Patent Publication Number: US-6213267-B1

Title: Portable luggage case with detachable tote bag portion

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a portable luggage carrying case and, more particularly, to a portable carrying case having a front face that can be detached to form a carry tote bag which can store various items such as a lap-top computer, computer accessories, and other miscellaneous items. The tote bag includes a shoulder strap to allow the tote to be carried and used independently of the carrying case and wherein the tote bag utilizes the same securing means as is used to join the front face to the main body portion of the carrying case thus eliminating the need for additional securing zippers. 
     2. Background Art 
     Portable luggage enclosures having detachable components are well known in the art. Lap-top computers are extremely popular today, and it is common for travellers in airport terminals to be seen with a lap-top carrying case slung over their shoulders. Portable luggage carriers are also very common, and travellers can be seen rolling these along the ground as they hurry to catch their flight. However, most airlines limit travellers to only two on-board carry items. If the traveller has an additional carry-on item, along with their portable luggage case, and their lap-top computer carrying case, one of the three will have to be stowed underneath the airplane. Further, many airlines have restrictions on size and weight requirements for carry-on luggage. Therefore, what is needed is a one-piece combination luggage case-portable computer case, where the computer-carrying tote bag can be detached from the portable luggage case, and the remaining main body portion of the luggage case conforms to the maximum allowable size as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines. After use, the tote bag can be re-attached to the main portion of the luggage case to again one unit. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,052 issued to Latshaw discloses a portable luggage system of modular components particularly sized to be positioned underneath an airplane passenger&#39;s seat or in the overhead storage bins above the passenger. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,223 issued to Cunningham discloses a business case having a front, middle, and expandable rear compartment, a removable computer carrying case, and a suit carrier. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,876 issued to Wang discloses a wheeled luggage assembly including a body portion having a primary case and a secondary case in engagement with the primary case by means of a zipper. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,081,061 issued to Tucker discloses a plurality of independent luggage pieces capable of functioning independently of each other and fastened via fastening means to secure the separate pieces as one structure. 
     However, none of these references disclose a portable luggage carrying case having a removable face, which can be detached, folded and converted into a tote bag sized to house a portable computer or other items, and capable of being used independently from the carrying case. 
     Consequently, there is a need in the art for a luggage carrying case in combination with a removable tote bag capable of storing and transporting a lap-top computer or other accessories. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The portable luggage case with detachable tote bag of the present invention solves the problems encountered by the prior art by providing a portable luggage case having a front and back face wherein one of its faces can be removed to create a separate tote bag which is sized to house a portable computer, and computer accessories. The tote bag is foldable and can be secured by a zipper, where the zipper is the same securing means used to secure the tote bag to the main portion of the luggage case when the tote is in its unfolded position. Further, by providing a removable tote bag portion, a user may carry-on each case, and comply with FAA standards which restrict the size and weight of carry-on luggage. By removing the tote bag, the main luggage-carrying portion, which is conveniently sized to conform to FAA regulations, can be carried on-board an airplane without any restrictions. 
     Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, the portable luggage enclosure with a detachable tote bag capable of housing a lap-top computer comprises a luggage enclosure having a main body portion, and a detachable portion, wherein the main body portion includes one or more storage compartments, one sized to receive clothing, and the detachable portion includes one or more enclosures, one of which is sized to receive a portable computer or other items and wherein the detachable portion can be used as a tote bag, briefcase, backpack or any other type of carrying case. 
     The present invention also includes means for removably joining the main body portion to the detachable portion. The joining means comprises a first zipper component situated around the periphery of the main housing, a second zipper component situated around the periphery of the detachable portion, and a zipper fastening element movably affixed to the second zipper component along the periphery of the detachable tote portion. The detachable portion is a one-piece tote bag and comprised of an upper and lower section foldably connected to each other along its adjacent edges, wherein the detachable portion also includes securing means capable of securing the upper section to the bottom section when said detachable portion is in a folded, face-to-face configuration. 
     In the preferred practice of the present invention, the securing means are comprised of a second zipper component situated around the periphery of the detachable portion. The second zipper component comprises a portion of the zipper used to attach and detach the main housing from the detachable portion. 
     A wheel assembly comprised of a plurality of wheels is rotatably affixed to the bottom of the main body of the luggage enclosure. 
     A retractable handle is mounted upon the top of the main body portion. The retractable handle can be raised or lowered via a manually activated button situated on or near the retractable handle. 
     The detachable portion of the luggage enclosure includes a shoulder strap, wherein each end of the shoulder strap can be removably secured to a side of the detachable portion when in a folded orientation. Thus after the lower section of the detachable portion has been secured to the upper section of the detachable portion by the closing of the zipper via the zipper fastening element, the shoulder strap having ends affixed to each side of the folded, detachable portion, can be used to facilitate the transport of the folded detachable portion of the luggage enclosure. A lifting handle may be mounted upon the top of the main housing portion, to further facilitate transport. 
     The present invention improves upon the problems in the art by providing a detachable storage tote which allows the remaining main portion of the luggage case to utilize its entire interior for storage. Most portable luggage cases have a front, non-detachable compartment used to store items. However, because this front compartment cannot be removed from the luggage case, the overall storage capacity of the main body portion of the luggage case is reduced by several inches. 
     It is, therefore, a principle object of this invention to provide a portable luggage enclosure which includes a detachable portion removably joined to one face of the luggage enclosure&#39;s main body portion, via joining means, thereby allowing the remaining main body portion to be used to its maximum storage capacity. 
     It is also an object of this invention to provide securing means which secures the upper section of the detachable portion to the lower section of the detachable portion, thereby providing a zippered, detachable carry tote bag capable of housing and transporting a portable computer. 
     It is still yet another object of this invention to insure that the carry tote securing means utilizes a component of the joining means thereby eliminating the need for additional securing or joining devices. 
     In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention showing the front face detached from the carrying case. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tote after removal from the carrying case. 
     FIG.4 is a perspective view of the detached carry tote open to receive a computer and associated files. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carry tote with shoulder strap. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a portable luggage carrying case  10  is shown in perspective view in accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention, including, retractable handle  15  having a handle release button  15 A, lifting handle  17 . Also shown is main housing  20 , detachable portion  25  which comprises the front face of case  10 , zipper  30  securing main housing  20  to detachable portion  25 , and wheels  12 . Upper section  26  and lower section  27  comprise detachable portion  25 . 
     FIG. 2 shows the portable carrying case  10  in its separated configuration after the release of zipper  30 . This figure shows the two main components of carrying case  10 , namely main housing  20 , and detachable portion  25  after separation. In the preferred practice of the present invention, detachable portion  25  is removably secured to main housing  20  via a zipper  30  (FIG.  1 ), which encircles detachable portion  25  and main housing  20 . After separation, zipper component  30 A, comprised of a plurality of teeth-like elements, remains around the outer periphery of main housing  20 . Zipper component  30 B also comprised of a plurality of teeth-like elements, remains around the outer periphery of detachable portion  25 . Zipper component  30 B also includes a zipper fastening element  32  movably affixed to zipper component  30 B. 
     Carrying case  10  includes a front and a back face (not shown) wherein the front face is actually comprised of the front face of detachable portion  25 . Detachable portion  25  comprises an upper section  26  and a lower section  27 , foldably connected to each other along their adjacent horizontal edges. In FIG. 2, upper and lower sections are shown to be substantially co-planar, while in an open configuration. In FIG. 3, upper and lower sections are shown in a semi-folded configuration. Zipper  40  is situated around a portion of the periphery of upper section  26 . Zipper  40  can be released to reveal a pocket therein. This pocket can be sized to house a portable lap-top computer. Zipper  45  can be released to reveal two separate compartments  47  and  48  (seen in FIG.  4 ). These compartments, separated by divider  49 , can store computer-related documentation, computer disks, or files. 
     Referring once again to FIG. 2, it can be seen that upper section  26  and lower section  27  are joined along their adjacent edges. The sections are joined by material extending along the inside-facing surface of each section. As can be seen in FIG. 2, a small which can be space, approximately ½ inch exists between the horizontal edges of the upper and lower sections, along their outer-facing surfaces. This space allows for the folding of one or both of the sections, in order to secure the tote bag, as seen in FIG.  3  and FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 2 shows detachable portion  25  in its open configuration upon removal from main housing  20 . In its open position, the upper and lower sections,  26  and  27 , respectively, are virtually co-planar. After separation, detachable portion  25  can be folded, and secured as seen in FIG. 4. A securins means can comprise zipper component  30 B, the component that remained on detachable portion  25  after separation from main housing  20 . When detachable portion  25  is folded, as in FIG. 4, zipper component  30 B can be zipped closed via zipper fastening element  32  movably affixed along the outer periphery of detachable portion  25 , and riding along the teeth-like elements of zipper component  30 B. 
     As seen in FIG. 2, detachable portion  25  features zipper portion  30 B around its periphery, while zipper component  30 A remains around the periphery of main housing  20 . Advantageously, upon folding of detachable portion  25 , zipper component  30 B along with zipper fastening element  32 , are used to form the securing means  31 , maintaining lower section  27  and upper section  26  in a face-to-face orientation, as seen in FIG.  4 . The tote bag, as seen in FIG. 4, is therefore created upon the folding and securing of the upper and lower sections utilizing securing means  31 , which includes zipper portion  30 B and zipper fastening element  32 . Because zipper portion  30 B comprises a component of the zipper used to join main housing  20  with detachable portion  25  there is no need for additional zippers to secure the tote bag subsequent to its being detached from the main housing and folded. 
     FIG. 4 shows the detachable portion  25  completely separated from the main housing. Front face  26 A of upper section  26  is shown to be slightly open due to the release of zipper  40 . Zipper  45  is opened to reveal the two interior compartments,  47  and  48 , separated by a divider  49 . Compartments  47  and  48  can house computer disks, manuals, or other documentation. Computer housing zipper  40 , is a zipper used to enclose the portable computer within a compartment contained therein. Securing means  31  is comprised of a zipper, represented by the joining of zipper components  30 A and  30 B, via the zipper fastening element  32 . Zipper  31  secures the upper section  26  and lower section  27  to each other. Zipper  50  encloses yet another compartment, used to store miscellaneous items. 
     Referring once again to FIG. 2, which depicts detachable portion  25  in its open configuration, upper section  26  and lower section  27  can be approximately 10 ¼ inches along their vertical edge can be  14  inches across their horizontal edge. 
     FIG. 4 shows the detachable portion  25  in a folded orientation with upper section  26  and lower section  27  face-to-face and secured by securing means  31 . 
     FIG. 5 shows the detachable tote portion  25  in its completely secured configuration. A portable lap-top computer is housed within the compartment enclosed by zipper  40 . Securing zipper  31  secures the upper and lower sections. Zipper  31  can be seen to extend along the top side of the tote bag as well as the sides of the tote bag. The underside portion of the tote bag is already joined via the mating material that connects the two sections along their adjacent horizontal edges as shown in FIG.  2 . Shoulder strap  55  can be fastened to each side of the tote bag via use of fastening means  57  on the strap  55  and fastening loops  58 , one of which can be affixed to each side of the tote bag  25 . 
     The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed restrictions regarding the size of carry-on luggage. The maximum dimensions for carry-on luggage is presently 9″×22″×14″ or 45 total linear inches. The present invention satisfy these requirements when the detachable tote portion  25  has been removed from the main housing  20 . The main housing portion of the luggage case is preferably approximately 7 inches thick, 20 and ½ inches high, and 14 inches wide. Therefore, the present invention allows a user to detach the tote bag portion, store a portable computer or other items therein, and carry the tote bag on board of an airplane separately, along with the main housing portion which stores the passenger&#39;s clothes. After the flight, the computer-carrying tote bag can be re-attached to the main housing, and the entire luggage carrying case be rolled conveniently to a new location. 
     The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. 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.