Patent Publication Number: US-6213266-B1

Title: Modular luggage system including a wheeled flight bag and an externally demountable, releasably attachable computer carrying case

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/091,166, filed Jun. 30, 1998, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to wheeled luggage cases, and more particularly, to a carry-on luggage case of the type known as a flight bag having wheels on a bottom wall of the case and a retractable handle for pulling the case along on the wheels. The flight bag includes an externally mounted, removable carrying case for securely transporting a delicate instrument such as a laptop computer. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     “Flight bag” type luggage cases including wheels and a retractable handle for convenient storage in aircraft overhead storage bins are well known; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,739 on a wheeled flight bag with a retractable pull handle and U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,797 on a wheeled integrated flight bag and garment bag luggage case, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Flight bags have enhanced the convenience of travel but the wheels and handle are only useful for transporting the flight bag itself and not the other articles a traveler may need to carry. As a result, many flight bag users have resorted to attaching second bags or other articles of luggage to a flight bag using rope, elastic cords (e.g. ‘bungee’ cords), tape and other temporary attachments which may not actually support and retain the second bag during the strenuous handling often encountered in commercial travel. 
     Luggage manufacturers have provided a more elegant solution to the problem faced by flight bag users wanting to carry a second bag by incorporating retractable luggage attaching straps, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,009. The retractable strap attachments can be attached to the second bag in any number of ways but do not securely bind the second bag to the flight bag; instead, the strap attachments merely provide a hook from which the second bag may hang, (e.g. by the second bag&#39;s handle). In addition, if a valuable article such as a portable computer is to be carried in the second bag, a retractable strap cannot be used to securely lock the second bag onto the flight bag. 
     Travelers often use “Laptop” and “Notebook” portable personal computers having reduced size and weight. Unfortunately, it is difficult to manufacture a compact portable computer which is rugged enough to withstand being dropped or otherwise subjected to shock loading. The small size of today&#39;s portable computers leaves little or no internal room for shock absorbing materials to protect the vulnerable operating parts of the computer such as the LCD screen, the hard drive, the mother board with its various electrical connectors or the plastic outer case. 
     The effect of being dropped or hit is measured in acceleration terms; one unit of gravitational acceleration (1 G) represents an acceleration (or deceleration) of 32 feet/sec 2 . Each computer manufacturers design is unique, so there is no universally safe level of shock for portable computers. Computer hard drive manufacturers claim hard drives will typically withstand shocks in the range of 75 to 200 g. Manufacturers of LCD screens, on the other hand, typically guarantee their screens to withstand shocks of only 50 g, a level reached by dropping a portable computer from a height of approximately six inches. Since carrying cases or luggage for portable computers are usually hand held, hung from shoulder straps or affixed to flight bags at heights substantially greater than six inches, cases designed to carry and protect computers must provide adequate protection against falls from these greater heights. 
     Most manufacturers of carrying cases for portable computers incorporate foam padding into their cases; the padding typically ranges in thickness from a half inch to three inches. Foam padding will protect a computer, unless the padding is compressed completely (e.g., compressed to half the original thickness). Thus, three inches of padding will protect the computer through a deceleration distance of only one and one-half inches. Tests have shown that in carrying cases provided with two inches of foam padding, the 50 G threshold (for LCD screens) is exceeded in drops from heights of as little as eight inches. Portable computer carrying cases offering superior protection against shocks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,119, to W. Dale Hollingsworth (applicant in the present application), U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,754, to W. Dale Hollingsworth and patent application Ser. No. 09/235,292, filed Jan. 22, 1999, also to W. Dale Hollingsworth; the entire disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,217,119, 5,524,754 and patent application Ser. No. 09/235,292 are incorporated herein, in their entireties, by reference. 
     If a traveler carrying a flight bag also has a portable computer carried in a second bag, bungee cords, retractable straps and tape cannot be relied on to securely attach the second bag to the flight bag since, as discussed above, the resulting combination is not well suited to rough handling, even if the second bag is the finest computer carrying case. 
     Others have offered a somewhat better solution to the problems confronting traveling computer users, at least insofar as attaching the computer carrying case is concerned. The Targus company offers a flight bag called the “Targus Shuttle” in which a computer case is carried entirely within a flight bag compartment and accessed by opening a zip-down flap opening into the flight bag compartment. A traveling computer user must open the flight bag zip-down flap and remove the computer carrying case from within the compartment in the flight bag, then close the flight bag zip-down flap for flight bag stowage; a sequence of steps requiring the traveler to set the computer carrying case aside somewhere while closing the flight bag zip-down flap. 
     Often, a computer user traveling with a portable computer on an airplane is confronted by conflicting needs. When boarding and before take-off, the computer user must quickly stow any carry-on luggage in an available overhead compartment, hanging closet or under-seat space. The airplanes aisles are often narrow, cramped and crowded with other impatient travelers who are struggling to fill the rapidly diminishing overhead compartments with their own carry-on luggage or hurrying to find and occupy their seats. Often, a computer user wants to use his or her portable computer during the flight. Problems arise if the computer user has packed the portable computer in a flight bag which must now be quickly stowed in the overhead compartment before all available space is depleted by others, or before other travelers trying to reach their seats lose patience. If the computer user stands in the aisle, opens the flight bag, removes the portable computer and then closes the flight bag, tempers may flare. The only other choice is to quickly stow the flight bag and later try to retrieve the flight bag from a packed overhead compartment to unpack the computer while en-route. 
     There is a need, then, for a luggage system that confers the benefits of a flight bag but does not penalize the computer user who needs a protective computer carrying case and ready, convenient access to the computer. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to confer the easy carry benefits of a flight bag without penalizing the computer user needing a protective computer carrying case and ready, convenient access to the computer. 
     Another object of the present invention is to securely affix an auxiliary luggage module (e.g., a computer carrying case) to a to a main luggage module (e.g., a flight bag) in a lockable, externally demountable, releasably attachable coupling. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for rapidly, conveniently releasing an externally mounted auxiliary luggage module or case from a main luggage module, using one hand. 
     The aforesaid objects are achieved individually and in combination, and it is not intended that the present invention be construed as requiring two or more of the objects to be combined unless expressly required by the claims attached hereto. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a modular luggage system includes a wheeled flight bag carrying an externally demountable, releasably attachable computer carrying case for carrying a delicate instrument such as a portable computer. The wheeled flight bag has wheels on a bottom wall and a retractable handle incorporated in an integral frame running up a back wall. The front of the flight bag includes a substantially vertical projecting member or salient tongue spaced a selected distance of approximately twelve inches from a first releasable fastening member (e.g., a latch member, buckle, lock or the like). A computer carrying case adapted to be externally demountable from the flight bag has an exterior wall including a substantially vertical receiving slot or aperture for receiving the salient tongue mounted on the flight bag. The computer carrying case includes a second releasable fastening member (spaced from the slot at the selected distance, e.g., twelve inches), and is releasably fastened to the flight bag when mounted upon the flight bag with the flight bag salient tongue received in the computer carrying case receiving aperture. When mounted, the computer carrying case second fastening member is locked or otherwise fastened with the cooperating first fastening member mounted on the top surface of the flight bag, thus preventing the necessarily vertical removal of the computer carrying case from the flight bag. 
     Preferably, the computer carrying case includes a carrying handle on a top wall, spaced from the top wall back edge. Similarly, the flight bag includes a suitcase style carrying handle on a top wall, spaced from the first releasable fastening member. When the computer carrying case is mounted on the flight bag, the first and second cooperating releasable fastening members of the flight bag and computer carrying case are positioned between the flight bag carrying handle and the computer carrying case handle. 
     In use, one may mount the computer carrying case by grasping the computer carrying case by the handle with the right hand and lowering the computer carrying case receiving aperture onto the substantially vertical salient tongue of the flight bag, thereby positioning the computer carrying case fastening member adjacent the cooperating fastening member on the flight bag. One may then, with one hand, move the computer carrying case handle horizontally to engage the cooperating fastening members, thereby securing the computer carrying case to the flight bag. When it is desired to remove the computer carrying case from the flight bag, one hand is needed to grasp the computer carrying case handle and, with the thumb, one may depress a button or otherwise actuate the carrying case fastening member, thereby releasing the cooperating fastening members from one another such that the computer carrying case may be lifted and withdrawn vertically away from the flight bag. 
     The computer carrying case preferably includes a shock absorbing suspension or impact absorbing cushions providing protection for the delicate instrument (e.g., laptop computer) enclosed within. 
     The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view, in elevation, of a modular luggage system including a wheeled flight bag and an externally demountable, releasably attachable computer carrying case, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view, in elevation, of the modular luggage system of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded side view, in elevation, of the modular luggage system of FIG. 1, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the computer carrying case of FIGS. 1-3, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration, in partial cross section, of the cooperative fastening members of the modular luggage system of FIG. 1, in the closed state, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration, in partial cross section, of the cooperative fastening members of the modular luggage system of FIG. 5, in the open state, in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of the computer carrying case of FIG. 4, in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring specifically to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3  of the accompanying drawings, a modular luggage system  10  includes a main luggage case or flight bag  12  and an externally mounted auxiliary luggage case or computer carrying case  14 . As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, flight bag  12  includes an elongate, substantially planar, rectangular bottom wall  16  having a front edge  18  parallel to an opposing back edge  20 . Flight bag bottom wall  16  includes at least one and preferably two rollers or wheels  22  recessed therein and carried on freely spinning axles or bearings. Wheels  22  are preferably located along flight bag bottom wall back edge  20  near the corners formed along opposing ends of back edge  20 , thereby providing a wide stance and enhanced stability. 
     Flight bag bottom wall  16  is contiguously connected with substantially planar and perpendicular lower front wall  24  which opposes and is parallel to substantially planar, perpendicular back wall  26 , the lower front wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall  16  to a top edge  31 . Flight bag back wall  26  is terminated in the substantially planar top wall  28  which is spaced from and substantially parallel to bottom wall  16 . Top wall  28  is contiguously connected with substantially planar and perpendicular upper front wall  27  which opposes and is parallel to back wall  26 , the upper front wall extending downwardly from the top wall  28 . An upper surface or wall  48  extends substantially perpendicularly between the upper and lower front walls and connects the upper front wall  27  with the top edge  31  of the lower front wall  24 . 
     As can be seen from careful inspection of FIGS. 2 and 3, flight bag bottom wall  16  extends frontwardly or forwardly beyond top wall front edge  30  and has a frontwardly projecting storage compartment  46  between bottom wall  16  and upper surface  48 . A substantially vertical salient tongue  38  is mounted on upper surface  48  and projects upwardly therefrom in a first plane parallel with the axes of front wall  24  and back wall  26 . The tongue  38  is spaced a small distance forwardly of the upper front wall  27  and is parallel thereto. Flight bag top wall front edge  30  opposes a top wall back edge  32  which is interrupted by a recessed, flanged pocket receiving the flight bag retractable, elongate handle  34 . Top wall  28  also includes a first releasable fastening member  36  such as a latch, hasp or buckle proximate front edge  30 , preferably in the center of the front edge, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     Flight bag exterior  29  comprises the flight bag exterior walls  16 ,  24 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28  and  48  and includes all of the surfaces enveloping and enclosing a flight bag interior volume divided into, preferably, a plurality of compartments separately accessible for storage. Access is gained to the flight bag interior volume using any of the several zipper fasteners  33  carried in the exterior walls. 
     Flight bag exterior  29  includes the upper surface  48  upon which is mounted the salient tongue or projecting pin member  38  which is spaced a selected distance  39  from the flight bag releasable fastening member  36 , as best seen in FIG.  2 . In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, salient tongue  38  is a substantially vertical, rigid loop of bent metal wire and preferably defines a forwardly angled guiding surface  40  proximate the distal end  42 , as best seen in FIG.  3 . 
     A padded, rotatable handle  44  (shown partly cut-away in FIGS. 1 and 2) is affixed by hinges or pins to flight bag top wall  28 . As noted above, retractable, elongate carrying handle  34  is also preferably recessed in flight bag top wall  28 ; flight bag  28  is therefore adapted to be grasped by the retractable and extendable handle  34  and pulled along on wheels  22  or carried by rotatable handle  44 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 , auxiliary luggage case or computer carrying case  14  includes an elongate and substantially planar bottom wall  50  terminated in a front edge  52  opposing a back edge  54 . Computer carrying case front wall  56  extends upwardly from and perpendicularly to bottom wall  50  and opposes computer carrying case back wall  58  which terminates in elongate and substantially planar top wall  60  having a front edge  62  opposing a substantially parallel back edge  64 . A pair of side walls  65  extend between the bottom and top walls  50  and  60  and between the front and back walls  56  and  58 . Computer carrying case  14  has a carrying handle  66  (shown partly cut-away in FIGS. 1,  2  and  7 ) mounted substantially in the middle of top wall  60 . A receiving aperture, slot or blind hole  68  is disposed within and carried by the computer carrying case on exterior surface, preferably on back wall  58  or bottom wall  50 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the aperture  68  is disposed between back wall  58  and a back panel  59  disposed exteriorly over back wall  58 . Receiving aperture  68  is preferably formed as an elongate open ended box or pocket (shown in cross section in FIG. 3) having a vertical major axis substantially parallel to computer carrying case back wall  58  and computer carrying case front wall  56 . Receiving aperture  68  has a downward facing opening dimensioned to receive salient tongue  38  of flight bag  12 ; the opening of the receiving aperture  68  is spaced a selected distance  70  (e.g., twelve inches, as shown in FIG. 3) from a second releasable fastening member  72  mounted upon computer carrying case top wall  60  proximate the back edge  64 , approximately in the middle of the top wall back edge  64 . The back panel  59  extends angularly outwardly in a rearward direction from the back edge  64  of top wall  60  to a lower edge  69  spaced from the back wall  58  so as to accommodate the aperture  68 , the opening to which is disposed near the back edge  54  of bottom wall  50 . 
     Computer carrying case receiving aperture  68 , as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, is preferably a five sided reinforced box having a rectangular slot opening facing the computer carrying case bottom wall  50 . The rectangular slot opening of aperture  68  has a long dimension of approximately six inches and a short dimension of approximately seven-sixteenths inches and so is dimensioned to receive flight bag salient tongue  38  which projects upwardly from flight bag exterior surface  29  to a height of approximately three inches with a maximum width of five and seven-eighths inches. 
     On the top surfaces, the flight bag first releasable fastening member  36  and cooperating computer carrying case second releasable fastening member  72  form two halves of a releasable fastener  100  (e.g., a latch, buckle or clasp) preferably actuated (e.g., released) by depressing a button  74  and moving the two fastener halves apart horizontally. FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration, in partial cross section, of the fastener  100  including cooperative fastening members  36 ,  72  of the modular luggage system of FIG. 1, in the closed state; FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration, in partial cross section, of the fastener  100  including cooperative fastening members of the modular luggage system of FIG. 5, in the open state. Fastener  100  is opened and closed along a line of operation  90  lying in a horizontal plane substantially parallel to the flight bag top wall  28  and the computer carrying case top wall  60 ; the line of operation  90  is therefore substantially transverse to the major axis of the computer carrying case receiving aperture  68  and salient tongue  38  which, as noted above, projects upwardly in a first substantially vertical plane parallel with the axes of the front wall  24  and the back wall  26 . The line of operation  91  (as seen in FIG. 3) of the salient tongue  38  and receiving aperture  68  is transverse to the line of operation  90  of the fastener  100 , which, when fastened, prevents the vertical removal of the computer carrying case or auxiliary bag  14  from the flight bag or main luggage case  12 . 
     In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, computer carrying case second releasable fastening member  72  includes a combination lock operable by first and second combination lock number wheels  76 . The user may grasp the computer carrying case  14  by handle  66  and lower the computer carrying case onto the flight bag, whereupon salient tongue  38  is received in computer carrying case receiving aperture  68 . Preferably, the computer carrying case bottom wall  50  is then resting upon the upward facing surface  48  of the flight bag projecting compartment  46  which defines an abutment surface as part of the exterior surface  29  of flight bag  12 . The first and second fastening members  36  and  72  of fastener  100  may then be brought together and fastened as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, thereby latching or fastening the computer carrying case  14  onto flight bag  12 , whereupon computer carrying case  14  is secured to flight bag  12  by two fixed attachment points; the first fixed attachment point is the fastener  100 , the second fixed attachment point includes salient tongue  38  retained within receiving aperture  68 . 
     The first and second fixed attachment points are separated by the selected distance of approximately twelve inches (e.g., distance  39  as shown in FIG.  2  and distance  70  as shown in FIG.  3 ), and so form a two-point coupling that is difficult to twist or torque in attempting to forcibly remove flight bag  12 . Since the releasable fasteners and tongue and groove provide two attachment points separated by the selected distance (e.g. twelve inches) it is virtually impossible to torque, twist or pry computer carrying case  14  apart from flight bag  12 . By locking the combination lock included in fastening member  72 , the computer carrying case is securely attached to flight bag  12  and is therefore much less likely to be stolen or removed by mistake. 
     Turning now to the equipment protection features of computer carrying case  14 , FIG. 7 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of computer carrying case  14  including a plurality of adjustable, impact resistant cushions  80  with first and second pads  82 ,  84 , each including a compressible, substantially rectangular foam piece covered with a pliable non-porous cover. The cover contiguously envelops the foam piece and includes an air flow controlling vent. Air escapes from the pad through the vent at a controlled rate when the foam material is compressed; the pad absorbs shock by providing resistance to compression. The resistance to flow of escaping air increases with increasing compression velocity. Preferably, open cell urethane foam is employed in the compressible foam piece. The adjustable impact resistant cushion second pad  84  preferably has a greater thickness than that of the first pad  82 . The first and second pads  82 ,  84  are hingedly connected to one another by a flexible hinge segment of webbing or plastic. Each adjustable cushion  80  includes, on a back surface, one or more releasable hook and loop type fastener elements (e.g., either hooks or loops). 
     Preferably, two of the impact resistant cushions  80  are used in a luggage insert (for insertion into a carrying case or other luggage) or are incorporated directly into the interior portion of carrying case  14  in a compartment with an interior surface covered with felt or loop material for attachment using hook fastener arrays carried by the adjustable cushions. An adjustable cushion may also carry one or more flexible tabs  86  extending outwardly from the cushion pad major axis and so can be positioned in cushion pairs at selected separations and angular orientations, thereby accommodating portable computers (or other delicate instruments) having different widths and shapes. 
     A removable luggage insert in accordance with the present invention (not shown) may be carried in carrying case  14  providing impact resistant support for a portable computer or another delicate instrument and includes a container or receptacle portion having a compartment interior surface of felt or loop fastener elements. Preferably, the insert is shaped substantially as a six-sided box having a front wall opposing a back wall, a top wall opposing a bottom wall, and a left side wall opposing a right side wall. In the simplest embodiment, one pair of opposing walls (on the interior of case  14  or an insert compartment) carries fastener elements for receiving the hooks on the adjustable impact-resistant cushions  80 . Each impact resistant cushion preferably includes a hinge segment and is placed with a first pad on a compartment side wall, for example, and a second pad on the bottom wall of the compartment. The second impact resistant cushion is placed with a first pad on the compartment side wall opposing the side wall having the first impact resistant cushion and has the second pad positioned substantially at a right angle thereto, on the bottom wall, substantially in line with the second pad of the first adjustable impact resistant cushion. The compartment has a lineal dimension (e.g., along the bottom wall) greater than the combined dimensions of the second pads of the first and second cushions. Using the hook fasteners on the flexible tabs  86  carried by (at least one on the adjustable impact resistant cushion, it is possible to position the cushion with a first pad spaced apart from the side wall of the compartment while the second pad rests on the bottom wall, thereby accommodating a portable computer having a narrower outer case or housing. The carrying case  14  can accommodate the adjustable cushions  80  in a plurality of positions or angular orientations, thereby accommodating irregularly shaped delicate instruments or computers. 
     When using modular luggage system  10 , removal of computer carrying case  14  requires only one hand; the user grasps computer carrying case handle  66  and, using a thumb or finger, depresses fastening member button  74 , thereby releasing fastener  100  and disconnecting the flight bag fastening member  36  from the computer carrying case fastening member  72  and allowing the user to horizontally or laterally translate the fastening members apart along the line of operation  90  (as shown in FIG.  6 ), whereupon computer carrying case  14  is lifted vertically away, withdrawing salient tongue  78  from receiving aperture  68 . The user then has the computer carrying case in one hand and the other is hand free to move flight bag  12 , as may be required to stow flight bag  12  in a standing closet, overhead compartment or the like. 
     A user re-mounts or re-attaches the computer carrying case  14  by grasping the computer carrying case handle  66  (e.g., with the right hand) and vertically lowering case  14  onto salient tongue  38  of flight bag  12  and against the flight bag abutment surface, thereby positioning the computer carrying case second releasable fastening member  72  adjacent the cooperating fastening member  36  on flight bag  12 . The user can then place one hand on computer carrying case handle  66 , and move the cooperating fastening members  36 ,  72  horizontally or laterally toward one another along line of operation  90  to engage and fasten the cooperating fastener members  36 ,  72  to one another, thereby securing fastener  100  and externally attaching or mounting the computer carrying case  14  to the flight bag  12 . 
     It will be appreciated that the present invention makes available a modular luggage system including a main luggage case or flight bag  12  preferably including a pull handle  34 , carrying a salient tongue or pin  38  and also carrying a first releasable fastening member  36  positioned a selected distance  39  from salient tongue  38 , and an externally demountable, releasably attachable auxiliary luggage case or computer carrying case  14  including a receiving aperture  68  dimensioned to receive the main luggage case salient tongue  38 ; where the auxiliary luggage case  14  carries a second releasable fastening member  72  positioned to be fastenable with the main luggage case first releasable fastening member  36  when the main luggage case salient tongue  38  is received within the auxiliary case receiving aperture  68 . The terms “flight bag” and “computer carrying case” are, therefore, merely exemplary terms describing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     In as much as the present invention is subject to various modifications and changes in detail, the above description of a preferred embodiment is intended to be exemplary only and not limiting. It is believed that other modifications, variations and changes will be suggested to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings set forth herein. It is therefore to be understood that all such variations, modifications and changes are believed to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.