U.S. patent application number 10/751256 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-07 for dresser luggage.
Invention is credited to Cohen, Louis B..
Application Number | 20050145458 10/751256 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34711389 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050145458 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cohen, Louis B. |
July 7, 2005 |
Dresser luggage
Abstract
Disclosed is a large capacity piece of luggage that complies
with the maximum size requirements of the airlines with a plurality
of special features. These include an infinitely variable position
handle used to either pull or push the luggage on two large curb
climbing wheels. The handle can rotate in a horizontal plane from
one of its supporting vertical members to provide a temporary
closet rod for hanging clothes from hangers. The handle also
includes hooks to hang clothes from. Also included is a telescoping
integral luggage cart with steerable auxiliary wheels. Other
features include fixed, but removable identification plaques that
are externally visible, an externally visible large figure digital
travel alarm clock, an integral fold out table disposed within the
cover of the luggage and supported thereby, and an externally
accessible freshen kit and utility drawer. The invention further
includes a chest of drawers feature which allows interior bags to
be used either as drawers or to be removable from the parent bag
and used as separate luggage to double the capacity of the original
piece of luggage. Finally, on the back of the luggage is a pouch
type of an enclosure similar to that which are on the backs of
front car seats which may be accessed from the upper side to store
a newspaper, magazines and the like.
Inventors: |
Cohen, Louis B.; (Aventura,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Robert J. Van Der Wall
Colonial Bank Centre
Suite 1620
1200 Brickell Avenue
Miami
FL
33131
US
|
Family ID: |
34711389 |
Appl. No.: |
10/751256 |
Filed: |
January 5, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
190/18A ;
190/110; 190/115; 190/13R; 190/33; 190/903 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 5/146 20130101;
A45C 5/065 20130101; A45C 13/28 20130101; A45C 13/262 20130101;
A45C 13/385 20130101; A45C 15/08 20130101; A45C 9/00 20130101; A45C
2013/306 20130101; A47B 61/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/018.00A ;
190/110; 190/033; 190/115; 190/903; 190/013.00R |
International
Class: |
A45C 013/30; A45C
005/12; A45C 003/00; A47B 061/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In an improved dresser luggage having at least one drawer, the
improvement comprising: two large partially recessed curb climbing
wheels; a telescoping integral luggage cart with two additional
steerable wheels; a variable position handle mounted upon two
vertical support members and a pivoting cross bar to facilitate one
of pushing and pulling the luggage; and at least one drawer
removably disposed within a main compartment of the luggage that
converts to another piece of luggage by the addition of its
removable cover.
2. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises
at least one shelf removably disposed within the main compartment
using zippers, said shelf for supporting a drawer.
3. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 in which the variable
position handle includes at least one coat hook.
4. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 in which the variable
position handle converts to a temporary closet rod by rotation in a
horizontal plane from one of its vertical support members.
5. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises
an integral fold out table disposed within the luggage and
supported by a main compartment cover.
6. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises
an externally accessible freshen kit disposed behind a zippered
closure.
7. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises
an externally accessible utility drawer.
8. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises
an externally visible large figure digital travel alarm clock.
9. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises
at least one externally visible identification plaque.
10. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises
an externally accessible pouch.
11. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises
two additional drawers removably disposed within the main
compartment of the luggage that each convert to another piece of
luggage by the addition of its removable cover such that capacity
of the luggage can be doubled.
12. In an improved dresser luggage having at least one drawer, the
improvement comprising: two large partially recessed curb climbing
wheels; a telescoping integral luggage cart with two additional
steerable wheels; a variable position handle mounted upon two
vertical support members and a pivoting cross bar to facilitate one
of pushing and pulling the luggage, the handle having at least one
coat hook and being convertible to a temporary closet rod by
rotation in a horizontal plane from one of its vertical support
members; an integral fold out table disposed within the luggage and
supported by a main compartment cover; at least one shelf removably
disposed within a main compartment using zippers, said shelf for
supporting a drawer; and at least one drawer removably disposed
within the main compartment of the luggage and supported on the
shelf that converts to another piece of luggage by the addition of
its removable cover.
13. The improved dresser luggage of claim 12 which further
comprises an externally accessible freshen kit disposed behind a
zippered closure.
14. The improved dresser luggage of claim 12 which further
comprises an externally accessible utility drawer.
15. The improved dresser luggage of claim 12 which further
comprises an externally visible large figure digital travel alarm
clock.
16. The improved dresser luggage of claim 12 which further
comprises at least one externally visible identification
plaque.
17. The improved dresser luggage of claim 12 which further
comprises an externally accessible pouch.
18. The improved dresser luggage of claim 12 which further
comprises two additional drawers removably disposed within the main
compartment of the luggage that each convert to another piece of
luggage by the addition of its removable cover such that capacity
of the luggage can be doubled.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of travel
luggage, and more specifically concerns luggage that provides
maximum increase in capacity during a trip, allows it to be
combined with numerous other bags in a manageable fashion using an
integral luggage cart, but still is adapted by reason of size for
use with travel on commercial airliners. The airlines have rules
that allow luggage of a certain maximum size to be checked when
checking in at curbside or at the ticket counter. At present the
size limitation is a combined dimension not to exceed 63 inches.
The luggage of the present invention is sized to meet, but not
exceed, that maximum size permitted by the airlines under the
present rules. Notwithstanding its size, however, the inventive
luggage is capable of being handled readily by one person and can
be pulled using its unique variable position handle and large
wheels or pushed using its large wheels and smaller wheels that are
a part of the telescoping integral luggage cart. Alternatively, any
additional bags may be accommodated using the telescoping integral
luggage cart.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Over the decades since travel by jet airliners became common
place, the luggage manufacturing industry has created product
designs that accommodate numerous different purposes, but still fit
within the rules established by the airlines. These include size
limitations for checked baggage, which the inventive luggage is
designed to meet despite its substantial capacity and capacity for
substantial expansion during the course of a journey.
[0005] The present invention includes numerous additional features.
The interior comprises, in part, a plurality of smaller bags,
preferably three, that can act as the drawers of a dresser on
removable shelves disposed on zippered connectors on the interior
sidewalls of the outer luggage. These bags have removable covers to
facilitate using them as drawers in the chest of drawers
configuration. These bags can also be removed to double the
capacity of the luggage for the return trip, or increase it by
either two-thirds or one-third. Transporting these additional bags
is made convenient because of the large sized telescoping integral
luggage cart with steerable wheels alluded to earlier. Other
features include an externally accessible freshen kit, a small
externally accessible drawer, coat hooks on the handle, externally
visible identification plaques on both front and back, a swiveling
handle bar on the handle to make a temporary closet bar, large curb
climbing wheels, an integral fold out table, an externally visible
large figure digital travel alarm clock, an externally accessible
pouch, and the like.
[0006] None of the references disclosed by a prior art search
commissioned by the inventor combines significant numbers of the
inventive features. However, one feature that is quite common in
the prior art is the concept of using a chest of drawers in
combination with luggage. See for example, Betts, U.S. Pat. No.
2,891,639, Madison, U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 317,082, Blevins,
U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 315,986, Mayer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,230,
Tullis, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,898, Goldstone, U.S. Pat. No.
4,813,521, Hawley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,258 and Disney, U.S. Pat.
No. 1,609,348. Also some interest is Buchek, U.S. Pat. No.
4,066,155.
[0007] Various kinds of luggage carts and trolleys are shown by
other prior art references, although none duplicate the capacity
and simplicity of that aspect of the present invention. Examples of
these prior art references include Cassimally, U.S. Pat. No.
3,960,252, Cassimally, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,222, Williams,
et al. U.S., Patent No. 4,538,709 and Thomas, U.S. Pat. No.
4,792,025.
[0008] Several references show handles that bear superficial
resemblance to the handle of the present invention, and these are
Dababneh, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2003/0132080
A1 and Sadow, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. U.S.
2003/0085540 A1. However, neither of these references show more
than one or two features of the handle on the present
invention.
[0009] Further references show various single aspects of the
present invention. A first examples is Thomas, U.S. Pat. No.
4,609,084 showing retrieval of what could be a freshen kit from a
pre-determined location. Pohl, U.S. Patent Application Publication
No. U.S. 2002/0195303 A1 teaches a table and combination with the
luggage, as does Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,352 and Martin, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,437,367. Kinzer, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,641 teaches large
curb climbing wheels. Giblet, U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,695 teaches an
identifying license plate in combination with luggage art, and
Baker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,056 shows a clock in combination with
luggage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Bearing in mind the foregoing, it is a principal object of
the present invention to provide a large capacity piece of luggage
that provides a plurality of passenger convenience features, none
of which all found in a single prior art reference.
[0011] Another principal object of the present invention is to
provide a piece of luggage that has greatly expandable capacity
through the use of interior bags with removable covers that act as
drawers and can be taken out of the dresser luggage, the covers
replaced to convert them to luggage again, to carry additional
items in excess of those which are placed in the parent bag after
the removal of these other bags.
[0012] A related object of the present invention is to equip the
interior of the parent bag with removable shelves that have
zippered connections to the side walls of said bag to support the
drawers.
[0013] A further object of the invention is to provide an integral
large capacity telescoping luggage cart with steerable wheels for
the carrying of additional bags.
[0014] An additional object of the invention is to provide a
multi-function variable position handle that can be use for pulling
or pushing the invention, has clothing hooks disposed thereon, and
has a swing out member that can be used as a closet bar to hang
clothing thereupon.
[0015] Another object of the invention is to provide an integral
fold out table stored beneath the cover of the dresser luggage.
[0016] Other objects of the invention are to provide an externally
accessible freshen kit and utility drawer in combination with the
foregoing objects and advantages.
[0017] A further object of the invention is to provide an
externally visible large figure digital travel alarm clock flush
with the external surface of the luggage.
[0018] An additional object of the invention is to provide large
curb climbing wheels in combination with the foregoing.
[0019] Another object of the invention is to provide luggage
containing the foregoing features with externally visible
identification plaques.
[0020] One more object of the invention is to provide a storage
pouch on the exterior of the dresser luggage for quick storage of
small flat items such as magazines and newspapers.
[0021] Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those
skilled in the art upon referenced to the following descriptions
and the appended drawings.
[0022] In accordance with a principal aspect of the present
invention, there is provided large capacity luggage that complies
with the maximum size requirements of the airlines. The invention
includes a plurality of user convenience features. Among these are
a variable position handle with infinite variations that can be
used to either pull or push the luggage on two large curb climbing
wheels. In addition, the handle can rotate in a horizontal plane
from one of its supporting vertical members to provide a closet rod
for hanging clothes from hangers. The handle also includes hooks to
hang clothes from. A further aspect of the invention includes a
telescoping integral luggage cart with steerable auxiliary wheels.
Other features include fixed, but removable identification plaques
that are externally visible, an externally visible large figure
digital travel alarm clock, an integral fold out table disposed
within the cover of the luggage and supported thereby, and an
externally accessible freshen kit and utility drawer. The invention
further includes a chest of drawers feature which allows interior
bags to be used either as drawers or to be removable from the
parent bag and used as separate luggage to double the capacity of
the original piece of luggage. Finally, on the back of the luggage
is a pouch type of an enclosure similar to that which are on the
backs of front car seats which may be accessed from the upper side
to store a newspaper, magazines and the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Various other objects, advantages and features of the
present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art
from the following description taken in conjunction with the
appended drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a front overhead perspective view of the present
invention showing its variable position handle in its rest
position.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a rear overhead perspective view showing the
variable position handle in a vertical position.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the invention with
insets that enlarge two of its features.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a front overhead perspective view of the present
invention illustrating a third use of the variable position handle
as a closet rod.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the invention with its
front opened revealing its chest of drawers internal structure and
integral fold out table.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the present
invention showing the deployment of the integral fold out table and
the middle drawer opened.
[0030] FIG. 7 is a front overhead perspective view of the invention
as shown in FIG. 5 illustrating the structure and support of the
integral fold out table.
[0031] FIG. 8 features the zip out shelves that support the drawers
in the chest, but are removable when the parent dresser luggage is
desired to be used without dividers.
[0032] FIG. 9 shows how the large wheels facilitate climbing
curbs.
[0033] FIGS. 10A and 10B are left side elevational views showing
the luggage in its normal vertical configuration contrasting with
deployment of the telescoping integral luggage cart having
steerable wheels.
[0034] FIG. 11 is a front overhead perspective view of the fully
deployed telescoping integral luggage cart seen in FIG. 10B.
[0035] FIG. 12 is a left side elevational view of the fully
deployed telescoping integral luggage cart as seen in FIG. 10B
except for a substantial number of additional bags being
accommodated thereon.
[0036] FIG. 13 is a front overhead perspective view which
illustrates the storage and removal of the externally accessible
freshen kit with the kit itself shown in perspective view in the
inset beneath which are front elevational and side elevational
views thereof.
[0037] FIG. 14 is also an overhead front perspective view featuring
the opened externally accessible utility drawer.
[0038] FIG. 15 is a left side elevational view of the inventive
luggage being pulled by a traveler and illustrates use of the rear
mounted pouch.
[0039] Finally, FIG. 16 is a front overhead perspective view
showing three internal drawers being used as three separate
suitcases and illustrating the capacity of the luggage can be
increased by one-third, two-thirds or even doubled.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one that is skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure.
[0041] Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like
characteristics and features of the present invention are shown in
the various figures and designated by the same referenced
numerals.
[0042] FIG. 1 is a front overhead perspective view of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention 10 in an upright and closed
configuration. Seen are top side wall 12, top fixed handle 14,
infinitely variable position handle 16, pivoting cross bar 18,
right side wall 20, side handle 22, externally accessible utility
drawer 24, zippered freshen kit closure 26, and hard surfaced and
zippered main compartment closure 28. Externally accessible utility
drawer 24 is lockable, but the locking means are conventional and
not shown. Main compartment closure 28 is a pivotally attached to
the invention 10 at hinge 30. Inventive dresser luggage 10 is
transportable using a pair of large diameter wide track rubber
covered wheels 32 with steel rims which are recessed into wheel
wells and flush with the outer side surface of dresser luggage 10
at 34. A further feature visible in FIG. 1 is a fixed position, but
removable, name, address and telephone number front identification
plaque 36 which is preferably permanently embossed, surrounded by
protective ridge 38 and which can only be removed using fasteners
40.
[0043] FIG. 2 is a rear overhead perspective of the inventive
dresser luggage 10 showing its variable position handle 16 in a
vertical position and supported by left vertical member 42 and
right vertical member 44 which connect to pivoting cross bar 18.
The pivoting cross bar has locking means (not shown) which allow
variable position handle to be located and locked into position at
any location. An alternative location for pushing rather than
pulling luggage as illustrated in FIG. 12. Also seen in this rear
view are rear identification plaque 46, left sidewall 48, rear
sidewall 50, the latter supporting expandable pouch 52, and large
figure digital travel alarm clock 56.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the dresser luggage 10.
Variable position handle 16 supported on pivoting cross bar 18 and
in part by right vertical member 44. Variable position handle 16 is
the supporting means for coat hooks 54, the nature of which is
readily seen in an enlarged view in the inset of FIG. 3A. Also seen
in FIG. 3 is an externally visible large figure digital travel
alarm clock 56. Also seen is rear identification plaque 46 which is
shown in the FIG. 3B inset to include name, address and telephone
number, surrounded by protective ridge 38 and held by fasteners
40.
[0045] FIG. 4 is an overhead front perspective view of dresser
luggage 10, which shows that variable position handle 16, can
rotate in a horizontal plane from right vertical member 44,
separated from left vertical member 42, to become a temporary
closet rod 58, supporting conventional wire hangers 60, on which
are hung garments 62, while another garment 64, is hung on coat
hook 54, as also seen commencing in FIG. 3.
[0046] FIG. 5 shows that when main compartment closure 28 is opened
it reveals a chest of drawers 68 each having individual handles 70.
As will be later seen in regard to FIG. 16, each of these are
individual suitcases whose tops are removable when they are used as
drawers as seen in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 also features the integral fold
out table 72, supporting such things as garments 74 in close
proximity to the chest of drawers 68. The integral fold out table
72, is contained in the inner surface main compartment closure 28
and has a supporting strut 76.
[0047] Integral fold out table 72 supporting garments 74 and its
supporting strut 76, can be more readily seen in FIG. 6. Note that
the user is reaching into drawer 68 to which is attached handle
70.
[0048] FIG. 7 further illustrates the construction of integral fold
out table 72 with supporting strut 76 all mounted to main
compartment closure 28, all adjacent to chest of drawers 68 with
individual handles 70.
[0049] FIG. 8 shows chest of drawers 68 has been removed and that
they are supported by individual shelves 78. Shelves 78 are
removably connected to left sidewall 48 and right sidewall 20 using
interior zipper track 80 and shelf zipper tract 82 which are
selectively combined upon shelf 78 installation using zipper
84.
[0050] FIG. 9 is to illustrate the curb climbing capability of the
large wheels 32. Sidewalk 86 is separated from street 88 by curb
90. Wheels 32 project outwardly from bottom 92 and also from back
panel 50 to facilitate the curb 90 climbing capability of the
invention.
[0051] One of the unique features of the present invention 10 is a
telescoping integral luggage cart that it is illustrated in both
its recessed, FIG. 10A, and deployed, FIG. 10B modes. In FIG. 10A,
the cart is nested in cavity 94, and is invisible except for cart
wheel 96 and cart fender 98. When fully deployed as seen in FIG.
10B, cart wheel 96 and fender 98 represent the leading edge of the
telescoping integral baggage cart 100 comprised of a plurality
telescoping leaves, 102, 104, and 106. The telescoping integral
luggage cart 100 is capable of being deployed as much as necessary
up to its full length, not limited to three leaves as presently
shown, but need be deployed only a lesser amount depending on the
amount of additional luggage to be carried. See FIG. 12. In the
mode shown in FIG. 12, the combination of the dresser luggage 10
and telescoping integral luggage cart 100 designed to be pushed by
the user as shown in FIG. 12, with the cart wheels 96 being
steerable to accommodate going around corners by differential
pressure being applied to handle 16.
[0052] FIG. 11 is a front overhead perspective view of the dresser
luggage 10 and fully deployed telescoping integral luggage cart 100
showing the three telescoping leaves 102, 104, and 106. Also seen
are fender 98 and a portion of cart wheel 96.
[0053] FIG. 12, as alluded to above, shows the utilitarian nature
of telescoping integral baggage cart 100 with four additional bags
supported thereby. While the bags shown are various shapes, they
could just as well be bags that comprise the three drawers of FIGS.
5 and 16.
[0054] FIG. 13 features the freshen kit 108 that is externally
accessible inside freshen kit closure 26. The inset to FIG. 13,
shows an enlarged view of freshen kit 108 below which is an end
view and a front view of same. Freshen kit 108 has a zippered
closure 110 and its own handles 112 so that it readily can be
carried to a restroom or bathroom separate from the dresser luggage
10. Freshen kit 108 is often referred to as a "dopp kit" and
contains toiletries and other cosmetic accessories.
[0055] FIG. 14 shows the utility drawer 24 in an opened
configuration. This drawer can be used for the storage of keys,
cell phones, wallets, travel tickets, passports, etc. and is
lockable by conventional means which are not shown.
[0056] FIG. 15 shows that pouch 52 is expandable to accommodate a
plurality of items, possibly including magazines and newspapers,
travel documents, and tickets. These items are inserted into the
top of pouch 52 in the same manner as the pocket on the back of an
automobile car seat.
[0057] Turning finally to FIG. 16, the capability of doubling the
cargo carrying capability is illustrated. The three drawers 68
shown in FIG. 5 come equipped with tops 108 which are attachable to
drawers 68 by zippered closures 110 to form three small suitcases
112, 114, and 116. The effect of this is to double the capacity of
dresser luggage 10 while still having the capability using
telescoping integral luggage cart 100 shown in FIGS. 10B, 11, and
12 to keep all four bags together. Of course as illustrated in FIG.
8, shelves 78 are removable using zipper 84. Thus large items that
would not fit in suitcases 112, 114, and 116 can be disposed within
dresser luggage 10.
[0058] While the invention has been described, disclosed,
illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments of
modifications which has assumed in practice, the scope of the
invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be,
limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may
be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved
especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims
here appended.
* * * * *