Trunks and hand-carried luggage – Supporting devices – Wheeled
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-18
2001-05-08
Weaver, Sue A. (Department: 3727)
Trunks and hand-carried luggage
Supporting devices
Wheeled
C190S107000, C190S122000, C190S127000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227339
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a soft luggage piece, in particular, a Pullman style duffle bag, and even more particularly a wheeled upright standing duffle bag.
Duffle bags are well known in the art. Generally, duffle bags are made of soft materials on all sides to form an enclosure. Duffle bags are usually rectangular in shape, in other words, they are longer than they are wide. An opening is provided in duffle bags providing access to the interior of the duffle bag along a major access, i.e. along its length. These conventional duffle bags, most popularized for use when camping or for use by soldiers, have been satisfactory however, they were required to be carried over the shoulder leading to fatigue. Furthermore, because the entire structure was soft, they did not provide stability while filling or emptying the duffle bag.
To overcome these shortcomings in the prior art, it is also known to provide a bottom to a duffle bag by providing some type of rigid structure within the duffle bag along one surface, nominally a long side of the duffle bag to provide stability to the duffle while the duffle bag is loaded from the opposed side. It is also known to provide skids or feet along the support structure and even wheels on one corner of the support structure. The remaining sides of the duffle bag are soft to maximize the capacity of the duffle bag interior while allowing the bag to fold upon itself for storage.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide a duffle bag which maintains the functionality of a duffle bag as a result of soft-sided enclosure while providing stability for a duffle bag in an upright position without interfering with its ability to collapse upon itself for storage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A stable upright Pullman style duffle bag has a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a back panel, a top panel and a bottom panel; all integrally formed affixed to each other to form a duffle bag body. The front panel includes a flap which is selectively sealed to the front panel to selectively provide access to the interior of the duffle bag body. An internal support member is disposed against an internal face of the back panel and bottom panel. At least one handle is provided extending from the top panel. Wheels, affixed to the support member, extend from one side of the bottom panel. Feet are affixed to the support member at the bottom panel a spaced distance from the wheels.
In a preferred embodiment, the internal support member disposed adjacent the bottom panel includes a first rigid panel which is removable from the bottom panel and a second rigid panel which is foldable upon itself or a second rigid panel and third rigid panel; the second rigid panel being pivotable relative to the third rigid panel. At least one pocket is affixed to at least one of the front or side panel. The pocket has an opening therein facing toward the side panel. Furthermore, the at least one handle is a collapsible handle mounted to the internal support. Additionally, an external support such as skids, feet or the like are mounted to the internal support along the back panel.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved duffle bag.
Still another object of the invention is provide a Pullman style duffle bag with sufficient stability to stand upright while being used.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a duffle bag capable of stably standing upright while being collapsible for storage.
A further object of the invention is provide a Pullman duffle bag capable of taking advantage of pockets which open at the top providing easier access for the user.
Still other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will in part, be apparent from the specification.
The invention accordingly comprises features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
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Monarch Luggage Company, Inc.
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Weaver Sue A.
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