Patent Publication Number: US-8991575-B2

Title: Luggage with support receptacle

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of luggage and more particularly to luggage with a support receptacle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Recent advances in the field of computers have led to the increased popularity of extremely compact and portable computers of the type generally known as tablet computers. Travellers wishing to utilize tablet computers often find that the use of such computers leads to a degree of awkwardness resulting from a need to hold the tablet computer to utilize the touch screen while maintaining proper control over their luggage. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide luggage with a support receptacle which can be utilized by a traveller to support a tablet computer while providing convenient and ergonomic access to the touch screen. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide luggage with a support receptacle which does not interfere or detract from the storage capacity of the luggage. 
     Another object of the present invention to provide luggage with a support receptacle which can easily utilized to support a tablet computer in both portrait and landscape orientations. 
     Yet another object of the present invention to provide luggage with a support receptacle which is reliable in operation and economical to manufacture resulting in a relatively low unit cost. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made clear hereinafter. 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided luggage with a support receptacle which may be used by a traveller to support a tablet computer. 
     In the primary embodiment of the invention, the receptacle is formed as a unitary member which is mounted in a slot which is formed on the top panel portion of the luggage. The receptacle incorporates a backrest portion which includes a pair of rubber pads. The backrest portion forms an angle with the generally horizontal plane of the top panel portion of the luggage. This angle provides comfortable viewing and operation of the tablet touch screen. The lower portion of the backrest portion leads to a smooth continuous curved surface which forms the bottom portion of the receptacle. This curved portion enables the bottom of the tablet computer to lodge in the receptacle in a secure manner. 
     The second embodiment of the invention is generally similar to the first embodiment with the exception that the second embodiment includes a door panel. The door panel may be opened to reveal the receptacle. A latch holds the door panel in the looked position when not in use. When closed, the door panel provides a smooth appearance for the luggage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Additional details of construction of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an overall perspective view of luggage with a support receptacle made according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary perspective view of luggage with a support receptacle showing the invention in use supporting a tablet computer; 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary to view of luggage with a support receptacle showing the receptacle mounted on the top panel portion of the luggage; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the receptacle of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of the receptacle taken along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an end view of the receptacle taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an end view of the receptacle similar to  FIG. 6  showing the receptacle mounted on the top panel portion of the luggage; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the receptacle taken along the line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 4  showing the receptacle supporting a tablet computer, with the tablet computer shown in broken lines; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic end view of the luggage with the receptacle shown supporting a tablet computer, with the tablet computer shown in broken lines; 
         FIG. 10  is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of the receptacle which incorporates a door panel; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation view taken along the line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a front elevation view taken along the line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 10 , and 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 10  showing the door panel in the open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the drawings there is shown in  FIGS. 1-13  luggage with a support receptacle  10  made accordance with the present invention. The primary embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-9 . 
     The luggage with a support receptacle  10  includes a luggage assembly  12  which is illustrated by way of example as a hard sided luggage assembly  12  which includes side panel portions  14 ,  16 , front  18  and rear panel portions  20 , a bottom  22  and a top  24 , wheels  26 , a conventional handle  28 , and a telescoping handle  30 . 
     A key feature of the present invention is the receptacle  32  which is mounted on the top panel portion  24  of the luggage assembly  12 . 
     Other elements of the luggage assembly  12  are conventional in nature and therefore need not be described in detail. 
     As is best shown in  FIGS. 3-9 , the receptacle  32  is a unitary member which includes a flange  34  portion, a support portion  36 , a pair of end wall portions  38 ,  40  and a curved bottom portion  42 . The support portion  36  includes a pair of rubber or elastomeric bumper pads  44 ,  46 . The front portion  48  of the flange  34  includes a generally U-shaped depression  50 . The depression  50  provides access to the lower portion of a tablet computer  52  which is mounted in the receptacle cavity  54  as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  8  and  9 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  7 , there is shown the mounting boss portions  56 .  FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the receptacle  32 .  FIG. 4  shows the integral backrest or support portion  36 , the flange  34 , and the boss portions  56  which are used to secure the receptacle  32  to the top panel portion  24  of the luggage assembly  12 .  FIG. 4  shows the receptacle  32  formed as an integral member. 
       FIG. 6  shows an end view taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  shows the backrest or support portion  36  of the receptacle  32  formed at an angle relative to the plane of the flange  34  of the receptacle  32 . The angle has been designated in  FIG. 6  by the letter A. The preferred range of the angle A is in the order of 95 degrees to 120 degrees. The back  35  and the top  37  of the support portion  36  are curved. 
       FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 6  showing the receptacle  32  mounted on the top panel  24  portion of the luggage assembly  12 . The receptacle  32  is attached to the panel portion  24  by means of screws  58 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the receptacle  32  projects into a slot  60  formed in the panel portion  24 . 
     The curved back  35  and the curved top  37  of the support portion  36  enable the luggage with support receptacle  10  to be handled in the normal manner using conventional luggage handbag equipment without danger of snagging or catching. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  includes a tablet computer  52  which is shown in broken lines. The lower portion  62  of the tablet computer  52  rests or lodges in the smoothing curved bottom portion  64  of the receptacle  32 . The back of the tablet computer  52  rests against the rubber bumpers  44 ,  46  thereby providing a convenient angle for operating the tablet computer  52 . The receptacle cavity  54  is proportioned to accept tablet computers of various thicknesses and to accept tablet computers in both portrait and landscape orientations.  FIG. 8  shows the typical structure of the receptacle  32  which includes a generally vertical portion  66 , a generally horizontal portion  68  and a downwardly directed portion  70 . 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic side view of the luggage with support receptacle  10  showing a tablet computer  52  mounted in the receptacle  32 . 
       FIGS. 10-13  show an alternate embodiment of the invention  100 .  FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the alternate embodiment of the invention  100  which incorporates a door panel  102 . The embodiment  100  includes a receptacle  104  which defines a receptacle cavity  106  which is best shown in  FIG. 13 . 
       FIG. 11  is a side view taken along the line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 11  shows the door in the closed position.  FIG. 11  shows the flange portion  108 . 
       FIG. 12  is front elevation view taken along the line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 12  shows boss portions  110  which receive mounting screws for mounting the receptacle  104  on the top panel  24  of luggage in the manner illustrated and described previously in connection with  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 13  on the door panel  102  in the open position ready to support a tablet computer  52 . 
     The door panel  102  is typically held in a closed position as shown in  FIGS. 10-12  by a latch  112  which may be a spring operated latch. The latch  112  is conventional in nature and need not be further described. The door panel  102  is pivotally mounted on the receptacle  102  by spring mounted pivots  114 . When the latch  112  is operated by a user the door panel  102  moves in the direction  118  shown in  FIG. 13 . In the closed position, the door panel  102  and the flange portion  108  present a generally smooth flat surface. In the open position the door panel  102  provides support for the tablet computer. 
     As is best shown in  FIG. 13  the bottom  116  of the receptacle cavity  106  is curved in the manner previously described in connection with the primary embodiment  10 . The receptacle  104  is able to accept and support all types of tablet computers  52 . 
     The receptacle cavity  106  is defined by wall portions  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  and as described above is generally similar to the receptacle cavity  54  illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
     The receptacle has been shown and described as a unitary member which is attached to the upper portion of the luggage. It is within the scope of the present invention to integrally mold or form the receptacle as part of the upper portion of the luggage. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, which has not been illustrated, the receptacle may serve as a support for a set of slides which allow the tablet computer to slide into the luggage for storage in a manner similar to a desk drawer sliding into a desk. 
     The foregoing specific embodiments of the present invention as set forth in the specification are for illustrative purposes only. Various deviations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention without departing from a main theme thereof.