TECHNICAL FIELD
Various embodiments relate generally to wheeled luggage.
BACKGROUND
Luggage is widely used by travelers worldwide. Air travelers routinely pack suitcases with clothing and necessities required for the intended trip. Clothing may be one of the most common things stowed in luggage containers by travelers. Clothing is often worn once between cleanings. Because clothing is often cleaned between wearing, much clothing may be packed when a traveler intends on traveling for more than a few days. Travelers may pack multiple copies of pants, shirts, and undergarments, for example. A traveler may pack a pair of socks for each day the traveler plans to be away.
Suitcases may be used for personal items as well. Soap, shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste are common personal items that travelers pack. Laptop computers are another commonly carried personal item. Makeup, perfume and jewelry may be packed by travelers too. Some travelers may bring books or magazines to read to pass the time. Other people may bring music playing devices or electronic game devices with which to occupy themselves while traveling.
SUMMARY
Apparatus and associated methods relate to substantially cuboid-shaped wheeled luggage having a U-shaped handle telescoping from two parallel secondary faces, the U-shaped handle framing two parallel primary faces each providing substantially full-face opening to one of two complementary dynamically-separated volumes of a central cavity. In an illustrative embodiment, an interior partitioning member may adaptively partition the central cavity in response to forces present to each of two sides of the interior portioning member. In some embodiments, two wheels may have axes parallel to a rolling edge defined by an intersection of a tertiary face and one of the primary faces, the wheels providing low rolling resistance when the luggage is tilted so as to rest upon the wheels. In some embodiments, a face of each of the two wheels may be substantially flush with the secondary faces. The luggage may advantageously provide separated dynamic complementary volumes for both clean clothes and dirty clothes.
Various embodiments may achieve one or more advantages. For example, some embodiments may separate clean clothes from dirty clothes. In some embodiments, the clean clothes may be preserved from the smell of the dirty clothes. For example, dirty clothes may be isolated from clean clothes by a volume allocating membrane separating two spaces. In some embodiments, a U-shaped telescoping handle may provide a sturdy lateral structure to a travel bag. The U-shaped telescoping handle may be arch shaped such that full sized access doors may be aligned with the arch, providing access to a stowage volume unimpeded by the U-shaped telescoping handle.
The details of various embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A-1B depict an exemplary application of an exemplary suitcase having dual-side full face accessibility.
FIGS. 2A-2B depict a perspective view and a plan view of an exemplary wheeled suitcase having two full-faced doors.
FIGS. 3A-3C depict perspective views of an exemplary dynamic interior partitioning membrane as seen through a front primary surface opening.
FIGS. 4A-4C depict perspective views of an exemplary dynamic interior partitioning membrane as seen through a back primary surface opening.
FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of exemplary dual-face opening luggage laying on one face and opened on an opposite face.
FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary U-shaped pivotable handle framing major opening surfaces.
FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary roller bag being towed by a traveler.
FIGS. 8A-8B depict an exemplary suitcase providing opposing side access to a central cavity separated by a dynamic membrane.
FIGS. 9A-9B depict cross-sectional views of exemplary dynamic partitioning membranes for a central suitcase cavity.
FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary cuboid shaped cavity.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
To aid understanding, this document is organized as follows. First, with reference to FIG. 1, a scenario in which exemplary luggage having dual full-face access to complementary volumes of a central cavity is described to disclose some of the advantages of such devices. Second, with reference to FIGS. 2A-2B, an exemplary wheeled suitcase having opposing side full-face access to a central cavity will be described. Third, with reference to FIGS. 3A-4C, operation of dynamically adjustable complementary volumes will be described. Fourth, with reference to FIG. 5, access to an interior volume using a full-face door will be described. Fifth, with reference to FIGS. 6-7, some of the advantages of a laterally affixed U-shaped handle will be discussed. Sixth, with reference to FIGS. 8A-8B, an exemplary suitcase having dual mode access will be described. Then, with reference to FIGS. 9A-9B, exemplary methods of dynamically partitioning a central cavity will be disclosed. Finally, with reference to FIG. 10, exemplary suitcase geometries will be described.
FIGS. 1A-1B depict an exemplary application of an exemplary suitcase having dual-side full-face accessibility. In FIG. 1A, a traveler 100 is removing a clean shirt 105 from an exemplary travel bag 110. The travel bag 110 has a substantially cuboid spaced main cavity 115. The main cavity 115 defines two distinct complementary volumes 120, 125 each accessed from a full-face door 130, 135 defining opposing parallel faces of the cuboid, when closed. Each of the distinct complementary volumes 120, 125 may be used for a separate purpose. For example, a first volume 120 may be used to stow clean clothes, and a second complementary volume may be used to stow dirty clothes. In the depicted embodiment, hangers 170 are hung on a rod 175 inside the main cavity 115 near a top face 180 of the travel bag 110. The travel bag 110 has a U-shaped handle 140 telescoping from opposing parallel sides 145. Telescoping stems 150 of the U-shaped handle 140 frame the main cavity 115. These telescoping stems 150 slideably telescope into and out of the opposing parallel sides 145. Because the stems 150 of the U-shaped handle 140 are adjacent to the opposing parallel sides 145, the stems 150 to not obstruct access to the main cavity 115 by way of the full-face doors 130, 135. The travel bag 110 has wheels 155 at a bottom face of the cuboid. These wheels 155 may permit the travel bag 110 to be pulled behind the traveler 100 in a trailer fashion. A traveler 100 may advantageously access two complementary volumes 120, 125 of a main cavity 115 via full-face doors 120, 125.
In FIG. 1B, the traveler 100 has positioned the travel bag 115 on one of the full face doors 130 so as to orient a full-face opening 160 of the complementary volume 125 in a vertical facing direction. The traveler 115 is stowing dirty cloths 165 into the complementary volume 125. A dynamically adjustable divider 185 provides a floor for the complementary volume 125 when oriented as depicted. When oriented as depicted in FIG. 1A, the dynamically adjustable divider 185 provides a wall between the complementary volumes 120, 125. The U-shaped handle 140 is depicted in a recessed position in FIG. 1B. In the depicted recessed position, the stems 150 of the U-shaped handle 140 have been slideably inserted into the lateral sides 145 of the travel bag 110. A top cross-bar 190 of the U-shaped handle 140 may be adjacent to the top face 180 of the travel bag 110 when in the recessed position. In some embodiments, the top surface 180 may have a recessed topology for receiving the cross-bar 190 of the U-shaped handle 140. In some embodiments, when the U-shaped handle 140 is received into a recess in the top surface 180 of the travel bag 100, the top surface 180 and the cross-bar 190 will present a substantially flush exterior face.
FIGS. 2A-2B depict a perspective view and a plan view of an exemplary wheeled suitcase having two full-faced doors. In the FIG. 2A embodiment, a dual full-face opening suitcase 200 includes a telescoping handle 205 and rolling wheels 210. The rolling wheels 210 may be inset into the lateral sides 215 of the suitcase 200. When inset into the lateral sides 215, the combined surface of the wheels 210 and the lateral sides 215 may present a substantially planar exterior face. In some embodiments, the wheels 210 may project out from the lateral sides 215. In an exemplary embodiment the wheels 210 may be inset so that the exterior of the wheels define a plane that is parallel but recessed to the plane of the lateral surface 215, for example. Two faces 220, 225 of the suitcase 200 may provide full-face access to a central cavity. In the FIG. 2A depiction, the opening faces 220, 225 are in a closed position. The telescoping handle 205 is depicted in an extended position. The telescoping handle has a cross beam 230 providing a holding surface throughout a lateral length of the suitcase 200.
In FIG. 2B, the exemplary dual full-face opening suitcase 200 shows both opening faces 220, 225 in an open position from a plan view perspective. In the depicted embodiment, the opening faces 220, 225 are hinged from opposite lateral faces 235, 240, respectively. In some embodiments, the opening faces 220, 225 may be hinged from the same lateral face. In some embodiments, the opening faces 220, 225 may be zippered openings. In some embodiments, the opening faces 220, 225 may be made of a rigid or semi-riding materiel, such as, for example, a hard polymer. In an exemplary embodiment, the opening faces 220, 225 may be made of a soft material. For example, in some embodiments, the opening faces 220, 225 may include canvas. In some embodiments, the faces may include polyester and/or nylon.
FIGS. 3A-3C depict perspective views of an exemplary dynamic interior partitioning membrane as seen through a front primary surface opening. In FIGS. 3A-3C, an exemplary suitcase 300 having a dynamic cavity separator 305 is shown. The exemplary suitcase 300 has a front full-face opening 310 and a rear full-face opening 315. The exemplary suitcase 300 has a front volume 320 accessible opening the front full-face opening 310 and a rear volume 325 accessible from the open rear full-face opening 315. In the FIG. 3A depiction, the cavity separator 305 is in a position that provides a large front volume 320. In the FIG. 3A depiction, the rear volume 325 may be smaller than front volume 320. In the FIG. 3B depiction, the cavity separator 305 is in a position in which the front volume 320 and the rear volume 325 may be substantially equal. In the FIG. 3C depiction, the cavity separator 305 is in a position in which the rear volume 325 may be greater than the front volume 320. A sum of the front volume 320 and the rear volume 325 may be constant and independent of the position of the cavity separator 305.
FIGS. 4A-4C depict perspective views of an exemplary dynamic interior partitioning membrane as seen through a back primary surface opening. FIG. 4A is a different perspective view of FIG. 3A. In FIG. 4A, the internal cavity separator 305 can be seen through the rear full-face opening 315. From this perspective, the rear volume 325 is small compared with the front volume 320 seen in FIG. 3A. FIG. 4B is a different perspective view of FIG. 3B. From the FIG. 4B perspective, the rear volume 325 is approximately equal to the complementary front volume 320 depicted in FIG. 3B. FIG. 4C is a different perspective view of FIG. 3C. From the FIG. 4C perspective, the rear volume 325 is large compared with the complementary front volume 320 depicted in FIG. 3C.
FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of exemplary dual-face opening luggage laying on one face and opened on an opposite face. In the FIG. 5 depiction, an exemplary dual-face opening luggage 500 is laying on one of the faces with another face 505 open. The open face 505 permits easy access to a storage volume 510. In the depicted position, a dynamic volume allocation member 515 may operate as a floor to the storage volume 510 accessible via the open face 505. Folded towels 520 have been stowed in the storage volume 510. In the depicted embodiment, the dynamic volume allocation member 515 may rest upon stowed articles accessible from an opening face opposite the depicted open face 505. The dual-face opening luggage 500 has castered wheels 525 coupled to a rolling face 530. A support member 535 projects a distance below the rolling face 530, the distance being substantially equal to a distance of a projection of the castered wheels 525 below the rolling face 530. The equal distance of the projection so the castered wheels 525 and the support member 535 may permit the dual-face opening luggage to stand with an orientation in which each face of the luggage is either perpendicular to or parallel with a ground surface.
In some embodiments, the dynamic volume allocation member 515 may gravitationally provide the maximum volume available when oriented in the position depicted in FIG. 5. In some embodiments, the dynamic volume allocation member 515 may be positioned by a user to a desired volume allocation. In some embodiments, the dynamic volume allocation 515 member may be rigid and/or semi-rigid. In some examples, the dynamic volume allocation member 515 may be flexible. In some embodiments, the dynamic volume allocation member 515 may provide support for stowed luggage contents. For example, in some embodiments, the dynamic volume allocation member 515 may support a weight of items place thereupon when oriented in the FIG. 5 orientation without transferring the weight to items in the other volume separated by the dynamic volume allocation member 515. In some embodiments, the dynamic volume allocation member 515 may be continuously adjustable between a first extreme position and a second extreme position. For example, a first extreme position may define a minimum volume for a volume accessible via a first face opening. A second extreme position may define a maximum volume for a volume accessible via a first face opening. The dynamic volume allocation member 515 may be continuously adjustable between the maximum and minimum volumes. Complementary volumes to these maximum and minimum volumes may be accessed via a second face opening. The sum of the volume accessible via the first face opening and the volume accessible via the second face opening may be independent of a position of the dynamic volume allocation member 515.
FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary U-shaped pivotable handle framing major opening surfaces. In the FIG. 6 embodiment, an exemplary wheeled suitcase 600 includes a laterally connected U-shaped handle 605. The laterally connected U-shaped handle 605 has stems 610 pivotably connected to stowage container 615 at lateral pivot points 620. The U-shaped handle 605 may be releaseably secured to the stowage container 615 in one or more positions. For example, the stems 610 of the U-shaped handle 605 may releaseably couple to a pivot stop 625 as depicted. The stems 610 may be released from the pivot stop 625, the U-handle pivoted about the pivot points 620, and the stems 610 may be releaseably coupled to the pivot stop 630, for example. In some embodiments, the stems 610 may include a telescoping portion 635 slideably connected to a fixed portion 640. In some embodiments, telescoping may be enabled when a user releases a locking mechanism. In some embodiments, the U-shaped handle may have multiple telescoping lengths. In an exemplary embodiment, each telescoping lengths may be lockably secured. In an exemplary embodiments, each telescoping length may be secured by a detent, for example.
FIG. 7 depicts an exemplary roller bag being towed by a traveler. In the FIG. 7 depiction, a traveler 700 is pulling a wheeled suitcase 705 via a U-shaped handle 710. The U-shaped handle 705 has a telescoping pivot connector 715. The telescoping pivot connector 715 may both slideably couple to the wheeled suitcase 705 and may pivot about a pivot point 720. A range of pivotable angles may be limited by a pivot limiting member 730 at a top end 735 of a lateral face 740 of the wheeled suitcase 705. The pivotable range may be small when the U-shaped handle 705 is extended minimally from a telescoping channel 740. But when the U-shaped handle 705 is fully extended from the telescoping channel 745, the pivotable range may be large. Such a telescoping pivot connector may provide an optimal angle of tilt for pulling the wheeled suitcase 705 for both tall and short travelers, for example.
FIGS. 8A-8B depict an exemplary suitcase providing opposing side access to a central cavity separated by a dynamic membrane. In the FIGS. 8A-8B embodiment, an exemplary travel case 800 includes a full-face opening member 805. The full-face opening member 805 may have a secondary opening window 810. In the depicted embodiment, a secondary opening window may provide access to a stowage space within the travel case 800. The zippered window may be located at an upper end 815 of the full-face opening member 805. A user may, for example, designate the stowage space accessible via the secondary opening window as a dirty clothes hamper, for example. When the secondary opening window is opened, a user may place dirty clothes into the accessible stowage space. To later remove the dirty clothes, the user may open the full-face opening member 805, as depicted in FIG. 8B. In the FIG. 8B embodiment, a dirty clothes apron 820 may retain the clothes within the accessible space even with the full-face opening member 805 opened. In some embodiments, the dirty clothes apron 820 may be made of a textile material, for example. In some embodiments, the dirty clothes apron may be made of a flexible material. In an exemplary embodiment, the dirty clothes apron may be further opened via an opening mechanism, such as, for example, a zipper.
In some embodiments, a full-face opening member may be openable in a limited fashion and/or in a full-face fashion. For example, a full-face opening member may be openable from a top end only to permit access to a dirty clothes hamper accessible therethrough. If desired, however, a user may fully open the full-face opening member to gain full access to the clothes hamper, for example.
FIGS. 9A-9B depict cross-sectional views of exemplary dynamic partitioning membranes for a central suitcase cavity. In FIGS. 9A-9B exemplary dynamic volume allocation members 900, 905 are depicted. In the FIG. 9A embodiment, a flexible dynamic volume allocation member 900 spans an internal cavity of an exemplary luggage compartment 910. The flexible dynamic volume allocation member 900 may allocate the volume of the internal cavity between two subspaces, each externally accessible by openings on opposite faces of the luggage compartment. In some embodiments, the dynamic volume allocation member 900 may be removable from the luggage compartment. For example, if a user wants a single volume accessible by both opposite faced openings, the user may remove the dynamic volume allocation member 900. If, however, the user desires to have two complementary volumes, each accessible via a different opening, the user may install the dynamic volume allocation member 900. In the FIG. 9B embodiment, a rigid dynamic volume allocation member 905 slideably traverses an internal cavity of an exemplary luggage compartment 915. In the depicted embodiment, the exemplary luggage compartment 915 has guide rods 920 that direct the travel of the rigid dynamic volume allocation member 905. Various ways of providing dynamic volume allocation may be used. For example, in some embodiments a motorized screw mechanism may set the dynamic allocation of the internal cavity volume.
Although various embodiments have been described with reference to the Figures, other embodiments are possible. For example, some embodiments may have two wheels. In an exemplary embodiment a wheeled suitcase may have four wheels. Some wheels may automatically retract when the U-shaped handle is fully retracted within a telescoping track, for example. In some embodiments, the wheels may be automatically presented external to a suitcase face when the U-shaped handle is extracted from a telescoping channel.
FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary cuboid shaped cavity. In an exemplary embodiment, a stowage container may have a cavity 1000 that is substantially cuboid shaped. In some embodiments, the cuboid may have a first dimension, A, greater than a second dimension, B. In some embodiments, the second dimension, B, is greater than a third dimension, C. In various embodiments, the cuboid will have substantially parallel primary faces, D, each having dimensions A and B. Some embodiments will have secondary faces, E, each having dimensions A and C. Some embodiments will have tertiary faces, F, each having dimensions B and C. In an exemplary embodiment, the primary faces, D, may have opening windows that permit a majority of each face to be opened to permit access to a volume within. In some embodiments a ratio of an area of the opening window to an area of the primary face is greater than 70%. In some embodiments, the ratio of the area of the opening window to the area of the primary face is greater than 75%. In an exemplary embodiment, the ratio of the area of the opening window to the area of the primary face is greater than 82.5%. In some embodiments, the ratio of the area of the opening window to the area of the primary face is greater than 90%. In some embodiments, the ratio of the area of the opening window to the area of the primary face is greater than 95%. In some embodiments a top tertiary face may be adjacent to a U-shaped handle. In some embodiments the top tertiary face may be non-planar. In some embodiments the top tertiary face may have an arcuate surface.
In an exemplary embodiment, the primary faces, D, each are depicted having a substantially full-faced opening window 1005. These opening windows 1005 may define a path in the shape of a mathematical prism. The opening windows 1005 may define the polygon bases of the prism. In the depicted embodiment, the bases are rectangles. When the vertices of the opening windows 1005 are connected to corresponding vertices of each other, a rectangular prism is defined. The path defined by the rectangular prism may project through a U-shaped handle 1010 depicted in the figure. The prism-shaped path may define an access path to the internal cavity of the luggage. The prism-shaped access path may be unimpeded by the U-shaped handle.
In some embodiments, the primary face may have a height dimension less than a width dimension. In some embodiments two or more of the three cuboid dimensions may be equal to one another. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the first and second dimensions may be equal to each other but larger than the third dimension.
In an illustrative embodiment, a wheeled suitcase may include a housing having an internal cavity within six substantially planar exterior faces. In some embodiments, the six substantially planar exterior faces may include a front cavity-accessing face and a rear cavity-accessing face. The front and rear cavity-accessing faces each may have an openable access panel that, when opened, may provide substantially full-faced access to the internal cavity. The six substantially planar exterior faces may include two side faces. The six substantially planar exterior faces may include a bottom face and a top face. In some embodiments, the six substantially planar faces may define a cuboid having a first dimension, a second dimension, and a third dimension. In an exemplary embodiment, the first dimension may be greater than the second dimension and the second dimension may be greater than the third dimension. In some embodiments, the front and rear cavity-accessing faces each may have a height of the first dimension and a width of the second dimension. The side faces each may have a height of the first dimension and a width of the third dimension, for example. In some embodiments, the top and bottom faces each may have a height of the second dimension and a width of the third dimension.
In some embodiments, a wheeled suitcase may include a dynamic cavity divider separating the internal cavity into a front sub-cavity and a rear sub-cavity complementary to the front sub-cavity. The front sub-cavity may be accessible via a substantially full-faced door in the front cavity-accessing face. In some embodiments, the rear sub-cavity may be accessible via a substantially full-faced door in the rear cavity-accessing face. In an exemplary embodiment, the dynamic cavity divider may separate the internal cavity in response to relative forces presented to each of two sub-cavity-facing sides of the dynamic cavity divider.
In some embodiments, a wheeled suitcase may include two wheels attached to a bottom face. Some exemplary embodiments may include an inverted-U-shaped telescoping handle having two stems substantially parallel to the side faces. Some exemplary inverted-U-shaped telescoping handles may include a lateral handle substantially parallel to the top face of the suitcase. The lateral handle may connect each of the two stems at a handle end of each stem. In some embodiments, each of the stems may slidably couple to opposite ones of the two side faces at a telescoping end of each stem. The inverted-U-shaped telescoping handle may have an extended mode and a retracted mode. When in the retracted mode, the inverted-U-shaped telescoping handle may substantially frame the internal cavity with the stems proximate the side faces and the lateral handle proximate the top face. When in the extended mode, the lateral handle may project beyond the top face such that there is an air gap between the lateral handle and the top face.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modification may be made. For example, advantageous results may be achieved if the steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different sequence, or if components of the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner, or if the components were supplemented with other components. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
Patent Application
20150366307
