MOBILE LUGGAGE SYSTEM
The present invention provides a mobile luggage system having a frame with at least on mobility facilitating member and at least one container defining a primary compartment. The container has a plurality of walls configured to completely enclose the primary compartment in a first configuration. In a second configuration, the primary compartment is accessible through an access opening that is selectively openable. The container is configured for selectively securing onto and releasing from the frame without penetrating access by the frame into the primary compartment.
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This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/467,234, filed Mar. 24, 2011 and entitled “MOBILE LUGGAGE SYSTEM” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to luggage and more particularly mobile luggage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDue to the variations of travel demands, most frequent travelers have large sets of luggage. Smaller bags are used for shorter trips, larger bags for longer trips or trips requiring heavy or frequent changes of clothing, and a range of sizes in between. These luggage sets can be cumbersome to store. Also, travel needs often seem to fall between bag sizes requiring multiple smaller bags.
It would be advantageous to have a luggage system that provides improved flexibility to meet the needs of the range of travel scenarios.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art by providing a mobile luggage system mounted on an expandable frame. In one embodiment, the system includes a frame having at least one mobility facilitating member, such as a pair of wheels, and at least one container. The container defines a primary compartment and has a plurality of walls configured to completely enclose the primary compartment in a first configuration. In a second configuration, an access opening is opened to provide access to the primary compartment. Advantageously, the container is configured for selectively securing onto and releasing from the frame without penetrating access by the frame into the primary compartment.
In another embodiment, the mobile luggage system includes an adjustable frame and a container. The adjustable frame includes at least one mobility facilitating member (such as a handle) and at least two adjustable members. The container has plurality of walls configured to enclose a primary compartment. The walls define lateral edges wherein the adjustable members are selectively movable relative to each other to support the lateral edges of the walls.
In another embodiment, the mobile luggage system includes a frame and at least one container. The frame has a base, at least one mobility facilitating member and at least two support members. Defined by the base is a plane passing through the mobility facilitating member. The container has a plurality of walls configured to enclose a primary compartment and the walls define lateral edges. The support members extend out of the base plane to form a receptacle configured to receive the at least one container wherein the support members extend along the lateral edges of the container.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, which describe both the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention.
The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to specific embodiments of the invention. Indeed, the invention can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in the specification, and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, “the”, include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is used synonymously with the term “including” and variations thereof and are open, non-limiting terms.
As shown in
Access to the primary compartment may be facilitated by zippers, snaps, tape or other fasteners, to change between the first and second configurations. The access opening 20 is configured to allow loading and unloading of the primary compartment. For example, at the beginning of a trip a user may open a zipper that allows insertion of various clothing and travel items into the container. Closing the zipper then encloses the primary compartment. The term “encloses” as used herein means sufficiently secured to avoid normal items from being released from the container during normal use or from allowing water to get into the compartment. Thus, the container need not be (but could be) air tight or water tight or impenetrable to tools or other extraordinary means in the first configuration. At the same time, encloses means that small items, even items on the size of 1 mm, will not be released under normal operation.
The frame 12 is configured to adjust to the container 14. For example, the frame 12 includes two or four or a plurality of members 22 configured to move or translate toward each other so as to clamp on and secure the container 14, such as along lateral portions or edges of the walls 18, as shown in
The members 22 could be arranged in other configurations and need not be straight, or positioned at corners or of any particular number other than enough to allow selective securing of the container 14, such as a pair of members. The member shapes and orientations may vary for differently shaped containers. For example, round or cylindrical container may be held by a pair of curved members 22 that extend from the base 24 in a semi-circular arrangement and are hinged to clamp or grasp the container 14. Likewise, the top portion 42 could be split into separate members or portions that could expand outward to accommodate different sized containers.
The frame 12 may also include a handle 26 that extends perpendicular to the four members 22 and parallel to the base 24, as shown in
Referring again to
At its bottom, the bottom portion 38 defines a pair of laterally spaced openings configured to receive wheel supports 40. Similar to the locking mechanism for the struts 32, a button 44 releases the locking mechanism for lateral sliding movement of the wheel supports. The wheel supports 40 support the mobility facilitating member(s) (in the illustrated embodiment wheels 28) at their ends. Also, extending from and supported by each of the wheel supports 40 is one of the members 22. As the wheel supports 40 are capable of relative motion, so are the members 22 thereby enabling adjustment for different sized containers 14.
The top portion 42 is supported and slides, selectively by compression of its own button 44, along the struts 32 to adjust to the height difference of the range of container sizes. The top portion flanges out along its top lateral ends to support a spaced pair of the members 22. Although not shown, the members 22 supported by the top portion 42 may also be movable or slidable with respect to each other for further adjustment.
The mobility facilitating member includes the pair of spaced wheels 28, as shown in
Referring again to
The containers 14 have a rectangular shape and a range of sizes, as shown in
The pockets 34 may also house stiffeners instead or as a supplement to the members 22, wherein the stiffeners attach, such as by selective pop-and-lock, spring-loaded cam members, to sockets defined in the base 24.
Other embodiments may not use pockets and instead employ stiffeners welded or attached to external points of the containers 14 and have fasteners thereon that can quickly and releasably attach to the frame 12.
The containers 14 are preferably constructed of washable and/or dryable materials and can be separated from the frame 12 and machine washed or dried, as shown in
The containers 14 may additionally include one or more handles 48 that allow the assembled container and frame 12 to be picked up and transported. In one embodiment, the handles are also mobility facilitating members.
As shown in
In another embodiment, the containers 14 may include clip or latch portions that connect to complementary clip or latch portions on the frame 12. For example, the top portion 42 and bottom portion 38 of the frame 12 may include one or more female clip portion that are configured to receive male clip portions at corresponding locations attached to the containers 14.
Advantages of embodiments of the present invention include the ability to quickly and easily expand and reduce the size of the frame 12 to accommodate a range of container 14 sizes, thus providing a large amount of flexibility in selecting appropriately sized luggage for different needs. At the same time, the storage footprint of the luggage system 10 is substantially reduced by packing the foldable containers 14 into one of the smaller containers and collapsing the frame 12 down to its smallest size. The lack of penetrating access of the frame 12 or its members leaves the contents of the containers 14 undisturbed by exchanges with the frame 12, allowing pre-packing of a range of containers for selective future deployment. In another embodiment, the extension of the members out of the base creates a stable (because the members extend in the direction of gravity when the base is being transported on the wheels) but open-ended receptacle for quick drop-in and removal of the containers 14.
As shown in
The bottom one of the members 22 extends under the bottom portion 38 and defines holes for attachment to the bottom portion. When attached, the plate member extends between the wheels 28, as shown in
Referring again to
The bottom portion has a rectangular center portion and a pair of flanges extending from its bottom that act as the wheel supports 40. A plate extends across the bottom portion 38 and has holes configured for attachment to the bottom one of the members 22. Extending up from the bottom plate of the bottom portion are channels that define parallel slots 60. The parallel slots 60 are aligned with the slots 54 defined in the top portion 42 and have the same rectangular shape to receive the struts 32 of the handle. 26.
The channels defining the slots 60 extend adjacent to outer side walls 62 of the bottom portion 38. The outer side walls 62 are shaped and positioned to be engaged by the outer guide walls 52 of the top portion 42. In
Referring to the exploded view of
The top portion 42 and bottom portion 38 may be adjusted relative to each other between the collapsed position, as shown in
As another example, the bottom cross-bar 58 may be connected to the top portion 42, such as by extending between the posts 56 of the top portion 42 of the base 24. This connects the top portion 42 to the cross-bar 58 and the outer struts 32 so that they move as one unit. The outer struts 32 have holes in their distal end that can be matched up with holes in two or more positions in the channels defining the slots 60 in the bottom portion. When matched up, a pair of spring-loaded pins 66 may be dropped in to lock the outer struts 32 and the top portion 42 into position. For example, bottom holes 68 secure the frame 12 in the collapsed condition and top holes 70 may secure the frame in the expanded position. In this example, the cross-bars or grips 30, 58 and 62 are connected to and have the same relative position with respect to the top portion 42.
Part of the frame pocket 72 includes a pair of member pockets 74 that are shaped as thin rectangular slots to receive the rectangular plate shaped members 22, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The container 14 may also include additional features to facilitate its transport, conversion between sizes and configurations or for resisting the environment, such as additional handles or feet.
A number of aspects of the systems, devices and methods have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other aspects are within the scope of the following claims.
- 10 mobile luggage system
- 12 frame
- 14 container
- 16 primary compartment
- 18 walls
- 20 access opening
- 22 members
- 24 base
- 26 handle
- 28 wheels
- 30 grip
- 32 struts
- 34 pockets
- 36 latches
- 38 bottom portion
- 40 wheel supports
- 42 top portion
- 44 button
- 50 flanges
- 52 outer guide walls
- 54 slots
- 56 posts
- 58 bottom cross-bar
- 60 slots
- 62 outer side walls
- 64 middle cross-bar
- 66 spring loaded pins
- 68 bottom holes
- 70 top holes
- 72 frame pocket
- 74 member pockets
- 76 inner ply
- 78 outer ply
- 80 back panel
- 82 zipper
Claims
1. A mobile luggage system, the system comprising:
- a frame having at least one mobility facilitating member;
- at least one container defining a primary compartment, the container having a plurality of walls configured to completely enclose the primary compartment in a first configuration and to provide access through at least one selectively openable access opening in a second configuration;
- wherein the container is configured for securing onto and releasing from the frame without penetrating access by the frame into the primary compartment.
2. A mobile luggage system of claim 1, wherein the frame is configured to adjust to fit the container.
3. A mobile luggage system of claim 2, wherein the frame includes at least two members configured to move toward each other and at least partially secure the container.
4. A mobile luggage system of claim 3, wherein the frame includes a base and wherein the two members are supported by and extend from the base.
5. A mobile luggage system of claim 4, wherein the two members are parallel to each other.
6. A mobile luggage system of claim 5, wherein the frame includes four members supported by, and extending parallel to each other from, the base.
7. A mobile luggage system of claim 6, wherein the four members are configured to move relative to each other to form a range of rectangular shapes and sizes.
8. (canceled)
9. (canceled)
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. (canceled)
14. (canceled)
15. (canceled)
16. (canceled)
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
19. (canceled)
20. (canceled)
21. (canceled)
22. A mobile luggage system of claim 5, wherein the container defines at least two pockets each configured to receive a respective one of the two members therein.
23. A mobile luggage system of claim 22, wherein the pockets are parallel to each other.
24. A mobile luggage system of claim 23, wherein container has a rectangular shape and wherein each of the pockets extend along a respective one of four parallel corners of the rectangular shape.
25. A mobile luggage system of claim 1, wherein the container is a flexible container.
26. (canceled)
27. A mobile luggage system of claim 22, wherein the container includes a plurality of containers with different sizes and wherein the frame is adjustable to fit the different sized containers.
28. A mobile luggage system, the system comprising:
- an adjustable frame having at least one mobility facilitating member and at least two adjustable members;
- at least one container, the container having a plurality of walls configured to enclose a primary compartment, the walls defining lateral edges;
- wherein the adjustable members are movable relative to each other to support the lateral edges of the walls.
29. A mobile luggage system of claim 28, wherein the frame includes a base and wherein the two adjustable members are supported by and extend from the base.
30. A mobile luggage system of claim 29, wherein the two adjustable members are parallel to each other.
31. A mobile luggage system of claim 30, wherein the frame includes four adjustable members supported by, and extending parallel to each other from, the base.
32. (canceled)
33. (canceled)
34. (canceled)
35. (canceled)
36. (canceled)
37. (canceled)
38. A mobile luggage system, the system comprising:
- a frame having a base, at least one mobility facilitating member and at least two support members, the base defining a plane passing through the mobility facilitating member;
- at least one container, the container having a plurality of walls configured to enclose a primary compartment, the walls defining lateral edges;
- wherein the support members extend out of the base plane to form a receptacle configured to receive the at least one container.
39. A mobile luggage system of claim 38, wherein the support members extend at a perpendicular angle out of the base plane.
40. A mobile luggage system of claim 39, wherein the support members are translatable with respect to each other to adjust the size of the receptacle.
41. A mobile luggage system of claim 40, wherein the support members are configured to lock into selected positions to define predetermined sizes of the receptacle.
42. (canceled)
43. (canceled)
44. (canceled)
45. (canceled)
46. (canceled)
47. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 6, 2012
Publication Date: Oct 11, 2012
Applicant: (Atlanta, GA)
Inventors: Scott Schnell (Atlanta, GA), Stephen Jones (Sandy Springs, GA), Maureen Carroll (Atlanta, GA), Brian Vanhiel (Smyrna, GA)
Application Number: 13/412,963
International Classification: A45C 13/38 (20060101);