WO2019161454A1

WO2019161454A1 - Secure cover for luggage

Info

Publication number: WO2019161454A1
Application number: PCT/AU2019/050151
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tim Rodgers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-02-22
Filing date: 2019-02-22
Publication date: 2019-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-22
Also published as: AU2019201263A1; AU2019201263B2

Abstract

A secure covering for a piece of luggage, said covering comprising: a flexible cover body with an opening, the cover comprising a plurality of panels defining an internal space for receiving said piece of luggage through the opening; a locking arrangement for releasably securing said opening, the locking arrangement comprising one or more padlock receiving members provided along opposed panels of the cover body for securing the cover to prevent the piece of luggage from being withdrawn from the cover body.

Description

SECURE COVER FOR LUGGAGE

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to a secure cover for luggage carrying containers such as suitcases, briefcases or any other pieces of luggage which comprises an enclosed internal space for transporting goods.

BACKGROUND

Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge.

Luggage in travel is often susceptible to theft and exposure to knocks and dirt. Additional problems may include failure of closures that can result in the luggage contents falling out.

Accordingly, there is a need for providing an improved luggage cover that addresses some of the problems of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In an aspect, the invention provides a secure covering for a piece of luggage, said covering comprising: a flexible cover body with an opening, the cover comprising a plurality of panels defining an internal space for receiving said piece of luggage through the opening; a locking arrangement for releasably securing said opening, the locking arrangement comprising one or more padlock receiving members provided along opposed panels of the cover body for securing the cover to prevent the piece of luggage from being withdrawn from the cover body.

In an embodiment, at least one of said opposed panels comprises one or more hook members adapted to receive a shackle/shank portion of a padlock; and at least another of said opposed panels comprises one or more corresponding openings to receive said hook members such that in a received configuration the hook members are received into corresponding openings to close the opening of the cover body.

In an embodiment, one or more hook members are provided along a first elongate member positioned along an edge portion of one of said opposed panels and wherein one or more of said corresponding openings are provided along a second elongate members positioned along an edge portion of the other of said opposed panels.

In an embodiment, the secure covering further comprises a guard member positioned to at least partially extend above the hook member wherein in a first operable position, the guard member is positioned to prevent access to the hook members and in a second operable position, the guard member is positioned to allow access to the hook members. In an embodiment, the guard member comprises an elongate configuration and is movably fastened relative to the second elongate member to allow movement of the guard member in between the first and second operable positions.

Preferably, the guard member is hingedly fastened relative to the second elongate member to allow the movement of the guard member in between the first and second operable positions.

In an embodiment, the secure covering further comprises a secondary locking arrangement to maintain the guard member in the first operable position to prevent unauthorised access to an underside portion of the guard member.

In an embodiment, the guard member further comprises a curved shroud for to at least partially extend above the hook member wherein in the first operable position.

In an embodiment, the guard member further comprises cut-out portions for allowing padlocks to be positioned in fastened engagement with the padlock receiving members provided along the opposed edges of the cover body.

In an embodiment, the guard member further comprises a handle. In an embodiment, the cover further comprises a plurality of surface engaging wheels fastened to the bag to allow a piece of luggage contained in the cover body to be transported.

Preferably, said plurality of wheels are positioned at a distal end of the cover body relative to the opening of the cover body.

In an embodiment, an additional locking arrangement is positioned in between the padlock receiving members for securing the cover to prevent the piece of luggage from being withdrawn from the cover body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

Figure 1 is a first side-on perspective view of a secure cover 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention with a luggage piece S being partially inserted in the cover 100. Figure 2 is a second side-on perspective view of the secure cover 100 whereby the piece of luggage S has been completely received in an interior space defined by the cover 100.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a locking arrangement 150 used for releasably securing an opening 144 of the cover 100.

Figure 4 is another enlarged view of the locking arrangement 150.

Figures 5 and 6 depict the locking arrangement 150 whereby oppositely arranged elongate members 170 and 190 are fastened together for securing the opening of the cover 100.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the locking arrangement 150 in an open position whereby a luggage piece can be removed out of the cover 100 through the opening

144.

Figure 8 is a side perspective view of the locking arrangement 150 in a closed position.

Figure 9 is a frontal view of the locking arrangement 150 in a closed position.

Figure 10 an in-use view of the cover 100 whereby the cover 100 is being used for securely covering and transporting luggage piece (S). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figures 1 to 10, a secure cover 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As will be described in more detail hereunder, the cover 100 comprises a cover body 105 that is useful for covering a piece of luggage. In the presently described embodiment the piece of luggage is in the form of a wheeled-suitcase S. The cover 100 serves several functions. Firstly, the cover body 105 which is typical made of wear and abrasion resistant material such as Kevlar™ protects the suitcase S against scuffing, scratching, staining and the like. Second, the secure cover 100 also assists in preventing unauthorised access to and, accordingly theft of, luggage contained in the suitcase S.

The cover body 105 comprises a plurality of fabric panels (preferably wear resistant fabric panels) that are preferably stitched together to define an enclosed space for receiving the wheeled suitcase (S). The cover body 105 extends between an open end 107 having an opening 144 and a closed end 109. The opening 144 is defined by two pairs of opposed panel members 110, 130 and 120, 140. An initial step involves folding the first pair of opposed panels 1 10 and 130 and fastening the folded panels 110 and 130 to the other pair of opposed panels 120 and 140 by way of hook and loop fasteners (Velcro™) as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

One of the panels 110 comprises an elongate rigid member 170 extending along an edge portion of the panel 110. The elongate member 170 comprises two spaced apart padlock receiving hooks 172 to align the elongate member 170 to be positioned across panel 110. The other opposed panel 130 comprises a second elongate rigid member 190. The rigid member 190 further comprises corresponding openings 192 for receiving the spaced apart hooks 172 and allow the opening 144 to be dosed. Positioning the hook members 172 into the corresponding openings 192 causes the first and second elongate members 170 and 190 to be held fixedly relative to each other. Once the hook members 172 of the first elongate member 170 are positioned within the corresponding openings 192 of the second elongate member 190, shackle portions of padlocks P1 and P2 (shown in Figures 5, 6, 8 and 9) are inserted into the hook members 172 whilst they are also received into the openings 192. Once the padlocks P1 and P2 have been locked, the elongate members 170 and 190 are inter- locked with each other and cannot be separated unless the padlocks P1 and P2 are unlocked and the shackle portions of the padlocks PI and P2 are uncoupled from the hooks 172. The aforementioned configuration of the locking arrangement 150 prevents unauthorised access to the wheeled suitcase S.

Advantageously, a guard member 196 is hinged!y affixed to the second elongate member 190. The guard member 196 comprises a curved body to form a shroud that extends above the hooks 172 in a closed position. The guard member 196 is movable between an open and closed position. In a first operable position (closed position), the guard member 196 is positioned to prevent access to the hooks 172 and in a second operable position (open position), the guard member 196 is positioned to allow access to the hook members 172. The guard member 196 provides two key functions. First, the guard member 196 blocks access to at least the shank portion of the padlocks P1 and P2 (which is in engagement with the hooks 172) thereby making it difficult for unauthorised users to tamper with the lock. The guard member 196 also prevents any accidental damage to the hooks and the shank portion of the padlocks P1 and P2 during transportation. A further optional fastening or securing arrangement may also be provided to maintain the guard member 196 in the closed or locked position. Referring to Figure 9, a secondary lock in the form of a numeric combination lock is provided to lock and secure the guard member 196 with the second elongate member 190 and the first elongate member 170. The shroud shaped body of the guard member 196 includes cut-out portions 197 for allowing padlocks P1 and P2 to be positioned in fastened engagement with the padlock receiving hooks 172. The guard member 196 may also be provided with an optional handle to allow easy transportation of the suitcase contained in the cover 100 as shown in Figure 10.

At the lower end of the cover 100, multi-directional wheels 160 are also provided to further facilitate easy transportation of the suitcase contained in the cover 100 as shown in Figure 10.

The invention as described and illustrated thus provides a secure cover for a luggage container, which may used to cover and secure a range of differently sized luggage containers. Further, the cover in accordance with the invention, when covering a luggage container and with its securing arrangement being locked, resists or at least retards unauthorised entry into compartments defined by the luggage container, so that the cover will also serve to resist or at least deter surreptitious or furtive theft of luggage from luggage containers.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term “comprises” and its variations, such as“comprising” and“comprised of” is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.

The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A secure covering for a piece of luggage, said covering comprising: a flexible cover body with an opening, the cover comprising a plurality of panels defining an internal space for receiving said piece of luggage through the opening; a locking arrangement for releasably securing said opening, the locking arrangement comprising one or more padlock receiving members provided along opposed panels of the cover body for securing the cover to prevent the piece of luggage from being withdrawn from the cover body.

2. A secure covering in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said opposed panels comprises one or more hook members adapted to receive a shackle/shank portion of a padlock; and at least another of said opposed panels comprises one or more corresponding openings to receive said hook members such that in a received configuration the hook members are received into corresponding openings to close the opening of the cover body.

3. A secure covering in accordance with claim 2 wherein said one or more hook members are provided along a first elongate member positioned along an edge portion of one of said opposed panels and wherein one or more of said corresponding openings are provided along a second elongate members positioned along an edge portion of the other of said opposed panels.

4. A secure covering in accordance with any one of the preceding claims further comprising a guard member positioned to at least partially extend above the hook member wherein in a first operable position, the guard member is positioned to prevent access to the hook members and in a second operable position, the guard member is positioned to allow access to the hook members.

5. A secure covering in accordance with claim 4 when dependent upon claim 3 wherein the guard member comprises an elongate configuration and is movably fastened relative to the second elongate member to allow movement of the guard member in between the first and second operable positions.

6. A secure covering in accordance with claim 5 wherein the guard member is hingedly fastened relative to the second elongate member to allow the movement of the guard member in between the first and second operable positions.

7. A secure covering in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 6 further comprising a secondary locking arrangement to maintain the guard member in the first operable position to prevent unauthorised access to an underside portion of the guard member.

8. A secure covering in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the guard member comprises a curved shroud for to at least partially extend above the hook member wherein in the first operable position.

9. A secure covering in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 8, the guard member comprises cut-out portions for allowing padlocks to be positioned in fastened engagement with the padlock receiving members provided along the opposed edges of the cover body.

10. A secure covering in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 9 wherein the guard member further comprises a handle.

11. A secure covering in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein the cover further comprises a plurality of surface engaging wheels fastened to the bag to allow a piece of luggage contained in the cover body to be transported.

12. A secure covering in accordance with claim 10 wherein said plurality of wheels are positioned at a distal end of the cover body relative to the opening of the cover body.

13. A secure covering in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein an additional locking arrangement is positioned in between the padlock receiving members for securing the cover to prevent the piece of luggage from being withdrawn from the cover body. .