Patent Abstract:
Today, luggage has become an element of fashion. As a result, a number of designer articles of luggage can be purchased. The cost of these articles of luggage can range from less than one hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. However, adequate protection for these articles of luggage, which preserves the aesthetic features of the articles of luggage, has not been previously available. Now, a simple, cheap, easily manufacturable, and easily used cover is available for articles of luggage that both protects and preserves the aesthetic features. This cover also allows easy access to handles and works well with conventional wheeled luggage.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a Continuation-In-Part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/356,515, entitled “LUGGAGE COVER,” filed on Feb. 17, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The invention relates generally to covers for articles of luggage and, more particularly, to a cover for an article of luggage with wheels that preserves the aesthetic appearance of the luggage at a low cost. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Today, luggage has become an element of fashion. As a result, a number of designer articles of luggage can be purchased. The cost of these articles of luggage can range from less than one hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. Additionally, as anyone who has ever traveled on an airliner has experienced, the processing of baggage is a course process where damage to articles of luggage is not uncommon. In fact, one manufacturer even marketed their articles of luggage as durable, showing a gorilla (a baggage handler) that was attempting to destroy their articles of luggage in a television commercial. 
   Thus, a dilemma has developed between fashion and protection with respect to articles of luggage. Many have attempted to solve this dilemma by placing a cover over fashionable as well as other articles of luggage. Some examples of this are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,487,596, 2,647,595, 2,711,234, 2,724,467, 3,901,360, 4,307,765, 5,083,644, 5,107,971, 5,172,795, 5,255,765, 5,293,975, 5,547,051, 6,637,562, U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0206431, U.S. Design Pat. No. D338,559, and U.S. Design Pat. No. D345,652. However, none of these patents sufficiently address the problems of ease of use and expense, as well as a host of other problems. 
   Therefore, there is a need for an improved luggage cover that can accommodate the various physical aspects of modern articles of luggage (wheels, extendable handles, etc.) while not interfering with aesthetics. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention, accordingly, provides a luggage cover having a first side panel, an opposite second side panel, and a main panel. The second side panel is substantially parallel to the first side panel. Each of the panels is generally laminar. The main panel is generally disposed between the first side panel and the second side panel having a first, a second, a third, and a fourth edge. Specifically, the main panel is dimensioned to cover a plurality of sides of an article of luggage where the first and second edges are generally parallel to one another. The third edge of the main panel also includes an integral securing member and fastener for securing the third edge to the fourth edge. Moreover, the first edge is secured to the majority of the perimeter of the first side panel, and the second edge is secured to the majority of the perimeter of the second side panel. Additionally, a first ligature is provided to secure the first and second side panels together. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the main panel are each made of a water-repellant, transparent, and non-rigid material. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, the first side panel and the second side panel are sewn to the main panel. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, the luggage cover further comprises at least one substantially open end when the third edge is secured to the fourth edge. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one aperture is located on at least the first side panel, the second panel, and the main panel, wherein the aperture is generally coextensive with luggage handles. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, the securing member is comprised of a strap. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, the fastener is a hook and loop fastener. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, printed material is embedded in at least one of the main panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel. 
   Additionally, the present invention can also include a luggage cover with a main panel formed of a laminar transparent material and having two side edges. The main panel is generally oblong and dimensioned to cover three sides of an article of luggage. Also, a pair of side panels is provided, where each side panel has a pair of opposed edges. Additionally, the opposed edges of each side panels is secured to at least one edge of the main panel, and the assembly covers at least five sides of the article of luggage. Furthermore, a plurality of closure panels associated with the main panel and the side panels is provided. The closure panels include fasteners, wherein the closure panel extends around a side of the article of luggage not covered by the main panel and side panels and the fastener secures the main and side panels to the article of luggage. 
   The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a luggage cover in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is covering a wheeled article of luggage; 
       FIG. 2A  is a plan view of the main panel; 
       FIGS. 2B and 2C  are plan views of the side panels; 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the luggage cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the luggage cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the luggage cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is another side view of the luggage cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the luggage cover of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the luggage cover of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are, for the sake of clarity, not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by the same reference numeral through the several views. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-8  of the drawings, the reference numeral  100  generally designates a luggage cover. As seen in  FIG. 1 , luggage cover  100  is dimensioned to cover an article of luggage or conventional wheeled luggage  200 , allowing access to wheels and handles while covering and protecting. The cover  100  can come in a variety of shapes and sizes to cover articles of luggage of different dimensions. For example, cover  100  can be dimensioned to cover an article of luggage 22.00 inches in height by 14.00 inches in width by 7.75 inches in depth. Preferably, the luggage cover  100  comprises a main panel  102 , a first side panel  104 , and a second side panel  106 . 
   Each of the panels  102 ,  104 , and  106  are comprised of a substantially laminar or flat material, such as an extruded plastic like polyethylene. The material that comprises the panels  102 ,  104 , and  106  should be generally transparent so as to allow persons to view the fashionable articles of luggage through the cover  100 . Additionally, the material that comprises the panels  102 ,  104 , and  106  can be a waterproof or water-resistant material so that the cover  100  can provide a barrier between the article of luggage and the elements. 
   Preferably, cover  100  is designed to cover substantially rectangular or parallelepiped shaped articles of luggage, such as conventional wheeled luggage. Moreover, cover  100  can be easily slid over the article of luggage and secured into place by a securing member  108  or closure panel, such as a strap. As seen in  FIGS. 1-8 , the securing member  108  is a strap having lateral supports, increased width, or curved reliefs  109  on its fixed end to prevent tearing. 
   To provide this, the main panel  102  can be dimensioned to cover three panels (i.e. front, top, and rear) of the conventional rectangular article of luggage. Along either side of the cover  100  are the first side panel  104  and the second side panel  106 . When fully extended, the first side  104  and the second side  106  are generally parallel to one other. Each of the first side panel  104  and the second side panel  106  are secured to edges of the main panel  102  to form a seam  118 . Preferably, seam  118  encompasses the majority of the perimeter of each of the first side panel  104  and the second side panel  106 . Typically, the seam  118  can be formed by sewing or welding the respective panels  102 ,  104 , and  106  together. Additionally, side panels  104  and  106  typically have the same general dimensions, making the manufacture of the cover  100  easier because a single jig or template can be used to make both side panels  104  and  106 . 
   Once the main panel  102  and the side panels  104  and  106  are secured together, the bottom of the cover  100  forms an opening  120 . Opening  120  enables a user to be able to slide the cover  100  over articles of luggage so that the majority of the surface area is covered by the cover  100 . To prevent the cover  100  from sliding off of the articles of luggage, a securing member or closure panel  108  covers at least a portion of opening  120 . Preferably, the securing member or closure panel  108  is integral to the main panel  102 , but the securing member  108  may, alternatively, be secured to the main panel  102  by sewing or welding. Additionally, the securing member  108  can be comprised of a transparent laminar material that is waterproof or water resistant, such as polyethylene. 
   In addition to securing member  108 , first ligature  130  and second ligature  134  are provided, which are typically made of NYLON®. First ligature  130  is secured at one end to first side panel  104  while second ligature  134  is secured at one end to the second side panel  106 . The free ends of the first ligature  130  and second ligature  134  are then adapted to be secured to one another so as to provide a “supporting strap” that is generally perpendicular to the securing member  108 . 
   The securing of the free end of the securing member  108  to the main panel  102  is preferably accomplished by use of a fastener  110 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , the fastener  110  is a hook and loop system comprising a hook member  112  and a loop member  114 . Additionally (as with the securing member  108  and main panel  102 ), the ligatures  130  and  134  are secured together at their respective free ends with hook member  132  and loop member  136 . As has been established over the past 25 years or so, hook and loop securing systems can provide a reliable and easily removable fastener. Additionally, snap-on, as well as other removable fasteners, can employed. 
   In addition to protecting the article of luggage, such as the article  200 , the cover  100  should also be functional. Specifically, a user should be able to use handles or other carrying members provided by the articles of luggage. If a cover does not allow access to these handles, then one of the purposes of the articles of luggage is lost. To account for usage of the handles, holes  116  are strategically located on the cover  100  to allow access to handles or other carrying members. Specifically, a variety of hole patterns can be used so that the holes  116  correspond to handles or carrying members of different brands of luggage and be generally coextensive with those carrying members or handles. As shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , the main panel  102  includes two holes  116  for handles or carrying members, while each of the side panels includes a single hole  116  for a handle or carrying member. 
   Because there are also areas within the cover  100 , where there is not a seam  118 , the possibility of tearing exists. To prevent tearing of the cover  100 , the welds (typically melting) or sewn seams can be formed. Typically, these areas are located around the holes  116  and along the perimeter of opening  120 . Thus, the forming of welds or sewn seams prevents a substantial amount of tearing. 
   One other aspect of the invention is the use of silk-screening or other imprinting techniques with the cover  100 . Cover  100  generally is inexpensive to manufacture and could be given out by travel agents, hotels, and so forth as complimentary items. These covers  100  would serve their purpose of providing protection for patrons&#39; or customers&#39; articles of luggage as well as providing advertising. Specifically, silk-screening, molding, or any other way of imprinting or embedding printed matter into or onto the cover while also not interfering with the general transparency of cover  100 . Specifically, the printed matter can include text, graphics, logos, and so forth. 
   Having thus described the present invention by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the present invention may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0