transverse axis. 
     
     
         8 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises at least one support provided on an inner surface of the flexible enclosure, the support being fastened to the flexible enclosure by heat-bonding. 
     
     
         9 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover is a garment bag. 
     
     
         10 . A manufacturing method for a cover of at least one article comprising the steps of:
 forming a flexible enclosure, the flexible enclosure being impermeable to liquids and gases;   fastening a closure to the flexible enclosure so as to be movable between an open position in which at least one article can be introduced into the flexible enclosure and a closed position in which the article is enclosed in an air and watertight manner in an internal space of the flexible enclosure, the movement of the closure from the open position to the closed position causing a quantity of air to become trapped in the internal space of the flexible enclosure so as to form a protective pocket of air around the article.   
     
     
         11 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 10 , wherein forming the flexible enclosure comprises providing a front wall and a back wall, the internal space extending between the front wall and the back wall, and joining the front and back walls by continuous heat-bonding along a periphery of the front and back walls. 
     
     
         12 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 10 , wherein the fastener is a zipper, and securing the fastener comprises heat-bonding two slides of the zipper to the flexible enclosure by continuous heat-bonding of the slides to the flexible enclosure. 
     
     
         13 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 10 , further comprising heat-bonding at least one handle to an outer surface of the flexible enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . A method of protection of at least one article, in particular against impacts, comprising the steps of:
 providing a cover according to  claim 1 ,   inserting at least one article into the flexible enclosure, and   moving the closure to the closed position thereof by trapping a quantity of air in the internal space of the flexible enclosure so as to form a protective pocket of air around the article.   
     
     
         15 . The method of protection according to  claim 14 , wherein inserting at least one article into the flexible enclosure comprises the step of moving the closure to the open position thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of protection according to  claim 14 , wherein inserting at least one article into the flexible enclosure comprises the step of fastening the at least one article to at least one support provided on an inner surface of the flexible enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of protection according to  claim 14 , wherein moving the closure to the closed position thereof comprises the step of moving the front wall away from the back wall to trap a quantity of air in the internal space of the flexible enclosure so as to form a protective pocket of air around the article. 
     
     
         18 . The cover according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibers are polyester fibers. 
     
     
         19 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 10 , further comprising a step of heat-bonding a backing to an inner surface of the flexible enclosure. 
     
     
         20 . The manufacturing method according to  claim 13 , further comprising a step of heat-bonding a backing to an inner surface of the flexible enclosure.