HOLDER COMPRISING A FILLER BODY

The present invention relates to a holder, such as a bag, suitcase or backpack, for holding goods such as luggage in protective and/or enclosed manner.

When luggage is packed into a bag, suitcase or backpack, it frequently occurs that space is left over in the compartment for luggage. This space is usually the cause of luggage becoming disarranged in the holder. Luggage being jumbled together is often considered undesirable by the owner of the luggage. The reasons here for include the luggage becoming untidy and for instance that the luggage could be damaged by the movement back and forth.

During packing of luggage it is frequently the case that a case cannot be properly divided into compartments which match the luggage. Known solutions for securing luggage are, among others, the use of belts which can be tightened and/or the use of pockets and/or defined spaces.

Such solutions are not usually satisfactory because the luggage is only secured locally or because items of luggage have a size differing from the dimensions of the arranged compartments and/or pockets and/or defined spaces.

When luggage is transported in a bag, suitcase or backpack, luggage can also be damaged by a fall and/or a collision because the casing of the luggage compartment does not provide sufficient protection against shocks and impacts.

In order to obviate these drawbacks the present invention provides a holder, such as a bag, suitcase or backpack, for holding goods such as luggage in protective and/or enclosed manner, comprising: - a closable housing or enveloping body,

- a deformable filler body which can be arranged on the inner side of the housing or enveloping body and which can be filled with a fluid such as air, wherein:

- the filler body comprises flexible material with gas-tight properties, and

- the filler body comprises an inlet and/or outlet member for filling and emptying thereof.

An advantage of such a holder is that vulnerable luggage, for instance equipment such as a laptop, cameras and the like, can be enveloped in a protective body. The equipment can be clamped by means of the filling, thereby reducing freedom of movement. The equipment is hereby inhibited from movement so as to prevent a high speed of the equipment in the direction of the wall of the holder, which could result in damage. The different components of the luggage are also prevented from bumping against each other, or the speed of movement of such bumping is at least limited. Clothing can for instance also be positioned in the holder in a manner which limits creasing. The filler body further provides a cushion with which equipment can be protected from direct contact with for instance a ground surface on which a holder can fall.

The filler body is preferably attached fixedly in the holder, wherein familiarity can for instance develop dur- ing packing in respect of the position of the filler body. A user can for instance hereby place his/her laptop effortlessly in a laptop compartment bounded by the filler body. Alternatively, the filler body can be placed in loose or releasable manner in the holder. In such a case a laptop can for instance first be placed in the filler body on for instance a desk, and the entity of filler body and laptop can then be placed in the holder.

In a further preferred embodiment the filler body or the holder comprises shaping elements for imparting a pre- determined shape to the holder and/or the filler body when

the filler body is in a filled state. Partitions or ribs are for instance possible here in order to provide a predetermined shape of the filler body when the pressure increases from the inside. Stiffeners can for instance also be applied extending wholly or partially over a surface of the filler body. It is likewise possible to give at least a part of a wall of the holder a rigid form.

The holder preferably comprises an air pump. Using such an air pump present in the holder or on the holder, the filler body can be filled in simple manner before or after closing of the holder. A hose is for instance provided for this purpose between the pump and the filler body.

In a further preferred embodiment the air pump is cou- pled to or integrated with a handle of the holder. An advantage hereof is that for instance the rods of a slide- out handle can be provided on the inside thereof for transforming thereof to a pump. This is possible in the case of both single and double handle rods. It is further possible for the pump to comprise an electrical drive to allow the user to fill the filler body in simple manner. In the case of for instance a laptop bag it can be advantageous for the power supply of such an electrically driven pump to make use of an USB port of a computer such as for instance a laptop.

The inlet and/or outlet member preferably comprises a valve for simple filling of the filler body. If use is made of a disconnectable pump, disconnection can easily take place from a valve. If use is made of a permanently attached pump, undesirable outflow from the pump is prevented. A further advantage of a valve is that the air pressure in the filler body can be varied in simple manner.

A number of filler bodies can be placed simultaneously in the holder. An advantage hereof is that luggage that is

vulnerable or can crease can be protected from different sides by means of the filler bodies. The plurality of filler bodies can also be ordered per se in the form of a holder in the holder according to the present invention. In order to prevent damage the holder is preferably- provided with a pressure relief valve so that air can be let out of the filler body in the case a decrease in air pressure occurs in the direct vicinity of the holder. During travel involving great height differences, such as in the mountains or in aircraft, damage to the filler body and/or the holder and/or the luggage can hereby be prevented.

For practical use thereof, such a holder preferably comprises fixing means for simple fixing to a vehicle such as a cycle. This prevents damage which can occur due to impacts in the case of accidents with cycles, such accidents being a real possibility.

The thickness of the material of the filler body and the shaping elements is preferably variable. The firmness and flexibility for instance can hereby be modified subject to the use of the holder.

Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: - Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic view of the increase in the volume of a filler body according to the present invention; - Figure 3 shows a view of an embodiment in a first use carried by a user;

- Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment;

- Figure 5 shows a partly cut-away view of a further embodiment;

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5

- Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a detail of fig. 5.

A first embodiment (fig. 1) according to the present invention relates to a bag 1 for holding video and photo- graphic equipment 7,8,9,10. These pieces of equipment are placed stacked in the bag and, without the filled filler body or bladder 2, could move and bump against each other. According to the present invention the bag is provided with bladder 2 for filling empty space adjacently of the equipment and serving as cushion should the bag be dropped.

Such a bag can be applied in suitable manner in the transport of a small quantity of luggage in a relatively large bag or suitcase, and for instance when the luggage requires protection or when there is the danger of impacts. For instance during skiing with expensive luggage, such a bag is therefore suitable for protecting the luggage against impacts caused for instance by falling.

The bag comprises in cross-section substantially four walls, a rear wall 3, a front wall 5, a bottom wall or base 6 and a top wall 4. In practice the bag also comprises side walls. Bladder 2 is arranged against the front wall in order to fill empty space in the bag. For this purpose the bladder can be filled with air or another gas (mixture) 11. The bladder comprises an inner wall 12 which in the shown position of use is arranged against the devices 7-10. The cross-section shows clearly how the flexible wall 12 envelopes for instance device 8 by means of wall part 13 which extends round the form of device 8. In order to control the amount of air to be admitted, bladder 2 is provided with a valve 14 which in this embodiment is accessible from the outside of the bag and can thus be used when the bag is closed. In alternative embodiments the valve can be positioned such that it is situated on the inside of the bag.

Fig. 2 shows different forms of bladder 2, wherein the left-hand bladder is shown empty and the other two are shown full. The middle bladder inflates to a bulging form. The right-hand bladder is provided with connections be- tween the two walls 12 and 15 in a manner such that, also under pressure, both surfaces remain substantially parallel to each other. A flat form of a bag can hereby be retained while making use of such a bladder.

In Fig. 3 the bag is similar to the bag of Fig. 1 and provided with straps which make this bag suitable as backpack. In a manner per se known for a backpack use is made of shoulder straps 16 and a hip belt 17 which are strapped round the person.

Fig. 4 shows a suitcase 40 according to the present invention. In cross-section the case comprises four walls 41,42,43,44 which define a rigid form. A number of devices are placed in the case which only partially fill the volume, whereby the devices could move freely and could bump against each other. In order to prevent this, there is provided a bladder 47 which is arranged against upper wall 41 and which encloses the devices by means of the deform- able wall 46.

The bladder can be filled by means of a pump 48 and a valve 51 arranged between the pump and the bladder. The pump is operated by means of handle 49 which in the rest position is situated against side wall 43 of the case. Piston rod 50 is situated between the handle and the pump. In a suitable embodiment the handle can also be used as carrying handle for the case. A further embodiment (Fig. 5,6) relates to a laptop bag suitable for protecting a laptop computer from impacts. This bag comprises a computer compartment protected on either side by means of two bladders 62 for holding laptop 61. The bag also comprises a further compartment 74. The bag comprises a closing flap 66 which is fixed on

one side to the top part of rear wall 69. In addition to the rear wall, the bag also comprises front wall 68 and two side walls 67.

Both bladders 62 are connected by means of connecting hoses or tubes 71 and 72. Connecting hose 71 is connected to a pump 63 for inflating the bladders 62. This pump is located in a separate section of the bag. For emptying the bladders the hose 72 is connected to a valve 64 on the other side of the bag. The pump and the valves can also be arranged on the same side of the bag.

The use of the two bladders on either side of the computer compartment provides for a clamping against sliding, and therefore impacts. The bladders also per se provide protection of the computer against impacts in that an im- pact can be absorbed by the air pressure and the volume of the bladders.

The present invention is described in the foregoing on the basis of several preferred embodiments. Different aspects of different embodiments are deemed described in combination with each other, wherein all combinations which can be made by a skilled person on the basis of this document must be included. These preferred embodiments are not limitative for the scope of protection of this document. The rights sought are defined in the appended claims.