Background of the Invention

1. Field of the Znventlon This Invention relates to a piece of luggage.

2. Description of the Related Art

Travellers often carry a number of pieces of luggage. Typically, at least one piece lβ bulky and at least one other piece Is a relatively email tote. Many bulky pieces of luggage have wheels and an extendlble handle so that a user may wheel the bulky piece of luggage along by the handle after extending same.

It has been recognized that the handle bars of the extended handle could act as a support for a tote such that the tote could be transported on the wheeled luggage. Known totes adapted for this purpose either have complicated mechanisms for permitting the tote to be mounted on the handle bars or present catching hazards requiring closures to avoid such hazards.

The present Invention seeks to overcome drawbacks of the known prior art.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present Invention, there is provided a piece of luggage comprisingι a first body portion having at

least one compartment) a second body portion having a compartment) βald second body portion joined to said first body portion so as to form a passageway (channel) between said first body portion and said second body portion, said passageway being open at two opposed ends and sized to permit a handle of a wheeled suitcase to pass therethrough.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piece of luggage made in accordance with this Invention shown supported on a handle of a wheeled suitcase, figure 2 is a perspective view looking In the direction of arrow 2 of figure 1, igure 3 Is a partially cross-sectional view along the lines 3-3 of figure 2, and figure 4 Is a cross-sectional viewalong the lines 4-4 of figure 2.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Turning to figure 1, a piece of luggage 10 made In accordance with this invention is shown in place on the handle bars 12 of an extensible handle 11 of a piece of wheeled luggage

14. Wheeled luggage 14 has wheels 16.

Referencing figure 2, the piece of luggage 10 has a first body portion 20 with compartments 22 and 24. The piece of luggage also has a second body portion 30 with compartment 32. The second body portion 30 is joined to the first body portion

20 so as to form a passageway, or channel, 40 between the first

and second body portions. This passageway is βi2βd for receiving handle 11 of the wheeled suitcase 14. Compartment 32 of the second body portion 30 has a zipper fastener 34 which extendβ along a top wall 36 of the second body portion 30. From figure 3 and figure 4, it will be apparent that the join between the body portions 20, 30 results from Join lines 50 and 52 between sldewall 62 of the second body portion 30 and sldewall 60 of the first body portion 20. These join lines are lines of stitching comprising a main section 50a, 52a extending along opposed edges of the second body portion between a short extension 50b, 52b along the bottom 76 of the second body portion 30 and a short extension 50c, 52c along the top 36 of the second body portion such that the resulting passageway 40 Is open at both of its ends 56 and 5θ. As will be apparent from figure 4, the main sections 50a, 52a of the two join lines 50, 52 are parallel to each other and the join lines 50, 52 are βpaced to permit the handle 11 of the wheeled suitcase to pass through the passageway.

From figure 3, it will be noted that sldewall 60 of the first body portion 20 has wear resistant protuberances in the nature of beads or protective cloth welts 66 and 68 directed toward sldewall 62 of the second body portion 30. Similarly, the second body portion 30 has wear resistant beads or protective cloth welts 70 and 72 directed toward the sldewall 60 of the first body portion.

As will be apparent from the figures, the piece of luggage 10 is soft-sided.

In use, the passageway 40 of the piece of luggage 10

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may be registered with extended handle 11 of a wheeled suitcase 14 and the piece of luggage moved toward the handle such that the passageway receives the handle. Once the piece of luggage is slipped onto the handle bars 12, It will be supported by the handle. The top 50c, 52c and bottom 50b, 52b extensions of the join lines act to centre the handle bars 12 in the passageway 40 thereby Improving the stability of the piece of luggage 10 on the piece of luggage 14. If the piece of luggage 10 is oriented as shown In the figures, compartment 32 will be presented toward a user 18 (figure 1) when the piece of luggage 14 is being wheeled along. This provides a relatively secure compartment on the piece of luggage 10 which Is still readily accessible by a user. It will also be apparent from the figures that whether or not the piece of luggage 10 Is supported on handle 11 of a piece of wheeled luggage 14, the provision of passageway 40 through the luggage 10 creates a minimal catching hazard. This Is In part due to the extensions 50b, 52b, 50c, 52c of the join lines 50, 52 which aid In maintaining the passageway 40 In a substantially closed condition, when the piece of luggage 10 is not supported on handle bars 12, and opened only so far as required to accommodate handle bars 12, when the piece Is In place on the handle bars.

The beadβ or welts 66, 68, 70 and 72 (figure 3) extend toward handle 11 so as to reduce the wear on sidewalls 60 and 62 resulting from the movement of luggage 10 on handle bars 12.

Modifications to the Invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the Invention is defined In the claims.