LUGGAGE WITH A COMPOSITE SIDE POCKET

Abstract

A luggage includes a luggage body, a side pocket and a handhold device. The side pocket includes a pocket cloth selectively affixed to one of multiple peripheral sides of the luggage body and having a top free edge defining with the luggage body a pocket mouth therebetween. The handhold device is located at an outer wall of the pocket cloth adjacent to the pocket mouth, having a handhold body disposed near the pocket mouth and a finger hole defined between the handhold body and the pocket cloth side pocket. Thus, the side pocket is provided for holding newspaper or other articles. Through the handhold body and finger hole of the handhold device, the user can drag or lift the luggage conveniently. Further, the side pocket exhibits a unique visual effect.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to luggage for holding travelers' articles during transit and more particularly to a luggage which provides a composite side pocket for holding articles and for enabling the user to drag or lift the luggage conveniently.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

A luggage is adapted for holding a traveler's articles during transit. Further, a luggage generally has a sub-pocket at the front panel, back panel and/or each of the two opposite side panels of the luggage body for holding or differentiating articles. In actual application, when waiting for an airplane or car, the user may read a newspaper or magazine. If the user stands up to drag the luggage at this time, the user cannot put the newspaper or magazine in the luggage conveniently. Further, if the user wishes to move the luggage over a short distance, for example, to pull the luggage from a relatively farther place to a place near the seat or to put the luggage in a cupboard above the cockpit, the user cannot conveniently hold the luggage in hand.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,170 discloses the arrangement of a flexible compartment from the exterior side of the housing member of a bag, and a side closure member pivotable to open or close access to the flexible compartment. US 20130048457 discloses a luggage that comprises upstanding sidewalls and an open upper having a removable cover, wherein the sidewalls and cover are transparent and further comprise securable pockets respectively provided with a cover or zipper. When wishing to put a newspaper, book or magazine in one pocket, the user needs to open the cover or zipper with one hand and then to insert the newspaper, book or magazine in the pocket with the other hand.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,032 discloses a luggage having an exterior pocket for holding books and magazines. U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,155 discloses a luggage piece having a detachable tote bag. The tote bag is secured to the exterior of one of the sides by a zipper. One half of the zipper is secured to a portion of the outer perimeter of the luggage piece side while the other half of the zipper is secured to the outer perimeter of a portion of the tote bag. The top of the tote bag remains unzipped to defining an opening, and can be secured by a snap. U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,594 discloses a luggage case attachable to a briefcase. The available space in the luggage case will not be occupied by the briefcase, nor will the user have to carry the briefcase while pushing or dragging the luggage case at the same time. The briefcase can be detached from the luggage case, and the cover body can cover the pocket body.

The exteriorly accessible pocket according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,032 can be readily converted to a strap for temporarily securing the auxiliary hand article to the U-shaped handle extending upward from the top of a separate article of wheeled luggage. However, this exteriorly accessible pocket design does not have any other handhold structure or provide any visual effect or enhances the texture. Further, according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,155, the tote bag is secured to the exterior of one of the sides of the luggage piece by a zipper for holding books and magazines. However, the tote bag has no other handhold structure design. The inverted U-shaped tote bag is not conveniently steadily securable by the user. Further, the tote bag does not provide any visual effect or enhances the texture. Further, the luggage case of U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,594 has no external pocket means for the insertion of books or magazines to satisfy application requirements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a luggage with a composite side pocket, which has a side pocket and a handhold device provided at the outside wall of the luggage body convenient for holding articles or for enabling the user to drag or lift the luggage conveniently and, which exhibits a unique visual effect on the appearance.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a luggage of the present invention comprises a luggage body, a side pocket mounted at one peripheral wall of the luggage body, and a handhold device located at an outer wall of the side pocket. The side pocket comprises a pocket cloth affixed to the luggage body. The pocket cloth comprises two opposite lateral edges and a bottom edge affixed to the luggage body, and a top free edge opposite to the bottom edge. The top free edge defines with the luggage body a pocket mouth therebetween. The handhold device is located at the outer wall of the pocket cloth adjacent to the pocket mouth, comprising a handhold body near the pocket mouth and a finger hole between the handhold body and the outer wall of the pocket cloth.

Preferably, the handhold body of the handhold device is a strip member turned downwardly from the top free edge of the pocket cloth toward the outer wall of the side pocket, thereby defining with the outer wall the finger hole therebetween.

Preferably, the handhold body of the handhold device comprises a first strip member formed of a first material, and a second strip member formed of a second material. The first strip member is stacked on an outer side of the second strip member. The second strip member has an inner side thereof facing toward the outer wall of the pocket cloth such that the finger hole is defined between the second strip member and the outer wall of the pocket cloth.

Preferably, the first strip member and the second strip member have respective top edges thereof affixed to an inner side of the pocket mouth, and respective bottom edges thereof turned upwards and affixed to an outer side of the first strip member. Thus, the handhold body has an outer surface partly formed of the first material of the first strip member and partly formed of the second material of the second strip member.

Thus, the user can directly and conveniently insert newspaper, book, magazine or any other handy articles into the pocket mouth of the side pocket without needing to open any cover or zipper means from the luggage body. Further, the user can insert the fingers downwardly into the finger hole of the handhold device and then hook the fingers on the handhold body, enabling the luggage body to be dragged or lifted by hand. Through the composite function and outer appearance design of the side pocket and the handhold device and the two-component texture design of the handhold body, the side pocket exhibits a unique visual effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique top elevational view of a luggage in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 1, illustrating the position of the side pocket in the luggage.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view illustrating the structure of the handhold device of the luggage in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view illustrating the structure of an alternate form of the handhold device of the luggage in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the handhold device shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a schematic elevational view of the present invention, illustrating an alternate form of the side pocket.

FIG. 7 is a schematic elevational view of the present invention, illustrating the side pocket located at the front panel of the luggage body.

FIG. 8 is a schematic elevational view of the present invention, illustrating the side pocket located at the back panel of the luggage body.

FIG. 9 is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating a newspaper inserted in the side pocket.

FIG. 10 is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating the operating direction of the hand for holding the side pocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a luggage having a composite side pocket in accordance with the present invention is shown. As illustrated, the luggage comprises a luggage body 1, a side pocket 2 joined to one peripheral side of the luggage body 1, and a handhold device 3 located at an outer side 21 of the side pocket 2.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the luggage body 1 comprises a housing 11, a retractable handle 12 joined to the housing 11, and at least one, for example, four wheels 13 connected to the housing 11. The housing 11 is a container for accommodating a traveler's articles during transit, comprising a front panel 111, a back panel 112, two opposite side panels 113, a top panel 114 and a bottom panel 115. The retractable handle 12 is mounted at the back panel 112 of the housing 11 and operable by the user to extend or to retract. The wheels 13 are mounted to the bottom panel 115 of the housing 11 so as to enable the luggage body 1 to be easily moved. The number of the wheels 13 is preferably 2 or 4.

Referring to FIG. 2 again, the side pocket 2 comprises a pocket cloth 21 joined to one selected side of the luggage body 1. The pocket cloth 21 comprises two opposite lateral edges 211 and a bottom edge 212 respectively fastened to the selected side of the luggage body 1, and a top free edge 213 opposite to the bottom edge 212 and defining with the luggage body 1 a pocket mouth 22 therebetween. The pocket mouth 22 is kept open without being sealed by a cover or zipper. Thus, a user can put articles through the pocket mouth 22 into the inside of the side pocket 2. The handhold device 3 is located at an outer side of the pocket cloth 21 near the pocket mouth 22. Preferably, the handhold device 3 comprises a handhold body 31 disposed adjacent to the pocket mouth 22, and a finger hole 32 located between the handhold body 31 and the outer wall 214 of the pocket cloth 21 (see FIG. 3 through FIG. 5). Thus, the user can insert the fingers into the finger hole 32 to hook up the handhold body 31 so as to drag or lift the luggage body 1.

Referring to FIG. 3 again, the handhold body 31 of the handhold device 3 is preferably a strip member turned downwardly from the top free edge 213 of the pocket cloth 21 toward the outer wall 214 (see the arrowhead on the right side in the drawing), thereby defining with the outer wall 214 the aforesaid finger hole 32 therebetween. Further, the handhold body 31 of the handhold device 3 is turned downwardly from the top free edge 213 of the pocket cloth 21 toward the outer wall 214, and then folded back and inserted into the finger hole 32 (see the arrowhead on the left side in the drawing), and then stitched to the pocket cloth 21. Further, the handhold body 31 has two opposite lateral ends thereof respectively stitched to two edging strips 14 of the luggage body 1.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIGS. 2 and 4 again, the handhold body 31 of the handhold device 3 preferably comprises a first strip member 311 and a second strip member 312. The first strip member 311 is made of a first material, such as textile fabrics or other kinds of fabrics. The second strip member 312 is made of a second material, such as genuine leather or synthetic leather. The first strip member 311 is stacked on an outer side of the second strip member 312. The second strip member 312 has an opposing inner side thereof facing toward the outer wall 214 of the pocket cloth 21, enabling the aforesaid finger hole 32 to be defined between the second strip member 312 and the outer wall 214 of the pocket cloth 21. Because the first strip member 311 is made of textile fabrics or other kinds of fabrics, the first strip member 311 and the luggage body 1 can be made of the same material. Further, the second strip member 312 is made of genuine leather or synthetic leather for the hooking of the fingers to provide comfortable touch and anti-slip effects.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 again, the first strip member 311 and the second strip member 312 have respective top edges thereof inserted into the pocket mouth 22 (see the arrowhead on the right side in FIG. 4) and then stitched to the pocket cloth 21 inside the pocket mouth 22, respective bottom edges thereof upwardly folded up (see the arrowhead on the left side in FIG. 4) and then stitched to the outer side of the first strip member 311, and respective opposing left and right edges respectively affixed to the edging strips 14 of the luggage body 1. Thus, the outer surface of the handhold body 31 is partially formed of the first strip member 311 of the first material and partially formed of the second strip member 312 of the second material, i.e., the upper half of the handhold body 31 shown in the drawing is the textile fabrics of the first strip member 311; the lower half of the handhold body 31 shown in the drawing is the genuine leather or synthetic leather of the second strip member 312. Thus, the surface of the side pocket 2 provides a special form and function.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5 again, the bottom edge of the first strip member 311 and the bottom edge of the second strip member 312 are smoothly arched edges 313. After the bottom edge of the first strip member 311 is turned upwards with the bottom edge of the second strip member 312 (see the arrowhead on the left side in FIG. 4) and joined to the outer side of the first strip member 311, the exposed smoothly arched edge 313 is located at the outer side of the first strip member 311. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the bottom edges of the first strip member 311 and the second strip member 312 can be straight edges 314. After the bottom edge of the first strip member 311 is turned upwards with the bottom edge of the second strip member 312 (see the arrowhead on the left side in FIG. 4) and joined to the outer side of the first strip member 311, the exposed straight edge 314 is located at the outer side of the first strip member 311. According to the design of the smoothly arched edges 313 or straight edges 314, the outer appearance of the side pocket 2 and handhold body 31 exhibit a unique visual effect of two materials.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the side pocket 2 and the handhold device 3 can be provided at one side panel 113 or each of the two side panels 113 of the luggage body 1. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the side pocket 2 and the handhold device 3 can be provided at the front panel 111 of the luggage body 1.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the side pocket 2 and the handhold device 3 can be provided at the back panel 112 of the luggage body 1. Whether the side pocket 2 and the handhold device 3 are provided at the front panel 111 or back panel 112 of the luggage body 1, the composite structure and method are same as stated above.

In application, as shown in FIG. 9, when waiting for an airplane or car, the user can directly and conveniently insert newspaper 10, book, magazine or any other handy articles into the pocket mouth 22 of the side pocket 2 without needing to open any cover or zipper means from the luggage body 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, when wishing to pull the luggage body 1 toward the user's seat or to lift the luggage body 1 as the user is waiting for an airplane or car, or when wishing to put the luggage body 1 in an overhead cupboard after boarding, the user can insert the fingers upwardly into the finger hole 32 of the handhold device 3 and then hook the fingers on the handhold body 31, enabling the luggage body 1 to be dragged or lifted by hand. Through the composite function and outer appearance design of the side pocket 2 and the handhold device 3 and the two-component texture design of the handhold body 31, the side pocket 2 exhibits a unique visual effect.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A luggage, comprising a luggage body, a side pocket mounted at a peripheral wall of said luggage body, and a handhold device located at an outer wall of said side pocket, said side pocket comprising a pocket cloth affixed to said luggage body, said pocket cloth comprising two opposite lateral edges and a bottom edge affixed to said luggage body and a top free edge opposite to said bottom edge, said top free edge defining with said luggage body a pocket mouth therebetween, said handhold device being located at said outer wall of said pocket cloth adjacent to said pocket mouth, said handhold device comprising a handhold body near said pocket mouth and a finger hole between said handhold body and said outer wall of said pocket cloth.

2. The luggage as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handhold body of said handhold device is a strip member turned downwardly from said top free edge of said pocket cloth toward said outer wall of said side pocket, thereby defining with said outer wall said finger hole therebetween.

3. The luggage as claimed in claim 2, wherein said handhold body has two opposite lateral ends thereof respectively stitched to two edging strips of said luggage body.

4. The luggage as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handhold body of said handhold device comprises a first strip member formed of a first material and a second strip member formed of a second material, said first strip member being stacked on an outer side of said second strip member, said second strip member having an inner side thereof facing toward said outer wall of said pocket cloth such that said finger hole is defined between said second strip member and said outer wall of said pocket cloth.

5. The luggage as claimed in claim 4, wherein said first strip member and said second strip member have respective top edges thereof affixed to an inner side of said pocket mouth, and respective bottom edges thereof turned upwards and affixed to an outer side of said first strip member; said handhold body has an outer surface partly formed of said first material of said first strip member and partly formed of said second material of said second strip member.

6. The luggage as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first strip member and said second strip member each have a smoothly arched bottom edge, the smoothly arched bottom edge of said first strip member and the smoothly arched bottom edge of said second strip member being upwardly folded together and affixed to an outer side of said first strip member.

7. The luggage as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first strip member and said second strip member each have a straight bottom edge, the straight bottom edge of said first strip member and the straight bottom edge of said second strip member being upwardly folded together and affixed to an outer side of said first strip member.

8. The luggage as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first material is textile fabrics; said second material is selected from the group consisting of genuine leathers and synthetic leathers.

9. The luggage as claimed in claim 8, wherein said first strip member and said second strip member have respectively two opposite lateral edges thereof respectively affixed to two opposite edging strips of said luggage body.

10. The luggage as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first material is textile fabrics; said second material is selected from the group consisting of genuine leathers and synthetic leathers.

11. The luggage as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first strip member and said second strip member have respectively two opposite lateral edges thereof respectively affixed to two opposite edging strips of said luggage body.

12. The luggage as claimed in claim 1, wherein said side pocket and said handhold device are selectively mounted at one of side panel, front panel and back panel of said luggage body.