Organizational Luggage System

Abstract

An organizational luggage system includes a main housing having a closed bottom, front, rear, and opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom such that the main housing defines an open top and interior area. An outer panel is pivotally coupled to the rear wall and selectively movable between a closed configuration covering the main housing open top and an open configuration enabling access to the interior area. An inner panel is pivotally coupled to the main housing rear wall and situated between the outer panel and the main housing interior area, the inner panel being accessible when the outer panel is at the open configuration, the interior panel being selectively movable between a closed configuration preventing access to the main housing interior area and an open configuration providing access thereto. A plurality of holding pouches is coupled to an inner surface of the outer panel.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to luggage and, more particularly, to an organizational luggage system having multiple movable panels and compartments uniquely configured to organize a traveler's articles.

Travelers who intend to stay at a hotel or a residence other than their own for only a short time, such as one or two nights, may choose not to unpack their suitcase and organize their packed items in a dresser. As a result, the traveler often has difficulty finding items that he confidently believes were packed in the luggage but are not immediately located. Sometimes, a frustrated traveler is left with no other choice but to dump out all of the contents of the suitcase in order to find the one item he is looking for.

Various items of luggage have been proposed having zippered pockets configured to receive articles of various sizes. Although assumably effective, the existing products and proposals do not include multiple panels that include transparent compartments that enable a traveler to organize articles of similar kinds and to see them quickly without having to rummage through the luggage or even dump it out.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have an organizational luggage system having multiple movable panels and specifically configured compartments to enable a traveler to store and access stowed items more quickly and easily than is possible presently. Further, it would be desirable to have an organizational luggage system with which a traveler can access stowed items without having to first unpack them to an external dresser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An organizational luggage system according to the present invention includes a main housing having a closed bottom, opposed front and rear walls, and opposed side walls extending upwardly from the bottom such that the main housing defines an open top and an interior area. The luggage system includes an outer panel pivotally coupled to the rear wall and selectively movable between a closed configuration covering the main housing open top and an open configuration enabling access to the interior area through the open top. An inner panel is pivotally coupled to the rear wall of the main housing and situated between the outer panel and the main housing interior area, the inner panel being accessible when the outer panel is at the open configuration, the interior panel being selectively movable between a closed configuration preventing access to the main housing interior area and an open configuration providing access to the main housing interior area. A plurality of holding pouches is coupled to an inner surface of the outer panel.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide an organizational luggage system that enables a traveler to stow and access articles without random searching and without first unpacking and stowing the articles in a dresser.

Another object of this invention is to provide an organizational luggage system, as aforesaid, in which shoes may be organized together for easy access and toiletries may be viewed through a transparent cover member.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an organizational luggage system, as aforesaid, having outer and inner panels that may be pivotally moved for easy access to desired storage compartments.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an organizational luggage system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the luggage system as in FIG. 1 illustrated with an outer panel in an open configuration;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the luggage system as in FIG. 1 illustrated with an outer and inner panel in open configurations;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the luggage system as in FIG. 1 illustrated with the outer panel in an open configuration;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the luggage system as in FIG. 1 illustrated with outer and inner panels in open configurations and illustrating an auxiliary pocket in an open configuration;

FIG. 6a is another perspective view of the luggage system as in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6b is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from a portion of FIG. 6a.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An organizational luggage system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6b of the accompanying drawings. The luggage system 10 includes a main housing 20, an outer panel 30, and a plurality of compartments and pockets for organizing articles being transported by the luggage system 10.

The main housing 20 includes a closed bottom 22 and upstanding walls that define an interior area and open top 29. More particularly, the main housing 20 includes opposed front 24 and rear 26 walls extending upwardly from the closed bottom 22. Similarly, opposed side walls 28 extend upwardly from the closed bottom 22. Upper edges of respective walls define the open top 29 which provides access to the interior area.

The outer panel 30 is operatively and pivotally coupled to the upper edge of the rear wall 26 of the main housing 20 and is selectively movable between a closed configuration (FIG. 1) covering the open top 29 and an open configuration (FIG. 2) exposing the open top 29. In other words, the outer panel 30 prevents access to the interior area when positioned at the closed configuration and permits access thereto at the open configuration. The outer panel 30 may be selectively fastened to respective walls of the main housing 20 with an outer panel zipper 32 (FIG. 1).

The inner panel 50 is also pivotally coupled to the rear wall 26 of the main housing 20 and selectively movable between a closed configuration (FIG. 2) preventing access to the main housing interior area and an open configuration (FIG. 3) permitting access to the interior area. It is understood that access to the main housing interior area is only possible when both the outer panel 30 and inner panel 50 are positioned at respective open configurations. In one embodiment, the inner panel 50 is coupled to the rear wall 26 of the main housing 20 while the outer panel 30 is pivotally coupled to an edge of the inner panel 50 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The inner panel 50 may be selectively fastened to the main housing 20 with an inner panel zipper 52 (FIG. 6b).

The outer panel 30 includes opposed inner 34 and outer 36 surfaces, the outer surface 36 being to the exterior of the luggage system 10. A plurality of holding pouches 38 are coupled to the outer panel inner surface 34 and spaced apart from another (FIG. 2). Each holding pouch 38 includes an open end and defines an interior space configured to receive a shoe or other article. Each holding pouch 38 is preferably constructed of an expandable and resilient material that may expand and conform to the object being inserted through the open end into the interior space. For instance, the holding pouch 38 may be constructed of an elastic mesh or netting configured to stretch to receive a shoe. Mesh material is also preferred so as to promote breathability and airflow to stored shoes.

The inner surface 34 of the outer panel 30 includes a pocket 40 defining an interior cavity configured to receive articles such as clothing to be laundered, papers, files, or other articles. The pocket 40 may include an open slot 42 through which articles may be inserted into the pocket 40. The slot 42 may be selectively moved between open and closed configurations with a pocket zipper (not shown).

The luggage system 10 includes a transparent storage compartment 54 coupled to an upper surface of the inner panel 50. In one embodiment, the transparent storage compartment 54 may be integrally constructed with the inner panel 50. More particularly, the transparent storage compartment 54 may include a plurality of side panels extending upwardly from the upper surface of the inner panel 50 and define an open top and inner storage area. The transparent storage compartment 54 may also include a cover member 56 constructed of a flexible transparent material, such as thin transparent plastic, that is selectively movable between a closed configuration (FIG. 2) that prevents access to the inner storage area and an open configuration (FIG. 4) permitting access to the inner storage area. The transparent cover member 56 provides an advantage to a user of being able to quickly and easily determine the contents stored within the transparent storage compartment 54 without having to first open the cover member 56. In one embodiment, the luggage system 10 may include a pair of transparent compartments 54 situated adjacent one another as shown in FIG. 2.

Further, the luggage system 10 may include a variable size storage compartment 58 coupled to the upper surface of the inner panel 50 (FIG. 2). In one embodiment, the variable size compartment 58 may include a unitary construction with the inner panel 50 having a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the inner panel 50 so as to define an open top and interior storage area. The variable size storage compartment 58 may also include a closure member 60 constructed of an expandable and resilient material, such as an elastic mesh or netting. The variable size storage compartment 58 may be situated adjacent the transparent storage compartment(s) 54 on the upper surface of the inner panel 50. It is understood that the variable size storage compartment 58 is configured to receive and store clothing or other larger articles and to hold them from shifting. The closure member 60 may include a fastener (not shown) such as a hook for selectively maintaining the closure member at a configuration covering the open top of the variable size storage compartment 58 or releasing the variable size storage compartment 58 to permit access to stored articles.

The inner panel 50 may also include a lower surface opposite the inner panel upper surface. The inner panel lower surface may define an auxiliary pocket 62 selectively movable between open (FIG. 5) and closed (FIG. 3) configurations. It is understood that access to an interior area of the auxiliary pocket 62 may be regulated by an auxiliary pocket zipper or other suitable fastener. Preferably, the auxiliary pocket 62 is configured to receive dirty laundry, files, or other articles being transported by a traveler.

The luggage system 10 may further include an interior storage pouch 64 coupled to an inner surface of the main housing rear wall 26 (FIG. 5). The interior storage pouch 64 includes a construction that defines an interior storage pouch open area that is configured to receive and secure articles inserted therein and a slot or aperture in communication with the interior storage pouch open area.

Further, the luggage system 10 may include a partition member 66 situated in the main housing interior area and may be coupled at opposed ends to the main housing front 24 and rear 26 walls. The partition member 66 is configured to segregate or separate the main housing interior area into two sub-areas such that articles deposited therein may be organized. Preferably, the partition member 66 may be constructed of a netting or mesh material that is expandable, elastic, and resilient.

Still further, the luggage system 10 may include a handle 70 that is length adjustable, such as with a telescopic construction (FIG. 1). The handle 70 may be operatively coupled to a respective side wall 28 of the main housing 20 and may be movable between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. In addition, the main housing 20 may include a pair of wheels (not shown) rotatably coupled to a respective side wall 28 opposite the handle 70 such that the luggage system 10 may be pulled on the wheels by the handle 70.

In use, a traveler may load the luggage system 10 with multiple types of articles, such as shoes, clothing, toiletries, papers, or even a laptop computer. A user may choose to move both the outer panel 30 and the inner panel 50 to their respective open configurations so as to first access the main housing interior area (FIG. 3). In so doing, the traveler may stow larger clothing articles such as trousers, a suit coat, or undergarments. Then, the inner panel 50 may be moved to its closed configuration (FIG. 4) so that toiletries may be stowed in one or more transparent compartments 54 and smaller clothing items may be stowed in the variable size storage compartment 58. The inner panel 50 may be fastened for secure transport, such as by operating the inner panel zipper 52, as described above. From this configuration (FIG. 4), the holding pouches 38 are accessible to a traveler such that shoes may be inserted therein. Finally, the outer panel 30 may be moved to its closed configuration (FIG. 1) and secured by operation of the outer panel zipper 32.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. An organizational luggage system, comprising:

a main housing having a closed bottom, opposed front and rear walls extending upwardly from said bottom, and opposed side walls extending upwardly from said bottom;

wherein said main housing defines an open top and an interior area;

an outer panel pivotally coupled to said rear wall of said main housing and selectively movable between a closed configuration covering said main housing open top and an open configuration enabling access to said interior area through said open top;

an inner panel pivotally coupled to said rear wall of said main housing and situated between said outer panel and said main housing interior area, said interior panel being accessible when said outer panel is at said open configuration, said inner panel being selectively movable between a closed configuration preventing access to said main housing interior area and an open configuration providing access to said main housing interior area; and

a plurality of holding pouches coupled to an inner surface of said outer panel, each holding pouch having an open end and defining an interior space, said each holding pouch being constructed of an expandable and resilient material so as to receive articles through a respective open end into a respective interior space.

2. The luggage system as in claim 1, wherein:

said outer panel includes a pocket coupled to said inner surface of said outer panel;

said pocket defining an interior cavity and an open slot in communication with said interior cavity; and

said plurality of holding pouches are mounted to said pocket.

3. The luggage system as in claim 1, further comprising a transparent storage compartment coupled to an upper surface of said inner panel, said transparent storage compartment including a plurality of side panels extending upwardly from said inner panel upper surface and defining an open top and inner storage area, said transparent storage compartment including a cover member constructed of a flexible transparent material and selectively movable between a closed configuration preventing access to said inner storage area and an open configuration providing access to said inner storage area.

4. The luggage system as in claim 3, wherein said transparent storage compartment includes a pair of transparent storage compartments situated adjacent one another.

5. The luggage system as in claim 3, further comprising a variable size storage compartment coupled to said upper surface of said inner panel, said variable size storage compartment including a plurality of side panels extending upwardly from said inner panel upper surface and defining an open top and inner storage area, said variable size storage compartment including a closure member constructed of an elastic material.

6. The luggage system as in claim 5, wherein said variable size compartment is adjacent said transparent storage compartment on said upper surface of said inner panel.

7. The luggage system as in claim 5, wherein said inner panel includes an inner panel lower surface opposite said inner panel upper surface, said inner panel lower surface defining an auxiliary pocket movable between open and closed configurations.

8. The luggage system as in claim 1, further comprising interior storage pouch coupled to an inner surface of said main housing rear wall, said interior storage pouch defining an interior storage pouch open area that is configured to receive articles and a slot in communication with said interior storage pouch open area.

9. The luggage system as in claim 8, further comprising a partition member situated in said main housing interior area and configured to separate said main housing interior area into at least two sub-areas, said partition member being constructed of netting that is resilient.

10. The luggage system as in claim 1, further comprising a length adjustable handle operatively coupled to a respective side wall of said main housing.