FR3138025A1 - SOFT LUGGAGE FORMING A PILLOW - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to luggage (1) forming a travel cushion, consisting of a body formed by an envelope in two fabric sections and separated into pockets (11, 13, 15), closed by a reversible peripheral closure (3 ) on at least one of its sides, the pockets comprising two side pockets (11, 13) separated by a central pocket (15), the pockets (11, 13, 15) being separated by two lines of reversible fixing means (5 ), perpendicular to the at least one side closed by the reversible peripheral closure (3), the side pockets (11, 13) being configured to be filled with soft and deformable objects to give them a greater thickness than the central pocket (15) when the lines of reversible fixing means (5) are engaged, and thus form a travel cushion. Figure for abstract: Fig. 1

Description

SOFT PILLOW-FORMING LUGGAGE

The present invention relates to the field of luggage for travel, in particular of the type further forming a pillow to allow the user to rest in a seated position during a journey by train, plane, bus or car.

To allow a traveler to rest during a journey, U-shaped cushions forming an open neck brace, sometimes inflatable, are known in particular. These cushions are supposed to allow you to sleep in a sitting position.

When a user of such neck brace cushions relaxes his neck muscles, for example as a result of falling asleep, his head will tilt laterally or frontally, and exert a tensile force which can cause painful muscle contractures by lack of lateral support given the insufficient height of these cushions and their poor ergonomics, with in particular a volume of posterior support that is often too large leading to a frontal projection of the head.

This makes deep sleep with muscle relaxation uncomfortable or even impossible, even though this sleep is the most restorative.

Air transport companies tend to limit the number and size of baggage allowed in the cabin and charge extra for checked baggage, in order to limit the total loading weight, for reasons of fuel savings; the billing for additional baggage is also a source of additional income. This trend encourages minimalism in terms of luggage and its contents.

Travelers must therefore limit themselves in terms of the things they carry, and use items with multiple functions in order to save space and reduce weight in suitcases and cabin baggage.

Patent US4535878 describes a beach bag, a flap of which has compartments forming a cushion with lateral support for the head and neck when placed on a deck chair.

This beach bag is not suitable or configured for use while traveling; in fact it is impractical given the flap hanging behind the seat which can prove annoying for the passenger seated in the rear seat, particularly in the context of a screen embedded in the seat such as during a long flight -mail, and whose vision would thus be obstructed.

Exposure of the user's personal belongings is also not desirable in a travel context. In addition, this beach bag is not configured to replace cushions with personal belongings. Finally, its two distinct sides do not allow use as a bag in a single compartment.

Generally speaking, existing cushions dedicated to travel have no other use than their primary function, are often bulky due to their unaccommodating shapes, and are required to be transported in addition to the traveler's main luggage, making them at home. both impractical outside of their use and exposed to external conditions (dirt for example).

Furthermore, inflatable models are often fragile (risk of puncture and air leaks at the joints) and are difficult to repair.

There is therefore a need for luggage to improve the travel experience, in particular by forming an ergonomic and pleasant cushion, which can be accepted in the airplane cabin without necessarily counting as cabin baggage, and nevertheless remains useful and practical. once you arrive at your destination.

To meet this need, the invention proposes a piece of luggage forming a travel cushion, consisting of a body formed by an envelope in two fabric sections and separated into pockets, closed by a reversible peripheral closure on at least one of its sides,
the pockets comprising two side pockets separated by a central pocket,
the pockets being separated by two lines of reversible fixing means, perpendicular to the at least one side closed by the reversible peripheral closure,
the side pockets being configured to be filled with soft or deformable objects to give them a greater thickness than the central pocket when the lines of reversible fixing means are engaged, and thus form a travel cushion.

The luggage according to the invention is compact and forms a comfortable cushion when its side pockets are filled, for example with clothes. The luggage according to the invention can make it possible to create one or more storage compartments which can be delimited to store additional items compared to existing travel cushions.

At a minimum, to the extent that the volume of the cushion is formed by articles, advantageously clothing, already contained in the user's suitcase, the use of this travel cushion does not lead to an increase in the overall volume of the user's luggage.

The cushion with two thick lateral bodies formed by the pockets and a thinner central portion forms lateral support on either side of the head when used in a seat. The user's head thus remains in a substantially straight, ergonomic and comfortable position.

In addition, by separating the lines of reversible fixing means, the luggage forms a sub-compartment to, for example, insulate items, serve as a clothing cover and reduce the creasing of the latter in larger luggage, or form a one-piece booster cushion.

The luggage according to the invention may have one or more of the following characteristics.

The reversible fixing means may include strips with textile hooks and loops.

The textile hook and loop strips form a continuous connection, easily disengaged to form a single interior volume.

The textile hook and loop strips comprise textile hook strips and textile loop strips, and the luggage then advantageously also comprises cover flaps, covering the textile hook strips when they should not cling to the strips. textile loops, the cover flaps having a textile loop surface gripping the textile hook strips when covered by said cover flaps.

Since the textile hooks are abrasive and can come into contact with business textiles contained in the luggage, the flaps protect the contents of the luggage.

The luggage may also include housings into which the cover flaps are inserted when they do not cover the textile hook strips.

The flaps thus sheltered do not come into contact with the textile hooks inadvertently.

The luggage advantageously includes eyelets in the corners of the rectangular envelope on at least one side, and an elastic band passing through the eyelets, provided with length adjustment means arranged at the level of each of the eyelets engaged with the elastic band.

The elastic then makes it possible to adjust the shape of the luggage, for example to adjust the cushion it forms to the user's head.

The two sides of the envelope may have eyelets in their corners, located opposite each other when the luggage is closed.

The opposite eyelets then form a through hole, allowing for example the luggage to be attached to a strap via carabiners.

The reversible peripheral closure may in particular be a zipper comprising sliders, and the sliders include a cord and a locking bar, locking the sliders when the locking bar is inserted into the eyelets of a corner of the luggage.

The locking bars also ensure easy grip when using the zipper.

The luggage may also include a thin ribbon strap, having carabiners at its ends, forming, when the carabiners engage with the eyelets, a strap allowing the luggage to be carried on a user's shoulder.

The strap advantageously has a triangular carabiner at one of its ends, and an oval carabiner at the other end.

These carabiners can in particular engage with each other to form a loop.

The luggage may have a handle placed on one of its sides without a reversible peripheral closure.

The luggage may further have two passages located on either side of the handle, allowing the strap to pass through to form backpack straps when the carabiners are engaged with the eyelets in the corners opposite the handle.

The luggage may also include a soft fabric cover open on one of its sides to allow the luggage to be inserted into the cover, thus forming a pillowcase.

This cover may have two attachments for the strap carabiners, located on the open side of the cover.

The cover and the strap then form a fabric bag separate from the luggage.

The cover may include one or two elastic bands, cross-shaped or parallel, on its side configured to be placed against the support, in particular a headrest.

One of the sections of the baggage envelope, in contact with a support when used as a cushion, for example a seat back, is advantageously covered with a layer of material with high friction - in order to limit the sliding of the cushion on the headrest of the seat - and/or anti-stain, and the other side, in contact with the user's head when used as a cushion, is covered with a layer of soft material.

The luggage may include fixed or removable inflatable balloons located in the side pockets.

These balloons allow the luggage to be shaped in the absence of belongings inside.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description of the attached figures, among which:

is a front view of the luggage according to the invention, partially open,

is a back view of the luggage according to the invention, in the closed state,

is a sectional view of the luggage in its use as a travel cushion,

is a schematic profile representation of a user using the luggage as a travel cushion,

is a sectional view of the means for separating the baggage pockets according to a particular embodiment,

is a sectional view of the luggage in its use as a luggage compartment,

is a schematic representation of a strap completing the luggage,

is a top view of the luggage in the folded state and attached by the strap,

is a schematic representation of a cover that can be used in combination with the luggage,

is a sectional view of the luggage in the cover in a travel cushion conformation,

is a schematic representation of a use of the cover and the strap without the luggage,

is a schematic representation of the use of the strap and the luggage without the cover,

is a schematic representation of a backpack use of a particular embodiment of the invention.

The examples are given for illustrative and non-limiting purposes. Other embodiments of the invention are easily obtained by variations and combinations of the embodiments shown.

There is a front view of a piece of luggage 1 according to the invention. In , baggage 1 is partially open.

There is a back view of luggage 1 in the closed state.

Luggage 1 consists of a substantially rectangular body, formed by a two-section fabric envelope. The fabric can in particular be of the anti-tear type (“rip stop”) with a grid of seams made of nylon thread, for better resistance to tearing.

The two fabric panels are connected by one side forming the folding zone and bottom of the luggage 1. The other three sides have a reversible peripheral closure 3, here in the form of a zipper.

One of the sides, the one in contact with a support or the seat during use, can be covered with a layer of high-friction and/or stain-resistant material, for example silicone. The silicone portion can advantageously be removed for separate washing.

The other side, which is in contact with the user's head, is advantageously covered with a layer of soft and pleasant to the touch material, such as cotton.

According to other embodiments only one or two of the other sides can have the zipper 3, the long side opposite the folding zone having at least the zipper 3. According to yet other variations, the zipper slide 3 can be replaced, at least in segments, by other reversible closure methods: snap buttons, textile loops and hooks, etc.

The body of the luggage 1 thus forms a closable envelope, which is separated into pockets, materialized by two lines of reversible fixing means 5, perpendicular to the long side of the luggage 1 carrying the zipper 3.

The reversible fixing means 5 are here in particular strips with textile loops and hooks (“scratch”), one side of the baggage envelope 1 carrying the strips with textile hooks, the other the strips with textile loops.

Other embodiments provide alternative or complementary forms of reversible fixing means 5: snap buttons, zipper, magnet closure, etc.

Luggage 1 is thus divided into three pockets 11, 13, 15 with two side pockets 11, 13, located on the sides of luggage 1, and a central pocket 15, located between the two side pockets 11, 13. This pocket 15 is dimensioned in such a way that its width allows comfortable flat support of the user's occiput, with bilateral support by the filled pockets 11 and 13.

The corners of luggage 1 have eyelets 7, in particular on each of the sides and located opposite each other when luggage 1 is closed.

The eyelets 7 form a passage for an elastic band or a flat cord 9, in the form of a ribbon or woven elastic strap. The ends of the elastic 9 pass through the eyelets 7 on the same side of the rear panel in , from the outside to the inside of baggage 1.

Two parallel lengths of elastic 9 extend through the body of the luggage 1, to the eyelets 7 located on the other side of the luggage 1. The elastic 9 then passes through said eyelets 7 on the rear side of the luggage 1 (see , back view). A segment of the elastic 9 is therefore accessible from the rear of the luggage 1.

The elastic 9 passes behind the strips with hooks or textile loops of the reversible fixing means 5, the end of which at the level of the elastic 9 is not sewn (dotted line in ).

Length adjustment means in the form of cord stops 91, in particular cord stops 91 with locking by tightening, are arranged on the elastic 9 at each of the eyelets 7 through which the elastic 9 passes.

The length adjustment means make it possible to adjust the length of each of the segments of the elastic 9 between two eyelets 7, and therefore to adjust the shape of the luggage 1, for example to adjust it to the shape of the head of the luggage. the user.

The external portion of the elastic 9 can also advantageously be used to maintain the luggage emptied of its contents in a compact folded configuration, for minimum bulk when not in use.

The elastic 9, due to its elastic nature, allows dynamic adjustment of the shape of the cushion formed by the luggage 1. An alternative embodiment, where the elastic 9 is replaced by an inextensible flat cord presents greater rigidity in maintaining shape, and thus forms a more robust alternative.

The elastic 9 or flat cord can advantageously be covered with a material with high friction such as silicone in order to ensure better support when its external portion is engaged.

The zipper 3 may in particular include two sliders 31 which are, in the closed state of the luggage 1, located at the two ends of the side of the luggage 1 forming the folding zone and bottom (see especially).

The sliders 31 have a cord ending in a locking bar 33. This locking bar 33 is inserted into an eyelet 7 to lock the zipper 3 by blocking the associated slider 31 and thus limiting the risk of theft.

The side pockets 11, 13 are configured to be filled with preferably soft or deformable objects to give them a greater thickness than the central pocket 15 and form a travel cushion.

Luggage 1 has on the side forming the bottom of the luggage a handle 17 in the form of a strap sewn at its ends. The width of the handle 17 is notably sufficient to pass it around a handle of a usual telescopic suitcase, in particular of the "trolley" type on wheels with a telescopic handle to roll it behind you. In this way, luggage 1 is placed horizontally above the suitcase with telescopic handle, for limited vertical space.

There shows the luggage 1 in section, comprising at least two distinct compartments separated by reversible fixing means 5: a first side pocket 13 and a second side pocket 11. The right side pocket 13 filled with items 10 such as clothes, underwear, toiletries etc. The left side pocket 11 has an inflatable balloon 17 which replaces the items 10 once inflated and fills the side pocket 11. The side pocket 11 can, like the side pocket 13, contain items as described above and vice versa.

In particular, by being filled with soft objects or with a ball 17, the side pockets 11, 13 form side bands with extra thickness which hold the user's head.

There illustrates the use of luggage 1 as a travel cushion.

In , a user U is seated in a seat S, and has placed luggage 1 according to the invention behind his head, resting against a headrest of the seat S. The user U rests his head, in particular his occiput, against the luggage 1, between the two side pockets 11, 13. His head is thus kept substantially vertical, without twisting force or bending of the neck.

There shows a particular embodiment of the reversible fixing means 5, seen in section.

These include a strip of textile hooks 51 sewn onto one of the sides of the luggage 1.

The textile hooks are relatively abrasive, and can come into contact with items stored in the luggage 1. To cover them when the luggage 1 is not compartmentalized, the luggage 1 has cover flaps 53, which can be folded down on the textile hook strips 51.

The cover flaps 53 include in particular a strip of textile loops on the face coming into contact with the strips of textile hooks 51.

The luggage 1 further comprises housings 55 for the cover flaps 53, in the form of a fabric lip under which the cover flap 53 is inserted. The cover flaps 53 can thus be retracted into said housings 55 when the luggage 1 is compartmentalized.

Other means of fixing the cover flaps 53 in the unfolded position are also possible, in particular press studs located on the back of said cover flaps 53, and on the internal side of one of the sides of the luggage opposite, but also means of fixing by magnets, etc.

There is a sectional view of baggage 1 not compartmentalized.

Baggage 1 then has a single interior volume, filled with items 10. Baggage 1 has a constant or almost constant thickness, and can thus contain larger objects. By sizing baggage 1 accordingly, it can be used to transport, in an uncompartmentalized state, documents in standard formats (A4 or American “ANSI letter” format for example) or a tablet or laptop.

Luggage 1, in its non-compartmentalized state, can also provide an additional cushion of a more classic shape, by filling it with deformable objects, such as laundry or a dedicated inflatable ball.

In this non-compartmentalized state, baggage 1 can in particular contain shirts or other related clothing and prevent them from creasing once placed in a suitcase in contact with other objects or clothing.

There shows a strap 21 which is advantageously used in combination with luggage 1.

The strap 21 comprises a body 23 made of fine ribbon, for example satin, polyester, or synthetic silk. The body 23 of the strap 21 may in particular have length adjustment means 20, not shown. The strap 21 has carabiners 25, 27 at each of its ends. One of the carabiners 25, 27 is a triangular carabiner 27, the other an oval carabiner 25 of classic construction.

The strap 21, by the fineness of its ribbon, can be kept wrapped around the oval carabiner 25 and easily carried alone in the pocket of a pair of pants for example, or secured to the internal portion of the elastic 9 of the luggage 1.

The oval carabiner 25 can in particular engage with the triangular carabiner 27 to form a loop. The strap 21 can in particular then form a makeshift belt.

Other shapes of carabiners 25, 27 are however of course possible.

The body 23 can in particular be decorated with a graduation to allow the use of the strap 21 as a flexible meter.

The strap 21 can also form a support for clip-on lamps, as is known to be used when running or cycling at night.

There shows a use of the strap 21. These examples are given for illustrative and non-limiting purposes.

Luggage 1 is shown folded in : the two side pockets 11, 13 are against each other. The central pocket 15 is located behind said side pockets 11, 13 and is invisible in .

The triangular carabiner 27 is passed through the eyelets 7 in the superimposed corners at the top in , in the eyelets 7 of the two side pockets 11, 13. The triangular carabiner 27 then locks the luggage 1 in the folded state.

When the oval carabiner 25 is passed through the eyelets 7 at the other end of the luggage 1, the strap 21 can then be passed over his shoulder by the user and the luggage 1 is then carried as a messenger bag or handbag.

The segment of the elastic 9 located outside on the rear face of the luggage 1, exiting through the eyelets 7 of one of the side pockets 11, that is to say the visible segment in , is passed around the other side pocket 13. The elastic 9 then places the two side pockets 11, 13 against each other in the folded state, thus forming a case with two compartments which can be placed in position vertically stably on a flat surface.

To obtain this configuration without the strap 21 in its entirety, the triangular carabiner 27 is advantageously detachable from the strap 21.

Luggage 1 in the folded state is particularly compact and easy to handle, and can in particular be attached to a backpack strap or a shoulder strap passing between the two side pockets 11, 13 folded one on top of the other , in particular without the strap 21.

There shows a cover 40 sewn from soft and biocompatible fabric, for example cotton, which is advantageously used in combination with the luggage 1 according to the invention.

The cover 40 is open on one of its sides to allow the insertion of the luggage 1, thus forming a cover for the cushion formed by the luggage 1.

Luggage 1 in cover 40 is shown in dotted lines in . There is a sectional view of luggage 1 surrounded by cover 40.

The cover 40 is easily washable separately from the rest of the luggage 1, for better hygiene in public means of transport and so that the fabric of the envelope of the luggage 1 can be selected for other characteristics, such as solidity, l waterproofness, lightness, water-repellent nature etc.

One side of the 40 cover can be coated with silicone for adhesion and stain resistance.

The cover 40 has two attachments 41 for the carabiners 25, 27 of the strap 21, located at the level of its opening.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, two other fasteners 41 located at the corners of the side opposite the open side can advantageously make it possible to add the two elastics (invisible in ), crosswise or parallel, on the face of the cover 40 configured to be placed against the support, in particular a headrest. The retaining elastics, once engaged with the four fasteners 41 of the corners of the cover 40 in a parallel manner, form straps allowing the cover to be worn alone in a backpack once filled.

The fasteners 41 are advantageously fixed inside the cover 40, and made accessible by turning the cover 40 over, which then appears smooth and uniform when said fasteners 41 are oriented inwards.

A male snap button 42 is advantageously located on the internal face of the open end of one side of the cover 40 opposite a female snap button 43 located on the internal face of the open end of the other side. These two press studs 42, 43, by engaging with each other, thus allow the cover 40 to be partially closed.

Luggage 1 in the shape of a travel cushion is then less likely to slide out of said cover 40, while allowing access to the elastic adjustment means 91 located at the corners of luggage 1 in order to allow adjustment of the shape of the cushion formed by the luggage 1 to the morphology of the user U.

Another female press button 42 is advantageously placed on the external face of the opposite end of the cover 40 to that having the male press button 42. When the luggage 1 is folded in two, these two press buttons 42, 43, once in engagement with one another, allow the two pockets 11, 13 to be fixed together even if the luggage 1 is covered with its cover 40. The pockets 11, 13 thus secured, the whole can then advantageously be used as a cushion for unilateral support of the head against a vertical partition on the user's side, such as in the case of a seat located on the window or window side of a train, bus or plane.

The press studs 42, 43 can be replaced by other reversible fastening means such as textile hook and loop strips, etc. In addition, the male/female character of the snap buttons 42, 43 can of course be reversed without deviating from the invention.

There shows the strap 21 of which the carabiners 25, 27 are passed through the attachments 41.

The cover 40 and the strap 21 then form a fabric bag usable as a reusable shopping bag or “tote bag” in English.

According to a particular embodiment, not shown, the cover may include one or two elastic bands, cross-shaped or parallel, on its face configured to be placed against the support, in particular a headrest.

The elastics then make it possible to fix the cushion formed by the luggage 1 by engaging with the headrest around which they are passed.

There shows the strap 21 whose carabiners 25, 27 engage with the eyelets 7 at the two longitudinally opposite ends of the luggage 1. The luggage 1 is then carried like a bag without being folded.

There shows another embodiment of luggage 1 according to the invention, used as a backpack.

Baggage 1 of the comprises two passages 191, 193, located on either side of the handle 19.

The passages 191, 193 are in particular formed by the same strip of fabric which produces the handle 19, and which is sewn on the sides in the previous embodiments.

The triangular carabiner 27 engages with one of the eyelets 7 on the side opposite the handle, at the bottom left in . The strap 21 passes through the passage 191 on the left in , then behind handle 19 (invisible in ).

The strap 21 then passes through the passage 193 on the right in , returning in front of the luggage 1, and the oval carabiner 25 is attached to the eyelet 7 opposite the handle 19 on the right in .

The strap 21 then forms two straps allowing the luggage 1 to be carried like a backpack.

Luggage 1 has many uses in addition to its business storage utility 10. Luggage 1 further provides a comfortable and ergonomic cushion to enable better quality deep and restorative sleep.

Claims (13)

Luggage forming a travel cushion, consisting of a body formed by an envelope in two fabric sections and separated into pockets (11, 13, 15), closed by a reversible peripheral closure (3) on at least one of its sides,
the pockets comprising two side pockets (11, 13) separated by a central pocket (15),
the pockets (11, 13, 15) being separated by two lines of reversible fixing means (5), perpendicular to the at least one side closed by the reversible peripheral closure (3),
the side pockets (11, 13) being configured to be filled with soft or deformable objects to give them a greater thickness than the central pocket (15) when the lines of reversible fixing means (5) are engaged, and thus form a travel cushion. Luggage according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the reversible fixing means (5) comprise strips with textile loops and hooks. Luggage according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the textile loop and hook strips (5) comprise textile hook strips (51) and textile loop strips, and in that it further comprises cover flaps ( 53), covering the textile hook strips (51) when they are not intended to grip the textile loop strips, the cover flaps (53) having a textile loop surface gripping the textile hook strips (51 ) when they are covered by said cover flaps (53). Luggage according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises housings (55) in which the cover flaps (53) are inserted when they do not cover the textile hook strips (51). Luggage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises eyelets (7) in the corners of the rectangular envelope on at least one side, and an elastic or flat cord (9) passing through the eyelets (7 ), provided with length adjustment means (91) arranged at each of the eyelets (7) engaging with the elastic (9). Luggage according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the two sides of the envelope have eyelets (7) in their corners, located opposite each other when the luggage (1) is closed. Luggage according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the reversible peripheral closure (3) is a zipper comprising sliders (31), and in that the sliders comprise a cord and a locking bar (33), locking the sliders (31) when the locking bar (33) is inserted into the eyelet (7) of one corner of the luggage (1). Luggage according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that it further comprises a strap (21) made of fine ribbon, comprising carabiners (25, 27) at its ends, forming, when the carabiners (25, 27) ) are engaged with the eyelets (7), a strap (21) allowing the luggage (1) to be carried on a shoulder of a user (U). Luggage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a handle (19) on one of its sides without reversible peripheral closure (3). Luggage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a cover (40) in soft fabric open on one of its sides to allow the insertion of the luggage (1) into the cover (40), forming like a pillowcase. Luggage according to at least Claims 8 and 10, characterized in that the cover (40) has two attachments (41) for the carabiners (25, 27) of the strap (21), located on the open side of the cover (40). . Luggage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the sections of the envelope, configured to be in contact with a support when used as a cushion, for example a seat back, is covered with a layer of material with high friction and/or stain resistance, and in that the other side, configured to be in contact with the user's head (U) when used as a cushion, is covered with a layer of soft material. Luggage according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises inflatable balloons (17) located in the side pockets (11, 13).