Patent Application
20250176690
The present invention relates to luggage systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a transportable office.
Luggage was developed in the 12th century AD as a means for transporting weapons of war. The word luggage is derived from the verb “lug”, referring to the hauling of inconveniently heavy baggage. This definition has been expanded over several centuries to include various types of baggage, both large and small.
The advent and expansion of air travel throughout the world has led to the creation of luggage particularly suited to air travel, including transport in over-head compartments. Nevertheless, luggage may be used for travel by automobile, train, boat, and so forth.
Luggage is not a complete protector against all travel conditions. Hard impacts may damage luggage and further may damage the contents inside the luggage. Travelers often use luggage to transport clothing, hygiene products, and other unbreakable and/or durable objects. Travelers avoid placing fragile and/or delicate objects in the luggage. Further travelers may avoid placing expensive objects and/or objects with sentimental value in the luggage so as to avoid the risk of loss or damage.
Therefore, a need exists to improve upon the way fragile, delicate, and/or expensive objects are protected within luggage, to enable travelers more versatility to convey objects during transport of luggage.
A mobile office, comprising a luggage insert having a body, the body having a plurality of openings extending into the body, the plurality of openings including at least a first top opening on a top of the body, and the plurality of openings including at least a first lateral opening on a side of the body, the plurality of openings receiving electronic office equipment, and an insert bag extendable around the luggage insert to retain the electronic office equipment during transportation.
A mobile office, comprising a luggage insert having a body, the body having a plurality of openings extending into the body, the plurality of openings including at least a first top opening on a top of the body, and the plurality of openings including at least a first lateral opening on a side of the body, the plurality of openings receiving electronic office equipment, an insert bag extendable around the luggage insert to retain the electronic office equipment during transportation, and an item of luggage capable of receiving the insert bag into an interior of the item of luggage.
A method of providing a mobile office having a luggage insert and an insert bag, the method comprising forming a body of the luggage insert, forming a plurality of openings extending into the body, the plurality of openings including at least a first top opening on a top of the body, and the plurality of openings including at least a first lateral opening on a side of the body, the plurality of openings capable of receiving electronic office equipment, and forming an insert bag capable of being extended around the luggage insert to retain the electronic office equipment during transportation.
Various aspects and advantages will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for protecting fragile, delicate, and/or expensive objects (e.g., objects having electronic components). In particular, the present invention may include a luggage insert that receives one or more objects. The luggage insert may be enclosed within an insert bag. The luggage insert and insert bag may be dimensioned appropriately to fit (e.g., snuggly) within an item of luggage. Collectively, the luggage insert, the insert bag, and the item of luggage may serve to protect the fragile, delicate, and/or expensive objects.
Where objects are office components (e.g., such as a computer, monitors, keyboard, mouse, power cords, adaptors, converters, and so forth), the present invention is ideal for all-in-one transportation of a user's essential office equipment from one location to another (e.g., a mobile office). The present invention is particularly well suited for users who travel for work, or who have similar lifestyles. I user may pack up the office essentials into the present invention, take it with them to their next location, unpack and set up their office at any new location where the user desires to accomplish work and/or personal, computer-related tasks.
The openings may be shaped and/or dimensioned to appropriately fit (e.g., snuggly) specific objects (e.g., electronic devices, power converters, wiring bundles, jewelry, various works of art, and so forth). Objects may include computer equipment, such as, without limitation, monitors, monitor stands, keyboards, mice, webcams, USB hubs, power outlets, connective wiring, and so forth. Opening 112 may be shaped and/or dimensioned to snuggly fit a computer keyboard. Opening 116 may be shaped and/or dimensioned to snuggly fit a laptop computer and/or a desktop monitor.
Luggage insert 100 may be formed of one or more materials (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more different materials). Luggage insert 100 may be formed of any one or more of polyurethane, polystyrene, polypropylene (e.g., corrugated sheets), latex, fiberglass, ethylene-vinyl acetate, biopolymers, and/or mineral filled products. Luggage insert 100 may include metallic components (e.g., to provide structure and/or to create a faraday cage around the objects.
Top layers 210 may include a material layer 211 with one or more openings (e.g., top openings 212, 213, 214) extending partially and/or completely through the material layer 211. Top opening 212 may extend completely through material layer 211 (e.g., creating an aperture that extends to the lateral layer 215). Top opening 213 may extend partially through material layer 211. Top opening 214 may extend completely through material layer 211. Top layers 210 may include any number of complete and partial openings.
Lateral layers 215 may include a top wall 221, a bottom wall 222, and/or one or more sidewalls 223 (e.g., forming an open interior). One side (e.g., a front side) of lateral layers 215 may be open (e.g., allowing access to the open interior). One or more dividers 224 may be positioned between top wall 221 and bottom wall 222 and/or between the one or more sidewalls 223 (e.g., to divide the open interior into two or more openings). The open interior may be divided into two or more openings (e.g., horizontal and/or vertical openings). Divider 224 is exemplified as extending horizontally to create two horizontal openings positioned top over bottom.
Lateral layers 215 may be formed of one or more corrugated sheets of polypropylene. A sheet may extend from lower lateral opening 216 rearwardly to sidewall 223 to form bottom wall 222. A sheet may extend up from bottom wall 222 to divider 224 to form a lower segment of sidewall 223. A sheet may extend forward from sidewall 223 to lateral opening 216 to form divider 224. A sheet may extend rearwardly from upper lateral opening 217 to sidewall 223 to form divider 224. A sheet may extend up from divider 224 to top wall 221 to form an upper segment of sidewall 223. A sheet may extend forward from sidewall 223 to upper lateral opening 217 to form top wall 221. A single sheet may extend across all of the paths indicated in this paragraph. Foam blocks may be placed between the bottom wall 222 and divider 224 and/or between top wall 221 and divider 224 (e.g., along sidewalls thereof) to keep adequate spacing of the sheets during use of luggage insert 200 (e.g., ensuring that lower and upper lateral openings 216, 217 remain open and non-compressed).
The open side of lateral layers 215 may enable access from the exterior of luggage insert 200 into the open interior (e.g., via lateral openings). Positioning the one or more dividers 224 within the open interior may likewise divide the lateral openings into two or more lateral openings (e.g., bifurcating the open interior into a lower lateral opening 216 and/or an upper lateral opening 217). Lower and upper lateral openings 216, 217 are exemplified as being approximately similar in dimension, however, lower and upper lateral openings 216, 217 may have different dimensions (e.g., different height dimensions).
The various components of top layer 210 and/or lateral layer 215 may be fastened by suitable means (such as, without limitation, sonic welding, glue, tongue and groove, mortise and tenon, dovetail, formed integrally, and so forth). The one or more dividers 224 may be retained in place within the open interior (e.g., utilizing one or more of the above fastening means). In
The various elements of luggage insert 200 (e.g., the components forming top layer 210 and lateral layer 215) may be formed of similar and/or different materials having different hardness and/or softness. Each component may be formed of layers including a plurality of different materials (e.g., having a firmer core for structure and/or a softer exterior for cushioning objects placed in the luggage insert 200. Top layer 210 may be formed of the same material as lateral layer 215. Top layer 210 may be formed of different material as lateral layer 215. Top layer 210 may be formed of the same material as lateral layer 215.
Objects may be positioned in luggage insert 300 by sliding the objects into any available opening. Larger, flat objects (e.g., laptops, monitors) may be slid horizontally into lateral opening 316. Smaller objects (tablet, keyboard, mouse, cables, power converters, and so forth) may be slid vertically into top opening 312.
An insert bag 340 may extend partially or completely around luggage insert 300 when closed. Insert bag 340 may extend partially around luggage insert 300 when open. Insert bag 340 may be entirely removed (e.g., luggage insert 300 may be decoupled and/or removed from insert bag 340. Insert bag 340 may be secured in a closed position by any suitable fastener (e.g., by zipper, strap, buckle, bungee, button, hook and loop fastener, tie, clasp, magnetic clasp, and so forth). Insert bag 340 may enable the retention of objects within luggage insert 300 during movement thereof.
Insert bag 440 may include one or more straps 445 (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or more straps) to enable the ease of carrying insert bag 440 during transportation thereof.
Insert bag 540 may be equipped with one or more air pockets throughout the surface area of insert bag 540. After insert bag 540 is placed in the interior space of an item of luggage 560, the air pockets may be inflated so that insert bag 540 and/or the luggage insert may be retained securely between the sidewalls of the item of luggage 560. Alternatively, sheets of foam, padding, or other material (e.g., the user's clothing) may be packed into the interstitial space between insert bag 540 and the item of luggage 560 to retain insert bag 540 and/or the luggage insert within the item of luggage 560 (e.g., a foam insert of custom dimensions). The above mode of securement may provide the added benefit of adding additional cushion and/or protection around insert bag 540. Alternatively, the item of luggage 560 may be equipped with integral straps 561 (e.g., connectable by a snap and/or buckle) and/or flaps 562 (e.g., opened and closed by a zipper) secured within and/or formed integrally with luggage 560 for strapping the insert bag 540 into a secured position within the item of luggage 560.
Insert bag 540 may include one or more handles (e.g., straps 547). That assist in moving, lifting, and/or lowering insert bag 540. Insert bag 540 may be lifted from and/or lowered into the item of luggage 560. Insert bag 540 may be transported in the interior of the item of luggage 560. Insert bag 540 may be moved by grabbing straps 547 and moving insert bag 540 to a desired location for packing and/or unpacking (e.g., for office assembly and/or disassembly).
Top flap 641 may be permanently attached to sidewalls 643 and/or bottom wall 642 (e.g., via a seam along one or more sides of top flap 641). Top flap 641 may be removably attached to sidewalls 643 and/or bottom wall 642 (e.g., via zipper, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, clasps, magnets, or one or more other securement means). Top flap 641 may have one or more hook and loop fasteners 645 (e.g., strips) along an edge thereof, which may enable securement to a corresponding one or more hook and loop fasteners 646 along an edge of sidewalls 643 and/or bottom wall 642.
The luggage insert may be retained within insert bag 640 by securement means (e.g., as heretofore described). Sidewalls 643 and/or bottom wall 642 may have zippers, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, clasps, magnets, or one or more other securement means to retain luggage insert within insert bag 640. Sidewalls 643 and/or bottom wall 642 may have one or more hook and loop fasteners 649 (e.g., strips) along a surface thereof, which may enable securement to a corresponding one or more hook and loop fasteners on the luggage insert. The luggage insert may be secured by the hook and loop fasteners 649, or removed as desired.
Top flap 741 may further be retained by an auxiliary flap 744 (e.g., using securement means described in this disclosure). Auxiliary flap 744 may fold over top flap 741. Auxiliary flap 744 may retain top flap 741 along one side of top flap 741. Auxiliary flap 744 may be permanently affixed to one or more of sidewalls 743 and/or the bottom wall (e.g., via a seam). Auxiliary flap 744 may have one or more hook and loop fasteners 747 (e.g., strips) along an edge thereof, which may enable securement to a corresponding one or more hook and loop fasteners 748 along a surface of top wall 741.
Top flap 741 may have a pocket 750. Pocket 750 may be on an exterior surface of top flap 741. Pocket 750 may be on an interior surface of top flap 741. Pocket 750 may be formed of a textile material (e.g., cotton-polyester blended material).
Insert bag 740 may have one or more grommets 751 (e.g., in sidewalls 743). Grommets 751 may enable insert bag 740 to be retained to another structure (e.g., to an item of luggage).
Having described several embodiments of the invention, various extensions and alternatives may be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Such extensions and alternatives are considered to be part of the invention, which is only limited by the several claims attached hereto. Other aspects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice disclosed herein. It is intended, therefore, that the specification and illustrated embodiments be considered as examples only.
