BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to luggage, and more particularly to luggage having a handle supported by a single-tube extendable member.
2. Description of Related Art
Rolling luggage has become increasingly popular in recent years. A common configuration for this type of luggage includes a container or case portion that is generally rectangular in shape in which one or more articles can be stored for travel. The container is typically comprised of a top, bottom, front and back panel, and a pair of sidewalls. A wheel assembly is commonly provided to allow the container to be rolled rather than carried. The wheel assembly generally includes a pair of wheels mounted at an interface of the bottom panel and the back panel of the luggage. The orientation of the wheels defines a rolling direction for the luggage that is orthogonal to the axis of rotation for the wheels.
Users of conventional rolling luggage routinely secure a smaller tote to the top of the container. The tote is typically braced against a pair of extendable tube members that are used to support a handle. An elongated member attached to the tote is sometimes secured around the tubes so the tote cannot be dislodged from its position on the top of the rolling luggage. However, a rolling luggage assembly 1102 with a handle 1104 supported by a single tube 1106, as shown in FIG. 11, does not provide means for permitting a user to effectively secure a tote 1108 to a top 1110 of a luggage container 1112 without tipping to the side. More particularly, the single tube 1106 and elongated member 1114 do not provide sufficient support for the tote 1108 and do not effectively limit lateral motion of the tote 1108 when the tote 1108 is placed on top of the container 1112.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a luggage assembly in which a first luggage case is provided with a handle assembly having a single tube member. The tube member is extendable from a retracted position within the first luggage case to an extended position wherein an upper portion of the tube member is positioned above a top panel of the first luggage case. The luggage assembly further includes a second luggage case, such as a tote, briefcase, backpack or accessory piece, which can be disposed on top of the first luggage case. The second luggage case can include a back panel and a bottom panel.
The luggage assembly also includes a luggage support member having a first end portion, a second end portion opposing the first end portion, and an intermediate portion. The first and second end portions can be attached to the back panel of the second luggage case to define a loop that receives the tube member between the back panel of the second luggage case and the intermediate portion of the luggage support member when the tube member is in the extended position. In one arrangement the first and second end portions can be permanently attached to the back panel. In another arrangement, the first and/or second end portions can be removably attached to the back panel. For example, the first and/or second end portions of the luggage support member can be attached to the second luggage case by a hook and loop fastener, a snap, a buckle, or any other suitable fastener.
At least one rotation limiter can be attached to one of the luggage cases. The rotation limiter can inhibit rotation of the second luggage case about an axis defined by the tube member when the bottom panel of the second luggage case is positioned on the top panel of the first luggage case. In one embodiment, the rotation limiter can include at least one elongated member extending between the first luggage case and the second luggage case. The elongated member can be removably attachable to the first luggage case and/or the second luggage case using a hook and loop fastener, a snap, a buckle, or any other suitable fastener. In another embodiment, the rotation limiter can include a notch defined on an upperside of the top panel of the first luggage case and a raised nub protruding downward from an underside of the bottom panel of the second luggage case which engages the notch. Alternatively the notch can be defined on an underside of the bottom panel of the second luggage case and the raised nub can protrude upward from an upperside of the top panel of the first luggage case.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a luggage assembly which is useful for understanding the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of the luggage assembly of FIG. 1 wherein a second luggage case is positioned atop a first luggage case.
FIG. 3 is a partial view of the luggage assembly of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a partial view of an alternate embodiment of the luggage assembly of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a partial view of another alternate embodiment of the luggage assembly of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a diagram of the luggage assembly of FIG. 2 wherein rotation limiters are disposed to limit rotation of the second luggage case about a handle assembly tube member attached to the first luggage case.
FIG. 7 is an alternate embodiment of the luggage assembly which is useful for understanding the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a section view of the luggage assembly of FIG. 7 taken along section line 8-8.
FIG. 9 is a section view of an alternate embodiment of the luggage assembly of FIG. 7 taken along section line 8-8.
FIG. 10 is a diagram of an alternate embodiment of the luggage assembly of FIG. 6.
FIG. 11 is a diagram of a luggage assembly which is useful for understanding the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a luggage assembly in which a first luggage case is provided with a handle assembly having a single tube member. The luggage assembly further includes a second luggage case, such as a tote, which can be disposed on top of the first luggage case. A luggage support member is provided to limit radial movement of the second luggage case away from the tube member of the handle assembly. Additionally, one or more rotation limiters are provided to inhibit rotation of the second luggage case about the tube member. The combination of the luggage support member and the rotation limiters can maintain the position of the second luggage case on the first luggage case, even when the luggage assembly is bumped or nudged.
FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting a luggage assembly 100 which is useful for understanding the present invention. The luggage assembly 100 can include a first luggage case 102 and a second luggage case 104. The first luggage case 102 can include a container 106 in which one or more articles can be stored for travel. In a typical configuration, the container 106 can be generally rectangular in shape and include a top panel 108, a bottom panel 110, a front panel 112, a back panel 114, and a pair of sidewall panels 116, 118. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited in this regard; the container 106 can be any shape suitable for supporting the second luggage case 104 when the first luggage case 102 and second luggage case 104 are in a stacked configuration. Awheel assembly 120 can be attached to the first luggage case 102 to enable the first luggage case 102 to be rolled rather than carried.
The first luggage case 102 also can include a handle assembly 122 including a handle 124 and a single tube member 126. The handle assembly 122 can be attached to the container 106 to facilitate rolling and manipulation of the first luggage case 102. As shown, the handle assembly 122 is attached to the top panel 108 and back panel 114 of the container 106. However, the invention is not so limited and the handle assembly 122 can be attached to the container 106 in any other suitable fashion. For instance, the handle assembly 122 can be attached to one of the sidewall panels 116, 118. In one arrangement the tube member 126 can be a telescoping tube extendable from a retracted position within the container 106 to an extended position protruding from the container 106. For example, the tube member 126 can extend so that an upper portion 128 of the tube member 126 is positioned above the top panel 108 of the container 106. The tube member 126 can include a single tube or a plurality of tubes which are coaxially aligned when the tube member 126 is in the extended position.
The second luggage case 104 can include a back panel 130 and a bottom panel 132. Naturally, any number of additional panels can be provided, for example side panels 134, 136, a front panel 138 and a top panel 140, but the invention is not limited in this regard. The second luggage case 104 also can include a luggage support member 142. In one arrangement, the luggage support member 142 can include an intermediate portion 144, a first end portion 146 and a second end portion 148 opposing the first end portion 146. The first end portion 146 and the second end portion 148, or both, can be removably attached to one of the panels 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140 of the second luggage case 104. For example, the first and second end portions 146, 148 can be removeably attached to the back panel 130. The intermediate portion 144 of the luggage support member 142 can remain unattached to, or be detachable from, the back panel 130 so as to define a loop 150 that can receive the tube member 126 between the back panel 130 and the intermediate portion 144 of the luggage support member 142 when the tube member 126 is in the extended position.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the luggage support member 142 can be removeably attached to the second luggage case 104. For example, the first and second end portions 146, 148 can be removeably attached to the back panel 130 with one or more snaps, buckles, hook and loop fasteners, or any other suitable fastening means. In an alternate arrangement one or both of the first and second end portions 146, 148 can be permanently fixed to the second luggage case 104. In an arrangement where both end portions 146, 148 are permanently attached, it may be preferable for the loop 150 to be adequately large to fit over the handle 124.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of the luggage assembly 100 of FIG. 1 wherein the second luggage case 104 is disposed atop the first luggage case 102. For example, the second luggage case 104 can be disposed so that the bottom panel 132 of the second luggage case 104 abuts the top panel 108 of the container 106. Further, the tube member 126 can extend through the loop 150. For instance, one of the first and second portions 144, 146 of the luggage support member 142 can be detached from the back panel 130 while the second luggage case 104 is positioned into place. Once the second luggage case 104 is placed into the desired position, the detached portion of the luggage support member 142 can be re-attached to the back panel 130, thus retaining tube member 126 within the loop 150.
Although the luggage support member 142 limits radial movement of the second luggage case 104 away from the tube member 126, the second luggage case 104 may rotate about an axis 210 defined by the tube member 126 if the luggage assembly 100 is bumped or nudged. In order to address this problem, one or more rotation limiters can be provided to inhibit such rotation. The rotation limiters can comprise any structure suitable for limiting rotation of the luggage case 104 about the axis 210. For example, the rotation limiters 200 can be comprised of a pair of elongated members 205. The rotation limiters 200 can be attached to the second luggage case 104 (as shown) or to the first luggage case 102. Moreover, the rotation limiters 200 can be attached to any of the panels 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 of the container 106. Similarly, the rotation limiters 200 can be attached to any of the panels 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140 of the second luggage case 104.
An enlarged view of the rotation limiter 200 is depicted in FIG. 3, which is a partial view of the luggage assembly of FIG. 2. The rotation limiter 200 can include one or more fasteners for removeable attachment to the first luggage case 102. For example, in the embodiment shown, the rotation limiter 200 can comprise a ball snap 305 attached to a first end portion 310 of an elongated member 205. A second end portion 320 of the elongated member 205 can be fixed to the back panel 130 and/or bottom panel 132 of the second luggage case 104. For instance, the second end portion 320 can be stitched, glued, or fixed to the second luggage case 104 in any other suitable fashion. A socket snap 325 can be attached to the back panel 114 of the container 106 for receiving the ball snap 305. The socket snap 325 can be positioned so that the elongated member 205 is in an extended position with minimal slack when the ball snap 305 and socket snap 325 are engaged.
FIG. 6 depicts the luggage assembly of FIG. 2 with the ball snaps on each rotation limiter 200 engaged with their respective socket snaps to inhibit rotation of the second luggage case 104 about the axis 210 defined by the tube member 126. A fastener 610, for example another snap or a hook and loop fastener, can be provided to retain the first end portion 310 of the elongated member 205 to the back panel 130 when the ball snap and the socket snap are not engaged.
FIG. 4 is a partial view of the luggage assembly of FIG. 2 depicting an embodiment in which the rotation limiter 200 comprises a buckle 405. The buckle can comprise a latch 410 and one or more buckle bodies 415, 420. For example, the latch 410 can be attached to the first end portion 310 of the elongated member 205. The buckle body 415 can be attached to the back panel 130 of second luggage case 104 and the buckle body 420 can be attached to the back panel 114 of the first luggage case 102. The buckle bodies 415, 420 can be attached to the respective luggage cases 102, 104 with fasteners, stitching, glue or any other suitable means. The latch 410 can engage the buckle body 415 when the rotation limiter 200 is not in use, and the latch 410 can engage the buckle body 420 when rotation limitation is desired.
FIG. 5 is a partial view of the luggage assembly of FIG. 2 depicting an embodiment in which the rotation limiter 200 comprises a hook and loop fastener 505. In this arrangement, a first portion 510 of the hook and loop fastener 505 can be attached to the first end portion 310 of the elongated member 205 and a second portion 515 of the hook and loop fastener 505 can be attached to the first luggage case 102. Again, the first and second portions 510, 515 of the hook and loop fastener 505 can be attached to their respective locations with fasteners, stitching, glue or any other suitable means. The first portion 510 of the hook and loop fastener 505 can engage the second portion 515 when rotation limitation of the second luggage case 104 is desired. An additional hook and loop fastener (610 in FIG. 6) can be provided to retain the first end portion 310 of the elongated member 205 to the back panel 104 when the first and second portions 510, 515 are not engaged.
FIG. 10 depicts an alternate embodiment of the luggage assembly 100 in which the rotation limiters 200 are attached to side panels 134, 136 of the second luggage case 104. In this arrangement the rotation limiters 200 can include one or more fasteners for removeable attachment of the rotation limiters 200 to the sidewall panels 116, 118 of the first luggage case 102. Still, other arrangements can be provided. For example, the rotation limiters 200 can be attached to the sidewall panels 116, 118 of the first luggage case 102, and one or more fasteners can be provided for removeable attachment of the rotation limiters 200 to the side panels 134, 136 of the second luggage case 104.
FIG. 7 depicts another alternate embodiment of the luggage assembly 100. Again, the second luggage case 104 can be disposed atop the first luggage case 102 and the luggage support member 142 can be provided to limit radial movement of the second luggage case 104 away from the tube member 126. Referring to FIG. 8, which is a section view of the luggage assembly of FIG. 7 taken along section line 8-8, one or more notches 805 can be defined on an upper side 810 of the top panel 108 of the first luggage case 102. Further, one or more raised nubs 815 (or posts) can protrude downward from an underside 820 of the bottom panel 132 of the second luggage case 104. The raised nubs 815 can engage the notches 805 to inhibit rotation of the second luggage case 104 about the axis 210 defined by the tube member 126 when the second luggage case 104 is disposed atop the first luggage case 102.
The raised nubs 815 can be formed from a suitable rigid or semi-rigid material and attached to the underside 820 of the bottom panel 132. Examples of such a material include—but are not limited to—metal, plastic, rubber and composite materials. Similarly, the notches 805 can be formed in one or more rigid or semi-rigid surface structures 825 fixed to the upper side 810 of the top panel 108.
FIG. 9 is another section view of the luggage assembly of FIG. 7 taken along section line 8-8. In this embodiment, one or more notches 905 can be defined on the underside 820 of the bottom panel 132 of the second luggage case 104. Additionally, one or more raised nubs 915 can protrude upward from the upper side 810 of the top panel 108 of the first luggage case 102. Again, the raised nubs 915 can engage the notches 905 to inhibit rotation of the second luggage case 104 about the axis 210 defined by the tube member 126 when the second luggage case 104 is disposed atop the first luggage case 102.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in the claims.
Patent Application
20060086583
