Abstract:
A foldable carrying case with a frame. The frame is typically made from metal tubing and designed to accommodate a typically rectangular carrying case. The rectangular carrying case has walls that are attached to each other along common edges and can fold apart as to be flat laying. The carrying case may be attached to the frame and the frame attached to a person so that the person can carry the foldable carrying case as if it were a backpack.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from and incorporates by reference provisional patent application No. 60/424,775 filed Nov. 8, 2002. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Luggage carrying system, more specifically a luggage carrying system including a foldable carrying case removeably attachable to a frame, the foldable carrying case being made up of several discreet segments folded together and releasably attached to one another.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    The art of carrying cases is old. However, over the years, as new and different goods required transport, specific carrying cases have been designed for specific needs.  
           [0004]    A backpack is a modification of a carrying case. Backpacks often include frames to which a flexible walled container is attached, the frame being engageable to the wearer&#39;s or user&#39;s body typically through the use of straps that may engage the shoulder and, sometimes, the waist.  
           [0005]    Carrying cases may have flexible or rigid walls. Carrying cases with flexible walls may be rolled up when not in use and stuffed into a handy container with a small carrying space. Rigid walled containers are popular with travelers and vacationers due to the fact that they may protect goods carried within them. However, they are typically joined in halves, as by hinges for example and, being stiff walled, are not capable of being stored in a collapsed condition.  
           [0006]    Sometimes carrying cases include small pockets for retaining otherwise loose items. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,204, the drawings and specifications of which are incorporated herein by reference. The &#39;204 Patent discloses a carrying case that is made up of a multiplicity of rectangular sections. These sections are connected along adjacent edges by hinges or flexible fabric members allowing the sections to move from a flat position to a folded position. By joining several panels, and folding along adjacent hinged edges, a rectangular or six walled carrying case may be provided which will protect the goods contained therein, the goods typically stored in individual, wall attached, pocket shaped storage containers. The container may or may not include wheels.  
           [0007]    Applicants&#39; invention set forth herein is a modification and improvement of that set forth in the &#39;204 Patent. It includes the advantages of the &#39;204 Patent while adding additional improvements. It is Applicants&#39; goal to provide the advantages of the &#39;204 patent foldable carrying case while adding additional features. For example, the luggage case contained herein provides for pocket storage compartments which are removable from the panel to which they are attached and may be made of a clear plastic material or other translucent materials or woven materials for easily viewing the contents thereof. Applicants&#39; separable (and reattachable) panels may be hung vertically on a support surface such as a wall bearing a hook by grommets, buckles or other fastening means.  
           [0008]    Applicants also provide a frame for removably engaging their novel foldable carrying case so that it may be carried easily on the back of the user for ease of transport from one location to another. The frame may be wheeled or the carrying case itself may be wheeled or both may have wheels, for rolling along a support surface. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 illustrates Applicants&#39; novel foldable carrying case having several panels that may include several stiff or flexible wall sections, the panels engaged to one another for folding into a rectangular structure and for engagement to a frame, typically metal, the frame to be worn by a wearer.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 illustrates the manner in which Applicants&#39; novel container or carrying case is comprised of (typically) three panels ( 16 ,  18  and  20 ), each panel being made up of a multiplicity of sections, each section being stiff or flexible and separated from adjacent sections by hinge members.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate removable pockets ( 3 ) that are attached to the inner walls of some of the panels.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3C illustrates a novel flexible sink for attachment to a panel of the container.  
         [0013]    FIGS.  4 A-C illustrate front, back and side elevational views of a pocket.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 5 and 5B illustrate a different invention than illustrated in the foregoing figures. This invention includes a luggage container with a number of walls, including outer walls and inner walls. One, more or all of the walls may be made of a transparent or translucent material (such as clear vinyl) so the contents of the container are made visible from outside. For example, the container may be able to be folded opened so that all or most of the inner walls are non-opaque and the contents are able to be viewed or it may have some or all of the outer walls or some or all of the inner walls made of a transparent material.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a luggage carrier (which may be one of a set) for carrying medical gear, such as emergency gear wherein individual luggage containers of the set are distinguishable from one another by a color code, typically on the outside thereof, which color code designates a set of medical instruments or gear contained therein that are different from medical instruments or gear contained in other different colored coded luggage carriers of the set. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    Applicants incorporate herein by reference U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,204 filed Aug. 11, 1994, and issued Oct. 8, 1996, and titled “Foldable Carrying Case.” 
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a rigid frame ( 12 ) engageable with a generally rectangular container ( 14 ), comprising Applicants&#39; novel luggage carrying system ( 10 ) The frame is typical of many backpack frames and may include a rectangular support base portion ( 12 A) and a vertical support member or portion ( 12 B) extending from the bottom of the base portion generally perpendicularly outward. Wheels ( 12 C) may or may not be included for engaging frame ( 12 ) at intersection of the base and the vertical support member. Further, straps ( 12 B) may be provided to allow Applicants&#39; novel transportation system or luggage carrying system ( 10 ) to be worn on the body of a person.  
         [0018]    The frame may include a series of metal tubular members to provide sufficient bracing for engaging container ( 14 ), as by straps or the like. Aluminum, for example, may be a metal from which the frame is made. Diagonal, fabric braces ( 12 E), and hinges ( 12 F) (such as may be found on some existing frames) where the base portion and vertical member meet, will allow the base and vertical member to fold one with respect to the other for ease of carrying and storage of the frame alone. Wheels ( 12 C) may be removable as by a nut ( 13 ) threadable to the end of an axle ( 12 G).  
         [0019]    Details of Applicants&#39; case or container ( 14 ) may also be appreciated with reference to the figures. Typically, Applicants&#39; carrying case ( 14 ) is a rigid or flexible walled container having a general rectangular shape and in a closed configuration, thereby comprising six sides—four side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 illustrates that each of the at least three panels (typically) comprising the container: first panel ( 16 ), second panel ( 18 ) and third panel ( 20 ), may be made up of a number of rigid (typically) walled sections, the rigid walled sections separated from one another by, typically, fabric hinge members ( 22 ) and/or buckles (not shown). First panel ( 16 ) is seen to be comprised of two sections, ( 16 A and  16 B) separated by a fabric hinge member ( 22 ). Section panel ( 18 ) has five section ( 18 A thru  18 E), adjacent sections attached by hinged members ( 22 ). Third panel ( 20 ) is seen to be comprised of four sections ( 20 A thru  20 D), again, adjacent sections separated by hinged members ( 22 ). The sections may be constructed of stiff fiber board or laminate, foam plastic covered with a rugged material such as nylon corduroy or may be flexible. The sections of the panels fold together along hinges and the first, second and third panels are attached to one another (with velcro, buckles, grommets ( 32 ) and straps ( 32 A) or other means) to form the rectangular container illustrated in FIG. 1 and at page  2  of  19 , for example. The second panel closes with arms or sections ( 18 A) attaching to ( 18 E) (each half the width of a side wall by straps and buckles ( 19 ) or other closure means (See photo  6 ) to form a four side walled rectangular closure.  
         [0021]    With reference to FIG. 2, and with reference to the other figures attached, it may be seen that the outer surface of first section ( 16 A) and the outer surface of second section ( 16 B) represent two of the six outer walls of the container ( 14 ), namely the top wall and a side wall of the completed folded container. The outer surfaces of sections ( 18 B,  18 C and  18 D) represent the three other side walls. The bottom wall of the container is represented by the outer surface of panel ( 20 A). Velcro® connecting pads or other attachment means ( 24 ) are placed along the edges of various panels and are sometimes used in conjunction with “ears” ( 26 ) or other section extensions (typically flexible cloth) to engage adjacent sections as illustrated in the accompanying figures and drawings. Panel ( 16 ) may attach to panel ( 18 ), by straps and buckles or other attachment means. The outer walls of the container may have loops ( 28 ) for attaching objects.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 3A, 3B and  3 C illustrate additional features of applicant&#39;s present invention. For example, FIG. 3A illustrates container or case ( 14 ) when the panels are attached one to the other and then folded up to form a generally rectangular six sided structure as seen in FIG. 1. That is, FIG. 1 shows the case all folded up and FIG. 2 shows that the case is made up of panels, here ( 3 ), removably separated one from the other, and capable of laying flat against a wall, such as by grommets ( 32 ), for displaying items such as may be found in the typically clear walled pockets ( 30 ). In other words, applicant&#39;s novel container is made up of a multiplicity of flat line panels that may be folded together to form a rectangular six sided structure which may be then attached to a frame. In FIG. 3A, it is seen how section ( 16 B) has pockets on the inner surface of the panel, the panel representing one of the outer surface walls. FIG. 3B illustrates what a partially folded configuration of the container looks like, here with half sections ( 8 A and  8 E) opened up to show how sections (B) and (C) fold up inside the structure. FIG. C shows panel ( 20 ) folded out and how at least one of the inner surfaces of a panel, here the inner surface of panel ( 20 D) may include a protective foam walled enclosure ( 25 ) that may be adapted to receive devices therein and may include a cover ( 26 A).  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate one embodiment of removable pockets ( 30 ) that may be attached to walls of the panels, typically the inner walls thereof, defined by one or more sections of one or more of the three panels. The pockets may be made partially or entirely, from clear or transparent plastic of other translucent materials such as nylon or netting. They may be rectangular shaped and may have walls including front, back and side walls ( 30 A,  30 B and  30 C, respectively). Near the top edge of the front wall may be found a zipper ( 30 D) or other closure means. Velcro ( 24 ) or other connecting means may be used for removeably attaching the pocket to the inner walls of the panels. Other means of attaching pockets to the inner faces of the container include: snaps, hook and loop pads and buttons. Some of the pockets may be permanently attached to the walls as by stitching or other conventional means. Some may be removable. Some pockets may be specifically shaped to handle specifically shaped items such as medical equipment and the like.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4C illustrates a novel poucher sink ( 34 ) capable of holding fluids, which sink is either fixably or removably (as by Velcro or the like) attached to one of the panels. The panel may then be attached to a vertical support surface and sink filled. The sink has sidewalls ( 34 A), bottom wall ( 24 B) and open top ( 34 C). The sink is made, typically, from flexible material with the walls sealed to one another so they are leakproof. Note that Applicant&#39;s sink may be used also as a pouch for holding other materials which pouch has an opened top and may be fixably attached by stitching or removably attached through the use of conventional means, from the panel. The pouch is different from the pockets in that the pockets typically have a sealed upper wall.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a different invention. FIG. 5A illustrates a luggage container ( 60 ) which typically includes sidewalls ( 62 A and  62 B) (visible in the illustration set forth, two other sidewalls not visible). The luggage container may also include a top wall ( 64 ) and a bottom wall ( 66 ). A handle ( 68 ) may be provided for ease of carrying. However, Applicant&#39;s luggage container is unique in that one or more of the walls is made from a transparent or translucent material, such as vinyl, to provide the viewer with the ability to identify the occupant or items carried therein. This may be specifically important in view of security requirements at airports and the like.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5B illustrates an alternate preferred embodiment of the luggage container set forth in FIG. 5 illustrating a luggage container ( 60 A) having clear or translucent outer walls ( 68 ) and one or more inner walls ( 70 ), which inner walls may be partially or completely translucent, as by using vinyl or the like. Further, an opaque bag or opaque shield panels ( 72 ) may be provided that will cover all or part of the luggage container illustrated in either  5 A or  5 B, the opaque or container bag provided so that the user has some discretion in shielding the view of the contents of the container from the general public. Bag or container ( 72 ) may be easily removed from all or part of the luggage to allow security agents to view, through one or more transparent walls, of the luggage, the contents of the luggage. In the embodiment illustrated as luggage container ( 68 ) it is seen that the container opens up to be viewed and that inner walls ( 70 ) may be partially or completely transparent.  
         [0027]    The &#39;204 patent discloses a carrying case comprised of a member made up of a multiplicity of rectangular sections. Applicants&#39; novel invention comprising a luggage container that is “see through” as set forth above may be applied to one or more sections of a member that makes up the carrying case of the &#39;204 patent. As such, the invention set forth in &#39;204 patent may include a carrying case whose contents can be visible, by virtue of non-opaque external walls (one or more). Further, the pocket shaped storage compartments as described in the &#39;204 patent may also be comprised of walls that are non-opaque.  
         [0028]    Applicants provide yet another novel invention, comprising a set of luggage carriers, including a luggage carrier ( 70 ) such as that illustrated in FIG. 6A, which may have one or more pockets ( 72 ) removably or permanently attached to the interior walls or exterior walls thereto. Notably, Applicants&#39; luggage ( 70 ) typically contains medical gear and may have a handle ( 70 A) thereon and walls ( 70 B) thereon, which handle and/or walls and/or pockets and/or panels or sides thereof may be color-coded. That is, Applicants&#39; novel invention typically includes a set of luggage carrying medical gear wherein each individual luggage carrier of the set carries different medical gear and each separate luggage carrier of the set is color-coded with colors different from other luggage carriers of the set so as to distinguish the difference in the medical gear contained therein. For example, Applicants may provide a luggage set containing three (less or more) color-coded luggage carriers ( 70 ), one of the set containing a red handle, the other a yellow handle and the third a green handle. This luggage set may be carried in an emergency vehicle or otherwise provided when an emergency team is confronted with a triage situation—with, for example, the red handled luggage being for those critically injured which will die without immediate medical care, the yellow handle for those who are less critically injured and would likely survive without immediate care and the luggage with the green handle having medical gear intended for those that do not require immediate attention and are not seriously injured. There may be yet another bag in the set, for example one with a black handle, for those who have succumbed to their injuries, which may include a body bag or the like. What Applicants have found is that it is beneficial to provide color-coded luggage where the color on the handles, pockets, walls, panels, sides, etc. is intended to convey the nature of the medical gear included therein, for example in the triage situation. Therefore, for example, in a mass disaster, medical personnel could immediately grab a red coded bag, such as a bag with a red stripe on the walls thereof or with a red handle, and know that it will contain a specific set of medical equipment for severely injured, perhaps morphine, an oxygen bottle, etc. On the other hand, medical personal may be able to take the green bag knowing it would contain, among other things, aspirins. It is not important what particular type of color is used or the particular type of medical gear contained therein, just so that the color differentiates one bag of a set from another bag of a set, the two bags typically having at least some medical gear therein that is different.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6B illustrates a clear or opague walled removable pocket ( 72 ) for use with the luggage  70 , which pocket may be removable through the use of Velcro® ( 72 A).  
         [0030]    Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.