WO2008121013A1

WO2008121013A1 - A convertible luggage set

Info

Publication number: WO2008121013A1
Application number: PCT/PL2008/000025
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emil Grycko
Original assignee: Emil Grycko
Priority date: 2007-03-29
Filing date: 2008-03-26
Publication date: 2008-10-09
Also published as: PL382089A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a convertible luggage set for storing and transporting objects, particularly personal belongings during hiking, all forms of sailing tourism and any other kinds of travelling. In the first configuration the luggage set embodies a sack (1) and in the second configuration it embodies a sack (3) and a bag (4), wherein the sack (1) of the first configuration comprises an elongated bottom part (11) which is closed from the bottom and an upper part (12) which is lockable at the top side, said parts of the first configuration being connected to each other, and wherein the sack (3) of the second configuration is formed by the upper part (12) of the sack (1) of the first configuration connected with a substantially flat first cover (21), while the bag (4) of the second configuration is formed by the bottom part (11) of the sack (1) of first configuration connected with a substantially flat second cover (22), wherein the bottom part (11) and the upper part (12) of the sack (1) of the first configuration are connected to each other by means of a complementary connecting mechanism (13, 15).

Description

A CONVERTIBLE LUGGAGE SET

[001] The present invention relates to a convertible luggage set for storing and transporting objects, particularly personal belongings during hiking, all forms of sailing tourism and any other kinds of travelling.

[002] The prior art discloses many solutions relating to multipart, particularly two- part, convertible luggage sets.

[003] For example British patent application GB 2184002 discloses a combination bag made for example of reinforced waterproof and tear-resistant woven or synthetic material and consisting of three individual bags which can be assembled to form a combination bag by detachable connection selectively of their end faces or the end faces of at least one individual bag to the bottom faces or selectively the top faces of at least one other individual bag. In particular individual bags can be assembled vertically one on the another using zip fasteners and they may have different shapes and sizes. The combination bag according to the invention may be used among others for transportation on cycle carrier as well as may be carried on the user back.

[004] Patent application US 2004026199 discloses a carrying case device to the side surface of which by means of a zip fastener a separate bag may be attached. Additionally the case device can be converted into a rucksack by fixing straps thereto. A similar solution has been described in patent application US 5402869.

[005] However the majority of luggage containers that are well known from the prior art is used for transportation, in particular air transportation, of the whole baggage to the place of destination and back, whereas during the rest in the destination place the containers need to be folded and put away in order not to disturb.

[006] One solution of this problem is disclosed for example in patent application US 6619447 describing a waterproof primary bag having a strip bearing over a shoulder, to one end of which by means of two sets of buckles an auxiliary bag can be releasably attached. During the journey to the place of destination the primary bag is connected with the auxiliary bag, while after reaching the place of destination the auxiliary bag is detached and used as a separate handbag.

[007] The aim of the present invention is to provide a convertible luggage set which would lack deficiencies related with the known prior art solutions and which would enable changing its form and function in dependence on current needs, and thus would be multipurpose and useful during the whole trip.

[008] According to the present invention there is provided a convertible luggage set for storing and transporting objects, which in the first configuration embodies a sack and in the second configuration embodies a sack and a bag, wherein the sack of the first configuration comprises an elongated bottom part which is closed from the bottom and an upper part which is lockable at the top, said parts of the first configuration being connected to each other, and wherein the sack of the second configuration is formed by the upper part of the sack of the first configuration connected with a substantially flat first cover, while the bag of the second configuration is formed by the bottom part of the sack of the first configuration connected with a substantially flat second cover, wherein the bottom part and the upper part of the sack of the first configuration are connected to each other by means of a complementary connecting mechanism.

[009] Owing to such a construction, during a travel such as for e.g. a flight to a destination place with the whole baggage, the user of the luggage set has at his or her disposal a big, capacious sack of the first configuration, while after arriving at the place of destination he transforms this sack into a sack and a bag of the second configuration of the luggage set. The second configuration sack may be useful for example during sightseeing trips in the neighbourhood of the place of destination, whereas the second configuration bag may be used for storing a part of belongings, for example in a tent.

[010] The first cover and the second cover are advantageously provided with a complementary connecting mechanism, wherein components of the connecting mechanism of the bottom part of the sack of the first configuration are complementary with components of the connecting mechanism of the second cover, and components of the connecting mechanism of the upper part of the sack of the first configuration are complementary with components of the connecting mechanism of the first cover.

[011] In such a case it is advantageous if in the first configuration the first cover and the second cover are connected with each other forming a sachet, used for example for storing personal luggage during the flight.

[012] The term "a complementary connecting mechanism", as used herein, means any suitable arrangement comprised of connecting components matching mutually in pairs, comprising in particular at least one zip fastener and/or at least one latch fastener and/or at least one hook-and-loop fastener (Velcro®). For the skilled technician it shall be obvious that it is also possible to employ many other well known connecting elements such as for example buttons, including snap buttons, string(s), etc.

[013] In alternative embodiment of the invention, the first cover may be fixedly connected with the upper part of the sack of the first configuration at its inner side and/or the second cover may be fixedly connected with the bottom part of the sack of the first configuration at its inner side.

[014] The sack of the first configuration and/or the sack of the second configuration may have a form of a shoulder bag provided with a shoulder strap.

[015] The sack of the first configuration and/or the sack of the second configuration may also have a form of a rucksack provided with two shoulder straps. It improves ergonomic of using a luggage set, particularly in case of heavy loads transportation.

[016] Advantageously the surfaces of the upper part and/or both the upper part and the bottom part, contacting the user back is provided with an ergonomically profiled stiffening (a so-called rack).

[017] A luggage set according to the present invention is advantageously made of impregnated and/or waterproof material.

[018] The convertible luggage set according to the present invention, is shown in exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, of which Fig. 1 shows the first embodiment of a convertible luggage set according to the present invention in the first configuration (Fig. 1A) and in the second configuration (Fig. 1F) and particular intermediate stages (Fig. 1B-1 E) of conversion between the first and second configuration, Fig. 2 shows detailed view of the first configuration of the second embodiment of a convertible luggage set according to the present invention comprising a rucksack, Fig. 3 shows detailed view of the second configuration of the second embodiment of a convertible luggage set according to the present invention comprising a sack and a bag, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show constructional details of a carrier system of the first configuration rucksack of the first embodiment of a convertible luggage set according to the present invention, and

Fig. 6 shows constructional details of a carrier system of the second configuration rucksack of the first embodiment of a convertible luggage set according to the present invention.

[019] As shown in Fig. 1 , the first embodiment of a convertible luggage set according to the present invention in the first configuration comprises a sack 1 and a sachet or vanity bag 2, while in the second configuration it comprises a sack 3 and a bag 4, wherein both the first configuration sack 1 as well as the second configuration sack 3 have a form of a rucksack.

[020] The first configuration rucksack 1 is comprised of two elongated parts 11 and 12 of substantially the same height which are connected with each other and made of Goretex® fabric. The bottom part 11 is fixedly closed from the bottom and an access to the upper part is enabled through an opening 31 that may be closed by means of a string 32. An access to the interior space of the rucksack 1 is also possible by opening a hidden zip fastener 43 sewn in the side surface of the bottom part 11. Additionally, the upper part 11 of the rucksack 1 has a pocket 33, while the bottom part 11 is provided with two pockets 41. Pockets 33 and 41 are provided with buckles 34 and 42 protecting them against inadvertent opening. The bottom part 11 has also a handle 44 facilitating handing in and putting on the rucksack 1 on the back, and the upper part is provided with a handle placed between its straps (cf. Fig. 4). [021] The first configuration sachet 2 is composed of two substantially flat covers 21 and 22 that are connected with each other.

[022] The upper part 12 and the bottom part 11 are connected with each other by means of four snap fasteners 15 that transfer loads between these two parts, and a hidden zip fastener 13 that ensures tightness of the connection. The covers forming the sachet are connected by means of a zip fastener 14 and four snap fasteners 16. Snap fasteners 15 and 16 are fastened interchangeably in such a manner that the upper and bottom parts of the rucksack 1 as well as the covers of the sachet 2 may be connected with each other only in one specific angular mutual alignment.

[023] In order to transform the convertible luggage set according to the invention from the first configuration into the second configuration, as illustrated in Figs. 1B to 1 E, firstly the rucksack straps have to be detached in their bottom fixing points (as shown in details in Figs. 4 and 5), then the snap fasteners 15 (Fig. 1B) and subsequently the zip fastener 13 (Fig. 1C), connecting the bottom part 11 with the upper part 12 of the rucksack 1 , have to be unlocked. In a similar manner, not shown on the drawings, one should successively unlock the snap fasteners 16 and then the zip fastener 14 connecting individual covers of the sachet 2.

[024] As presented in Fig. 1 D, the bag 4 of the second configuration is formed by the bottom part 11 of the rucksack 1 connected with the second cover 22 of the sachet 2, while the rucksack 3 of the second configuration is formed by the upper part 12 of the rucksack 1 connected with the first cover 21 of the sachet 2.

[025] In order to create the rucksack 3, one should perform the steps as described above in reverse sequence, i.e. at the beginning the zip fastener comprising first section 13a of the upper part 12 of the rucksack 1 and the complementary second section 14a of the first cover 21 of the sachet 2, has to be locked, and then appropriate pairs 15a1 and 16a1 as well as 15a2 and 16a2 of the snap fasteners of the upper part 12 of the rucksack 1 and the bottom cover 21 of the sachet 2 have to be connected. Finally, the rucksack straps 17 have to be fastened to appropriate fixing points of the first cover 21 of the sachet 2 as shown in details in Fig. 6. [026] In a similar manner, in order to create bag 4, one has to zip the zip fastener 13b, 14b, by connecting the section 13b of the bottom part 11 of the rucksack 1 with corresponding section 14b of the second cover 22 of the sachet 2, and subsequently connecting appropriate pairs 15b1 and 16b1 as well as 15b2 and 16b2 of the snap fasteners of the bottom part 11 of the rucksack 1 and of the second cover 22 of the sachet 2. In such a configuration, the handle 44 serves as a handle of the bag 3.

[027] Figures Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 present the second embodiment of a convertible luggage set according to the present invention, which in the first configuration comprises a sack 1a, and in the second configuration comprises a sack 3a and a bag 4a.

[028] In this embodiment, the sack 1a and 3a has a form of a travelling bag provided with one strap 18 extending diagonally over the bag surface contacting the user back, enabling the user to carry the bag over his or her shoulder. The strap 18 is fastened to the upper left fragment of the upper part 12a and by means of snap hooks, in dependence of the configuration, to the right bottom fixing point of the bottom part 11a (the first configuration) or the right bottom fixing point of the upper part 12a (the second configuration). An arrangement of pockets and elements providing access to particular components of the convertible luggage set corresponds to the set shown in Fig. 1.

[029] Additionally in this embodiment, the first cover (not shown in the drawing) is sewn in at the inner side into the upper part 12a just above the zip fastener 12, whereas the second cover is sewn in just below the zip fastener 12 into the bottom part 11a of the bag 1a.

[030] In order to form a bag 3a and a bag 4a of the second configuration of a convertible luggage set, as shown in Fig. 3, it is required only to detach the strap 18 of the bag 1a from its bottom fixing point, unlock the snap fasteners 15 and finally unlock the zip fastener 13 connecting the bottom part 11a with the upper part 12a of the bag 1a. In this situation the first cover shall constitute the bottom of the bag 3a, while the second cover shall serve as side wall of the bag 4a. [031] Figs. 4-6 present the details of the carrier system of the rucksacks 1 and 3 of the first and the second configuration of the convertible luggage set as illustrated in Fig. 1 in the back view. The rucksacks 1 and 3 are provided with two straps 17 enabling them to be carried over the shoulders, wherein each of the straps comprises a soft ergonomic portion 17a connected by means of a buckle 17b with a belt 17c ended with a shackle 17d. Shackles 17d of the belts 17c are connected by snap hooks 17e with appropriate loops 17f of the bottom part 11 of the rucksack 1 in the first configuration, or with loops 23 of the first cover 21 of the sachet 2 forming the bottom of the rucksack 3 in the second configuration. Shackles 17d of the belts 17c may obviously be fastened up to one of the loops 17f, what results in that the rucksacks 1 and 3 shall have a from of a bag. Moreover in Fig. 4 the handle 35 placed between the straps, which facilitates hanging up and handing in the rucksacks 1 and 3 is visible.

[032] In other embodiments of the invention, instead of zip fasteners and snap fasteners it is also possible to use any other suitable type of connecting mechanism, such as for example a hook-and-loop fastener (e.g. Velcro® or a so- called burr). For the persons skilled in the art, it shall be obvious that one may use any suitable number, arrangement and a manner of closing particular elements of a convertible luggage set according to the present invention as well as side pockets thereof.

[033] The embodiments of the present invention described above should not be considered as exhausting and restricting the present invention, which is characterized in patent claims.

Claims

1. A convertible luggage set for storing and transporting objects, characterized in that in the first configuration it embodies a sack (1) and in the second configuration it embodies a sack (3) and a bag (4), wherein the sack (1) of the first configuration comprises an elongated bottom part (11) which is closed from the bottom and an upper part (12) which is lockable at the top, said parts of the first configuration being connected to each other, and wherein the sack (3) of the second configuration is formed by the upper part (12) of the sack (1) of the first configuration connected with a substantially flat first cover (21), while the bag (4) of the second configuration is formed by the bottom part (11) of the sack (1) of the first configuration connected with a substantially flat second cover (22), wherein the bottom part (11) and the upper part (12) of the sack (1) of the first configuration are connected to each other by means of a complementary connecting mechanism (13, 15).

2. The luggage set as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the first cover (21) and the second cover (22) are provided with a complementary connecting mechanism (13, 15), wherein components of the connecting mechanism (13b, 15b) of the bottom part (11) of the sack (1) of the first configuration are complementary with components of the connecting mechanism (14b, 16b) of the second cover (22), and components of the connecting mechanism (13a, 15a) of the upper part (12) of the sack (1) of the first configuration are complementary with components of the connecting mechanism (14a, 16a) of the first cover (21).

3. The luggage set as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that in the first configuration the first cover (21) and the second cover (22) are connected with each other forming a sachet (2).

4. The luggage set as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the first cover (21) is fixedly connected with the upper part (12) of the sack (1) of the first configuration at its inner side and/or the second cover (22) is fixedly connected with the bottom part (11) of the sack (1) of the first configuration at its inner side.

5. The luggage set as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting mechanism comprises at least one zip fastener (13, 14).

6. The luggage set as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting mechanism comprises at least one latch fastener (15, 16).

7. The luggage set as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting mechanism comprises at least one hook-and-loop fastener (Velcro®).

8. The luggage set as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sack (1) of the first configuration and/or the sack (3) of the second configuration have a form of a shoulder bag provided with a shoulder strap (18).

9. The luggage set as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sack (1) of the first configuration and/or the sack (3) of the second configuration have a form of a rucksack provided with two shoulder straps (17).

10. The luggage set as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surfaces of the upper part (12) and/or both the upper part (12) and the bottom part (11) contacting the user back is provided with an ergonomically profiled stiffening.

11. The luggage set as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of impregnated and/or waterproof material.