US20080185250A1 - Case with compression bags - Google Patents
Case with compression bags Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080185250A1 US20080185250A1 US12/000,449 US44907A US2008185250A1 US 20080185250 A1 US20080185250 A1 US 20080185250A1 US 44907 A US44907 A US 44907A US 2008185250 A1 US2008185250 A1 US 2008185250A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- bag
- compression
- bags
- case
- pressure
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
- A45C13/02—Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
- A45C13/008—Details; Accessories for making water- or air-tight
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D33/00—Details of, or accessories for, sacks or bags
- B65D33/16—End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices
- B65D33/25—Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners
- B65D33/2508—Riveting; Dovetailing; Screwing; using press buttons or slide fasteners using slide fasteners with interlocking members having a substantially uniform section throughout the length of the fastener; Sliders therefor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
- B65D81/18—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient
- B65D81/20—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
- B65D81/2007—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas under vacuum
- B65D81/2038—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure, or in a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas under vacuum with means for establishing or improving vacuum
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
- A45C13/02—Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
- A45C13/021—Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles inflatable
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
- A45C13/02—Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
- A45C2013/026—Inserts
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C3/00—Flexible luggage; Handbags
- A45C3/12—Bags for shoes
Definitions
- the present invention relates to storage systems, more particularly to portable storage systems such as suitcases, luggage and the like.
- Vacuum-sealed compression bags are generally known and used for storage, such as for example the storage of bedding or seasonal clothes. Such bags receive compressible articles therein, and generally include a valve through which air is removed therefrom, for example using a domestic vacuum cleaner or by simply manually compressing the bag. The removal of air from the compressible articles allows for a minimization of the storage space necessary for those articles.
- Some suitcases include a single large compression bag therein, which may be permanently attached to the suitcase, and receives therein the entire content of the suitcase, and as such necessitating the entire content to be decompressed for access to a single article.
- a case for containing at least partly compressible articles comprising: an outer shell including at least two portions selectively and relatively movable with respect to one another between an opened and a closed configuration of the case, the outer shell defining a shell cavity therewithin accessible when the portions are in the opened configuration; at least one attachment member secured to the outer shell inside the cavity; and at least two compression bags contained within the shell cavity and detachably retained by the at least one attachment member such as to maintain a relative position with respect to one another, each of the bags including an air impervious material defining an enclosure therewithin and having a sealable opening defined in the bag permitting access to the enclosure, a sealing member located in each of the bags being selectively configurable between a sealed configuration where the opening is closed in an airtight manner and an opened configuration where the opening is open to allow access to the enclosure for inserting the articles therein through the opening, and wherein each of the bags includes a one-way valve therein allowing air to be removed from
- a storage system for at least partly compressible articles comprising: at least one air impervious compression bag having an opening for insertion of at least one article therethrough and a sealing member for selectively sealing the opening in an airtight manner, the first bag including a valve allowing air to flow therethrough in only one direction such that air is removable from the first bag via the valve to create a vacuum within the first bag, thereby compressing the articles contained in the first bag; and at least one air impervious pressure bag smaller than the compression bag so as to be received therein, the pressure bag including a valve allowing air to selectively flow therethrough to pressurize the pressure bag, the pressure bag being disposed in the compression bag such as to limit a compression of the at least one article.
- a method of controlling compression of an at least partly compressible article within a compression storage bag comprising: placing a pressure bag in or adjacent to a portion of the article for which compression is to be controlled; inflating the pressure bag to a desired pressure and sealing the pressure bag to maintain the desired pressure therein; placing the article and pressure bag in the larger compression storage bag; and sealing the pressure bag and removing air from the compression storage bag to create negative pressure therein which compresses the article around the pressure bag, thereby reducing a necessary storage space for the article while generally maintaining its shape using the pressure bag.
- FIG. 1 is a front schematic view of a case according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of the case of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view of the case of FIG. 1 in an opened configuration
- FIG. 4 is a front schematic view of a storage system of the case of FIG. 1 .
- the case 10 comprises a body 12 defining a cavity 14 therewithin in which various articles, such as for example clothing, toiletry, shoes and other accessories can be contained.
- the case 10 also comprises a handle 16 extending from a top surface 18 of the body, and pairs of front and rear wheels 20 , 22 rotationally attached to the body 12 and protruding from a bottom surface 24 thereof.
- a particular case configuration is depicted in the Figures and described herein, it is understood that the case 10 may have any one of a number of possible configurations, including having fewer or more wheels, a different handle geometry, an extendable handle, one or more additional handle(s), etc.
- the body 12 of the case 10 includes a front portion 26 and a rear portion 28 which cooperate in a closed position (see FIG. 2 ) to define the cavity 14 .
- the front and rear portions 26 , 28 are hingedly interconnected by a bottom panel 30 of the body 12 such as to be relatively movable between the closed position shown in FIG. 2 and an opened position depicted in FIG. 3 .
- alternate configurations for the case 10 are possible, as long as the case can be selectively opened and closed.
- the case 10 can also include additional storing features, such as a front pocket 32 attached to the front portion 26 opposite of the rear portion 28 .
- the case 10 includes one or more attachment member(s) 34 provided in the cavity 14 .
- the attachment members 34 include binder-style rings attached to the bottom panel 30 , i.e. each ring is made of two ring portions 36 hingedly connected to the bottom panel 30 to be movable between a closed position C in contact with one another to form a closed ring and an opened position O pivoted away from each other to form an opened ring.
- one attachment member 34 is shown in the opened position O and two attachment members 34 are shown in the closed position C, in use the attachment members 34 are preferably synchronized to be all in the same position.
- These attachment members 34 removably receive and retain a series of bags, as will be described further below.
- the attachment members 34 can include, for example, carabiners or quickdraws such as used in mountain climbing, other types of buckles, string pieces that can be tied together, or any other type of adequate detachable attachment member.
- attachment members 34 are shown as being all attached to the bottom panel 36 , the attachment members 34 can alternately be attached in another location within the cavity 14 , either all along a same wall of the case 10 or in different walls thereof to provide an increased number of attachment possibilities.
- the rear portion 28 of the case 10 is made of rigid material, such as for example molded plastic, while the front portion 26 of the case 10 is made of flexible material, such as for example fabric, in order to better conform to articles received in the cavity 14 .
- the front and rear portions 26 , 28 can be both rigid or both flexible.
- the case 10 receives at least one compression bag 38 within the case cavity 14 .
- the compression bag 38 is made of or includes air impervious material, such as to define an air impervious enclosure for receiving article(s) therein.
- the air impervious material is preferably transparent, such as to allow inspection of the content of the compression bag 38 therethrough.
- the compression bag 38 includes an opening 40 defined therein for access to the bag enclosure.
- the compression bag 38 is formed of two sheets 42 of air impervious material sealed together along side and bottom edges 44 , 46 thereof, leaving the top edges 48 thereof separate to define the opening 40 therebetween.
- the compression bag 38 also includes a sealing member 50 which selectively seals the opening 40 in an airtight manner, i.e. in a manner at least preventing air from entering the compression bag 38 therethrough.
- the sealing member 50 includes an airtight zipper.
- the bag further includes a valve 52 which allows air to be removed from the enclosure of the compression bag 38 , for example by a domestic vacuum cleaner, while preventing air from entering the compression bag 38 therethrough.
- the valve 52 is a one-way circular valve integral with one of the sheets 42 forming the compression bag 38 .
- the valve 52 is integral with the sealing member 50 , i.e. at least part of the sealing member 50 is such as to allow air to exit the compression bag 38 therethrough when in the sealed position, such that the air is removed from the compression bag 38 through the top edge opening 40 .
- Removal of the air from the inside of the compression bag 38 thus forms a vacuum inside the compression bag 38 which acts to compress the article(s) contained therein, reducing necessary storage space for these articles.
- the sheets 42 of material forming the compression bag 38 are preferably sealed to one another along a given distance from the bottom edge 46 such as to define a sealed bottom strip 54 adjacent the bag enclosure.
- a series of holes 56 are defined through the bottom strip 54 to receive therein the attachment members 34 attached to the bottom panel 30 of the case 10 .
- one or more of the compression bags 38 can be selectively retained within the case 10 and removed therefrom, in a manner similar to sheets of paper in a binder.
- the compressed articles received in the compression bags 38 can be organized inside the case 10 and effectively retained therein, the compressed state of the articles allowing an increased number of articles to be contained within the case 10 .
- each compression bag 38 remains adjacent to the same compression bag(s) 38 throughout that relative motion.
- the order of the compression bags 38 within the case 10 is maintained, while allowing the compression bags 38 to be “flipped” about the attachment members 34 if necessary, for example to find the compression bag 38 containing a particular article.
- the compression of an article be limited at least in certain portions thereof, in order to avoid damaging this article.
- some types of shoes may be permanently deformed or damaged when compressed in a compression bag.
- the compression bag 38 is shown containing a pair of shoes 58 , which are each protected from excessive compression by a pressure bag 60 inserted therein.
- Each pressure bag 60 is similar to the compression bag 38 , in that it is made of or includes air impervious material such as to define an air impervious enclosure.
- Each pressure bag 60 further includes a valve 62 defined therein which selectively allows air to be removed from or inserted in the bag enclosure.
- the pressure bag 60 can be provided with a first valve only allowing air to be selectively removed from the pressure bag 60 , and a second valve only allowing air to be selectively inserted in the pressure bag 60 .
- the pressure bag 60 can be provided in a variety of use-specific shapes, for example a shape corresponding to or substantially corresponding to the inner shape of a shoe, as depicted in FIG. 4 .
- the pressure bag 60 is disposed in or adjacent the portion of the article for which compression should be limited, for example inside the shoe 58 .
- the pressure bag 60 is then inflated such as to be sufficiently pressurized to limit the compression of the article to a desired level.
- the article, together with the pressure bag 60 is inserted into the compression bag 38 , and air is removed from the compression bag 38 such as to create a vacuum compressing the article around the pressure bag 60 , thus limiting a storage space necessary for the article while protecting sensitive portions thereof from excessive compression.
- the compression bag 38 is then engaged to the attachment members 34 of the case 10 to be conveniently carried therein.
- the case 10 is provided with a small pump which can either be integral therewith or removable therefrom, and which provides both an air outflow for inflating the pressure bag(s) 60 and suction to produce a vacuum in the compression bag(s) 38 .
- the present invention can be used in a case of a type other than a suitcase, such as a case for long-term storage.
- the pressure bag/compression bag combination can also be used in a variety of other applications, for example in other types of packaging applications for transporting any type of product requiring selective compression, by themselves or in combination with various types of flexible or rigid enclosures. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternate configurations, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
- Bag Frames (AREA)
Abstract
A case for containing at least partly compressible articles comprises an outer shell which can be opened and closed and defines a cavity therewithin, and having an attachment member or members secured to the outer shell inside the cavity. A number of compression bags are contained within the shell cavity and are detachably retained by the attachment members such as to maintain a relative position with respect to one another within the case. Each of the compression bags includes is air impervious when sealed and can received the articles within the enclosure defined therein, and includes a one-way valve allowing air to be removed from the enclosure within the bag, thereby creating at least a partial vacuum in the enclosure which compresses the articles within the bag.
Description
- The present application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/869,847 filed Dec. 13, 2006, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
- The present invention relates to storage systems, more particularly to portable storage systems such as suitcases, luggage and the like.
- Vacuum-sealed compression bags are generally known and used for storage, such as for example the storage of bedding or seasonal clothes. Such bags receive compressible articles therein, and generally include a valve through which air is removed therefrom, for example using a domestic vacuum cleaner or by simply manually compressing the bag. The removal of air from the compressible articles allows for a minimization of the storage space necessary for those articles.
- It is also known to use such compression bags when traveling, in order to maximize the number of articles which may be received within a suitcase or another piece of luggage. Some suitcases include a single large compression bag therein, which may be permanently attached to the suitcase, and receives therein the entire content of the suitcase, and as such necessitating the entire content to be decompressed for access to a single article.
- It is also known to use a plurality of small compression bags each containing one or more of the articles to be transported therein, and simply inserting the plurality of compression bags in a suitcase. However, as compression bags containing compressed articles often have irregular shapes and sizes, organization of the content of the suitcase may be difficult, and the compression bags may shift relatively to one another during transport.
- In addition, some articles usually carried in a suitcase might be damaged when compressed in a compression bag.
- Accordingly, improvements are desirable.
- It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide an improved case and/or storage system for containing at least partly compressible articles.
- Therefore, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a case for containing at least partly compressible articles, the case comprising: an outer shell including at least two portions selectively and relatively movable with respect to one another between an opened and a closed configuration of the case, the outer shell defining a shell cavity therewithin accessible when the portions are in the opened configuration; at least one attachment member secured to the outer shell inside the cavity; and at least two compression bags contained within the shell cavity and detachably retained by the at least one attachment member such as to maintain a relative position with respect to one another, each of the bags including an air impervious material defining an enclosure therewithin and having a sealable opening defined in the bag permitting access to the enclosure, a sealing member located in each of the bags being selectively configurable between a sealed configuration where the opening is closed in an airtight manner and an opened configuration where the opening is open to allow access to the enclosure for inserting the articles therein through the opening, and wherein each of the bags includes a one-way valve therein allowing air to be removed from the enclosure, with the bag in the sealed configuration, to create at least a partial vacuum therein such as to compress the articles within the bag.
- There is also provided, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a storage system for at least partly compressible articles comprising: at least one air impervious compression bag having an opening for insertion of at least one article therethrough and a sealing member for selectively sealing the opening in an airtight manner, the first bag including a valve allowing air to flow therethrough in only one direction such that air is removable from the first bag via the valve to create a vacuum within the first bag, thereby compressing the articles contained in the first bag; and at least one air impervious pressure bag smaller than the compression bag so as to be received therein, the pressure bag including a valve allowing air to selectively flow therethrough to pressurize the pressure bag, the pressure bag being disposed in the compression bag such as to limit a compression of the at least one article.
- There is further provided, in accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling compression of an at least partly compressible article within a compression storage bag, the method comprising: placing a pressure bag in or adjacent to a portion of the article for which compression is to be controlled; inflating the pressure bag to a desired pressure and sealing the pressure bag to maintain the desired pressure therein; placing the article and pressure bag in the larger compression storage bag; and sealing the pressure bag and removing air from the compression storage bag to create negative pressure therein which compresses the article around the pressure bag, thereby reducing a necessary storage space for the article while generally maintaining its shape using the pressure bag.
- Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a particular embodiment of the present invention and in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a front schematic view of a case according to a particular embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of the case ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view of the case ofFIG. 1 in an opened configuration; and -
FIG. 4 is a front schematic view of a storage system of the case ofFIG. 1 . - Referring now to
FIGS. 1-2 , a case according to a particular embodiment of the present invention is generally shown at 10. Thecase 10 comprises abody 12 defining acavity 14 therewithin in which various articles, such as for example clothing, toiletry, shoes and other accessories can be contained. Thecase 10 also comprises ahandle 16 extending from atop surface 18 of the body, and pairs of front andrear wheels body 12 and protruding from abottom surface 24 thereof. Although a particular case configuration is depicted in the Figures and described herein, it is understood that thecase 10 may have any one of a number of possible configurations, including having fewer or more wheels, a different handle geometry, an extendable handle, one or more additional handle(s), etc. - Referring to
FIGS. 2-3 , thebody 12 of thecase 10 includes afront portion 26 and arear portion 28 which cooperate in a closed position (seeFIG. 2 ) to define thecavity 14. As can be seen inFIG. 3 , the front andrear portions bottom panel 30 of thebody 12 such as to be relatively movable between the closed position shown inFIG. 2 and an opened position depicted inFIG. 3 . Again, alternate configurations for thecase 10 are possible, as long as the case can be selectively opened and closed. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , thecase 10 can also include additional storing features, such as afront pocket 32 attached to thefront portion 26 opposite of therear portion 28. - Referring to
FIG. 3 , thecase 10 includes one or more attachment member(s) 34 provided in thecavity 14. In the embodiment shown, theattachment members 34 include binder-style rings attached to thebottom panel 30, i.e. each ring is made of tworing portions 36 hingedly connected to thebottom panel 30 to be movable between a closed position C in contact with one another to form a closed ring and an opened position O pivoted away from each other to form an opened ring. Although oneattachment member 34 is shown in the opened position O and twoattachment members 34 are shown in the closed position C, in use theattachment members 34 are preferably synchronized to be all in the same position. Theseattachment members 34 removably receive and retain a series of bags, as will be described further below. - In alternate embodiments which are not shown, the
attachment members 34 can include, for example, carabiners or quickdraws such as used in mountain climbing, other types of buckles, string pieces that can be tied together, or any other type of adequate detachable attachment member. - Although the
attachment members 34 are shown as being all attached to thebottom panel 36, theattachment members 34 can alternately be attached in another location within thecavity 14, either all along a same wall of thecase 10 or in different walls thereof to provide an increased number of attachment possibilities. - In a particular embodiment, the
rear portion 28 of thecase 10 is made of rigid material, such as for example molded plastic, while thefront portion 26 of thecase 10 is made of flexible material, such as for example fabric, in order to better conform to articles received in thecavity 14. Alternately, the front andrear portions - As shown in
FIG. 1 , thecase 10 receives at least onecompression bag 38 within thecase cavity 14. Referring toFIG. 4 , thecompression bag 38 is made of or includes air impervious material, such as to define an air impervious enclosure for receiving article(s) therein. The air impervious material is preferably transparent, such as to allow inspection of the content of thecompression bag 38 therethrough. - The
compression bag 38 includes an opening 40 defined therein for access to the bag enclosure. In the embodiment shown, thecompression bag 38 is formed of twosheets 42 of air impervious material sealed together along side andbottom edges top edges 48 thereof separate to define the opening 40 therebetween. - The
compression bag 38 also includes asealing member 50 which selectively seals the opening 40 in an airtight manner, i.e. in a manner at least preventing air from entering thecompression bag 38 therethrough. In the embodiment shown, the sealingmember 50 includes an airtight zipper. The bag further includes avalve 52 which allows air to be removed from the enclosure of thecompression bag 38, for example by a domestic vacuum cleaner, while preventing air from entering thecompression bag 38 therethrough. In the embodiment shown, thevalve 52 is a one-way circular valve integral with one of thesheets 42 forming thecompression bag 38. In an alternate embodiment which is not shown, thevalve 52 is integral with thesealing member 50, i.e. at least part of thesealing member 50 is such as to allow air to exit thecompression bag 38 therethrough when in the sealed position, such that the air is removed from thecompression bag 38 through the top edge opening 40. - Removal of the air from the inside of the
compression bag 38 thus forms a vacuum inside thecompression bag 38 which acts to compress the article(s) contained therein, reducing necessary storage space for these articles. - The
sheets 42 of material forming thecompression bag 38 are preferably sealed to one another along a given distance from thebottom edge 46 such as to define a sealedbottom strip 54 adjacent the bag enclosure. A series ofholes 56, three in the embodiment shown, are defined through thebottom strip 54 to receive therein theattachment members 34 attached to thebottom panel 30 of thecase 10. As such, one or more of thecompression bags 38 can be selectively retained within thecase 10 and removed therefrom, in a manner similar to sheets of paper in a binder. As such, the compressed articles received in thecompression bags 38 can be organized inside thecase 10 and effectively retained therein, the compressed state of the articles allowing an increased number of articles to be contained within thecase 10. - The
attachment members 34 engaged in theholes 56 of thecompression bags 38 thus maintain a relative position between thecompression bags 38, i.e. even if limited relative motion is possible between thecompression bags 38, eachcompression bag 38 remains adjacent to the same compression bag(s) 38 throughout that relative motion. As such the order of thecompression bags 38 within thecase 10 is maintained, while allowing thecompression bags 38 to be “flipped” about theattachment members 34 if necessary, for example to find thecompression bag 38 containing a particular article. - In some cases, it is preferable that the compression of an article be limited at least in certain portions thereof, in order to avoid damaging this article. For example, some types of shoes may be permanently deformed or damaged when compressed in a compression bag. Still referring to
FIG. 4 , thecompression bag 38 is shown containing a pair ofshoes 58, which are each protected from excessive compression by apressure bag 60 inserted therein. Eachpressure bag 60 is similar to thecompression bag 38, in that it is made of or includes air impervious material such as to define an air impervious enclosure. Eachpressure bag 60 further includes avalve 62 defined therein which selectively allows air to be removed from or inserted in the bag enclosure. Alternately, thepressure bag 60 can be provided with a first valve only allowing air to be selectively removed from thepressure bag 60, and a second valve only allowing air to be selectively inserted in thepressure bag 60. Thepressure bag 60 can be provided in a variety of use-specific shapes, for example a shape corresponding to or substantially corresponding to the inner shape of a shoe, as depicted inFIG. 4 . - In use, the
pressure bag 60 is disposed in or adjacent the portion of the article for which compression should be limited, for example inside theshoe 58. Thepressure bag 60 is then inflated such as to be sufficiently pressurized to limit the compression of the article to a desired level. The article, together with thepressure bag 60, is inserted into thecompression bag 38, and air is removed from thecompression bag 38 such as to create a vacuum compressing the article around thepressure bag 60, thus limiting a storage space necessary for the article while protecting sensitive portions thereof from excessive compression. Thecompression bag 38 is then engaged to theattachment members 34 of thecase 10 to be conveniently carried therein. - In a particular embodiment, the
case 10 is provided with a small pump which can either be integral therewith or removable therefrom, and which provides both an air outflow for inflating the pressure bag(s) 60 and suction to produce a vacuum in the compression bag(s) 38. - The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary. Those skilled in the art will therefore appreciate that the foregoing description is illustrative only, and that various alternate configurations and modifications can be devised without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be used in a case of a type other than a suitcase, such as a case for long-term storage. The pressure bag/compression bag combination can also be used in a variety of other applications, for example in other types of packaging applications for transporting any type of product requiring selective compression, by themselves or in combination with various types of flexible or rigid enclosures. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternate configurations, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (20)
1. A case for containing at least partly compressible articles, the case comprising:
an outer shell including at least two portions selectively and relatively movable with respect to one another between an opened and a closed configuration of the case, the outer shell defining a shell cavity therewithin accessible when the portions are in the opened configuration;
at least one attachment member secured to the outer shell inside the cavity; and
at least two compression bags contained within the shell cavity and detachably retained by the at least one attachment member such as to maintain a relative position with respect to one another, each of the bags including an air impervious material defining an enclosure therewithin and having a sealable opening defined in the bag permitting access to the enclosure, a sealing member located in each of the bags being selectively configurable between a sealed configuration where the opening is closed in an airtight manner and an opened configuration where the opening is open to allow access to the enclosure for inserting the articles therein through the opening, and wherein each of the bags includes a one-way valve therein allowing air to be removed from the enclosure, with the bag in the sealed configuration, to create at least a partial vacuum therein such as to compress the articles within the bag.
2. The case according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one pressure bag disposed within one of the compression bags adjacent to the articles therein, the pressure bag being smaller than surrounding compression bag and acting to protect the articles from excessive compression when the vacuum is created within the compression bag.
3. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment member retains the bags so as to allow relative movement therebetween while maintaining the relative position of the bags.
4. The case according to claim 1 , wherein at least two attachment members are secured to the outer shell inside the cavity, each of the bags being secured by all of the at least two attachment members.
5. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the two portions of the outer shell are hinged together along adjacent edges, such as to relatively pivot between the opened and closed configurations.
6. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment members include two portions which are engageable and relatively displaceable between a closed position and an opened position, the attachment members engaging the bags in the closed position and disengaging the bags in the opened position such as to allow removal thereof from the case.
7. The case according to claim 6 , wherein each of the attachment members is synchronized with the others to displace together between the closed and opened positions thereof.
8. The case according to claim 6 , wherein the attachment members include binder-style ring attachments having two ring portions which are hingedly connected and pivotally displaceable between the closed and opened positions.
9. The case according to claim 6 , wherein the attachment members include at least one of carabineers, quickdraws, buckles and ties.
10. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment members are fixed to a bottom panel of the outer shell within the cavity.
11. The case according to claim 1 , wherein one of the two portions of the outer shell is comprised of a rigid material and the other is of the two portions of the outer shell is comprised of a flexible material.
12. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing member is an airtight zipper.
13. The case according to claim 1 , further comprising an air pump integrated into the case, the air pump being engageable to the one-way valve of the bags such as to withdraw air from the enclosure of the bags and thereby create the vacuum therein.
14. The case according to claim 1 , wherein the case is portable suitcase.
15. A storage system for at least partly compressible articles comprising:
at least one air impervious compression bag having an opening for insertion of at least one article therethrough and a sealing member for selectively sealing the opening in an airtight manner, the first bag including a valve allowing air to flow therethrough in only one direction such that air is removable from the first bag via the valve to create a vacuum within the first bag, thereby compressing the articles contained in the first bag; and
at least one air impervious pressure bag smaller than the compression bag so as to be received therein, the pressure bag including a valve allowing air to selectively flow therethrough to pressurize the pressure bag, the pressure bag being disposed in the compression bag such as to limit a compression of the at least one article.
16. The storage system according to claim 14 , further comprising a case having an outer shell including at least two portions relatively movable between an opened and closed position, the portions in the closed position cooperating to define a cavity within the shell, the compression and pressure bags being received within the cavity.
17. The storage system according to claim 15 , further comprising at least one attachment member secured to the outer shell inside the cavity, the compression bags contained within the shell cavity being detachably retained in place by the at least one attachment member.
18. The storage system according to claim 16 , wherein at least two of the compression bags are contained within the cavity of the case, the at least one attachment member maintaining a relative position of the compression bags with respect to one another.
19. A method of controlling compression of an at least partly compressible article within a compression storage bag, the method comprising:
placing a pressure bag in or adjacent to a portion of the article for which compression is to be controlled;
inflating the pressure bag to a desired pressure and sealing the pressure bag to maintain the desired pressure therein;
placing the article and pressure bag in the larger compression storage bag; and
sealing the pressure bag and removing air from the compression storage bag to create negative pressure therein which compresses the article around the pressure bag, thereby reducing a necessary storage space for the article while generally maintaining its shape using the pressure bag.
20. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising selecting the negative pressure created within the compression bag to correspond to the desired pressure within the pressure bag.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/000,449 US20080185250A1 (en) | 2006-12-13 | 2007-12-12 | Case with compression bags |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US86984706P | 2006-12-13 | 2006-12-13 | |
US12/000,449 US20080185250A1 (en) | 2006-12-13 | 2007-12-12 | Case with compression bags |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20080185250A1 true US20080185250A1 (en) | 2008-08-07 |
Family
ID=39675226
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/000,449 Abandoned US20080185250A1 (en) | 2006-12-13 | 2007-12-12 | Case with compression bags |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20080185250A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20130180816A1 (en) * | 2010-04-29 | 2013-07-18 | Marguerite Wytenhove | Luggage Comprising a Vacuum Device |
US8905412B2 (en) * | 2012-03-23 | 2014-12-09 | Comfort Revolution, LLC | Wheeled containers for bedding products including mattresses and mattress toppers |
GB2575671A (en) * | 2018-07-19 | 2020-01-22 | Oakthrift Corp Ltd | Improvements in vacuum storage bags and associated systems |
WO2021151602A1 (en) * | 2020-01-28 | 2021-08-05 | RAY, Martina Maria | Arrangement and method for storing and transporting collapsible volumetric products |
US11503888B1 (en) * | 2018-02-26 | 2022-11-22 | Tania Rodrigues | Carrier |
Citations (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4051971A (en) * | 1975-07-30 | 1977-10-04 | Piergiorgio Saleri | Home use seal container for food vacuum storage |
US4515493A (en) * | 1981-07-13 | 1985-05-07 | Radovich Albert F | Portable desk and briefcase |
US5111938A (en) * | 1990-10-12 | 1992-05-12 | Segri-Gator Associates L.P. | Solid waste container |
US5487470A (en) * | 1990-05-04 | 1996-01-30 | Puff Pac Industries, Inc. | Merchandise encapsulating packaging system and method therefor |
US5489021A (en) * | 1995-05-18 | 1996-02-06 | Wallingford; Denise L. | Multipurpose carrying case |
US5761992A (en) * | 1997-03-12 | 1998-06-09 | Gallo; Charles V. | Portable animal storage unit |
US5881881A (en) * | 1997-06-16 | 1999-03-16 | Carrington; Thomas | Evacuateable bag |
US5954170A (en) * | 1995-08-31 | 1999-09-21 | Kingport International Corporation | Combination organizer and accordion file |
US6135253A (en) * | 1999-08-24 | 2000-10-24 | Weissman; Ira B. | Suitcase with compressible packing system |
US6202849B1 (en) * | 1999-07-07 | 2001-03-20 | David B. Graham | Evacuatable rigid storage unit for storing compressible articles therein |
US6499574B1 (en) * | 2000-08-03 | 2002-12-31 | Michael M. Anthony | Vacuum-packed luggage and method of manufacture |
US6651520B1 (en) * | 2002-08-21 | 2003-11-25 | Preventure Security Solutions, Inc. | Interface between a piece of baggage and a preconcentrator |
US20060037824A1 (en) * | 2004-08-06 | 2006-02-23 | Park Sung K | Adaptable luggage |
US20060283679A1 (en) * | 2004-08-31 | 2006-12-21 | Randle Ignacio J | Device to immobilize clothes and other items in a suitcase during trips |
US7152732B2 (en) * | 2003-07-17 | 2006-12-26 | Radio Shack Corporation | Protective housing assembly, and associated method, for optical storage media |
US20080159660A1 (en) * | 2006-12-29 | 2008-07-03 | Roell Iii Robert L | System to remove air from a bag |
-
2007
- 2007-12-12 US US12/000,449 patent/US20080185250A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4051971A (en) * | 1975-07-30 | 1977-10-04 | Piergiorgio Saleri | Home use seal container for food vacuum storage |
US4515493A (en) * | 1981-07-13 | 1985-05-07 | Radovich Albert F | Portable desk and briefcase |
US5487470A (en) * | 1990-05-04 | 1996-01-30 | Puff Pac Industries, Inc. | Merchandise encapsulating packaging system and method therefor |
US5111938A (en) * | 1990-10-12 | 1992-05-12 | Segri-Gator Associates L.P. | Solid waste container |
US5489021A (en) * | 1995-05-18 | 1996-02-06 | Wallingford; Denise L. | Multipurpose carrying case |
US5954170A (en) * | 1995-08-31 | 1999-09-21 | Kingport International Corporation | Combination organizer and accordion file |
US5761992A (en) * | 1997-03-12 | 1998-06-09 | Gallo; Charles V. | Portable animal storage unit |
US5881881A (en) * | 1997-06-16 | 1999-03-16 | Carrington; Thomas | Evacuateable bag |
US6202849B1 (en) * | 1999-07-07 | 2001-03-20 | David B. Graham | Evacuatable rigid storage unit for storing compressible articles therein |
US6135253A (en) * | 1999-08-24 | 2000-10-24 | Weissman; Ira B. | Suitcase with compressible packing system |
US6499574B1 (en) * | 2000-08-03 | 2002-12-31 | Michael M. Anthony | Vacuum-packed luggage and method of manufacture |
US6651520B1 (en) * | 2002-08-21 | 2003-11-25 | Preventure Security Solutions, Inc. | Interface between a piece of baggage and a preconcentrator |
US7152732B2 (en) * | 2003-07-17 | 2006-12-26 | Radio Shack Corporation | Protective housing assembly, and associated method, for optical storage media |
US20060037824A1 (en) * | 2004-08-06 | 2006-02-23 | Park Sung K | Adaptable luggage |
US20060283679A1 (en) * | 2004-08-31 | 2006-12-21 | Randle Ignacio J | Device to immobilize clothes and other items in a suitcase during trips |
US20080159660A1 (en) * | 2006-12-29 | 2008-07-03 | Roell Iii Robert L | System to remove air from a bag |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20130180816A1 (en) * | 2010-04-29 | 2013-07-18 | Marguerite Wytenhove | Luggage Comprising a Vacuum Device |
US9560901B2 (en) * | 2010-04-29 | 2017-02-07 | Marguerite Wytenhove | Luggage comprising a vacuum device |
US8905412B2 (en) * | 2012-03-23 | 2014-12-09 | Comfort Revolution, LLC | Wheeled containers for bedding products including mattresses and mattress toppers |
US20150091266A1 (en) * | 2012-03-23 | 2015-04-02 | Comfort Revolution, LLC | Wheeled containers for memory foam mattresses |
US9266546B2 (en) * | 2012-03-23 | 2016-02-23 | Comfort Revolution, LLC | Wheeled containers for memory foam mattresses |
US11503888B1 (en) * | 2018-02-26 | 2022-11-22 | Tania Rodrigues | Carrier |
GB2575671A (en) * | 2018-07-19 | 2020-01-22 | Oakthrift Corp Ltd | Improvements in vacuum storage bags and associated systems |
WO2021151602A1 (en) * | 2020-01-28 | 2021-08-05 | RAY, Martina Maria | Arrangement and method for storing and transporting collapsible volumetric products |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US10059507B2 (en) | Apparatus for storing articles | |
US20130048456A1 (en) | Suitcase for Luggage | |
US7093699B2 (en) | Luggage cover | |
US8459422B1 (en) | Luggage with integrated vacuum bags | |
US6135253A (en) | Suitcase with compressible packing system | |
CN202085876U (en) | Portable bag | |
US8074853B1 (en) | Sports bag and backpack containing nylon mesh pouches within the bag and the backpack | |
US20080185250A1 (en) | Case with compression bags | |
US20050173439A1 (en) | Combined storage apparatus | |
US7588160B2 (en) | Combined storage apparatus | |
US9573748B2 (en) | Shipment, storage, and transport bag for fragile apparatus | |
US20050061409A1 (en) | Carry bag having inflatable protective wall | |
US20120160626A1 (en) | Suitcase with hard base and soft cover | |
JP3212142U (en) | Backpack combined rucksack type travel bag | |
US20020088679A1 (en) | Luggage article | |
US20130074998A1 (en) | Expandable bag | |
EP2394930A1 (en) | Storage box | |
CN114126447A (en) | Luggage case with vacuum storage bag | |
KR200398365Y1 (en) | suitcase having air-cushion | |
KR200441960Y1 (en) | Cover for keep original form of bag | |
WO2016032487A1 (en) | Inflatable insert for purses | |
KR200463635Y1 (en) | Bag having a compartment space | |
JP2008136654A (en) | Load carrying bag | |
GB2318283A (en) | Bag | |
US20110088571A1 (en) | Press for resealable zipper storage bags |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |