Mobile storage unit

• US 9,913,516 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2016
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• 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:
  US15/357,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20170065043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 280655, 280652, 2806551, 2805681, 2805721, 280651, 280639, 280326, 280 4725, 280 20, 280 8705, 280 4721, 280 4727, 280 4718, 280 47131, 280 4716, 280 4717, 280 472, 280 4724, 280 4726, 280 47315, 190 18, 190123, 190127, 190122, 190107
• 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 frame structure with an open front portion and one or more side plate features, the rigid frame structure being configured for supporting a seat and for framing a storage area;

b) a flexible storage bag with a main storage compartment and that couples to the rigid frame such that the flexible storage bag is positioned within the open storage region; and

c) a top seat portion having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in an upright position, wherein the top seat portion is supported by the rigid frame along a length more than half of a full length of both the first side and the second side, wherein the top seat portion at least partially rests upon the rigid 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 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.

7. The mobile storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring device coupled for 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 frame and one or more side plate features that frames a storage region that is accessible from an open front and configured to hold a bag to be coupled to the rigid frame;

b) a bag with a main storage compartment coupled to the rigid frame such that the flexible storage bag is positioned within the storage region; and

c) a top seat portion having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in an upright position, wherein the top seat portion is supported by the rigid frame along a length more than half of a full length of both the first side and the second side, wherein the top seat portion at least partially rests upon the rigid frame.

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, further comprising means for stabilizing the mobile storage unit in the upright position comprising retractable kick stand features that extend and retract from the rigid 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 a plurality of outside pocket features that are accessible through one or more of the open front and the two open sides of the 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 unit comprising:

a) a rigid frame comprising a frame and one or more side plate features and forming an open storage area;

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; and

d) a top seat portion having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in an upright position, wherein the top seat portion is supported by the rigid frame along a length more than half of a full length of both the first side and the second side, wherein the top seat portion at least partially rests upon the rigid frame.

17. A mobile storage unit comprising:

a) a frame structure comprising a frame and one or more side plate features for framing a storage area configured to hold a flexible storage bag to be coupled to the frame structure;

b) a seat having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in an upright position, wherein a top seat portion is supported by the frame structure along a length more than half of a full length of both the first side and the second side, wherein the seat at least partially rests upon the frame structure; and

c) a plurality of wheels coupled to the frame structure for rolling the mobile storage unit.

18. A mobile storage unit comprising:

a) a frame structure comprising a frame and one or more side plate features for framing a storage area configured to hold a flexible storage insert to be coupled to the frame structure;

b) a seat having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in an upright position, wherein a top seat portion is supported by the frame structure along a length more than half of a full length of both the first side and the second side, wherein the seat at least partially rests upon the frame structure; and

c) a plurality of wheels coupled to the frame structure for rolling the mobile storage unit.

19. A mobile storage unit comprising:

a) a rigid frame structure with an open front portion and one or more side plate features, the rigid frame structure being configured for supporting a seat and for framing a storage area;

b) a flexible insert forming a main storage compartment, wherein the flexible insert couples to the rigid frame while positioned within the open storage region; and

c) a top seat portion having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in an upright position, wherein the top seat portion is supported by the rigid frame along a length more than half of a full length of both the first side and the second side, wherein the top seat portion at least partially rests upon the rigid frame structure.

20. The mobile storage unit of claim 19, further comprising wheels and an extendable handle for rolling the mobile storage unit.

21. A mobile storage unit comprising:

a) a substantially rectangular and rigid frame and one or more side plate features that frames a storage region that is accessible from an open front and configured to hold an insert to be coupled to the rigid frame;

b) an insert forming a main storage compartment coupled to the rigid frame and positioned within the storage region; and

c) a top seat portion having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in an upright position, wherein the top seat portion is supported by the rigid frame along a length more than half of a full length of both the first side and the second side, wherein the top seat portion at least partially rests upon the rigid frame.

22. The mobile storage unit of claim 21, further comprising wheels and an extendable handle for rolling the mobile storage unit.

23. The mobile storage unit of claim 21, wherein the insert is formed from a flexible fabric material.

24. A mobile storage unit comprising:

a) a rigid frame comprising a frame and one or more side plate features forming an open storage area;

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; and

d) a top seat portion having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, and configured to sit on while the mobile storage unit is in an upright position, wherein the top seat portion is supported by the rigid frame along a length more than half of a full length of both the first side and the second side, wherein the top seat portion at least partially rests upon the rigid frame.