Base support member for travel bag

Abstract

A base support to support a bag can include a bottom, a back, and a pair of side portions each coupled to the back at curved joints. A plurality of reinforcement ribs can be configured along the bottom, back, and side portions to resist bending. The base support is formed from a single piece of material without corners and/or seams. The base support back portion, bottom portion, and side portions blend smoothly into one another and the base support is configured to accommodate at least a portion of the travel bag.

1 . A base support to support a bag, comprising: 
 a bottom, a back, and a pair of side portions each coupled to the back at curved joints; and    a plurality of reinforcement ribs configured along the bottom, back, and side portions to resist bending;    wherein the base support is formed from a single piece of material without corners and/or seams.    
     
     
         2 . The base support of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of wheel wells coupled to the bottom.  
     
     
         3 . The base support of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of reinforcement ribs are configured along a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction.  
     
     
         4 . The base support of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of wheel wells are coupled to the plurality of reinforcement ribs.  
     
     
         5 . The base support of  claim 1  further comprising a stand pad extending downwardly from the bottom to form a three point stand in combination with a pair of wheels coupled to the bottom.  
     
     
         6 . The base support of  claim 1  further comprising a surface relief pattern coupled to an exterior of the back to support indicia of text or design.  
     
     
         7 . The base support of  claim 1  wherein at least some of the plurality of reinforcement ribs are integral to the single piece of material.  
     
     
         8 . The base support of  claim 1  wherein the base support is fabricated using a thermoform molding process.  
     
     
         9 . The base support of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of wheel wells integrally formed in the bottom.  
     
     
         10 . The base support of  claim 1  wherein a ridge of a wheel well is formed integrally with at least one of the plurality of reinforcement ribs.  
     
     
         11 . The base support of  claim 1  further comprising the bag attached to the base support, wherein the bag includes a top portion that is tapered relative to the rest of the bag.  
     
     
         12 . The base support of  claim 11  further comprising a padded section in the top portion.  
     
     
         13 . The base support of  claim 11  further comprising a strap employed about the top portion so objects in the bag cannot move easily.  
     
     
         14 . The base support of  claim 1  further comprising the bag attached to the base support, webbing affixed to the exterior surface of the bag, and adjustment means coupled to the webbing to allow a user to cinch contents in the bag.  
     
     
         15 . The base support of  claim 1  further comprising the bag attached to the base support, webbing affixed to the exterior surface of the bag, and a zipper operable to open and close the bag, wherein the webbing is configured to relieve pressure on the zipper during opening and closing.  
     
     
         16 . The base support of  claim 1  further comprising the bag attached to the base support, and webbing affixed to the exterior surface of the bag and to the base support.  
     
     
         17 . The base support of  claim 1  further comprising the bag attached to the base support, and webbing affixed to the exterior surface of the bag, and a fastener to couple the bag and the webbing to the base support.  
     
     
         18 . A base support for a travel bag comprising: 
 a back portion,    a bottom portion, and    side portions, wherein the back, bottom, and side portions of the base support blend smoothly into one another and the base support is configured to accommodate at least a portion of the travel bag.    
     
     
         19 . The base support of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 reinforcement ribs, wherein the reinforcement ribs are operable to strengthen the base support against bending.  
 
     
     
         20 . The base support of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 reinforcement ribs integrally formed in the base support.  
 
     
     
         21 . The base support of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 wheel wells integrally formed in the base support, wherein the wheel wells are positioned between the back and bottom portions.  
 
     
     
         22 . The base support of  claim 19  further comprising a wheel well formed integrally with at least one of the reinforcement ribs.  
     
     
         23 . The base support of  claim 18  further comprising the bag attached to the base support.  
     
     
         24 . The base support of  claim 23  further comprising at least one of the group comprising: padding in at least a portion of the bag, a top portion of the bag that is tapered relative to the rest of the bag, a strap employed about the top portion so objects in the bag cannot move easily, webbing affixed to the exterior surface of the bag, adjustment means coupled to the webbing to allow a user to cinch contents in the bag, a zipper operable to open and close the bag wherein the webbing is configured to relieve pressure on the zipper during opening and closing, and a fastener to couple the bag and the webbing to the base support.  
     
     
         25 . The base support of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 one or more pads positioned on bottom of base support, wherein the pads are spaced a suitable distance from wheels in the base support to contact the ground and stabilize the base support in a standing position.  
 
     
     
         26 . The base support of  claim 25  wherein the pads are tapered so that base support tilts back slightly when placed in a standing position.  
     
     
         27 . The base support of  claim 25  wherein the pads are positioned on reinforcement ribs wherein the reinforcement ribs add strength to the base support.  
     
     
         28 . The base support of  claim 27  wherein a wheel well is integrated into one of the reinforcement ribs.  
     
     
         29 . A base support for a travel bag comprising: 
 a bottom portion;    at least one wheel attached to the base support;    at least one pad spaced a suitable distance from the at least one wheel, wherein the at least one pad is tapered from front to back and configured to contact the ground and stabilize the base support to prevent the base support from tipping forward when placed in a standing position.    
     
     
         30 . The base support of  claim 29  wherein the at least on pad is attached to attached to the base support.  
     
     
         31 . The base support of  claim 29  wherein the at least on pad is formed integral to the base support.  
     
     
         32 . The base support of  claim 29  further comprising a reinforcement rib, wherein the at least one pad is configured on the reinforcement rib.