Patent Publication Number: US-2022211151-A1

Title: Personal case with charging system

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/720,593, filed Dec. 19, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the present invention is personal cases. 
     On trips and extended excursions, battery capacity on small personal electronics such as cellphones and portable computers can become logistically limiting. Rechargeable batteries separate from the electronics are available but detract from the convenience of the electronics. When burdened with personal effects, luggage and the like, inconvenience can increase. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a personal case with a stiff shell. The shell has a hole therethrough closed by a flexible sheet having a slit. The slit provides access to a pocket within the shell and includes a closure. A charging cable extends through the case from charging port to a plug in the pocket. A power bank can be placed in the pocket and engaged with the plug. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide auxiliary power for personal electronics when traveling. Other and further objects and advantages will appear hereafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of a personal case; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the personal case of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric detail view of the personal case of  FIG. 1  illustrating the charging system; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the construction of the charging system in relationship with the personal case; 
         FIG. 4A  is a detail of  FIG. 4  showing a second closure; 
         FIG. 4B  is a detail of  FIG. 4  showing a third closure; 
         FIG. 4C  is a detail of  FIG. 4  showing a fourth closure; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning in detail to the drawings, a personal case  10  is shown in one embodiment to be a rolling suitcase. The case  10  may be a container of almost infinite variety having a stiff shell section for mounting. The embodiment of the case  10  that is exemplified here reflects the utility of the present device with travel, where electronic device charging opportunities are limited. The case  10  may advantageously apply to, for example, briefcases which are also likely to be carried away from charging opportunities. 
     The personal case  10  shown has a stiff shell divided in two container portions  12 ,  14  joined by a traditional zipper closure  16 . Four trucks  18  provide for rolling of the case  10  and two handles  20 ,  22  provide purchase for carrying. An extendable handle  24  facilitates guiding the case when rolling on the trucks  18 . 
     An elongate hole  26  extends through a stiff shell section of the case  10 . The location of the elongate hole  26  may be chosen by preference. It is thought that placement on the top of the case  10  as shown in the Figures is most convenient. Another useful position is on the case adjacent the handle  22  on the side of the case. 
     The elongate hole  26  is closed by a flexible sheet  28  which can be distorted in use. The sheet  28  is bound about its periphery to the case  10  at the periphery of the elongate hole  26  by binding  30 . Other methods of attachment may also be employed. The sheet  28  includes an elongate slit  32  displaced from the periphery of the sheet  28  and the binding  30 . The slit  32  is controlled by a closure  34 .  FIGS. 1 through 4  illustrate the closure to be a zipper  34 .  FIG. 4A  illustrates the closure to be hook and loop  34 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates the closure to be button snaps  34 .  FIG. 4C  illustrates the closure to be a magnetic closure  34  across the slit  32  with elongate flexible magnets  36 ,  38 . 
     A pocket  40  is shown to be sewn to the flexible sheet  28  about the elongate slit  32 . The pocket  40  extends downwardly inside the case  10 . The interior of the pocket  40  is accessed through the elongate slit  32  by opening the closure  34  and spreading the flexible sheet  28  to either side. The closure  34  is to be flexible enough to bend out of the way for access to the pocket  40 . 
     A charging device  42  for portable electronics  44 , typically a power bank battery capable of being charged and used to charge an electronic device  44 , is to be located in the pocket  40 . Conventional ports  46  are found at one end of the power bank  42 . The power bank  42 , the pocket  40 , the elongate hole  26  and the elongate slit  32  are to be sized for convenient size and access. 
     A charging cable  48  includes a charging port  50  fixed to the case  10  of charging access on the outside of the case  10 . The charging port  50  is to employ a standard format such as USB and may have multiple sockets. The other end of the cable  48  includes a plug  52  located inside the pocket  40  to engage conventional ports  46 . The cable  48  can conveniently extend through the wall of the pocket  40 . The charging port(s)  50  can be used to charge an electronic device  44  from the power bank  42  and charge the power bank  42  for a power source (not shown) without opening the case  10  or the closure  34 . 
     Accordingly, a system for charging portable electronics with personal cases has been disclosed. While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.