Luggage Having Electrical Generator

Abstract

Luggage having an electrical generator for powering or recharging electronic devices is provided. The luggage includes a body resembling any of various types of luggage having one or more rotating wheels, such as a suitcase or carry-on bag, among others. An electrical generator is operably connected to a wheel of the luggage in order to produce electricity as the wheels of the luggage are rolled along a surface. A port is electrically connected to the electrical generator, wherein electricity produced by the electrical generator is supplied to the port in order to power an electronic device removably engaged therewith. A control is provided for engaging and disengaging the electrical generator with a wheel of the luggage. In some embodiments, a battery is provided for storing electricity produced by the electrical generator.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/126,760 filed on Mar. 2, 2015. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to luggage. More specifically, the present invention provides luggage having means for powering or charging an electronic device, such as a smartphone or tablet, among any of various other electronic devices.

People often use one or more mobile electronic devices while traveling, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, among others. People may use these devices in order to communicate with friends, family, or coworkers, to arrange transportation, to perform work, or to engage in leisure activities. However, frequent use of mobile electronic devices may cause the battery to drain rapidly, requiring the user to charge the device.

While traveling, it can be difficult to find somewhere to plug in a mobile electronic device for charging. Train stations, bus terminals, and airports generally lack publicly accessible power outlets. Lounges or other areas where power outlets are available may only have a limited number of power outlets. As a result, a person may be unable to charge his or her mobile device, causing the battery to deplete or causing the person to cease using the mobile device in order to retain any remaining battery life for an emergency situation. For these reasons, it is difficult to maintain battery life of an electronic device while traveling.

Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to portable charging devices. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to luggage or bags having means for charging or powering an electronic device, such as U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2013/0221898, U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2012/0152677, U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2010/0231161, U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2014/0116413, and U.S. Published Patent Application Number 2005/0162121.

These prior art devices have several known drawbacks. The devices in the prior art fail to provide luggage having an electrical generator that can be removably engaged with the wheels of the luggage. Further, the devices in the prior art fail to provide a battery for storing electricity produced by the electrical generator.

In light of the devices disclosed in the prior art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing portable charging devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of luggage now present in the prior art, the present invention provides new luggage having an electrical generator wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when charging or powering an electronic device while traveling.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved luggage comprising one or more wheels and an electrical generator, wherein the electrical generator is powered by rotation of the wheels of the luggage.

It is another object of the present invention to provide luggage having an electrical generator that produces electricity and supplies the electricity to a port adapted to removably receive an electronic device so as to power or recharge the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide luggage having an electrical generator having a control for activating and deactivating the electrical generator.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide luggage having an electrical generator housed separately from a main compartment of the luggage.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a luggage having an electrical generator that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a transparent view of the luggage having an electrical generator.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the electrical generator.

FIG. 3 shows a rear cross sectional view of the luggage having an electrical generator.

FIG. 4 shows a side cross sectional view of the luggage having an electrical generator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the luggage having an electrical generator. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for generating electricity to power an electronic device. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a transparent view of the luggage having an electrical generator. The luggage 11 comprises a body 12, wherein the body 12 can be that of any luggage having at least one wheel 15 thereon. Thus, the luggage 11 can resemble a suitcase, a rollable carry-on bag, a rollable trunk, or any of various other rollable devices. The luggage 11 further comprises a handle 20 that extends upward from the body 12 of the luggage. The handle 20 may be telescopic so as to retract into the body 12 and extend therefrom as desired. It is not desired to limit the specific type of luggage utilized and a person having ordinary skill in the art can readily envision various types of wheeled luggage, bags, and the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, the luggage 11 comprises a body 12 having an upper end 13 and a lower end 14. The lower end 14 includes at least one rotatable wheel 15 thereon. Preferably, the luggage 11 comprises a pair of rotatable wheels 15 rotatable about a common axle 17, wherein each of said rotatable wheels 15 is disposed on said axle 17. An electrical generator 16 is removably engageable with the wheels 15 or with the axle 17, wherein the electrical generator 16 is driven by rotation of the wheels 15 or axle 17 as the luggage 11 is rolled along a surface, such that rotation of the wheels 15 or axle 17 allows the generator 16 to produce electricity. The electricity produced by the electrical generator 16 is then supplied to a port 19 disposed on the body 12 of the luggage so that a user may power or recharge an electronic device.

A control 26 is provided for engaging and disengaging the electrical generator 16 with the wheel 15 or axle 17. The control 26 is operably connected to the electrical generator 16 via an electrical cable 18. When it is not desired for the generator 16 to produce electricity, the electrical generator 16 can be disengaged via the control 26. In this way, the wheels 15 can rotate freely and without resistance from the electrical generator 16. When it is desired to produce electricity to charge an electronic device, the control 26 can be operated so that the electrical generator 16 engages the wheel 15 or axle 17 so as to utilize the rotational energy to produce electrical energy.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a plan view of an embodiment of the electrical generator. The electrical generator 16 can be engaged with the wheel 15 or axle 17 through various arrangements. In some embodiments, the axle 17 comprises a fixed gear 31 thereon that rotates as the wheels 15 of the luggage 11 rotate. The generator 16 comprises a rotatable shaft 32 having a freely rotating gear 33 thereon, wherein the freely rotating gear 33 engages with the fixed gear 31 on the axle 17. The rotatable shaft 32 further includes a clutch 34 that can be removably engaged with the freely rotating gear 33, wherein engagement of the clutch 34 with the freely rotating gear 33 causes the freely rotating gear 33 to become a fixed to the rotatable shaft 32, such that rotation of the freely rotating gear 33 also causes the shaft to rotate 32. Rotary motion of the rotatable shaft 32 causes the electrical generator 16 to produce electricity. However, when the clutch 34 is not engaged with the freely rotating gear 33, the freely rotating gear 33 rotates about the shaft and the shaft 32 does not rotate. Various alternate arrangements for driving the electrical generator are contemplated, so long as the rotation of the wheels or axle provides the driving force for production of electrical energy.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a rear cross sectional view of an embodiment of the luggage having an electrical generator. In the illustrated embodiment, the generator 16 comprises an external wheel 21 that is removably engageable with a rotatable wheel 15 of the luggage 11. The external wheel 21 is movable from an inactive position in which the external wheel 21 does not contact the rotatable wheel 15, to an active position where the external wheel 21 contacts the rotatable wheel 15. In the active position, the external wheel 21 rotates as the rotatable wheel 15 rotates, wherein the rotation of the external wheel 21 drives the electrical generator 16. A control 26 is provided, wherein operation of the control 26 causes the external wheel 21 to move between the inactive and active positions. The external wheel 21 may be operably connected to an actuator that causes the external wheel 21 to shift laterally so as to disengage the wheel 15 of the luggage 11.

In some embodiments, a battery 22 is electrically connected to the electrical generator 16 via an electrical cable 18 for storing electricity produced by the electrical generator 16. In this way, electricity is generated while the user rolls the luggage 11 from one location to another, and the electricity is stored for later use. Without the battery 22, an electronic device could only be charged or powered while the luggage 11 is actively being rolled.

The luggage 11 further comprises a port 19 on an upper end 13 thereof adapted to receive an electronic device therein. The port 19 is electrically connected to the electrical generator 16, wherein electricity produced by the electrical generator 16 is distributed to the port 19. Alternatively, in embodiments having a battery 22, the electricity produced by the generator is stored in the battery 22, and the battery 22 is in electrical connection with the port 19. The port 19 is preferably a USB port, however, various other types of ports are contemplated. In this way, the user can removably engage a charging cable of an electronic device, or the electronic device itself, with the port 19 of the luggage 11 in order to charge or power the same.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a side cross sectional view of the luggage having an electrical generator. In the illustrated embodiment, the luggage 11 comprises a body 12 resembling a traditional suitcase. The body 12 comprises an interior volume 23 in which clothes and various other items can be stored for travel. The interior volume 23 is accessible via a lid 24 that is removably securable over the interior volume 23, via a fastener such as a zipper, so as to enclose the same. The interior volume 23 can be divided into one or more compartments depending upon the embodiment. It is not desired to limit the configuration of the compartments or storage areas within the luggage 11.

The electrical generator 16 is housed within an enclosed compartment 25 of the body 12 of the luggage 11 so that the electrical generator 16 is not accessible from the interior volume 23 of the luggage 11. The electrical generator 16 and other electrical components are not visible by the user and are positioned separately from the interior volume 23 of the luggage 11. Preferably, the enclosed compartment 25 is composed of a rigid material so as to protect the generator 16 and other electrical components from damage. The generator 16 may be positioned within a waterproof enclosure to prevent exposure of the generator 16 to liquid in the event that the luggage 11 becomes wet due to precipitation, or in the event a liquid spills within the interior volume 23 of the luggage 11.

In some embodiments, the body 12 further comprises a vent 26 adapted to allow heat produced from the generator 16 to escape from the body 12 of the luggage 11. The vent 26 helps to prevent the generator 16 from overheating and helps to prevent the generator 16 from heating the interior volume 23 of the luggage 11. The vent 26 is positioned adjacent to the location of the generator 16. The vent 26 can be located on a rear portion of the body 12 or can be positioned on the lower end or underside of the luggage 11, depending upon the embodiment.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1) A luggage device having an electrical generator, comprising:

a body having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end having at least one rotatable wheel thereon;

an electrical generator removably engageable with said at least one rotatable wheel;

wherein rotation of said at least one rotatable wheels powers said electrical generator when said electrical generator is engaged therewith;

a port disposed on said body and electrically connected to said electrical generator, wherein said port is adapted to removably receive an electronic device so as to provide electricity thereto.

2) The luggage device of claim 1, wherein said body resembles a suitcase.

3) The luggage device of claim 1, wherein said body comprises a main compartment adapted for use in storing various items, and comprises an enclosed compartment in which said electrical generator is positioned.

4) The luggage device of claim 1, further comprising a control disposed on said body and electrically connected to said electrical generator, wherein said control engages and disengages said electrical generator with said at least one rotatable wheel on said lower end of said body.

5) The luggage device of claim 1, further comprising a battery electrically connected to said electrical generator, wherein said battery is adapted to store electrical energy produced by said electrical generator.

6) The luggage device of claim 1, further comprising a vent on said body adapted to allow heat produced by said electrical generator to escape said body.

7) The luggage device of claim 1, wherein said at least one rotatable wheel comprises a pair of rotatable wheels connected by an axle.

8) The luggage device of claim 1, wherein said electrical generator comprises an external wheel adapted to engage with said at least one rotatable wheel such that rotation of said at least one rotatable wheel causes said external wheel to rotate, wherein rotation of said external wheel drives said generator.