Technical Field

[1] The following disclosure relates to a luggage system, and in particular a reconfigurable luggage system.

Background

[2] Modern delivery services require the carriage of a wide range of products by delivery staff, often working with a range of vehicles and transit modes. There is an increased focus on the use of self-propelled, or assisted (for example e-bikes), vehicles for deliveries, rather than cars and vans, enhancing the need to enable staff to carry goods efficiently.

[3] The goods and their characteristics handled by a delivery person may vary between deliveries, and the mode of transport may also vary. Furthermore, a single delivery journey may require the use of multiple modes of transport. Also, each delivery may include a range of items with different characteristics and carriage requirements. For example, a single delivery may include hot and cold food, which need to be separated and carried in a suitable manner to retain their temperature.

[4] The efficient carriage of products is essential to the productivity of delivery staff and to ensure deliveries arrive in good condition. Efficient methods of carriage are also essential to ensure the health and safety of delivery staff and employers must provide suitable equipment for carrying the goods to be delivered.

[5] Existing luggage systems for carrying goods for delivery are not versatile or flexible and cannot be reconfigured to carry different products on different modes of transport. There is therefore a requirement for an improved luggage system for carrying a range of goods with different modes of transport.

Summary

[6] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[7] There is provided a luggage carrying system, comprising a frame; a plurality of mounting system components configured to be releasably attachable to the frame, each mounting system component being configured to enable carriage of the frame by at least one distinct mode of transport; and a plurality of containers, each container configured for releasable attachment to the frame.

[8] One of the mounting system components may be a set of straps for carrying the frame as a backpack.

[9] One of the mounting system components may be a bicycle mounting system for mounting on a bicycle for carriage of the frame on the bicycle.

[10] The frame may be a rigid planar component.

[11] More than one of the containers may be attachable to the frame simultaneously.

[12] Each of the containers may be attached directly to the frame, and not to each other. [13] The strap system may remain attached to the frame while the frame is attached to the bicycle mounting system.

[14] At least one of the containers may be a rigid box.

[15] At least one of the containers may be thermally insulated.

[16] At least one of the containers may include a heating module.

[17] The heating module may be configured to receive power from an external power source.

Brief description of the drawings

[18] Further details, aspects and embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings. Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Like reference numerals have been included in the respective drawings to ease understanding.

[19] Figure 1 shows a selection of containers;

[20] Figure 2 shows an example container;

[21] Figure 3 shows an example frame;

[22] Figure 4 shows an example backpack strap system; and

[23] Figure 5 shows an example cycle mounting system.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

[24] Those skilled in the art will recognise and appreciate that the specifics of the examples described are merely illustrative of some embodiments and that the teachings set forth herein are applicable in a variety of alternative settings.

[25] The following disclosure describes a luggage system seeking to address at least some of the drawbacks and limitations of prior luggage systems. The described system enables reconfiguration of the carrying capability, and also reconfiguration of the mode of transport for the luggage system, for example between carriage by a person and as luggage attached to a bicycle. Various forms of container are provided which can be used in combinations to configure the carrying capability for different situations. The different containers can be exchanged and used in various combinations as required for each situation.

[26] The luggage system comprises three principle elements - a set of containers, a frame, and a mounting system. The frame forms an interface between the mounting system and the containers, such that combinations of containers can be carried by a range of transport options. Examples of mounting systems include straps or backpack harnesses for carrying by a person, and connectors for mounting on cycles (which term is intended to include bicycles, e-bikes, powered two-wheelers, and cycles with more than two-wheels). The frame can attach to the different mounting systems, and also has means to attach combinations of the containers. In this way combinations of containers can easily be changed and can be carried by a range of transport means.

[27] The containers and mounting systems may connect to the frame using any appropriate system. Typically the connection will be such that the elements are safely retained together, while also being easily releasable.

[28] Figure 1 shows an example selection of containers that may be provided and used in different combinations. In a first configuration shown in Figure 1(a) a single general box is provided which may be used for regular or normal sized items. The general box may be used alone as shown in Figure 1(a), or in combination with a second small box as shown in Figure 1(b). The arrangement of Figure 1(b) may be convenient where a delivery includes items at different temperatures. For example, hot food may be carried in one box and cold food in the second box. A further example is shown in Figure 1(c) with a combination of a large box and a small box. The large box may be appropriate for particularly large or outsize items, such as large pizzas. As with Figure 1(a) for the regular box, each of the boxes may be used on its own, or in various combinations. Similarly, more than one of a type of box may also be used in combination. The available combinations may be limited by the size of the frame and the particular transport means being used.

[29] Each of the types of box may be provided with various features to improve functionality of offer additional benefits. For example, boxes may be thermally insulated to keep the contents hot or cold. Various access options and doors may be provided, for example as shown in Figure 2 front and top doors may enable easy access. The interior of the boxes may be configured as most appropriate, for example with reconfigurable shelving. The boxes may formed of rigid material to provide protection to the contents, for example expanded Polypropylene.

[30] Figure 3 shows an example of a frame. One side 30 is provided with means to attach the containers, and the other side 31 is configured to attach to the mounting system. The containers may be attached using T-shaped protrusions 32 which fit into corresponding slots on the rear face of the containers. The T-shaped protrusions 32 may be formed using any appropriate method, for example in Figure 3 a screw-type component is used through the frame into an attachment 33 on the other side. The containers are typically each attached to the frame directly, and not attached to each other.

[31] The mounting system may attach using straps through openings 34 in the frame or using a similar system to the containers. Alternatively, the mounting system and frame may be shaped such that the frame slots into the mounting system. The frame may be formed of any appropriate material, for example a soft but resilient material may be used to provide comfort for the person carrying it. Internal reinforcement may be provided to ensure sufficient strength to provide a suitably rigid component, which in the example is largely planar. The frame may be shaped for comfort of ease of carrying.

[32] Figure 4 shows an example of a mounting system for carrying the luggage system as a backpack. Shoulder and/or waist straps attach to the frame, and padding may also be attached for comfort. Any conventional features of a backpack strap system may be provided for ease of use and comfort while carrying.

[33] Figure 5 shows an example mounting system for attachment of the luggage system to a cycle, and examples of its use on a bicycle. The mounting system is sized such that the lower end of the frame fits into a retaining slot 50 on the mounting system, with the weight being optionally held by the lower plate 51 of the mounting system. The mounting system may be located in any suitable location on the bicycle, for example as a front or rear luggage rack. The mounting system may be designed such that the frame can fit into the mounting system without removing a strap system such as that of Figure 4 so that the luggage system can conveniently be carried on both the back of a person and on a bicycle without reconfiguration.

[34] The combination of a mounting system, frame, and various containers thus provides a highly reconfigurable luggage system which can be reconfigured to carry a range of goods using a range of modes of transport.

[35] The delivery of hot foods, particularly “crispy” foods such as French fries, can be particularly challenging. A heating module may be positioned within the boxes described hereinbefore to keep food warm during transportation. The heating module may be integrated with the box or may be a separate component which is placed in the box when it is desired to transport hot food. For example, the heating module may be a generally planar element positioned at the base or on a shelf of the box. In a specific example the heating module may include a heater and metal component such that the metal component retains heat to assist maintaining the required temperature when opening the box. The heater module may be configured to limit temperatures to avoid burns. In an example the heating module may be configured to maintain a temperature of at least 80 degrees Celsius in the box, but less than 90 degrees Celsius, to keep transported food in good condition without overcooking the food.

[36] A power supply for the heating module (and/or other electric modules) may be provided as part of a bicycle (or other vehicle) on which the box, and other elements of the luggage carrying system, may be mounted. The power supply may be shared with an e-bike’s battery system or may be a standalone power supply (such as a battery). The power supply may be connected to the box by a power lead that can be plugged into and unplugged from the box. A control unit may be provided to enable a user to control the heating module (or other electric-powered module). When removed from the bicycle (or other vehicle) the box may be unpowered and begin to cool, or a power supply may be provided in the box which can power the box when not connected to a bicycle. In a further example the only power source is in the box and the box does not connect to an external source.

[37] Although the present invention has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the accompanying claims. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognise that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in accordance with the invention. In the claims, the term ‘comprising’ or “including” does not exclude the presence of other elements.