Abstract:
A luggage system with a wardrobe element which extends from the luggage portion and supports a crossbar for hanging clothing or costumes. An arm extends away from the crossbar for supporting a privacy curtain. The wardrobe element is secured within the sides of the luggage, and the opening of the luggage can be opened and closed without needing to store the wardrobe element. In a preferred embodiment, the wardrobe element includes two pairs of structural legs extending out of respective pockets within the luggage, the legs terminating at the crossbar.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/216,492 Sep. 10, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a collapsible wardrobe and luggage system and method for use thereof, and more specifically to a wardrobe with a privacy curtain, the wardrobe being integrated into a trunk or other luggage, and the luggage is able to be fully closed while the wardrobe features remain extended from the luggage. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Dancers, performers, travelers, or anyone else often need to quickly change clothing or costumes in public places. Typical luggage requires the user to sift through piles of clothing to find the correct article. Existing luggage with wardrobe attachments require the wardrobe bar to extend from the storage compartment of the luggage, rendering the luggage unable to close while the wardrobe feature is in use. Further, these wardrobe features are typically made to be as lightweight and cheaply as possible, typically having a single structural post extending away from the luggage on either side of the crossbar. While the luggage is open, contents stored within are susceptible to theft. These also lack the ability to provide privacy to the user when changing outfits or costumes. 
         [0006]    What is needed is a structurally superior wardrobe element for luggage which allows the luggage to remain fully functional while the wardrobe is in use, while the wardrobe further provides privacy to the user. 
         [0007]    Heretofore there has not been available a luggage wardrobe system or method of use with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention generally provides a luggage system with a wardrobe element which extends from the luggage portion and supports a crossbar for hanging clothing or costumes. An arm extends away from the crossbar for supporting a privacy curtain. The wardrobe element is secured within the sides of the luggage, and the opening of the luggage can be opened and closed without needing to store the wardrobe element. In a preferred embodiment, the wardrobe element includes two pairs of structural legs extending out of respective pockets within the luggage, the legs terminating at the crossbar. The preferred embodiment is ideal for use when traveling or performing, which may require the user to change multiple outfits or costumes in an otherwise public area. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a deployed position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a stored position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an alternative isometric view thereof. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of  FIG. 2  showing a partial cut-away of the internal components thereof. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view showing privacy curtain elements as part of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention including compartments for elements of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention including a privacy screen element. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    I. Introduction and Environment 
         [0018]    As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0019]    Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. 
         [0020]    II. Preferred Embodiment Luggage Wardrobe System  2   
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a preferred luggage wardrobe system  2  in a fully deployed position, with a first  20  and second  30  pair of supports extended outward from within the luggage storage compartment  10 . The luggage storage compartment  10  generally comprise a suitcase or other typical luggage device having a storage compartment  10 , a closeable lid  11 , various handles for carrying the luggage, including a typical telescoping pull-handle  103 , and storage compartments  108  and flaps  107  to aid in securing contents on the exterior of the storage compartment  10 . Side handles  105  are also included to help the user carry the luggage compartment. 
         [0022]    The lid  11  closes such that the first  20  and second  30  pair of supports extend through separately enclosed side passages, allowing the flap  11  to securely close over the storage compartment  10 , while the supports  20 ,  30  remain extended. This allows the lid  11  to be securely locked or otherwise fastened shut to protect the contents of the storage compartment  10  while the supports  20 ,  30  are extended upward. 
         [0023]    The underside of the lid  11  includes additional an privacy screen  12  which is drawn up and attaches to the rod  40 , providing additional privacy. This is shown further in  FIG. 7 , and stand-alone side curtains  42  are shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0024]    A rod  40  is connected to the top of the supports  20 ,  30  and interfaces with rod connectors  401  and  402 , respectively. This allows the rod to be placed at an elevated position ideal for receiving clothing or costumes placed on clothes hangers or other hanging elements. An optionally removable privacy curtain arm  41  connects to one or both ends of the rod  40 , allowing a privacy curtain to be extended out and away from the luggage for privacy while the user is changing clothing, as shown in more detail in  FIG. 5 . The rod  40  may be a telescoping rod for easy storage. The lid  11  could attach to the rod  40  and/or the supports  20 ,  30  for additional functionality and privacy. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the storage compartment  10  includes many typical features associated with luggage, such as two or four wheels  104  allowing the luggage to be easily transported. Base grip strips  106  also help protect the storage compartment  10  and prevent the compartment from sliding around while the system is deployed. 
         [0026]    Shown slightly in  FIGS. 1 and 2  but more completely in  FIG. 4  are receivers  101 ,  102  for receiving the supports  20 ,  30  when they are hinged up and extended. These receivers  101 ,  102  keep the respective supports  20 ,  30  upright when the wardrobe system is in its deployed position, but easily release the supports for quick and easy storage once the supports are collapsed. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows the curtain arm  41  connected to either end of the bar  40 . A privacy curtain  42  hangs from each arm. The curtain could be a continuous curtain which wraps around the user for additional privacy, or they may be separate screens. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows zippered compartments  101  which store the supports  20 ,  30  when they are in their collapsed position, and which can open and allow the supports to extend out from the luggage while the storage compartment  10  remains closed. This allows the user to secure their items within the storage compartment while still gaining the functionality of the wardrobe bar  40  and privacy curtains  42 . 
         [0029]    When using the present invention, the user will place the wardrobe system  2  in a location where they require clothing or costumes to be changed. The user opens the storage compartment  10  and extends the supports  20 ,  30 . The bar  40  is attached to the tops of the supports by the respective attachment clips  401 ,  402 . The privacy curtain arms  41  are attached to one or both ends of the bar  40 , and the curtains  42  are attached to the bar. The user can hang clothing on the bar  40  and change clothing in privacy. The privacy curtain arms  41  may alternatively telescope out from an end of the bar  40  and bend along a hinged attachment to a perpendicular angle from the bar. This allows the curtain arms  41  to remain with the bar  40  at all times, stored within the bar  40  when not in use, and extended from the bar and turned perpendicular to the bar about a hinge when the arm is in use. 
         [0030]    Once set up, the user can close the top of the storage compartment  10  and allow the supports  20 ,  30  to extend through the zippered compartments  101 . The user can lock or otherwise secure the contents of the storage compartment  10  while continuing to use the wardrobe system  2  for hanging clothes on the bar  40  and changing within the privacy of the curtains  42 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 7  shows an alternative embodiment including a privacy screen  12  which is located on the underside of the lid  11 , and where the screen is drawn around the sides of the container and attached to the privacy curtain arms  41 . The screen can be drawn up and affixed to the horizontal rod  40 . Optional slits cut in the screen allow the screen to wrap around the sides of the storage compartment  10  of the bag for additional coverage. 
         [0032]    It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.