Abstract:
A travel carrier has a first region having a rigid floor and walls extending to a height defining a volume of a size to accommodate at least a pair of boots, a closable opening into the first region for depositing and removing items to be carried, a second, elongate region extending upward from the first region of a length and cross-sectional area at least sufficient for holding one or more elongate items, a closable opening into the second region for depositing and removing items to be carried, and two or more wheels along one edge of the floor of the first region and supports along an opposite edge of the floor of the first region, such that the travel carrier, resting on the wheels and supports, is stably supported in an upright aspect with the elongate second region extending upward and positioned within the footprint of the floor of the first region, and wherein the carrier may be tipped onto the wheels to be pulled along a floor by a person holding the second region.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    NA 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is in the field of travel accessories including luggage and travel carriers and pertains more particularly to a travel carrier with interchangeable elongate sections for carrying elongate utilities and accessories when traveling by air or ground. 
         [0004]    2. Discussion of the State of the Art 
         [0005]    In the field of travel, there are a variety of luggage carriers and the like adapted to contain items that a traveler needs at least at the travel destination. The most common type of luggage is the suitcase adapted to contain a traveler&#39;s cloths, shoes, and other items that the user is not personally carrying during travel. 
         [0006]    In air travel for example people check bags into the airline luggage transport service connected with the flight the traveler is taking. These bags are typically suitcase style rectangular bags or carriers that have wheels and an extendible handle that allows travelers to pull the carrier on wheels using the extendible handle as a lever similar to maneuvering a two-wheeled hand truck. These typical carrier bags or cases may vary in size and capacity to very small cases that can be carried such as on a flight to much larger cases that have to be separately transported. 
         [0007]    One limitation to the typical travel case is that it is only designed to carry typical travel items like clothing, shoes, and general necessities one requires at a travel destination. Carry on bags that are small enough to travel with the traveler include smaller back packs, handled carry bags, brief cases, and the like. These are also limited in what they can carry for a traveler. 
         [0008]    There are, of course, current carriers for elongate items like snow boards and skis, and these are typically too large to be taken on-board as hand luggage, and must be checked as baggage. One problem many travelers have with such luggage is that these carriers are very clumsy to handle when standing in line or maneuvering through crowded airport terminals. 
         [0009]    Many travelers take flights or other means of mass transportation to vacation sites where they ski, snowboard, fish, wake board, surf, and other activities. 
         [0010]    What is clearly needed is a carrier that is configurable to stow elongate items that are otherwise awkward to carry in a manner that protects the items from exposure to elements and shock, that allows a traveler to maneuver and carry the item in an efficient and non-obtrusive way, and that may be left to stand upright on a floor with a very small footprint, to avoid the problems of maneuverability in lines, and that may also be moved along in this upright position. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The problem stated above is that typical travel cases for elongate items like snowboards or skis are designed to be carried with the long axis horizontal, and this makes maneuverability in lines and crowds quite difficult. Such carriers cannot be stood on a floor with the long axis upward in a stable manner, and will not stand unsupported in this aspect. 
         [0012]    The inventors therefore considered functional elements of a travel case, looking for elements that exhibit the potential to provide a way to enclose and protect elongate items such as skis or a snowboard for example, but in a manner that would not be inconvenient to maneuver. 
         [0013]    The present inventor realized in an inventive moment that if a travel case could be designed that would facilitate enclosure and protection of an elongate item while still having room for the accessories associated with the item, a significant convenience might result for the traveler. The inventor therefore constructed a unique travel carrier for stowing elongate utility items and accessories that allowed convenient and efficient maneuvering and space utilization while offering covered protection for the items stowed. A significant convenience results, with no impediment to maneuvering of the carrier or with space utilization of the carrier. 
         [0014]    Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention a travel carrier comprising a first region having a rigid floor and walls extending to a height defining a volume of a size to accommodate at least a pair of boots, a closable opening into the first region for depositing and removing items to be carried, a second, elongate region extending upward from the first region of a length and cross-sectional area at least sufficient for holding one or more elongate items, a closable opening into the second region for depositing and removing items to be carried, and two or more wheels along one edge of the floor of the first region and supports along an opposite edge of the floor of the first region, such that the travel carrier, resting on the wheels and supports, is stably supported in an upright aspect with the elongate second region extending upward and positioned within the footprint of the floor of the first region, and wherein the carrier may be tipped onto the wheels to be pulled along a floor by a person holding the second region. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment the first region is rectangular and the second elongate region is tubular. In one embodiment the travel carrier further includes an adapter in the form of a rigid square tube into which the second elongate region is seated. In this embodiment the first region is rectangular and the second elongate region is a semi-rigid rectangular sleeve. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment the travel carrier further includes an adapter in the form of a rigid rectangular sleeve into which the end of an elongate item enclosed by the second elongate region is seated. In one embodiment the wheels are castor wheels and a handle is strategically located on the second elongate region to enable maneuvering of the carrier on the wheels. In one embodiment another handle is provided on the travel carrier and is located on one wall of the first region. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment the first region and second elongate region are covered with a heavy material or, with the exception of the rigid floor of the first region, fabricated of a heavy material. In a variation of this embodiment the heavy material may be completely separated into two parts along a zippered edge with a zipper for adjoining the two parts with one part remaining integral to the first region and the other part remaining integral to the second elongate region when unzipped and separated. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment including an adapter, the first region supports attachment and removal of different adapters associated with different elongate regions. In a variation of this embodiment, one second elongate region attachable to the first region by an associated adapter is adapted to house one or more skis and poles, the first region adapted to house ski boots and accessories. In another variation of the embodiment, one second elongate region attachable to the first region by an associated adapter is adapted to house a snowboard, the first region adapted to house snowboard boots and accessories. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment supporting the use of heavy material separable into two parts by a zipper, the zippered edge defines an opening into the first region when unzipped. In one embodiment wherein the second elongate enclosure is a semi-rigid rectangular sleeve the second elongate region includes a vertical zippered edge with a zipper defining a vertically disposed opening into the region. In one embodiment wherein the second elongate region is tubular, the closeable opening of the second elongate region is a lid attached by zipper to the body of the region. 
         [0020]    According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for configuring a travel carrier to enclose a different elongate item or items and accessories than an elongate item or items and accessories it is currently configured to enclose, the carrier having a first region and a second elongate region disposed within the footprint of the first region, the regions associated together through an adapter, and a closable opening separate to each region comprising the steps (a) detaching the second elongate region of the travel carrier from the first region of the travel carrier, (b) removing the adapter from the first region of the travel carrier, (c) installing a different adapter to first region of the travel carrier, and (d) attaching a different elongate region to the first region with the aid of the adapter of step (c). 
         [0021]    In one aspect of the method the travel carrier is covered with or fabricated from a heavy material and in step (a) detachment is by unzipping the second region from the first region along a zippered edge in the material. In this aspect in step (d), attachment is by zipping the elongate region to the first region after first orientating the elongate region to the first region orientation aided by the adapter. In one aspect in step (d), the adapter orientates and seats the elongate region relative to the first region. In another aspect, in step (d), the adapter is adapted to accept an end of an elongate item being enclosed by the elongate region. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a travel carrier with an elongate section according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a side-elevation view of the carrier of  FIG. 1  in a luggage line. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a travel carrier with an elongate section according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a side-elevation view of the carrier of  FIG. 3  in a luggage line. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is an overhead view into the carrier of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is an overhead view into the carrier of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    The inventor provides a travel carrier for completely enclosing elongate items that otherwise are awkward to carry such as a pair of skis or a snowboard and associated accessories like boots, gloves and the like. The carrier may be checked onto a flight as luggage or as a carryon bag and is adapted to be handled in a fashion similar to wheeled suitcases typically used in flight travel. The invention shall be described in detail using the various embodiments presented below. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a travel carrier  100  with an elongate enclosure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Travel carrier  100  includes a primary base enclosure  101  and a secondary elongate enclosure  103 . Base enclosure  101  may be a rectangular structure having a floor and walls  102 . In one embodiment the base enclosure is a square enclosure. In another embodiment the base enclosure may assume another geometric form such as a three-sided enclosure or one that has more than four sides. In still another embodiment, the enclosure may be annular having a floor and a peripheral wall. 
         [0030]    In this example, primary enclosure  101  has a rigid floor  110 . Floor  110  may be manufactured of a polymer, fiber board, or some other rigid material. A pair of castor wheels  105  is provided and installed on the lower surface of floor  110  to provide a wheeled base that enables carrier  100  to be pulled or pushed and rolled along on the wheels in a fashion similar to wheeled suitcases popular in airline travel. 
         [0031]    Secondary enclosure  103  is linear in form and is an elongate tube in this example. Enclosure  103  may be manufactured of polymer, fiberboard, heavy cardboard, or some other rigid or semi-rigid material. Enclosure  103  may be attached to primary enclosure  101  such that it is supported in vertical extension above the base of the carrier. The terms primary and secondary used to reference the enclosures serves only to distinguish the enclosures from one another in general description. Primary enclosure  101  is primary only in that it serves as a base for supporting secondary enclosure  103 . 
         [0032]    A heavy material  106  such as canvas or some other durable material may be provided to completely cover travel carrier  100  including primary enclosure  101  and secondary enclosure  103 . Material  106  may be glued onto primary and secondary enclosures or it may be stretched over the enclosures. Walls  102  of base enclosure  101  may include a covering of canvas or other heavy material  106  sewn over or glued onto a heavy cardboard, polymer, or fiber board backing thus giving a semi rigid quality to walls  102  of enclosure  101 . In another embodiment, walls  102  are made of the heavy material without backing and take form when the carrier is assembled and packed. 
         [0033]    Elongate secondary enclosure  103  has a closeable end cap  104  that attaches to the enclosure body  103  by a zipper  111 . Other methods may be used to close off the free end of enclosure  103  such as snap, tie, or buckle without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. End cap  104  includes a handle  108  sewn onto or otherwise affixed to the top surface of end cap  104 . Handle  108  may be a polymer handle or a handle made from some other rigid or resilient material. Handle  108  enables a user to pull or push travel carrier  100  on wheels  105  by tilting the carrier from an upright position onto wheels  105  and maneuvering it as desired. Another handle  109  is provided in this example on a wall ( 102 ) of carrier  100  to illustrate that it may also be manipulated as other luggage types by carrying it in a horizontal position. 
         [0034]    Material  106  may be separable along a zippered edge demarked by a zipper  107 . In one embodiment, unzipping zipper  107  provides an opening into and therefore access to primary enclosure  101 . Unzipping zipper  107  completely may separate the material  106  stretched over base enclosure  101  and elongate enclosure  103 . Material  106  may be firmly attached to both enclosures  101  and  103  in certain specific regions so that unzipping the material does not displace the material from the respective enclosures that the material covers. In one embodiment industrial adhesive may be used to attach the material to the structure of the base enclosure and that of the tube enclosure as well. 
         [0035]    Travel carrier  100  has at least one material pocket illustrated herein by a zipper  112  marking the opening of the pocket. Pockets may be present in multiple locations on carrier  100  and may be used to stow gloves, hats, and other items. Travel carrier  100  may be provided in different forms or versions that are adapted to accommodate specific items that would otherwise be awkward to carry during travel such as airline travel, for example. The defining component in different versions of carrier  100  is an elongate enclosure though the exact physical forms of elongate enclosures from carrier to carrier may differ according to the physical properties of the item that the enclosure is adapted for. In this example, carrier  100  is adapted to enclose a ski or a pair of skis and poles enclosed within elongate enclosure  103  and ski boots, bindings and perhaps other accessories associated with skiing in primary enclosure  101 . 
         [0036]    The design of travel carrier  100  is such that it may be stood upright when not being maneuvered on wheels  105 . Base enclosure  101  provides a stable anchor for elongate enclosure  103  preventing tipping over. As such, a user may easily maneuver carrier  100  among other baggage typically handled without any problems related to convenience of movement or with space utilization. Travel carrier  100  may in some cases fit onto a luggage rack horizontally and may be set upright in line or when it is not being maneuvered without inconvenience. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  is a side-elevation view of carrier  100  of  FIG. 1  in a luggage line  200 . Some elements illustrated in  FIG. 2  are also illustrated and described relative to  FIG. 1  above. Those elements which are again illustrated in this example may or may not have an element number illustrated in this example since they have already been introduced with element numbers and described above. Those elements that are again illustrated here with the element numbers from  FIG. 1  shall not be reintroduced. Travel carrier  100  is illustrated in position between a suitcase  205  and a suitcase  206  in luggage line  200 . Carrier  100  supports an elongate item or items in a vertical position taking up the least amount of footprint (floor space) possible. Bags  205  and  206  represent typical check-in bags at the airport the bags having wheels, stand-offs feet and an extension handle. Carrier  100  has wheels and a pair of standoff feet  203 . A broken outline of a boot  202  is illustrated in this example to show that a pair of boots is contained within base enclosure  101 . It is noted herein that the width of base enclosure  101  need not exceed that of a typical travel suitcase in order to accommodate boots and other accessories that may be included with the elongate item being carried. 
         [0038]    An adapter  201  is provided within base enclosure  101  and is adapted to be secured to the floor and walls of the enclosure. Adapter  201  is illustrated herein with a broken outline. In an embodiment where elongate enclosure  103  is a tube, adapter  201  may be a rectangular tube or an annular tube structure. In either case, the inside diameter of the adapter may be held just larger than the outside diameter of secondary enclosure  103  so that the enclosure can be fitted into the adapter for support. In one embodiment no fastening is required in order to support enclosure  103  in a vertical position. Assembly in this embodiment consists of seating the elongate enclosure tube into the adapter tube. 
         [0039]    After elongate enclosure  103  is seated into the adapter on base enclosure  101 , the heavy material coverings previously described may be zipped together to hold the carrier together. In some other embodiments fastening hardware may be provided to secure the elongate enclosure to the adapter on the base enclosure. Adapter  201  may be secured to the floor and back wall of the primary enclosure by screws and brackets or by other fastening hardware. 
         [0040]    In one embodiment enclosure  101  remains open with respect to having a hinged lid or a top piece and is not covered until the heavy material covering the carrier is zipped together thus forming a material top or cover. The material flap with a zippered edge may be a part of the elongate enclosure and when the enclosure is properly connected to the base enclosure, the material sections may be zipped together forming the top of the base enclosure and physically supporting and retaining the elongate enclosure from becoming displaced. An interior space or pocket  204  is illustrated herein as a space that may be accessed through a zippered opening such as through zipper  112  described further above with respect to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0041]    In one embodiment of the invention primary enclosure  101  may be utilized to carry items without having a secondary enclosure attached. In this case a material top having a zipper edge may be provided to close off the enclosure on top. Also in this embodiment an extensible handle (not illustrated) may be provided on the primary enclosure so that it may be maneuvered in the manner of a typical airline bag having wheels and an extensible handle. 
         [0042]    In a preferred embodiment, the secondary enclosure or region as it may be referred to is disposed vertically and remains within the footprint of the primary enclosure the carrier enabled to stand upright without tipping. In one embodiment a counterweight may be provided in the primary enclosure to ensure a more stable upright position. However, it is not required to practice the invention as the items stowed in the primary enclosure are of sufficient weight to provide good stability for an upright elongate item like a snowboard or a pair of skis, both of which are relatively light in weight. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a travel carrier  300  with an elongate section  303  according to another embodiment of the present invention. Travel carrier  300  is adapted to carry an elongate item like carrier  100  described further above. However in this case the secondary enclosure illustrated herein as enclosure  303  is formed differently according to the physical characteristics of the item it is designed to enclose. 
         [0044]    Secondary enclosure  303  may be attached or affixed to primary enclosure  101  with slight modification of base enclosure  101  such as replacing the adapter ( 201 ) described with respect to  FIG. 2  above with another adapter of a different form. Primary enclosure  101  includes wheels  105  and may include stand-off feet  203  not illustrated in this view but described and illustrated further above. 
         [0045]    Secondary enclosure  303  may be a semi-rigid enclosure. In this example, enclosure  303  is rectangular having a rigid or semi-rigid back wall (not visible in this view) and rigid or semi-rigid side walls such as wall  308  (visible in this view). Enclosure  303  may also include a rigid or semi-rigid top or end wall that is rigid enough to support handle  302 . The walls of elongate enclosure  303  may be heavy cardboard, fiberboard, polymer, or some other rigid to semi-rigid material. These support structures may be backing that forms the basic shape of the enclosure over which a heavy material  306  may be sewn, stretched over, or glued. 
         [0046]    Elongate enclosure  303  has a front wall  310 , which may be made from material  306 . A zippered edge demarked by a zipper  301  is provided and disposed vertically along the length of enclosure  303  roughly centered on front wall  310  to provide access to the contents of the enclosure. Enclosure  303  may be designed to contain a snowboard, for example. Zipper  301  is provided to open or to close the opening in this example but other fastening hardware may be used instead such as snaps, hooks, buckles or the like. 
         [0047]    In one embodiment of the present invention, elongate enclosure  303  and elongate enclosure  103  of  FIG. 1  above are interchangeable with respect to primary enclosure  101 . In this embodiment a user may configure the travel carrier as carrier  100  or as carrier  300  by installing the appropriate elongate enclosure. It is noted herein that any adapter associated to either secondary enclosure may be required to accommodate the elongate enclosure in an installed position relative to the base enclosure. In one embodiment zippered edge (zipper  301 ) is provided along side wall  308  instead of at the center axis of wall  310 . In this case, the contents may be placed into or removed from enclosure  303  from the side of the enclosure instead of from the front. 
         [0048]    In one embodiment enclosure  303  is a flexible non-reinforced material like canvas material  306  or perhaps cordura used as a material in flight bags because of its durability. In this case the enclosure takes vertical form after the contents are enclosed therein. The contents, in this case, a snowboard, may be fitted partially into an adapter attached to the back wall of base enclosure  101  in order to ensure a vertical predisposition of the otherwise flaccid elongate enclosure when it is zipped up over the snowboard. In the case of a semi-rigid enclosure the adapter may still be used to anchor the snowboard so that a vertical presentation is secured. 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  is a side-elevation view of carrier of  FIG. 3  in a luggage line  400 . Luggage line  400  includes travel carrier  300  a travel case  405  and a travel case  406  for reference. Carrier  300  includes base enclosure  101  with wheels ( 105 ) stand-off feet  203 . Elongate enclosure  300  includes a rigid or semi-rigid back wall  309  and rigid to semi-rigid sidewalls  308 . A snowboard boot  402  is illustrated by a broken outline within base enclosure  101 . An adapter  401  is provided within base enclosure  101  (illustrated by broken outline). Adapter  401  may be a rectangular sleeve or tubing that is secured to the back wall and to the floor of enclosure  101  by screw and bracket, or by other hardware. 
         [0050]    Adapter  401  may be manufactured of a durable polymer or other durable material and may be adapted to accept one end of a snowboard or other elongate item so that the item may be partly secured for carrying. The heavy material of elongate enclosure  303  may be zipped onto base enclosure  101  around the periphery of the enclosure after stowing boots ( 402 ) and other accessories if so desired into the base enclosure. The enclosure may then be stretched or otherwise positioned over the inserted snowboard and zipped into place protecting, enclosing and helping to retain the snowboard in position to be carried. Handle  302  may be used to push or pull carrier  300  along on the castor wheels. When at rest the carrier may remain upright with contents enclosed. An interior space  304  represents a pocket within which additional accessories may be stowed like sunglasses, sun screen, or other like items. 
         [0051]    Referring now back to  FIG. 3  items may be retrieved from base enclosure  101  by unzipping zipper  107  and reaching into the enclosure and removing the items. This action will not dislodge or upset any contents (snowboard) stored within enclosure  303  because the snowboard is actually retained by the adapter attached to the base enclosure as will be seen in more detail below. 
         [0052]      FIG. 5  is an overhead view into base enclosure  101  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  is an overhead view into base enclosure  101  of  FIG. 3 . Referring now to  FIG. 5 , base enclosure  101  includes tube fixture  201  in the form of a rectangle. Adapter  201  may be secured to the rigid floor and/or to the back wall of the enclosure using provided brackets  502 . Tube end  103  representing the tubular elongate enclosure of  FIG. 1  is illustrated for reference herein as being inserted into adapter  201 . The contents of tubing enclosure  103  may pass into the adapter and may be stopped only by the floor of the base enclosure. In one embodiment thumbscrews or other hardware may be provided to help secure tubing  103  into adapter  201  such that it does not become displaced. Interior space  501  is available for storage of accessories like boots, gloves, and other items. 
         [0053]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , enclosure  101  is configured with adapter  401  instead of adapter  201 . In this example adapter  401  is secured to the floor of enclosure  101  via tabs and screws  601 . Other fastening hardware may be used in place of tabs and screws. Adapter  401  is a rigid rectangular tube that presents an oblong profile having a minor inside wall-to-wall diameter and a major inside wall-to-wall diameter. The inside sleeve dimensioning of adapter  401  is just larger than the outer dimensions of the end of a snowboard so that the snowboard may be secured into a vertical presentation by the adapter. 
         [0054]    Referring momentarily back to  FIG. 4 , adapter  401  may extend the entire depth of enclosure  101  thus providing sufficient sleeve length to hold the snowboard upright in a secure manner. In one embodiment adapter  401  may be modified to accept the end of another elongate item like a surfboard, for example. The end of a surfboard may have a tail fin protruding off of the bottom end of the board. A cutout slot may be provided through the accessible wall of adapter  401  to accommodate a fin of a surfboard. Similarly, other modifications can be made to accommodate other end configurations of an elongate item. 
         [0055]    The elongate enclosures are interchangeable to a single base enclosure so that a user may pre-configure the carrier to transport a specific utility and accessories. Other possible items that may be accommodated in this way include fishing poles and tackle, surfboards, and other utilities that are too long for conventional travel cases. The carrier of the invention may be conveniently checked into an airport luggage transport service as a checked bag, or it may in some cases be carried on board. 
         [0056]    It will be apparent to one with skill in the art that the travel carrier of the invention may be provided using some or all of the mentioned features and components without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will also be apparent to the skilled artisan that the embodiments described above are exemplary of inventions that may have far greater scope than any of the singular descriptions. There may be many alterations made in the descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.