Abstract:
Luggage for carrying clothing, accessories and the like when traveling includes an adjustable packing board having first and second panels that are joined together between first and second luggage attachment ends. A pair of drawstrings are fixed at bottom ends to opposite ends of a luggage bottom and slidably connected to the attachment ends of the panels. The drawstrings can be loosened and tightened to move the packing board away from and toward the luggage bottom. The first and second panels can be separated and swung away from each other. These features allow the packing board to be moved out of the way when packing and unpacking the luggage. The packing board may also include detachable and fixed zippered compartments for containing travel items.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     (Not applicable.) 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     (Not applicable.) 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to luggage and, more particularly, to luggage having a packing board divider. 
     Luggage having compartments to store common travel items such as clothes, toiletries and other accessories are well known in the art. Similarly, luggage having flat panels or packing boards for dividing the storable volume of the luggage and providing an additional packing surface are also well known in the art, see e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,432 issued to Carpenter et al. It is also well known that such packing boards may have pockets or compartments, see e.g. the above mentioned patent and U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,509 to Chisholm, U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,223 to Tomilinson and U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,570 to Winner, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. 
     One problem with conventional packing boards is that they can hamper access to items stored beneath the boards. This can make it difficult to pack and unpack items at the bottom of the luggage. To overcome this problem, luggage has been developed with removable packing boards, see e.g. the &#39;432 patent mentioned above. Not only does this allow for unfettered access to the full storage volume of the luggage, it also allows items stored in compartments on the packing board to be carried or stored separate from the main housing of the luggage. While this can be an advantage, the packing board and items it contains are more readily forgotten and lost when separated from the luggage. Moreover, to carry or store the items in the packing board apart from the main housing, one must also carry the board itself, which can be awkward given its generally panel-like construction. Further, the packing board does not provide its compartmentalizing and supporting functions when removed from the luggage for use as a separate carrying case. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for luggage with an improved packing board. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides luggage with an adjustable packing board that remains fastened to the luggage yet can be moved up and down as well as split in two and swung out to the ends of the luggage to provide unfettered access to the luggage when packing and unpacking. 
     In particular, the invention is a packing board for dividing the storage volume of luggage and supporting items such as clothing, accessories and the like. The packing board includes two panels each attached at opposite ends of the luggage. The panels are removably fastened together between their attachment ends. The panels are adjustably attached at the opposite ends of the luggage so that the packing board can be moved with respect to the luggage. 
     In one preferred form, the panels of the packing board may be separated from one another and pivoted or swung out to the ends of the luggage in addition to, or instead of, being moved up and down relative to the luggage. Preferably, the panels are connected together via a hook and loop fastener and to the luggage by adjustable drawstrings. The drawstrings or other similar structure act as tensioners for adjustably urging the packing board toward items stored within the volume of luggage for compressing and securing same. 
     In another form, one of the panels includes at least one compartment for storing items. Preferably, the panel includes two compartments, one permanently fixed thereto and one that is detachable. The detachable compartment preferably is a transparent and water resistant zippered case. 
     One aspect of the invention includes a luggage for carrying clothing, accessories and the like having a housing with a bottom and sides hinged and zippered to a top. A packing board as described above is sized to fit within the housing. A pair of drawstrings are each fixed at one end to opposite ends of the housing bottom and slidably connected to the attachment ends of first and second panels of the packing board. When the drawstrings are loosened the packing board can be moved into and out of the housing and alternatively or additionally the first and second panels can be separated and swung away from each other. Preferably, the first panel includes a snap-on detachable zippered case and a fixed zippered case. 
     It is therefore a principle object of this invention to provide luggage which includes a packing board that can be quickly and easily moved out of the way when packing and unpacking the luggage. This is accomplished by attaching the packing board to the luggage by adjustable drawstrings. Additionally, this is accomplished by pulling the panels apart and rotating them up and out to the ends of the luggage. The panels can be swung out to the ends when the drawstrings are loosened so that the panels can rest completely outside of the luggage. Alternatively, when the drawstrings are tightened so as to hold the packing board in place within the luggage, the panels can be separated and pivoted upright within the luggage for quick access to items below the packing board. 
     It is a further object of the invention to allow the packing board to be moved without being physically separated from the bag. This is accomplished by the split panel construction and the adjustable drawstring connection in which one end of the drawstrings is fixed to the bottom of the luggage. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a packing board with fixed and detachable storage compartments. This is accomplished by having zippered cases snapped to and permanently affixed to one or both of the panels. 
     In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a luggage having an adjustable two panel packing board according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1 without the top and showing the packing board in a lowered position with adjustable drawstrings tightened to hold the packing board down against items therebelow, in phantom the drawstrings are shown loosened and the packing board is raised for moving the packing board out of the luggage when packing or unpacking the luggage; 
     FIG. 3 is a front perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing the panels separated and one panel pivoted upright as well as showing a detachable compartment removed from the packing board; 
     FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 with both panels of the packing board upright at the ends of the luggage without loosening the drawstrings; 
     FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, with the drawstrings loosened and both of the panels separated and completely outside of the luggage; and 
     FIG. 6 is front cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2 of an alternate embodiment of the luggage in which the packing board has one full-size panel attached at one end of the luggage by a drawstring and one narrow panel attached to an upright side of the luggage at an end opposite the drawstring. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, luggage  10  defines a housing with a bottom  12 , upright sides  14  and a top  16  hinged, and reclosably attached via a zipper (not shown), to the sides  14  to create a storage volume for holding clothes, accessories and the like. The luggage  10  includes a packing board  18  adjustably attached to the bottom  12  via a pair of drawstrings  20  and  21  so that it can be moved into and out of the storage volume of the luggage. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the packing board  18  consists of two flat, generally planar panels  22  and  23  each having a width slightly less than that of the luggage  10 . In the preferred embodiment shown and described herein, panel  22  is larger than then panel  23 , however, the panels could be more or less the same size. Each panel  22  and  23  has an attachment end  24  and  25  with a pair of openings for metallic eyelets  26  and  27 . Each panel  22  and  23  also has a complementary part,  28  and  29  respectively, of a hook and loop fastener affixed at the ends opposite the attachment ends  24  and  25 . One of the hook and loop parts is attached to the bottom side of panel  23  and the other is attached to the top side of panel  22 . The panels  22  and  23  are sized, and the fastener is positioned, so that when the panels  22  and  23  are connected the overall length of the packing board  18  is slightly less than the length of the luggage  10  so that it fits easily therein. When the panels  22  and  23  are connected the eyelets  26  of panel  22  can be aligned in parallel with the eyelets  27  of panel  23 . The panels  22  and  23  are separated by pulling up on the overlapping lip of the smaller panel  23  so that the complementary members  28  and  29  of the hook and loop fastener are disengaged. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the drawstrings  20  and  21  each include a pair of cords that are fixed at one end to the bottom  12  at opposite ends of the luggage  10 . Preferably, the cords are attached near the four corners of the luggage  10  in vertical alignment with the eyelet  26  and  27  of the respective panels  22  and  23 . Any suitable means of attaching the cords to the luggage  10  may be used, such as mechanical fasteners, stitching, etc. The cords are shown and described herein as be fixed to the luggage. This is the preferred embodiment since it reduces associated connection problems for the user and prevents one or more of the cords from being lost. However, it should be noted that it is within the scope of the invention to include drawstring cords that are designed to be detachable. 
     Each of the cords fits through a corresponding eyelet  26  and  27  of the panels  22  and  23 . Each pair of cords are united by respective adjustable clasps  30  and  31 , as known in the art, located along the portion of the cords above the packing board. The free ends of each pair of cords are knotted within respective pulls  32  and  33 . As such, the panels  22  and  23  are secured to the luggage  10  via the drawstrings  20  and  21 . While this is preferred, the pulls  32  and  33  (as well as the clasps  30  and  31 ) could be detachable so that the packing board can be separated from the luggage  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the height of the packing board can be changed by loosening the clasps  30  and  31  and sliding the panels  22  and  23  along the drawstring cords. This allows the panels  22  and  23  to be pulled out of the luggage storage volume completely when packing or unpacking. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the restrained freedom of the drawstring connection not only permits the packing board  18  to be raised and lowered, but it also permits each panel  22  and  23  to be pivoted or otherwise swung out to the ends of the luggage  10  when the panels  22  and  23  are separated, as described above. As shown in FIG. 4, the panels  22  and  23  can be moved upright at the ends without loosening the drawstrings  20  and  21 , which makes accessing the bottom of the luggage  10  quick and easy. Alternatively, increased access inside the luggage  10  is provided by loosening the drawstrings  20  and  21  and separating the panels  22  and  23  so that they can be completely removed from the inside of the luggage  10  with only the drawstring cords extending from the bottom  12  of the luggage  10  and draping over the upright sides  14 , as shown in FIG.  5 . 
     The packing board  18  serves the functions of conventional packing boards; namely dividing up the storage space of the luggage  10  and providing a support shelf for items in the upper part of the luggage  10 . In addition, however, the packing board  18  of the present invention distributes the weight of the items in the upper part of the luggage  10  to inhibit crushing fragile items and wrinkling clothes below the packing board. At the same time, the packing board  18  acts as a hold down by tightening the drawstrings  20  and  21  so that the packing board  18  is held against items in the lower part of the luggage  10 , thereby reducing the likelihood of items being tossed about and broken during transport. In particular, drawstrings  20 ,  21  are tensioned as clasps  30 ,  31  are forced downwardly against the packing board  18  to evenly compress items stored in the luggage. When the desired degree of compression is obtained, the clasps can be locked relative to drawstrings  20 ,  21  so as to securely hold the packing board in the desired position. This is a distinct advantage over conventional packing board designs which merely serve to divide luggage compartments. 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3, the packing board also provides additional storage compartments. Specifically, two zippered compartments  40  and  42  are attached to panel  22 . Preferably, compartment  40  is lined by a soft material permanently affixed to the top side of the panel  22  by suitable stitching, adhesive or mechanical fastener. Compartment  42  is preferably made of a transparent and waterproof material suitable from holding wet or liquid-containing items. Compartment  42  is also designed to be detachable so that the items stored therein can be easily transported apart from the luggage  10 . For this purpose, a pair of snap connectors  44  are used with complementary members affixed to the panel  22  and the bottom of the compartment  42 . While snap connectors have been shown and described herein, any other suitable detachable fastener could be used, such as a hook and loop fastener. 
     In a preferred form, the luggage housing and the fixed compartment  40  are a durable, heavy grade nylon. The panels  22  and  23  are made of covered rigid PE board and nylon. The drawstring cords are nylon, and the detachable compartment  42  is a transparent polyvinylchloride material. 
     An alternate embodiment of the luggage and packing board is shown in FIG.  6 . Similar reference numbers refer to corresponding features described in the above embodiment albeit with the suffix “A”. As above, the luggage  10 A defines a housing with a bottom  12 A, upright sides  14 A and a top (not shown). A packing board  18 A includes two panels  22 A and  23 A each having a width slightly less than that of the luggage  10 A. Panel  23 A is a flat, rectangular panel sized slightly smaller than the full opening defined by the sides  14 A and made of suitable PE board. Panel  22 A is a narrow strip structure preferably also made of PE board. 
     As in the embodiment described above, each of the panels  22 A and  23 A includes respective complementary members  28 A and  29 A of a hook and loop fastener affixed in opposing fashion with member  28 A on the top surface of panel  22 A and member  29 A on the bottom surface of panel  23 A so that the panels can be detachably connected. The packing board  18 A also includes one fixed  40 A and one detachable (preferably snap on)  42 A zippered compartment (as above) attached to the top of panel  23 A. 
     The panels  22 A and  23 A are attached to the luggage  10 A at respective attachment ends  24 A and  25 A. In panel  23 A, the attachment end  25 A has a pair of hook and loop fastener strips  27 A for releasably mating to a corresponding pair of hook and loop runs  104  (only one shown) to permit the packing board to be raised or lowered within the suitcase. 
     The attachment end  24 A is preferably a fabric section that is bent downward to extend along the side  14 A at the end of the luggage  10 A. The attachment end  24 A is preferably fastened to the luggage  10 A with another hook and loop fastener having a pair of horizontal runs  100  (one shown) spacedly affixed to the attachment end  24 A and a complementary pair of vertical runs  102  (one shown) stitched to the side  14 A in alignment with the horizontal strip parts  100 . The vertical runs  102  permit the height of panel  22 A to be adjusted as needed. This hook and loop fastener preferably requires a greater separation force than the hook and loop fastener joining the panels  22 A and  23 A so that when panel  23 A is pulled upward, the complementary members  28 A and  29 A disengage and panel  23 A can be pivoted upward without disconnecting panel  22 A from the luggage  10 A. 
     It should be noted that other mechanical fasteners could be used for this purpose. For example, the attachment end  24 A,  25 A could include a pair of female snap connectors arranged to mate with multiple pairs of male snap connectors aligned vertically along the sides  14 A. The hook and loop fastener is preferred, however, because it allows for a greater degree of adjustability. 
     The present invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. For example, the packing board could include three or more panels detachably or hingedly connected together and other suitable means for connecting the packing board to the luggage could be used. 
     Accordingly, reference must be had to the following claims in order to determine the full scope of the invention.