US20220087387A1 - Hard-shelled luggage with soft-side pocket - Google Patents
Hard-shelled luggage with soft-side pocket Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20220087387A1 US20220087387A1 US17/025,950 US202017025950A US2022087387A1 US 20220087387 A1 US20220087387 A1 US 20220087387A1 US 202017025950 A US202017025950 A US 202017025950A US 2022087387 A1 US2022087387 A1 US 2022087387A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- article
- luggage
- covering
- rigid
- panel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
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- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims 2
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- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 7
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- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000004745 nonwoven fabric Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000002759 woven fabric Substances 0.000 description 3
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910001092 metal group alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
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Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
- A45C13/10—Arrangement of fasteners
- A45C13/1023—Arrangement of fasteners with elongated profiles fastened by sliders
- A45C13/103—Arrangement of zip-fasteners
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
- A45C13/02—Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
- A45C13/36—Reinforcements for edges, corners, or other parts
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
- A45C5/06—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage with outside compartments
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
- A45C5/14—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage with built-in rolling means
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
- A45C13/10—Arrangement of fasteners
- A45C13/1069—Arrangement of fasteners magnetic
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
- A45C5/03—Suitcases
- A45C2005/037—Suitcases with a hard shell, i.e. rigid shell as volume creating element
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C11/00—Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00
- A45C2011/003—Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 for portable computing devices, e.g. laptop, tablet, netbook, game boy, navigation system, calculator
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
- A45C5/03—Suitcases
Definitions
- the present invention is directed to an article of luggage.
- the present invention is directed to a hard-shelled suitcase having an outer compartment.
- Hard-sided suitcases are desirable for their durability, sleek form, and ability to protect the contents of the suitcase, particularly during baggage handling at airports.
- the main storage volume is enclosed by a rigid shell.
- the outer surface of the rigid shell is recessed to accommodate the outer compartment.
- a panel is attached to the recess and is nested inside the recess.
- the outer compartment is enclosed with a non-rigid covering that is attached to the panel.
- FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an article of luggage.
- FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the article of luggage of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 shows a partial exploded view of the panel and rigid shell of the article of luggage of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-section at section plane A-A of the article of luggage of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-section at section plane B-B of the article of luggage of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 6 shows a partial side view of the attachment between the covering and the rigid shell at the top side of the article of luggage of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 7 shows a partial side view of the attachment between the covering and the rigid shell at the front side of the article of luggage of FIG. 1 .
- the present invention will be described with respect to an article of luggage with a main storage volume and an outer compartment.
- the main storage volume is enclosed by a rigid shell.
- the outer surface of the rigid shell is recessed to accommodate the outer compartment.
- a panel is attached to the recess and is nested inside the recess.
- the outer compartment is enclosed with a non-rigid covering that is attached to the panel.
- the panel permits a soft pocket to be added to the outside of a hard-shelled suitcase.
- This arrangement combines the advantages of both a hard-sided suitcase and a soft-sided suitcase.
- the hard-sided main compartment is water-resistant and protects its contents from external forces, while the soft-sided outer compartment is easily accessible and shapes itself to fits its contents.
- an article of luggage is generally shown at 100 .
- the article of luggage 100 may have the dimensions of a standard carry-on suitcase, although the dimensions are not particularly limited.
- the article of luggage 100 comprises a rigid shell 102 with an inner surface (not shown) defining a main storage volume (not shown).
- the rigid shell 102 may comprise two halves that are openable with a closure 104 to access the main storage volume.
- the closure 104 may include a zipper, magnet, snap, latch or other fastener. In the implementation shown, the closure 104 is a zipper.
- the rigid shell 102 may comprise a material such as metal, metal alloy, carbon composite, polymer, ceramic, or wood. However, the panel is not particularly limited to the listed materials. Because of the structure and materials of the rigid shell, the main storage volume may be substantially fixed in size and shape.
- the article of luggage 100 comprises an outer compartment 106 .
- the main storage volume may be larger than the volume of the outer compartment, but the relative sizes of the two storage spaces are not particularly limited.
- the outer compartment may be sized and shaped to accommodate a substantially flat item, for example, a laptop computer. Many travelers travel with a laptop computer and they may wish to retrieve the laptop computer at points during the journey.
- Travelers may find it advantageous to stow items in the outer compartment 106 , separately from the items stowed in the main storage volume. This may allow travelers to retrieve a smaller number of items during their journey without opening the main storage volume. Accessing the main storage volume may have the disadvantage of requiring the traveler to lay the suitcase on the ground and may expose personal items stowed inside. Further, travelers may not wish to disturb any carefully arranged items that are packed within the main storage volume.
- the outer compartment is enclosed by a covering 108 .
- the outer compartment may be closed or opened with a fastener 110 such as a zipper, magnet, snap, latch or other fastener, however, the fastener 110 is not particularly limited.
- a fastener 110 such as a zipper, magnet, snap, latch or other fastener, however, the fastener 110 is not particularly limited.
- FIG. 1 the outer compartment 106 is shown in a closed position.
- the covering 108 comprises a non-rigid material.
- the non-rigid material may be flexible and/or stretchable.
- Some examples of materials that may comprise the covering 108 include woven fabric, and non-woven fabric. Due to the non-rigid material of the covering 108 , the volume of the outer compartment 106 may not be fixed in size or shape, unlike the main storage volume which may be constrained by the rigid shell 102 .
- a covering 108 that is non-rigid may shape itself to accommodate items that are inserted into the outer compartment 106 .
- the covering 108 may allow the user to insert objects into the outer compartment that would otherwise not be accommodated within the dimensions of the outer compartment if the covering were rigid.
- the covering 108 may be rigid or semi-rigid. In implementations with a rigid or semi-rigid covering, the covering 108 may be hinged or articulated to facilitate access to the outer compartment 106 . In some implementations with a rigid or semi-rigid covering 108 , portions of the covering 108 may be non-rigid or semi-rigid to facilitate access to the outer compartment 106 .
- the covering 108 may be substantially flush with an outer surface of the rigid shell 112 .
- “flush” may include a tolerance of about 2-10 millimeters when the outer compartment is empty (see ref. F in FIGS. 6 and 7 ).
- the tolerance of “flush may be about 2-50 millimeters.
- FIG. 2 an exploded view of the article of luggage is generally shown at 100 .
- the construction of the outer compartment is visible.
- a portion of the rigid shell 102 defines a recess 202 .
- the recess 202 may be sized and shaped to accommodate the outer compartment.
- the recess 202 is positioned on a front side 204 and a top side 206 of the rigid shell, however the recess 202 is not particularly limited to this position.
- the recess 202 may be positioned on a single side of the rigid shell 102 .
- the recess 202 may be positioned on any two adjacent sides selected from a list comprising: the top side 206 , the front side 204 , a right side (not shown), a left side (not shown), and a bottom side (not shown).
- the outer compartment may be accessible through the top side 206 .
- the covering 108 includes a fastener 110 that facilitates opening the compartment from the top side 206 .
- the fastener 110 in this case a zipper
- the outer compartment is sized and shaped to hold one or more flat items such as books, magazines, notepads, tablet computers, and personal laptops.
- the recess 202 may include one or more apertures (not shown) for reducing the weight of the rigid shell 102 .
- the recess 202 may further include one or more apertures (shown later in FIG. 3 ) for accommodating fasteners.
- the article of luggage 100 further includes a panel 212 that is nested inside the recess 202 .
- the panel 212 may be sized and shaped to fit within the recess 202 such that the panel 212 substantially covers the portion of the rigid shell defining the recess 202 .
- the thickness of the panel 212 may depend on the desired weight of the article of luggage as well as the materials comprising the panel 212 .
- the panel 212 may comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material such as metal, metal alloy, carbon composite, ceramic, polymer, or wood. However, the panel is not particularly limited to the listed materials.
- the panel is attached to the rigid shell 102 .
- the attachment of the panel 212 to the rigid shell 102 may include adhesives or one or more fasteners such as rivets, screws, bolts, or binding posts. Both removably attachable and non-removably attachable mechanisms are contemplated.
- the panel 212 may include one or more holes 210 for accommodating the fasteners (not shown). Corresponding holes (not shown) may be included in the recess 202 .
- the number and positions of the fasteners may be selected according to several factors including the size and shape of the article of luggage, the materials comprising the panel and rigid shell, the anticipated contents of the article of luggage, and the size and shape of the outer compartment.
- the panel 212 includes six holes 214 for accommodating fasteners on the front side 204 of the article of luggage 100 and three holes 216 for accommodating fasteners on the top side 206 .
- FIG. 3 a partial exploded view of the panel 212 and rigid shell 102 is shown.
- the attachment between the panel 212 and the rigid shell 102 is a fastener 302 .
- the panel 212 may have a number of holes 214 sized and positioned to correspond with a number of holes 306 in the portion of the rigid shell defining a recess 202 .
- Each of the holes 214 , 306 may accommodate a fastener 302 , 304 such as a rivet, screw, bolt, or binding post.
- the panel 212 may be removably or non-removably attached to the rigid shell 102 .
- the panel 212 is further attached to the covering 108 .
- a number of attachment mechanisms may attach the covering 108 to the panel 212 .
- a single embodiment may include multiple attachment mechanisms, with different portions of the covering 108 being attached with different attachment mechanisms.
- the bottom edge of the covering 108 may be sewn to the panel 212 with no closure to access the outer compartment, and the top edge of the covering 108 may include a fastener which is sewn to the panel 212 .
- FIGS. 4 and 5 partial cross-sections illustrate two possible methods of attaching the covering 108 to the panel 212 .
- FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-section at section plane A-A of the article of luggage 100 .
- FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-section at section plane B-B of the article of luggage 100 .
- the covering 108 encloses the outer compartment 400
- the rigid shell 102 encloses the main storage volume 401 .
- FIG. 4 shows an attachment of the covering 108 at the top side 206
- FIG. 5 shows an attachment of the covering 108 at the front side 204 .
- the way of attaching the covering 108 is not particularly limited to these examples.
- the covering 108 may be attached to the fastener 110 , and the fastener 110 may be further attached to the panel 212 .
- the fastener is a zipper, however the fastener is not particularly limited to zippers.
- the edges of the covering 108 may be finished with a binding 402 .
- the binding 402 may comprise a strip of material that is folded over the edge of the covering 108 so as to cover or protect the edge of the covering 108 .
- the binding 402 may be attached to the covering 108 with adhesive or stitching.
- the binding 402 may comprise a woven or non-woven fabric, and in some embodiments, the binding 402 and the covering 108 may comprise the same material.
- the covering 108 may further include a lining 403 . In embodiments with a lining 403 , the binding 402 may be further attached to the lining 403 with adhesive or stitching.
- a portion of the fastener 110 may be attached to the covering 108 between the lining 403 and the binding 402 .
- the lining 403 may additionally or alternatively be attached to the covering 108 .
- Another binding 404 may finish the edges of the panel 212 .
- the binding 404 may comprise a strip of material that is folded over the edge of the panel 212 so as to cover or protect the edge of the panel 212 .
- the binding 404 may be attached to the panel 212 with adhesive or stitching.
- the binding 404 may comprise the same material as the covering 108 .
- the binding 404 may be further folded over a portion of the fastener 110 , which is depicted as a zipper in FIG. 4 .
- a top portion 406 of the covering 108 is positioned above an outer surface of the rigid shell 112 when the covering 108 is in a closed position, as shown in FIG. 4 . Consequently, the fastener 110 (in this case, a zipper) is oriented vertically, allowing the fastener 110 to be visible and more easily manipulated from the rear side 408 of the article of luggage 100 .
- the fastener 110 in this case, a zipper
- FIG. 5 a partial cross-section of the front side 204 of the article of luggage is shown at 100 .
- the covering 108 is approximately flush with the rigid shell on the front side 204 .
- the fastener 110 is visible and accessible from the front side 204 of the article of luggage 100 .
- the edges of the covering 108 may be finished with a binding 402 .
- the binding 402 may comprise a strip of material that is folded over the edge of the covering 108 so as to cover or protect the edge of the covering 108 .
- the binding 402 may be attached to the covering 108 with adhesive or stitching.
- the binding 402 may comprise a woven or non-woven fabric, and in some embodiments, the binding 402 and the covering 108 may comprise the same material.
- the covering 108 may further include a lining 403 . In embodiments with a lining 403 , the binding 402 may be further attached to the lining 403 with adhesive or stitching.
- a portion of the fastener 110 may be attached to the covering 108 between the lining 403 and the binding 402 .
- the lining 403 may additionally or alternatively be attached to the covering 108 .
- Another binding 404 may finish the edges of the panel 212 .
- the binding 404 may comprise a strip of material that is folded over the edge of the panel 212 so as to cover or protect the edge of the panel 212 .
- the binding 404 may be attached to the panel 212 with adhesive or stitching. In some implementations, the binding 404 may comprise the same material as the covering 108 .
- the binding 404 may be further folded over the edge of the fastener 110 , which is depicted as a zipper in FIG. 5 .
- FIGS. 6 and 7 show partial side views of the attachment between the covering 108 and rigid shell 212 .
- FIG. 6 shows a partial side view of the attachment between the covering 108 and the rigid shell 212 at the top side 206 of the article of luggage 100 .
- This view shows how the covering 108 is raised at the top side 206 of the article of luggage.
- the top side 206 and the front side 204 of the article of luggage 100 may be joined with a curved surface 600 . Since the covering 108 is substantially flush with the rigid shell 102 , both the covering 108 and the rigid shell 102 may include curved portions. Flush means that a distance F is minimized or reduced.
- FIG. 7 shows a partial side view of the attachment between the covering 108 and the rigid shell 102 at the front side 204 of the article of luggage 100 .
- This view shows how the covering 108 is substantially flush with the outer surface of the rigid shell 112 .
- Flush means that the distance F is minimized or reduced.
- the panel illustrated and described herein enables a soft outer compartment to be included in a rigid-shelled suitcase.
- the panel provides a structure to which the non-rigid covering may be attached.
- An advantage of the soft covering described herein is that items may be stuffed into the outer compartment, in contrast with the main storage volume which has a fixed volume due to the rigid shell.
- a further advantage of the article of luggage described herein is that the outer compartment can easily be accessed without opening the main storage compartment.
- Another advantage of the article of luggage described herein is that items stowed in the outer compartment are kept apart from the items in the main storage volume.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention is directed to an article of luggage. In particular, the present invention is directed to a hard-shelled suitcase having an outer compartment.
- There are a number of hard-sided suitcases on the market today. Hard-sided suitcases are desirable for their durability, sleek form, and ability to protect the contents of the suitcase, particularly during baggage handling at airports.
- One drawback of hard-shelled suitcases is their lack of external compartments. Many travelers find external compartments or pockets useful for stowing items that might be used during the trip. External compartments allow the traveler to access the contents without opening the main compartment of the luggage. While a variety of pockets may be sewn into soft-shelled suitcases, there are fewer options for external pockets in hard-shelled suitcases.
- It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an article of luggage with a main storage volume and an outer compartment. The main storage volume is enclosed by a rigid shell. The outer surface of the rigid shell is recessed to accommodate the outer compartment. A panel is attached to the recess and is nested inside the recess. The outer compartment is enclosed with a non-rigid covering that is attached to the panel.
- These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
-
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an article of luggage. -
FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the article of luggage ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 shows a partial exploded view of the panel and rigid shell of the article of luggage ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-section at section plane A-A of the article of luggage ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-section at section plane B-B of the article of luggage ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 6 shows a partial side view of the attachment between the covering and the rigid shell at the top side of the article of luggage ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 7 shows a partial side view of the attachment between the covering and the rigid shell at the front side of the article of luggage ofFIG. 1 . - The present invention will be described with respect to an article of luggage with a main storage volume and an outer compartment. The main storage volume is enclosed by a rigid shell. The outer surface of the rigid shell is recessed to accommodate the outer compartment. A panel is attached to the recess and is nested inside the recess. The outer compartment is enclosed with a non-rigid covering that is attached to the panel. The panel permits a soft pocket to be added to the outside of a hard-shelled suitcase. This arrangement combines the advantages of both a hard-sided suitcase and a soft-sided suitcase. The hard-sided main compartment is water-resistant and protects its contents from external forces, while the soft-sided outer compartment is easily accessible and shapes itself to fits its contents.
- In
FIG. 1 , an article of luggage is generally shown at 100. The article ofluggage 100 may have the dimensions of a standard carry-on suitcase, although the dimensions are not particularly limited. The article ofluggage 100 comprises arigid shell 102 with an inner surface (not shown) defining a main storage volume (not shown). Therigid shell 102 may comprise two halves that are openable with aclosure 104 to access the main storage volume. Theclosure 104 may include a zipper, magnet, snap, latch or other fastener. In the implementation shown, theclosure 104 is a zipper. Therigid shell 102 may comprise a material such as metal, metal alloy, carbon composite, polymer, ceramic, or wood. However, the panel is not particularly limited to the listed materials. Because of the structure and materials of the rigid shell, the main storage volume may be substantially fixed in size and shape. - In addition to the main storage volume, the article of
luggage 100 comprises anouter compartment 106. The main storage volume may be larger than the volume of the outer compartment, but the relative sizes of the two storage spaces are not particularly limited. In some embodiments, the outer compartment may be sized and shaped to accommodate a substantially flat item, for example, a laptop computer. Many travelers travel with a laptop computer and they may wish to retrieve the laptop computer at points during the journey. - Travelers may find it advantageous to stow items in the
outer compartment 106, separately from the items stowed in the main storage volume. This may allow travelers to retrieve a smaller number of items during their journey without opening the main storage volume. Accessing the main storage volume may have the disadvantage of requiring the traveler to lay the suitcase on the ground and may expose personal items stowed inside. Further, travelers may not wish to disturb any carefully arranged items that are packed within the main storage volume. - The outer compartment is enclosed by a
covering 108. The outer compartment may be closed or opened with afastener 110 such as a zipper, magnet, snap, latch or other fastener, however, thefastener 110 is not particularly limited. InFIG. 1 , theouter compartment 106 is shown in a closed position. - In the implementation depicted in
FIG. 1 , thecovering 108 comprises a non-rigid material. The non-rigid material may be flexible and/or stretchable. Some examples of materials that may comprise the covering 108 include woven fabric, and non-woven fabric. Due to the non-rigid material of thecovering 108, the volume of theouter compartment 106 may not be fixed in size or shape, unlike the main storage volume which may be constrained by therigid shell 102. Acovering 108 that is non-rigid may shape itself to accommodate items that are inserted into theouter compartment 106. Thecovering 108 may allow the user to insert objects into the outer compartment that would otherwise not be accommodated within the dimensions of the outer compartment if the covering were rigid. - In other implementations (not shown), the
covering 108 may be rigid or semi-rigid. In implementations with a rigid or semi-rigid covering, the covering 108 may be hinged or articulated to facilitate access to theouter compartment 106. In some implementations with a rigid or semi-rigid covering 108, portions of thecovering 108 may be non-rigid or semi-rigid to facilitate access to theouter compartment 106. - It may be desirable to integrate pockets or compartments that do not interrupt the sleek outline of a hard-shelled suitcase. As shown in
FIG. 1 , thecovering 108 may be substantially flush with an outer surface of therigid shell 112. In this context “flush” may include a tolerance of about 2-10 millimeters when the outer compartment is empty (see ref. F inFIGS. 6 and 7 ). When the volume of the outer compartment expands to fit items (as described above with respect to a non-rigid covering 108), the tolerance of “flush may be about 2-50 millimeters. - Turning now to
FIG. 2 , an exploded view of the article of luggage is generally shown at 100. In this view, the construction of the outer compartment is visible. A portion of therigid shell 102 defines arecess 202. Therecess 202 may be sized and shaped to accommodate the outer compartment. In the implementation shown at 100, therecess 202 is positioned on afront side 204 and atop side 206 of the rigid shell, however therecess 202 is not particularly limited to this position. In some implementations, therecess 202 may be positioned on a single side of therigid shell 102. In other implementations, therecess 202 may be positioned on any two adjacent sides selected from a list comprising: thetop side 206, thefront side 204, a right side (not shown), a left side (not shown), and a bottom side (not shown). - In implementations with the
recess 202 positioned on thefront side 204 andtop side 206 of therigid shell 102, the outer compartment may be accessible through thetop side 206. For example, inFIG. 2 , the covering 108 includes afastener 110 that facilitates opening the compartment from thetop side 206. In this configuration, the fastener 110 (in this case a zipper), is positioned along atop edge 208 of the covering and continues partially down thesides 210 of thecovering 108. This embodiment may allow a user to insert items into the outer compartment while the article ofluggage 100 is orientated in an upright position. It may not be necessary to reorient the article ofluggage 100 in order to access the outer compartment. Further, the outer compartment in this implementation is sized and shaped to hold one or more flat items such as books, magazines, notepads, tablet computers, and personal laptops. - The
recess 202 may include one or more apertures (not shown) for reducing the weight of therigid shell 102. Therecess 202 may further include one or more apertures (shown later inFIG. 3 ) for accommodating fasteners. - The article of
luggage 100 further includes apanel 212 that is nested inside therecess 202. Thepanel 212 may be sized and shaped to fit within therecess 202 such that thepanel 212 substantially covers the portion of the rigid shell defining therecess 202. The thickness of thepanel 212 may depend on the desired weight of the article of luggage as well as the materials comprising thepanel 212. Thepanel 212 may comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material such as metal, metal alloy, carbon composite, ceramic, polymer, or wood. However, the panel is not particularly limited to the listed materials. - The panel is attached to the
rigid shell 102. The attachment of thepanel 212 to therigid shell 102 may include adhesives or one or more fasteners such as rivets, screws, bolts, or binding posts. Both removably attachable and non-removably attachable mechanisms are contemplated. In implementations with fasteners, thepanel 212 may include one ormore holes 210 for accommodating the fasteners (not shown). Corresponding holes (not shown) may be included in therecess 202. The number and positions of the fasteners may be selected according to several factors including the size and shape of the article of luggage, the materials comprising the panel and rigid shell, the anticipated contents of the article of luggage, and the size and shape of the outer compartment. In the implementation shown inFIG. 2 , thepanel 212 includes sixholes 214 for accommodating fasteners on thefront side 204 of the article ofluggage 100 and threeholes 216 for accommodating fasteners on thetop side 206. - Turning now to
FIG. 3 , a partial exploded view of thepanel 212 andrigid shell 102 is shown. In this implementation, the attachment between thepanel 212 and therigid shell 102 is afastener 302. Thepanel 212 may have a number ofholes 214 sized and positioned to correspond with a number ofholes 306 in the portion of the rigid shell defining arecess 202. Each of theholes fastener panel 212 may be removably or non-removably attached to therigid shell 102. - The
panel 212 is further attached to thecovering 108. A number of attachment mechanisms may attach the covering 108 to thepanel 212. A single embodiment may include multiple attachment mechanisms, with different portions of the covering 108 being attached with different attachment mechanisms. For example, the bottom edge of the covering 108 may be sewn to thepanel 212 with no closure to access the outer compartment, and the top edge of the covering 108 may include a fastener which is sewn to thepanel 212. - In
FIGS. 4 and 5 , partial cross-sections illustrate two possible methods of attaching the covering 108 to thepanel 212.FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-section at section plane A-A of the article ofluggage 100.FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-section at section plane B-B of the article ofluggage 100. In bothFIGS. 4 and 5 , the covering 108 encloses theouter compartment 400, and therigid shell 102 encloses themain storage volume 401.FIG. 4 shows an attachment of the covering 108 at thetop side 206 whileFIG. 5 shows an attachment of the covering 108 at thefront side 204. However, the way of attaching the covering 108 is not particularly limited to these examples. - As shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5 , the covering 108 may be attached to thefastener 110, and thefastener 110 may be further attached to thepanel 212. In this example, the fastener is a zipper, however the fastener is not particularly limited to zippers. - The edges of the covering 108 may be finished with a binding 402. The binding 402 may comprise a strip of material that is folded over the edge of the covering 108 so as to cover or protect the edge of the
covering 108. The binding 402 may be attached to the covering 108 with adhesive or stitching. The binding 402 may comprise a woven or non-woven fabric, and in some embodiments, the binding 402 and the covering 108 may comprise the same material. The covering 108 may further include alining 403. In embodiments with alining 403, the binding 402 may be further attached to the lining 403 with adhesive or stitching. A portion of thefastener 110 may be attached to the covering 108 between the lining 403 and the binding 402. The lining 403 may additionally or alternatively be attached to thecovering 108. - Another binding 404 may finish the edges of the
panel 212. The binding 404 may comprise a strip of material that is folded over the edge of thepanel 212 so as to cover or protect the edge of thepanel 212. The binding 404 may be attached to thepanel 212 with adhesive or stitching. In some embodiments, the binding 404 may comprise the same material as the covering 108. The binding 404 may be further folded over a portion of thefastener 110, which is depicted as a zipper inFIG. 4 . - In some implementations, a
top portion 406 of the covering 108 is positioned above an outer surface of therigid shell 112 when the covering 108 is in a closed position, as shown inFIG. 4 . Consequently, the fastener 110 (in this case, a zipper) is oriented vertically, allowing thefastener 110 to be visible and more easily manipulated from therear side 408 of the article ofluggage 100. - Employing a different attachment mechanism may change the orientation of the
fastener 110. InFIG. 5 , a partial cross-section of thefront side 204 of the article of luggage is shown at 100. In this implementation, the covering 108 is approximately flush with the rigid shell on thefront side 204. Additionally, thefastener 110 is visible and accessible from thefront side 204 of the article ofluggage 100. - The edges of the covering 108 may be finished with a binding 402. The binding 402 may comprise a strip of material that is folded over the edge of the covering 108 so as to cover or protect the edge of the
covering 108. The binding 402 may be attached to the covering 108 with adhesive or stitching. The binding 402 may comprise a woven or non-woven fabric, and in some embodiments, the binding 402 and the covering 108 may comprise the same material. The covering 108 may further include alining 403. In embodiments with alining 403, the binding 402 may be further attached to the lining 403 with adhesive or stitching. A portion of thefastener 110 may be attached to the covering 108 between the lining 403 and the binding 402. The lining 403 may additionally or alternatively be attached to thecovering 108. - Another binding 404 may finish the edges of the
panel 212. The binding 404 may comprise a strip of material that is folded over the edge of thepanel 212 so as to cover or protect the edge of thepanel 212. The binding 404 may be attached to thepanel 212 with adhesive or stitching. In some implementations, the binding 404 may comprise the same material as the covering 108. The binding 404 may be further folded over the edge of thefastener 110, which is depicted as a zipper inFIG. 5 . -
FIGS. 6 and 7 show partial side views of the attachment between the covering 108 andrigid shell 212. -
FIG. 6 shows a partial side view of the attachment between the covering 108 and therigid shell 212 at thetop side 206 of the article ofluggage 100. This view shows how the covering 108 is raised at thetop side 206 of the article of luggage. In some implementations, such as the one shown inFIG. 6 , thetop side 206 and thefront side 204 of the article ofluggage 100 may be joined with acurved surface 600. Since the covering 108 is substantially flush with therigid shell 102, both the covering 108 and therigid shell 102 may include curved portions. Flush means that a distance F is minimized or reduced. -
FIG. 7 shows a partial side view of the attachment between the covering 108 and therigid shell 102 at thefront side 204 of the article ofluggage 100. This view shows how the covering 108 is substantially flush with the outer surface of therigid shell 112. Flush means that the distance F is minimized or reduced. - It should now be apparent that the panel illustrated and described herein enables a soft outer compartment to be included in a rigid-shelled suitcase. The panel provides a structure to which the non-rigid covering may be attached. An advantage of the soft covering described herein is that items may be stuffed into the outer compartment, in contrast with the main storage volume which has a fixed volume due to the rigid shell. A further advantage of the article of luggage described herein is that the outer compartment can easily be accessed without opening the main storage compartment. Another advantage of the article of luggage described herein is that items stowed in the outer compartment are kept apart from the items in the main storage volume.
- The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Claims (17)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US17/025,950 US20220087387A1 (en) | 2020-09-18 | 2020-09-18 | Hard-shelled luggage with soft-side pocket |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US17/025,950 US20220087387A1 (en) | 2020-09-18 | 2020-09-18 | Hard-shelled luggage with soft-side pocket |
Publications (1)
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US20220087387A1 true US20220087387A1 (en) | 2022-03-24 |
Family
ID=80739624
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US17/025,950 Abandoned US20220087387A1 (en) | 2020-09-18 | 2020-09-18 | Hard-shelled luggage with soft-side pocket |
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US (1) | US20220087387A1 (en) |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4446900A (en) * | 1982-05-17 | 1984-05-08 | Welsh Sporting Goods Corp. | Firearm carrying case |
US4703519A (en) * | 1986-01-06 | 1987-10-27 | Krenzel Ronald L | Sewn polyolefin and fabric bag and method of making bag |
GB2489832A (en) * | 2011-11-10 | 2012-10-10 | Joanne Mary Kerley | Luggage having a removable insert case |
US20150021132A1 (en) * | 2013-07-19 | 2015-01-22 | Samsonite IP Holdings S.ar.l. | Luggage with shell, frame, and lock |
US20160213132A1 (en) * | 2015-01-22 | 2016-07-28 | Nike, Inc. | Bag With Removable Compartment |
CN110269341A (en) * | 2018-03-14 | 2019-09-24 | 株式会社尤尼提 | Improved structure of trunk |
US20200069018A1 (en) * | 2018-09-05 | 2020-03-05 | C & C Luggage Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Luggage |
-
2020
- 2020-09-18 US US17/025,950 patent/US20220087387A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4446900A (en) * | 1982-05-17 | 1984-05-08 | Welsh Sporting Goods Corp. | Firearm carrying case |
US4703519A (en) * | 1986-01-06 | 1987-10-27 | Krenzel Ronald L | Sewn polyolefin and fabric bag and method of making bag |
GB2489832A (en) * | 2011-11-10 | 2012-10-10 | Joanne Mary Kerley | Luggage having a removable insert case |
US20150021132A1 (en) * | 2013-07-19 | 2015-01-22 | Samsonite IP Holdings S.ar.l. | Luggage with shell, frame, and lock |
US20160213132A1 (en) * | 2015-01-22 | 2016-07-28 | Nike, Inc. | Bag With Removable Compartment |
CN110269341A (en) * | 2018-03-14 | 2019-09-24 | 株式会社尤尼提 | Improved structure of trunk |
US20200069018A1 (en) * | 2018-09-05 | 2020-03-05 | C & C Luggage Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Luggage |
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