This application relates to travel cases.
Travel cases are often used to carry items while traveling. Quality cases may be quite useful. However, the amount of time an individual spends traveling with gear in the case is often quite small relative to the time spent at home or at a destination. At those times, the travel case is bulky and unneeded. It would be an advantage in the art to reduce the bulk and inconvenience of travel cases when not in use. Reduction in bulk would also help reduce shipping costs for new cases.
In one aspect of the invention, a collapsible travel case includes a plurality of panels including a front panel, a top panel, a back panel, a bottom panel, a left panel, and a right panel. Each panel of the plurality of panels may be non-removably secured to at least one other panel of the plurality of panels. Each panel of a subset of the panels may be removably secured to another panel of the subset of panels such that the plurality of panels define a substantially cuboid shape. The subset of panels may include the front panel, back panel, bottom panel, left panel, and right panel. The top panel may define a top opening with a closure mechanism. The bottom panel may be foldable and insertable within the top opening with each of the front panel, left panel, and right panel folded across the top panel and positioned between the back panel and the top panel. The closure mechanism may include a zipper. The zipper may include two zipper pulls configured to allow the closure mechanism to partially close the top opening around the bottom panel when the bottom panel is inserted through the top opening.
The bottom panel may include a stiffening panel and a bottom opening, the stiffening panel being removable from the bottom panel through the bottom opening. The bottom panel may have a first bottom edge secured to the back panel and a second bottom edge opposite the first bottom edge that is not non-removably attached to any panel of the plurality of panels, the second bottom edge being insertable through the top opening, the bottom opening being closer to the first bottom edge than to the second bottom edge.
In some embodiments, a first panel of the subset of panels includes a first panel including an inner layer and an outer layer, first fastening material positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer at a first edge of the first panel, and second fastening material positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer at a second edge of the first panel opposite the first edge. A second panel of the subset of panels may define a second panel flap positionable between the inner layer and the outer layer in engagement with the first fastening material. A third panel of the subset of panels may define a third panel flap positionable between the inner layer and the outer layer in engagement with the second fastening material.
In some embodiments: the top panel is non-removably secured at a first top edge of the top panel to a first front edge of the front panel; the back panel is non-removably secured at a first back edge of the back panel to a second top edge of the front panel, the second top edge being on an opposite side of the top panel from the first top edge; the bottom panel is non-removably secures at a first bottom edge of the bottom panel to a second back edge of the back panel; the left panel is non-removably secured at a first left edge of the left panel to a third top edge of the top panel extending between the first top edge and the second top edge; and the right panel is non-removably secured to a first right edge of the right panel to a fourth top edge of the top panel extending between the first top edge and the second top edge and positioned opposite the third edge.
In some embodiments, the bottom panel includes: a second bottom edge selectively securable to a second front edge of the front panel opposite the first front edge; a third bottom edge selectively securable to a second left edge of the left panel opposite the first left edge; and a fourth bottom edge selectively securable to a second right edge of the right panel opposite the first right edge.
In some embodiments, the bottom panel includes: a first bottom flap secured along the second bottom edge and including first fastening material; a second bottom flap secured along the third bottom edge and including second fastening material; a third bottom flap secured along the fourth bottom edge and including third fastening material; the front panel includes fourth fastening material positioned to engage the first fastening material; the left panel includes fifth fastening material positioned to engage the second fastening material; and the right panel includes sixth fastening material positioned to engage the third fastening material.
In some embodiments, the front panel includes a first front flap secured to a third front edge of the front panel extending between the first front edge and the second front edge and a second front flap secured to a fourth front edge of the front panel opposite the third front edge. The back panel may include a first back flap secured to a third back edge of the back panel extending between the first back edge and the second back edge and a second back flap secured to a fourth front edge of the back panel opposite the third back edge. The left panel may include a first left opening along a third left edge of the left panel and a second left opening extending along a fourth left edge of the left panel opposite the third left edge, the third left edge and fourth left edge of the panel extending between the first left edge and the second left edge. The right panel may include a first right opening along a third right edge of the right panel and a second right opening extending along a fourth right edge of the right panel opposite the third right edge, the third right edge and fourth right edge of the panel extending between the first right edge and the second right edge. The first front flap may be selectively securable within the first left opening and the second front flap is selectively securable within the first right opening. The first back flap may be selectively securable within the second left opening and the second back flap is selectively securable within the second right opening
In some embodiments, the front panel includes first fastening material on an inner surface thereof; the back panel incudes second fastening material on an inner surface thereof; and the collapsible travel case further includes a divider including third fastening material configured to engage the first fastening material and fourth fastening material configured to engage the second fastening material such that the divider subdivides a volume defined by the cuboid shape.
In some embodiments, a collapsible travel case includes: a front panel; a top panel secured at a first top edge of the top panel to a first front edge of the front panel; a back panel secured at a first back edge of the back panel to a second top edge of the front panel, the second top edge being on an opposite side of the top panel from the first top edge; a bottom panel secured at a first bottom edge of the bottom panel to a second back edge of the back panel; a left panel secured at a first left edge of the left panel to a third top edge of the top panel extending between the first top edge and the second top edge; a right panel secured to a first right edge of the right panel to a fourth top edge of the top panel extending between the first top edge and the second top edge and positioned opposite the third edge; wherein the bottom panel includes: a second bottom edge selectively securable to a second front edge of the front panel opposite the first front edge; a third bottom edge selectively securable to a second left edge of the left panel opposite the first left edge; and a fourth bottom edge selectively securable to a second right edge of the right panel opposite the first right edge; wherein the front panel includes a first front flap secured to a third front edge of the front panel extending between the first front edge and the second front edge and a second front flap secured to a fourth front edge of the front panel opposite the third front edge; wherein the back panel includes a first back flap secured to a third back edge of the back panel extending between the first back edge and the second back edge and a second back flap secured to a fourth front edge of the back panel opposite the third back edge; wherein the left panel includes a first left opening along a third left edge of the left panel and a second left opening extending along a fourth left edge of the left panel opposite the third left edge, the third left edge and fourth left edge of the panel extending between the first left edge and the second left edge; wherein the right panel includes a first right opening along a third right edge of the right panel and a second right opening extending along a fourth right edge of the right panel opposite the third right edge, the third right edge and fourth right edge of the panel extending between the first right edge and the second right edge; wherein the first front flap is selectively securable within the first left opening and the second front flap is selectively securable within the first right opening; and wherein the first back flap is selectively securable within the second left opening and the second back flap is selectively securable within the second right opening.
In some embodiments, the first left opening and the second left opening are defined between an inner left layer and an outer left layer of the left panel and the first right opening and second right opening are defined between an inner right layer and an outer right layer of the right panel.
In some embodiments, first left fastening material is secured between the inner left layer and the outer left layer and positioned to engage the first front flap; second left fastening material is secured between the inner left layer and the outer left layer and positioned to engage the first back flap; first right fastening material is secured between the inner right layer and the outer right layer and positioned to engage the second front flap; and second right fastening material is secured between the inner left layer and the outer left layer and positioned to engage the second back flap.
In some embodiments, the first left fastening material, second left fastening material, first right fastening material, and second right fastening material are hook-and-loop fastening material.
In some embodiments, the top panel defines a top opening with a closure mechanism and the bottom panel is foldable and insertable within the top opening with each of the front panel, left panel, and right panel folded across the top panel and positioned between the back panel and the top panel.
In some embodiments, the closure mechanism is a zipper extending continuously along the third top edge, the first top edge, and the fourth top edge. The zipper may include two zipper pulls configured to allow the closure mechanism to close the top opening along the third edge and the fourth edge when the bottom panel is inserted through the top opening.
In some embodiments, the bottom panel includes a stiffening panel and a bottom opening, the stiffening panel being removable from the bottom panel through the bottom opening to enable folding of the bottom panel. The bottom opening is closer to the first bottom edge than to the second bottom edge.
Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:
and
Each panel 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 may be quadrilateral in shape. The panels 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 may be made of one or more layers of fabric and incorporate one or more layers of stiffening material (rigid plastic and/or foam). The fabric, rigid, plastic, and/or foam may be according to any such materials used in the field of travel cases. In particular, an outer layer of fabric may be a tough material, such as a woven nylon having a high denier and an inner layer of fabric may be a soft and low-friction material. In some embodiments, the outer layer is coated nylon with the thickness of the coating increasing for high-wear applications. In some embodiments, the panels 12 include a nylon outer layer with a backing laminate. For heavy duty applications, coated nylon may also be used for the inner layer.
Accordingly, the shape of the panels 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 may be malleable and vary at least slightly according to applied forces. Accordingly, “quadrilateral” as applied to a panel shall be understood to mean: with the panel laid on a flat surface in the absence of a force acting on the panel, the panel has a perimeter such that a rectangle parallel to the flat surface may be defined such that 80 percent of the perimeter is within a threshold distance from the rectangle, the threshold distance being a value that is less than 5 percent of a longest dimension of the rectangle. In the foregoing discussion, reference is made to edges of panels 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22. An edge of a panel may be understood as a length of the perimeter of a panel of which at least 80 percent lies within the threshold distance from an edge of the rectangle defined as described above.
The front panel 12 is secured along one edge to a first edge of the top panel 14. A second edge of the top panel 14 opposite the first edge of the back panel is secured to a first edge of the back panel 16. A second edge of the back panel 16 opposite the first edge of the back panel 16 is secured to an edge of the bottom panel 18.
One edge of the left panel 20 is secured to a left edge of the top panel 14, the left edge extending between the first edge and the second edge of the top panel 14. One edge of the right panel 22 is secured to a right edge of the top panel 14, the right edge extending between the first edge and the second edge of the top panel 14 and being on an opposite side of the top panel 14 from the right edge.
The front panel 12 may include flaps 12a, 12b connected to left and right edges, respectively of the front panel 12, the left and right edges extending substantially (e.g., within 10 percent of) perpendicular to the edge of front panel 12 secured to the top panel 14. The back panel 16 may include flaps 16a, 16b connected to left and right edges, respectively of the back panel 16, the left and right edges extending substantially (e.g., within 10 percent of) perpendicular to the first edge of back panel 12 secured to the top panel 14. The flaps 12a, 12b, 16a, 16b may have lengths substantially smaller, e.g. less than 20 percent of the lengths of the panels 12, 16 between the right and left edges thereof. The flaps 12a, 12b, 16a, 16b are preferably flexible and may lack stiffening elements present in the panels 12, 16. The flaps 12a, 12b, 16a, 16b may be tapered or rounded with distance from the panels 12, 16 in order to facilitate insertion within the left and right panels 20, 22 as described below.
The collapsible travel case 10 may be used with a divider 24. The divider 24 may be used to divide a compartment defined within the travel case 10 into two sub compartments. The divider 24 may include fastener portions 24a, 24b extending from its left and right edges, the fastener portions 24a, 24b may be flaps with fastening material on at least one side. As used herein, “fastening material” shall be understood to be either an area of hooks or loops according to a hook-and-loop fastening system (e.g., VELCRO), an area of 3M DUAL LOCK material, a set of snap fasteners, or other fastening system. References herein to first fastening material engaging second fastening material shall be understood to include the first fastening material being of a first type (e.g., hooks) and the second being of a second type configured to engage with the second type (e.g., loops) where hook-and-loop fastening material is used.
The front panel 12 may include fastening material 12c and the rear panel 16 may include fastening material 16c. The fastener portions 24a, 24b may therefore be engaged with the fastening material 12c, 16c, respectively, on order to secure the divider 24 within the collapsible travel case 10.
Various areas of fastening material may be secured to the panels 12, 16, 18, 20, and 22 in order to facilitate assembling of the collapsible travel case. In the illustrated implementation this includes fastening material 12d on the bottom surface of flap 12a, fastening material 12e on the bottom of flap 12b, fastening material 16d on the lower surface of flap 16a, and fastening material 16e on the lower surface of flap 16b. As is apparent, substantially all (e.g., between 70 and 100 percent) of the lower surfaces of the flaps 12a, 12b, 16a, 16b are covered with the fastening material.
Fastening material 20a may be secured to a bottom surface of panel 20 and fastening material 22a may be secured to a bottom surface panel 22. Additional fastening material 12f may be secured along an edge of panel 12 opposite the edge of panel 12 fastened to the top panel 14. As is apparent, the fastening material 20a, 22a, 12f does not cover even a major portion of the panels 20, 22, 12 in the illustrated embodiment. For example, the fastening material 20a, 22a, 12f may be a strip having a width of 3 to 7 cm at a distal edge of the panels 20, 22, 12 opposite the edge of these panels secured to the top panel 14. The length of the fastening material 20a, 22a, 12f may be substantially (up to −10%) equal to the width of the panels 20, 22, 12 to which the fastening material 20a, 22a, 12f secures parallel to the edge of the panels 20, 22, 12 secured to the top panel 14.
The bottom panel 18a may include fastening material 18d, 18e, 18f on the flaps 18a, 18b, 18c, respectively. The fastening material may cover substantially all (e.g., between 70 and 100 percent) of the bottom surfaces of the flaps 18a, 18b, 18c.
When assembled, fastening material 18d engages fastening material 20a, fastening material 18e engages fastening material 12f, and fastening material 18f engages fastening material 22a. As discussed in greater detail below, flaps 12a and 16a may be tucked into pockets in the right panel 20 and flaps 12b and 16b may be tucked into pockets in the left panel 22. These pockets may include fastening material engaging the fastening material 12d, 12e, 16d, and 16e.
When assembled, the top panel 14 may lie substantially within a first plane parallel to the longitudinal direction 26b and the horizontal direction 12c. As used herein “substantially within” a plane shall be understood as 80 percent of a panel lying within 1 cm of the plane. The bottom panel 18 may lie substantially within a second plane parallel to the first plane and offset along the vertical direction 26a. The front panel 12 may lie substantially within a third plane parallel to the vertical direction 26a and the transverse direction 26c. The back panel 16 may lie substantially within a fourth plane parallel to the third plane and offset therefrom along the longitudinal direction 12b. The right panel 20 may lie substantially within a fifth plane parallel to the vertical direction 26a and the longitudinal direction 26b. The left panel 22 may lie substantially within a sixth plane parallel to the fifth plane and offset therefrom along the transverse direction 12c.
As is apparent, the width of the case 10 in the transverse direction 12c is greater than the depth of the case in the longitudinal direction 12b. The depth of the case may be greater than a height of the case 10 in the vertical direction 12a. These dimensions are exemplary only and other configurations are also possible.
Referring specifically to
As noted above, the panels may be reinforced by one or both of rigid plastic and foam. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom panel 18 is reinforced by both a rigid plastic plate 30 and a foam pad 32. In order to fold the bottom panel 18 through the opening in the zipper 14b, the plate 30 and foam pad 32 may be partially pulled out from the bottom panel 18, such as through an opening 18g defined by the bottom panel 18. Accordingly, in the folded configuration, the plate 30 and foam pad 32 extends partially or completely over the back panel 16.
As shown in
Referring to
Transitioning the collapsible case 10 to the collapsed and folded configuration may be performed in a reverse manner to the approach described above with respect to
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/029,113 filed May 22, 2020, and entitled COLLAPSIBLE BOX, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63029113 | May 2020 | US |