U.S. patent application number 14/959923 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-08 for suitcase with magnetic display compartment.
This patent application is currently assigned to Travelers Club Luggage, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Travelers Club Luggage, Inc.. Invention is credited to Peter Yu.
Application Number | 20170156462 14/959923 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58799467 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170156462 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yu; Peter |
June 8, 2017 |
SUITCASE WITH MAGNETIC DISPLAY COMPARTMENT
Abstract
A customizable travel case is disclosed having a compartment for
displaying identifying information or decoration on the outside of
the travel case. The display compartment has a transparent cover
that is capable of opening and closing so that identifying
information or decoration can be inserted and displayed without
having to open the travel case. The cover of the display
compartment is held in a closed position by the use of magnets.
Inventors: |
Yu; Peter; (La Palma,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Travelers Club Luggage, Inc. |
La Palma |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Travelers Club Luggage,
Inc.
La Palma
CA
|
Family ID: |
58799467 |
Appl. No.: |
14/959923 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 2200/10 20130101;
A45C 13/42 20130101; A45C 5/03 20130101; A45C 5/06 20130101; A45C
13/1069 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45C 5/06 20060101
A45C005/06; A45C 13/10 20060101 A45C013/10; A45C 5/03 20060101
A45C005/03 |
Claims
1. A system for customizing a travel case comprising: a display
compartment formed on an exterior surface of said travel case, said
display compartment having: a recessed base; a cover connected to
said recessed base; wherein said cover is secured in a closed
position to said recessed base with magnets.
2. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 1, wherein
said cover is transparent.
3. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 1, wherein
said cover is substantially flush with said exterior surface of
said travel case.
4. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 1, wherein
said cover is hingedly connected to said base such that said cover
can be opened and closed for receiving an insert for display
without having to open said travel case.
5. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 4, wherein
said recessed base has a magnet for attracting to said cover.
6. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 5, wherein
said cover has a magnet for attracting to said recessed base.
7. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 1, wherein
said display compartment has a gap between said recessed base and
said cover for inserting a finger to open said cover.
8. A system for customizing a travel case comprising: a compartment
formed on an exterior surface of said travel case, said compartment
comprising: a recessed base containing a magnetic material; a
transparent cover connected to said recessed base that is capable
of opening and closing, said transparent cover containing a
magnetic material that attracts to said magnetic material in said
recessed base; wherein said travel case can be customized by
changing a display held in said compartment.
9. The system for customizing the travel case of claim 1, wherein
said transparent cover fits flush in said recess.
10. A travel case comprising: a front panel, a bottom panel, a rear
panel, and side panels; a recess formed in said front panel; a
cover covering said recess; and, at least one magnet for securing
cover to said recess in a releasable manner.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a system for customizing
luggage. In particular, this invention relates to luggage having a
compartment for displaying decoration.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Suitcases, trunks, boxes, bags, and similar travel cases
having decorative coverings are known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,558 by
Carey et al. is directed to a purse having an interchangeable
decorative covering. U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,837 by Marconi is directed
to a carrying case with interchangeable side panels releasably
attachable to the outside of the case. U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,318 by
Pinti is directed to a purse with a rear panel made of a dry
erasable material on which a user can draw a design that can be
modified or erased or otherwise changed or altered. U.S. Pat. No.
6,637,485 by Sartena is directed to a handbag having a side wall
formed of a transparent panel which can be selectively exposed to
permit facilitated viewing of items contained therein. U.S. Pat.
No. 6,923,302 by Godshaw et al. is directed to a luggage having an
outside face made from a clear plastic material covered by a
removable opaque flap. U.S. Pat. No. 7,240,778 by Duncanson et al.
is directed to a luggage with modular construction permitting
personalization by interchangeable appearance covers. U.S. Pat. No.
8,028,730 by Whiting et al. is directed to a purse with
interchangeable decorative liners. U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,882 to Cazes
is directed to a handbag with a removable purse located within a
recessed side panel. United States Patent Application Pub. No.
20130306206 to Quinnan et al. is directed to a handbag with
interchangeable covers, which can accept customizable outer panels
that change the aesthetic appearance of the base bag and can be
fastened with magnets. U.S. Design Pat. No. D639,057 by Presman et
al. is directed to a trolley case with a display frame.
[0003] However, these and other similar suitcases and bags do not
provide a means for their customization as disclosed and claimed by
the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present
invention to provide a suitcase that can be customized with
decoration.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
suitcase with a compartment for displaying decoration that can be
readily changed.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
suitcase with a compartment for displaying decoration that can be
accessed without opening the suitcase.
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a suitcase with
a means for displaying decoration that can be identified from a
distance.
[0008] In accordance with the objectives of the invention, a system
for customizing a suitcase is disclosed having a display
compartment. The compartment is a case comprised of a recessed base
formed on an exterior surface of the suitcase, with a transparent
cover. The transparent cover is hingedly connected to the recessed
base such that it is capable of opening and closing. The recessed
base has at least one magnet or a magnetic material that attracts
to at least one corresponding magnet or magnetic material in the
cover so that the cover can be secured to the recessed base in a
closed position by magnetic force.
[0009] The suitcase can be customized by inserting a decorative
sheet, such as a photograph, into the display compartment. In this
way the suitcase can be customized by changing the decoration in
the display compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of a suitcase according to
the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a view of the display compartment with the cover
in an open position.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a view of the display compartment with the cover
in a closed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, a suitcase 1 according to an embodiment
of the present invention has a shell 10. The shell 10 can be made
of a soft or hard material. Suitcases having shells made of vinyl,
plastic, aluminum, aluminum alloy, polycarbonate or other materials
are known. The shape, size and material of suitcase 1 do not limit
the invention.
[0014] In an embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 1, the
shell 10 is comprised of a rear panel 12, side panels 14, a bottom
panel 16, a top panel 18, and a front panel 20. The suitcase 1
typically has rollers or wheels 22 and a pull handle 26 that is
retractable and extendable. The rollers or wheels 22 and the pull
handle 26 can be configured in different configurations without
limiting the invention.
[0015] The shell 10 has a compartment 28 on an exterior surface for
displaying a decorative sheet. The compartment 28 can be located at
any location on shell 10, but preferably on the front panel 20, or
the largest, unobstructed surface of suitcase 1 for best displaying
the decorative sheet.
[0016] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the compartment
28 is comprised of a base 30 and a transparent cover 32 connected
to the base 30. The cover 32 is hingedly connected to the base 30
such that it is capable of opening and closing as shown in FIGS. 2
and 3. The cover 32 is secured to the base 30 in a closed position
by magnets 34. The magnets 34 can be located either in base 30 or
in cover 32, or both.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the compartment 28 has a gap 36
between base 30 and cover 32 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, such that a
user can insert a finger into the gap 36 to open cover 32.
[0018] The suitcase 1 can be customized by opening cover 32 to
insert a decorative sheet under the transparent cover 32. In this
way the suitcase 1 can be customized by changing the decorative
sheet in the compartment 28 without opening suitcase 1.
[0019] While the foregoing describes the present invention in
relation to the drawings and embodiments, it is to be understood
that the description is not intended to limit the scope of the
invention to the drawings or embodiments described herein. To the
contrary, the description is intended to cover all alternative
modifications and equivalents that may be included in the spirit
and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *