Abstract:
A protective transport system to provide protection for equipment is achieved by a cylindrical primary carrying case and a cylindrical protective case. These two components are designed to provide varying levels of protection, while also being easy to use and relatively light weight. The primary case is designed to closely receive the device being transported, and provide handling structures specific to that device. The protective case is designed to contain the primary case, and provide significant levels of protection when needed. Both cases allow easy access at an end of the cylinder to the device being carried.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application 61/058,809 entitled “Carrying Case System Providing Multiple Levels of Protection”, filed on Jun. 4, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to protective carrying cases for use in carrying various instruments and products. More specifically, the present invention relates to a carrying case system providing multiple levels of protection for an instrument, such as a musical instrument. 
         [0004]    2. Background of Invention 
         [0005]    The transportation of products and equipment can occasionally be troublesome for certain individuals and organizations. This is specifically true when very expensive equipment is to be transported, such as musical instruments, complex electrical equipment, sporting equipment, etc. As can be anticipated, competing interests are involved when this type of equipment is transported. Naturally, the protection and safekeeping of the devices is important, often due to the cost of the equipment involved. Thus, protective carrying cases are desirable which provide appropriate safekeeping. 
         [0006]    In addition to safekeeping, transportability is also a consideration. Most significantly, the weight of the case itself is an important factor as the transportation of light weight cases is clearly most desirable. Thus, a tradeoff exists between the protection provided by certain lightweight cases, as opposed to the weight of more protective cases. 
         [0007]    In addition to the above mentioned concerns, the actual use of the carrying case may also be a consideration. Specifically, the environment within which the device or instrument is to be transported, and/or the control that the owner maintains may also provide some guidance regarding the type of case used. For example, in the context of a musical instrument being transported by a musician, several instances may exist where the musician will maintain control of the instrument and case. In this situation, the musician will keep the case in eyesight or within reach at virtually all times. This would occur when a musician simply drives themselves from home to a performance, carrying the instrument with them. Alternatively, certain transportation situations may arise where the owner loses all substantial control. For example, should the musician be part of a larger group traveling via bus, the instruments may be transported underneath the bus, or in a trailer, or may be shipped by third parties, thus causing the musician to lose all control and accountability for that particular instrument for some period of time. In these varying situations, different levels of protection and/or security may be desired. 
         [0008]    In addition to levels of protection outlined above, these circumstances may also dictate necessary carrying considerations. For example, in certain instances it will be more convenient to simply have a handle on the case, where other instances may be more appropriate for backpack-type straps or shoulder straps. Naturally, the environment will largely dictate the desired carrying options for the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In order to provide a user with multiple protection options, the present invention includes multiple protected cases for holding and carrying various devices and instruments. A first carrying case is provided which includes internal structures for the easy holding and protection of the instruments included. This largely involves soft pliable material such as foams and fabric coatings to closely surround and contain the instrument or device being carried. For example, when utilized to carry a trumpet of some type, the first case will include a foam interior which is configured to closely contain the trumpet. This interior will necessarily include accommodations for the trumpet bell, and the related bell structure. In addition, the first case includes a one-piece cylindrical housing comprised of a somewhat rigid plastic material, thus providing an initial level of protection to the internal instrument. Naturally, the first carrying case will also include handles and strap structures to easily accommodate the movement and transport of the case. 
         [0010]    To provide ease of use, the first case is end loading, thus allowing the users to simply open one end of the cylindrical case, and insert the device or instrument therein. In addition, accommodations are made to attach various accessory cases and accessory components to the outside of the case. 
         [0011]    In order to provide an additional level of protection, a second carrying case is provided by the present invention which is configured to easily cooperate with the first carrying case. The second case is also cylindrical, and is sized to allow the first case to be inserted therein. The second case, however, provides a very rigid outer shell, thus providing significant protection to the instrument carried therein. In one embodiment, the outer case is capable of supporting loads of over 500 pounds, without collapsing or compromising its structural integrity. In addition to the structural protection provided by the second case, it is also end loading thus, easily providing access to an instrument contained within the first case without having to fully remove the first case from the second case. Thus, the user is provided with the convenience of easy access, while also providing significant protection. In addition, various carrying options are attached to the second case, thus allowing easy transport. For example, backpack straps, handles, shoulder straps are all provided, thus providing many options for the user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be seen from reading the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the components of the transport system; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an end view illustrating the first case inserted into the second case; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the first case; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the second case; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of the internal support structure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a perspective view of the two cases making up the system of the present invention. As can be seen, first case  10  is substantially tubular or cylindrical in nature. This first case  10  or primary carrying case  10  includes a handle  12  located on exterior portion thereof. Partially shown, is interior padding  14  capable of easily containing the instrument or device to be carried. In this particular embodiment, the primary carrying case  10  is configured to carry a trumpet (not shown). Thus, the internal padding or supporting structure  14  is primarily foam rubber with a fabric coating configured to closely surround a trumpet (not shown). In many ways, this supporting structure  14  will “hug” the instrument, thus able to closely hold the instrument in position. Further details regarding supporting structure  14  are discussed below. A loading end  16  of primary carrying case  10  has a detachable or hinged lid  18  attached thereto. In one embodiment, lid  18  will couple with main body  20  via zippers. Naturally, alternative coupling or attachment mechanisms are possible. 
         [0019]    As also shown in  FIG. 1 , primary carrying case  10  includes a number of attachment loops for various purposes. For example, a pair of carrying strap loops or “D” rings  22  are positioned adjacent the handle to easily allow a shoulder strap to be attached. Similarly, accessory attachment D rings  24  are also positioned on the exterior of main body  20  to allow attachment of various accessories (not shown). Also illustrated in  FIG. 1  is a second carrying case or protective carrying case  40  which is also cylindrical and specifically designed to couple with primary carrying case  10 . Protective case  40  also includes a detachable or hinged lid  42  positioned on a first end  44 . 
         [0020]    Again, lid  42  is coupled with main body  50  via a zipper (not shown). As will be discussed in more detail below, protective case  40  includes a substantially rigid main body, capable of supporting very significant loads. In the preferred embodiment, this substantially rigid body is capable of supporting significant weight without collapsing. This could include weights of 500 lbs. or more. This rigid body therefore provides significant protection to any instruments or devices carried within protective carrying case  40 . 
         [0021]    In addition to lid  42 , the exterior of protective carrying case  40  includes a handle  50 , backpack straps  52 , and shoulder strap clips  54 . Further, accessory clips  58  are attached, which are intended to be similar to the accessory attachment members  24  included on primary case  20 . Accessories attachable to the case may include music pouches, mouthpiece pockets, general pouch cases for miscellaneous items, or mute bags to handle mutes used with the trumpet. As will be appreciated, several other attachments and/or carrying mechanisms are easily included and contemplated as part of the present invention. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an end view of the present invention is illustrated with primary carrying case  10 , positioned within protective case  40 . As can be seen, these two cases are configured to allow primary carrying case  10  to be inserted within protective carrying case  40 . Each of these cases are open on their ends, thus allowing primary case lid  18  and protective case lid  42  to simultaneously be open, thereby providing access to the interior of both cases. In  FIG. 2 , a protective case zipper  46  is illustrated as is a primary case zipper  26 . Although not specifically shown, both primary case  10  and protective case  40  have closed ends at the end opposite their respective lids. As such, both provide an enclosed chamber for maintaining whatever instrument or product is contained therein. 
         [0023]    A more detailed cross-sectional view of primary carrying case  10  is shown in  FIG. 3 . As can be seen, the interior space is partially occupied with protective foam  14  which is specifically configured based upon the use of primary carrying case  10 . Again, this embodiment contemplates the transport of a musical trumpet, thus a fairly narrow and elongated open space  28  is provided at the center portion.  FIG. 5  illustrates a second partial cross-sectional view of the primary carrying case  10 . As seen in this view, protective foam  14  also has an angled or beveled portion  15  at a top end thereof to closely contain the trumpet bell. A corresponding cone  17  will also be attached to lid  18 , thus providing additional support and protection. 
         [0024]    Surrounding protective foam  14  is a single sheet protective plastic wall  30  which provides the structural integrity for primary carrying case  10 . In one embodiment, plastic wall  30  is formed from continuous plastic sheet, thus providing a particular level of rigidity. That said, plastic wall  30  is also somewhat flexible, and light weight. In one particular embodiment, protective plastic wall  30  is made up of sheet plastic approximately 0.05″ thick and formed in a cylindrical format. While variations are possible, it is important that protective plastic wall  30  be of sufficient strength and rigidity to provide some level of protection. Lastly, an outer fabric covering  32  is provided to surround plastic wall  30 , thus providing an additional level of protection and more pleasing aesthetic appearance for primary carrying case  10 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 4  there is illustrated a cross-sectional view of protective case  40 . As illustrated, this structure is made up of a primary structural tube  60  which is then wrapped in a protective fabric coating  62 . In this particular case, structural tube  60  is specifically configured to have the substantial strength, capable of supporting significant weight without collapsing. In a preferred embodiment, this tube is capable of supporting at least 250 lbs and potentially more. As utilized in the present application, significant strength is defined to mean significant structural integrity to support at least 250 pounds without collapsing. It has been found in certain embodiments, that the structural tube  60  is actually capable of supporting over 500 pounds. Naturally, this level of strength is not always required. In one embodiment, structural tube  60  is formed from paper fibers in a solid tubular manner, and is approximately 0.25″ in the thickness. Naturally, variations in this structure could clearly be used, including plastic structures and corrugated materials. 
         [0026]    One potential change for the dual case carrying system of the present invention is to provide zippered lids at both ends, and to modify the protective foam  14 , thus allowing two trumpets to be carried within the primary case  10 . Although not illustrated, this could easily be achieved by simply modifying the protective foam  14  to provide dual compartments, and to add a second zippered lid. The protective case  40  could similarly be modified to include two openings at either end. Alternatively, the protective case  40  could be used as is, thus simply requiring the primary case  10  to be removed in order to gain access to the second end. 
         [0027]    Another potential embodiment of the present invention may involve cases of varied configurations. For example, the primary case may be a rectangular clam-shell type case, which is capable of being inserted into a protective hard case. The primary case would include appropriate supporting structures to closely hold the instrument involved and provide a related first level of protection. This case could then be end-loaded into the protective case having the features outlined above. 
         [0028]    While certain embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, additional variations and modifications are clearly possible. The applicant intends the present Application to cover all variations coming in within the scope and spirit of the following claims.