Protective Cover for a Case

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for protecting and securing a case, comprising a cover for partially enclosing the case and a lockable toggle configured to secure said case within said cover. The lockable toggle is capable of switching between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from United Kingdom patent application number 12 01 394.2, filed Jan. 26, 2012, the whole contents of which are included herein by way of reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for protecting and securing a case.

2. Description of the Related Art

In order to protect and secure cases, travellers use baggage wrapping services at airports to wrap up their suitcases in plastic to protect them against damage when they are thrown by airport workers into the aeroplane hold. Such baggage wrapping services also provide a means to secure luggage against tampering or pilfering.

Existing baggage wrapping services use large amounts of plastic to wrap up each suitcase, and once the traveller arrives at their destination, this plastic is removed from the suitcase and disposed of. The plastic cannot be re-used on a return journey. Existing baggage wrapping is therefore very detrimental to the environment, as it contributes to large amounts of plastic entering landfill sites. In one airport alone, Johannesburg, six million suitcases were wrapped in one year.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for protecting and securing a case, comprising a protective cover for partially enclosing the case and a lockable toggle configured to secure said case within said cover. The lockable toggle is capable of switching between a locked position and an unlocked position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows suitcases being handled on a conveyer belt at an airport;

FIG. 2 shows baggage wrapping services of the prior art;

FIG. 3 shows a cover for partially enclosing a case embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a drawstring opening embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of a cover for partially enclosing a case embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a lockable toggle embodied by the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1

Baggage 101 on a conveyer belt 102 at an airport is shown in FIG. 1. Large quantities of baggage 101 are transported in an airport environment. Baggage 101 may be moved along conveyer belts 102 and brought roughly into contact with neighbouring baggage 101 and thrown into aeroplane holds. Such handling of baggage 101 in airports leads to damage of the baggage and a deterioration of the appearance of cases. Baggage 101 may include not only suitcases, but also golf bags, buggies and additional items that travellers need to transport in the aeroplane hold. Many modern suitcases comprise a hard outer shell, and this is especially susceptible to damage. The appearance of such cases rapidly deteriorates and this is not acceptable to travellers.

FIG. 2

An example of baggage wrapping services 201 of the prior art is shown in FIG. 2. The baggage that may be wrapped up includes suitcases comprising a fabric body and suitcases comprising a hard outer shell, and also other items that travellers need to transport such as golf bags, ski bags and buggies. The existing baggage wrapping services use large amounts of plastic to tightly wrap up each piece of baggage. Once the traveller reaches their destination, this plastic is removed from the baggage and disposed of. There is no mechanism for re-using this plastic on a return journey. Existing baggage wrapping is therefore detrimental to the environment and contributes to large amounts of plastic entering landfill sites. The wrapped plastic may also have to be cut off the baggage using scissors or a knife, and there is therefore an added risk of damage to the baggage by one of these implements.

FIG. 3

FIG. 3 shows a cover 301 for partially enclosing a case embodied in the present invention. Cover 301 is fabricated from a durable material that preferably has rip-stop qualities. A case, which may be a suitcase, or a golf bag, is partially enclosed by the cover by inserting the case into the cover. The present invention therefore protects the case against damage and scratches, and prolongs the useable life of the case.

Cover 301 comprises a drawstring opening 302 configured to enable carrying means of the case to remain uncovered. In this embodiment, the carrying means are a handle and remain uncovered. The drawstring opening comprises a cord which is pulled tight to secure the cover around the carrying means of the case.

Cover 301 could optionally display advertising, landscapes, printed photographs, patterns and more. Advantageously, the covers may be used by companies wishing to advertise or could be used as a fashion accessory.

The apparatus for protecting and securing a case embodied by the present invention is provided to users with minimal packaging. The claimed apparatus may, for example, be provided to users rolled up in a small cardboard tube. Alternatively, the claimed apparatus may be provided to users rolled up and tied with a piece of string. The present invention is therefore very environmentally friendly.

FIG. 4

FIG. 4 shows a top view of cover 401 for partially enclosing a case embodied in the present invention. Cover 401 comprises a drawstring opening 402 configured to enable carrying means of the case to remain uncovered. In this embodiment, the carrying means are represented by handle 403 and remain uncovered. The drawstring opening includes a cord 404 which is configured to be pulled tight around the handle.

Once the case has been partially enclosed in the cover, cord 404 is pulled tight to secure the cover in position around the carrying means of the case, whilst allowing the carrying means of the case to remain uncovered. The present invention therefore allows the case to be protected against damage and scratches whilst enabling the case still to be carried.

FIG. 5

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of a cover 501 for partially enclosing a case embodied in the present invention. Cover 501 is configured to enable wheels of the case to remain uncovered. In this embodiment, the cover comprises four apertures 502 configured to allow the four wheels of the case to move freely. However, in alternative embodiments, there may be any number of apertures to accommodate cases with different numbers of wheels. The present invention therefore allows the case to be protected against damage and scratches whilst enabling the case still to be transported. In yet further alternative embodiments, there may be no apertures in the region of the cover nearest to the ground.

FIG. 6

A lockable toggle 601 embodied by the present invention is shown in FIG. 6. The lockable toggle comprises an inner component 602 and an outer component 603. The body of inner component 602 is filled and therefore solid whilst the body of outer component 604 is hollow. In an embodiment, inner component 602 and outer component 603 are cylindrical in nature, and inner component 602 is configured to be inserted in outer component 603. In an embodiment, an end of inner component 602 is hemi-spherical in nature and comprises a protrusion 608. In an embodiment, a first end of outer component 603 is open-ended and a second end of outer component 603 is closed and is hemi-spherical in nature.

Spring 609 is inserted into outer component 603 and when inner component 602 is inserted into outer component 603, protrusion 608 directly engages with one end of spring 609. When the inner component 602 is inserted in the outer component 603, a user can press the inner component 602 using a finger and this causes compression of spring 609. In an embodiment, a tapered conical spring may be used wherein the coils telescope into each other, giving a shorter bind height. When the user releases pressure from the inner component 602, spring 609 is released to its decompressed state and returns inner component 602 to its position before being pressed by the user. In an embodiment, spring 609 is fabricated from spring steel and is 1 centimetre in length and 0.6 centimetres in diameter.

Inner component 602 comprises a first hole 604 for inserting a cord and a second hole 605 for inserting a lock. Outer component 603 comprises a first hole 606 for inserting a cord and a second hole 607 for inserting a lock.

The first and second holes are positioned such that when the first hole 604 of the inner component 602 aligns with the first hole 606 of the outer component 603, the second hole 605 of the inner component 602 is not in alignment with the second hole 607 of the outer component 603. Further, the first and second holes are positioned such that when the first hole 604 of the inner component 602 is not in alignment with the first hole 606 of the outer component 603, the second hole 605 of the inner component 602 aligns with the second hole 607 of the outer component 603.

The lockable toggle of the claimed apparatus is in an unlocked position when the inner component 602 is inserted within the outer component 603 and further when the first hole 604 of the inner component 602 aligns with the first hole 606 of the outer component 603. When in this unlocked position, a cord is inserted through first hole 604 and first hole 605. Cord 404 (see FIG. 4) is pulled tight to secure the claimed cover around the case. The cord is held in position by moving the toggle from the unlocked position to the locked position. Cord 404 may be fabricated from any suitable durable and non-elastic material.

The lockable toggle of the claimed apparatus is in a locked position when the first hole 604 of the inner component 602 is not in alignment with the first hole 606 of the outer component 603. When in this locked position, the second hole 605 of the first component 602 is in alignment with the second hole 607 of the outer component 603. A lock, which may be a padlock, is inserted through second hole 605 and second hole 607 to secure the toggle in a locked position. The present invention therefore secures the case inside the cover.

The inner component 602 and outer component 603 of the lockable toggle are therefore attached to the claimed cover by means of insertion of the cord 404 through the first holes 604 and 606.

In an embodiment, inner component 602 and outer component 603 are each 4 centimetres in length. Outer component 603 is 1 centimetre in width and inner component 602 is 0.9 centimetres in width. When inner component 602 and outer component 603 are cylindrical in nature, the width of inner component 602 is therefore less than that of outer component 603 so that inner component 602 can be inserted in outer component 603. In an embodiment, the centre of first hole 604 in inner component 602 is at 2.75 centimetres from the end without protrusion 608 and the centre of second hole 605 in inner component 602 is at 0.75 centimetres from the end without protrusion 608. In an embodiment, the centre of first hole 606 in outer component 603 is at 3 centimetres from the open end and the centre of second hole 607 in outer component 603 is at 1.5 centimetres from the open end. In this embodiment, all first and second holes are 0.75 centimetres in diameter. The length of protrusion 608 in this embodiment is 0.2 centimetres.

Claims

1. Apparatus for protecting and securing a case, comprising:

a cover for partially enclosing the case; and

a lockable toggle configured to secure said case within said cover, wherein the lockable toggle is capable of switching between a locked position and an unlocked position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover for partially enclosing the case is configured to enable carrying means of the case to remain uncovered.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cover further comprises a drawstring opening configured to enable the carrying means of the case to remain uncovered.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the drawstring opening comprises a cord configured to be pulled tight around the carrying means of the case.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the cover for partially enclosing the case is configured to enable wheels of the case to remain uncovered.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cover comprises at least two apertures configured to allow the wheels of the case to move freely.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover is fabricated from a durable material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lockable toggle comprises an inner component configured to be inserted within an outer component.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the inner component and outer component are both cylindrical.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the inner component comprises a first hole for inserting a cord and a second hole for attaching a lock, and further wherein the outer component comprises a first hole for inserting a cord and a second hole for attaching a lock.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said lock is a padlock.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the unlocked position of the lockable toggle is when the inner component is inserted within the outer component and further when the first hole of the inner component aligns with the first hole of the outer component.

13. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the unlocked position of the lockable toggle allows the insertion of a cord.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said second holes are configured such that when the first hole of the inner component aligns with the first hole of the outer component, the second hole of the inner component is not in alignment with the second hole of the outer component.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said second holes are configured such that when the first hole of the inner component is not in alignment with the first hole of the outer component, the second hole of the inner component aligns with the second hole of the outer component

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the alignment of the second hole of the inner component with the second hole of the outer component allows attachment of the padlock.

17. A method of protecting and securing a case, comprising the steps of:

partially enclosing the case in a cover fabricated from a durable material,

and securing the case within the cover using a lockable toggle, wherein the lockable toggle is capable of switching between a locked position and an unlocked position.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the lockable toggle comprises an inner component configured to be inserted within an outer component.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the inner component comprises a first hole for inserting a cord and a second hole for attaching a lock, and further wherein the outer component comprises a first hole for inserting a cord and a second hole for attaching a lock.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said second holes are configured such that when the first hole of the inner component aligns with the first hole of the outer component, the second hole of the inner component is not in alignment with the second hole of the outer component.