WHEELED LUGGAGE ASSEMBLY
A luggage assembly useful for safe, secure and easy transport of carry-on items, offering electronically-dependent business travelers a convenient and business-friendly means of traveling. The luggage system comprises a main housing having one or more compartments, a customizable extendable handle, wheel assembly, power and/or power storage device, a folding tray, and means for remote tracking of the luggage assembly. The luggage assembly may additionally include a wheel assembly having one or more pairs of wheels thus allowing the main housing to be wheeled over a surface. The wheeled luggage assembly may further include an integrated wireless communication device.
The present invention relates to the field of wheeled luggage assembly suitable for carry-on, such as small luggage cases, business cases, computer cases and the like which include a fold-out surface for supporting a laptop computer and means for remote tracing of the assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe demands and environment of airline travel have become increasingly challenging and complex due to changing regulations, restrictions and surveillance. Existing luggage falls short of the changing demands and environment of airline travel. Carry-on luggage has become harder and more complex with heightened regulations while the concern of mishandled baggage pushes in the direction of carrying on rather than checking in luggage. Millions of bags are lost or mishandled annually. In addition to the risk of lost or stolen baggage, checking luggage is expensive and time consuming.
Present in the art, are some carrying cases, which provide the usual features such as computer storage, retractable handle, and wheels so that the user can pull case to ease the burden when moving through airport concourses or along city sidewalks (See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,520. The most commonly available luggage has wheels, an extendable handle and a compartment specifically designated for carrying a portable computer. Traveling with luggage in-hand eliminates many of the risks and costs associated with checking baggage. Unfortunately, carry-on luggage is not made with a traveler's specific needs in mind and is often an inefficient combination of various luggage solutions each designed to meet only a few. In view of the foregoing background, an object of the present invention is to provide a wheeled luggage assembly having distinct features and attributes strategically designed to meet the unique demands and carry-on needs of the traveling professional. The present invention provides
INVENTION SUMMARYThe present invention relates generally to wheeled luggage assembly, in particular wheeled luggage having dimensions suitable for use as a carry-on case. The wheeled luggage assembly is generally of a rectangular container shape formed by a main housing within which is a central compartment having a width, depth and height dimension. The assembly includes a customizable extendable handle, a fold-out tray suitable for supporting a laptop computer, at least one pair of wheels spaced along a width dimension of the main housing, and an integrated remote tracking device. The main housing is comprised of a top wall, bottom wall, a first and a second side wall, a rear wall, and a front wall, together which define an interior main compartment. The fold-out tray has a top side, a bottom side, and a longitudinal edge disposed along an axis perpendicular to the top and bottom sides.
In one aspect, the invention comprises a main housing which includes a frame component, a power-charging device having a retractable cord, a wheel assembly and an extendable handle. The frame is disposed within the interior aspect of the main housing so as to provide rigidity and structural support to the main housing. The frame has a first edge that is continuous with a second edge, which is further continuous with a third edge wherein the second edge is disposed between the first and third edges. The power device(s) provide a charging station for multiple devices including, but not limited to a portable computer, music player, cell phone, PDA, other portable electronic device.
In another aspect, the invention comprises a wheeled luggage assembly having a main housing which includes a frame component, a wheel assembly, a fold-out tray and an extendable handle having an automatic wireless communication system connectable with a separate and discrete portable and/or fixed electronic device.
Various embodiments of the wheeled luggage assembly are illustrated in
Alternatively, in an additional preferred embodiment (
Referring to
As depicted in
Referring to
The tracking device may be secured upon any interior surface of a luggage wall. For example, a tracking device may be sewn into any one of the luggage walls and disposed behind a first layer of lining such that the device is obscured or not readily viewable. Additionally, the device may be accessible via zippered or Velcro™ compartment, wherein such compartment may comprise one or more space between layers of one or more product inner lining. It is preferable that the tracking device be disposed within the luggage assembly so that it is hidden from apparent view. Obscuring the visibility or concealing the location of the tracking device aids in preventing discovery of the tracking device should the luggage assembly be lost or stolen. Access to the internal main compartment is provided via one or more zipper(s) 40. One or more zipper 18 disposed along a longitudinal edge of the first and second side walls and top wall allows access to the internal main compartment 21. The zipper(s) may also be disposed along the edge of the body of the main compartment so as to allow expandability of the internal storage space between two or more internal storage volumes when zipped closed.
The luggage assembly may include one or more auxiliary storage compartments or pockets 29, 31, 33 disposed at an external 19 wall, or adjacent to any wall of the assembly. As depicted in
An auxiliary front storage 23 compartment may optionally be included and thereby disposed adjacent the front 20 wall of the luggage assembly 10. Additionally, as a further embodiment, any one or more of the auxiliary storage bag(s) may be detachably coupled to the main housing by zipper(s) see for example,
One or more covering encloses portions of the frame to form a body cavity or internal compartment as illustrated in
Referring to
The assembly 10 has overall dimensions of about 45 linear inches (the total of the height, width, and depth of the bag) or less, or as restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA” guidelines or regulations or other state, national or international guidelines or regulations, commercial space transportation administration, or other regulatory authority guidelines or regulations. For example, for use of the wheeled luggage assembly on an aircraft within the United States, the wheeled luggage assembly has a dimension of about 45 linear inches (the total of the height, width, and depth of the bag) or less. Thus, the wheeled luggage assembly will comply with luggage carryon restrictions as defined by the U.S. Federal Aviation Association and as may be redefined by time to time. (See http://www.faa.gov/passengers/prepare_fly/baggage/).
In one aspect, the invention comprises a main housing which includes a frame component, a power-charging device having a retractable cord, a wheel assembly and an extendable handle. The frame is disposed within the interior aspect of the main housing so as to provide rigidity and structural support to the main housing. The frame has a first edge that is continuous with a second edge, which is further continuous with a third edge wherein the second edge is disposed between the first and third edges. The power device(s) provide a charging station for multiple devices including, but not limited to a portable computer, music player, cell phone, PDA, video game console, Smartphone, printer, digital camera, digital video camera, and/or other portable electronic device.
In another aspect, the invention comprises a wheeled luggage assembly having a main housing which includes a frame component, a wheel assembly, a fold-out tray and an extendable handle having an integrated automatic wireless communication system connectable with a separate and discrete portable and/or fixed electronic device. Wireless communication systems suitable for use in the present invention include, but are not limited to, Bluetooth technology, WiFi™, or other personal area network (PAN) means and/or wireless local area network (WLAN) or any other wireless means of communication such as use of radio frequency (RF), infrared light, laser light, visible light, acoustic energy, and the like. Upon activation (e.g. receipt of a call, txt or email), the device will actuate and alert a user. Alert means include vibration of the extendable handle, emitting an audible sound, or a flashing light on the bag/handle.
Referring to
In a further aspect, the invention includes a remote tracking device allowing reliable location and if desired, time and/or other identifying information of the wheeled luggage assembly. Methods for providing such system include, for example, a Global Positioning System (GPS), radio-frequency identification (RFID), Compass navigation system, and/or other wireless identification system. The afore-mentioned methods are synced through the use of a portable mobile device, such a mobile phone, using a downloadable software application program such as for example, applications suitable for use with cellular mobile phones, smartphones, personal digital assistant, tablets, personal computers, and other internet multimedia-enabled device. Remote tracking systems are known in the art and described for example in USPN . . . . Thus, the present invention includes an assembly having a device or means for use in a method for remote tracking or identification of the assembly.
A yet further aspect of the invention, a wheeled luggage assembly includes a power strip 201 and/or power charger (means for power storage). The power strip and/or power storage is disposed along an external aspect of the main compartment as depicted, for example, in
The foregoing description of certain embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. All references cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Claims
1. A wheeled luggage assembly comprising:
- a body comprised of a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a rear wall and a front wall wherein the bottom, first and second side, and rear walls each have an interior and exterior surface, wherein the interior surfaces define an accessible interior main compartment;
- a frame having a portion disposed within the body of the assembly;
- a pair of wheels coupled to a bottom region of the body of the assembly;
- an extendable and retractable customizable handle coupled to the body of the assembly;
- a fold-out tray disposed at the handle; and
- a power supply and/or power storage device wherein the power supply has a retractable power cord; and wherein the body of the wheeled luggage assembly has an overall dimension of less than or equal to about 45 linear inches.
2. The wheeled luggage assembly of claim 1 further wherein the handle has grooves integrated along its exterior surface.
3. The wheeled luggage assembly of claim 1 further including one or more storage pockets disposed on the bottom surface of the fold-out tray.
4. The assembly of claim 1 further including a means for remote identification and/or tracking of the assembly.
5. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the means for remote identification and/or tracking is suitable for use with a Global Positioning System (GPS), a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system and/or a compass navigation system.
6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the remote tracking system includes use of a Global Positioning System (GPS), a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system and/or a compass navigation system.
7. The wheeled luggage assembly of claim 1 further including an integrated wireless communication device.
8. The device of claim 8 wherein the device is suitable for use in a wireless communication system employing use of Bluetooth technology, WiFi™, a personal area network (PAN) means, a wireless local area network (WLAN), radio frequency (RF), infrared light, laser light, visible light and/or acoustic energy.
9. The wheeled luggage assembly of claim 1 wherein the retractable cord has a length of about between 12 inches and 600 inches or about 24 inches and 300 inches.
10. The wheeled luggage assembly of claim 1 further including a cup holder.
11. The wheeled luggage assembly of claim 1 further including one or more auxiliary storage compartments disposed adjacent to the body of the assembly.
12. The wheeled luggage assembly of claim 1 further including one or more attachment means disposed along the exterior surface of any of one or more wall of the body of the assembly.
13. The wheeled luggage assembly of claim 12 wherein the attachment means is selected from the group consisting of:
- a zipper;
- a Velcro strip;
- a magnet; and
- snap device.
14. The wheeled luggage assembly of claim 1 further including a zippered pocket disposed on the back wall or side wall.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 27, 2011
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2012
Inventors: Lindsey M. Raymond (Pacific Palisades, CA), Aled E. Miles (Pacific Palisades, CA)
Application Number: 13/095,840
International Classification: A45C 5/14 (20060101); A45C 13/00 (20060101);