Patent Publication Number: US-2016219997-A1

Title: Collapsible sports luggage

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a sports luggage. More particularly, the present invention relates to a sport luggage that is collapsible for storage, transport, shipping and/or handling purposes. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Athletic equipment bags, or sports bags as they are often commonly referred to, have become increasingly popular in numerous sports because of their functionality and attractiveness to athletes. They are typically quite large, however, in order to allow a sports participant to carry all the equipment he or she needs for games and practice sessions. In this respect, a hockey player, for example, may require his or her sports bag to carry at least one stick, a pair of skates, a helmet, gloves, shoulder and shin pads, elbow pads, pants, a jersey, neck guard, socks, athletic support, etc. Goalies need even more equipment, as they have to transport large goalie pads as well. 
     Heretofore, conventional sports bags generally include two types. The first original type is made from soft material (nylon, canvas, cloth, or leather, for example), is not capable of maintaining a given shape and volume per se, and cannot protect the storage items against impact. Not only does such a soft bag provide an awkward means of transporting equipment, but it is typically very difficult to find a particular piece of equipment within such a large carry bag as they typically are not compartmentalized. In fact, it is often necessary to rummage through all the equipment held in such bags (which necessitates the removal of much of the equipment from the bag) while a search is made for a desired article. 
     The second type of sports bag has a rigid or semi-rigid support structure, often having an outer, substantially rigid cover structure to provide greater support and to prevent items within the bag from being damaged by compression or impact. However, because of the large size of such bags, ideally, when empty these bags should have the ability to collapse in size for storage, transport, shipping and/or handling purposes. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sports bag that has the ability to collapse in a space efficient manner, and whereby the bag provides for ease of set-up and collapsing for users, transporters and handlers of the bags alike. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to overcome the drawbacks of prior art technology, the present invention provides a method of adding structure and support to a collapsible sports luggage bag. In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a collapsible sport luggage comprising a main luggage case defining an interior compartment, said case comprising: a soft collapsible front portion, first and second collapsible side portions, a bottom portion with wheels attached thereto, a rear portion with a structural frame, and a collapsible assembly within the interior compartment of the case that allows the case to transform between a collapsed position and an open, set-up position, said assembly comprising a first brace secured to the structural frame, a floor panel releasably attachable to the bottom portion of the case between support feet attached to the bottom portion of the case, and a second brace releasably attachable to the structural frame. 
     In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a collapsible sport luggage comprising a main luggage case defining an interior compartment, said case comprising: a soft collapsible front portion, first and second collapsible side portions, a bottom portion with wheels attached thereto, a rear portion with a structural frame, flexible support braces that are each held in the interior compartment between separate holders, and a floor panel that is releasably attachable to the bottom portion of the case between support feet attached to the bottom portion of the case. 
     In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a collapsible sport luggage comprising a main luggage case defining an interior compartment, said case comprising: a soft collapsible front portion, first and second collapsible side portions, a bottom portion with wheels attached thereto, a rear portion with a structural frame, flexible support braces that are each held in the interior compartment between separate rotatable tubes at an upper end thereof and separate holders at a lower end thereof, and a floor panel that is releasably attachable to the bottom portion of the case between support feet attached to the bottom portion of the case. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a bag of the present invention wherein the support braces, floor panel, and front portion are shown in a collapsed position. The arrows indicate how the front portion opens up; 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a bag of the present invention wherein the support braces and floor panel remain in a collapsed position, while the front portion is shown in an open position. The arrow indicates the opening direction of the first support brace and floor panel for mounting; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a bag of the present invention wherein the first support brace and floor panel is in their initial set-up position. The arrow indicates the direction of the floor panel for mounting; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a bag of the present invention wherein the floor panel is shown secured to the soft base material. The arrow indicates the direction for securing the second brace to the rear of the bag; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a bag of the present invention wherein the second brace is now shown in a secured position. The arrows indicate the step of securing the front tabs to the floor panel; 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a bag of the present invention in a fully set-up position; 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a bag of the present invention wherein support braces and the front portion are shown in a collapsed position. The support braces may be permanently secured to the side panels or rear of the bag, and the arrows indicate how the front portion opens up; 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a bag of the present invention wherein the support braces and front portion are shown in an opened position. The arrow indicates the direction for placement of the floor panel in a secured position on the soft base material; 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a bag of the present invention wherein the floor panel is shown secured in place. The arrows indicate the step of securing the material flaps to the floor panel; 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a bag of the present invention in a fully set-up position; 
         FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of a bag of the present invention wherein support braces and the front portion are shown in a collapsed position. The support braces may be permanently secured to the side panels or rear of the bag, and the arrows indicate how the front portion opens up; 
         FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of a bag of the present invention wherein the support braces and front portion are shown in an opened up position. The arrow indicates the direction for placement of the floor panel in a secured position on the soft floor material; 
         FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of a bag of the present invention wherein the floor panel is shown secured in place. The arrows indicate the step of securing the material flaps to the floor panel; and 
         FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of a bag of the present invention in a fully set-up position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A detailed description of the illustrative embodiments and possible implementations of the present invention will now be provided. Various modifications and variations of the described systems and methods of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. As well, alternative uses may be made of the present invention without departing from its scope. Furthermore, certain terms have been used for brevity, clarity, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
       FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a sport luggage in a collapsed position, comprising a main luggage case  10  with wheels  16  on the bottom thereof. The rear portion of the main luggage case  10  has a structural frame  17 . The front portion  11  of the main luggage case  10  is preferably comprised of a soft fabric case extending from the frame  17  of the main luggage case  10 . This first embodiment of the present invention utilizes a single collapsible assembly  1 , which includes support braces  2  and  3 , and floor panel  4 . The entire assembly  1  is coated in a polyester or similar fabric material. One of the braces (in this case  2 ) is riveted or similarly secured to the frame  17 , thereby permanently securing the assembly  1  to the bag. 
       FIG. 2  shows this first embodiment wherein the front portion  11  is opened up, exposing the floor panel attachment means  7  (preferably Velcro or other means as would be known to persons skilled in the art) and the support feet  6 , which supports the floor panel  4  and takes pressure off the braces  2  and  3  when the bag is under stress. The support feet  6  may be fabricated from plastic, fabric, metal, or synthetic materials, such as synthetic plastic material (e.g. polypropylene or polyurethane) or other material as would be known to persons skilled in the art. 
       FIG. 3  shows the floor panel  4  and brace  2  of assembly  1  of the first embodiment in a first stage of set-up. The arrow indicates the direction of placement of floor panel  4  to secure the floor panel to the soft base material that makes up the bottom of case  10  by means of floor panel attachment means  7  (e.g. Velcro). Once secured, the floor panel  4  is positioned on top of the support feet  6 . With the floor panel  4  now in position, the arrow in  FIG. 4  shows the direction of movement for placing and securing brace  3  to the frame  17  or rear portion of the case  10  by brace attachment means  5  (preferably Velcro or other means as would be known to persons skilled in the art). 
       FIG. 5  shows base assembly  1  set-up, with a final step (that may or may not be necessary) including securing the front portion  11  by front portion attachment means (shown in  FIG. 5  by  8  and  12 , which is preferably Velcro or other means as would be known to persons skilled in the art). The role of front portion attachment means  8  and  12  is to prevent the soft material from sagging when necessary.  FIG. 6  shows the first embodiment in a fully set-up position. 
       FIG. 7  shows a second embodiment of the present invention which again comprises a main luggage case  10  with wheels  16  on the bottom thereof. The rear portion of the main luggage case  10  has a structural frame  17 . The front portion  11  of the main luggage case  10  is preferably comprised of a soft fabric case extending from the frame  17  of the main luggage case  10 . The second embodiment has support braces  14  (which may be fabricated from a sturdy, flexible carbon fibre or composite material such as pultrusion fibreglass with glass-fibre reinforced polymer or plastic material comprising epoxy, a thermosetting plastic (such as polyester or vinylester) or thermoplastic or other material(s) as would be known to persons skilled in the art that provide sufficient structure when set up) that are fully secured to frame  17  or to the rear or side panels of case  10  via holders  13 . These holders  13  may be fabricated from plastic, fabric, metal, or synthetic materials, such as synthetic plastic material (e.g. polypropylene or polyurethane). The support braces  14  extend generally from the upper rear corner areas of rear frame  17  to the lower front corner areas of soft front portion  11  (when seen in an open position). A person skilled in the art may wish to incorporate further braces that extend vertically from the lower rear corners to the upper rear corners inside the bag as shown in  FIG. 7 , and such braces may also engage at upper ends thereof with holders  13 . Such further braces could be made of the same materials as used for braces  14 . 
       FIG. 8  shows the front portion  11  opened up, and again shows floor panel attachment means  7  (preferably Velcro or other means as would be known to persons skilled in the art) and support feet  6 , which supports the floor panel  4  and takes pressure off the braces  14  when the bag is under stress. The arrow indicates the direction of placement of floor panel  4  to secure the floor panel to the soft base material that makes up the bottom of bag  10  by means of floor panel attachment means  7  (e.g. Velcro). Once secured, the floor panel  4  is positioned on top of the support feet  6 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a final step (that may or may not be necessary) that includes securing the floor panel  4  via fabric flaps  15  that are preferably sewn to the soft front portion  11  and bottom of the bag respectively. These flaps  15  secure over the floor panel  4  with Velcro or other similar means as would be known to persons skilled in the art.  FIG. 10  shows the second embodiment in a fully set-up position. 
       FIG. 11  shows a third embodiment of the present invention which again comprises a main luggage case  10  with wheels  16  on the bottom thereof. The rear portion of the main luggage case  10  has a structural frame  17 . The front portion  11  of the main luggage case  10  is preferably comprised of a soft fabric case extending from the frame  17  of the main luggage case  10 . The third embodiment has rotatable support braces  19  (which may be fabricated from a sturdy, flexible carbon fibre or composite material such as pultrusion fibreglass with glass-fibre reinforced polymer or plastic material comprising epoxy, a thermosetting plastic (such as polyester or vinylester) or thermoplastic or other material(s) as would be known to persons skilled in the art that provide sufficient structure when set up) that may be releasably and frictionally engaged at one end within rotatable tubes  18  (which may be fabricated from rigid fibreglass, plastic or composite material, for example, but are preferably made of steel or similarly strong material to provide support for when heavier items such as goalie pads are to be hung on case  10 ), and that may be secured at their other end via holders  13 . Braces  19  and tubes  18  provide the necessary structure to the bag when the bag is in an open set-up position. A person skilled in the art may wish to incorporate further braces that extend vertically from the lower rear corners to the upper rear corners inside the bag as shown in  FIG. 11 , and such braces may also engage at upper ends thereof with rotatable tubes  18 . Such further braces could be made of the same materials as used for braces  19 . The holders  13  may be fabricated from plastic, fabric, metal, or synthetic materials, such as synthetic  194  plastic material (e.g. polypropylene or polyurethane). 
       FIG. 12  shows the front portion  11  opened up, and again shows floor panel attachment means  7  (preferably Velcro or other means as would be known to persons skilled in the art) and support feet  6 , which supports the floor panel  4  and takes pressure off the braces  19  when the bag is under stress. The arrow indicates the direction of placement of floor panel  4  to secure the floor panel to the soft base material that makes up the bottom of case  10  by means of floor panel attachment means  7  (e.g. Velcro). Once secured, the floor panel  4  is positioned on top of the support feet  6 . 
       FIG. 13  shows a final step (that may or may not be necessary) that includes securing the floor panel  4  via fabric flaps  15  that are preferably sewn to the soft front portion  11  and bottom of the bag respectively. These flaps  15  secure over the floor panel  4  with Velcro or other similar means as would be known to persons skilled in the art.  FIG. 14  shows the third embodiment in a fully set-up position.