TRAVEL LUGGAGE

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates generally to travel pillows and more particularly relates to travel pillows that are removably incorporated onto or into backpacks, carryon travel luggage and other types of travel luggage.

[0002] When traveling on common carriers such as airplanes, trains, buses, etc., travelers often encounter difficulty when sleeping, especially on long distance or/or long duration trips.

[0003] In the case of flying, airlines use to provide small travel pillows; however, more and more such pillows are not necessary provided complementary, but rather are provided for a fee. In addition, there are concerns that pillows that are provided on common carriers such as airlines are not necessarily cleaned and sanitized between the times they used by different passengers.

[0004] Accordingly more and more travelers are traveling with their own pillows. As a result there are a variety of different travel pillows available to travelers, many of which are sold at travel shops, including travel shops located in airports and train stations. The most common pillows that are available are either inflatable or stuffed with foam materials and/or natural and synthetic batting materials. [0005] Inflatable travel pillows are convenient in that they are compact when not inflated, allowing they to be placed in carryon travel bags. However inflatable pillows are not durable and often, if not eventually, leak air and have to be replaced.

[0006] Travel pillows stuffed with foam materials and various batting materials are much more comfortable than inflatable pillows and do not have the problem of leaking and deflating. However, travel pillows stuffed with foam and batting materials cannot be deflated into a compact form. Therefore travel pillows stuffed with foam and batting materials, which are preferred over inflatable travel pillows by many travelers, are not as convenient to travel with. Often such stuffed travel pillows have to be carried separately from other baggage. This compounds the inconvenience of traveling, especially when carrying other bags/luggage before and after checking in and after retrieving other bags/luggage upon arrival at a destination.

[0007] The present invention provides a travel pillow that is removably incorporated into a backpack or other type of carryon travel luggage. The removable pillow of the present invention relieve travelers from having to carry travel pillows as separate articles when traveling.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0008] According to various features, characteristics and embodiments of the present invention which will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds, the present invention provides a travel pillow in combination with an article of travel luggage which comprises: an article of travel luggage; and a pillow that is removably attached to a surface of the article of travel luggage, wherein the pillow comprises a flexible receptacle having an opening that allows the flexible receptacle to be stuffed with a filler material to give the pillow a desired firmness.

[0009] The article of travel luggage can be a backpack, a suitcase or any type of typical carryon travel bags/baggage/luggage that travelers typically take on travel trips, or take camping, or hiking, or to the beach or to other destinations. [0010] According to one embodiment the pillow is attached in a recess formed in the surface of the article of travel luggage.

[0011] The pillow can be removably attached to the surface of the article of travel by means of a Velcro ^® fasteners, snaps, clips, ties, or any suitable fastener or fastener system.

[0012] The pillow can also include one or more straps and a compartment with an opening for storing the one or more straps therein.

[0013] The pillow can also include one or more storage pockets for storing small articles such as earbuds, earplugs, etc.

[0014] The pillow can also include a handle if desired.

[0015] In use the pillow can be stuffed with a filler material such as one or more articles of clothing or a removable piece of foam material to give the pillow a desired firmness. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings which are given as non-limiting examples only, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 is a front view of a backpack that is provided with a travel pillow according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 is a front view of the pillow removed from the backpack.

[0019] Figure 3 is a rear view of the pillow of Fig. 2.

[0020] Figure 4 is a front view of the pillow of Fig. 2 that shows side straps that can be used to carry the pillow.

[0021] Figure 5 is a side view of the pillow of Fig. 2 that shows side pockets into which the straps of Fig. 4 can be stored.

[0022] Figure 6 is a front view of a suitcase that is provided with a pillow according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 7 is a side view of the suitcase of Fig. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] As noted above, the present invention provides a travel pillow that is removably incorporated onto or into an article of travel luggage. For purposes of the present invention the term “article of travel luggage” or “travel luggage” includes backpacks, suitcases and encompasses any type of typical carryon bags/baggage/luggage that travelers typically take on trips, or take camping, or hiking, or to the beach or to other destinations. As can be understood from the description that follows that present invention provides a pillow that does not have to be carried as a separate article from a traveler’s travel luggage when traveling. The pillow comprises a flexible receptacle into which a soft material or articles can be received to provide “filler” for the pillow.

[0025] The pillow is received onto the surface of, or preferably into a recess formed in the surface of, a backpack, suitcase, carryon bag or other article of travel luggage. The pillow can be removably attached to the backpack, suitcase, carryon bag of other article of travel luggage by Velcro ^® fasteners, snaps, clips, ties, or any suitable fastener or fastener system.

[0026] The pillow has a large zippered opening with which to access the interior for placing or removing filler materials into the flexible receptacle. In further embodiments, rather than include a zipper, the opening could include snaps, hooks, ties or other suitable elements to close the opening.

[0027] In addition to the large zippered opening, the pillow can also have one or more smaller closable openings than can access the interior of the flexible receptacle or otherwise assess one or more small interior lined pockets to receive and store small articles such as earbuds, earplugs, etc. that a traveler may wish to carry and have access to.

[0028] The pillow may further have one or more straps, handles, ties, etc. that can be used to carry the pillow and/or hook the pillow on a holder or headrest. [0029] The pillow is made from a flexible material such as cloth or fabric and at least one side, e.g. the back, can be made from a soft material to provide a comfortable touch or feel when one rests against the soft material. [0030] In use the interior of the flexible receptacle can used as packing space for small articles of clothing like socks, undergarments, etc. so as not to lose any packing space. Otherwise an insert made from a foam material can be placed into the flexible receptacle for purposes of using the pillow during a flight, train ride bus ride, etc.

[0031] Figure 1 is a front view of a backpack that is provided with a travel pillow according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] The overall shape of the backpack 1 in Fig. 1 can generally be of any conventional backpack design. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 a pillow 3 is removably attached to the front of the backpack 1. In general, the backpack 1 includes a main interior compartment that is accessible through a zippered opening that extends across the top and sides of the backpack in a conventional configuration. The backpack 1 also includes a handle 4 at the top and shoulder straps 5 that are fixed to the back of the backpack 1 in a conventional manner. As shown, the pillow 3 is smaller than the overall front area of the backpack 1. [0033] The pillow 3 in Fig. 1 (and Figs. 2-5) is shown as having a rectangular shape when viewed from the front. However, it is to be understood that the shape of the pillow 3 is not limited to being rectangular. In other embodiments the pillow 3, as viewed from the front could be square, circular, or have any desired shape.

[0034] In further embodiments of the present invention, the pillow 3 could be attached to the outside surface of the front of the backpack 1 and have the same general size and shape of the front of the backpack 1 or be smaller in size and have any desired shape. [0035] As shown in Fig. 1 , the pillow 3 is centered with respect to the front of the backpack 1. In other embodiments, the pillow 3 could be provided at any location on the front of the backpack 1 or even along a side, or the top, or the bottom of the backpack 1.

[0036] Figure 2 is a front view of the pillow removed from the backpack. As described above the pillow 3 comprises a flexible receptacle. In this regard the pillow 3 includes at least a front and back panel which are attached to one another along their periphery to form a flexible container having an interior space. In other embodiments the pillow 3 can comprise front and back panels together with one or more side panels that extend around and are attached to the periphery of each of the front and back panels. In other embodiments the flexible container of the pillow 3 can be formed from a folded sheet of material or a tube of material that has otherwise open sides attached and closed.

[0037] In the embodiment of the pillow 3 shown in Fig. 2 a large zippered opening 6 is provided along the center of the front of the pillow 3 for purposes of accessing the interior of the flexible receptacle and allowing desired “filler” materials to be placed into the flexible receptacle to give the pillow 3 a desired degree of softness or firmness to be used to rest against. As noted above in alternative embodiments rather than include a zipper on the zippered opening 6, the opening could include snaps, hooks, ties or other suitable elements to access the interior of the flexible receptacle and close the opening. The zippered opening 6 can have a length that is large enough to allow a piece of foam material, the size of the pillow 3, to be passed through the zippered opening 6 into the flexible receptacle. Generally the zippered opening 6 can have a length of about 50-90% of the length of the surface on the pillow 3 into which the zippered opening 6 is formed.

[0038] Also shown in Fig. 2 is a smaller closable opening 7 formed in the pillow 3 than can access the interior of the flexible receptacle or otherwise assess a small interior lined pocket to receive and store small articles such as earbuds, earplugs, etc. that a traveler may wish to carry and have access to.

[0039] The configuration of the large zippered opening 6 and smaller closable opening 7 as shown in Fig. 2 is not limiting. In other embodiments, the large zippered opening 6 could be horizontal, or provided along one or more of the top, bottom, or sides of the pillow 3 and even provided on the back surface of the pillow 3, if desired. The smaller closable opening 7 could likewise be provided at any convenient or desired location on the pillow 3 and more than one such smaller closable opening 7 could be provided. The smaller closable opening(s) 7 can be provided with a zipper closure, snaps, hooks, ties or other suitable elements by which to open and close the smaller closable opening(s) 7.

[0040] Figure 3 is a rear view of the pillow of Fig. 2. In the embodiment of the pillow shown in Fig. 3 Velcro ^® fasteners 8 are provided on the back of the pillow 3 and configured to be in alignment with cooperating Velcro ^® fasteners provided on the front of a the backpack 1 to removable secure the pillow 3 to the backpack 1. As noted above, in alternative embodiments rather than use Velcro ^® fasteners, snaps, clips, ties, zippers, or any suitable fasteners or fastener systems could be used to removable attach the pillow 3 to the backpack 1.

[0041] Figure 4 is a front view of the pillow of Fig. 2 that shows side straps that can be used to carry the pillow. Figure 5 is a side view of the pillow of Fig. 2 that shows side pockets into which the straps of Fig. 4 can be stored. The pillow 3 can be provided with one or more straps, handles, ties, etc. that can be used to carry the pillow and/or hook the pillow on a holder or headrest. By providing the pillow 3 with such straps, handles, ties, etc. the pillow can have a dual use including use as a pillow, and use as a separate small backpack/tote to conveniently carry item to items separately from the backpack, after be detached therefrom. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the pillow 3 is provided with side straps 9 that can be used to carry the pillow 3. The side straps 9 can be of a fixed length or have adjustable lengths. Figure 5 shows side pockets 10 into which the side straps 9 can be stored when not in use. These side pockets 10 can either be open to the interior of the flexible receptacle or have their own pocket liners, and cane be provided with similar closing arrangements as the large zippered opening 6 and small closeable opening(s) 7. [0042] As noted above the present invention is not limited to incorporating a pillow into or onto any particular type of carryon luggage. Figures. 6 and 7 provide an example of a suitcase configured to have a removable pillow attached thereto.

[0043] Figure 6 is a front view of a suitcase that is provided with a pillow according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 is a side view of the suitcase of Fig. 6.

[0044] In Fig. 6 a recess 11 is provided in a side of the suitcase 12 into which pillow 3 is received an removably attached. For description purposes, the pillow 3 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 can be substantially similar to the description of the pillow discussed above in reference to Figs. 1-5. It is to be understood that the overall size of the pillow 3 could, if desired, be larger in the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7 in the instance in which the suitcase 12 is proportionally larger than the backpack 1 of Figs. 1-5. Further it is to be understood that in the embodiment of figs. 6 and 7 the pillow 3 could be incorporated into the front or back of the suitcase 12 and proportionally larger or similar, if desired.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 6, the recess 11 can be configured and have a depth so that the pillow 3, when attached in the recess 11 is flush with the side of the suitcase 12. Here it is noted that, if desired, a similar recess could be provided in the backpack 1 of Fig. 1 into which the pillow 3 could be received and flush with the front surface of the backpack 1.

[0046] As discussed above, pillow is preferably made from flexible material such as cloth or fabric and at least one side, e.g. the front, is made from a soft material to provide a comfortable touch or feel when one rests against the soft material. If desired, the pillow 3 could include a waterproof liner, or could be made from a waterproof material.

[0047] Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, from the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of the present invention and various changes and modifications can be made to adapt the various uses and characteristics without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described above and set forth in the attached claims.