AU2017101543A4 - Luggage Bag - Google Patents

Abstract

LUGGAGE BAG A luggage bag for use on a roof of a vehicle is described. The luggage bag comprises a body having a front side which in use faces the front of the vehicle, and an opposing rear side which in use faces the rear of the vehicle; a plurality of straps, each strap disposed within at least one sleeve attached to a top of the luggage bag, wherein at least one first strap extends over the top of the luggage bag from one side to another side of the luggage bag, and at least one second strap extends from one side, over the top of the luggage bag, crossing to an opposed side so as to cross the at least one first strap; and adjusters associated with at least some of the plurality of straps, the adjusters allowing for tightening of the straps in use so as to secure a load in the luggage bag. 1 16 24' 2 S44 26 2018" 20 20 28 18' 18" Front of Vehicle Figure la F- F I Figure lb

Description

LUGGAGE BAG

TECHNI CAL FI ELD

The present technology relates to luggage for use with a vehicle. BACKGROUND

Luggage can be used to carry items on the outside of a vehicle. It is typically used when the storage space within the vehicle is limited, and additional luggage carrying capacity is required. The luggage can be used to pack e.g. snow weargear, sleeping bags, tents or any other light weight extra equipment gear. The luggage is strapped to the outside of the vehicle, optionally to a luggage tray or steel mesh basket mounted on the vehicle.

Since the luggage is exposed to the elements under stationary and driving conditions, it is usually made from tough, waterproof, UV treated material so that it will protect the items inside from the sun, wind, rain and other environmental conditions. Upon opening the luggage, preferably the items inside are dry, dust free and in the condition in which they were packed.

Once a vehicle is travelling more than about 80km/h, aerodynamic resistance becomes a real force which can act to remove or deploy various external items not secured to the vehicle, from the vehicle. It can be of use to reduce that force on externally-mounted items such as luggage bags. The luggage bag can have strong webbing straps and heavy duty buckles to allow it to be easily secured to e.g. the luggage tray or basket. The luggage bag can have an internal base liner to protect the bag from wear and tear, and when the user arrives back home and has finished using the luggage bag, there can be an included storage bag for easy storage and protection between trips.

The present technology seeks to ameliorate one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages or at least seeks to provide a new and useful alternative.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the technology, there is provided a luggage bag for use on the roof of a vehicle, the luggage bag including: a body having a front side which in use faces the front of the vehicle, and an opposing rear side which in use faces the rear of the vehicle; a plurality of straps, each strap disposed within at least one sleeve attached to a top of the luggage bag, wherein at least one first strap extends over the top of the luggage bag from one side to another side of the luggage bag, and at least one second strap extends from one side, over the top of the luggage bag, crossing to an opposed side so as to cross the at least one first strap; and adjusters associated with at least some of the plurality of straps, the adjusters allowing for tightening of the straps in use so as to secure a load in the luggage bag. A vehicle has a longitudinal axis running from the front to the rear of the vehicle. Luggage bags typically have at least one strap extending over the bag in either a longitudinal direction/axis with respect to the vehicle or laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. In the present invention, the at least one first strap disposed within a sleeve can extend longitudinally with respect to the vehicle, and in addition to this at least one second strap disposed within a sleeve can extend laterally with respect to the vehicle, which can be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The advantage of having at least one strap in both the longitudinal and lateral axes is that the luggage bag is held very securely to the vehicle. The luggage bag may be held securely even if the items within the bag have been loaded in such a way that the weight is not evenly distributed. The luggage bag may be held securely even when the vehicle is moving around tight bends or if there are strong winds from any direction that apply force to the luggage bag during use.

Furthermore, the at least one first strap and the at least one second straps are disposed within one or more respective sleeves. The sleeve arrangement can allow the straps to be fixed rigidly to the vehicle, whilst still providing some movement of the underlying luggage bag during travel. A slight shift in the weight or location of the luggage items can be accommodated by the fabric of the luggage bag moving, while the straps remain fixed, the straps sliding within the sleeves. This can reduce the point forces that the straps apply to the luggage bag and thereby reduces the wear on the luggage bag material. When the straps are tightened or loosened, the straps can move within the sleeves, while the luggage bag itself remains fixed in place, this can make the straps easier to use and reduces wear and tear on the material from which the bag is formed. That is, the sleeves even out the load on the fabric of the luggage bag, rather than pulling on one portion (where the side wall where the strap is secured) which leads to an increase in the force at that point. That point is generally where the bag fails. Thus, with the sleeve arrangement, the bag life is extended. The sleeves also provide guidance for the straps and the straps are inhibited from falling off when there is an unusually-distributed load in the bag. Straps are also inhibited from release by wind loads, which are high on the top of cars, where the luggage bag is disposed in use.

The sleeves for the straps are attached to the top surface of the luggage bag. The sleeves can be seam sealed (or welded) to the top surface of the luggage bag, or other methods, optionally, stitching. It has been found that seam-sealing (or welding) can reduce any tendency for water to seep into the bag through stitching holes. The seam-sealing (or welding or other means of attachment) does mean, however, that at any point of cross-over of the straps, there is a problem because both crossing sleeves cannot be sealed to the luggage bag or at least one of the straps would be unable to move. In order to accommodate the overlapping straps in respective sleeves, the inventors have found that it is best if the at least one second strap crosses over the at least one first strap and, at the location of the cross over, the at least one first strap is outside of a sleeve. This arrangement provides the second strap with a continuous sleeve, while the first strap is provided with a discontinuous sleeve (or, put another way, one or more serial sleeves). A continuous sleeve for a long strap can be disadvantageous during moving of the strap in the tightening and loosening processes, since the strap can bunch in the sleeve. It is possible that by exposing a part of the first strap free from sleeve, any bunching, kinks or misalignment of the first strap can be corrected more easily by the user taking hold of and manually pulling or otherwise moving the strap at the locations at which is it is exposed. It is also useful to free the cross under strap by loosening the crossing-over strap at the discontinuity when the luggage bag is to be removed and opened, or indeed packed with more things. The discontinuity adds flexibility and speed to the adjustment of the bag.

In one embodiment the discontinuity is such that both sleeves are continuous but one sleeve is free from the luggage bag, that is, not seam welded or fastened or sewn or otherwise fixed to the luggage bag wall in a region or regions adjacent the other crossing sleeve.

The discontinuity can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, or a suitable number of millimetres wider than the crossing straps to provide sufficient freedom and adjustment and evening out the bunching of the strap in the sleeve.

The sleeves may be disposed only on the top surface of the luggage bag. The straps may be free from sleeves on the side walls to allow a user to pull the straps along the sleeves, at a level that is likely to be within reach of the user; say, eye level.

The spacing between the straps may be such that the straps are disposed generally in corner regions of the luggage bag, so that a user may find the discontinuity without having to reach unreasonably far over the luggage bag. The spacings are such that the straps are roughly one quarter or one eighth along the side walls of the luggage bag, and similarly for the straps along the front and rear walls. The balance of course, must be struck between holding down a central portion of the luggage bag, and loosening or tightening of the straps at the discontinuity.

Also provided herein is a luggage bag for use on the roof of a vehicle, the luggage bag comprising a body having a front side which in use faces the front of the vehicle, and an opposing rear side which in use faces the rear of the vehicle; a plurality of straps, wherein at least one first strap extends over the top of the luggage bag from the front side to the rear side of the luggage bag, and at least one second strap extends over the top of the luggage bag from one side of the luggage bag to the other so as to cross the at least one first strap, adjusters associated with at least some of the plurality of straps, the adjusters allowing for tightening of the straps in use so as to secure any load in the luggage bag; and a reversibly sealable opening arranged around only a periphery of the rear side of the luggage bag.

The reversibly sealable opening is optionally provided around the whole periphery of a luggage bag so as to allow access to the contents. However, in this embodiment, the luggage bag opens around the rear part of the bag only. There may be no opening provided at the front side/part of the bag. By only permitting the bag to be openable from the rear, this can help to ensure that that the bag cannot come open in the oncoming wind rushing onto and over the bag during use. When the vehicle is driving with the luggage bag in place, air will strike the front side of the bag and will then flow over the top of the bag forcing the top of the bag down and closed.

In some embodiments, the straps of the luggage bag with the rear opening only are as described with reference to the first aspect of the invention. In other embodiments, the straps of the luggage bag with a rear opening only are not arranged in sleeves and instead are stitched to the top surface of the bag.

In an embodiment, the reversibly sealable opening of the luggage bag is sealed by a zip. The zip can join a top part of the luggage bag to a bottom part of the luggage bag. The top part of the luggage bag can depend over the opening to overlap the bottom part so as to cover the zip. By covering the zip, it can reduce the ability of water to get into the bag through the zip.

The vehicle can be of the type that allows for the attachment of the luggage bag to the vehicle body. The vehicle can be a car e.g. a 4WD car, a van, a truck, or a towable vehicle such as a caravan or camper trailer. The luggage bag may be mounted to the roof of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the luggage bag is secured directly to roof rails provided on the vehicle. However, it is preferred for safety that the vehicle roof is provided with a luggage tray or a basket and the luggage bag is secured to the tray or the basket.

The luggage bag can take any shape. In an embodiment, the luggage bag has a low profile and is sized to fit within the roof area of the vehicle. The luggage bag can have a length of at most about 1800, 1500, 1400, 1200, 1000 or 800 cm. The luggage bag can have a width of at most about 1 100, 960, 800, 750, 500 cm. The luggage bag can have a height of at most about 250, 300, 400 or 500 cm. The internal volume can be at most about 200, 250, 350, 500 or 600 litres (L). In an embodiment in which the luggage bag has an internal volume of 500 L, the dimensions of the luggage bag are 1500 x 1 100 x 300.

The luggage bag comprises a body which has a front side which in use faces the front of the vehicle, the front side can be a zone or area and is not necessarily defined by a panel of the bag. The luggage bag comprises an opposing rear side which in use faces the rear of the vehicle, the rear side can be zone or area and is not necessarily defined by a panel of the bag. Between the front and the rear are side portions of the bag. The bag body will also have a top side or surface and a bottom or underside.

The luggage bag can be constructed using a high Denier material. In embodiments, the bag is made from material such as 500D High-End poly canvas tarpaulin or 1200D Oxford material with PVC coating. The material can be waterproof, tear resistant and or fibre reinforced. The base of the luggage bag can be extra heavy duty PVC abrasion resistant base to decrease wear. A removable polyvinyl liner can be provided to protect the bag from wear and tear, and which can make it easier to clean. Optionally there are handles front and rear to help with lifting the loaded bag on and off the vehicle.

There can be more than one first strap. There can be 1, 2 or 3 first straps. There can be more than one second strap. There can be 1, 2 or 3 second straps. The first and second straps cross one another. Preferably, due to the way in which the straps are secured to the vehicle, the straps cross substantially at right angles to one another. The straps can be heavy duty and UV protected. The straps can be extra strong UV50+ securing straps. The straps can be within sleeves which are secured to the top of the luggage bag. Alternatively, in some embodiments, at least some or all of the straps are stitched to the luggage bag. Where sleeves are present, the sleeves can have welded seams which may provide superior waterproofing compared to traditional stitched straps. The straps can be about 5, 6, 7 or 8 cm in width. The sleeves into which straps are fitted are wider than the width of the respective strap so as to facilitate the strap moving along the sleeve, inside the sleeve, when that is required.

There are adjusters associated with at least some of the plurality of straps. The adjusters can comprise heavy duty buckles. The buckles can be Duraflex buckles to assist in securing the luggage bag to the vehicle. Each strap can be pulled through a buckle to tighten the strap over the luggage bag and secure the load in place. When a roof basket is used, the straps can be threaded around the outer rim of the basket. The plastic clips or buckles can be snapped together and the strap can be pulled to tighten. Additional straps can be used to secure odd shaped loads. When a tray fitment or pioneer platform is used, the straps can be secured by threading them under the longitudinal planks of the tray (or the cross-bars of the platform/tray). The plastic clips or buckles can be snapped together and the strap can be pulled to put tension of the load.

In order to gain access to the body of the bag there can be a reversibly sealable opening. The opening can be sealable by a zip. The zip can be a water resistant zipper. The zipper can be provided with hi-vis water repellent nylon YKK lockable heavy duty zipper pull tags. These types of pull tags can make it easier to load gear in low visibility conditions. The top part of the luggage bag can depend over the zipper to protect the sealable opening from the element. Velcro can be overlapped to shield the zipper from the elements.

In some embodiments, the reversibly sealable opening is arranged around only a periphery of the rear side of the luggage bag. The rear side of the luggage bag is the zone or area which is at the rear of the vehicle. The rear opening can extend around the sides of the bag to allow access to the interior of the bag.

In accordance with a yet further aspect of the present technology, there is provided a luggage bag for use on a roof of a vehicle, the luggage bag comprising: a housing body having one or more flexible peripheral walls, and a top wall and a bottom wall, those walls being integral with one another and/or fastened to adjacent walls at wall edges; a plurality of straps, which extend over the top of the luggage bag from one side to another side of the luggage bag; adjusters associated with at least some of the plurality of straps, the adjusters allowing for tightening of the straps in use so as to secure any load in the luggage bag; wherein the fastening of the walls at the wall edges is a weld.

In some embodiments there is a base wall panel integral with one or more side wall panels. In some embodiments there is a base wall panel fastened to one or more side wall panels. In some embodiments there is a top wall panel integral with one or more side wall panels. In some embodiments there is a top wall panel fastened to one or more side wall panels.

BRI EF DESCRI PTI ON OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings, which are intended to be exemplary only so as to improve and understanding of the invention and in which:

Figure 1a is a perspective view of an embodiment of the luggage bag.

Figure 1b is an underside view of the luggage bag.

Figure 2 is a generalized luggage bag in place on a vehicle to show the context of the mounting of the luggage bag.

Figure 3a is a side view of the luggage bag when opened so that items can be placed inside the body.

Figure 3b is a rear perspective view of the luggage bag shown in the opened position of Figure 3a.

Figure 4 is a section view of the peripheral wall of the luggage bag which shows the zipper that can join the top and bottom parts of the luggage bag.

Figure 5a shows a perspective view of the luggage bag of Figure 1 during the closing process; showing attachment of the buckles;

Figure 5b shows another step in closing the luggage bag, being one step in the tensioning of the cross-over straps.

Figure 6 shows the luggage bag in place in a basket mounted to a vehicle, in a zoomed-out view and in a detail view.

Figure 7 shows the luggage bag in place on a platform mounted to a vehicle.

The drawings are not shown to scale and are for illustrative purposes only.

DETAI LED DESCRI PTI ON OF EMBODI MENTS A luggage bag 10 is shown in Figure 1. The luggage bag 10 is 1500 x 1 100 x 300 cm and has an internal volume of 500 (L). The luggage bag 10 is constructed from 500D High-End poly canvas tarpaulin. The base 30 is an extra heavy duty PVC abrasion resistant base. The luggage bag 10 can be used on the roof of a vehicle 8, the luggage bag 10 can comprise a body 12 having a front side 14 which in use faces the front of the vehicle. There is an opposing rear side 16 which in use faces the rear of the vehicle. The bag 10 has a plurality of straps 18. The straps 18 are heavy duty and UV protected. The straps 18 are extra strong UV50+ securing straps. Each strap 18 disposed within a sleeve 20 attached to a top 22 of the luggage bag 10. At least one first strap 18’ extends over the top 22 of the luggage bag 10 from the front side 14 to the rear side 16 of the luggage bag 16. At least one second strap 18” extends over the top 22 of the luggage bag 10 from one side 24 of the luggage bag 10 to the other side 24’, so as to cross the at least one first strap 18’. In Figure 1 there are four cross points, one of which is labelled 26.

Adjusters 28 are associated with at least some of the plurality of straps 18. The adjusters 28 can comprise heavy duty buckles. The buckles can be Duraflex buckles to assist in securing the luggage bag to the vehicle. Only some of the adjusters are labelled in the figures for clarity. The adjusters 28 allow for tightening of the straps 18 in use so as to secure any load in the luggage bag 10.

Figure 2, shows a known bag 10 (not that of the present technology) mounted to vehicle 8. The vehicle 8 is shown having a longitudinal axis 6 running from the front 4 to the rear 4 of the vehicle 8. The sleeves 20 for the straps 18 are not attached to the top surface 22 of the luggage bag 10.

The underside 30 of bag 10 of the present embodiment of the present technology shown in Figure 1 is such that in some embodiments, each strap 18 terminates and is welded the base.

In the embodiments shown apart from the zip and the buckles, the fastenings between wall or fabric elements of similar materials is by welding so as to facilitate water tightness. That is, base wall edges, to side wall edges, and the like, the sleeves, are welded to fasten to one another.

In the Figures, it is shown that in order to accommodate the overlapping straps 18 in respective sleeves 20, the at least one second strap 18” crosses under the at least one first strap 18’. This arrangement provides the second strap 18” with a continuous sleeve 20, while the first strap 18’ is provided with a discontinuous sleeve 20. The discontinuous parts of the sleeve 20 terminate at the edges of the continuous sleeve 20. The strap 18 then passes sleeve-free over the top of the continuous sleeve 20. In some embodiments, one or more parts of the discontinuous sleeve can be omitted. However, it is preferred that as much strap 18 as possible is disposed within a sleeve 20.

In some embodiments the second strap may have a discontinuous sleeve, either by virtue of a gap, so that there are two sleeves, effectively in series, or such that there is one or more short sections where the sleeve is not fastened to the upper wall of the luggage bag. The discontinuity may be disposed adjacent the cross over or it may be disposed distal the cross over, say, in the middle of the bag wall. The advantages of the other discontinuity are the same as the first discontinuity.

In some embodiments, however, the at least one first strap 18’ can cross under the at least one second strap 18”. This arrangement provides the first strap 18’ with a continuous sleeve 20, while the second strap 18” is provided with a discontinuous sleeve 20.

Luggage bag 10 can have a reversibly sealable opening 32. The opening can be arranged around only a periphery of the rear side 16 of the luggage bag 10. In an embodiment, the reversibly sealable opening 32 of the luggage bag 10 is sealed by a zip or zipper 34. The zip 34 is provided with hi-vis water repellent nylon YKK lockable heavy duty pull tags that can be gripped by the user to open and close the zip 34. The zip 34 can join a top part 22’ of the luggage bag to a bottom part 30’ of the luggage bag 10. As shown in Figure 4, the top part 22’ of the luggage bag 10 can depend over the opening 32 to overlap the bottom part 30’ so as to cover the zip 34.

The vehicle 8 can be of the type that allows for the attachment of the luggage bag 10 to the vehicle body. In some embodiments, the vehicle 8 roof is provided with a luggage tray or basket 36 or a platform 38 and the luggage bag 36 is secured to the tray or platform 36, 38.

Figure 5 shows that each strap 18 can be pulled through a buckle 28 to tighten the strap 18 over the luggage bag 10 and secure the load in place. The straps 18 can be adjustable in length using length adjusters 46. When a roof basket 36 is used, the straps 18 can be threaded around the outer rim 40 of the basket 36. The plastic clips or buckles 28 can be snapped together and the strap 18 can be pulled in the direction of arrows 42 to tighten. When a tray fitment or pioneer platform 38 is used as shown in Figure 7, the straps 18 can be secured by threading them under the longitudinal planks 42 of the tray 38 (or the cross-bars 44 of the platform/tray 38). The plastic clips or buckles 28 can be snapped together and the strap 18can be pulled to put tension of the load.

In this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term “comprising” has the non-exclusive meaning of the word, in the sense of “including at least” rather than the exclusive meaning in the sense of “consisting only of”. The same applies with corresponding grammatical changes to other forms of the word such as “comprise”, “comprises” and so on.

It will be apparent that obvious variations or modifications may be made which are in accordance with the spirit of the invention and which are intended to be part of the invention, and any such obvious variations or modifications are therefore within the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. CLAI MS:

   1. A luggage bag for use on a roof of a vehicle, the luggage bag comprising a body having a front side which in use faces the front of the vehicle, and an opposing rear side which in use faces the rear of the vehicle; a plurality of straps, each strap disposed within at least one sleeve attached to a top of the luggage bag, wherein at least one first strap extends over the top of the luggage bag from one side to another side of the luggage bag, and at least one second strap extends from one side, over the top of the luggage bag, crossing to an opposed side so as to cross the at least one first strap; and adjusters associated with at least some of the plurality of straps, the adjusters allowing for tightening of the straps in use so as to secure a load in the luggage bag.
2. 2. The luggage bag of claim 1, wherein the at least one second strap crosses under the at least one first strap and, at the location of the cross, the at least one first strap passes through a sleeve discontinuity.
3. 3. The luggage bag of claim 2 wherein the second strap passes through a sleeve discontinuity.
4. 4. The luggage bag of claim 1 or 2, wherein the sleeves are seam sealed to the top surface of the luggage bag.
5. 5. A luggage bag for use on a roof of a vehicle, the luggage bag comprising: a housing body having one or more flexible peripheral walls, and a top wall and a bottom wall, those walls being integral with one another and/or fastened to adjacent walls at wall edges; a plurality of straps, which extend over the top of the luggage bag from one side to another side of the luggage bag; adjusters associated with at least some of the plurality of straps, the adjusters allowing for tightening of the straps in use so as to secure any load in the luggage bag; wherein the fastening of the walls at the wall edges is a weld.