Patent ID: 8636122

Claim:
A method of customizing a luggage item, comprising: providing a database of luggage items, providing a website that is in electronic communication via an Internet connection with said database of luggage items; providing a plurality of size options of a luggage item in said database to allow a customer to select a particular size to be built; displaying a virtual model on said website of said size option of the luggage item selected by said customer; providing a plurality of functional components of the luggage item in said database to allow said customer to select particular functional components wherein said functional components include at least one of hinges, latches, handles or zippers; displaying said functional components of the luggage item selected by said customer on said virtual model on said website; providing a plurality of different color options for the said plurality of functional components in said database to be included on the luggage item for said customer to view and select; displaying said functional components in said color option selected by said customer on said virtual model on said website; providing a plurality of color and pattern options for a front panel, a back panel, and a pair of opposing side panels in said database for said customer to view and select; displaying said color and pattern options selected by said customer for said front panel, said back panel, and said pair of opposing side panels on said virtual model on said website; and causing said luggage item to be built and delivered to said customer in accordance with said selected options.