US20170280847A1

US20170280847A1 - Luggage with lid-stay system

Info

Publication number: US20170280847A1
Application number: US15/089,865
Authority: US
Inventors: Allen Le
Original assignee: Traveler's Choice
Current assignee: Traveler's Choice
Priority date: 2016-04-04
Filing date: 2016-04-04
Publication date: 2017-10-05

Abstract

A piece of luggage, suitcase, or other container with a lid-stay system, allowing the lid to stay open while a user accesses the contents in the piece of luggage, suitcase or other container in an interior thereof (main body and/or lid). The lid-stay system generally comprises at least one wing with a metal protrusion formed at a distal end thereof and at least one magnetic stopper element formed on the inside of the piece of luggage.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to luggage, suitcases, containers, and the like, and, in particular, to a lid-stay system for holding a lid of the piece of luggage upright to allow a user to access its contents.
In conventional luggage, a user opens a piece of luggage to reveal and access its contents by lifting and flipping the lid approximately 180 degrees (or more) around a hinge to separate it from the luggage body. In an open state, the lid of the piece of luggage is supported by the ground or by the hinge. This can cause stress on the hinge and also is cumbersome to close. Furthermore, to keep a lid in an open state without flipping the lid completely, a user would have to use one hand to hold the lid, only leaving the other hand to access the contents of the luggage.
Accordingly, there is a need for an improved piece of luggage that allows a lid to stay open in a place without having the user manually hold the lid and also such that it can be easily closed by a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, various embodiments of a luggage system are disclosed. In various embodiments, not limited to any particular design, the present disclosure generally provides for a luggage system having a base (or luggage body) and a lid (or cover). Extending from the lid or cover is at least one, or preferably two, wing or holding element having a metal portion attached to a distal end thereof. The base body contains one, or preferably two, stopper element with magnets, which mate with the metal portions found on the wing or holding elements. Furthermore, the lid-stay system serves to keep the lid in an open state without having a user manually hold the lid.
The above summary is not intended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present invention. Particular embodiments may include one, some, or none of the listed advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the luggage with lid-stay system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the luggage with lid-stay system shown with the wing element detached from the stopper and magnet;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the wing element of the lid-stay system; and

FIG. 4 is perspective view of the stopper element of the lid-stay system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 & 2, luggage 101 is shown. Luggage 101 can be a suitcase, baggage, or any other container suitable for carrying personal items. Luggage 101 can be a hard or soft case, and made of variety of materials known in the art. Luggage 101 generally comprises a base or body 105 and lid or cover 106. Luggage 101 further comprises a lid-stay system comprising at least one wing element 102 and at least one stopper element 103.
The lid-stay system generally allows a user to open the lid 106 of the piece of luggage 101 and hold the lid 106 in an open position, preferably between 85 and 100 degrees from the base 105 of the piece of luggage, allowing the user to access its contents without removing the lid completely. Closing lid 106 also becomes easier using this system.
Turning now to the details of the lid-stay system, the system comprises at least one wing element 102, which extends substantially perpendicularly from lid 106. Substantially perpendicularly is intended to cover a range between 85 and 100 degrees, and not necessarily 90 degrees. The at least one wing element 102 generally comprises of a rigid piece of material. Wing element 102 is connected to the lid via main edge 107. At a distal end of main edge 107 is a protrusion 104, formed of metal or other magnetically conductive material, which is designed to magnetically mate with the stopper element 103.
Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, details of the lid stay element are shown.
Lid stay element 102 has a main edge 107, top edge 108 and bottom edge 109. Main edge 107 is generally straight and is designed to attach to the cover of the piece of luggage. Main edge 107 can optionally comprise holes 111 for stitching to the cover or lid of the piece of luggage.
Top edge 108 and bottom edge 109 are generally curved following similar lines. Top edge 108 and bottom edge 109 meet at a rounded section 110. Rounded section 110 comprises a metal piece or protrusion 104, which mates with the magnet 112 found in the stopper element 103.
Stopper element 103 is provided on the inside of the storage area of the base or body 105 of the piece of luggage 101 at an upper edge 113 of the base or body 105. Stopper element 103 can be generally U-shaped, having a rounded or curved bottom section and a straight-edge top portion. Stopper element 103 further comprises a recessed portion in which a magnet 112 is provided. The metal piece or protrusion 104 is similarly rounded so that it can mate and be rotated within the recessed portion of stopper element 103. Stopper element 103 can generally be any containment that holds magnet 112 (or other connecting element) in place. Stopper element 103 can be of varying shapes and sizes to accommodate various-sized pieces of luggage or the like having different configurations and weights.
Variations can be utilized without departing form the scope of the invention. For example, other non-magnetic connectors could be used to attach the lid stay element to the luggage base, such as metal snaps, hook and loop fasteners (VELCRO®), release buckles, hooks, peg and hole, and latch fasteners. Furthermore, the placement of the magnet and metal protrusion can be interchanged.
As these and other variations and combinations of the features discussed above can be utilized without departing from the invention as defined by the claims, the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments should be taken by way of illustration rather than by way of limitation of the invention as defined by the claims. It will also be understood that the provision of examples of the invention (as well as clauses phrased as “such as,” “e.g.”, “including” and the like) should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to the specific examples; rather, the examples are intended to illustrate only some of many possible aspects.

Claims

1. A piece of luggage comprising:

a base forming a storage area;

a lid attached to said base;

at least one wing extending from said base;

wherein said wing holds said lid open so that a user can access said storage area of said base.

2. The piece of luggage of claim 1, wherein said wing has a protrusion at a distal end thereof.

3. The piece of luggage of claim 2, wherein said base has at least one stopper element on an inside of said storage area.

4. The piece of luggage of claim 3, wherein said stopper element further comprises a recessed portion.

5. The piece of luggage of claim 4, wherein said recessed portion further comprises a magnet.

6. The piece of luggage of claim 5, wherein said protrusion mates with said magnet.

7. A piece of luggage comprising:

a base forming a storage area;

a lid attached to said base; and

a lid-stay system formed in said storage area;

wherein said lid-stay system comprises a wing with a metal protrusion formed at a distal end thereof, a stopper element with a magnet; and

wherein said metal protrusion magnetically mates with said stopper element to allow the lid to stay in an open state.

8. The piece of luggage of claim 7, wherein said open state is one in which the lid is held between 85 degrees and 100 degrees relative to said base.