US20100108452A1

US20100108452A1 - Mobile office system

Info

Publication number: US20100108452A1
Application number: US12/535,091
Authority: US
Inventors: Matthew G. Williams; Terrence P. Kinskey
Original assignee: Union Rich USA LLC
Current assignee: LF Centennial Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-04
Filing date: 2009-08-04
Publication date: 2010-05-06
Also published as: WO2010017165A2; WO2010017165A3; CA2731997A1

Abstract

A mobile office system configured to retain files and other business necessities in a readily accessible manner. In particular, the mobile office system may be formed from a mobile office bag body defining a main compartment formed from a plurality of outer sidewalls and a bottom wall that is generally orthogonal to the outer sidewalls. The mobile office system may include a support structure included within the mobile office bag body that maintains the sidewalls in a generally erect position in which the main compartment maintains an opening opposite to the bottom wall. A plurality of wheels may extend outwardly from the mobile office bag body such that the plurality of wheels are capable of supporting the mobile office body and enabling the mobile office bag body to be movable by tilting the mobile office bag body such that the mobile office bag body is supported by the plurality of wheels.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/085,941 entitled “Mobile Office Bag,” filed Aug. 4, 2008, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed generally to a storage system, and more particularly to a storage system configured to organize and contain files, mobile computers and other business necessities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bags, such as suitcases, are known and are used by individuals who are travelling or otherwise on the go. Such bags may include wheels and generally have the form of a hollow rectangular solid with a large, open main storage compartment. The walls of the bags can include a plurality of pockets for storage. The main storage compartment is ideal for transporting objects, such as clothing that are easily deformable. However, transport of other types of objects is limited or inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is drawn to a mobile office system that includes a mobile office bag body and at least two modular storage devices configured for removable storage within a main compartment of the mobile office bag body. Each of the at least two modular storage devices can have at least one dimension approximating at least one dimension of the main compartment.
The mobile office bag body can include four outer sidewalls and a generally rectangular bottom wall that is generally orthogonal to the outer sidewalls, each of said outer sidewalls being generally orthogonal to each to two adjacent outer sidewalls. A support structure can be included within the mobile office bag body in order to maintain the outer sidewalls in a generally erect position and the bottom in a generally planar orientation. The bottom wall and the four outer sidewalls can define a main compartment within the mobile office bag body and maintaining an opening opposite the bottom wall.
The mobile office bag body can include an extendible handle having an adjustable length for extending the extendible handle in a direction generally opposite the bottom wall of the mobile office bag body. A plurality of wheels can extend outwardly from the mobile office bag body such that the plurality of wheels is capable of supporting the mobile office body. The plurality of wheels enabling the mobile office bag body to be rolled by tilting the mobile office bag body with the extendible handle such that the mobile office bag body is supported by the plurality of wheels when pulled by a user.
The mobile office bag body can also include one or more support legs extending outwardly from the bottom wall. The support legs and the wheels can be adjacent to opposite edges of the bottom wall. The one or more support legs can enable the mobile office bag body to remain level when resting on the plurality of wheels and the one or more support legs. The mobile office bag body and the support structure can be covered by a fabric. The mobile office bag body can also include an outer lid attached to an upper edge of at least one of the outer sidewalls. The outer lid positioned to cover the opening to fully enclose the main compartment. The outer lid can be openable via a zipper connection.
The mobile office bag body can include a handle attached to the outer lid and the outer lid can include a reinforcement. The handle can be attached to the reinforcement.
The mobile office system can also include at least two modular storage devices configured for removable storage within the main compartment. Each of the at least two modular storage devices can have at least one dimension approximating at least one dimension of the main compartment. Each of the at least two modular storage devices can have a longest dimension approximating a longest dimension of the main compartment. The total volume of said at least two modular storage devices approximates a volume of the main compartment.
The mobile office system can include plurality of pockets on at least one outer surface of the mobile office bag body. The extendible handle can be positioned within the mobile office bag body such that the extendible handle is extendible through a sealable opening in the lid. The sealable opening can be sealable with a zipper, VELCRO or other similar means.
The at least one modular storage device can be selected from the group consisting of an accordion file bag, a computer case, a removable divider, a supply organizer, and a miscellaneous bag. The at least two modular storage devices can comprise fabric surfaces.
At least one of the modular storage devices can have a generally rectangular modular bottom, a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, and a sealable lid. The sealable lid can be attached to an upper edge of one of the front wall, the back wall and the two side walls. The front wall and the back wall can be attached to opposite edges of the generally rectangular modular bottom and the two side walls can be attached to opposite edges of the generally rectangular modular bottom. The generally rectangular modular bottom, front wall, back wall, and two side walls can define a modular storage compartment with an opening opposite the modular bottom. The modular bottom can be reinforced and at least one of the front wall, back wall and two side walls can be reinforced, padded, or both. The modular storage compartment can be further divided by a plurality of sub-dividers, thereby defining a plurality of sub-compartments within the modular storage compartment. The modular storage devices can be supply organizers having said plurality of sub-dividers.
Each of the modular storage devices can include a modular bottom, having an area. The total area of the plurality of modular bottoms can be greater than an area of the bottom wall. The total area of the plurality of bottoms can be greater than 150% of the area of the bottom wall. For instance, if the area of the bottom wall is 10,000 cm², the total area of the plurality of bottoms can be 13,500 cm².
The mobile office system can include at least two supply organizers. Each of the two supply organizers can include a handle attached to the sealable lid. The at least two supply organizers can be stackable and a stacked height of the stacked supply organizers can approximate a height of said main compartment. In addition to the two supply organizers, the mobile office system can also include an accordion file bag, a computer case, or both.
These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the presently disclosed invention and, together with the description, disclose the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile office bag with aspects of the invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modular storage device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a mobile office bag.

FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is yet another perspective view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a modular storage device.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a mobile office bag.

FIG. 17 is another perspective view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a top perspective view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is yet another perspective view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 16.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a modular storage device.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a mobile office bag.

FIG. 26 is another perspective view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a top perspective view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 25.

FIG. 28 is a top view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 25.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 31 is yet another perspective view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 25.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a mobile office bag.

FIG. 34 is another perspective view of the mobile office bag of FIG. 33. 100511 FIG. 35 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 36 is a top perspective view of a mobile office bag of FIG. 33.

FIG. 37 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 38 is yet another perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a modular storage device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-40, this invention is directed to a mobile office system 10 configured to retain files and other necessities of a businessperson in a readily accessible manner. In particular, the mobile office system 10 may be formed from a mobile office bag body 12 defining a main compartment 14 formed from a plurality of outer sidewalls 16 and a bottom wall 18 that is generally orthogonal to the outer sidewalls 16. The outer sidewalls 16 may form a rectangular structure, and, in at least one embodiment, may form a square structure in another embodiment. The mobile office system 10 may include a support structure 34 within the mobile office bag body 12 that maintains the sidewalls 16 in a generally erect position in which the main compartment 14 maintains an opening 20 opposite to the bottom wall 18.
The mobile office system 10 may be formed from one or more layers of a fabric. For instance, the mobile office system 10 may be formed from a durable fabric such as, but not limited to, CORDURA, SPUNTUFF, and other appropriate fabrics. The multiple layers of fabric may be stitched, welded, or attached together through other appropriate manners. The mobile office bag 12 may be constructed such that the fabric layers form the outer surfaces of the mobile office system 10 and enclose the support structure 34.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mobile office system 10 may be formed from four outer sidewalls 16. In particular, the outer sidewalls 16 may be formed from a first sidewall 22 that is opposite to a second sidewall 26. The outer sidewalls 16 may also include third and fourth sidewalls 30, 32 that are opposite to each other and generally orthogonal to the first and second sidewalls 22, 26. The first sidewall 22 may be attached to the third and fourth sidewalls 30, 32, and the second sidewall 26 may be attached to the third and fourth sidewalls 30, 32 or opposite to the first sidewall 22. One or more of the outer sidewalls 16 may include portions of the support structure 34. In at least one embodiment, the support structure 34 may be rigid boards that retain a planar configuration. One or more of the outer sidewalls 16 may be formed from an inner fabric layer, an outer fabric layer, and a rigid board positioned between the inner and outer fabric layers. The support members may be formed from materials, such as, but not limited to, a polyethylene (PE) board, such as, but not limited to, a high density polyethylene (HDPE) board. In one embodiment, the first and second sidewalls 22, 26 may be formed from rigid boards formed of fabric covered three millimeter thick PE boards, and the third and fourth sidewalls 30, 32 may be formed from rigid boards formed from fabric covered two millimeter thick PE boards.
Each of the sidewalls 22, 26, 30, 32 may be generally rectangular and include an edge attached to an edge of the bottom wall 18. In addition, for each of the sidewalls 22, 26, 30, 32, each of the two edges adjacent the edge attached to the bottom wall 18 can be attached to an edge of an adjacent sidewall. For example, opposite edges of sidewall 22 can be attached to edges of adjacent sidewalls 30, 32.
The mobile office system 10 may include one or more wheels 36 extending from the mobile office system 10. In at least one embodiment, the mobile office system 10 may include a plurality of wheels 36 extending outwardly from the mobile office bag body 12 such that the plurality of wheels 36 are capable of supporting the mobile office body 12 and enabling the mobile office bag body 12 to be rolled by tilting the mobile office bag body 12 with the extendable handle 40 such that the mobile office bag body 12 is supported by the plurality of wheels 36. The wheels 36 may be positioned in outer corners of the bottom wall 18 of the mobile office bag body 12 and be contained within wheel pockets 38 in the bottom wall 18. In some embodiments, the wheels 36 can be located at the corner of the mobile office bag body 12 at the intersection of the bottom 18, the second sidewall 26 and one of the third or fourth sidewalls 30, 32. The wheels 36 may be formed from any appropriate size, shape or configuration, and in at least one embodiment, may be formed from wheels that are between about two inches and about four inches in outer diameter.
The mobile office bag body 12 can also include one or more support legs 37 extending outwardly from the bottom wall 18. The one or more support legs 37 enabling the mobile office bag body 12 to remain level when resting on the plurality of wheels 36 and the one or more support legs 37.
The mobile office system 10 may include an extendible handle 40 having an adjustable length that extends from the mobile office bag body 12 in a direction generally opposite from where the plurality of wheels 36 are attached to the mobile office bag body 12. The extendible handle 40 may include extendible shafts that may be hollow shafts formed from materials including, but not limited to, aluminum. The handle itself may be formed the same materials used to form the extendible shafts or may be formed from different materials. The handle itself may be formed from metals, plastics, or other appropriate materials. The extendible handle 40 may be positioned within the mobile office bag body 12 such that the extendible handle 40 is extendible through a zippered opening 41 in the lid 42.
The mobile office system 10 may include a lid 42 positioned in the opening 20 to seal the opening 20 opposite to the bottom wall 18. The lid 42 may be formed from any appropriate material, including those materials previously identified and in the configuration previously identified. The lid 42 may be reinforced, include padding of both. The lid 42 may be openable via a zipper connection. The zipper may be positioned at a perimeter of the lid 42.
The mobile office system 10 may include one or more pockets 46 for storing items. In at least one embodiment, the mobile office system 10 may include a plurality of pockets 46 on at least one outer surface of the mobile office bag body 12. The pockets 46 may be formed from fabric or other appropriate materials.
The mobile office system 10 may include at least one modular storage device 44 configured to fit within the mobile office bag body 12. The modular storage device 44 may have any appropriate shape and may be shaped for a particular purpose. The modular storage device 44 may include an accordion file bag, a computer case, a removable divider, and a miscellaneous bag. The modular storage device 44 may be formed from fabric or other appropriate materials. The removable divider may divide the main compartment. The modular storage device 44, including the removable divider, may include hook and loop connectors configured to removably attach the modular storage device 44 to the mobile office system 10 and to the bottom wall 18 of the mobile office system 10.
The mobile office bag body 12 and the support structure can be covered by a fabric. The mobile office bag body 12 can also include an outer lid 42 attached to an upper edge of at least one of the outer sidewalls 26. The outer lid 42 can be positioned to cover the opening to fully enclose the main compartment 14. The outer lid 42 can be openable via a zipper connection.
The mobile office bag body 12 can include a handle 50 attached to the outer lid 42 and the outer lid 42 can include a reinforcement. The handle 50 can be attached to the reinforcement.
The mobile office system 10 can also include at least two modular storage devices 44 configured for removable storage within the main compartment 14. Each of the at least two modular storage devices 44 can have at least one dimension approximating at least one dimension of said main compartment. Each of the at least two modular storage devices can have a longest dimension approximating a longest dimension of the main compartment. As used herein, “approximating” a dimension is used to indicate that one dimension is between 90% and 100% of another dimension, preferably between 92% and 98% of another dimension. For example, if the width of the main compartment is 100 cm and the length of a modular storage device is 95 cm, the length of the modular storage compartment approximates the width of the main compartment.
As used herein, “approximating” a volume is used to indicate that the relevant volume is between 72.9% (=90% * 90% * 90%) and 100% of another volume, preferably between 77% and 95% of another volume. For example, if the total volume of four modular storage devices is 800,000 cm³and the volume of the main compartment is 1,000,000 cm³, then the total volume of the modular storage devices approximates the volume of the main compartment. The total volume of said at least two modular storage devices approximates a volume of the main compartment.
The mobile office system 10 can include plurality of pockets on at least one outer surface 48 of the mobile office bag body 10. As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 10, 16-18, 33, 34 and 36, the extendible handle 40 can be positioned within the mobile office bag body 12 such that the extendible handle 40 is extendible through a zippered opening 41 in the lid 42.
The at least one modular storage device 44 can be selected from the group consisting of an accordion file bag (e.g., FIGS. 11 and 22), a computer case (e.g., FIG. 15), a removable divider (e.g., FIG. 14), a supply organizer (e.g., FIGS. 5, 6, 12, 23-24 and 29), and a miscellaneous bag (e.g., FIG. 13). The at least two modular storage devices 44 can comprise fabric surfaces, can be reinforced, can be padded, or any combination thereof.
At least one of the modular storage devices 44 can have a generally rectangular modular bottom 60, a modular front wall 62, a modular back wall 64, two modular side walls 66, 68, and a modular sealable lid 70. The sealable lid 70 can be attached to an upper edge of one of the front wall 62, the back wall 64 and the two side walls 66, 68. The front wall 62 and the back wall 64 can be attached to opposite edges of the generally rectangular modular bottom 60 and the two side walls 66, 68 can be attached to opposite edges of the generally rectangular modular bottom 60. The generally rectangular modular bottom 60, front wall 62, back wall 64, and two side walls 66, 68 can define a modular storage compartment 72 with an opening opposite the modular bottom 60. The modular bottom 60 can be reinforced, padded, or both, and at least one of the front wall 62, back wall 64 and two side walls 66, 68 can be reinforced, padded, or both. The modular storage compartment 72 can be further divided by a plurality of sub-dividers 74, thereby defining a plurality of sub-compartments 76 within the modular storage compartment 72. The modular storage devices 44 can be supply organizers (e.g., FIGS. 5, 6, 12, 23-24 and 29) having said plurality of sub-dividers 74.
Each of the modular storage devices 44 can include a modular bottom 60, having an area. The total area of the plurality of modular bottoms 60 can be greater than an area of the bottom wall 18. The total area of the plurality of bottoms 60 can be greater than 150% of the area of the bottom wall 18. For instance, if the area of the bottom wall 18 is 10,000 cm², the total area of the plurality of bottoms 60 can be 13,500 cm², 15,500 cm², or more.
The mobile office system 10 can include at least two supply organizers 44. Each of the two supply organizers 44 can include a handle 78 attached to the sealable lid. The at least two supply organizers 44 can be stackable, as show in FIGS. 5, 6, 29, 35 and 40. The stacked height of the stacked supply organizers can approximate a height of the main compartment 14. In addition to the two supply organizers 44, the mobile office system can also include an accordion file bag 44, a computer case 44, or both.
The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of this invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of this invention.

Claims

1. A mobile office system, comprising

a mobile office bag body comprising four outer sidewalls and a generally rectangular bottom wall that is generally orthogonal to the outer sidewalls, said mobile office bag body defining a main compartment;

a support structure included within the mobile office bag body that maintains the sidewalls in a generally erect position and the bottom in a generally planar orientation, wherein the main compartment maintains an opening opposite to the bottom wall;

a plurality of wheels extending outwardly from the mobile office bag body such that the plurality of wheels are capable of supporting the mobile office body and enabling the mobile office bag body to be movable by tilting the mobile office bag body such that the mobile office bag body is supported by the plurality of wheels;

one or more support legs extending from said bottom wall, enabling said mobile office bag body to remain level when resting on said plurality of wheels and said one or more support legs;

an extendible handle having an adjustable length for extending the extendible handle in a direction generally opposite from the plurality of wheels on the mobile office bag body;

wherein the mobile office bag body and the support structure are covered by a fabric;

an outer lid attached to an upper edge of at least one of said outer sidewalls, said outer lid positioned to cover the opening to seal the opening opposite to the bottom wall, wherein the outer lid is openable via a zipper connection; and

at least two modular storage devices configured for removable storage within the main compartment, each of said at least two modular storage devices having at least one dimension approximating at least one dimension of said main compartment.

2. The mobile office system of claim 1, wherein mobile office bag body includes a plurality of pockets on at least one outer surface of the mobile office bag body.

3. The mobile office system of claim 1, wherein the at least one modular storage device is selected from the group consisting of an accordion file bag, a computer case, a removable divider, a supply organizer, and a miscellaneous bag.

4. The mobile office system of claim 1, wherein the at least two modular storage devices comprise fabric surfaces.

5. The mobile office system of claim 1, wherein the extendible handle is positioned within the mobile office bag body such that the extendible handle is extendible through a zippered opening in the lid.

6. The mobile office system of claim 1, wherein each of said at least two modular storage devices having a longest dimension approximating a longest dimension of said main compartment.

7. The mobile office system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the modular storage devices comprises a generally rectangular modular bottom, a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, and a sealable lid attached to an upper edge of one of the front wall, the back wall and the two side walls, wherein the front wall and the back wall are attached to opposite edges of the generally rectangular modular bottom and the two side walls are attached to opposite edges of the generally rectangular modular bottom, said generally rectangular modular bottom, front wall, back wall, and two side walls defining a modular storage compartment.

8. The mobile office system of claim 7, wherein said generally rectangular bottom is reinforced and at least one of said generally rectangular bottom, said front wall, said back wall and said two side walls is reinforced, padded, or both.

9. The mobile office system of claim 7, wherein said modular storage compartment is further divided by a plurality of sub-dividers, thereby defining a plurality of sub-compartments.

10. The mobile office system of claim 1, further comprising a handle attached to said outer lid, wherein said outer lid comprises a reinforcement, said handle attached to said reinforcement.

11. The mobile office system of claim 1, wherein each of said at least two modular storage devices comprises a modular bottom, each of said modular bottoms having an area, wherein a total area of said modular bottoms is greater than an area of said bottom wall.

12. The mobile office system of claim 11, wherein each of said at least two modular storage devices having a longest dimension approximating a longest dimension of said main compartment.

13. The mobile office system of claim 1, wherein each of said at least two modular storage devices comprises a modular bottom, each of said modular bottoms having an area, wherein a total area of said modular bottoms is more than 150% of an area of said bottom wall.

14. The mobile office system of claim 1, wherein said at least two modular storage devices comprises at least two supply organizers,

each of said at least two supply organizers comprising a generally rectangular modular bottom, a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, and a sealable lid attached to an upper edge of one of the front wall, the back wall and the two side walls, wherein the front wall and the back wall are attached to opposite edges of the generally rectangular modular bottom and the two side walls are attached to opposite edges of the generally rectangular modular bottom, said generally rectangular modular bottom, front wall, back wall, and two side walls defining a modular storage compartment,

wherein each of said at least two modular storage devices comprises a handle attached to said sealable lid, and

wherein said at least two supply organizers are stackable and a stacked height of said stacked supply organizers approximates a height of said main compartment.

15. The mobile office system of claim 14, further comprising an accordion file bag, a computer case, or both.

16. The mobile office system of claim 15, wherein a total volume of said at least two modular storage devices approximates a volume of said main compartment.

17. The mobile office system of claim 15, wherein each of said at least two modular storage devices comprises a modular bottom, each of said modular bottoms having an area, wherein a total area of said modular bottoms is greater than an area of said bottom wall.

18. The mobile office system of claim 15, wherein each of said at least two modular storage devices comprises a modular bottom, each of said modular bottoms having an area, wherein a total area of said modular bottoms is more than 150% of an area of said bottom wall.

19. The mobile office system of claim 14, wherein each of said at least two modular storage devices have a longest dimension approximating a longest dimension of said main compartment.

20. The mobile office system of claim 15, wherein each of said at least two modular storage devices have a longest dimension approximating a longest dimension of said main compartment.