There is a very great variety of holders for containing objects. Here can be envisaged for instance suitcases, bags, plastic bags, document cases, cases and the like with which diverse products can be stored and/or transported. Examples of products to be packed are for instance clothing, footwear, personal care products, sports equipment, books, stationery, documents, tools, electronics, equipment, food products, drinks, toys and so on. In the packing and transporting of such objects use is usually made of special holders for the individual products or of specific holders for specific types of object. In the packing and transporting of different products and varying volumes of products, it is usual in the prior art to use a plurality of separate holders for this purpose. The drawback of a plurality of separate holders for the diverse products is that this usually results in problems, such as for instance the separate holders being difficult to handle, inconvenient and unmanageable arrangement of the separate holders, incorrect ratio of volume of holders to objects to be held therein. Reference is made here by way of illustrative example to an average air traveller; he/she usually has a plurality of bags, plastic bags, cases and packages and succeeds only with difficulty in coping with the separate holders.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved holder for containing objects, in addition to a method for the use of such a holder with which the above stated problems are obviated or at least reduced.

The present invention provides for this purpose a holder for containing objects, comprising: at least two separate compartments adapted to receive objects, and a wrapping element for releasably coupling the compartments, which wrapping element is adapted to engage around at least one of the compartments, and connecting means for releasably connecting the wrapping element to the compartments. The wrapping element is preferably adapted to engage around at least two of the compartments. Such a holder has the significant advantage that the total volume of the holder, as well as the

arrangement of the holder, can be varied in extremely flexible manner. When a small volume of the holder is desired (for instance on a short business trip), a number of smaller compartments and/or a small number of compartments can be coupled by means of the wrapping element. It is possible here to envisage for instance a clothing compartment, a toilet bag, a document case and a compartment adapted for a laptop.

When a larger volume of the holder is desired, larger and/or a greater number of compartments can be coupled by means of the wrapping element. Here it is possible to envisage for instance a long holiday wherein a plurality of large clothing compartments can be coupled to a footwear compartment, a large toilet bag, a compartment for sports equipment, and a compartment for audio-visual means. Another very important advantage of the holder according to the invention is that it provides the option of combining a plurality of compartments (separate cases) into one whole in very simple manner. Here the separate compartments can moreover then be in large part protected by the wrapping element, whereby they are less vulnerable and whereby the assembly will less readily come into contact with (for instance catch on) the surroundings.

Another significant advantage of the holder according to the present invention is that the compartments can be reliably combined with the wrapping element without complex technical measures being required. The modularity of the holder also has the advantage that, as packing requirements change through time, the holder can have added thereto (or removed therefrom) determined compartments of the holder.

The compartments can take any desired form. A compartment can thus be formed by a closable bag. Sacks, cases, document cases and suitcases can for instance also be envisaged.

For an extra-reliable connection between the wrapping element and the compartments, connecting means can be applied in the form of coupling means combined with the compartments and counter-coupling means combined with the wrapping element, which coupling means are adapted to realize a releasable connection. Examples of such connecting means are for instance velcro tape, (push) buttons, buckles, snap connections or other close-fitting connecting constructions. In order to improve the mutual connection, the compartments can also be connectable in mutually releasable manner.

It is also advantageous if the wrapping element is provided with at least one gripping element. Such a gripping element is dependent on the desired options for use of the holder. Gripping elements can for instance be provided in the form of handgrips, straps, carrier frames, loops and/or hangers. For an even greater flexibility in the use of the holder, these gripping elements can optionally also be releasably connectable to the wrapping element.

For opening and closing thereof, the wrapping element is preferably provided with closing means. In order to be able to vary the volume of the compartments to be accommodated, it is desirable that the closing means of the wrapping element are adapted to fix the wrapping element as desired in any of a plurality of possible closed positions. The closing means can also be provided with a security device, for instance in the form of a lock, so that only authorized persons can open or close the closing element.

The wrapping element can also comprise at least one compartment. It is possible here to envisage a small compartment (sack) which is accessible by means of a zip, although it is also possible to provide the wrapping element with a large compartment. An example hereof is a wrapping element in the form of a suit bag, wherein the whole suit bag can be attached to a number of other compartments. The wrapping element can also be provided with insulating material, for instance to protect the compartments. Use can be made herein of resilient material (shock-damping), plate material (protection from local loads), thermally insulating material and so on. One or more compartments can of course equally well be provided with insulating material.

Yet another variant of the holder according to the invention has a wrapping element that is provided with at least one wheel. Such a holder can travel, as is also possible with already known suitcases.

The present invention furthermore provides a method for releasably coupling a plurality of separate compartments for containing objects, wherein at least two of the objects to be combined are placed in an opened wrapping element, whereafter the wrapping element is subsequently closed such that the wrapping element engages around the compartments. The separate compartments can herein be coupled to the wrapping

element and/or the compartments can be mutually coupled. The coupling and uncoupling of compartments in this way is simple. For the further advantages of the method according to the invention reference is made to the above described advantages of the holder according to the present invention.

The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the non-limitative exemplary embodiments shown in the figures hereinbelow. Herein: figure 1A is a perspective view of a holder according to the invention in a disassembled state, figure 1B shows the holder of figure 1A in an assembled state, figure 2 shows a second embodiment variant of the holder according to the invention, figure 3A is a perspective view of a third embodiment variant of a holder according to the invention in a disassembled state, and figure 3B shows the holder of figure 3A in an assembled state.

Figure 1A shows a number of different compartments 1,2, 3,4 for containing objects (not shown) in the form of wide bags 1, narrower bags 2 (one of which is embodied as backpack), a document holder 3 and a toilet bag 4. External pieces of velcro tape 5 are arranged on compartments 1, 2,3, 4. A wrapping element 6 is also shown in a flat (spread-out) position. Wrapping element 6 (also referred to as"wrap") is provided with two strips of velcro tape 7 which is adapted to co-act with the pieces of velcro tape 5 arranged on compartments 1,2, 3,4. Also shown are closing means 8 of wrapping element 6 with which the wrapping element 6 can be closed in different positions.

Figure lb shows a holder 9 assembled from the components shown in Figure 1A. Not shown in this figure is that the pieces of velcro tape 5 arranged on compartments 1, 2,3, 4 now engage the pieces of velcro tape 7. A stable coupling of compartments 1,2, 3,4 to wrapping element 6 is thus created. Also shown in this figure is a carrying strap 10 which is fastened to the outside of the wrapping element.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment variant of a holder 11. The holder is provided with coupling blocks 13 arranged on a wrapping element 12. These coupling blocks 13 co-act close-fittingly with recesses arranged for this purpose in compartments 14.

Holder 11 is also provided with a compartment 16 attached to the outside of the

wrapping element. In this figure wrapping element 12 is closed using a strap 17 secured with a lock 18. For simplified transport of holder 11 a handle 19 with a telescopic rod 20 is connected to wrapping element 12. Wheels 21 are also fixed to the wrapping element to allow travel of holder 11.

Figure 3A shows a suit bag 22 which also functions as wrapping element. Arranged on suit bag 22 are push buttons 23 for co-action with counter-push buttons 24 which are arranged on a suitcase 25 and a bag 26. Figure 3B shows a holder 27 assembled from the suit bag 22, suitcase 25 and bag 26. On the outside of bag 22 there is provided a handgrip 28 for simplified manipulation of holder 27.