Abstract:
A piece of luggage is formed in the shape of a racing automobile and employs a paint and sticker scheme of a particular racing team. The luggage includes a frame that has sidewalls that include radial extensions. Zippers are arranged about the luggage to allow access to the various compartments arranged in the respective hood area, canopy region and passenger compartment of the piece of luggage. In an alternative embodiment, the invention is formed as a cooler.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/201,122 on Dec. 8, 2008. 
     
    
       [0002]    The instant application did not receive any federal research and/or development funding. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Generally, the present invention relates to luggage, coolers or other such moveable storage devices. More specifically, the invention is a piece of luggage, cooler, or device that includes an extendible handle formed in the shape of a front bumper of a racing car. Wheels or replica wheels are provided along at least one side or end of the device for easy movement of it. For purposes of this application, the various parts of the device are oriented as if the device were an automobile. Likewise, the representations with respect to the dimensions of the various parts of the device are taken with respect to the various parts or areas of an automobile. That is, the following disclosure orients the device according to a driver side, a passenger side, a front end and a back end when viewed from within the device. Likewise references are made with respect to the size of a storage area as extending from trunk area to the location of the firewall between the passenger compartment and the engine compartment in an automobile. 
         [0004]    NASCAR® racing is the most popular sport in the United States. Currently, the NASCAR® schedule extends from February through November. Each racing team typically has a plurality of automobiles that employ a particular paint scheme of a sponsor or a particular paint scheme and stickers displaying sponsor&#39;s name arranged on an exterior of the automobile. There are subtle differences in the various shapes of the different manufacturers and the various makes of the automobiles. The present invention is directed towards a piece of luggage, a cooler, or other such device having an overall appearance of a scale model of a NASCAR® type race car. The shape of the invention may vary slightly between the different automobile manufacturers who sponsor of the various NASCAR® teams. In one embodiment, the luggage is preferably formed from an outer covering of material such as nylon or other rip-stop material and a plastic frame that supports the outer covering of material. Subtle changes to the shape of the luggage may be made to vary the appearance between the various NASCAR® automobile makes and models. For example, the luggage may be provided in a scaled model of a Ford®, Chevrolet®, Pontiac®, or Toyota® automobile with an appropriate number and color scheme to reflect the automobile type of a NASCAR® fan&#39;s favorite driver. In an additional embodiment, the device is formed with at least one cooler compartment, preferably having a drain plug and cap and a shaped cover. The cooler compartment receives ice, drinks, or other items that are cooled. This compartment may be either soft-sided or formed from hard, rugged insulating material. The cooler size may vary from a pocket book size that holds at least a few cans or bottles and having a cooling means such as ice or other cooling inserts. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In the first embodiment, a piece of luggage includes a first zipper that secures a first flap that is arranged to close a first compartment for storing clothing or other items. This first flap is arranged to appear as an automobile hood that includes a pivot or hinge point arranged below the “windshield” area of the luggage or substantially above a divider that separates the first compartment from a second compartment. The first zipper extends along the driver side of the first flap, across the front of the luggage above the extendible handle, and along the passenger side of the first flap. When the first zipper is unzipped, the first flap may be raised similar to an automobile hood to expose the first compartment. 
         [0006]    A second zipper is the shortest and is arranged within the canopy region of the roof area of the luggage to provide for a second smaller compartment that may be utilized to store toiletries and smaller items. A third zipper is the longest zipper and is provided along the bottom of the canopy support members and arranged such that the canopy may be flipped open to expose a larger third compartment when the third zipper is unzipped. The third compartment is the largest of all three and extends from the trunk area to the firewall area; while the first compartment extends throughout the engine compartment area. A netting may be provided to act as a divider to separate the various compartments such that a user may easily identify the articles stored in the another compartment when the canopy is flipped open. In an alternative version, a clear plastic window may be incorporated into the divider between the compartments for viewing purposes. 
         [0007]    The luggage is provided with soft sides but plastic strips of supporting frame material may be sewn into the various regions of the luggage to stiffen the sides of the protective compartments and covers in order to protect clothing and other articles stored within the compartments of the luggage and provide a supported automobile shape when nothing is being maintained within the luggage. For instance, a hood-shaped strip of plastic may be included in the luggage for providing support for the first cover. Likewise, the body area of the luggage that forms the largest compartments may be formed from plastic, and the canopy shaped cover may include a hardened portion that comprises a car roof top area, a windshield area, a back glass area, a passenger side area, and a driver side area. 
         [0008]    In a second embodiment, the device is a cooler that includes a cooling compartment having all sides formed from an insulating material. Internal and external shells of plastic sandwich a hard internal core of foam. The cooler is formed from a thermally insulating material such as foam. The external shape of the cooler is in the form of an automobile and having an appropriate paint scheme and number corresponding to a racing fan&#39;s favorite driver. The insulating material may comprise a waterproof layer and other layers of material that restrain cold temperatures within the cooling compartment while resisting external hotter temperatures. In a larger version of the second embodiment, the device includes wheels and a handle for towing purposes. Cup holders may be included in the roof the car. A drain plug may be incorporated for draining water or other fluids from within a cooling compartment of the cooler. The front wheels of the cooler may traverse left and right by including an axel. The license plate or bumper may be personalized and extends to operate as a handle by which the cooler may be pulled. All wheels on the cooler may roll. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the invention to provide a piece of luggage that is representative of a scaled model of a paint and sticker scheme of a racing team. The luggage has large compartments to accommodate the storage and transportation of suits, shirts, and dresses. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the invention to provide a cooler formed in the shape of a racing automobile and including at least one cooling compartment. The cooler having a paint scheme and sticker scheme representative of a NASCAR® driver&#39;s automobile. 
         [0011]    The above and further objects, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIGS. 1A &amp; 1B  are perspective views of the luggage with all zippers closed and the handle retracted. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an overhead view of the luggage with the largest two compartments shown open. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  is an overhead view of the luggage with the handle extended.  FIG. 3B  is a side view of the luggage. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an overhead view showing a frame member for the hood. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side view showing a frame member that forms the sidewalls of the luggage. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  shows a frame member for the roof or canopy of the luggage. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show perspective views of the second embodiment of the invention being practiced as a cooler.  FIG. 7C  shows a cross section view of the internal and external plastic shells that sandwich a hard foam core. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are more fully explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the features of one embodiment may be employed with the other embodiments as the skilled artisan recognizes, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and techniques may be omitted to avoid obscuring the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments set forth herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
         [0020]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-6  depict a first embodiment of the invention. In a first embodiment, the device  1  includes a frame  45  comprising lightweight, molded plastic and includes elongated side members that include a pair of radial extensions  46 . The frame  45  is overlaid with synthetic, flexible material  11  to form the appearance of the body of a NASCAR® automobile. The radial extensions  46  are overlaid with a black material to form the appearance of automobile tires. The radial extensions  46  are offset inward with respect to than the remaining regions of the sidewall of the frame. The frame  45  may be created from a thermoset or thermoplastic material that is formed, molded, or extruded in a particular shape to provide a realistic look of a racing automobile. Metals and composite materials may also be utilized for constructing the frame. The exterior cover  11 , preferably of rip-stop material, is overlaid onto and fastened to the frame via permanent stitching or other such fastening means. The exterior cover may comprise ballistic nylon or Cordura nylon. The exterior cover includes zippers or other fasteners for allowing access to an interior defined by the device. Dyes may be added to the various parts of the cover to change the coloration of each to mimic a realistic look. The various plastics used in creating the frame may include one or more of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene or any other moldable material that may be formed in a unitary shape. The material comprising the cover is impervious to cleansers and easily withstands the pressure of blows to protect anything deposited within the luggage. 
         [0021]    As shown in  FIG. 1A , the device  1  includes a first cover  5  formed in the shape of an automobile hood. The cover  5  includes a frame member  40 , as shown in  FIG. 4  formed of rigid plastic material. The frame member  40  includes a front side that is arcuate and shorter than the rear side which is also arcuate. Two curved areas connect the front side to the longitudinal sides of the frame member as shown. Zipper  21  surrounds the front and longitudinal sides of the cover  5 . A pivot region operates to allow the cover  5  to be lift similar to a hood of an automobile to expose a first storage cavity  13 , as shown in  FIG. 2   
         [0022]    The device further includes a handle  2  that may be extended by pushing a release  3 . Release 3 includes catch  4 , more clearly shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, which secures the handle  2  in place when engaged. When disengaged, the handle  2  extends outward as shown and the front end of the luggage may be raised such that the luggage can be pulled with the handle  2  and wheels  30 . 
         [0023]    A second cover  10  is arranged as shown and includes a rigid frame member  42  that comprises a square shaped car roof area. A windshield area and back glass are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the car roof area. A driver side window and passenger side window are arranged opposite one another on the remaining sides of the car roof area. Zipper  23  allows access to the largest compartment  12 . A smaller zipper  22  is arranged on the cover  11  atop the car roof area for allowing access to a smaller storage area. 
         [0024]    As can be recognized by  FIG. 2 , the pivot point for the second compartment  12  may be arranged on the passenger side of the automobile as depicted. Otherwise, it may be arranged at various other areas around the cover  10 .  FIG. 5  shows the frame member that includes the sidewalls that form the compartments  12 ,  13 . Elongated sidewalls  45  include the arcuate elements  45  as shown. 
         [0025]    In a second embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C , the device  1  may be created from a thermoset or thermoplastic material that is formed, molded, or extruded in a particular shape to provide a realistic look of a racing automobile. In this embodiment, the device operates as a cooler and may include an externally hardened shell of plastic material  75 . Dyes and stickers may be added to the exterior of the cooler to mimic a realistic look of a particular paint scheme and look of a fan&#39;s favorite driver. The various plastics used in creating the cooler may include one or more of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene or any other moldable material that may be formed in a unitary shape. 
         [0026]      FIG. 7A  shows a first perspective view of the cooler embodiment. In this instance, the cooler is equipped with two internal cavities. The first cavity is the largest and includes an opening cover that is substantially shaped in the shape of a car roof and having at least a pair of cup holders  98  arranged therein. This first cavity extends from the trunk region of the cooler all the way to where the firewall would be in an automobile. The cooler may be soft-sided and configured with frame members as discussed in the first embodiment with respect to the luggage. Otherwise, it may be formed with an internal and external shell; each formed in substantially the same shape with the internal shell being smaller in size than the external shell. A harden foam  76  may be provided between the internal  75  and external  76  shells for providing thermal insulation properties. Drain plug  99  is provided for draining liquids from within the largest cavity. 
         [0027]    The cover may be formed in a similar manner with the cup holders being molded into the internal and external shells. A first handle  95  is provided on the cover  5  for aiding in opening it. A second handle  96  is provided on the cover  10  for opening purposes. As can be understood when viewing  FIG. 7B , each cover includes a hinge on one side thereof. The first cavity is waterproof and will contain liquids therein. The waterproof nature of the first cavity is necessary for preventing water from leaking from the cooler&#39;s first cavity when ice is used as a cooling means in the first cavity. 
         [0028]    A divider  88  separates the first and second cavities. The divider is waterproof and may include thermally insulating materials therein such that the second cavity is maintained at a warmer temperature than the first cavity. Otherwise, the divider may just act as only a water separation membrane. That is, ice water is maintained in the first cavity, but the ice water lowers the temperature of the second cavity due to thermal properties of the divider. As can be recognized by  FIG. 7C , the cooler  1  may be formed from an internal plastic shell  75 , an external plastic shell  77 , and a hardened core of foam  76  arranged there between. 
         [0029]    While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in limiting sense. From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.