Abstract:
The carrying case or luggage item is in the form of a rectangular parallel piped container with a midpanel separating a forward compartment and a rear compartment wherein one of the compartments is designed for the storage of clothing or personal items including a hanging bag or wardrobe and the opposite side compartment is designed for the protective carrying of a personal computer and business records. In addition to a midpanel which separates the two compartments, the telescoping handle is provided to facilitate the separation of the compartments and to provide a means for transporting the luggage item which includes wheels on its bottom side.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This is a utility application based upon the previously filed provisional application serial no. 60/190,194 filed Mar. 17, 2000 which is incorporated herewith by reference and for which priority is claimed. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a luggage item or case which includes a telescoping handle, wheels to facilitate transport, and separated opposed compartments one of which is designed for carrying of a computer and business records and the other of which is designed for carrying clothing and personal items.  
           [0003]    Business persons are often confronted with the need to take short-term, overnight business trips. On such trips it is common practice for many business persons to take their computer, various business records as well as clothing, toiletries and the like. Most typically the business items are packed in one case or valise and the personal items are packed in a separate case or valise.  
           [0004]    As a consequence of packing separate types of items in separate cases, the transport of such items becomes cumbersome. Thus, there has developed a need to simplify the manner in which items, which are business items as well as personal items, can be carried, preferably in a single case which is efficient, economical, and which is capable of providing for transport of a personal computer.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    Briefly, the present invention comprises a luggage item or case which is in the form of a parallelpiped case or container wherein the container includes a vertical wall separating front and back compartments and further wherein one of the compartments is designed to facilitate the storage of a wardrobe and clothing or personal items and the opposite side compartment is designed for the carrying of a personal computer, business records, and the like. The vertical separating, or mid-panel wall, which defines the separate compartments, further incorporates a telescoping handle and wheels attached to the bottom side of the case to facilitate ease of transport of the case.  
           [0006]    The case is further designed to incorporate a system which enables storage of the personal computer within the case in a protected manner that reduces shock or impact that may affect the personal computer. The case further includes access panels which facilitate ease of access and entry to the case and, in particular, to either one of the two compartments defined by the separating midpanel. The case or luggage further includes a construction which enables inclusion of a wardrobe container or hanging bag-type container for clothing on one of the compartments.  
           [0007]    Thus it is an object of the invention to provide a luggage or carrying case which is more universal in that it enables a traveler to pack and incorporate business items and personal items including clothing in a single case.  
           [0008]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a luggage item which includes first and second separate compartments within the case separated by a midpanel wall and a telescoping handle wherein one of the compartments is useful for the storage of clothing and personal items and the other compartment is useful for the storage of a personal computer and business items.  
           [0009]    Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a wheeled carrying case or luggage item useful for the carriage of both personal items and business items.  
           [0010]    A further object of the invention is to provide a luggage or a carrying case wherein the luggage item can be constructed in compliance with airline size regulations.  
           [0011]    Yet another object of the invention is to provide a carrying case or item of luggage which enables the packing of clothing and personal items in one compartment segregated from a second compartment where business are packed and further wherein the compartment which permits the packing of clothing serves to cushion or facilitate the protection of the items carried within the business compartment.  
           [0012]    Yet another object of the invention a luggage or carrying case which is economical, lightweight, easily transportable, rugged and suitable for carrying business items as well as personal items such as clothing and toiletries.  
           [0013]    These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0014]    In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the luggage case of the invention as viewed from the front side;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 a  is a partial isometric view of the storage folders in the internal pocket of the front side of the luggage case of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the luggage case of FIG. 1 as viewed from the back side with the back side in the open position;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view depicting a wardrobe incorporated in the back side compartment of the luggage case;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional elevation of the luggage case taken substantially along the line  4 — 4  in FIG. 5;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the case of FIG. 1;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a front side elevation of the case of FIG. 1;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the storage folder construction incorporated in the front side compartment of the luggage case;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a computer support system incorporated in the front storage compartment of the luggage case;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is an isometric, vertical cross sectional view of the luggage case of FIG. 1; and  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is an isometric vertical cross sectional view of an alternative luggage case incorporating features of the invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0026]    FIGS.  1 - 9  depict a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10 depicts a second embodiment of the invention.  
         [0027]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 9 , the luggage case of the invention includes a top side  12 , a first lateral side  14 , a second lateral side  16 , a bottom side  18 , a front side  20 , and a back side  22 . The collective sides are formed as a rectangular, parallelpiped luggage case. The front side  20  is divided into a rigid, rectangular upper panel  24  connected along a hinged seam  26  to a rigid, rectangular lower panel  28 . The lower panel  28  includes wheel wells  30  and  32  with wheels  34  and  36  in the wells  30  and  32 , respectively. The bottom side  18  includes an external support bar or foot  38  which, together with wheels  36 , supports the luggage case.  
         [0028]    The front, upper panel  24  is hinged to the lower panel  26  and may be pivotally moved about the horizontal hinge  26  by releasing a zipper connection  40  to expose the interior of the luggage case and more particularly, a front section  42 , or front compartment  42  thereof. The front compartment  42  includes an upper folio  44  which is attached along an upper edge  46  to the interior of the front compartment  42 . The folio  44  or the interior of the case includes a strap  50  connectable to a fastener  52  on the folio  44  to hold the compartments or sections of the folio  44  in the closed position. As depicted in FIG. 7, the folio  44  may include a panel  60  with additional pockets such as pocket  54  and pocket  56 , as well as pencil or pen pockets  58  on the outside of panel  60 . The outer panel  60  retains or fits over a series of pockets such as pocket  62  and pocket  64  between an inside panel  66  and outer panel  60 . Panels  60 / 66  are connected by flexible gussets  68  and  70  on opposite sides of the folio  44 . Gussets  68 ,  70  connect to panels  63 ,  65  to define pockets  62 ,  64 .  
         [0029]    The front compartment  42  further includes a horizontal plate or platform  72  designed to support a personal computer. The platform  72  is biased by springs  74  interposed between the platform  72  and the bottom side  18  as depicted in FIG. 4, for example. On the inside of the compartment  42  attached to each of the opposite sides  14  and  16  of the luggage case is a sponge rubber, or other elastomeric bumper, or buffer  76  and  78 , respectively, which facilitates retention of a personal computer in position supported on the platform  72  and protects the computer from shock as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, a personal computer, shown in phantom at  80 , can be retained on the platform  72  between the buffers  76  and  78 .  
         [0030]    The inside of the compartment  42  further includes a mid-panel  82  which extends for the full height of the luggage case and is, in the preferred embodiment, cushioned by cushioning material  84  as depicted in FIG. 9. The inside of the front panel or front side  20 , is similarly cushioned by cushioning material  86 . This assembly protects the personal computer  80  which is retained within the forward or front compartment  42  of the luggage case against midpanel  82 .  
         [0031]    Another important feature of the luggage case is the position of the telescopic handle  90 . The telescopic handle  90  includes a first vertical telescoping handle member  92  and a second parallel member  94 , both of which are inserted through the middle of the top side  12  and project downwardly along midpanel  82  to the bottom side  18  of the luggage case. The telescopic handle  90  thus extends and telescopes upwardly through the top side  12  from the bottom side  18 . The midpanel  82  divides the luggage case into a front section  42 , as already described, and a back section  96 . The backside  22  is attached by a zipper  98  which extends around three sides of the rectangular backside  22  and permits the backside  22  to be pivoted about a hinge connection  100  to the lateral side  14 . Thus, as depicted in FIG. 2, for example, the backside  22 , when pivoted about the hinge  100  opens to expose the interior or back compartment or section  96 . The back section  96  preferably includes a foldable wardrobe  102 . The wardrobe  102  includes a zipper attachment  104  which attaches a lower side or end  101  of wardrobe  102  to a compatible zipper attachment  106  on the inside of the back compartment  96 . The zipper attachment  106  is positioned parallel to the hinge  100  and adjacent the junction of the panel  82  to the side  14 .  
         [0032]    The wardrobe  102  includes a zippered cover  106  attached by zippers  108  and  110  to a back cover  107  for access to the interior of the wardrobe  102 . The wardrobe  102  may thus be easily folded when it is inserted into the back compartment  96  of carrying case or unfolded when it is removed therefrom. The wardrobe  102  may serve as a hanging bag for clothing items retained therein when detached from the case.  
         [0033]    The backside  22  further includes an outside face with storage pockets, such as storage pockets  114  and  116 . The pocket  116  includes a zipper  118  which provides access to a pocket on the outside of the storage pocket  116 . The storage pocket  116  also includes a zipper  120  for access to a storage area  122  as depicted in FIG. 9. The zipper  118  defines a further storage pocket  119  on the outside thereof. In the embodiment shown, a fold-out bottle bag  126  may be retained within the pocket  119  and which provides access through the zipper  118 . The bag  126  thus may be folded out of the pocket  119  and a water bottle, for example, may be held therein.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 8 depicts a construction of the biasing or spring support system for a personal computer retained within the front compartment  42 . The platform  72  may comprise a plastic panel or fibreboard or other similar material. The platform  72  fits over a U-shaped cross section molded plastic, or sheet metal retainer  130 . A U-shaped bottom retainer  132  is positioned opposite retainer  130  so that springs  74  are retained between retainers  130 ,  132 . A block of sponge-like elastomeric material  134  may be inserted in the space between the retainers  130  and  132  to dampen movement of the personal computer  80  and the effect of the springs  74 .  
         [0035]    In review, the luggage case is divided into two basic sections or compartments  42 ,  96  by a vertical midpanel  82 . The front section  42  comprises an area, or region, for storage of work materials, including a personal computer, work papers, pens, pencils, papers, folders and the like. The back section  96  comprises an area or section for storage of clothing and personal articles. The telescoping handle  90  and midpanel  82  separate the compartments  42 ,  96 . The handle  90  is positioned adjacent the midpanel  82  in the clothing compartment  96 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 10 discloses a modification of the embodiment of FIGS.  1 - 9 . In FIG. 10, the luggage case is foreshortened and is in the form of a suitcase with or without any wheels. Thus, referring to FIG. 10, a telescopic handle  140 , is positioned along a vertical midpanel  142  of a carrying case. The handle  140  may be telescoping or may merely be a regular luggage type handle. In any event, it is positioned along the midpanel of a rectangular, parallelpiped luggage case  144  of the type having a back side panel  146  and a front side panel  148 . The front side panel  148  is accessible by means of a zipper  150  for access to an interior storage area  152 . The interior storage section is designed for receipt and support of a personal computer upon a biased support pad  154  analogous to the pad  72  previously described supported by springs  156  analogous to the springs  74  previously described. The compartment  152  thus serves as a padded storage compartment for a personal computer.  
         [0037]    The backside  146  encloses a storage compartment  160  in which clothing and similar personal items may be stored. A zipper  162  provides access to the back section, or backside  146 , of storage compartment  160 .  
         [0038]    While there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.