Abstract:
An article of luggage is described, incorporating a folding hanger, mirror and shelf, and a number of permanent and removably attached containers inside the luggage. The article of luggage may be hung in an open configuration for use of the items stored within. It may also be folded for storage or transport, in which folded configuration the hanger, mirror and shelf are folded and stored internally in the luggage. The removably attached containers may be rearranged within the luggage to provide a custom configuration.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.: 60/949,111, filed Jul. 11, 2007 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.: 60/974,634, filed Sep. 24, 2007, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Hanging luggage is described with a foldable shelf, a lighted mirror and removable containers for containing various items such as toiletries, cosmetics, personal care items, accessories, jewelry and other similarly sized items. The removable inserts may be added, removed or reconfigured by the user of the luggage to customize it to suit personal taste and the specific needs of a use for the luggage. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The hanging luggage described herein provides for several features in combination to provide an improved article of luggage for transporting, storing and utilizing various items for personal use, such as cosmetics, personal care products, toiletries, fashion or other accessories, jewelry, medicines, small personal care appliances, and other similar items. The luggage may be used to carry and access any items that may fit into the provided containers. 
         [0005]    The luggage includes a folding hanger for hanging the luggage while packing, unpacking, or utilizing the items contained in the luggage, and which may be folded into the luggage during carrying or other transportation. The folding hanger may also incorporate a mirror to provide an aide for using cosmetic items, or other personal care items stored in the hanging luggage. The mirror may be optionally lit by light fixtures incorporated into the folding hanger or other areas of the luggage. 
         [0006]    The luggage also includes a folding shelf for conveniently setting items during their use, and which may also be folded flat inside the luggage when preparing the luggage for travel. 
         [0007]    The luggage further provides a number of containers or inserts incorporated into and attached to the luggage. The containers may be of varying sizes and shapes to accommodate storage of various items. Some of the containers or inserts may be removably attached to the luggage to allow for use separate from the luggage. The removable containers allow the user of the luggage to add, remove or reconfigure the containers in the luggage thereby customizing it to serve a specific need or the personal taste of the user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the hanging luggage in an open, hanging configuration. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the hanging luggage in a partially folded configuration with several of the removable inserts disconnected from the hanging luggage panels. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a partial photographic view of an embodiment of the hanging luggage in an open, hanging configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the hanging luggage  100  is shown in an open configuration. The luggage  100  comprises a top panel  102  and at least one folding panel  104 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  includes two folding panels  104 , however other embodiments of the hanging luggage  100  may have one or more folding panels  104 . The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  has two folding panels  104 , with a first folding panel  104  foldably attached to the bottom edge of top panel  102 , and the second folding panel  104  foldably attached to the bottom edge  107  of the first folding panel  104 . The relative proportions of the folding panels to each other and to the containers and removable inserts therein may or may not be as shown in the figures. 
         [0012]    Top panel  102  and folding panels  104  may be constructed utilizing a number of methods and using a variety of materials as known in the art of making luggage. The panels may be constructed from cloth over a frame, stiff materials such as leather, plastic or synthetic materials, or hard-side materials commonly used to construct suitcases. Either the top panel  102  or the folding panels  104 , or both, may have side walls  109  extending substantially perpendicular to the panels  102  and  104 , the side walls defining an open-sided box with a depth typical of luggage or garment bags, as further described in relation to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0013]    The top panel  102  and the folding panels  104  are foldably attached together along an exterior edge  106  of the panels to allow the folding panel  104  to overlay the top panel  102  in a folded configuration of the luggage. The top panel  102  folds into and is enclosed by the first folding panel  104 . The first folding panel  104  and the second folding panel  104  fold together and fasten along exterior edges  108 . 
         [0014]    The top panel  102  and folding panels  104  have interior and exterior surfaces. The exterior surfaces of the panels  102  and  104  are those facing away from a user of the luggage when the luggage is in an open configuration. The interior surfaces of the panels  102  and  104  are those that face toward the user and contain various containers as described later in the specification. 
         [0015]    In other embodiments of the luggage, top panel  102  may attach to edges  108  of folding panel  104 , and may enclose additional folding panels  104  between top panel  102  and the first folding panel  104 . 
         [0016]    The panels  102  and  104  may be attached to each other using a variety of methods for forming folding joints known in the art of making luggage. For example, the panels may be foldably attached by zippers or hinges attached to the panels, or the panels may be sewn together to form a flexible joint. Alternatively, top panel  102  and foldable panels  104  are formed from one continuous sheet of flexible material. For example, panels  102  and  104  may be formed from a single sheet of cloth or fabric. 
         [0017]    The folding panels  104  releaseably attach to each other along exterior edges  108 . The releaseable attachment along edges  108  may be one or a combination of various devices and materials for releaseable attachments, including, without limitation, zippers, Velcro, snaps, straps, latches, drawstrings or other similar means of closing luggage. 
         [0018]    One or more handles for carrying the luggage may be attached to it in various locations. A handle may be located along the exterior edge  106 , on the side of the luggage opposite the containers. A handle may be attached to the edges  108  of one or both of the panels  102  and  104 , at any point and along any side of the luggage. The handle may consist of multiple pieces that are attached to several different panels  102  or  104 , and that are disposed adjacent to one another for use as a handle only when luggage  100  is in the closed configuration. 
         [0019]    A folding hanger  110  is foldably attached to top panel  102  near edge  108 . The folding hanger  110  is adapted to hang over the bar provided in closets, or over hooks provided for hanging bags or articles of clothing. The folding hanger  110  may be formed from plastic, metal, wire, fabric, chain, or some combination thereof. The folding hanger  110  may be foldably attached to top panel  102  utilizing hinges, sewn attachment or other foldable means of connection. The hanger  110  may be folded down over top panel  102  in a folded configuration for carrying the luggage. An attachment may be provided for fastening the hook end of the hanger  110  to the top panel  102  to prevent shifting during carrying or travel, such as a strap secured by velcro or a snap. 
         [0020]    A mirror  112  is provided for use when the hanging luggage is in the open configuration. In one embodiment of the hanging luggage  100 , the mirror  112  is attached to the folding hanger  110 . The mirror  112  may also be attached to the top panel  102  independently of the hanger  110 , so long as it is foldably attached to the top panel  102  for flat storage in the folded configuration of the hanging luggage  102 . The mirror  1   12  may optionally be lit by light fixtures incorporated into the luggage. The light fixtures may be powered by batteries incorporated into the luggage, or by an accessory cord to plug the luggage into an electrical wall outlet. 
         [0021]    A shelf  114  may also be provided near edge  108  of top panel  102  adjacent to the folding hanger  110 . The shelf  114  may be used to temporarily store items otherwise stored in the compartments of the hanging luggage  100  during use when it is in the open position. Shelf  114  is formed from a rigid material capable of supporting items such as toiletries or cosmetics, including plastics, metals or flexible materials supported by a rigid frame. Shelf  114  is foldably connected to top panel  102  to allow it to fold flat against top panel  102  for storage in the folded configuration of the luggage  100 . Additional support for shelf  114  may be provided in the form of straps  115  attached to the outside edge of shelf  114  and to top panel  102  near edge  108 , or in support elements underneath shelf  114  and built into top panel  102 . 
         [0022]    Containers  116  are arrayed on both top panel  102  and folding panels  104 . Containers  116  provide storage for items of various sizes and shapes. The containers  116  may be formed from mesh, fabric, plastics, or other similar materials suitable for forming flexible containers in luggage. Containers  116  may be formed by sewing a pocket of fabric into the inside lining of panels  102  and  104 . They may also be self-contained pouches that are attached to panels  102  and  104  by sewing, gussetts, or otherwise. Containers  116  may be open on top, may close with elastic cord, drawstrings, snaps, buttons, or zip shut, or may be secured shut in other ways commonly used to secure the opening of bags, pouches, pockets, and other such containers. 
         [0023]    Certain containers  118  may be removable. Containers  118  are formed from the same types of materials and using the same methods of construction as described for containers  116  above. The removable containers  118  are releaseably attached to the top panel  102  and the folding panels  104  along the foldable attachment between the first and second folding panels  104 , and in other locations on the interior surface of the panels  102  and  104 . The removable containers  118  are releaseably attached to the panels  102  and  104  using ring binders or clips, straps, velcro, zippers, or combinations thereof. Different configurations of removable containers  118  may be formed by attaching varying sizes of removable containers  118  within the hanging luggage  100 . 
         [0024]    A user of the luggage may remove some of the removable containers  118 , may purchase and add additional removable containers of different sizes or shapes than those originally provided by with the luggage, or may rearrange the removable inserts in the luggage by unclipping the containers and reclipping them in a more suitable configuration in the luggage. By reconfiguring the removable containers  118 , the luggage  100  may be customized for a specific use or for the tastes and convenience of the user. 
         [0025]    The attachment member  122  provides the method of releasable attachment between removable containers  118  and luggage  100 . Luggage  100  may have multiple attachment members  122  located at various areas of luggage  100 , on panels  102  and  104 . In the embodiment of the luggage  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , the attachment member is a ring clip device, providing releasable ring clips that may be opened or closed to remove or attach containers  118  as desired. Other embodiments of the luggage  100  may use other attachment members  122 , such as velcro strips, zippers, clips, straps or combinations thereof. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , hanging luggage  100  is shown in a partially folded configuration. Shelf  114  is folded up and is flat against top panel  102 . Folding hanger  110  is folded down over shelf  114  and is flat against top panel  102 . To further fold the luggage  100  for travel, top panel  102  would be folded down into first folding panel  104 , then the folding panels  104  would be folded together and releaseably attached along edges  108 . 
         [0027]    In the folded configuration, luggage  100  may be carried by handles  120 . Handles  120  may be formed from flexible fabric straps, rigid plastic or metal, or some combination thereof. In other embodiments of the luggage  100 , removeably attached or integrated shoulder straps or integrated wheeled carriers may be provided. Such handles, straps or other means for carrying the luggage  100  may also be provided on the exterior surface of the luggage  100  at the foldable attachment between the folding panels  104 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of the luggage  100  is shown in the open configuration. Sidewalls  109  are shown for defining the interior of luggage  100  and extending edges  108  for attachment to the opposing edges of panels  102  and  104 , as appropriate. A view of folding hanger  110  is shown in the open position. Containers  1   16  and removable containers  118  are shown, attached to the top and folding panels,  102  and  104  respectively.  FIG. 3  also includes a view of the handle  120 .