CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/886,306, filed October 3, 2013, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This application relates generally to an apparatus for transporting luggage and, more specifically, to an apparatus for temporarily coupling a plurality of luggage pieces together to simplify transportation of the combined luggage pieces together as a collective unit.

2. Description of Related Art

[0003] Travelers have traditionally been required to carry luggage pieces such as carry-on suitcases through airports and other locations while en route to a destination. More recently, such luggage pieces have been provided with wheels to allow travelers to pull such luggage pieces, thereby reducing the physical demands of transporting luggage while traveling.

[0004] Although pulling a rolling suitcase is much less demanding of travelers than carrying a suitcase, traveling with more than a single such rolling suitcase requires each suitcase to be pulled separately. This can be a daunting task for a traveler who has packed more than one suitcase for an extended stay at a destination, or when traveling in the company of children who may not be able to pull their own luggage. Such travelers will be required to pull each individual rolling suitcase separately, making it difficult for the travelers to carry anything else such as a coat, airline tickets, or small children. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] According to one aspect, the subject application involves a luggage piece that can be coupled to a second luggage piece to be transported with the second luggage piece as a joined unit, the second luggage piece comprising a plurality of adjustable rollers having a variable rolling direction. The luggage piece includes a housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the luggage piece. A retractable handle is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing. A plurality of rollers are coupled to the housing on which the luggage piece is to be rolled. A coupling system includes a plurality of flaps that cooperate with one or more receivers provided to the second luggage piece to couple the second luggage piece to the luggage piece. A first portion of a releasable fastener is provided to an inward-facing surface of at least one of the flaps, and a second portion of the releasable fastener is provided to an outward-facing surface of the luggage piece. The second portion of the releasable fastener is cooperable with the first portion of the releasable fastener to couple the at least one of the flaps to the outward-facing surface of the luggage piece when not coupled to the second luggage piece as the joined unit.

[0002] According to another aspect, the subject application involves a luggage system that includes a first luggage piece including a housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the first luggage piece. A retractable handle is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing. A plurality of rollers are coupled to the housing on which the first luggage piece is to be rolled. Similarly, the luggage system includes a second luggage piece including a housing defining an interior compartment that stores items to be transported within the second luggage piece. A retractable handle is adjustable between a recessed position where a handgrip provided to the handle is disposed proximate to the housing and a deployed position where the handgrip is extended distally away from the housing. A plurality of rollers are coupled to the housing on which the second luggage piece is to be rolled, the plurality of rollers comprising at least two adjustable rollers having a variable rolling direction. A coupling system is provided, and includes a plurality of flaps provided to the first luggage piece that couple the first and second luggage pieces together to form a joined unit. The flaps are coupled to a front surface of the first luggage piece to form an externally-exposed and decorative surface of the first luggage piece while in a closed orientation.

[0003] The above summary presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such systems and/or methods. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0004] The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

[0005] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view an illustrative embodiment of a luggage system comprising a plurality of luggage pieces collectively forming a joined unit;

[0006] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a luggage piece separate from the joined unit and including a plurality of rollers;

[0007] FIG. 3 shows a top view of an illustrative embodiment of a luggage system comprising a plurality of luggage pieces collectively forming a joined unit

[0008] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of an illustrative embodiment of a luggage piece comprising a combination of in-line rollers and adjustable rollers;

[0009] FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of an illustrative embodiment of a luggage piece comprising only adjustable rollers; [0010] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of a carry-on bag with flaps in a closed orientation;

[0011] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of a carry-on bag appearing in FIG. 6 with the flaps in an open orientation;

[0012] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the illustrative embodiment of the carry-on bag appearing in FIG. 6 next to another luggage unit that can be coupled to the carry-on bag;

[0013] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a joined unit including the embodiment of the carry-on bag and the luggage unit appearing in FIG. 8 coupled together;

[0014] FIG. 10 shows a front view of another embodiment of a luggage piece including flaps closed, and not in use to couple the luggage piece to another luggage piece, at least partially overlap;

[0015] FIG. 11 shows a front view of the embodiment of the luggage piece shown in FIG. 10 with an overlaying flap open; and

[0016] FIG. 12 shows an illustrative embodiment of a leash that can be removably coupled to a luggage piece for towing a joined unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Relative language used herein is best understood with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like or similar items. Further, in the drawings, certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic form.

[0018] It is also to be noted that the phrase "at least one of, if used herein, followed by a plurality of members herein means one of the members, or a combination of more than one of the members. For example, the phrase "at least one of a first widget and a second widget" means in the present application: the first widget, the second widget, or the first widget and the second widget. Likewise, "at least one of a first widget, a second widget and a third widget" means in the present application: the first widget, the second widget, the third widget, the first widget and the second widget, the first widget and the third widget, the second widget and the third widget, or the first widget and the second widget and the third widget.

[0019] An illustrative embodiment of a luggage system 10 is shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the luggage system 10 includes a plurality of luggage pieces 12, 14, 16. Each luggage piece 12, 14, 16 can be what is commonly referred to as a "carry-on bag" (an example of which is shown in FIG. 2, and referred to generally at 18), as defined by commercial airlines and sized to be hand carried by a passenger onto a commercial aircraft and stored in an overhead bin of the commercial aircraft or under the seat in front of the seat in which the passenger is to be seated. Although the size limits for carry-on bags 18 can vary by commercial airline, an example of the maximum allowable external dimensions of a carry-on bag is a total dimension (i.e., the sum of the length (L) + width (W) + height (H)) of the housing 20 of fifty five inches (55 in.) or smaller, or fifty one inches (51 in.) or smaller. According to other embodiments, the maximum allowable total dimension of the housing 20 of a carry-on bag 18 is forty five inches (45 in.).

[0020] Other airlines may impose a maxim size limit on each individual dimension of an acceptable carry-on bag 18. For instance, the maximum external dimensions of the housing 20 of an acceptable carry-on bag 18 according to such embodiments can be limited to no more than twenty four inches (24 in.), by sixteen inches (16 in.), by ten inches (10 in.) (i.e., 24 in. x 16 in. x 10 in.). According to alternate embodiments, the maximum dimensions of the housing 20 of an acceptable carry-on bag 18 can be limited to no more than twenty two inches (22 in.), by fourteen inches (14 in.), by ten inches (10 in.) (i.e., 22 in. x 14 in. x 10 in.).

[0021] According to yet other embodiments, the maximum allowable external dimension(s) of an acceptable carry-on bag 18 can optionally be established by one or more regulation(s) promulgated by a governing body or trade association of the commercial airline industry such the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Although the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 coupled together to collectively form a single, joined unit 22 are described herein as being carry-on bags 18, the present invention is not so limited. Instead, each luggage piece 12, 14, 16 can independently be selected as a carry-on bag 18, a suitcase having dimensions greater than those allowable for carry-on bags 18, or a combination thereof. However, for the sake of brevity, the luggage system 10 will be described herein as comprising at least two, and optionally three luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 in the form of carry-on bags 18.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the carry-on bag 18 includes a housing 20 defining an interior compartment for storing items to be transported within the carry-on bag 18. The housing 20 can include a substantially rigid shell formed from sides arranged in a generally-cubicle formation, although each side does not necessarily have the same identical dimension. As an illustrative example, the carry-on bag 18 can include the dimensions of about: twenty two inches (22 in.) in length (L), fourteen inches (14 in.) in width (W), and ten inches (10 in.) in height (H) (i.e., 22 in. x 14 in. x 10 in.), but other dimensions are within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, each carry-on bag 18 included as one of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 can have approximately the same dimensions and/or internal storage volume, or different dimensions that are less than the maximum allowable dimensions of a carry-on bag 18.

[0023] According to alternate embodiments, the exterior dimensions of the luggage piece 14 can optionally be less than or equal to corresponding interior dimensions of the interior compartment of the luggage piece 12 so the luggage piece 14 can fit inside of the luggage piece 12, even when the luggage piece 12 is closed (e.g., a zipper secures a door provided to the luggage piece 12 in a closed orientation, thereby securing the contents of the luggage piece 12 therein). Likewise, the exterior dimensions of the luggage piece 16 can optionally be less than or equal to corresponding interior dimensions of the interior compartment of the luggage piece 14 so the luggage piece 16 can fit inside of the luggage piece 14, even when the luggage piece 14 is closed (e.g., a zipper secures a door provided to the luggage piece 14 in a closed orientation, thereby securing the contents of the luggage piece 14 therein). Thus, the luggage piece 14 can be loaded with personal belongings and nested inside of the empty luggage piece 12, so the combination of the luggage pieces 12, 14 can be transported just as the luggage piece 12 would be transported, alone. In other words, the combination of the nested luggage pieces 12, 14 would have the same physical footprint as the luggage piece 12, by itself. Similarly, luggage piece 16 can be packed and nested inside of luggage piece 14, and this combination can then optionally be nested within luggage piece 12 to allow all three luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 to be transported just as the luggage piece 12 would be transported, alone (e.g., the combination of the nested luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 would have the same physical footprint as the luggage piece 12, by itself).

[0024] The externally-exposed surfaces of the housing 20, or at least portions thereof, can include connection regions 24 that can cooperate with a tether 26 (FIG. 1) as described in detail below to couple at least two, and optionally three or more luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 together to form the joined unit 22. For example, the externally- exposed surfaces can include a patch of material forming a first portion of a hook-and- loop fastening system commonly referred to by the trademark Velcro®, for example, as the connection region 24 (FIG. 2). The compatible, mating portion of the hook-and-loop fastening system can be supported adjacent to a distal end 28 (FIG. 1) of the tether 26 that extends away from the housing 20. According to alternate embodiments, the connection region 24 can include a portion of a buckle, snap, or any other releasable mechanical fastener that can be engaged by a portion of the tether 26 to establish a friction-fit connection that couples the distal end. Although the connection region 24 is shown in FIG. 2 as a well-defined portion that encompasses less than a significant portion of the housing 20, it is to be understood that the connection region 24 can optionally include any portion of the housing's surface area. For instance, a housing 20 having a fabric exterior surface can receive the mating portion of the hook-and-loop fastener at approximately any location on the exposed fabric. Thus, the connection region 24 can include an isolated region of the housing 20, or anywhere on the housing 20 where a suitable and compatible fastening component is available.

[0025] According to alternate embodiments, a system comprising a magnetic and a magnetically-attractive material can be provided as the connection region 24 and the compatible, mating portion provided adjacent to the distal end 28 of the tether 26. Magnetic attraction between the magnet and magnetically-attractive portion serves to releasably couple the distal end 28 of the tether 26 to the connection region 24, and thereby couple immediately adjacent luggage pieces together as described below.

Regardless of the particular materials used, the fastening system provided to the connection region 24 and the distal end 28 of the tether(s) 26 releasably couples the distal end 28 of the tether 26 extending from one carry-on bag 18 to an immediately-adjacent carry-on bag 18. As a releasable coupling, the distal end 28 of the tether 26 can repeatedly be connected, by hand, and subsequently removed to/from its corresponding connection region 24 provided to the immediately adjacent (e.g., not separated from each other by an intervening carry-on bag 18) carry-on bag 18 without damaging the tether 16, the connection region 24 or the carry-on bag 18 to an extent that renders any such components unfit for subsequent usage.

[0026] The one tether 26, or plurality of tethers 26 can optionally include a permanent tether 26 that is affixed to at least one, and optionally each of the carry-on bags 18 included in the luggage system 10, in a non-releasable manner. The permanent tether 26 prevents removal of the tether 26 without damaging the permanent tether 26 itself, or the carry-on bag 18 to which it is affixed. For example, one or more of the tethers 26 can be stitched using nylon thread or other suitable stitching 27 to a first luggage piece 12 (FIG. 1), for example. According to alternate embodiments, a proximate end of the permanent tether 26 can be adhesively coupled to the housing 20 of the first luggage piece 12, or secured to be spooled about a spool provided to the first luggage piece 20, for example. When not coupling luggage pieces together, the distal end 28 of the tether 26 can optionally cooperate with a portion of the housing 20, or can otherwise be supported or stowed on the housing of the luggage piece to which the tether 26 is affixed in a manner that does not interfere with use of that luggage piece by itself, separate from the other luggage pieces. According to alternate embodiments, the one or more tethers 26 can be retracted within a compartment provided to the carry-on bag 18. For example, such tethers 26 can be wound around a spring-biased spool concealed within the compartment so as not to be viewable when the carry-on bag 18 is observed in transit within an airport. An end of the tether 26 can optionally be provided with an enlarged segment, buckle, or other object that prevents the terminal end of the tether 26 from being fully retracted into the interior of the compartment, from where retrieving the terminal end of the tether would be difficult to achieve.

[0027] Additionally, the tethers 26 are described herein as being straps of a flexible material such as nylon or the like. However, it is to be understood that any suitable fastener (e.g., plastic, metal or other rigid braces; elastic bands; etc...) that can extend between the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 described herein can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, an alternate embodiment of the tethers 26 is shown in FIGs. 6-9. As shown in FIG. 6, the tethers 26 can be formed as opposing flaps 60 of material having an externally-exposed surface with a decorative appearance that matches the decorative appearance of the other externally-exposed surfaces of the carry-on bag 18. Instead of the straps described above, each flap 60 can extend along a substantial portion of the carry on bag's length L (FIG. 2). For instance, the flaps 60 can be formed as panels of material from which the exterior of the housing is formed, and extend more than half the length L of the carry-on bag 18. When closed (e.g., not in use to couple the carry-on bag 18 to another luggage piece 14, 16), the flaps 60 can be secured against another portion of the carry-on bag 18. For instance, the flaps 60 can be coupled to an external surface of a secondary pouch 66 of the carry-on bag 18, that is smaller in volume than the interior of the primary compartment where a majority of clothing can be stored to be transported. Such secondary pouches 66 can be utilized to store a laptop computer or other items to be compartmentalized separate from clothing in the larger, primary compartment.

[0028] To maintain the flaps 60 in their closed orientation, an inward-facing surface 62, shown in FIG. 7, of each flap 60 can include a first portion 64 of a releasable fastener that can cooperate with a second portion 68 of a releasable fastener provided to the external surface of the secondary pouch 66. According to an illustrative embodiment, the first and second portions 64, 68 of the releasable fastener can include compatible segments of hook-and-loop materials (e.g., the first portion 64 includes the hook material and the second portion 68 can include the loop material). The second portion 68 is shown in FIG. 7 as being a single sheet of material, to which the first portion 64 provided to the inward-facing surface 62 of each flap 60 is coupled. The flaps 60 can optionally include dimensions such that when they are closed the opposing surface of each flap 60 is arranged closely to, and optionally in contact with, the opposing surface of the opposing flap 60. Thus, the second portion 68 is not visible, or minimally visible upon close inspection that would not be common while the carry-on bag 18 is transported through an airport, being substantially concealed by the flaps 60, as shown in FIG. 6. The externally-exposed surface of each flap 60, while the flaps 60 are closed, provides the carry-on bag 18 with its decorative appearance.

[0029] According to an alternate embodiment, the second portion 68 can be formed as two or more separate regions 70 of the material or other compatible fastener portion, as shown in FIG. 7. Although the separate regions 70 are shown provided in addition to the second portion 68, it is to be understood that the separate regions 70 can be provided instead of the second portion 68. Each separate region 70 can be provided to the carry-on bag 18 at locations such that the space between the separate regions 70 is larger than the distance separating the flaps 60 when they are closed (e.g., the lateral distance in the width W direction (FIG. 2) is greater than the lateral distance in the width W direction between the flaps 60). Thus, the separate regions 70 are concealed from view by the flaps 60, when closed, so no portion of the separate regions 70 is visible while the flaps 60 are closed, providing the carry-on bag 18 with an attractive

appearance.

[0030] According to yet another embodiment, the flaps 60 can extend a sufficient distance beyond the front of the secondary pouch 66 or other portion of the carry-on bag 18 so that, when folded inward toward each other and closed, the distal ends 80 at least partially overlap each other, as shown in FIG. 10. When closed, the flaps 60 are secured to another portion of the carry-on bag 18 or otherwise stowed while not in use to couple the carry-on bag 18 to another luggage piece. By overlapping, the flaps 60 conceal the entire front surface of the secondary pouch 66 between the proximate ends 82 of the flaps 60 that are stitched or otherwise secured to the luggage piece 18. In other words, any exposed portion of the secondary pouch's front surface that would otherwise be exposed and visible in the front view of FIG. 10 between the two flaps 60 if they stopped short of each other and did not overlap in the closed position is concealed by the overlapping flaps 60. With reference to FIG. 11, the flaps 60 according to such an embodiment each include the first portion 64 of a releasable fastener system that cooperates with the second portion 68 of the releasable fastener system provided to the front surface of the secondary pouch 66. An exterior surface 86 of an underlying one of the flaps 60 also includes a region 84 provided with the material forming the second portion 68 of the releasable fastener system adjacent to the distal end 80 of that underlying flap 60. The first portion 64 of the releasable fastener system provided to the other flap 60 (shown in the open orientation in FIG. 11) that is to overlay the underlying one of the flaps 60 (shown in the closed position in FIG. 11) can optionally be large enough to concurrently cooperate with both the second portion 68 and the region 84 including the material forming the second portion 64, thereby maintaining both flaps 60 in the closed position. According to alternate embodiments, the underlying flap 60 can be provided with the region 84 including the material forming the second portion 68, and the second portion 68 provided to the front surface of the secondary pouch 66 can optionally be omitted altogether. But regardless of the releasable fastener system utilized, flaps 60 that extend far enough beyond the secondary pouch 66 or other front region of the carry-on bag 18 extend a sufficient distance forward to firmly couple the carry-on bag 18 to another luggage piece.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 8, the alternate embodiment of the luggage piece 14 to which the carry-on bag 18 shown in FIGs. 6 and 7 can be coupled to form the joined unit 22 includes a region 72 where another segment of the second portion 68 of the releasable fastener can be located. The carry-on bag 18 can be the luggage unit 12, arranged at an end of the joined unit 22, and the luggage unit 14 can be coupled to the carry-on bag 18. As shown, the region 72 where the second portion 68 is arranged is on each lateral side 74 of the luggage unit 14. The luggage unit 14 can optionally lack the flaps 60 provided to the carry-on bag 18, instead including one or a plurality of secondary pouches 66 with an external surface unobstructed by flaps. Thus, the carry-on bag 18 can be coupled to the luggage unit 14, but the luggage unit 14 lacks the flaps 60 or other tethers 26 according to the present embodiment to be coupled to another luggage unit 16. According to other embodiments, however, the carry-on bag 18 and the luggage unit 14 (and optionally other luggage unit 16) can share a common configuration, allowing the luggage unit 14 and the carry-on bag 18 to be interchangeable, and arranged at any desired location within the joined unit 22. In use, the carry-on bag 18 can be utilized as a standalone piece of luggage. To couple the carry-on bag 18 to the luggage piece 14, the flaps 60 are opened and placed along each lateral side 74 of the luggage piece 14, as shown in FIG. 9. The first portion 64 (FIG. 7). of the releasable fastening system provided to the interior surface 62 of the flaps 60 cooperates with the second portion of the fastening system provided at the region 72 on each lateral side 74 of the luggage unit 14. In FIG. 9, the second portion of the fastening system at the region 72 is visible with the flaps 60 in place. However, alternate embodiments include positioning the regions 72 at locations on the respective lateral sides 74 where the second portion of the fastening system is not visible while the flaps 60 are in place when the joined unit 22 is viewed from the side as shown in FIG. 9.

[0032] Each carry-on bag 18 can optionally also include a retractable handle 30 (FIG. 2) that is adjustable relative to the housing 20 between a recessed position, where a handgrip 32 provided to the handle 30 is disposed adjacent to the housing 20, and a deployed position where the handgrip 32 is extended distally away from the housing 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the handle 30 is adjustable in a vertically-oriented plane that extends substantially parallel to the length (L) of the housing 20. Further, an additional, fixed handle 34 can optionally be provided to a lateral side 36 of the housing 20 to facilitate lifting and transportation of the carry-on bag 18 by hand, with the length oriented in a substantially-horizontal orientation.

[0033] According to alternate embodiments, each luggage piece 12, 14, 16 can optionally include substantially the same type of handle, which is shown in FIG. 2 as a generally U-shaped handle (the handgrip 32 forming the bridge between the downward facing sides of the U). According to alternate embodiments, the first luggage piece 12 can optionally include the telescopically-retractable U-shaped handle 30, while another luggage piece 16, for example, includes a retractable belt handle 54 (FIG. 1), or a handle including a single, telescopically adjustable arm with the handgrip supported thereon. The belt handle 54 includes a belt of nylon or other suitable material that is stored about a spool coupled to the housing 20, and a handgrip 32 provided to a distal end of the retractable belt. The spool can optionally be recessed within a portion of the housing 20 to be concealed from view when the housing 20 is observed. Like the U-shaped embodiment of the handle 32, the retractable belt is adjustable relative to the housing 20 between a recessed position where the handgrip 32 is disposed proximate to the housing 20 and a deployed position where the handgrip 32 is extended distally away from the housing 20. [0034] A "leash" 90 (FIG. 12) can optionally be removably coupled to at least one of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 included as part of a joined unit 22 to allow a user to tow the joined unit 22 through an airport, for example. The leash 90 can include a quick coupler 92 adjacent to at least one end of an elongated strap 94 of nylon or other suitably durable material that can be folded and stored in one of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 when not in use. As shown in FIG. 12, the strap 94 can optionally include a quick coupler adjacent to each terminal end thereof.

[0035] For the illustrated embodiment, the quick couplers 92 are each in the form of what is commonly referred to as a "dog leash clip". Such a coupler 92 includes a receiver 96 defining a socket 98 in which a structure to which the leash 90 is to be coupled is received. Once the structure is within the socket 98, a spring-biased gate 100 is allowed to adjust, under the urging of the spring, to a position where it will interfere with removal of the structure from within the socket 98. Examples of the structure can include any portion of one or more of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 such as any portion of the retractable handle 30 (FIGs. 1 and 2), rings 102 (FIG. 8) coupling a fixed-position handgrip 132 (FIG. 8) to the housing 20, or any other suitable portion of the luggage piece(s) 12, 14, 16 that allows the user to tow the joined unit 22.

[0036] Although the couplers 92 are described herein as dog leash clips, any adjustable coupler that is compatible with a portion of one or more of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 can be utilized instead of the dog leash clips. For example, friction fit or camming couplers, or any other coupler that can be coupled to one or more of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 and then adjusted to be removed therefrom can be utilized. According to alternate embodiments, the strap 94 can include a continuous loop of material, lacking any couplers 92. For such embodiments, one end of the strap 94 can be inserted to extend through the members forming the U-shaped handle 30 shown in FIGs. 1 and 2, and the other end of the strap 94 inserted through the portion of the strap 94 extending through the members of the U-shaped handle 30.

[0037] The carry-on bag 18 also includes a plurality of rollers 40, 42 that extend downwardly, and/or protrude from a bottom surface 44 of the housing 20 that is positioned to oppose a ground surface on which the carry-on bag 18 rests when standing upright, with the handle 30 extending in a substantially- vertical orientation. As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of rollers 40, 42 includes at least two, and optionally more, in-line rollers 40 arranged along a proximate side 46 of the housing 20 adjacent to the vertical plane in which the handle 30 extends and retracts. Each of the in-line rollers 40 can include a wheel that rotates about an axle having a fixed rolling direction, which does not pivot or otherwise change in response to a change of direction in which the carry-on bag 18 is rolling while being pulled with the handle 30.

[0038] The plurality of rollers 40, 42 of the carry-on bag 18 in FIG. 2 also include at least two, and optionally more, adjustable rollers 42. The adjustable rollers 42 also extend downwardly beyond the bottom surface 44 of the housing, but are arranged closer to a vertical plane in which a distal, or front side 48 of the housing 20, opposite the proximate side 46 of the housing 20 adjacent to the vertical plane in which the handle 30 extends and retracts, is located. Each of the adjustable rollers 42 includes at least one, and optionally a plurality of wheels, balls, casters, or other suitable rolling devices that rotate about an axis of rotation and have an adjustable rolling direction, which pivots or otherwise changes in response to a change of direction in which the carry-on bag 18 is rolling while the adjustable rollers 42 are in contact with the ground. Thus, the adjustable rollers 42 can maintain contact with the ground and allow the distal side 48 of the carry- on bag 18 to be turned or otherwise steered while the carry-on bag 18 is rolling on all of the rollers 40, 42, without dragging or otherwise skidding rollers as would occur if the adjustable 42 rollers adjacent to the distal side 48 of the housing 20 were replaced with in-line rollers. In other words, and with reference to FIG. 4, which is a view looking up at an embodiment of the bottom surface 44 of the housing 20, the adjustable rollers 42 rotate about an axis 50, which can pivot in the directions indicated by arrow 52 depending upon the direction in which the carry-on bag 18 is being steered while the adjustable rollers 42 are in contact with the ground.

[0039] The plurality of rollers provided to each of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 in included in the luggage system 10 FIG. 1 can be independently selected to include a plurality of in-line rollers 40, a plurality of adjustable rollers 42, or a plurality of in-line rollers 40 and a plurality of adjustable rollers 42. For example, as illustrated in FIGs. 1 and 3, the first luggage piece 12 can include a plurality of in-line rollers 40 arranged along a proximate side 46 of the housing 20. The first luggage piece 12 also includes a plurality of adjustable rollers 42 arranged adjacent to the distal side 48 of the housing. The in-line rollers 40 of the first luggage piece 12 allow the first luggage piece 12 to track in a substantially straight line, while the adjustable rollers 42 allow the first luggage piece to be turned in a manner similar to a car, where the adjustable rollers 42 allow the distal side 48 to be steered while the in-line wheels 40 follow. According to alternate embodiments, the first luggage piece 12 can optionally include the same combination of rollers as the other luggage pieces 14, 16. For example, the plurality of rollers provided to the luggage piece 12 can all be adjustable rollers 42. For such embodiments, the joined unit 22 is freely steerable, and can be rolled in any desired direction without limiting the tracking direction.

[0040] In contrast, the other luggage pieces 14, 16 included in the luggage system 10 collectively forming the joined unit 22 illustrated in FIG. 1 can each include a plurality of adjustable rollers 42, such as four, arranged along the bottom surface 44 of the housing as illustrated in FIG. 5, for example. According to such an embodiment, the luggage pieces 14, 16 each include only adjustable rollers 42, without any in-line rollers 40, to allow the luggage pieces 14, 16 to be freely rotated without the tracking ability afforded by the in-line rollers 40.

[0041] In use, the luggage piece 12 can be positioned immediately adjacent to another luggage piece 14 (e.g., physically abutting against each other). The distal side 48 (FIGs. 2 and 3) of the luggage piece 12 can be placed against, or at least opposing the distal side 48 of the luggage piece 14. Thus, the proximate side 46 of the luggage piece 12 adjacent to the handle 30 forms a first terminal end of the joined unit 22, and the proximate side 46 of the luggage piece 14 adjacent to the handle 30 provided to that luggage piece 14 forms another terminal end of the joined unit 22 along a longitudinal axis. Arranged in such a manner, the handle 30 provided to each luggage piece 12, 14 is arranged adjacent to a terminal end to allow access to a handle 30 regardless of which end a user is standing next to. One, or a plurality of tethers 26 can be extended between the luggage piece 12 and the luggage piece 14, and the mating portion of the fastening system supported by the distal end of the tether 26 introduced to the connection portion 24 provided to the housing of the luggage piece 14, thereby coupling the luggage pieces 12, 14 together. As shown in FIG. 1, four tethers 26 are used to couple the luggage pieces 12, 14 together: one tether 26 on each lateral side 36 of the housing 20, and two tethers 26 extending between a top surface 58 of each of the luggage pieces 12, 14. Of course any number of tethers 26 suitable to couple the luggage pieces 12, 14 together and maintain their close relative positioning while being rolled and steered as the joined unit 22 can be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0042] In a like manner, the luggage piece 16 can also be positioned adjacent to the luggage piece 14, and coupled thereto with a plurality of tethers 26 to form a joined unit 22 comprising three luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 as shown in FIG. 1. With the in-line rollers 40 arranged at one longitudinal end of the joined unit 22, the joined unit 22 can be pulled by the retractable belt handle 54 and follow, tracking in a substantially straight line as a result of the fixed steering direction of the in-line rollers 40. The other terminal end of the joined unit 22, adjacent to the adjustable rollers 42 provided to the proximate side 46 of the luggage piece 16 as shown in FIG. 1, can be steered through adjustment of the rolling direction of the adjustable rollers 42 without dragging or skidding fixed-rolling- direction rollers in a direction other than their fixed rolling direction. Each of the rollers disposed along the joined unit 22 between the in-line rollers 40 provided adjacent one terminal end and the adjustable rollers 42 provided adjacent the opposite terminal end can be adjustable rollers to facilitate steering of the opposite terminal end without dragging or skidding fixed-rolling-direction rollers in a direction other than their fixed rolling direction.

[0043] Although the illustrative embodiments of the luggage pieces 12, 14, 16 have been described above as carry-on bags coupled together to form the joined unit 22, it is to be understood that the present invention is not so limited. Instead, any sized luggage, including full-size luggage pieces that are not suitably sized as a carry-on item that can be stowed on a commercial airplane as described above, are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0044] Illustrative embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above devices and methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, to the extent that the term "includes" is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.