FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to luggage and, more particularly, to wheeled luggage for carrying clothing and personal items while traveling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traveling generally requires that the traveler bring luggage to hold and transport their personal belongings, such as clothing, shoes, toiletries, and other personal items for use during a trip. Over the years, luggage has adapted to the needs of current travelers, moving from large steamer trunks to large suitcases that needed to be carried, to wheeled suitcases that can roll rather than have to be carried.

The cause for the change in luggage is due at least in part to the fact that travel has become more difficult with the traveler having to assume more tasks due to airline cost reduction requirements of self-ticketing, check in, baggage tagging, weighing and the like. Because of these requirements, the traveler has become responsible for moving their own luggage through an airport or other station, tagging and weighing baggage prior to boarding and/or managing a carry-on piece of luggage without the assistance of transportation employees.

These changes in travel have also favored smaller pieces of luggage, which make packing more difficult and results in clothes having to be folded and crushed so they unpack wrinkled, requiring a re-press upon before wearing. It also limits spaces used for smaller items, like toiletries, underwear and socks, footwear, belts and the like. These smaller items are often tucked in comers around clothing items like shirts, pants, dresses and the like that need to be more carefully packed, and often end up wrinkled and exposed to possible leakage stains from pastes, gels and liquids.

Although there have been many different types of suitcases, most have generally the same structure. Most commonly, suitcases have an exterior front panel that extends around a portion of the top, bottom and sides, an exterior back panel that extends around a portion of the top, bottom and sides, with a zipper for attaching the top, bottom and one side as well a portion of the other side that also includes a hinge. The common suitcase also has one or more handles, generally on a side and often on the top too.

When opened, with the exterior back panel lain flat on a luggage stand, bed, floor or other flat surface, the back panel generally defines one space having straps to tie down clothing items, perhaps with a small zipped pocket, and the top panel is generally a separate zipped compartment that opens to a single space that can be filled and zipped closed.

Unfortunately, the luggage art has failed to keep up with the need for travelers to effectively and efficiently take charge of their own luggage, such as having belongings accessible for common scenarios, like adding, removing or rearranging articles at a moment’s notice or based on TSA criteria between home and destinations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an article of luggage comprising a front panel that extends around a portion of a top, bottom and sides, a back panel that extends around a portion of the top, bottom and sides, one or more wheels at the bottom and a handle on one or more of the sides, top and/or back panel, wherein the front panel comprises two or more sections including a first front panel section with a hinge on a first side of the luggage and a second front panel section with a hinge on a second side of the luggage.

In the most preferred embodiment, the front panel can be described as an exterior, dualsection, cafe-style split front panel, hinged on the back panel and having one or more seals, gaskets, zippers and/or other closures about at least a portion of the open edge that meets the edge of the back panel when the luggage is in a closed configuration. Wheels are understood to embody casters, swivels, rollers, wheels, swiveling wheels and the like, as arc generally known in the art.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second front panel sections each make up about one half of the front panel, so that the front panel is divided from top to bottom at about the middle of the front panel, each with one or more hinges on their respective sides. However, it is understood that the front panel can be divided in other proportions, including but not limited to a 60/40 split, a 66.6/33.3 split, a 75/25 split, a 70/30 split or the like. Also, it is understood that he front panel can have more than two front panel sections, such as with a third panel at a top or bottom of the front panel with front panels split in the middle and having hinges at the sides.

Although any suitable closure can be used, it is preferred that the edges of the front and back panels have seals, gaskets and/or zippers for closing the luggage article. It is also preferred that the edges of the first and second front panels have a closure for maintaining the front panel sections in a closed configuration. The closure for the front panel sections can be a common zipper, or overlapping or interconnecting edges with one or more clasps, snaps, toggles or other cooperating mechanical connections that are configured to hold the first and second front panel sections securely together when the luggage article is in a closed configuration, meeting all TSA criteria for securing with a locking mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, one of the first or second front panel sections can be opened independently of the other, without having to position the luggage on a flat surface to fully open/close. Moreover, it is preferred that one or both of the first and second cafe-styled panel sections can be opened when the luggage article is upright, in a standing position with the wheels on the bottom solidly engaging the floor or raised surface. In this embodiment, it is preferred that wheels are placed on both the bottom of the back panel and the bottom of the first and second front panel sections, preferably with more than two wheels on the bottom of the back panel, to keep the luggage article standing sturdily when one or both of the front panel sections are open.

The interior of the luggage article of the present invention can have any configuration, however, it is preferred that the back panel include a center hanging means, such as a hang bar or hang bracket, for receiving and holding hangers for clothing. This allows the user to hang clothing items to facilitate packing and unpacking while reducing wrinkles. Also preferred are the use of compartments, including soft or mesh sided zippered compartments at the triangles above the comers of the hanger sections on one or both sides of the hanging means, and/or a zipped compartment at or across the bottom of the back panel which can be used for holding small articles in an organized manner.

It is also preferred that the interior of at least one of the first and second front panel sections comprise multiple compartments, with rigid, semi-rigid or soft walls, including doors or drawer fronts, to section off the compartments. These compartments don’t necessarily have front walls to fully enclose the compartments, however, a preferred embodiment includes partial or full front walls and closures, such as rigid, semi-rigid or soft walls, possibly made of plastic, textile or mesh materials, with zippers, elastic or the like along at least a portion of an edge of the front wall to keep articles located in the compartments in place and secure when one or both front panel sections are open with the luggage in its standing or upright orientation.

As with conventional luggage articles, it is contemplated that the luggage article of the present invention include one or more handles on a side and/or top of the luggage, preferably including an extendable handle on the back/top of the back panel. It is also contemplated that the luggage have lining materials on the interior surfaces, preferably being water resistant fabrics made from recyclable materials that can be wiped clean, and locks, including TSA approved locks, to secure the luggage article in the closed configuration. The locks preferably include cooperating elements on the front panel sections and back panel to maintain the front and back panels in a securely closed configuration.

Other features may be incorporated into the luggage as would be known to one skilled in the art, with such features understood to fall within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The attached drawings, in which like reference characters represent like parts, are intended to better illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention without limiting the invention in any manner whatsoever.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an embodiment of the luggage article of the present invention in a closed configuration.

Figure 2 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the luggage article of the present invention in an open closed configuration with a first optional interior. Figure 3 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the luggage article of the present invention in an open closed configuration with a second optional interior.

Figure 4 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the luggage article of the present invention in an open closed configuration with a third optional interior.

Figure 5 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the luggage article of the present invention in an open closed configuration with a fourth optional interior.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description of the preferred embodiment is presented to describe the present invention without limiting the scope of the appended claims in any manner whatsoever.

As shown in Figures 1-5, the present invention is directed to an article of luggage 2 comprising a front panel 4 that extends around a portion of a top 8, bottom 10 and sides 12 and 14, a back panel 6 that extends around a portion of the top 8, bottom 10 and sides 12 and 14, wheels 16 at the bottom 10 and a handle 18 on one or more of the sides 12 and 14, top 8 and/or back panel 6, wherein the front panel 4 comprises two or more sections including a first front panel section 20 with a hinge 24 on a first side of the luggage article and a second front panel section 22 with a hinge 24 on a second side of the luggage 2.

As shown in the drawings, the front panel 4 is divided with the first front panel section 20 making up about 60% of the width of the front panel 4 and second front panel section 22 making up about 40% of the width of the front panel 4, divided from top 8 to bottom 10, with a hinge 24 on the outer sides of each of the first and second front panel sections 20 and 22. Of course, it is understood that the front panel 4 can be divided in other proportions, including but not limited to first and second front panel sections 20 and 22 having a 50/50 split, a 66.6/33.3 split, a 75/25 split, or any suitable combination.

Additionally, it is understood that the front panel 4 can have more than two front panel sections 20 and 22. However, it is preferred that when a third front panel section is included that it cover a portion of the top 8 or bottom 10 of the front panel 4, with the first and second front panel sections 20 and 22 extending from the sides 12 and 14 to a meeting line on the front of front panel 4 and having hinges 24 at the sides 12 and 14.

The exterior of the front panel 4, including one or both front panel sections 20 and 22, and the back panel 6 can be made of any suitable material Preferably, the front and back panels 4 and 6 are made of a semi-rigid or rigid material, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), and ABS and PC mixture, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), aluminum, or other suitable material know to those skilled in the luggage art. Alternatively, luggage 2 can be a soft-sided, comprised of polyester, oxford cloth, nylon, ballistic nylon, CORDURA®, canvas, leather, or other suitable material known to those skilled in the art.

Although any suitable releasable attachment can be used, the preferred embodiment shown includes zippers 26 at the edges of the front panel sections 20 and 22 and the back panel 6, except at the sides where the front panel sections 20 and 22 are attached to the back panel 6 by hinges 24 (see Figure 2). The first and second front panel sections 20 and 22 also have a closure 28 for maintaining the first and second front panel sections 20 and 22 in a cooperating closed configuration.

Although the closure for the front panel sections can be a zipper or other suitable device, the preferred embodiment shown utilizes one or more clasps, snaps, toggles or other cooperating mechanical connections that are configured to hold the first and second front panel sections 20 and 22 securely together when the luggage article is in a closed configuration. In a preferred embodiment, the closure 28 is flush with or recessed on the exterior of the front panel 4 for protection during luggage handling during travel.

The above configuration provides that one of the first front panel section 20 or the second front panel section 22 can be opened independently of the other, without the other being opened, i.c., by opening the closures 28 and unzipping the zipper 26 associated with that front panel section. Moreover, it is preferred that one or both of the first and second panel sections 20 and 22 can be opened when the luggage 2 is in a standing orientation, with the wheels 16 engaging the floor or other surface.

In this embodiment, it is preferred that wheels 16 are placed on both the bottom 10 of the back panel 6 and the bottom 10 of the first and second front panel sections 20 and 22 to keep the luggage 2 standing when one or both of the front panel sections are open. Most preferably, the back panel 6 comprises staggered wheels 16, with two wheels 16 nearer the sides 12 and 14 and back of the luggage 2, i.e., at the back outer corners of the luggage 2, with one or more wheels 16 nearer the middle of the bottom 10, i.e., nearer the center of the luggage 2, relatively close to where the back panel 6 attaches to the front panel 4.

This wheel configuration is intended to balance the back panel 6 when one or both of the first and second front panel sections 20 and 22 are opened.

The interior of the luggage 2 of the present invention is preferably lined with a suitable fabric or surface and can have any desired interior configuration. However, it is preferred that the back panel 6 include a center hanging support 30, such as a hang bar or locking hang bracket, for receiving and holding hangers 32 for clothing. This allows the user to hang clothing items to facilitate packing and unpacking while reducing wrinkles. As shown in Figure 5, a bottom portion of the back panel 6 may include a mesh panel 36, preferably with an elastic top edge, to hold the bottoms of clothing articles hung from the hangers 32, as well as to hold miscellaneous articles placed at the bottom of the back panel 6.

Also preferred is the use of compartments on the back panel 6, including soft or mesh sided zippered compartments 34 at the triangles above the comers of the hangers 32 on one or both sides of the hanging support 30. In another embodiment, shown in figure 3, a removable case 38 may be fitted across a portion of the bottom of the back panel 6, which can be used for holding small articles and removed from the luggage 2.

The interior of the first and second front panel sections 20 and 22 of the preferred embodiment shown include compartments 40 with rigid, semi-rigid or soft walls 42 to section off the compartments 40. Most preferably, however, the compartments 40 have rigid walls 42 to create structural support for the front panel sections utilizing the preferred closure 28.

The compartments 40 don’t necessarily have front walls to fully enclose the compartments 40, however, a preferred embodiment includes partial or full front walls 44 to hold personal articles in the compartments 40. The front walls 44 can be rigid, semi-rigid or soft, possibly made of plastic, textile or mesh materials as desired for the particular embodiment, and may comprise drawer fronts with a drawer supported in one or more of the compartments 40. As shown in Figure 4, preferred full front walls 44 include closures 46, such as zippers, hook and loop fasteners, clasps, snaps or the like to allow access to the interior of the compartments 40. As shown in Figure 5, preferred partial front walls 44' have an elastic edge 48 at the top of the front wall 44 to help keep personal articles in the compartments 40.

As with conventional luggage, it is contemplated that the luggage 2 of the present invention include one or more handles 18 on a side, top and/or back of the luggage. Most preferably, the luggage 2 has an extendable handle on the top/back of the back panel 6 as is common in wheeled luggage known in the art. It is also contemplated that the luggage 2 have locks, including TSA locks, to secure the luggage article in the closed configuration. The locks preferably include zipper locks between the front and back panels 4 and 6, when a zipped closure 26 is used, and cooperating locks incorporated into the front closures 28 to maintain the luggage 2 in a securely closed configuration.

Of course, the luggage 2 may incorporate various additional accessories that are known to be incorporated into a or optionally added to a suitcase, such as lighting, battery storage, charging ports, tools, etc.. Additionally, the luggage 2 may be provided in any suitable size, shape and/or configuration that may be desirable.

Variations, modifications and alterations to the above detailed description will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the weight element may be in the form of three weighted rods with three adjacent pockets just in from terminal edge of the fold over panel. All such variations, modifications and/or alternatives are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention, limited only by the claims. Any cited patents and/or publications are incorporated by reference.