Patent Grant
10016036
The present invention relates to convertible luggage, and more particularly, to a mat that contains items and converts to a transportable container having a securely sealed opening.
Projects and activities involving multiple items, such as play/toy pieces, small parts, components, collections, balls, supplies, and the like, are difficult and time-consuming to clean up after. It is difficult to pick up large numbers of small items from a work or play surface and place them in a storage container. It also takes a long time, especially when the items have been scattered over a sizable area during use.
In the case of play/toy pieces, manufacturers or parents typically provide rigid or soft/flexible containers for storage of items when not in use on a play or work surface. Examples of typical rigid containers include large plastic containers, lunch boxes, picnic baskets, bins, baskets, and/or drawers. Examples of typical soft/flexible containers include backpacks, sacks, Zip-Lock™ brand storage bags, and pillow cases.
Such conventional containers have several drawbacks. For example, rigid containers are difficult to carry and stow because their rigidness does not allow them to conform to a person that is carrying them or to an available storage space. In addition, when more than a few small play/toy pieces are placed in a rigid container, the pieces stack up on one another, and the users, such as children, are neither able to see nor get to the pieces that shift to the center or bottom of these containers. This makes it difficult to play with, or even see, all of the pieces of, for example, a play set.
Another drawback of rigid containers is that they are inconvenient to transport to another location, especially when they contain a heavy quantity of items. For example, a rigid container cannot be comfortably slung on one's back and walked with, for example, to a neighbor's house or down the aisle of an airliner. In addition, rigid containers are typically breakable, and a broken container may release small items held inside. For example, if a rigid plastic container containing small building block toys is dropped on a hard floor in an airport, or on a driveway at a neighbor's house, it may crack open, scattering the building block toys that were held inside.
Typical flexible containers, such as tote bags and sacks, do not securely contain small items, such as play pieces or work items that are only a few millimeters in size, because they are designed to stop the passage of large items, such as books and clothing, and because they do not securely and completely close their openings. Lacking means for completely and securely closing all openings, tote bags and sacks do not prevent small pieces from falling out when dropped, flipped, or shaken, as might occur during transport by person or car, or as airline baggage. And, like rigid containers, the sack-like or bag-like shape of a flexible container causes pieces to stack up on one another, such that a user of the pieces is neither able to see nor get to the pieces that shift to the middle or bottom of the container.
The most common user's solution, and especially a child's solution, to this problem is to dump the pieces out of the container so that they are all visible. This solution, however, creates another drawback when it is time to stop participating in the activity. To clean up, the small play/toy pieces must be picked-up individually, lifted, and put back into the container. If a child or elderly/disabled parent/caregiver is performing this task on small items, the clean-up process may be very difficult. And even for the able-bodied, this clean-up process is slow, tedious, prone to losing pieces, and often frustrating.
For items that are dumped or unpacked from a container to play or work with, parents may provide a separate play or work surface, such as a flat mat, sheet, or blanket. For example, a child may dump play pieces from a backpack onto a flat play mat, which provides cushioning for the pieces and the child, and protects the underlying surface (e.g., a floor or table) from wear. A flat play mat, however, does not restrict the movement or aid clean up of pieces at the end of play, as children typically push and scatter play pieces off of the surface of a play mat while dumping from a container onto a mat, and during play. Thus, even when a flat play mat is used, all pieces that scatter off the mat must typically be picked-up individually, lifted, and put back into a container.
Hence, there is a need for a single, convenient-to-carry, easy-to-store, securely sealable, and easy-to-use device that addresses these drawbacks.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Generally, embodiments consistent with the present invention include luggage or carrying container devices that open to form a mat or work surface that has a raised lip or edge structure that contains items on the mat or work surface. The luggage or carrying container closes from the mat configuration to convert into a sealed bag or sealed flexible container for holding the items inside, where the seal is formed by the lip or edge structure. Various embodiments provide mats that contain small parts and pieces on a defined surface and also convert to convenient to transport and store containers that securely seal and prevent the same small parts and pieces from falling out when moved.
Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever convenient, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
In some embodiments, base 110 may be formed of one, two or more pieces or layers of flexible material, such as denim, suede, leather, velvet, canvas, cotton twill, large denier polyester, large denier nylon, ballistic nylon, ripstop nylon, nylon mesh fabric, sail oxford ripstop nylon, Cordura™ brand fabric, packcloth, or the like. In some one-piece embodiments, base 110 may be formed of a lightweight flexible material, such as 1.9 oz calendared rip-stop nylon material, microfiber fabric, taffeta fabric, or the like. In some two-piece embodiments, top surface 110A of base 110 may be formed of a lightweight flexible material, such as 1.9 oz calendared rip-stop nylon material, to provide a work or play surface having specific desired qualities, such as being waterproof, stain resistant, pleasant to touch, colorful, easily able to custom print, etc. In such two-piece embodiments, bottom surface 110B (not shown in
As shown in
In various embodiments, lip 120 stands up substantially perpendicular to base 110 due at least in part to the configuration of lip 120, e.g., its dimensions, such as vertical height above horizontal base 110, and its length in relation to the circumference or peripheral distance around base 110, and its folded form in certain embodiments. In some embodiments, lip 120 stands up substantially perpendicular to base 110 due at least in part to its fabrication from lightweight flexible material, such as 1.9 oz calendared rip-stop nylon material, including its fabrication from a material that is more flexible and lower in weight and density compared to a thicker, more rigid material (e.g., 10 oz. denim) that forms base 110. In some embodiments, lip 120 stands up substantially perpendicular to base 110 due at least in part to its method or implementation of attachment to base 110. In some embodiments, lip 120 stands up substantially perpendicular to base 110 due at least in part to the elliptical, oval, or polygonal shape of base 110. In some embodiments, lip 120 stands up substantially perpendicular to base 110 due at least in part to the presence of a particular length of string or cord inside an envelope formed by lip 120. In some embodiments, lip 120 stands up substantially perpendicular to base 110 due at least in part to a separate stiffening structure such as perpendicular support members attached to the base 110 and situated inside an envelope formed by lip 120.
As shown in the exemplary embodiment of
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In the exemplary embodiment shown, cinch cord 140 comes out two openings in the envelope or channel 710 formed by lip 120 (see
As shown, a carrying strap 210 is also attached to bottom surface 110B. Carrying strap 210 may be formed of strong, flexible material, such as various types of fabric, which are sewn, riveted or otherwise attached to base 110. Carrying strap 210 may be used to lift and carry convertible containment device 100, especially when convertible containment device 100 is in a bag-like luggage configuration. In various embodiments, carrying strap 210 may be constructed of nylon webbing material, and may include a padded section. The dimensions, the attachment points, the number, and even the presence, of carrying strap 210 are not critical. As an example, in an embodiment where the diameter of base 110 is about 60 inches, the length of carrying strap 210 may be about 28 or 29 inches. As another example, in an embodiment where the diameter of base 110 is about 15 inches, a relatively short (e.g., 8 inch or hand sized) carrying strap (see
In
In the embodiment shown, convertible containment device 100 is opened or laid out on a horizontal surface to form a mat or work/play surface having a surrounding containment wall (lip 120). A user may easily spread out items 410, (e.g., various parts; pieces; toys; tools; balls; sporting equipment; knitting equipment; medical tools, supplies, and devices; electronic accessories and devices; cosmetics; travel items; fasteners; camping supplies; military supplies; scuba-diving accessories, emergency survival items, etc.) on the upper surface 110A of base 110, where they can be easily seen and utilized, for example to play or work with as an entire set. As shown, lip 120 stops items 410 from being pushed off of upper surface 110A of base 110 during use of items 410, which later enables a user to quickly and efficiently clean up and store items 410 by converting convertible containment device 100 into the closed, bag-like configuration while items 410 are contained on upper surface 110A of base 110.
Examples of activities involving numerous items 410 include: Lego® brand building blocks, Lincoln Log® brand building sticks, Kynex® brand building blocks, Duplo® brand building blocks, Matchbox® brand toy cars, Hot Wheels® brand toy cars, Polly Pockets® brand figures, American Girl® brand doll sets, Barbie® brand dolls, Squinkies® brand figures, Playmobil® brand figures, wooden building blocks, action figures, Star Wars® brand action figures, Thomas and Friends® brand train toys, Littlest Pet Shop® brand toys, My Little Pony® brand toys, beads, crafts and art supplies, clay modeling, board games, train sets, dolls and doll accessories, stuffed animals, marbles, jacks, puzzles, building sticks, Play-Doh® brand modeling clays, scale model building, electronics construction and repair, mechanical construction and repair, jewelry construction and repair, etc.
Arrows 420 represent the motion of lip 120 when convertible containment device 100 is converted from the mat configuration to the bag configuration. In particular, a user may vertically lift and pull cinch cord 140 while items 410 are on top surface 110A of base 110, such that in the bag configuration top surface 110A becomes part of the inner surface of the bag, while bottom surface 110B becomes part of the outer surface of the bag. The lifting and pulling of cinch cord 140 causes the lip 120 and the peripheral edge of base 110 to raise and draw together as the portion of cinch cord inside lip 120 becomes smaller, which forms convertible containment device 100 into a bag-like container or piece of luggage with items 410 inside. Once cinch cord 140 is drawn tight to form a bag of convertible containment device 100, the user may deploy cord lock 150 to lock in a position near lip 120, which prevents cinch cord 140 from entering the envelope formed by lip 120 and clamps shut the bag formed by convertible containment device 100.
In various embodiments consistent with the invention, the material that forms the lip 120, (and which envelopes cinch cord 140) may be any material that is flexible, thin, and non-binding to a degree that allows the material to be drawn together in a manner that leaves little or no opening in the bag when the cinch cord 140 is tightened to a large degree—i.e., when cinch cord 140 is used as a draw string to force lip 120 into a smaller annular shape. In one embodiment, 1.9 oz., calendared, rip-stop nylon material provides the appropriate characteristics of flexibility, thinness, and non-bindingness for lip 120. Other materials with similar properties may also be used within the scope of the invention.
The exemplary embodiment shown in
The tightening of cinch cord 140 draws together or gathers together the thin, flexible, non-binding (e.g., slippery) material of lip 120 so that annular passage 510 is essentially closed, at least to a degree that does not allow items 410 to pass through annular passage 510. In various embodiments, a thin, flexible, non-binding material is preferred for lip 120 because such material will gather, compact, and/or fold upon itself inside the loop formed by tightened cinch cord 140 and completely, or nearly completely, fill in and close annular passage 510, thus preventing small items 410 that are inside convertible containment device 100 from escaping from inside the bag configuration shown in
In one embodiment, 1.9 oz., calendared, rip-stop nylon cloth provides the appropriate characteristics of flexibility, thinness, and non-bindingness for lip 120. Similar suitable materials may include 1.0 ounce nylon cloth; 1.1 ounce silicone impregnated nylon cloth; ¾ ounce nylon spinnaker cloth, 1.1 ounce nylon parachute cloth, paraglider fabric, satin, and the like. Other materials with similar properties may also be used within the scope of the invention. Thicker, heavier materials, such as denim, canvas, large denier nylon, and the like, are not preferred for some embodiments of lip 120 because such materials will not gather, compact, and/or fold upon themselves sufficiently to completely, or nearly completely, close annular passage 510 when cinched into a relatively small annular shape by cinch cord 140.
The embodiment of
In some embodiments (not shown), envelope 710 may be divided into two or more smaller envelopes, for example by stitching or otherwise lengthwise joining together the walls of envelope 710. In such embodiments, cinch cord 140 may pass through one of the smaller envelopes. For example, in the case where envelope 710 is divided into two smaller envelopes, cinch cord 140 may pass through the lower small envelope, which is adjacent to base 110, in order to enhance the standing up of lip 120 when convertible containment device 100 is in the mat configuration. For another example, in the case where envelope 710 is divided into three smaller envelopes, cinch cord 140 may pass through the middle small envelope, which is removed from base 110 by a lower envelope, in order to enhance the cinching and closing of annular passage 510 when convertible containment device 100 is in the bag or luggage configuration.
In other embodiments (not shown), envelope 710 may be empty, or envelope 710 may be nonexistent for embodiments where the material forming lip 120 is not folded over. In such embodiments, cinch cord 140 may be attached to the outside of lip 120 using loops (e.g., similar to belt loops) or other means of slidable attachment that allows lip 120 to be cinched closed in the bag configuration. In still other embodiments, cinch cord 140 may be replaced by another closing mechanism, such as a clamp (e.g., similar to one half of a pair of handcuffs, similar to a tightening or ratcheting strap as found on a ski boot, or similar to a locking wood clamp, and the like) that is clamped on the outside of, and squeezes together, the folds of lip 120 after a user has gathered the folds together by hand to form a bag configuration. In such embodiments, the clamp may be stored in outside pocket 220 when convertible containment device 100 is in the mat configuration.
In the example shown, lip 120 has a folded-over rectangular shape with a length approximately equal to the circumference C of base 110. In various embodiment, the length of lip 120 may be a longer or shorter than C. In some embodiments, variations from length C may be needed to facilitate attaching lip 120 along the periphery of base 110, among other things. As shown, lip 120 also has a height dimension H. In various embodiments, the height of lip 120 may be in the range of about 1 inch to about 5 inches or larger, including embodiments of 1.5 inches and 3.5 inches.
In some embodiments, making the length of lip 120 approximately equal to C, and/or attaching lip 120 to base 110 so that the effective length of lip 120, without counting overlap, is approximately equal to C, creates a structure that urges lip 120 to rise or stand up in a vertical direction when base 120 is spread out flat on a horizontal surface, such as a floor or table. In some embodiments, lip 120 may be made of more than one piece, each piece having a length that together making the overall length of lip 120 approximately equal to C. Such embodiments may have multiple openings in the envelope 710, from which a cinch cord 140 may emerge. In some embodiments, the length of lip 120 may be slightly greater than C, for example from about one-half inch to about one inch greater than C, such that the ends of lip 120 overlap to some degree when attached to base 110, reducing or eliminating space(s) between the ends of lip 120 when attached to base 110.
Although the embodiment of
In the embodiment shown, base 110 is folded over at the periphery to provide a more substantial anchor for stitches 130. In other embodiments, base 110 may not include this fold. In the embodiment shown, base 110 is formed of a single piece of material. In other embodiments, base 110 may be formed of multiple pieces. In some of these embodiments a second layer of base material may be placed over pleats 810 before stitching, such that pleats 810 are sandwiched between two base pieces. In yet other embodiments, a similar sandwiching arrangement that includes a third piece of padding may be used to form base 110.
Attachment means other than stitches 130, such as glue, heat welding, rivets, etc. are within the scope of the invention. In some embodiments, serge stitching or overlocking stitching may be used to attach lip 120 to base 110.
In some embodiments, base 110 and lip 120 may be formed of a single piece of thin flexible material (not shown). In such embodiments, the folded over edge of the single piece may be formed into pleats or gathers, similar to pleats 810, so as to urge the portion of the single piece forming the envelope to rise approximately perpendicular to the portion of the single piece forming the base.
Although the example illustrated in
In some embodiments, support member 900 may be formed of a somewhat stiff yet pliable material, such as vinyl plastic or the like. In other embodiments, support member 900 may be formed of other materials that provide structure to cause lip 120 to stand up, such as wire, sections of thick fabric (e.g., ballistic nylon), leather, and the like.
In various embodiments, several support members 900 may be placed within envelope 710 at spaced intervals (not shown) around the periphery of base 110. For example, support members 900 may be spaced from about 6 inches to about 18 inches apart around the periphery of base 110. In some embodiments, the distance between support members 900 may be at least 8 inches to avoid interfering with the gathering of lip 120 when cinch cord 140 (not shown) is tightened to close convertible containment device 100 into a bag configuration.
One advantage, among several, of the disclosed convertible containment device is that various embodiments provide an easily storable and transportable shoulder satchel, bag, or knapsack that converts into a mat and that is structured to securely contain large and small items both in the open, mat position and in the closed bag/satchel/knapsack position. Various embodiments allow users, including children of appropriate age, to quickly and efficiently clean up pieces, parts, components, etc. that are laid out and/or used on the open mat.
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
This application is a continuation of, and claims priority of, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/137,762 filed on 12 Sep. 2011 (allowed), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/344,922, filed 18 Nov. 2010, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20150313335 A1 | Nov 2015 | US | |
| 20170065042 A9 | Mar 2017 | US |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Parent | 13137762 | Sep 2011 | US |
| Child | 14797396 | US |
