U.S. patent application number 11/186025 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-23 for adaptable luggage.
Invention is credited to Florian Altmann, Douglas C. Dayton, David E. Duncanson, Sung K. Park, Jason L. Robinson, Gerd Schmieta, William C. Stewart.
Application Number | 20060037824 11/186025 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35908618 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060037824 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park; Sung K. ; et
al. |
February 23, 2006 |
Adaptable luggage
Abstract
A flexible and modular system of internal partitioning of a
piece of luggage that permits the user to allocate appropriate
space to the various contents or to accommodate the particular
nature of the contents, such as waterproof containment of wet
items, and that is interchangeably modular so that the user can
vary the partitioning depending upon the nature of the trip for
which he/she is packing.
Inventors: |
Park; Sung K.; (Newton
Center, MA) ; Duncanson; David E.; (West Newbury,
MA) ; Robinson; Jason L.; (Tewksbury, MA) ;
Dayton; Douglas C.; (Lexington, MA) ; Schmieta;
Gerd; (Boston, MA) ; Stewart; William C.;
(Ipswich, MA) ; Altmann; Florian; (Cambridge,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & RICHARDSON PC
P.O. BOX 1022
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55440-1022
US
|
Family ID: |
35908618 |
Appl. No.: |
11/186025 |
Filed: |
July 21, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60599420 |
Aug 6, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
190/110 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 13/03 20130101;
A45C 2013/026 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/110 |
International
Class: |
A45C 3/00 20060101
A45C003/00 |
Claims
1. A suitcase comprising a luggage base defining a compartment
therein for containing clothing, the base having interior side
walls defining spaced-apart partition locating features; a lid
attached to the base and closable to enclose the compartment; and a
removable compartment partition sized to simultaneously engage at
least two of the partition locating features of the luggage base
while partitioning the compartment.
2. The suitcase of claim 1, comprising multiple, independently
removable compartment partitions, each sized to simultaneously
engage at least two of the partition locating features of the
luggage base while together partitioning the compartment into at
least three regions.
3. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein the partition is configured to
be removed from engagement with a first two of the partition
locating features, and moved into engagement with a second two of
the partition locating features, to alter a compartment
configuration.
4. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises at least one
internal flap extending from an internal edge of the lid adjacent
the luggage base so as to be moved with the lid open, from a first
position against the lid, to a second position covering contents of
the luggage base.
5. The suitcase of claim 4, wherein the lid comprises two internal
flaps, both extending separately from an internal edge of the lid
adjacent the luggage base.
6. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein the partition locating features
comprise slots sized to receive edge portions of the partition.
7. The suitcase of claim 1, wherein the partition is expandable to
form a pocket therein.
8. The suitcase of claim 7, wherein the partition is expandable
into a honeycomb structure to form multiple, polygonal pockets
therein.
9. The suitcase of claim 7, wherein the partition comprises a
flexible fabric panel.
10. A suitcase comprising a luggage base defining a compartment
therein for containing clothing, the base having interior side
walls; and a clothes hanger with a hook at one end for suspending
the hanger from a rod, the hanger partitioned to simultaneously
hang multiple items of clothing draped over different portions of
the hanger; wherein the hanger is foldable in length to be placed
into the luggage base with clothing hanging therefrom, the interior
walls of the base having hanger locating features arranged to
receive and locate the folded hanger.
11. The suitcase of claim 10, wherein the hanger locating features
comprise spaced-apart hooks.
12. The suitcase of claim 10, wherein the hanger comprises
multiple, spaced-apart, rigid crossbars extending between side
rails.
13. The suitcase of claim 12, wherein the side rails are bendable
to fold the hanger.
14. The suitcase of claim 12, wherein the side rails comprise
flexible cable.
15. A suitcase comprising a luggage base defining a compartment
therein for containing clothing, the base having interior side
walls; and at least one movable partition within the compartment
and arranged to be moved from an open position to a closed position
to seal a portion of the compartment from a remainder of the
compartment, the partition having a perimeter edge adapted to form
an air-tight seal with the interior side walls of the luggage base,
and a one-way air valve configured to allow air to escape from the
sealed portion of the compartment under pressure, and to inhibit
entrance of air into the sealed compartment.
16. The suitcase of claim 15, wherein the partition comprises a
flexible membrane extending across a major portion of the sealed
portion of the compartment.
17. The suitcase of claim 16, wherein the partition comprises a
semi-rigid perimeter sealing flange defining a central aperture
across which the membrane extends.
18. The suitcase of claim 16, wherein the flexible membrane extends
across substantially a full lateral extent of the sealed portion of
the compartment.
19. The suitcase of claim 15, wherein the partition is hinged to
one of the interior side walls of the luggage base.
20. The suitcase of claim 15, wherein the air valve is positioned
to allow air to escape from the sealed portion of the compartment
when the partition is manually pressed toward the sealed portion of
the compartment.
21. The suitcase of claim 15, further comprising a lid attached to
the base and closable to enclose the compartment with the partition
in its closed position.
22. A suitcase comprising a luggage base defining a compartment
therein for containing clothing, the base having interior side
walls; and multiple rigid support boards removably secured to one
of the interior side walls of the luggage base, each support board
sized to support a folded article of clothing thereon.
23. The suitcase of claim 22, wherein at least one of the support
boards is sized to fold an adult-sized shirt thereon, so as to
support the folded shirt to resist wrinkling while packed.
24. The suitcase of claim 22, wherein the support boards are
arranged in a stack within the compartment.
25. The suitcase of claim 24, wherein the stacked support boards
are all secured to a common retention feature on one of the
interior side walls of the luggage base.
26. The suitcase of claim 25, wherein the common retention feature
comprises an elongated dovetail sized to be received within
complementary slots in each of the support boards.
27. The suitcase of claim 22, further comprising a rigid shell open
at a bottom thereof and removably secured to one of the interior
walls of the luggage base to protect contents contained under the
rigid shell from contents placed within the compartment above the
shell.
28. The suitcase of claim 27, wherein the luggage base has a
compartment floor that defines features for receiving and locating
a lower perimeter edge of the shell.
29. The suitcase of claim 27, wherein the rigid shell defines a
side slot sized to receive an elongated dovetail extending from one
of the interior side walls of the luggage base, to secure the shell
to the luggage base.
30. A suitcase comprising a luggage base defining a compartment
therein for containing clothing, the base having interior side
walls; and a hanger disposed within the compartment, the hanger
having a hook at one end for suspending the hanger from a rod when
removed from the luggage base; wherein the hanger comprises a
series of separately sealable pouches, each pouch having a
respective, sealable opening for pouch access, and a respective
one-way air vent configured to allow air to escape from the sealed
pouch under pressure, and to inhibit entrance of air into the
sealed pouch.
31. The suitcase of claim 30, wherein the sealable openings of the
pouches each comprise a rib-and-groove closure.
32. The suitcase of claim 30, wherein the hanger is disposed in a
folded state inside the compartment.
33. The suitcase of claim 32, wherein the one-way air vents of the
pouches are arranged to enable air to be evacuated from all of the
pouches by pressing against the folded hanger in the
compartment.
34. The suitcase of claim 30, wherein the pouches of the hanger are
configured in different sizes.
35. The suitcase of claim 30, wherein the pouches are arranged to
extend in a vertical chain of pouches when the hanger is suspended
by its hook.
36. The suitcase of claim 30, further comprising a lid attached to
the base and closable to enclose the compartment with the hanger
therein.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/599,420, filed Aug. 6, 2004 and entitled
"Adaptable Luggage," which is incorporated by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to personal luggage, such as
suitcases.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Luggage is available in various sizes, each piece designed
for some flexibility in the type and amount of contents that can be
packed in each piece. Some luggage has fixed interior volume, while
some others have some expandability, such as through gussets and
such. Many consumers purchase several pieces of luggage, each of a
different shape and size, to accommodate the types and volumes of
things they must pack for the different types of excursions they
anticipate. Often a traveler must pack non-compatible items, or
items with different packing requirements, such as both wet
clothing and dry clothing, or heavy items and delicate items.
SUMMARY
[0004] In several aspects, this invention features a flexible and
modular system of internal partitioning of a piece of luggage that
permits the user to allocate appropriate space to various contents
or to accommodate the particular nature of the contents (e.g.,
waterproof containment of wet items). The partitioning is
preferably interchangeably modular so that the user can vary the
partitioning depending upon the nature of the trip for which he/she
is packing.
[0005] One aspect of the invention features a suitcase having a
luggage base defining a compartment for containing clothing, the
base having interior side walls defining spaced-apart partition
locating features, a lid attached to the base and closable to
enclose the compartment, and a removable compartment partition
sized to simultaneously engage at least two of the partition
locating features of the luggage base while partitioning the
compartment.
[0006] In some cases, the suitcase has multiple, independently
removable compartment partitions, each sized to simultaneously
engage at least two of the partition locating features of the
luggage base while together partitioning the compartment into at
least three regions.
[0007] In some embodiments, the partition is configured to be
removed from engagement with a first two of the partition locating
features, and moved into engagement with a second two of the
partition locating features, to alter a compartment
configuration.
[0008] In some versions of the suitcase, the lid has at least one
internal flap extending from an internal edge of the lid adjacent
the luggage base so as to be moved with the lid open, from a first
position against the lid, to a second position covering contents of
the luggage base. The lid may have two internal flaps, both
extending separately from an internal edge of the lid adjacent the
luggage base.
[0009] In some embodiments, the partition locating features are
slots sized to receive edge portions of the partition.
[0010] In some embodiments, the partition is expandable to form a
pocket for packing items. In some cases, the partition is
expandable into a honeycomb structure to form multiple, polygonal
pockets. The partition may include a flexible fabric panel, for
example, and may be stretchable.
[0011] Another aspect of the invention features a suitcase with a
luggage base defining a compartment for containing clothing, the
base having interior side walls, and a clothes hanger with a hook
at one end for suspending the hanger from a rod, the hanger
partitioned to simultaneously hang multiple items of clothing
draped over different portions of the hanger. The hanger is
foldable in length to be placed into the luggage base with clothing
hanging therefrom, the interior walls of the base having hanger
locating features arranged to receive and locate the folded
hanger.
[0012] In some embodiments, the hanger locating features are
spaced-apart hooks.
[0013] In some embodiments, the hanger has multiple, spaced-apart,
rigid crossbars extending between side rails. Preferably, the side
rails are bendable to fold the hanger. For example, the side rails
may be of flexible cable.
[0014] Another aspect of the invention features a suitcase with a
luggage base defining a compartment for containing clothing, the
base having interior side walls, and at least one movable partition
within the compartment and arranged to be moved from an open
position to a closed position to seal a portion of the compartment
from a remainder of the compartment, the partition having a
perimeter edge adapted to form an air-tight seal with the interior
side walls of the luggage base, and a one-way air valve configured
to allow air to escape from the sealed portion of the compartment
under pressure, and to inhibit entrance of air into the sealed
compartment.
[0015] In some embodiments, the partition has a flexible membrane
extending across a major portion of the sealed portion of the
compartment. The partition may include a semi-rigid perimeter
sealing flange defining a central aperture across which the
membrane extends. Preferably, the flexible membrane extends across
substantially a full lateral extent of the sealed portion of the
compartment. The partition may be hinged to one of the interior
side walls of the luggage base. The air valve is preferably
positioned to allow air to escape from the sealed portion of the
compartment when the partition is manually pressed toward the
sealed portion of the compartment.
[0016] In many cases the suitcase also includes a lid attached to
the base and closable to enclose the compartment with the partition
in its closed position.
[0017] Another aspect of the invention features a suitcase with a
luggage base defining a compartment for containing clothing, the
base having interior side walls, and multiple rigid support boards
removably secured to one of the interior side walls of the luggage
base, each support board sized to support a folded article of
clothing thereon.
[0018] Preferably, at least one of the support boards is sized to
fold an adult-sized shirt thereon, so as to support the folded
shirt to resist wrinkling while packed.
[0019] The support boards may be arranged in a stack within the
compartment, for example. In some cases, the stacked support boards
are all secured to a common retention feature on one of the
interior side walls of the luggage base. In one illustrated
embodiment, the common retention feature is an elongated dovetail
sized to be received within complementary slots in each of the
support boards.
[0020] Some embodiments also include a rigid shell open at a bottom
thereof and removably secured to one of the interior walls of the
luggage base to protect contents contained under the rigid shell
from contents placed within the compartment above the shell. In
some cases, the luggage base has a compartment floor that defines
features for receiving and locating a lower perimeter edge of the
shell. In some instances, the rigid shell defines a side slot sized
to receive an elongated dovetail extending from one of the interior
side walls of the luggage base, to secure the shell to the luggage
base.
[0021] Another aspect of the invention features a suitcase with a
luggage base defining a compartment for containing clothing, the
base having interior side walls, and a hanger disposed within the
compartment, the hanger having a hook at one end for suspending the
hanger from a rod when removed from the luggage base. The hanger
notably has a series of separately sealable pouches, each pouch
having a respective, sealable opening for pouch access, and a
respective one-way air vent configured to allow air to escape from
the sealed pouch under pressure, and to inhibit entrance of air
into the sealed pouch.
[0022] The sealable openings of the pouches may each comprise a
rib-and-groove closure, for example.
[0023] The hanger may be disposed in a folded state inside the
compartment. Preferably, the one-way air vents of the pouches are
arranged to enable air to be evacuated from all of the pouches by
pressing against the folded hanger in the compartment. The pouches
of the hanger may advantageously be configured in different sizes.
In one example, the pouches are arranged to extend in a vertical
chain of pouches when the hanger is suspended by its hook.
[0024] Many examples also include a lid attached to the base and
closable to enclose the compartment with the hanger inside.
[0025] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are
set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below.
Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a suitcase with
adjustable partitions.
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates a piece of luggage with a removable,
multi-item clothes hanger.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows the hanger of FIG. 2 removed for hanging.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a luggage base with a sealed
internal partition.
[0030] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the luggage base of FIG.
4, with one internal partition open and one sealed.
[0031] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of area 6 of FIG. 5.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a luggage base with a
flexible partitioning system.
[0033] FIG. 8 is a top view of the luggage base of FIG. 7.
[0034] FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of area 8A in FIG. 8.
[0035] FIG. 9 is perspective view of a luggage base with multiple
removable folding boards.
[0036] FIG. 10 shows a shirt folded about one of the folding
boards.
[0037] FIG. 11 is a top view of the luggage base of FIG. 9, with
several shirts packed on folding boards.
[0038] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the luggage base of FIG. 9,
with a removable shoe cover.
[0039] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the shoe cover of FIG.
12.
[0040] FIG. 14 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the
luggage base and shoe cover of FIG. 12.
[0041] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a hanger having a number of
separately sealable bags.
[0042] FIG. 16 shows the hanger of FIG. 15 folded into an open
suitcase.
[0043] FIG. 17 shows the suitcase of FIG. 16, closed and with the
hanger bags compressed.
[0044] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045] Referring first to FIG. 1, luggage base 2 has integral
partitioning slots 4 arranged to receive and thereby locate
removable and adjustable partitions, including a full side-to-side
partition 8 and an enclosed partition 6 that can open to expose an
internal cavity for holding smaller items. Partition 8 also
includes integral partitioning slots sized to accept a
cross-partition 10. This system allows the user many different
configurations. Included in the cover 14 are partitions 12 which
separate items placed between them.
[0046] FIG. 2 illustrates a "Packing-Hanging" system including a
luggage base 2 and a removable, multi-item clothing hanger 16
(shown removed in FIG. 3), allowing multiple items of clothing to
remain on the hanger while packed into the luggage. The hanger 16
is located within the luggage base 2 by hooks 15 on the sides of
the base 2. The hanger consists of two flexible cables 16 suspended
from opposite ends of a solid upper portion, and several solid
crossbars 18. The crossbars 18 are attached to the cable 16 in
either a fixed or adjustable location. The hook 20 allows the
hanger to be hung, and consists of a solid wire form bent in the
shape of a coat hanger.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a vacuum divider system consists of
a luggage base 2 and at least one impervious membrane divider 22
framed by a seal 26 and dividing the base into multiple
compartments. Items 32 are placed in the luggage base 2, then one
of the dividers 22 is lowered to cover the items 32, and its
perimeter seal 26 engages a mating feature 30 of the base 2 to form
a vacuum-tight seal. The user then compresses the membrane, forcing
air out of the compartment under the divider through a one-way
check valve 24 within the membrane. The system can have several of
these layers, enabling the user to pack various sets of items in
different, individually sealed portions of the luggage base. This
can be used to separate items that might otherwise undesirably
interact, to package clothes for different parts of a journey in
different compartments, or to waterproof certain items while
leaving easy access to others.
[0048] The system shown in FIGS. 7-8A is a flexible partitioning
system which allows the user many different configurations. The
system includes a luggage base 2 that defines integral slots 36
spaced apart and extending down its interior walls. A fabric
divider web 34 is provided with rigid engagement rods 35 sewn into
its perimeter in spaced apart positions, the web being stitched to
form a series of pockets 37. The luggage base 2 may be used without
the flexible divider web, or with the web forming pockets across
only part, or all, of the interior compartment. The user can select
which of the engagement rods 35 to engage or not engage with the
side walls of the luggage base 2, to open or leave closed as many
pockets as desired. As the divider fabric 34 is stretched between
slots 36, the pockets in the fabric divider open to form a
hexagonal or other polygonal shape, for example. With the
partitions made of flexible fabric, the individual pockets or cells
will tend to conform to the shape of their contents, but will
provide some desirable separation between contents. The user can
choose to divide the whole luggage in this manner or leave a
section undivided, as shown in FIG. 8. The system shown in FIGS.
7-8A can be combined with one or more semi-rigid partitions
selectively engageable into slots 36, such as the partitions shown
in FIG. 1, to give the user even more flexibility in the internal
configuration of the suitcase.
[0049] FIGS. 9-14 illustrate a packing system based on simple
clothes folding aids 40 in the form of flat sheets of relatively
rigid material releasably securable to an inner wall of a luggage
base 2, such as by an interlocking dovetail shape 38. Various
clothing items 32, such as shirts, are folded with the use of the
folding aid 40, as shown in FIG. 10. Several folded clothing items
32 then can be neatly stacked in the luggage by sliding them and
their associated folding aids into the luggage. FIGS. 12-14 show a
hard shell cover 44 for protecting bulky items, such as shoes, or
items requiring crush protection. The hard shell is a five-sided
box, with one side defining the mating dovetail shape to engage the
interior rail of the luggage base. When in place, the perimeter of
the hard shell engages in slots defined between sealing ribs 46
(FIG. 14) protruding from the floor of the luggage base 2 around
the perimeter of the hard shell.
[0050] Referring next to FIGS. 15-17, a hanger 55 includes a series
of bags 48 attached to each other to form a train. Each bag 48
consists of a non-permeable membrane 49, a resealable opening 50
(such as with a standard rib-and-groove seal) and a vacuum check
valve 52. The bags can be of different sizes and can be divided
horizontally and/or vertically, as shown. The bags are suspended
from a cross bar 56 and can be hung by the attached hook 58. After
packing the bags, the train of bags 48 is laid into a luggage base
2, as shown in FIG. 16, and the user compresses the bags to
discharge air through their check valves 52, leaving the bags in a
compressed state (FIG. 17) and enhancing utilization of the space
within the luggage.
[0051] A number of embodiments of the invention have been
described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within
the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *