Abstract:
An identifying panel for luggage includes a visual queue to identify the luggage from most other luggage pieces. The identifying panel for luggage includes a body having a front surface and a back surface, a recognizable visual queue disposed on the front surface, and a panel connecting device attached to the body for connecting the panel to a first side of a luggage piece. A kit comprises a removable panel having a front surface and back surface, a connecting device for attaching the removable panel to a first side of a luggage piece, and a visual queue disposed on the front surface for identifying a luggage piece. A method for providing luggage with an identifiable panel includes forming a body having a front surface and a back surface, a recognizable visual queue disposed on the front surface, and a panel connecting device attached to the body for connecting the panel to a first side of a luggage piece and connecting the panel to a side of a luggage piece.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/712,576 filed Aug. 30, 2005, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-provisional Application No. 11/512,077 filed Aug. 29, 2006, which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for identifying luggage pieces. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a luggage piece (e.g., a suitcase or bag) that includes one or more identifying panels that may be attached to one or more sides of the luggage piece and configured to provide a visual queue to the one or more sides of the luggage, making the luggage piece recognizable among other pieces of luggage.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Luggage (e.g., suitcases, garment bags, carry-on bags, etc.) have traditionally been manufactured and sold in a very limited range of colors and/or decorative designs. When traveling, one typically brings along at least one piece of luggage, and many times, multiple pieces of luggage. For example, if flying on an airline, one can check his/her luggage into the luggage compartment of the airplane and/or carryon one or more pieces of luggage into the passenger cabin. When arriving at the destination, the luggage that was checked into the luggage compartment are unloaded from the airplane and placed on a baggage conveyor to the baggage claim area, wherein the passengers wait to identify and pick-up their luggage. Generally, the baggage claim area (e.g., baggage terminal) tends to be poorly lit as well.  
         [0004]     The baggage conveyors transporting all the luggage unloaded from the recently arrived airplane contain a multitude of luggage for the passengers to identify, claim, and/or pick-up. Some luggage includes a small name tag that is typically attached to the handle that includes general personal information such as name, address, and phone number. In addition, when a passenger checks his/her luggage with the airline, the airline connects a small airline tag with the passenger&#39;s name, address, flight identification, and/or destination to the luggage (e.g., the handle). Every checked piece of luggage has the same airline tag on it with just different personal information for each passenger.  
         [0005]     Accordingly, there is a need for improved apparatus and methods to identify luggage.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Accordingly, the present invention is intended to address and obviate problems and shortcomings and otherwise improve previous luggage.  
         [0007]     One exemplary embodiment of the present invention is an identifying panel for luggage that comprises a body having a front surface and a back surface, a recognizable visual queue disposed on the front surface, and a panel connecting device attached to the body for connecting the panel to a first side of a luggage piece.  
         [0008]     Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a kit for providing a visual queue for identifying luggage. The kit comprises a removable panel having a front surface and back surface, a connecting device for attaching the removable panel to a first side of a luggage piece, and a visual queue disposed on the front surface for identifying a luggage piece.  
         [0009]     Yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a method for providing luggage with an identifiable panel that comprises forming a panel according to claim  1 , and connecting the panel to a side of a luggage piece. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective schematic view an exemplary embodiment of a luggage piece according to the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective schematic view an exemplary embodiment of a luggage piece according to the present invention; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective schematic view an exemplary embodiment of a luggage piece according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     When you place numerous pieces of luggage that have a similar appearance in a luggage/baggage claim conveyor or pick-up area in a terminal, it has been found that travelers struggle with identifying and/or distinguishing their piece(s) of luggage from the numerous other similar-looking pieces of luggage. As set forth above, compounding the problem of identifying luggage at a baggage claim area is the fact that, in many cases, the airport lighting is poor and the luggage is moving fairly quickly on a conveyor system. Also, it has been found that unless a passenger is next to the luggage, the passenger cannot see the personal information on either the name tag or the airline tag sufficient enough to recognize their luggage a distance.  
         [0015]     Another issue with luggage is that the baggage handlers can be extremely hard on luggage. Often times, the sides and/or outer surface of luggage may be may be torn, marred, stained, scratched, and/or marked-up. Although the luggage may still be usable, the damaged side(s) or outer surface provides the luggage with a less than desirable appearance until the luggage is replaced, thus shortening the life of the luggage. In addition, once a traveler picks luggage with a certain color or decorative design, the traveler is stuck with that color and/or decorative design until the luggage is replaced. In other words, current luggage does not permit the owner to change the decorative scheme, color, texture, image, etc., of their luggage.  
         [0016]     In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention may include a piece of luggage configured to receive one or more interchangeable panels and one or more interchangeable panels configured to be attached to the piece of luggage. Luggage, as used herein, is defined as any bag, suitcase, garment bag (e.g., suit bag hangers), carry-on bag or case, back packs, briefcase, satchel, purse, computer case, or any other bags/cases designed to carry clothes, garments, or other items as known to one of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a piece of luggage is shown as  10  and including a top side  12 , a bottom side  14 , a front side  20 , a back side  22 , a left side  16 , and a right side  18 . In the exemplary embodiment, the front and back sides have a surface area that is generally larger than the other sides. However, it is understood that the luggage piece may comprise numerous variations in configuration, design, size, shape, and/or materials as known to one of ordinary skill in the art, including, for example, wherein front side  20 , back side  22 , left side  16 , and right side  18  are the same size and/or have the same surface area.  
         [0018]     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 1 , an identifying panel  24  is shown connected to luggage  10 . Front side  20  and back side  22  are each configured to removably receive one of panel  24 , respectively, for permanent or removable connection. However, it is understood that left side  16 , right side  18 , top side  12 , and/or bottom side  14  may also be configured to separately receive panels  24  for permanent or removable connection.  
         [0019]     Panel  24  may include a front surface  25  and a back surface (not shown). Also, panel  24  may be fabricated from a variety of conventional or yet-to-be developed materials as known to one of ordinary skill in the art, including but not limited to, plastics (e.g., polymers such as polyolefins, vinyl, elastomers, etc.), metals, wood products, paper products, photos, composite materials, woven or non-woven fabrics/substrates, other fabrics, substrates, or any combinations thereof. Panel  24  may be a rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible material. The panels may be any size and/or shape without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The panels may be pre-fabricated to a variety of standard or commercially available luggage sizes. Also, the panels may be sized based upon a consumer order such that the panels are customized to a certain set of specifications.  
         [0020]     In one exemplary embodiment, a material different than the material used for the luggage&#39;s sides (i.e., outer surfaces) may be used to cause a visual queue via a contrast between the material of the luggage and the material of the interchangeable panel(s) of the present invention. For example, generally luggage is fabricated from conventional luggage materials such as plastic, metal, woven or non-woven fabrics/substrates, or nylon. Thus, the interchangeable panels may be fabricated from non-traditional luggage materials such as suede, ultra-suede, fur (e.g., real or artificial), transparent plastic, and any other fabric or material known to one of ordinary skill in the art to create a visual contrast between luggage  10  and panel  24 .  
         [0021]     Panels  24  may comprise a visual queue. As shown in  FIG. 1 , panel  24  includes a visual queue, i.e., a decorative design  26  disposed along front surface  25 . Visual queue, as used herein, is defined as a color (e.g., red, green, yellow, orange, lime green, chartreuse, pink, etc.), a texture (e.g., velvet, suede, ultra-suede, leather, fur (e.g., real or artificial)), image/design, particularly unique or extravagant images/design (e.g., zebra striped, sport team logo(s), unique or personalized images (e.g., a photo or graphic of the luggage owner/user, his/her pet, etc.), image of a celebrity or athlete, quotes or sayings, graphics (e.g., laminated graphics), photo, logo, work of art, or any other visual stimuli that causes the panel, and the luggage the panel is connected to, to be personalized, distinguished, identifiable, and/or recognizable (e.g., attract the attention of) to the user/owner of luggage  10 , particularly when luggage  10  is amongst other luggage. For example, if the visual queue is a color, the color may be chosen because it contrasts with the color(s) of luggage (e.g., Orange panel contrasting with black luggage). If the visual queue is a texture, the texture of panel  24  may be chosen due to its contrast (e.g., velvet, suede, ultra-suede, fur, etc.) with most common textures of luggage materials (e.g., rough or smooth plastic, cloth (woven), etc.). Visual queue, as used herein, does not include personal ID/name tags, airline ID/name tags, and airline flight identification/destination stickers/tags. The visual queue of the present invention is configured such that the luggage is easily recognizable/identifiable to the owner amongst other luggage pieces at a terminal baggage/luggage claim area. The visual queue, in one exemplary embodiment, may be visible such that a user recognizes the luggage as his/her own from greater than 5 feet. In another exemplary, the visual queue may be visual such that the user recognizes the luggage from greater than 10 feet, or in yet another embodiment, from greater than 15 feet.  
         [0022]     Any connecting device may be used to connect or attach, permanently or removably, panel(s)  24  to one or more of the sides (e.g., front side  20 , back side  22 , etc.) of luggage  10 , including but not limited to adhesives (e.g., pressure-sensitive adhesive, semi-permanent adhesive, permanent adhesives, etc.), magnets (e.g., multiple magnets, a magnetic sheet layer), snap-fit connections, conventional snaps, clamps, clips, VELCRO, zipper connections, straps, and any other types of connection/attachment devices as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Panels  24 , in the exemplary embodiment, are removably attached to front and back sides  20  and  22 , respectively, such that the panels may be removed and/or either the same panel or a new panel may be re-attached to the luggage&#39;s side. The connecting device may be permanently connected to panel  24  and removably connectable to one or more sides of luggage  10 , removably connectable to panel  24  and permanently connected to one or more of the luggage&#39;s sides, or removably or permanently connectable to both panel  24  and one or more of the luggage&#39;s sides.  
         [0023]     In this exemplary embodiment, interchangeable panels  24  have a pressure sensitive adhesive layer (not shown) on the back surface (i.e., non-exposed side) of panel  24 . The adhesive layer is provided with an adhesiveness sufficient to hold panels  24  to sides  20  and  22  during handling, loading and unloading from vehicles, and any other physical contact against the panels  24 , yet capable of permitting panels  24  to be removed without destroying the sides of luggage  10 . In another alternative embodiment, the attachment device (e.g., layer of pressure sensitive adhesive) may instead be placed on the sides of luggage  10  (e.g., sides  20  and  22 ) and panel  24  may or may not include an additional connecting device such as adhesive. For example, in yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a kit may include panel  24  with a visual queue and a container holding spray adhesive that may be sprayed onto the back surface of panel  24  or onto one or more of the sides (e.g., front side  20  and back side  22 ) in order to attach panel  24  to luggage  10 .  
         [0024]     In yet another exemplary embodiment, panel  24  includes front surface  25  that is elastomeric and the visual queue (e.g., decorative design  26 ) may be adhered to front surface  25  by such techniques as silk screening, painting or other techniques well known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, panel  24  may comprise a vinyl sheet (not shown) or alternative print sensitive film (not shown) that may be laminated to a flexible magnetic elastomeric sheet (not shown) to define a laminated sheet and facilitate printing, silk screening or other application of desired decorative pattern/design  26  as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,773 to Anderson et al. and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Decorative design  26  may be applied to the magnetic sheet (the connecting device) or to the vinyl overlay (e.g., front surface  25  of panel  24 ) in a continuous process by paint or silk screen rollers or a preprinted vinyl sheet can be laminated on the underlying magnetic surface in a continuous process by pressure roller or rollers, further according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. In an alternative embodiment, decorative pattern  26  may be applied to a roll of laminate (e.g., multiple layer sheet comprising a vinyl front surface  25  and a magnetic layer back surface). Once decorative pattern  26  is applied to the sheet, varying sizes of panels  24  are cut from the laminate roll. Alternatively, front surface  25  may also comprise a paintable or markable surface so that a person can create his own design or to provide a surface for written messages, educational children&#39;s games or prints, for example.  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown as panel  54  having a front surface  55  and a back surface (not shown), a connecting device (e.g., corresponding zipper components  56  and  57 ), and a visual queue  53 . Panel  54  is connected to a front side  52  of a luggage piece  50 . Zipper component  57  is disposed along the perimeter of panel  54  and is matingly engagable with a zipper component  56  that is attached to front side  52 . Luggage  50  also includes a back side  58 , which may also be configured to include a zipper component  56  to removably receive a panel  54 . Zipper  56  and zipper  57  matingly engage and connect to one another in order to removably connect panels  54  to front and back sides  52  and  58 . Zipper  56  and zipper  57  may be disengaged (“unzipped”) in order to remove or un-connect panels  54  from front and back sides  52  and  58 . Visual queue  53  may comprise any of the visual queues as described and defined above herein to identify luggage  50  to the user/owner of the luggage piece.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , still yet another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown as including panel  124  with visual queue  123  disposed along a front surface  125  of panel  124  and a connecting device  120  designed to removably connect panel  124  to one or more sides (e.g., a front side  102 , a back side  104 , etc.) of luggage piece  100 . In this exemplary embodiment, connecting device  120  is a pocket comprising an outer panel  122  connected to an inner panel  121  to form a pouch  126 . Pocket  120  may be permanently or removably connected to front side  102  and back side  104  of luggage piece  100  (e.g., inner panel  121  may be sewn, adhered, riveted, screwed, bolted, crimped, or any other conventional manner known to one of ordinary skill in the art, to front surface  102 ). Pocket  120  is configured such that panel  124  is easily slid into and out of pouch  126 , and such that panel  124  may be held within pouch  126  until removed. Outer panel  122  may comprise a transparent material such as transparent plastic or polymer material in order to permit interchangeable panel  124  to be viewable from outside the pocket when the panel is positioned within pouch  126 . It is also understood that outer panel  122  may be connected directly to one or more of the sides (e.g., front side  102 , etc.) of the luggage to form pouch  126  rather than including an inner panel  121 .  
         [0027]     Panel  124  may include surface  125  that is configured to include visual queue  123  as shown, described, and defined herein to cause luggage  100  to be easily recognizable or identifiable as the owner/user&#39;s. In particular, panel  124  may comprise a photo such as, for example, a photo of the user of the luggage, of his/her pet, or of his/her favorite celebrity, sport figure, sport mascot, sport logo, etc., that may then be placed into and held within pouch  126 .  
         [0028]     In still another exemplary embodiment a piece of luggage may comprise one or more sides that include a panel with a visual queue sewn directly onto the sides. Also, in yet another embodiment, one or more sides of the luggage may have the visual queues placed directly on or in the sides, permanently or temporarily. In still yet another embodiment, the present invention may include a kit, wherein the kit may include one or more identifiable panels comprising a visual queue and a connecting device to permanently or removably connect the panel(s) to a side of the luggage. Exemplary connecting devices may include, but not be limited to adhesive, magnets, VELCRO, conventional snaps, snap fit connections, clamps, clips, etc.). This kit permits a user/owner to attach the luggage connecting device to one of the luggage&#39;s sides and then removably attach and/or connect the panel to the luggage.  
         [0029]     In a further exemplary embodiment, the present invention may include a kit, wherein one or more pieces of luggage are fabricated from a standard color and/or design (e.g., black color and hard plastic outer sides), a luggage connecting device (e.g., adhesive, VELCRO, snaps, clamps, clips, etc.) connected to the luggage sides, and one or more interchangeable panels that include panel connecting devices (e.g., adhesive, VELCRO, snaps, clamps, clips, etc.) configured to mate with the luggage connecting device. The interchangeable panel is configured with a color, texture, and/or a decorative designs/images that distinguishes the panel from the luggage&#39;s original sides/surfaces, such as described above herein.