EP3056109A1

EP3056109A1 - Luggage having a tapered lid depth

Info

Publication number: EP3056109A1
Application number: EP16155118.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Emran Y. Sheikh; Alden Evangelista
Original assignee: Heys International Ltd
Current assignee: Heys International Ltd
Priority date: 2015-02-11
Filing date: 2016-02-10
Publication date: 2016-08-17
Also published as: CA2920399A1; US20160227895A1

Abstract

A luggage is disclosed having a front face opposite a rear face, a plurality of sides, and at least one support. The plurality of side faces collectively surround the front and rear faces. Each side face connects the front face to the rear face. The plurality of side faces includes at least an upper face opposite a lower face. The lower face includes a front portion extending forwardly of the upper face. The at least one support is coupled to the front portion of the lower face. A handle is coupled to the upper face.

Description

FIELD

The field of this disclosure relates to luggage for storage or transportation of articles.

INTRODUCTION

Luggage is a reclosable storage container for transporting personal articles, such as clothing and the like, in a vehicle, such as a plane, train, or automobile. The maximum allowable size of the luggage may be governed by restrictions imposed by the operators of such vehicles (e.g. the airline) and by the size of the storage compartments for the luggage on the vehicle (e.g. overhead compartments). In some cases, a luggage may include wheels and a handle to assist with manually transporting the luggage by hand.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a luggage is provided. The luggage may comprise a front face opposite a rear face, a plurality of side faces, at least one support, and at least one handle. The plurality of side faces may collectively surround the front and rear faces. Each side face may connect the front face to the rear face, the plurality of side faces may include at least an upper face opposite a lower face, and the lower face may include a front portion extending forwardly of the upper face. The at least one support may be coupled to the front portion of the lower face, and the at least one handle may be coupled to the upper face.
In another aspect, a luggage is provided, which may comprise a lid and at least one support. The lid may be coupled to a front end of a base along a parting line. Each of the lid and base may extend between a lower end and an upper end. The depth of the base may be substantially constant between the lower and upper ends of the base. The depth of the lid may taper from proximate the lower end of the lid toward the upper end of the lid, and the at least one support may be coupled to the lower end of the lid.
In another aspect, a luggage is provided, which may comprise a front face opposite a rear face, a plurality of side faces collectively surrounding the front and rear faces, a parting line dividing the luggage into a lid and a base, and at least one support. Each side face may connect the front face to the rear face. The plurality of side faces may include at least an upper face opposite a lower face. The lid may include the front face, and the base may include the rear face. At least a portion of the front face may extend from proximate the lower face toward the upper face in a direction toward the rear face, and the at least one support may be connected to the lid on the lower face.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a luggage in a closed position in accordance with at least one embodiment;
FIG. 1B is a side elevation view of the luggage of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1C is a top plan view of the luggage of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1D is a front elevation view of the luggage of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 1E is a bottom plan view of the luggage of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a luggage in a closed position in accordance with another embodiment;
FIG. 2B is a side elevation view of the luggage of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2C is a top plan view of the luggage of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2D is a front elevation view of the luggage of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 2E is a bottom plan view of the luggage of FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a luggage in a closed position in accordance with another embodiment;
FIG. 3B is a side elevation view of the luggage of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3C is a top plan view of the luggage of FIG. 3A;
FIG. 3D is a front elevation view of the luggage of FIG. 3A; and
FIG. 3E is a bottom plan view of the luggage of FIG. 3A.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Numerous embodiments are described in this application, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not intended to be limiting in any sense. The invention is widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure herein. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention may be practiced with modification and alteration without departing from the teachings disclosed herein. Although particular features of the present invention may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments or figures, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or figures with reference to which they are described.
The terms "an embodiment," "embodiment," "embodiments," "the embodiment," "the embodiments," "one or more embodiments," "some embodiments," and "one embodiment" mean "one or more (but not all) embodiments of the present invention(s)," unless expressly specified otherwise.
The terms "including," "comprising" and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless expressly specified otherwise. A listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "a," "an" and "the" mean "one or more," unless expressly specified otherwise.
As used herein and in the claims, two or more parts are said to be "coupled", "connected", "attached", or "fastened" where the parts are joined or operate together either directly or indirectly (i.e., through one or more intermediate parts), so long as a link occurs. As used herein and in the claims, two or more parts are said to be "directly coupled", "directly connected", "directly attached", or "directly fastened" where the parts are connected directly in physical contact with each other. As used herein, two or more parts are said to be "rigidly coupled", "rigidly connected", "rigidly attached", or "rigidly fastened" where the parts are coupled so as to move as one while maintaining a constant orientation relative to each other. None of the terms "coupled", "connected", "attached", and "fastened" distinguish the manner in which two or more parts are joined together.
Referring to FIGS. 1A-1E, a luggage 100 is shown in accordance with at least one embodiment. Luggage 100 may be used to store and transport personal articles, such as clothing and the like. For example, luggage 100 may be a travel case for carrying personal belongings on voyages by plane, train, or automobile.
As exemplified, luggage 100 may include a front face 104 opposite a rear face 108, and a plurality of sides 112 which collectively surround the front and rear faces 104 and 108. Luggage 100 may include any number of sides 112, and each side 112 may connect rear face 108 to front face 104. In the illustrated example, sides 112 include an upper face 116, a lower face 120, and opposite lateral side faces 124. Each of the front and rear faces 104 and 108 may have a surface area which exceeds that of any one of the side faces 112.
Optionally, luggage 100 may include one or more supports for supporting luggage 100 on a ground surface (e.g. the floor or horizontal surface). Rolling supports may further assist with moving luggage 100 across a horizontal surface. Examples of suitable supports include fixed-axle wheels, spinner wheels, and feet. In the illustrated example, luggage 100 includes four spinner wheels 128 coupled to lower face 120.
Luggage 100 may include any suitable number of supports. For example, luggage 100 may include fewer than four wheels 128 (e.g. zero to three wheels), or greater than three wheels 128 (e.g. four to ten wheels). In some embodiments, luggage 100 may include a combination of two or more of fixed-axle wheels, spinner wheels, and feet. For example, luggage 100 may include two fixed-axle wheels on lower face 120 proximate rear face 108 for supporting luggage 100 when tilted with rear face 108 at an acute angle to the ground surface.
In some embodiments, luggage 100 may include one or more handles for grasping luggage 100 by hand. A handle may have a fixed length or may be selectively extensible. In the illustrated embodiment, luggage 100 includes a handle 132 coupled to upper face 116. A user may grasp handle 132 while luggage 100 is supported on wheels 128 for maneuvering luggage 100 across a ground surface. Optionally, luggage 100 may include additional handles on other side faces 112 such as lateral side faces 124. In some cases, a handle on a side face 124 may be well suited for carrying luggage 100 while lifted off of the ground surface.
Luggage 100 may include a lid 136 and a base 140. Lid 136 may include at least a portion of front face 104, and base 140 may include at least at least a portion of rear face 108. As shown, lid 136 may include all of front face 104, and/or base 140 may include all of rear face 108. Base 140 may define one or more interior storage compartments which may be selectively closed by connecting lid 136 to a front end 144 of base 140 to define an enclosed cavity or cavities. In some cases, lid 136 may further define one or more interior storage compartments which may remain separate or be additive with the storage compartment(s) of base 140 when lid 136 is closed onto base 140. Lid 136 may be movable between a closed position (shown) in which a periphery of lid 136 abuts a periphery of base 140 for closing base 140, and an open position (not shown) in which a majority of lid 136 is spaced apart from base 140 for accessing the storage compartment(s) of base 140 and/or lid 136.
Luggage 100 may further include a parting line 148. As used herein and in the claims, a parting line is an imaginary line tracing the threshold between lid 136 and base 140 when lid 136 is connected to base 140 in the closed position. Parting line 148 may extend across any number of faces 104, 108, and/or 112 of luggage 100 according to the respective shapes of lid 136 and base 140. In the illustrated example, parting line 148 is shown extending through each side face 112 along a path intermediate front and rear faces 104 and 108. In this case, each of lid 136 and base 140 may include respective portions of each of side faces 112 (e.g. each of upper, lower, and lateral faces 116, 120, and 124).
Parting line 148 may be formed by any number of straight and/or curved segments. In the illustrated embodiment, parting line 148 extends linearly across each of lateral side faces 124, upper face 116, and lower face 120. As shown, parting line 148 may include segments 152 which extend from lower face 120 to upper face 116 across lateral side faces 124. Segments 152 may be substantially vertically aligned as shown, or alternatively aligned at an angle to vertical. As exemplified, segments 152 may extend substantially parallel to rear face 108. Alternatively, segments 152 may extend at an angle to rear face 108.
Lid 136 and base 140 may be connected in any suitable fashion, along any segment of parting line 148. In some embodiments, lid 136 and base 140 are connected by one or more of a zipper, a hinge, and a lock. For example, luggage 100 may include a hinge 149 along one of segments 152, and a zipper 150 which extends along the remainder of parting line 148.
The stability of luggage 100 when carried on a ground surface by supports may be improved by enlarging the supported footprint formed by those supports. In some embodiments, at least one support is connected to lower face 120 proximate front face 104 of luggage 100. For example, one or more supports may be connected to lid 136 on lower face 120. In the illustrated example, a wheel 128 is connected to each front corner region of lower face 120. In some embodiments, at least one support is connected to lower face 120 proximate rear face 108 of luggage 100. For example, one or more supports may be connected to base 140 on lower face 120. In the illustrated example, a wheel 128 is connected to each rear corner region of lower face 120. In combination, supports distributed about opposite peripheral edges of lower face 120 may provide a large supported footprint for enhanced stability of luggage 100. In the illustrated example, wheels 128 are positioned at each corner of lower face 120, which may maximize the supported footprint for improved stability.
A support may be connected to a component (e.g. face) of luggage 100 in any suitable fashion, such as by fasteners (e.g. screws, bolts, staples, nails, or rivets), adhesives, or by integrally forming the support with the component of the luggage 100.
Luggage 100 has a depth 156 measured in a direction 160 intersecting the front and rear faces 104 and 108. As exemplified, direction 160 may be normal to one or both of front and rear faces 104 and 108. As shown, direction 160 may be substantially horizontal when luggage 100 is carried on a horizontal surface by supports on lower face 120. Depth 156 may be attributed at least in part to a depth 164 of base 140, and a depth 168 of lid 136. In the illustrated example, depth 156 is a summation of base depth 164 and lid depth 168.
In some embodiments, it may be desirable to provide a luggage having a deep base and a shallow lid. This may permit most or all of the storage capacity of the luggage to be provided by the base. In use, luggage 100 may be filled while laid down with rear face 108 flat on a ground surface, and lid 136 in an open position (e.g. pivoted about hinge 149). The weight of a filled lid 136 (which must be moved atop base 140 to close luggage 100) may be reduced by decreasing the depth (and storage capacity) of lid 136. To keep the overall storage capacity of luggage 100 the same, base depth 164 may be increased to compensate.
Lid 136 may include a front-most portion of lower face 120, which may provide an ideal position for locating a support for an enlarged supported footprint for enhanced stability. However, in some cases, a support may require a minimum surface area to form a proper connection with the surface. Accordingly, lid 136 may have a first depth at lower face 120 sufficient for attaching at a support, and the depth may taper toward upper face 116.
In the illustrated example, depth 156 decreases from proximate lower face 120 toward upper face 116. This may provide a lower face depth 172 greater than an upper face depth 176. As illustrated, lower face 120 may include a front portion 180 and a rear portion 184. Front portion 180 may extend forward of upper face 116. For example, front portion 180 may be entirely positioned forward of a front edge 188 of upper face 116. As illustrated, front portion 180 may extend from front face 104 toward parting line 148. Rear portion 184 may be entirely positioned rearward of front edge 188. In the illustrated example, rear portion 184 is entirely aligned vertically below upper face 116. As exemplified, wheels 128 may be coupled to front portion 180. As shown, lid 136 may include at least front portion 180 of lower face 120.
Base depth 164 may be measured between rear face 108 and parting line 148. In some embodiments, base depth 164 may be substantially constant between lower face 120 and upper face 116. For example, parting line 148 may extend along lateral side faces 124 in parallel with rear face 108. In the illustrated example, each of parting line 148 and rear face 108 is substantially vertically aligned to provide a constant base depth 164. In some embodiments, parting line 148 may lie in a substantially vertical plane. In some cases, a substantially constant base depth 164 may permit articles to be more evenly distributed within the storage compartment(s) of base 140. For example, articles may be stacked inside base 140 to a constant height across base 140. In alternative embodiments, base depth 164 may vary between upper and lower faces 116 and 120 of luggage 100.
As exemplified, lid depth 168 may decrease from proximate lower face 120 toward upper face 116. For example, lid 136 may include a lower portion 192 and an upper portion 196. As exemplified, lid depth 168 may decrease from proximate lower face 120 across lower portion 192, and lid depth 168 may remain constant across upper portion 196. As shown, lid depth 168 may be greater in lower portion 192 than upper portion 196 by any suitable amount. For example, the maximum lid depth 168 in lower portion 192 may be between 1.2 to 5 times, or 1.3 to 3, or 1.5 to 2.5 times the lid depth 168 in upper portion 196. In the example shown, the maximum lid depth 168 in lower portion 192 is approximately 2 times the lid depth 168 in the upper portion 196. The enlarged lid depth 168 may provide additional surface area to lid on lower surface 120 for attaching a support, such as wheel 128. There may be any suitable ratio of lid depth 168 in upper portion 196 to base depth 164. For example, the ratio may be between 2:1 to 20:1, or 3:1 to 15:1, or 4:1 to 10:1. In the illustrated embodiment, the ratio is approximately 6:1.
In alternative embodiments, lid depth 168 may decrease but at a lower rate across upper portion 196 toward upper face 116, or lid depth 168 may increase across upper portion 196 toward upper face 116.
Lid depth 168 may be measured between front face 104 and parting line 148. As exemplified, front face 104 may include an upper portion 200 adjacent upper face 116 and a lower portion 204 adjacent lower face 120. The lower portion 204 may extend from upper portion 200 away from rear face 108 toward lower face 120. For example, front face lower portion 204 may extend from upper portion 200 away from parting line 148 toward lower face 120. Front face upper portion 200 may extend in parallel with rear face 108 and/or parting line 148. Alternatively, front face upper portion 200 may extend toward or away from rear face 108 and/or parting line 148. Lid upper portion 196 may include front face upper portion 200, and lid lower portion 192 may include front face lower portion 204.
Lid 136 may include lid upper portion 196 and lid lower portion 192 in any suitable ratio. For example, lid 136 may include upper and lower portions 196 and 192 in the ratio of between 0.5:1 to 20:1, 1:1 to 3:1, or greater than 5:1. Front face 104 may include upper and lower portions 200 and 204 in the same or similar ratios. In the illustrated embodiment, lid 136 includes upper and lower portions 196 and 192 in the ratio of about 2:1. FIGS. 2A-2E show another embodiment of luggage 100 having a lid 136 with upper and lower portions 196 and 192 in the ratio of about 10:1. Referring to FIGS. 3A-3E, in some embodiments, luggage 100 may include a lid 136 having only a lower portion 192 and no upper portion 196. In this case, lid depth 168 may taper continuously from proximate lower face 120 to proximate upper face 116 as shown.
Front face 104 may extend from proximate lower face 120 toward upper face 116 and rear face 108 at any suitable angle 208 to horizontal. For example, angle 208 may be between 5 to 85 degrees, 20 to 75 degrees, or 30 to 65 degrees. As exemplified, FIGS. 1A-1E show an embodiment of luggage 100 where angle 208 is approximately 70 degrees, FIGS. 2A-2E show an embodiment of luggage 100 where angle 208 is approximately 45 degrees, and FIGS 3A-3E show an embodiment of luggage 100 where angle 208 is approximately 82 degrees.
While the above description provides examples of the embodiments, it will be appreciated that some features and/or functions of the described embodiments are susceptible to modification without departing from the spirit and principles of operation of the described embodiments. Accordingly, what has been described above has been intended to be illustrative of the invention and non-limiting and it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that other variants and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments and examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Items

Item 1. A luggage comprising:
- a front face opposite a rear face;
- a plurality of side faces collectively surrounding the front and rear faces,
  - each side face connecting the front face to the rear face,
  - the plurality of side faces including at least an upper face opposite a lower face,
  - the lower face including a front portion extending forwardly of the upper face,
- at least one support coupled to the front portion of the lower face; and
- at least one handle coupled to the upper face.
Item 2. The luggage of item 1, wherein a parting line extends across each of the plurality of side faces to define a lid and a base, the lid including the front face, the base including the rear face.
Item 3. The luggage of item 2, wherein the lid includes the front portion of the lower face.
Item 4. The luggage of item 2 or item 3 , wherein the front portion extends from the front face toward the parting line.
Item 5. The luggage of any one of items 1-4, wherein the support is a spinner wheel.
Item 6. The luggage of any one of items 1-5, wherein the at least one support includes a second support coupled to the lower face proximate the rear face
Item 7. The luggage of any one of items 2-6 when dependent on item 2 wherein the parting line lies in a vertical plane.
Item 8. The luggage of any one of items 2-7 when dependent on item 2 wherein:
- a segment of the parting line extends from the lower face to the upper face, and
- the segment of the parting line is vertically aligned.
Item 9. The luggage of any one of items 2-7 when dependent on item 2 wherein:
- a segment of the parting line extends from the lower face to the upper face, and
- the segment of the parting line is parallel with the rear face.
Item 10. The luggage of any one of items 2-9 when dependent on item 2 wherein a depth of the base measured between the rear face and the parting line is substantially constant between the lower and upper faces.
Item 11. The luggage of any one of items 2-10 when dependent on item 2 wherein a depth of the lid measured between the front face and the parting line tapers from proximate the lower face toward the upper face.
Item 12. The luggage of any one of items 2-9 when dependent on item 2 wherein the lid has a lid depth measured between the front face and the parting line, the base has a base depth measured between the rear face and the parting line, and a ratio of the lid depth to the base depth is between 2:1 and 20:1.
Item 13. The luggage of any one of items 2-12 when dependent on item 2 wherein:
- the front face includes an upper portion adjacent the upper face, and a lower portion adjacent the lower face,
- the upper portion is substantially parallel with the rear face, and
- the lower portion extends from the upper portion away from the rear face toward the lower face.
Item 14. The luggage of item 13 wherein the front face includes the upper portion and the lower portion in the ratio of between 1:1 and 3:1.
Item 15. The luggage of item 13 wherein the front face includes the upper portion and the lower portion in the ratio of at least 5:1.
Item 16. The luggage of any one of items 2-14 when dependent on item 2 further comprising a zipper and a hinge connecting the lid and the base along the parting line.
Item 17. A luggage comprising:
- a lid coupled to a front end of a base along a parting line,
  - each of the lid and base extending between a lower end and an upper end,
  - a depth of the base is substantially constant between the lower and upper ends of the base,
  - a depth of the lid tapers from proximate the lower end of the lid toward the upper end of the lid; and
- at least one support coupled to the lower end of the lid.
Item 18. The luggage of item 16 wherein:
- the lid includes a lower portion adjacent the lower end of the lid, and an upper portion adjacent the upper end of the lid,
- the depth of the lid tapers in the lower portion of the lid, and
- the depth of the lid is substantially constant in the upper portion of the lid.
Item 19. The luggage of item 18 wherein:
- the lid includes the upper portion and the lower portion in a ratio of between 1:1 and 3:1.
Item 20. The luggage of item 18 wherein:
- the lid includes the upper portion and the lower portion in a ratio of at least 5:1.
Item 21. A luggage comprising:
- a front face opposite a rear face;
- a plurality of side faces collectively surrounding the front and rear faces,
  - each side face connecting the front face to the rear face,
  - the plurality of side faces including at least an upper face opposite a lower face;
- a parting line dividing the luggage into a lid and a base, the lid including the front face, the base including the rear face,
  - at least a portion of the front face extends from proximate the lower face toward the upper face in a direction toward the rear face; and
- at least one support connected to the lid on the lower face.
Item 22. The luggage of item 21, wherein:
- a segment of the parting line extends substantially linearly between the lower face and the upper face.

Claims

A luggage comprising:
a front face opposite a rear face;

a plurality of side faces collectively surrounding the front and rear faces,
each side face connecting the front face to the rear face,

the plurality of side faces including at least an upper face opposite a lower face,

the lower face including a front portion extending forwardly of the upper face,

at least one support coupled to the front portion of the lower face; and

at least one handle coupled to the upper face.
The luggage of claim 1, wherein a parting line extends across each of the plurality of side faces to define a lid and a base, the lid including the front face, the base including the rear face.
The luggage of claim 2, wherein the lid includes the front portion of the lower face.
The luggage of claim 2, wherein the front portion extends from the front face toward the parting line.
The luggage of claim 1, wherein the support is a spinner wheel.
The luggage of claim 1, wherein the at least one support includes a second support coupled to the lower face proximate the rear face
The luggage of claim 2 wherein the parting line lies in a vertical plane.
The luggage of claim 2 wherein:
a segment of the parting line extends from the lower face to the upper face, and

the segment of the parting line is vertically aligned.
The luggage of claim 2 wherein:
a segment of the parting line extends from the lower face to the upper face, and

the segment of the parting line is parallel with the rear face.
The luggage of claim 2 wherein a depth of the base measured between the rear face and the parting line is substantially constant between the lower and upper faces.
The luggage of claim 2 wherein a depth of the lid measured between the front face and the parting line tapers from proximate the lower face toward the upper face.
The luggage of claim 2 wherein the lid has a lid depth measured between the front face and the parting line, the base has a base depth measured between the rear face and the parting line, and a ratio of the lid depth to the base depth is between 2:1 and 20:1.
The luggage of claim 2 wherein:
the front face includes an upper portion adjacent the upper face, and a lower portion adjacent the lower face,

the upper portion is substantially parallel with the rear face, and

the lower portion extends from the upper portion away from the rear face toward the lower face.
The luggage of claim 13 wherein the front face includes the upper portion and the lower portion in the ratio of between 1:1 and 3:1; or wherein the front face includes the upper portion and the lower portion in the ratio of at least 5:1.
The luggage of claim 2 further comprising a zipper and a hinge connecting the lid and the base along the parting line.