Trunks and hand-carried luggage – Hand luggage – Plural
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-06
2001-04-10
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)
Trunks and hand-carried luggage
Hand luggage
Plural
C190S110000, C190S115000, C190S102000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213267
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable luggage carrying case and, more particularly, to a portable carrying case having a front face that can be detached to form a carry tote bag which can store various items such as a lap-top computer, computer accessories, and other miscellaneous items. The tote bag includes a shoulder strap to allow the tote to be carried and used independently of the carrying case and wherein the tote bag utilizes the same securing means as is used to join the front face to the main body portion of the carrying case thus eliminating the need for additional securing zippers.
2. Background Art
Portable luggage enclosures having detachable components are well known in the art. Lap-top computers are extremely popular today, and it is common for travellers in airport terminals to be seen with a lap-top carrying case slung over their shoulders. Portable luggage carriers are also very common, and travellers can be seen rolling these along the ground as they hurry to catch their flight. However, most airlines limit travellers to only two on-board carry items. If the traveller has an additional carry-on item, along with their portable luggage case, and their lap-top computer carrying case, one of the three will have to be stowed underneath the airplane. Further, many airlines have restrictions on size and weight requirements for carry-on luggage. Therefore, what is needed is a one-piece combination luggage case-portable computer case, where the computer-carrying tote bag can be detached from the portable luggage case, and the remaining main body portion of the luggage case conforms to the maximum allowable size as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines. After use, the tote bag can be re-attached to the main portion of the luggage case to again one unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,052 issued to Latshaw discloses a portable luggage system of modular components particularly sized to be positioned underneath an airplane passenger's seat or in the overhead storage bins above the passenger.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,223 issued to Cunningham discloses a business case having a front, middle, and expandable rear compartment, a removable computer carrying case, and a suit carrier.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,876 issued to Wang discloses a wheeled luggage assembly including a body portion having a primary case and a secondary case in engagement with the primary case by means of a zipper.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,061 issued to Tucker discloses a plurality of independent luggage pieces capable of functioning independently of each other and fastened via fastening means to secure the separate pieces as one structure.
However, none of these references disclose a portable luggage carrying case having a removable face, which can be detached, folded and converted into a tote bag sized to house a portable computer or other items, and capable of being used independently from the carrying case.
Consequently, there is a need in the art for a luggage carrying case in combination with a removable tote bag capable of storing and transporting a lap-top computer or other accessories.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The portable luggage case with detachable tote bag of the present invention solves the problems encountered by the prior art by providing a portable luggage case having a front and back face wherein one of its faces can be removed to create a separate tote bag which is sized to house a portable computer, and computer accessories. The tote bag is foldable and can be secured by a zipper, where the zipper is the same securing means used to secure the tote bag to the main portion of the luggage case when the tote is in its unfolded position. Further, by providing a removable tote bag portion, a user may carry-on each case, and comply with FAA standards which restrict the size and weight of carry-on luggage. By removing the tote bag, the main luggage-carrying portion, which is conveniently sized to conform to FAA regulations, can be carried on-board an airplane without any restrictions.
Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, the portable luggage enclosure with a detachable tote bag capable of housing a lap-top computer comprises a luggage enclosure having a main body portion, and a detachable portion, wherein the main body portion includes one or more storage compartments, one sized to receive clothing, and the detachable portion includes one or more enclosures, one of which is sized to receive a portable computer or other items and wherein the detachable portion can be used as a tote bag, briefcase, backpack or any other type of carrying case.
The present invention also includes means for removably joining the main body portion to the detachable portion. The joining means comprises a first zipper component situated around the periphery of the main housing, a second zipper component situated around the periphery of the detachable portion, and a zipper fastening element movably affixed to the second zipper component along the periphery of the detachable tote portion. The detachable portion is a one-piece tote bag and comprised of an upper and lower section foldably connected to each other along its adjacent edges, wherein the detachable portion also includes securing means capable of securing the upper section to the bottom section when said detachable portion is in a folded, face-to-face configuration.
In the preferred practice of the present invention, the securing means are comprised of a second zipper component situated around the periphery of the detachable portion. The second zipper component comprises a portion of the zipper used to attach and detach the main housing from the detachable portion.
A wheel assembly comprised of a plurality of wheels is rotatably affixed to the bottom of the main body of the luggage enclosure.
A retractable handle is mounted upon the top of the main body portion. The retractable handle can be raised or lowered via a manually activated button situated on or near the retractable handle.
The detachable portion of the luggage enclosure includes a shoulder strap, wherein each end of the shoulder strap can be removably secured to a side of the detachable portion when in a folded orientation. Thus after the lower section of the detachable portion has been secured to the upper section of the detachable portion by the closing of the zipper via the zipper fastening element, the shoulder strap having ends affixed to each side of the folded, detachable portion, can be used to facilitate the transport of the folded detachable portion of the luggage enclosure. A lifting handle may be mounted upon the top of the main housing portion, to further facilitate transport.
The present invention improves upon the problems in the art by providing a detachable storage tote which allows the remaining main portion of the luggage case to utilize its entire interior for storage. Most portable luggage cases have a front, non-detachable compartment used to store items. However, because this front compartment cannot be removed from the luggage case, the overall storage capacity of the main body portion of the luggage case is reduced by several inches.
It is, therefore, a principle object of this invention to provide a portable luggage enclosure which includes a detachable portion removably joined to one face of the luggage enclosure's main body portion, via joining means, thereby allowing the remaining main body portion to be used to its maximum storage capacity.
It is also an object of this invention to provide securing means which secures the upper section of the detachable portion to the lower section of the detachable portion, thereby providing a zippered, detachable carry tote bag capable of housing and transporting a portable computer.
It is still yet another object of this invention to insure that the carry tote securing means utilizes a component of the joining means thereby eliminating the need for additional securing or joining devices.
In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent he
Akerman & Senterfitt
Mai Tri M.
Shoap Allan N.
Travelpro International, Inc.
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