Suitcase for Luggage

Abstract

A suitcase for carrying luggage during trips comprises a case having a top portion, a bottom portion, an interior portion, an exterior portion, a pair of horizontally extending opposing side walls, a pair of vertically extending opposing side walls positioned between the pair of horizontally extending opposing side walls, a plurality of pockets having a first edge and a second edge, a valve and an air tight closing means attached to the interior portion, an air deflating device with an elongated hose, a hand engaging means and a locking means attached to the bottom portion of the suitcase. The articles are placed inside the plurality of pockets and sealed air tight. The air deflating device is operated utilizing electric power to deflate the plurality of pockets. The deflated plurality of pockets may create even more room inside the suitcase without crumpling the articles.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This embodiment relates to the field of suitcases and more particularly to vacuum-packed suitcases that immobilize and reduce the volume of clothes and other items inside thereby increasing the storage capacity of the suitcase.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Several types of suitcases are widely used by people to carry personal items such as clothing, toiletries, business papers and other miscellaneous articles. These suitcases may include rigid or expandable compartments. There may be a single compartment or multiple compartments. Some suitcases contain inflatable compartments. The air chambers of suitcases with inflatable compartments are expanded using pressurized air from a separate pumping mechanism. This maximizes the number of articles in a suitcase because the contents of the suitcase are compressed.

The main problem associated with the use of these suitcases while travelling is to protect and maintain the articles of clothing, prevent wrinkling of the clothing, and maximize the amount of clothing and other articles to be carried in the suitcase. Conventional suitcases either have an expandable body or may have fixed compartments. These suitcases do not possess a single compact system to inflate or deflate the interior of the suitcase

U.S. Pat. Application No. 20080185250 entitled to Martins on Aug. 7, 2008, describes a case for containing at least partly compressible articles. The case comprises an outer shell which can be opened and closed and defines a cavity therein, an attachment member or members secured to the outer shell inside the cavity, and a number of compression bags is contained within the shell cavity. The compression bags are detachable and retained by attachment members to maintain a relative position with respect to one another within the case. Each of the compression bags is air-tight when sealed and contain the articles within the enclosure. They include a one-way valve, allowing air to be removed from the enclosure within the bag, thereby creating at least a partial vacuum in the enclosure which compresses the articles within the bag. However the case does not include an integrated device within the suitcase for compressing the bags without wrinkling the articles.

One prior art, taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,574 issued to Anthony on Dec. 31, 2002, discloses a vacuum packed suitcase with specially arranged sealable compartments for vacuum sealing of articles of travel such as clothing and makeup accessories. The suitcase includes a top cover and a rigidly constructed bottom receptacle. The bottom receptacle has one or more separate article compartments separated by vertical or horizontal walls for organizing the articles of travel. The top cover and bottom receptacle remain air tight when sealed over each other. After packing the articles of travel the air in the compartments can be removed separately from each compartment, or collectively by means of a vacuum pump. This reduces the volume of the articles of travel to a minimum and increases the storage efficiency. However a device for either inflating or deflating the compartments is not attached with the suitcase. Further the compartments are not hinged to the interior of the suitcase and may create difficulty in accessing the articles.

One prior art, taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,253 issued to Weissman on Oct. 24, 2000, discloses a suitcase. The suitcase is provided with a compressive liner encapsulating an air tight packaging chamber and having a sealable opening to allow placement and removal of clothing and other articles within the packaging chamber. In a relaxed state the volume of the packaging chamber is substantially greater than the volume of the suitcase interior, thereby enlarging the available packing space. When the liner is filled and sealed closed, air is withdrawn from the packing chamber by a motorized vacuum pump, causing the liner to collapse and compress the contents, thereby reducing the volume of the packing chamber to a size which fits within the closed suitcase. A one-way valve holds the vacuum within the chamber, maintaining the liner in the collapsed state until the opening is unsealed. However the suitcase does not include hinged compartments from which it would be easier to retrieve the stored articles. Furthermore, it does not possess a single system integrated within the suitcase for compressing the contents without crumpling.

Therefore, there is a need for a suitcase that can transport clothing and other miscellaneous articles without wrinkling Such a suitcase would provide a device integrated within it to deflate the compartments or pockets to increase the storage capacity. The compartments would be attached to the suitcase such that the content of any compartment can be taken out without wrinkling other stored articles. Moreover a user would be able to easily retrieve the articles inside the suitcase in the stored condition. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a suitcase for carrying luggage. The suitcase comprises a case having a top portion, a bottom portion, an interior portion, an exterior portion, a pair of horizontally extending opposing side walls, a pair of vertically extending opposing side walls, each being positioned at the terminal ends of the pair of horizontally extending opposing side walls, a plurality of pockets having a first edge and a second edge attached to the interior portion of the case, an air deflating device with an elongated hose, a hand engaging means and a locking means attached to the bottom portion of the suitcase. The air deflating device is operated utilizing electric power to deflate the plurality of pockets. The deflated plurality of pockets may create more room inside the suitcase and keep the articles without wrinkles.

The top portion of the case is hingedly attached to the bottom portion to facilitate opening and closing the suitcase which allows access to the interior portion of the suitcase. The plurality of pockets is releasably secured to a second side wall of the bottom portion. Each of the plurality of pockets includes a valve and an air tight closing means. While deflating the plurality of pockets, the articles residing inside may not get crumpled. The suitcase is especially suited for carrying garments in an easy manner without crumpling the garments while travelling. The plurality of pockets may be removed whenever desired by a user to create more room and to transport a variety of goods inside the suitcase.

The air deflating device attached to the interior portion of the suitcase may be a compressor pump powered from an external power source. The articles are placed inside the plurality of pockets and sealed air tight by operating the air tight closing means. A little amount of air may be trapped inside the plurality of pockets even after closing the air tight closing means and the valves. The elongated hose is attached to the valve and the air deflating device is operated to remove the trapped air thereby increasing the effective room inside the suitcase and allows a user to carry more articles without crumpling. The air deflating device and the elongated hose is arranged as a single unit inside the suitcase.

The present invention provides a suitcase for luggage having a plurality of pockets for storing articles during trips. The suitcase includes an air deflating device which is kept as a single unit inside the suitcase. Such a suitcase effectively utilizes the available room by compressing the stored articles without crumpling them. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suitcase for carrying luggage in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a perspective view of the suitcase in a completely open position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an attaching means provided on a plurality of pockets in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating the suitcase with an air deflating device connected to the external power source of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suitcase 10 for carrying luggage. The suitcase 10 comprises a case 12 having a top portion 14, a bottom portion 16, an interior portion 18 and an exterior portion 20. The bottom portion 16 comprises a pair of horizontally extending opposing side walls (not shown), a pair of vertically extending opposing side walls (not shown), each being positioned at the terminal ends of the pair of horizontally extending opposing side walls (not shown) defining a carrying compartment for placing articles, a plurality of pockets 24 attached to the interior portion 18 of the case 12 having a first edge 26 and a second edge (not shown) parallel to the first edge 26 and an air deflating device 32 with an elongated hose 34 located inside the top portion 14. A hand engaging means 38 is attached to the exterior portion 20. A locking means 36 is provided on the suitcase 10 for securing the top portion 14 with the bottom portion 16.

The suitcase 10 may have a rectangular shape with rounded or square corners. The material of construction of the suitcase 10 may be selected from a group consisting of metals, hard plastics, cloths, vinyl and leather. The suitcase 10 more or less keeps the rectangular shape. The top portion 14 substantially matches with the bottom portion 16 of the case 12. The top portion 14 is hingedly attached to a second side wall (not shown) about an axis (not shown) parallel to the first side wall 22. The top portion 14 is alternatively openable and closable for respectively opening and closing the suitcase 10 to allow access to the interior portion 18 of the suitcase 10. The plurality of pockets 24 is attached to the second side wall (not shown) of the bottom portion 16. The plurality of pockets 24 includes an air tight closing means 30. The plurality of pockets 24 may be a vacuum bag with a zip fastener. After placing the articles of travel within the plurality of pockets 24, the air tight closing means 30 is closed. Each of the plurality of pockets 24 includes a valve 28 at one side.

The suitcase 10 is provided with the locking means 36 to secure the articles kept inside the plurality of pockets 24. The locking means 36 may be selected from a group consisting of key locks, combination locks and biometric locks. The hand engaging means 38 is firmly attached to the first side wall 22 of the bottom portion 16. A person can easily carry the suitcase 10 by holding the hand engaging means 38 while travelling.

FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a perspective view of the suitcase in a completely open position. The top portion 14 of the suitcase 10 is hinged to the second side wall 44 of the case 12. The top portion 14 is adapted to be moved between the outwardly extending open position illustrated in FIG. 2 and the closed position wherein the top portion 14 rests on the bottom portion 16 of the case 12. The plurality of pockets 24 is releasably secured to the second side wall 44 with suitable fastening elements such as Velcro. A strip of Velcro loops 46 are provided on an edge parallel to the first edge 26 of the plurality of pockets 24. The plurality of pockets 24 are designed to fit inside the case 12 and may carry articles like garments, toiletries, business papers etc. While deflating the plurality of pockets 24, the articles residing inside may not get crumpled. The suitcase 10 is especially suited for carrying garments in an easy manner without crumpling while travelling. The plurality of pockets 24 may be detached, whenever required, to create more room and to transport a variety of goods inside the suitcase 10.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an attaching means provided on a plurality of pockets in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The attaching means may be Velcro loops 46 and Velcro hooks 48. The second side wall (not shown) is adapted to receive the plurality of pockets 24 as they are provided with Velcro hooks 48 to attach with the corresponding Velcro loops 46 on each of the plurality of pockets 24. The plurality of pockets 24 may be constructed from specialized materials having a flexible and a leak proof structure. The air impermeable material prevents air form getting into and out of the plurality of pockets 24 from/to the surrounding environment. The plurality of pockets 24 can be removed whenever desired by detaching the bonding between the Velcro loops 46 and the Velcro hooks 48.

FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating the suitcase with an air deflating device connected to the external power source of the present invention. The air deflating device 32 may be attached to the interior portion 18. The elongated hose 34 connected to the air deflating device 32 is flexible and have sufficient length to connect to the valves 28 of the plurality of pockets 24. The air deflating device 32 attached to the suitcase 10 may be a compressor pump, powered from an external power source 50. The compressor pump is connected to the external power source 50 using a power cord 40 and a plug 42, which is provided at the end of the power cord 40. The articles are placed inside the plurality of pockets 24 and sealed air tight by operating the air tight closing means 30. A little amount of air may be trapped inside the plurality of pockets 24 even after closing the air tight closing means 30 and the valves. Thus the plurality of pockets 24 may not compress beyond a limit. The possibility of adding more articles inside the suitcase 10 is limited due to the presence of the trapped air inside the plurality of pockets 24. For removing the air trapped inside the plurality of pockets 24 the elongated hose 34 is attached to the valve 28. The air deflating device 32 is operated to remove the trapped air from the plurality of pockets 24. The removed air will be exhausted to the atmosphere. The effective room inside the suitcase 10 is increased and may be employed to carry more articles without crumpling. The air deflating device 32 with the elongated hose 34 is arranged as a single unit inside the suitcase 10.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the air deflating device 32 with the elongated hose 34 may be located anywhere in the interior portion 18. Likewise, the air deflating device 32 may further includes an inbuilt battery pack inside the suitcase 10 to receive power. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A suitcase comprising:

a case having a top portion, a bottom portion, an interior portion, an exterior portion, a pair of horizontally extending opposing side walls, a pair of vertically extending opposing side walls each being positioned at a pair of terminal ends of the pair of horizontally extending opposing side walls, defining a carrying compartment for articles placed therein;

a plurality of pockets attached to the interior portion of the case, each of the plurality of pockets includes a first edge and a second edge;

an air deflating device with an elongated hose, the air deflating device operated utilizing an external power supply;

a hand engaging means attached to the bottom portion; and

a locking means associated with the bottom portion for securing the bottom portion of the case with the top portion thereof;

whereby the plurality of pockets are filled with articles and deflated thereby increasing an effective room inside the suitcase and allowing a user to carry the articles without crumpled.

2. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein the top portion is hingedly connected to the case for opening and closing the top portion to access the plurality of pockets attached to the interior portion of the case using a set of attaching means.

3. The suitcase of claim 2 wherein the set of attaching means may be a Velcro strip releasably attaching the plurality of pockets having a valve and an air tight closing means to the interior portion of the case.

4. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein the air deflating device may be a compressor pump fixed on an inner surface of the top portion.

5. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein the elongated hose may be flexible for connecting the valve to evacuate the plurality of pockets.

6. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein the valve prevents air from returning back to the plurality of pockets thereby increasing the effective room inside the suitcase.

7. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein the compressor pump may be powered from an external power supply utilizing a power cord.

8. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein the hand engaging means is attached firmly to the case for holding the suitcase while travelling.

9. The suitcase of claim 1 wherein the case may have a rectangular shape with rounded corners and may be secured utilizing the locking means which may be selected from a group consisting of: key locks, combination locks and biometric locks.

10. A suitcase for carrying articles without crumpling, the suitcase comprising:

a case having a plurality of walls defining a storage compartment;

a plurality of vacuum bags, each having an air tight valve, a Velcro strip at a first edge and a closing means with a fastening means at a second edge;

an air deflating unit which comprises a compressor pump and an elongated flexible hose;

a locking means for securing the case; and

a hand engaging means attached to the case.

11. The suitcase of claim 10 wherein the plurality of vacuum bags attached inside the case may be detachable whenever desired by a user.

12. The suitcase of claim 10 wherein the fastening means may be a zip fastener to close the plurality of vacuum bags to keep air tight.

13. The suitcase of claim 10 wherein the elongated flexible hose attached to the air tight valve deflates the plurality of vacuum bags to increase an effective room inside the suitcase.

14. The suitcase of claim 10 wherein the case may be made of materials selected from a group consisting of metals, hard plastics, cloths, vinyl and leather.

15. A method for storing articles in a suitcase, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the suitcase having a top portion and a bottom portion;

b) hinging the top portion and keeping the top portion in an open position;

c) placing the articles inside a plurality of pockets provided within the suitcase;

d) closing and sealing the plurality of pockets air tight utilizing a closing means to secure the article;

e) connecting an elongated hose to a valve of the plurality of pockets;

f) deflating the plurality of pockets by operating an air deflating device;

g) closing the valve to prevent air from getting back into the plurality of pockets; and

h) securing the suitcase utilizing a locking means.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the top portion is hingedly attached to the bottom portion.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the plurality of pockets includes a Velcro strip at a second edge attached to an interior portion of the case.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the air deflating device provided with an elongated hose may be placed on an inner surface of the top portion.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the elongated hose is connected to the valve thereafter operating the air deflating device to deflate the plurality of pockets without wrinkling the article.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the suitcase is secured by locking the top portion with the bottom portion using a locking means which may be selected from a group consisting of key locks, combination locks and biometric locks.