WO2013014670A1

WO2013014670A1 - Baggage cover and protector

Info

Publication number: WO2013014670A1
Application number: PCT/IL2012/050270
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nadav Caspi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-07-24
Filing date: 2012-07-24
Publication date: 2013-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 2014-01-24

Abstract

A garment-type cover for a suitcase, comprises a fabric for fitting over a suitcase body and enveloping the suitcase on three sides, the fabric having neck and arm slots, the neck slot for allowing exposure of a suitcase handle and arm slots for allowing exposure of suitcase corners thereby to facilitate flexible fitting. One end of cover is left open for pulling over the suitcase, the cover comprising fastenings for fastening the garment type cover across the open end. The fastenings are positioned on flaps to leave wheels of the suitcase exposed and functional.

Description

BAGGAGE COVER AND PROTECTOR

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a baggage cover and protector.

Luggage in travel is exposed to knocks and to dirt. Additional problems include failure of closures so that the contents may fall out. A further problem for travelers is to identify their luggage clearly and unambiguously at often crowded baggage claim carousels.

US Patent No. 5,255,765 teaches a removable luggage cover for protecting a piece of luggage from damaging and dirty environments. The luggage cover is a piece of durably woven fabric held on the luggage either by being directly attached to the luggage with clips or buckles or by enveloping the luggage and being clipped or buckled together. No zip or zipper is required and the cover allows access to the luggage handle while the cover is in place. The cover is adjustable to luggage of different sizes and shapes. The cover is a single piece of fabric folded over the bottom of the luggage to reach over and cover the broad sides of the luggage. The two extensions of the cover are buckled or strapped across the remaining three openable sides of the luggage.

US Patent 7,077,251 teaches a tubular cover for suitcases having one elasticated end and a zippered flap to allow access to the suitcase. Slots allow for access to handles and wheels.

US Patent 2,647,595 teaches a sack-type cover for a suitcase. The cover dispenses with fastenings but rather is drawn down over the suitcase from the top - having a slot for the handle, and is secured with elastic strips across the bottom. US Patent 3,901,360 discloses a luggage protector that completely envelopes the luggage, except for a slot for a handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a garment- type cover for a suitcase, comprising a fabric for fitting over a suitcase body, the fabric enveloping the suitcase body on five sides, the enveloping fabric having a neck slot and armscyes, the neck slot for allowing exposure of a suitcase handle and the armscyes for allowing exposure of suitcase corners, an end of the garment-type cover opposite the neck opening being open for pulling over the suitcase, the cover comprising fastenings for fastening the garment-type cover across the open end, the fastenings being positioned to leave wheels of the suitcase exposed.

In an embodiment, the wheels are located at corners of a base of the suitcase, wherein the open end is directed towards the base and the fastenings are located over the open end in such a way as to avoid the wheels.

In an embodiment, the fastenings are located over a central region of the open end so as to avoid the wheels.

The cover may extend towards the open end in the form of front and rear flaps, each flap having a flap corner, the fastenings comprising straps extending from each of the four flap corners.

In an embodiment, the straps extending from each of the four strap corners are fastened together at a single buckle when the cover is in a fastened state. Alternatively, the straps extending from each of said four strap corners are each fastened to a respectively opposite strap.

In an embodiment, the fastening comprises four straps extendible over the open end.

An embodiment may utilize additional slots to match with features of a predetermined suitcase.

In an embodiment, the fabric is elasticated to fit over suitcases over a range of sizes.

An embodiment may comprise a face configured for customized printing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of covering a suitcase comprising:

providing an enveloping fabric having five closed sides and a sixth open side, and slots to correspond to a neck opening and arm openings of a garment and to handles of the suitcase, the open side having flaps and fastenings;

pulling the enveloping fabric over the suitcase so as to orient a handle of the suitcase towards the neck opening and the open end of the enveloping fabric to a wheeled end of the suitcase; fastening the enveloping fabric over the suitcase at the open end using the fastenings, the flaps orientating the fastenings away from the wheels.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The materials, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance or illustration". Any embodiment described as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from other embodiments.

The word "optionally" is used herein to mean "is provided in some embodiments and not provided in other embodiments". Any particular embodiment of the invention may include a plurality of "optional" features unless such features conflict.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in order to provide what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram illustrating a garment-like cover for fitting over a suitcase according to the present embodiments;

FIG. 2 shows is a side view of the garment- like cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the front and back sides of the garment-like cover of FIG. 1 laid out side by side; FIG. 4 shows a side view of the garment-like cover of FIG. 1 placed over a suitcase and viewed side-on;

FIG. 5 shows a front perspective view of the garment-like cover of FIG. 1 placed over a suitcase.

FIG. 6 shows a view from above of the garment-like cover of FIG. 1 placed over a suitcase;

FIG. 7 shows a view from below of the garment-like cover of FIG. 1 placed over a suitcase, illustrating the fastening of the cover over the open end of the suitcase;

FIG. 8 shows a view from below of an alternative embodiment of the garmentlike cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 shows a front perspective view of the garment-like cover of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a front view of the garment- like cover of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 shows a rear view of the garment-like cover of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present embodiments comprise a cover for a travel bag such as a suitcase or like bag or other kinds of baggage containers, including computer bags, and the like. More specifically, the present embodiments relate inter alia to any of the following: a suitcase cover; a suitcase wrap; a suitcase jersey; a suitcase garment; a suitcase vest; a baggage cover; a baggage wrap; a baggage jersey; a baggage garment; a baggage vest; a luggage cover; a luggage wrap; a luggage garment; a luggage vest; a luggage jersey; a bag cover; a bag wrap; a bag jersey, a bag garment, a bag vest; and a garment, jersey, cover, wrap, or vest for a computer bag or laptop container.

The term "suitcase" is used generically herein to include all of the above types of bags and the term "garment- type cover" is used to refer to all of the above-mentioned types of covers.

The principles and operation of an apparatus and method according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and accompanying description.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which illustrates a garment- type cover 10 for a suitcase. The cover comprises a fabric for fitting over a suitcase body, the fabric having a neck slot 12 for a handle, and armscyes, or arm slots 14. The neck slot 12 allows for exposure of a suitcase handle or the like and the arm slots expose the upper corners of the suitcase, to facilitate flexible fitting. In general, corners are mechanically weak points and are especially weak when a material is elasticated and stretched to its maximum extent. The armscyes 14 remove this potential point of weakness in the fabric. The far end 16 of the garment-type cover opposite the neck opening is open to allow for pulling over the suitcase, and fastenings 18 are provided for fastening the garment type cover across the open end. The open end may conveniently be at the end of the suitcase having wheels, and the fastenings 18 are positioned to avoid the wheels and leave the wheels exposed. The lower part of the garment likewise is designed to avoid the corners and the wheels, instead forming flaps 20 towards the central region of the open end. The fastenings may then extend from corners 22 of the flaps over the central region 24. Specifically, the fastenings may comprise straps and a buckle arrangement 26 and may extend from each of four flap corners 28, two flap corners in the front of the case and two flap corners in the back of the case. The fastenings may buckle together centrally under the bottom of the suitcase, as shown in Fig. 7 and discussed hereinbelow.

Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the garment when fitted over a suitcase. Parts that are described in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals and are not described again.

Figure 3 illustrates the separate front and back sides of the garment shown side by side. Parts that are described in Fig. 1 are given the same reference numerals and are not described again. The front side and the back side are in general the same. The cut of the armscyes may be varied as desired.

The garment cover may include additional slots 30 to match with specific features of a specific suitcase for which it is designed. The fabric may be elasticated to fit over suitcases over a range of sizes. The fastening straps may be elasticated as well as, or instead of, the fabric body of the garment.

The garment may be customized for specific suitcases, or generic versions may be produced which are designed to fit a range of suitcases, and additional slots such as 30 may be provided for different features of the specific suitcase.

Figs. 4 - 7 all illustrate different views of a garment cover 40 placed over a suitcase 42, the suitcase being shown in hashed lines. Fig. 4 is a side view in which the wheels 44 of the suitcase 42 extend from outside of the flaps 22 at the lower end and a handle 46 of the suitcase extends through the neck 12 of the garment.

Fig. 5 illustrates the same from a front perspective view.

Fig. 6 is a view from above, showing the neck 12 and the armscyes 14 fitting over the suitcase 42.

Fig. 7 is a view from below, showing the fastenings 18 extending from the corners 22 of the flaps 20 and meeting centrally where they are buckled together by buckle arrangement 26.

Reference is now made to Fig. 8, which shows a view from below of an alternative embodiment of the garment-like cover of Fig. 1. In Fig. 8, instead of central buckling, straps 80, 82, 84 and 86 fit perpendicularly over the suitcase and buckle with respectively opposite straps on the same side of the case. Thus strap 80 buckles with strap 84 and strap 82 buckles with strap 86. Although in Fig. 8 the straps are shown to be of equal length, one strap may be longer than the other so that the two halves of the buckle do not necessarily meet in the middle. In an alternative the straps may be adjustable so that the position of the buckle is not predefined.

Fig. 9 shows a front perspective view of the garment-like cover of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 shows a front view of the garment-like cover of Fig. 8, and Fig. 11 shows a rear view of the garment-like cover of Fig. 8.

The face of the garment, front or back or both, may be designed for printing, so that customized versions may be easily made. Customization of the face may assist with identifying luggage quickly and easily on a luggage carousel.

The garment is thus an accessory, extension, and cover for any size or style of suitcases, bags or luggage. In a further aspect, the present embodiments may provide a method of covering, protecting or marking a suitcase for identification.

The method comprises providing an enveloping fabric such as the garment-like cover of Fig. 1, The fabric has five closed sides and a sixth open side, and slots to correspond to a neck opening and arm openings of a garment and to handles of the suitcase, the open side of the fabric having flaps and fastenings.

The method comprises pulling the enveloping fabric over the suitcase so as to orient the suitcase handle towards the neck opening and the open end of the enveloping fabric to a wheeled end of said suitcase, and fastening the enveloping fabric over the suitcase at the open end using the fastenings. As discussed above, the flaps orientate the fastenings away from the wheels.

The garment may be printed on its face, as explained, to allow for easy and rapid identification, to find and locate the luggage, bag or suitcase. Placing a custom-printed garment over a suitcase converts the same into a personalized item that is easy to identify. The product may protect much of the luggage, bag or suitcase and minimize the chance of damage, especially surface damage, by absorbing friction and abuse caused during traveling. The garment fits firmly over the back and thus helps prevent accidental opening or unzipping during travel. In the event of a suitcase having damaged or malfunctioning original zippers or sealing devices the garment acts as a backup to keeping personal items safe inside the suitcase. The garment may be provided in the shape of a jersey, sport jersey, basketball jersey, shirt, t-shirt, or any other wearable shape besides being a full cover for luggage, bag or suitcase.

The garment can be made from any textile, fabric or material for example cotton, polyester, lycra™, nylon, or spandex etc. or any combination or percentage with any textile, fabric or material. The garment may be matched to any specific size of suitcase or may be produced to match several different sizes of suitcase, for example a "one size fits all" version or small, medium, large versions etc. The garment may fit onto a range of suitcases by using any stretchable textile, fabric or material such as lycra™, nylon or spandex or any different blends of any textile, fabric or material. Most frequently the garment is applied to the luggage, bag or suitcase from the handle or top side and fastened from the wheel or bottom side. Options for fastening include a buckle as mentioned above but more generally, such options as Velcro, clips, snaps, magnets, zippers, buttons or any other female to male contraption made out of any materials such as plastic or metal etc may be considered.

The garment may alternatively be fastened from the top, front, back, sides or bottom of the suitcase. The garment may be personalized or produced in any design ahead of time or custom ordered individually by any customer. The garment may also be utilized as a marketing or advertisement tool by printing suitable advertising content thereon. The garment can include on its face prints, stickers, appliques, patches, buttons, stones, or any other suitable design features to customize the product. Customization may be production customization or personal customization may be applied subsequently, say at the direction of the individual customer. The product may be provided with or may match with baggage locking or sealing devices thereby adding security or helping to prevent theft of the luggage, or indeed of the garment itself.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims. All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A garment- type cover for a suitcase, comprising a fabric for fitting over a suitcase body, the fabric enveloping the suitcase body on five sides, the enveloping fabric having a neck slot and armscyes, the neck slot for allowing exposure of a suitcase handle and the armscyes for allowing exposure of suitcase corners, an end of said garment- type cover opposite said neck opening being open for pulling over said suitcase, the cover comprising fastenings for fastening said garment-type cover across said open end, said fastenings being positioned to leave wheels of said suitcase exposed.

2. The garment-type cover of claim 1, wherein said wheels are located at corners of a base of said suitcase, wherein said open end is directed towards said base and said fastenings are located over said open end in such a way as to avoid said wheels.

3. The garment-type cover of claim 2, wherein said fastenings are located over a central region of said open end so as to avoid said wheels.

4. The garment-type cover of claim 1, extending towards said open end in the form of front and rear flaps, each flap having a flap corner, said fastenings comprising straps extending from each of said four flap corners.

5. The garment-type cover of claim 4, wherein said straps extending from each of said four strap corners are fastened centrally together at a single buckle when said cover is in a fastened state.

6. The garment-type cover of claim 4, wherein said straps extending from each of said four strap corners are each fastened to a respectively opposite strap.

7. The garment-type cover of claim 1, wherein said fastening comprises four straps extendible over said open end.

8. The garment- type cover of claim 1, further comprising additional slots to match with features of a predetermined suitcase.

9. The garment-type cover of claim 1, wherein said fabric is elasticated to fit over suitcases over a range of sizes.

10. The garment- type cover of claim 1, comprising a face configured for customized printing.

11. A method of covering a suitcase comprising:

providing an enveloping fabric having five closed sides and a sixth open side, and slots to correspond to a neck opening and arm openings of a garment and to handles of said suitcase, said open side having flaps and fastenings;

pulling said enveloping fabric over said suitcase so as to orient a handle of said suitcase towards said neck opening and said open end of said enveloping fabric to a wheeled end of said suitcase;

fastening said enveloping fabric over said suitcase at said open end using said fastenings, said flaps orientating said fastenings away from said wheels.