US20050145458A1

US20050145458A1 - Dresser luggage

Info

Publication number: US20050145458A1
Application number: US10/751,256
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis Cohen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-01-05
Filing date: 2004-01-05
Publication date: 2005-07-07

Abstract

Disclosed is a large capacity piece of luggage that complies with the maximum size requirements of the airlines with a plurality of special features. These include an infinitely variable position handle used to either pull or push the luggage on two large curb climbing wheels. The handle can rotate in a horizontal plane from one of its supporting vertical members to provide a temporary closet rod for hanging clothes from hangers. The handle also includes hooks to hang clothes from. Also included is a telescoping integral luggage cart with steerable auxiliary wheels. Other features include fixed, but removable identification plaques that are externally visible, an externally visible large figure digital travel alarm clock, an integral fold out table disposed within the cover of the luggage and supported thereby, and an externally accessible freshen kit and utility drawer. The invention further includes a chest of drawers feature which allows interior bags to be used either as drawers or to be removable from the parent bag and used as separate luggage to double the capacity of the original piece of luggage. Finally, on the back of the luggage is a pouch type of an enclosure similar to that which are on the backs of front car seats which may be accessed from the upper side to store a newspaper, magazines and the like.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of travel luggage, and more specifically concerns luggage that provides maximum increase in capacity during a trip, allows it to be combined with numerous other bags in a manageable fashion using an integral luggage cart, but still is adapted by reason of size for use with travel on commercial airliners. The airlines have rules that allow luggage of a certain maximum size to be checked when checking in at curbside or at the ticket counter. At present the size limitation is a combined dimension not to exceed 63 inches. The luggage of the present invention is sized to meet, but not exceed, that maximum size permitted by the airlines under the present rules. Notwithstanding its size, however, the inventive luggage is capable of being handled readily by one person and can be pulled using its unique variable position handle and large wheels or pushed using its large wheels and smaller wheels that are a part of the telescoping integral luggage cart. Alternatively, any additional bags may be accommodated using the telescoping integral luggage cart.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Over the decades since travel by jet airliners became common place, the luggage manufacturing industry has created product designs that accommodate numerous different purposes, but still fit within the rules established by the airlines. These include size limitations for checked baggage, which the inventive luggage is designed to meet despite its substantial capacity and capacity for substantial expansion during the course of a journey.
The present invention includes numerous additional features. The interior comprises, in part, a plurality of smaller bags, preferably three, that can act as the drawers of a dresser on removable shelves disposed on zippered connectors on the interior sidewalls of the outer luggage. These bags have removable covers to facilitate using them as drawers in the chest of drawers configuration. These bags can also be removed to double the capacity of the luggage for the return trip, or increase it by either two-thirds or one-third. Transporting these additional bags is made convenient because of the large sized telescoping integral luggage cart with steerable wheels alluded to earlier. Other features include an externally accessible freshen kit, a small externally accessible drawer, coat hooks on the handle, externally visible identification plaques on both front and back, a swiveling handle bar on the handle to make a temporary closet bar, large curb climbing wheels, an integral fold out table, an externally visible large figure digital travel alarm clock, an externally accessible pouch, and the like.
None of the references disclosed by a prior art search commissioned by the inventor combines significant numbers of the inventive features. However, one feature that is quite common in the prior art is the concept of using a chest of drawers in combination with luggage. See for example, Betts, U.S. Pat. No. 2,891,639, Madison, U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 317,082, Blevins, U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 315,986, Mayer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,891,230, Tullis, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,898, Goldstone, U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,521, Hawley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,258 and Disney, U.S. Pat. No. 1,609,348. Also some interest is Buchek, U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,155.
Various kinds of luggage carts and trolleys are shown by other prior art references, although none duplicate the capacity and simplicity of that aspect of the present invention. Examples of these prior art references include Cassimally, U.S. Pat. No. 3,960,252, Cassimally, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,222, Williams, et al. U.S., Patent No. 4,538,709 and Thomas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,025.
Several references show handles that bear superficial resemblance to the handle of the present invention, and these are Dababneh, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2003/0132080 A1 and Sadow, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2003/0085540 A1. However, neither of these references show more than one or two features of the handle on the present invention.
Further references show various single aspects of the present invention. A first examples is Thomas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,084 showing retrieval of what could be a freshen kit from a pre-determined location. Pohl, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2002/0195303 A1 teaches a table and combination with the luggage, as does Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,352 and Martin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,367. Kinzer, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,641 teaches large curb climbing wheels. Giblet, U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,695 teaches an identifying license plate in combination with luggage art, and Baker, U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,056 shows a clock in combination with luggage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Bearing in mind the foregoing, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a large capacity piece of luggage that provides a plurality of passenger convenience features, none of which all found in a single prior art reference.
Another principal object of the present invention is to provide a piece of luggage that has greatly expandable capacity through the use of interior bags with removable covers that act as drawers and can be taken out of the dresser luggage, the covers replaced to convert them to luggage again, to carry additional items in excess of those which are placed in the parent bag after the removal of these other bags.
A related object of the present invention is to equip the interior of the parent bag with removable shelves that have zippered connections to the side walls of said bag to support the drawers.
A further object of the invention is to provide an integral large capacity telescoping luggage cart with steerable wheels for the carrying of additional bags.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a multi-function variable position handle that can be use for pulling or pushing the invention, has clothing hooks disposed thereon, and has a swing out member that can be used as a closet bar to hang clothing thereupon.
Another object of the invention is to provide an integral fold out table stored beneath the cover of the dresser luggage.
Other objects of the invention are to provide an externally accessible freshen kit and utility drawer in combination with the foregoing objects and advantages.
A further object of the invention is to provide an externally visible large figure digital travel alarm clock flush with the external surface of the luggage.
An additional object of the invention is to provide large curb climbing wheels in combination with the foregoing.
Another object of the invention is to provide luggage containing the foregoing features with externally visible identification plaques.
One more object of the invention is to provide a storage pouch on the exterior of the dresser luggage for quick storage of small flat items such as magazines and newspapers.
Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon referenced to the following descriptions and the appended drawings.
In accordance with a principal aspect of the present invention, there is provided large capacity luggage that complies with the maximum size requirements of the airlines. The invention includes a plurality of user convenience features. Among these are a variable position handle with infinite variations that can be used to either pull or push the luggage on two large curb climbing wheels. In addition, the handle can rotate in a horizontal plane from one of its supporting vertical members to provide a closet rod for hanging clothes from hangers. The handle also includes hooks to hang clothes from. A further aspect of the invention includes a telescoping integral luggage cart with steerable auxiliary wheels. Other features include fixed, but removable identification plaques that are externally visible, an externally visible large figure digital travel alarm clock, an integral fold out table disposed within the cover of the luggage and supported thereby, and an externally accessible freshen kit and utility drawer. The invention further includes a chest of drawers feature which allows interior bags to be used either as drawers or to be removable from the parent bag and used as separate luggage to double the capacity of the original piece of luggage. Finally, on the back of the luggage is a pouch type of an enclosure similar to that which are on the backs of front car seats which may be accessed from the upper side to store a newspaper, magazines and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front overhead perspective view of the present invention showing its variable position handle in its rest position.
FIG. 2 is a rear overhead perspective view showing the variable position handle in a vertical position.
FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the invention with insets that enlarge two of its features.
FIG. 4 is a front overhead perspective view of the present invention illustrating a third use of the variable position handle as a closet rod.
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the invention with its front opened revealing its chest of drawers internal structure and integral fold out table.
FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the present invention showing the deployment of the integral fold out table and the middle drawer opened.
FIG. 7 is a front overhead perspective view of the invention as shown in FIG. 5 illustrating the structure and support of the integral fold out table.
FIG. 8 features the zip out shelves that support the drawers in the chest, but are removable when the parent dresser luggage is desired to be used without dividers.
FIG. 9 shows how the large wheels facilitate climbing curbs.
FIGS. 10A and 10B are left side elevational views showing the luggage in its normal vertical configuration contrasting with deployment of the telescoping integral luggage cart having steerable wheels.
FIG. 11 is a front overhead perspective view of the fully deployed telescoping integral luggage cart seen in FIG. 10B.
FIG. 12 is a left side elevational view of the fully deployed telescoping integral luggage cart as seen in FIG. 10B except for a substantial number of additional bags being accommodated thereon.
FIG. 13 is a front overhead perspective view which illustrates the storage and removal of the externally accessible freshen kit with the kit itself shown in perspective view in the inset beneath which are front elevational and side elevational views thereof.
FIG. 14 is also an overhead front perspective view featuring the opened externally accessible utility drawer.
FIG. 15 is a left side elevational view of the inventive luggage being pulled by a traveler and illustrates use of the rear mounted pouch.
Finally, FIG. 16 is a front overhead perspective view showing three internal drawers being used as three separate suitcases and illustrating the capacity of the luggage can be increased by one-third, two-thirds or even doubled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one that is skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention are shown in the various figures and designated by the same referenced numerals.
FIG. 1 is a front overhead perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention 10 in an upright and closed configuration. Seen are top side wall 12, top fixed handle 14, infinitely variable position handle 16, pivoting cross bar 18, right side wall 20, side handle 22, externally accessible utility drawer 24, zippered freshen kit closure 26, and hard surfaced and zippered main compartment closure 28. Externally accessible utility drawer 24 is lockable, but the locking means are conventional and not shown. Main compartment closure 28 is a pivotally attached to the invention 10 at hinge 30. Inventive dresser luggage 10 is transportable using a pair of large diameter wide track rubber covered wheels 32 with steel rims which are recessed into wheel wells and flush with the outer side surface of dresser luggage 10 at 34. A further feature visible in FIG. 1 is a fixed position, but removable, name, address and telephone number front identification plaque 36 which is preferably permanently embossed, surrounded by protective ridge 38 and which can only be removed using fasteners 40.
FIG. 2 is a rear overhead perspective of the inventive dresser luggage 10 showing its variable position handle 16 in a vertical position and supported by left vertical member 42 and right vertical member 44 which connect to pivoting cross bar 18. The pivoting cross bar has locking means (not shown) which allow variable position handle to be located and locked into position at any location. An alternative location for pushing rather than pulling luggage as illustrated in FIG. 12. Also seen in this rear view are rear identification plaque 46, left sidewall 48, rear sidewall 50, the latter supporting expandable pouch 52, and large figure digital travel alarm clock 56.
FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the dresser luggage 10. Variable position handle 16 supported on pivoting cross bar 18 and in part by right vertical member 44. Variable position handle 16 is the supporting means for coat hooks 54, the nature of which is readily seen in an enlarged view in the inset of FIG. 3A. Also seen in FIG. 3 is an externally visible large figure digital travel alarm clock 56. Also seen is rear identification plaque 46 which is shown in the FIG. 3B inset to include name, address and telephone number, surrounded by protective ridge 38 and held by fasteners 40.
FIG. 4 is an overhead front perspective view of dresser luggage 10, which shows that variable position handle 16, can rotate in a horizontal plane from right vertical member 44, separated from left vertical member 42, to become a temporary closet rod 58, supporting conventional wire hangers 60, on which are hung garments 62, while another garment 64, is hung on coat hook 54, as also seen commencing in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 shows that when main compartment closure 28 is opened it reveals a chest of drawers 68 each having individual handles 70. As will be later seen in regard to FIG. 16, each of these are individual suitcases whose tops are removable when they are used as drawers as seen in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 also features the integral fold out table 72, supporting such things as garments 74 in close proximity to the chest of drawers 68. The integral fold out table 72, is contained in the inner surface main compartment closure 28 and has a supporting strut 76.
Integral fold out table 72 supporting garments 74 and its supporting strut 76, can be more readily seen in FIG. 6. Note that the user is reaching into drawer 68 to which is attached handle 70.
FIG. 7 further illustrates the construction of integral fold out table 72 with supporting strut 76 all mounted to main compartment closure 28, all adjacent to chest of drawers 68 with individual handles 70.
FIG. 8 shows chest of drawers 68 has been removed and that they are supported by individual shelves 78. Shelves 78 are removably connected to left sidewall 48 and right sidewall 20 using interior zipper track 80 and shelf zipper tract 82 which are selectively combined upon shelf 78 installation using zipper 84.
FIG. 9 is to illustrate the curb climbing capability of the large wheels 32. Sidewalk 86 is separated from street 88 by curb 90. Wheels 32 project outwardly from bottom 92 and also from back panel 50 to facilitate the curb 90 climbing capability of the invention.
One of the unique features of the present invention 10 is a telescoping integral luggage cart that it is illustrated in both its recessed, FIG. 10A, and deployed, FIG. 10B modes. In FIG. 10A, the cart is nested in cavity 94, and is invisible except for cart wheel 96 and cart fender 98. When fully deployed as seen in FIG. 10B, cart wheel 96 and fender 98 represent the leading edge of the telescoping integral baggage cart 100 comprised of a plurality telescoping leaves, 102, 104, and 106. The telescoping integral luggage cart 100 is capable of being deployed as much as necessary up to its full length, not limited to three leaves as presently shown, but need be deployed only a lesser amount depending on the amount of additional luggage to be carried. See FIG. 12. In the mode shown in FIG. 12, the combination of the dresser luggage 10 and telescoping integral luggage cart 100 designed to be pushed by the user as shown in FIG. 12, with the cart wheels 96 being steerable to accommodate going around corners by differential pressure being applied to handle 16.
FIG. 11 is a front overhead perspective view of the dresser luggage 10 and fully deployed telescoping integral luggage cart 100 showing the three telescoping leaves 102, 104, and 106. Also seen are fender 98 and a portion of cart wheel 96.
FIG. 12, as alluded to above, shows the utilitarian nature of telescoping integral baggage cart 100 with four additional bags supported thereby. While the bags shown are various shapes, they could just as well be bags that comprise the three drawers of FIGS. 5 and 16.
FIG. 13 features the freshen kit 108 that is externally accessible inside freshen kit closure 26. The inset to FIG. 13, shows an enlarged view of freshen kit 108 below which is an end view and a front view of same. Freshen kit 108 has a zippered closure 110 and its own handles 112 so that it readily can be carried to a restroom or bathroom separate from the dresser luggage 10. Freshen kit 108 is often referred to as a “dopp kit” and contains toiletries and other cosmetic accessories.
FIG. 14 shows the utility drawer 24 in an opened configuration. This drawer can be used for the storage of keys, cell phones, wallets, travel tickets, passports, etc. and is lockable by conventional means which are not shown.
FIG. 15 shows that pouch 52 is expandable to accommodate a plurality of items, possibly including magazines and newspapers, travel documents, and tickets. These items are inserted into the top of pouch 52 in the same manner as the pocket on the back of an automobile car seat.
Turning finally to FIG. 16, the capability of doubling the cargo carrying capability is illustrated. The three drawers 68 shown in FIG. 5 come equipped with tops 108 which are attachable to drawers 68 by zippered closures 110 to form three small suitcases 112, 114, and 116. The effect of this is to double the capacity of dresser luggage 10 while still having the capability using telescoping integral luggage cart 100 shown in FIGS. 10B, 11, and 12 to keep all four bags together. Of course as illustrated in FIG. 8, shelves 78 are removable using zipper 84. Thus large items that would not fit in suitcases 112, 114, and 116 can be disposed within dresser luggage 10.
While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments of modifications which has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.

Claims

1. In an improved dresser luggage having at least one drawer, the improvement comprising:

two large partially recessed curb climbing wheels;

a telescoping integral luggage cart with two additional steerable wheels;

a variable position handle mounted upon two vertical support members and a pivoting cross bar to facilitate one of pushing and pulling the luggage; and

at least one drawer removably disposed within a main compartment of the luggage that converts to another piece of luggage by the addition of its removable cover.

2. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises at least one shelf removably disposed within the main compartment using zippers, said shelf for supporting a drawer.

3. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 in which the variable position handle includes at least one coat hook.

4. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 in which the variable position handle converts to a temporary closet rod by rotation in a horizontal plane from one of its vertical support members.

5. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises an integral fold out table disposed within the luggage and supported by a main compartment cover.

6. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises an externally accessible freshen kit disposed behind a zippered closure.

7. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises an externally accessible utility drawer.

8. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises an externally visible large figure digital travel alarm clock.

9. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises at least one externally visible identification plaque.

10. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises an externally accessible pouch.

11. The improved dresser luggage of claim 1 which further comprises two additional drawers removably disposed within the main compartment of the luggage that each convert to another piece of luggage by the addition of its removable cover such that capacity of the luggage can be doubled.

12. In an improved dresser luggage having at least one drawer, the improvement comprising:

two large partially recessed curb climbing wheels;

a telescoping integral luggage cart with two additional steerable wheels;

a variable position handle mounted upon two vertical support members and a pivoting cross bar to facilitate one of pushing and pulling the luggage, the handle having at least one coat hook and being convertible to a temporary closet rod by rotation in a horizontal plane from one of its vertical support members;

an integral fold out table disposed within the luggage and supported by a main compartment cover;

at least one shelf removably disposed within a main compartment using zippers, said shelf for supporting a drawer; and

at least one drawer removably disposed within the main compartment of the luggage and supported on the shelf that converts to another piece of luggage by the addition of its removable cover.

13. The improved dresser luggage of claim 12 which further comprises an externally accessible freshen kit disposed behind a zippered closure.

14. The improved dresser luggage of claim 12 which further comprises an externally accessible utility drawer.

15. The improved dresser luggage of claim 12 which further comprises an externally visible large figure digital travel alarm clock.

16. The improved dresser luggage of claim 12 which further comprises at least one externally visible identification plaque.

17. The improved dresser luggage of claim 12 which further comprises an externally accessible pouch.

18. The improved dresser luggage of claim 12 which further comprises two additional drawers removably disposed within the main compartment of the luggage that each convert to another piece of luggage by the addition of its removable cover such that capacity of the luggage can be doubled.