Travel bag with integrated support

• US 7,188,714 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: West Coast Trends Incorporated
• Inventors: Herold, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weaver; Sue A.
• Application Number:
  US10/678,992
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 190/18.A, 190/39, 190/115, 190/117, 190125-127, 190/903, 190/111, 280/47.26, 150/117, 282/97, 282/907, 383/97, 383/907
• US Class Current: 190/18.00A
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/14 with built-in rolling means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 55/60 Wheeled carriers specially adapted for golf bags

Abstract

A travel bag includes two major components; specifically, a bag member and a base member. These components are formed to matingly fit together and to be permanently attached to one another via rivets. The bag member incorporates additional features including a reinforcement system of webbing with longitudinal and circumferal portions. Also, the bag includes accessory pockets, a taper and padding, zippered opening, ‘D’-ring, among others. The base member features include wheels, reinforcement ribbing, seamless and cornerless joints, surface relief indicia among others. In addition, the travel bag as a whole enjoys a new arrangement of all parts and systems which provides for an extremely durable and rugged device.

Claims

1. A travel bag comprising:

a base member, said base member being formed of rigid material to comprise a bottom, back and side portions each coupled to the other at curved joints to form a partially enclosed space operable to receive a bag member;

said bag member affixed to said base member, said bag member being formed of flexible, durable material to comprise a top, bottom and body section, the body section being formed of a single piece of material having two mating edges, the material arranged about a longitudinal axis, one mating edge of the single piece of material being joined to the second mating edge to form a generally cylindrical shape, the top section being arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a cylinder axis further being affixed to the body section, the bottom section being arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the cylinder axis;

webbing reinforcement, the webbing being affixed to said bag member and further affixed to said base member whereby tension and tearing forces are transmitted from said bag member to said base member and are resisted by said webbing, said webbing comprising a configuration being along a longitudinal direction from said bag member top section to said bag member bottom section; and

a handle connected to said webbing reinforcement.

2. A travel bag according to claim 1 wherein said webbing reinforcement comprises a longitudinal piece affixed to the back portion of said bag member thereby forming a loop at the top, whereby pulling on said loop transmits tension forces along said longitudinal webbing pieces.

3. A travel bag according to claim 2 further comprising a top handle having two ends each affixed to the top section of the bag member wherein said handle is removably coupled to said loop.

4. A travel bag according to claim 1 further comprising a top handle having two ends each affixed to the top section of said bag member.

5. A travel bag according to claim 1 further comprising a stand member coupled to the bottom portion of the base member.

6. A travel bag according to claim 1 further comprising a top handle having two ends each affixed to the body section of the bag member.

7. A travel bag according to claim 1 further comprising at least one wheel coupled to the base member bottom portion.

8. A travel bag comprising:

a base member, said base member being formed of rigid material to comprise a bottom, back and side portions each coupled to the other at curved joints to form a partially enclosed space operable to receive a bag member;

a bag member affixed to said base member, said bag member being formed of flexible, durable material to comprise a top, bottom and body section, the body section being formed of a single piece of material having two mating edges at a bag opening, the material arranged about a longitudinal axis, one mating edge of the single piece of material being joined to the second mating edge to form a generally cylindrical shape, the top section being arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a cylinder axis further being affixed to the body section, the bottom section being arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the cylinder axis;

webbing reinforcement affixed to said bag member; and

,

an accessory pocket comprised of a single layer top in a pleated configuration having four edges which substantially form a rectangular periphery affixed to an exterior of said travel bag, said four edges being affixed flush to an exterior surface of said bag member.

9. A travel bag according to claim 8 wherein two of the four edges of said pocket are affixed to two circumferential webbing pieces whereby said webbing pieces reinforces and holds the pocket edges flush with the exterior of said bag member.

10. A travel bag according to claim 8 further comprising a second pocket symmetrically positioned about the bag opening whereby the travel bag having loaded pockets is balanced with respect to weight and bulk.

11. A travel bag according to claim 8 further comprising a stand member coupled to the bottom portion of the base member.

12. A travel bag according to claim 8 further comprising a handle positioned at the top section of the bag member having two ends each affixed to the body section of the bag member.

13. A travel bag according to claim 8 further comprising at least one wheel coupled to the base member bottom portion.

14. A travel bag comprising:

a. a base member, said base member being formed of rigid material to comprise a bottom, back and side portions each coupled to the other at curved joints to form a partially enclosed space operable to receive a bag member;

b. said bag member affixed to said base member, said bag member being formed of flexible, durable material to comprise a top, bottom and body section, the body section being formed of a single piece of material having two mating edges at a bag opening, the material arranged about a longitudinal axis, one mating edge of the single piece of material being joined to the second mating edge to form a generally cylindrical shape, the top section being arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a cylinder axis further being affixed to the body section, the bottom section being arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the cylinder axis; and

c. webbing reinforcement, the webbing being affixed to said bag member and further affixed to said base member whereby tension and tearing forces are transmitted from said bag member to said base member and are resisted by said webbing, said webbing comprising a first configuration being along a longitudinal direction from said bag member top section to said bag member bottom section, and a second configuration located about the circumference of the bag member.

15. A travel bag of claim 14, said first configuration of webbing comprising four longitudinal pieces, two of the longitudinal pieces being affixed one to either side of the mating edges which form said bag opening at a front side, and two of the longitudinal pieces affixed to a back side of said bag member.

16. A travel bag of claim 15, wherein said two longitudinal pieces of webbing affixed to said back portion being joined together to form a loop at the top section of the bag member, whereby pulling on said loop transmits tension forces along longitudinal webbing pieces.

17. A travel bag according to claim 15 further comprising at least one front handle affixed to the front side longitudinal pieces such that tension forces are transmitted along the webbing pieces.

18. A travel bag according to claim 14 wherein said second configuration of webbing comprises a closed loop configuration about the circumference of said bag member.

19. A travel bag according to claim 18 wherein said closed loop configuration about the circumference of said bag member comprises two circumferential pieces being affixed to said bag member in two different planes perpendicular to the axis.

20. A travel bag according to claim 14 further comprising a stand member coupled to the bottom portion of the base member.

21. A travel bag according to claim 14 further comprising a handle positioned at the top section of the bag member having two ends each affixed to the body section of the bag member.

22. A travel bag according to claim 14 further comprising at least one wheel coupled to the base member bottom portion.

23. A travel bag comprising:

a base member, said base member being formed of a rigid material having a bottom, back and side portions each coupled to the other at curved joints to form a partially enclosed space operable to receive a bag member;

said bag member affixed to said base member, said bag member being formed of flexible, durable material having a top, bottom and body section, the body section being formed of a single piece of material having a bag member opening, the material arranged about a longitudinal axis to form a generally cylindrical shape, the top section being arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a cylinder axis further being affixed to the body section, the bottom section being arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the cylinder axis; and

webbing reinforcement, the webbing being affixed to said bag member whereby tension and tearing forces are resisted by said webbing, said webbing comprising a first configuration being along a longitudinal direction from said bag member top section to said bag member bottom section.

24. A travel bag according to claim 23 wherein said first configuration having a longitudinal webbing piece being configured to form a loop at the top section of the bag member, whereby pulling on said loop transmits tension forces along the longitudinal webbing piece.

25. A travel bag according to claim 24 further comprising a handle coupled to the top section of the bag member wherein said handle is removably coupled to said loop.

26. A travel bag according to claim 24 further comprising a handle positioned at the top section of the bag member having two ends each affixed to the top section of the bag member.

27. A travel bag according to claim 26 wherein said handle is removably coupled to said loop.

28. A travel bag according to claim 23 further comprising a handle connected to said webbing reinforcement.

29. A travel bag according to claim 23 wherein the webbing further comprises a second configuration located about the circumference of the bag member.

30. A travel bag according to claim 29 wherein said second configuration of webbing comprises a loop configuration about the circumference of said bag member.

31. A travel bag according to claim 30 wherein said loop configuration about the circumference of said bag member comprises two circumferential pieces being affixed to said bag member in two different planes perpendicular to the cylinder axis.

32. A travel bag according to claim 23 wherein the first configuration further comprises two longitudinal webbing pieces being affixed one to either side of the bag member opening at a front side.

33. A travel bag according to claim 32 further comprising at least one front handle affixed to the longitudinal webbing pieces on either side of the bag member opening such that tension forces are transmitted along the webbing pieces.

34. A travel bag according to claim 23 further comprising a stand member coupled to the bottom portion of the base member.

35. A travel bag according to claim 23 further comprising a handle positioned at the top section of the bag member having two ends each affixed to the body section.

36. A travel bag according to claim 23 wherein said bag member opening is secured with at least one zipper.

37. A travel bag according to claim 23 wherein said base member further comprises at least one wheel positioned at the bottom portion.

38. A travel bag, comprising:

a bag member being formed of flexible, durable material having a top, bottom and body section, the body section being formed of a single piece of material having a bag opening, the material arranged about a longitudinal axis, to form a generally cylindrical shape, the top section being arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to a cylinder axis further being affixed to the body section, the bottom section being arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the cylinder axis; and

webbing reinforcement, the webbing reinforcement being affixed to an exterior of said bag member whereby tension and tearing forces are resisted by said webbing reinforcement, said webbing reinforcement having a first configuration being along a longitudinal direction from said bag member top section to said bag member bottom section.

39. A travel bag according to claim 38 wherein said first configuration has a first longitudinal webbing piece affixed to a back side configured to form a loop at the top section of the bag member.

40. A travel bag according to claim 39 further comprising a handle positioned at the top section of the bag member having two ends each end affixed to the body section, wherein said handle is removably coupled to the loop.

41. A travel bag according to claim 39 further comprising a handle positioned at the top section of the bag member having two ends each end affixed to the top section of the bag member, wherein said handle is removably coupled to the loop.

42. A travel bag according to claim 38 further comprising a handle connected to said webbing reinforcement.

43. A travel bag according to claim 38 wherein the webbing reinforcement further comprises a second configuration located about the circumference of the bag member.

44. A travel bag according to claim 43 further comprising at least one handle affixed to the first configuration, wherein said first configuration is affixed to the second configuration such that tension forces are transmitted along the webbing reinforcement.

45. A travel bag according to claim 38 wherein the first configuration further comprises two longitudinal webbing pieces being affixed one to either side of the bag member opening at a front side.

46. A travel bag according to claim 45 further comprising at least one front handle affixed to the longitudinal webbing pieces on either side of the bag member opening such that tension forces are transmitted along the webbing pieces.

47. A travel bag according to claim 38 wherein said second configuration of webbing comprises a loop configuration about the circumference of said bag member.

48. A travel bag according to claim 47 wherein said loop configuration about the circumference of said bag member comprises two circumferential pieces being affixed to said bag member in two different planes perpendicular to the axis.

49. A travel bag according to claim 38 further comprising a base member, said base member being formed of a rigid material having a bottom, back and side portions each coupled to the other at curved joints to form a partially enclosed space operable to receive said bag member.

50. A travel bag according to claim 49 wherein said base member further comprises at least one wheel positioned at the bottom portion.

51. A travel bag according to claim 49 further comprising a stand member coupled to the bottom portion of the base member.

52. A travel bag according to claim 38 further comprising a handle positioned at the top section of the bag member having two ends each end affixed to the body section.

53. A travel bag according to claim 38 further comprising a handle positioned at the top section of the bag member having two ends each end affixed to the top section of the bag member.

54. A travel bag according to claim 38 wherein said bag member opening is secured with at least one zipper.