Patent Application
20150047941
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to luggage systems for carrying bottled beverages, particularly to wine carrying suitcases.
2. Description of Related Art
Air travel security constraints require that large quantities of liquid not be transported as carryon items in airplanes. Because a great number of beverage bottles are breakable, and handling of luggage designated as cargo often results in the breaking of beverage bottles in the luggage, there is a need for bottled beverage carrying suitcases that can keep bottles safe and unbroken. Embodiments of the present invention solve this problem by providing bottled beverage carrying suitcase systems.
Embodiments of the present invention comprise wine carrying suitcase systems comprising a first and a second shell portions comprising one or more side walls, one or more end walls, a bottom, and an openable top connected to the one or more side walls and the one or more end walls. The first and second shell portions are preferably hingeably connected together. A fastening system is preferably disposed around the edges of the one or more side walls and the one or more end walls, to releaseably join the shell portions. The one or more side walls, one or more end walls, bottoms, and openable tops preferably define at least one independent wine carrying space in each shell portion. Embodiments of the present invention comprise securing straps inside the wine carrying spaces, and bottle accommodating forms comprising independent bottle cavities configured and arranged to safely transport bottles in the wine carrying spaces. Preferably, the bottle accommodating forms are surrounded by one or more form walls, bottoms, and one or more tops.
In one embodiment, one of the shell portions further comprises a telescopic tubular handle assembly. In one embodiment the telescopic tubular handle assembly is reinforced to withstand heavy loads. In one embodiment the first and second shell portions further comprise a wheel skid assembly comprising wheels. In one embodiment, the securing straps inside the wine carrying spaces comprise a fastening system, optionally comprising buckles.
In one embodiment, the openable top comprises a zipper. In one embodiment the two shell portions are fastened with a zipper system. In one embodiment, the bottle cavities are bottle size customizable to diverse bottle neck lengths. In one embodiment, the bottle cavities are bottle size customizable to different bottle widths.
One embodiment of the invention further comprises one or more handles disposed on at least one of said shells. The handles are optionally reinforced to withstand heavy loads.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. In the drawings:
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of embodiments of the invention, not limitation of the invention.
As used throughout this specification and claims, the terms “suitcase” or “luggage” refer to portable cases designed to hold personal or commercial articles for transportation.
Some embodiments of the present invention comprise suitcase systems. Referring now to the embodiment of the present invention shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In one embodiment, cavities 34 comprise a bottle neck are between approximately 0.1 and approximately 3 inches wide, preferably between approximately 0.5 and approximately 2 inches wide, and most preferably between approximately 1.5 and approximately 0.75 wide. In one embodiment, cavities 34 comprise a bottle neck are between approximately 1 and approximately 8 inches in length, preferably between approximately 2 and approximately 7 inches in length, and most preferably between approximately 3 and approximately 6 inches in length. In one embodiment, cavities 34 comprise bottle shoulders area between approximately 0.1 and approximately 6 inches wide, preferably between approximately 0.5 and approximately 5 inches wide, and most preferably between approximately 2 and approximately 4 inches wide. In one embodiment, cavities 34 comprise bottle base area between approximately 0.1 and approximately 6 inches wide, preferably between approximately 0.5 and approximately 5 inches wide, and most preferably between approximately 2 and approximately 4 inches wide. In one embodiment, cavities 34 comprise bottle body area between approximately 2 and approximately 8 inches long, preferably between approximately 3 and approximately 7 inches long, and most preferably between approximately 4 and approximately 6 inches long. In one embodiment, cavities 34 comprise total bottle body (body plus neck) area between approximately 3 and approximately 20 inches long, preferably between approximately 5 and approximately 18 inches long, and most preferably between approximately 6 and approximately 15 inches long. In one embodiment, cavities 34 are between approximately 0.1 and approximately 6 inches deep, preferably between approximately 0.5 and approximately 5 inches deep, and most preferably between approximately 1 and approximately 4 inches deep.
In one embodiment, forms 30 comprise three segments 32 and each segment 32 comprises two cavities 34 each, for a total of six cavities 34 in each carrying space 26. In a different embodiment, forms 30 comprise two segments 32 and each segment 32 comprises three cavities 34 to carry the same number of bottles. The number of segments 32 can vary depending of the needs of the users. Similarly, segments 32 can have different number of cavities 34, depending on the dimensions of the bottles to be transported. In one embodiment, segments 32 are customizable for different bottles and/or other products. In one embodiment, a fastening system, for example straps 28, is configured and arranged to secure one or more form segments 32. For example, a user may wish to only carry two out of three form segments 32. In that case, one or more straps 28 comprising, for example, buckles 31 and 33, may be adapted to secure a smaller number of segments 32 through, for example, a system to adjust the length of straps 28. Optionally, additional straps 28 of different lengths are disposed in spaces 26 to secure a smaller number of segments 32. If only two segments are be used, space is left available to carry bottle openers, glasses, labels, etc.
In a different embodiment, beverage carrying suitcase 10 further comprises outside strap 42 as a safety measure. In one embodiment, strap 42 comprises buckle 43. Preferably, strap 42 goes under handle 46 or next to it so as to not affect its functionality. Optionally, one or more corners are reinforced with covers 44. Preferably, one or more handles 46 are disposed on beverage carrying suitcase 10, which are optionally reinforced to withstand heavy loads. In one embodiment, handles 46 are disposed on the side/end of both shell portions 12.
Optionally, embodiments of the present invention are used in conjunction with state of the art luggage tracking technology. For example, in one embodiment, a tracking device capable of tracking and reporting the location of luggage through, for example, GPS and/or ground-based cellular telephone technologies is integrated in bottled beverage carrying suitcase 10.
The invention is further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples.
A wine carrying suitcase system was manufactured. The system comprises two rectangular shell portions. Each shell portion has two side walls, two end walls, a bottom, and an openable top. The openable top is of fabric and is connected to one side wall and includes a zipper around the sides that are not connected to the side wall. The zipper connects the openable top to the inside tops of the end walls and the remaining side wall when the top is in the closed configuration to define two wine carrying spaces (one in each shell portion). The two shell portions are connected, in turn, to each other at one of their side wall portions through hinges. A zipper is disposed around the edges of the remaining side wall and end walls to fasten the suitcase in the closed configuration. Securing straps are disposed inside each wine carrying space. A long set of straps to secure three bottles accommodating forms, and a shorter set of straps for securing one or two bottle accommodating forms. Each bottle accommodating form has three cavities in the shape of a wine bottle. The neck portion of the cavity has spongy material that could optionally be removed to customize the cavity to different bottle neck sizes. The bottle neck part of the cavity is one inch wide and five inches long. A removable one inch long by one inch wide by two inches tall sponge was placed in one end of the neck area to make it four inches long. In this manner, the cavity could accommodate bottles with necks that were either four or five inches long. The bottle body part of the cavity is three inches wide at the bottle shoulders, and three inches wide at the bottle base, and five and a half inches long. The whole cavity is two inches deep. A single top covering all three bottle accommodating forms is provided for each wine carrying space. One shell portion comprised a reinforced a telescopic tubular handle assembly on the outside. Both shell portions comprise reinforced handles on one side and one end for carrying the suitcase. Both shell portions comprise a wheel skid assembly comprising wheels.
The preceding example can be repeated with similar success by substituting the generically or specifically described operating conditions of this invention for those used in the preceding example.
Note that in the specification and claims, “about” or “approximately” means within twenty percent (20%) of the numerical amount cited.
Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference.
