Patent Application
20100038198
NA
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of travel accessories including luggage and travel carriers and pertains more particularly to a travel carrier with interchangeable elongate sections for carrying elongate utilities and accessories when traveling by air or ground.
2. Discussion of the State of the Art
In the field of travel, there are a variety of luggage carriers and the like adapted to contain items that a traveler needs at least at the travel destination. The most common type of luggage is the suitcase adapted to contain a traveler's cloths, shoes, and other items that the user is not personally carrying during travel.
In air travel for example people check bags into the airline luggage transport service connected with the flight the traveler is taking. These bags are typically suitcase style rectangular bags or carriers that have wheels and an extendible handle that allows travelers to pull the carrier on wheels using the extendible handle as a lever similar to maneuvering a two-wheeled hand truck. These typical carrier bags or cases may vary in size and capacity to very small cases that can be carried such as on a flight to much larger cases that have to be separately transported.
One limitation to the typical travel case is that it is only designed to carry typical travel items like clothing, shoes, and general necessities one requires at a travel destination. Carry on bags that are small enough to travel with the traveler include smaller back packs, handled carry bags, brief cases, and the like. These are also limited in what they can carry for a traveler.
There are, of course, current carriers for elongate items like snow boards and skis, and these are typically too large to be taken on-board as hand luggage, and must be checked as baggage. One problem many travelers have with such luggage is that these carriers are very clumsy to handle when standing in line or maneuvering through crowded airport terminals.
Many travelers take flights or other means of mass transportation to vacation sites where they ski, snowboard, fish, wake board, surf, and other activities.
What is clearly needed is a carrier that is configurable to stow elongate items that are otherwise awkward to carry in a manner that protects the items from exposure to elements and shock, that allows a traveler to maneuver and carry the item in an efficient and non-obtrusive way, and that may be left to stand upright on a floor with a very small footprint, to avoid the problems of maneuverability in lines, and that may also be moved along in this upright position.
The problem stated above is that typical travel cases for elongate items like snowboards or skis are designed to be carried with the long axis horizontal, and this makes maneuverability in lines and crowds quite difficult. Such carriers cannot be stood on a floor with the long axis upward in a stable manner, and will not stand unsupported in this aspect.
The inventors therefore considered functional elements of a travel case, looking for elements that exhibit the potential to provide a way to enclose and protect elongate items such as skis or a snowboard for example, but in a manner that would not be inconvenient to maneuver.
The present inventor realized in an inventive moment that if a travel case could be designed that would facilitate enclosure and protection of an elongate item while still having room for the accessories associated with the item, a significant convenience might result for the traveler. The inventor therefore constructed a unique travel carrier for stowing elongate utility items and accessories that allowed convenient and efficient maneuvering and space utilization while offering covered protection for the items stowed. A significant convenience results, with no impediment to maneuvering of the carrier or with space utilization of the carrier.
Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention a travel carrier comprising a first region having a rigid floor and walls extending to a height defining a volume of a size to accommodate at least a pair of boots, a closable opening into the first region for depositing and removing items to be carried, a second, elongate region extending upward from the first region of a length and cross-sectional area at least sufficient for holding one or more elongate items, a closable opening into the second region for depositing and removing items to be carried, and two or more wheels along one edge of the floor of the first region and supports along an opposite edge of the floor of the first region, such that the travel carrier, resting on the wheels and supports, is stably supported in an upright aspect with the elongate second region extending upward and positioned within the footprint of the floor of the first region, and wherein the carrier may be tipped onto the wheels to be pulled along a floor by a person holding the second region.
In one embodiment the first region is rectangular and the second elongate region is tubular. In one embodiment the travel carrier further includes an adapter in the form of a rigid square tube into which the second elongate region is seated. In this embodiment the first region is rectangular and the second elongate region is a semi-rigid rectangular sleeve.
In another embodiment the travel carrier further includes an adapter in the form of a rigid rectangular sleeve into which the end of an elongate item enclosed by the second elongate region is seated. In one embodiment the wheels are castor wheels and a handle is strategically located on the second elongate region to enable maneuvering of the carrier on the wheels. In one embodiment another handle is provided on the travel carrier and is located on one wall of the first region.
In one embodiment the first region and second elongate region are covered with a heavy material or, with the exception of the rigid floor of the first region, fabricated of a heavy material. In a variation of this embodiment the heavy material may be completely separated into two parts along a zippered edge with a zipper for adjoining the two parts with one part remaining integral to the first region and the other part remaining integral to the second elongate region when unzipped and separated.
In one embodiment including an adapter, the first region supports attachment and removal of different adapters associated with different elongate regions. In a variation of this embodiment, one second elongate region attachable to the first region by an associated adapter is adapted to house one or more skis and poles, the first region adapted to house ski boots and accessories. In another variation of the embodiment, one second elongate region attachable to the first region by an associated adapter is adapted to house a snowboard, the first region adapted to house snowboard boots and accessories.
In one embodiment supporting the use of heavy material separable into two parts by a zipper, the zippered edge defines an opening into the first region when unzipped. In one embodiment wherein the second elongate enclosure is a semi-rigid rectangular sleeve the second elongate region includes a vertical zippered edge with a zipper defining a vertically disposed opening into the region. In one embodiment wherein the second elongate region is tubular, the closeable opening of the second elongate region is a lid attached by zipper to the body of the region.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for configuring a travel carrier to enclose a different elongate item or items and accessories than an elongate item or items and accessories it is currently configured to enclose, the carrier having a first region and a second elongate region disposed within the footprint of the first region, the regions associated together through an adapter, and a closable opening separate to each region comprising the steps (a) detaching the second elongate region of the travel carrier from the first region of the travel carrier, (b) removing the adapter from the first region of the travel carrier, (c) installing a different adapter to first region of the travel carrier, and (d) attaching a different elongate region to the first region with the aid of the adapter of step (c).
In one aspect of the method the travel carrier is covered with or fabricated from a heavy material and in step (a) detachment is by unzipping the second region from the first region along a zippered edge in the material. In this aspect in step (d), attachment is by zipping the elongate region to the first region after first orientating the elongate region to the first region orientation aided by the adapter. In one aspect in step (d), the adapter orientates and seats the elongate region relative to the first region. In another aspect, in step (d), the adapter is adapted to accept an end of an elongate item being enclosed by the elongate region.
The inventor provides a travel carrier for completely enclosing elongate items that otherwise are awkward to carry such as a pair of skis or a snowboard and associated accessories like boots, gloves and the like. The carrier may be checked onto a flight as luggage or as a carryon bag and is adapted to be handled in a fashion similar to wheeled suitcases typically used in flight travel. The invention shall be described in detail using the various embodiments presented below.
In this example, primary enclosure 101 has a rigid floor 110. Floor 110 may be manufactured of a polymer, fiber board, or some other rigid material. A pair of castor wheels 105 is provided and installed on the lower surface of floor 110 to provide a wheeled base that enables carrier 100 to be pulled or pushed and rolled along on the wheels in a fashion similar to wheeled suitcases popular in airline travel.
Secondary enclosure 103 is linear in form and is an elongate tube in this example. Enclosure 103 may be manufactured of polymer, fiberboard, heavy cardboard, or some other rigid or semi-rigid material. Enclosure 103 may be attached to primary enclosure 101 such that it is supported in vertical extension above the base of the carrier. The terms primary and secondary used to reference the enclosures serves only to distinguish the enclosures from one another in general description. Primary enclosure 101 is primary only in that it serves as a base for supporting secondary enclosure 103.
A heavy material 106 such as canvas or some other durable material may be provided to completely cover travel carrier 100 including primary enclosure 101 and secondary enclosure 103. Material 106 may be glued onto primary and secondary enclosures or it may be stretched over the enclosures. Walls 102 of base enclosure 101 may include a covering of canvas or other heavy material 106 sewn over or glued onto a heavy cardboard, polymer, or fiber board backing thus giving a semi rigid quality to walls 102 of enclosure 101. In another embodiment, walls 102 are made of the heavy material without backing and take form when the carrier is assembled and packed.
Elongate secondary enclosure 103 has a closeable end cap 104 that attaches to the enclosure body 103 by a zipper 111. Other methods may be used to close off the free end of enclosure 103 such as snap, tie, or buckle without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. End cap 104 includes a handle 108 sewn onto or otherwise affixed to the top surface of end cap 104. Handle 108 may be a polymer handle or a handle made from some other rigid or resilient material. Handle 108 enables a user to pull or push travel carrier 100 on wheels 105 by tilting the carrier from an upright position onto wheels 105 and maneuvering it as desired. Another handle 109 is provided in this example on a wall (102) of carrier 100 to illustrate that it may also be manipulated as other luggage types by carrying it in a horizontal position.
Material 106 may be separable along a zippered edge demarked by a zipper 107. In one embodiment, unzipping zipper 107 provides an opening into and therefore access to primary enclosure 101. Unzipping zipper 107 completely may separate the material 106 stretched over base enclosure 101 and elongate enclosure 103. Material 106 may be firmly attached to both enclosures 101 and 103 in certain specific regions so that unzipping the material does not displace the material from the respective enclosures that the material covers. In one embodiment industrial adhesive may be used to attach the material to the structure of the base enclosure and that of the tube enclosure as well.
Travel carrier 100 has at least one material pocket illustrated herein by a zipper 112 marking the opening of the pocket. Pockets may be present in multiple locations on carrier 100 and may be used to stow gloves, hats, and other items. Travel carrier 100 may be provided in different forms or versions that are adapted to accommodate specific items that would otherwise be awkward to carry during travel such as airline travel, for example. The defining component in different versions of carrier 100 is an elongate enclosure though the exact physical forms of elongate enclosures from carrier to carrier may differ according to the physical properties of the item that the enclosure is adapted for. In this example, carrier 100 is adapted to enclose a ski or a pair of skis and poles enclosed within elongate enclosure 103 and ski boots, bindings and perhaps other accessories associated with skiing in primary enclosure 101.
The design of travel carrier 100 is such that it may be stood upright when not being maneuvered on wheels 105. Base enclosure 101 provides a stable anchor for elongate enclosure 103 preventing tipping over. As such, a user may easily maneuver carrier 100 among other baggage typically handled without any problems related to convenience of movement or with space utilization. Travel carrier 100 may in some cases fit onto a luggage rack horizontally and may be set upright in line or when it is not being maneuvered without inconvenience.
An adapter 201 is provided within base enclosure 101 and is adapted to be secured to the floor and walls of the enclosure. Adapter 201 is illustrated herein with a broken outline. In an embodiment where elongate enclosure 103 is a tube, adapter 201 may be a rectangular tube or an annular tube structure. In either case, the inside diameter of the adapter may be held just larger than the outside diameter of secondary enclosure 103 so that the enclosure can be fitted into the adapter for support. In one embodiment no fastening is required in order to support enclosure 103 in a vertical position. Assembly in this embodiment consists of seating the elongate enclosure tube into the adapter tube.
After elongate enclosure 103 is seated into the adapter on base enclosure 101, the heavy material coverings previously described may be zipped together to hold the carrier together. In some other embodiments fastening hardware may be provided to secure the elongate enclosure to the adapter on the base enclosure. Adapter 201 may be secured to the floor and back wall of the primary enclosure by screws and brackets or by other fastening hardware.
In one embodiment enclosure 101 remains open with respect to having a hinged lid or a top piece and is not covered until the heavy material covering the carrier is zipped together thus forming a material top or cover. The material flap with a zippered edge may be a part of the elongate enclosure and when the enclosure is properly connected to the base enclosure, the material sections may be zipped together forming the top of the base enclosure and physically supporting and retaining the elongate enclosure from becoming displaced. An interior space or pocket 204 is illustrated herein as a space that may be accessed through a zippered opening such as through zipper 112 described further above with respect to
In one embodiment of the invention primary enclosure 101 may be utilized to carry items without having a secondary enclosure attached. In this case a material top having a zipper edge may be provided to close off the enclosure on top. Also in this embodiment an extensible handle (not illustrated) may be provided on the primary enclosure so that it may be maneuvered in the manner of a typical airline bag having wheels and an extensible handle.
In a preferred embodiment, the secondary enclosure or region as it may be referred to is disposed vertically and remains within the footprint of the primary enclosure the carrier enabled to stand upright without tipping. In one embodiment a counterweight may be provided in the primary enclosure to ensure a more stable upright position. However, it is not required to practice the invention as the items stowed in the primary enclosure are of sufficient weight to provide good stability for an upright elongate item like a snowboard or a pair of skis, both of which are relatively light in weight.
Secondary enclosure 303 may be attached or affixed to primary enclosure 101 with slight modification of base enclosure 101 such as replacing the adapter (201) described with respect to
Secondary enclosure 303 may be a semi-rigid enclosure. In this example, enclosure 303 is rectangular having a rigid or semi-rigid back wall (not visible in this view) and rigid or semi-rigid side walls such as wall 308 (visible in this view). Enclosure 303 may also include a rigid or semi-rigid top or end wall that is rigid enough to support handle 302. The walls of elongate enclosure 303 may be heavy cardboard, fiberboard, polymer, or some other rigid to semi-rigid material. These support structures may be backing that forms the basic shape of the enclosure over which a heavy material 306 may be sewn, stretched over, or glued.
Elongate enclosure 303 has a front wall 310, which may be made from material 306. A zippered edge demarked by a zipper 301 is provided and disposed vertically along the length of enclosure 303 roughly centered on front wall 310 to provide access to the contents of the enclosure. Enclosure 303 may be designed to contain a snowboard, for example. Zipper 301 is provided to open or to close the opening in this example but other fastening hardware may be used instead such as snaps, hooks, buckles or the like.
In one embodiment of the present invention, elongate enclosure 303 and elongate enclosure 103 of
In one embodiment enclosure 303 is a flexible non-reinforced material like canvas material 306 or perhaps cordura used as a material in flight bags because of its durability. In this case the enclosure takes vertical form after the contents are enclosed therein. The contents, in this case, a snowboard, may be fitted partially into an adapter attached to the back wall of base enclosure 101 in order to ensure a vertical predisposition of the otherwise flaccid elongate enclosure when it is zipped up over the snowboard. In the case of a semi-rigid enclosure the adapter may still be used to anchor the snowboard so that a vertical presentation is secured.
Adapter 401 may be manufactured of a durable polymer or other durable material and may be adapted to accept one end of a snowboard or other elongate item so that the item may be partly secured for carrying. The heavy material of elongate enclosure 303 may be zipped onto base enclosure 101 around the periphery of the enclosure after stowing boots (402) and other accessories if so desired into the base enclosure. The enclosure may then be stretched or otherwise positioned over the inserted snowboard and zipped into place protecting, enclosing and helping to retain the snowboard in position to be carried. Handle 302 may be used to push or pull carrier 300 along on the castor wheels. When at rest the carrier may remain upright with contents enclosed. An interior space 304 represents a pocket within which additional accessories may be stowed like sunglasses, sun screen, or other like items.
Referring now back to
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The elongate enclosures are interchangeable to a single base enclosure so that a user may pre-configure the carrier to transport a specific utility and accessories. Other possible items that may be accommodated in this way include fishing poles and tackle, surfboards, and other utilities that are too long for conventional travel cases. The carrier of the invention may be conveniently checked into an airport luggage transport service as a checked bag, or it may in some cases be carried on board.
It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the travel carrier of the invention may be provided using some or all of the mentioned features and components without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also be apparent to the skilled artisan that the embodiments described above are exemplary of inventions that may have far greater scope than any of the singular descriptions. There may be many alterations made in the descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
