A carrying aid device and method for carrying wheeled luggage on the back, comprising wheeled luggage and such a carrying aid device.

Abstract

A carrying aid device for carrying on the back a wheeled piece of luggage (14) (15) equipped with a gripping device (16), said device comprising at least two straps, each in the form of a flexible band (6). Each strap is configured to form a loop at each end; the upper loop (3) at one end of each strap is equipped with a clasp configured to allow the upper loop (3) to move from an open to a closed state and vice versa, and the lower loop (4) at the other end of each strap is a permanently closed loop. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Carrying aid device and carrying method for carrying wheeled luggage on the back, assembly comprising wheeled luggage and such a carrying aid device

[0001] The present invention relates to a carrying aid device for carrying on the back a piece of wheeled luggage equipped with at least one gripping member, an assembly comprising a piece of wheeled luggage equipped with at least one gripping member and such a carrying aid device as well as a method for carrying a piece of wheeled luggage equipped with at least one gripping member using such a carrying aid device.

[0002] Suitcases or bags, in particular travel bags, equipped on their upper side face with a gripping member, such as a handle, for carrying by hand, and on their opposite lower side face, with wheels allowing these suitcases or bags to be pulled or pushed by rolling them on the ground, are known. The bags can also be equipped with a shoulder strap or straps that can be coupled at predetermined locations on the bag and arranged for this purpose to allow in particular carrying on the shoulder. However, these carrying solutions do not allow in particular the practice of cycling with such luggage in serene conditions.

[0003] An aim of the invention is to propose a carrying aid device whose simplified design allows luggage to be carried on the back without hindering other possibilities of transporting the luggage by hand or by rolling on the ground and without the need for any particular arrangement of the luggage.

[0004] To this end, the invention relates to a carrying aid device for carrying on the back a piece of wheeled luggage equipped with at least one gripping member, said device comprising at least two shoulder straps, each shoulder strap being in the form of a flexible strip, characterized in that each shoulder strap is configured to form a loop at each of its ends, in that the loop, called the upper loop, of one of the ends of each shoulder strap is equipped with a clasp configured to allow the passage of said upper loop from an open state to a closed state and vice versa and in that the loop, called the lower loop, of the other end of each shoulder strap is a permanently closed loop. The design of the carrying aid device allows such a device to be positioned on any type of wheeled luggage without requiring prior fitting of said luggage.Furthermore, the installation of such a carrying aid on luggage and its removal are quick and easy. The presence of shoulder straps guarantees comfortable and safe carrying. The presence of a permanently closed lower loop. prevents accidental release of the part of the luggage caught inside the lower loop. It should be noted that the terms lower and upper are taken with reference to their relative positioning in the carrying configuration. Thus, the lower loop arranged at the level of the wheels is positioned at a lower level than that occupied by the upper loop.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the invention, the clasp of the upper loop of at least one, preferably each of the straps comprises a male member and a female member which can be coupled / uncoupled, arranged axially offset along the strap with one of the male or female members respectively arranged at the end of said strap. This results in a rapid and intuitive closing and opening of the upper loop.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the invention, the male and female members are configured to be coupled to each other by snap-fastening.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the portion of the strap band extending between the male and female members is of adjustable length to allow a variation in the dimension of the upper loop in the direction of an enlargement or a reduction of the upper loop as a function of said length. This adjustment makes it possible to adjust the height position relative to the ground of the luggage carried. To allow such an adjustment, the portion of the strap band extending between the male and female members may be equipped with an adjustment member, such as an adjustment buckle.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower loop of at least one, preferably, of each strap, comprises a first portion of band formed by the end portion of the band constituting the strap and a second portion of band formed by a portion of the band constituting the strap adjoining this first portion of band, the first portion of band is folded over the second portion of band and is coupled to the second portion of band by a permanent connection.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the permanent connection comprises a seam.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the lower loop of at least one of the shoulder straps, preferably of each of the shoulder straps, comprises a system for adjusting the internal circumferential dimension of the lower loop. The adjustment system makes it possible, after introduction of the wheel or pair of wheels of a piece of luggage, such as a suitcase, into the lower loop, to tighten said lower loop, for example at the area where said wheel is connected to the body of the luggage.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the adjustment system comprises a self-locking part, said part being arranged on the first and second band portions of the lower buckle and mounted to slide on said first and second strip portions in the direction of moving the permanent connection closer or further apart, the closer position corresponding to the largest internal circumferential dimension of the lower loop. Preferably, said part is a self-locking loop for a strap known per se.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the band of each strap is divided into at least three sections and the intermediate section is wider than the width of the other sections. This results in improved comfort.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, one of the sections can be coupled to the intermediate section by a connection comprising a connecting piece called an ironing loop to allow the length of said strap to be adjusted.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a chest strap for connecting the shoulder straps together, said chest strap being equipped with an opening / closing device. Obviously, the chest strap extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shoulder straps.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, each strap comprises a loop with a handle, delimiting a part of the loop, positioned in the direction of the length of the strap and the chest strap is terminated at each of its ends by a loop surrounding a part of said loop, this loop being a sliding loop capable of sliding along said loop. This design allows easy adjustment of the positioning of the chest strap along the straps.

[0016] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising at least one piece of wheeled luggage equipped with at least one gripping member and a carrying aid device, characterized in that the carrying aid device is in accordance with that described above. In the carrying configuration, the lower loop of each shoulder strap is engaged with a wheel or a pair of wheels and the upper loop of each shoulder strap is engaged with the or one gripping member.

[0017] The invention also relates to a method for carrying on the back a piece of wheeled luggage equipped with at least one gripping member by implementing a carrying assistance device, characterized in that the carrying assistance device being in accordance with that described above, the method comprises a step of coupling the lower loop of each shoulder strap to a wheel or a pair of wheels and a step of coupling the upper loop of each shoulder strap to the or one of the gripping members of said luggage. It is thus sufficient to introduce a wheel or a pair of wheels of the luggage into each lower loop and to close the upper loop by surrounding a gripping member, such as a handle, preferably of the handle type, for placing the carrying assistance device on the luggage. Such placement requires only a few seconds. Brief description of the drawings

[0018] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] represents a perspective view of a carrying aid device in the state coupled to luggage installed on the back of a carrier;

[0020] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of a carrying aid device during of its positioning on luggage;

[0021] [Fig.3] represents a perspective view of a carrying aid device in the state coupled with luggage;

[0022] [Fig.4] represents a flat view of a carrying aid device conforming to the invention;

[0023] [Fig.5] represents a perspective view of detail A of [Fig.4];

[0024] [Fig.6] represents a flat view of detail B of [Fig.4];

[0025] [Fig.7] represents a perspective view of detail B of [Fig.4];

[0026] [Fig.8] shows a side view of a strap in the open state of the loop su superior;

[0027] [Fig.9] shows a side view of a strap in the closed state of the loop su superior.

[0028] The subject of the invention is a device 1 for assisting in carrying on the back a piece of luggage 14 with wheels 15 equipped with at least one gripping member 16, as illustrated in [Fig.l].

[0029] The luggage shown in the figures is a suitcase with a body, wheels 15 and at least one gripping member 16 in the form here of a handle. The body is of generally parallelepiped shape. This body comprises a bottom and a cover closing said bottom. The body comprises an upper lateral face on which the gripping member 16 is arranged in the form of a handle with a handle 12, a lower lateral face on which wheels 15 are mounted for rolling the luggage 14 on the ground, two lateral faces connecting the lower and upper lateral faces and two front faces capable of forming, one, a part of the bottom, the other, a part of the cover of the body.

[0030] Obviously, the invention is not limited to this type of wheeled suitcase and applies, in a similar manner, to wheeled bags.

[0031] The luggage 14 comprises at least two wheels 15 or pairs of wheels 15. In the example shown, four pairs of wheels 15 are provided, each arranged at a corner of the lower side face. Each wheel 15 or pair of wheels is connected to the body by a connecting zone which can take a large number of forms. The connecting zone is here formed by a projecting part of the body.

[0032] The carrying aid device 1 is positioned opposite one of the front faces of the suitcase. This carrying aid device 1 comprises two shoulder straps 2. Each strap 2 is intended, in the example shown, to connect the gripping member 16, forming a handle, arranged on the upper lateral face of the luggage body and a wheel, or pair of wheels, arranged on the opposite lower lateral face.

[0033] The straps 2 extend, in the state coupled to the luggage 14, in a divergent manner from the gripping member 16 towards the rollers 15, as in the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. Each strap 2 is in the form of a flexible strip which is generally in several parts of variable thickness, and occasionally in several layers.

[0034] Each strap 2 is shaped or conformable at each of its ends to form a loop. These loops are called, one, upper loop 3, the other, lower loop 4 by reference to their relative positioning on the wearer's back. Indeed, when the coupling of one of the loops, in this case the lower loop 4, is made at the level of the wheels 15 of the luggage 14, as is the case in the example of [Fig.l]. The coupling of the upper loop 3 takes place, for its part, at the level of the member 16 for gripping the luggage 14. Thus, each strap 2 is shaped at one of its ends to form the lower loop 4 and conformable at its other end to form the upper loop.

[0035] The upper loop 3 of each strap 2 is equipped with a clasp 5 configured to allow the upper loop 3 to pass from an open state to a closed state, and vice versa, and the other loop called the lower loop 4 of each strap 2 is a permanently closed loop.

[0036] The clasp 5 of the upper loop 3 is visible for example in [Fig. 5]. This clasp 5 comprises a male member 51 produced here in the form of an elastic part comprising several elastic tabs 11 and a female member 52 also produced in the form of a plastic part delimiting a cavity for housing said tabs. The tabs tighten when inserted into the cavity before moving apart inside the cavity to ensure coupling of the male 51 and female 52 members with each other.

[0037] The female member 5 comprises access ports inside the cavity to enable the tabs of the male member to be brought closer together, enabling, in parallel with a movement in the direction of disengagement of the male member 51 from the female member 52, an exit of the tabs from the cavity.

[0038] Such a clasp 5 is well known to those skilled in the art, and will not be described in further detail.

[0039] Other types of clasps with male and female members can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0040] The male member 51 and the female member 52 which can be coupled to each other by snap-fastening and uncoupled from each other, also by elastic deformation, are arranged in an axially offset manner along the strap 2 with one of the members male 51, or respectively female 52, arranged at the end of the strap 2.

[0041] In the example shown in [Fig.4], it is the male member 51 which is arranged at the end of the strap and the female member 52 which is arranged on the strap 2 in a part where the strap 2 widens.

[0042] In the example shown, the male member 51 incorporates a loop that has allowed the male member 51 to be fixed to the end of the flexible band 6 by passing the end of the band inside said loop before folding back on itself. At this fold zone, an elastic part called a self-locking adjustable loop can be provided. This adjustment loop is generally in the form of a square ring separated into two compartments by a spacer acting as a blocker. The band can, at this level, slide and be blocked once the sliding has been stopped.

[0043] Again, any other form of length adjustment of this portion of the band 6 of the strap extending between the male 51 and female 52 members can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0044] The fact that the portion of the band 6 of the strap 2 extending between the male 51 and female 52 members is of adjustable length allows a variation in the dimension of the upper loop 3 in the direction of an enlargement or a reduction of the upper loop 3 as a function of said length.

[0045] The variation in the dimension of the circumference or inner periphery of the upper loop 3 makes it possible to vary the total length of the strap 2 and consequently the height positioning of the baggage carried on the back using said straps 2. The lower loop 4 of each strap 2 is a permanently closed loop to limit the risks of untimely unhooking and to facilitate the installation of the carrying aid device on the baggage 14.

[0046] This lower loop 4 comprises, as in the example shown in [Fig.7], a first portion of strip 41 formed by the end portion of strip 6 constituting strap 2 and a second portion of strip 42 formed by a portion of strip 6 constituting strap 2 adjoining this first portion of strip 4L

[0047] The first strip portion 41 is folded over the second strip portion 42 and is coupled to the second strip portion 42 by a permanent connection 43 which here comprises a seam.

[0048] This lower loop 4 comprises a system 7 for adjusting the internal circumferential dimension of the lower loop 4 visible in Figures 6 and 7. The adjustment system 7 comprises a self-locking part 71. This self-locking part 71 is arranged on the first and second strip portions 41 and 42 of the lower loop 4 and mounted to slide on said first and second portions of band 41, 42 in the direction of moving closer to or further away from the permanent connection 43.

[0049] The close position corresponds to the largest internal circumferential dimension of the lower loop 4. This self-locking part 71 is a commercial part called an adjustment loop.

[0050] This part, generally made of plastic, is in the form of a square ring separated into two compartments by a spacer in the form of a bar. Before making the seam, forming the permanent connection 43, the end of the strip is introduced into the first compartment, then into the second compartment of this self-locking part 71. The self-locking part 71 is slid onto the strip to a position not extending beyond the location chosen by the permanent connection 43. The end of the strip is then folded back on itself and passed again through the self-locking part 71.

[0051] The permanent connection 43 can, at this stage, be made. The self-locking part 71 can then slide along the first and second portions of strip, as illustrated in [Fig.7], depending on the desired dimension for the lower loop 4. It is thus sufficient, for example, to introduce a wheel or pair of wheels of the luggage 14 into said lower loop, then to tighten the lower loop 4 around the connection zone of the wheel or pair of wheels to the body of the luggage to ensure the attachment of one end of the strap 2 to a piece of luggage.

[0052] In the examples shown, it is noted that the strip 6 of each strap 2 is divided into three sections 61, 62, 63. The section 62, called intermediate, is of a width greater than the width of the other sections 61 and 63 called end sections.

[0053] One of the end sections, in this case the end section 63 with the lower loop 4, is connected by a connection comprising a connecting piece called a loop 8 to the intermediate section 62 to allow adjustment in length of said strap 2.

[0054] Again, such an ironing buckle is well known to those skilled in the art for adjusting the length of straps.

[0055] This ironing loop comprises, in a manner similar to that described above, a square ring divided by a transverse bar into two compartments. This ring is here externally equipped with a handle for fixing said ring by means of a closed loop strap to the intermediate section.

[0056] The end section of the band passes into one of the compartments of the ring, surrounds the bar before passing into the other compartment. The sliding of this portion of band in the compartments allows a length adjustment of this portion of band and consequently a length adjustment of the strap 2.

[0057] To complete the carrying aid device 1, the device 1 comprises a strap chest strap 9 for connecting the shoulder straps 2 together. The chest strap 9 is equipped with an opening / closing device 10. This opening / closing device 10 may be formed by a male element and a female element of the type described above for the upper buckle. The male and female members can therefore be coupled by snap-fastening and uncoupled by elastic deformation.

[0058] The chest strap extends transversely to the shoulder straps 2 and connects them together. The opening / closing device divides the chest strap into two sections. The opening device is arranged in the middle of the chest strap when the two sections of the strap, which can be adjustable in length, are set to the same length.

[0059] To allow variable positioning of the chest strap along the shoulder straps 2, each shoulder strap 2 comprises a loop 11 with a handle 12 delimiting a part of the loop 11 positioned in the length direction of the shoulder strap 2. The chest strap 9 is terminated, at each of its ends, by a loop 13 surrounding a part of said loop 11. In the example shown in [Fig.4], this loop 13 is a sliding loop capable of sliding along the loop 11.

[0060] Thus, the position of the chest strap 9 is modified by simple sliding movement along the shoulder straps 2. This adjustment can be carried out in the closed or open position of the chest strap.

[0061] The use of a carrying aid device 1, as described above, is carried out as follows. It is assumed that the two shoulder straps 2 are each pre-equipped with a section of the chest strap 9. A wheel or pair of wheels 15 of the luggage 14 is introduced into the lower loop 4 of each shoulder strap 2. The lower loop 4 is then tightened around the area connecting the wheel or pair of wheels to the body of the luggage 14 by sliding movement of the self-locking part 71 of the system 7 for adjusting the internal circumferential dimension of the lower loop 4.

[0062] The upper loop 3, which is in the open state, is introduced by its free end equipped with one of the male or female members of the clasp 5 under the handle 12 forming the gripping member 16 of the luggage 14 before being closed. The attachment of the straps 2 to the luggage 14 is completed.

[0063] The wearer can then insert each of his arms between a strap and the body of the luggage to position the luggage 14 on his back, like a backpack.

[0064] The chest strap 9 is closed by means of the opening / closing device 10 and possibly adjusted in position by sliding along the loops 11 of the straps 2. The length of the straps 2 can also be adjusted by using the ironing buckles 8. The length adjustment of the straps is then completed.

[0065] To proceed with the separation of the device 1 for assisting in carrying the luggage 14, proceeds in the opposite manner. This carrying aid device 1 can be applied to any type of luggage, without the need for any particular adaptation of the luggage to such a carrying aid device 1.

Claims

Claims

1. Carrying aid device (1) for carrying on the back a piece of luggage (14) with wheels (15) equipped with at least one gripping member (16), said device comprising at least two shoulder straps (2), each shoulder strap (2) being in the form of a flexible strip (6), characterized in that each shoulder strap (2) is configured to form a loop at each of its ends, in that the loop, called the upper loop (3), of one of the ends of each shoulder strap (2) is equipped with a clasp (5) configured to allow the passage of said upper loop (3) from an open state to a closed state and vice versa and in that the loop, called the lower loop (4), of the other of the ends of each shoulder strap (2) is a permanently closed loop.

2. Carrying aid device according to claim 1, characterized in that the clasp (5) of the upper loop (3) of at least one, preferably each of the straps (2) comprises a male member (51) and a female member (52) which can be coupled / uncoupled, arranged in an axially offset manner along the strap (2) with one of the male (51) or female (52) members respectively, arranged at the end of said strap (2).

3. Carrying aid device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the male (51) and female (52) members are configured to be coupled to each other by snap-fastening.

4. Carrying aid device (1) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the portion of the strap (2) band (6) extending between the male (51) and female (52) members is of adjustable length to allow a variation in the dimension of the upper loop (3) in the direction of an enlargement or a reduction of the upper loop as a function of said length.

5. Carrying aid device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lower loop (4) of at least one, preferably, of each strap (2), comprises a first portion of band (41) formed by the end portion of the band (6) constituting the strap (2) and a second portion of band (42) formed by a portion of the band (6) constituting the strap (2) adjoining this first portion of band (41), in that the first portion of band (41) is folded over the second portion of band (42) and is coupled to the second portion of band (42) by a permanent connection (43).

6. Carrying aid device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the permanent connection (43) comprises a seam.

7. Carrying aid device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the lower loop (4) of at least one of the shoulder straps (2), preferably of each of the shoulder straps (2), comprises a system (7) for adjusting the internal circumferential dimension of the lower loop (4).

8. Carrying aid device (1) according to claim 7 taken in combination with one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the adjustment system (7) comprises a self-locking part (71), said part (71) being arranged on the first and second strip portions (41, 42) of the lower loop (4) and mounted to slide on said first and second strip portions (41, 42) in the direction of moving the permanent connection (43) closer to or further apart, the closer position corresponding to the largest internal circumferential dimension of the lower loop (4).

9. Carrying aid device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the strip (6) of each strap (2) is divided into at least three sections (61, 62, 63) and in that the intermediate section (62) is of a width greater than the width of the other sections (61, 63).

10. Carrying aid device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that one (61; 63) of the sections can be coupled to the intermediate section (62) by a connection comprising a connecting piece called an ironing loop (8) to allow the length of said strap (2) to be adjusted.

11. Carrying aid device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the device (1) comprises a chest strap (9) for connecting the shoulder straps together, said chest strap (9) being equipped with an opening / closing device (10).

12. Carrying aid device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that each strap (2) comprises a loop (11) with a handle (12), delimiting a part of the loop (11), positioned in the length direction of the strap (2) and in that the chest strap (9) is terminated at each of its ends by a loop (13) surrounding a part of said loop (11), this loop (13) being a sliding loop capable of sliding along said loop (11).

13. Set comprising at least one piece of wheeled luggage equipped with at least one gripping member (16) and a carrying aid device (1), ca- characterized in that the carrying aid device (1) conforms to one of claims 1 to 12.

14. Method for carrying on the back a piece of luggage (14) with wheels (15) equipped with at least one gripping member (16) by implementing a carrying assistance device (1), characterized in that the carrying assistance device (1) being in accordance with one of claims 1 to 12, the method comprises a step of coupling the lower loop (4) of each strap (2) to a wheel (15) or a pair of wheels and a step of coupling the upper loop (3) of each strap (2) to the or one of the gripping members (16) of said luggage (14).

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