AU2008100444A4 - Luggage Cover - Google Patents

Description

00 O1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicant(s): Steven Leivenzon Invention Title: Luggage Cover The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: P775Z9AU POIS0:_Fd.ng ApPhcaIlon 2008-S-14.doc (M) -2- 00 2 LUGGAGE COVER This invention relates to a luggage cover and relates particularly but not exclusively to a luggage cover for personal luggage such as travel bags, suitcases and the like.

Hitherto, it has been a common problem at airports and other like transport depots for individual items of 0 io luggage to be correctly identified at a carousel or the 00 Slike luggage collection area. In recent times, trolley Ci bags, for example, have proliferated and most of these generally appear to be of similar size and colour. A problem therefore exists in correctly identifying an individual's luggage when the luggage is collected from a luggage carousel or like luggage collection area.

In addition, items of luggage such as trolley bags or suitcases usually have the closure means such as zips or locks exposed. This generally provides for lack of security once the luggage is checked-in by the transport organisation.

In addition, the luggage itself is exposed to contact with luggage transport conveyors and other equipment.

This, in turn, gives rise to the possibility of damage to the exterior surface of the luggage or to the closure means of the luggage and for unwanted grime or surface contaminants to occur.

There is a need for an alternative.

According to a first broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a luggage cover comprising a bi-directional elastic/stretchable cover material of open mouth bag like configuration sized to tightly stretchingly retrofit over a single item of luggage as a sleeve like HAPriyankaKeep~speci\Luggage cover Innovalionodoc 14/05108 00 3 O skin and also sized to embrace a substantial component of the exterior surface of the luggage, said cover having one or more recesses therein through which a luggage handle or tote may pass and be exposed when the cover is fitted over the luggage, said cover having fastening means to permit the cover to be fastened at a distant end of the luggage to any handle or tote, and to be maintained stretched over the luggage, 10 said cover having a luggage identifier means thereon 00 Sfor permitting ready recognition of the luggage amongst Cl other similar luggage.

According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of identifying multiple items of luggage comprising fitting a respective cover of the above type over all individual items of the multiple luggage, said identifier being identical or having an identical identifying component on all the covers, and subsequently identifying the multiple items of luggage by identifying the identifier from a group of luggage items, some of which do not contain the identifier.

According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of marketing comprising applying a marketing identifier to a cover, of the above type, said marketing identifier being additional to any other identifier means thereon, applying said cover to luggage so said marketing identifier will be seen amongst a group of luggage.

In order that the invention can be clearly ascertained examples of embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: H:PriyenkaKeep~spea'luggage cover Innovation.doc 14105/08 4 00 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the a known type luggage in the form of a trolley bag.

Figure 2 is a top perspective view of a cover according to an example of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the cover of Figure 2 during the fitting over luggage as shown in 10 Figure 1.

00 C Figure 4 is a perspective view from the bottom end of the luggage shown in Figure 3 with the cover almost fully fitted thereto.

Figure 5 is a view similar to that in Figure 4 showing completion of the fitting of the cover to the luggage.

Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to that shown in Figure 5 showing a particular identifier applied to the cover.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative example suitable for a suitcase.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a cover having a number of recesses that are closeable by closure means.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of another example showing safety closure straps formed integrally with the cover.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is shown one form of known luggage 1 being in the form of a trolley bag.

Such trolley bags typically have a box shaped configuration with a base part 3 and a lid 5. The lid is hinged to the base part 3 and typically closed by a zip H:%PriyankaKeepspecALuggage cover Irvovaion.doc 14/05108 00 S7. The lid 5 may contain an additional compartment 9 closed by a zip 11. The luggage 1 contains a handle 13 and a tote 15. The tote 15 is typically telescopically arranged relative to the frame of the base 3. The luggage 1 also typically includes trolley wheels 17.

Figure 2 shows an example of a cover for use for luggage 1 (typically being a trolley bag) as shown in Figure 1. Here, the cover 19 is made from a suitable bidirectional elastic/stretchable cover material, such as a 00 Ssynthetic material, and has an open mouth bag like CI configuration. The material may be non synthetic bidirectional stretchable material such as cotton fabric similar to that used for singlets. The material may be of a closed surface configuration or it may be an open mesh configuration. In other examples the material may be a flexible elastic sheet such as of synthetic rubber similar to that used for wet suits. The open mouth of the cover 19 is shown at the bottom of Figure 2 by numeral 21. The cover 19 is sized to tightly stretchably retrofit over a single item of luggage 1 as a sleeve like skin. In addition, the cover 19 is sized to embrace a substantial component of the external surface of the luggage 1. In the example shown, it can be seen that the cover 19 embraces substantially the whole of the external surface of the luggage i. The cover 19 has one or more recesses 23 therein through which a luggage handle or tote may pass and be exposed when the cover 19 is fitted over the luggage 1. In the example shown, the open mouth 21 has end flaps 25 that carry fastening means 27 that permit the cover to be fastened stretched over the luggage i. In this example, the fastening means 27 may comprise hook/loop fastening means known under the trade mark VELCRO or similar. Other examples of fastening means may include zips, buttons, press studs, or press seals, draw cords, or the like. The cover 19 has luggage identifier means thereon. In the example shown in Figure 2, the HA PriyankakKeep\speCALuggage cover Innovation.doc 14105/08 00 6 O identifier means comprises the actual colour of the cover 19. In other examples, the luggage identifier comprises an independent identifier, different to the colour of the cover 19. This will be explained in due course.

Referring now to Figure 3 there is shown how the cover 19 is retrofitted over luggage 1 (being the trolley bag shown in Figure The cover 19 is sized to tightly stretchingly retrofit over the single item of luggage 1 and Figure 3 shows how the cover 19 is pulled down and Sstretched over the luggage 1 like an external sleeve like Ci skin.

Figure 4 shows the cover 19 is moved so that the open mouth 21 is stretched to the bottom of the luggage 1 and so that two opposing side end flaps 25 have been lapped over each other and fastened using the fastening means 27.

Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 showing the top and bottom end flaps 25 folded to overlap each other and fastened by the fastening means 27. In this arrangement, the cover 19 is stretched over the luggage 1 as a sleeve like skin so the cover embraces a substantial component of the external surface of the luggage. It should be appreciated that the handle 13 and the tote 15 pass through the respective openings 23 so that they can be used in the normal manner and that the fastening of the cover is at a distant end of the luggage to the handle or tote. In addition, Figures 4 and 5 show that the trolley wheels 17 are not covered by the cover 19 and remain exposed for normal rolling transport of the luggage i. Suitable recesses may be provided in the cover for this purpose. whilst the cover 19 is shown having four flaps 25, this is only exemplary and any other number could be suitably used, such as a single flap. In another example there may be no flaps but the extreme edge end portions of the material could be fastened together in any HIPriankalKeepspeciLuggage cover Innovation.doc 14105/08 7 00 suitable manner.

It should be appreciated that when the cover 19 is fitted over the luggage 1 as shown the identifier provides an easy means of identification of the luggage when the luggage is to be collected from a luggage discharge area such as a carousel at an airport or other luggage terminal. The possible colour range of the cover 19 may be suitably chosen so that there will be a limited number of possibilities of similar colours in any luggage 10 consignment. In this way, an individual is able to 00 readily identify their personal luggage. It should also C- be appreciated that cover 19 covers any zips 7/11 or any padlocks or the like that may be used that otherwise would be exposed to physical access or damage during transport of the luggage during conveyor transporting or other handling. In addition any locks or the like are retained within the cover 19 and not exposed for catching with other luggage or the like and are not directly exposed as a security risk. It should be also be appreciated that because the cover 19 is made from an elastic/stretchable cover material it can be removed from the luggage and stored readily without occupying substantial space or volume. In addition, the cover 19 is made from material that is washable whereas luggage itself is generally not washable. Covers of this nature can be provided relatively inexpensively, or for similar costs to those experienced with packaging luggage in plastic bags currently available at airports or the like transport terminals.

The cover 19 may be sized and suitably stretchable to accommodate for a limited range of different sized luggage 1. For example, with trolley bags, it is known that there are many different sized and shaped trolley bags. The stretchability of the material of the cover 19 may be suitably chosen to accommodate a wide range of possibilities of trolley wheel bags, thus limiting the H APriyankaKeepspeciluggage cover Innovation.doc 14/05108 8 00 stock size range that may otherwise be needed if the cover 19 were not so elastic or rigid, as is the case with the known plastic bags supplied at airports and the like transport terminals.

Figure 6 shows an alternative example where an identifier means 29 is integrally carried by the external surface of the cover 19 and is additional to any identifier means provided by the colour of the cover 0 10 itself. Here, the identifier means 29 is shown in the 00 form of a face. A further identifier means 29 in the form Ci of a name may also be provided. The exact nature of the identifier is not critical. The identifier means may be provided directly on the cover 19, or it may be on a backing that is then applied to the external surface of the cover 19.

The cover 19 may be supplied from a dispensing kiosk at a suitable location such as at an airport or other area. The dispensing kiosk may have computer printing facilities to print the required identifier means 29 onto the cover 19 according to the individual's personal requirements. This could comprise a photo of the individual or some other particular identifier such as the individual's name. Such kiosk will provide for a new business possibility that has not existed prior to the introduction of the present invention.

Figure 7 shows an alternative cover 31 for fitting over a suitcase 33. Here, the suitcase 33 has a handle a tote strap 37 and trolley wheels 39. Suitable recesses similar to those described previously may be provided so that the handles 35, tote straps 37 and wheels 39 remain exposed when the cover 31 is fitted over the suitcase. Figure 7 shows that the inventive concept is applicable to luggage 1 of different size and shape configurations to that shown for the trolley bag luggage H APriyankaKeepspea\Lvggage cover Innovation.doc 14/05/08 -9 00 O shown in Figures 1 6. Figure 7 also shows the application of identifier means 41 to the external surface Cof the cover 31.

Referring now to Figure 8 it is shown that the cover 43 is of similar configuration to that shown in Figure 2, and has each of the recesses 45 closed by openable closure means 47. This permits a required recess 45 to be opened whilst others closed to enable only the required handle or 0 10 tote to pass outwardly of the cover 43. By providing 00 Sclosure means 47 for a plurality of differently positioned Cl recesses 45 a single sized cover 43 may be adapted to fit with multiple types of luggage 1 where the handles 13 and totes 15 are positioned differently to one another.

Again, this will minimise stock variations required at a sales outlet for covers.

Figure 9 shows a further variation of a cover 49 that is otherwise identical to the cover shown in any one of the previous examples, but here, the cover 49 carries integral safety closure straps 51 which can be closed after the cover is fitted over the luggage. Typically, the safety closure straps 51 can have clip lock plug and socket fasteners 53 fitted thereto, or some other form of closure means. The lengths of the tail ends of the closure straps 51 may be adjustable in length to accommodate for different size luggage. Typically, the closure straps 51 are fitted to the cover 49 so that the cover 49 will still stretchingly tightly retrofit over a single item of luggage, and then the length of the tails can be adjusted to accommodate for the required circumferential lengths to permit tight fastening of the closure straps 51.

It should be appreciated that the above closures enable identifying of multiple items of luggage from a group of luggage items that do not contain the identifier H:\Priyanka\KoepspeciLuggage cover- Innovationdoc 14/05/08 00- O carried by the cover. It should again be appreciated that the identifier may be the actual colour of the cover itself or it may be a pattern or similar applied to the cover itself and need not comprise an individual identifier means 29 as shown in the examples of Figures 6 and 7.

It should also be appreciated that the covers enabling marketing to be enhanced by organisations such as travel companies or the like. Here, the covers 19 can be Sdistributed by the travel companies as gifts to the CI participants in a travel scheme. The individual marketing logos or the like used by the travel company therefore form a marketing opportunity which does not exist at the moment. In this way, the similarly covered luggage from a group of luggage may be readily identified amongst groups of luggage which do not contain these covers and identifiers. In addition to providing any marketing material as an identifier, there may be personalised identifiers applied to the cover as well. These may be pictures of the person, or individual names, or the like.

These and other modifications may be made without departing from the ambit of the invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to H:PriyankalKeep'speciALuggage cover Innovaion.doc 14/05/08 00 specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in Ct various embodiments of the invention.

00 HAPriyenka\Keep~specALuggage cover Innovationdoc 1410SW0

Claims (3)

1. 2. A cover as claimed in claim i, wherein the luggage identifier is carried on the external surface of the cover integrally therewith.
2. 3. A cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the luggage identifier is the colour of the cover, or alternatively is a pattern or other marking carried by the cover integrally therewith.
3. 4. A cover as claimed in claim i, having two or more recesses through which a luggage handle or tote may pass, and wherein the two or more recesses are located at different positions in the cover. A cover as claimed in claim 4, wherein the two or more recesses are closeable by closure means carried by the cover, and wherein a required recess can be opened by opening a required closure means. H:%PriyankaKeepspecituggage cover Innovation.doc 14/008