Abstract:
A carrying case including a base portion, a lid rotatively and removably connected to the base portion, a first and second securing unit on an edge of the base portion with the first securing unit and second securing unit being separated by a distance and each having a channel extending through their length, a third securing unit on an edge of the lid having a channel extending through the length of the third securing unit wherein the length of the third securing unit is less than the distance separating the first and second securing units, a removable pin having a knob and a threaded portion on one end wherein the pin is sized such that the pin passes through the channels in the first, second and third securing unit.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 61/896,202 filed Oct. 28, 2013 entitled “Carrying Case with Removable Cover.” 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Traveling for business or pleasure often requires the use of luggage to transport belongings to and from a destination. Many times different pieces of luggage are used based on the purpose of the travel. In many cases, the appearance of luggage used for personal travel differs from luggage used for business travel. Because different luggage styles are used for business and personal travel, travelers must buy multiple luggage pieces depending on the purpose of the travel. 
         [0003]    A need exists of luggage that will allow a user to change the appearance of the luggage without purchasing a new luggage set. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    One embodiment of the present invention includes a carrying case including a base portion, a lid rotatively and removablly connected to the base portion, a first and second securing unit on an edge of the base portion with the first securing unit and second securing unit being separated by a distance and each having a channel extending through their length, a third securing unit on an edge of the lid having a channel extending through the length of the third securing unit wherein the length of the third securing unit is less than the distance separating the first and second securing units, a removable pin having a knob and a threaded portion on one end wherein the pin is sized such that the pin passes through the channels in the first, second and third securing unit, where the surface of the channel of the first or second securing unit includes a threaded portion and the threaded portion of the pin is sized to engage the threaded portion of the first or second securing unit when the pin engages the securing units. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, the lid is removed from the base by removing the pin from the first, second and third securing units. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, the lid is made of plastic. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, the lid include ridges extending from the surface of the lid. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the ridges form a recessed area on the cover. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, the recessed area is sized to accommodate a graphical image. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment, the lid is made of a clear material. 
         [0011]    In another embodiment, the graphical image is printed on an interior surface of the lid. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, the ridges prevent the recessed area of the lid from contacting the ground 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts a carrying case that is consistent with this invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  depicts a removable cover; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  depicts a side cut away view of the securing band; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  depicts a tensioning unit for the rigid band that is incorporated onto a side of the securing band; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  depicts a carrying case with a removable cover; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  depicts one embodiment a removable hinge for the carrying case; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  depicts another embodiment of the cover for the carrying case; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  depicts a side view of the securing units and pin of the carrying case. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]      FIG. 1  depicts a carrying case that is consistent with this invention. The carrying case  100  includes a base  102 , an upper lid  104 , and a securing band  106 . The securing band  106  removably connects a removable cover (not shown) to the upper lid  108  of the carrying case  100 . The base  102  is made from a rigid material such as aluminum, steel, plastic or any other rigid material. In one embodiment, the base  102  includes a rigid frame covered in a durable fabric such as nylon or Kevlar. The upper lid  108  is removably connected to the base  102  by a hinge (not shown) that connects the base  102  to the upper lid  108  along one side of the base  102  and upper lid  108 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  depicts a removable cover  200 . The removable cover  200  includes a face portion  202 , side walls  204  and securing ridge  206 . The face portion  202  is configured to receive an embossed or imprinted logo such as the logo of a sports teams. The removable cover  200  is made from a rigid material such as steel, aluminum, polycarbonate or any other rigid material. The securing ridge  206  runs along the periphery of the lower edge of the removable cover  202 . The removable cover  202  is shaped such that is substantially conforms to the shape of the upper lid  108 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  depicts a side cut away view of the securing band  106 . The securing band  106  is substantially “C” shaped and includes a rigid band  300  embedded in the securing band  106 . The rigid band  300  is made from a material having memory characteristics such as steel. The rigid band  300  continuously runs through the center of the securing band  106  along the entire length of the securing band  106 . The upper ridge  302  of the securing band includes a notch  304  that is configured to engage a ridge  306  on the outer edge of the securing ridge  206 . The lower ridge  308  of the securing band  106  engages a ridge  310  of the upper lid  108  to secure the upper lid  108  to the cover  206 . A ridge  312  on the outer portion of the ridge  310  may engage a notch  314  in the lower portion of the securing ridge  106  to laterally secure the upper lid  108  to the cover  206 . 
         [0024]    When the rigid band  300  is placed under tension, the center portion  316  of the securing band  106  is pulled in contact with the ridge  206  and the ridge  310 . The rigid band  300  also rotates the upper ridge  302  and the lower ridge  308  of the securing band  106  such that the upper and lower ridge  302  and  308  apply opposing forces against the ridges  206  and  310  to secure the cover  206  to the upper lid  108 . The length of the ridges  206  and  310  are configured such that the securing band  106  affixes the cover  206  to the upper lid  108 . 
         [0025]    When the tension is removed from the rigid band  300 , the center portion  316  of the rigid band  300  moves away from ridge  206  and ridge  310  to allow the ridge  206  to be removed from the securing band  106 . The securing band  106  is configured such that the rigid band  300  allows the upper ridge  302  to move away from the cover  206  to allow the over to be removed. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the ridge  310  is permanently affixed to the lower ridge  308  of the securing band  106 . Consistent with this embodiment, the notch  312  may be spring biased such that the notch recesses into the ridge  310  when the cover  206  engages the notch  306 . Further, the side surface of the notch  312  may be sloped away from the securing band  106  to allow the ridge  206  to slide along the top surface of the notch  312  forcing the notch  312  down until the ridge  206  is positioned above the notch  312 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  depicts a tensioning unit  400  for the rigid band  300  that is incorporated onto a side of the securing band  106 . Each end of the rigid band  300  is affixed to one end of clips  402  such that the rigid band  300  is pulled into tension when the clips  402  are engaged and is released from tension when the clips  402  are disengaged. In one embodiment, the rigid band  300  is secured to two clips  402 . In another embodiment, multiple rigid bands  300  are connected to multiple clips  402  to ensure the proper amount of tension is applied to the rigid band to secure the cover  200  to the upper lid  108 . A biased push button  404  may be used to engage and disengage the clips. When the push button  404  is engaged, a bar securing the clip to the carrying case is retracted to allow the tension in the rigid band  300  to pull the clip away from the carrying case. When the clip  402  is pushed towards the securing band  106 , the clip engages the bar and the button  404  is extended upward. The number of rigid bands  300  and clips  402  used in the carrying case is determined by the distance the securing band  106  must travel to allow insertion of the ridge  206  on the cover  200  into the securing band  106 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  depicts another embodiment of the carry case with a removable cover. The carrying case  500  include removable hinges  504  and  506  that allow the cover  502  to be removed from the carrying case  500 .  FIG. 6  depicts a detailed view of the removable hinges. Each hinge includes a pin (not shown) and a knob  602 . The pin engages securing units  604  on the lower portion of the case and a securing unit  604  on the cover  502 . The securing unit  606  on the removable case  502  is sized such that the length of the securing unit  606  is less than the distance between the securing units  604  on the lower portion of the case. The knob  602  includes a cavity having a threaded portion that engages a threaded portion on a securing unit  604  of the lower case. The knob  602  is removably attached to the securing unit  604  such that the pin can be removed from the securing units  604  and  606 . 
         [0029]    The cover  502  is attached to the base by the hinges  502  and  504  and rotates open and closed via the hinges  502  and  504 . The cover may be made from any solid material including plastic, metal, wood or any other material. The pin may be made of any rigid material including steel or plastic.  FIG. 7  depicts another embodiment of a cover. The cover  700  includes a recessed portion  702  on the surface of the cover  700 . The recessed portion  702  is formed by two ridges  704  and  706 . The ridges  704  and  706  extend from the surface of the cover  700  such that the top surface of each ridge is separated from the surface of the cover by a distance. In one embodiment, the top surface of the ridges are separated from the surface of the cover by a distance that is sufficient to prevent the surface of the cover  700  from contacting the ground when the cover is dropped or slid on the ground. In one embodiment, the ridges  704  and  706  are integrally attached to the cover. In another embodiment, the ridges  704  and  706  are removably attached to the cover  700 . In another embodiment, the ridges  704  and  706  are affixed to the cover  700 . The surface area of the recessed portion is sized to accommodate a graphical image. In one embodiment, the cover is made of a substantially clear material and a graphical image is printed on the back surface of the cover  700 . The transparent material may be acrylic or plastic. The securing units  606  on the cover  700  include a central cavity  708  that allows the pin to pass through the entire length of the securing unit  606 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  depicts a side detached view of the cover  700  engaging the base  102 . The base  102  includes securing units  604 . Each securing unit  604  includes an opening allowing the pin  802  to pass through the opening. The cover  700  includes securing units  606  that is configured to fit between the two securing units  604  on the base  102  when the cover is attached to the base  102 . Each securing unit  606  includes a central cavity that is sized to accommodate the pin  802 . 
         [0031]    The pin  802  includes the knob  602  and a threaded portion  804  the pin has a diameter that is sized to fit into the opening in the securing units  604  and  606 . One of the securing units  604  on the base includes a threaded portion that is configured to engage the threaded portion  804  on the pin  802 . The knob  602  is configured to rotate such that the threaded portion  804  fully engage the threaded portion in the securing unit  604  on the base  102 . The channels in the securing units  604  and  606  are configured such that the central axis of the channels are coaxial when the cover  700  is positioned on the base  102 . In one embodiment, the end of the pin opposite the knob is threaded and engages a corresponding thread in the securing unit  604  furthest from the knob  602  when the pin  802  engages the securing units. 
         [0032]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed. The disclosed configuration is the preferred embodiment and is not intended to preclude functional equivalents to the various elements. 
         [0033]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the invention. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain the principles of the invention.