Wrapping device for a luggage

The invention concerns a wrapping device for a luggage according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore the invention concerns a luggage item including a wrapping device.

Considerable effort has been spent to prevent baggage mishandling that not only allows terrorists to insert dangerous goods such as explosives or chemicals into luggage, but also allows corrupt employees to remove items from luggage. The term mishandling includes baggage tampering, which is the opening of luggage by airline and airport employees or other employees entrusted with the luggage. In addition to the threat of terrorism, baggage tampering is a significant financial burden and inconvenience for travelers and insurance companies and also damages the reputation and income of airlines, airports, and tourist destinations. Passengers are justifiably concerned about the possibility of being arrested and detained in foreign prisons for life or even sentenced to death as a result of detection of illegal drugs or other contraband found in their luggage with no way of proving that the illegal items were placed in the luggage without the knowledge of the passengers.

For this reason, a method of protecting luggage from tampering has been disclosed in WO2007/ 120266, which includes the following steps:

(a) receiving a piece of luggage at a baggage check-in station;

(b) encoding passenger and routing information at the baggage check- in station onto an identification tag;

(c) attaching the identification tag to the piece of luggage; (d) placing the piece of luggage on a baggage conveyor and conveying the piece of luggage to a security inspection station inside a secure area that excludes all unauthorized personnel;

(e) conveying the piece of luggage on the baggage conveyor to a scanning station to detect and decode the identification tag;

(f) conveying the piece of luggage on the baggage conveyor to a wrapping station;

(g) when an identification tag is detected, continuing from step (h), else continuing from step (j);

(h) when the identification tag indicates that the piece of luggage is to be wrapped, continuing from step (i), else continuing from step (j);

(i) wrapping the piece of luggage automatically; and

(j) conveying the piece of luggage through the wrapping station to a baggage receiving station.

In another embodiment, an apparatus for avoiding tampering of luggage includes: a tag encoder unit for recording passenger and routing information onto an identification tag and for dispensing the identification tag for attaching to a piece of luggage at a baggage check-in station; a baggage conveyor for receiving the piece of luggage at the baggage check- in station and for conveying the piece of luggage from the baggage check- in station through a secure area that excludes all unauthorized personnel; a scanning station for scanning the piece of luggage to detect and decode the

identification tag and to measure dimensions of the piece of luggage; and a wrapping station for wrapping the piece of luggage automatically and for conveying the piece of luggage through the wrapping station without wrapping the piece of luggage. This relatively complex method and the corresponding apparatus may cause a delay in the transportation of luggage if one of the process steps is not executed in a timely manner. Thus any stop of the apparatus may result in a delay in luggage transport, which may result in late delivery of the luggage to the airplane and increase the risk of luggage getting delayed or lost. Currently, a service is offered at airports for passengers wishing to protect their luggage by wrapping it into a plastic foil. The luggage of the passenger is thereby protected against damage during transport. In order to avail himself to such a service the passenger places the luggage onto a rotatable disk of a luggage wrapping machine which is shown in Fig. 8 or Fig. 9. The luggage wrapping machine is configured as a stationary installation. A sheet of plastic foil is attached to the luggage, the disk is rotated and thereby the sheet of plastic foil is spun around the luggage so as to form a protective shell made up of a plurality of foil sheets.

The machine can process only a single piece of luggage at the time. Therefore passengers may be required to wait for a considerable period of time in order to get their luggage wrapped during demand peaks for this service.

Therefore there is a need to reduce or even to eliminate such waiting periods, which may result in considerable delays for the passenger. Cases have been reported, which resulted in missed flights for passengers in need of the service.

It is therefore the object of the invention to propose an improved wrapping device for luggage with which the previously described disadvantages of the prior art are avoided.

The subject matters of the invention satisfying these objects are indicated by the features of the independent claims 1 and 24. The corresponding improved method for wrapping a luggage is subject of independent claim 25.

The dependent claims relate to particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention. The invention further relates to a kit of parts comprising a piece of luggage and a wrapping device according to any of the preceding claims attachable to the piece of luggage. A luggage wrapping device for a luggage comprises a support element wherein the support element has a height, a width and a thickness, whereby at least the thickness of the support element is smaller than the thickness of the luggage. The support element contains a dispensing element for a wrapping element.

According to an embodiment, the support element is attachable to the luggage. In particular, the height is at maximum corresponding to the height of the luggage. Thus, the support element can be conveniently carried along with the luggage. Furthermore, the width is advantageously at maximum corresponding to the width of the luggage.

The thickness is preferably at maximum corresponding to one third of the thickness of the luggage. In particular, the thickness is at maximum one fifth of the thickness of the luggage. Particularly preferred, the thickness is at maximum one tenth of the thickness of the luggage.

Thus the luggage does not become unduly bulky due to the additional support element provided.

According to an embodiment of the luggage wrapping device a support element comprises a fixing element for the attachment of the support element to the luggage. The fixing element may allow for a temporary fixing of the support element to the luggage. The user thus may use the luggage with and without a support element. In particular, if the luggage is

transported only in a car or by train and is handled only by or under supervision of the passenger, a wrapping of the luggage may for such trips not be required. Thus the support element is detachable from the luggage and may conveniently be left at home. The fixing element may comprise in particular one of a zip, a snap element, a clip element or a hook and loop fastener.

According to an embodiment, the dispensing element is arranged in an interior space formed by the support element. Thus the dispensing element is safely stored inside the support element and may not be damaged when not in use. Advantageously the support element contains an opening for accessing the dispensing element. In case the support element is designed for a plurality of uses, the opening is advantageously closeable by a closure element.

The dispensing element comprises a storage space for the wrapping element. According to an embodiment the wrapping element is a foil. The foil may be stored on a roller element inside the storage space or may be piled up as a sequence of plied layers depending on the size of the storage space provided.

The wrapping element may advantageously be made of a plastic material. The plastic material can be conveniently manufactured in any desired shape, it can be rigid or flexible and is usually readily available for being supplied as original equipment or for replacement. Not only the wrapping element, but also the support element may be made of plastic material.

Furthermore the machinery for plastics processing is readily available and is easily adaptable to manufacture the sheet material forming the intermediate product to form the support element. Under plastic material any type of polymeric material is to be understood that is manufactured from an organic, thus a carbon based monomer., pol The sheet material may be cut to the desired shape and sewed or glued or otherwise joined together.

A plastic material includes but is in no way limited to at least one of a polyolefin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, an ethylene copolymer, such as ethyl vinyl acetate, a vinyl polymer such as polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, a fluor polymer, such as a polye thyleneterephtalate, a poly acrylic polymer, such as polyacrylnitrile, a polyacrylate, such a polymethylmethacrylate, a polyoxymethylene, a polyamide, particularly preferred a denim nylon fabric, a polyetheretherketone or a polyimide. In particular, the plastic material can comprise one of a polyester, particularly preferred a polyester lining, a 600D polyester or a solid polyester. According to an embodiment, the plastic material contains an elastomer. By the addition of an elastomer, the flexibility of the wrapping element can be enhanced. As a consequence a tight fit of the plastic material on the surface of the luggage may be ensured. Furthermore a substantially smooth surface can be formed by the wrapping, thus any upstanding portions may be avoided, forming possible obstacles for luggage handling machines. In particular, the elastomer is a thermoplastic elastomer.

For exposure to automatic handling and a plurality of position changes on the way of the luggage from the check-in point to the conveyor belt delivering the luggage to the passenger after landing of the flight, the plastic material may contain a reinforcement. Such a reinforcement can contain at least one of a woven or non-woven mat. According to a manufacturing method such a woven or non- woven mat may be impregnated with plastic material. Thus a composite made of the plastic material and the reinforcement is formed. If a plastic material of high durability is used, the longevity of the reinforced plastic material may be improved. The reinforcement can be at least one of a glass fiber, a carbon fiber, an aramid fiber or a metal fiber. It may also be possible to reuse the wrapping element, in particular if the wrapping element is made of flexible plastic material of a high strength. Such a high strength may be obtained by the choice of the plastic material, the choice of the reinforcement or a combination thereof. After use the wrapping element may be stored away in the support element.

Alternatively the support element or the wrapping element can contain at least one of a woven or non-woven material, in particular a fabric, preferably a full lining or a printing lining. According to an embodiment the dispensing element comprises a roller element for dispensing the wrapping element therefrom. Such a roller element may be conveniently used to store the wrapping element in a very compact manner. The wrapping element may comprise a plastic foil, which could be provided at sufficient length in order to be used at least for two occasions.

According to an embodiment the support element can itself be disposable after a plurality of uses. Thus the support element may be used as long as wrapping element may be dispensed. Once the wrapping element is used up, the support element may be disposed of and be replaced by a new support element. The luggage has a front side and a rear side, wherein the support element is attached to the rear side of the luggage. According to this embodiment, a large surface may be provided for the support element, which has the consequence that this surface can contain a storage space of the same surface as the interior of the luggage. According to this embodiment, the support element may have a very small thickness as compared to its height and width. The luggage including the support element does not become overly bulky which allows for an easy handling of the luggage including the support element by the passenger.

Alternatively the support element may be foreseen on the top side of the luggage. In this case the surface of the storage space is just determined by the width and thickness of the luggage. Thus, a more significant value for the height of the support element should be foreseen. Even if the overall height dimensions of such a luggage may be increased as compared to the previous embodiment, a conventional trolley construction may be used for the luggage. In particular the support element may be designed to be retrofit onto an existing trolley.

The invention further relates to a kit comprising a luggage and a support element, wherein the support element is attachable to the luggage.

The invention further relates to a method for wrapping a luggage, comprising the steps of attaching a support element to the luggage, extracting a wrapping element from the support element and wrapping the wrapping element around the luggage. In particular the wrapping element can be wrapped also around the support element. The support element may contain an opening, which is opened prior to extracting the wrapping element from the support element. The opening can be closed, before the wrapping is terminated.

It has become by means of any of the embodiments as disclosed above possible for the first time to overcome the problem of delays in the check-in area of an airport due to a shortage in wrapping devices.

In accordance with the invention the luggage wrapping device only adds a minor amount of weight to the luggage and may be carried along by the passenger together with the luggage. The description as well as the embodiments disclosed serve only as examples explaining the structure and mode of operation of the invention. Further advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims as well as in the drawings. In addition single features of the embodiments described or shown in the drawings can be combined in an arbitrary manner.

The invention will be explained in more detail in the following with reference to the drawings. There are shown in a schematic representation:

Fig. 1 a piece of luggage with a luggage wrapping device attached

thereto according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 2 a second embodiment of a luggage wrapping device

Fig. 3 the luggage wrapping device according to the second

embodiment after opening the closure element

Fig. 4 the luggage wrapping device according to the second

embodiment during extraction of the wrapping element

Fig. 5 the luggage wrapping device in the final state

Fig. 6 a third embodiment of a luggage wrapping device Fig. 7 a fourth embodiment of a luggage wrapping device

Fig. 8 a luggage wrapping machine according to the prior art

Fig. 9 the luggage wrapping machine of Fig. 8 in operation

In Fig. 1 , there is shown a first embodiment of a luggage wrapping device in accordance with the invention, which is designated as a whole by the reference numeral 1 in the following. The luggage wrapping device 1 consists of a luggage 2 and a support element 3. The support element 3 is attached to the luggage 2 either permanently or temporarily. A temporary attachment may be provided by a fixing element, which is not visible in Fig. 1. The support element 3 may be either attached to the top side, the bottom side, or one of the side surfaces of the luggage. The support element 3 has a height 6, a width 7 and a thickness 8. At least the thickness of the support element is smaller than the thickness of the luggage. The support element 3 contains a dispensing element 4 for a wrapping element 5. The height 6 of the support element 3 is corresponding to the height 16 of the luggage 2. The width 7 of the support element 3 corresponds to the width 17 of the luggage. The thickness 8 of the support element 3 is less than the thickness 18 of the luggage. The dispensing element 4 is arranged in an interior space 10 formed by the support element 3. The support element 3 contains an opening 1 1 for accessing the dispensing element 4. The opening 1 1 may be closed by a closure element 12. The dispensing element 4 comprises a storage space 14 for the wrapping element 5. Alternatively the wrapping element 5 may be stored inside the interior space 10 of the support element. In particular, the wrapping element may be a foil 15, which is flexible as to be wound around the luggage 2 and possibly the support element 3.

Fig. 2 to Fig. 5 show a second embodiment of the invention. Elements having the same function as disclosed in Fig. 1 carry the same reference numbers. Fig. 2 shows a luggage 2 with a support element 3 attached thereto on a front side 13. The term front side and rear side uniquely refer to the position in Fig. 2 and the subsequent Figs. Advantageously the support element is mounted in such a way that it does not interfere with the access for the passenger to the contents of the luggage. Fig. 2 does not contain the representation of any pockets, nor any elements for opening or closing the storage space of the luggage which are known in the art and which are omitted. The rear side 23 of the luggage may be disposed with such opening elements. In addition or alternatively thereto opening elements may be provided on one of the side surfaces or the top surface or the bottom surface. In the representation of Fig. 2 the top surface contains a handle.

Alternatively or in addition thereto handles may be provided on any other of the surfaces. The handle may be extractable or may be provided with a system for elongation, such as telescopic bars. The system for elongation may be stored in a space provided between the luggage space and the interior space of the support element 3. The support element 3 is shown in the closed state in Fig. 2. An opening 1 1 providing access to the storage space containing the wrapping element is closed by a closure element 12. The outside dimensions of the support element 3 correspond to the

dimensions as shown in Fig. 1 , therefore it is referred to the description of Fig. 1. A plurality of fixing elements 9 is shown. The fixing elements may in particular allow for the disassembly of the support element 3 from the luggage 2 in case the support element is not needed or needs to be

replenished with a wrapping element.

Fig. 3 shows the luggage wrapping device according to the second

embodiment after opening the closure element, thus when the wrapping is about to be initiated by the passenger. The closure element 12 is opened to provide access to the dispensing element 4, which has the shape of a slit-like opening inside the opening 1 1 containing a wrapping element, such as a foil.

According to an alternative embodiment, the opening 1 1 of the closure element 12 may provide direct access to the wrapping element stored in the storage space 14 of the dispensing element. Thus the slit-like opening shown in Fig. 3 may also be omitted. Fig. 4 shows the luggage wrapping device 1 according to the second embodiment during extraction of the wrapping element 5. The wrapping element is a foil 15, which is torn out of the dispensing element 4

represented by a slit like opening. The foil is shown as a transparent flexible sheet so as not to obstruct the view onto the elements of the luggage wrapping device. The foil of the required length to cover at least the entire circumference of the luggage is extracted from the dispensing element 4. The foil is wound around the luggage 2 and the support element 3. Fig. 4 includes also a variant of the closure element 12. The closure element 12 consists of a supporting beam 20. At the distal end of the supporting beam 20, a disk element 21 is foreseen which is rotatably mounted on a central bearing element 24. The disk element 21 contains a pair of pins 22, which extend upwardly from the upper surface of the disk element 21. These pins 22 may engage with corresponding reception elements provided in the opening 1 1 of the dispensing element 4.

Fig. 5 shows the luggage wrapping device 1 in the final state after the wrapping process has been completed by the passenger. The wrapping element 5 extends around the circumference and also covers the dispensing element. The closure element 12 is then pressed into the opening 1 1 so as to close the storage space 14 of the dispensing element 4. A locking element, such as a hook mechanism, a snap connection may be provided on the closure element 12 and/ or in the opening 1 1 to keep the closure element in a closed state during the trip.

Fig. 6 shows a third embodiment of a luggage wrapping device in which the closure element is of substantially rectangular shape. This shape may have the advantage, that the wrapping element is tensioned in the same degree over the entire circumference of the luggage 2. Fig. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the luggage wrapping device. The luggage wrapping device 1 of Fig. 7 also consists of a luggage 2 and a support element 3. The support element 3 has a height 6, a width 7 and a thickness 8. At least the thickness of the support element 8 is smaller than the thickness 18 of the luggage 2. In addition the height 16 of the luggage is greater than the height of the support element 3. The support element 3 contains a dispensing element 4 for a wrapping element 5. The support element 3 is attached to the luggage 2 by fixing element 9. The width 7 of the support element 3 corresponds to the width 17 of the luggage. The thickness of the support element 3 is less than the thickness 18 of the luggage. In particular, a space for a handle 19 may be foreseen and the support element may be arranged next to the handle. The dispensing element 4 is arranged in an interior space 10 formed by the support element 3. The support element 3 contains an opening 1 1 for accessing the dispensing element 4 and the opening 1 1 may be closed by a closure element, which is not shown in Fig. 7. The dispensing element 4 comprises a storage space 14 for the wrapping element 5. In particular, the wrapping element may be a foil 15, which may be formed as a bag. The foil is flexible and shown as a transparent element as to make the underlying parts visible. Of course, the foil may be of any color and may be composed of any of the materials as described earlier. The foil may be wrapped around the luggage 2 and the support element 3. The foil may be disposed with a closure element in the shape of a rope. The rope may be torn in a way to close the opening of the bag formed by the foil. Any type of knot may protect the bag during transport from being opened.

Fig. 8 shows a luggage wrapping machine 30 according to the prior art. The luggage wrapping machine 30 consists of a basement 31 , a rotatable disk 32 serving as a support for the luggage and a foil supply element 33. The rotatable disk is positioned on the basement 31 and may be driven by an electric motor, which is not shown in Fig. 8. The foil supply element 33 is mounted on a frame 34 mounted on the basement 31. The foil supply element 33 is disposed with a roller support 35. The roller support 35 receives a foil roller, which contains the foil for the wrapping of the luggage. The foil roller is not shown in Fig. 8 in order to provide a better view on the foil supply element 33. The foil supply element 33 is vertically movable. The foil supply element 33 is attached to the guide element 36 by two gripping elements 41. The foil supply element 33 is attached to a chain 37. The chain 37 is moved by a chain moving gear element 38. The chain moving gear element 38 may be driven also by an electric motor, which is mounted inside the frame 34 and therefore not visible. A control panel 39 is provided for controlling the rotation of the rotatable disk 32, the positioning of the adjustable vertical rods as well as the movement of the foil supply element 33.

Fig. 9 shows the luggage wrapping machine 30 of Fig. 8 in operation. A luggage 2 is fixed onto the luggage wrapping machine. Furthermore a roller 42 is placed into the roller support 35. The roller 42 contains a foil, which is wound thereupon and thus serves as a source for a sheet of foil of indefinite length. The width of the sheet is determined by the length of the roller 42. The sheet consists of a flexible foil 15, which is shown as a transparent element, so as not to obstruct the view onto parts covered by the foil after wrapping. In order to get the luggage wrapped by the luggage wrapping machine, the passenger places the luggage onto the rotatable disk 32 of the luggage wrapping machine. The rotatable disk 31 is disposed with two vertical rods 40, which fix the luggage in an upright position in the luggage wrapping machine. Thus the luggage 2 rotates together with the rotatable disk. A sheet of plastic foil is detached from the roller, placed onto the outer surface of the luggage and attached to the luggage. A manual operation may be required to attach the foil to the luggage. Then the rotary movement of the rotatable disk is started by starting the motor by pushing the appropriate button on the control panel 39. Due to the fact that this operation involves some skill on part of the person handling the equipment, a trained operator is required to supervise the operation of the luggage wrapping machine. Furthermore, the rotation of the rotatable disk may lead to accidents if users who are not accustomed to handle the machine, operate the machine without supervision or prior instructions. Thus a professional continuous supervision of the wrapping operation may also be required for safety reasons.

Once the motor has been started, the rotatable disk rotates together with the luggage placed thereon. The end of the sheet of foil must be secured manually to the surface of the luggage until at least one complete rotation of 360° is completed. For the further operation the foil is fixed to the luggage by the uppermost layer thereof. The sheet of plastic foil is spun around the luggage so as to form a protective shell made up of a plurality of foil sheets. Due to the fact that some resistance is to be expected due to frictional forces the foil will be tensioned during operation and a tight fit of the foil onto the luggage will result. The entire foil supply element 33 is movable in the vertical direction. A second motor may be activated by pushing the appropriate button on the control panel, which moves the foil supply element up and down. Thereby the position of the foil sheet on the luggage may be varied and luggage pieces of a size larger than the width of the foil may be covered by changing the position of the foil supply element 33 with respect to the position of the luggage. Thus any foil sheet forming a layer on the luggage may be in a staggered position with respect to the foil sheet thereunder or on top thereof.

When the complete circumference of the luggage is wrapped, both the vertical movement of the foil supply element 33 and the rotation of the rotatable disk 32 are stopped. The luggage is removed from the rotatable disk. The luggage wrapping machine 30 according to Fig. 8 or Fig. 9 is configured as a stationary installation. Such a luggage wrapping machine 30 may be found for example at airports. The luggage wrapping machine according to this prior art can process only a single piece of luggage at the time. Therefore passengers may be required to wait for a considerable period of time in order to get their luggage wrapped during demand peaks if only one such luggage wrapping machine is available. The luggage wrapping machine 30 is designed for being a fixed installation and due to the necessity of power assisted drive for the rotatable disk 32 and the foil supply element 33, an electric power supply is required. Thus the luggage wrapping machine according to the prior art does not only involve substantial investment costs, it also involves operating costs in terms of labor and energy in addition to the consumption of the foil for the wrapping.

Furthermore a considerable amount of time is required to place the luggage onto the rotatable disk, to fix the adjustable vertical rods 40 in the

appropriate position to clamp the luggage there between, to place the foil sheet onto the surface of the luggage and to fix it to the luggage before initiating an automatic wrapping process, to adapt the speed of rotation and the speed of the vertical movement of the foil supply element 33 in

accordance with the size and shape of the luggage. Therefore the procedure is comparatively time-consuming and may lead to substantial waiting times.