Abstract:
Luggage with modular construction permits personalization and customization by interchangeable appearance covers, by interchangeable lids and by interchangeable primary containment perimeters, so that the luggage can be selectively constructed with a hard or soft upper containment perimeter and lid, or such that the aesthetic treatment of the lid or other panels can be changed very easily by means of a releasable fasteners.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/599,419, filed Aug. 6, 2004 and entitled “Personalizing Luggage,” which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates to luggage and other personal, totable or wheeled containers for transporting personal effects.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Commercial luggage is available in several styles and colors. Typically, a consumer selects a color and style based on personal preference at the time of purchase, and if tastes later change, purchases additional luggage.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     Various aspects of this invention feature luggage, such as a suitcase, or other containers for a user to personally transport his or her personal effects, with one or more outer panels selectively removable and replaceable with one or more panels of similar construction but with different outer appearance, to alter the visual appearance of the luggage or container.  
         [0005]     According to one aspect of the invention, luggage includes a main frame defining an internal compartment for items to be packed and transported, and at least one outer panel secured to the frame and forming an outer surface of one side of the luggage. The panel is releasably secured to the frame for replacement with any of a number of interchangeable panels of differing visual or tactile properties.  
         [0006]     Preferably, the outer panel extends across a majority of one side of the luggage, or more preferably, across substantially all of one side of the luggage.  
         [0007]     In many constructions, the frame includes a sub-panel forming an interior surface of the luggage and covered by the outer panel. In some cases, the sub-panel defines slots into which tabs of the outer panel are releasably secured. The outer panel tabs may define apertures sized to accept respective fastening clips disposed on a side of the sub-panel opposite the outer panel, to hold the outer panel to the sub-panel. Such fastening clips, in some embodiments, include springs compressed between an inner surface of the sub-panel and an opposing surface of their respective tabs. Each spring may define a recess sized to receive a feature of the tab when the clip is fully engaged. In some cases, each spring clip includes a pair of spring fingers with outer, oppositely directed cam surfaces for engagement with the tab as the spring fingers are inserted through the tab. The spring clip may also have an inclined surface that progressively engages the tab as the spring clip is pressed into full engagement, to draw the outer panel against the sub-panel.  
         [0008]     In some cases, the outer panel has projections extending from its inner side, and the frame defines respective holes arranged to receive the outer panel projections. Some such examples also include removable clips releasably engaging the outer panel projections with the projections extending through the frame holes, to secure the outer panel to the frame. Such projections may be mushroom-shaped, with each clip including a pair of spring fingers with opposing cam surfaces configured for engagement with a stem portion of its respective projection. Each clip may also include a third spring finger resiliently deflectable in a direction perpendicular to a normal deflection direction of the pair of spring fingers and arranged to engage an upper surface of a head of the mushroom-shaped projection. The third spring finger may also have a nib projecting toward the pair of spring fingers and arranged to be received in a recess defined in the upper surface of the projection head.  
         [0009]     In some cases, the spring clips are caps pressed over distal ends of their corresponding projections. In an illustrated example, each projection includes an outer lip extending radially from an outer surface of the projection, each projection also defining a slot along one side, enabling resilient collapse of the projection. In such cases, the frame holes are preferably sized to require temporary collapse of the outer panel projections during attachment of the outer panel to the frame. The cap, in some configurations, defines an inwardly extending rim positioned for engagement with the outer lip of the projection when the cap is secured to the projection. The cap may also have a central nib extending from its inner surface, the nib of a size selected to cause the outer lip of the projection to be forced outward into secure engagement with the rim of the cap as the cap is pressed onto the projection.  
         [0010]     In some examples, the outer panel is releasably secured to the frame by fasteners accessible from inside the luggage.  
         [0011]     In some cases, the outer panel carries a graphic image visible from outside the luggage.  
         [0012]     In some configurations, the frame includes a hinged side openable for accessing contents of the luggage, for example with the outer panel disposed on the hinged side of the luggage.  
         [0013]     Another aspect of the invention features a method of personalizing luggage. The method includes removing a first outer panel from a side of a piece of luggage, and securing a second outer panel to the side of the piece of luggage from which the first outer panel was removed, effectively replacing the first outer panel with the second outer panel, where the second outer panel is of a different outer visual appearance than the first outer panel.  
         [0014]     In some instances, the removable panel is releasably secured to a frame of the luggage or container by one or more releasable fasteners that are configured to reduce the chance of inadvertent release.  
         [0015]     Other aspects of this invention feature removable spring clips and fastening systems as shown and described herein, which may be employed as releasable fasteners in several applications beyond personal luggage.  
         [0016]     The modular luggage construction approach disclosed herein permits personalization and customization by interchangeable appearance covers, by interchangeable lids and by interchangeable primary containment perimeters, so that the luggage can be selectively constructed with either a hard or soft upper containment perimeter and lid, and so that aesthetic or tactile treatment of the lid can be changed very easily by means of a unique fastening system. In some cases, the lower containment perimeter is affixed to the chassis by custom fasteners that allow release only by a tool provided with the system, while the outer appearance shell is affixed to the lid by a perimeter fastening system that securely adheres the appearance shell but permits fast removal, either with a special tool provided with the system, or in some configurations without tools.  
         [0017]     The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a side panel of a suitcase, otherwise shown in dashed outline, and a replaceable cover for the side panel.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view through an edge region of the side panel, with the cover secured.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first cover fastening means.  
         [0021]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are cross-sectional views through the spring clip of  FIG. 3 , during and after engagement, respectively.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second cover fastening means.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view through the spring clip of  FIG. 6 , after engagement.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a third spring clip.  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view through the spring clip of  FIG. 8 , after engagement.  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a fourth cover fastening means.  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the cover projection of the fastening means of  FIG. 10 .  
         [0028]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are cross-sectional views through the spring clip of  FIG. 10 , during and after engagement, respectively. 
     
    
       [0029]     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a suitcase  1  has a sub-cover  6  forming one side of the suitcase, and an interchangeable, releasable cover  2  that can be secured in place to substantially cover sub-cover  6 . Cover  2  has integral, apertured tabs  4  that protrude thru respective slots  8  in the sub-cover, and are secured by fastener clips  10  inserted through the apertures in the tabs on an opposite side of sub-cover  6 . Cover  2  is one of a set of covers of different outer styles and/or colors, any one of which may be selectively secured to sub-cover  6  to alter the outer appearance of that side of suitcase  1 . Although only one cover is illustrated, covering a single side of suitcase  1 , it will be understood that the other sides of the suitcase may be equipped with similar sub-covers and replaceable covers. In the embodiment shown, the structural integrity of suitcase  1  is provided by the sub-covers or other framework, and not by the interchangeable covers. In this manner, the majority of the bulk of the suitcase remains relatively unaltered by cover replacement, and can be readily fashioned by known methods out of known materials, without significant cost increase over conventional suitcases of comparable size. The sub-covers or other framework define the internal compartment. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , sub-cover  6  forms the hinged lid of the suitcase.  
         [0031]     One version of the fastener clip  10   a , shown in  FIG. 3 , is a spring clip of plastic or other material molded, extruded or otherwise formed in an arc. The clip defines a ribbed recess  12  for thumb engagement, and a slot  14  in the outer surface of the clip at the top of the arc that receives an inner surface of the apertured tab  4  of the outer cover as the clip is slid through the aperture of the tab on an inner side of sub-cover  6 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Clip  10   a  is formed to engage the inner surface of the sub-panel at relatively wide, planar contact areas so as to provide a substantial clip retention force without overly stressing the sub-panel. In this example, sub-panel  6  includes a raised rib segment  16  ( FIG. 3 ) adjacent and perpendicular to slot  8 , to help block the spring clip from inadvertent compression by forces applied, for example, by shifting suitcase contents.  
         [0032]     Another version of the fastener clip  10   b , illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , is a three prong snap fastener that both snaps and wedges in place within the apertured tab  4  of the outer cover, to secure the cover to the sub-cover  6 . Clip  10   b  is injection-molded plastic, with two outer spring fingers  18  defining lateral cam surfaces that engage opposing inner surfaces of tab  4 , resiliently deflecting fingers  18  toward wedge finger  20  as the clip is pressed into place. When fully engaged, spring fingers  18  snap outwardly to secure the clip to the tab. A sloped upper surface  22  of wedge finger  20  progressively engages an underside of tab  4  to draw the outer panel securely against the sub-panel. Clip  10   b  is released by manually pinching the distal end of the clip to compress spring fingers  18  toward one another until their cam surfaces clear the sides of tab  4 .  
         [0033]     A third version of the fastener clip  10   c , illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , is a two stage snap clip with two opposing lateral spring fingers  24  and an elevated spring finger  26  that deflects in a direction perpendicular to the deflection direction of lateral spring fingers  24 . Elevated finger  26  has a downwardly projecting nib  28  near its distal end. Clip  10   c  is configured to releasably engage a mushroom-shaped projection  30  extending from the inner surface of the outer cover  2 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . As the clip is forcibly slid into place along the inner surface of the sub-panel  6 , inner cam surfaces of spring fingers  24  variably engage the stem of projection  30  while upper surfaces of spring fingers  24  engage the underside of the head  31  of projection  30  to secure the outer panel to the sub-panel. As clip  10   c  is pushed into full engagement, nib  28  of the elevated spring finger  26  is received within a recess  32  defined in the upper surface of the outer panel projection  30 , providing additional clip retention means.  
         [0034]     A fourth releasable fastener clip  10   d  and mating projection  34  are shown in  FIGS. 10-13 . Clip  10   d  is in the form of a hollow molded cap with an inwardly projecting inner lip  36  that snaps over an outer lip  38  of projection  34 . Cap  10   d  is axisymmetric about the vertical axis of projection  34 , while projection  34  is split along one side to allow the projection to resiliently collapse as the cap is pressed through a corresponding hole in sub-panel  6 . As shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , during engagement of the cap onto the projection  34 , a downwardly projecting, conical nib  40  at the center of the inner surface of cap  10   d  forces the outer lip  38  of projection  34  outward into secure engagement under the inner lip  36  of the cap. To remove the outer panel  2 , the caps  10   d  are pried, pulled or otherwise released from their projections  34 , which are then manually compressed, such as by pinching between fingers, for withdrawal through the holes in the sub-panel.  
         [0035]     Replacement outer panels can be provided with the luggage or as after-market accessories sold separately.  
         [0036]     A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.