LUGGAGE WRAP

Abstract

A luggage wrap provides a weather resistant garment like cover that wraps over a piece of luggage, helping to protect it from dirt, grime, scuffing, and inclement weather. As a snug fitting wrap for the luggage, it provides an element of security in that it can prevent pilferage of items carried in the luggage, as other less secure luggage items are likely in close proximity. With a selection of colors, designs, and indicia, the luggage wrap can provide a ready means of identification of the luggage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to luggage, and more particularly to protection for luggage.

Today's luggage is hard to clean and even harder to keep clean and dry. In regular use luggage is exposed to dirt, grime and inclement weather generated by traveling.

Likewise, security precautions have limited the use of locks and other closures during air and other travel modes. Once the user checks their bags, it is therefore difficult to secure the contents of the luggage from prying hands.

Another challenge encountered by travelers is identifying their luggage, whether at a baggage claim facility or when directing valets and other baggage handlers when many luggage items look alike.

As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus and method for protecting luggage, its contents, and providing a ready means of luggage identification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention a luggage wrap is disclosed to protect an article of luggage. The luggage wrap includes an elongated piece of fabric material dimensioned to cover a front, a top, and a back side of an article of luggage. A cutout is defined at an intermediate section of the material and provides a hand access to at least one handle on the top end of the article of luggage. A plurality of elastic side straps interconnect a front panel and a back panel of the material.

The luggage wrap may also include a plurality of pockets defined in the back panel of the material. An elastic bottom strap may be provided to interconnect a bottom end of the front panel and a bottom end of the back panel of the fabric material.

In some embodiments, the bottom strap has a first end attached to the front panel and a free end that is attachable to the back panel of the fabric material via a cooperating fastener. The bottom strap is attached to be disposed between ground transport wheels of the article of luggage.

In other embodiments, the plurality of elastic side straps are disposed in a spaced apart relation to receive a side handle of the article of luggage between the plurality of elastic side straps.

In other aspects of the invention, a luggage wrap includes an elongated piece of fabric material dimensioned to cover at least a front, a top, and a back face of an article of luggage. A cutout is defined at an intermediate section of the material providing a hand access to at least one handle on the top side of the article of luggage. An elastic bottom strap interconnects a bottom end of the front panel and a bottom end of the back panel of the material.

A plurality of elastic side straps may interconnect a front panel and a back panel of the material along a lateral side of the material.

In some embodiments, the elastic bottom strap is connectable to the back panel via a cooperating fastener. The cooperating fastener may be a hook and loop material.

In some embodiments, the plurality of elastic side straps are disposed in a spaced apart relation to receive a side handle of the article of luggage between the plurality of elastic side straps.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the luggage wrap;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the luggage wrap;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the luggage wrap;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the luggage wrap; and

FIG. 5 is a back view of the luggage wrap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a protective wrap for an article of luggage. The luggage wrap can protect the exterior of the luggage from marring, dirt, grime, and inclement weather. The luggage wrap can also serve as a security item to prevent or deter unlawful pilfering and theft of items carried in the luggage. The luggage wrap of the present invention can also provide distinctive identification for the luggage item to facilitate identification and retrieval of the correct item of luggage.

As stated above, today's luggage is hard to clean and even harder to keep clean and dry. The luggage wrap of the present invention helps protect luggage from dirt, grime and inclement weather generated by traveling. It helps secure luggage from prying hands and helps to identify luggage when they all look alike. This invention will help extend the useful life of a piece of luggage.

As seen in reference to the drawings of FIGS. 1-5, the luggage wrap 14 of the present invention securely wraps around a piece of luggage 10 protecting the outer fabric of the luggage 10 from the dirt and grime of today's airports. The luggage wrap 14 is made of a durable weather resistant material that will help keep contents dry. The fabric may include a variety of colors and designs to facilitate identification of the luggage 10 and may include monogramming and other indicia for this purpose. The material is preferably machine washable.

The luggage wrap 14 includes an elongated piece of fabric having a cutout 28 at an intermediate portion thereof, corresponding to a top of the luggage 10 where an extensible handle 12 or a luggage carrying handle 16 is secured to the item of luggage 10. The luggage wrap 14 has a lateral width corresponding to somewhat standardized items of luggage 10. The luggage wrap 14 has a length to wrap around the top, front, rear, and in some instances a bottom of the luggage 10.

At least one elastic strap 18 extends between a front and a back panel of the luggage wrap 14 so that the luggage wrap 14 fits snugly to the item of luggage 10. The back panel may have a plurality of pockets 24 defined therein.

A strap 22 is provided to interconnect the front panel to the back panel with a fastener, such as a hook and loop fastener, a buckle, or snaps. The strap 22 may be formed of an elastic material. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, a first end of the strap 22 is attached at a bottom of the front panel. A second, free end of the strap 22 is provided with a fastener 26 to secure to a cooperating fastener 32 at a bottom end of the rear panel. In this manner, the luggage wrap 14 may be snugly emplaced to cover at least the front, top, and rear panels of the luggage 10. For shorter luggage 10, the front panel may also wrap or partially wrap the bottom panel of the luggage 10. The strap 22 is positioned so that it may wrap around the luggage 10 without interfering with one or more ground wheels 20 supporting the luggage 10.

The elements of the present invention attach together to make a garment like cover 14 that wraps over the luggage item 10 to help keep it free of dirt and grime, helps secure luggage 10 by snugly wrapping over it, and helps identifying luggage 10.

In a non-limiting embodiment, the wrap 14 may be formed of a 62″×19″ piece soft shell material. The cutout 28 may be a 6″×10″ opening for the handles 12, 16 at the top of the luggage. The material may then be folded in half making the front and rear panels at roughly 31″. Straps 18 may be 2″×9″ pieces of elastic are attached between the front left and the back left sides and repeat the same process for the right side. Strap 22 may then be a 2″×15″ from the same soft shell material to secure the bottom of the around the luggage 10. Strap 22 is attached to the bottom front center of the wrap 14 and is attachable to the back side of the wrap where a 2″×5″ hook material 32 is attached. The strap 22 is provided with a 2″×5″ loop material 26 attached to the free end to couple with the patch of the hook material 32.

In use, a person would wrap this luggage wrap 14 over their luggage 10 to protect it from the dirt and grime of busy airports, inclement weather. The luggage 10 is at least partially secured in that other unsecured luggage presents a more readily pilferable target, since the luggage wrap 14 is designed to fit securely around your luggage. With a selection of colors, designs and indicia, the luggage wrap 14 may also help the user identify their luggage 10.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A luggage wrap, comprising:

an elongated piece of fabric material dimensioned to cover a front, a top, and a back side of an article of luggage;

a cutout defined at an intermediate section of the material providing hand access to at least one handle on the top end of the article of luggage; and

a plurality of elastic side straps interconnecting a front panel and a back panel of the material.

2. The luggage wrap of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of pockets defined in the back panel of the material.

3. The luggage wrap of claim 1, further comprising:

an elastic bottom strap interconnecting a bottom end of the front panel and a bottom end of the back panel of the material.

4. The luggage wrap of claim 3, the bottom strap having a first end attached to the front panel and a free end attachable to the back panel of the fabric material via a cooperating fastener.

5. The luggage wrap of claim 4, wherein the bottom strap is attached to be disposed between ground transport wheels of the article of luggage.

6. The luggage wrap of claim 5, wherein the plurality of elastic side straps are disposed in a spaced apart relation to receive a side handle of the article of luggage between the plurality of elastic side straps.

7. A luggage wrap, comprising:

an elongated piece of fabric material dimensioned to cover at least a front, a top, and a back face of an article of luggage;

a cutout defined at an intermediate section of the material providing a hand access to at least one handle on the top side of the article of luggage; and

an elastic bottom strap interconnecting a bottom end of the front panel and a bottom end of the back panel of the material.

8. The luggage wrap of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of elastic side straps interconnecting a front panel and a back panel of the material along a lateral side of the material.

9. The luggage wrap of claim 8, wherein the elastic bottom strap is connectable to the back panel via a cooperating fastener.

10. The luggage wrap of claim 9, wherein the cooperating fastener is a hook and loop material.

11. The luggage wrap of claim 10, wherein the plurality of elastic side straps are disposed in a spaced apart relation to receive a side handle of the article of luggage between the plurality of elastic side straps.