US20250169596A1

US20250169596A1 - Luggage item and transport luggage

Info

Publication number: US20250169596A1
Application number: US18/960,842
Authority: US
Inventors: Eric Hassett; Anna Olinger; Ryan Bertrand; Victoria Martinez-Vivot
Original assignee: Thule Sweden AB
Current assignee: Thule Sweden AB
Priority date: 2023-11-27
Filing date: 2024-11-26
Publication date: 2025-05-29
Also published as: DE202024106872U1; DE102024135054A1

Abstract

A luggage item including two luggage sections, a tab, and a tensioning mechanism. One of the luggage sections can be tensioned relative to the other luggage section via the tab and the tensioning mechanism. The tab includes a gripping device for carrying the luggage item.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a luggage item, in particular a soft luggage item. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a transport luggage with several receptacles for receiving luggage items.

BACKGROUND

Soft luggage items for transporting various objects are known. Soft luggage items can be designed to be carried by a user both in a vertical orientation on the back, as well as in a horizontal orientation by hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a luggage item having two luggage sections. The luggage sections may be, for example, a bottom side, a top side, a front side, a back side, a right side or a left side. The luggage sections may be sections of different luggage sides or different sections of the same luggage side. In one embodiment, one of the luggage sections is a front side and the other of the luggage sections is a top side of the luggage item. The luggage item can form an openable and closable storage space for receiving objects, which can be delimited by the luggage sides. For example, the luggage item can be designed to receive clothing, sports equipment and/or other items. The luggage item can be a luggage item that can be carried by a user without additional aids. The luggage item can be a hand luggage item. The storage space can be less than 200 l, preferably less than 150 l, for example between 20 and 100 l. In a preferred embodiment, the luggage item is a soft luggage item made of a deformable material, such as plastic. For example, the luggage item is made of ripstop fabric, which can be made of polyamide, polyester and/or aramid. The soft luggage item can also comprise a carrying frame, which can be made of a rigid material. The carrying frame may be integrated into the luggage item. In another embodiment, the luggage item does not comprise a carrying frame.
In addition, the luggage item comprises a tab and a tensioning mechanism. The luggage item can be compressed using the tensioning mechanism. The tab can be formed by one or more of the luggage sides or can be a separate component. The tab can be a protrusion from one of the luggage sides, which, for example, extends the respective luggage side beyond an adjacent other luggage side. The tab can comprise a flat shape. For example, the tab can be tongue-shaped. The tab can be adjustable, for example pivotable. The tab as a whole can be made of a bendable material, for example one of the materials described above. In one embodiment, the tab is formed from a rigid material, whereby a joint may be provided for pivoting the tab. Furthermore, the luggage item comprises a tensioning mechanism. The tensioning mechanism can be arranged between two sections. In one embodiment, a distance between the sections can be increased and/or decreased by adjusting the tensioning mechanism. In one embodiment, the luggage item can be compressed by the tensioning mechanism, i.e. the storage space can be reduced in at least one direction and/or in at least one area. The tensioning mechanism can comprise any desired design. For example, it comprises a tensioning strap, although other designs are also possible. The tensioning belt may comprise a fixed or variable length.
One of the luggage sections of the luggage item can be tensioned relative to the other luggage section via the tab and the tensioning mechanism. For example, the tab is connected to the one luggage section, in particular firmly connected, or is formed by the luggage section itself. The tensioning mechanism can be connected to the tab, for example a distal end of the tab, and the other luggage section. A distal end of the tab may be an end of the tab that faces away from an end of the tab that is connected to a luggage side. In other words, in the present case, the tensioning mechanism can act between the two luggage sections, whereby it can be connected to one of the luggage sections indirectly/directly via the tab. By tensioning the luggage sections via the tensioning mechanism, the luggage item can be compressed. In one embodiment, the tensioning mechanism is provided between the top and the front of the luggage item, wherein the tensioning mechanism is connected to the front via the tab.
Furthermore, the luggage item of the present invention comprises a gripping device provided at the tab. The gripping device is designed in such a way that a user can not only grip the luggage item via it, but can also carry it when the luggage item is used as intended and loaded. In other words, the gripping device is designed in such a way that a user can receive the weight and other acting forces via the gripping device. The gripping device can be formed by the tab itself, for example be an integral part of the tab. Alternatively, the gripping device can also be formed by a separate component alone or together with the tab. The gripping device can be accessible, for example grippable, by a user in all or only in certain operating states of the luggage item. A user can change the orientation and/or position of the luggage item in space via the gripping device. If the tensioning mechanism is connected with the top side and via the tab with the front side of the luggage item, the gripping device can be arranged in the upper section of the luggage item in this embodiment. This makes it easy for a user to lift the luggage item.
In one embodiment, the tab comprises a gripping state, in which the tensioning mechanism is released and the gripping device can be gripped by a user, and a tensioned state, in which the tensioning mechanism is actuated and the gripping device cannot be gripped by the user. The tab can be transferred from the tensioned state to the gripping state and/or back by an adjusting movement. For example, the adjusting movement can be a pivoting movement. In the tensioned state, the gripping device can be covered and therefore not accessible to a user. The luggage sides cannot be tensioned against each other when the tensioning mechanism is in a released state. In addition to releasing the tension, further steps may be necessary to provide access to the gripping device, for example, it may be necessary to open a fastener of the tensioning mechanism, such as a click fastener. In the tensioned state, one side of the tab, for example an inner side of the tab, can be oriented towards a luggage side, for example the upper side of the luggage, for example in contact with it. In the gripping state, the side of the tab, for example the inside of the tab, can face away from the luggage sides, for example the top of the luggage item, and not be in contact with it. In one embodiment, the tab can be pivoted by more than 90°, for example by more than 120°, in one embodiment by approximately 180°, between the tensioned state and the gripping state. If the tab is transferred to the gripping state, the gripping device can thereby become accessible to a user.
For example, the gripping device is provided at a distal end of the tab, which can enable particularly good accessibility. In one embodiment, the gripping device is designed as a pocket. A pocket can be a free space that is only open and accessible from one side. All other sides of the pocket can be closed. The pocket can be designed in such a way that a user can insert one or more fingers or even the whole hand into the pocket to grip and carry the luggage item. For example, the pocket can be gripped by a user to carry the luggage item. The bag may comprise a trapezoidal shape, i.e. a shape with two parallel boundaries, where one of the boundaries may be longer than the other. The longer boundary can be the trapezoidal base. The opening of the pocket can be formed at the trapezoidal base. A good accessibility to the pocket can thus be ensured. At the same time, such a narrowing of the pocket allows the user's inserted fingers to be fixed in place, thus ensuring a safe lifting and carrying of the luggage item.
In one embodiment, the tensioning mechanism comprises a releasable fastener for releasably connecting the tab with the other luggage section. The fastener can be a hand-operatable fastener, for example a click fastener. For transferring the tab from the tensioned state to the gripping state, it may be necessary to open the fastener. Through the releasable fastener it is possible to comfortably and easily switch between the tensioning function and the carrying function of the tab.
In one embodiment, the luggage item comprises two carrying straps for carrying the luggage item on the back of a user in one orientation. For example, the luggage item can be carried in a vertical orientation by means of the carrying straps. Furthermore, the carrying straps can be arranged and designed in such a way that they can be simultaneously gripped by the user with one hand to carry the luggage item in a further orientation. In this further orientation, the luggage item can, for example, be carried in a horizontal orientation. The carrying straps can then simultaneously serve as carrying straps for carrying the luggage item on the user's back, so that the luggage item functions as a backpack, and at the same time as carrying straps for carrying the luggage item in the user's hand, so that the luggage item functions as a bag. This provides a luggage item that can be carried particularly comfortably in different orientations by a user. In the context of one embodiment, the shoulder straps are attached to the front of the luggage item.
The shoulder straps may each comprise a wide section, which forms a shoulder support for carrying the luggage item on the user's back, and a narrow section. In the context of this embodiment, the narrow sections can be brought into contact with each other to form a handle for carrying the luggage item in the further orientation in which the luggage item functions as a bag. By providing the different sections, the carrying straps can easily and efficiently provide the two functionalities of the luggage item, namely carrying as a backpack and as a bag. The wide and narrow sections of the respective shoulder strap can be formed by a flat element, which is provided in a single layer to form the wide section and in multiple layers to form the narrow section. To form a multi-layer configuration, the flat element can be folded along at least one line, which can extend in the longitudinal direction of the shoulder strap. In the multi-layer design, the folded sections can be sewn together.
In the context of one embodiment, the luggage item comprises an elongated shape with a height extension between the top and bottom sides that is greater than the width extension between the right and left sides and the depth extension between the front and back sides. The width and depth dimensions can be substantially the same in order to form an approximately square base area of the luggage item. The height extension of the luggage item can be significantly greater than the width and/or depth extension, for example by more than 40%, preferably more than 50%, particularly preferably more than 60% greater than the depth extension. This provides a luggage item which, in its overall form, is ideally suited both as a backpack and as a bag.
The present invention further relates to a transport luggage, in particular a soft transport luggage, which can be formed from the materials described above. The transport luggage comprises a plurality of receptacles for receiving a respective luggage item. The luggage item to be accommodated can be a soft luggage item, preferably a luggage item according to one of the embodiments described above. The transport luggage comprises a loading state, in which the receptacles and, in particular, luggage items received in the receptacles are accessible by a user, and a closed state for transporting the transport luggage. In the closed state, the receptacles and, where applicable, luggage items provided in them, can not be accessed. The transport luggage can be transferred from the loaded to the closed state by rolling it up. When rolling up, the transport luggage can be rolled continuously or folded at several discrete points one after the other, so that overall a rolling movement results from several folding operations carried out one after the other. The transport luggage can have a significantly larger base area in the loading state than in the closed state.
The transport luggage may comprise more than three, for example four, or more than four receptacles for luggage items. In the loading state, the receptacles for the luggage items can be arranged above each other in one plane, for example in one plane and parallel to each other. This ensures good accessibility and compactness. The receptacles can be designed as receptacle nets or also in a different way. The design as a receptacle net allows good flexibility for adapting to differently shaped luggage items.
Furthermore, the transport luggage can comprise a holding device for holding the transport luggage in the closed state. The holding device can be a tensioning strap, for example, which can comprise a hook on one side. In the rolled-up closed state, the hook can be arranged on a side of the transport luggage. A loop can be arranged on the other side of the transport luggage, into which the hook can be inserted to hold the transport luggage in the closed state. Between the hook and the loop, the holding device can comprise a tensioning strap in order to tighten and lock it in the closed state.
Furthermore, the transport luggage may comprise a carrying arrangement for carrying the transport luggage in the closed state and for hanging up the transport luggage in the loading state in such a way that all receptacles are accessible by a user in the loading state. The carrying arrangement may be one or more loops that allow a gripping and carrying of the transport luggage in the closed state. The transport luggage can be suspended via at least one of the loops in the loading state, for example, in such a way that a loading of all the receptacles with luggage items is possible. In one embodiment, the transport luggage comprises four receptacles and four luggage items according to one of the embodiments described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show a user carrying a luggage item according to an embodiment of the present invention in different orientations.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the luggage item of FIGS. 1 a and 1 b.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective side view of the luggage item of FIGS. 1 and 2 .

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show a tab of the luggage item from FIGS. 1 to 3 in a tensioned state and a gripping state.

FIG. 5 shows an outside of a transport luggage according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an inside of the transport luggage of FIG. 5 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1 a, 1 b , 2, 3, 4 a and 4 b show a luggage item 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1 a , a user carries the luggage item 1 in a vertical orientation on the back. In FIG. 1 b , the user carries the luggage item 1 in a horizontal orientation by hand. The luggage item 1 comprises a left side 2, a front side 3, a right side 4 and a back side 5. In addition, the luggage item 1 comprises a top side 6 and a bottom side 7. The left-hand side 2, the front side 3, the right-hand side 4, the rear side 5, the top side 6 and the bottom side 7 together form a storage space. Various items that are to be transported with the luggage item 1 can be received in the storage space. For example, the luggage item 1 is designed to receive items of clothing in the storage space.
The luggage item 1 comprises a height extension H (shown in FIG. 2 ), a width extension B (shown in FIG. 2 ) as well as a depth extension T (shown in FIG. 4 b ). The width extension B and the depth extension T can substantially correspond to each other. However, the height extension H is significantly greater than the width extension B and depth extension T of the luggage item 1. In the present embodiment, the height extension H of the luggage item 1 is more than 60% greater than the width extension B. As a result, the luggage item 1 comprises an overall elongated shape. For example, the luggage item 1 is overall approximately cuboid in shape with a square base area substantially formed by the width extension B and depth extension T and a height corresponding to the height extension H. In FIG. 2 , the luggage item 1 is shown in an upright position, i.e. in a vertical orientation, with its bottom side 7 resting on the floor. In contrast, the luggage item 1 is shown in FIG. 3 in a horizontal state, i.e. in a horizontal orientation.
The luggage item 1 can be opened for loading of the storage space. In the context of the present embodiment, the front side 3 and the top side 6 each comprise an opening means 10, for example a zipper, with which the respective side can be opened for loading of the storage space. With the fastening means 10 of the front side 3, the front side 3 can be opened separately from the top side 6. Furthermore, the fastening means 10 of the top side 6 can be used to open the top side 6 separately from the front side 3.
Furthermore, the luggage item 1 comprises two carrying straps 11 which allow the luggage item 1 to be carried on the back by a user. The carrying straps 11 run along the front side 3 and are arranged symmetrically to a central axis of the front side 3, as shown in FIG. 2 . A first end 12 of each shoulder strap 11 is attached to the front 3 and at a downward distance from the top 6. In the upright and unloaded state of the luggage item 1, the shoulder straps 11 each extend vertically downwards from the first end 12 in the front view shown in FIG. 2 and then outwards away from the central axis of the front side 3 in order to be attached to a second end 13 in the lower region of the left or right side 2, 4 of the luggage item 1. The shoulder straps 11 each comprise a wide section 14 extending downwardly from the first end 12 to form a shoulder support for carrying the luggage item 1 on the user's back, as shown in FIG. 2 . The wide section 14 transitions into a narrow section 15, at each end of which an adjustment means 16 is provided. A further section of the shoulder strap 11 extends from the adjustment means 16 to the second attachment point 13, whereby the length of this further section can be adjusted by means of the adjustment means 16 to adjust the length of the shoulder strap.
The luggage item 1 is designed in such a way that it can be carried on the back by a user via the carrying straps 11 in a vertical orientation, as shown in FIG. 1 a . Furthermore, the luggage item 1 is designed in such a way that it can also be carried by a user in a horizontal orientation by hand, as shown in FIG. 1 b . For this purpose, the narrow sections 15 of the carrying straps 11 are moved towards each other by the user in order to jointly form a handle for carrying the luggage item 1. The handle formed by the narrow sections 15 of the carrying straps 11 can be gripped by a user with one hand, as shown in FIG. 1 b , to enable one-handed carrying of the luggage item 1.
Furthermore, the luggage item 1 of the present embodiment comprises a tab 17, which is formed by the front 3 of the luggage item 1 in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the tab 17 is a section protruding above the upper side 6 of the luggage item 1, which is formed integrally with the front side 3. The tab 17 comprises a substantially triangular shape, as shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b , and is formed symmetrically with respect to a central axis of the front side 3 of the luggage item 1. The tab 17 comprises a tensioned state shown in FIG. 4 a and a gripping state shown in FIG. 4 b . In the tensioned state shown in FIG. 4 a , the tab 17 is folded onto the upper side 6 of the luggage item 1, whereas in the gripping state shown in FIG. 4 b , it is folded away from the upper side 6 of the luggage item. In the present embodiment, the tab 17 comprises an outer side 18 and an inner side 19. As can be seen in FIG. 4 a , the inner side 19 is in contact with the upper side 6 in the tensioned state. In the gripping state, the inner side is rotated away from the upper side 6 of the luggage item 1 by more than 90°, in the present case by more than 120°, for example by substantially 180°, as can be seen in FIG. 4 b.
Furthermore, the luggage item 1 comprises a tensioning mechanism 20, which comprises a tensioning strap 21 and a click fastener 22 and is shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b . The tensioning strap 21 is attached at one end to the upper side 6 of the luggage item 1, in the present case to the end of the upper side 6 adjacent to the rear side 5. The other end of the tensioning strap 21 is connected to the click fastener 22. The click fastener 22 is further connected to the distal end of the tab 17, i.e. the end of the tab 17 which is furthest away from the front side 6. By actuating the tensioning mechanism 20, the luggage item 1 can be compressed by tensioning the front side 4 relative to the top side 6 via the tab 17. In the present embodiment, if the click fastener 22 is closed, the tab 17 can be brought into the tensioned state. If, on the other hand, the click fastener 22 is open, the tab 17 can be folded away from the upper side 6 and transferred to the gripping state.
The luggage item 1 further comprises a gripping device 23, by means of which a user can grip and carry the luggage item 1. The gripping device 23 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 b. In the present embodiment, the gripping device 23 is formed at the distal end of the inner side 19 of the tab 17. In this case, the gripping device 23 is formed as a pocket which comprises a substantially trapezoidal shape. The trapezoidal base 24 can run along the opening of the pocket. In the gripping state of the tab 17 shown in FIG. 4 b , the pocket 23 can thereby open towards the top side 6 of the luggage item 1 so that a user can insert one or more fingers or even the whole hand into the pocket 23 in a movement that runs substantially parallel to the top side 6 and away from the rear side 5, as shown in FIG. 3 . Thereby the user can comfortably and easily lift and carry the luggage item 1 via the pocket 23.
FIG. 5 shows an outer side 101 of a transport luggage 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows an inner side 102 of the transport luggage 100 of FIG. 5 . In FIGS. 5 and 6 , the transport luggage 100 is shown in a loading state. The transport luggage 100 comprises a substantially rectangular carrier base 103 made of a foldable material, for example a plastic. On the inner side 102 of the carrier base 103, four receptacles 104 are provided in the present embodiment, which are designed as receptacle nets. The receptacles 104 are identical to one another and are designed such that they can each receive a luggage item according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 . The receptacles 104 are provided on the inner side 102 of the carrier base 103 at an equidistant distance and, in the loading state, parallel to one another and in one plane. In FIG. 6 , they are open towards the top so that the luggage items 1 can each be inserted or removed. Between each of the two receptacles 104, a folding edge 105 is formed, which is indicated in FIG. 5 .
In order to transfer the transport luggage 100 from the loading state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to a closed state, the transport luggage 100 can be rolled up with the luggage items 1 provided in the receptacles 104. For this, the lowest receptacle 104 in FIG. 6 is first folded onto the penultimate receptacle 104 along the folding edge 105 formed between them. Subsequently, the folded first and second receptacles 104 are folded onto the third receptacle 104 along the second folding edge 105 from the bottom. Then, the uppermost receptacle 104 in FIG. 6 is folded along the uppermost folding edge 105 onto the other folded receptacles 104 in order to roll up the transport luggage 100.
In the rolled-up closed state, the transport luggage 100 can now be locked by means of a holding device 106, in this case a tensioning strap. The tensioning strap 106 comprises a hook 107, which can be hooked into a loop 108. The tensioning strap can then be tensioned in order to compress the transport luggage 100 and lock it in the closed state.
In addition, the transport luggage 100 comprises a carrying arrangement 109, in the present case two carrying loops, which in the closed state are both arranged next to each other and on the upper side of the transport luggage 100 and which can be gripped by a user to carry the transport luggage 100. One of the carrying loops 109 is arranged and designed in such a way that the transport luggage can be suspended by it in the loading state in such a way that all receptacles 104 are easily accessible by a user. In the present case, the carrying loop 109 is provided for this purpose at the upper end in the loading state, as can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 .

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A luggage item, comprising:

a first luggage section;

a second luggage section;

a tab; and

a tensioning mechanism,

wherein the first or second luggage section is configured to be tensioned relative to the other luggage section via the tab and the tensioning mechanism, and

wherein the tab comprises a gripping device for carrying the luggage item.

17. The luggage item according to claim 16, wherein the first or second luggage section is a front side and the other of the luggage sections is a top side of the luggage item.

18. The luggage item according to claim 16,

wherein the tab comprises a gripping state in which the tensioning mechanism is released and the gripping device is configured to be gripped by a user, and

wherein the tab comprises a tensioned state in which the tensioning mechanism is engaged and the gripping device is configured to be released by the user.

19. The luggage item according to claim 18,

wherein the gripping device is formed on a side of the tab, and

wherein the tab faces towards the other luggage section in the tensioned state.

20. The luggage item according to claim 16,

wherein the gripping device is a pocket configured to be gripped with fingers of a user,

wherein the pocket comprises a trapezoidal shape and a trapezoidal base, and

wherein the trapezoidal base is disposed at an opening of the pocket.

21. The luggage item according to claim 16, wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises a releasable fastener configured to releasably connect the tab with the other luggage section.

22. The luggage item according to claim 16, wherein the luggage item comprises two carrying straps configured to carry the luggage item on a back of a user in a vertical orientation.

23. The luggage item according to claim 22, wherein the carrying straps are configured to be simultaneously gripped by the user with one hand to carry the luggage item in a horizontal orientation.

24. The luggage item according to claim 23,

wherein the carrying straps each comprise a wide section, wherein the wide section is configured to form a shoulder support to carry the luggage item on the back of the user, and

wherein the carrying straps each comprise a narrow section, wherein the narrow sections are configured to be brought into contact with each other to form a handle to carry the luggage item in the horizontal orientation.

25. A transport luggage, comprising:

a plurality of receptacles configured to receive a luggage item;

a loading state in which the receptacles are accessible by a user; and

a closed state for transporting the transport luggage,

wherein the transport luggage is configured to be transferred from the loading state to the closed state by rolling it up.

26. The transport luggage according to claim 25, wherein the receptacles are arranged in a plane above each other in the loading state.

27. The transport luggage according to claim 25, wherein the receptacles are receptacle nets.

28. The transport luggage according to claim 25, further comprising a holding device configured to hold the transport luggage in the closed state.

29. The transport luggage according to claim 25, further comprising a carrying arrangement for carrying of the transport luggage in the closed state and for hanging up the transport luggage in the loading state such that the receptacles are accessible by the user.

30. The transport luggage according to claim 25,

wherein the plurality of receptacles comprise four receptacles, and

wherein the luggage item comprises four luggage items.