GB2228669A

GB2228669A - Luggage container

Info

Publication number: GB2228669A
Application number: GB8905023A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Laurence Pattison
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-03-04
Filing date: 1989-03-04
Publication date: 1990-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-04
Also published as: GB8905023D0; GB2228669B

Abstract

A luggage container for use with a car roof rack comprises a floor 2, a top 7 connected hingedly (8) to a side wall 6, means such as a pair of zip fasteners 9 & 10 to maintain the top in engagement with the remaining walls 3, 4, & 5 of the container, at least the top and side walls being composed of flexible material and at least one of the side walls, or the top incorporating anchorage means for an attachment, for example a padlock and hasp, for securing the container to the car rack. As shown, the anchorage means comprises eyes 14 formed in reinforcing L-shaped members 12, 13 attached to side walls 4 and 6. <IMAGE>

Description

Luggage Container This invention relates to a luggage container to be used with a luggage rack for a car.

Luggage racks are used widely to assist the carrying of luggage by a car and which for one reason or another cannot be accommodated either in the cabin or boot of the car.

Luggage racks usually take the form of a shallow tray made from metal bars or tubing which constitute struts of a frame. The latter is fixed detachably to the roof of the car. In use any luggage that is to be put into the rack is generally first wrapped in a waterproof sheet for example, a sheet of polyethylene. The luggage is then placed in the rack where it is secured by means of ropes which are tied to a strut of the rack. In principle, the operation should be capable of being carried out readily. However difficulties can arise especially when those carrying out the operation are inexpert.If the ropes are applied incorrectly they are liable to moved by vibration when the car is in motion In extreme cases the position of the ropes can shift so extensively that the luggage is no longer secured on the rack and as a consequence it is liable to be thrown from it if the motion or direction of movement of the car undergoes any sudden change. The present invention is directed to a container for storing luggage on a car rack which avoids these difficulties and which because of its flexibility and lightness of construction provides additional benefits.

Accordingly this invention provides a container for use with a car rack comprising a floor, side walls, a top connected hingedly to a side wall means to maintain the top in engagement with the remaining sidewalls of the container at least the top and side walls being composed of flexible material and at least one of the side walls incorporating a plurality of anchorage means.

This invention is illustrated but not restricted by the following drawing which shows in perspective one preferred form of container.

In the attached figure the container shown generally as numeral (1) comprises a bottom (2), four side walls 3,4,5, & 6) and a top (7). The container can made of any of the forms of strong flexible sheet materials usually employed in the manufacture of collapsible suitcases and travelling bags for example canvas, leat'ner, synthetic plastics material for example nylon and polyvinyl chloride. Laminates of textile fabrics and synthetic plastics sheet materials can also be used to advantage.

Side wall (6) and top (7) are of integral construction the flexibility of the material enables top (7) to swing open about a fold line (8) which acts as a hinge. The top and the three side walls (3, 4, & 5) can be joined by two zip fasteners (9 Q 10) the tabs (11) which can be provided with eyes to enable the tabs to be secured together with a padlock. Opposing walls (4 & 6) are each provided with an L shaped member (12 & 13) provided with a number of eyes (14) which enable the container to be secured to a strut of the roof rack. Any convenient form of attachment can be used for example split rings, straps and for security agains theft a padlock with a sufficiently long hasp is also very satisfactory. When the container is to be used it is placed on the rack so that wall (6) is directed towards the line of travel. In this way if during the car is in motion and the weather is inclement the contents of the container are provided with added protection against rain by the integral construction of top (7) and wall (6).

The construction of the container can be varied in different ways. For example, anchorage means can be provided on any of the walls of the container and the form of the anchorage can also vary. For example separate areas of reiforcement can be applied to any of the walls or even the top and these can be provided with rings, straps etc.

Containers made according to the invention are very light and strong. They can be fixed in position and removed very readily. Furthermore since they are made of flexible material they can be collapsed and stored in the boot of a car or in other small confined spaces until required.

Claims

1. A container for use with a car rack comprising a floor,a top connected hingedly to a side wall means to maintain the top in engagement with the remaining side walls of the container, at least the top and side walls being composed of flexible material and at least one of the side walls or the top incorporating anchorage means for an attachment for securing the container to the car rack.

2. A container according to Claim 1 wherein opposing side walls of the container are provided with a plurality cf ancnorage means.

3. A container according to either one of the preceding claims wherein the means to maintain the top in engagement with the remaining side walls cf the container is a zip fastener.

z. A container accord. ing to any one of the preceding claims wherein the the top and a side wall are of integral construction and the material forming the top and side wall constitutes a hinge.

5. A container according to any one Cf the preceding claims wherein an area or areas of the top or at least one wall of the container is provided with a reinforcement incorporating anchorage means.

6. A container according to Claim 5 wherein the reinforcement comprises an L shaped member one arm of which is secured to a side wall of the container and the anchorage means comprises one cr more holes formed into the free arm of the member.

,. A container according te any one of the preceding claims wherein the attachment is a padlock and hasp.

8. Containers as hereinbefore described with particular reference to the drawing.