Combination travel bag and table

A travel bag with a deployable table includes a hollow shell having a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of sidewalls, a top wall, and a bottom wall. The rear wall includes a compartment having a pivotal panel received therein. The panel can be deployed to an oblique position to form a handle that allows a traveler to easily roll the bag in an upright position. The deployed panel also supports a tray table for retaining food, beverages, electronic devices or personal items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rolling travel bag having a deployable table for supporting food, drinks, and personal items.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Airlines are increasingly discouraging checked luggage by assessing additional fees and/or limiting the quantity of bags that can be checked. Accordingly, many passengers opt to travel solely with carry-on baggage, which must contain all items needed for a given trip. As a result, such bags are becoming increasingly larger and more difficult to transport to and within an airport.

Moreover, airlines are now limiting in-flight food service and charging exorbitant fees for any food that may be offered. In response, many passengers bring their own food to eat during the flight or eat immediately before boarding. Simultaneously transporting larger luggage, food, laptops, mobile phones, and other personal items is burdensome, if not impossible. Furthermore, finding a suitable location to consume food and beverages near an airport gate with access to an available charging station for the electronic devices is difficult.

Rolling luggage has become increasingly popular due to its ease of transport. Though some carry-on luggage includes wheels, a traveler can typically only transport two bags, which occupies both hands. If traveling with children or additional items, getting to and from a departure or arrival gate may require special assistance or airport trolleys. Rolling luggage also includes a retractable, axially extending handle that requires the bag to be tilted forward when rolled along an underlying surface. The tilted luggage imposes a substantial strain on the traveler's shoulders, arms, and wrists.

Accordingly, there is currently a need for travel bag that overcomes the above-described disadvantages of conventional luggage. The present invention addresses this need by providing a rolling travel bag having a deployable tray for supporting food and beverages. When deployed, the tray mechanism also forms an obliquely extending handle that allows the bag to be easily dragged while upright, thereby eliminating any shoulder or arm strain. The travel bag also includes a means for connecting multiple units to form a train of bags that can be easily transported by a single traveler. Finally, the bag includes an integral charging unit for replenishing portable electronic devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a travel bag with a deployable table comprising a hollow shell having a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of sidewalls, a top wall, and a bottom wall. The rear wall includes a compartment having a pivotal panel received therein. The panel can be deployed to an oblique position to form a handle that allows a traveler to easily roll the bag in an upright position. The deployed panel also supports a tray table for retaining food, beverages, electronic devices or personal items.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a travel bag having a deployable tray table for supporting food, beverages, and personal items.

It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide a travel bag having an obliquely extending handle that allows the bag to be easily transported when upright.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a travel bag having a means for connecting multiple units to form a train of bags that can be easily transported by a single user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a travel bag1with a deployable table comprising a hollow shell having a front wall12, a rear wall11, a pair of sidewalls13,14, a top wall15, and a bottom wall16. On the top wall is a folding handle20for lifting the bag when necessary. Wheels7on the lower wall allow the bag to be easily rolled along an underlying surface. The shell is formed of front5and rear4sections that mate in a clamshell-type fashion as with conventional luggage. The front5and rear4sections may be releasably joined with a closure mechanism8, such as a zipper.

A compartment26on the rear wall receives a deployable handle/table mechanism30including a planar panel33having a hand opening66near an upper edge that is defined by a pair of vertical, spaced posts32and a horizontal handgrip31. The posts32may telescope to adjust the handgrip to accommodate a traveler's size or preference. The lower end of the panel33is connected to the shell with hinges42to allow the panel to pivot into and out of the compartment26.

Extending from an intermediate portion of the panel is a lower support frame63formed of a pair of side rails34and an interposed cross member36. The cross member includes a roller77at each end that rides within an inner channel80in the compartment26. The inner channel80includes an indention for receiving and locking the rollers77to fix the frame63in a horizontal position as depicted inFIG.4. The side rails34are connected to the panel with hinges35that allow the panel33to move between a stowed, vertical position as depicted inFIG.1, and a deployed, oblique position as depicted inFIG.3A. A spring-biased latch44releasably locks the panel within the compartment.

An upper support frame105includes a pair of spaced arms37having a first end38hingedly attached to the panel. Opposing ends of the arms are connected to a tray table40having rollers39that ride within outer channels45to allow the upper support frame105to deploy and collapse with the panel. The outer channels45each include an indention for receiving and locking the rollers39to fix the frame105in a horizontal position as depicted inFIG.4. The tray table40includes cup holders41with underlying mesh receptacles122for securing beverages when eating or while rolling the luggage through an airport. Preferably, the arms37are elevated slightly above the tray to form a barrier that prevents items from rolling off either side. Accordingly, a user can deploy the panel33to provide an oblique handle that minimizes strain to a traveler's shoulders, or to form a table for supporting food items, laptop computers or other work items. As depicted inFIG.3B, the upper support frame and tray table could be eliminated so that the deployable panel functions solely as a handle.

A battery pack99is connected to a charging circuit and one or more USB ports24for recharging a mobile phone or laptop. On the rear wall of the shell are hooks101that can be extended from storage receptacles to couple with retainers102on the front wall of another travel bag. Therefore, two or more travel bags can be connected to form a train of multiple units that can be easily transported by a single traveler.

To use the above-described device, a traveler depresses the release latch to extend the panel to a partially or fully extended, oblique position. The traveler can easily grasp the handgrip and pull the luggage. Because the luggage remains upright, its entire weight is borne by the wheels thereby eliminating any strain to the user's back and shoulders. To support beverages, food, or a laptop while at a departure gate or similar location, a user completely extends the panel until the support frames are locked within their respective channels. Furthermore, beverages or food items can be safely placed on the tray while the bag is rolling with little risk of toppling or spillage. To restore the panel, the traveler pushes downwardly on the front edge of the tray and pivots the panel into the compartment until the latch mechanism engages.

The above-described device is not limited to the exact details of construction and enumeration of parts provided herein. Although the device has been primarily described as a carry-on bag, it could also be larger or otherwise configured to be a checked bag. Furthermore, the size, shape and materials of construction of the various components can be varied without departing from the spirit of the present invention.