LAPTOP CARRY ON LUGGAGE TRAY

Abstract

A piece of luggage including an arm extending out of the luggage, a shelf hingedly connected to the arm, a support unit hingedly attached to a top surface of the luggage, where the support unit is positioned between the shelf and the luggage when the shelf if fully extended.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional patent application that claims the benefit of and the priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/054,812, filed Sep. 24, 2014, titled LAPTOP CARRY ON.

BACKGROUND

Travel, for much of human history, was luxury and delight, an extravagance limited to the upper classes—or a hardship undertaken by poor but hopeful lower-class immigrants or refugees. Not so many generations past, people with the money and time could travel to Europe by Canard liner, hauling along three-months' worth of clothes in a couple of steamer trunks the size of office desks_No more. These days, travel is less pleasure than harrowing necessity for much of the working world, and traveling light has become a definite virtue. Consider that each year, more than three million articles of luggage are lost by airline travelers (which is to say lost by the airlines) leading not only to the loss of valuables, from personal jewelry to business documents, but to inconvenience, delay, and frustration. Our check-in bags are X-rayed for security, sometimes opened and physically searched, and not infrequently lost or misdirected, causing us inconvenience at best and a ruined trip at worst.

And yet, we have to travel: it's part of contemporary business life, like the monotony of airport terminals where thousands of harried people, chattering into headset cell phones, appear to be talking to themselves. In the world of modern travel, luggage is a liability. For most travelers, the solution is to travel light-light enough, if possible, to go with only laptop and carry-on bag, one that will fit in the overhead compartment and contain the bare necessities for a few days away from home.

Traveling light eliminates the possibility of your bags landing in Tuscon while you're landing in Toronto; it eliminates the waiting and delays at the baggage carousel; it gives you a more manageable load as you get on and off the airport shuttle, in and out of hotel elevators, and so on-. but you've got to know how to pack, and you've got to know what to pack. An entire industry seems to have arisen to aid people in traveling light: mail. order catalogs and trendy travel boutiques offer drip-dry evening wear, miniature clothing steamers and irons, vests with countless pockets, fancy money-belts.

Various attempts have been made to solve problems found in luggage with a concealed laptop tray art. Among these are found in: U.S. Publication No. 2010/0187063 to Kenneth R. Sperry; U.S. Publication No. 2013/0153351 to Harry F. House, III; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,819,247 to Pedro Felipe Gonzalez. This prior art is representative of carry-on bags with a pullout tray for a laptop.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. Thus, a need exists for a reliable Lap Top Carry On, a unique, rolling carry-on suitcase that not only provides a secure compartment for a laptop or tablet computer, but also features a flip-up table for using the computer while traveling having designs dedicated to both laptops and tablets to provide travelers with an easy, secure means of transporting and enjoying their computer en-route and to avoid the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a piece of luggage including an arm extending out of the luggage, a shelf hingedly connected to the arm, a support unit hingedly attached to a top surface of the luggage, where the support unit is positioned between the shelf and the luggage when the shelf if fully extended.

In another embodiment, the shelf includes a front plate connected to a back plate by a connection portion.

In another embodiment, the connection portion is flexible such that the front plate can rotate to a position above the back plate.

In another embodiment, the connection portion has the same width as the front plate and back plate and a depth that is sized to accommodate the depth of a laptop computer.

In another embodiment, the luggage includes a cavity in the luggage with the cavity positioned between a front surface of the luggage and the arm.

In another embodiment, the support unit is hingedly attached to a side of the cavity furthest from the arm.

In another embodiment, the cavity is sized to accommodate the shelf.

In another embodiment, the cavity is sized to accommodate the shelf with a laptop computer positioned between the plates of the shelf.

In another embodiment, the luggage includes an extension unit extending from a front surface of the support unit to a lower surface of the front plate.

In another embodiment, the extension unit is rotatively attached to the lower surface of the front plate.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a shelf including a front plate, a back plate, a connection portion connecting the front plate and back plate, a support unit that engages a bottom surface of the back plate, where the front plate is configured to rotate above the back plate via the connection portion.

In another embodiment, the connection portion has the same width as the front plate and back plate and a depth that is sized to accommodate the depth of a laptop computer.

In another embodiment, the shelf includes an arm connection unit configured to connect the shelf to an arm on a piece of luggage.

In another embodiment, the shelf includes two opening on the back surface of the back plate.

In another embodiment, the connection portion is sized such that the shelf fits into a cavity in a piece of luggage when folded.

In another embodiment, the support unit is hingedly attached to a side of the cavity furthest from the arm.

In another embodiment, the cavity is sized to accommodate the shelf

In another embodiment, the cavity is sized to accommodate the shelf with a laptop computer positioned between the plates of the shelf.

In another embodiment, the shelf includes an extension unit extending from a front surface of the support unit to a lower surface of the front plate.

In another embodiment, the extension unit is rotatively attached to the lower surface of the front plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of the laptop shelf extending from the arms of a piece of luggage;

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the shelf of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a rear view of the shelf extending from the luggage of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts the shelf stored in the luggage of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 depicts a top perspective view of the luggage of FIG. 1 with the support unit pulled away from the opening; and

FIG. 6 depicts a front perspective view of the luggage of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described one or more embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered illustrative only and is not intended to limit the disclosure to any specific embodiment described or illustrated.

FIG. 1 depicts a shelf positioned on the arm of a bag of luggage. The shelf 100 include a front plate 102, a back plate 104 and a connection portion 106. A back portion of the back plate 104 connects to the arms 108 of the luggage 110 to support the shelf 100. A support unit 112 on the side of the shelf 100 facing the luggage 110 engages both the lower surface of the back plate 104 of the shelf 100 and a top surface of the luggage 110. An extension unit 114 extends from a side of the support unit 112 to the lower surface of the front plate 102. The extension unit 114 may be made of a flexible material, such as plastic or metal. The extension unit 114 may be hinged such that the extension unit 114 extends outward when the front plate 102 is coplanar with the back plate 106, and the extension unit 114 covers the area below the connection portion 104 when the front plate 102 is positioned on the back plate 104. In another embodiment, the extension unit 114 is rotatively attached to the lower surface of the front plate 102 such that the extension unit 114 engages the lower surface of the front plate 102 when the shelf is stored.

The front plate 102 and back plate 104 of the shelf 100 may be made of a rigid material such as plastic, steel, carbon fiber or any other rigid material. In one embodiment, the top surface of the front plate 102 and back plate 104 are covered in a soft material such as a gel or a foam that prevents the surface of an electrical device such as a laptop computer or tablet from being scratched. The connection portion 106 is made of a flexible material such as, but not limited to, rubber, leather, fabric or any other flexible material. In one embodiment, the connection portion 106 has a width identical to the width of the front plate 102 and back plate 106. The front plate 102 is separated from the back plate 104 by a predetermined distance such that the front plate 102 folds back onto the back plate 104 when the shelf is stored. The length of the front plate 102, back plate 104 and connection portion 106 may be sized such that the front plate 102 and back plate 106 do not extend beyond a plane defined by the front surface of the luggage 110.

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the shelf 100. A arm connection unit 200 is positioned on the arm 108 of the luggage 110. The arm connection unit 200 includes an opening sized to accommodate the arm 108. In one embodiment, the arm connection unit 200 includes a single opening that accommodates one or rods of the arm 108. In another embodiment, the arm connection unit 200 includes two openings that each accommodate a single rod in the arm 108. In one embodiment, the shelf 100 slides vertically along the length of the arm 108 via the opening in the arm connection unit 200. The arm connection unit 200 may be made of any rigid material including plastic or metal.

The side of the arm connection unit 200 closest to the back plate 104 includes hinge connection units 202 and 204. The hinge connection units 202 and 204 are tabular shaped and include a channel sized to accommodate a pin. When installed on the arm 108, the channels in the hinge connection units 202 and 204 are concentric with channels in the hinge channels 206 and 208 on a back side of the back plate 104. Hinge channels 206 and 208 extend the width of the back plate 104 such that a pin can extend from one side of the back plate 104, through the hinge connection units 202 and 204 to the opposite side of the back plate 104.

The combination of the hinge channels 206 and 208 and the hinge connection units 202 and 204 allow the shelf 100 to rotate from a position substantially perpendicular to the arm 108 to a position substantially parallel to the arm 108. Two openings 210 and 212 are positioned on the side of the back plate 104 closest to the arm 108. In one embodiment, a laptop computer is placed between the front plate 102 and back plate 104 such that the top surface of the laptop computer engages the front plate 102, the bottom surface of the laptop computer engages the back plate 104 and a front surface of the laptop computer engages the front surface of the laptop computer. FIG. 3 depicts a rear view of the shelf 100 extending from the luggage 110. The support unit 112 is rotated forward and the extension portion 114 supports the front plate 102 of the shelf 100.

FIG. 4 depicts the shelf 100 stored in the luggage 110. The support unit 112 is hingedly attached to a cavity in the luggage 110 such that the shelf 100 folds together and fits into the cavity. The support unit 112 is shaped such that the support unit 112 covers the opening when the shelf 100 is stored in the opening. FIG. 5 depicts a top perspective view of the luggage 108 with the support unit 112 pulled away from the opening 500. The support unit 112 is rotatively attached to the luggage by hinges 502 and 504. The support unit 112 rotates away from the cavity to rest on the top surface of the luggage 108. The shelf 100 rotates out of the cavity with the back plate 104 resting on the support unit 112 as shown in FIG. 1. The cavity 500 is sized to accommodate the shelf 100. In one embodiment, the cavity 500 is sized to accommodate a laptop computer encased in the shelf 100 such that the laptop computer is encased in both the cavity 500 and between the plates 102 and 104 of the shelf. In one embodiment, the cavity 500 may be coated in a material such as plastic.

FIG. 6 depicts a front perspective view of the luggage 110. As the support unit 112 rotates away from the arm 108, the cavity 500 is exposed and the back plate 108 of the shelf 100 can be pulled out of the cavity 500 along with the front plate 102 and connection portion 106.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A piece of luggage including:

an arm extending out of the luggage;

a shelf hingedly connected to the arm;

a support unit hingedly attached to a top surface of the luggage,

wherein the support unit is positioned between the shelf and the luggage when the shelf if fully extended.

2. The luggage of claim 1 wherein the shelf includes a front plate connected to a back plate by a connection portion.

3. The luggage of claim 2 wherein the connection portion is flexible such that the front plate can rotate to a position above the back plate.

4. The luggage of claim 3 wherein the connection portion has the same width as the front plate and back plate and a depth that is sized to accommodate the depth of a laptop computer.

5. The luggage of claim 1 including a cavity in the luggage with the cavity positioned between a front surface of the luggage and the arm.

6. The luggage of claim 5 wherein the support unit is hingedly attached to a side of the cavity furthest from the arm.

7. The luggage of claim 5, wherein the cavity is sized to accommodate the shelf.

8. The luggage of claim 5, wherein the cavity is sized to accommodate the shelf with a laptop computer positioned between the plates of the shelf.

9. The luggage of claim 1 including an extension unit extending from a front surface of the support unit to a lower surface of the front plate.

10. The luggage of claim 9 wherein the extension unit is rotatively attached to the lower surface of the front plate.

11. A shelf including:

a front plate;

a back plate;

a connection portion connecting the front plate and back plate;

a support unit that engages a bottom surface of the back plate,

wherein the front plate is configured to rotate above the back plate via the connection portion.

12. The shelf of claim 11 wherein, the connection portion has the same width as the front plate and back plate and a depth that is sized to accommodate the depth of a laptop computer.

13. The shelf of claim 11 including an arm connection unit configured to connect the shelf to an arm on a piece of luggage.

14. The shelf of claim 11 including two opening on the back surface of the back plate.

15. The shelf of claim 11 wherein the connection portion is sized such that the shelf fits into a cavity in a piece of luggage when folded.

16. The shelf of claim 15 wherein the support unit is hingedly attached to a side of the cavity furthest from the arm.

17. The shelf of claim 15, wherein the cavity is sized to accommodate the shelf.

18. The shelf of claim 15, wherein the cavity is sized to accommodate the shelf with a laptop computer positioned between the plates of the shelf.

19. The shelf of claim 11 including an extension unit extending from a front surface of the support unit to a lower surface of the front plate.

20. The shelf of claim 20 wherein the extension unit is rotatively attached to the lower surface of the front plate.