Mobile storage unit

• US 8,191,908 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zuca, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zuca, Inc.
• Inventors: Udall, Laura Elizabeth, Udall, Nicholas V.
• Primary Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US11/409,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20060261568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,238 Days
• Field of Search: 280/655, 280/652, 280/655.1, 280/568.1, 280/572.1, 280/539.13, 280/651, 280/639, 280/32.6, 280/47.25, 280/20, 280/87.05, 280/47.21, 280/47.27, 280/47.18, 280/47.131, 280/47.16, 280/47.17, 280/47.2, 280/47.24, 280/47.26, 280/47.315, 340/568.1, 340/572.1, 340/539.13, 190/18, 190/123, 190/127, 190/122, 190/107
• US Class Current: 280/47.26
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/00 Details; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/04 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 15/00 Purses, bags, luggage or other receptacles covered by groups A45C1/00 - A45C11/00, combined with other objects or articles A45C1/08, A45C3/14, A45C11/321, A45C13/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2005/035 soft-sided, i.e. with flexible side walls covering a rigid frame
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2009/002 into a seat
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/06 with outside compartments
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/14 with built-in rolling means
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 9/00 Purses, Luggage or bags convertible into objects for other use sacks or packs carried on the body and convertible into other articles A45F4/02; trunk-wardrobes A47B61/06; trunk-beds A47C17/82
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/049 locking against movement by contacting the floor or a wall
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/085 Resting seats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1628 Carrying enclosures containing additional elements, e.g. case for a laptop and a printer

Abstract

A mobile storage unit is disclosed. The mobile storage unit includes a rigid exo-skeletal frame and a flexible storage bag that couples to the rigid exo-skeletal frame while within an open storage region framed by the exo-skeletal frame. The mobile storage unit also includes a top seat portion and stabilizing features that extend and retract from the rigid exo-skeletal frame to support the mobile storage unit in the upright position. The mobile storage unit can also include a monitoring device for transmitting signals that are used to determine the location of the mobile storage unit.

Claims

1. A mobile storage unit comprising:

a) a rigid exo-skeletal frame made from tubes and brackets, wherein the rigid exo-skeletal frame forms an open storage region;

b) a flexible storage bag with a main storage compartment and that couples to the rigid exo-skeletal frame while positioned within the open storage region; and

c) a top seat portion having a plurality of sides and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in an upright position, wherein the top seat portion is supported along a majority of each of two or more of the sides by the rigid exo-skeletal frame.

2. The mobile storage unit of claim 1, further comprising wheels and an extendable handle for rolling the mobile storage unit while the mobile storage is in a tilted position.

3. The mobile storage unit of claim 2, further comprising means for stabilizing the mobile storage unit in the upright position.

4. The mobile storage unit of claim 3, wherein the means for stabilizing the mobile storage unit in the upright position includes retractable kick stand features that extend and retract from wheel wells positioned over the wheels.

5. The mobile storage unit of claim 1, wherein the flexible storage bag detachably couples to the rigid exo-skeletal frame.

6. The mobile storage unit of claim 1, wherein the flexible storage bag includes a plurality of pocket features that are accessible outside of the main storage compartment of the flexible storage bag and through open portions of the rigid exo-skeletal frame.

7. The mobile storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring device coupled transmitting location signals.

8. The mobile storage unit of claim 7, wherein the monitoring device includes a radio transmitter for transmitting radio location signals.

9. A mobile storage unit comprising:

a) a substantially rectangular and rigid exo-skeletal frame that frames a storage region that is accessible from an open front and two open sides;

b) a bag with a main storage compartment coupled to the rigid exo-skeletal frame and positioned within the storage region;

c) a top seat portion having a plurality of sides and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in an upright position, wherein the top seat portion is supported along a majority of each of two or more of the sides by the rigid exo-skeletal frame; and

d) means for stabilizing the mobile storage unit in the upright position.

10. The mobile storage unit of claim 9, further comprising wheels and an extendable handle for rolling the mobile storage unit while the mobile storage is in a tilted position.

11. The mobile storage unit of claim 9, wherein the means for stabilizing the mobile storage unit in the upright position includes retractable kick stand features that extend and retract from the exo-skeletal frame.

12. The mobile storage unit of claim 9, wherein the bag is formed from a flexible fabric material.

13. The mobile storage unit of claim 12, wherein the bag includes a plurality of outside pocket features that are accessible through one or more of the open front and the two open sides of the exo-skeletal frame.

14. The mobile storage unit of claim 9, further comprising a monitoring device for transmitting location signals.

15. The mobile storage unit of claim 14, wherein the monitoring device includes a radio transmitter for transmitting radio location signals.

16. A mobile storage system comprising:

a) monitoring devices for coupling to mobile storage units and sending location signals; and

b) means for receiving and processing the location signals and remotely identifying the geographical location of the mobile storage units, wherein the mobile storage units include;

i) a rigid exo-skeletal frame made from tubes and brackets forming an open storage region;

ii) a flexible storage bag with a main storage compartment, wherein the flexible storage bag couples to the rigid exo-skeletal frame while positioned within the open storage region; and

iii) a top seat portion having a plurality of sides and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in an upright position, wherein the top seat portion is supported along a majority of each of two or more of the sides by the rigid exo-skeletal frame.

17. The mobile storage system of claim 16, wherein each of the monitoring devices includes a cellular phone device.

18. The mobile storage system of claim 16, wherein each of the monitoring devices includes a GPS device.

19. The mobile storage system of claim 17, further comprising a graphical user interface for displaying the geographical locations of each of the mobile storage units.

20. A mobile storage unit comprising:

a) a rigid frame;

b) a flexible storage bag coupled to the rigid frame;

c) a first pair of wheels coupled at or near a base portion of the rigid frame structure for rolling the mobile storage unit while tilting the mobile storage unit backwards; and

d) one or more retractable support structures, wherein the retractable support structures provide support to the mobile storage unit when the mobile storage unit is in an upright position such that the mobile storage unit is prevented from tilting on the first pair of wheels, and further wherein the retractable support structures are able to be moved from a retracted position to an extended position while the mobile storage unit is in the upright position and the wheels are in contact with an external surface.

21. A mobile storage unit having a top surface defining a top surface perimeter, the mobile storage unit comprising:

a) a rigid frame;

b) a flexible storage bag coupled to the rigid frame;

c) a top seat portion having a top seat perimeter and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in an upright position, wherein three or more sides of the top seat perimeter substantially align with the top surface perimeter, and further wherein a majority of the top seat portion is parallel to the ground when the mobile storage unit is in an upright position;

d) a first pair of wheels coupled at or near a base portion of the rigid frame structure for rolling the mobile storage unit while tilting the mobile storage unit backwards;

e) one or more retractable support structures, wherein the retractable support structures provide support to the mobile storage unit when the mobile storage unit is in the upright position such that the mobile storage unit is prevented from tilting on the first pair of wheels; and

f) an extendable handle, wherein the entirety of the handle borders an outside edge of the top seat portion.

22. A mobile storage unit having a base area defining a base perimeter, the mobile storage unit comprising:

a) a rigid frame comprising a plurality of tubes that are substantially perpendicular to a top seat portion having a top seat perimeter, wherein three or more sides of the top seat perimeter substantially align with the base perimeter;

b) a flexible storage bag coupled to the rigid frame;

c) a first pair of wheels coupled at or near a base portion of the rigid frame structure for rolling the mobile storage unit while tilting the mobile storage unit backwards; and

d) one or more retractable support structures, wherein the retractable support structures provide support to the mobile storage unit when the mobile storage unit is in an upright position such that the mobile storage unit is prevented from tilting on the first pair of wheels;

wherein a majority of the top seat portion is flat such that a user is able to sit on the top seat portion.