Configurable Utility Transport Carrier

Abstract

A travel carrier has a first region having a rigid floor and walls extending to a height defining a volume of a size to accommodate at least a pair of boots, a closable opening into the first region for depositing and removing items to be carried, a second, elongate region extending upward from the first region of a length and cross-sectional area at least sufficient for holding one or more elongate items, a closable opening into the second region for depositing and removing items to be carried, and two or more wheels along one edge of the floor of the first region and supports along an opposite edge of the floor of the first region, such that the travel carrier, resting on the wheels and supports, is stably supported in an upright aspect with the elongate second region extending upward and positioned within the footprint of the floor of the first region, and wherein the carrier may be tipped onto the wheels to be pulled along a floor by a person holding the second region.

1 . A travel carrier comprising:
 a first region having a rigid floor and walls extending to a height defining a volume of a size to accommodate at least a pair of boots;   a closable opening into the first region for depositing and removing items to be carried;   a second, elongate region extending upward from the first region of a length and cross-sectional area at least sufficient for holding one or more elongate items;   a closable opening into the second region for depositing and removing items to be carried;   two or more wheels along one edge of the floor of the first region and supports along an opposite edge of the floor of the first region, such that the travel carrier, resting on the wheels and supports, is stably supported in an upright aspect with the elongate second region extending upward and positioned within the footprint of the floor of the first region, and wherein the carrier may be tipped onto the wheels to be pulled along a floor by a person holding the second region.   
   
   
       2 . The travel carrier of  claim 1  wherein the first region is rectangular and the second elongate region is tubular. 
   
   
       3 . The travel carrier of  claim 2  further including an adapter in the form of a rigid square tube into which the second elongate region is seated. 
   
   
       4 . The travel carrier of  claim 1  wherein the first region is rectangular and the second elongate region is a semi-rigid rectangular sleeve. 
   
   
       5 . The travel carrier of  claim 2  further including an adapter in the form of a rigid rectangular sleeve into which the end of an elongate item enclosed by the second elongate region is seated. 
   
   
       6 . The travel carrier of  claim 1  wherein the wheels are castor wheels and a handle is strategically located on the second elongate region to enable maneuvering of the carrier on the wheels. 
   
   
       7 . The travel carrier of  claim 6  wherein another handle is provided on the travel carrier and is located on one wall of the first region. 
   
   
       8 . The travel carrier of  claim 1  wherein the first region and second elongate region are covered with a heavy material or, with the exception of the rigid floor of the first region, fabricated of a heavy material. 
   
   
       9 . The travel carrier of  claim 8  wherein the heavy material may be completely separated into two parts along a zippered edge with a zipper for adjoining the two parts with one part remaining integral to the first region and the other part remaining integral to the second elongate region when unzipped and separated. 
   
   
       10 . The travel carrier of  claim 3  wherein the first region supports attachment and removal of different adapters associated with different elongate regions. 
   
   
       11 . The travel carrier of  claim 10  wherein one second elongate region orientated to the first region by an associated adapter is adapted to house one or more skis and poles, the first region adapted to house ski boots and accessories. 
   
   
       12 . The travel carrier of  claim 10  wherein one second elongate region orientated to the first region by an associated adapter is adapted to house a snowboard, the first region adapted to house snowboard boots and accessories. 
   
   
       13 . The travel carrier of  claim 9  wherein the zippered edge defines an opening into the first region when unzipped. 
   
   
       14 . The travel carrier of  claim 4  wherein the second elongate region includes a vertical zippered edge with a zipper defining a vertically disposed opening into the region. 
   
   
       15 . The travel carrier of  claim 1  wherein the closeable opening of the second elongate region is a lid attached by zipper to the body of the region. 
   
   
       16 . A method for configuring a travel carrier to enclose a different elongate item or items and accessories than an elongate item or items and accessories it is currently configured to enclose, the carrier having a first region and a second elongate region, the regions associated together through an adapter, and a closable opening separate to each region comprising the steps:
 (a) detaching the second elongate region of the travel carrier from the first region of the travel carrier;   (b) removing the adapter from the first region of the travel carrier;   (c) installing a different adapter to the first region of the travel carrier; and   (d) attaching a different elongate region to the first region with the aid of the adapter of step (c).   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the travel carrier is covered with or fabricated from a heavy material and in step (a) detachment is by unzipping the second region from the first region along a zippered edge in the material. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in step (d), attachment is by zipping the elongate region to the first region after first orientating the elongate region to the first region orientation aided by the adapter. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in step (d), the adapter orientates and seats the elongate region relative to the first region. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein in step (d), the adapter is adapted to accept an end of an elongate item being enclosed by the elongate region.