Luggage with Removable Laptop Computer Compartment

Abstract

A carrying case is comprised of a valise or brief case with an internal compartment for a computer case which is tethered to the valise and which may be fully removed through an opening in the valise to which it is tethered. The computer storage case includes at least one side made of a mesh or transparent fabric or material so that the contents of the computer case may be visually inspected and so that the computer case can be totally segregated and yet remain tethered to the luggage item or valise.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a utility application based upon provisional application Ser. No. 61/045,699 filed Apr. 17, 2008 entitled “Luggage with Removable Laptop Computer Compartment” for which priority is claimed and which is incorporated herewith by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a business valise or case in combination with a computer carrying case. More particularly, the invention relates to a business brief case or luggage item which is designed to house a personal computer (PC) in a sleeve or case which may be removed from the brief case but remain tethered thereto to ensure that the computer will not be forgotten when, for example, being inspected at a Transportation Safety Administration checkpoint or similar security checkpoint.

In the United States, the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) requires that personal computers be removed from any carrying case and placed in a special container for inspection. Similar requirements are implemented at almost any airport facility throughout the world and at other facilities such as government buildings where security is a concern. Statistics suggest that over a quarter of all persons traveling by air carry a laptop/personal computer with them when they pass through a screening checkpoint. Required removal of the laptop from a case for inspection is a common complaint. Although it poses an inconvenience to passengers, it is a necessary requirement to ensure proper x-ray imaging of the laptop computer. Maintaining the personal computer within a carry bag becomes typically inappropriate inasmuch as the other contents of the bag may interfere with the inspection process. To obviate these difficulties in the United States, the Transportation Safety Administration has provided performance criteria for computer carry bags or cases that have the following characteristics:

The bag and laptop must be viewed in a single x-ray image. Effective x-ray visualization and screening of the laptop must therefore be ensured by the design of the carrying case. The case must be designed to minimize any damage to the personal computer during the screening process.

The need for a computer carry case design in which the PC may remain is enhanced by the recognition of the fact that thousands of PC's are not reclaimed following inspection at checkpoint stations throughout the world on a weekly basis. Thus the inconvenience of the inspection process coupled with the potential misplacement or loss of a personal computer has incited various inspection authorities to solicit ways to overcome the described problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention comprises a luggage item, brief case or valise which includes a special computer carrying case that is removable from the valise but which remains attached by a tether to the interior of the valise or luggage item. Thus, the computer case with a computer (PC) stored therein may be removed from the brief case or valise and placed on a conveyor belt for purposes of inspection visually as well as by an x-ray or other screening device. The case with the PC therein may then be easily replaced within the luggage item or valise. The tether ensures that the computer case will remain connected with the business luggage or brief case. The computer carrying case has a design which requires, in an embodiment, that one of the sides of the carrying case to be made from a generally transparent mesh or another transparent material. Also importantly the computer carrying case is made from x-ray and screening device transparent fabric and other materials. For example, no metallic zippers are utilized. The tether is typically a band of a fabric which is flexibly attached to the outside of the bottom side of the computer carrying case and which extends through a medial opening in the luggage item into the interior of the luggage item where it is attached to the bottom side or one of the other inside surfaces of the luggage item to maintain the tether connection. Placement of the computer case within the medial portion of the valise provides extra security and cushioning for the computer within the case. The transparency of the case both visually and with respect to x-ray inspection and screening equipment permits ease of inspection by the security authorities. The tethering of the computer case to the luggage item ensures that the case will remain associated with the luggage item for purposes of identification and effectively reminds the traveler of the need to maintain custody of the computer within the carrying case. A zippered opening to the interior of the computer case enables ease of removal of the computer in the event the inspection officials desire to conduct an enhanced examination. Various embodiments of the invention depict removal of the computer case from the top of a brief case or luggage item as well as from one of the opposite ends thereof.

Thus it is an object to the invention to provide an improved luggage item which includes a computer case tethered to the larger luggage item which is storable and removable from that larger luggage item while remaining tethered so as to enable inspection at a travel checkpoint.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inspection case associated with a larger luggage item wherein the inspection case is transparent to enable visual as well as x-ray inspection techniques.

A further object of the invention is to provide a luggage item which provides enhanced cushioning for protection for a computer within a separate carrying case inside the luggage item.

A further object of the invention is to provide an economical, easy to use, and easy to carry combination computer carrying case and luggage item.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be set forth in a detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right hand end view of the view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a back side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a left side end view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view illustrating the embodiment of FIG. 1 wherein the computer case is shown in solid lines and the carrying case that receives the computer case is in phantom;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the embodiment of the carrying case of the invention of FIG. 1 wherein the computer case is partially removed therefrom;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 wherein the computer case is entirely removed from the carrying case;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a computer case in combination with an associated carrying case;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein a computer case is depicted in solid lines within the phantom lines indicating a carrying case and wherein the computer case is removable laterally from an end of the carrying case;

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of an embodiment similar to FIG. 12 wherein the carrying case is removable laterally from the carrying case;

FIG. 14 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the carrying case wherein the computer case is removable from the opposite lateral end of the carrying case illustrated in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a computer case removable from a lateral side of a carrying case; and

FIG. 16 is another alternative embodiment of a computer case removable laterally from a carrying case.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-11 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention. The remaining figures illustrate alternative embodiments. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-11, a computer carrying case is removable from the top of the associated valise, luggage item or the like. In the embodiments of FIGS. 12-16, the computer carrying case is removable from one lateral end or an opposite lateral end of a luggage item. Thus, the following description will initially be focused upon the embodiment of FIGS. 1-11.

The case (valise, brief case, luggage item or the like) typically is comprised of an array of sides forming a generally parallelepiped item including a front side 20, a back side 22, a first lateral end or side 24 and an opposite lateral end or side 26, a top side 28 and a bottom side 30. Typically the sides forming the luggage item or case are reinforced in some manner. For example, the side panels may be comprised of fabric which encapsulates or covers a polyethylene board. A wire frame may be incorporated to maintain the shape of the case. Various other means of construction may be utilized to enable the luggage item to maintain its shape or configuration. There is some flexibility with such constructions, however, but typically the luggage items are configured and constructed to maintain a shape that protects the contents thereof.

In the embodiment depicted, the case includes a first compartment 32 with a top side 28 access zipper opening 34 which extends partially along lateral sides 24, 26 and the top side 28 of the luggage item. A second lateral compartment 36 is likewise constructed so that a zipper mechanism 38 may be used to provide access to the compartment 36. Importantly, the first compartment 32 and the second compartment 36 define a region or space therebetween comprising a medial compartment 40. The medial compartment 40 is bounded on opposite sides by fabric walls 41, 43 which may be cushioned. The medial compartment 40 is accessible through a medial opening 42 along the top side 28. The medial opening 42 extends partially down the opposite lateral or end sides 24 and 26 in the embodiment depicted. A zipper 44 enables access through the medial opening 42 to the medial compartment 40. In the embodiment depicted, the medial compartment 40 is maintained between other compartments 32, 36 to provide protective function for the medial compartment 40. Additionally, the medial compartment 40 is segregated from the other compartments by walls 41, 43 and contains a computer carrying case 60 which is removable from the medial compartment 40. Carry handles, such as handles 50 and 52, are attached to the top side 28 for transport of the luggage case. Optional buckles such as buckles 54, 56 may be engaged by a carry strap (not shown) to facilitate carrying the luggage item or case.

FIG. 8 depicts in greater detail, computer carrying case 60 which includes a peripheral side 62, a first lateral side 64 of generally transparent or see through mesh, a second lateral side 66 which is generally opaque, a bottom side 68 as well as a top side 70 to which a handle 72 is attached. The mesh first lateral side 64, as depicted for example in FIG. 11, may comprise a transparent plastic material. Preferably there are no metal components incorporated in the computer carrying case 60. This is to ensure that the computer carrying case 60 will be x-ray transparent.

A band of fabric material 80 comprising a tether connects from the inside of the bottom side 30 of the luggage case to the bottom side 68 of the computer carrying case 60. The band 80 is attached along the top margin 82 of the computer case 60 by means of a plastic zipper 84. The zipper 84 as well as the tether or band 80 are x-ray transparent to avoid interference with x-ray or visual inspection of the contents of the computer case 60. The band 80 preferably extends at least the majority of the distance between the opposite lateral sides 62 and 63 of the computer carrying case 60. The band 80 has a length which enables total removal of the case 60 from the medial compartment 40 of the luggage item. Preferably the removal permits separation of at least in the range of 2-4 inches from the luggage item so that the combination of the luggage item and the computer case 60 can lie flat on a conveyor which passes through a checkpoint inspection station such as an x-ray machine.

Padding is typically provided on the inside of the computer case 60 to protect contents. The adjacent compartments 32, 36 are segregated or separate from the medial compartment 40 preferably by padded fabric material or walls 41, 43. This provides for adequate protection for the contents of the computer case 60. It also enables for minimizing the material that is necessary to make the computer case 60 so that it can be easily moved in and out of the luggage item while still providing a means for protection of the contents of the computer case 60.

The computer case 60 includes a zippered opening 86 along its top edge on the top side 70 so that a computer may be inserted or easily removed from the case 60. The handle 72 is flexible and x-ray transparent to enable placement in the medial compartment 40 yet provide for easy access for removal of the case 60 from the medial compartment 40. The dimensions of the case 60 are within the guidelines established by inspection authorities and provide for storage of a generally parallelepiped computer case 60. Additional inspection of the contents thereof may be easily effected by detaching the carrying case 60 and by operation of the zipper 84 as well as the zipper 86 to remove the contents of the computer case 60.

FIGS. 12-16 illustrate alternative embodiments of the invention. In FIG. 12, a carrying case 90 includes a first lateral side 92 wherein a computer carrying case or storage case 94 is removably lateral through a zippered opening 96 in the side 92 of the luggage item 90. Again a tether 98 is provided which extends from the bottom side of the case 94 into the interior of the luggage item 90 and which is of adequate length to enable total removal of the computer case 94. FIGS. 12 and 13 indicate removal of a computer case from one lateral side. FIGS. 14 and 16 illustrate removal from the opposite side. FIG. 15 is associated with the embodiment of FIGS. 12 and 13. In each event, a tether 98 is provided which preferably extends a majority of the distance laterally between the sides of the computer case 94. Additionally, the tether 98 is adequately long enough to permit complete removal from the carrying case 90 and to permit the computer case 94 to lie flat upon a belt for passing into an inspection device such as an x-ray inspection device.

While there is set forth embodiments of the invention it is to be understood that the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A carrying case comprising,

a generally parallelepiped outer case including first and second opposite lateral sides, first and second opposite end sides, a bottom side, a top side, a medical compartment accessible through a medial opening in the top side, said opening and medial compartment extending between the opposite end sides of the case,

a first adjacent compartment adjacent one side of the medial compartment;

a second adjacent compartment adjacent the opposite side of the medial compartment;

a first opening in the top side to the first compartment,

a second opening in the top side to the second compartment;

a separate generally parallelepiped computer case fully locatable in the medial compartment, said computer case having a first lateral side in opposition to the first adjacent compartment, a second lateral side in opposition to the second adjacent compartment, a bottom side, first and second spaced opposite end sides, and a top side with an access opening to the interior of the computer case, a first dimension substantially between the top side and bottom side of the computer case, a flexible attachment tether band extending a majority of the spacing between the spaced end sides of the computer case and attached to the bottom side of the computer case and extendable longitudinally from the bottom side of the carrying case to the bottom side of the computer case positioned outside the carrying case through the medial opening,

the first lateral side of the computer case fabricated from a generally visually transparent material, said computer case fabricated solely from non-metallic materials;

wherein the band comprises a flexible fabric tether to enable the removal of the computer case through the medial opening for exposure of the first lateral side and inspection of the contents of the computer case through the first lateral side of the computer case.

2. The carrying case of claim 1 further including a releasable fastener connecting the band to the bottom side of the computer case.